#of course less awesome that i have to get up for work tomorrow as well but hell I'll get over it

[writtenbymisunderstoodnerds]

Date (Christen Press x Reader)

It is 1:30am and this is absolutely not edited at all so mind any mistakes. I hope you enjoy :)

Warning- Some mentions of anxiety and panic attacks. 

Words: 2.5K

I was a highly anxious person. I know it's a bit weird considering I'm a professional soccer player who plays for the national team. The only time I'm ever really relaxed is on the field. Most of the time, seeing fans after the game doesn't make me that nervous either. Lot's of people, too much noise, media days, plus much more is what made me most anxious. So much so I'll have non-verbal episodes where I get overly anxious, I stop talking as a way to cope with it. My therapist and I had been working on ways to cope better which was helping slowly. It was still a big issue.

At my first camp I had quite a few non-verbal episodes which led the team to think I didn't really like them. After I got to know them a bit better, I had written a letter to explain, since no matter how much I tried I could never get out the words. They were all really supportive, still included me even when I stopped talking and started to be able to understand my way of communicating when I couldn't talk. I was more comfortable around them now which mean It was going non-verbal less. Except when it came to Christen. I had a huge crush on her, my anxiety spiked whenever she was around and I got incredibly nervous. She had never commented on it so I hoped she didn't notice. It also never changed the way she interacted with me. Despite how nervous she made me, I still found myself drifting to her in crowds as a form of comfort.

Kelley knew all about my crush on Christen. I'm not sure how she found out, but she did. Since then she has been trying to get me to ask her out. Kelley was pretty sure that Christen felt the same, I had never gotten the courage to do it though. Now, I had no choice. I was so sure I would beat her that I had made a bet, if I lost I had to ask Christen out. Of course I had lost. It took a lot of pacing and encouragement from Kelley to finally be able to even approach Christen. Then it took another few minutes before I could look at her let alone ask her.

"Are you okay Y/n?" Christen asked snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Go on a date with me?" I blurted before I could shut down again.

"Seriously?"

Her response had me panicking. I couldn't tell if she was just surprised or if she was disgusted by the idea, so before I could think about it, I responded, "I had to at least ask you, I lost a bet with Kelley."

"Well, you asked so that's that."

I realised that I messed up by saying that so quickly added, "Wait, I actually do want to go on a date with you, this bet with Kelley was just to push me to actually ask."

"Sure it was."

"I know that came out wrong, but I seriously do want to go on a date with you Chris. I've wanted to ask you for a while now, but you know words are not my strong suit at all and I was scared and nervous an-"

A hand on my arm made me freeze, "You're rambling."

"Sorry."

"Yes, I would love to go on a date with you Y/n."

"Really?" She only nodded in response, a small smile on her lips, "Awesome, um great, can't wait."

Christen giggled, "You're cute when you're nervous, do we wait until we're back in LA?"

"We can if you want, but uh I have an idea if you're free tomorrow night?"

"Well we don't have anything team related tomorrow night so yes I'm free."

"Cool, I'll pick you up at 5:30?"

"I can't wait." We just kind of stood there for a few seconds, until Christen spoke up again easing the slight awkwardness between us, "Help me pack these away?"

---

I hadn't slept well last night. All I could think about was my date with Christen which made me anxious because I wanted to impress her. I was also worried I would get so nervous around her that I would go non-verbal again. That was the last thing I wanted. Overthinking it would probably increase the chances of it happening, but I couldn't stop the thoughts no matter what I tried. I was even thinking about cancelling the date all together. All the thoughts, mixed with lack of sleep sent me into a panic attack before that could happen. Kelley had helped me through it before laying with me until I eventually fell asleep. When I had woken up again, I was alone, but a lot calmer. I was able to focus on setting up the date.

I had another mini panic attack in the shower when getting ready, but still managed to make it to Christens room on time. Christen was wearing a simple, sleeveless black lace skater style dress that stopped just above her knees, with low heels. I scanned her body quickly before forcing myself meet her eyes. She was stunning. I played with the ring on my finger to keep my nerves in check, "Y-you look um amazing."

She blushed slightly, "So do you Y/n." I was wearing black skinny jeans, with a burgundy button up and flat ankle boots. I naturally ran hot and it was a warm night so I wasn't wearing a jacket. If I'm being honest, the only reason I even had a jacket on me was incase Christen got cold.

"Shall we?" Christen slipped on her jacket then we made our way out of the hotel. The place we were going was only a five minute walk from the hotel. It took a lot to resist the urge to hold her hand as we walked. I know she agreed to go on a date with me, but I didn't want to do anything she might not want me to. My anxiety was already telling me that maybe she only said yes because she didn't want to hurt my feelings.

When we arrived at an apartment complex, Christen looked confused, but followed me up anyway. One of my friends was away for a couple of nights and had let me borrow her apartment. She had a balcony that had an amazing view of the city especially at night. I had set the table on the balcony to look similar to a restaurant and had strung up fairy lights around the balcony. The thought of lots of people, the possibility of people recognizing us and going on a date with Christen meant my anxiety was through the roof. I couldn't calm my nerves enough to take her to a proper restaurant so I was trying my best to make it romantic.

Christen looked slightly shocked when we walked in and she saw the balcony. I found myself nervous that she wouldn't like it or would have preferred a proper restaurant.

"So, I know this was probably not what you were thinking, but as you know I get nervous around lots of people and since I already get so nervous around you, I didn't want that to get in the way of having a good night. I hope this is okay."

"This is perfect Y/n. Did you do this? Who's apartment is this?"

"I did. I wanted it to be nice for you. It's a friend of mine, she's out of town for a couple of days. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"It's beautiful. I would love one, thank you."

After getting the wine for Christen and beer for myself, we sat down at the table while I waited for dinner to cook. I had spent the last few hours setting up and preparing dinner. Cooking and baking was something I loved to do and I wanted to spoil Christen so I had made lasagna with homemade pasta and pasta sauce, homemade garlic bread sticks and salad. I also made dark chocolate and raspberry truffles. We had an off day tomorrow, so a cheat night wouldn't hurt.

We made small talk for a while, well Christen did most of the talking until I felt myself start to relax a little bit and could actually talk without being a stuttering mess. During dinner we mostly ate in silence, but it was comfortable.

"That was amazing, thank you," Christen said after we finished dessert and took our plates to the sink.

"You're welcome Chris. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

After a few minutes of enjoying the view, Christen spoke up, "So, you get nervous around me?"

"Incredibly nervous, that's part of the reason I get so quiet around you."

She smiled softly, "Why do I make you nervous?"

"Well, you are beautiful, ambitious, smart, considerate, passionate, funny, and you're kind of intimidating."

"Intimidating?"

"N-not in a bad way, I just have a big crush on you." I cleared my throat, before standing up, suddenly feeling nervous and slightly awkward about how much I had revealed to her, "Do you want more wine?"

Christen grabbed my hand before I could get far, "Hey, don't get all quiet and shy on me. I have a big crush on you too so we're even. You kind of make me nervous as well."

Reluctantly, I sat back down across from her, she didn't let go of my hand, "Really? Don't take this the wrong way, but I kind of find that hard to believe. I mean, I'm just me."

"You are you. You are an amazing person Y/n. I admit it was your quietness that made me most nervous. I could never get a read on what you were thinking or feeling, um for me specifically. At first I just thought you didn't like, well any of us, then you opened up more and I got some mixed messages about how you felt about me. Sometimes, you would be really talkative, other times, more so around me you just didn't say anything. Then, I thought you would flirt with me, but I also thought it could be all in my head. I now understand why you're sometimes talkative then not other times. Even understanding why still made me nervous though because I didn't know how you felt."

"I'm sorry, I know I can be confusing sometimes. You're right though, I was always more quiet or had more non-verbal episodes when you were around because of how nervous you made me, but you also sometimes made me feel more comfortable. Having you around in situations where there were lots of people or media days, made me more relaxed. And yes there were times when I would feel confident and flirt with you."

Christen smiled, lacing our fingers together, "Is it bad to say I'm grateful for Kelley and her bets for once?"

"No, because I agree. I honestly don't know if I would have asked you anytime soon if not for the bet."

Our fingers remained laced together as we enjoyed the view and talked about anything we could think of. This had to be the first time I had felt this relaxed around Christen. It was probably because she now knew how I felt and felt the same way. Knowing that had calmed my nerves enough to realise how calming Christen actually was to be around. Yes, she was a comfort in some situations, but I had never been able to relax around her much. I was still a bit nervous if she would want to go on another date with me, but I was trying my best to push it away and just enjoy the moment.

Christen kissed the back of my hand. Goosebumps made their way up my arm at the feeling as I stuttered over what I was saying, Christen tried and failed to hide her giggle while I couldn't help think about what it would be like to kiss her, "Thank you Y/n, I think this is the best date I've ever been on. I don't want it to end."

My heart felt like it skipped a beat. All I wanted to do was give Christen a good night, to make her feel special. It was a relief to hear that she had enjoyed it, "It doesn't have to."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, my friend did say we were free to stay here the night. She definitely meant it in a different way, but she has a comfy couch, big TV, multiple streaming sites and popcorn. We have an off day tomorrow."

"Movie night?"

"Movie night. You pick the movie and I'll get popcorn. There's a box of my clothes in that room over there if you want to change."

An expression, I could have sworn was jealousy passed over Christen, but was quickly covered up, "Why is there a box of your clothes?"

"I stored some of my stuff here when I moved and I've just never taken that box back." I quickly got changed into some sweatpants and a hoodie before putting the popcorn on.

When I got back, Christen had changed, picked some rom-com and was cuddled under the blanket in the middle of the couch.  I chose to sit near the arm of the couch with my legs tucked up, leaving space between us so I didn't cross any lines. About 20 minutes had passed when Christen moved to sit cross-legged, she ended up closer with our knees touching. I still had my legs tucked up so I shifted slightly and put my arm up on the back of the couch as a way of inviting her to cuddle if she wanted to. A few seconds passed before Christen moved so she was cuddled up against my side.

The couch was wide enough that two people could lie down, cuddled up with each other pretty comfortably so I moved us to lying down. I was lying down flat while Christen was lying on her side with her head on my shoulder and an arm over my stomach. There was room for her to move back a bit if she wanted to, but she didn't which made my heart speed up. It was comfortable and safe, like we were made to fit together.

We stayed like that until the movie finished and Christen looked up at me. She was so close that if I moved a few inches I could kiss her. I decided to just push away my nerves and asked to kiss her before I could back out. Christen simply nodded. My hand was shaking slightly as I cupped her cheek and connected our lips in a soft kiss. Her hand covered mine, making me relax fully. The kiss was soft and sweet, it was like nothing I had experienced before. As cliché as it sounds, I felt sparks and goosebumps, but most importantly, I felt peace, comfort and safety. All my anxiety melted away and I never wanted to let her go, never wanted to stop kissing her. After a few seconds, a smile broke out on Christens face, making us pull apart. I couldn't help the grin that grew on mine.

That night I fell asleep on the couch with Christen cuddled up against me and a smile on my face. It was the first night in a long time I had fallen asleep then stayed asleep with no issues.

[yisony07]

Daddy's break

Armand Stewart adored his eight-year-old son, Jack, and nothing would take away his fatherly love for him. However, being a single father took a lot of his time and sometimes he needed a break: taking him to the pediatrician, going to a friend to play with, checking that he is doing well at school, helping him with homework, playing with him, educating him and raising him to be a good person... Armand would like moments for himself, but thinking about his son's well-being was his top priority and he didn't know how to handle it.

"Dad! Look at a helicopter!" Jack pointed to the sky, taking his hand out of the window.

"Jack, that's an awesome helicopter, but keep your hand inside and please don't scare me while I'm driving" Armand asked, hands gripping the wheel firmly.

Father and son were in the car on a soft afternoon driving home. They had been at the supermarket doing the shopping since Armand had enrolled his son in the summer camp he had been dreaming of for months before the end of the school year as an honor student award, something genuinely impressive.

"Killing two birds with one stone" , Armando had thought proudly, "my son enjoys camp and I have that time to myself".

Jack was bored, serious-eyed. Armando noticed it out of the corner of his eye and sighed. "Don't worry, when we get there and pack your things we can play a bit… I just need your peace of mind while I'm driving, okay?"

"Ok dad…".

The journey continued relatively calmly. In less than an hour they arrived at his house; Armand and Jack got out of the car and Armand opened the trunk, took out a few shopping bags and went to open the purchases. So did the boy, feeling a little proud of being helpful. Father and son put their bags on a table, and when they had found them all, Armand closed the door.

"Dad, shall we play now? I was quiet the rest of the way!" Jack asked his father insistently.

"First we are going to put the purchases away; go find the backpack and the suitcase… We are going to leave everything ready for tomorrow."

Jack looked at his father with some resignation before leaving. He went up the stairs to his room, found what his father asked for, and quickly went downstairs. The faster they finish, the faster they can play. Armand and Jack began to go through the bags and put their contents in the proper place, either in the suitcase or in the boy's backpack. It took minutes until Armand, satisfied with his work, closed the suitcase.

"Done, nothing to worry about for tomorrow", Armand said. "Jack, we can play now…". Armand looked at his son, but got no response. "Uh… Jack, is something wrong?"

"Dad, what about this present?" Jack asked, pointing to a box left over on the table where the bags had been.

"Wow, I don't remember seeing it before…" Armand reached for the gift. "What do you say? Do you want to open it?"

"Yes, of course!" Jack squealed with joy and tore the box wrapper.

Armand noticed that there was a small yellow note on the side of the box. He picked it up and read it: 'Armand Stewart, this is a gift for you. It will look uninteresting and unappealing, but just put it on and let the magic happen.'

"Put it on and let the magic happen? What does it mean? And who sent this in the first place?" Armand wondered in his mind.

"Look, dad! An ugly mask!" Jack yelled, bringing his father back to reality. "It looks so weird…" Jack giggled. "Can I keep it? Maybe I could take it to the camp!"

Armand noted how unusual the mask was.

"Not this time, son, there's a note that says the gift is for me." Armand gently took the mask from Jack's hands; he groaned sadly and Armand thought of something to cheer him up. "But we could play some video games on the Wii while we're free, what do you say?"

"Okay, okay… But I decide on the game!" Jack went up to his room and went to connect his console.

Armand chuckled briefly as he watched his son run. He looked out the window and noticed how the sky was turning dark. "I better make dinner and bring it up." Armand walked towards the kitchen and put the mask to one side where he began to prepare some sandwiches; so he poured a couple glasses of juice. He looked for a tray where he placed the plate with the sandwiches and the glasses, but before going up, he took a look at the mask. He looked at it in the face and then flipped it over. A strange and captivating green glow appeared for a few seconds and Armand, intrigued, brought the mask closer to his face without realizing it.

A few drops of sweat were running down his flushed face, and his breathing became shorter, as if he was nervous. The mask was a few millimeters from his face when…

"Dad!" Jack yelled from upstairs, causing Armand to push the mask away from his face.

"I'm coming, son!" Armand put the mask on the tray, took said tray and went up to his son's room, where he was waiting for him with the game on, the pair of controllers connected and the game ready to play. "He would cook a light dinner for us while we played."

"Okay, but let's get started now."

Armand and Jack sat down, grabbed their controllers, and started playing. It was a game of New Super Mario Bros Wii, Jack being Mario and Armand being Luigi. His hands moved the controls as if increasing the mobility of the characters. They took breaks from time to time to eat the sandwiches until they eventually ran out. Jack and Armand had a good time between yelling, displays of despair and, mostly, laughing at the silly occurrences and mistakes that either of them made.

At one point, several hours later and having completed a world, Armand yawned and an alarm went off. "Wow! Time sure has flown!" Armand said after looking at his watch. "Jack, it's time to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow."

It wasn't as difficult as Armand expected, because Jack, after groaning, saved the game, turned off the console, and went to the bathroom to change into his pajamas.

"Do you, by any chance, need me to read you a story?"

"No, no, it's all good", Jack answered. He was going to his bed when he noticed the mask near the dishes. "Could I put it on before I sleep?" he asked, taking the mask, and ran to his bed.

Armand, who until that moment had forgotten about the object, became nervous. He didn't want to expose his son to things that were too strange, much less magical. "It's not a good idea to deal with it, we don't know where it came from, so it's better to stay away" concluded Armand. He was going to remove the mask from his son's hands, but he kept clinging to it to himself. "I'll leave it with you, but try not to put it on."

"Yes, yes… Tomorrow I will go to the camp, but I will miss you."

"So will I, my son…" Armand kissed his son's forehead. "Goodnight".

"Good night, dad".

Jack yawned and slowly closed his eyes until he fell asleep..Armand waited a while longer until he got out of bed, walked to the door frame, turned off the light bulb, left the room, and closed the door softly. He only took a few steps, barely inches from the door, when Armand heard a scream.

"Dad, help me!!!".

Armand, frightened, returned agitated to his son's room. "Son, what's up?!" He didn't require an answer, because he knew it when he turned on the light.

The mask was covering his son's head in such a violent way, that even his son's eyes seemed to come out.

Armand ran to Jack. Jack had gotten up desperate, not knowing what to do. Armand reached him and watched as the mask, by means of tendrils, approached the back of his son's head. He, with his hands, took a few of them at a time and pulled as far as he could. Jack sobbed in pain, as he felt that he was pulling something from his skin, and he moved, making it difficult for Armand to advance, and he didn't know whether to follow or not. However, something in him told him to keep pulling, so he kept pulling, and little by little (seriously, little by little), he managed to completely peel off the mask. Due to his inertia, he fell backwards.

Armand realized that he was holding the mask, that seemed innocent and simple-minded. "Jack, are you okay? Is something still hurting you?" he asked concerned. He put the mask down and walked over to Jack. The boy tried to calm down and shook his head. "What happened? I thought I told you not to put the mask on…"

"I didn't do it!" Jack sobbed. "I suddenly woke up feeling how that thing collided with my face…" he explained more calmly.

"It's okay, the important thing is that you're okay now" Armand hugged his son to comfort him. "Is that what the note meant to let the magic happen?" he thought intrigued, as if pieces were completing in his mind. "Well, I'll keep the mask trapped so it doesn't hurt you anymore… Do you want me to come sleep near you?"

"Yes…".

Armand went and left the mask in his room, took his pillow and sheet and went to Jack's room. Father and son lay down next to each other, and were able to sleep peacefully without any threat of a mask.

The next day, Armand got up early, careful not to disturb his son's sleep. While he was preparing breakfast, he couldn't stop thinking about the strange dream he had. Everything was green, green and ethereal, with sensations that he hoped had not gone beyond a mere mental image. He prepared some toast for his son, while he would have a cup of milk with coffee. When he was done, he went outside to put the suitcase and backpack in the trunk of his vehicle and returned to wake Jack.

Later, the Stewarts left in the direction of the camp. It was a long way from their house, so it took them almost the whole day to get there (Armand bought a pizza for lunch), and when the time came, Armand left his backpack and suitcase and said goodbye to his son at the entrance. of the camp, leaving only when some keepers made sure to get in with Jack. Armand took the remains of the pizza to eat the next day on the return trip, and in the afternoon, similar to when they returned from shopping, Armand arrived at his house and lay down on his bed.

"Some peace and quiet… Time for me and only me."

A small greenish light caught his attention. The mask was there next to him. Armand remembered what had happened to his son and the words of the note.

"Let the magic happen…" he murmured. Armand got up and took the mask. "That glow again" he said after seeing the green glow. He walked to the mirror in his room and got ready to put on his mask. "Well, here goes nothing." And he placed the mask over his face.

The magic of the mask happened instantly. His hard, woody consistency became rubbery and by means of thick tendrils and tentacles the mask was stretched over his face. Armand felt like heat, and groaned. "Fuck…" he took off his clothes and ran his hand over his bulge. He felt crunch through his entire body, and with a *crack* his arms expanded, as did his belly. Armand saw through the mirror how the mask covered and imitated his gestures. He raised a hand and Armand moaned again, pleasure coursing through his veins.

(Thanks to @kermit43 for this and the previous edited pics).

"Ah… yeah… F-f-f-fuck!!" Armand didn't know what was happening, but he let himself be carried away by the warmth of the mask. His hands moved, apparently, on their own, one of them savoring his abdomen and nipples, while the other was on his cock. Suddenly, he began to spin into a tornado that moved chaotically all over his room.

The tornado lasted a few seconds, and it moved to the bed, lifting the sheet and allowing himself to be wrapped around it. The tornado moved horizontally over the bed and stopped spinning, and the sheet fell on top of him, covering his entire body…

He didn't know how much time had passed, maybe an hour, three days, two minutes? He didn't care either. He wanted to move his arm to remove the sheet that covered it, but he stopped himself. "Fuck…" he muttered to himself. His entire body seemed to be filled with an electrifying energy that ran through him. He took off the sheet and out of nowhere, he thought that he should bring the mirror to admire himself, which he did, and what he saw fascinated him, or better said, made feel aroused.

(Thanks to @thesantorias94 for the masked pic).

"That is what a real daddy looks like… Yeah, I'm amazing!!"

Armand noticed his strong arms, all the hair that covered his body, and how huge his cock had gotten. He grabbed it with one hand, and jacked it off; every pulse was as if he wanted to come with every second, until he did and ended up showered in his own cum.

"It's better than I could have imagined!" he spun into a little tornado and dressed in provocative clothes. "Let's see now what else can I do" and he shot off to the nearest gay bar, where he became the daddy of many and was able to enjoy many holes and many cocks.

Sure daddy will have the rest he deserves during those two month without his son.

[terraliensvent]

For those not in the server, THEY FINALLY REOPENED DESIGN APPROVALS! 🎉🎉

Ill give a transcript at the bottom of the post (under “read more”), but heres a quick summary:

(Obviously) Approvals are gonna take a while since they’re pretty backed up

Don’t expect quick responses in concept feedback, mods are obviously gonna be real busy

(THIS IS A BIG ONE!) NO MORE NEEDING APPROVAL IN DISCORD BEFORE SUBMITTING ON SITE!! This is an awesome improvement because i think i speak for many when i say that people were kinda sick of approvals being on the discord thread.

Lim trait removal item is on the way

FERAL TERRA ITEM IS ON THE WAY 🎉🎉🎉

Betta brushes can remove colors now (but only colors that have less than 25% coverage)

ML images can have props now

Screen visor overhaul is ready, guide is TBA. Screen visors will now require something to be in the visor ad a “critter” if the screen mimics a face. this is still a little confusing so id say wait for the guide to come out.

microbes can mimic eyes now, just not at the same time as a mouth. theres a guide to see how to properly do an eye mimic so it actually looks like it belongs in a microbe visor

Overall some good stuff here, excited for the lim trait items

now for the transcript:

ANNOUNCEMENT 1, JULY 21

“<@&1081436363280367647>

# (Re)Design Approvals are opening TOMORROW... Can you believe it?

You heard it here folks, we're finally at a stage where we're ready to reopen TOMORROW! (7/22/24). Everyone has been working very hard to get the necessary guides finished, and we all agree that we're at a point where we can reopen. However, there is a LOT we have to go over. Please read this all CAREFULLY.

## Approvals will Open: <t:1721664000:f>

- **Our Trial Mods have never done Design Approvals before.** On top of that, we've had a lot of changes to our previous system that those of us who HAVE done Approvals before must learn. We did a quick training course today, but nothing will compare to the real deal. Even more, every user was able to claim a free MYO, and many of you have finished up your MYOs Designs and are ready to upload it- or, you've been ready since we initially closed with older MYOs. With this, we want to stress one big thing:

- **Please be patient.** We are expecting a huge backlog of Design/Redesign Approvals once the floodgates open. It will take us quite a bit of time to get through each and every approval - things will be incredibly slow from the start. For the first week or two, please do not send in tickets or staff asks bumping your design, we will get to every one when we can.

- **Concept Feedback will be fairly slow as well.** Our main focus will be approvals - so we will be taking our eyes off of Concept Feedback for the first few days. Please be patient with us there as well, staff will try to get to you when we can.

- **APPROVALS ARE MOVING ONTO SITE!** To better optimize our system, we've decided to take all Approvals fully onto site. The threads will no longer be used in the Discord, so submit your Design directly onto site. You do not need a moderator to sign off on it anymore, we will just directly approve it ourselves.

- **Information regarding Compensation "MYOs" and Design Approvals will be sent out tomorrow.**

Additional Changes:

- **We are adding Limited Trait Removal & Feral/Quad Terraliens.** More information will be sent out about Quads once the item to make them is completed. Limited Trait Removal will be done VIA an item as well.

- **Betta Brushes can now remove colors that are present under 25% of a Terraliens' Design.** Have a small accent color you regret adding onto your Terralien? No worries, now Betta Brushes can do away with that!

- **Props are able to be added to the Masterlist now.** Props can be added to the Masterlist so long as they do not mimic Holograms - the Terralien must be holding them, and they must not obscure the body. Please note that weapons may need a censor, and also that sensitive material will not be allowed. More information will be sent on Props soon.

- **Screen Visor Overhaul has been worked out.** Screen Visors will now require a "critter" to be present if they are mimicking a face, as we have noticed a theme of Screen Visors not looking like Terraliens. However, Screen Visors on the Masterlist will not be required to make this change if redesigning - this is only for ones going forwards. A guide will be accessible soon.

- **Microbes can now mimic eyes, as long as they are not paired with Visor Mouth.** This will be done via the new Visor Eye trait. This eye must still be microbial in nature - it is not allowed to be a normal eye. An updated Microbe guide is onsite for further examples of this.

- **Please expect more changes in the future as we go!**

Thank you all so much for your patience and support, we are so excited to be open again and we have so many things coming in the future that we hope you will all enjoy. Happy Reopening!”

ANNOUNCEMENT 2, JULY 22:

“<@&1081436363280367647>

# (Re)Designs are OPEN!

If you haven’t read the announcement from yesterday already then we heavily advise you to! It covers a lot of new information regarding how we’re going to be handling (Re)Designs from here on out! As a reminder of one aspect in particular though, **We will no longer be using the Discord threads for Approvals. Please only submit onsite.**

## If you have a Modified/PointBuy Ticket, please read [HERE](<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-GFoE_RurlM78BThKfdDfCAG226-N4htPbDIcIwLPDA/edit>) for information about how to use them.

_ _

Clarification on Screen Visors:

Screen Visors will *not* be available to be added with Point Buy MYOs, as we’re in the process of making a guide for them now. They are not yet ready to be released, so we’ve decided to keep them off of the Point Buy MYOs. However, do know that we are working to make Limited Traits accessible through certain means in the future. Another thing a lot of users have been confused on is the new requirement for a “critter” in the visor if there is to be eyes. A “critter” is a generalized term for the presence of something in the visor, it does not have to be a living thing. Stars, planets, hearts would all be a critter.

Another clarification is that for Microbes with eyes, they must look naturally part of the Visor Contents. The eye still has to be a Microbe, & there must be some others around it that look similar. We’ve uploaded a Guide onsite that features some examples of these.

### You can find our updated Guides HERE: [LINK](<https://terraliens.org/gallery>). Be sure to click on the Sub-Galleries, as the main one only shows a small handful.

And just another reminder / request to please be patient! We’re expecting hundreds of Claims & Approval Requests, so it’ll take us a fair bit of time to get through them — especially as we train the Trials. While we understand being excited, please refrain from bumping your requests via ticket or staff ask:))”

[hospitalterrorizer]

diary306

7/21-22/24

sunday - monday

hallo... i need to sleep...

i barely slept yesterday... because of a...medical issue, i guess is the best way to put it. if it keeps up i will explain but it's not terribly new it's just very annoying this time around.

today i finished that song for the contest, here that is:

people seemed to like it, they said it was happy sounding, they're right, it basically is, i named the song that for a reason, usually for the contests i try to go with something rather meaningless, i dunno why, anyway this song feels like it gets close to capturing how i feel when it rains. especially that part in the middle that's super, i dunno, dreamy is not really the right word but it feels distantly shoegaze-y to me. it's also the song having a grindcore moment, definitely, in its own way.

although the way i feel about rain is also a little melancholy, cuz it doesn't last long out here. it's very fleeting except for when it's strong, when it's strong it feels strange and religious.

i did work some more samples into it, barely audible hihat loops on top of the programmed hihats, which are also samples, but they're just single hits arranged. the layers i think being barely perceptible does add a lot to the song, honestly, it adds some pace/cacophony where there was less before, and it doesn't distract, plus they're going into a spring reverb so they're creating a bit more of a sense of space, as well.

anyway, last night, while i couldn't sleep, i did write little...things, i dunno what to call them, tiny pieces of writing though, based on the feel like so blurbs written for each pullip doll. i am currently drawing a doll-thing to put some words next to it, i think i'll finish that tomorrow. this is a good little diversion from music, i think next thing i do with music, i want to practice guitar. we also might go out tomorrow.

today i also listened to the lizzy mercies descloux album press color for the first time. it's very cool, the tracklisting is diff from the og, since i got the version which has a bunch of extra stuff and it messes with the track listing for no reason. that tracklist i think screws with how the album might feel cuz it wasn't much more than pretty cool and way ahead of its time in some ways. but my favorite tracks were the ones she did as rosa yemen, those have been favorites since highschool though.

this one's pretty good though, wonky weirdo disco geetarz:

and what a cover!!

i do really like hearing stuff like this, it's pretty helpful to figure out kind of moves as a dance-y guitar line or idea, how to get to that, i do like all the fast weird stuff they do here especially though, definitely brings to mind arab on radar, and the super duper repetitive bassline.

this kinda thing also brings to mind i should listen to some stuff by bauhaus again, they've got some death disco-y stuff... and then of course... w/ death disco

all timer. i didn't like metal box too much when i first heard it, i still do prefer first issue... i need to revisit it some more but this was such an instant hit for me. the swan lake interpolation is so awesome, and the bassline... it's just one of the best basslines ever.

anyway. i have to sleep, i can't be up too late... and i really did only get 2 hours of sleep last night...

so

byebye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ageless-aislynn]

Okay, frens, I’m about to probably be a lot less available once NaNo starts tomorrow. Which is kinda saying something, given how I’ve been pretty absent lately. Being sick sucks rocks through a straw. 😕

However, the exceptions will be if:

I’m stalling (despite the fact I’m probably panicking that I’m not writing at the same time 🤷‍♀️)

I’m blocked (in which case I might ask for prompts just to try to get something short going again)

My writering muse* is being a little jerk (there’s no cure for this 😣😛)

(*I just caught this weird typo and left it because “writering muse” felt appropriate for some reason, lol, kinda like she’s wandering around, maybe gonna write eventually... 😛)

Again, depending on how I feel/how things are going, I may start editing and posting things just to give me a much-needed serotonin boost. We’ll see!

I’m hoping going to write “The Price” (Frosthunter, The Flash, NSFW) in its entirety because I have a total of one (1) person at AO3 who has politely asked me about it a couple of times over the past - what, year? Two years? - since I first mentioned wanting to write it. Just when I’m about give up on it, this lovely person writes me a sweet note saying how they hope I’m doing well and that I’ll still write it one day. And that gives me the strength to keep fighting on, lol!

Despite the fact that, well, Zoom isn’t usually a laugh riot, “The Price” is intended to be rather explicit smut with a humorous slant. Just how explicit and how humorous... we’ll find out together! Even if it’s just me and that one lone person over at AO3, lol!

(If you ever wonder if your comment will make a difference, then I can promise you that yes, it definitely does. Just knowing that somebody cares is SO important. 🤗)

Secondly, I want to finish “Cupid’s Kiss” (Snowells, The Flash, NSFW) and “Guardian Angel” (Snowells, The Flash) at long last. 🤞😣🤞

This will probably close out my Flash fics for now. I wish I could’ve gotten them done sooner but... Life, right? 😕 I hope that anybody who still cares how they ended will get the chance to see them.

“Try” (aka the Big Beast of ReverseSnowThawne) still might randomly appear one day, despite being a thing that exactly zero (0) people probably want to read, lol. But I still want to see how it all works out and it has worldbuilding and there are already 3 chapters written so... We’ll see. It definitely has enough mileage to it to give me the 50k for this NaNo.

Over in the world of Halo... “15 Minutes” chapter 6 (John/Reader) and “Recreation” chapter 3 (Kai/maleReader) are in pre-planning. (“15 Minutes” is the rare beast of mine in that I actually have so many events still in store for it that I’ve done an outline. As a long-time pantser, that’s saying something, lol!)

“Choices” (tentative title, Noble Team x Reader, Halo: Reach) is something I’m still very excited about! It starts with the premise in chapter 1 where the reader meets Noble Team. At the end of ch1, you’ll choose who you’re going to go with and there will be links to the appropriate chapter that will conclude the story with you and either Carter, Kat, Jun, Emile, Jorge or Six (male and female versions).

I’ve always loved Choose Your Own Adventure type stories and after reading @lialacleaf​‘s awesome and super fun Master Chief x Reader interactive fic “The Medic,” I was inspired to try my own variation (mine is, of course, a very simplified version, you only make that one choice of who you’re going with but still! Similiar if simpler! 😁)

If you’d like to be tagged for any of that, just let me know. 😉

Flash Masterlist

Halo Masterlist

Anyway, that’s where I’m at right now. I have only a really basic NaNo playlist done but that can fall into place as we go along. 🎵💃🎵 I just mainly gravitate to songs with a good beat to type to, lol! This one is already on there...

“Sing Along” - Sturgill Simpson

Noble Team is kinda running to the beat in my GIF, lol! 🤷‍♀️😂

Anyway, it’s helpful to me to spell out my goals, hence why I wrote all of this. 😉 Good luck to those who are also participating in NaNo and happy November to those who aren’t!

🤗💖

[prophetkristy]

20 YEAR DIVE-A-VERSARY

(I'm not old, YOU'RE old!)

copypasta from LiveJournal Dreamwidth:

Like Finding Nemo, Only Less Cartoony Part III: 3955

On December 14, 2003, I went to the bottom of the ocean.

It is getting late in the Extreme 2003 cruise, and the handful of us on board who have not yet gotten the opportunity to dive on Alvin are starting to get worried. The electrochemists' instrument is giving so much trouble that the chief scientist is minded to send a member of their lab down on every dive in order to troubleshoot. This despite the fact that the instrument's daddy, D, has given a group of other scientists a course in running the instrument, and common fixes, so that we will be able to take in situ electrochemical readings on our dives despite not being well-versed in the field. Despite the fact that most of the electrochem failures have been due to hardware problems and instrument hard grounds which were unfixable from within the submarine and shut the instrument down for the dive after the point of no return. A few of the other PIs on the ship are looking out for those of us who haven't yet dove, however, keeping track of who had yet to dive and how many dives were left, dropping suggestions to the chief scientist whenever they feel they have a chance.

In all matters scientific on Atlantis, the chief scientist has final say. This includes selection of each and every scientific observer for each and every dive made on the expedition. S/He has, therefore, a very difficult job, coordinating the wants and needs of 20+ scientists (and their co-workers back home) with limited ship and sub time. There are naturally a lot of tensions. Our group has the added fun of a chief scientist who always waits until the last minute for things. The observers for a dive have generally not been chosen until the night before that dive; sometimes very soon before the night's dive briefing.

When you're a newbie scientist on Atlantis (and a huge Alvin fangurl to boot), you try so hard not to get your hopes up, and usually you fail. Even though I felt blessed merely to have the opportunity to be on the ship and do research at sea, and I knew there was no guarantee I would be able to dive on Alvin, I really, really wanted to be chosen. I couldn't help keeping track of how many newbies were aboard vs. how many total scientists got to dive vs. how many dives we had left [1]. All I could do was try to be helpful on board in any way I could (so I didn't seem like a waste of valuable ship-time expense), and hope.

After yet another yummy dinner [2] on Dec. 13, I am at the bank of computers in the Main Lab going over dive tapes for footage of Pompeii worm sampling. It is cold, frustrating work. iMovie keeps crashing, and the vagaries of the ship's environmental controls have made the main lab excessively air conditioned on this trip. (The annoyances are partially mitigated by being near the electrochemists' lab space. They were fun people and I enjoyed being with them.) At some point, the chief scientist, C, appears behind me, leans over my shoulder, and says quietly, "How would you like to dive tomorrow?"

…!!!

I think I squeak out a "really??!?!" whisper. C is suddenly the most awesome person in the world. (If I were chief scientist I'd get a huge kick out of making people's days/weeks/months/lifetimes by picking them to dive!) He reminds me when the briefing is (in a few hours!) and goes off about his stuff.

My attention span, naturally, is shot all to hell. I save my workspace and fly to the computer lab to send a squealy email (or what would have been squealy, if emails had sound) to advisor, mom, and boyfriend. I fly to my cabin and pull out the wool stuff I've brought for the occasion (socks, sweater borrowed from mother). I riffle through my file o' accumulated paperwork for stuff from the briefings I'd had earlier in the cruise. (Actually, I'm not really sure what I did before the briefing (besides the emailing and flying).) I am v. bouncy.

Apparently there is some shuffling about who's going to be diving with me. I get the feeling that P, who's finally chosen, is called to the briefing pretty much as it's starting and told just then. (did I mention C did things at the last minute?) C becomes even cooler: P is a newbie, too. C is trusting *two*newbies* with a full dive.

P and I are two newbies all ready to become Deep Sea Explorers.

What happens at a dive briefing? The chief scientist, observers, and pilot (minimally) meet and discuss the dive plan. Others may attend: the expedition leader (from the Alvin group), any scientists who have special equipment aboard or sampling requests. The dive plan is a list of objectives to be met for a dive, along with pertinent instructions, dive coordinates, sampling requests, etc. It's one of those things the chief scientist must rack his/her brain about every day. We also go over any instruments or equipment to be used, and the pilot or expedition leader will bring up any safety concerns or technical issues and make sure the dive plan is realistic given their capabilities. I learn how to operate the Sipper, the water sampling instrument that will be on Alvin's basket, which is controlled with a palmtop computer by one of the observers in the sub. We also get tips and reminders on note taking, video operation, what to pack for the dive, and much more.

After the briefing you pack up your warm clothes, notebook, dive plan, spare batteries for the palmtop, any goodies you feel like bringing (I'd brought a stash of Riesen for the cruise--chocolate can be like gold at sea) into a pillowcase which is stowed in a box in the Alvin hangar. The pilots will make sure your stuff gets in the sub when they prep in the morning. Then you try to get some sleep, as you're due on deck by 7am. I am afraid I won't sleep, but the darkness of my cabin and calm rocking of the ship work pretty well [3].

Regardless, I don't have difficulty getting up the morning of Dive 3955. ;-) The sun is not quite up when I get on deck. I snap a photo of one of the first sights to greet me, the expedition leader getting the sub ready for my dive. *g*

Expedition leader P prepares Alvin for my dive. Obviously he's a good leader, as he's managed to delegate well here.

The pilots and techs are working over Alvin, still in the hangar. I wander the deck and try not to explode with excitement. (B, the morning's launch coordinator, makes a comment to me about trying not to be nervous and going to get some coffee or something. I look nervous? I'm not; I'm thrilled! I'm about to ride the world's first deep-diving submarine to the bottom of the ocean! And there's no way I'm eating or drinking anything before being shut into a titanium sphere for 8 hours [4]!)

The dive plan, naturally, changes at the last minute, and we huddle to confer. Yes, I'm really short. From left, B (launch coordinator), C, T, P, and me. Behind B you can see the aft of Alvin; above our heads are some A-frame hydraulics. Also on the deck behind us are several float packs for elevators.

Preparations for the dive go mostly as usual. After what seems like the longest prep ever to get the sub attached to the A-frame, P and I are called up. We climb the stairs, remove our shoes, wave to the crowd.

P and I are ready to dive!

As the starboard observer, I enter first. There are designated places you're allowed to put your hands and feet, and you have to be careful on the way down not to trip switches (there are control panels everywhere in the ball, including just behind the ladder you climb down). The hatch opening is greased (to assure a tight seal, I assume) and you have to be careful not to hit that on your way in (I think I did, what with my gimpy knee--but we didn't leak or anything, so it's all good). The pilot is already inside. You fold yourself down into your space as quickly as you can so that the port observer can follow you down and get into his space. Once all three are situated, the launch coordinator removes the ladder and seals the hatch. There's no going back! (According to my research, no one's ever fainted inside the ball. You do go inside beforehand, during your dive safety briefing near the beginning of the cruise, and I reckon any claustrophobes are weeded out then--long before they're ever sealed inside.)

Inside the ball, it isn't as crowded as I expect it to be. (I think all three of us were on the small side.) I sit behind and to the right of the pilot, who sits on a padded box (the first aid kit, IIRC) behind his window, surrounded by controls. I have my own window, looking starboard and forward and a little down (it was actually a little low for comfort--when glued to my window, which was fairly often until we really started working, I was rather contorted). The windows are v. small; just wide enough for two eyes. If you have hands my size, and make a circle with your forefingers and thumbs together, it's about that big around. They are tapered with the wide end outside, so not only do you get a good range of vision, but I imagine it also helps the pressure issues. They're about 3.5 inches thick.

Above that is my little video monitor and the controls for it and for my pan-and-tilt camera on the top starboard of the sub. Each observer has a monitor that can toggle through every camera mounted on the sub (and there are a handful), and also a pan-and-tilt outside that's a camera + light that can be controlled by remote. You can also turn on or off overlays on your monitor, which give you real-time information from the sub's computer about temperature, depth, position, and much more. Two digital video recorders run throughout the sub's time on the bottom. One is slaved to the starboard pan-and-tilt (which also has two lasers on it that are fixed at 10cm apart so you can get a sense of scale), and the other is slaved to whatever the port observer has on his screen. So you have video responsibilities on top of everything else. There is also a tape recorder and mini-maglite in my little corner. Many things like this remind you that this ship has been in service (though constantly upgraded; there probably isn't a single original part left) since the early 60s, and things have evolved for utility through long experience.

To my left, in the back of the sphere, is the science rack, a big rack of equipment and stowage. (The observers also have racks above their heads holding computers and such--space inside the ball is at a premium.) A shelf there holds a few handheld digital cameras--video and still--for when the mood strikes us, as well as the Sipper's palmtop. There is also the all-important lunch, always packed [5]. In the corners between science rack and observers are oxygen tanks, CO2 scrubbers, your pillowcase full of stuff, oxygen masks, and other necessities.

You can, of course, see outside through your window even when the sub is still on deck; I admit to appropriating the digital camera (since I couldn't take my own) and taking lots of curiosity photos.

C aboard the Avon, as seen through my window as we dangle above the ocean waiting for the divers' signal.

Having watched a number of launches by this point, I know the drill, and it is interesting to actually be launched. I see a number of jellies outside my window as soon as we hit the water. I don't notice much about the final preparations; before I know it T is radioing Atlantis for permission to dive, and we are sinking silently beneath the waves.

I'm in that little sub!!

It takes about an hour and a half to drift 2500 meters to the ocean floor. After learning how early I was expected on deck, I had toyed with the idea of napping on the way down, but of course I'm way too excited for that. We use the time to go over the dive plan and make sure we're absolutely familiar with what needs to be done. The pilot spends the first few hundred meters checking for grounds in any of the electrical equipment. We also listen to music; yes, the pilots have installed a stereo system in the ball. And we get steadily colder. The ball isn't insulated, nor does it have internal heat. Ambient seawater is about 2° C (halfway between refrigerator temp and the freezing point of water). Hence the warm clothes. You're encouraged to wear natural fibers (think fire). They also supply a couple of wool blankets, neatly folded underneath the lunches below the science rack. My mom's sweater keeps me pretty cozy; my feet are a little chilly, as usual, so I am thankful for the blanket.

The hatch and its tiny one-eyeball window (T tells me it's to make sure we don't surface directly underneath a ship). You can just barely make out the seam. Note condensation on the ball, and audio speaker at bottom left.

With the cold comes condensation on the inside of the ball. You've sealed in air from the surface, which (because we were at 9° N) is warm and humid. So the inside of the ball gets quite wet. As the dive progresses, water starts to drip over your window, giving you a split-second moment of worry that it's leaking. (At the pressures of the deep sea--over 250 times atmospheric pressure--if there was a leak, you'd probably never notice it before the sphere was crushed, I reckon.) Water also collects in the bottom of the compartment (there is a flat floor inside the sphere over a little compartment beneath), so you're sitting in a puddle. I don't even notice my wet rear until we're ascending again; we are v. v. busy once we reach the bottom.

The seafloor, off-axis. This photo was taken by the Dancam, a high-res digital camera mounted on top of the sub that automatically takes a photo every 30 seconds during bottom time. The front edge of Alvin's sample basket is at bottom. At right, the starboard manipulator has taken hold of the elevator we will later attach to the InSECT. Look closely to see a sea cucumber.

Dive time is limited by the sub's battery power, so no external lights are switched on until we're just above the bottom. We're working on the East Pacific Rise, a crack in the ocean floor west of the Americas where hot water and sometimes magma oozes out of Terra's crust. The sub comes down off-axis, which means that it's a small distance away from the vent area. You don't want to come down right on top of one of those black smokers!

Before we discovered vents (off the Galapagos in 1977), we thought the deep sea was a pretty barren place, biologically speaking. If you consider the common method of deep-sea biological sampling--tow a net behind your ship--it's no wonder. (One oceanographer remarked that sampling the deep sea was like running blindfolded through a field with a butterfly net above your head.) Hydrothermal vents are probably the primary focus of deep sea life, and they are *packed*. Some figures place the biomass per unit volume at a vent as much higher than the "photic zone" where light penetrates the top of the ocean. That's saying quite a lot, especially considering that we were under the impression that all life on Terra somehow traces its energy back to the sun; there is no sunlight on the bottom of the ocean.

So we reach the bottom, 2502 meters below the surface, off-axis where there isn't a lot to see. Mostly flat rocks (pillow basalt) and a few sparse pink sea cucumbers and sea stars. T gets his bearings (based on the baseline established by Atlantis once arriving on station), and drives us toward the vents. The best indicator that you are approaching the vent area is the crabs. There are little white crabs everywhere down there, and they increase in density as you move closer to the hot water, where everything else thrives. Regardless, the bottom of the ocean is an entirely different world, with plenty of strange alien life.

Another thing that increases in density near the vents (but mostly off-axis) are "Alvin droppings": scores of dive weights left where they're dropped to rust and return to the ecosystem. ;-)

Most of our work is at a place called Tica. This isn't actually a black smoker, but an area of diffuse flow--great habitat for Riftia, the giant tube worm. We retrieve the electrochemists' InSECT (In Situ ElectroChemical Tool, named on this cruise by one of the pilots and looking a little like a mantis), sending it to the surface on an elevator. We sample the Riftia around which the InSECT has been taking measurements for the past four days. We pick up numerous sampling devices that have been set down there at the beginning of the expedition. We take a water sample with a niskin bottle that had been rigged atop the sub; the rope to trigger it is flippantly labeled "Pull to Flush." (hee!) My window isn't well situated to observe the action in front of the sub, so I mostly watch my monitor (at one point my pan-and-tilt is right on the action, because the pilot wants to use its lasers to mark the area he's working in) and work the Sipper. Tica is an incredible place; giant tube worms growing in clumps almost like flowers, their red lipstick-shaped gills poking out of their tubes. Older clumps of Riftia are tangled masses. Swarms of amphipods above the worms like insects. Crabs crawling over and under and around--the worms go down in their tubes when poked, a likely crab-defense-mechanism. The occasional ghostly white eel-like fish.

Taking a sample of a giant tube worm. The pilot honestly just grabs the tube in a manip and pulls it up like a weed. It will go in the open biobox on the basket. The InSECT is at bottom left.

After finishing our sampling at Tica and moving slightly off-axis to send the InSECT up, we drive to an actual black smoker called Q Vent. Driving is one of the biggest drains of battery power for Alvin, and our driving around to find the elevator for the InSECT, find various samples, and find Q Vent, coupled with a less-than-optimal battery charge [6], cuts our dive time short. After a cursory survey of a portion of the Q Vent chimney where my organism of interest, Alvinella pompejana, is growing, T informs us that we have only 40 minutes remaining on the bottom due to power concerns.

Taking Sipper samples of an alvinella colony at the Q Vent. The Pompeii worms grow in papery tubes of metal sulfide directly on the sides of the chimney. The instrument being held in a tube here has a temperature probe and electrodes for electrochemistry (when it's working), as well as the inlet for the Sipper. Note the red dots of the starboard pan-and-tilt's lasers, which are 10cm apart for scale.

One the things about which I'm most proud, being on a double-newbie dive, was the decision we made at that point. With 40 minutes, I felt there was no way we'd get any appreciably good Alvinella samples--both my group and the bacterial group are interested in well-documented measurements before sampling, especially of temperature and electrochem. Rather than doing a quick snatch of random worms, we decide to abandon the colony and get a frying pan set up in the time we have remaining. A frying pan is an apparatus our geochemists have built to put over the top of a vent chimney to grow a "protochimney." A day or so after placement, the frying pan is collected and brought to the surface, where it can be dissected to find out what's in a growing chimney [7]. We have just enough time to take Sipper samples of the black smoker on top of Q vent (which is a very tall chimney) and place the frying pan before we run too close to our power reserves.

The frying pan placed atop Q vent. The "smoke" isn't actually smoke, but metal sulfides precipitating out as they hit the cold seawater. These precipitates are what build the chimney at a hydrothermal vent. The water at the vent opening is 350° C (3.5 times the boiling point of water). It doesn't boil because of the extreme pressure. Note the "snow" in the water all around; these are clumps of bacteria.

Having accomplished all that we could for the day, we drive slightly off-axis and drop weights, beginning our slow float to the surface. All the exterior lights are again extinguished and the only thing to be seen outside our thick Plexiglas is occasional little specks of bioluminescence.

What the bottom of the ocean *really* looks like.

On the way up, there are still tasks remaining. The pilot has things to take care of with the sub and its computer.

T, our pilot, types data into Alvin's computer.

We scientists collate our notes and prepare a science report, which is called up to the surface once those up top are ready for it. The science report is a quick summary of what was accomplished on the dive, generally received and/or circulated during the afternoon science meeting. It's useful for the rest of the team on the surface to know what samples and how many are on their way, so that preparations to receive them can be made. The obligatory "this is me in the sub!" photos are taken. And we finally have time to eat lunch!!

P in the port observer's position, readying the science report. Yes, they've put in some cushions between us and the titanium, thank goodness. His window is just behind T's knee; you can see the blue pad around it.

Me, sitting in the pilot's seat. Behind me on the control panel you can read the temperature (in green), 1.8° C, and the depth (in red), 1559.4 meters.

I have yet to write in detail here about recovery, but one thing that happens is that Alvin sits on the surface for about half an hour which Atlantis slowly and carefully drives up to it and gets into position for recovery. Alvin is a fairly small boat--about the size of a UPS delivery truck--and so even calm seas will move it around quite a bit, in various directions. Waiting for recovery was one of the few times during the expedition that I felt seasick. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, telling myself in firm tones that I Would Not Be Sick.

I'm sure the scientists aboard had a great time planning for not one, but two initiations once P and I returned from the ocean floor. (another planned entry--initiations!) Actually, I know they did. After we climb out of the ball and stretch, we look for our shoes; they aren't in the bag on the side of the A-frame where they've been left. G, the recovery coordinator, points them out: sitting on the yellow line delineating the "safe" zone, mine frozen in a block of ice! (P's are merely frosty from being in a freezer.) I nearly fall off the stairs on my way down from laughing so hard! We're duly initiated, and I set my icy shoes out of the way to thaw and dry in the warm equatorial afternoon sun.

Some cold shoes. Compared to the stories I've heard, this was a pretty mild prank!

I'm very amused. :o)

Since we haven't gotten any Alvinella samples (disappointingly), I don't actually need to be present for the daily basket-swarming. I hang around in the sunshine drying off until P chases me off the deck because I'm not wearing shoes. (Um, obviously.) That's my cue to squelch my way inside and downstairs to change clothes.

The evening of that memorable day is also notable. I wander a good deal, winding down from my incredible experience. Out on the deck, seaman E is shining a light overboard and is fishing for squid amidst swarms of silvery flying fish [8]. If you discount most of 'em being underwater, they look quite a bit like a flock of little birds. I watch E help B bring in one of the biggest catches of the cruise.

B and his mondo squid. [9]

Finally I go looking for a flashlight so I can go up to the bow and look at the stars. D, one of the SSSGs, offers to go with me. We plant ourselves on the deck in the bow and cast our eyes to a glorious night sky spread above us. I've only seen that many stars before on camping trips in the mountains of Idaho. And it was somehow fitting to end a day spent at the bottom of the ocean by exploring the vast heavens.

Note: if I haven't done so before, I heartily recommend the book Water Baby by Victoria Kaharl for any and all fans of Alvin. It's out of print, so look for it at your library or used. It's a fascinating history of science and discovery.

[1]: Then there are the additional considerations: every eighth dive is a PiT dive, where the sub carries a pilot-in-training in place of one of the two scientific observers aboard. Also, it was general practice (at least on our cruise) that at least one of the two scientific observers on a dive was "experienced" (has been down at least once before). [2]: The food aboard Atlantis is v. good. Our steward/cook, L, was amazing. At our very first briefing on the ship, the captain told us we *would* put on weight during the cruise. [3]: I slept really well on the ship. The only time I didn't was when we had weather. My cabin was a level below water level, up in the bow. Waves of any appreciable size would SLAM into the hull with resounding booms. When we were cruising or there was weather, it was a little like being inside a cannon. [4]: Indeed, Alvin has no restroom. They do carry bottles for necessity. You have to empty your own up top if you used it. You can well imagine the apparatus is much easier for males to use. I managed to not need it. [5]: The one time Alvin was wrecked (it fell off its cradle during a launch in 1968 and sank--no one was inside), it stayed on the bottom of the ocean for nearly a year with its hatch open. After the salvage, they found the lunches inside incredibly preserved by the cold of the deep sea. [6]: You know how your Walkman's rechargeable batteries will charge better if they're completely drained beforehand? The principle is the same for large batteries, too. The night after 3955, the Alvin group deep-cycled the batteries. There was no power shortage on the next dive. I'd be bitter, but really I'd have been happy and fulfilled with a scant five minutes on the bottom. [7]: The downside here is that 3955 ended up being our last dive in that area, so that frying pan we put there was never recovered and is probably now a part of Q Vent. I still think we made a good decision. I imagine a lot of sampling devices get left and are overgrown (biologically or geologically) down there. Vent ecosystems are extremely dynamic. [8]: I only saw the flying fish at night, usually when E was fishing or when we had a light out there for a CTD cast (ack, another entry: CTD hooking!). [9]: We grilled it (and others) at the end-of-cruise barbecue!

[wildcards1407]

Travel Documents 117

We really need a good read right now. Here's one.

The Great Cities Series

 

by N. K. Jemisin

Genre:  contemporary, urban fantasy, social change

The Dust Cover Copy

The Scene

Worldbuilding

Technically, I’m breaking my own rules here by reviewing a contemporary urban fantasy instead of a near future work of some kind. But we need these stories right now. Badly. So I want to tell you about them.

The place is New York. But the story is about souls, not places. So this is about the soul of New York: its shine and its beat, its magic and its menace, its get to the point bluntness and its shirt off your back kindness. And in Jemisin’s hands, New York gleams in every facet, a place of power, potential, and bone deep magic.

And all of it is under an existential threat. There are forces that want New York to be less. Less weird. Less full of ‘strange people’ (dog whistle, yep I hear it). Less ‘dirty’. Less…human.

There’s a force using the nastiest xenophobic tendencies of humanity to gain power and a foothold. A force you’ll recognize if you’ve read Lovecraft. A thing with tentacles. And teeth.

The Crowd

Characterization

The story of the city and its struggle to be born as a soul is told through the seven people who make it up: Bronca, the done-with-your-shit LGBT Lenape soul of the Bronx. Manny, the politely smiling and deadly spirit of Manhattan, has a platinum debit card and a switch blade in his back pocket. Padmini, the driven grad student soul of Queens has one eye on her course work and one eye on her family in India. Brooklyn of Brooklyn, savvy and steady. Veneza is the mix-race soul of Jersey City, a woman with hope for tomorrow and a spring in her step. Neek is the heart of them all, wary and wild and sharp-edged, but with a delight to warm the world. And poor Aislyn embodies Staten Island in all its self-doubting and other-fearing quiet desperation.

Writing Style

With a back-beat style and a magical way with words, this series has a bit of song to it. I listened to the audiobook, and in that form the harmony of the words are accentuated. The story also has sound effects, which is just awesome. It’s a perfect fit for a story that is equal parts love letter to New York, indictment of the forces that try to force us into bland colonized well behaved boxes, and self-aware pulp movie adventure in the best sense of the moniker.

The Moves

Plot

Oh boy, is this work a wonderful rollercoaster of a plot. By seeing through seven pairs of eyes and seven points of view, you’re allowed all the confusion of dawning realizations, but you’re also able to enjoy the literary thrill of putting all the pieces together. By the middle of the second book, a lot of what you thought you knew gets tossed out and you have to rethink a lot of assumptions. And it is glorious!

The book is polarizing because it pulls no punches about solipsistic attitudes: people and things who want to ‘put people in their place’, who want everyone to be ‘nice’ and match their expectations and behave in a subservient manner if they get to survive at all, are the enemy. And a lot of the people acting that way in our current world are white. Jemisin calls that out, and that freaks a lot of white folks out. So yeah, there’s that.

I did have a couple moments in Book 2 of going ‘wait…what the…how does this work?’ but the next battle with Tentacles From Beyond fixed that. And oh man, would this series make good movies. There are so many cinematic scenes in here.

Overall Rating

A soaring song of soul and triumph with a boom-car backbeat, this series rocks the street!

[the-firebird69]

Watch "Tesla Will Enter The Formula E!" on YouTube

This owner is no longer the owner the two are the big fight and we didn't really do much to spur it on didn't have this idea as far as we know and BG was one of the tassels but really he was not the major Tesla our son was and in order ghwb Arnie and then Dave Odette the others were in there screwing around but BG made the company work still after the word deposed more or less again and Matt tried to take the company again like he always does and that's the process.

We have a whole bunch of the new model built and we're going to go forward with it and everybody's psyched at the plant they went ahead and thought of ideas and they thought about racing and they have a roadster and they wanted to enter it and have it ready and he went out and asked them and I'm happy about it it's his company and he should and they're coming to me now and saying we're ready will say let's get a team together and make it work then we're going to answer races ask Tesla well also going to work on formula e they said they have a car ready it means all the criteria and there really is not that much regarding the motor has to be all electric and that's what it is and we can show them there's no fuel and that's it. And if they want to see inside we have them we can open up and let them examine it but we really don't want them taking a pictures or anything and we got to work it that way and put it into a special truck and they've done that before. Now the race people don't want to see us but they're the ones causing the problem no it was Tommy f and Tommy F wants to tech so he says he's going to let in the race and the electric motorcycle company is getting attention and we're opening shops in California and it's going to be awesome but we're opening them temporarily no the storm is coming and we did put them in concrete buildings with really good storm shutters and we are moving them out and before the storm comes and it's going to be there tomorrow in the late afternoon so be there tomorrow we'll probably sell them all out and we'll pack up the store and as a matter of fact we have it ready to go and we'll wait till tomorrow is over but California is going to hit pretty hard and that's one company that will start up later on afterwards it's kind of a bummer but the manufacturing facilities will be ready almost immediately as a matter of fact we can build them now we know it's where it's going to hit and also we can start shipping cuz we have some built and was selling them and will tell you what models and they look almost the same

Thor Freya

Of course want my company back and they're cutting a deal but my ultimate goal would be to have my company back and it doesn't seem like they're going to bend and he doesn't have much influence on it so I have to find out who it is

Bg

[korusalka]

.

[theowritesstuff]

Hiii this is for the prompt ist thing how about 21 + 22 ???

Hi anon! Thank you for the request! I hope you like it, it’s slightly angsty.

“Tell me I’m wrong, tell me that I’m being stupid and that you’re totally in love with me and not them.”

“When will you realise that I’m in love with you?”

Replaced

Adrian Chase x gn!reader

Adrian was your best friend. Well, you knew you weren’t his, he would claim Chris was, but you knew he was yours. You both spent what some would consider way too much time together. You’d have movie nights together, eat meals together, you even went appliance shopping with him.

You found out, much to his dismay, that he was Vigilante. It was an accident really. You had driven to his house, and saw him sitting in the front seat of his car taking the suit off. You gotten out of your car, and knocked on his window, a sheepish smile on your face.

He pulled you inside his house to have a long conversation with you about how “it’s dangerous knowing what you know” and about how “people might use you to get to him” and all that jazz. You assured him that his secret would be safe with you.

Things pretty much went back to normal after that. He’d spend some time with you, then he’d go out Vigilante-ing at night.

That is, until you saw the news one night. There was a report that Vigilante had killed someone for theft, but there was someone else there too. It looked like another costumed crime-fighter. They’re suit was a deep burgundy color, with black detailing.

As soon as you saw the report you called Adrian. He told you about the new hero, called Blackout. Apparently she had helped him take down the robber. He said she was cool. You knew immediately that this was going to be someone that Adrian admired, like he did Peacemaker.

What you hadn’t accounted for was losing Adrian to her. You saw him less and less. He claimed he needed to keep going out as Vigilante to keep Evergreen safe. He’d started missing out on planned movie nights. You started to think he was blowing you off.

You did start to notice a pattern. Adrian would claim he couldn’t hang out with you, then the next day you’d see a new report about Vigilante and Blackout, and their latest escapade.

So Adrian was blowing you off to hang out with Blackout. You were jealous, of course you were. She didn’t have the right to steal Adrian from right under your nose. You supposed you understood why Adrian was so fond of her though. She understood his other life. She went out to kill criminals just like he did. You didn’t compare in that sense. You were just somebody that went to your nine-to-five job, then came home, made dinner, and slept.

Then, of course, came the night that blew everything up in your face. You and Adrian had talked about seeing a specific movie at midnight, the first night it came out. It was more Adrian’s cup of tea, but you told him you’d accompany him. You stood outside the theatre for forty minutes, waiting for him. People rushed past you, into the theatre, excited to see the new movie. The air was cold, leaving a chill on your skin.

Maybe he was just running late. You waited twenty minutes past midnight, eyes still scanning the street for him.

You left around 12:30, giving up on waiting for him. At this point you just wanted to go back home.

Your phone lit up, showing you that you had an incoming call. Adrian.

“Hello?” You answered.

“Hey Y/n! You’ll never guess what happened tonight! So Blackout and I were patrolling, right? And we saw some guys spray painting graffiti on the wall in an alleyway, and Blackout totally kicked their asses! It was awesome!”

That’s when it clicked in your head. You’d been replaced. Adrian didn’t need you anymore. He’d found someone better to spend his time with.

“That’s cool Adrian. Hey, I gotta go, I’m really tired from work.” You told him.

“Oh, okay.” He almost sounded deflated. “Hey, do you wanna get some lunch tomorrow? You can pick where we go.” He offered.

“I’m sorry, I’ve got a ton of chores I need to get done, maybe some other time.” That was a lie.

“Oh. Okay, uh- I’ll see you later then…” He said.

“Yeah, bye.” You hung up before he could say anything else.

Adrian kept trying to get in contact with you as the days went on. You’d decided it was probably just better to rip the bandaid that was not being around him anymore off, than to have to endure it slowly.

Everything seemed to be going pretty smoothly, until Adrian showed up at your house one evening. He made sure that it was a night you were guaranteed to be home.

When you answered the door, he quickly moved past you, into your living room.

“What the fuck Adrian?” You asked him.

“I should be asking you that! What’s up Y/n? Because I haven’t seen you in days! It’s like you’ve disappeared!” He shouted, waving his hands around. You could tell he was mad.

“I was just giving you some space, I figured that’s what you wanted.”

“What? Why would I want some space?” He asked.

“Well seeing as you stood me up at the movies, I thought you needed time to spend with your new girlfriend.” You crossed your arms over your chest.

“My- oh fuck…” The realization was clear on his face.

“Yeah, I was outside the theatre waiting for you for an hour. I looked like a total idiot.” You grumbled.

“I’m sorry- It’s just Blackout heard that there was a theft so I went to check it out with her-”

“Of course you did Adrian. Because you seem to spend all your time with her now.” You sighed, and turned away from him. Your eyes scanned your immediate area, searching for something to do so you wouldn’t have to keep looking at Adrian.

“That’s not fair! I’m allowed to have more than one friend! You’re not the only one I’m allowed to hang out with!” He fought back.

“God Adrian, when will you realize that I’m in love with you?” The words fell from your mouth. You widened your eyes, and slapped a hand over your mouth, fully processing what you said. “I-I’m sorry-I shouldn’t have said that-” As hard as you tried, there was no taking back what you had said.

Adrian stood there, his eyes focused on the floor by your feet. He looked to be deep in thought, his eyebrows were furrowed, and a small frown rested on his face.

In any other circumstance you would use your thumb to smooth the crease between his brows. But now you just stood there, waiting to hear from Adrian.

“Please, just, say something. Anything.” You begged him softly. You felt like you were drowning in the silence.

“I think I need to go.” He said. His eyes still refused to meet yours. He brushed past you, and left.

As soon as you heard the front door close, you felt a tear slip down your face. You and Adrian were perfectly fine just being friends, but your feelings had to come out and ruin everything.

Part of you debated leaving Evergreen and never coming back. Living a life in Gotham might be nice. However, the rational part of your mind knew that there was no way that was happening.

No matter how mortified you were with yourself, you had to move on. Maybe you could forget about Adrian. Forget about Vigilante.

You almost laughed at that thought. Of course you couldn’t forget about Adrian. He was too big a part of your life to just quietly slip away.

You needed to continue on with your life, even if thoughts of Adrian clouded your mind. So, for the next couple of days you continued on. You’d wake up, after whatever small amount of sleep you were able to get, go to work, come home, then repeat the process.

You avoided Fennel Fields at all costs, not wanting to run into Adrian.

You’d still occasionally check your phone for anything from him. No phone calls, no text messages. Your thumb would hover over his contact. You contemplated calling him. Apologizing to him, for making things weird between the two of you, and begging for him to be your friend again. You’d always end up not calling him though, and tossing your phone away from you.

Your first day off since what you decided to label- the incident- had you bored out of your mind. This was your one day off where Adrian also had the day off. You would hang out together for most of the day, before he went out at night.

You decided to distract yourself with some chores you’d been meaning to get done recently. You started off with cleaning out your closet.

There were random boxes stacked on the shelves with who knows what, and clothing that hadn’t seen the light of day in months. You started pulling boxes down, and going through them. Most of them had things you knew you didn’t need anymore. There was old paperwork from various doctor’s visits, old receipts, you even found a punch-card from a coffee shop. Two more punches and you could get a free coffee, if they still took the cards.

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see something else sitting on one of the shelves. You reached out for it, and brought it down. It was a crumpled up, navy blue sweater. It belonged to Adrian.

You remembered when he gave it to you vividly. He had convinced you to accompany him to a fair that was in town for a weekend. You went with him, not without complaining that the rides could fall apart at any moment, and actually had fun. By the end of the night, there was a chill in the air. You hadn’t brought a jacket, so Adrian offered you his. It must’ve been living in your closet ever since.

You were pulled away from your thoughts by a knock on your door. You walked over to it, and opened it to see Adrian. Like before, he sped past you, into your house. You closed the door behind him, took a deep breath, then turned to face him.

He was still wearing that confused look on his face from a few days ago.

“Careful Adrian, your face might get stuck like that.” You attempted to joke, but he wasn’t listening.

“You’re in love with me?” He asked you.

You sighed. Of course he wasn’t going to beat around the bush. He’d never been one to not say what was on his mind.

“Yeah, I am.” You shrugged. “And it hurts seeing you, and knowing that you don’t feel the same. That you’ve replaced me with Blackout because she knows you, and understands your life. Please Adrian, I need an answer.” The tears that had gathered in your eyes had begun to fall. “Tell me I’m wrong, tell me that I’m being stupid, and that you’re totally in love with me and not her. Or tell me you don’t feel the same so I can move on.” You begged him for an answer.

Adrian stood there for a second, his eyes flicking back and forth between yours. He was searching for anything other than sincerity. He wanted to make sure that this was really how you felt about him.

“You’re wrong.” He said, his voice quiet. He strode up to you, and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you to him. He quickly pressed his lips to yours, sealing his words in a sweet kiss.

[nattikay]

So that “Nine Realms” httyd spinoff is a thing apparently...admittedly haven’t watched it myself, but I saw some clips as well as the reviews and uh...yeah, I think imma pass on this one, it looks....pretty bad. I don’t necessarily think the general concept of exploring the httyd universe a thousand years in the future is the worst thing ever, but from what I’ve seen the execution of said concept was just....yyyyyyyyeah, not great. 😬

But of course, I can’t resist the urge to whip up a fun redesign every once in a while, so here’s my take on the main dragon, Thunder. (I might do some of the other dragons as well at some point, though I don’t plan to touch the new human characters because wow i just d o n ’ t  c a r e )

I did a lot of thinkin’ about the future of the Fury species given that Toothless is canonically the last Night Fury (confirmed not only by the film but also by the director or writer or something iirc, so no I don’t want to hear any “but maybe there was another population hiding somewhere!!1!” in the notes. Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be awesome if it were true and I’m sure it makes for fun fanfics, but it’s simply not canon so I’m not going to be assuming it for these purposes.) At first I was skeptical whether the black/bicolor scale coloration would still persist after a thousand years of Toothless’s descendants interbreeding with Light Furies, but upon further consideration, and assuming Fury color genes work similarly to those of cats, I came the conclusion that yes, bicolor Furies could indeed still be a thing (and we could eventually even get fully black ones again)--but I think I’m gonna save those details for a separate post, tomorrow maybe. Don’t wanna bog this one down any more than it already will be).

However, while it would be theoretically possible for Thunder to still have his canon color pattern despite being so many generations removed from Toothless, I really wanted to emphasize his Light Fury genes, since that’s what he’d mostly be, so I increased the ratio of white scales. Also went ahead and gave him a primarily Light Fury body structure--fins instead of spikes, less nubs (albeit slightly longer ones than a standard Light Fury), the like. oh and also the general adjustment of giving the boi some actual torso because good golly why is it so short--

Lastly gave him a proper Fury tail rather than whatever the heck that triple-fin thing is supposed to be. I assume that they were going for “oh the dragons evolved while they were away” but the change just seems so...arbitrary. So a standard two tailfins he gets, with a shape somewhere in-between those of the standard Night and Light Furies (his wings are a similar in-between).

He can keep the little lightning-shaped blaze tho that’s kinda cool I like it

Aaaaaand there you have it, a far-future Night Light who doesn’t look like someone took an off-model plastic Toothless toy, repainted it, and tacked on a few arbitrary extra features with clay :)

[agape-bakery]

Hi ! I love your blog and your idea to make a bakery is just awesome ^-^ anyway how are you ? I hope you have a good day :) I'm here to request a female mc who love drawing. And i wonder if you can make brothers react to mc who draw them when they're sleeping, eating or i don't know like you want. If you can of vourse it's not an obligation :3

I wish you a good day \(^-^)/

💫

Thank you so much! I really enjoy the location-themed blogs here like Cafes and such so I'm happy you think the same! I'm doing good! And also, YESS!! I love Artist MCs/Y/Ns because I'm an artist myself! I hope you enjoy these!

The Brothers with an F! MC who draws

Lucifer

He already knew you love to draw and didn't mind that, at least that's one good hobby someone has on his list compared to gambling and parties

If there is something Lucifer appreciates about humans, it's their art and cultures, he might take you to art museums for inspiration and have a date in a cafe and talk to you about the paintings you both saw

If art museums are not your thing, he would be a little disappointed but then again, some artists like more modern artworks and some that are shown online so he understands

And frankly, having you draw him makes him immensely proud of himself for having a talented girlfriend like you, he doesn't ask that you draw him but he secretly wants to

Lucifer occasionally buys art supplies for you but only if you've been good

"So you joined Mammon on going to the casino to draw the people there?"

"Pretty much...."

"Hmm.. I guess you aren't going to get some Copics from me anytime soon."

"WHAT-"

Lucifer is also observant and knows when and who you're drawing immediately

"I can see you staring at me."

His eyes looked up at yours as you looked away, pencil in hand.

"No, I'm not."

He's seen you glance at him several times before looking down at your sketchbook.

It was breakfast and you were sat between a sleeping Belphie and a distracted Beel so you took the time to draw the eldest when no one's looking.

Lucifer hummed and told Beel not to eat so messily as you continued to draw him.

Lucifer has seen many sketches of him and the brothers and when you give him some as a gift, he keeps it well-protected somewhere that Mammon can't steal in his bedroom.

Mammon

He absolutely cherishes every drawing you have, the boy keeps a doodle of him and you as a good luck charm too <3

He might ask that you do commissions and he gets some of it (for giving the idea and managing the commissions-) but one glare and he'll shut up with a nervous chuckle and an "H-hey! It's just a joke!"

When Mammon sees you staring at some art supplies, he checks it again when he's alone and dies inside because of the price and buys it immediately, he doesn't care if he loses a lot of money only a little bit, all he wants is to see your face when he gives it to you

"You better be grateful that The Great Mammon even thought of giving this to you!... Do-don't look at me like that! It was on sale!!"

While Mammon was napping on his couch, you hastily opened your sketchbook and started sketching him and the boy never realized

By the time he woke up, you were already finished doing 5 sketches of him and taking pictures of him for reference

"Oi! What are you doing? Gimme that!"

His heart completely melts because??? you drew him so good??? his girlfriend drew him???? for free??? and out of love????

He also draws you but it's just a stickman with a messy face but you still love it all the same

Leviathan

Finally...another Artist...AND HIS GIRLFRIEND NO LESS!!

He's so happy and giddy to show off his art supplies but he's hesitant when it comes to showing off his art because he thinks it's horrible compared to yours

You encourage him and usually learn together with him whenever he feels awful about his art

He's the Avatar of Envy so there are many times where he's compared himself to other artists so you had to be there to keep him grounded

Art Date, anyone??

It doesn't matter whether you buy art supplies or just take a break from school, it was always nice being around Leviathan

You took the chance to draw him while he was across from you and excitedly showed it to him

He had drawn himself (albeit, in a persona) in many games and animes but your drawing was more special than anything he's ever done

He looked away, avoiding eye contact as he gave you his own drawing which was you in your favorite video game

From now on, whenever the both of you wanted to give small gifts, you draw each other!! <3

Satan

A demon who enjoys impressionism art, there's something about the dreamy landscapes and colors that really makes him calm aside from reading

I think he would paint for a change of pace but gets frustrated because of how difficult it is so he goes back to reading

So watching you draw makes him impressed, drawing takes so much time to master

He doesn't mind whatever art style you have, aside from the impressionism style, he would have yours as his favorite

He understands the pain of art block so he often invites you in his room, one where the others wouldn't bother you, just don't touch anything or else you'll turn into some random animal for a few hours

He also encourages that you read with him when you're uninspired! Reading helps the imagination and the mind, and he'd be happy to recommend some for you!

You trust him with your sketchbooks and he trusts you with his books! The both of you knew the other wouldn't do anything which is why he only lets you inside his room

While Satan makes a drink for you, humming an old song in his DDD, you drew him in overalls and glasses

When you were bored, you would always draw your boyfriend in random outfits and would often show it to him (which he all loves)

"Overalls and Glasses, huh? I might wear it tomorrow." Satan grins, peeking at your sketchbook as he puts down the drinks.

Don't get your hopes too high, he isn't going to wear a maid outfit........yet-

Asmodeus

Oh? You draw? Wellll, if you need a model, he's happy to be your own personal model, but it comes with a price ;)

He loves that you draw! And would ask you to draw him

There's many artworks he likes but yours he enjoys the most, even if you aren't his girlfriend

Might ask you if you can design outfits and draw him in certain outfits so he can try them out!

Of course, drawing is not an easy feat so he'll pay you handsomely~

If you do commissions, he gets one just so he can support you

He knows that art doesn't pay much yet it is so overlooked by others

"Everywhere is art, darling, I'm surprised some humans don't know that! Of course, I'm the most beautiful art there is but I'll have you as second~"

He might blush if you draw him without him asking, he think he's desirable enough to draw without a price! After hearing that you just love him might make him blush harder! Aww, you!

He'll give you several pecks as he laughs after seeing your drawing of him! One where he was posing in one of the photos you had of him during your dates

Anatomy is hard so if you want a nude model, he'll volunteer on the spot, sure he has thoughts but if you're fully intent on getting better, he's happy to help!

Beelzebub

He's not the type to focus on art so he doesn't understand it much, that doesn't mean he isn't impressed though!

He has heard of Food Art and Food Illustrations though...Based by the Arty Event, he seems to be good at drawing food! He wanted to try it more but Lucifer forbid him in case he would eat the paper and get chemical poisoning or something-

However, if you could also draw food, he would be so delighted!!! He won't eat it, he promises!

It's fine if you don't, though, he expects that you might not understand working out and sports like he doesn't understand art

Might be clueless if ever you feel bad about your drawings, he thinks it looks really good! But upon hearing how frustrated you are, he would give you hugs to comfort you!

While Beel is a oblivious sweetheart, he fully supports your hobbies and would invite you to diners and restaurants so you can draw while he eats! He might even join you while he's eating

As he eats a huge cheeseburger, you drew him, smiling at how happy he looked

When you gave it to him, he told you how spot on you drew him when he eats and keeps it around him, he avoids it getting dirty at any cost

Belphie suggested that gets a photo frame so he bought one! Now your drawing of him lays on his bedrest safely~

Belphegor

He used to love art as much as Satan and Lucifer does but he doesn't anymore, not until you showed him your drawings

You rekindled a small flame in him that he never thought would come back

He doesn't draw because it's way too much work but he enjoys hearing you draw, the sound the pencil makes when it moves around the paper, and the smell of lead and paper makes him sleepy

He secretly likes those papers that have a nice smell in them so you buy some whenever you go out to get some art supplies

"That's way too many sketchbooks, MC."

"Nothing is way too much-"

Because he always sleeps around you, he doesn't entirely realize that you have a bunch of drawings of him in your sketchbook

It makes him warm when he sees your drawings of him

He wishes he could do more to support you even if you tell him he doesn't have to so like Beel, he keeps your drawings near his bed and looks at it before he sleeps

[angstyx]

I love you, I really do

CC!Quackity x Reader

Word Count: 820+ words

Summary: The 3 times where Quackity jokingly told you he loved you and the 1 time he meant it

TW: slight cursing

Note: Quackity might sound OOC for some parts since i've never wrote for him before

Requested?: [Yes] [No]

Masterlist // Rules for Requesting

───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────

The First Time:

Quackity's laughs rang in your ear as you two run away from someone's house. The house was now filled with random animals, some were hidden while others were in plain sight.

You two were on the dream smp to prank a few people. It was your idea to do so. You were bored on the smp and since Quackity was on as well, you decided to ask him to voice chat and if he wanted to prank people and of course he said yes.

"Holy shit y/n, that was hilarious. You have great ideas sometimes." Quackity was still laughing as he talked to you. "Sometimes?!?" You tried to sound offended but failed, laughing seconds after you replied back.

Laughter filled the voice chat as you two discussed what other pranks you should do. Some were funny while others were just plain stupid, nothing less, it made you two laugh until your stomachs hurt and your eyes were teary.

"You are a fucking awesome person y/n and I love you for that," said Quackity, laughing right after he spoke. You felt your face heat up, he was joking right? Did someone tell him about your crush on him? Hopefully not, you weren't ready to confess.

"C'mon y/n!" Quackity's minecraft character ran in-front of you. He crouched and hit you a few times before running away. "Let's go prank some more people!"

You shook your head, trying to get rid of what Quackity said to you. 'C'mon y/n, he didn't mean it when he said he loved you... right?' you thought.

The Second Time:

"C'mon y/n! Pretend to be my significant other!" Quackity was practically begging you to be his partner, wanting to try and prank Tommy since he said that Quackity was lonely as fuck.

"No-way Quackity, I don't thi-" "Why not? I'll be able to say stuff like "Oh I love you so much y/n" to you! I'm sure you'll like that," joked Quackity, not knowing that your heart started beating faster when he said that to you.

"I-I um..." You took a deep breathe. "Fine-" "Great! Let's go and find Tommy! Follow me!" You took a deep breath as your minecraft character followed Quackity's. C'mon y/n, snap out of it, he was joking... again.

The Third Time:

You practically roasted Quackity into cooked meat- atleast that's what karl told you. You and your friends were playing jackbox and Quackity chose the rap battle game, thinking that he was going to beat everyone. In the end, after you were paired up with Quackity, you won. Now everyone was laughing at how good your rap was while Quackity himself was fake crying.

“Mi amor! I thought you were going easy on me!” stated Quackity, sniffing a few times to make it seem like he was actually crying. “I actually loved you and you broke my heart!” He kept on crying after that, ignoring how you didn’t reply. You felt familiar butterflies in your stomach, did you hear him right? Did he say that he loved you again? By now, you couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Did you want him to be joking? You weren’t sure.

The Fourth Time:

You were tired. After working on your homework for hours, your eyes were drooping and your brain couldn’t think. You already drank some coffee and you knew it wouldn’t be healthy if you drank anymore. You sighed, you should just finish the homework tomorrow morning, it was getting too late for your liking.

Heading towards your bed, you heard your phone ring. Remembering that you left it on your desk, you picked it up and realized it was Quackity. You answered it as you got into bed, "Hey Quackity, need anything?" You yawned, the tiredness already getting to you.

"I was wondering if we could facetime but you sound sleepy so-" "No! Its fine." You cut him off, face heating up when you realized how desperate you sounded. You heard Quackity laugh from your phone, making you smile. "If that's what you want mi amor," he teased.

Hours passed by as you two talked about random topics, mostly about streaming since you two streamed a lot. You yawned again and before you knew it, you fell asleep. Quackity was still talking but stopped when he realized you were asleep. He studied your face, taking notice of how calm you look.

"I-I love you y/n, I really do." He said quietly. He both wished that you heard it and didn't hear at the same time, not knowing how you felt about him. Half asleep, you thought you heard Quackity say I love you to you again. Thinking you were in a dream, you replied back, "I love you too Quackity." Quackity's finger paused on the 'end call' button, did you just say it back? A smile on his face, he finally ended the call. He couldn't wait to confess to you.

───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────

Taglist: @thenotsohottopic @0-0littlem0-0 @alec-lostboy @bi-narystars @707xn @sakurapartridge @justsomegnomesinatrenchcoat

Send me an ask or dm to be added to my taglist! :)

[chiliiscereal]

May I offer a prompt of how the turtles would be with a mom friendTM? you know the type I mean? like.... I think they might benefit from that kind of friend in the group lol (also I love your stories, your such a cool writer keep up the awesome work!)

Rottmnt headcanon: mom friend TM

And thanks so much!

Mom friends are severely underrated XD

——

-Okay these boys need a mom friend badly

-but that’s where you come in!

-as the mom friend you keep them safe in many ways

Donnie💜

-starting with this guy, he never really wanted a mom friend

-when April first brought you over he was cold

-didn’t even bother talking to you

-you were determined to befriend him, even though he left whenever you tried to talk to him

-you became comfortable with the turtles quickly and the others accepted your mom friend nature

-not Donnie though

-he didn’t hate you, sure, but you were too much

-you were too overbearing and too nervous for his safety!

-you’d make him wear a helmet when he used his jet pack 

-you made him put on SUNSCREEN whenever he went outside

-you told him to be careful when rewiring a project even!

-it’s like you wanted to ruin his bad boy image

-he hated it and wanted you to stop being so smothering

-…

-…until he realized that attention and moral support comes with the smothering

-the moment he realizes that he’s all for it

-he’s no longer hiding his inventions from you so you won’t bug him, but he’s seeking you out for your advice and praise

“Hey so I made this and… I don’t know…”

“Wow you built that? It’s awesome!” 

“Really? I mean, I know, I just wanted to show you that it was.”

-praise ain’t something this boy has

-have you SEEN how his brothers react to his ideas?

-he needs this

-with praise comes affection

-I’m talking homemade snacks and questions that his brothers never ask

-you’re there if he needs a cup of coffee or if he hasn’t eaten in a while or taken a nap

-“don, it’s been two days since you slept go to bed.”

-“*hissssss*”

-“I’ll make a cup of coffee for you after...?”

-“*hisses but less intense*”

-you may be good at making snacks and everything

-very good in facts

-but the questions are probably his favorite part

“Woah what’s that supposed to do?”

“Well it’s a device that’s meant to fix all the broken McDonald’s ice cream machines.”

“That’s amazing! What did you use to build it? How does it work?”

-you’re actually trying to learn about his work!

-you’re trying to learn about him!

-he loves it

-and he loves that you’re careful to

-it’s a nice change from his brothers

-you’re someone he can depend on

-doesn’t matter if it’s missions or just being a good friend

-and I mean it when I say depend

-you’re there when he needs help rewiring something or just to simply talk about his dumb dumb brothers

-honestly April isn’t even mad that Donnie stole one of her best friends

-she knows he needs this

-Donnie fully learned to trust you after the purple dragons mishap

-you told him they were untrustworthy but his heart was dead set on that satin jacket

-when he came back to the lair, late at night, with no satin jacket and a handful of his missing tech, he found you raising an eyebrow at him from where you had sat to wait for him

-he knew from then on to trust you and your opinions, even though his often got in the way

-you can often be found sitting on Donnies bed while he works, offering your company and comments

-Normally no one else is allowed in while he works but that’s just because they don’t have anything positive to provide

 Raph❤️ 

-Raph IS the mom friend

-your mom friend energy and his mom friend energy just work together so well together

-I’m talking planning missions together, figuring new ways to trick his brothers into being responsible, cleaning the dishes, and even making snacks together

-“so the mission is tomorrow right?”

-“yep! Should we bring apples with peanut butter or pretzels with hummus?”

-“well Donnie doesn’t like peanut butter, but Mikey does, so both?”

-“awesome! And you’ve got the water covered?”

-“dude I even have caprisuns packed so we’re ready!”

-the others find it to be too much with the two of you but Raph really appreciates the help

-especially during the pizza puff episode

-oh that part nearly set you on fire with worry

-Raph had never seen you that worked up

-you had a fan for Leo, a bowl for Mikey, and a bag of fruit snacks for Donnie

-Raph has to activate his supreme mom friend energy to get you to stop hovering over them

-that meant literally dragging you away from them so they could figure things out on their own

-he’s seen you be a mom friend to them all the time

-but never once for him

-you two were like... co mom friends working together to stop the younger irresponsible three

-until Raph got separated in the sewer

-oh man you were torn with worry

-you nearly destoryed the place looking for him

-and finding him all savage like that... ack that was enough to practically shatter your heart in two

-once he stopped trying to barbecue villains and destroy his brothers you took him to the lair and helped him calm down

-you even turned on a movie for the two of you so he could relax

-it was nice to have your best friend and partner in stopping crime back

-Raph of course was embarrassed because it’s HIS job to help everyone, not the other way around

-after much assurance you had him convinced that you didn’t mind

-he was grateful to have you and your help

-he just wished you didn’t worry quite so much

Leo 💙:

-this boy is soaking it all up from the start

-someone to compliment him?

-someone to help him out?

-someone to admire his achievements?

-oh he’s all for it

-he’s showing off skateboard stunts, he’s doing flips, and he’s randomly pulling you to him and creating a portal

-usually you end up somewhere sketchy but sometimes it works out

-you always have to be ready though

-one minute you’re walking to the projector room and the next you’re in New Jersey with a sheepish looking red slider

-his only problem is now he has to be more careful with skateboard tricks

-he’s fine with a helmet but when it comes to you hovering next to him while he’s going down the skate ramp...

-eh he’s not so fond of that

-praise?

-sure

-home made gifts and cards?

-always appreciated

-but you constantly trying to protect him from things he knew how to do?

-no

-just no

-now he only feels like he can skate if you’re not there or if he goes to a skate park without telling you

-you figure out quickly and still worry that he’ll mess up a flip

-doesn’t matter if you’re watching or not

-you’re the mom friend

-your job is to worry

-you promised that you’d stop worrying about him if he can back

-you didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable in his own home!

-he agreed and you did your best to keep your promise

-...

-until he actually messed up a flip

-you don’t know WHAT he landed on but it must have been sharp because there was a LOT of blood

-maybe you thought there was a lot because you were so worried but still

-you hadn’t even been in the room but you heard his shout (and crash) and you came running

-oh he was lucky you carried gauze and everything in your bag because other wise they’d have to go buy some

-you chewed him out while patching him up, much to his displeasure

-you’re both sweet and sour about it

-“I’m fine! Look, nothing’s broken!”

-“I TOLD you that you could get hurt! I TOLD you it wasn’t safe! Why did you not listen- I’m sorry does that hurt? I’m sorry!”

-“yeah it does hurt-.”

-“than you should have listened to me!!”

-for a while he’s bitter that you were just waiting for him to mess up

-clearly you thought he was just a big clutz to you

-but after a while of him avoiding you and pouting you brought it up again

-“I’m not just waiting for you to fail you know. I just want you to be okay.”

-“that’s not what it feels like! You clearly don’t trust me!”

-“life happens, Leo! Doesn’t matter how skilled you are! You’re an amazing skater but sometimes mistakes are made!”

-ha that changed his tune quickly

-“you think I’m an amazing and skilled skater?

-you just rolled your eyes and left, not saying anything about his comment

-didn’t matter

-this boy is all smiles for the rest of the day

Mikey🧡:

-he was on board from the very start

-he’s got cuddles, piggy back rides, and his own art fan/critic

-lots of baking and cooking together

-maybe even drawing if he’s lucky

-only problem?

-you don’t trust him to go out on his own

-even if it’s just to grab a video game from the store or pick up pizza

-“I’m just going down the block!”

-“what if someone sees you?”

-“I’ll be careful!”

-“just let me go with you.”

-“no! I can do this on my own!”

-you’re always offering to give him a ride or tag along just because you don’t want anything to happen to him

-that means, of course, sneaking out

-not for a long time, just enough to get some air

-but that also means you’re staying up late waiting for him to come back

-he’s your buddy!

-you can’t let anything happen to him!

-he didn’t know about it until he found you cashed out on the couch with the lamp still on

-normally you gave him an excuse about why you were still up, such as a late night snack or a movie

-but your phone and the tv were both off

-he decided to think nothing of it until he noticed that you were grumpier in the mornings

-he didn’t want his actions to affect you so he started coming back earlier

-even texting you and telling you he was fine

-you two talked and set up a deal

-he could go out by himself and you wouldn’t stay up late waiting for him as long as you had his location on your phone

-it was easier for both you from then on

[loostssoul]

if you kissed me - Rodrick Heffley | 1.9k

Yeah yeah i know i haven't written since a million years ago. and yeah yeah i know this is my first real fanfiction i posted on tumblr. fair warning, i'm not the best writer, i honestly just do this for fun and i'm totally up to criticism because i do want to make my writing better. if this is literally inaccurate, im sorry its been like 5 years since i've read the books. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this fluff-fest that I created in the span of a few hours.

paring: rodrick x reader genre: fluff. lots of fluff

Credits to the maker of the picture! 15 Days till the Contest | 9:42 PM, Saturday

Plick, plick, plick

My speakers were blasting so loud I almost didn’t hear the sound of pebbles hitting my window.

Plick, plick, plick

I rubbed my eyes and slammed my laptop shut, walking toward my bedroom window. Peering down, I saw a figure a few yards down from my second-story bedroom, looking back up at me. Dark brown, messy hair that stuck up around his face. A red and black flannel, black ripped jeans, and, (of course) a tee-shirt with “Loded Diper” clumsily written on it. A grin spread on his face as he saw my face come into his view, causing me to blush. Rodrick Heffley, Crossland High bad boy, and my boyfriend.

I unlocked the latch to my window and stuck my head out, taking in the cool air and letting the neighbors enjoy the music I was playing (they never did). I looked down.

“Y/N!” He whisper-yelled

“Evening, Heffley.”

“I need to tell you something!”

“What’s so important that you have to scratch my window instead of using the power of modern technology to call me?”

His mouth opened to give me a response, but nothing came out. I smirked, “Come on up.”

I opened the window wider as he climbed the trellis that lined the back of my house. I backed up to my door and locked it. Precautions, my parents liked Rodrick but they definitely wouldn’t approve of him in my room at night. I looked back and I saw him, every feature of him illuminated by the light of my room. His cheeky smile and chocolate brown eyes. He slowly closed the window and walked toward me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. I still got butterflies whenever he touched me.

“Hey, Spiderman. What did ya climb in here to tell me?” I asked

“I got Loded Diper into a contest.”

My eyes widened, Loded Diper, my boyfriend’s rock band, wasn’t exactly known for being the best. It was mostly known for his mom’s insane dance moves during the Plainview Talent Show. But of course, i'll never say that in front of his face.

“You did?! That’s awesome Rodrick!”

“Yeah! It's a battle of the bands contest, we’re going against two other bands. I really think this is gonna be our big break!” His eyes sparkled in excitement.

His happiness was contagious, he was like a goddamn puppy. I pulled him into my arms. “I’m proud of you Rod.” I muttered and smiled into his collarbone. I felt him inhale the scent of my hair and twirl my locks around his fingers.

“Hey,” he said, breaking the hug. “I’m having practice tomorrow with the band, you wanna come?”

“Sure. I go to every practice anyway, why miss out on this one?” I shrugged.

He chuckled and looked at me. Really looked at me. That’s one of the reasons why I fell for him. It never seemed like it, but he paid attention. We’ve only been dating for 4 months, but he knew me like no one else did, and I knew that in the way he looked at me. I felt his hand cup my face, his thumb rubbing my cheek in small circles. I looked up at him, noticing how tall he was, how close he was. Was I the one who leaned in? Was he the one who leaned in? Did we just do it subconsciously? Did he want this? Was he ready? Was I ready?

The ringing of Rodrick’s phone filled the room. The daze we were trapped in was gone and we separated, our faces red. Rodrick picked up the phone, it was his mom.

“Yeah, mom? Mom...I’m in the middle of something. I’ll do laundry later, ok? Now? C’mon… Alright, fine. Bye.” He hung up. “Sorry, I gotta blast.”

“It’s fine, I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked him as he started toward my window.

He looked back at me and planted a kiss on my forehead, the farthest we’ve ever gone with physical touch as a couple.

“Tomorrow”

~~✰✰✰~~

14 Days till the Contest | 1:22 PM, Saturday afternoon

“Should we take it from the top?”

Practice wasn’t going so well. I could feel the nervousness, the tension. Drums were slightly off beat, the guitarist’s fingers would fly to the wrong places on the fretboard, lyrics would go all over the place. The contest was two weeks away, and Loded Diper was already feeling the anxiousness. I sat on the floor of the garage, on top of a picnic blanket I found. To Rodrick’s dismay, his mom forced him to let Greg watch band practice, as a form of “brother-to-brother bonding time.” Greg sat next to me, mockingly covering his ears.

“Oh thank god, it's done.” Greg said with an immense amount of sarcasm and uncovering his ears.

Rodrick threw a crumpled-up piece of paper at his head, “Shut up.”

“Both of you, be nice.” I laughed. “I think you guys should take a break for a while, maybe shake off the nerves.”

“Good idea Y/N, 20 minute break everyone!” The lead singer said. Everyone spread out, grabbing a piece of pizza ordered earlier and laying down. Greg ran out of the garage, yelling, “I’m free!”

Rodrick stood up and began gulping down a bottle of water. He wore a black tanktop and black ripped jeans, sweat dripping down his forehead. I ran up behind him and wrapped my arms around his torso. He turned and faced me, running his hands through my hair, lost in thought.

“You ok, Rod?” I asked him.

He sighed, “nerves”

I leaned my head on his chest, “You’re gonna do great, you’ve done so many gigs in the past. Think of this as one of those!”

He smiled at me, “You know what would make me feel a lot less nervous?”

“Oh god. What?”

A really common thing Rodrick did was try to bargain a kiss on the lips from me. It's been an ongoing joke, a meaningless bit he did all the time. I’ll do my homework if you kissed me on the lips. I’ll smile in the picture if you kissed me on the lips. It still hasn’t worked.

“I might be less nervous if you kissed me on the lips.” He whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes, “If that’s what it takes then I think you’ll lose the competition.”

He let go of me and laughed, my favorite laugh. “Worth a try.” He shrugged, going off to join his bandmates and the pizza. But as I watched him smile and laugh with his friends, I lost myself. I thought about the previous night. The way we fit into each other, the closeness, the fact that was so close that I could see my reflection in his eyes.

Maybe I should just say yes.

~~✰✰✰~~

The Day of the Contest

For the past 2 weeks, Rodrick has given me the “kiss-bargain” joke 9 times. Every time, I deflected it with sarcastic remarks, and every time I regretted not agreeing.

I sat on the front steps of my porch, waiting for Rodrick to pick me up. I regretted the jean shorts and plain black tee-shirt I had on, as a cold breeze brushed my skin. I pulled my black leather jacket on, which I painted “Loded Diper” on the back in white paint. Then, I heard it. The echo of heavy metal turned to full blast, and… the faint sound of something big getting knocked over. Oh god, they’re here. The white van with “Loded Diper” written in huge words screeched to a halt in front of my house.

The window rolled down, revealing my boyfriend and his excited grin. “Get in.”

~~✰✰✰~~

30 minutes till Loded Diper preforms

It felt surreal to be backstage, and really exciting. Energy was flowing through the room, as all the other bands talked and played. The rest of the band members seemed excited, full of adrenaline. Except for Rodrick, he’s been nervous ever since soundcheck. His leg was bouncing,he twirled his drumsticks around, drumming them on random objects, and his eyes stared into nothing.

“Rodrick, you want me to do your eyeliner?”

“Huh?” He didn’t take his eyes away from the ground, his voice seemed far away.

I lifted a liquid eyeliner pen I had in my pocket, “Eyeliner. I just did mine, we can match!”

He lifted his head and noticed me. I had my eyeliner smudged, just like he always does during a gig. He grinned, “Yeah. Yeah sure.”

I’ve done his eyeliner many times in the past, and I loved doing it because I had to be as close to him as possible. So I hopped onto his lap, pressing myself close to him, trying to comfort him with my warmth.

“Close your eyes.” I ordered.

As I applied his eyeliner, I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. It was heavy, and fast. I’m pretty sure I would still hear it if I wasn’t as close to him as I was, even though the loud music blasting through the theatre.

“Done”

He opened his eyes, and butterflies flooded my stomach. We were close. Very close. Should I do it? Should I lean in?

Rodrick probably sensed my flustered-ness. He smirked, “Cat got your tongue?”

I rolled my eyes, blushing hard. “Shut up.” I said, playfully punching him.

~~✰✰✰~~

“5 Minutes until Loded Diper performs!” A man exclaimed to us.

Rodrick was as nervous as ever. We’ve been standing on the left wing of the stage, watching the other bands play. It felt like a bunch of Loded Diper copy-pastes. A bunch of high schoolers, weird names, very aggressive playing. But they were still pretty good. Rodrick was biting the nails of one of his hands and tapping his other hand on the wall behind him. I looked up at him and held his hand, stopping it from fidgeting. He smiled nervously.

Now or never Y/N…

“Hey, you said that if I kiss you, you won’t be as nervous. Right?”

He looked at me, wide eyed. He seemed to be trying to compute what I said.

I stood on tiptoe and put his face in my hands. It was that night all over again. Every detail of his face, of him was in full view. His eyes, his eyeliner, his scent, his lips. I leaned in.

His lips were soft against mine, but they were tense, flustered. I was terrified, It was the wrong place, the wrong time. Until I felt one hand in my hair, another on my waist, pulling me closer.

How long was the kiss? A few seconds? It felt like minutes, hours. Sparked ignited. Butterflies flew in my stomach. His scent was the only thing I smelled, his warmth was the only thing I felt. The music faded away. Everything faded away. It was just him and I. Until we broke apart, taking in deep breaths of each other. We wanted more, but Loded Diper was playing in a few seconds.

“Hey, Rodrick.”

“Yeah?”

“If you win I’ll kiss you again”

We both knew I would kiss him regardless.

I didn't edit this because editing is for wimps (just kidding be responsible and edit your work)

please like and reblog because it gives me serotonin and i need that

[vintagegeekculture]

The Chinese Cultural Inspirations for Dragon Ball Z and Super

Journey to the West was only the beginning. 

A lot of people are vaguely aware that Dragon Ball was inspired by Chinese culture and Hong Kong Kung Fu movies and novels, but are unaware of how deep and long lasting it goes. The Japanese spent the 1980s fascinated by China, which opened up from being a closed society for decades in 1978; the most famous human being in Japan in the 80s was either Michael Jackson or Jackie Chan. 

In fact, a lot of people commonly believe that the Chinese action movie and Kung Fu novel cultural and media influence on Dragon Ball ended very early on. This is untrue. Sure, we started to see qipaos and cheongsams less frequently when they headed to West City, but it absolutely did not finish, because there’s tons of influence to see even as impossibly late as Dragon Ball Super. Interestingly, I don’t think any of these point of inspirations have been pointed out before, mainly because a lot of Chinese adventure novels are simply not available in English. 

 The Piccolo/Gohan plot was inspired by the Chinese action novel “Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre.”

Okay, tell me if you’ve heard this story before: a truly demonic, weird looking monster villain is defeated by a martial arts hero, but by circumstance, is forced into training his greatest enemy’s young son. The villain trains the young boy, the son of his enemy, in martial arts and over time, becomes like a second father or uncle to him and his family, putting the boy in his “evil” sect, and thanks to his love of his rival’s son, this baddie turns over a new leaf and goes from evil to just…grumpy, and becomes a loyal, though gruff, ally of the boy.

Of course, the events of Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre are a bit different from Dragon Ball in details. The Lion King becomes Wuji’s teacher because they are both stranded together on an island after a shipwreck, for instance, and he is blinded and made vulnerable. Also, the Lion King wasn’t so much evil so much as he was misunderstood by the orthodox martial world. However, in broad outlines, this trajectory for a face turn (becomes friends with his greatest enemy’s son, and becomes like a second father to him as he trains him, causing the villain to become a gruff good guy and ally) is essentially from one of the most famous Chinese novels ever written in the 1960s. 

Oh, and while we’re at it, Gohan is likewise inspired by another character from a Louis Cha novel: the Prince of Dali Duan Yu in the Kung Fu novel Demigods and Semi-Devils. The Prince in that novel is a naïve, pacifistic scholar who prefers books to fighting, and who was raised to be timid and avoid combat, absolutely out of step with his family, all of whom are martial artists and warriors. In fact, the beginning of the story is the prince gets incredibly lost in the wilderness, where the hopelessly naïve prince is utterly out of his depth, with all the robbers and scary beasts, and needs to be saved by real martial artists that protect him like fairy godparents. He spends the first part of the story running away from everything, scared as hell. However, by circumstance, he has naturally high power he cannot fully initially control, and eventually realizes that even scholars and others who hate fighting have to sometimes become fighters to protect those they love.

The Duan Yu part of Demigods and Semi-Devils was made into a film, the Battle Wizard, which was reviewed by PewDiePie. The Dragonball similarities went over his head because, honestly, PewDiePie does not strike me as a perceptive person. 

 Hit was based on the screen persona of Chow Yun Fat.

Chow Yun Fat was a Hong Kong cinema superstar who was to director John Woo what Robert de Niro was to Martin Scorsese. There are three giveaways that Hit was based on Chow Yun Fat. One, he’s an assassin, same as Chow Yun Fat’s character in the Killer, and is even given a sequence that’s a John Woo homage with an assassination in an office building with guns pulled on an empty elevator in an act of misdirection. Second, he’s wearing the single piece of clothing Chow Yun Fat is associated with, a black trenchcoat (fun fact: in Hong Kong today, trenchcoats are called Brother Mark Coats, after Chow Yun Fat’s character in John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow). Third, his power is essentially bullet time, a visual technique refined by John Woo in Hong Kong in the 80s and 90s in his gunplay triad movies starring Chow Yun Fat (what, you think the Wachowskis invented it?).

 The Goku/Vegeta relationship is from “Legend of the Condor Heroes.”

Here’s a story you might have heard before. It’s about two rivals, but by circumstance, one is raised in the wilderness beyond civilization, where he becomes an honest and goodhearted, though overly naive bumpkin, martial arts prodigy. The other is raised a wealthy prince by a conquering enemy, who grows up to also become an armor wearing martial arts expert, but also a cunning, arrogant, emotionally distant sociopath.

The similarities go into their love lives, too. The unsophisticated bumpkin hero is betrothed to a daughter of a powerful bearded barbarian king against his will, while the one hint of vulnerability and loss of emotional detachment in the otherwise sociopathic prince, the crack in his smirky arrogance, is that he loves a girl he otherwise pretends to hate, and even fathers a child with her who becomes a main character later.

This is Guo Jing and Yang Kang from Legend of the Condor Heroes. The most fascinating similarity, and proof that female psychology is the same all over the world, is that the fangirls love the emotionally distant, arrogant, and sexy/evil prince (remember when Rhonda Rousey said her first crush was Vegeta?). Girls everywhere love bad boys and sexy villains, and oh boy, do they love Prince Yang Kang. I think you can probably guess who all the fan art is about for Legend of the Condor Heroes, and what ship is the most popular.

I have to emphasize that Legend of the Condor Heroes, which came out in the 1950s-60s, is possibly the most widely read novel by the most widely read novelist on earth - the sales on that dwarf Twilight and Harry Potter. It’s probably not an exaggeration to say nearly every Chinese person, even if they never read it, knows who these characters are. In fact, Yang Kang and Guo Jing from Condor Heroes are basically repeated over and over in Asian, Chinese, and Japanese culture. Does the unsophisticated but gifted martial arts prodigy bumpkin hero, and the glib, arrogant wealthy prince rival remind you of….another duo of rivals?

Gohan/Videl comes from Little Dragon Maiden

One of the most important and influential Martial Arts novels of all time is “Return of the Condor Heroes.” A sequel to Condor Heroes, this time, the main character is the teenage son of one of the main characters from the first novel. It gets even more familiar from there.

“Return of the Condor Heroes” was about a martial arts couple who are also master and student, the same age but vastly different in experience and skill so one somehow seems “older,” and they fall in love because the circumstances of training together requires they spend lots of time together and become intimate. The training story and the love story are exactly the same in “Return of the Condor Heroes.” The dead giveaway one story inspired the other is that in both, the most significant training sequence is one where the master teaches the student how to fly (though Return used a chamber of sparrows for lightness Kung Fu).

There are some differences of course – obviously in Return of the Condor Heroes, the genders of teacher and student are flipped from Gohan and Videl (it’s the Little Dragon Maiden who is a powerful teacher, and the boy who is the student). It was the girl (Videl) who was a rebellious delinquent in Dragon Ball Z, when it was the opposite in the novel, true. But it was obvious this story was in the back of the creator’s mind as a way to combine Kung Fu with the love story, by making teacher and student lovers.

Addendum: hey, remember that awesome movie Kung Fu Hustle, the one Hong Kong movies normies have seen? Well, remember the landlord and landlady? The landlady was named Xiao Lung Nu, or Little Dragon Maiden, and her husband was named Yang Guo – the same as the main characters in Return of the Condor Heroes. It was a joke that went over the heads of Westerners, by giving these names of attractive and naïve young people in love with each other to a surly, bitter, arguing and chain smoking middle aged couple who don’t give a damn.

 Going Super Saiyan comes from “Reincarnated” aka “Bastard Swordsman.”

Stop me if this sounds familiar: a terrifying warlord tyrant prone to killing underlings who displease him has achieved a level of skill and cultivation so tremendous nobody can stop him. But there is one, and only one, thing he fears and that can defeat him: a long-lost legendary skill that nobody has achieved in recent memory, that includes a supernatural combat power transformation that turns the hair light to indicate it worked.

This is “Silkworm Skill” from Reincarnated aka Bastard Swordsman, a novel and TV series from Hong Kong in the early 1980s. Of course, there are differences. To get the power boost and new hair color, the hero has to jump in a cocoon he weaves himself. In fact, the scene is so well known that they actually have it on the poster.

(To those saying “Super Saiyan turns your hair blonde, not white” my response is that it turns hair white, or uncolored, in the comic book.)

The idea of your hair turning white to indicate a new supernatural combat transformation or martial state wasn’t created by Bastard Swordsman, though – though it is the best example and probably the one most familiar to a 1980s audience due to the hugely popular books and TV series. For an older example, a famous Chinese movie based on a folktale is “Bride With the White Hair,” about a bride who’s hair turns white when she is betrayed, in her anger, she becomes less a woman and more a supernatural creature of vengeance (interesting that anger should be the means to unlock it).