#nix: transformers posting

[elpurata-victim]

the djd had to take over marketing when the decepticon social media manager betrayed them.

[holopossums]

I dmand EVERY picture of CJ you had drew!! Pretty please

Considering I'm super disorganized about my art and don't post everything I draw (sometimes it stays just in my server or among friends, or I just don't show anyone because it's unfinished/I'm unsatisfied), I'll have to find a lot of stuff that I've forgotten about.

Actually, I can just show some stuff that I *haven't* posted! (Everything else I ever have should be here.) Some of this stuff is Krow before I added the white hair because I didn't have that idea until around April.

^ Appropriately titled "Krow Smug Bitch". Everyone has fun with the cowboy AUs so why can't I?

^ He got nervous about seeing Usagi/Yukito I suppose

^ This one is interesting. Originally it was supposed to be just Krow as a magical boy, but then it turned into a bit of a mythology AU. He's the son of Yatagarasu the Three-Legged Crow from Shinto myth. Wasn't quite sure about everything... this was probably the result of watching too much Kamichama Karin as a kid lol

^ For fans of Transformers - TFP Optimus Prime with good ol' canon CJ! I feel like they would get along. Something about that red-and-blue leader drew him in I guess.

^ This was actually my first pass at an older version design of Krow. This was a complete piece too, but I was unsatisfied within a week or two. You can still see that I kept some things, notably the piercings, beard, and the idea of tattoos, as well as the Leo-inspired shoulder pads. The tattoo designs changed and so did the armor color, but it was an interesting first try at the older design.

^ A second attempt and older Krow, I was getting closer. (Still love the fashion on this though.)

^ The point I realized that I can't draw this man thin and have to start drawing him beefier and more filled out more consistently because it would be a crime against god or something. Was still finalizing his tattoos at this point and playing around with the idea of white hair. Considered the idea of the Hamato crest tattoo near his heart before nixing it because it's too cheesy and the Hamato tattoo is something a lot of people do for older/future character designs.

^ Ninpo weapon design for Older Krow! Yes he has a cyan scythe (really more of a kusarigama since it has a chain and weight at the end). Yes it's cool as fuck. No you can't touch it.

He's basically a reaper and it plays into his whole aesthetic as a crow, which symbolizes an omen of death. Crows are also often seen with scythe and scarecrow imagery because they're related to harvests.

I don't know why I never posted this, it *looks* finished... I think there was something off about the anatomy and I intended to fix it and then forgot and ugh. But anyway! There you go.

^ A height chart for younger Krow and Yukito that I never quite finished. But it's interesting to see them to the actual scale that I imagine them to be - Krow is 5'6", and Yukito's height is reversed since he's 6'5". Since both are around 19 when they meet, they're at their full adult heights here. Long live your short king!

^ Older Krow with lightning gloves. Which doesn't make sense actually because his gloves are electrical insulators to keep himself from getting zapped from one of his attacks. But who cares about that! It's cool!

^ Scythe sketch. Just trying to get a feel for the vibe of how he wields one. His cape/cloak plus the scythe probably gives opportunity for some really cool directional flow to occur.

^ Something I doodled just the other day. Old Krow but more cartoony and goofy. Love this silly guy!

I'm sure there's many more that I've missed, probably lots of half-finished sketches and doodles, but this is a lot of what I've found.

[quibbs126]

So I made the helmet thing. And also I didn’t really know what to do with the background there, sorry. I still need to work on that

But yeah, I did the thing, maybe not the best the concept could be, but it’s something

To recap for people who didn’t see the original post, I mentioned that in seeing a short clip of Thor Ragnarok from an MCU video essay, I got the idea that the helmet would honestly work pretty well on an Optimus design. So that’s what I did here

And honestly? Yeah I do think the helmet works on him pretty well, basically the only thing I changed on the helmet was the crest, which I admit probably doesn’t look as good as it could. Give the design to someone who’s better at designing Transformers and I think you could get a really banger design out of it, at least head wise

Outside of the helmet, the design mostly takes from the Transformers One design, in part because it’s the same actor, and I generally know how to draw that Optimus and the style (well okay I can never get the faces quite right, among other things), and some other third thing I’m forgetting in the moment

But I don’t have a logical reason how Optimus’ helm would have changed, so let’s just say similar design and story, but not exactly the same as One

I also decided to give this Optimus face markings, because Thor had them in the movie and I thought it’d look cool. I was actually deciding between markings more like the Ragnarok markings, and Optimus’ markings from The Last Knight, since they’re similar-ish

I actually still haven’t decided which I like better, but I wanted to post this before the end of the night, so I chose the TLK markings. But here’s the Ragnarok ones for comparison

It’s just like face paint or something, not whatever’s going on with the ones in The Last Knight

Anyways, now let me yap about story ideas I got from the idea of Transformers in Ragnarok. I’ll put it under the cut for people only here for the design, but I’ve sacrificed my night for reading my required reading about 17th century London adultery shenanigans that I’ll now have to read in the morning, so you have to hear me ramble

Okay so I’ve sort of got two versions of a Ragnarok AU going on. First off I should note that TF One is going to generally be my basis on the Transformers side here, for aforementioned reasons

But basically my two versions are just: the TF One characters as the characters in Sakaar, and then basically some form of the plot of Ragnarok in Transformers

The former’s easier to get through, so I’ll start there, since it’s just assigning characters

Thor -> Optimus Prime/Orion Pax

Hulk (but also kind of Loki too?) -> Megatron

Jeff Goldblum guy (idk his name) -> Sentinel Prime

Topaz -> Airachnid

Valkyrie -> Elita-1

Korg -> B-127

I don’t think there’s much to explain there, other than the characters generally correspond to those movie counterparts. Optimus/Orion (I’m thinking his losing of Mjolnir here is probably equivalent to losing the Matrix, so I don’t know where the Orion situation stands) just got thrust into the gladiator pits, Megatron’s the champion, B-127’s a lower level gladiator Optimus befriends, Elita’s the one that got Optimus in the pits that’s besties with Megs and is probably depressed, and Sentinel and Airachnid are kind of just chilling and running the place

I said Megatron is sort of also Loki, but he really isn’t, it’s just that Loki has no one to take his place because Megatron would best fill his role with his and Optimus’ history, and Megatron’s already Hulk, so he’s kind of just been nixed from the story, with Megatron probably filling the gaps. Also I don’t know if Megs has a split personality thing going on like Hulk and Bruce, but if he does, it’s D-16

And then there’s the story that’s just sort of injecting Ragnarok into a Transformers story, one most similar to some sort of Transformers One sequel

Basically at this point, the Quintessons have already been defeated, Megatron sacrificed himself to do so, but now Unicron is rising as a threat, and Optimus lost the Matrix, somehow ending up on an alien planet and getting sent to the gladiator pits, in which he finds, much to his surprise, Megatron, who did not die, is the champion he’s sent to fight against

Oh yeah, I think this was another reason I chose the One continuity, because the Transformers don’t seem to have advanced space travel yet, so no one on this planet would know who these two are, and because it’s one of the few continuities where Megatron doesn’t have any known history as a gladiator

But anyways, Optimus was not expecting to Megatron here, and especially not alive when they all thought he died, but he figures quickly that since he got thrown into these pits against his will, Megatron must have also been, hence why he hasn’t told anyone that he’s alive. But the actual truth of the matter, as he learns after their initial match, isn’t as cut and dry

While yes, Megatron didn’t ask to become part of the gladiator pits, nor did he expect to have survived his sacrifice, at this point he’s staying there willingly; he has the power and general know-how to escape the planet if he wanted to, he just chooses not to. By this point, he’s grown at least somewhat aware of the harm that his actions brought to Cybertron with the war, and he believes that perhaps Cybertron would be better off without him there to ruin it. Not only that, but there is nothing and no one left for him there, outside of maybe Optimus, who’s currently here instead, so he’s better off staying on this planet, where at the very least, his violent tendencies don’t lead to mass destruction and fear, only entertainment

But that’s not to say his motives are entirely selfless or a punishment. He’s aware that going back to Cybertron would mean facing punishment for his actions, because a noble sacrifice was one thing, but being alive means he’d actually have to address those problems. And again, on Cybertron, he’d be entirely alone, due to his previous actions. And on this planet, no one knows his full past, and he gets to keep committing violence while being celebrated for it. He’s not really taking responsibility for his past actions, he’s avoiding them

But like before, that isn’t to say it’s entirely selfish either, it’s more a mix between the two sides. Ultimately, he sees him choosing to stay here as the best option for everyone; he can keep fighting while not terrorizing his planet, Cybertron can finally end the war under a better leader (Optimus), or at the very least the Decepticons will find a more effective leader, someone who might actually be able to put an end to the war. And Cybertron can all rest easy thinking he died, they’ll probably never find him anyways

It’s complicated with Megatron here, and how much of this is selfish and how much is selfless

But back to the story, Optimus and Megatron have their fight, after which Megatron requests him up to his chambers so that he can know what the heck he’s doing here and why he seemingly doesn’t have the Matrix, and they both generally get caught up on what the other’s been doing since the Quintesson invasion. Also, at the start of this when Optimus wakes up, and is able to fully process that Megatron is still alive, he’s probably very happy about it, much to Megatron’s surprise. Granted, that happiness is going to quickly sour as the conversation goes on

Optimus wants to find a way off the planet and back to Cybertron to stop Unicron, and Megatron rather quickly provides fairly decent directions on how Optimus would be able to escape, which Optimus then questions as to how he hasn’t broken out himself, since he’s still under the impression Megatron’s just as much a prisoner as him, to which Megatron tells him that he chooses to stay here, and he doesn’t plan on returning to Cybertron. If Optimus wants to stay, he’ll be happy to have him there; if Optimus wants to leave, there’s a way for him to escape and get back to save Cybertron. But what happens on Cybertron is no longer Megatron’s business, and he’s staying in the pits

And this likely leads to a blowout between the two, mainly Optimus because it’s now registering to him that Megatron basically just abandoned everyone after the Quintessons, and Megatron’s “death” was something Optimus took particularly bad, being the last one to see him before that, and he’s been under a lot of stress with the Unicron thing and their home is about to be destroyed, and his former friend who once planned to give up his life to save it now doesn’t seem to care, and quite frankly it all just explodes from Optimus’ mouth at this rate (though Megatron’s biting back, stubborn in staying here)

At some point they probably both calm down, and Optimus tries to convince him to go with him to save Cybertron, and likely he does eventually convince Megatron to escape with him and return home. Or Megs pulls a Loki/Han Solo and doesn’t initially return with the main group back to Cybertron, but later comes in bringing the cavalry. But regardless, he does eventually choose to return and face whatever music he has to when coming back. And I imagine Optimus having a “so please don’t be mad at me” exchange with Elita after returning on the topic of Megatron

Speaking of Elita, she and Bee would likely still be on Cybertron, basically preparing to deal with Unicron but also suffering at his hands, hoping Optimus is still alive somewhere, and if they know about the Matrix being missing, Elita’s probably desperately looking for it in hopes it’ll help them against Unicron

And I don’t think I have much more on the AU, I mostly kept repeating the Megatron stuff in my head because I liked it

I had a lot more to say on the latter idea, and it could diverge more from the two original movies I think, but I admit the former idea might have more to actually explore, considering everyone’s here and it isn’t just megop, as is my MO now

And I think I’ve covered about everything, so I’ll just stop here. At some point, I kind of forgot that this was supposed to be about the helmet thing, not gonna lie

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Payneland Post WWI-Artists AU!

Charles Rowland gets sent to the trenches in France, but Edwin Payne gets to avoid the war by being sixteen and from a wealthy family that can send him to university to avoid the draft. He doesn’t become part of the Lost Generation.

That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t become lost, though.

Charles promises to come back to Edwin, and he’s never broken a promise in his goddamn life. Charles returns from war. He returns from war and returns to London and Charles has always been a boy haunted by his ghosts, just as surely as Edwin was. They both have been, whether that be Charles and his father’s fists or Edwin and his father’s absence or the lake that Edwin pulled Charles from or the attic that Charles saved Edwin from.

The two of them, eighteen and aching, go to London and they disappear.

London isn’t like St. Hilarion’s, where everyone knows everyone. It is a place you can get lost in.

And the city. God, the city.

Edwin doesn’t do music, save the tunes that Charles likes to hum unconsciously when he’s painting, but if he did music, god, he would sing the city.

It’s so easy to get lost here. Edwin certainly does. 

But Charles Rowland, though?

Here, in London, among the queer underculture, in the house parties and the artistic scene, Charles finds himself.

More here!

@wordsinhaled @nix-nihili @bitterdesert @every-moment-a-different-sound @anything-thats-rock-and-roll

[spectralquartzstudios]

I had been really looking forward to your full review of Dorian. BUT I’m also happy if you’ve decided to take care of yourself by stepping away from the situation.

Incredibly sad that you deleted your blog again, though.

Thank you for being amazing, Spectral

The blog isn’t deleted. Just privated for a bit because I was tired.

I was going to post a review. I really was. Because I thought the concept was still useful. But Dorian’s been telling on themselves lately. Especially with that Instagram post. You know the one, where they try to use them being the shein of the gaming industry as a selling point and said (to paraphrase) “nix hydra bad, dorian good bc we release games FAST and CHEAP, unlike them.” I wanted do a page by page breakdown of how shitty they were with that post, but it really speaks for itself. They didn’t have to tear down the studio that gave them a huge moneymaker in order to advertise their own company.

After that, even the most minuscule redeeming quality they had in my mind is gone. It’s been a long time coming, I know. But at this point I think I’d rather just take the time to learn to code over what we dealt with.

They also went full MLM with their “bring in a new creator and get 100 hearts” thing. (That’s $5 btw)

At the end of the day, our experience was a nightmare we’re still recovering from. And they’re still showing everyone again and again they don’t actually care about anything other than money. Especially not the independent creators they want on their app so badly.

And they can call me a liar and a brat throwing a tantrum all they want, and send all the anonymous death threats they want (seemingly from dorian supporters), but that won’t change what happened, and that won’t magically make them a good company of good people.

I might un-private my other blog, might not. But it won’t be used anymore. This is the last time you’ll see me talking about dorian publicly, and the only time you’ll see a dorian post on this blog.

Because, yeah, we’d rather focus on our own stories and art. I have a Transformers/Arcana crossover universe I’m building. Rosie is rewriting Age Of Extinction and The Last Knight. And we still want to write our Arcana stories. And write them the way WE want to. No unnecessary sex scenes. No “you should probably take out that nightmare scene because it’s too depressing.” None of that. Period. They’re not taking away our joy again.

[hircines-hunter]

Tagged by @sulphuricgrin

Gonna tag @umbracirrus @mavariel @thequeenofthewinter @bougainvillea-and-saltwater sorry you guys probably have reread this scene as many times as I tag you in it…. They’re gross and I love them that way.

This week Sujamma has been brushing up on his literacy. It's hard being a humble Nix-Hound. Reading doesn't come naturally to him, but he's doing his best! This week Sujamma is hoping you will help him learn to read!

Post a favorite scene, favorite sentence, favorite dialogue, favorite anything from any fic you've written! If you haven't written any fic, feel free to share your ideas. If you don't have any, recommend a friend's fic!]

So I have a few scenes I love. I think the epilogue for Roar of a Wolfborn will be my favorite.

“Can I ask for a favor from you?” Farkas trailed his fingers up and down her arm. He leaned over and kissed her shoulder over her scars.

Sifkni hummed. “Yes, my love?”

“I….” He swallowed. “I want to be a wolf again.”

Sifkni turned and stared at him. She blinked. She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Are you sure?” She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair.

Farkas nodded. “I…. I think I can deal with not sleeping well. I miss…. I miss your scent. I miss hearing your heart. Your breathing.” He leaned on her shoulder. “It’s been hard. I took all those senses for granted. And now, I just miss the way I could enjoy your presence as a wolf. I could tell when you walked in Jorrvaskr. I could tell when you were excited. About something. About me.” He kissed her neck. “Like I can feel it fluttering against my lips, but I miss hearing it from afar.” He bit down. Her breath hitched. “And that sound. I remember it sounding better as a wolf.

Sifkni whimpered. “Aye. If, if you’re sure.”

Farkas kissed the bite mark and then her jaw. “I think so….”

Sifkni turned his head and kissed him. She ran her fingers through his hair and across his beard. “I’m going to keep asking you until it happens.”

“Then…. Let’s go now.” He sat up and helped her to her feet as he threw on a tunic and breeches. He threw one of his tunics at her. She put it on.

He grabbed her hand and dragged her through Jorrvaskr, thankful for how late in the night it was. No one was around. He walked into the Underforge.

Sifkni followed after him. She stripped out of the tunic. She let the transformation take over. She shook the remainder of the transformation and huffed.

Farkas ran his fingers through her dark red coat. “You’re always so beautiful.” He kissed the tip of her nose and her forehead. “I never thought I’d miss it this much. I…. I thought I could think clearly without it, but….” He pulled her in for a hug. “I miss it a lot more than I thought I would.”

Sifkni nibbled at his beard and his neck. She pulled away and walked to the basin. She brought her wrist to her mouth and bit. She held her bleeding wrist over the basin. After the basin had enough blood she brought it to her mouth to staunch the bleeding. “It’s your last chance to change your mind.”

Farkas shook his head. “No. I want this.” He dipped his hands into the basin, cupping some of her blood. He drank her blood while watching her.

Sifkni walked over and nudged his face. She licked the drops of blood off his face and hands. She whimpered as she heard his heartbeat hasten. His eyes darkened for a moment.

Farkas quickly threw off his clothing and doubled over. He let the transformation take over. Fur grew from his body. His limbs and body elongated, becoming more lupine. Since he had been a wolf before, it was a familiar pain. But it felt so different. Easier. Because he was now Moon-blessed?

Farkas looked around. This felt right. He turned to the cave opening. Sifkni chased after him as he squeezed through the cave. They both took off into the night.

He enjoyed the wind in his fur. The smells. The sounds. The sights.

Sifkni was hot on his heels. She loved the chase. The hunt. She couldn’t control herself and pounced, catching him off guard. They rolled a few times before stopping in the long grass. Sifkni sat on top of him.

Both of them let the transformations melt away. Sifkni looked down at him. A wide grin spread across her face. She leaned over and kissed him. She felt tears in her eyes.

Farkas wrapped his arms around her and rolled them, so she was below him. He buried his head in her neck. He inhaled. “Snowberries and cedar.” He licked her neck before biting down. “I can hear your heart again. The way it beats. Right there. That’s the one….” He nudged her neck with his nose. “The one that says ‘I love you’.”

Sifkni smiled. “It’s always beating that way.”

[harpersdragons]

Ch 2 of "No, Tim, You're Not Being Kidnapped (Except Maybe You Are...)" Is finally posted!

@morganbritton132 @the-booty-crusader @ursulasteffany @raphyo @passing-through-bd @aidenxcz @seannasideblog @suffering-for-eternity @malflora @crow-in-trash @fhteehj @mysecret02 @idekwutoput @comicbooker16 @narration-ator @wothmzn @sp0rksupremacy @montywithchildhoodtrauma @nix-illustrating @shinelie

[mads-weasley]

Epiphany Pt. 5: Breathe

Lewis Nixon x Reader

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

A/N: two posts within a few days?? what's this?? anyways, this is a short kind of filler, so i hope you enjoy! this is about the fictional portrayal of easy company on the show. nothing but love and respect for veterans on this blog!

Summary: People say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that is nothing but true after (y/n) and Lewis are separated in the aftermath of Market Garden.

Word Count: 1.9k

Warnings: mentions of wounds, straight fluff pining

OCTOBER, 1944: HOLLAND

For Lewis Nixon, the remainder of September had passed in a haze of numbness, and before he knew it, the calendar had turned to the first week of October. The once-warm Dutch air had seemingly overnight transformed into a chilling autumn breeze. On that crisp October day, he found himself in the Battalion CP, meticulously going over recovered German intelligence alongside Colonel Strayer. 

Amidst their focus, a knock echoed through the small office, momentarily breaking the officer’s concentration. Colonel Strayer, engrossed in his reports, responded without looking up, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and Vest stuck his head inside, offering a brief salute to the ranking officers before holding something out for Nix. “Cap’n, I have a letter here for ya.”

His heart leaped in his chest as he accepted the letter, instantly recognizing the familiar handwriting on the envelope. It was (y/n)’s handwriting.

Three long weeks had passed since she had been evacuated to the field hospital, and if he were honest with himself, he didn’t know how much longer he could endure her absence. The void left by her departure was suffocating, and he felt as if he couldn’t breathe without her by his side. The mere sight of her handwriting brought a mix of emotions – hope, longing, and a sense of connection he had sorely missed, regardless of how they left things.

Sensing the importance of the letter, Strayer dismissed Nix with a friendly slap on the shoulder. “That’s enough for now, Captain. You’re dismissed.”

Rising to his feet, Lew quickly saluted his superior and stepped out of the CP, the chill of the autumn wind hitting him as he found a quiet corner to read the letter. His anticipation was palpable as he carefully tore open the envelope. 

As he read (y/n)’s words, he felt a rush of emotions that seemed to fill the void her absence had left behind. Her words were like a lifeline, connecting him to the woman he missed so dearly. 

September 29th, 1944

Lew,

How have you been? I hope you’ve not given Dick too much trouble yet. We both know how mischievous you can get without me there to supervise you. I miss you and the men dearly. 

The hospital is filled to the brim with injured men from Market Garden. Was it really as bad as everyone's said? Apparently, the British took more casualties than us. 

As far as my recovery goes, I’m feeling better by the day. It still hurts to breathe, and it’s also hard to walk without my stitches pulling painfully, but I’m gonna break out of this prison and come back to easy as soon as I can. This place is driving me crazy, Nix. Thankfully, the doctors said I should be out of here within the next few weeks. But will I wait that long? We’ll see. 

On another note, I didn’t get to properly apologize for the way I treated you before. Sure, I did say I was sorry, but we also thought I could die, so it felt a little rushed. So, I’m sorry for getting upset with you about Eindhoven. I know you were just trying to protect me. I hope you can forgive me. 

I’ve got to go on my daily walk around the hospital, so I’ve got one thing left to say…please don’t drink yourself away. If I hear one peep about you being drunk on duty, I will not hesitate to write Dick and ask him to throw out your stash. Just because I’m stuck here doesn’t mean you can stop taking care of yourself. 

Please stay safe,

(Y/n) (y/l/n)

Lew lowered the letter with a gentle sigh, a warmth spreading through him. She was recovering well, and that was the best news he could hope for. A soft smile played on his lips as he reread her words. In his mind, he could hear every sentence in her voice.

“If I hear one peep about you being drunk on duty, I…” he muttered to himself, chuckling at her playful threat. Even while confined to a hospital bed, she still was trying to take care of him.

“That from her?” A voice asked.

Nix looked up with a smile to see Dick approaching. “Yeah.”

"How is she?"

“Good,” he chuckled. “She threatened to get you to pour out all my whiskey if it became a problem.”

Dick shook his head with a grin. “I would do it, you know.”

“Oh, I know you would,” Lew replied, raising his eyebrows.

Silence settled between them, both men lost in their thoughts. 

“How are you doing?” Dick asked. “I know we haven’t been able to talk much with everything going on.”

Nixon grabbed his flask from his pocket and took a sip. “I’m alright. I miss her like crazy, though. It’s like…I don’t know, Dick. I think I’m in love with her.

The ginger’s eyes widened, locking onto Lew’s face, which bore a boyish smile. ”I’m glad you’re finally admitting it.”

“Now what do I do?” Nix chuckled bitterly. “We’re in the middle of a warzone and I’ve gone and fallen in love. They should put that on the recruitment posters, huh?”

Dick sighed, scanning their surroundings. “When she gets back you tell her.”

Lewis furrowed his eyebrows. “What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

“Everyone can see that she does, Nix. Trust me.”

A faint smirk tugged at Nix’s lips. “You know, Dick,” he remarked. “You’re not as bad as they say.”

Dick rolled his eyes and checked his watch. “I’ve got a meeting with Sink about our Market Garden casualties.”

“I’m glad I don’t have to be a part of that.”

Dick started to walk away but stopped and turned back to Nix. “Lew, be careful. You know there are rules, and the last thing I want to see is one or both of you getting in trouble.”

Nixon nodded. “Well, nothing’s happened yet, but I know. I will.”

With that, Dick walked around the corner, leaving Lewis alone with his thoughts. He took another gulp from his flask, the warmth spreading through him. Dick didn’t have to know every detail about his drinking habits.

Once (y/n) got back, though, he decided that he was going to reign it in. But until then, he reasoned, he could continue with whatever he needed to cope with the emptiness that had settled in his heart during her absence.

OCTOBER 31, 1944: AMERICAN 24TH EVAC HOSPITAL

(Y/n) lay in her uncomfortable cot, staring up at the blank ceiling as she had done for the last month. Although the nurses tried to give her some privacy by hanging sheets around her bed in the corner, it did little to block the sounds of snoring coming from Webster beside her. 

She shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position, but her side still ached from the wound. The pain was a constant reminder of their failed mission, and she longed to be back with Easy Company. The inactivity gnawed at her and the hospital walls felt like a prison.

The room was dimly lit by a flickering lamp, casting shadows across the walls. The war had taken a toll on everyone, physically and emotionally, so it wasn’t unusual to wake up to the horrifying sound of screams echoing through the halls. When the lights went out, it was the time when the hospital’s occupants became the most lonely. 

She missed the camaraderie, the shared laughter, and even the adrenaline-fueled moments of combat with her friends. But most of all, she missed him.

As she lay there, she couldn’t help but wonder how Lew was doing. His absence was keenly felt, and she longed for his familiar presence and snarky attitude. She knew he had his demons and struggles, but they all did. The war had a way of shaping and breaking people in unpredictable ways. 

A sudden noise from outside the room startled her, and she strained her ears to listen. The distant rumble of a jeep and the murmur of voices reached her. She imagined Lew out there in the field with Dick, and it brought her a sense of comfort to think of the duo out there doing what they did best, and that they were watching each other’s backs. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and tried to push aside the pain, allowing herself to drift into a restless sleep.

The small squeak of boots on the tile floors awoke the (y/h/c) with a startle. Her breathing quickened as she sat up slowly and pulled back the curtain, revealing someone with a familiar screeching eagle and medic patch a few feet away.

“Gene?” She whispered, face contorted in confusion.

The Cajun turned quickly and smiled distantly as he recognized her. “(Y/l/n). How are ya’ doin’, cherie?”

She took a moment to glance at his blood-smeared ODs, realizing what had brought him to the hospital at such a late hour must have been bad, so she didn’t question him about it. 

“I’m ready to bust out of here.”

He sighed, a knowing grin painting his lips. “Are you healed up enough to bust out?”

“Yes,” (y/n) nodded enthusiastically. “Doc said any day now.”

Gene raised an eyebrow, approaching her cautiously. “Let me see. If I think it’s healed well enough, I’ll take you back with me tonight. If not, you’ve gotta stay, alright?”

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of reuniting with Easy. “Wait. Seriously? Just like that?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Just like that.”

Suppressing a wince, she carefully laid down on her back and pulled up her shirt, revealing the thick white bandage that was wrapped around her side. Gene, ever the respectful young man, looked up at her for confirmation before he began unwrapping it.

As Roe carefully unwrapped the bandage, (y/n)’s healing wound was revealed. The site of the injury was marked by bruised, discolored skin, and a well-defined entry point where the bullet had torn into her body. 

Gene leaned in, his eyes focused and gentle as his hands hovered over the wound. He was meticulous and caring in his inspection. His fingers probed around the entry point with a practiced tenderness, gauging the healing process and the neatness of the stitches. He checked for any signs of infection, monitoring the redness and warmth around the stitched area. His eyes scanned for swelling or abnormal discharge, all signs that would indicate the need for further care. 

(Y/n) winced slightly as he pushed on a sensitive area where the stitches were pulling on her skin, and Gene immediately eased his touch, offering her a reassuring smile.

“Cap’n Nixon will be glad,” he smirked, wrapping up the wound.

(Y/n)’s eyes lit up. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes ma’am. It looks good. I’ll just tell the officers to put you on light duty until you’re a hundred percent.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She whispered, excitement brimming in her voice as tears threatened to fill her eyes.

Gene smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, cherie. Everyone’ll be glad to have you back.”

As Roe left to inform the necessary people, (y/n) settled back on her cot, a surge of relief and happiness coursing through her. She was going back to Easy, and she couldn’t wait to reunite with her comrades, especially a certain intelligence officer whose absence had left a void that was now going to be filled.

Tag List: @softguarnere @mrsgeorgeluz @flowers-and-fichte @inglourious-imagines @peggyvan @rebeccapearson @hxad-ovxr-hxart @merriell-allesandro-shelton @shakespear-picaso-lovechild @titiglt @stvrkdream @multifandomfanfic @pastexistence

message or comment if you want to be added to the tag list!!!

[elpurata-victim]

statistically speaking this should convince neutrals to join the autobot cause... right?

[coveredinsun]

i wrote 3 different winnix fics in december & january but i realized i NEVER posted them here. so behold, my series of winnix fics where i get further and further detached from canon, and where i also make lew a girldad for fun

1. darling, it’s grand, they just don’t understand

“Act upon what he finds within himself, and only himself,” said Dick, audibly pensive in a way he hadn’t been. “I quite like that.”

“Well, that’s the gist,” said Lew with a shrug. He wasn’t even in the top half of eloquent men. “Honestly, I really hated reading and analyzing Emerson’s essays. He found a way to talk and talk and talk about nothing at all, when he could’ve kept it perfectly concise.”

Like you, Lew almost said. The bullet got jammed. Still, he had a hunch that Dick could read his mind this one time.

Or: July, 1948. Blanche Nixon invites her brother, and his business partner slash lover, to… a baseball game?

6.5k words, fluffiest of the three; my weird band of brothers/a league of their own (2022) crossover fic??? whatever. blanche invites winnix to a baseball game to see her baseball player girlfriend-ish, all the way mae. stupid emily dickinson references because i’m lame and basic, sue me. gay jazz clubs :)

2. november 27th

“Kathy hates it when I call her Maggie, but I think it’s cute that she’s got a little nickname to grow out of.”

“Or maybe she’ll find someone who calls her Maggie,” replied Dick, totally without thinking. “And he’ll say it’s ‘cause it’s easier, sure. But more than anything he’ll like the way it sounds when he says it.”

When Nix looked at him, then, his eyes glittered. His lips were pursed like he needed to say something or he’d shrivel up and die.

There were many things Dick could conceptualize him saying. Luckily, they fell into two neat categories—the things Dick expected Nix to say, and the things Dick wanted him to.

Or: 1942, 1944, and 1946. A study on Lewis Nixon’s history with love, destructive vices, and fatherhood—as seen from the eyes of a wife and a lover.

8.2k words, perhaps the most densely packed with angst of the three. examines lew and his relationships with love and fatherhood, both alongside kathy and alongside dick. ann winters introduction <3 and classic new jersey angst

3. the likes of me abide

“Well, I feel compelled to be a little more brave now,” replied Dick, holding up his gaze like Atlas held the heavens. “I ought to give you an answer that’s more honest.”

But not fully. It was sort of bitingly ironic, the way Lew always put up Dick as the more honest of them. He didn’t find that to be true. Not when there still existed so many selfish desires in his mind, like the one that practically clawed and scratched like an animal just to fit somewhere into this part of Lew’s life. He might never put that desperation into words.

Or: Summertime, 1951. Lew gets back in touch with Kathy.

10.3k words, angsty but less intensely as last time. i go reallyyyyy ham with kathy’s character in this, so take that as a treat. i also actually make lew and kathy’s daughter into a character <3

[democracyunderground]

Inside the bro-ification of Mark Zuckerberg

Nitasha Tiku and Naomi Nix, (c) 2024 , The Washington Post

Fri, October 4, 2024 

"Mark Zuckerberg strode onstage at Meta’s annual developer conference last week with all the swagger of a Roman emperor - that is, if Julius Caesar had a thing for customized statement tees.

The billionaire CEO’s designer shirt was emblazoned with the slogan “AUT ZUCK AUT NIHIL,” a riff on a Latin phrase meaning “a Caesar or nothing”- a nod to the conquering general’s unbridled ambition."

The crowd of software-makers and social media influencers at Meta’s headquarters celebrated Zuckerberg’s own expansionist agenda - gasping, applauding and holding up their phones to record snippets of the CEO’s plan for Meta to dominate “the future of human communication.”

Printing ancient battle cries on Italian cotton may be an innocuous flex, but it’s part of a transformation that has quietly remade Zuckerberg’s public image, attracting the same generation of start-up guys who once idolized Elon Musk.

Meta’s founder has swapped tense encounters with mainstream media in favor of friendly chats with popular podcast hosts, sitting for three interviews with computer scientist Lex Fridman, one with anti-woke Joe Rogan and one with pop scientist Andrew Huberman since 2022.

...

Deadbeat Billionaires, that don't want to pay taxes. #TechBros

[rhetoricandlogic]

Joint Review: A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

Posted on May 25, 2012

Ana’s Take:

A Confusion of Princes is a Sci-fi novel complete with space travel, adventurous hijinks, a dash of romance and an attempt (emphasis on the attempt) at exploration of what it means to be human.

Khemri is an enhanced human being, a Prince of the Empire, expected to do great things once he leaves the secluded temple he grew up at. It is only when he does so that he realises the truth: there are ten million princes all over the Empire and all of them compete against each other to death (although most princes are allowed to be reborn). More than that though and to Khemri’s dismay, he can’t really do everything and anything he wants as he expected – there is a very strict hierarchy of princes, rules he must follow, not to mention the complete obedience owed to the Imperial Mind – a supposedly omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent being. This story is Khemri’s own story – narrated by him – of how he has died and been reborn three times and describing his transformation from a Prince of the Empire into a full human being.

I am slightly conflicted about A Confusion of Princes: I absolutely loved parts of it but felt that ultimately the book fell short of its full potential.

First of all, I loved the narrative voice. Khemri’s voice is sarcastic, funny, self-aware and it was just what made the book such a pleasure to read. As he begins his life as a Prince he is expected to be absolutely loyal to the Empire and to never question anything. He is also designed to fully believe he is the best thing the galaxy has ever seen (his own words). As such and as the book opens, Khemri is arrogant, self-serving, believing regular humans to be beneath him and worthy of contempt. plus, complete unquestioning of everything that he has ever been told. Slowly but surely, he becomes increasingly aware of his and the Empire’s shortfalls. The fact that Khemri is such a complete douchebag is probably part of what I liked the most about the book because it was believable and fitting into the society where he grew up. The main arc – his transformation – is incredibly fun to read because of the world-building (although some parts of that were slightly boring and perhaps too detailed) and the scrapes he gets into. That said, I am not sure I completely bought this transformation but more on that later on.

Another thing that I loved about A Confusion of Princes is its lack of exposition and info-dump. From the start, the reader is dropped into this fascinating futuristic world, expected to fully understand it as we go along and I really appreciated the lack of hand-holding and pandering. I also loved the diversity of gender (princes can be either male or female – although I would have appreciated a gender neutral title; loads of female characters in positions of power), race and sexual orientation (most princes seem to be bisexual) representation. These are presented without making an issue out of it and it’s all the more appreciated considering this is a YA novel.

That said, although I loved the idea of Khemri’s arc being an exploration of what it means to be human at its core, I felt that this very exploration was short-changed by occurring far too fast. It doesn’t take much for Khemri to question his entire life, it doesn’t take long for him to change. I never quite bought his transformation because it was very sudden (and brought forth by an insta-love connection with a human girl). In truth, we were told rather than shown this transformation and as such I felt his change was perfunctory and superficial rather than really profound and affecting. Seriously, there is so much potential to this story but at lot of it was merely glanced over. There is enough material here for at least a trilogy.

Ultimately, although I felt A Confusion of Princes could have been soooooo much better, I still enjoyed reading it a lot and thoroughly recommend it.

[carcrash-ventass]

.: Pinned post time! :.

https://linktr.ee/clodinator

I may be a terminal Homestuck, but I'm a huge fan of Transformers and Splatoon. The Crow Strider AU also gives me unbelievable amounts of artist envy so there's that.

The only real tag I have for things is #clodinator, and that's just any standalone post or comment I leave on a post.

Scalemate comms

Chained

Homestuck fanventure staring a bunch of bird people and some carapacians running amuck. It shifts authorship every week so we're never quite sure where it'll go. I'm the one you'll usually find making the [S] pages.

Our group Tumblr is @chainsmithsnackmix

Ultrastuck

The efforts of the machines to invade hell have The machines efforts to invade hell have gone astray, resulting in cross-dimensional Skaian portals opening up to Earth and Alternia. This is mostly an excuse for me to make fun pairings, but I'll make some lore as we go.

Oh, and I guess I have this one too: My current fursona, lets see how long this one lasts. :]

Previous versions below:

Nix V2: on standby

Nix V1: Reformated

Unnamed Authorbird: Evolved into their own character

Dawn: Not a fur, but I still use her for Homestuck RP

Azbrug: My wet rat who I have trapped in my basement.

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Art References for Chapter One of underneath the sunrise (show me where your love lies)

(aka this is the nerdiest thing I've done for this fandom)

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, c. 1560

"Monty didn’t know what it felt like to fly through the air, the wind between your wings, the sun kissing your skin, until now. He didn’t know what it felt like for the wax to burn away and melt itself into your skin, searing your flesh, until now.

And he didn’t know why anyone would risk such a thing until now.

Until them."

The Two Fridas, Frida Kahlo, 1939

"How the fuck is Monty supposed to reply when he finally has the thing that he’s ached for so long and he can’t even enjoy it? When his heart is ratcheting up his throat, a ticking time bomb that Frida Kahlo would adore?"

Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymous Bosch, 1490-1510

"Monty is being torn apart in the hell panel of the Garden of Earthly Delights. He is some abomination that Bosch dreamed up to fill the inferno, to be tortured for all eternity, because both of the only two things that Monty has ever loved are being ripped from his trembling fingers by his mother and used against him, just because she can’t handle the fact that he wanted something, anything, to call his own."

Textiles of South Asia (Fictional Exhibit, but here are photos of the clothing in question)

"But mostly, Monty spent his time drinking in Edwin’s knowledge, the way that that he went into professor-mode when explaining the symbolism behind certain artworks. Monty devoured the bits about artwork that Charles knew about, like a discussion in the Textiles of Southern Asia special exhibit where Monty had the privilege of seeing Charles get excited explaining the differences and purposes of lehengas and saris and sherwanis. The way that though they were surrounded by masterpieces, all Monty could stare at is the two muses in the middle of the room, holding hands, more breathtakingly beautiful than any of the painting surrounding them."

Lehenga

Sari (Maharashtraian sari)

Sherwani (Painting of the last Nizam of Hyderabad)

Snow Storm, J. M. W. Turner, 1842

"His fingers catch under Monty’s jaw, guiding Monty’s mouth to his like a brushstroke of lightning hitting the mast of a J. M. W. Turner ship, all storm, all sensation, right as Charles’ mouth ducks between his thighs."

I will post another archival set for chapter 2- we've got plenty more coming!

@deadboy-edwin @icecreambrownies @anonymousbooknerd-universe @ashildrs

@tragedy-machine @just-existing-as-you-do-blog @orpheusetude @mj-irvine-selby

@pappelsiin @itsbitmxdinhere @rexrevri @sweet-like-h0ney-lavender @saffirez

@the-ipre @sunnylemonss @days-light @agentearthling @helltechnicality

@sethlost @catboy-cabin @secretlyafiveheadeddragon @vyther15

@anything-thats-rock-and-roll @queen-of-hobgobblers @every-moment-a-different-sound

@nix-nihili @mellxncollie @tumblerislovetumblerislife @lemurafraidofthunder

@likemmmcookies @wr0temyway0ut

[confetti-cat]

Top five fairytales!

I got thinking way too hard about this and accidentally buried it in my drafts, oops. Finally, here goes! 💕

5. Rapunzel

While the original version isn't really my cup of tea—it's a good fairytale, and a classic, but is honestly a pretty wild and sad story—I wanted to give it a spot here because of how much I've adored different retellings of it. Specifically, Tangled (the animated series especially!) and The Lunar Chronicles' Cress. I find it enjoyable to read how so many retellings explore Rapunzel in a way that's relatable, minus the awful life scenario, as a homeschooled kid—someone who hasn't seen much of the world, but is full of hope and love for it. It's also pretty fun how the story seems to attract writers who want to give it a hilarious male lead. Eugene and Thorne are both great characters, in some ways that are the same and some that are very different.

4. Prunella

Someone, and I won't say who, is entirely to blame for this one. The "acts of kindness are stronger than any evil" theme! Showing love to others in hard places! The epic ending scene! I did not expect to love it so much, but it was right up my alley. (May have to pester you again about your retelling kiddos at some point 👀 <3)

3. Beauty and the Beast

It is entirely possible I'm the only person in my sphere of Tumblr who hasn't seen the Disney version, but it's another classic, and I love the story. One of my favorite fairytale "curses" is when someone is outwardly transformed to match their soul—an event that could've had good results in the case of someone good and unselfish, but in the case of someone who outwardly looks fair but has an ugly heart, it's a poignant life lesson about themselves. Hearing Glen Keane talk about it in the context of the transformative power of love (and 2 Cor. 5:17) was so neat. Also, being a story of "normal girl who loves books befriends/is the catalyst for change in a monster via kindness and being willing to make sacrifices for those she loves", it feels especially inspiring for what I'd say is its primary audience, Normal Girls Who Love Books.

2. Nix, Nought, Nothing

I only found this one while searching for a fairytale for the Four Loves Retelling Challenge over at the inklings-challenge blog, but wow it grew on me. The sheer friendship vibes! The sweet interactions! Self-sacrifice and true-as-in-faithful love! I ended up loving the resulting retelling I wrote a lot more than expected, too. (Shameless story promo, it can be read on Tumblr or on AO3!)

Then - I had to think for a while about #1. Do I have a favorite fairy tale? Can I pick just one?

I've come to the conclusion my favorite is one that doesn't exist in the same form as the others: the classic concept of the prince/knight saving the princess from the dragon. I may have to go on in another post about the Biblical themes of it—the story of the Son of The King saving the Bride of Christ from the Devil, That Serpent of Old, because I love that aspect and it might be why it rings true for me.

It's also so much fun to swap the roles around inside that framework. The original is great, but there's possibilities! What does it look like if the dragon saves the prince from the princess? What if the princess saves the dragon from the prince? It keeps the same story structure - a rescuer, the one rescued, and the captor - but creates fun new perspectives to write from and motives to contemplate.

[shrinkthisviolet]

I know this ask game was a while back but I would love love LOVE to know the thought process behind the 'stay gold' series please!!!!!

Ahhh ofc, I’d love to! Don't ever feel bad for asking me to answer an old ask game, I’m always down (as long as you give me enough details to figure out which one 😅)...and this goes for everyone else too! If there are any other fics you want the backstory for, feel free to send an ask my way, I’d be delighted.

So, I’ve made no secret of the fact that Sam is my favorite Cobra Kai character, and I adore her dearly. I was also shocked at the lack of time travel fics for KK/CK—there are a few, but they center on Daniel and Johnny more than anyone else. Like…guys, Daniel’s kids are right there, why not have one of them time travel?? And why aren’t there more fics with this premise in general??

So I figured out pretty early that I wanted to write a time travel fic starring Sam (given how much I love Daniel & Sam, it was a given). Then I had to figure out who would be part of it…and what event would spark it. I knew it had to be a trio to avoid getting overcrowded (I considered 4, but 4’s a crowd), and I debated Sam + Miguel + Robby for a while…but then I realized this was my chance to fix Sam & Tory’s friendship and write it the way I wanted to see it, so Tory had to be one of the people in that party. With Tory included, I nixed the idea of having them time travel post-s2, because I knew the premise of the fic wouldn’t allow me to write Sam’s PTSD as well as it deserved. So…2x04 was my launching point.

From there, I decided instead of having any of the guys time travel, I’d stick Aisha in the party instead. I wanted to keep Miguel for sweet Samguel moments, and Robby for Johnny-related drama…but again, 4’s a crowd, and I could accomplish both of those in different ways (Samguel sweetness with Sam talking about him in the past, plus they’ll have plenty of moments in the CK-era fics + Johnny-related drama with Sam taking Johnny to task for his poor parenting—she’s done that a bit already, but there’s more to come!). With the new launch point being 2x04, I didn’t want to exclude Aisha, considering how instrumental she was in Sam and Tory’s first impressions of each other—plus, she remembers what it was like to have Sam as a friend…and what it was like to lose her, and she takes no shit, so she’s not afraid to hold Sam to account for befriending Yasmine at Aisha (+ Demetri + Eli)’s expense. Also...she was written off too soon man, I just wanted to feature her more than the show was clearly interested in doing.

Oh yeah, that’s the other thing: in that time, I developed a headcanon of Sam, Aisha, Demetri, and Eli all being childhood friends. This is more relevant in the backstory fic, though it’ll be relevant again when Sam gets back to her proper time. But anyway…

Choosing the time travel party reminded me how pissed I am about how the female characters on this show are written. I wanted better for them. I also got very attached to Daniel & Sam’s relationship (that was a big reason for why I picked Sam as the main character in the first place), and the themes of legacy, making your own legacy, etc—themes that the show explored well in its early seasons and dropped the ball on post-s3 (Daniel & Sam’s s4 angst explored this…decently, but even then, it still felt reductive). So, I then decided that another big part of this AU, which would define it going forward, was Sam taking Daniel’s place at the AVT, to protect him—in a sense, creating her own legacy, though ofc that’s not what she’s thinking of. She sees her now-teenage dad in danger and knows she can help, she’s not thinking much further than that. But I am!

It’s funny because I got a comment months ago that was super pissed off about this 😂 somehow convinced that now Sam would never be born, as though Amanda and Daniel would never have gotten together if not for that tournament. Which like…I feel the need to remind y’all, this is a high school tournament. It’s not the Sekai Taikai. The show treats it as The Most Important Thing Ever (and so do the movies, albeit for different reasons), but that’s for drama. There’s more than enough evidence throughout the show that Amanda did not marry Daniel just for winning a high school karate tournament.

Ofc after finishing the KK1 fic, I had the idea to go back and write a prequel! Mostly to focus on Sam & Johnny, and make them friends before Sam time travels…but it also turned into a bit of a fix-it for post-s1 Samguel, with Sam calling Miguel out for fighting dirty at the tournament and them breaking up amicably. I also closed the door on any potential Sam/Robby, since that’s not the angle I’m going with for this AU…and I got to further explore Sam + Aisha + Demetri + Eli as childhood friends! Not a lot, but enough to establish it as canon to this AU, and it’ll be touched on more in later installments.

Currently the AU’s on a bit of a hiatus, because while I am writing the next fic, I’m fixated on the Morgan AU more than anything 😅 but rest assured, it will be finished! I just can’t make any promises about when