#god i need to crop more icons

[yellosnacc]

Welcome to a long one.

The Ciwan empire is the fastest-growing sloman power ever since the war of continents and the first to discover a form of gunpowder (thanks to their enemies being uniima lls who have been using it long before).

But even with that advantage (among slomen), the Ciwan armies are iconic for a different reason. That being the Kuiqua-trained units that Sun-cutters come from.

These units have traditionally existed for hundreds of years but are slowly just becoming a symbol for show because of the political and battling changes in the world. However, you will still see them from time to time ripping people to pieces.

Just like the majority of sloman military groups the unit relies on intense teamwork, they need constant communication and preplanned routes to deal with the opposing strategy.

The simplified average scene might look something like this:

In one unit of 30 members, three strikers (Sun-cutters) make a plan with their scholars and commanding Fire-catchers (Seconds leaders). After getting to the war zone they wait for their window in which some members spy or communicate with deeper army spies. When they know their target and best strategy they get in. The strikers use hand gestures, clicks, or whistles to save energy while the Seconds forward the orders to the rest with "ground's" (war language), wooden whistles see more use in very large units. Many times, however, often just seeing the movement of the sun-cutters is enough for the whole group to act.

Strikers will sometimes wait behind their heavies (Beasts) if their force isn't necessary (units can be as few as 5 members or as many as 50, the two extremes work very differently). Once the situation calls for it, they bullet their targets, often stabbing talons first and tearing muscles in a swift motion. This may happen multiple times as other unit members engage in direct battle with the target/s or disarm them with specialized tools. Kuiqua units both kill and capture, having healing supplies on their heavies if they need to make sure their target doesn't bleed out (or their own soldiers).

All members of the Kuiquan unit are priests of different levels but all are priests of the dead (ones that speak for their ancestors rather than gods). It's believed lands conquered with these soldiers present will flourish with life. Many former battlegrounds have turned into gardens and crop fields (hopefully they don't keep this up when landmines are invented).

To the image. What you see is a small variety of soldiers. Beasts and fire-catchers have other names and features in their armor that they are known for based on all their roles that can often switch between fights. Only Sun-cutters truly have one name.

Fire-catchers are also sometimes strikers in training and may move up if they prove themselves. Though, more often Sun-cutters rise from the ranks of regular taloned soldiers with enough talent.

-

As mentioned in the image, Sun-cutters tend to be very prideful. Their helmets are an impractical mess that pushes their ears forward. A Ciwan Sloman's ears are very important to them and if they are damaged it's a career-ending event. Still, almost no strikers bind their ears, not wanting to be shamed for cowardness.

an ex-striker

here is the whole picture if you prefer it big

Btw, Kuiqua is the city Neal lives in. He has met or been arranged to meet these units multiple times since Neal himself is stuck classified as a fancy soldier. They are also not uncommon around temples, small talk is required.

Thank you for reading this far! Next I must answer the questions of biology. This has taken me 50 000 years.

[teenidlegirl]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ❛ 𝓑𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘 𝓞𝐅 𝓣𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝓜𝐄𝐒𝐒. ❜

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ❀ ˚◞ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 : 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬

ઇ ˚ ݂ ֹ ꒰ military!miguel 𝓍 fem!neighbor!reader ꒱ ! ۟ ׅ ♡

ׄ   ׅ ྀ 𝓢𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘. you plan to hang out with friends at the bar but don’t expect your neighbor there as well, nevertheless knows one of your friends. you decide to get to know each other a bit more.

ׄ   ׅ ྀ 𝓒𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓. fluff, tension, swearing, mini backstories, reader wears acrylics, mentions of alcohol consumption

❛⠀ previous chapter⠀⋅⠀masterlist⠀⋅⠀next chapter ⠀❜

“wait wait wait, hold up. he offered to fix your shit whenever you need it?”

your friend lyla, since high school and basically a sister to you, has been freaking out over your story about your neighbor fixing your engine and sink and how he offered to help you when needed.

you shrug. “yeah, pretty much.”

“gurl, he’s definitely into you.”

you almost choke on your lemonade, coughing it back down your throat. “the fuck- no he’s not, lyla. jesus, it’s just a generous offer.”

she scoffs, rolling her eyes under her iconic hot pink heart shaped glasses. “gurl, please. he straight up fixed your engine without you even asking, which you said it was under 5 minutes.” she raises her index finger in a sassy manner. “and he fixed your sink and practically begged you to not pay him back. the man is a sweetheart and clearly into you, period.”

you stare at her with a deadpan expression. can’t believe what she said but it’s kinda true. he did fixed your engine without asking him, he just straight up did it. and he was serious about not paying him back.

but he’s definitely not into you.

“it’s called generosity, search it up. besides, it’s just neighbors helping neighbors.”

“oh my god, you’re so in denial but fine whatever.” she waves off with a hand. “but don’t come screaming back to me when he asks you out.”

you facepalm yourself, sighing frustratingly. “i’m gonna murder you.”

“aw love ya too, bestie.”

you got lyla’s reaction, now it was eddie’s turn.

“i told you!”

you stand there with an annoyed expression, staring at him with daggers. “cállete.”

“see?! i called it! man’s in the military!” he cheered, a prideful smile on his face that you wanna slap off.

“yeah, yeah.” you roll your eyes, walking away to your desk so you can sulk in peace.

“oh come on! it isn’t bad, honestly it’s a good thing. if case there’s trouble, he can help you.” he follows you, leaning back against his desk across from yours. “everyone knows not to fuck with those guys.”

a quiet sigh left your lips. “yeah, maybe. now can you stop celebrating and focus on the damn article which is due by the end of the day?” you shoot him a glare.

eddie chuckled, nodding. “alright alright, let’s get that shit done.”

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

it’s friday night, hanging out at jackie’s. mj, your other friend, texted you she’ll pick you up so you can meet up with the guys there, peter, harry and eddie. after getting ready, a black crop top and some jeans, mj picks you up and you drive over to the bar.

entering the bar, which seems to be a bit packed tonight, you spot the guys sitting a table near the far corner. eddie and harry wave at you with smiles. passing through the crowd trying to not bump into people, you make your way towards your friends. but you’re walking, you notice peter is talking to someone. a tall, bulky figure whose dark brown hair and muscular shoulders you recognize any day.

oh shit- that’s your neighbor.

peter seems to notice your presence when he turns to see you and mj arriving, a bright, dorky smile plastered on his face. but your eyes are already glued on your neighbor, whose his eyes meets your own and match your surprised expression. your heart freezes the moment your eyes meet.

“hey!” he quickly walks over to mj and gives her a quick kiss which she reciprocates. “i want you guys to meet an old buddy of mine.”

he wraps an arm around miguel, giving his shoulder a light pat which miguel seems to be agitated about. “this is miguel, my old pal from high school.”

hold up- he knows peter? peter knows him?

they went to high school together?

what kind of fucking coincidence is this?

everyone greets him with kind hellos and smiles but you’re just staring at him with wide eyes. eddie winked at you which you glared in return. peter seems to notice the tension between you two.

“you uh know each other?” he gestures at you and miguel with a hand.

you blink feverishly, tearing away from his gaze. “uh yeah… we’re neighbors.” awkwardness in your tone.

you don’t miss the way peter’s eyes light up in enthusiasm. “no way! really? that’s cool! guess you won’t have to only talk to me, huh bud?” he gives miguel another pat on the shoulder.

miguel, on the other hand, still looks agitated and slightly embarrassed. shit maybe you made it more awkward for him. but peter is the one putting him on the spotlight so it’s not entirely your fault.

“cállete.” the taller man grumbles before giving you a quick glance then looks away.

you two don’t say much to each other after that awkward encounter. miguel joins you and your friends. you, mj and eddie on one side of the table. miguel, peter, and harry on the other. coincidentally you and miguel sit across from each other, acting as if you don’t know one another. it’s mainly everyone else keeping the conversation going while sipping on beer, you’ll participate like usual pretending his appearance doesn’t affect you. not in a bad way, it’s just odd yet amusing your neighbor is sitting across from you along with your group of friends.

throughout the night, you feel the tension between you and miguel. his eyes on you the entire time, making you feel warm. you play it cool, pretending it’s not affecting you but really it is. the tension wrapped around your neck. especially whenever you talk, oh you definitely feel his gaze. your heart pumping a bit faster than usual. it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable, just nervous. your neighbor, a very attractive man, observing your every move.

when he isn’t looking at you, you’d sneak glances at him. you can’t help but admire the soft, golden lighting of the bar does wonders on his facial features. damn he looks majestic as hell. those cheekbones stick out. an amazing side profile. you quickly look away when he turns back, both of you unintentionally sipping your beer simultaneously.

later on, you notice your bottle is empty. one beer is enough for tonight, will ask for a water instead. after telling your friends you’ll be right back, you head over to the bar and politely ask for water. the bartender nods with a kind smile and retrieves your requested beverage. while waiting, you suddenly feel a presence next to you. looking aside, it’s miguel.

“otra moledo, pro fav.” he requests.

the bartender gives him a nod after he returns with your water. you thank him with a kind smile and take a sip of your water, not meeting miguel’s gaze.

“i guess we can never get away from each other.”

“i guess not.” he indulged in your joke.

“so, been friends since high school? sounds magical.” some sarcasm in your tone.

that earns you a light scoff from him. “con ese huevón, it’s the opposite.”

“figured.” a little smile on your face. “peter is special.”

“an idiot most of the time. surprised he’s engaged but good for him.”

“yeah, crazy but they’re good for each other.” you spare a glance at peter and mj.

his friend engaged to your friend. how can it be more of a fucking coincidence? goddamn.

“how did you guys become friends?” curiosity got the best of you. now, you finally look at him. sometimes you forget to crane all your neck up just to meet his eyes. curse him for being so damn tall.

the bartender returns with his moledo and miguel quickly thanks then takes a sip. “robotics club.”

your eyes widen. “you were in robotics club?”

he can hear the amusement in your tone. “what? is that so hard to believe?” he looks at you with a teasing expression, one brow arched.

you can’t help but chuckle a little. “honestly, by your demeanor, kinda.”

the man huffs, shaking his head with a very faint smile on his face. the very first smile you’ve ever seen. not to mention you caused it. you can’t deny the way your heart flutters at the sight.

“well, i was. before i got signed up, i was interested in robotics. since i was a kid, i liked building things.”

you tilt your head a little, evidently interested. “did you win any competitions?”

he confirms with a nod. ���four.”

your brows raise in surprise. “damn, you really did enjoy building things, that’s pretty cool.”

the man huffs in amusement. “you?”

“me?” you scoff. “well, i definitely didn’t build cool stuff and won awards for them in high school.”

that earns you a quiet chuckle from him. a sound that makes your heart flutter. a sound you’ve never heard him make but you managed to do so.

you look off to the side, acrylic nails quietly tapping the glass filled with water. “i was a choir girl.”

what you don’t see is the tiny smirk on his face. “a choir girl? not surprised.” audible amusement in his tone, making you look back at him which causes his smirk to grow a bit wider.

“what do you mean by that?” your brows furrowed, a little smile on your lips.

“i heard you singing the other night.”

oh… shit.

singing is one of your hobbies. sometimes you’d sing in the shower, mainly when you used to live with no next door neighbor. but that one night he’s talking about, you were really in the mood and didn’t realize you were singing a bit louder than usual. as ironic as it is, you’re shy in singing in front of others, mainly people you don’t know or not in choir.

you forgot someone lived on the other side of the wall. he heard you and it was during the night. fuck, you could’ve woken him up. oh now you really wanna facepalm yourself out of embarrassment.

“oh shit… my bad. i’m sorry if i woke you. after five months of no next door neighbor, i got used to singing without worrying.”

miguel can see the panic and embarrassment illustrated on your face. a small wave of guilt hits him. “you didn’t, although i was surprised for a second but it’s fine so don’t feel bad.” he said reassuringly.

but truthfully, he enjoyed hearing you. such an angelic voice. it reminded him of aurora singing in the woods from sleeping beauty when he and his younger brother gabriel watched disney movies with the neighbors’ kids when he was a child.

the embarrassment still lingers in your veins. even though he reassured you it was okay, you still feel a bit guilty. now you have to remind yourself there is someone behind that wall, have to be respectful.

you haven’t realized your friends have been waiting for you to come back until you notice peter waving at you guys. eddie flashes a little smirk, making you glare in return. you’ve been standing here having your own tiny conversation that you completely forgot the friends you’re meant to hang with tonight.

“we should head back.” you softly chuckle, miguel nods as you both head back to the group.

⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂃 ୨ ₊ 𓂃 ౨ৎ   𓂃 ₊ ୧   𓂃

it’s a little past 11:00 pm when you decide to call it a night. the original plan was for mary jane to take you home but miguel offered to take you instead since you guys live in the same place. his offer surprised you but it makes sense so you accept.

mj gives you a teasing look, a very faint smirk and a raised brow but you roll your eyes and give her a hug, hoping it would shut her up.

why can’t people understand you’re just neighbors? or possibly friends? it’s annoying as hell.

you completely forgot this man drives a motorcycle. when you head over to where his bike is parked, you feel a bit anxious. it’s been years since you’ve rode one, not since your ex boyfriend from high school. he used to drive you around town when you two were supposed to be doing homework. it was the sweet teenage romance portrayed in movies.

miguel noticed your apprehension. his brows furrowed a little. “never ridden one before?”

“no i have, it’s just been years…”

“if you’re uncomfortable about it then we can take an uber but i promise you,” the sincerity in his tone makes you look up at him “you’ll be safe with me, i won’t let anything happen to you.”

whoa, his words your heart fluttered like crazy. those mesmerizing mahogany eyes boring into yours filled with sincerity makes your heart race.

“o-okay.”

hoping on the bike, with miguel’s assistance by holding your hand, you never realize how big motorcycles are. or maybe you’re just that short, either way the bike is big. not to mention it’s cold as hell, feeling the cold sensation through your jeans.

he passes his helmet to you. unfortunately, it’s the only one since he came by himself.

“wait- what about you?”

“don’t worry about it, chica. i’ve rode without one before so it’s no problem.”

you huff, a little smile on your lips as you put of the helmet. it’s big on you, even with the strap adjusted.

the minute he gets on the bike, black leather covers your vision. his broad back to you. the starting engine startles you a little. you don’t see the little smirk on miguel’s face at your reaction.

“¿estas lista?” his head turns to the side, seeing you from his peripheral.

you hum with a nod. at first, you’re hesitant to touch him since you’ve never been this close before. but you have no other choice so you have to. very slowly, you wrap your arms around his waist. touching him ever so lightly to not trigger his comfort.

miguel chuckled at your hesitation. “gotta hold on tighter, chica.”

you immediately do when he slowly starts driving off. clinging onto him like your life depends on it. not that he’s speeding like wild but because he’s only your source of security. like mentioned before, it’s been years since you’ve rode a motorcycle. but the warmth radiating from his body soothe your worries.

even through the leather, you can feel the warmth. all the worries of falling or slipping off the bike slowly fades away by the radiating warmth. you can’t help but relax, gently resting your head on his back, finding comfort in his body warmth. not only comfort but security too. there isn’t an exact reason why but just his strong, bulky presence makes you feel safe.

miguel can sense your relaxed self, making the corners of his lips lift up ever so slightly. breaking into a very small smile when you grip on his jacket a bit tighter when he makes a sharp turn. the small, muffled gasp escaping your lips.

for him, it’s been years since he taken someone on his bike. prior to signing up, in fact. some girl he was hanging out with but never got serious due to his departure. it was always him and his bike.

until now and he enjoys it.

the drive was quiet yet enjoyable, breezing through the streets. a rememberable moment. you return home safely. as miguel parked the bike and turned off the bike, you take the helmet off.

“you okay?” he asks, his head to the side.

“yeah, it was fun.”

he lightly smiled at that.

after hoping off the bike and handing back his helmet, you enter the complex building. miguel opens the entrance door for you. it made your heart skip a beat. what a gentleman.

“thanks for driving me home.” you said as you approach your apartment door.

“of course.” miguel walks over to his door.

“tonight was interesting.” a tiny smile on your face, recapping tonight’s memories.

he agrees with a hum. “yeah, never thought we would be in the same place.”

you nod slowly. “me either. well… night.” just as you reach for the door handle, his voice stops you.

“wait—” he softly calls out, causing you to look back at him. “is your sink working alright?”

you’re a bit surprised by his question, mainly the fact he remembers. it’s kinda sweet of him to remember still. “oh yeah, it’s fine. no problems since.”

“that’s good. no other problems?”

you think for a moment but thought of nothing. “nope, everything’s fine.” you lightly shake your head.

miguel hums in approval with a nod.

this man is really considerate. of course you remember his offer to fix things for you if needed. in fact, it never left your mind. so generous of him. sometimes you feel a bit guilty because he’s willing to fix your troubles, especially for free. you’re gonna convince him to pay him back one day.

you say goodnight to each other, miguel watching you enter your apartment before entering his own. ending the night with little knowledge of each other and a fun little journey back home.

the beginning of new journeys ahead… maybe?

𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓. ♡ @reverieblondie @nina-from-317 @kavimoo @aly29a2001 @marshhbs @lazyjellyfish300 @tojishugetiddies @aphinthestars @novelaaaaaaaa @imamexican @obessgurlll @deputy-videogamer @watertribeissuperior @lovehadlovelost @auiciqa @agoddoesnotplead @saintdiior @whoopwhoppghost @tomalymme @skadiloki @miguelsfavwife @asterrrrose @glossygreene @aefin @youcantseem3 @resident-clown @kutsipie @zuevcs @totorotales-08 @meowgirl1

© teenidlegirl. don’t steal, plagiarize, or translate my work. ♡

[mistakenot4892]

Nebula vedlbog June '24

This devblog has been crossposted from cohost.

Hello, hello. This one's a bit late because there were a few bits and pieces pending merge. As a bonus, I moved back to Linux from Windows this month after Win10 pushed Copilot once too often, so that has taken up a bit of my time and effort. My workflow is a bit horrifying, but so far works well enough to be getting on with. Now if I could get Vulkan to stop crashing when I play Warframe...

Nebula SS13 is an open source project based on the Baystation 12 version of Space Station 13. SS13 is a topdown multiplayer simulation game where you play the crew of a ship, station, colony, etc. depending on your fork and map, with the Nebula and Bay forks having a focus on roleplaying and simulation interactions.

Notable changes

Melting has been disabled on dev due to the UX impacts of having all your clothes melt off if you step onto a fire for a few seconds.

Drakes have been merged! Big stupid lizards are now live on the dev branch. This has come along with stance and dexterity refactors to support non-human behaviors.

Bows have been reworked to have slightly nicer UX and to support multiple ammo types. Crossbows, regular bows and slings are now available in the crafting menu.

Penny has been busily moving all of the SS13-specific game modes into modpacks, to allow them to be dropped from maps where they wouldn't make sense. While it would be funny for a meteor storm to land on Shaded Hills, it probably wouldn't be a lot of fun to play through. A nuclear mercenary ship landing on Middle-Earth might be more fun.

A swathe of fixes to the atmospherics system have been authored by NataKillar, and should help resolve some of the weird edge cases that have been cropping up during testing.

We have finally, FINALLY removed /carbon from the /human mobtype. This means that the majority of life code like breathing or equipment handling are available to all /mob/living subtypes, not just humans (and diona nymphs). It also basically guarantees all map or code ports involving humans will need extra work, but them's the breaks.

We have replaced /datum/dna with a new mob_snapshot datum, generated on demand. This was a big job due to how entangled DNA was with mob code, and cleaning up like this allows for us more flexibility when implementing new things like a reworked changeling or new genetic conditions/superpowers.

I finished dismantling /under, which is a minor victory. Originally this was going to support adding a lower body/pants equipment slot, but in practice with accessory stacking the pants slot seems like unnecessary complexity; maybe something to consider down the track(pants).

Shaded Hills has had quite a lot of work done, most recently adding beggar knights and shrine attendants to the job roster. We are down to 6 items on the Shaded Hills MVP list, one of which is lobby art, which I have been putting off for something like four successive weekends.

Penny directed me through some adventures in updating the scripts we use for running headless Linux servers to support BYOND 515. I am still not sure where she finds the information, other than some kind of communion with nightmare gods.

Just recently I added a bunch of skeleton icons for kobolds, tajara and drakes, mainly to support zombies and skellymans downstream.

Bugs of note

We have an annoying issue on ScavStation where some quirk of the server scripts and the Linux setup is resulting in a round end looping the round end sound effects and warning message until the server finishes rebuild and restarts. It's not great to get bombarded with 50 YOU WANNA PUT A BANGING DONK ON IT out of nowhere.

Until a recent dexteruty tweak, drakes were fully capable of cocking aiming and firing a combat shotgun using nothing but their mouths. They could also arm grenades and perform surgery with scalpels. Thankfully they have been nerfed before they could seize power.

Current priorities

With the PR list in single digits, I'd like to take the opportunity to work through our backlog of fiddly issues. Getting that down to zero (or at least getting through some of the old issues and any new dev issues) would be nice.

r5 has been merged to stable, and r6 will be staged soon. One of the big remaining PRs is a flooring rewrite that I have been working on off and on for months. It's now blocking the next staging period, so hopefully that will put some pressure on me to finish it.

Just recently, the Shaded Hills map and the fantasy modpack have been spun into a fork server called Pyrelight. A lot of the content I'd like to make using the Shaded Hills map and Neb systems is a bit too magicy-fantasy for Neb main, so I'm going to point it at this fork.

[torirosso]

hey we have matching icons 😳🤝

hi karri! oh my god we have! i’ve been following you for a while now and i might be missing a pair of eyes because HOW DID I NOT NOTICE THIS BEFORE????!!!!😳😳😳 but i’m glad you noticed! my other half of maxiel haha 💖

i have this meme on my phone from march last year when mclaren was flopping (from IG i guess? idk where is it from :(() and after i started to use tumblr more and more and needed a picture i randomly found it again on this cursed device and thought it would look cool so i cropped daniel out

also: oh my god MY FIRST ASK!!!😭😭 i should get you some kind award or something 😭😭

thank you for reaching out, love you 💖

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Alright we're gonna do our first big compilation of my longass notes for a friend of the blogs fic, obviously we mUST start with The Thunder Answered Back by @spicymiilk

Fair warning, I would read the whole fic before reading my notes and laughing/crying along with me. I do think you can go chapter by chapter if you wish. Also a fair warning, I usually cull my notes before posting a fic comment; I really let myself go wild here. Proceed with caution.

Chapter one I didn't have too many notes bc I was deep in it and also there wasn't too too much cringe. Idk if this is well known about me, but I can watch like, hardcore porn or gore and not flinch. I used to watch Animal Planet vet shows while eating cheese its when I got home from school, just munching away while they did surgery on little puppies. But if you write even a tiny bit of cringe it takes me like 5 business days to recover. I fully cannot look at the screen. I will leave the room if an awkward conversation happens in my tv show. I also can't not react to cuteness as well. These notes were mental escapes a lot of the time in this fic, like mother of GOD I want to die even imagining these conversations. Mortifying. Anyways.

Unhinged things I would say on the google doc but here!

DIALOGUE, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It can make or break a piece and it CARRIED in this one. It's so very cringe and realistic lol. Dialogue is usually the hardest for writers but I don't think our man here has this problem lol.

Great setting as well, I can feel the heat. A setting you can physically feel is so immersive, it sucks you right in, and my ass has never been to Italy but I've been on a dock and I've been in a hot thunderstorm and I can feel it all.

Obsessed with the way Spider steps into the house and Neytiri's like "dinner, gayboy??" like she was on his ass instantly skskskks. HER LITTLE SLIGHTS AT HIM?? EXPLAIN, LOL. WHAT DID THE CHILD DO? Reminds me of the time my friends mom asked me to stop calling her Chris and I didn't understand why and just blurted back "Okay, Chris." It's just so funny to me when she hates Spider in modern fics, because there's no systemic context it's just her beefing with a small child oddly lol. Having read the whole fic now, it's just Quarich's racism connection, I believe.

I am obsessed with the plight of the boys. Obviously Spider needs to leave, but I'm hoping Lo'ak escapes the military industrial complex lol. I'm so torn. I had Sully fam on the brain, and I wanted Spider's continuing relationship with them all so badly. Maybe I simply need for them to ask Spider to stay with them? Like "live with us for a year buddy, get yourself ready for college. You can do anything king but also ur part of the family, now go deflower our son."

Here is that clarifying question I asked: Did Kiri and Spider have sex??? Or did Mandy tell her about Spider's dick? OR BOTH? I simply could not figure that out. Also missed opportunity to name that character Ninat for the lols. The next generation of Ninat's beefing with and over Sully men.

Now that you've given me my answer, truly hilarious comedic content for everyone around.

Kiri, at night: want to hear about Spider’s dick?

Lo’ak, charcoal and paper out, ready to create an impressive sketch: ew, no, go ahead.

Chapter two, FUCK OFF Jeytiri flirting karaoke is adorable, that’s hilarious. The whole scene made my heart happy bUT NOT HAPPY ENOUGH not enough comfort I need more of it.

Spider turning to Lo’ak who's aLREADY LOOKING AT HIM cause they’re both like “oh you mentioned love, let me look at my best friend,” I’ll die.

Lo’ak literally BEGGING Spider to sing so he can swoon in the corner. I love this headcanon that seems to be cropping up of Spider being like a really good singer, it's very interesting to me.

JAKE UNDERSTANDING SPIDER I’ll die. Jake’s adopted that child you can’t convince me otherwise. Dude, even Neytiri fucking sees him as part of the family, I’ll scream. The tooth gem thing??? Iconic. Loved it. She’s giving Spider specifically cookies??? I’ll die. She's included him in all their shit. Not just anyone can do family game night karaoke. The karaoke, I am obsessed. Adorable. The Kiri and Lo’ak banter means the world to me. Their limp wrist agenda, the limp wrist bullying. What will he do when he can’t hold that against her? She must be unbearable to him in return when Spider isn't there. We love a homophobic gay. It's like what I said about my roommate i slept with twice (who follows me on here and we all better hope doesn't perceive this post); "I only get offended when SHE calls me slurs because I know then it comes from a place of true homophobia."

Kiri is literally begging Spider to understand Lo’ak wants him. BEGGING LO’AK TO UNDERSTAND SPIDER WANTS HIM. Kiri trying not to die at how obvious they both are. Kiri, going to beat the shit out of Lo’ak for asking about Mandy of all people bc of how far he's gone to avoid learning about that. I STILL AM UNCLEAR AS TO IF HIS ASS ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW SPIDER BROKE UP WITH MANDY OR HE WAS JUST BEING AN ASS.

Also fuck u for underestimating the importance of Tuk to Spider, he wants Tuk to remember him please I swear.

Also I have noted you have hinted at Spider’s praise kink. I can see it clearly. Nothing more will be said on that topic, but sometimes a praise kink simply makes sense for a character.

'IT COMES OUT MORE LIKE GAY' that was just for me, I know. So was Ninat's kid, obviously. Now that it's cONFIRMED for me I love to know that I am the target audience of all locorro fics ever.

Spider: *calls Lo’ak baby and gets embarrassed*

Lo’ak: *rebooting*

Lol Spider punching Lo’ak for saying slurs is so funny. Lo’ak's like if I say it I ain’t it, and that's on falling for the guy that is punching me for saying the slurs.

This little "I knew" reveal was CERTAINLY not what I was expecting. Not at all. A delightful little twist huh? A little trope subversion? AN EXPLICIT DRUNK CONFESSION IS SO HEART-WRENCHINGLY AWFUL OH MY GOD. WHAT HAPPENED THEN WHAT DID THEY D O I MUST KNOW. "It’s not a big deal bc I… like u too obviously lol." That's the end of the sentence and the end of the communication. I was driven insane by that, I just finished XO Kitty, worst show ever, and I was reminded how much I despise when communication would solve legit every problem but it's handled realistically here. Communication is so hard for the boys Kiri will throw hands. And I brought your inhaler with me obvs cause I’m in love with you.

I’m sad about an asthmatic fist fight but it’s so appropriate. I am sad tho. I am a hurt/COMFORT bitch where is my COMFORT. I don't think my body is ready for a nocorro fic from u @spicymiilk my blog is about to become all comforting headcanons and we're going to ignore the plethora of Hunger Games ones I got today.

Now we have to sit here in this world where Lo'ak thought Spider was emotionally(?) cheating on Mandy with him if he thought they were still dating, the fucking clown idiot fool.

FINALLY, for the third and final chapter, with some bonus answers Andrei has given to my demanding all caps questions.

I’m so mean, I’m laughing at the idea of Kiri waking up at an ungodly 7:34am to Lo’ak ugly crying over Spider’s fake bed on the floor like he’s gone off and died in the war. She’s just like the pizza box community meme like uhhhh. Now I know this must happen oFTEN so I again figure that she must have gotten really good at sleeping through his ugly sobbing.

JHUST FUCKING LEAVE QUARITCH THIS IS SO ANNOYING GET OUT OF MY PLOT I’M TRYNA SEE KIRI’S TEXTS, ugh I'm so biased I despised how much he was in this chapter he should choke I wish asthma was contagious. Although, for some reason Quaritch calling Spider Lo’ak’s wife did things to me personally, The sweet homosexual love line then took me out back and popped me (I mean this in a like, Italian mafia putting me down outside way and not like, doing poppers outside a club although for some reason both are giving the same energy).

Neytiri murdering Spider for both turning her son gay and also making him sad can be something so personal. I still am in denial of every universe where she doesn't like him, and in this one I just love the idea of them slinking back to Italy having eloped or some shit where Spider now has to build that relationship but now having deflowered and stolen her son in the night. Hilarious. They must bond over talking about how stupid he is. They're so similar, how can the people with Jake and his clone not be.

Lol I also forgot Lo’ak got a black eye, that makes Kiri’s texts earlier so much funnier. Kiri was like they made out so hard he was struck with love. Developed a bruise. His gayness punched him in the face.

SPIDER KILL YOURSELF IM IN YOUR ROOM KICK YOUR DAD OUT IS SO FUNNY TO ME THE KYS SPECEFICALLY KILELD ME.

Oh my god the crying was all a lie, a fantasy, I’m so disappointed. More realistic, sure, but still. I am unclear as to if it was rEAL.

I had the cunt thing spoiled for me when I was catching up on posts I missed; never did I imagine lol. Almost as hilarious as Lo’ak telling Spider to die because he didn’t look at him, gay.

Spackle covering the hole in the wall, hmm, I wonder who punched that there?? Also abusive Quaritch giving romantic advice is making me want to puke up all my organs. I know Andrei says say the hole in the wall was nothing, but you can't have an abusive dad character and then mention a hole in the wall and nOT have us thinking that Quaritch punched a hole in the wall. Every reader is gonna think that.

Lol those Kiri texts and what she says is sO MEAN god I totally get why she did it but omg way to ruin a man over something that is not his decision or his fault. She’s just so so mad about the gays being dumb. Can’t believe she finally coughed up this info. Also the way Quaritch could probably hear all this through the wall makes me wanna die.

Speaking of Quaritch, what an interesting portrayal of their relationship. As a Quaritch hater, there's very few fics where I don't just fully skip long interactions with him. I gotta have really been sucked into the world, and I was with this one. I can't tell what of my feelings on the characters have made me biased on the relationship and what are my feelings on what the text portrayed. The feeling of too late in their relationship is there, overwhelmingly and devastatingly, but part of me found myself unconvinced by the attempts from Quartich. I literally can't tell if it's my own bias (most likely) or if it's my own lack of explicit background knowledge.

What we do learn of the past we learn in fragments, passing lines from Spider's internal monologue. They aren't the focal point of the story, but they are deeply important to the world created, and it leaves me with a feeling like I'm in an unfinished paint by numbers; I don't quite have the full picture. (Again, as I always say to you in my beta notes Andrei, these are incredibly harsh comments for fic. It's just good enough I'm treating it as though it's more lol (bc it can be)).

As to why everyone is finding Kiri mean; yeah she's neurospicy and we do clearly get the vibe that they talk to each other in this way, this casual banter that doesn't really mean anything. That being said, casual "kill yourself" or like "this is all your fault" and shit like that when the character is clearly upset and angry comes across as serious. Knowing Kiri as a character I didn't think she was, but reading it took me aback because as a standalone I don't have that context. In arguments and serious moments those words pack a punch, especially to a reader in such close third as we are with Spider in this one. We are WITH him and seeing only his thoughts and perspectives, his hurt is front and center so it's easy to feel hurt and defensive as a reader. I digress.

Lo’ak’s like every man in a crime show calling his wife to hear her voice one last time before he goes to to the dangerous mission and almost dies. He's like "I'll hear Spider's breathing and then know the US military is the way for me." Spider, the barrier between Lo’ak and the goddamn US military. That’s so funny to me. This is another reason to feel confused by Kiri's vitriol; it's not Spider's fault what Lo'ak chooses to do with his life and it is unfair to blame him. One line of her doing it I get, but she does it several times and the only excuse we get for her is from Spider.

Kiri is better than me I’m an awful secret keeper. But also maybe she could’ve coughed that bad boy up earlier, huh?

Tbh tho, on a serious writing note; it’s so well written because from the beginning we know exactly what is happening. They both like each other and Kiri knows both sides. That was obvious to me. You tell us from the get go that Spider is leaving when he turns 18, and that Lo’ak is leaving to join the military, WE KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN. And yet the train chugs on and each event sets it in motion instead of derailing it, leaving us with an inevitable tragedy we all saw coming. Well done. If I was giving line edits on a publishable work, I’d say speed up the timeline. Make the whole fic (so excluding prior events like the party) all happen like. A few days before Spider leaves. I want to feel it all in real time, up close, as it happens. No breaks in time. I also want that memory convo with Lo’ak earlier lol, so that the realization of it can hit later. And honestly, if it wasn’t fic I’d leave it with the Kiri and Spider convo. No happy ending. BUT NOW LET ME GO READ MY WELL DESERVED HAPPY ENDING. U would've been SICK for not including one.

Extremely uncommon fanfiction Jake Sully W here. It should be more common I am an unapologetic stan.

Them going to find each other is so funny to me. Kiri was personally sending them on a wild goose chase as revenge.

OH THERE IT IS THE COMMON JAKE SULLY L. Although driving your gay ass son to do an airport rom com moment at 5:45am is actually quite the parenting w, where the fuck was Neytiri she would’ve been much more efficient. I mean she wouldn't have let him go, but she would've been efficient about it.

The idea of Lo’ak making his final decision to go to the military earlier in the day and then not actually doing it until he wakes Jake up at 2am makes me cackle. Jake: you go get that dick son, your mother can kill us both later.

ALSO WHY’S HE PULLING HIS SHIRT COLLAR SO HIGH, HMMM, ANDREI??? Showing up to meet his grandmother absolutely dEFILED. Does Lo'ak even have a change of clothes, that monster.

It’s 2:18am (when I originally write this), I have work tomorrow as I do literally every day of the week, and I’m just smiling to myself at this shit. Criticism: not enough of them being happy and also I didn’t get to learn what depraved things Spider wanted to do to Lo’ak that he drunkenly told him about that Lo’ak then had to live with torturing himself (and Kiri) over for months.

Andrei's response on what Spider drunkenly said to Lo'ak for the people: The depraved things are as follows— spider sat his ass in Lo’ak’s lap, completely and utterly gone, and waved poetry about Lo’ak’s long and strong fingers for at least ten minutes. He also made sure to mention his borderline tank top kink. Lo’ak definitely did not internalize that

I just have to say; I should've expected that. Those two gay ass losers to simply lose their minds over tHAT, which is like nOTHING. A REGULAR CONVERSATION I'D DARE SAY. ONE OF THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH ONE OF MY ROOMMATES WAS ABOUT HER HAND KINK, SO I RECIPROCATED BY SAYING I THOUGHT THE DWARVES IN LOTR HAD GOOD HANDS. LO'AK WAS DEAD, SIMPLY MURDERED, A BLUSHING FOOL OVER THAT.

Lo'ak, stumbling into his and Kiri's room: Spider confessed his love for me and said... depraved things.

Kiri: OH MY GOD WHAT DID HE SAY.

Lo'ak: He said he likes my tank tops... I can barely speak of it out loud.

Kiri: Oh. 🙄

Also lowkey Kiri has to be enraged they’re normal now that they’re away from her. ALSO DOESN’T THAT BITCH LO’AK HAVE SCHOOL?? Hilarious all around. Lo’ak brings Spider back because they cannot be apart and then keeps him in his and Kiri’s room for the next year until he finishes high school. They see how long they can go without Quaritch finding out Spider’s nearby. Kiri hates them so much, especially now that they fuck in her space.

Andrei said in response to this: Lo’ak finished school in Florida!! Pulled a fast one on the school system and said hey I’m smart enough to finish like two classes here. Kiri didn’t speak to EITHER of them for months. Neytiri would call to check up and Kiri would be whining in the background about how she’s betraying her

They make up when Spider saves up to get her a ticket to visit them for a summer 🤸

The idea of Lo'ak never returning is so funny to me in so many ways. First of all, Spider dropping him off and picking him up like he's the sexy older boyfriend in every romcom ever. Second, the idea of Spider bullying him for having to go to school still. Three, they just squat with Spider's grandma, and she's like god I expected one gay loser not TWO. Four, Neytiri calling to check up just resulting in her and Spider both bitching about Lo'ak and Kiri respectively here is how the Neytiri and Spider fanboys can win-

Also, the idea of someone having to tell Neteyam about this makes me want to cry real tears of laughter. He’s in his first semester of college someone free him.

Andrei said: Let neteyam live in blissful ignorance. He knew Lo’ak was a raging homosexual for their entire lives and the second he saw spider he was like. Oooohhh okay. And then he never looked again the mental strength required to deal with it was just too much

Kiri, on facetime: so Lo'ak followed Spider-

Neteyam, opening a textbook in his Harvard dorm room or some shit:

[bsaka7]

tetrapod's footie(ish) reading list...so far

books i've read this year

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis - yes, i'm aware this is about baseball...but it's also about efficient and effective sports management (and arsene does get a shoutout!). i'm also fully aware this is one of the most popular sports books of all time. well. that's the case for a reason. for me, very helpful for understanding how "empirical" analysis in sports is used and the basic reasoning of how some chunk of it all "works"

The Mixer: The Story of Premier League Tactics, from Route One to False Nines by Michael Cox - insufferable to read about United's successes but really helped give me a base on tactical development even though there's a tonnnnnn i still don't get at all. i wish this book had DIAGRAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! however, it did give a decent history of the development of the prem and gave me a lot of stuff to look up....and i can sort of get the diagrams in the athletic a little better...

Arsene Wenger: The Biography by Xavier Rivoire - my biggest (unfair bc i got it for lik3 $4) gripe is that this is a bit out of date. it rlly helped me conceptualize how the arsene i met tuning into arsenal and falling stupidly head-over-heels at age 10...became that manager, without being overly intrusive or personal

[Redacted] by [Redacted] - extremely mid autobiography i'm not saying more. the hate of the team this is related to was only intensified by reading this.

[Redacted] by [Redacted] - still mid but better than the other one, if somehow even whinier. good insight to managers and their techniques. also, i really don't understand writing an autobiography in like, the early-latter-third of your playing career? you couldn't wait?

Addicted by Tony Adams and Ian Ridley - i imagine that the fact that this was co-written helped with the cohesion and helped craft it into the deeply personal and compelling narrative that it is. again, really good insight into managers and what they bring to the team, changing team culture, Tony's view on some of the great players he crossed paths with, as well as his own character. his hall of fame video makes me insanely emotional.

Stillness and Speed by Dennis Bergkamp and David Winner - technically this is also a co-write, but it's more of like, a funky interview. really fun, interesting, bringing in the Dutch perspective but a bit heavy on the 2010s Ajax coup/rebuild stuff. I was smiling while reading this though - remarkably amusing!

Invincible: Inside Arsenal's Unbeaten 2003-2004 Season by Amy Lawrence - okay I just finished this and it was the impetus for writing this post so i didn't like. just start the next footie book. some of these i've read on ebook but this one I waited until I could get a good deal on it because I wanted to hold it in my hands. by god, it was worth it. Lawrence brings such joy and care (and herself!) to her meticulously lived, researched, and organized oral history about such an incredible season, and manages to capture the intangible energy, the relentless drive to win, the co-mingling of personalities that created such iconic connection and success. i think i would have memorized this entire book if it had existed when i was 12.

on the docket

The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Soccer Is Wrong by Chris Anderson and David Sally - I got this from the used book store, so it's probably coming up soon in the rotation...like tomorrow?

The Damned Utd by David Peace - Isa told me to read it, so I will read it!!!!

Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics by Jonathan Wilson - I believe there's a newish/er edition of this, but I've just seen it crop up....around so I figure I should read. Maybe this one has some diagrams? I need help with my tactics understanding! if you rec/recommend this please let me know.

Thierry Henry: Lonely at the Top by Philippe Auclaire - cited in Invincible sooooo. Realistically, this, Vieira, Footballeur (Pires), and A Life in Football (Wright - though i'd rather hear him tell it than read it, i think) are all sort of in the same running for what I read on my next biography fix...

whatever YOU tell me to read!!!!! please help me be competent and literate!!!!!!!

at my mom's place...(when will I be home?)

Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski - I have the like, super old version of this book but I'm almost waiting to get back to my nearly destroyed copy (I'm not kidding, I think the cover is probably still brown with dirt), even though there's a 2022 World Cup edition which includes, well, the near-decade that I missed. Probably the single-most influential book I've read, regardless of how much I remember these days.

Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano - this is probably the book I'm most looking forward to re-reading. There's no way I truly understood it when I read it. I've read a bit of Open Veins of Latin America in college, so I'll be even more interested to really delve into this.

Soccer Against the Enemy: How the World's Most Popular Sport Starts and Fuels Revolutions and Keeps Dictators in Power by Simon Kuper - this is more than I can say about some of the other books on this list, but I do remember the chapter about Argentina fairly well.

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - I think I got this for my 11th birthday. Obviously slotted for a key reread.

The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness, and the Meaning of Soccer by John Doyle - I don't remember this one at all except I recognize the cover, so I don't think that means much. Can you tell around what year I first got obsessed (and what was available in the American media market lol)?

i will reiterate my plea for footie-related recs! i'm pretty open and a fairly quick reader...if i can find it, i'll read it.

if you've made it this far... here's a pic of all the books currently in my bed

[cacklingblobbittyrabbitty]

super unhinged rainbow magic post 8 of 12

Ok me and the pal were making this at about 9pm which is late for us considering we’d been studying all day and it shows. We’re having unhinged and frequently louder opinions, and here is where our tiny lil brains go into overdrive and begin the Headcanons. Brace yourselves.

DANCE FAIRIES

a couple generic points before we begin - all these ladies Understood The Assignment. There are no fuckin necklaces (FINALLY). Also, these bitches gay! Good for them!

Also honourable mention to Shona the Scottish Country Dancing Fairy, never published but never forgotten

Bethany She looks like a bit of a bitch but apart from that I’m not getting any personality here The outfit is on point - tutu is cute, leotard is cute (chest cinching is so accurate it hurts) She isn’t wearing pointe shoes! WHY IS SHE ON POINTE THEN THIS IS DANGEROUS Legwarmers!!!! Accurate!!!! but should also be wearing cardigans tho Adequately petite as the ballet world demands Her hand position is not correct but her head position is HEADCANONS:

Bethany is a closeted lesbian, she loses a major role to someone else in the company (homoerotic rivalry that takes over Bethany's life), she has a breakdown at the age of 26 and a quarter-life gay crisis. She shoves herself violently back in the closet, which is tied to the toxicity of the heterosexual dancing life - super ironic because like nearly everyone is gay but everything’s a secret. Then Bethany is forced to retire because of mental health/physical health issues (probably from fucking pointe shoes or the lack thereof), so she moves to a small town and opens a laidback dance studio for cute lil kids (baby ballet!) She then falls in love with the aunt of one of the kids who’s the costume designer, when she’s gluing glitter on a costume for a recital. This costume designer is a punk because SHE WAS A PUNK SHE DID BALLET WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY

Jade OMG she’s Rocking That Shit! NO notes She has the 70s hair and it is OUTSTANDING She has face paint of a green star! Iconic! We stan Everything is working so well yessss -  low waist groovy flares, chunky wristbands, party top halter neck The shoes are sliders but heeled which idk is sus Life of the party Jade! She’s a popular girl who’s actually nice, just look at her you know she has massive personality

Rebecca The lil shoes and socks! (heart eyes) Finally the motif is cool! She’s got records! The skirt is just so perfect (polka dots!!!) You can see her dancing! She has movement! The scarfffffff is so beautiful Scoop-neck 3-quarter length sleeved top! Could be darker but i love it anyway! We’re letting it slide! We’re petty so this is big for us! She has a personality! Severe fringe and high pony is so iconic (we’ll overlook the volume issue in the hair) She’s swished, no notes

Tasha Holy fuck we are getting FED TODAY She’s bisexual, no notes The bows on her shoes are adorable! Even though we think tap shoes ought to be the traditional black and white ones but other than that she’s good Re. the waistcoat cropped sleeveless collared corset looking thing: how does she manage to pull off such chaos so well? Answer: disaster bi Skirt and leggings combo coming BACK WITH A STEEL CHAIR THE CANEEEEEEEEEEEEE WE LOVE A PROP (side note: is this the first prop that’s not a living creature?) The HAAAAAIR - this is what avril lavigne wanted to look like, Tasha could be a skater girl Enormous top energy (it’s the cane and pose and look and smirk) and yes we would

Jessica I have those exact shoes but in black so she’s got taste We appreciate the merging of the 1920s flapper and the 2000s energy but lmaoo what are the belt, the neckline, and the shoulder straps doing with themselves  The boa is INSPIRED even if it does make her pose look a bit fucked up - bitch needs some physio stat Marilyn Monroe is that you? If so congrats on the lesbian energy They’ve finally cracked the blonde hair! Give your warm blonde fairies pink-toned skin for the love of god

Saskia (or Serena i guess but Saskia is a way cooler name ngl) Most important thing first: FRECKLESSSSSSS Hair needs to be shifted to the left slightly but other than that it’s a really gorgeous hairdo - a little too much shine but at this point the fairies are singlehandedly shooting herbal essences’ profits sky-high The colour-grading on the outfit is delightful and perfect, the sleeves and the skirt are beautifully complimentary Fire motif for bad bitches! The heels are not high enough though, we want you to give this bitch some ankle issues - that being said, you KNOW she’s the woman who can run in stilettos She is SO intense everything is cranked up to 11 at all times and honestly? Good for her!

Imogen  Skirt looks like ice crystals! We like it! But we do wish there wasn’t such a harsh waistline - i want continuation (e.g. the lines go up and then spread out into crystals) Crystals at the neckline are niiice but we don’t want the little spaghetti strap thanks just tape it down Half up half down hairstyle is beautiful - it hits her in the face when she spins but she’s dealing, girl is a performer, the show must go on. And she IS the show Hair and outfit FINALLY complement each other, well done for having the best blonde hair yet - also her boots are to DIE FOR She winking! She cheeky! You think she’s gonna be aloof but she’s so friendly

HEADCANONS: Gay and out babey Fuck the heteronormativity of figure skating man - she has a male partner and they’re best mates, but she also has a female partner (not allowed to compete internationally yet but they’re rioting)

[amiablesummer]

romantisised asks challenge

hello to everyone, but particularly @stingrayextraordinaire who tagged me in this big but interesting challenge. Thank you so much! here we go…

1. if you were to have Hanahaki disease, what flowers would you cough up?

i'm gonna say blue hydrangeas

2. if someone were to catch Hanahaki disease for you, what flowers would they cough up?

pink roses or camellias

3. if you were any historic trope, what would you be? (i.e., the knight, the town baker, the witch of the forest, etc.)

I think I'd be the scribe writing down what heroic or ordinary deeds everyone else does. Ink on my hands, messy scribble, that's very me. Shut up in a room writing the past down, probably killed by the Vikings - at least i'd be remembered by the future readers of the scroll.

4. tell us about your ideal battle outfit.

i would definitely be wearing trousers. some cosy fitting armour, too, like Zoya’s dragon scale armour in Rule of Wolves that’s more like a second skin. nice and silver so it can catch the light. also with a cool cape like Eowyn’s in the Return of the King, an earthy tone, good for camaflaging. 

5. what would you be a goddess of and what would people sacrifice to you?

I would be a goddess of memory and nostalgia because that’s a big muse to me. People would probably sacrifice their childhood toys or clothes they don’t need to keep anymore. or maybe particularly bad memories.

6. name five iconic quotes that make you feel things.

“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer.” - Sam in the Two Towers movie

“The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” - Doctor Who, Vincent and the Doctor

"...We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high. We are gods in the chrysalis.” — Elbert Hubbard, quoted in How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” - Albert Camus

7. scythe, battle axe, broad sword, spear, or trident?

broad sword

8. what combination of natural scents would you use as perfume?

rosewood, gardenia and musk 

9. ancient scrolls or leather-bound books?

Leather-bound books

10. describe yourself as if you were a storm.

a summery storm, the kind that’s not loud but just consistent, rumbling across the sky all day and night as you lie comfortable in bed, romanticising it from a distance. the kind of storm that brings the enlivening, miracle rain that makes the crops grow and people smile. if you’re right in the centre of it, you know it best, and you can see the warm light shining on the rain out your window.

11. what type of flower (other than a rose) would you offer someone you were trying to court?

baby’s breath are beautiful, paired with golden wattle. 

12. honey in milk or cinnamon in tea?

cinnamon in tea

13. cabin in the woods, apartment in the city, or mansion in the suburbs?

i wouldn't mind a mansion for a day, but cabin the woods sounds the most cosy. i don't much like cities.

14. curtains of beads or lace?

nice white lace

15. vocal or instrumental music?

instrumental while writing and reading, vocal for chores and travelling.

16. describe your ideal fantasy outfit.

i like dressing up in 1850s style middle-class skirts, with pantaloons and boots, that you can pick up the edges of and it trails behind you. with a pretty blouse and a hooded cloak, I would run around doing cottagecore errands all day. 

17. of all the fantasy races to ever exist, which one would you be?

whatever race that talking cats are part of, i’d like to be one of those. or quite possibly a hobbit.

18. hard candy, fruit preserves, or spice cake?

hard candy, i have a sweet tooth

19. show us a picture of your ideal crown.

20. tying your hair up using ribbon, yay or nay?

yes. channeling Zoya Nazyalensky with a dark blue velvet ribbon. However i seem to always need a hairtie underneath it to hold my hair.

21. an evening in the forest with elves, a night in the caves with vampires, or a morning in the garden with fae?

An evening in the forest with elves, like in the Fellowship of the Ring.

22. tell us, in detail, about a curse a witch would put on you.

It would be a curse of being separated from others. Loss is my worst fear. being invisible, perhaps, from the people in my life, or stuck in a tower alone. I do not like isolation. it would make me have to face the parts of myself that I don’t like, and i would have to be independent, not having someone to lean on or able to live in the background of their life. I would have to make my own life, and that terrifies me. it would hopefully make me end up much more confident, if a little insane. 

23. talking with sylphs or singing with nymphs?

Singing with nymphs. singing is fun

24. mint, rosemary, basil, or sage?

I love rosemary. mint tastes nice. Basil is good in bolognese, and sage is a pretty colour. But rosemary is the best. 

25. favorite childhood story? (doesn’t have to be a fairy tale)

A lot!! As a little girl my favourite fairy tales were Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (aka the Disney movies). But my absolute favourite story was Robin Hood. I used to pretend to be him with a hat and everything, being the fox in the movie. I was haunted by The Nutcracker from seven years old. I cried over The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. I also remember loving Dick Wittington and His Cat.  My dad used to read me the Rainbow Magic books, and Milly-Molly-Mandy. As an older kid my favourites were Harry Potter, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 

26. tell us about an experience you’ve had that seemed unreal or supernatural. (doesn’t have to be scary)

when i was a kid there was this book i was really scared of, about kids who go into one of those big water tanks and feel something in there in the dark that is uncanny. When I remembered the book, I kept seeing the water tank that's in my town - Every time I looked at the horizon there it was. Not scary as much as haunting. I found the book recently when I was at a spooky read-in at my cousin’s school. The weird thing was I had just been saying that we should read it. It turns up right when I’m thinking of it, that deep dark water. I have nightmares about the water too.  

27. would you rather have poison or healing ointment in your traveling pack?

I’d say healing ointment because I like to think I’m a good person, but also because there’s other ways you could harm people whereas there's not many that you could heal them with. 

28. tell us three sayings that you live by.

just take one step at a time.

where there's life, there's hope.

knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. (Aristotle) 

29. vials or mason jars?

Mason jars because they can fit a lot of useful things in them. 

30. describe your ideal masquerade ball outfit (mask included).

It would have to be red… I don’t get to wear red often. Long flowy sleeves that I could swish around when holding the mask stick up - it would be a mask with pointy edges and feathers. Maybe embroidered with animal designs. The skirt would have those sewn on too, with dark red undertones, almost purple. It would have lots of sequins, but not too heavy, and big enough to twirl in. I’d curl my hair and have jewels in it too. I’d like to be classy. 

31. splashing around in a river with mermaids or flying through the sky with harpies?

Splashing in a river with mermaids

32. what would you end up in the dungeon for?

Not doing things on time, or forgetting something important; i am chronically late. Or going against the status quo, if this is a totalitarian society - I hate following the masses. 

33. if you were a fairy, what color would your wings be?

i do love pink and green, but some gold in there would look lovely too. and pale blue. 

34. if you could have any magical item, what would it be?

This is really hard, but I’ve always wanted a bag like Mary Poppins’ or Hermione’s which is bigger on the inside. An actual TARDIS would be cool, but I like the thought of being able to fit a library and an art gallery into a portable thing. I do also want a time machine though. Or a portal. Or a fortune-telling mirror/bowl. 

35. what song would the bards sing about you when you passed by?

A mixture of the vibes of Bleeding Heart by Regina Spektor, Hand in my Pocket by Alanis Morisette, and These Days by Powderfinger. that's super specific, so otherwise just something about hopeless romanticism...

36. would you rather be a pirate or a king/queen?

If you’re Nikolai Lantsov, you can do both. As for me, a pirate because it would be much more fun - I’m not one for politics. I’d have to be less squeamish though. 

37. would you spend more time in the field of flowers, the tavern, the docks, or the marketplace?

I would lie in the field of flowers drawing all day. If I had to work, I’d choose the marketplace. And the docks for an evening stroll. 

38. would you have a painting of yourself?

yes if it was very particularly done, like in an impressionist style or something really personal.

39. what skill are you famous for?

Remembering dates, like birthdays, details from things that happened a long time ago, and random fun facts. 

40. if you could live any fairy tale, which one would you?

The best aesthetic goes to “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” but I would also like to be friends with Puss-in-Boots.

41. stained glass windows or fairy lights?

Stained glass windows 

42. what kind of snow globe would you live inside?

One with one of those pretty Christmas cabins and a big tree, and snow on the ground, maybe with some animals like a deer, a fox or some bunnies, and a bonfire (with snow on it...)

43. what animal would you be reincarnated as?

A domestic cat who sleeps in the sun all day, preferably in a bookshop. 

44. lost at sea or lost in space?

lost at sea, but with a boat. I’m scared of the sea, but space is so much worse - at least someone could come rescue you in the sea.

45. if you could have a scar in any shape, what would it be?

i think a heart shape would be very cute. 

46. what celestial body would you write a hymn to?

The Moon has that celestial elegance, and I would give anything to be able to go there for a day or two. It has that lonely, feminine, mystery about it... But also Saturn because I have always admired its rings. 

47. describe a potion you would brew, complete with ingredients and desired effect.

i would want to make a potion to create calmness that could help anxiety, so I would use some lemon balm, some lavender which would also make it smell nice, and chamomile. to be a real fantasy potion brewer i’d probably add some rose petals and moondust and mix it together with cocoa powder because it’s tasty and, of course, vanilla essence. that probably makes no sense but hey, i made it up.

48. flying ship or underwater home?

flying ship. i like flying and i think someone totally needs to invent a boat-like cruise airship that’s not as dangerous as a blimp, for me to relax in. and the sky isn’t as scary as the ocean. 

49. if you were a nature spirit, what season would you dwell in?

Summer, as per my url. I would sleep outside and walk on the beach, and blow the cool change breeze in the evening. very nostalgic.

50. if you could haunt any place as a ghost, what would it be?

I want to be amusing and say my old school, since it is very ghost-populated. it would be fun to turn the lights off every so often. But I would have to choose the old but pretty cafe that I live near, which used to be the gatehouse for the cemetery. It has a really lovely feel to it and it could do with an eerie presence, since it is in the cemetery. 

i don't know if anyone else loves fantasy but if anyone wants to do some or all of these questions please go ahead <3 <3 <3 @anouri @mourningintodancing @peachtreesinblossom @tunisian @l0velyjewel @unhingedballad

[goldenfox3]

Falconswap WIP

(Game Robert, anime Falcon)

“You…aren’t my Robert,” the man says, visibly drooping. “I’m sorry for dropping into your apartment. I sort of fell into a hole.”

Well, there had been a wormhole. “And the hole led you to…my home?”

The man nods. “I felt something pulling me. I wished I could go to the safest place I knew.”

And well, isn’t that a can of worms to unpack. “And that somewhere was…my apartment?”

The man’s gaze drops, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. It’s odd seeing uncertainty on Falcon of all people, no matter that this seems to be a different one.

“Or perhaps,” Robert continues, “you were thinking of your Robert?”

The possessive pronoun hadn’t escaped his notice, even though there are probably more important things to focus on here. But considering the Falcon he knows may or may not rival literal gods with his power, is it really so farfetched to think he might’ve called a Falcon from another universe as well?

Gods, one Falcon is already more than a handful. He doesn’t need to imagine two. Even if this Falcon has been rather docile for an unexpected intruder.

Colour creeps into the man’s cheeks at the question, followed by a smile that can only be called bashful. The expression looks even stranger on any Falcon than the earlier uncertainty, even if it seems oddly fitting for this one.

“My Robert,” the man repeats, smile widening. “My Doctor.”

Robert’s cheeks warm as well, because the way he says it borders dangerously on tender.

~

(Anime Robert, Game Falcon)

The Falcon that comes tumbling out of the wormhole that suddenly opens above him is not his Falcon, that’s for sure. Not only is his attire slightly different, but this person is definitely not the Andy Summer he knows.

Would the government be so cruel as to send another Falcon to him when the previous one is still missing? Or is this Falcon merely an imposter?

“Hello,” he says pleasantly, drawing his gun and raising it. “May I ask who you are and what your business is here?”

The man stops short, arms raising in surrender. “The name’s Captain Falcon. And I just sort of…landed here.”

Robert’s smile is all teeth as he advances until he’s close enough to touch. The man’s throat bobs, breaths quick and shallow as Robert nudges beneath his chin with his gun.

“I’d like to see who I’m speaking with, if you please,” he says, though it isn’t a request. “Because I already know a Captain Falcon, and you certainly aren’t him.”

The man hesitates. Robert jams the gun up a little harder, and with a gulp the man reaches up and pulls the iconic helmet off his head.

Blue eyes are about the only similarity this man has. His hair is dark where Andy’s is light, cropped short where Andy’s is fluffy.

“What’s your name?” he asks again, not caring if this is indeed a government agent. “Your real name this time.”

The man hesitates again. Robert’s eyes narrow, even as the man’s eyes widen in alarm.

[crescentmoonrider]

If this unreliable self can become someone... - Part 4 (Annotated Edition)

Yuuta falls ill. Toji wouldn't say he was expecting it, wouldn't say he knew the gods would never let him have something good without taking it from him again, wouldn't say this knowledge terrifies him. There's nothing he can do anyway. -or- After a summer storm, Yuuta wakes up in front of a bridge, Rika-chan by his side. She looks so much smaller than he remembered. [Edo AU]

read on AO3

read on FFn

For the final time, welcome to my research notes for this series ! I hope you enjoyed the ride, I certainly enjoyed working on this project on my end ! I hope I can revisit this universe someday, I certainly have some ideas left, but for now this is the end.

Thank you to everyone who decided to try out this weird little story of mine, but now, on to the historical notes !

Face the river Sanzu and walk backwards into life

The Sanzu River (三途の川) is what separates the world of the living from the afterlife in Japanese Buddhist mythology. Before being allowed to cross, you have to pay a toll of 6 mon, and then there are three ways to cross it, depending on how you lived your life. The simplified version is this : the righteous can simply walk across the bridge, most people find themselves having to go through a ford, and the wicked have to swim in the waters (that just so happen to be infested by dragons). Of course, as with all myths, there are variations, and I had personally never heard of the ford crossing before doing research for this fic.

Also, the riverbank is supposed to have red spider lilies on it, leading to these flowers being associated with death (also, they bloom in early fall). So if you’ve ever wondered why these flowers are so prominent in, say, an anime like Jigoku Shoujo, this is why.

Of course, all of this serious talk about death is kind of undermined by my usual title bullshit, this time featuring the iconic dril tweet “If the Zoo bans me for hollering at the animals I will face God and walk backwards into hell”. Such a good line, honestly

“There’s fields around the road, but no one working in them.”

Toji was raised as an old-fashioned samurai, and thus doesn’t know shit about agriculture. Depending on the crops, summer might very well be a period where you mostly stay home and do other work, like cut wood to prepare for winter, work at the loom, maybe go into town to sell other products, because your fields just need to grow, and they’re not going to grow faster if you stay nearby.

I also very purposefully did Not specify what kind of crops are growing in these fields, one because I doubt Toji would be able to differentiate between (for example) millet and buckwheat, both of which were grown in Japan even before the Edo era. Surprise, people didn’t just eat rice ! Turns out rice is a pretty finicky plant, and most fields just can’t grow it properly.

But also uh, I didn’t want to have to figure out the harvest periods for various crops to make sure no one would, in fact, be in the fields at the time this part takes place. Which would be around August ? I think ? Anyway, feel free to theorize on what’s growing in these fields with that knowledge haha

Pilgrim

Pilgrimages were surprisingly highly codified during the Edo era. Or maybe it’s not that surprising. The shogunate at that time was pretty big on laws and social structure.

Anyway, the point is that, in part because of the belief that outsiders to a community would be a corrupting influence, laws called tochi kinbaku (土地緊縛, literally “binding to the land”) were put in place to limit the movement of regular folk.

As a result, people who wanted to go on a pilgrimage to one or multiple temples (with very few exceptions, pilgrimages in Japan target Buddhist sites), out of religious fervor or to pray for recovery from an illness – these people would have to fill the appropriate paperwork with the authorities of their hometown in order to get a permit, maybe fill more paperwork on landing if they went to Shikoku, follow specific routes in a predetermined time limit that usually didn’t allow them to stay in towns more than one night, and get their permit stamped at every temple. Local authorities, be it daimyo bureaucracy or village officials, would be allowed to check the permits of people coming through at any time, and would in turn report to the shogunate.

Now then, how realistic is it for Toji and Yuuta to be on the road all the time, with this in mind ?

Well, for one, the reason pilgrims were limited to specific route is that, you know, turns out that unless you want to build a wall all around your domain (with the exception of a few gates), it’s pretty much impossible to really regulate people’s movements. Also, between Yuuta’s knowledge of plants (and travelling healers were a thing at the time) and Toji’s physical strength, I have no doubt they would be able to make themselves very useful to the locals of whatever town they’re passing through, and thus wouldn’t get into too much trouble with the authorities.

And well, I guess Toji can always fuck the mayor if he risks getting thrown out ú.ù

Kayu

It’s congee. Yuuta is in fact getting his sick people food

Kakebuton (掛け布団)

The blanket part of the futon. I know these notes are getting short, but I’m writing them in parallel with the story, at the same time as I’m writing the second draft, and I’m kind of getting caught up in the emotions

Namu Amida Butsu (南無阿弥陀仏)

A phrase meaning “I take refuge in Amida Buddha” at the core of the Pure Land doctrine. Followers of this school of Buddhism believe that chanting this phrase will lead them to attain rebirth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha, even if one only chants it on one’s deathbed after a life of evil acts.

Originally, the principle seems to have been to meditate on Amida Buddha rather than simply chanting the phrase, but current Nenbutsu practice focuses on recitation.

“They were eleven.”

Until pretty recently (I’d say Meiji era, but this one I’m really not sure about), ages in Japan were counted from birth. So a two days old baby would be one year. Rika’s age was the same as canon when she died in this world, it’s just the counting convention that has changed

[rockheadcd]

Would you be willing to do rp icon commissions? As in draw icons for someone to use? How many would you be open to make in that case?

HMMMMM i need to update my comm sheet like. bad bad ( like. it's from 2019. i would charge way more now ). but i think the answer kinda just boils down to there's better options.

i don't really have a style that lends itself to psds, so there's that to consider... ( fae can't even use my sketches i have seen them try q_q ) and then i would genuinely end up treating each base as an individual bust. that would be... probably at a minimum 20 per base, or god forbid you wanted full color because that could end up being closer to 40-50 per base. that wouldn't account for individual expressions, which would also vary! ( like the complexity difference between changing a mouth versus one extreme emotion to another. i wouldn't want to make someone pay the same price for a minor difference versus a major one! )

( but paloma just draw one body and change the face! ) i could do that with some expressions but if there's no life to the body the face is out of place! q_q i could opt, potentially, to do headshots, but that still requires some variety in poses and my headshots are just busts anyway! how i would prefer to approach it would be to treat poses as individual pieces and then squeeze out as many icons as i can ( i think i would average between 3 - 5 unique-ish crops based off of how i crop screencaps, maybe more if i'm lucky? ). :despair: i'm overcomplicating the process but i assure you that you would be broke over like a measly 20 icons and whatever else you can milk out of the full size canvas!!

[miasfoxxden]

I tried to quit when you went to shit, when you proved to the world that you only cared about yourselves and not the people who needed you most. But here I am coming back for more like a god damn junkie. I kinda hate this, not gonna lie, but there's really nothing else like VRchat.

VRchat is a weird and amazing thing when you're queer. The aging 2019 Unity Engine LTS build it uses, although held together by duct tape and super glue, provides near infinite capabilities for self expression to those who have the time and patience to understand how to use it's SDK toolkit alongside other community tools like various Blender Plugins. It goes without saying, for those such as myself who have struggled with their own identity for a long time, this shit will crack eggs. And it shattered what remained of mine in the beginning of 2020. This is why this badly written and mismanaged clusterfuck of a Unity game holds a special place in my heart.

To make a very fucking long story short, I've been on VRchat since basically the beginning. My earliest memories of VRC were in late 2017, early 2018 where everything was far more raw, simple, and experimental. VRchat itself was a blank canvas, and on that canvas was a tight knit community that spawned an iconic culture all to its own. And yes, before anyone asks I do know de wae. But for those early years, mainly because of my lack of budget and stable income, I was tied down to just keyboard and mouse controls from a desktop PC. It's a sub ideal way to play VRC but you make do with what you have in that kind of situation and make the best of it. So when I had the means to get my own headset in the beginning of 2020, an Oculus Rift S, you can bet your ass the first thing I loaded into was VRchat.

Before we continue, I need to introduce the concept of phantom touch or phantom sense. Phantom touch is a term that was originally for amputees who could feel their missing limbs when given certain stimuli, typically some form of mirror therapy or sometimes via ones prosthetics. Phantom senses in VR are along the same lines. For all intents and purposes, your avatar in VR is the same as your body to your brain. Now, not everyone gets this, and those who do get it in varying amounts in just different ways. I'm admittedly on the more extreme end of this, as far as my brain gives a shit my avatar is my body and that ends up causing some interesting sensations. Most importantly, it pretty much drives my own choice of avatar since a lot of options out there just don't feel right. Yeah an avatar may be super cute or super funny but with that level of immersion for someone like myself it becomes very apparent that a lot of things will give full on dysphoria. This isn't really limited to anything either, I've noped off of cute looking avatars for a variety of reasons, sometimes even just small things like clothing, hair style, body proportions, height, etc. On the flip side of that, the right avatar can relieve a lot of dysphoria for someone like me who does experience gender dysphoria regularly in their day to day lives. So what were my options then?

Wade through a lot of public avatars until you find something anywhere between just right to perfect. The world of public avatars available is almost limitless, as games driven by user generated content tend to be so there's plenty of options.

Make your own avatar, either from scratch or a prefab base. This is again where the limitlessness of the engine comes into play, where the only limitation is your own technical abilities with Unity SDK, and tools like Blender or Maya.

I got lucky and took option one. I found one that felt just right, a Tda based red haired fox girl in a cute hoodie, crop top, and jeans, and only needed a few minor tweaks. While there was a bit of a language barrier, the creator of this avatar and I got something worked out and the image above is the result. This is me. This was when what remained of my egg, so to speak, was completely fucking shattered into oblivion. This was where I realized that "Nah yeah I'm not fucking cis," after years of going back and forth and being on the fence about my own sense of self. Ultimately, VRchat ended up a coping mechanism for my dysphoria. I was free. I was me. I ended up parting ways with the guy who made the model posted above for reasons I won't get into. I was never given the source files to update the model to SDK3 so where it is now is where it will be forever until SDK2 gets dropped entirely. So, in mid 2021 when I found a prefab base that was relatively well support and easy to work with on booth.pm called Imeris, I jumped on that. I re-made me.

Maybe to a bit of an extreme, but whatever. Bouncy squishy boobs on my chest makes girly gender euphoria go brrrr in a way I can't get over. But this is how I stayed for about a year without any major changes save for some new outfits every now and then.

In August, 2022, VRchat implemented EasyAntiCheat into the game. The reasoning for it is all over the place and while I have some insider information as to why it's not been stated publicly and I don't feel like getting sued into oblivion. But regardless of their reasoning, no matter how much public backlash they got, no matter how many members of the community who relied on third party client mods for accessibility for various disabilities and basic usability and quality of life functions not present in the base game, they pushed the patch out live anyways. They pushed out a patch knowing it broke compatibility with some Oculus headsets and software, this even was noted in the patch notes. They didn't care about us. That much was clear.

I swore off VRchat then and there, but the reality is the other options all sucked. NeosVR had NFT integration which is something I despise on principle. ChilloutVR, while promising, still lacks a lot of the functionality for their dev tools that makes a lot of my shit work. It was on par with early VRchat SDK1 and SDK2 tools, which compared to SDK3 with Udon were beyond archaic. I tried to give that some love, but it's so far from ready to take the place of VRchat that I couldn't switch over. Maybe some day, though, CVR will be in a position where it's a suitable place to call my home in the metaverse.

So after dealing with VRC being broken for months on my machine, I finally figured out a workaround. Turns out my main issue where VRchat was crashing to desktop was because of some sandboxing options I had enabled way back when I was still running Windows 10. Disabling these settings fixed the crashing to desktop, but Oculus overlay still crashes any time the virtual desktops are used. This, however and unfortunately, is a documented issue because of how EAC works, and there's no real fix for it. In any case though, I can be me again. And while unfortunately a lot of my friends have left VRC entirely post EAC update, there's still enough to justify sticking around.

At the time of writing this, I'm a month out from hopefully receiving hormone replacement treatment and beginning my transition proper. It's a bit overdue, admittedly, but I know some day soon I'll feel comfortable in my own shell. For now, this will continue to be my escapism from the dysphoria that's plagued me for years.

Stay floofy~ 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈❤️

[albumwalloffame]

Top 10 Worst Album Covers of 1986 - Part 2/2

Part 1

5. April Wine - Walking Through Fire

Again, do I need to say anything here? Nice cropping job guys, you couldn't even align the fire to be with the corners properly? What a joke. I don't know if it would be better if the guitar was in the foreground, or was at the very least more visible in the fire part. Honestly, I think the only reason this isn't number one, is because it's kind of funny, and I can see this working somewhat, but mostly because it's funny.

4. Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin

What isn't funny is seeing a horrid mutation of Ozzy Osbourne and one of the Jim Henson company's creatures. The ultimate sin, truly is playing God with life. Shou Tucker bastard.

3. The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work

Here's another one I inducted into the Wall of Infamy, this time in 2022. I reiterate, this is the kind of outfits you would see on a bad sketch comedy show making fun of the 80s. Three blindingly hot pinks, a tacky yelow and orange suit, and a blue suit that blends in with the floor, this is what one of the most iconic bands of the 60s we're doing in the 80s. I'd say "How the mighty have fallen", but compared to other bands that have become fallen titans, frankly The Stones are doing great by those standards.

2. Raven - The Pack is Back

Oh boy, when I think of "Bad 80s album covers" this is along the lines of something I think about. Cheesy, ridiculous, mildly homo-erotic, this checks all the boxes. Three muscular men bursting out of lockers in… sporting gear? I dunno what sport would ask anyone to wear what the two guys on each end are wearing… not even cheerleading (Yes Cheerleading is a sport, shut up!). You'll also notice the the guys are each coming out of two different lockers, implying the broke the walls in the first locker, which I'd be more inclined to believe if there was any indication of that, like some rubble, or something. This is "bad 80s Album Cover" to the letter, so why isn't it number one? Because…

1. The Human League - Crash

I… want to state that, I can always understand why. The why behind certain choices is something I can see. Why did the Human League make this album cover? Because this was a last minute substitution for their original plans for an album cover. They wanted something better, but the photographer they had hired wanted one of the women to do a pose she deemed inapporpriate, and they got into an argument, and the photographer refused to work with the band, didn't even give them a refund. The "Why", I understand, it's the "What" that I don't. At some point, I feel like evryone just gave up on the album, but they didn't want to make that obvious, so they threw something together just to say they put an album cover together. At this point, I probably would have given them more credit if they just had a blank canvas with the album title on it, or even just looked for old photographs of the band in concert or for publicity shoots.

Honourable Mentions:

Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey; It looks like a fossil... I wish this was Cool Dragon Grey. What does that look like? A fossil... but it's not as ugly. (Managed to squeeze a Simpsons reference on this blog, quota met)

Felt - Forever Breathes the Lonely Word; Does this break the rule of thirds?

Bob Dylan - Knocked Out Loaded; I think I saw this on a "worst album covers" list once... I don't get it, but okay.

The Beach Boys - Made in U.S.A.; Of course it was, it's hideous. Was that joke too easy?

38 Special - Strength in Numbers; Anyone else craving Macaroni?

Daryl Hall - Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine; This is like that David Crosby album cover... except worse.

Yanni - Keys to Imagination; What the Fu-

Black Sabbath - Seventh Star; This was intended to be a Toni Iommi solo project... the cover would not be here if it was released as a solo project.

[kandischampagne]

Persephone in the Real World

OMG, guys, you won't believe what I found out about Persephone! 😲 Like, you know she's the queen of the underworld and all, but did you ever wonder what she'd be like if she were living it up in modern times? 🌆📱 Well, here's a little peek into a day in the life of Persephone in our 21st-century world. Spoiler alert: She's a total boss, even outside the underworld! 🔥👑

Day 1: #OOTD in the Underworld So, Persephone starts her day by scrolling through her Instagram feed for some fashion inspo. She's like, "I need a killer #OOTD for today!" 👗🕶️ But instead of a closet full of designer clothes, she's got an enchanted wardrobe that serves up outfits on demand. She steps out of the underworld looking like a fashion icon, ready to slay Hades' heart and the mortal realm at the same time. 💁‍♀️💅

Day 2: Brunch with Demeter Persephone's like, "Gotta keep mama happy!" 🍳���� She FaceTimes Demeter while whipping up some avocado toast (cause even goddesses need their avo fix). They chat about life and crop rotation because, you know, Demeter's all about that agriculture. It's a chill mother-daughter brunch, complete with Greek yogurt and pomegranate seeds for dessert. 🍇🍨

Day 3: Hades' Surprise Date Night Hades is like, "Babe, I'm planning a surprise date night!" 🌹 Persephone's intrigued because he's got a flair for the dramatic. She gets dressed up in her hottest outfit (I mean, it's the queen of the underworld, so duh). Hades whisks her off to an exclusive, underground speakeasy. 🍸🕺 They sip on ambrosia cocktails and dance the night away while being serenaded by the souls of the dearly departed. #DateGoals 💑🌌

Day 4: Instagram Takeover Persephone's feeling extra today and decides to do an Instagram takeover. She takes us on a tour of the underworld, showing off all the cool stuff like the River Styx and Cerberus the three-headed dog. 😎📸 The ghosts of ancient heroes follow her, leaving heart-eye emojis on her posts. They're her OG fans. 👻❤️

Day 5: Self-Care Sunday Even queens of the underworld need some self-care. Persephone runs a bubble bath with pomegranate-scented bath bombs 🛁🍑, throws on a face mask, and binge-watches Netflix (yes, she has a secret Wi-Fi connection down there). She texts Aphrodite for some beauty tips, and they swap skincare routines. 🧖‍♀️💄

Day 6: Goddess Pilates Class Persephone is all about that goddess fitness life. She hits up a Pilates class with Athena and Artemis. 🧘‍♀️💪 Hades got her a personalized yoga mat with pomegranates on it. Afterward, they sip on green smoothies and gossip about other gods' drama. 🍏🗣️

Day 7: Reigning Over the Underworld It's back to business. Persephone rules the underworld with an iron fist (but like, a stylish iron fist). She checks in on the souls, reviews the latest fashion trends in Tartarus, and has a meeting with Hades about their upcoming Halloween party. 🎃👻 She's the boss lady of the underworld and Instagram's original #GirlBoss. 💼👠

So, there you have it, a week in the life of Persephone, goddess of the underworld turned modern-day influencer. Who knew ruling the dead could be so chic? 🌟 Stay tuned for more divine updates from this sassy queen! 👑✨

[bubbalove9610]

Ok so I used to work at a theme park called Scandia awhile back, as Freddy Krueger. And an idea popped into my head for a story. Now I won’t spoil anything, I’ll just jump right in the story. I hope you guys like it. This is gonna be in parts/chapters so let me know in the comments if you want more.

The theme park was quiet. It had been shut down a long time ago. A group of kids wandered the park, admiring all the rides and old buildings. “So I have to ask, which horror icon would you wanna have a one night stand with?” A girl asks. She had blonde hair, and wore a crop top and shorts, she had icy blue eyes, and was about 5 feet tall. A boy walking next to her look at her surprised. “Katy! What kinda question is that?” He asks. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He wore gym shorts and a tank top, with sports sneakers. Katy giggled and replied, “Come on Chris, you’ve had to think about it at least once,” she says. Chris shuddered, and shook his head. “No thank you,” he said. Katy giggled and they kept walking, trying to find everyone else. “Where’s everyone go?” Katy asks, and Chris shrugged. “I don’t know, Alexis and Yazmine probably went to go fuck somewhere. You know how high their sex drive is,” he said. Katy looked at Chris and blushed, and he caught on to that. “You ok?” He asked her, and she nodded quickly, too quickly. Suddenly Alexis popped up, scaring the shit out of both of them. “My god girl, don’t do that!” Chris said, and Alexis laughed, out of breath. “Sorry, but you’re gonna wanna see this,” she said, she was tall, with half her head shaved and purple streaks in her hair, she had brown eyes and wore a leather vest with an AC/DC shirt and skinny jeans. She waved at them to follow. Chris and Katy ran after her into the old circus tent, excited and curious. Yazmine walked out from one of the rooms, buttoning her shirt, and Chris looked at Katy as if to say, “Told you so.” Katy had dark brown hair, with green eyes. She wore blue tshirt with a purple skirt, and green tennis shoes. They all walked into the back of the tent, and Chris saw a floor panel open. He looked in and saw a giant room, with pillars shaped like bats. “What is this place?” He asked, and looked at Alexis, who shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know, me and Yazmine were…cuddling, and we saw the carpet looked funny,” she said. Chris chuckled and went to the ladder, climbing down. “Be careful,” Katy said, and Chris smiled. Alexis went with him, climbing down, smiling to herself. She walked next to Chris and he broke the silence, saying, “You know I could hear you two moaning from outside,” he said, and Alexis blushed. “Sorry,” she said, “Yazmine’s wild when she’s in the mood, she rides hard-“. Chris put his hands over his ears, “Ok I don’t need to hear the details,” he said. Alexis cleared her throat, saying, “What about you and Katie? Have you guys done….that yet?” She said, and Chris shook his head. “No, she’s coming over tonight for the Conjuring marathon.” Alexis stopped, her mouth open. “She’s coming to our movie marathon? Dude if you don’t bang her tonight i will,” she said. Chris looked at Alexis, rolling his eyes, and said, “Maybe, we’ll see.” Alexis scoffed and they stopped before a giant vault. “What the hell is this?” She asked, and Chris shook his head. “I don’t know, but it’s definitely not locked,” he said, pointing to the lock that was melted off. They walked in and saw books of all kinds, but at the far end sat an old comic book, and it had a picture of some butcher, titled “The great theme park showdown of Halloween.” Chris scoffed, “What a weird name,” he said, opening it. As soon as the pages opened there was a giant burst of wind and maniacal laughter could be heard, but it died out slowly. All the books fell off the shelves and caught fire, spelling the words, “Thank you for freeing me, my pets.” Alexis grabbed it, slamming it shut, and put it down, saying, “I’ve seen enough horror movies to know, don’t touch the secret books or whatever shit they have.” Chris and Alexis both walked out and slammed the door, and climbed up the ladder, slamming the trap door. “What happened?” Yazmine asked, and Chris leaned against the wall, catching his breath. “You don’t wanna know,” Alexis said. They ran from the theme park, too scared and exhausted to do more, and drove home.

[atlanticcanada]

Sinéad O'Connor, Irish singer of 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and more, dead at 56, Irish media says

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, who became as well known for her remarkable music as her personal struggles, has died, according to RTE, Ireland’s public broadcaster. She was 56. 

According to a family statement shared by RTE:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

No cause of death was immediately available. CNN has reached out to representatives and family members of O’Connor.

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MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS 

O’Connor was a vocalist known for her pure and crisp voice, paired with exceptional songwriting abilities that evoked her views on politics, spirituality, history and philosophy. Her first album, “The Lion and the Cobra,” was released to critical acclaim in 1987, but it was O’Connor’s 1990 sophomore album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” which broke her through as a well-known artist.

Her rendition of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” shot to No. 1 in 1990, buoyed by the iconic music video which featured O’Connor, with close-cropped hair and a dark turtleneck. 

The song was nominated for multiple Grammys and scored O’Connor wins for both MTV video of the year and best video by a female artist. Other songs on the album that reaped praise for the singer included the pointed and politically charged anthem “Black Boys on Mopeds.”

In the years following, the singer-songwriter was embroiled in controversy, once ripping a photo of the pope on “Saturday Night Live,” later becoming a priest of a Catholic group and taking to social media to air personal problems and outbursts.

In recent years, O’Connor was open about her struggle with addiction and mental health, and detailed her experience in her 2021 memoir “Rememberings.”

The singer is survived by her three children. Her 17-year-old son Shane died in 2022.

ORIGINS

Born in Dublin in 1966, O’Connor spoke often of her difficult childhood as the third of four children. Her mother, she said, was troubled and abusive.

“She used to go to houses that were for sale just so she could rob s–t out of them,” O’Connor told The Independent in a 2013 interview. “I suppose it was funny, in a way, without being funny at all. You know, she’d go to hospitals and nick the crucifixes off the wall.”

O’Connor said her mother, who died in a car crash when the singer was 19, “couldn’t help herself, God rest her soul” and that she began to steal as a way to appease her. 

“It was an illness,” the singer said. “And so that was part of what was going on at home: I’d steal to pacify her. 

Sent away to reform school as a teen after she was caught shoplifting, O’Connor turned to music for solace and was discovered at the age of 15 by the drummer for the band In Tua Nua while singing at a wedding.

She eventually left boarding school at the age of 16 and struggled to support herself while singing before moving to London, where she worked with U2 guitarist the Edge on the soundtrack for the 1986 film “The Captive” while also putting together her debut album.

CONTROVERSIES

By the time she broke through with her second album, O’Connor was a mother, having given birth to a son, Jake, by first husband, musician John Reynolds. She would go on to have three other children: a daughter, Roisín, from a relationship with journalist John Waters; a son, Shane, from a relationship with musician Donal Lunny; and son Yeshua from a relationship with businessman Frank Bonadio.

In 1990, she boycotted appearing on “Saturday Night Live” in protest over plans to have Andrew Dice Clay host, as she complained that his humor was both misogynistic and homophobic. That same year singer Frank Sinatra said during a concert that he would like to “kick her a–” because of O’Connor’s stated policy that she did not allow the national anthem to be played at her shows.

In 1992, O’Connor made headlines around the world after a controversial performance on “Saturday Night Live” in which she ripped a photo of Pope John Paul II in half while saying “Fight the real enemy.” The incident was lampooned and ultimately harmed O’Connor’s career because of the outrage.

She continued to make music, with standouts including her cover of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” in 1992 and 1994’s “Fire on Babylon.” Her sound spanned various styles and genres over the years, and the singer released a total of ten studio albums, including the ethereal 2000 record “Faith and Courage.” Her last album, “I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss,” came out in 2014.

Nonetheless, O’Connor never reached the commercial or critical success of her earlier work. Instead, she made headlines in 1999 after she was ordained as a priest in the Latin Tridentine church, though in 2014 she told Billboard she had stepped back from that office.

“I’m not interested in causing more trouble than I already am, and neither am I interested in making a circus of the sacraments,” she said.

She also took a similar approach to her sexuality, coming out as a lesbian in 2000 and then telling Entertainment Weekly a few years later that “I’m three-quarters heterosexual, a quarter gay. I lean a bit more towards the hairy blokes.”

In 2011, O’Connor married Barry Herridge, whom she met on the Internet. The couple split 18 days later before reuniting.

PERSONAL STRUGGLES AIRED PUBLICLY

The advent of social media made it possible for fans to witness first-hand the events unfolding in O’Connor’s life. In 2012, she used Twitter to send out a plea for help: “does any1 know a psychiatrist in dublin or wicklow who could urgently see me today please,” she wrote. “im really un-well… and in danger.”

In 2015 and 2016 authorities were asked to find her – the former because she had posted on Facebook that she had overdosed in an Irish hotel and the latter after she was reported missing after failing to return from a bike ride in a Chicago suburb. In both instances, she was found safe.

She continued to struggle with her mental health in 2017, and posted a tearful video of herself discussing her mental illness to her Facebook page. The footage showed her crying in a motel room and lamenting that her family had abandoned her in the wake of mental health issues.

“People who suffer from mental illness are the most vulnerable people on Earth,” O’Connor said in the video. “You’ve got to take care of us. We’re not like everybody.”

That same year, she changed her name to Magda Davitt, a name she took to be “free of parental curses.” She changed her name again in 2018 to Shuhada’ Davitt, after announcing her conversion to Islam following a series of posts at the time that included O’Connor singing the Islamic call to prayer.

The singer went on to release her memoir in 2021 titled “Rememberings,” where she told her story of “growing up in a family falling apart; her early forays into the Dublin music scene; her adventures and misadventures in the world of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll; the fulfillment of being a mother; her ongoing spiritual quest - and through it all, her abiding passion for music,” according to an official synopsis.

The following year, O’Connor’s 17-year-old son Shane died after going missing in the days prior. At the time, she shared a sequence of brief statements on her Twitter account saying her son “decided to end his earthly struggle” and called him “the very light of my life.”

She was admitted to the hospital a week after Shane’s death after posting a series of statements on her social media describing her plans to take her own life, and expressing guilt for her son’s death. She later updated her fans with an apology for the alarming posts, and reassured her followers that she was seeking help.

Earlier this year, O’Connor contributed her vocals to the opening credits of Season 7 of the acclaimed series “Outlander.”

TRIBUTES

Later on Wednesday, Irish leader Leo Varadkar paid tribute to O’Connor, among many others.

“Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinéad O’Connor,” Varadkar wrote on Twitter.

“Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare. Condolences to her family, her friends and all who loved her music,” he added.

In a statement shared with CNN, Irish president Michael D. Higgins said his “first reaction on hearing the news of Sinéad’s loss was to remember her extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice. What was striking in all of the recordings she made and in all of her appearances was the authenticity of the performance, while her commitment to the delivery of the song and its meaning was total.”

“To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn’t but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been,” Higgins continued.

“Sinéad O’Connor’s voice and delivery was in so many different ways original, extraordinary and left one with a deep impression that to have accomplished all she did while carrying the burden which she did was a powerful achievement in its own way,” he added.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/4kPL2db