#embedded systems basics

[raguram07-blogger]

Embedded Systems Demystified: Understanding their components and Uses

Embedded systems, the cornerstone of modern technology, are specialized computer systems designed to perform dedicated functions within a larger mechanical or electrical system. These systems, ranging from simple devices like digital watches to complex ones like the control systems in automobiles, are distinguished by their combination of hardware and software, optimized for specific applications. Unlike general-purpose computers that feature versatile processing units and memory for multiple tasks, embedded systems prioritize efficiency, including low power consumption and cost-effective performance, through the integration of microcontrollers, microprocessors, and real-time operating systems (RTOS).

As the backbone of countless applications across various industries, including telecommunications, automotive, medical devices, and even the Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems play a pivotal role in the evolution of technology. This article delves into the core components that define these systems, such as microprocessors, application software, and printed circuit boards, while exploring their architecture, design principles, and practical applications. It also addresses the challenges in designing these intricate systems, from debugging to customization, and casts a glance at recent advancements and future directions, highlighting how integrated circuits, the 8051 microcontroller, and embedded C programming continue to shape the landscape of embedded systems.

Core Components of Embedded Systems

Embedded systems are integral to numerous devices, functioning through a complex interplay of hardware, software, and real-time operational protocols. Here we break down the essential components that form the backbone of these systems.

Hardware Components

Processor Types: At the heart of every embedded system is a processor, which can be a microprocessor or a microcontroller. Microcontrollers integrate memory and peripheral interfaces, making them ideal for specific control- oriented applications. Conversely, microprocessors require separate integrated circuits for memory and peripherals, offering more flexibility but at a complexity cost.

Memory: Embedded systems utilize two primary types of memory: RAM (volatile) and ROM (non-volatile). The ROM stores permanent instructions for the system, while RAM facilitates the ongoing operations.

Power Supply: Essential for operation, the power supply can be standalone or integrated into a larger system, depending on the design requirements.

Input/Output Ports: These ports are crucial for the system’s interaction with external devices, enabling data transmission through various communication protocols like UART, SPI, and USB.

Software Components

Real-Time Operating System (RTOS): This software manages the hardware resources of embedded systems, optimized for real-time applications. It ensures tasks are completed within strict timing constraints, crucial for applications like medical systems and automotive controls.

Application Software: Tailored to the specific functionalities of the embedded device, this software directly manages device operations and user interactions.

Device Drivers: These software components allow the operating system to interact with the hardware.

Development Tools

Compilers and Assemblers: These tools translate high-level code into machine language that processors can execute. While compilers handle languages like C and C++, assemblers are used for assembly language.

Debuggers and Emulators: Essential for testing, these tools help developers debug the code and emulate hardware operations, ensuring software reliability before deployment.

Integration Technologies

System on Chip (SoC): Integrating all components onto a single microchip, SoC technology simplifies design and enhances performance while reducing power consumption and cost.

Multicore Processing: Allows parallel processing capabilities, enhancing performance and efficiency, particularly in complex applications.

By understanding these core components and their interactions, developers can design more efficient and effective embedded systems, tailored to specific needs and environments.

Design Principles and Architecture

Embedded systems are engineered with specific design principles and architectural frameworks to meet unique operational demands. This section outlines the essential design principles and architectural styles that govern the development of embedded systems.

Key Design Principles

Single-functioned Operation: Each embedded system is developed to perform a specific function, enhancing its efficiency and reliability.

Reactivity and Real-time Operation: These systems are designed to respond to changes in their environment in real- time, a critical feature for applications such as automotive airbag deployment.

Tight Integration of Hardware and Software: Hardware components and application software are closely integrated to optimize performance and reduce power consumption.

Customizability and Flexibility: The architecture allows customization, making embedded systems adaptable to varied requirements.

Low Power Consumption: Design strategies prioritize energy efficiency to extend the life of the system, especially in battery-operated devices.

Compact Size and Cost-Effectiveness: Systems are designed to be small and cost-effective, without compromising on functionality.

Architectural Styles

Embedded systems architecture can be segmented into two primary types:

Harvard Architecture: Separates data and instruction memory, allowing simultaneous data access that speeds up operations

Von Neumann Architecture: Uses a single memory for data and instructions, simplifying the design but potentially slowing the system due to the shared memory

Design Approaches and Considerations

System on Chip (SoC) and Multicore Processing: These technologies integrate multiple components into a singlechip, reducing size and improving performance

Reconfigurable Computing: Offers the flexibility to alter the configuration of the hardware as per changing requirements without halting the system

Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Focuses on designing products that are easier to manufacture, enhancing scalability and reducing costs

Challenges in Design and Architecture

Component Selection and System Integration: Selecting appropriate components that match the system's requirements and ensuring seamless integration pose significant challenges.

Software-Hardware Interface: Designing an effective interface between the software applications and the hardware components is crucial for the optimal functioning of embedded systems.

Heat Dissipation and Environmental Hazards: Special attention is given to managing heat and protecting the system from environmental damages like electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI)

By adhering to these principles and considering the outlined architectural styles, designers can create robust, efficient, and reliable embedded systems tailored to specific applications and environments.

Applications Across Industries

Embedded systems have revolutionized operations across a vast array of industries by performing specialized tasks within numerous devices. These systems are integral to technologies ranging from consumer electronics to advanced industrial machinery. Below is an overview of the diverse applications of embedded systems across various sectors:

Automotive Industry

Safety Mechanisms: Embedded systems enhance vehicle safety through features like airbags and anti-lock braking systems.

Navigation and Infotainment: Manage GPS systems and multimedia functions, improving user experience and vehicle functionality.

Vehicle Performance: Control engine systems, monitor vehicle diagnostics, and optimize fuel efficiency.

Medical Devices

Diagnostic Equipment: Embedded systems are crucial in devices that monitor heart rates, glucose levels, and blood pressure.

Treatment Devices: Regulate and administer treatments through advanced drug delivery systems and therapeutic devices.

Wearable Health Monitors: Track health metrics such as physical activity, heart rate, and sleep patterns, providing insights and alerts.

Consumer Electronics

Smartphones and Tablets: Manage core functions including user interface, connectivity, and multimedia processing.

Home Automation: Control systems for lighting, security, and HVAC, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.

Wearable Technology: Smartwatches and fitness trackers that monitor physical activities and health metrics.

Industrial Automation

Manufacturing: Automate tasks such as assembly lines, quality control, and inventory management, increasing efficiency and safety.

Process Control: Monitor and control industrial processes like chemical reactions and machine operations to ensure optimal performance.

Robotics: Embedded systems guide robotic mechanisms used in manufacturing, warehousing, and material handling.

Aerospace and Defense

Aircraft Systems: Control navigation, communication, and engine management systems in aircraft.

Surveillance and Reconnaissance: Embedded systems play a key role in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and data collection.

Mission-Critical Systems: Manage life-support and operational systems in spacecraft and military equipment.

Telecommunications

Network Equipment: Embedded systems are used in routers, switches, and modems to manage data flow and connectivity.

Mobile Communication: Enable smartphones and other portable devices to connect and communicate efficiently.

Satellite Systems: Control satellite operations and data transmission, crucial for global communication networks.

Energy Sector

Smart Grid Technology: Manage the distribution and efficient use of electricity through real-time monitoring and control systems.

Renewable Energy Systems: Control operations in solar panels and wind turbines, optimizing energy production.

Utility Management: Monitor energy consumption, improve system reliability, and facilitate maintenance and repairs.

Embedded systems' adaptability allows them to be customized for specific tasks in these industries, leading to innovations that enhance functionality, safety, and efficiency. Their integration into various devices and machinery has become a cornerstone of technological advancement, influencing how industries evolve and operate.

Challenges in Embedded System Design

Embedded system design faces several challenges that impact the efficiency and security of these technologies. Understanding these challenges is crucial for developers to enhance system performance and reliability.

Debugging and Testing

Debugging Process: Debugging embedded systems typically requires attaching a separate debugging system to the target system via a serial or other port. This setup allows programmers to view and manage the source code from a general-purpose computer, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

Testing Protocols: Testing printed circuit boards (PCBs) is conducted at each development phase. Custom testing firmware is created to verify if the PCB functions as expected, demanding meticulous attention to detail and extensive validation procedures.

Security Enhancements

Increasing Security Measures: With the rise of connected devices, security has become a paramount concern. Embedded system designers are now integrating robust security features such as hardware-based security, secure boot procedures, and advanced encryption algorithms to safeguard against breaches.

Cybersecurity Solutions: Developing effective cybersecurity solutions is essential to address vulnerabilities in embedded systems, particularly for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and industries previously lax in security measures.

Software and Hardware Integration

Selection of Programming Language: The choice between C++ and Rust is significant in embedded device programming. Rust offers a memory safety model that enhances security, presenting a compelling alternative to the traditionally used C++ in embedded systems.

Component Selection: The technical proposal phase involves selecting components based on technical characteristics, operating environment, cost, quality, and availability. This balance between cost and performance is critical in determining the overall effectiveness of the embedded system solution.

Project Development Challenges

Requirements Gathering: Conducting thorough interviews with clients to formulate precise requirements for their products is a foundational step in project development.

Offering Alternatives: Providing feasible alternatives during the planning phase ensures that the final product meets the client's needs while adhering to technical and budgetary constraints.

By addressing these challenges through strategic planning and implementation, developers can significantly enhance the performance and security of embedded systems, ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of modern technology applications.

Recent Advances and Future Directions

Embedded systems are continuously evolving, driven by technological advancements and increasing demands across various sectors. This section explores recent innovations and the anticipated future trends in embedded system technology.

Technological Innovations and Trends

AI and Machine Learning: Integration of AI and machine learning in embedded systems has enabled devices to make intelligent decisions and adapt to their environments effectively. This trend is enhancing the capabilities of devices in real-time processing and decision-making.

Edge Computing: By processing data closer to the source of data generation, edge computing minimizes latency and reduces the reliance on constant internet connectivity, thereby enhancing the efficiency of embedded systems.

Advanced Connectivity Solutions: Developments in wireless technologies such as 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, and Bluetooth LE Audio are revolutionizing how embedded systems communicate and interact, enabling faster and more reliable connections.

Focus on Sustainability and Efficiency

Energy-Efficient Design: With sustainability as a priority, there is a significant shift towards developing low-power embedded systems using advanced power management technologies and energy harvesting techniques

Green Technology: The integration of environmentally friendly practices in the design and deployment of embedded systems is becoming increasingly important

Security and Quality Enhancements

Software Quality: Strengthening the software quality through rigorous testing and adherence to high standards is essential to ensure the reliability and performance of embedded systems

Cybersecurity Measures: As embedded systems become more interconnected, the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats and vulnerabilities is crucial

Market Growth and Economic Impact

Market Expansion: The embedded systems market is projected to grow significantly, driven by its applications in AI, mobile computing, and sophisticated processing technologies.

Economic Contributions: As a pivotal element of modern technological solutions, embedded systems are contributing substantially to economic growth and innovation across industries

Future Directions

Quantum Computing: Looking ahead, quantum computing holds the potential to exponentially increase the processing power of embedded systems, opening new avenues for data analysis and decision-making

Open-Source Collaboration: The trend towards open-source hardware and software is fostering greater innovation and collaboration within the embedded systems community

Embedded systems are set to become even more integral to technological progress, with advancements in AI, security, and sustainable practices leading the way. The continuous evolution in this field promises to bring more sophisticated, efficient, and secure embedded solutions to the forefront of technology.

Conclusion

Throughout this exploration of embedded systems, we have journeyed through the intricate balance of hardware and software components, design principles, and the architectural frameworks that underpin these fundamental technology elements.

The discussion highlighted not only the core components and their critical roles but also the current challenges in design and security, underscoring the continuous innovation required to advance in this fast-paced domain. By delving into the varied applications across multiple industries—from automotive to telecommunications and beyond—we've seen how embedded systems function as the linchpins of modern technological infrastructure, driving progress and efficiency at an unprecedented scale.

Looking forward, the future of embedded systems appears boundless, fueled by advancements in AI, machine learning, and edge computing, alongside a growing emphasis on sustainability and cybersecurity. These evolving trends not only promise to expand the capabilities of embedded systems but also underscore the significant economic and societal impact these technologies continue to wield. As we anticipate further breakthroughs, the dialogue around embedded systems will undoubtedly advance, highlighting the imperative for ongoing research, development, and collaboration to harness these powerful tools in the push towards a more innovative and interconnected world.

[zekatix]

What Are Embedded Systems and IoT Basics?

As we explore the realm of embedded systems and IoT basics, we uncover the intricate web of technologies that underpin our modern world. Embedded systems discreetly power our devices, while IoT seamlessly connects these devices to create a networked ecosystem. The fusion of these technologies has revolutionized how we interact with our surroundings, but what lies beneath the surface of these buzzwords is a fascinating journey into the heart of modern innovation. The interplay between embedded systems and IoT is not just about devices; it’s a gateway to a realm where connectivity and intelligence converge to shape our future.

Embedded Systems Overview

Embedded systems, as integral components of various devices, serve specific functions efficiently and reliably through specialized hardware and embedded software. These systems are designed to handle tasks such as monitoring, control, and data collection in devices like smartphones, cars, and home appliances.

When embedded into the Internet of Things (IoT), they play a crucial role in connecting and managing devices, enabling communication, data gathering, and intelligent decision-making. Cost-effective, energy-efficient, and secure, embedded systems enhance operational efficiency and support seamless integration of connected devices and services.

With their single-functioned operation, tightly constrained design metrics, and real-time performance, embedded systems are typically microcontroller or microprocessor based, requiring memory for software embedding. Advantages include easy customization, low power consumption, low cost, and enhanced performance. However, challenges like high development effort and longer time to market exist.

The basic structure involves sensors, A-D converters, processors, ASICs, D-A converters, and actuators working together in an interdependent system.

IoT Fundamentals

In the realm of interconnected technologies, IoT Fundamentals lay the groundwork for understanding the intricate web of devices and networks that characterize the Internet of Things. As we delve into the basics of IoT, it becomes clear that this innovative concept revolves around connecting physical objects through wired and wireless networks. These objects, equipped with sensors and actuators, can communicate independently over the internet, emphasizing a focus on things rather than people. From enhancing safety and maintenance to enabling entertainment and more, IoT finds applications across diverse industries, including fleet management solutions.

Let’s explore some key IoT fundamentals in the table below:

Embedded Systems in IoT

Integrating embedded systems within IoT networks enhances device connectivity and functionality. These systems play a crucial role in connecting and managing various devices, enabling communication, data gathering, and intelligent decision-making.

Embedded systems, whether microcontrollers or microprocessors, bring cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and security features to IoT networks. The components and architecture of embedded devices are vital for their functionality within the IoT ecosystem.

Manufacturers develop embedded software using languages like .Net, Python, and others for applications ranging from simple lighting controls to complex systems in missiles and airplanes. Embedded systems also offer a wide range of tutorials covering programming languages like Java, C++, and technologies such as Data Structures and Spring, providing practical insights for both beginners and experienced developers.

IoT Embedded System Applications

Exploring the practical applications of IoT embedded systems reveals their impact on various industries and everyday life. IoT embedded systems are ubiquitous, transforming how we interact with technology and enhancing efficiency across multiple sectors.

Here are some compelling applications:

Smart Home Automation: IoT embedded systems power smart thermostats, lighting systems, and security cameras, enabling remote control and automation of household devices.

Industrial IoT (IIoT): In manufacturing, IoT embedded systems monitor equipment performance, optimize processes, and facilitate predictive maintenance, improving overall operational efficiency.

Healthcare Monitoring: IoT embedded systems in medical devices track patient health metrics, support telemedicine services, and enhance remote patient monitoring capabilities.

Smart Agriculture: Embedded systems in IoT devices collect data on soil conditions, crop health, and weather patterns, aiding farmers in making informed decisions for crop management.

Transportation and Logistics: IoT embedded systems in vehicles enable real-time tracking of shipments, optimize routes for delivery vehicles, and enhance fleet management through data-driven insights.

Challenges and Advantages

Let’s delve into the challenges and advantages of embedded security in IoT systems. When it comes to embedded security, there are specific challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the protection and integrity of these systems. Some of the challenges include the lack of standardization, unpatched devices, insecure network connectivity, and the presence of potential vulnerabilities from third-party components. Additionally, the long life cycles of embedded systems pose a continuous threat and maintaining a consistent security posture in the diverse IoT ecosystem can be complex.

On the other hand, embedded security also offers several advantages that contribute to the overall resilience and protection of IoT systems. By implementing security by design, establishing a root of trust, enabling secure boot processes, and utilizing trusted execution environments, these systems can enhance their defenses against threats. Furthermore, the integration of solutions like the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and advanced security measures such as preventing stack overflows and leveraging runtime protection solutions like Sternum can significantly bolster the security of embedded systems in IoT applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Basics of Embedded Systems and Iot?

Embedded systems are specialized for specific tasks in devices like phones and cars. They efficiently handle functions such as monitoring and data collection. When integrated into IoT, they connect devices, gather data, and make decisions.

What Is Embedded System Basic?

Embedded systems basics involve specialized computer systems performing specific tasks efficiently. They���re commonly in phones, cars, and appliances, handling functions like monitoring and control. Integrated into IoT, they connect and manage devices effectively.

What Are 5 Embedded Systems?

Sure! Embedded systems are prevalent in devices like digital cameras, microwave ovens, washing machines, GPS systems, and automotive systems. They efficiently handle tasks like control and data processing, making them indispensable in various industries.

What Does Iot Mean for an Embedded Developer?

IoT revolutionizes embedded development. It allows devices to connect, share data, and make intelligent decisions. We focus on creating interconnected smart systems that enhance efficiency and functionality. Security, power management, and data handling are critical considerations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, embedded systems and IoT are essential technologies that drive connectivity and automation in today’s interconnected world.

By combining specialized computing systems with networked physical objects, these technologies enable efficient and reliable communication and data processing for a wide range of applications.

From smart homes to industrial automation, embedded systems and IoT continue to revolutionize the way we interact with our environment and enhance our daily lives.

Visit Zekatix for more  information.

[mtul-c]

Reading declarations with Specifiers and Qualifiers

Storage Class Specifiersauto – Can be used only within a block. A default storage class. Stored in stack.static – Either inside/outside the function. If used inside, a function, the scope of variable is preserved between function calls. If used outside a function but in a file, it the variable cannot be accessed by other file. Stored in data segment.extern – Defined in a function, used somewhere…

[sulkingheichou012]

Into the Dungeon with You

Pairing: Jinwoo x Reader

Genre: RomCom, Action, Future Smut

Warning: Description of violence and profanity.

Summary: Jinwoo frowned as a new system notification appeared before him.

[Special Reward Successfully Claimed.]

Author's note: I'm happy that some of you are enjoying my silly work! Yes, if you're asking to be tagged—sure! 😊

Chapter 6

Jinwoo took a step forward. The battered boss, still recovering from Y/N’ unexpected punch, growled low in its throat. But it was slow now. Sloppy. The perfect opening.

Jinwoo took charge again, moving with new focus. His shadows rallied under the boost from Y/N. Bellion sliced through the boss monster’s legs. Beru tore into its throat. Tank pounced, pinning it down, while Tusk finished with a barrage of spells.

With a swift motion, Jinwoo’s dagger cut through the air. “Perish”

Finally, the boss monster collapsed, shuddering, and dissolved into shadows.

The dungeon was silent.

Except for Y/N, still staring at her fist.

Jinwoo exhaled and turned his attention to the System Notifications floating in front of him. His eyes flicked from one glowing window to another, carefully analyzing the data.

⟪ SPECIAL REWARD UNLOCKED: Y/N ⟫ ⟪ ABILITY REVIEW - Shadow Resonance: Ability to amplify and evolve the Shadow Monarch's summoned forces through emotional command. Buffs and evolution can be triggered without direct contact.

(Current Trigger: Emotional intensity and focused attention on the shadow in question.) ⟫

⟪ ABILITY REVIEW - Combat Synchronization: Temporarily synchronizes the user’s entire physical, magical, and combat instincts with the Shadow Monarch. Grants access to abilities, combat reflexes, and stats at the Monarch’s current level.

(Current Trigger: Triggered by protective instincts or threat response. Control can be mastered over time.) ⟫

⟪ ABILITY REVIEW - Shadow Manifestation: Can manifest the will and combat essence of fallen warriors not yet turned into shadows. Summons display peak strength and combat mastery.

(Current Trigger: Pending… Skill locked.) ⟫

Jinwoo sighed, a smirk tugging at his lips. “She really is something.”

He remembered when he first claimed her as a reward, standing in that cave wondering if the system had scammed him. A clueless woman in shorts and a loose shirt was not what he expected from a ‘special reward’.

And yet— Now, here she was. Upgrading his army, punching monsters through dungeon walls, and accidentally unlocking skills he hadn’t even dreamed of.

Jinwoo shook his head, amused. “System, you sneaky bastard.”

Y/N, still marveling at the size of Beru’s claws nearby, was startled when Jinwoo called her over. “Y/N.” “Huh? Yes, boss—I mean, Jinwoo?” She scrambled over, wiping imaginary dust off her hands. “Sit.” He gestured to a rock. She plopped down without argument.

Jinwoo crossed his arms, staring at her like a teacher about to explain quantum physics to a student who just learned basic math.

Jinwoo pointed at Igris, who stood tall nearby, his newly upgraded form gleaming in the dim dungeon light. “When you cheered for Igris earlier, you evolved him. Made him stronger without touching him.” Y/N’ mouth fell open. “I did that?” Jinwoo nodded. “You also knocked out a high-tier monster back when we first met.” Her expression shifted from awe to disbelief. Y/N looked at her hands like they had secret nuclear codes embedded in the fingertips. “Oh my god…” “Yeah, I panicked!” she huffed, crossing her arms. “Exactly. That panic triggered Combat Synchronization.”

Y/N squinted. “So… if I get scared, I become strong?” Jinwoo shrugged. “Fear, instinct, emotions—maybe at will, it’s complicated. But yes, you sync with me. My stats become your stats.” Y/N sat there for a moment, then broke into a slow grin. Jinwoo laughed quietly under his breath. “I almost thought you were a scam.” “HEY!” Y/N smacked his arm. “But now,” he continued, smirking at her outrage, “you’re one of the best things to happen to my army.”

Y/N glowed at the praise but tried to play it cool. “Oh, you know… I aim to please.” Jinwoo stood, offering his hand to her. “Come on. Let’s see how much more we can unlock.” Y/N grabbed his hand, standing up with a grin. “Let’s go, boss!” Jinwoo raised an eyebrow. “You’re not getting paid.” She shrugged. “Fine, but I want snacks after this.” “Deal.”

Y/N wasn’t done. “And if I synchronize with you, I can totally copy your cool moves, right? I can, like, do those shadow teleports, and the dagger flips, and maybe even the brooding stare!” She immediately attempted the brooding stare. It looked more like she needed to sneeze.

Jinwoo watched in silence.

After clearing the dungeon, Jinwoo finally called it a day. Y/N was still buzzing with energy, practically skipping beside him as they exited the gate.

She was mid-ramble, waving her arms around. “—wait! Did you see me ran so fast to punch that terrifying boss? Olympic level! I deserve a medal! Or, like, I dunno, at least a chocolate bar.”

Jinwoo glanced sideways at her. “…Ice cream.”

Y/N froze mid-step. “What?”

He kept walking. “You want ice cream?” “Are you serious?!” She practically tripped over her own feet catching up to him. “Sung Jinwoo… is treating me… to ice cream?!”

Jinwoo’s expression didn’t change, but he tilted his head in that subtle way. “You’ve been… less useless today,” he said flatly. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She clutched her chest dramatically.

They found a small street vendor not far from the raid site. Jinwoo handed over some cash without much thought, and the vendor—clearly recognizing him—stared in awe as Korea’s strongest hunter bought two cones like it was totally normal.

Y/N picked the most colorful one. Rainbow sprinkles. Chocolate chips. Something that sparkled. Jinwoo took plain vanilla. Classic.

She looked at his cone, then hers. “Boring choice for a Monarch of Shadows.” Jinwoo raised an eyebrow. “I don’t need sprinkles to be strong.”

Y/N grinned and bumped her cone gently against his like a toast. “To surviving another day!” “…To surviving,” he agreed, taking a slow bite like it was a combat exercise.

That night, Jinwoo finally allowed himself some rest.

For once, Y/N wasn’t bribing his shadows to evolve in exchange for favors. Definitely not. Especially not Igris—he already evolved! No, Y/N was more like… collecting debts. And right now, she was cashing in by ordering Igris to sit still while she braided his hair antenna and tied a cute little ribbon at the end.

Jinwoo let out an exhausted sighed and went to his room.

He closed his eyes.

And he dreamed.

He stood in a vast, endless space of darkness. Not his shadow world—something older. Colder. He recognized it. The place where Ashborn once reigned. Where he had spoken to Jinwoo for the first time.

And there, ahead of him… Ashborn stood.

But this time, Jinwoo wasn’t alone. A figure appeared next to him. Small compared to the massive shadow monarch… but standing without fear. Y/N.

She was staring straight at Ashborn. And Ashborn… Ashborn was nodding at her. Like he had chosen her. Like he was pleased.

A voice echoed in Jinwoo’s head.

“The successor… must not stand alone.” “The monarch must have an anchor.” “She is the anchor.”

And then Jinwoo’s shadows appeared around them—an endless army—but they weren’t looking at Jinwoo.

They bowed to Y/N.

Jinwoo sat bolt upright in bed. He was sweating. He checked his system. Nothing. Checked his shadows. Still there. But there was… something.

He summoned Bellion.

Bellion appeared, kneeling immediately. “My Liege.”

“What did you find?” Jinwoo asked. His voice was tight. Bellion lowered his head. “The reward… the woman. She was chosen by Ashborn.” “…What?” Jinwoo’s pulse pounded in his ears. “Before his fall, our king chose her. As a safeguard. In case his successor failed… or stood alone.”

Jinwoo exhaled slowly, piecing it together. Ashborn had made preparations beyond just him.

Bellion’s next words were heavier still. “She holds potential not even you have yet unlocked. But she is… untrained. Untested.”

Jinwoo rubbed his face. Great. Perfect. His “special reward” wasn’t just a clueless fangirl —she was a living contingency plan. A wild card. And she had zero idea about it.

He found her in the kitchen the next morning. She was pouring cereal into a bowl, casually humming the Attack on Titan theme under her breath. But then—she couldn’t hold it back anymore. The hype hit her like a titan charging the wall. She dropped her spoon with a dramatic clatter, slammed her fist over her chest in a perfect Scout Regiment salute, and shouted at full volume, “Sasageyo! Sasageyo! Shinzou wo sasageyo!”

Jinwoo stared at her for a long moment. This was the person Ashborn had chosen. This was his… anchor?

Y/N looked up. “Morning! Want cereal?”

Jinwoo kept staring. Y/N tilted her head. “Uh… you okay?”

He finally sighed and turned away. “Fine. Cereal.”

She smiled brightly and handed him a bowl like they were two roommates, not a Monarch and a supposed cosmic contingency plan.

She doesn’t know. She has no idea. She thinks this is just some adventure or dream or… something. Ashborn picked her. As a safeguard. A partner? And she’s over there dunking Choco Pebbles into milk like it’s the best thing in the world.

Jinwoo ate his cereal in silence.

Beru materialized in the shadows behind him. “My Liege. Shall we inform the young lady of her destiny?”

Jinwoo took a long bite of cereal. Chewed. Swallowed. “No.”

Beru tilted his head.

“Not yet,” Jinwoo added. “She’s not ready. And neither am I.”

<< Chapter 5 | Chapter 7 >>

Tag requests: @kisssleeping; @catsf0rlife707; @aorifukuzawa; @joannthebish; @ojog404; @tanspostsblog; @snowy-violet

[robin-evry]

what if!!! hear me out 🙏🙏 yuu was a robot/miku inspired…IT SUCKS but like…miku kinda..yuu mikyuu…😓😓

Sure no worries, no judgement from me, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐎𝐓 🤖👾🎤

A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. But they can act independently if their creators allow it.

( English is not my first language )

Day 3 : robot!yuu

In a world full of technology and robots. Robot!yuu was the number one idol during that time and was in the number one group of the century ; vocaloid, imagine during the middle of a performance one of their solo concerts, a black carriage arrived and they suddenly shut down.

They turned on when it was an orientation ceremony. Since robot!yuu isn't technically an organic being, they would be put between the ignihyde dorm or ramshackle.

After Crowley gave them a cellphone or asked idia if he could do maintenance to connect them to social media of twisted wonderland, by doing this they started to upload their albums towards the internet and it blew up, people are loving it, it's getting headlines about a new genre of music, and the music getting about stream by millions around the world, Robot!yuu created a genre of music. A revaluation towards the music Industry.

This managed robot!yuu to get rich overnight and allowed them to buy more expensive and to fix the ramshackle dorm more to get more expensive technology for their maintenance, Robot!yuu was planning on giving half of the money to Crowley as a thanks but he only received 1/4 half of the money.

Even tho robot! yuu is an idol, their master builds them with an offensive and defensive system, they have extremely tough metal that is hard to find as well an offensive mode, they have a lot on their arsenal attacks, energy beams, rocket launchers, shield mode, and more.

They are also able to connect to any device and hack it without any issue, they manage to hack ignihyde technology without an issue. And they are waterproof

Robot!yuu also can digest and drink things without an issue, they have a special component on their stomach to make sure they can digest things normally.

During VDC they dominated the competition. Lasers, mist appears and light sticks wave around for their presence. They change outfits depending on the song, it was literally a Miku concert.

Congratulations neige Leblanc is now one of their fans, when going down the stage, he literally ran towards you and started asking a billion of questions with stars amongst their eyes

Vil was a little sour but also amazed about robot!yuu performance, he would ask them for choreography and music ideas from them as well as fashion opinions. He originally wanted robot!yuu to transfer into ignihyde but they refused due to ignihyde has the complete equipment for them or ramshackle.

Pomifiore dorm started to take notes and tried robot!yuu fashion styles. Idia is also a supporter of them and basically a super fan, robot!yuu would come to ignihyde to help him with games or help him maintain ortho, Robot!yuu is basically a sister towards Idia and Ortho.

sorry if it's short, this is by far I could come up anon

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Y'all, I am SO excited about this!!!! I've long been fascinated with holobionts, which are basically miniature ecosystems that revolve around one relatively large being essentially acting as a habitat for a whole host of tinier ones in a generally symbiotic relationship. A lichen is (at least to our current understanding) a relatively simple version thereof, with a mycobiont (fungus) creating structure for photobionts (algae and/or cyanobacteria) and, more recently, unicellular yeast--and possibly others we haven't discovered yet.

But our body's microbiomes also make us holobionts! Our skin, guts, and vaginal flora are all a part of our bodies as much as our cells, and often outnumber the human cells in our systems. We are walking around with veritable nations of microscopic beings living out generation after generation in and on our bodies, and without them we would cease to exist. (Though they would outlast us a while in the event of our death.)

What's really cool about this study is that it demonstrates how it's not just our own human genes that shape our evolution, but the ever-changing genomes of our microbiome residents as well. It really pokes holes in the reductionist idea that we are biological islands that grow and develop independently of other beings, and adds a whole new set of layers to us being part of wider, interconnected ecological systems.

We might pretend we're separate from the rest of nature as we build more concrete, steel, and plastic barriers. But we constantly carry our legacy as animals with us, embedded within the matrices of our bodies, just as we carry our heritage of the ocean in our constant need for water and salinity. No matter how much we try to sterilize our indoor environments and our food and our bodies, we are constantly rife with the thriving, overflowing riot of life that has accompanied us from the time our ancient ancestors pasted their split daughter cells together instead of sending them off on their divergent ways.

[laika290]

ever wonder why spotify/discord/teams desktop apps kind of suck?

i don't do a lot of long form posts but. I realized that so many people aren't aware that a lot of the enshittification of using computers in the past decade or so has a lot to do with embedded webapps becoming so frequently used instead of creating native programs. and boy do i have some thoughts about this.

for those who are not blessed/cursed with computers knowledge Basically most (graphical) programs used to be native programs (ever since we started widely using a graphical interface instead of just a text-based terminal). these are apps that feel like when you open up the settings on your computer, and one of the factors that make windows and mac programs look different (bc they use a different design language!) this was the standard for a long long time - your emails were served to you in a special email application like thunderbird or outlook, your documents were processed in something like microsoft word (again. On your own computer!). same goes for calendars, calculators, spreadsheets, and a whole bunch more - crucially, your computer didn't depend on the internet to do basic things, but being connected to the web was very much an appreciated luxury!

that leads us to the eventual rise of webapps that we are all so painfully familiar with today - gmail dot com/outlook, google docs, google/microsoft calendar, and so on. as html/css/js technology grew beyond just displaying text images and such, it became clear that it could be a lot more convenient to just run programs on some server somewhere, and serve the front end on a web interface for anyone to use. this is really very convenient!!!! it Also means a huge concentration of power (notice how suddenly google is one company providing you the SERVICE) - you're renting instead of owning. which means google is your landlord - the services you use every day are first and foremost means of hitting the year over year profit quota. its a pretty sweet deal to have a free email account in exchange for ads! email accounts used to be paid (simply because the provider had to store your emails somewhere. which takes up storage space which is physical hard drives), but now the standard as of hotmail/yahoo/gmail is to just provide a free service and shove ads in as much as you need to.

webapps can do a lot of things, but they didn't immediately replace software like skype or code editors or music players - software that requires more heavy system interaction or snappy audio/visual responses. in 2013, the electron framework came out - a way of packaging up a bundle of html/css/js into a neat little crossplatform application that could be downloaded and run like any other native application. there were significant upsides to this - web developers could suddenly use their webapp skills to build desktop applications that ran on any computer as long as it could support chrome*! the first applications to be built on electron were the late code editor atom (rest in peace), but soon a whole lot of companies took note! some notable contemporary applications that use electron, or a similar webapp-embedded-in-a-little-chrome as a base are:

microsoft teams

notion

vscode

discord

spotify

anyone! who has paid even a little bit of attention to their computer - especially when using older/budget computers - know just how much having chrome open can slow down your computer (firefox as well to a lesser extent. because its just built better <3)

whenever you have one of these programs open on your computer, it's running in a one-tab chrome browser. there is a whole extra chrome open just to run your discord. if you have discord, spotify, and notion open all at once, along with chrome itself, that's four chromes. needless to say, this uses a LOT of resources to deliver applications that are often much less polished and less integrated with the rest of the operating system. it also means that if you have no internet connection, sometimes the apps straight up do not work, since much of them rely heavily on being connected to their servers, where the heavy lifting is done.

taking this idea to the very furthest is the concept of chromebooks - dinky little laptops that were created to only run a web browser and webapps - simply a vessel to access the google dot com mothership. they have gotten better at running offline android/linux applications, but often the $200 chromebooks that are bought in bulk have almost no processing power of their own - why would you even need it? you have everything you could possibly need in the warm embrace of google!

all in all the average person in the modern age, using computers in the mainstream way, owns very little of their means of computing.

i started this post as a rant about the electron/webapp framework because i think that it sucks and it displaces proper programs. and now ive swiveled into getting pissed off at software services which is in honestly the core issue. and i think things can be better!!!!!!!!!!! but to think about better computing culture one has to imagine living outside of capitalism.

i'm not the one to try to explain permacomputing specifically because there's already wonderful literature ^ but if anything here interested you, read this!!!!!!!!!! there is a beautiful world where computers live for decades and do less but do it well. and you just own it. come frolic with me Okay ? :]

*when i say chrome i technically mean chromium. but functionally it's same thing

[st-hedge]

I said a while ago that for totk’s one anniversary I would write a weird little review of the game in which I throw roses at it while simultaneously slandering it. So I made an attempt which is very abbreviated

Disclaimer: I’m not telling u how u should feel about totk or what’s the right way to feel about it, I’m just trying to make sense of why the game frustrates me and putting it into words. It’s completely fine if u disagree with me, I’m not pitching an argument but just putting words on paper

Totk is one of the best games I’ve ever had the opportunity to play. The mechanics, the music, the designs, the revised world of hyrule, makes me want to curl up on the floor and cry. It is stunning and done with so much love. Where botw had lacked, totk has improved and gone above and beyond. It had frustrated me that botw only allowed us to explore the ground surface, but botw was an exploration into open world games which allowed for totk to happen. The caves, the boats, the islands, and the depths add so much to already such a vast world. I only wish there was also diving but beggars can’t be choosers beh

Although it still doesn’t make too much sense to me why all weapons are suddenly corrupted, I do love the new weapons system. I love how it gives more variety to explore. Materials which previously sat unused in the inventory are now key and nothing feels like a waste to collect. Even rupees have found another use. I’m not the biggest fan of the zonai devices but the addition feels like a love letter to the creativity of the fan base and it feels at place. They help to traverse an otherwise huge and intimidating world. But at times I feel like they give too much leverage and break down too many boundaries and leave little to solve and explore. What im basically saying is fuck the rockets.

I feel that totk doesn’t have enough progress boundaries that make u pause and explore what u have at hand. I found myself just pushing and pushing, forgetting and leaving behind areas I barely touched. It felt too easy getting into the sky and returning to the islands and they lost some of their mystery to me. I think this would have been a great opportunity to reintroduce the loftwings from skyward sword. I’ve talked before about how much this would make sense for totk. The loftwings could be a means to cross boundaries and explore new territories, but it takes time to catch and tame one as a companion. But like horses they should have their limits, presenting new boundaries u need to overcome again

Where the totk’s hyrule begins to confuse and disappoint me goes hand in hand with my main issue (confusion?) with the game. Although botw felt incomplete (the world was a little sparse and one dimensional), the story was comprehensive and clear. Meanwhile, totk has a complete and lively world but it doesn’t have a story to carry

Totk’s story doesn’t have an identity I can grasp and understand. It’s like it doesn’t know what it wants to tell the player, what story it wants to direct them to. On one hand, it seems to want us to know about the origins of hyrule and the mysterious landmarks and characters that are permanent fixtures in this world (castle, ruins, dragons) but at the same time it suddenly wants to do a retelling of OoT and about the sages and these secret stones. But the game never completes any of these stories. Maybe it wants to tell us these stories through the environment, but there is just not enough embedded into the world to grasp and tie together into a narrative. Which is ironic considering how big the world is

We begin to be told the story of the dragons, we suddenly understand how they came to be (the secret stones). But we are never told about the events of their creation (an act of desperation, like Zelda’s) and we are never close to understanding them. Then we are told about the sages, but meeting them tells us nothing new. No new cutscenes, no new items or lore directly related to them. The new sages are found, but didn’t we just discover the divine beasts with them? Suddenly another layer of importance is added to them which makes the ties between legacy and the current sages muddier. I wish there had been focus on them creating their own legacy instead

I think totk could’ve had a very interesting story to tell if it chose what it wants to focus on. Maybe the secret stones were introduced just as a way for Zelda to become a dragon? I dunno

There are so many new places that feel like fantastic opportunities for moments of pause and to uncover lore, unearth memories. But instead they’re brisk puzzles or empty sites. Like the graveyard underneath the desert, the forge islands, the factories, and the fucking poe statues. Tell me as much as u want that I can’t read environmental story telling, but I’ll just keep saying there’s nothing to read into cuz the game doesn’t know what it wants to say. There’s no thread to follow in the way there was with, for example, the graveyard at the spirit temple in OoT. We could’ve been just left with a strange well and a graveyard and told to figure it out, but a thread is laid down that these are the skeletons in the royal family’s closet.

Totk does have amazing moments, like Zelda meeting her ancestors and giving up her identity to become a living legend to revive the master sword, the discovery of the ancient temples, the story of the zonai and their origins. But these are just pieces with many loose ends around them that go nowhere. Even Ganon is left as a loose end where there was so much opportunity to say something worth saying. He seems comically evil with bogstandard bah I want to rule the world lines. If u want to make a case for evil for the sake of evil, u can at least show me a character repeatedly making horrible choices which lead them to the current predicament. Just like totk’s hyrule, he is lovingly designed but he tells absolutely no story

If the reason behind the lack of story is that the devs/writers wanted us to make our own story out of this, then I think this is a case where it was a poor choice. The fans can make theories, hcs, pick up pieces and make AUs, but we also love the stories told by the games and it’s what inspires us to uncover more stories (hey wanna talk about tp and why we hear Malon’s song at night, or what’s up with the empty desert)

I’d love to see totk from the perspective of someone who had never played or known botw. Did it really help to remove any traces of sheikah tech besides the labs and the guardian limbs in the towers. Although the zonai devices and the sheikah tech are from different time periods, totk was a perfect opportunity to marry the two elements together. The shrines and the divine beasts could’ve collapsed into the depths, but instead they have just vanished like erased history

Totk’s story doesn’t have an identity in the same way botw’s does. Even though botw’s hyrule was much smaller and emptier, we found stories there cuz we knew what that game was trying to tell us. If totk is about making sacrifices, then this message feels obsolete by the end. U should make sacrifices, but u will only be happy again if it all goes back to exactly how it was before

As happy and sweet the ending is, it made all the worry and sadness I felt seem pointless cuz of course everything would reset back to the norm cuz how else would this game have a happy ending. What was there to worry about. Yeah so what that Zelda became a dragon losing herself, she was just asleep the entire time and effortlessly she becomes her normal self. So what that link lost his sword arm, of course he would miraculously get it back even though it took him 100 years to recover from a mortal wound. No trace of the things they withstood and lost, no mark, nothing.

I loved the final battle and spectacle of the dragons struggling against each other in the sky. The battle went from the deepest depths to the highest reaches of the sky and I thought it was perfect. But once again how the story concluded and the logic behind it me made me feel like I was chewing on sand and the idyllic ending just made me look about in confusion

TLDR; totk is an amazing game with a stunning world that lacks a comprehensive story to tell

I hoped that I would get a better understanding why I’m so frustrated by totk, but instead I just feel even more confused by it and I think that’s just how I’ll have to leave it

[stillness-in-green]

do you have thoughts about the way MHA431 went?

Sure, I'll bite. Let's have a

Chapter Thoughts - Chapter 431: More

Some of this will be a rephrase/expansion on stuff I said in Part 3 of the fascism essay, particularly the section about how Heroes view the prospect of long-term peace, but it’s all worth saying here as well.

Hit the jump for some roughly ordered thoughts primarily about Ochaco’s counseling program, the romance stuff and how it’s facilitated, some stray character observations, and some Stillness-typical complaining about the handling of Villains.

O It was nice to see Ochaco’s program in more detail than the jaw-droppingly bad handwave it got in 430, but I still think it didn’t go anywhere near far enough.  To wit, what we see is a nice introduction to a program that could well be effective at finding some people with behavioral, familial, or quirk-based problems, but the depiction is badly lacking an illustration as to what will be done regarding people with problems that can’t be helped by a tiny bit of encouragement and support.  As it’s with Toga in mind that Ochaco undertook this whole project, it seems fair to ask: How would Toga have fared in it?

If it had been young Toga Himiko in the scene instead of Shy Mining Helmet Boy, Ochaco offering her a little anti-gravity boost would have gone exactly nowhere because no amount of manuevering would have changed Himiko’s basic inability to participate in the activity.  It would have clued Ochaco into Himiko having an issue, though, and perhaps that discovery could have led, with further interaction, to uncovering her feelings of repression and, critically, her problems at home.  Great!  That stuff absolutely needed to be uncovered!

But—then what?  When Ochaco’s program turns up Himiko, a girl with a problem so severe that no amount of welcoming class play is going to resolve it, what’s the next step?  Recommend counseling for her parents, too?  What if they’re resistant, resentful, or they outright refuse?  Do you then remove Himiko from the home?  Let’s switch the lens over to a different kid for a second: Shimura Kotarou.  As evinced by his massive unaddressed abandonment issues, the alternative child care system clearly did him no favors!  And he didn’t have a taboo quirk[1] to add on top of the perception of his being an “unwanted child”!

So if you haven’t improved the state of Japan’s alternative child care system—and there’s no specific evidence that anyone has[2]—have you done much but kicked the consequences down the road a few years or slightly changed the color of the problem at hand?  Would Himiko really fare so much better in a group home or orphanage?  Would the views of the people in charge be significantly different than those of Himiko’s previous counselor?  Or would they just be, as Tomura described his family doing to him, rejecting her kindly instead of cruelly?

1: And “taboo” is honestly putting it lightly.  Shinto beliefs about the spiritual pollution of spilled blood being what they are, Toga’s quirk would actually be profane to a devout adherent—if the reader is familiar with X-Men, think about the kind of nastiness that periodically gets thrown at Nightcrawler by particularly militant Christians.   There’s no indication that Toga’s parents are more devout than the average Japanese person, of course, but values embedded in the culture are going to be embedded in the culture all the same.

2: All we have in that direction is Uraraka enthusing that the program has a lot of support and does very thorough work, and noting that Hawks does negotiations with the Ministry of Education and other (non-specific) organizations, which we see him framing as “investing in young people.”  While this could be indicative of efforts being made somewhere, by someone, to improve the situation for children in alternative care, that read is undercut by Uraraka following up with the note that all this work has done a lot to improve “the quirk education environment.”  This falls far short of specific evidence for improvements to any given other aspect of child welfare.

While I’m sure we’re intended to read Ochaco’s program as one that will be meaningfully helpful to children like Toga—and I don’t even think that it categorically couldn’t be!—what we see directly on the page simply does not prove that case.  Encouraging a baseline kid with an emitter quirk and age-typical shyness does not prove that The Problem of Toga has been addressed.  So what was even the point of showing it to us?

What Himiko really needs—if you’ll pardon my MLA Stan coming out here for a bit—is a complete reevaluation of what quirks are and how people can use them.  She needs a world that’s willing to throw out its old ways of thinking, to update its “notion of normal” to something that will allow the Toga Himikos of the world to live without suppression.  For all the good I'm sure it will do, I don’t see Ochaco’s program doing that.

O It’s so hilariously telling that we got that whole shpiel about updating the Billboard Charts such that non-professional Heroes can be recognized for their efforts, only for the last chapter to give us jack shit on any non-Pro Heroes charting at all.  And like, I’m willing to be generous here: I always assumed that Hawks wasn’t talking about adding non-Pros to the charts verbatim, but rather creating a brand-new chart for the recognition of Civilian Heroes.  But we don’t get anything like that at all—and Deku being a teacher and public speaker gives us a perfect opportunity to indicate such a chart’s existence!  But then, maybe he can’t count because he does Hero work on the weekends, which leads me to my next point.

O Ochaco and Deku should both have just retired, and Shouto should be on sabbatical.  Seriously, if Horikoshi really had the courage of the convictions he was putting to paper, and if it were really true that the Villain emergence rate was down and Heroes were beginning to have more free time, then Ochaco and Deku should both have decided to prioritize the work they believe is more meaningful and helpful than Professional Heroics, and Shouto should feel free to take some time completely off for his self-exploration.  That none of this happens suggests that Horikoshi either didn’t believe or didn’t trust his audience to accept his idea that there are meaningful ways for these characters to be heroic without them also having to be Heroes.

O Ochaco musing about Toga still existing somewhere inside her, and especially all the junk about the dead bisexual teenager being used to encourage the exhaustingly hetero endgame, really just makes me want to read the actual ghost story where Toga is literally haunting Ochaco.  Toga still loves Ochaco-chan, of course, but her encouragement for Ochaco-chan and Deku to hook up is aimed solely at getting the two of them alone in a quiet, private room.  Once that happens, Ochaco’s eyes will go gold and slitted, the walls will start dripping blood, and Deku will find out quite quickly that not everyone is so willing to move on from him murdering Shigaraki Tomura of the League of Villains.

O I miss the Bakugou who was on-course for a big personal growth arc about learning to work in a team.  I feel like that Bakugou, alongside having had a way less tiresome endgame battle, might actually have been able to keep some sidekicks without being chiefly concerned about the level of their personal ambitions.  I don’t give a shit about his (or anyone else save one guy’s) chart position, but it’s exhausting that he had great development into being a proud but capable team player all the way up through the 1-A versus Deku fight, and then all of that gets flushed down the toilet to revert to him getting a badass solo fight against All For One and an epilogue that allows him no work partner options whatsoever outside of the main character.

O The comedy visuals of Deku’s dumb face being subsumed by Bakugou’s plush backseat make me want to die.  Someone please throw this main character away.

O I’m glad Mina reclaimed at least some aspect of her original Alien Queen aspirations with the “Ridley Hero” thing.  Good for her.

O On a worldbuilding note, my attention is caught by Shinsou being described as “not contending” for a chart position, though the kanji can also mean things like “out of contention” or “beyond the sphere of.”  I assume it’s just indicating that Shinsou is an underground Hero like his mentor Aizawa, but a) I feel like that runs a bit counter to his goal of proving that he can be a Hero even with a quirk like Brainwash, and b) isn’t it a bit sketchy if underground Heroes can just choose to exempt themselves from the most visible, public-facing form of Pro Hero evaluation?  Maybe the HPSC charts them for its own records and then removes them from public visibility, of course, or maybe the charts only go down to 200 or so and stop after that, with Shinsou, not seeking for attention, comfortable to be below that cut-off.  Not sure, but there are some interesting possibilities there, as well as some concerning ones.

O HOLY GOD, Monoma’s new look.  I like it very much.  He is also the only person I want to see on the charts at all.  Two hundred ranked entries of Monoma's daily work antics. I support him wholly and with only the most loving of faceitiousness.

O Extremely funny to me that all the people I saw on Twitter talking about this chapter confirming KamiJirou had to first ignore Jirou explicitly denying that there’s anything going on and second be very disingenuous indeed with the panel crop they used to wave around crowing about their ship. I don’t have a strong distaste for KamiJirou relative to my distaste for Kaminari himself, but my tolerance for him pretty much starts and ends with KamiJirouMomo as a poly arrangement, so I was pleased to see that left open here.

O If I dislike Toga’s image being used to encourage Ochaco to hook up with Deku (and I dislike it very much, particularly given the loathsome last words Deku spoke to Toga when she was alive, but at least I can see the sense it makes from a thematic and characterization perspective), I have only profanity for how much I hate Shigaraki’s image being used to encourage Deku in confessing to Ochaco.  Just take my entire folder full of negative reaction memes.  Jesus Christ.

I have said before, and will have more to say in the future, about Deku’s assorted failures as a protagonist and hero, but him deciding that the kind of adult he wants to be is a Hero high school teacher really is the ultimate indicator of just how little he cared about who Shigaraki was and what he wanted.  Ochaco is making a good faith effort to help the Toga Himikos of the future.  Deku, meanwhile, is shallowly paddling around in his Hero Worship wading pool, ignoring both the Shimura Tenkos and the Shigaraki Tomuras of the world—the people Hero Society outcasts, villainizes, and sweeps under the rug.

Shigaraki’s last behest—that Deku ensure the things Shigaraki fought to destroy remain destroyed—was wasted on Deku, who, once he got Spinner and Overhaul off his conscience, clearly could not give less of a shit about helping the people Shigaraki fought for.  To see that last behest come back in the context of Deku using it to bolster his goddamn love life is a fucking travesty, and I hope Ochaco dumps him inside of a year if Toga Himiko’s vengeful ghost doesn’t get him first.

O DON’T WORRY, GUYS; I’M SURE THE HEROES TOTALLY TRY TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS RANDOM, DOWN-ON-THEIR-LUCK VILLAINS NOW.  THINGS ARE SURE TO BE TOTALLY DIFFER—

Oh.  Oh, it’s not different at all, is it?

(Have I mentioned enough times yet how much I really, really dislike the street crime scenes where Our Heroes stand around and chitchat in the middle of a crime scene, having successfully dealt with the big bad villain whose actions they did not even attempt to de-escalate and whom they have immediately forgotten all about?)

O Wow, thanks for letting us know you don’t think impulse criminals aren’t wicked to the core, Iida.  That makes me feel real reassured about how you guys are handling Villains who premeditate! (It does not.)

O I’ve already said I disliked how Toga’s “image” is used here, but let me not shortchange the fact that it also sucks because it puts the last nail in the coffin of Uraraka having any agency over sharing her own feelings.  She has a lengthy arc about how she is—like Toga in the past—repressing her feelings for the one she loves; she gets through to Toga by frankly admitting to those feelings, as well as all the other things she was sitting on about Toga herself.  And then in the aftermath, she goes right back to repressing her feelings, now ones of paralyzing grief over Toga’s death. Deku witnesses those feelings not because she chooses to share them with him, but because he tracks her down mid-cry.  And now we find out for sure what Chapter 430 left unclear: that in eight years, Ochaco hasn’t said a word about her once-again repressed feelings for him.  Instead, just as she did when she was a teenager, she’s doubled down on putting those feelings away in the name of what she “should” be doing.

And here?  Does she finally take control of her own life, her own feelings, her own expression?  No.  At least, not until after Deku has been the one to confess first and Vision!Toga psychically shoves her forward to close the gap.  The only thing left for Ochaco to do, the only assertiveness asked of her, is to accept or rebuff Deku’s overture.  Good god, you’d think she was Eri, a helpless waif wrestling with indoctrination about how much she’s not allowed to want anything for her own sake, whose turning point in the narrative is finding the strength to reach back for the hand being extended towards her.

Coming from a long-term abuse victim, that’s a perfectly worthy character arc, even a deeply moving show of strength, but it’s wildly pathetic for BNHA’s most prominent female hero, the gal whose character arc was founded entirely on balancing her desire to help others with pursuing her own happiness.  Good lord, did Shonen Jump tell Horikoshi that boys don’t like it when girls are too forward or what?

[gregrulzok]

Imagine a lonely, peaceful graveyard, somewhere in Midorijima.

Imagine two graves, side by side - one so old and overgrown, so laden with moss and grime and dirt, that you can hardly make out the inscription on it, just barely lost to time. The other - a lot more recent, though itself starting to show signs of wear.

An old man laid next to where his grandmother was buried so long ago, in eternal, peaceful sleep.

Imagine the top of that grave slowly growing moss and grass and little flowers, and there, on top, even slightly embedded into the soil - decrepit, rusting, overgrowing with vegetation - a broken-down, barely-functioning white-haired robot. Sitting still, dull eyes forever locked onto the name on the headstone - Seragaki Aoba.

Imagine a few years prior, Aoba getting older and older. Clear taking care of most of his basic needs now, carrying him when he's too tired, preparing all his meals and cleaning every mess - all with the same energy, enthusiasm, smile as before.

Imagine Aoba's old, shaking hands attempting to perform routine maintenance and check-ups on Clear. Imagine him straining his muscles to the point of pain, injury. Him mishandling tools and messing up the wiring, getting bit by electricity or having his increasingly fragile skin bruised from the force. Clear hiding any malfunctions, any errors in his performance, just to make sure Aoba doesn't try to fix it, doesn't hurt himself on his own stubborn pride.

Imagine Clear chatting with Aoba as he always did, happy and chipper, about the afterlife. Trying to spin it as positively as he can manage - assuring Aoba that he'll get to be with Tae-san, finally, and hey, maybe he'll even meet Clear's own grandpa one day! Imagine Aoba snapping at him to be quiet, rejecting, resenting the idea of an afterlife, fearing it more than desiring it because he knows that if there is such a thing, then he'll have to spend all of eternity without his love. Without Clear. Robots don't die, after all, and even if he stopped functioning there's no afterlife in the wings for an artificial being.

Imagine Clear visiting Aoba's grave for the first time. Crying uncontrollably, kneeling in the dirt, burying his hands into the soil as if to dig him up. Imagine him talking to Aoba through sobs, wishing him good rest, a fair journey. Imagine him never getting up from that spot again. Calming down, eventually, just enough to talk normally. Singing to him. Describing the environment around him, then breaking into sobs again.

Imagine his function gradually slowing down. Without any repairs or help, his body shutting down more and more bits of itself just to keep him from completely breaking. His eyesight, his voice modulation, his cooling system, his processing power. His brain becomes more and more warped and weak until he isn't even fully sure why he's there - all he knows is that he's with Aoba-san. He can't see him, or hear him, or feel him, but he's with Aoba-san, and as long as his voice carries (no matter how much it stutters, no matter how muffled it gets, no matter how garbled) - he'll keep speaking to him. Singing to him. Reaching out to him forever.

What other purpose does he have? What other purpose did he ever?

Now imagine a dog in a propeller hat.

[imagine-darksiders]

A fun bit of human worldbuilding for the Darksiders lore. I love the idea of humans technically being considered prey animals by a number of other species in the Darksiders universe. It’s mentioned and shown explicitly that demons and other species will kill and eat humans, so I love the idea of humanity embracing the fight or flight prey instincts that have been pushed to the very backs of our consciousness for thousands of years.

Like imagine you’re a human off world with the horsemen, embarking on a very low-stakes adventure. There’s not a hint of danger on the wind so everyone’s guards are lowered (as much as a horseman can drop their guard) when all of a sudden you get the strangest feeling in the pit of your stomach, and you feel the hair rise along the back of your neck.

You’re able to drop to the ground a microsecond before an enemy attacks from above, who’s claws were an inch away from goring you, and is quickly dispatched by one of the four.

Humanity basically has a primitive early warning system embedded into their dna, which other species aren’t privy too, because they’ve never had to evolve such defensive tactics to survive. It’s not much, but it gives us just enough of a leg up to attempt to compete in the new, dangerous world we’ve re-awoken to.

Sorry for the dump, I just love the idea of long buried human instincts coming in clutch to aid us in a scary demon-infested world. And I love imagining it actually giving us an advantage over other species, who typically underestimate humans.

OohoohoaoOOHO

I need to think of ways to incorporate your idea into my fics >:]

You had no idea you could actually sense danger until you were in it, you duck literally milliseconds before a sword swings over your head and you're like, 'WOAH...! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!'

Death: That was a sword-

You: NO, I mean WHAT DID I just do!?

[dedalvs]

Hi David! Hope you’re having a nice day.

Do you have any tips for people who want to create a casual conlang, as in only for like a pen & paper game or a story they’re writing, where they want to coin some phrases and have a recognisable and somewhat realistic sound but can’t put in all of the background work that really goes into what you do?

Thanks for your time!

Yes I do! I recommend you read a short paper by Jeffrey Henning called "A Naming Language" (you can find it at Fiat Lingua). This will tell you how to create a small language sketch that will allow you to create just enough of a phonology and basic grammatical decisions to create names in your language. What it won't help you do is create complex syntax and inflection required for full scale translation. Now, when I say that, you might be thinking, like, to translate a novel or a political tract, or something like that, but frankly, translating something like, "Can you hand me that wrench over there?" is complex enough. Embedded in that one sentence is choices you have to make about:

Polar question formation

Abilitive/permissive modality

Potential subject/object concord

Demonstratives

Spatial location systems

Pronoun systems

Now this all works in a specific way in English, but it will work in a different specific way in every other language. Some things that English is sensitive too others may not be (for example, English changes word order when changing from a statement to a question; other languages don't do that), but other languages may be sensitive to things English isn't (for example, a language like Georgian has verbs that agree with both the subject, direct object, and indirect object. English doesn't do that). All of these are decisions you have to make (or make implicitly) when designing a language.

I mention all this so you understand what exactly you'll have when you create a language sketch—what you can do and what you can't. With a language sketch, you can create names, you can create single words, you can create derivations, even phrases that don't resolve to anything (like "Cool!" that is a word with one meaning but used to mean something else). You can't translate full sentences. If you do, what you'll either be doing is either (a) creating actual grammar, which is what you do when creating a full language, or (b) unconsciously recreating the grammar of another language (e.g. unconsciously copying the grammar of English).

It is within everyone's capabilities to create a language sketch in no more than a week—perhaps even an hour or two. As long as you know exactly what you can and can't do with it, you can plan accordingly for your fiction—and a sketch can always be expanded into a full conlang later!

[paperclipps7]

2 questions (more than 2, actually, but 2 core themes)

1, is the magic system largely a universal, as in applied to all Toons capable of it on the Dead End, as in Glisten, RnD, and Brightney all use the same magic system? Or is it very "whatever works"? Secret third option?

2, would the magic toons ever talk to each other about said magic? Tips, tricks, the like? I doubt RnD would, but at the very least, does Glisten ask Brightney for secret advice away from the other Toons he's trying very hard to impress?

The magic system has 2 specific styles: The user themself having magic embeded within them, or having a magic item only they can use.

The prior cases are characters like Glisten, Toodles, and Dandy. All of them gained their powers upon entering The Dead End and the powers are actively a part of them. They can be used whenever and wherever the user wishes.

The latter are characters like Astro, Brightney, and Razzle & Dazzle. Astro has his lantern (as described in this post). Brightney has her book, and Razzle & Dazzle have an undecided item (Their powers are still pretty ambiguous and Im working out the details, most likely a deck of cards). These characters cannot perform magic without their items, but they do have the ability built in to summon their items, so unless they get really caught off guard it would be hard to lose them.

As for the second question, pre-split, basically everyone talked to everyone about their magic, but post-split, Glisten was stuck trying to convince Dandy to help him out, but the flower is too busy with his garden. Meanwhile over in Hazewood Brightney tries her best to help Toodles with her powers, but they have such different power types and abilities that Toodles generally does better working it out on her own.

[octagava]

ahhhh thanks for entertaining my yapping and adding your insights onto them. i really like your takes and explanations on them. it hits things that i never thought about. feel free to disregard this one because it feels a little less coherent. related to dazai being one of atsushi's motivators, it kind of hit me that dazai is one of the first people atsushi saved. maybe this is a misinterpretation of their first meeting, but, turning off the comedic lens, it's actually an insane scenario. a starving, societally clueless orphan musters all his strength to swim and hulk an unconscious person back to shore. the inherent and somewhat foolish compassion of such an act to still give when you basically have nothing left comically is lost on atsushi despite performing such an action because he's so embedded in his self-hatred and lack of confidence. it's honestly made even better by the fact that dazai has ability nullification powers, so he cannot passively rely on the tiger's strength (although i am unsure if he was able to do that prior). he is actively burning what remaining energy he should be using to find food or shelter to save someone he believed needed help. i think this action is what immediately takes dazai to atsushi to which dazai repays by providing him a support system to navigate his new reality and the weight of trust and faith that atsushi wants to uphold. it's a little sad though, due to atsushi's lack of confidence, that he kind of seems to believe dazai made an arbitrary decision to save him rather than him being deserving of such care, and maybe that plays into atsushi's view of dazai as a savior. it probably doesn't help that dazai both does and doesn't want to be understood. but, maybe the silver lining about it is that it plays into why he tries to understand dazai and, subsequentially, recognizes how flawed and maybe 'human' he is. like how atsushi helps validate dazai's capacity to care and be "good," dazai validates helps atsushi validate his own self-worth and belief in his own actions.

No, no, this is actually so coherent! And I'm really glad that you're sharing it. I'm always super happy to respond and talk about those two (or, to be fair, any BSD characters, since I love talking about how I and others interpret them as a whole or in relationships, whether platonic, romantic, or something totally different).

And yeah, if you actually step back from the comedic lens and look at what’s really happening in that first meeting, it’s genuinely wild. Atsushi’s just been kicked out of the orphanage, he’s on the brink of starvation, and yet he can’t let Dazai drown. Though, it’s worth pointing out that Atsushi wanted to leave him there at first, and when he does save him, his initial thoughts are about robbing him. Plus, let’s not forget that Atsushi is offended when Dazai casually admits he has no money.

I think it’s important to highlight those parts because they get overlooked a lot. People tend to remember that Atsushi saved Dazai and interpret it as this purely selfless act, but it’s more complicated than that. Sure, you could argue there’s some kindness there, but a lot of his actions in that moment come from his deep-seated self-worth issues. Atsushi’s been conditioned to believe that his value is tied to what he can do for others, that he’s less than worthless if he doesn’t contribute or help in some way. And I’ve said this before, but to me, Atsushi isn’t naturally kind as a personality trait—he’s kind by virtue. That kindness was beaten into him over time (at least, that’s how I interpret it).

Still, even at his lowest, Atsushi can’t completely suppress that unfiltered compassion. It’s just part of who he is, whether he recognizes it or not. Dazai ends up being the first person Atsushi saves, yet their first meeting is often overlooked by the fandom. But there are some key details that need to be addressed if we’re talking a bit canon-wise.

The fact is, Dazai knew from the start who Atsushi was. The meeting between the two was orchestrated. He admitted that to Hirotsu—that he recruited Atsushi specifically to complement Akutagawa's ability. He doesn’t really go into detail about their first meeting, but Kunikida does mention that Dazai suddenly jumped into the river, which, knowing him for as long as we did, it’s very easy to tell that he did it on purpose.

And that’s where the meeting actually gets even more fascinating. Dazai orchestrated the encounter, knowing full well who Atsushi was and the potential he had. This adds a layer of manipulation to the scene, but not in a malicious way. It does show how much Dazai is calculative and manipulative from the get-go. He was always playing the long game.

However, the brilliance of that scene lies in how genuine it feels on both ends, despite Dazai’s manipulation. Atsushi, barely clinging to life himself, chooses to save Dazai even though it’s the furthest thing from rational. Yes, Atsushi hesitates. Yes, his initial thoughts are about leaving or even robbing the unconscious man. But he still takes action. That act isn’t purely selfless; Atsushi has been conditioned to believe that his worth is tied to what he can do for others, making self-sacrificial choices almost second nature to him. It’s a survival mechanism born from years of abuse at the orphanage.

But despite the meeting between the two being totally orchestrated by Dazai pulling the strings, one shouldn’t just interpret it as completely devoid of sincerity. Dazai, as a character, is himself a contradiction. He’s a master manipulator, but he also deeply cares for the people he chooses to "invest" in (admit it or not). And, of course, Atsushi became one of those people.

For Atsushi, the encounter is unsettling. He doesn’t see himself as someone who deserves salvation or a second chance (he himself wanted to live out of spite in episode 1, with how he was talking about "showing them" that he can survive—of course, talking about the orphanage). When Dazai brings him into the ADA, Atsushi interprets it not as an acknowledgment of his worth but as a random act of charity. This feeds into Atsushi’s view of Dazai as a savior figure—someone who plucked him out of despair for reasons Atsushi can’t truly understand. Their dynamic is heartbreaking because Atsushi genuinely doesn’t believe he’s worthy of that care.

On Dazai’s end, there’s an interesting tension in how he interacts with Atsushi. While he’s quick to assign Atsushi missions and responsibilities, he also tends to avoid directly confronting Atsushi’s insecurities. Instead, he uses humor, teasing, and indirect guidance to nudge Atsushi toward growth. He doesn’t, however, see Atsushi as a tool to balance Akutagawa (as he does come to genuinely care for the other), but also as someone who could become a force for good. Dazai’s own issues and self-worth—his belief in his "inherent evil"—sometimes prevent him from expressing those thoughts openly, as it’s hard for him to be vulnerable (though he manages it every once in a while).

What’s fascinating is how this relationship challenges them both. Atsushi’s reverence for Dazai forces him to grapple with Dazai’s flaws and contradictions, which ultimately helps Atsushi see Dazai as a person rather than a pedestal. Meanwhile, Atsushi’s unwavering determination and raw compassion act as a quiet reminder to Dazai that goodness isn’t an abstract ideal, but something you choose again and again, no matter how messy or imperfect the process may be. (For what is kindness as a trait, if it is not practiced?)

I think I went a bit outside of what you were asking of me, but the thought kind of spiraled, haha... Also a little note that I also wanted to include but didn't know how. When it comes to Dazai and him wanting to be understood but also not. It's like Dazai walks into a room and leaves it open but before anyone can open it, he already build a brick wall between the room and the door, giving you clear message of "I don't want you" but also hoping, begging and craving for you to chip away at the wall, to break in.

[tobiasdrake]

On that note, Buffy and Angel were both great series and I love them both. But they're also profoundly different in ways that I think both complement and contrast one another.

Buffy was a show about growing up. It famously used the vanquishing of evil as a metaphor for the coming of age. The show married its supernatural elements with its teen drama to such a degree that it basically invented the "Supernatural Metaphor".

Angel was a show about adulthood. Angel also married its supernatural elements to its drama, but the troubles Angel faced were things like paying your bills, home ownership, and parenthood.

An iconic moment of Buffy is when her mom suddenly dies, and Buffy has to step into the role of parenting her little sister. Something that neither of them are truly ready for, thrusting her into the unenviable position of both grieving daughter and too-soon responsible adult.

An iconic moment of Angel is when Cordelia has to teach to him that he needs to start charging clients money for his services because they won't be able to keep the lights on if he doesn't. An argument Cordelia wins, in stark contrast to how many other shows would play it. Because the reality is... You gotta pay the rent somehow.

And this contrast carries over into the shows' respective relationships with evil. Buffy is a show about vanquishing evil. The evil of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is concrete and visceral. The world is filled with monsters, and Buffy is charged with the ability to kill them. Any evil force can be fought, can be overcome, can be slain. Buffy needs only to find the means to do so.

Angel is a show about resisting evil, both from within and without. It's the complexity of a broken world, where people are complicated and there are no easy answers. The show lays out its moral philosophy in its second season with the words:

"If there is no great, glorious end to this, if nothing we do matters, then the only thing that matters is what we do. Because that's all there is: What we do. ... Because if there is no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world."

It's a series about finding forgiveness and understanding within yourself, and learning how to be better tomorrow than you were today. Set in a world where the evil is systemic, where it is embedded in social constructs. Where it can never truly be defeated, but where we can choose to rise above it.

And I think both of these positions have very good things to say. The nihilistic positivity of "The smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world" is a profound guideline for how we should live in a world that's too big and too complex. But sometimes, problems really do just need a stake to the heart. Sometimes it is simple and, y'know, fuck that guy. But other times it's not.

And we see both of their approaches shine in a variety of ways. Buffy ends by pitting Buffy against an Angel-esque force of systemic and undefeatable evil. Something that can never truly be overcome, that cannot be vanquished. Something that Buffy vanquishes anyway, by recognizing the power of collective action to do what individual agency could never.

Buffy vanquishes a force of evil far beyond her by democratizing her power and becoming a single cog of a larger movement.

By contrast, Angel has the healing and reformation of Faith Lehane. The two-parter "Five by Five" and "Sanctuary" in season 1 are, I would say, the point at which Angel's series really finds its identity and truly becomes its own thing.

Faith is a character who, by this point, has locked horns with Buffy multiple times. She's reached the end of her rope, clashing and being vanquished by Buffy one final time in Buffy's own season four before fleeing across series to fight Angel.

A confrontation that turns from a tense battle with the Evil Slayer into a story of healing, regret, and self-improvement. Here, far away from Buffy and from Sunnydale and from the mistakes, Faith is given a safe space to unpack the choices that she's made and figure out who she wants to be.

A story that culminates in confrontation between Buffy and Angel over Faith, as Buffy comes looking for some honestly well-deserved violent catharsis only for Angel to have to tell her, "This is my show, this is how I handle my storylines, and you're not a part of it. Get out." Which is... really the moment when Angel ceases to be a Buffy supporting character spinning off and comes into his own as the lead of his own series, with his own ideas and stories to tell.

The collective vanquishing of the First Evil is a story that simply would not make sense to tell in Angel. And, by the same token, the healing and restoration of Faith Lehane is a story that simply couldn't fit into Buffy, with its more black-and-white perspective. There shows have very different perspectives, and neither of them are really right. But together, they form a more complete tapestry of living in a complicated world.

[conlangery]

How come native speakers don’t have to learn/can’t explain (usually) the rules of the their first language? They just automatically know if something is wrong or right. Sorry if that’s a dumb question

It's not a dumb question at all.

Basically, acquiring your first language is very different from acquiring a language later in life. That structure gets embedded into your subconscious, but you can't just summon that up and describe it.

Think about learning to walk. Almost all humans who are capable of it end up walking pretty much the same way. But can you explain the biomechanics of walking? Unless you've studied it, you can't, and even if you have, you still don't constantly have awareness of which muscles you're flexing, how input from the balance system affects your stride, etc.

When you acquire your first language, you are basically a small animal with an instinct to attempt to communicate with the people around you. You don't have language yet, much less the metalanguage required to describe your language. Your brain just figures out the patterns, attaches it to sensory input, and gradually builds up this system that works behind the scenes as you speak for the rest of your life.

That's also why just asking native speakers how things work isn't sufficient to produce a grammar. You will get speculation, confusion, and sometimes just plain false information if you just ask directly. But asking them "Is this sentence okay," or recording their speech will get data that you can later analyze. Native intuition is data, not analysis, because all of it is them activating a system that was built up when they were still drooling on their bibs.