#reaction diffusion pattern

[tickfleato]

how to make cool blobby turing patterns in photoshop

i'll preface with i learned the basic loop from skimming a tutorial on youtube, but as someone who prefers written tutorials i'm sure many would appreciate one! also, the second part of this is some of the visual effects i figured out on my own using blending modes and stuff.

i'm using photoshop CS4 on a mac so some buttons and stuff might be in different places on windows and newer photoshop versions but all the actions are the same. my canvas is 1000x1000 pixels.

UPDATES (i'm hoping these'll show up whenever you open the readmore?)

it's possible to do something similar in krita using this plugin, made by the love @arcaedex

it's also possible to do this in photopea, a free browser alternative to photoshop! the results are pretty much identical.

FIRST off you wanna get or make a black and white image of some kind. it has to be one layer. can be noise, a photo, a bunch of lines, whatever. here's mine, just some quick airbrush lines:

now find the actions tab. idk what it looks like in newer versions of photoshop but you probably won't need to dig!

hit the little page thingy to make a new pattern. once you hit 'record', it'll record everything you do. the little square 'stop' icon will end it.

now you want to do a high pass filter. you can mess around with the radius to change the size of your squiggles, but the tutorial had it set to 6. experiment!

now add the 'threshold' adjustment layer. i use the adjustments tab but i think there's also a dropdown menu somewhere. keep it at the default, 128. merge it down. (control or command + E or you can right click it like some kind of weirdo)

and finally, the gaussian blur! the radius of this affects the shape and size of your squiggles as well. i like to keep it around 4.5 but you can mess around with that too.

after that, hit 'stop' on the action you're recording, and then repeat it a bunch of times using the 'play' button, until you have something you like, like this:

WOW!! that was fun!! and only a little tedious thanks to the power of macros. anyway, here's some fun layer blending stuff i like to do. it's with a different pattern cause i made this bit first.

anyway, using a black and white gradient (or a grey base that you do black and white airbrush on), make a layer with the vivid light. this will make the blobs look thicker or thinner.

then, for cool colors, do a gradient map adjustment layer over that:

and finally, my best friend, the overlay layer. just using a gradient here bc i'm lazy, but feel free to experiment with brushes, colors, and blending modes!

NOW GO. MAKE COOL SHIT WITH THE POWER OF MATH. AND SEND IT TO ME

also these are not hard and fast rules PLEASE mess around with them to see what kind of weird shit you can make. here's a gif. as you can see i added some random airblush blobs in the middle of it, for fun.

[garblegarden]

Some of my confibulan characters! @quimiri and I drafted up another species of alien to play around with. Confibula is a 4-star system, 3 of which have planets around them, and the world where palindromes live isn't the only one with life.

The palindrome/phony world is a terrestrial planet orbiting Confibula Ba, a yellow main sequence star. There's also Confibula Bb, a white main sequence star, with its own set of planets.

On one of such planets live the Forks, Bifurcators, Branches, Fingers, Deelybobbers, "Freaky Starfish" among other names, because we can't decide, a powerful spacefaring race who can split their limbs in half over and over again.

Anyways, here's everyone:

Human Guy: A human who crashlanded on the palindrome world. Humans don't live on Confibula (Ba, d) anymore, and he's been stuck for quite some time so he's stopped believing he'll get to go home and started composing a travelogue about the world. He travels with Patrick, a palindrome.

Patrick: A palindrome who, to many other palindromes' discomfort, walks around naked everywhere and also walks around with an alien everywhere. He was kicked out of his group in the woods and now lives in the grasslands with Human Guy.

Skunk: A phony, a highly mutated palindrome that looks like an earthly critter. They live in the saltpan desert, and I think they look cool.

Porcelain: A white morph coralline bifurcator. Close with Eigengrau. Has three base arms.

Eigengrau: A black morph stellate bifurcator. Close with Porcelain. Has seven base arms.

Cloth: A supercomputer and sentient AI that Porcelain and Eigengrau used to mine cryptocurrency, but then went missing. Fork computers are flexible sheets that can be folded up and crammed into all sorts of machines and devices, so this rendition of Cloth is naked.

All of these names are human exonyms, and they all have their own real names aside from these that they use among their own species.

[bloofbloofbloof]

If you want some fish accurate™️lore, I use reaction diffusion patterns. I think you can make them in most art programs.

Greatest enemy: The seal

[hiddenstashart]

[xichilie]

Aventurine x (fem) reader

Morning Gamble

Warmth. That was the first thing Y/N felt as she drifted into wakefulness. Not just the kind that came from plush sheets or the weight of the blanket draped over her, but something deeper—radiating, steady, undeniably alive.

She blinked sluggishly, adjusting to the morning light filtering through the room. The golden glow stretched across the bed, casting soft, diffused shadows, and as her senses sharpened, she became acutely aware of the presence beside her.

Aventurine.

He lay on his side, half-buried in the sheets, his head nestled into the pillow. Tousled blond hair spilled across his face, catching in the sunlight, making it almost shimmer. His features—so often graced with a knowing smirk, sharp with mischief—were uncharacteristically relaxed. The slow rise and fall of his bare shoulders, the steady rhythm of his breathing, the way the golden morning light kissed his skin—it was mesmerizing.

It was an unusual sight, one she doubted many had ever witnessed. Aventurine, unguarded. For once, the gambler wasn’t calculating his next move or playing his next hand. He was simply… here. And she couldn't help but admire him, mindlessly tracing the way the light accentuated the angles of his face, the faintest parting of his lips, the way his lashes cast delicate shadows against his cheeks.

Then, he stirred.

A slow inhale, a faint shift under the sheets. His lashes fluttered before one eye cracked open—a single sliver of mismatched color, still clouded with sleep. His gaze found hers instantly, even in his drowsiness, as if even half-conscious, he was still impossibly aware.

A slow, lazy smirk tugged at his lips.

“You staring at me for free?” His voice was thick with sleep, deeper, slower, as he shifted just enough for bare skin to brush against hers. “I usually charge for this kind of luxury, you know.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her. Typical Aventurine—effortlessly charming, forever toeing the line between playful and something far more dangerous.

A long, comfortable silence settled between them, the air thick with something unspoken. Aventurine’s fingers moved idly, tracing absentminded patterns against her arm. His touch was light, almost lazy, yet somehow deliberate. Like he was testing the waters, seeing what reaction he could draw out without committing too much himself.

Finally, he exhaled a slow, deliberate breath. “So, what’s the plan?” he murmured, voice still low from sleep. “Are you sneaking off before breakfast? Or are we making a whole morning of this?”

She could hear the challenge woven into his words, subtle but unmistakable. Like he was waiting to see what move she’d make next in this game they had unknowingly started playing with him.

One thing was certain—whatever she chose, Aventurine would make sure the stakes stayed interesting.

[puuuders]

COPIA FEELING INSECURE AND JIM COMFORTING HIM. ANY SETTING IDFK. I’ve been thinking of doing it but I haven’t had any time 💔

sat my ass down and started writing this as soon as i saw it

1.1k words

“Fucking V.” Copia growled under his breath, dripping with venom as he stalked away from his twin brother's newly claimed office. His hands, balled into tight fists, trembled at his sides in frustration. Anger and jealousy, combined with a dull ache of sadness stormed inside him, sparking the gnawing teeth of his self-doubt swirling in his head.

Just weeks ago, the adoration of the faithful followers had been his to command. He had reveled in their devotion, their voices harmonious with his own during rituals. Even his departure from the front had been met with genuine sorrow. That is, until his brother finally showed his face from behind that door. After that, his name felt second to nonexistent. 

This new title, "Frater Imperator," felt like a cage, a brutal stripping of power rather than the elevation it was claimed to be by his late mother and aunt Psaltarian. His eyes flickered back towards the closed door, a knot of fury tightening in his chest. V, Perpetua, Papa, whoever that man was, held the key to the one position that now remained stubbornly, irrevocably closed to Copia. The urge to wrap his hands around his brother's throat, to silence the smug satisfaction he imagined radiating from behind that door, pulsed with an almost frightening intensity.

After what felt like an eternity navigating the halls of that colossal building, Copia finally reached his destination. He flung the door open, now that he actually had one, with more force than he had consciously planned. At the last possible second, his hand shot out and caught the knob with a startled squeak, preventing a destructive crash against the wall. His mismatched eyes darted over to Jim, who sat, startled, at a large and cluttered desk. Jim’s head swiveled around to look at the sudden burst of sound, his eyes locking with Copia's.

"Eh... Oops. Heh." Copia gave Jim a sheepish grin that didn't quite reach his eyes, patting the doorknob as if it were a beloved pet. With exaggerated care, he eased the door shut behind him.

Copia stepped over to their temporarily shared gothic bed, draped in rich red fabric and meticulously made by his company. Settling down on the far edge, facing away from Jim at the desk, Copia sighed and tugged off his undeniably uncomfortable dress shoes. A heavy silence descended upon the room, stretching for what felt like several long minutes before the stillness was finally broken.

"Well," Jim’s voice drawled, thick with a Southern lilt that, in his current mood, irritated Copia further, "seems like that little house tour went well." Jim's voice was soft, but the teasing undertone was unmistakable.

"Shut up." Copia hissed, the vehemence of the response catching Jim off guard. Jim's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a sudden dryness in his mouth. A pang of regret pierced through him as his face heated up in embarrassment. He hadn't meant to poke the bear like this, especially not his bear. He knew how deeply Perpetua’s ascension had cut Copia, but years of navigating tense situations had ingrained in him a knee-jerk reaction to diffuse the air with a bit of jokes. Clearly, tonight was not a night for comedy.

Jim pushed himself away from the desk, running a hand through his thick, brown hair as a heavy sigh escaped through his nose. He watched Copia, noticing the way his gaze would flick upwards at him like a kicked puppy for a moment before darting back down to the patterns in the rug. Copia had always leaned towards being a closed book, a man who wrestled with the simple act of articulating his own feelings. It was another aspect of the man Jim had come to know and love so deeply, and a bit of snapping would not be enough to drive the priest away. He had overlooked any other potential conflicts, and they had come this far. 

"Now," Jim murmured, his voice soothing as he eased himself onto the edge of the bed beside Copia. His warm brown eyes softened as they settled on Copia's tightly clenched fist, and he could hear the faint creak of the black leather gloves straining with the intensity of Copia's grip. Slowly, Jim reached out with his own hand and gently laid it over Copia's. "That brother of yours," Jim continued, his thumb stroking the back of Copia's hand, "he ain't got nothin' on you."

Jim paused, choosing his words with care. "I know this... This whole frontman thing... It was somethin' big for you, somethin' important. It changed your whole world, just as much as it brought some real life this here ministry. Listen to me now, hun," Jim's voice gained a touch more firmness, moving his head forward to catch a glimpse of Copia’s eyes. "If it weren't for you, for all that hard work you poured out there as our frontman, this place wouldn't even have the spare coins jinglin' around in its pockets to afford some fancy new fella struttin' around.”

Copia turned his head away, a subtle curve tugging at his lips. That small upturn was all the invitation Jim needed. A wide, warm smile bloomed on his own face as he gently pursued that expression Copia was attempting to hide so stubbornly. Jim’s hand reached out to cup Copia's cheek, softly guiding his face to look back towards him.

"Now, now, don’t you go hidin' that pretty little smile from me. Let me have a good look," Jim teased.

"It is… Rather difficult to hear anything you say with a straight face when you talk like that," Copia chuckled, subconsciously leaning into Jim’s warm hand.

"You ain't even listenin' to the sweet nothin's I'm tryin' to whisper in your ear?" Jim laughed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Copia responded with a playful nip at Jim's hand, barely missing as Jim recoiled dramatically in exaggerated fear.

"But I'm serious, darlin'," Jim said, his playful demeanor softening. He tilted his head with an earnest gaze as his hand drifted from Copia's cheek to the nape of his neck, his thumb stroking the skin there with a loving caress. "You're always gonna be my number one. That guy... Well, he just wishes he had a sliver of the magic you got. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or somethin' like that, ain't it?"

Copia offered a little nod, though a shadow of doubt still lingered. It was difficult to accept, this notion that his shift in position was merely a traditional and bureaucratic shuffle that had nothing to do with his worth or his dedication. But here, in the comforting presence of his Jim, a different truth resonated. In his arms, he knew that gnawing insecurity would always recede.

[underneaththatblackblanket]

"The 200+ Symptoms of Fibromyalgia"

(Note: Some symptoms may overlap)

GENERAL

1. Activity level decreased to less than 50% of pre-illness activity level

2. Cold hands and feet (extremities)

3. Cough

4. Craving carbohydrates

5. Delayed reaction to physical activity or stressful events

6. Dryness of eyes and/or mouth

7. Edema (Oedema)

8. Family member(s) with Fibromyalgia

9. Fatigue, made worse by physical exertion or stress

10. Feeling cold often

11. Feeling hot often

12. Frequent sighing

13. Heart palpitations

14. Hoarseness

15. Hypoglycemia (blood sugar falls or low)

16. Increased thirst

17. Low blood pressure (below 110/70)

18. Low body temperature (below 97.6)

19. Low-grade fevers

20. Night sweats

21. Noisy joints – with or without pain

22. Poor circulation in hands/feet

23. Profuse sweating

24. Recurrent flu-like illness

25. Shortness of breath with little or no exertion

26. Severe nasal allergies (new or worsening allergies)

27. Sore throat

28. Subjective swelling of extremities – (feels swollen Bu can’t find anything)

29. Sweats

30. Symptoms worsened by air travel

31. Symptoms worsened by stress

32. Symptoms worsened by temperature changes

33. Tender or swollen lymph nodes, especially in neck and underarms

34. Tremor or trembling

35. Unexplained weight gain or loss

PAIN

36. Abdominal wall pain

37. Bad hip pain

38. Burning Nerve Pain

39. Chest pain

40. Collarbone pain

41. Diffuse swelling

42. Elbow pain

43. Exacerbated Plantar arch or heel pain

44. “Growing” pains that don’t go away once you are done growing

45. Headache – tension or migraine

46. Inflamed Rib Cartilage

47. Joint pain

48. Lumpy, tender breasts

49. Morning stiffness

50. Muscle pain - widespread

51. Muscle spasms

52. Muscle twitching

53. Muscle weakness

54. Pain that ranges from moderate to severe

55. Pain that moves around the body

56. Paralysis or severe weakness of an arm or leg

57. Restless Leg Syndrome

58. Rib Pain

59. Scalp Pain (like hair being pulled out)

60. Sciatica-like pain

61. Tender points or trigger points

62. TMJ syndrome

63. “Voodoo Doll” Poking Sensation in random places

NEUROLOGICAL

64. Blackouts

65. Brain fog

66. Carpal Tunnel

67. Feeling spaced out

68. Hallucinating smells

69. Inability to think clearly

70. Lightheadedness

71. Noise intolerance

72. Numbness or tingling sensations

73. Photophobia (sensitivity to light)

74. Seizures

75. Seizure-like episodes

76. Sensation that you might faint

77. Syncope (fainting)

78. Tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears)

79. Vertigo or dizziness

EQUILIBRIUM/PERCEPTION

80. Bumping into things

81. Clumsy Walking

82. Difficulty balancing

83. Difficulty judging distances (when driving, etc.)

84. Directional disorientation

85. Dropping things frequently

86. Feeling spatially disoriented

87. Frequent tripping or stumbling

88. Not seeing what you’re looking at

89. Poor balance and coordination

90. Staggering gait

SLEEP

91. Alertness/energy best late at night

92. Altered sleep/wake schedule

93. Awakening frequently

94. Difficulty falling asleep

95. Difficulty staying asleep

96. Excessive sleeping

97. Extreme alertness or energy levels late at night

98. Falling asleep at random and sometimes dangerous moments

99. Fatigue

100. Light or broken sleep pattern

101. Muscle spasms/twitches at night

102. Narcolepsy

103. Sleep disturbances

104. Sleep starts or falling sensations

105. Teeth grinding - "Bruxism"

106. Tossing and turning

107. Un-refreshing or non-restorative sleep

108. Vivid or disturbing dreams/nightmares

EYES/VISION

109. Blind spots in vision

110. Eye pain

111. Difficulty switching focus from one thing to another

112. Frequent changes in ability to see well

113. Night driving difficulty

114. Occasional Blurry vision

115. Poor night vision

116. Rapidly worsening vision

117. Vision changes

COGNITIVE

118. Becoming lost in familiar locations when driving

119. Confusion

120. Difficulty expressing ideas in words

121. Difficulty following conversation (especially if background noise present)

122. Difficulty following directions while driving

123. Difficulty following oral instructions

124. Difficulty following written instructions

125. Difficulty making decisions

126. Difficulty moving your mouth to speak

127. Difficulty paying attention

128. Difficulty putting ideas together to form a complete picture

129. Difficulty putting tasks or things in proper sequence

130. Difficulty recognizing faces

131. Difficulty speaking known words

132. Difficulty remembering names of objects

133. Difficulty remembering names of people

134. Difficulty understanding what you read

135. Difficulty with long-term memory

136. Difficulty with simple calculations

137. Difficulty with short-term memory

138. Easily distracted during a task

139. Dyslexia-type symptoms occasionally

140. Feeling too disoriented to drive

141. Forgetting how to do routine things

142. Impaired ability to concentrate

143. Inability to recognize familiar surroundings

144. Losing track in the middle of a task (remembering what to do next)

145. Losing your train of thought in the middle of a sentence

146. Loss of ability to distinguish some colors

147. Poor judgment

148. Short term memory impairment

149. Slowed speech

150. Staring into space trying to think

151. Stuttering; stammering

152. Switching left and right

153. Transposition (reversal) of numbers, words and/or letters when you speak

154. Transposition (reversal) of numbers, words and/or letters when you write

155. Trouble concentrating

156. Using the wrong word

157. Word-finding difficulty

EMOTIONAL

158. Abrupt and/or unpredictable mood swings

159. Anger outbursts

160. Anxiety or fear when there is no obvious cause

161. Attacks of uncontrollable rage

162. Decreased appetite

163. Depressed mood

164. Feeling helpless and/or hopeless

165. Fear of someone knocking on the door

166. Fear of telephone ringing

167. Feeling worthless

168. Frequent crying

169. Heightened awareness – of symptoms

170. Inability to enjoy previously enjoyed activities

171. Irrational fears

172. Irritability

173. Overreaction

174. Panic attacks

175. Personality changes –usually a worsening of pervious condition

176. Phobias

177. Suicide attempts

178. Suicidal thoughts

179. Tendency to cry easily

GASTROINTESTINAL

180. Abdominal cramps

181. Bloating

182. Decreased appetite

183. Food cravings

184. Frequent constipation

185. Frequent diarrhea

186. Gerd-like Symptoms

187. Heartburn

188. Increased appetite

189. Intestinal gas

190. Irritable bladder - "Angry Bladder Syndrome"

191. Irritable bowel syndrome - IBS-C, IBS-D

192. Nausea

193. Regurgitation

194. Stomachache

195. Vomiting

196. Weight gain - unexplained

197. Weight loss - unexplained

UROGENITAL

198. Decreased libido (sex drive)

199. Endometriosis

200. Frequent urination

201. Impotence

202. Menstrual problems

203. Painful urination or bladder pain - "Interstitial Cystitis"

204. Pelvic pain

205. Prostate pain

206. Worsening of (or severe) premenstrual syndrome (PMS or PMDD)

SENSITIVITIES

207. Alcohol intolerance

208. Allodynia (hypersensitive to touch)

209. Alteration of taste, smell, and/or hearing

210. Sensitivity to chemicals in cleaning products, perfumes, etc.

211. Sensitivities to foods

212. Sensitivity to light

213. Sensitivity to mold

214. Sensitivity to noise

215. Sensitivity to odors

216. Sensitivity to yeast (getting yeast infections frequently on skin, etc.)

217. Sensory overload

218. Sensitivity to pressure & humidity changes

219. Sensitivity to extreme temperature changes

220. Vulvodynia

SKIN

221. Able to “write” on skin with finger

222. Bruising easily

223. Bumps and lumps

224. Eczema or psoriasis

225. Hot/dry skin

226. Ingrown hairs

227. Itchy/Irritable skin

228. Mottled skin

229. Rashes or sores

230. Scarring easily

231. Sensitivity to the sun

232. Skin suddenly turns bright red

CARDIOVASCULAR (Heart)

233. “Click-murmur” sounds through stethoscope

234. Fluttery heartbeat

235. Heart palpitations

236. Irregular heartbeat

237. Loud pulse in ear

238. Pain that mimics heart attack - "Costochondritis"

239. Rapid heartbeat

HAIR/NAILS

240. Dull, listless hair

241. Heavy and splitting cuticles

242. Irritated nail beds

243. Nails that curve under

244. Pronounced nail ridges

245. Temporary hair loss

OTHER

246. Canker sores

247. Dental problems

248. Disk Degeneration

​249. Hemorrhoids

250. Nose bleeds

251. Periodontal (gum) disease

252. Need for early hysterectomy

[o-craven-canto]

The processes that can turn an aggregate of cells into a complex organism. ADH: cell adhesion. APO: apoptosis, or selective cell death. ASM: asymmetrical morphogenesis. DAD: differential cell adhesion, sorting cells by type. ECM: secretion of extracellular material. LAT: lateral inhibition, a switch that can turn a cell into two different states. MIT: mitogenesis, or localized cell division. MOR: diffusion of a morphogenic signal. OSC: timed osclllation between different states. POL: polarization, or differential properties at different ends of a cell. TUR: Turing reaction-diffusion pattern. (pic: Newman & Bhat)

It's all well and good to say that DNA contains the instructions to produce an organism, but all DNA can do is induce the secretion of chemicals. There are no printed instructions or little foremen supervising the growth of an embryo. So how does secreting chemicals in a clump of identical cells end up producing something as complex as an animal?

Here's some tricks.

Differential adhesion. The cells of all animals have surface proteins called cadherins that bind each other into solid tissues. If all cells were uniformly covered in cadherins, they would form homogeneous spherical lumps; but if some cells are covered more or less sparsely than the others, then they will spontaneously sort by cadherin density, forming clumps and layers much like the spontaneous sorting of water and oil. If some surfaces are not adhesive at all, those will find themselves surrounding cavities. (pic: Gilbert & Barresi)

Lateral inhibition. The Notch protein forms a trans-membrane complex; when the external portion receives a signal from the environment, the internal portion breaks off and enters the cell nucleus to activate the expression of otherwise repressed genes. Thus, the Notch system works as a switch between two different states of a cell depending on whether or not it receives a particular signal. This is called "lateral inhibition" because it makes neighbor cells, such as neurons and glia in the brain, develop into complementary forms repressing each other's unnecessary genes. (pic: Audrey Effenberger, Wiki)

Cell polarization. "Wnt" is the name of a family of secreted signal proteins that have a multitude of functions. Among this is establishing cell polarity: through a cascade of signals, it can cause the cell's cytoskeleton -- its internal scaffolding -- to rearrange itself into an asymmetrical shape (... I think. This part of the process isn't fully clear to me), which leads to further differentiation. If the polarity involves different types or densities of adhesion proteins, then differential adhesion will sort polarized cells into distinct layers or hollow sacs and tubes -- hence, organs and body cavities. Cell polarization also leads to the establishment of the head-tail and back-belly body axes. (pic: Gilbert & Barresi)

Morphogenic gradients. When a cell or group of cells start secreting a diffusing chemical, this will naturally form a gradient with its concentration fading away with distance. This can direct differential development of cells over the organism body. Even if the chemical gradient is smooth, the morphological one doesn't need to be: cells can have different thresholds that will cause them to take one or another form. So there will be different discrete types of cells, each developing at a fixed range of distances from the source of the gradient. For example, in vertebrates, the protein Shh in the notochord induces the formation of motor neurons in the ventral side of the neural tube, which is closest. (pic: Gilbert & Barresi)

Asymmetrical morphogenesis. But then how do we end up with asymmetrical morphogenesis, for example our heart growing more on the left than on the right side? Morphogens don't have to spread only by themselves: in vertebrates, the morphogenic protein Nodal is systematically pushed to the left by beating cilia. Malformations in cilia can result into situs inversus, the development of organs in a position that mirrors the usual one. In addition (see "reaction-diffusion" below), Nodal induces the secretion of the protein Lefty2 which in turn inhibits Nodal and spreads faster, resulting into a side of the body where Nodal cannot accumulate. (pic: Green & Sharpe)

Chemical oscillation. If gene-activating factors inhibit their own synthesis, then they will come and go in regular waves, growing when they are few and decaying when they are many. This gives cells their own internal clock, which for example allows a cell to replicate at regular intervals. In multicellular organisms, the oscillation occurs in space as well as in time, as growth signals are released in waves. So they determine the formation of regular segments: for example, our vertebrae. (pic: Müller et al.)

Extracellular matrix secretion. While cells in epithelial tissues (like the outer layers of skin, or the lining of body cavities) stick closely to each other, those in connective tissues (like the inner pulp of skin, cartilage, or fat) are sunken in a matrix of various composition, but which usually contains elastic fibers of collagen. When a cell develops into a fibroblast, it starts secreting around itself the component of extracellular matrix with various mechanical properties, affecting the shape and structure of the body (especially when the cell is polarized). Even bone is simply a connective tissue whose matrix in rich in calcium phosphate mineral.

Turing patterns (reaction-diffusion). A chemical produced by a cell activates both itself and its own inhibitor. Activation is powerful but short-ranged; inhibition is weaker but spreads farther. Once a cell has produced the chemical past a critical threshold, its keeps reinforcing its own production, but also inhibits its neighbor from doing the same. At a greater distance, however, another cell or group of cells could also start the synthesis on their own. Depending on the range and power of activation and inhibition, this produces all sorts of patterns of activation: spots, stripes, waves, grids, rings. (pic: Green & Sharpe; Metz &al)

Apoptosis. Cells that receive a certain signal die, and their matter is recycled. If the signal of death is distributed according to Turing patterns, then living tissue can be cut and molded in very precise ways. For example, cells in the developing limb-bud of a vertebrate die in waves leaving behind parallel cylinders: the beginning of fingers.

Multiple mechanisms coming together to make vertebrate limbs: a morphogenic gradient distinguishes base and tip of a forming limb; reaction-diffusion creates a Turing pattern (diverging waves) that determines where finger bones will develop; and finally apoptosis cuts away the intermediate tissue. (pic: Green & Sharpe)

SOURCES

Gilbert & Barresi (2016), Developmental Biology Green & Sharpe (2015), Positional information and reaction-diffusion: two big ideas in developmental biology combine Newman & Bhat (2009), Dynamical patterning modules: a "pattern language" for development and evolution of multicellular form

[lifeofpriya]

Could I have « immediately looking for your reaction once telling a joke » with jack draper ! (I presume the link was to request a phrase … sorry if I misunderstood!) I just love pain so the idea of an angst sad Jack with an unrequited crush makes my head spin

hi anon! i've linked the fic with the prompt here :) HOWEVER, ask for the angst, and y'all shall receive 🫡

I'm Sorry

wc: 2.4k

You sit on the worn couch in your shared apartment, the smell of last night's takeout lingering faintly in the air. The TV hums in the background, casting flickers of light across the messy room. Your eyes are drawn to the raindrops tracing patterns down the windowpane, the world outside a blur of gray.

Jack strolls in, his damp hair and rain-speckled clothes hinting at his recent tennis practice. He tosses his bag onto the floor, the thud echoing through the quiet space. He glances at you, a tentative smile playing on his lips, but you're lost in thought, staring at the rain.

"Hey," he says, his voice a gentle rumble that shakes you from your reverie. You look up, and your eyes meet his. In that moment, you realize how much Jack has changed over the years. His once boyish features are now chiseled with the strength of a man who's dedicated his life to the sport.

He moves closer, his sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor. The scent of fresh grass and sweat fills the space between you, a stark contrast to the stale air in the room. "You okay?" he asks, his eyes searching yours for any sign of distress.

You nod, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just tired." But the lie feels heavy on your tongue. You can't help but think about the person who's been consuming your thoughts lately—someone who isn't Jack.

Jack's gaze lingers, concern etched into his features. He's always had a knack for reading you, a trait that's only grown stronger as your friendship has deepened. He opens his mouth as if to say more, but instead, he just nods and heads to the kitchen. You listen to the clinking of glasses and the gush of water from the fridge door.

The silence stretches out, thick with unspoken words and the hum of the fridge. Raindrops continue their dance outside, a rhythmic serenade that seems to mirror the thumping of your heart. You feel a pang of guilt for not being able to return his feelings, but you can't help the way you feel. The person you're in love with is like a distant star, brilliant but untouchable.

Jack returns with two ice-cold drinks, handing one to you. The condensation on the glass leaves a damp trail on your hand. You take a sip, the cool liquid offering a brief respite from the warmth of your embarrassment.

"So, what's new?" he asks, sitting down next to you. His thigh brushes against yours, and you can't ignore the electric current that seems to run through your body. You know it's just your imagination, but you can't help the way your stomach flips.

You shrug, focusing on the TV. "Not much, just work stuff." You take another sip of your drink, the condensation now a puddle in your palm. You don't dare look at him, afraid of what he might see in your eyes.

Jack nods, sipping his own drink. The ice clinks against the glass, the only sound in the room aside from the muffled rain. His eyes don't leave the TV either, but you can feel the weight of his gaze, as if he's trying to peer through the screen and into your soul.

You both watch the muted images play out, the colors and movement a silent backdrop to your thoughts. The unspoken tension between you is palpable, like the charge in the air before a storm. You're aware of every breath he takes, every shift in his posture.

The TV show reaches a commercial break, and the sudden silence feels deafening. The rain outside has slowed to a soft patter, as if it too is holding its breath, waiting for you to speak. You decide to change the subject, hoping to diffuse the situation.

"How was practice?" you ask, turning to face him. His eyes light up, and for a moment, you forget about the unspoken confessions hovering above you.

Jack leans back into the couch, his biceps flexing beneath his damp shirt. "It was good," he says, a proud grin spreading across his face. "I've been working on that backhand slice you suggested."

You can't help but feel a warmth in your chest at his words. You've been Jack's unofficial coach for years, offering advice and encouragement through every match and training session. It's one of the many things that has brought you close, forming a bond that's as strong as the strings on his tennis racket.

"Really?" you ask, genuinely interested. "How's it coming along?"

Jack's smile widens, and he leans in closer, his excitement evident. "It's getting there. Trot said I've got a natural flair for it." His eyes sparkle, and you find yourself smiling back, unable to resist his enthusiasm.

"That's great," you say, trying to ignore the way your heart races. You take another sip of your drink, the cold liquid doing little to quench the heat rising in your cheeks. You focus on the TV, where a commercial for a new sports drink is playing.

Jack's hand rests on the armrest between you, his thumb tapping a rhythm that matches the beat of the commercial jingle. His eyes don't leave yours as he speaks. "You know, I couldn't have done it without you." His voice is soft, and for a second, you wonder if he's referring to more than just tennis.

The room feels smaller, the air charged with something unspoken. You swallow hard, the ice in your drink now a lump in your throat. "Jack, I'm happy to help," you reply, hoping your voice doesn't betray the tumult of emotions churning within you.

Jack's hand stops tapping, and he leans in closer still. "I know you are," he says, his voice low and earnest. "But it's more than that. You're always there for me, through the wins and the losses. You're…" He trails off, his gaze dropping to his lap. "You're just… incredible."

You feel your cheeks burn, and you take a deep breath, trying to ignore the way your pulse quickens. You want to tell him the truth, but the words are lodged in your throat like a mouthful of dry toast. Instead, you murmur a soft, "Thanks, Jack."

He nods, his eyes searching yours, and for a moment, you think he's going to lean in even closer. But then, the door to the apartment swings open, and a burst of cold, wet air fills the room as your roommate, Lena, stomps in, shaking off her umbrella.

"Hey, you two," she says, her voice cheerful despite the dreary weather. She kicks off her shoes, and they land with a wet smack on the floor. She doesn't seem to notice the tension as she makes her way to the kitchen, tossing her soaked jacket over a chair.

Jack's eyes don't leave yours, and you can see the unspoken question in them. You look away, pretending to be engrossed in the TV again. The commercial is over, and the show has resumed, but you can't focus on the plot. Your mind is racing with the conversation that almost was.

Lena's footsteps approach, her laughter bubbling as she recounts her soggy commute. You force a chuckle, grateful for the interruption. She flops down on the couch beside you, her arm brushing against Jack's. The contact seems to jolt him out of his trance, and he clears his throat, shifting in his seat.

"How was your day?" Lena asks, peeling off her rain-soaked socks and wriggling her toes. The mood in the room shifts, the heaviness lifting like the fog outside.

Jack clears his throat, breaking the silence. "It was good, thanks. Got some solid practice in." He takes a long pull from his drink, his eyes flicking to you briefly before returning to the TV.

Lena looks between you both, her gaze sharp. She's known you for long enough to sense the undercurrents of tension, but she doesn't pry. Instead, she starts chattering about her own day, filling the space with stories of office drama and a new coffee shop she discovered. You listen, nodding along, trying to ignore the way your thoughts keep circling back to Jack's confession.

The rain picks up again, the drops now beating a staccato rhythm against the glass. It's a sound that usually soothes you, but today it feels like a drumroll to something you're not ready to face. You're lost in your own world, until Lena's phone buzzes with a notification. She glances at the screen, her eyes widening.

"Oh my God, you guys aren't going to believe this," she says, excitement bubbling in her voice. She holds up her phone, showing you a picture of the person you've been pining over. "Guess who I just saw at the coffee shop?"

Jack tenses beside you, his gaze flicking from Lena to the phone screen and back to you. You can almost hear his heart cracking like the thunder outside. You take a deep breath, steeling yourself for the inevitable. "Let me guess," you say, trying to keep your voice steady. "It's him."

Lena nods, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah, he looked amazing. And guess what? He asked about you!" She nudges you playfully, oblivious to the minefield she's just stepped into.

Jack's expression falters, the smile slipping from his face like rain off a leaf. You feel a twinge of guilt, knowing you should tell him the truth, but the words are stuck in your throat, heavy as the raindrops on the window.

"Oh?" you manage to say, feigning nonchalance. "What did he say?"

Lena's grin grows. "He wanted to know if you were free tonight. He's playing in a charity event at the local club and asked if you'd like to come watch. Maybe grab dinner after?"

Jack's hand clenches around his drink, the knuckles turning white. The air in the room is thick with the scent of rain and unspoken truths. You can see the hope in his eyes flicker and die, like a candle in a storm.

"Wow," you murmur, trying to keep your voice even. "That's… really nice of him." You take a deep breath, the anticipation of finally seeing the person you love mixing with the dread of what you need to do next.

Jack's eyes never leave yours, the pain in them as palpable as the dampness in the room. "Sounds like fun," he says, his voice strained. "You should totally go."

You nod, feeling the weight of his unspoken feelings pressing down on you like the rain outside. "Yeah, I think I will." The words are out before you can reconsiders the implications of what you're saying. You can't help but feel like you're betraying him, even though he's the one with the crush.

Jack forces a smile, his eyes never leaving yours. "That's great," he says, his voice tight. "I'm happy for you." But the sadness in his eyes tells a different story.

You stand up, the couch cushion sighing with relief as you do. The rain outside seems to echo your mood, growing more intense with each passing moment. "I'd better get ready," you murmur, heading towards your room. You can feel his gaze on your back, a heavy weight that makes each step feel like you're wading through quicksand.

The door clicks shut behind you, and you lean against it, your heart hammering in your chest. You look around your small, cluttered space, the posters of your favorite bands and the few plants you manage to keep alive seeming to judge you silently. You take a deep breath, trying to compose yourself before you face the mirror.

Your reflection stares back at you, eyes filled with a mix of excitement and dread. You know that tonight could be the start of something amazing with the person you've been longing for, but it also means potentially losing the friendship with Jack that's been your rock for so long.

You start to get ready, the sound of the shower drowning out the rain's relentless tapping. The water is hot, almost scalding, as if trying to wash away the guilt that clings to your skin. You dress carefully, choosing an outfit that's both comfortable and flattering, hoping to make a good impression.

When you emerge from the bathroom, Jack is sitting on your bed, his elbows resting on his knees. He looks up as you enter, his expression unreadable. "You're going to be late," he says, his voice flat.

You nod, your stomach in knots. "I know." You sit down next to him, feeling the warmth of his body so close to yours. The scent of his aftershave fills the space between you, making it hard to think. "Jack, I need to tell you something."

He looks at you, his eyes searching. "What is it?"

You take a deep breath, the words you've been holding in for so long now bubbling to the surface like a shaken bottle of soda. "I know you have feelings for me," you start, your voice trembling slightly. "And I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way."

Jack's expression doesn't change, but you can see the sadness deepen in his eyes. He nods slowly, as if he's been expecting this moment. "It's okay," he says, his voice a whisper. "I had a feeling."

You can't help but feel like you're about to shatter the only thing that's kept you both afloat in the sea of unrequited love. "I don't want to lose you," you blurt out, your heart in your throat. "You're one of the most important people in my life."

Jack nods again, his eyes never leaving yours. "I know," he repeats, his voice a little stronger now. "And I don't want to lose you either." He pauses, his thumb tracing the seam of his jeans. "But if being with him makes you happy, then I'll deal with it."

You can see the effort it takes for him to smile, the way his eyes don't quite crinkle at the corners like they do when he's truly happy. You want to reach out, to hug him and apologize, but you know it won't change anything. Instead, you give him a small, sad smile in return.

"Thank you," you murmur, the words feeling inadequate. You stand up, your legs wobbly like a newborn foal's. "I'll be back soon."

Jack nods, the sadness in his eyes unmistakable. "Take your time," he says, his voice a little too bright. "And be happy."

You nod, the lump in your throat growing. You grab your keys and phone, slipping into your shoes by the door. The rain outside seems to mirror the turmoil inside the apartment. As you step into the hallway, you take one last look back at Jack, who's still sitting on your bed, staring at the floor.

[tickfleato]

back at it again with the turing patterns

[garblegarden]

Did you finish Houseki no Kuni? What did you think of it, in the end? Did you like it? Have any criticisms?

I've been keeping up with HnK since 2020ish (I even endured the 1.5 year hiatus after chapter 95!) and I did indeed finish it! I have many thoughts.

I was initially drawn to it because I like minerals and this was a fun looking series where all the characters have a mineral namesake and where the bits of geology are actually accurate, or at least there's an effort made to give characters matching abilities and appearances to the minerals they're based on. Cleavage and mohs hardness and rarity are taken into consideration for characters and their strengths and weaknesses, partners typically have a theme that makes them make sense, (i.e. benito and nepti are partners because they occur together in nature, melon and hemimor have piezo and pyroelectricity, morga and goshen are both beryls, rutile and padparadscha sometimes occur together (i.e. star sapphires and other corundums) etc etc etc), and their colors typically actually match what rock they're based on. That's good to see!

I think that Ichikawa's sense of design and aesthetic is really top-tier in this one. The kind of unsettling simplicity that permeates everything is really appealing to me (Like how the earth is literally just shallow seas with a single grassy field for a landmass, how the gems all dress the same and do so completely monochromatically, the moon is just this kind of pastel rainbowy color, etc etc etc) and makes for a really unique setting.

Ichikawa also makes a really good use of black and white to make some really striking panels in the series with high levels of contrast, detail and simplicity used in the right spots, and in opportunities where she gets to use color (i.e. the artbooks and covers) they look just as cool, too. Like, you don't get a sense that an illustration she makes in either medium would be better off in a different way, she just has a really high level of skill both when limited to black and white and when given the ability to use color.

The character designs are pretty solid, but my absolute favorites are Phos's last few designs. Everyone else is ok too, but "evil maniac broken up big leaf and spikes everywhere" phos ruled, "sobbing and sopping wet-with-mercury-gold-amalgam, naked, bald and being born fully grown but without skin" phos is slept on all the time and should be appreciated more, and "big floppy white thing" phos is for sure in my top 3 character designs of all time if not my absolute favorite. Big featureless white thing with reaction diffusion patterns? SIGN ME UP!!!

In terms of the actual plot I thought it was pretty nice and the whole "ship of theseus" thing was fun to watch play out but as many other people point out, the series doesn't really give a whole lot of time to anyone aside from Phos. Admittedly they are the protagonist so this makes sense, but what about the other guys? Everyone else's character arcs have definite starting points for interesting development (i.e. many characters have inferiority complexes in comparison with their peers due to how they were raised to see their material properties as different from one another, yet they were all treated as the same sorts of lifeforms, causing them to resent one another. This is further perpetuated by the fact that they're hunted for sport and not given much time to form their own societal roles outside of "fighter" "seamstress" "doctor" or "weaponsmith" and so on. All very basic roles, because there really isn't much of an opportunity to do much more on account of being attacked by the moon all the time.

However, a qualm I have with this is how the narrative frames the moon as being an inherently superior society in comparison to that of the gems. I was in a state of despair finding out that all of the gems were cool with being converted into lunarians and assimilated into their society with no issues at all. Now, this could be intentional, a sort of "the winners write history" take on the subject, or a "gems are inherently compliant with whatever's easiest for them because they're all so tired after centuries of war that they'll go with whatever at this point" sort of thing, but there isn't much of an effort being made to suggest this to the reader and it just kind of leaves me with a weird taste in my mouth where I'm not really sure if the grand-scale cultural erasure that happens to the gems is trying to be presented as a good thing or not.

A similar criticism is in regards to aechmea and cairngorm's relationship for kind of obvious reasons. I think most of us have beef with these two. It's very evident that there's a big power imbalance between the two of them. However, nothing negative is shown about their relationship, and in the end gorm goes into the endless void never having become their own person. And this would be alright if it weren't framed as a good thing! I don't mind a tragedy! It's just, with many other things here, (maybe this is a show of poor reading comprehension, idk) it's very hard to tell what Ichikawa's intentions were when writing these parts of the story and so it feels kind of weird. The parts of the later volumes focusing on them were kind of hard to get through. And why does aechmea keep growing. He keeps getting taller and cairngorm keeps not doing that so as the manga goes on it looks more and more......... suspicious

Another thing I think is both infuriating and fascinating is that everyone's goal of eradicating humanity is very very biased. The only people who get to have a say in it are all misanthropists, and there isn't even a physical humanity to destroy anymore either, it's all just vibes. Aechmea wants to destroy humanity because that's the only way he'll get into the pure land of nothingness if everyone else is destroyed too, Adamant wants to destroy humanity because that's what he was made for, Pitapat wants to destroy humanity to take revenge against the guy who stole his creator's life's work, Phos wants to destroy humanity because the former two kind of forced them into that and 10,000 years later after cooking on a beach in the worst "holy robot eye"-induced trip of their life they (at least in my take of the book) have literally nothing else to do other than destroy humanity, like that's the only thing they've been given to do for their whole life, so they do because they've never had a purpose otherwise. They're all misanthropists, but humans have been extinct for eons at this point, so what's the point, really? To eradicate selfishness and desire and that's what humanity represents and sort of manifests even millions of years into the future? (I mean, it is a series based on buddhist principles) Now maybe it's because I think the enduring human spirit is cool and this isn't a book for people who rock with the enduring human spirit, but Phos and Pitapat kind of celebrating both of their deaths at the end going "oh yeah we did it we destroyed humanity" kiiiiind of lost me. At this point humanity is such an abstract concept that it seems like there's not much of a point in scrubbing themselves off the face of the universe in order to prevent other intelligent races elsewhere in the universe from evolving and becoming selfish. That'll probably happen regardless of whether the last remnants of the human era sacrifice themselves or not. (In fact, that's already implied by Life and Culture of Y-3579203181277. So, like, what's the point? Maybe that is the point, that there's no point. I dunno. Much to think about. This is why this series has wormed its way so deep into my brain, because nothing about it is clear.)

It DID look beautiful, though!

[love-archer]

Autistic MC . . .

♡ How would the cast react? ♡

♡.OM!

♡♡.SFW!!

♡♡♡. PT.1 Here! @lisaspublicdiary ;( Sorry for the long wait, love!

. . . S A T A N ! 

♡ Initially, he’d observe you from afar, cataloging your behaviors, reactions, and communication style in the back of his mind. He sees patterns where others see quirks and he wants to understand the underlying system of you. He’s less about sympathy or coddling, and more about… decoding you, in a way that isn’t meant to be malicious, just…Satan being Satan.

♡ Satan was the one of the first to notice your habits of flinching at sudden loud noises or getting overwhelmed in certain situations

♡ Despite being the Avatar of Wrath, he's became quite mindful of how his anger might affect you

♡ The first time he noticed you covering your ears during one of his arguments with Lucifer, his anger immediately dissipated

♡ ...until Lucifer opened his mouth and the fight resumed

♡ His words didn't falter, continuing to fly at Lucifer while he walked to you, taking your hand and using you as an escape from wasting any more air and energy on that pea-brained creature of a demon

♡ Created a quiet reading corner in his room specifically for you when you need to decompress. The area provided weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, and soft lighting. He wouldn't say out loud but he does enjoy sitting there at nights when he can't sleep.

♡ Will silently place a cup of your favorite tea (/beverage of your liking) near you when you're home from a long day at RAD, he knows the days there can be quite maddening at times

♡ With the time you've spent in his room, he grew to learn your subtle signs of distress before meltdowns. "You're doing that thing with your hands again. Should we leave?"

♡ Appreciates how detailed and passionate you can be about topics that interest you "Actually, I'd love to hear more about that. Your perspective is... refreshingly thorough."

♡ subconsciously, he would find himself looking for books of your special interests. Would stare at the book in his hand before sending you a picture of it, telling you he's checking it out and brining it home so you'd better be in his room when he's walking to the door.

♡ "Mammon, lower your voice. Can't you see they're already overwhelmed?"

. . . A S M O D E U S ! 

♡ Would Initially struggled to understand why you weren't picking up on his flirting the way others usually do until his brothers filled him in

♡ "Darling, you're supposed to blush when I... oh, right! My apologies."

♡ With a little nagging from Lucifer about his carefree behavior and side eyes from Satan, he started to ask directly if you're comfortable with physical contact "May I fix your hair? You have some strands poking out....and I just thought of this just fabulous style on you!"

♡ Asmodeus is quite good at reading your non-verbal cues once he takes the time to learn them, given his sharp attention to small details. "Ah ah! I see that look - too bright in here? Let me dim the lights~"

♡ Notices how you sometimes trace patterns on fabrics when you get anxious and starts keeping various scraps of extra fabrics from his projects for you to manipulate.

♡ knowing how at times you forget or get side-tracked, he usually is the one to be the first to ask you to accompany him to the mall or the shops around town, helps you find clothes with textures that don't bother your sensory sensitivities.

♡ As a considerate host, he has as a special "[MC]-friendly" setting on his diffuser with very mild scents + makes sure his room isn't too overwhelming when you visit

♡ Always positions himself between you and crowds at demon parties. He will raise a brow and defend you fiercely if anyone suggests you're being 'rude' by being direct. "Actually, they're being perfectly clear. Perhaps you should try it sometime?"

. . . B E E L Z E B U B !

♡ Beelzebub would probably be the most straightforwardly accepting of the bunch but he won't pick up on the situation of you right away. Beel is often preoccupied his own internal world and his brothers.

♡ He would value your honesty immensely, as Beel himself is very straightforward and dislikes deceit.

♡ He might notice that you are a bit different, but wouldn’t initially analyze it beyond that. He’s not one for overthinking social dynamics. As Beel spends more time with MC, and especially if one of his brothers explains autism to him, a beautiful understanding would blossom. He understands the concept of different needs and sensitivities and that’s perfectly okay.

♡ Once he considers MC a friend, he doesn't judge much but at times he worries at your habits due to him forgetting your condition and shares his thoughts with Belphie during late-night stargazing.

"Do you think it… affects their appetite?.....No, [MC] eats just fine. Sometimes they forget, though. I should remind them to eat."

♡ When he visits after his workouts and waits for you in your room, you might walk in and find him try to finish the puzzles you started or staring at the collections you showcase on the shelves of your walls.

♡ He would hide you out in his room once things get a bit exhausting for you. Projects a movie on the ceiling with a bowl of snacks on his belly as he watches your expression to make sure you feel better.

. . . B E L P H E G O R !

♡  Belphie might be the most initially confused of the brothers.He might misinterpret some autistic traits as being ‘weird’ or ‘annoying’ at first, especially if you disrupt his peace with your hobbies or conversations that seem to not stop.

♡ He could initially be a bit standoffish, viewing MC with a slightly wary eye, especially given his initial guardedness towards everyone new.

♡ It might take him longer than the other brothers to fully ‘get it', However, once he sees Beel’s acceptance of you, he gradually warms up.

♡ "Huh... you move your hands a lot... is that comfortable?" His curiosity gets the better of him as he spends time in your presence.

♡ He might notice you always having tea at the same time, or needing a specific blanket to feel comfortable, and instead of finding it odd, he might just... understand.

♡ Belphegor might actually find surprising common ground. He values comfort and predictability himself, so routines and sensory needs might make sense to him on a basic level.

♡ Direct communication would be appreciated by Belphie, even if he doesn't always show it outwardly. He's not a fan of games or complicated social dances. If you need something or are feeling a certain way and express it plainly, he might actually find that refreshing compared to the more dramatic or teasing tendencies of his brothers.

♡  You two might end up enjoying comfortable silences together, just existing in the same space, his dazed-eyes watching your hands paint/organize.

♡ if your special interest is something adjacent to his, (e.g astronomy or even obscure historical trivia) he might actually perk up and listen, raising a brow at your knowledge.

[ccaptain]

While H:SR Kaeya's ways of having fun may look silly, and sometimes his joyous reactions may take people by surprise, there's unfortunately a sad truth that was already pointed out that explains it:

Becoming an active part of the Enigmata ''beings'' isn't always an happy experience- if at all.

Most of Kaeya's time is spent in a deeply melancholic contemplation of his mission and his destiny. There are many enemies that refuse to see his point of view and that have tried to chase or harm him, deaf to his explanations, and surely he's fated to make many more along the road. When observed closely, there's this distant expression on his face and too many thoughts in his head, and too many boulders on his shoulders. 

When there's a way to feel even a slighty spark of happiness, he'll take and indulge into it until he has to go.

Be it a silly moment shared with a friend over a jiggly pudding, or a night out with drinks and chatting while the sun rises outside of a tavern. He has learned that a night of singing his heart out at a karaoke with strangers and friends alike is just as soothing as a good night of sleep, too. He likes to bake, and is quite apt at it as long as it's not a multilayered, complicated cake, and it excites him to try how good he can do each time. He has taken up cooking too, and is passable in some dishes. He'll seize the occasion of a long travel and take pictures with his phone to show Siobhan when he's back home, or to send them to his friends. He can mix drinks quite well, and will show that talent off to anyone, if allowed to. He finds the warmth of a bonfire warding away the cold of the night enthrancing, and will watch as the embers die out and he's plunged back into darkness. He had many occasions to dance in heavy rain, content with how fresh the droplets felt on his skin and not minding being soaked after. He watches an hurricane devastate everything in his path, coming for him with the wind whipping his hair across his face, and was awestruck at the strenght of nature. 

He has seen the northern lights, and was so mesmerized by them that, for a long moment, he forgot the heaviness he carries with him.

His room, a space in the middle of nowhere, is impersonal in the decorations. His sheets are of a anonymous light blue, his closet of an anonymous brown, and his furniture is spartan and lacking. And then, there are the trinkets.

Plenty of them. Laid on every high surface he could find, on every empty shelf, on the nightstand, on the windowshill with the curtains drawn back. Little shimmering crystals, small animals with fake gemstones for eyes, funny-looking rocks, some bandaids never unwrapped but clearly given to him, coins from other planets, the littlest toy guns known to man, including colorful waterguns, soft toys to squeeze to keep the stress at bay. Rusted-over, old toy cars, clean cups, small glasses that glimmer in a sun that will never rise in the space where Kaeya's room is. All of those and more are displayed for himself to see each time he wishes to, from new and old friends he made along the way that are no longer alive.

He has a diffuser with a pleasing scent of jasmine and sandal going at all times. He has acquired a projector that shines a pre-made set of patterns that glow and move in the dark and that he could stare at for hours, laying on his bed in company or alone, feeling absolute calmness.

Kaeya's friends probably don't know how vital and necessary they are for him: in a way, they keep him sane. When they laugh with him, they make him think that the burden he has is worth carrying, if it means that they cross paths, ever once in a blue moon, and can share a moment of company or even travel together, off to adventures and places to see and explore.

Even if a person he's close to will, one day, turn against him, Kaeya will still bear no grudge and cherish the memories of their happy moments, and the camaraderie they shared before things turned for the worst.

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

How do BMW's new laser headlights work and what advantage do they have over other headlight technologies?

BMW's laser headlights represent a groundbreaking leap in automotive lighting technology, combining advanced physics with intelligent safety systems. Here's a detailed breakdown of their working principles and key advantages over traditional lighting technologies:

1. Core Technology & Working Principle BMW's Laserlight system does not directly project laser beams onto the road but uses lasers to generate intense white light through a multi-stage process:

Laser Activation: Three blue laser diodes (wavelength ~450nm) emit high-intensity beams.

Mirror Reflection: The laser beams are directed through a series of mirrors within the headlamp assembly.

Phosphor Conversion: The blue lasers strike a lens filled with yellow phosphorus, triggering a chemical reaction that converts the light into bright white light (5,500–6,000K color temperature).

Diffusion & Projection: The white light is diffused to reduce glare and projected via a reflector bowl, achieving a focused beam.

This method produces 10x brighter light than LEDs while maintaining safety for human eyes and animals.

2. Key Advantages Over Traditional Technologies Feature Laserlight LED/Other Tech Brightness 600m max range (vs. 300m for LED) Limited by lower lumen density Energy Efficiency 30% less energy than LEDs Higher power consumption Beam Precision Laser-guided adaptive focus Fixed or less dynamic patterns Component Size Diodes 1/100th LED size (10μm) Bulky heat sinks required Lifespan 50,000–100,000 hours 30,000–50,000 hours (LED)

3. Intelligent Safety & Adaptive Features

Anti-Dazzle Control: Infrared cameras detect oncoming traffic and automatically dim/redirect beams.

Dynamic Light Spot: Focuses on obstacles (e.g., pedestrians, animals) up to 300ft (92m) ahead.

GPS-Enabled Steering: Syncs with navigation to pre-illuminate turns.

Speed-Activated Logic: Only activates at >60 km/h to avoid urban glare.

4. Design & Sustainability Benefits

Compact Housing: Smaller components allow sleeker headlight designs (e.g., BMW i8's slim profile).

Heat Management: Minimal heat output reduces cooling demands vs. LED/Xenon.

Material Innovation: Uses 0.7mm hardened glass layers for 50% weight reduction.

5. Limitations & Future Outlook

High Cost: Currently limited to premium models (e.g., X7, 8 Series).

Regulatory Hurdles: Required 7+ years for U.S. road approval.

Emerging Competitors: Audi's DML matrix lights challenge with pixel-level control.

BMW continues refining this technology, with plans to expand it to motorcycles and mid-tier vehicles by 2026. While not replacing LEDs entirely, laserlights redefine nighttime driving safety and efficiency for high-performance applications.

[alohaastro]

Moon transiting Libra, Tuesday, December 24th, moving into Scorpio on Wednesday, December 25th, presents two distinctly different tones to the Christmas Holiday, with Tuesday feeling more light and social, due to a Grand Trine aspect pattern dominating the day, involving the moon, Venus in Aquarius, and Jupiter in Gemini, and Wednesday's Scorpio moon intensifying emotions and potential drama in a T-square with Mars in Leo, and Pluto in Aquarius. Libra is a cardinal air sign that prefers following the rules of social etiquette to maintain harmony in relationships or to protect reputation, but Scorpio is a fixed water sign that prioritizes truth and the merging or defending of boundaries and values. On Tuesday, people are more likely to "make nice" or overlook triggers, but on Wednesday, whatever emotions have been suppressed will be difficult to ignore and may be expressed. Mercury in Sagittarius forms trine aspects with both Mars in Leo and Chiron in Aries, as well as a T-square with Saturn in Pisces, and Jupiter in Gemini, on both days, with a mixed effect - some humor may be used to deflect or diffuse, but sarcasm or dark humor could be used defensively or to make digs at another - and some people may not realize that what they are saying is hurtful. With the sun in Capricorn quincunx to Mars and square to Neptune, it is better to let it pass than allow anger or hurt to ruin your mood. Families with young children who are having a visit from Santa might find that their kid's reactions to gifts or family members are not what they expected. Blame it on the heightened anticipation and emotional overwhelm amplified by the mood shift that occurs as the moon changes signs. Are they (or you) hungry, thirsty, tired, or overstimulated? Attend to basic needs, meet emotional intensity with patience, take time out when needed, and avoid extremes of anything to enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

[itsoak]

Bad Hair Day (Platonic Velvette/Reader)

This originally was supposed to be a scene with Alastor and reader, but I realized it suited Vel waayyyy more. As someone who grew up with curly hair with zero understanding on what to do with it, I love the headcannon that Vel has all the products and curly girl tips and tricks.

You’d been staring at yourself in the mirror for what felt like hours. Your hair was a giant mane of frizz and fluff, and at this point you were too exhausted to go through the process of re-wetting, curling, drying and then brushing it out in frustration again. There was hair gel, various brushes, and loose hair strands covering the bathroom sink. Perhaps you should have just straightened it and delt with the repercussions of dead burnt hair later. 

Feeling utterly defeated, you grabbed a hairband and tied your hair back into a bun, exiting the bathroom when the door unlatched itself, Velvette walking in on the messy display.

“Honestly what could you possibly be--“ she startled at the hurricane that had hit your bathroom, “oh babes! What the hell happened to you?”

“Bad hair day I suppose” there was no enthusiasm in your voice. 

“Oh my god, sit down now.” 

Velvette ushered you to sit back down in your chair, closing the door behind. 

“I was wondering what was taking you so long, you shoulda just come and gotten me sooner” she took a quick photo of your hair before beginning to spritz the mane with a large spray bottle filled with water mixed with conditioner, your hair soaked it up, its volume decreasing drastically as it became entirely soaked, brushing any knots out with a wide toothed comb. 

“I was thinking about just cutting it all off to save us both the trouble” Velvette let out an offended gasp. 

“Dont you fucking dare.” you laughed at the reaction as she began to rake curl cream through your hair with her fingers, scrunching it. The feeling of her fingers scratching your scalp was soothing, you closed your eyes practically purring at the massage. You could tell she was only doing it for as long as she did for your own sake and enjoyment and not for the actual hair. Velvette then began raking in gel before she parted your hair, sectioning it off into clumps as she finger coiled the strands of the sections. 

“Whats that for?”

“You curl pattern has to be utterly destroyed at this point. I’m just giving it some nutrients again and reminding it how it should be formed and not a cragly mess”

You gave a hum as a response as she moved onto the next section of hair, rewetting it with the spray bottle before repeating what she did on the first. She was singing some sort of British pop song to herself that you had no clue what the lyrics were. Out of all the the Vees, Velvette had always been your favorite. Her brash sassy personality and witty attitude never failed to amuse you. She was fearless in everything she did despite how new to the scene of overlordship she was. Over the past few years you had been working together, she had gone from a business partner to one of your closes friends. You had never had sisters but you could only assume a day with Velvette was exactly what is was like, clothing being shared and stolen, petty arguments, and then going out for brunch 20 minutes later. Velvette was right, you probably should have asked her for help sooner, she definetely enjoyed upkeep more, but you were determined to figure it out for yourself, and ultimately, failed. 

Velvette--who was finally finished with the finger coils-- started scrunching your hair again with a microfiber towel before grabbing a blow dryer and attaching the diffuser. 

“My hair always comes out frizzier when I use that thing. Plus it takes forever” you pouted.

“That’s because you dont know squat about proper hair care” she said, hovering the diffuser on low heat and speed, letting the gel cast dry. 

“My mother taught me how to take care of my hair” she mused, “Dressed me up, helped get me into fashion. When I was younger the other kids didn’t have the same type of hair as me. We tried to tame it down to help fit in with the others or else those dirty little cunts would try to touch it or ask a million questions, but my hair never worked like theirs. Eventually I stopped giving two shits and started wearing my hair however the fuck I wanted” Vel had started taking chunks of your hair and let it plop on the diffuser, scrunching it up to your scalp and holding it there till semi dry enough to go to the next. She made sure your turned your head over at various angles to let the hair fall naturally and give more volume. 

“Your hair is gorgeous” you praised.

It was absolutely true, her hair had always been one of, if not her best quality, and how she had the patience and skill to do a different look every day was beyond you. Today she was wearing her hair in cornrows, tied into a cute bun in the back, strands of curly hair dangling to perfectly frame her face. 

“I guess I never really cared about that sort of thing before meeting you Vel”

“And thank Lucifer you did. I mean where would you possibly be without me?” 

“Probably bald.” 

She gave a swift slap at your head which you laughed off. 

Once she finally finished Vel put a few droplets of hair oil into her palms before scrunching the stiff gel cast off. She took a step back to admire her work, giving herself a triumphant smirk before whipping out her phone to take hundreds of photos, posting and tweeting about her achievement with a before and after photo. She had done a brilliant job, the curls fell in loose yet defined curls with a beautiful shine and volume. Vel had outdone herself once again and she knew it. 

“Thank you, It looks amazing”

“Of course it does! Now fuck off, we have places to be”  

With a quick hug and peck on the temple Vel was off, laughing and texting on her phone. You admired yourself in the mirror a moment longer, watching the curls sway and bounce as you shook your head, before following her out the door.