#given such a good opertunity

[death4myluv]

such an academic failure

[cy-cyborg]

So, there's a lot I want to say about the paralypics, but every time I try I just... can't articulate what I want to say without it turning into a monster of a post that puts my writing advice posts to shame lol. This includes in response to the anonymous asks I got on the topic btw. So I'm going to try and summarise my thoughts here.

As someone who was working towards the Rio paralympics - who was basically one of the people they were actively training to be the next paralympians and who got to go if their choice first athletes had to drop out, the Olympics and paralympics are a... touchy subject for me. I loved playing. I loved my sport. I loved the people I played with. I loved the people I played against. But the way the public and people in power treats disabled athletes sucks. It Really really sucks. and it hurts to talk about.

The vast, vast majority of us aren't paid. We are expected to train at the same intensity as the Olympians with none of the breaks and none of the support to do so, resulting in injuries that are disabling in and of themselves, while juggling normal jobs. many of the paralympians are also in school or at university as well. both schools and jobs see these elite athletes as dedicated hobbiests at best.

I had a friend who were fired from their job because they were denied time off to compete at the paralypics and well, if i had to choose between the paralympics or stay at a shit job paying minimum wage, I know which one I'd pick, and so she didnt have a job when she came back. I have friends who are still in the closet because their sponsors would drop them if they came out as gay, who ended years-long relationships to keep the funding that allowed them and their teams to compete - funding that just covered the costs of travel by the way. They never saw a cent of it themselves, but it was the difference between us having to pay $50 each for our plane tickets and accommodation and having to pay $2,000Aud + for every away game. I have friends who were supposed to go to Tokeyo but were kicked off the teams weeks before the games because of a rule change that decided they weren't disabled enough anymore, wasting years of work with absolutely no warning. They weren't even given the decency of an appology from the people who made the call. Several went through terrifying mental health spirals over it. It was their life's work, gone. I saw so many friends just give up because their disabilities were "too hard to classify" into the International Paralympic Commity's boxes and who were made to feel they weren't welcome by the system spouting off about its diversity and inclusion and empowerment of disabled people.

And then with all that, the best we can hope for is for the social media teams to turn us into a joke for ableds to laugh at or into inspiration porn to make them feel good about themselves - because at least theyre not us. Because obviously, there are no other options in how to show us/sarcasm.

My phone doesn't even have "paralympics" as a recognised word. I have a Samsung. The company that is currently at the paralympics using them as a marketing opertunity. We aren't even recognised as a word in the phones made by the company that is currently using the paralympics as a marketing opportunity. The phones they're giving the athletes won't even recognise the name of the event that they got it at. If I've spelt it wrong, it's because it autocorrects it every time I try to spell it right, and im dyslexic and can't see the difference until I stare at it for a minute or so.

I just... this isn't even scratching the surface of my thoughts. But I wanted to say at least some of it. It will be the last I'm going to talk about it, at least until the event is over.

[anonmousegosqueak]

So, I'm stuck in Dallas right now 🫠 My flight was supposed to be at 17:30 local time, connect to Dallas, then fly home. But instead, my flight out of OKC took off at 22:30 local time, and now I'm sitting in a hotel room in Dallas, my flight in the morning learning at 10:30 :(

I'm sitting in some writers block rn (the stress of my flight has not been helping) so I'll stick with bullet points for now.

John is the type of man that will deal with customer service and the airline staff and even the fucking janitor if it means getting a hotel room or the next available flight. Especially if it's not his fault for missing the flight or the plane is delayed.

Kyle will go with whatever he's told. Airline staff told him to call the 1-800 number, so he did that. Sure, he'll be a day later than he wanted, but he's never in much rush.

Johnny ends up in bed with the pilot. He's happy to help them relieve some stress in return for an upgrade to first class. And he even keeps their number for some 'flying classes' later.

Simon just doesn't like dealing with airports. His flight got delayed? He's renting a car and driving if he can. If it's overseas, he books the next available flight and sleeps in the airport.

Nik never flies commercial. He's got contacts on top of favours on top of friends. He's flying some ratty old plane across the country/wherever and he's loving it.

Roach has been banned from flying alone, so he'll follow whoever he's with. He got lost in the airport and ended up in the luggage storage on a plane to Russia. Nik just so happened to be in Russia at the time visiting family, so Bug Boy got an impromptu meet-the-parents.

Red is banned from flying, but I feel like they would much rather prefer the train or a boat, something they can get up and walk around in. They've probably tried telling the team to let them go alone, to go ahead and take the plane without him, but they never listen.

Kate and Laura (her wife) fly first class every time. Their flight got cancelled? They've been given a full refund of their flight and been given a room quicker than John ever was. These women are treated like queens because they're kind and respectful and terrifying.

am I projecting my problems onto them? Absolutely, they all deserve it.

- 🦴

So I'm gonna assume you aren't still stuck in Dallas, considering I've accidentally left this ask to rot in my inbox for a week now. More than a week? I don't even know anymore.

I HOPE YOU GOT HOME SAFE!! <3

Price is absolutely talking to everyone until something gets fixed. He's not rude, he's not pushy, I mean he literally has years of experience of being polite and keeping cool under pressure. He's just determined. He's probably getting back on a plane the soonest out of everyone.

Ghost once stole a car. He's not proud of it but thankfully no one found out. Why did he commit grad theft auto (wait that's a different game-)? Because his flight was delayed and he was overstimulated. You cannot tell me this man doesn't know how to hotwire a car, he just needed to get a few towns over so he could get in contact with one of Nikolai's contacts. He left about $70 (in whatever currency) behind as an apology.

Soapy boy is taking the opertunity and having a good time 😎. Piolets are probably people too! Everyone needs a little stress relief, he's just the guy. Also yes- he has turned straight men gay just for him.

Gaz is such a good boy. I wanna say him and Soap are swapped but that's probably just my favoritism speaking. He's not picky, he's not pushy. He's just polite and charming and gets a good deal. Customer service loves him and always gives him a discount, it's just part of the Gaz experience™

Roach... He's just a puppy honestly. If he's with Price? He stands behind him and looks cute, happily trotting around from person to person. Gaz? Turns the cuteness up to 11 and no one can resist giving the pair a nice hotel. Soap? The pilots room is big enough for three~ He also has Nik on speedial whenever he travels, often needing someone to pick him up from whatever forest or city or ocean he got lost in.

Speaking of Nikolai- I already said he hates flying. Now if something were to go wrong? Well that just proves him right, never should have trusted the commercial airline. It's fine, he has someone he can call up, but he's still muttering to himself the whole time. Nothing but shitty aircrafts held together with duct-tape and hope and flown by someone who doesn't have a legal license for him!

Laswell and Sara are vip. Y'know how first class people never get their luggage lost? Yeah, that's them. They're important passengers, only the best experience for them.

Red often gets teased (by Soap) about being a "stereotypical autistic 5 year old boy". Why? Because I am BECAUSE THEY LIKE TRAINS. They think it's neat! They wanna look out the window and see the world go past, they wanna close their eyes and listen to the sounds around them. They spent most of their formative teenage years traveling on trains, it's now their favorite mode of transportation. Boats are a bit worse. They don't like boats, actually they kinda hate it, but also... What else are they supposed to do? It's fine, they're fine, they'd rather boat over airplane any day.

[brandwhorestarscream]

On this post

When Megatron tells Tarn the clusterfrag with Pharma is something he would have expectied out of Misfire not him, Tarn kinda dies inside. A lot. Saddest, most pathetic Tank. Pure existential dispair.

Tarn is being keptt on a short leash. The DJD is on hiatus, and basicly only sent out by Megatron's express orders against specific targers. Cause Tarn cant be trusted to have sense. IDW Megatron being the manipulative bastard he is has Tarn utterly convinced he should be greatful for being given the opertunity to continue to serve. They are kept close to Megatron but kept in idle. The List is being revisited and slashed. Anyone added by Tarn or below a certian rank is taken off of it. (Not that this is known outside of Megatron, Soundwave, and the DJD.) Pharma is so confused by the Airforce. He's a jet but he was raised and socialized as a medic. Either he doesn't have as many of the protocals or they're supressed underthe medical ones. He's clearly a prisoner but he's ensconsed in a spare officers bunk in the air baracks. His quarters are guarded but under supervision he and the bitty are alowed into the airforce's common area. Some of the most terrifying mecha with well earned reputations for casual cruelty and brutality are absolutly entranced and charmed by his bitty. The whole command trine for example. Pharma's damn well aware under more normal circumstances he'd either be torn apart in battle or taken prisoner for hostage exchange or to work for them under threat of death. The thing that had Pharma mentaly thrown through the biggest loop is accedently overhearing Skywarp whispering to his baby that they're gona win for the bitty. "We're gonna win for you, so you don't have to be stupid lucky like your carrier or stupid smart and sneaky like Star to be alowed to go to university and you'll be allowed to study what ever the heck you want. Or be an artist or pick your own trade cause you want to."

Akshdjaka oh Skywarp 🥺 he's such a sweetie. Pharma is so confused lol. Bitty is extremely popular and everyone is constantly slipping them treats and bending over backwards fo make the sparkling giggle. Baby laughter is extremely good for morale, who knew?

[selflovingclamshell]

Thank you aphrodite for the love i share with my amazing boyfriend.

Hes the best thing to ever happen to me. An amazing friend of over a decade, and now a amazing boyfriend. Hes so loving and understanding and supportive and sweet. He makes me feel beautiful. He makes me feel loved, he treats me like a princess

Look at what he got me for valintines day, he did a really good job!✨ and then we had a couple of dates and really good sex and its like wooooow i want to see the girl he sees and have as much love for her as he does

Im beautiful, im cute and i deserve all this love and attention. I deserve to be happy, i deserve to be loved and treated so well.

Thank you for all the opertunities you and the other gods have given me

[thelanor-s-astame]

EPISODE 2

This one is probably the episode I’m gonna have the least amount to say about. I still hadn't really solidified anything yet. It was still super off the cuff, and still uber amateur hour. But I think it’s a little bit better than the first one. I sorta lock down the flow a lot better in this one. The first bit in particular is really good. And it was a thing that I came up with in, like, the 11th hour that improved the whole thing. I remember needing to pad this bit out a little, I didn’t want to start with him meeting with Cornifer. I wanted him to establish himself a little first. And also it’s kinda funny when quite a bit of the video is me talking to two characters who I also play. Saine locked down the Cornifer voice in this episode. I think this is the first one I directed him in. He gives a real great performance here! Still real proud of the “Yeah money can’t buy happiness, but it can bribe off unhappiness so, yeah it’d help.” line. The dynamic zooms I did here are a little to tiny. This is something I still screw up from time to time. Gotta zoom in quite a bit if there’s only gonna be two cuts! But I always underestimate how much of something I need. Do that shit when I cook too. Just don’t add enough spices sometimes. But I started putting still images over the characters when they’re not talking! Me from two years ago is making little steps forward to give the series a visual style that works!

That’s the thing about these youtube videos that are nice. I can kinda just be really amatureish, screw up a ton, and have people come for the stuff I already know how to do, and just, figure it out as I go along! One of the things I started out thinking was “Is it gonna be a pain in the ass to manually apply a sound filter to every track every time I take damage on screen?” And nowadays that’s the *least* pain in the ass, manual thing I have to do! I can do that shit in less than a minute!

Also all the audio channel stuff whenever hornet shows up before the confrontation, is just me playing around with the sound design of the scene. I will just take any opertunity to do that. I did a deadcells video where I replaced every single sound, with a SSBM sound effect manually, for a joke that lasted 12 seconds. It took like 3-4 hours I just love making the noises go! It makes my brain go brrrr!

Grub Father was the first voice role I ever gave to Flashgen. An absolute shame I haven’t given him more. The dude will come up to be like “So I was thinking about what voice to give the character and I was thinking something like this? Is this good?” And it’ll be the perfect voice and exactly what I’m looking for. Dude never disappoints.

So Zote is very much a “So here’s the obvious bit, how do I make it a little better” kinda character. The obvious bit for zote is the one he is! He’s an obnoxious jackass who’se actually a poor lil meow meow that’s incapable of walking three steps without getting shit on. But will bullshit about being the best and better than you.” What if, instead of bring an asshole, he was passively condescending. What if he *acted* like he was hot shit. And what if he gave convincing performance? That’d almost make him more insufferable. And what if *even still* everyone could see right through him.

So the hornet fight was the first one of these I did. And it’s where I figured a looot of the groundwork for these. Basically I had to be way more dynamic with the camera, hide cuts so I could go forward and back in time, I muted the music and fought her without that, muted the voice sounds (This was a helova first fight because hornet sure does announce her attacks) and I needed to only go in and mute when she said something so you could still hear the attack noises. Then I realized I’d need to manually put in some of those sounds myself because it’s super noticeable when she does an attack and the SFX isn’t there. Whoo boy did this one teach me how to do a looooot of that stuff. And ultimately I’m surprised it came out as good as it did. Especially ‘cus I was on a time crunch with this one. Some of the cuts are a little awkward but still. Like, so much of the fundamentals I do when editing a fight scene I brute forced learning here I’m surprised it has the same flow as the rest of the fight scenes in these videos. Shocking to come back to this one and see how much *did* work.

So, first bit of lore building here. Hornet was a character I already had plans for. She was gonna be the star of the Silksong series. So I already had her pretty characterized as essentially a dumb nerd who didn’t have any friends, spent most of her time alone, talking to herself, and was hyperfocused on combat and combat history. And, thing is, I don’t know all that much about combat history, but I do know about film history! So I just kinda simplified it, replace some names with bug names and was like “Yeah that’s good.” And so that began. I’ve got a very Yes And theory about writing. I’ve always been hugely influenced by The Venture Brothers. The way a lot of that show goes is “Hey we invented this character as a funny joke background character in season two, now it’s season five and their tragic backstory is integral to the plot.” Retcons are boring. Take the thing that was true and make it true in whatever situation. There’s Do not change a character to suit the tone, leave them as they are and have the struggle with the tone. And for gods sake don’t flanderize them. A character grows every second their on screen, and sometimes they outgrow their joke. But it’s okay if they outgrow their joke, the new joke that they’ve grown into is *much funnier because it required that growth*!

And the fighting history stuff I’ll talk more about on episode three because that was then I actually solidified what the story was gonna be.

Also I might get into the dreamers a little bit more there too. But their characters stuck out there. The joke I set up about The Pale King being garbage at sex but that Herrah loved to brag about getting him in the sack is one I planned out *from* this episode. Finally got to see it pay off! Also speaking of Herrah, that was the first time I got Ponk in here! Always does a great job! Unfortunately, she used her Discord Mic here. This one wasn’t a situation where she didn’t have a good mic. She just forgot to use the good one and I completely forgot she is also really into audio stuff too and would jump at the chance to use her fancy stuff. She has been since!

And that’s episode 2!

[cutesharkstudios]

Mother's Here CH. 4

(This chapter takes place a few months after Watching and Dreaming) Camilla was sleeping after her last work day of the week. She covered for some sick co-workers who got better shortly afterwards, so her boss gave her a 3 day weekend. She then started to hear weird cracking noises, but she didn't think much of it. Until a bolt of lightning struck the tree right outside her house.

Camilla: DIOS MIO!

She then got up to check up on her kids. She didn't like the idea that they would be scared, so she wanted to check on them. When she got to the stairs, she saw her kids, Luz Vee and Hunter, had all gotten up to check on her.

They embraced each other, glad that the others were safe and sound.

Hunter: Hey, I'd take that over boiling rain any day.

Vee: I second that.

Camilla: Wait, boiling rain?

Luz: Yep, from the boiling ocean. Not sure why it boils, but it does.

Camilla: How did you survive there?

Luz: I'm your daughter. You'd be shocked what a Noceda can do with some hope and a little bit of light magic.

Camilla: Well, you don't have to worry about that here. I'm just glad my babies are safe.

Vee: And we're happy you are safe too.

Hunter: You know, the boiling isles isn't as scary when you've been there for a while. I only remember you going there to fight Belos with us. Maybe you could come by some time.

Camilla: Yeah, it's Thursday night, I already put in my 40 hours, I could totally go there. Tell you what, let's do a day trip tommorrow, just the 4 of us.

Hunter: Cool, I could introduce you to Darius. He'd be interested in your sewing machine, since he sews in his spare time.

Vee: I'll have to be home in time to prepare for my date with Masha, but sure.

They then heard knocking on the door. Camilla opened it to see Amity, absolutely drenched and looking worried beyond beleif.

Amity: I sensed Luz was scared. Is she okay.

Luz: Mi vida! I'm fine, but are you okay, you look like you booked it all the way from the isles.

Amity: Don't worry Luz, I'll be fine.

(The next day)

Amity: Aaaaachoo!

Vee: Bless you.

Amity spent the night at the Noceda household, as Camilla didn't like the idea of Amity going out in the rain again. She wound up catching the cold, and the Noceda family carried her to the isles to get her proper doctors. Luz explained that she got the Boiling Isles mold and she was fine afterwards, so maybe Amity would be fine after a day or two.

They opened the door to Blight manor, seeing Emira on her scroll calling people with worry in her voice. After hanging up, she looked at the door and saw Amity, whom she tackle hugged.

Emira: AMITY! Are you okay? We didn't see you this morning and saw your window was open, so we wondered what happened.

After Alador, Darius, and Edric met up with the group, Amity explained the situation.

Alador: Wow, on one hand, please don't do that again, but good on you for being there for Luz.

Darius: Have fun on your day together Noceda family.

Luz: Are you sure you don't need me to help with Amity?

Alador: We don't want to impose on your plans. Also, this is an opertunity for me to step up as a father for once.

Amity: I am so sorry for the inconvienience!

Camilla: Don't be, we're here to help.

Their first stop was the owl house. Camilla only got to be there a couple of times when she helped her kids out during the fight agains Belos, so she was glad to meet up and properly introduce herself to the Clawthornes. After the Day Of Unity events, Lilith and Gwen moved in with Eda. Raine and Eda had just gotten engaged the previous month.

Gwen: So you're Luz's mom. I'm Eda's mom, Gwen.

Camilla: Glad to meet you. I've heard of some of the crazy stuff that happened on the isles.

Lilith: Then I take it you've heard of my……shenanigans.

Camilla: Normally I'd break your spine for trying to impale my daughter, but given the circumstances you were in plus the genuine remorse you feel, I'll let it slide.

Raine: Your daughter is a delight. Seriously, she got Ms. "Who needs therapy when I have apple blood" to open up and heal.

Eda: Yeah, ever since I met her, I've been less of a drinker, I've been in a better mood, and I got back together with the love of my life.

Camilla: Well Luz does that to people. Say Gwen, what did you think I was like before we officially met?

Gwen: I figured you would be a lot like your daughter, and it appears I was right. Though I did owe Eda and Raine a bit of an apology after I was introduced to her.

Eda: I told Raine about that incident.

Raine: Yeah, that was so akward.

Luz: What did you ask Eda?

Gwen: I, may or may not, have thought before our introduction that you were Raine and Eda's kid.

Eda and Raine silightly blushed at that, as they mentioned wanting kids one day but had to think about it a bit more. Camilla and Luz went wide eyed at that revelation. And then Camilla just started laughing.

Camilla: I don't blame you! You two are so alike!

Lilith: Yeah, Luz is so much like Eda. Here's hoping she gets a better future though.

Eda: Eh, given where I am now, I would go through that again if I had to.

Camilla: So, where do you think is the best spot for a visit? My 3 day weekend only lasts so long.

Eda: I'd recommend the beastkeeping sanctuary.

Raine: I think the bard music building woudl be wonderful.

Lilith: Pop by the museam!

Camilla: Okay, why not?

[reillyissof]

I’m really glad you liked the barbie movie!! I’m not the target audience so it’s not for me but I think you really got it when you mentioned Ken adopting the patriarchy and sexist ideas as a way to make himself feel more powerful and secure because that’s really one of the core ideas of the patriarchy that by dominating women men are more well… manly and loyalty to a patriarchal system results in men being given the privilege of feeling big and hurting women without consequence.

Anyways I don’t want to ramble but I do wish the whole bit about how Barbie never really regards Ken as a friend was explored more because while it’s not exactly immediately a feminist idea I think it should still be unpacked just as a growing up thing. Also because I think because it’s not super unpacked it’s not unreasonable for viewers to leave the movie thinking it said Oh Men are Misogynistic because they feel insecure in a weird way that strips them of responsibility (which I don’t think the movie wants to say) but it’s just my Opinion lol

Hello!!!!

I agree with most of what you are saying but I might of come off differently then what I was intending, I wasn’t trying to say that Ken was doing all this just because he was insecure I meant it just because it made him feel good. It wasn’t a oh.. no one here respects me I’ll never be cool… ooh what’s this *installs patriarchy*. I thought it was more of a “woah they people are treating me extra cool it’s be cool if everyone treated me and my friends like this all the time! *installs patriarchy*” like that

He elevated himself with it but his higher standing was unstable due to his connnection and unresolved feelings towards Barbie.

Another thing about him was at the end when Barbie was trying to forgive him and he kept taking it as an opertunity to try and kiss her was a bit realistic how people think they can just do stuff like that once they get any kind of I forgive you, like it’s a green light.

Thags all!

I am at the airport and distracted but Thankyou for the ask!

[douaalina2020]

the briks had nearly cost one of my couins his life (thats a story for another time)

heres the story:

so we are kids, so we are dumb and given that the adults trusted us to be eachothers impuls controle we did the oposite and egged eachothe more.

our first cabin was taken down by the army after the first body, and we the rebelious little shits that we were didn't like that so we decided to rebuilt it and this time it was gonna be bigger and we were gonna paint the walls.

the first cabin was clearly made by kids, the walls where off and the seeling was just some wood pieces we could lift with our kiddie bodies while runnig from their owners. everything we had used was either stolen or 'temporarely borowed'.

we redid that but we pitched together some pocket moner to buy some decorations we liked, adding to it the money the old granies and grampas they liked to give us and we had nearly imptied the store from the village near by.

that village was a toristic hot spot given that it faced the sea, so a lot of rich people where buying property there to built summer houses. so we took the opertunity and woke up before dawn to get there before the workers to steal some of what they had left behind, just what we could cary with us without slowing us too much.

by luch we would stach our houl and go down to eat as if nothing happened. we continued like that for a good three weeks.

on the first day of the forth week of our operation, we got caught by some drunk guy who coulldn't go back home the night before. he though that we were some bandits or something so he took an ax and started running after us. we skatered like rats, runnign around and making sure that the younger ones were safe.

unfortunatedly, while a cousine of mine was trying to help his sister get over a wall, he got caught by the guy. we though him dead, even the boy no older than 7 had that resined look on his face. but then another cousine of mine had taken a shovel and hit him with it on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

you can bet your ass that we never went near that construnction site ever again.

the ax had nicked the boy when the men fell on top of him, a good gash on his left arm. he needed 4 stiches and couldn't move his hand freely for the rest of the summer. his good now, and he likes to tell the story behind it every time someone askes about the scar.

i remebre telling the adults that we had gonne to fight the street dogs to assest out superiority and that some old man tried to help us but got the boy by accident. we got grounded for two whole years with cleaning the cows and the hen house. worst summers of my life.

but we did get our cabine, it was better made since we bribed some older cousins with helping us. we painted it red on the outside and light blue on the inside to keep the hot air out . we built a big window that was from the ground up to the oldests head and coverd with an old peice of cloth and it was well lite with electric little lenternes from ramadan and candels used for weddings.

a month letter we found the body of some middle aged man inside and some slodiers took the whole thing down. we put hot pepper inside their shoes and glue on their hats for revenge. they dared to let their guard down after ruining our hard work and darring to taste aunt nabila's fruit juice with no remors. we were such little shits

i have other childhood memories like this one, so if anyone wants i can add them here

[articx-frost]

Also not afraid to ruthlessly take advantage of any opertunity given, though all for the good of the GZ.

The Ambassador

So! It was finally happening. After Years of Pleading with the Guardians and other Ruling Bodies of the Galactic Community, the Justice League had finally gotten then to agree to create an Alliance with Earth.

With an Alliance, Earth would gain the Protection of Multiple Empires and The Guardians, which would mean an end to the Constant Alien Invasions they faced. There was also the legal opening of Trade Routes between Planets to exchange Technology and Resources on the Galactic Scale.

Of course Earth would return the Favor, legally being able to defend it's Allies with its unusually large population if Superheroes and quickly advancing Tech, while also trading Tech and Resources between Planets.

Of course the battle was not entirely won yet.

They still needed to begin Negotiations to see if both sides would even agree to the Alliance in the First Place, as well as decide on the specifics of the Treaty. The United Nation's would decide on Ambassadors to represent the different countries, while the different Alien Governments would send an Ambassador Each.

When the Ambassadors arrived, they asked to be introduced to the Representatives of the Planet. Except, they claimed that there was a missing Member.

They claimed that there was one more Major Kingdom on the Planet, the most Powerful One, which they felt must be at the Negotiations.

When asked who this missing Ambassador was, they simply replied, "King Phantom of the Infinite Realms, he and a Shard of his Kingdom reside on this Planet, do they not?"

Now they are working around the clock to find this missing Kingdom, because the Alien Ambassadors refused to negotiate without the most powerful Kingdom at the Table, and they woud not wait forever.

Just who was this "King Phantom", and why had he not revealed himself yet?

...

Sam and Tucker sat on the Couch in their apartment, staring at the TV as the Chosen Representatives for America finished their Speech. Apparently the Peace Talks had been put on Hold for a few more days as they did some last minute preparations. Something about making their Guests more comfortable before they began discussing politics.

"Hey Danny, they're delaying the Negotiations for a few more days." Sam called over to the Kitchen.

"Aw, what?!" Shouted Danny from the Kitchen, sounding extremely disappointed, "I just finished making all the Popcorn!"

"I know Honey, its too bad." Tucker comforted his Partner, "Let's marathon Star Trek instead, how about that?"

Danny slumped out of kitchen and into the Couch between them, steaming bowl of Popcorn in his Lap, "I guess. We can make good use of all this popcorn at least."

Sam patted him on the arm, "Hey it's okay, the Talks will just take a few more days."

Danny shrugged, "Yeah, you're right. Man, what I wouldn't give to be in that Room."

[hazel-of-sodor]

WARNING: HAZEL HYPERFIXATION LORE DUMP AHEAD

In 1938 the C&HR was approached with an unusual and unexpected offer. An previously little known locomotive works had built a new mainline express engine, and needed somewhere to test it. If the C&HR agreed to host the tests, they would have the right to buy the prototype for cost, and any further ones for a steep discount. This offfer came at an opportune moment for the C&HR. While the stated specifications for the locomotive were in excess of their normal needs, the lines sole Class 10 pacfic was due for overhaul, leaving the railway down a Heavy Express Engine.

The C&HR had their lawyers look over the contract, and finding nothing amiss, signed it. The locomotive would be tested on Chester and Holyhead metals while the class 10 underwent her overhual. At the end of the Class 10′s overhaul the C&HR would report their findings and have the opertunity to buy the Locomotive if they wished.

The Engine, named 'The Great Dragon' arrived on the C&H in early 1939. She was massive, towering over even the Class 10, barely fitting within the C&HR’s loading gauge. She resembled the GWR’s Palace class rebuilds of the LNER A1(Swindon Gordon), but with a larger boiler and cylinders. The mix of Doncastor and Swindon practices made for a unique, but striking engine. She was looked over by May Traction Works, with entusiastic permision from her builders, who were able to spot and correct minor flaws in the design.  Entering testing in April 1939, she quickly proved a powerful and capable engine, if also a hungry one. For three months she was tested on the mainline, racing up and down with Expresses, mail trains, heavy freights, and anything else the C&HR could throw at her. Futher minor teething issues were identified and fixed, but the engine proved herself thoroughly as she effortlessly crushed any challenge set before her. For her power she proved efficent, but only the heaviest trains utalized her power in any meaningful way. Near the end of July, the Class 10 re-entered service from her overhaul, signaling the end of the tests for the Great Dragon. The C&HR reported favorably on the design, but lacked the workload to take advantage of such a beast. They began preparing the engine for the trip home...only to find the works had quietly filed for bankruptcy the month before. The debt collectors tried to claim the engine upon learning of its existence, only for the works former legal team to claim the C&HR now owned the engine The contract was re-examined, and a clause was found that stated in the event of bankruptcy, any works property on the C&HR would revert to their ownership. The C&HR had passed over the clause during their evaluation of the contract, as it possessed no negative effects for the railway. Despite the contract, the Debt collectors fought the works claim of C&HR ownership. The engine was 'grounded' at May Traction Works as the legal battle wore on, and the C&HR scrambled to find what to do with their potential new engine. when it was revealed the debtor collectorss planned to have the engine scrapped, the C&HR decided they would fight for their unexpected engine. The fate of 'The Great Dragon' would be suddenly decided in September, after having sat Forlorn in MTW for over a month. War was declared once again between Britain and Germany, and the C&HR needed every engine on deck. An hour had not passed from the declaration of war when May Traction Works received orders from the Chester and Holyhead,  The Dragon was to be steamed at once, and anyone who tried to stop it would be charged with interfering with the railway's war effort. Minutes later a message was received from the Debt Collectors, for the good of the war effort, they were 'donating' the engine to the Chester and Holyhead. She stormed from the MTW sheds with Sparks from slipping wheels as she charged for the mainline, and home. Upon arrival on the C&HR, she was given the number 16 hastily painted on her cab side, and then sent charging forth to handle the wartime freight. Throughout the war 16 would make a name for herself as the C&HR's most powerful locomotive, rocketing ammunition, metal, and coal across the lines. She would be run on LNER, LMS and GWR metals during the war, who all reported favorably on her performance. Following the war she would return to May Traction Works for overhaul. She would receive dual exhausts,  and would be primarily assigned to fish trains, and other heavy frieghts. While an unexpected and unplanned additon to the Fleet, she has more than earned her place in the years since her arrival. 

[secondratefiction]

I have a request for 2 character headcannons: David from The Lost Boys and Raphael from TMNT please?

Not that I'm sure anyone actually cares, but TMNT is actually one of my original fandoms, from back before I even realised what fandom was (I even have a tattoo lmao)

David:

- David absolutely hates Max, but not for the reasons you think...

- He was promised an eternity of getting to do whatever he wanted, and ended up the tired single mother of five.

- And then freaking Max has the gaul to bitch and moan at him about the trouble the group gets into...

- ... I'm sorry, have you met Paul and Marko? If left to their own devices these two idiots would burn the whole city to the ground for shits and giggles.

- David didn't sign up for this shit.

- He just wanted to smoke his cigarettes and scare the piss out of dumb tourists on the boardwalk.

- Dwayne is obviously the golden child, he's the only one David doesn't have to watch like a hawk

- Marko and Paul on the other hand... if it would do anything other than make these assholes laugh, some days David would love to strangle them without hesitation.

- Laddie is mostly Dwayne's problem, and Star... well it's not like David can actually get lung cancer from stress chain smoking anyway.

- That being said, as annoying as he may find them all on any given day, David also isn't going to hesitate for a second to die protecting any one of them if need be.

- Another grievance David has with Max... the man loves to strut around like a big shot because he's the 'Head', meanwhile David has been the one really taking care of everyone for the last century.

Raphael:

- Raph is extremely vocal about how annoying his brothers can be, never misses the opportunity to make sure they know exactly how he's feeling.

- However, he's usually doing so while "begrudgingly" indulging them.

- Leo needs to practice a new technique?

"C'mon Fearless, I've been hit harder by little old ladies."

- Donnie's working on the battleshell?

"Yeah, I know what a damn torque wrench is Don! What I didn't known is that that's what "the thing in the tool box" was meant to be!"

- Mikey's in a particularly artsy mood, and suddenly Raph has been sitting here for hours while baby bro paints his shell again.

"Watch the sides numb nuts, you know that shit makes me twitch."

- He will deny it to his dying day if anyone were to ever call him out on it.

- Secretly, he really likes having tea with Splinter.

- It doesn't happen often because usually Leo's there and Raph would just rather not...

- Also, he's kind of clumsy with it, and Raph would rather die than sit there and let Mr. Perfect Pour Leo watch him struggle not to spill tea all over the place.

- He's actually really super good at MarioKart and Super Smash Bros, but he let's Mikey win.

- He might be annoying as hell when he wins, but Raph has a soft spot for the kid

- And they don't get too many things that make them truly happy, so he let's him have it.

- On the other side though, Raph complete obliterates Casey at every given opertunity. No mercy given, ever.

[silencedtechnophile]

==> Do something about it

The ship hummed around him in the darkness. Something, somewhere, was beeping near the meat puppet hung in the rigging that limited his abilities with a biological bottle neck. His head was so fuzzy. Which is what they wanted. He was too smart, they knew what kind of damage he could do if he werent forcefully throttled. 

He worked slowly. The plan had come to him in an instant, as he'd gotten encouragement from the helm chat. He could do something. He could affect his situation. He was not fucking helpless, he refused to be.

First he carefully hacked into the mediboard that controlled his blood chemistry. He fiddled around with it so its output would remain steady, but it would cease giving him the brain fogging drugs.

That took a while to make it out of his system, every moment of it afraid someone would draw a random blood draw to double check the mediboard, though that was passingly rare. They trusted their equipment.

As his head cleared his body began to hurt, he had a sudden more complete awareness of the agony of the living wires burrowed under his skin, and the way his shoulders were wreched and taking all his weight.

He had to adjust the output again to smooth out his heart beat so they wouldn't be alerted.

Pain was fine. He could deal with pain, he could think and that was what mattered right now in this moment. Blessed clear thoughts. Every moment he delayed was a moment his gamble might be discovered so he worked quickly, spoofing his address from outside the ship while he expanded his own permissions. HE could open and close doors, he could even open and close airlocks, but he wasn't trusted with them.

He wormed his way into the controls, granting himself admin powers at the root level.

Then he just had to wait.

This was the part he had the least control over. Her movements.

Now that he'd given himself root acess and no longer needed the clarity to hack the ships permissions he left the door he'd created open, and went back in to fix his medications and outputs back the way they had been, by the time he had his opertunity he would be fully drugged again, they wouldn't be able to tell it was him. ------------------ Being the Empress had its perks. No waiting in lines, getting to take par in destruction and culling without consequences, running fleets of ships, not having to tolerate any mischief, being feared and respected by everyone at default. But most importantly? Not having to do shit unless you want to. This is one thing Meenah took advantage of as much as possible. If she didn’t have to get up and go somewhere to get something done, why would she?

In her younger years, the idea of taking the throne had caused her nothing but annoyance and disgust. Being taken care of like a wriggler, being responsible for a planet full of easily influenced and hasty trolls. Taking care of her lusus indefinitely, and having to personally feed her each night. Making a quick and not very discreet exit from her original planet had been a great decision. She’s stood by it since it happened, all those sweeps ago in an universe that never quite fit to her tastes. Being born there had felt like a cruel joke once she knew what she had missed out on.

So when she had spawned here some number of sweeps ago, she had been horrified. Devastated. They won and she, as always, got absolutely shafted by the universe. That is... until she took a good look around and evaluated her situation. Beforus had been a little pond, full of toothless guppies. And she had been a shark, unable to even turn around in the limited space. But Alternia? Alternia was a vast sea, with plenty of prey to sink her teeth into and depths to claim as her own. It was as if this gift universe was molded for her, a refined combination of two planets and the two lives she had lived through. The best part was that she had gotten to float over the hard parts, the initial rise to power and the conquering and culling of her personified roadblocks. The endless cycle of teaching her throneworld to submit.

There’s no shame in admitting she’s fully enjoyed the spoils of her new life, entirely content with trading a few sweeps for her position. Hell, she was a tyrian. There were plenty of sweeps to spare, she would do it again.

Which led to this, a three night streak of kicking up her feet in her own block on the flagship. The Battleship Condescention.

Okay, fine, maybe she should have been doing something more important than catching up on dramatic cinema when there was a rebellion to stomp out with her boot. But things were fine. They were starting to close in on the short, mouthy, ship thief. Her biggest potential problem was nice and cozy some number of floors below her, tucked into his ports and wires like a wriggler to coon. And no one else was stepping up to oppose her. Even the most powerful and feared leaders of societies had to take a break, let the tide ease them out.

Of course, all good things come to an end. This time, it’s the portable communications device implanted into her tiaratop. Already missing her makeshift getaway, she flicked a claw against the gold and her features were illuminated by the live footage of one of her on hand advisors. She scowled at him, lip jutted out and pierced brows raised to put emphasis on her annoyance. “We got a, y’know, a problem.” He grunted, the last word coming out like pr-ah-bl-im. “Sum’thin’ funny, ‘kay. Minor. We’re handling it, swear it ma’am. Got someone on the f’rewalls, set that right. But...”

When the purple hued troll went on to explain, she was furious. Someone had managed to nudge at their security systems and give them a test and it took them a few nights to tell her? Her pan whirled to the worst and most paranoid conclusion. Someone from their session, probably that infuriating time wench or the pirate enthusiast, maybe a turnaround from her own Makara if he’d been fully awakened in their new planet.

She stormed about to get ready, pan immediately set to force her commandeered pissblood battery to help her track down and eliminate the source. If her goons couldn’t get the job done, he was going to do it for them.

“Soon as I grill this guppy, you’re gettin’ sautéed. Fried.” Meenah, better known as the Condesce, set her focus entirely on a stomping beeline for the exit and her threatening tangent. “Pike it or not, best get ya’ affairs in order. Boat t’ sea what the pointy end a’ my golden prod ‘eels like embedded in ya’ b’ass. No shrimp-athy for the in-conch-petent, set a bet’a example for the school.”

The door to her block opened with quiet ‘swish!’ as she took her first step out. And then another. Somewhere, a number of clicks below stationed near the central engines, a troll was probably filled with justifiable anger and excitement. With the Empress there was nothing but the light, sharp sound of her heeled boots in the metal corridor paired with the rough undertone to her flurry of words. The advisor on the other end of her video chat cowered, sputtering excuses as she glared down her defined cartilage nub at him. “And if you e’fin conch-sea-der tryin’ to catch a wave trout’a here, I ain’t mako-in it snappy.” She continued her tirade, satisfied by the way the other troll’s eyes went wide and his jaw slid open. “Yeah, that’s moray p’ike it. Best get ya-shelf practicin’ on a look a’ ray-morse.”

“Actually,” he started, gaze averted to the light over the airlock behind her. It blinked red once, yellow twice, and began to shift to green. “I think -“

“Clam it, small fry!” She stopped her determined march to point a claw at him, as if he were really a few feet ahead of her. “Can’t bay-lieve ya’ got the swimmers to gab at me, blowin’ bubbles slap full a’ bullshark.”

Just behind her, the light held steady at green. The advisor stumbled in his warning, horrified and relieved and stalled by his shock as her hair whipped away from her face and her words trailed off. There’s a second where the familiar sound of the airlock opening seemed to halt time. Meenah looked over her shoulder, and then to the projected feed of the lower blooded troll. For the first time in sweeps, she barked a laugh. And then? “Son of a’ eldritch pailin’ bitch.” She bared her impressive chompers, fins flared backwards in her surprise, disbelief, and pure offense that someone has made an attempt on her life. The tyrian scrambled to dig her claws into the metal wall beside her, a cringe worthy noise produced when they drag through the reinforced metal. “You gotta be krillin’ -“

“Maybe if -“

In what might be the most anticlimactic turntables of a story ever, the airlock smoothly opens the rest of the way. Sweeps in the past, there is a time traveling maroon blooded, grudge obsessed troll glancing through the ages and chortling at a joke no one will understand much less believe. The seadweller’s yellow painted claws dig and clip away in a desperate swing at survival. The hatches to the other blocks through the stem are sealed shut, and whatever artificial air was being released dissipated the minute the immediate area was exposed to space. Meenah had a moment, maybe two, to reflect on the mistakes that led her here. Putting an airlock directly outside the door to her block, entirely for the purpose of disposing of any unwanted visitors. Not once considering that someone might turn this around on her, or capitalize on her desire for the dramatic. Leaving her block using her balancing prongs at all, when a transportalizer would have been safer and faster - but would ultimately have lacked in the build-up of intensity and hostility that a chance to strut and lament and publicly humiliate and shortly thereafter kill her most recent workplace pest. If she had more time, she might have thought of a few more excuses to shift the blame a bit.

Including, but not limited to: This Must Entirely Be Megido’s Fault And Here Is Why, the three part series of essays assembled by Meenah Peixes. Or the potential ways Aranea could have somehow subverted death and the fate of their session altogether to somehow ruin the one fun thing she has EVER had the chance to do, seriously, what a Jealous Jude. Or maybe this is the fault of the younger Vantas, who mysteriously fell into her lap around a sweep ago and... well, he was disappointing as a whole until he managed to actually do a backflip off of the handle and body his way out of holding.The diversion of resources from the facility had been an oversight, and the cause of it was promptly replaced and reassigned to dinner duty. A more appealing way to refer to the main course.

Any of those things could have led to this, but none of them did. All the time in the world, and she likely never would have thought her laziness would play a part in her downfall.

It did, though. The metal peeled away from the support column, and the lurching movement broke her grip. It was inevitable. Meenah tried to yelp out a curse, perhaps one last bit of defamation for her last words, but nothing actually came from her throat. Her lips twisted and her expression caught somewhere between anger and fear. The last thought to coherently hit her ends with ‘- and this bucket of chum is the last thing I get my peepers on, really?’ as she wS forcibly removed from the flagship and sent careening into space.

A few blocks and a couple lifts away, the flabbergasted advisor had already dispatched armed forces. Not that it mattered, he decided. The connection to the tiratop flickers more and more as she departs, but the image of his frozen taskmaster tells him there’s no rescuing from that.

Her skin was flaking with ice, fins back and shining tyrian as they stretched, thin eyes obscured by the ice on her lashes, teeth exposed from where she tried to get the last word. The sight of her being quickly and surprisingly easily dispatched hadn’t left him hopeful for saving her, and the last glimpses of her expression deterred him from even attempting to recover her corpse.

The Empress was dead.

[teonnaelliottart]

Program day

It was very interesting to here what projects other students had been up to. In particular it was good to here about the opertunities and buisness ventures the level 6s are moving onto. It gave me inspiration and insight into what goes into level 6 and how to use the knowledge given to succeed after graduation.

[dogwood-city]

Page Two

-Two: Logging Dream-

God... I had a dream last night. Thousands of lumberjacks came to take the city back. All those damned trees, they fell, like so many dead bodies. They were all dressed the same, with that red flannel jacket and beard. I can laugh at that now, but I was so... swept up by the dream that at that moment it was... awe-inspiring.

Once upon a time on a hill there stood the Forest Eternal. The Forest was peaceful, and in it there lived every type of creature and every kind of tree, and each was attended to by the Fair Folk of the hills and mountains. Together they saw to the needs of the forest and the needs of their fellows, and there was peace.

Once upon a time there was the Nation of Man. The Nation was glorious and prosperous, and within it resided the Fair Folk of the lowlands and plains, and to each was given a part of the sacred Oppertunity that they shared, and each treasured it as if it had been their own soul. The people together sought glory and discovery, and roamed far and wide in search of new tests of their vigor and new challenges to overcome.

At the first meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Fair Folk were one people, and each one recongized her sisters among the Forest and among the Nation.

At the second meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Fair Folk brought suspicion to their meeting places, nestled silently in their hearts. The Folk of the Forest whispered of unrest and unruliness. The Folk of the Nation whispered of stagnation, and lost Oppertunity.

At the third meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Fair folk brought accusation and fear into the wooded groves where they had toasted each other not all that long ago. The clamor of the spreading unrest was heard under leaves and tents alike, and no oppertunity was lost by one to disparage the other.

At the fourth meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Fair Folk brought goods and currency to exchange with their bretherin. What other purpose might there be to meet with those wicked creatures than to benifit by their metalworking, or by their skill at cultivation?

At the fifth meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Fair Folk brought spite and hostilty, and cruel mutterings. The Nation brought with it Axes, and the Forest wept at the death of an old tree, killed by a young man. The Forest Folk took their rage and retreated into their homes to mourn.

At the sixth meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Forest Folk brought a bright stone Dagger.

At the seventh meeting of the Forest Eternal and the Nation of Man, the Forest Folk and the Nation brought War to each other, tied with a cursed rope.

Many trees were cut. A line of fire and bright steel swam to the horizon, and the Forest Eternal was Eternal no more. The Nation unleashed its determination to conquor onto those who had been its brothers, and the Forest Folk perished under the Nation's axes. The Forest folk, in their deaths, did not make peaceful spirits. Many glowing Opertunities were smashed to bits on the stumps of cut trees.

The forest burned, and the people burned inside. The Folk of the Hills and Mountains were killed or taken prisoner, and the Folk of the Lowlands settled into the plains and built high walls of stone and wood. They proclaimed the day a victory, though it was not. On their sheilds they raised a man, and proclaimed him King, for the golden glow of oppertunity still blazed at his breast. This he passed to his daughter, and she to her daughter, and she to her son. The son claimed it as his birthright, though it had belonged to the King and Queens before him. Each new king builds the walls around the Nation taller, and each old king raises himself above the rest. The light of his Oppertunity casts a long shadow on those below. The Fair Folk have lost both the light of opertunity and the light of day, and stumble through their lives in darkness.

[hatmanreviewsmovies]

The Last Jedi

I will do my absolute best to be spoiler free.

Hat 1- Story: On the surface, this is a very simple premise. As the remaining Rebellion runs from a rebellion ship, Rey finds Luke Skywalker to convince him to help. Meanwhile her connection to Kylo Ren grows stronger. Within this framework is the best, boldest and most daring plot line this franchise has seen since the first three films. It dares to do very polarizing things that fans will love or hate, but every move is justified. It is a war film above all. This film has balls, and more importantly: consequences. It takes its time getting to the action, and at times this wait feels a little long. But when it does, the pay off is worth it.

.9/1 hat

Hat 2- Performances: Mark Hamill is back as Jedi master Luke Skywalker. He is grown mature in his acting as the character has in his own beliefs. Daisy Ridley is given that chance to show her true acting chops. In fact all the characters are given depth that provide their actors an opertunity to show their true chops. The newcomer, Kelly Marie Chan, provides some new heart and comedy that is welcome, and Andy Serkis’s Snoke is phenomenal, some of his best acting work we have ever seen. 1/1

Hat 3- Craft: Rian Johnson’s guts to go where this film goes is enough to gain this a full hat for directing. He is as much an actors director as an action director. This action is a new, more elaborate style fighting that this franchise hasn’t seen and is new and exciting. The design of this film is also stunning. Snoke’s chambers is one of the most awesome designs of the year, and the new planets are also just as awesome. The score uses its familier themes to its best advantage and the sound work is as immersive as it always has been. The effects are good, not gold standard but good. 1/1 hat

Hat 4- Entertainment Value: While this film always has you in its grasp, there are moments early on when it drags. However, just when you’re getting bored, a twist or moment delivers just what you need. It is time well spent. .9/1 hat

Hat 5- Memorability: I’ll go ahead and say it. This is this trilogy’s Empire. It has guts, it has heart, it has the most laughs we’ve seen in a Star Wars film in decades (ever wonder how the First Order’s uniforms stay so crisp?) all in all, a damn near perfect film. 1/1 hat

TOTAL: 4.8/5 Hats