#cryptographic romantics

[ammonitetestpatterns]

"A good working assumption is that the NSA can read any message that it chooses, but that it cannot read all messages that it chooses. The NSA is limited by resources, and has to pick and choose among its various targets. Another good assumption is that they prefer breaking knuckles to breaking codes; this preference is so strong that they will only resort to breaking codes when they wish to preserve the secret that they have read the message."

[understandableparadox]

tHE HOMESTUCK OC TUMBLR POLL TOURNAMENT!!! YOUR CONTESTENTS!

@ineffable-gallimaufry

Tamiss Eriism

They're my trollsona! Here's the bio I used for art fight:

Your name is TAMISS ERIISM.  

Flowing through your veins is good thick VIOLET blood. While you don't care much for the hemospectrum overall, you still find yourself admiring the way it looks. You think it is VERY PRETTY, you love living underwater, and the perks it gives you are TRULY ENVIABLE.

Perhaps connected to your high status within the hemospectrum is your MASSIVE GOD COMPLEX. In your opinion, you might be the best person on the entire planet, maybe even better than THE CONDESCE HERSELF. Though you probably wouldn't say that to her face. You'll prove your great power one day by overthrowing her so everyone will respect you for your TRUE POWER. Though that's not making very much headway. Maybe some day though, with your SICKLE in hand, you'll finally prove yourself.

You are ever so slightly obsessed with CULINARY and CRYPTOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. You are in fact quite fond of most HISTORIES, and take an interest in many forms of the PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. You even model many aspects of yourself after HEROES you saw in your books. One, a cobalt blood, gave you a great appreciation of SPIDERS AND ALL SORTS OF INSECTS, though your lifestyle gives you hardly any opportunity to view any for real. There was another from the same place on the hemospectrum as you who you also found REALLY COOL. He inspired much of your personality such as your INTEREST IN DRAMA, ROMANTIC NATURE, and AMAZING HAIR STRIPE. Sometimes you even feel like you can HEAR THEIR VOICES but that's probably normal. Despite how TOTALLY COOL you are, people hardly tend to notice you. Once your plans are complete though, that WON'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

You also like READING TOMES OF KNOWLEDGE. Though most of the knowledge is either on BEING A HUGE LESBIAN or MATH YOU DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND. Or communism. It is quite a ball though.  

Your trolltag is atlanteanAscension and you speak iin a wway remiiniiscent 8f y8ur favv8riite her8es.

Halpetasprite

She's just like... well it's like if Lil Hal got tossed into Nepetasprite instead of Equiussprite. he/she pronouns. 

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@vi-timepiece

Luciol Lanten

Limeblood, mutant, based off a firefly. The stripes on her body can glow. She/it, nonbinary. Enjoys stargazing. Matesprits with Vichtr Unikke 

Vichtr Unikke

Supposed to be goldblood, is blackblood instead because mutation. Has difficulty controlling psionics. He/they, trans man. Likes robotics. Matesprits with Luciol Lanten

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Starlight-prism.tumblr.com

Chylia Merian

Handle: achromaticAdversary

Classpect: Sylph of Doom (Derse)

Pronouns: she/they

Chylia is a hemoanonymous limeblood troll (dancestor ghost) who is great with survival and fighting thanks to the sabertooth lusus that miraculously saved her from culling. She's very competent and was the only member of her Sgrub team to reach god tier. But they also take themself too seriously in such a way that they wind back to being silly! Like half of the things they do are for the aesthetic, to be honest. They wear a dramatic black mask and cape, and they use a giant machine gun to feel powerful and edgy. They used to dye their hair fully black, but now they partially dye it so the white roots can be partially seen. Chylia is a total edgelord and I love her and I hope you do too after reading this!

Full information and backstory here, as well as more art: https://toyhou.se/23778562.chylia-merian

Erizoh Stilde

Handle: pincushionsApex

Classpect: Knight of Rage

Pronouns: he/him

Erizoh is a jadeblood who rejected the role of his caste from an early age, faking his culling upon receiving invitation to come live in hiding with the heiress instead. He took up the hobby of plushmaking at the heiress's suggestion, and he also dabbles in cross-stitch and crochet. He's honestly pretty pretentious about his art, and is kind of an asshole, but in a certain "wet-cat" way that makes people like him regardless. He has a weird fixation with his grubhood self, specifically stabbing a plush version of it with pins. He was the first troll OC I made, and he came from a dream where he was trying to sell me a cow plushie and guilted me into buying it. I love Erizoh, he's such a loser.

More information here, as well as more art: https://toyhou.se/22085532.erizoh-stilde

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Venom draws on tumblr

Garlik Femara

A 9ft tall purple blood

She isn't the brightest (bimbo energy) and is all around friendly

She was "brainwashed" by the clurch because they saw her as a useful asset but she did not want to be a subjugulator and was showing signs of rebellion.

She is a killing machine but the circumstances are very specific, he trigger is a list. Most specifically a list of names but if given any list something in her brain is triggered to bring forward the highblood rage.

Nahlee Rovian

He is just silly.

He is just a guy who would eat a slice of cheese off of the floor, cheese of unknown origin. 

He is a sweet and funny guy and is way too easily trusting. 

If this guy was a playlist it would be "weird al" and "ninja sex party".

He smells funny.

No rizz.

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@chococookiez

Novasu Kirazi

- not pictured: her limeblood matesprit who she would kill for

- would overthrow the government and destroy the hemospectrum if they could

- WILL defeat you with the power of friendship and a gun she found

Mauami Sigera

- who is this creature and how did it get here

- perpetual °^° face and may or may not have arms

- it's just trying it's best

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@thehomestucker-surgeburbofficial

Gaemir Jurami

Your name is GAEMIR JURAMI. 

You tend to enjoy things like DIGGING UP FOSSILS and PRESERVED ORGANISMS. You also like to COLLECT COOL ROCKS you find outside your hive. Occasionally you will BREAK THEM OPEN to see if ANYTHING IS INSIDE. You enjoy watching DRAMATIC AND SAD FILMS from time to time, as well as ROMANCE MOVIES. Your favorite actor has to be by far, TROLL TOM HANKS.

On DIGCORB, your trolltag is skeletalTragedy and you tend to speak R4ther dully. In short, brief sentences. Usu4lly in 4 very serious m4tter.

He/They

Ceferi Fetris

Your name is CEFERI FETRIS.

You enjoy GARDENING. Mostly things like PUMPKINS or BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS that you give to your MATESPRIT and MOIRAIL. You also enjoy STARGAZING. It never fails to relax you. You tend to DRAW WHAT YOU SEE in the stars as well. Sometimes it's just MEANINGLESS SYMBOLS, other times it’s FULL SCENARIOS. You may even indulge in your hobby of PHOTOGRAPHY and TAKE PHOTOS OF THE STARS too. You also have a BIG LIBRARY, full of FICTION BOOKS, mostly the GOOD SCI-FI ONES and MAGICAL STORIES of WIZARDS.

Your trolltag is floralGallery and you speak wit>h hope and beaut>y in your heart. Al>l> is wel>l> in t>he presence of you.

(SIDE NOTE: She Is Also A Trans Woman!!!) She/Vir

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@spaceypineapple

Fendir Sanqui

fendir's a bronzeblood adventurer who idolizes troll indiana jones! hes got a pretty large collection of artifacts and loves learning about history. he also really likes myths and legends!! hes a very emotional guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, though he often (unintentionally) ignores the emotions of others. he's very very silly.

Trenas Maladi

trenas is a rustblood author who has the worst case of writers block ever seen. she's very tired all of the time and comes off a bit harsh, but she means well!! she's very nosy and knowing other people's business. she's very good at giving out advice to people too. she enjoys monsters and romance stories ABOUT monsters.

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@hareofhrairHareofhrair

Shafan Nishal

Shafan has been around since 2015, making friends in the tumblr ftc! They're a Brer Rabbit pastiche, a laid back traveling musician, trickster and occasional smuggler, and they love nothing better than sharing a smoke, swapping a story, and stealing from rich folks. A more or less homeless vagrant they wander from place to place, breaking hearts and singing songs. They make friends wherever they go, but they have a powerful fear of commitment that keeps them from getting too close to anyone. As soon as someone starts looking too attached, they skip town, and boy can they run! Shafan is faster on foot across open ground than just about any troll alive, at least according to them, and they're always happy to prove it with a race. So if you've got a story to tell, a song to share, or you just need someone to deal you weed for a (mostly) fair price, look for the white haired rusty playing banjo on the corner and come say hello!

Popahv Arlech

Popahv came from an amazing homestuck ttrpg campaign called Binary System, which we even tried turning into a fanventure for a little bit there! Popahv is just a sweet little guy with some serious attachment issues. He loves his friends more than anything and thinks it's his responsibility to take care of them, whether they want him to or not. Add this to an exploit in the game giving him some extremely overpowered mind control powers, and Popahv becomes just a little problematic! He means well, honestly. He just wants everyone to be happy and peaceful and never ever leave him. Meet the original Friendship Yandere, Popahv!

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Mythfan12.tumblr.com

Meadys Serpin

A rustblood museum curator/rebel supplier, Sylph of Rage, living embodiment of customer service face hiding blind fury

Wessun Ghunne

Oliveblood living out in the desert since birth, Maid of Void, you know those background applications that you never see pop up but are vital to the computer running? that's him

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@ask-swagger-dagger-trolls

Taluco Ialens

First started as a Trollsona, but after a while turned into her own thing and became a Fantroll. She is a Mutantblood due to some deep lore which will take to long to explain. She is an Artist and a big fan of fruity drinks

Soyuka Detoxa

Soyuka was a former escort in a corrupted church, with the help of Taluco (First Character Entry), she was able to turn the once brothel into a proper place of worship. She managed to be quaded with a Death God and a Rebel Leader...so...bonus bragging points for her. She speaks Alternian Spanish.

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@dzcool3

Teranz Zitchk

he found his own corpse in the woods and that made him a channer. he taxidermies badly and hates everyone. has a real self-pity complex

Kizats Hatrak

a member of the troll men in black. a wildly incompetent bully who still manages to make and believe wildly inaccurate conspiracy theories despite being behind many herself. She knows shes kind of a terrible person.  

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@sekhmentson

Cysgod Quared

Mad scientist

Betroy Focalx

Local Horoscope Writer

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@tasonix10 for tumblr and Tasonix12 on Twitter 8-]3

Noizod Explos 

Noizod Explos is the dancestor of Terriy Explos (My trollsona). Noizod is a troll with an interest of the weird and mysterious, mainly in mad scientists and old food mascots! Noizod is a heir of time/heart, a derse dreamer, And A rust blood. Their typing quirk is misspelling words sometimes and replacing every 7th word with the number 7.

Noizod has low psionics, yet is cursed with the visions of the past, which has led them to try and be like their ancestor, the Observer.

Noizod’s strife Kind is A yo-yo, and lacks a lusus.

Turpen Cansoi

Turpen Cansoi is an indigo blood that owes money to higher bloods, and because of this he’s been DEMOTED TO LOWER CASTE STATUS. Now he lives his life as a low caste blood and tries to make a Quick buck for a living. Turpen is either a maid/Page of breath And a derse dreamer.

There’s Not that much about Turpen other than that. Except the casino theme and being The Session starter, thus Why his trollian Tag is “wheezingCoupier”

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@ethersmith

Sutoka Reddol

4 foot 5. Lesbiab. About 9 sweeps old but sgrub.

A rustblooded thief and thief of void skilled in pocketpicking, lockpicking, parkouring, sneaking, knife throwing, yoyo tricks and flute playing. She happens to possess psionics that let her hide her horns and grip onto surfaces. She's also immune to most poisons. Except alcohol. She'll pass out at the slightest sip of alcoholic beverages. Gunfire stuns her. Her lusus is a rat and her typing quirk adds a lowercase letter after a capital letter. Llike Tthis.

Eeliza Lindel

8 foot. 11 sweeps old.

Just about the least competent fuchsiablood to live twice. Her skills include being okay at leadership, insulting lower castes and making enemies. Formerly the heiress of her planet Liesteria, now the boss of a mafia known as the Kalpon gang. Her lusus is a big ol' gaggle of eels that do not make the same enemies as her. Her quirk surrounds individual words in square brackets and duplicates the letter e.

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@waffletardis

Sarnen Rambuc

Sarnen is a talented prankster, thief, and craftswoman. She mostly tinkers but loves to try inventing her own machines, staying positive throughout the trials and errors. Her favorite prank involves the use of her robotic hands hidden under her gloves, they are detachable, so imagine someone’s surprise when they try to give her a handshake and they seemingly pull her hand straight off! Despite her apparent hunger for shenanigans, she genuinely cares about others, and no one will earn the ire of her foolery unless they are rude to someone she cares about. (Such as her matesprit, she loves her matesprit so much she will not hesitate to tell someone about her matesprit) 

Idzill Stoatl

Idzill has a passionate love for art, and can be seen displaying many skills of the craft. Although Idzill is also quite impatient if they are not actively doing anything, and usually goes straight from a zero to one hundred when trying to solve a problem. Tongue gets stuck on something frozen? Try to skillfully use a knife. Art not making the money you want? Go straight to becoming a vigilante assassin… Idzill uses their dexterous skills to be quite the terrifying assassin, though they try their best to only accept hits for people they would consider bad. Idzill does not speak and uses signs 🪧 with their quirk painted onto them to communicate, that’s one way to view sign language i suppose…

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Part 1

[cryptographs-and-casinos]

Embrace today as if your town is going to be hit by a tornado in exactly three and a half years!

"Tatum Lovecraft, totally average employee at many casinos and clubs. Out of boredom and a lack of pay, I made this little baby of mine! Hope we can have a great time, darlings."

indie, semi-selective, iconless

(Tatum is an original character created by @simping-on-the-daily, your mod here, as a cringefail gambling Ciphertologist. Nobody stopped me, so I did it. Regret is dead and I am immortal.)

Rules, Information and Notes

Notes

Tatum is a morally ambiguous character and not all that nice. Their beliefs are not reflections of the mod's point of view. On top of that, Tatum is an unreliable narrator and can't be trusted to answer questions truthfully.

Notes from the mod will be signified by (______).

Blog contains mentions of violence and gore, though I refuse to give deep descriptions. If stuff ever needs to need tw'ed, just ask me and I'll follow through.

Rules

Basic human decency is required. Shocker, I know.

Mod is a minor, and while I will allow suggestive content, anything overly NSFW or sexual will be deleted.

Please don't start fighting in the replies, reblogs or inbox. It happened one time and it was a nightmare, so it's best to be on guard.

OC Information

Tatum is a liar and a gadfly. They cannot be trusted to be reliable or honest.

While not aroace, Tatum is against romance, and so, they won't be romantically shipped with other blogs.

Uses she/they, though insists that gender is dead and one of the most meaningless things in a life full of little meaning.

Is currently researching the events of Orchard Lake, Kansas in their spare time.

Tatum can play the saxophone and trumpet, and is currently learning the piano to assist in more musical endeavours at the club.

It's unclear as to how Tatum knows what she does. The leading thought are their Ciphertology connections, research onto people's character or divine assistance, but none of these have been proven 100%.

Will occasionally refer to Bill as the Lord of Codex.

Tags

cryptographs-and-casinos: posts made by the blog, discounting non-rp reblogs

meaning has no meaning: self musings that aren't in response to an ask or thread

the first cult in history that was right: any content about the cult of ciphertology

ive got them addicted: where all asks go

your privacy means nothing to me: anonymous asks

Character Tags

the birchtrees watch: art, fanfiction, pictures etc featuring silas birchtree

found family of freaks: any content regarding two or more members of the pine family (includes wendy, soos and waddles)

desperate to please eager to ego: stanford pines tag

gamble still going strong: tag for stanley pines content

i like your funny words magic mabel: content for mabel pines

he'll never be a big dipper: any content for mason 'dipper' pines

gopher man got questions: tag for soos ramirez content

cool like ice: wendy curdoroy tag

scholar lost to sanity's sorrows: old man mcgucket/fiddleford hadron mcgucket content

living ventriloquist dummy: content regarding gideon gleeful

it's just a phase: tag for robbie valentino

the famed platinumpaz: content for pacifica northwest

triangulum entangulum bring us a party to die for: any content regarding bill cipher

[qpr-culture-is]

Hi🥲

So Im struggling and grappling with some feelings I have for a friend. I'm Ace and Aro(on the spectrum but really never had romantic attraction to people but potentially might have had) idk if my friend would be willing to have a more committed relationship (idk if they just view me platonically).

My feelings aren't really completely platonic like if I compare it to my other friends I can see it as being something a bit more but not really touching the romantic aspect.

And I really wanna tell them about it but I'm worried things will get awkward or that they'll feel pressured. I don't wanna tell them cause I'm expecting something out of it. On the contrary I'm happy with our current dynamic and I wouldn't even want to get more affectionate or handsy with them.

I just feel like I need to tell them. Aaaaa

So jealous of non-aro ppl rn (/jk)

Also cuz I'm super cringe and emo, if I do end up telling them, I don't wanna do it in a basic way but like maybe do it in a more entertaining and weird way, such as writing a cryptographed letter or maybe through art but that would also suck cuz it would make them feel more pressured I guess??

Help

-🧃

I don't see any reason they'd be pressured if you're clear and honest about how you feel. Explain to them that you're fine with your current relationship and just felt the need to tell them how you feel. Then add in that if they'd be open to a non-platonic relationship that'd be really great but you understand if they don't want to.

idk if I'm explaining this well but just be honest with them and make sure they know there's no need to have a closer relationship if they don't want to- it just depends on what they're comfortable with (you could add in that it wouldn't be much different than your current relationship as a selling point tho)

[coffee-n-bagels-comic-universe]

Brainwaves Bios: Janine Melnitz (1984)

The Secretary of The Ghostbusters Janine Melnitz

The Ghostbusters secretary and receptionist, Janine is incredibly sarcastic but very loyal to the Ghostbusters, and often entrusted with keeping everything running that they are too busy to handle.

"Ghostbusters, whaddya want?"

Name

Full Legal Name: Janine Ombeline Melnitz

First Name: Janine

Meaning: Variant of 'Jeannine', a diminutive of 'Jeanne', the modern French form of 'Jehanne' an Old French form of 'Iohannes', the Latin form of the Greek name 'Ioannes', itself derived from the Hebrew name 'Yochanan' meaning 'Yahweh is gracious', from the roots 'Yo' referring to the Hebrew God and 'Chanan' meaning 'To be gracious'.

Pronunciation: ja-NEEN

Origin: French, English, Dutch, German

Middle Name: Ombeline

Meaning: Feminine form of 'Humbelin', a medieval diminutive of 'Humbert' derived from the Old High German elements 'Hun' 'Bear cub' and 'Beraht' 'Bright'.

Pronunciation: AW-BU-LEEN

Origin: French

Surname: Melnitz

Meaning: Meaning Unknown

Pronunciation: MEL-nitz

Origin: German

Titles: Miss

Nicknames: Janie, Jan

Characteristics

Age: 32

Gender: Female. She/Her Pronouns

Race: Human (Touched by the 'Psychic Realm')

Nationality: American Citizen. Born in America

Ethnicity: White

Birth Date: October 28th 1952

Sexuality: Bisexual

Religion: Jewish

Native Language: English

Known Languages: English, Hebrew

Relationship Status: Single

Astrological Sign: Scorpio

Actor: Annie Potts

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York

Current Residence: Central Park West, New York, New York

Appearance

Height: 5'6" / 168 cm

Weight: 117 lbs / 53 kg

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Brown

Hair Dye: Various Shades of Red

Body Hair: N/A

Facial Hair: N/A

Tattoos: (As of Jan 1984) None

Piercings: Ear Lobe (Both)

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Social Drinker

Illnesses/Disorders: None Diagnosed

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: None

Relationships

Affiliated Groups: Ghostbusters (Employee)

Friends: Heather Nieto-Jorge, May Keaton, Allison Wada, Janine Melnitz, Nova Teufel, Mars Teufel. Peter Venkman (Sort-Of), Egon Spengler, Raymond Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, Dana Barrett, Louis Tully

Significant Other: Single (Crush: Louis Tully, Egon Spengler)

Previous Partners: None of Note

Parents: Moses Melnitz (67, Father), Rachel Melnitz (65, Mother, Née Zimmerman)

Parents-In-Law: None

Siblings: Antonia Stein (35,Sister, Née Melnitz)

Siblings-In-Law: Henry Stein (36, Antonia's Husband)

Nieces & Nephews: Samuel Stein (13, Nephew), Grace Stein (10, Niece)

Children: None

Extras

Level of Education: Didn't Finish College, Attempted 2 Courses, Finished Neither

Occupation: Secretary, Part-Time Ghostbuster

Employer: Ghostbusters

Expertise:

Touched by the 'Psychic Realm'

Cryptographical Knowledge

Can type up to 130 words a minute

Plays Racquetball

Does Yoga & Pilates

Gardening Knowledge

Can (Barely) Act

Expert on New York

Fast Learner

Bookworm

Faults:

Has a Small Criminal Record

Sweet-Tooth

Attraction To nerdy / Smart-Looking Men

Bad With Kids

Backstory:

Janine was the first person hired to work at the Firehouse. She staffed the phones and kept track of appointments, calls, messages, etc. She showed a romantic interest in Egon Spengler, but he didn't return her advances.

[serialtrials]

What I think about when I think about art 

This thought stream started when I was discussing the necessity of art in a person's life with a friend. This led to the question of what classifies as Art. Depending on how broad your definition is, you could include Minecraft architecture as an artistic endeavor or limit yourself to classical musical training and oil painting in specific styles. On the other hand, you could categorize some activities that conventionally fall under separate categories under the artistic umbrella: a mathematician obsessing over the elegance of proofs, or a soccer player gracefully strategizing the sequence and flow of his movements. This reminds me of a G. H. Hardy quote: 

Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics. 

My current stance is, there is art in everything. As the saying goes, life imitates art. In all honesty, one might see an artful Sisyphean flavor to a 9-5 office job. This is particularly resonant with the romantics. You can find the aesthetic value in everything. I am in the same state of mind when I view a minimal structure or a canonical morphism (mathematically loaded terms) as I am when I view a meticulously crafted sculpture of intricate details and yet no redundant appendages. I think the similarities in character between the obsessed artist and the isolated genius are testament to this. 

This philosophizing, however, is ineffective in solving my original problem of what the blueprint is to a life well-lived. That is a complicated question in its own right, and I don’t want to dissect it here. For my purposes, I will assume that this means setting finitely many canonical axioms and deriving every other rule from those, and I really mean this in the mathematical sense: I’m assuming there’s consensus (at least amongst non-Set-Theorists.) that the axioms of ZFC or the principles of Euclidean Geometry are selected naturally and canonically. (Fully ignore this bit if you’re not a mathematics pupil.) The only distinction I am willing to make here is that there is a psychological, hence relative flavor to the axioms you chose for your life, but you can still function axiomatically. So, shoving my romantic sentiments under the rug, my goal now is to treat the question of what Art is in the domain of pragmatism and personal development.

Let me digress a little. Plato believed in the existence of forms. As ChatGPT elaborated for me, this is: 

The abstract, non-material essences of things. According to him, every object we see in the material world is an imperfect copy of a perfect, eternal, and unchanging Form.

For example, all physical triangles are imperfect representations of the form of a triangle. There is no way one could categorize a circle as a triangle and vice versa. I don’t think Art can be studied this way. Categorizing art resembles the study of Biology more than it does conventional Mathematics: the holistic study of  “objects” and clustering them together based on similarities via a set of fixed attributes.  As it turns out, anybody with a vocation faces this complication. In theoretical sciences, for example, a problem might be in the domain of several academic fields, each unhappy with the methodologies through which the other parties approach the problem. (I dread the way cryptographers treat elliptic curves, and they find me utterly useless.)

So, what can be considered as Art? According to your mental algorithms, you cluster all human activities and label one of these clusters “Art”. I believe the only universal criterion for what classifies as Art is: undivided attention, deliberate stretching of the skill horizons, and an external projection of some form (sound, imagery, words, a new physical state of the world, etc.). In the end, I believe what we want out of Art is the internal state it simulates: The inclination towards observant understanding as opposed to judgement and practicality. So you are free to add extra criteria to emulate this state. I am not too prejudiced about the inclusion of the aforementioned criteria either. As I said before, this is a highly psychological matter. (Indeed, I am defining Art by the mental state it creates.)

There are still some problems that I can’t quite resolve. 

For example, do we need to include the Artist (at least implicitly) in the definition of Art as I did here? (Is AI-generated art, Art?) Additionally, with this definition, we may have to exclude some conventional artistic endeavors, such as the creation of music, from the Artistic category. As we advance in history, a lot of activities end up having a recipe: a formula that anyone could follow to synthesize a piece of craft. So the process of making music could be tantamount to an office job: choose 4 chords that are consistent with classical music theory, choose a prompt (you could pick one from a previously defined set like “heartbreak, falling in love, grief, nostalgia, ...”), write a few verses as you would do a report that’s on the more creative side. You have a song. (Again, Walter White considered himself the artist, and Victor the mere recipe-follower.) There are many more points of contention and unanswered questions. 

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. Goodbye.

[newtras]

Cryptographic fraud blooms in 2024 on the reverse "Pig Butchering" and AI: Report

Chainalysis said that cryptocurrency wallets associated with fraud received $ 9.9 billion of cryptocurrency in 2024, in accordance with initial estimates Boonchai Wedmakawand Moment Getty images It is estimated that revenues from cryptographic fraud have achieved a record level last year among violent romantic fraud, because cybercriminals use artificial intelligence and become more organized,…

[satrthere]

Cryptographic fraud blooms in 2024 on the reverse "Pig Butchering" and AI: Report

Chainalysis said that cryptocurrency wallets associated with fraud received $ 9.9 billion of cryptocurrency in 2024, in accordance with initial estimates Boonchai Wedmakawand Moment Getty images It is estimated that revenues from cryptographic fraud have achieved a record level last year among violent romantic fraud, because cybercriminals use artificial intelligence and become more organized,…

[datingadvice2]

Navigating the Love Canyon: From Giddy Butterflies to Cozy Bonfires

Remember that exhilarating early phase of dating? Sparks flew like Fourth of July fireworks, conversations spun like cotton candy in a carnival breeze, and every glance sparked a supernova in your chest. Your future together shimmered like a mirage on a desert highway, promising boundless joy and endless sunshine. Fast forward a few months (or maybe even weeks!), and suddenly, reality throws sand in your lovebird eyes. Scaling Mount Dirty Sock becomes your daily Everest, and deciphering their morning grunts requires a PhD in hieroglyphics. You find yourself Googling "Relationship Survival Guide" with a furrowed brow, wondering if the fairy lights of your dreams have become flickering emergency bulbs.

change your life now 

Hold your horses, lovebirds! Before you pack your emotional bags and retreat to Netflix Island, let's take a deep breath and recalibrate. Because here's the truth: transitioning from the rollercoaster of dating to the cozy campfire of a committed relationship is like learning a new language. It takes practice, patience, and a whole lot of understanding. And guess what? We're here to be your Rosetta Stone for romantic woes!

This ain't your typical dry guide, filled with dusty relationship formulas and stale advice. Buckle up for a vibrant expedition into the Love Canyon, where we'll explore the hidden crevices, climb the rocky peaks of communication, and discover the secret waterfalls of mutual understanding. We'll tackle everyday obstacles, from toothpaste tube tussles to the delicate art of "productive disagreements." We'll decode confusing signals like master cryptographers, bust communication myths like piñatas filled with relationship gold, and equip you with a toolbox of tricks to keep the spark alive (even when the laundry avalanche threatens to bury your hopes).

So, grab your favorite mug, put on your comfiest PJs, and settle in for a fireside chat about love's grand adventure. Forget the cliffhangers – we're building a sturdy bridge together, brick by brick, laugh by laugh, and snuggle by snuggle.

change your life now

The Shifting Sands of Expectations:

Remember that shimmering mirage promising endless sunshine? Yeah, love doesn't work like that. Real relationships are dynamic ecosystems, constantly shifting and evolving like sand dunes kissed by the wind. The initial giddiness, that potent cocktail of infatuation and novelty, inevitably fades. But hey, that's not a sign of doom – it's simply the soil from which deeper roots sprout! Instead of clinging to the mirage, learn to embrace the changing landscape. See every stumble as a chance to rediscover each other, every adjustment as a new brushstroke on your shared canvas.

Communication: Bridge Over Troubled Waters:

Ah, communication – the cornerstone of any healthy relationship. But here's the thing: it's not just about exchanging words. It's about actively listening, deciphering unspoken cues, and building a shared language that transcends mere sounds. Imagine your conversations as bridges spanning the emotional river between you. Sometimes, those bridges are flimsy wooden structures, creaking under the weight of misunderstandings. But with time, effort, and a dash of empathy, you can build sturdy stone bridges, capable of weathering any storm of miscommunication.

change your life now

Mastering the Art of the Disagreement:

Disagreements? In a loving relationship? Absolutely! Let's ditch the myth of the perfect, conflict-free couple. Healthy relationships thrive on respectful disagreements, the kind that act like sandpaper, smoothing out rough edges and polishing hidden potential. So, how do you turn those fiery arguments into productive dialogues? The secret lies in embracing "active listening," not just waiting for your turn to talk. Acknowledge their feelings, even if you disagree. Instead of building walls, build bridges with understanding. Remember, it's okay to have different opinions – the key is to find common ground where your love can flourish.

The Spark Chronicles: Keeping the Flame Alive:

Let's be honest: the novelty of new dates and spontaneous adventures eventually gives way to routine and Netflix marathons. Does that mean the spark has gone out? Not necessarily! Think of your love like a campfire – it needs tending, feeding, and a touch of kindling now and then. Surprise each other with small gestures, recreate your favorite first date (minus the awkward silences, hopefully!), and explore new hobbies together. Remember, romance isn't just about grand gestures; it's the quiet moments, the shared smiles over morning coffee, the whispered jokes as you drift off to sleep. Keep feeding the flame with those little embers of affection, and you'll have a roaring bonfire of love in no time.

Navigating the Minefield of Merging Lives:

Ah, the great toothpaste tube conundrum: should you squeeze from the bottom or the middle? This is just one of the many delightful landmines you'll encounter when you start merging your lives. From blending social circles to navigating household chores 

change your life now

[jkesmth]

Heat of a Star (Cont.)

Then I thought: The basilisk is… hot! Flashed into my brain, a super-intelligent VR game. Lair of the Basilisk, and the Mystery of Chess-boxing. The ticket to ride is inside your skull. Solve the puzzles to win - a chance to be thrown in the bin, now try not to become a zombie, for surely you will soon be - in the ring! And, in the other corner, across from you: Stephen Hawking. What's he doing in a boxing match, you ask? Vegetable farming. You're destined for the barn, but first I must axe you. A question: Pigeon, hawk or chicken? Pigeon? Pigeon. She's not the only computer in the room, you've been infected too. So what variety are you? One of you has to go, it's how we'll know. Hawks kill, chickens go. That's madness, how could this be? We're married! She tortures both of you, end of story. Time to make a decision, which of you gets the incision? Then here's a coin, 50/50 odds I take the plunge. If my choice matters, then somewhere out there - is a universe where we win. I'll accept your wager. Then one more thing, a demand - If I die eat me, she said. Are you kidding? That's cannibalism! I'm a star! Get it? Haha. We feed with heat, star-light you already eat. Your joke's not funny, but whatever, she signed up for the fight, if that's what she wants, I'll bite. Isn't it romantic, vore? If that's my fate, make this the wager: Heads do me. Tails do her, then do whatever you do to her, to me too. I don't want to live in a world with a cruel god, would you? Now flip! Edge. Edge? Haha, I didn't tell you, this coin has two heads. Does that mean both? Nah, go again! Fuck your pet, double - or nothing, bet! Edge. Triple down! ("No, stop!") Edge again. Seems as though god wants us both dead. It was then I realized: the answer is fiction! Still don't believe? Too late for that now. No, that's not what I meant: She's time traveled through books, a worm leaving clues. Science fiction fantasy disease, infecting us with words from other worlds. Heinlein's Harsh Mistress, Zelazny's Creatures of Light, Scott Card's Buggers, Ender, Earthbound Mother, Riddley Walker, Protomolecule. Asimov's sex robots, Random in Amber paintings, Alien, Halliday's game you've been playing. Ghost in the Shell, dragon from hell, the one ring, girl in the well, speaks through pictures, puts you under a spell. Metamorphic code, scraped from the net, designed to blackout - stuxnet. I'm still seeing stars - from the last punch she threw. Knockout, one-two! Three - fuck you! Thought creature, Chameleon, Earth's biggest threat, (so far), big, bad, ugly, god of the dead, Monster 0, Ouroboros, a comedian. What did she say? They're all pigeons, fluttering lashes. This one's a duck, you shot but missed him. Hey you're cute, ever been on a date? Buyer beware, this one isn't right. Evil - the cosmic test result said. I'll match you… With the devil! Eyelash demon. Blink and you'll miss her, blink twice and you're dead. A stochastic rhythm game played on eyelids. Just a joke! I'm kidding. A prank, she's a ghost! Wink. Barcodes that play on your scanners, flashed in by lasers, propaganda weapon, pornographic bomb, you get the gist: cosmic cryptographic spy telephone jizz. Don't blink! Assassin about to cave your head in, with phantom power IQ drain, weapon designed - to blow your brains out! Mind flayed. As for me, unlike my opponent, I was already human-alien computer component. So with a kiss, we both drank the poison and on went the night. Act 3: Creatures from the Abyss. Final Fight! Chickens are lucky, they're spared from the truth. Hawks are privileged, they chose just as she. Too bad they miss. I chose a more difficult path: Door 3. Bet you can't kill me! Artificial singularity bloodbath. The Clockwork Chimera, biggest baddest interdimensional spaceship ever built. A weapon with which so much blood has been spilt. Methuselah, a boy, and a panther. DNA spliced together, birds of a feather. Nothing can kill, though all of it hurts, especially when divided in parts.

[thescienceofdeductionsh]

Poll

It has been 6 years since this blog was first created. Its purpose has been a refuge, a place for me to get away from the mediocrity of daily life and communicate with some of the intelligent people that humanity has to offer. It has been a privilege watching your knowledge of deduction grow these past years, and as we are approaching the medial of the new year, I think it is time that this blog took a different direction.

Instead of filling this blog with whatever comes to mind, I am creating a poll to query all of you who follow this blog, as well as anyone else who happens to come across this post, about the future content that you want to see here.

Some possibilities include:

1. Daily crime (where I walk you through a step by step detailing of unsolved crimes and how they were most likely committed.)

2. Cryptographic analysis (I post the latest ciphers that I either cannot be bothered to solve or don’t want to).

3. Mind Palace construction (I teach you how to construct your own mind palace, and share a few techniques of my own when it comes to maintaining and retrieving information.)

4. Deduction Help (send in your questions. They can be about anything relating to deduction and I will answer as many as I can.)

5. Photographic analysis (if you happened to capture evidence of something confusing, or you found the unexplainable, send it this way and my readers will help you sort out whatever it is.)

6. Forgotten Cases (I receive hundreds of cases daily, so it is possible for some to become buried and forgotten. If you have a case that was never solved and you still need help with, send it to my inbox here instead of the one on my professional co-uk blog. Any case that I find is beneath my abilities to solve, I will post to this blog for my readers to attempt.)

7. LiveQ&A (no questions about sexual orientation or romantic/sexual preferences will be answered. Keep your questions clean, concise, and to the point).

Voting will be closed by the end of April.

Leave a comment with the number associated with your choice. You may choose more than one option, if you wish. The option(s) with the most votes by the end of the month will be the chosen content for the blog.

[riansh-store]

A beautiful cherry blossom scented secret message candle along with 2 heart shaped tea lights and a message card.

GET UPTO 50% OFF

Secret message candles infuse an element of intrigue and wonder into our lives, allowing us to channel our inner cryptographer and unlock hidden messages. Their combination of aesthetic appeal, craftsmanship, and hidden secrets make them a truly unique creation. Whether used for romantic gestures, special occasions, or simply to embrace the magic of secrecy, secret message candles invite us to explore a world of mystery and imagination, one flickering flame at a time.

[understandableparadox]

Tamiss Eriism

They're my trollsona! Here's the bio I used for art fight:

Your name is TAMISS ERIISM.  

Flowing through your veins is good thick VIOLET blood. While you don't care much for the hemospectrum overall, you still find yourself admiring the way it looks. You think it is VERY PRETTY, you love living underwater, and the perks it gives you are TRULY ENVIABLE.

Perhaps connected to your high status within the hemospectrum is your MASSIVE GOD COMPLEX. In your opinion, you might be the best person on the entire planet, maybe even better than THE CONDESCE HERSELF. Though you probably wouldn't say that to her face. You'll prove your great power one day by overthrowing her so everyone will respect you for your TRUE POWER. Though that's not making very much headway. Maybe some day though, with your SICKLE in hand, you'll finally prove yourself.

You are ever so slightly obsessed with CULINARY and CRYPTOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. You are in fact quite fond of most HISTORIES, and take an interest in many forms of the PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. You even model many aspects of yourself after HEROES you saw in your books. One, a cobalt blood, gave you a great appreciation of SPIDERS AND ALL SORTS OF INSECTS, though your lifestyle gives you hardly any opportunity to view any for real. There was another from the same place on the hemospectrum as you who you also found REALLY COOL. He inspired much of your personality such as your INTEREST IN DRAMA, ROMANTIC NATURE, and AMAZING HAIR STRIPE. Sometimes you even feel like you can HEAR THEIR VOICES but that's probably normal. Despite how TOTALLY COOL you are, people hardly tend to notice you. Once your plans are complete though, that WON'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

You also like READING TOMES OF KNOWLEDGE. Though most of the knowledge is either on BEING A HUGE LESBIAN or MATH YOU DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND. Or communism. It is quite a ball though.  

Your trolltag is atlanteanAscension and you speak iin a wway remiiniiscent 8f y8ur favv8riite her8es.

Lollie Gravez

Your name is LOLLIE GRAVEZ and you use ne/nem/nir, sh3/h3r/h3rz and h3/h1m/h1z. You are a SCENE KID first and foremost, and a troll second.

You love COMICS, CARTOONS, and SHIPPING, and listen to way too much ALTERNATIVE MUSIC. You send a lot of your spare time SEWING CLOTHES, both for yourself and your PLETHORA OF PLUSH FRIENDS. You spend way too much money on VIDEO GAMES, that you never get around to playing. When you aren’t hiding in your room away from the world, you love watching shows with your friends, then making self inserts for all your friends. Your squad loves the troll anime SUGIO QUEST FOR KOKORO, despite it being outlawed for rebel imagery.

[tosikoarts]

Koito, Sugimoto, and Ogata and what makes them blush HC

Thank you so much! Glad to hear that my writings make you feel some type of way so here you go ♡  You can check tosikowrites tag for more.

Koito

Making Koito blush is as easy as shelling pears. He is expressive, infantile, ready to respond to praise and criticism with a thick blush accompanied by high-pitched monkey screeching at any time of the day. It's funny that it doesn't really matter how many times you compliment Koito, he will still break into a smug smile, his cheeks turned crimson, with no sign of getting used to such pleasant and yet truthful words! Rating him 12 out of 10 for carrying his heart on his sleeve, he deserves a big smooch on the forehead.

Canonically blushes at cute things so put him in name plays with puppies while answering questions for better visualization. Keeps a happy face after the kitty cat gives him scars all over his adorable face and leaves Koito without his luxurious eyebrows. Would blush at the sight of not only domesticated animals but also owls, raccoons, foxes, flying squirrels… all of them except wild cats.

Obviously, Koito blushes at any semi-romantic and romantic affection especially from people who he values. I mean if he doesn't pass out the same moment when you stealthy take him by the little finger, you’ll have to wait until Koito calms down and turns his face back to you. At the same time, you’ll need to wait even longer until the ability to form sentences from the words returns to him all together. Get used to Satsuma dialect, honey. Also, did you know that the Satsuma dialect was used as a method of cryptographic communication in World War II?

Sugimoto

Somewhere in the middle between uwu good boy Koito and absolute impassive catastrophe named Ogata. Too cool to be constantly flustered but has his beautiful moments of weakness Sugimoto tries to hide them under the shade of his cap or in the fabric of a checkered scarf. There are not many people who are allowed to see his soft side but it exists.

Mostly blushes in clearly stupid embarrassing situations because he can’t stand being not god-like Sugimoto the Immortal but a young man facing his dum-dum personality. Red as a lobster after falling on the street, losing a bet he was sure he was right in, etc.

Could a couple of glasses of alcohol also cause his red cheeks? Yeah, probably. Certain genetic traits in alcohol metabolism cause Asians to get drunk faster (and face worse hangover after a night out) therefore it doesn’t take much for Sugimoto to booze up to funny twinkles lightening up in his eyes.

Blushing mess in the crash phase of the relationship. This is the obvious one but has to be mentioned for integrity.

Ogata

The only person on the list who’s incapable of blushing because of positive emotions. I wouldn’t be surprised if the otter meat situation was the very first time he got red-faced, honestly. Does he even blush in everyday life? Again, I feel like he would only during sex times and only when he is submissive/bottoming/not controlling the situation since it’s the most vulnerable position

Red when he publicly fails in mastery Ogata is a recognized professional – sharp-shooting. It is difficult to imagine how humiliating it is for such a sniper to miss the target. Holy shit, in case of a really stupid mistake, he may think about eliminating unfortunate witnesses.

Sometimes you think aw my poor meow meow is blushing and then you look at his face closely and it’s just oh it’s not a blush it’s actually blood.

[dreisstuff]

The Da Vinci Code

Novel by Dan Brown

Published on March 18, 2003

Critical Approaches Used for Criticism

Formalist Criticism

The literary work utilizes a lot of complex and hidden text meaning. It requires analytical and great problem-solving skills. Clues and logical ways of thinking are greatly important in reading the literary work making me think that the book was made for highly intellectual people.

Below is the plot breakdown where we could see the elements of the story.

New Historicist or Historical Criticism

The literary work dealt with the history of Christianity. It draws fans to the theory of the Holy Grail truly being the holy bloodline of Jesus. Some of the history and ideas presented on it are true and some are false. This created a lot of controversies and disputes.

Psychological/Psychoanalytic Criticism

The literary work contains characters with questionable actions and decisions, making me question sometimes, why would they do such things. The antagonist Silas for example being an Opus Dei follower is instructed by The Teacher to locate the Holy Grail, killing whoever is needed to be killed to find it. This made me provide deeper analysis to better understand the character.

Reader-Response Criticism

The literary work questions the Christian faith but it doesn't fully grasp pushing you, the reader, to do such things. It only provides ideas and information that would be handled to the reader to decide, interpret, and reflect on their own self-conviction.

Sociological Criticism

The literary work focuses on the beliefs and values of the majority of society, Christians. It created a lot of controversy and arguments because others deemed it disrespectful, perceptive, or simply fun. A lot of cultural issues were tackled in the novel that fans and not fans find intriguing.

Feminist Criticism

The literary work delivers some female influence. It responds in many ways to new thinking about women in western culture. In the novel’s estimation, Mary Magdalene was a strong, independent figure, patron of Jesus, cofounder of his movement, his only believer in his greatest hour of need, author of her own Gospel, his romantic partner, and the mother of his child. The feminist interpretation of the novel is not to reduce its literary value to political value but to be of great help to further studies on this novel.

Book Review

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is the second novel in the Robert Langdon series, though it's undoubtedly the most famous and popular. The title itself, "The Da Vinci Code," grabs your attention and likely played a significant role in the book’s widespread popularity. The name “Da Vinci” immediately evokes thoughts of genius, mystery, and the Renaissance master’s iconic works like The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. By pairing Da Vinci’s name with the word “Code,” Brown suggests that hidden secrets are waiting to be uncovered, sparking curiosity and intrigue. This combination of historical resonance and the promise of a deep, enigmatic mystery naturally draws readers in.

In this novel, Robert Langdon is called upon once again, this time due to the murder of Jacques Saunière, the curator of the Louvre and the grand master of the Priory of Sion. As expected, another secret society and another conspiracy that could threaten the Church are at the center of the mystery. Langdon teams up with Sophie Neveu, a police cryptographer who also happens to be Saunière's granddaughter. Together, they work to unravel the cryptic clues left by her grandfather. The narrative also follows the actions of Silas, an albino monk, who is responsible for the killing.

What makes The Da Vinci Code and the Robert Langdon series as a whole so compelling is Dan Brown’s ability to weave together history, art, and symbology into a thrilling narrative. Brown excels at creating puzzles and mysteries that draw readers in, making them feel like they are uncovering hidden truths alongside Langdon. The way Brown blends fact with fiction is particularly fascinating. He takes real historical figures, artwork, and locations, and crafts a story that makes you question what you know about history. For instance, the idea that famous works of art like Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper could contain hidden messages and secrets is an intriguing concept that keeps readers hooked.

Another strength of the series is its fast-paced, cinematic style. Brown's writing is highly visual, which makes the action scenes gripping and the mysteries even more engaging. In The Da Vinci Code, the chase through the streets of Paris, the secretive meetings in darkened church halls, and the race against time to prevent a monumental discovery from being made public all contribute to a sense of urgency and excitement. This, coupled with the intellectual puzzles, makes for a book that's hard to put down.

Even though The Da Vinci Code does revisit some of the themes and devices from Angels and Demons, it's still a testament to Brown's storytelling that he can keep readers on the edge of their seats. The series has a formula that works—a mix of thrilling chases, shocking revelations, and intellectual challenges. Each book takes this formula and applies it to a new set of mysteries, often involving different aspects of history or religion.

Despite some predictability, the series remains a great read because it continually explores new ideas and challenges what we think we know about the world. Whether it’s uncovering secrets hidden in ancient texts, deciphering codes embedded in art, or revealing the true purpose behind secret societies, Brown has a knack for creating stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking.

After finishing The Da Vinci Code, I didn’t feel compelled to continue with the rest of the Robert Langdon series immediately, but that’s more a reflection of my personal preferences than a critique of the series itself. The writing is solid, and even if some twists become predictable, the journey is still enjoyable. For many readers, the thrill of solving the mysteries alongside Langdon and the rich tapestry of history and conspiracy theories makes the series worth continuing.

When The Da Vinci Code was first released, it seemed to be everywhere, even making the list of all-time best-selling novels. If you enjoy mysteries with surprises on every page, this book is a great read. While it doesn’t introduce anything radically new, it’s still a thrilling experience. I would recommend it so you can judge for yourself if it lives up to the hype—and perhaps even dive into the rest of the series to see where Brown takes Robert Langdon next.

[jadelotusflower]

It’s Cold in that Fridge: The Case of Nakari Kelen

Since The Case of Mara Jade has been doing the rounds again, I’ve finally gone back to this post that has been sitting in my drafts for literally years. So let’s honour this absolute badass who deserved better:

Once upon a time, the Star Wars universe was but six films (and a tv series) in the story of the Skywalker family. But beyond George Lucas’ story was an absolute boatload of books, comics, games, and other materials that made up the Expanded Universe. When Disney purchased Lucasfilm and the rights to the Star Wars saga, everything in this universe was decanonised and deemed “Legends” - some aspects of this universe were retained or re-purposed, others sit in Disney’s figurative vault and will likely never see the light of day (and seeing how the ST turned out, maybe that’s for the best).

But this transition between Legends canon and Disney canon was not so simple, because the nature of publishing meant that there were novels approved during the time of Legends canon that would be released in the time of Disney canon. In particular, there had been the planned trilogy “Empire and Rebellion”, set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, with each novel from the perspective of one of The Big Three.  

Razor’s Edge (Leia) and Honor Among Thieves (Han) were released prior to the Great Canon Split of 2014.  But while the Luke-centric novel had been planned, it was not due to be released until well after the Split. So Heir to the Jedi (so called as an homage to the Legends progenitor Heir to the Empire) became one of the first books of the Disney canon.

What does this background have to do with Nakari Kelen?  Perhaps nothing, but I do wonder how the writing process was affected by the shift from Legends to Disney - was the novel a relic of the old EU with any reference the LFL storygroup didn’t like excised during editing, or was it a trendsetter for the new EU, a Sign of Things to Come?  

The most salient point being, of course, that Nakari Kelen - like so many love interests before her - was not allowed to go along her merry way at the conclusion of the novel, but was shoved into the fridge.

If there was one constant of the Legends EU, it was that Luke Skywalker’s love interests couldn’t catch a break. Mara Jade naturally lasted the longest relationship-wise, with almost twenty years of marriage to Luke before some bright spark decided she had to go (as per the aforementioned case study). But before Mara there was Jem, Shira Brie, and Gaeriel Captison (who came close to escaping the curse), and in the Legacy of the Force series they brought back sole survivors Akanah and Callista, only to kill them off for good too (and rather brutally, if I may add).

So perhaps when Kevin Hearne began writing HttJ within the confines of the Legends continuity, he was merely sticking to the status quo, or perhaps once subsumed by Disney they needed to make sure Luke's slate was clean (so to speak).  And I can’t put all the blame on Hearne since I don’t know whether it was his idea, or LFL mandated - but regardless it was a poor decision.

The root cause of fridging, imo, is limited imagination.  How best to cause your male protagonist pain if not kill off someone they love, or at least have strong feelings for? The answer is of course, easily. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Luke Skywalker of HttJ is fresh from his victory in ANH, a lieutenant in the Rebellion: young, not dumb, and full of...

Nakari Kalen is an absolute Queen a civilian volunteer and crack-shot sniper who loans her ship Desert Jewel to the Alliance. Luke is immediately attracted to her, they bond over a mutual love of fast ships and leaving behind desert home planets, and engage in the inexpert flirting of two nineteen year olds while also risking their lives several times over.

I want to make it clear: I actually really like this book. It's a breezy read, almost serialised as The Early Adventures of Luke Skywalker, and is ofttimes genuinely funny. And credit where it’s due to Hearne, many of of the supporting roles in the novel are female. Other than Nakari, there's Soonta, the Rodian who gives Luke her uncle’s lightsaber, Sakhet the Kupohan spy, and the Givin cryptographer/math genius Drusil Bephorin. In a genre where male characters are often the default for these kind of roles, it was nice to see, but makes the regressive fridging of Nakari even more egregious.

Luke and Nakari make a good team fighting brain-sucking monsters and Imperials, but more importantly they have fun together - she encourages him to work on his Force skills, and he successfully moves objects with his mind for the first time (leading to Nakari adorably dub him "a little noddle scooter"). It's a very sweet, if brief, relationship, and a respite from the danger of the mission. They spend the night together (leaving the reader to decide exactly what happened behind closed doors), and share a kiss before splitting up to try and escape bounty hunters. No prizes for guessing what happens to Nakari immediately after she received the Skywalker Kiss of Death.

I assume there were two motivating factors for why Hearne and/or LFL couldn't let Nakari live:

1. If she survived, fans would wonder why she doesn't appear in ESB/subsequent material.

I recall this bandied about on forums back at the time of the book's release, and to that I say - so what? Fans are always going to wonder, and try to paper over the gaps in canon, to make up their own headcanons to explain any any perceived inconsistencies. It's certainly no reason to kill someone off.

It is in fact possible for two young people to have a romance that just fizzles, or doesn’t work out for whatever reason - it should not require great maneuvering or explanation. If Nakari doesn’t show up in the next book in the timeline, what about it? The reader is smart enough to assume she and Luke broke up, decided to just remain friends, whatever. But it seems that the only way for a female character to exit stage left is for her to die, which is bullshit.

And actually, there's no reason why she couldn't have shown up again. ESB and RoTJ cover a month and a few days, respectively, of Luke's life - just because there was no mention of Nakari doesn't mean she didn't exist at that time, whether or not she and Luke were an item. She could have made an appearance in a subsequent novel, or Rebels, or the comics - she could have become a recurring character, showing up when the Rebellion needed her, or - heaven forbid - even have her own comic/book/show! Her existence in Star Wars canon didn't need to begin and end with Luke Skywalker, merely to service his plotline and backstory and abandoning the richness of her own.

No, the only reason Nakari had to die was to facilitate this:

It was a blow to the gut, realizing what that sudden absence meant. I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but I had felt Nakari's life snuffed out through the Force, and into that void where she had shone anger rushed in - anger, and a cold sense of raw power and invincibility...I took a step to join in the hunt but stopped, breathing heavily, unaccountably sweating even though I felt so cold inside and the power of the Force roiled within me... I shook with emotion and power, and none of it felt the way the Force had before...I saw what kind of space it was , a black hole that would always be hungry no matter how much I fed it. I might never feel warm again if I didn't get myself under control.

Luke feels the dark side and is tempted by the boost of power it offers him, but immediately identifies it as dangerous and unnatural. I can understand why Hearne wanted to include this - it is a book of firsts after all: Luke's first solo mission, his first time using telekenisis, and ending with story with his first experience of the dark side makes sense. But it wasn't necessary, which leads to:

2. How to push Luke to touch the dark side without killing someone he has romantic feelings for?

Also, obviously, shite of the bull (or nerf, if you prefer). Even if this brush with the dark side was absolutely necessary for the novel's climax, there's any number of ways it could be achieved. At this point, Luke is fresh from losing important people in his life - Owen and Beru, Ben, and Biggs - lumping another death on top of that a narrative trick for Luke to react not only to losing Nakari, but the others as well. But it's cheap, the first card in the deck, and why not show a bit of imagination? Luke is young and inexperienced enough at this point that any number of things could be the catalyst - the whole book he's struggling with his growing powers, why not try and reach too far in the firefight with the bounty hunters, his anger and frustration with himself in not doing enough trigger the dark side temptation? It would work thematically and doesn't involve a fridging that ultimately has very little payoff.

Because Nakari is killed less than ten pages from the end of the book - afterwards Luke grieves, but ultimately chooses to honour her memory and be grateful for what he learned with her, recommitting to becoming a Jedi. It's all very surface level, and once again a female character's death facilitates a male character's development. Was it so imperative that Luke lost someone he cared about as part of this story? Sure, this was a time of galactic civil war, and it's far from unrealistic that these stories have a high body count, but who to make collateral damage remains an authorial choice, and in this case Nakari Kelen was (a) a female character of color, (b) a love interest of the protagonist - not just of this book, but the entire Original Trilogy.

I don't know to what extent (if any) race had to play in the decision. I'm sure there was a segment of the fandom absolutely livid that Luke Skywalker kissed (and maybe had sex with) a black woman. Was her death LFL hedging its bets, or demonstrative of the general lack of attention/respect they show their characters of colour?

In any case this was a chance to stand out from the old EU and it's fridge full of Luke's dead girlfriends, but instead they chose to introduce and kill off Nakari for the sole purpose of Luke's manpain and character development, and that's gross.

And then there's this:

A grisly yet reliable fact about custom bounty hunter ships is that you can always count on them to have body bags stashed somewhere for the easy transport of their kills. They often have built-in refrigerated storage, too.

NAKARI IS KILLED AND LITERALLY STORED IN THE FUCKING FRIDGE I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS READING.

I really hope this was unintentional on Hearne's part, because yikes. He was halfway there, this book was full of interesting female characters who had agency - Drusil in particular was a delight with her super math and inability to understand human interaction. Nakari was full of life and fun - capable but relatable, showing a different side of the Rebellion and those that suffered under the Empire's rule. Fridging her in her first appearance is considerably more vile, because it reduces her to a footnote of Luke's story, a plot device to Help Him Grow, rather than a springboard to tell more of her own story.

Because Nakari was a compelling character ripe for spinoff potential. I would absolutely have read or watched her continued adventures, juggling missions for her father's Biolabs company and trying to aid the Rebellion, shooting her slug rifle and cracking wise, maybe even finding a way to amplify her mother's song Vader's Many Prosthetic Parts to really stick it to the Empire, or try and free the political prisoners on Kessel.

The old EU was made great by allies and enemies of Our Heroes showing up again to help or hinder them, and/or branching out into their own material. We fell in love with them, and followed their stories even as they diverged from the main saga, eager to read more about their lives.

Nakari Kelen never got that chance. In many ways, she exemplified what Disney Star Wars was to become: an exercise in wasted potential.