#there's a tactile quality that is Very Good

[kafus]

over the weekend at the knoxville regional pokemon championships, i met up with a longtime internet friend in person for the first time, and he traded me a very special pokemon - a unique celebi that takes a bit of context to explain the significance of

from november 2001 to january 2005, the building that is now a nintendo world store in new york city was actually an american pokemon center, which hosted the "Gotta Catch ‘Em All!" station, a large machine that you could pop your gold/silver/crystal cartridge into (or later ruby/sapphire/firered/leafgreen, but that's not relevant here) and get a special distribution pokemon unique to the store. often times these were normal pokemon in eggs with special moves they couldn't usually learn, but other times they ran distributions for shiny legendaries, and of course, the mythical celebi.

there's very few pictures of the machine and all of them are pretty low quality, but you can see an iteration of it here during the gen 3 era:

when PCNY (pokemon center new york) shut down, the machine and its contents were presumed lost forever, but due to the preservation efforts and the good luck of a few individuals, some of the distributions have been preserved, as well as parts of the machine and its software. this is extra incredible because almost all gen 2 save files from the time the machine was actually functional are long since wiped due to the battery inside dying, meaning that very very few of the gen 2 event pokemon distributed from this machine at the time still exist. i won't go super in detail on that in this post but you can read an article about all of that here (julie, the person who runs this historical PCNY fansite is incredibly passionate and if you want to know anything about the PCNY store i absolutely recommend reading her writing!)

so, one day when i was rambling to my friend (his name is Venty!) about my fascination with the PCNY machine, and how i wish i had been born early enough to experience that, as well as wishing that i could have traded with anyone in gens 1-3 as a child but never got to due to isolation, venty told me that he's actually friends with a guy (Professor Rex) who knows the guy who owns the remnants of the PCNY machine (Gridelin), and he would love to reach out and ask if there's any way rex could distribute a celebi to himself and trade it to him sometime so that eventually when me and venty met in person one day, he'd be able to trade the celebi to me.

i pretty much burst into tears and very passionately explained how much that would mean to me - not just because owning a celebi actually distributed from the historical PCNY distribution station is just... insanely cool, but because like i said, i had never traded anyone in the old internet-less generations of pokemon, and having that be my first was just... a monumental thought. i am deeply fascinated with old gen event distributions because of the tactile, interpersonal nature of them, in direct contrast with my isolation and loneliness as a child. it might sound silly to be so worked up over a collection of bytes/pixels, but i really couldn't believe venty would offer me something so kind. and not only did he offer to ask - rex said yes!!

so on may 21st last year (2023) rex traveled out and distributed the celebi to his pokemon silver cartridge. specifically, the celebi is from the "Celebi Present Campaign" which ran from the 22nd of november 2002 to the 28th of november 2002. the display on the monitor is the same video that would have appeared on the screen in the PCNY store, but flipped sideways here haha. (the gen 2 distributions were special and had custom animations for the legendaries and stuff, which you can watch here in full quality on gridelin's channel - there's videos of the other distribution animations on his channel, too!)

and then months later, during the weekend of august 11th 2023, rex and venty met up at the pokemon world championship in japan and rex traded the celebi to venty's gold cartridge...

...then, finally, just this past weekend, on sunday (february 4th 2024) venty and i finally met in real life for the first time at the knoxville TN regional pokemon championships, and with link cable in hand the celebi finally made its way to me in my hotel room, after crossing the ocean twice and passing through canada to the US to japan and back to the US...!!

gen 2 pokemon data isn't very complicated, but you can tell that my celebi is unique from the other PCNY celebis dumped online (here and here if you'd like to play with some of these historical pokemon yourself) because it has the trainer ID of 00204 which none of the publicly available celebis have - though of course to me, regardless of what becomes publicly available in the future (and i hope one day the common layperson can simply emulate the PCNY machine, video game preservation >>> unique collections always) this celebi will always be special and unique because of how it got to me, and because it represents my friendship with venty who i care so much about. it was an extremely kind gesture i will never forget and i can't believe how much traveling and how many people were involved with getting this tiny bundle of bytes and pixels to me. i hugged venty after the trade was done haha

oh, and by the way, don't worry, i have the hardware to back up my gen 2 save files so this celebi will never die even after my crystal cartridge battery eventually dies once more!! (also, while i don't think it would be an issue i do want to say please don't bother any of the people mentioned in this post...! gridelin & co are working on making the distribution machine in question available for anyone to use, it'll come out whenever it's out and for now there are dumps of the events that were recovered. i would not want them to receive any annoying requests for pokemon because of me. thank you!)

[ofbreathandflame]

The Paradoxical Nature of Feyre

It’s interesting to consider just how much of Feyre’s character must overcompensate for Rhysand’s shortcomings as a character. I’ve always wondered at the impossibility of the morality involved in the characterization of feyre; in which, Feyre exists – as @feyres-divorce-lawyer has already elaborated on this this post – in this violent conundrum in which is operates as both the most qualified, but is oftentimes then characterized as the most inept to help.

To elaborate – Feyre’s character has to subsume an almost reverential when she is discussed in thorough conversations that question to her motivations, tactility, and efficiency. And because Feyre is never actually given qualities (or I should say – those qualities are never at the forefront when discussing why she is placed in these hierarchal / leadership positions) that prove she deserves to be a leader there’s no actual, tangible evidence to prove that Feyre is inherently qualified for any of these roles. When Helion asks Rhysand – “why did you make her High Lady” the story does not lean onto to any tangible reasons as to why we the reader should believe this other than ‘Rhys loved Feyre’

Here enters the actual problem with Feyre’s character: her being High Lady is a statement of Rhys goodness, not a statement on Feyre’s prowess. Because the story leans on such individualistic, arbitrary ideals, there’s nothing being said about Feyre as a character. So much of these conversations centers around Feyre being qualified but there’s nothing in the story that suggests otherwise. Feyre being reckless and brave prove that she is….reckless and brave – both those qualities don’t really make a good leader and they prove…nothing about Feyre’s skills. Realistically, of course Feyre knows close to nothing – of course she’s going to make very bad decisions and mistakes, of course her per view is limited. So much is put into proving that Feyre is the best that there’s often no conversation about how rigid that makes Feyre as a character.

Those are flaws that make Feyre a better character. One of my favorite moments when reading A Storm of Swords was the moment Davos realizes he needs to be able to read because ‘he’s a lord now.’ I love how he reflects on how hard the process is and how the children seem to read so easily and he has to sit down and sound out the words. Davos is such a good character because he represents the kind of struggles someone – lowborn, smuggler, illiterate, might have when integrating themselves into a new hierarchal world. But this also says something about him as a character – he chooses to begin the journey to learn how to read because he’s realized he needs tools in order to combat is inexperience. Even the fact that it’s not Feyre who realizes she needs to learn how to read but Rhys who forces her says so much about her character, negatively.  

So when we have these conversations about Feyre, no one ever actually proves what makes Feyre qualified to lead. Begrudgingly feeding your family because you feel obligated doesn’t prove that you can lead an entire town; it proves perhaps resilience, perhaps resourcefulness but even then id argue Feyre isn’t even that (see: she seems to not learned any other skills other than hunting, complains about her shoes instead of just mending her own or switching with Nesta or Elain; she can’t cook, etcs). Rhysand making Feyre High Lady because he loves her says nothing about her as a character. It doesn’t expound her talents and skills – and ultimately doesn’t make anyone believe the title is tangible. Even the story doesn’t believe that to be true.  Nothing about Feyre’s trials UTM prove that she is capable leader – if anything they prove the opposite (I do not mean this negatively – if anything, I’ve always felt that Nesta’s arc with the Valkyries fit Feyre much more than her own arc did. I could see Feyre being someone who operates under her own set of rules. I’ve always felt that Feyre seems to chafe under rules , so it doesn’t make sense that she would bound herself to such a leadership role as High Lady).

Back to the main point – the whole I’m making is that I believe that Feyre is talked about this way because so much of her character has to be muted to connect with Rhys. I think this conversation is always a consequence of Rhyland’s characterization and the novel's (and stans) rush to defend him. So many things have to be true about Feyre in order for her romance to Rhysand to be believable - and I argue that those changes are to the detriment of the traits Feyre's is initially characterized as having. And because Rhysand never has to undergo an actual character arc the pressure is placed on Feyre's character to align with the more negative traits Rhys possesses. Realistically, given how Feyre is characterized and given the whole “I hate the preening, gawking Spring Court” – I think its weird that she would immediately (1) do the exact thing in basically nothing with Rhys (2) allow herself to be turned into the most traumatic version of herself and (3) delight in random people’s pain. But because the story never asks Feyre to introspect she simply doesn’t talk about it.  And even if the story wants to go there – so much of Feyre’s healing hinges on affirming that she is good and so introducing these bad, carnal, selfish thoughts into the mix seem to undermine that.

[shall-we-die]

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{Quirk}

Random ability they have that's beneficial in a relationship?

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↬[Fandom]•⊰ {Obey me!}࿐

↬[Warnings]•⊰ {None}࿐

☰[Main list]•⊰ ────┈┈{0036}┈─╮

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╰┈➤Likes/Reblogs are appreciated࿐

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↬|Lucifer|

One of Lucifer's random abilities that is beneficial in a relationship is his cooking skills. Lucifer is an excellent cook and enjoys cooking delicious meals for his beloved to enjoy. Cooking for his partner is not only a sign of his love and affection, but also a way for him to unwind and spend quality time with them. His partner appreciates his culinary talents and loves indulging in the delicious meals he prepares. Lucifer's cooking skills are one of the ways he demonstrates his love for his partner and they cherish the time spent together in the kitchen.

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↬|Mammon|

Despite his many faults, Mammon actually has a hidden skill that can be quite beneficial in a relationship. Since he loves to spend time with his significant other, he knows all their favorite things, and he likes to put a lot of thought and effort into planning surprise date nights or romantic trips. He could also be a great partner to watch scary movies with (We all know he's scared, but this is the best way to be with MC), as he would cling to MC and make sure they are safe at all times. And, when it comes to expressing his feelings, he might even surprise them with a sweet and heartfelt gesture, letting them know just how much he loves and cherishes them.

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↬|Leviathan|

When in a relationship, Leviathan possesses the ability to perfectly match his partner's mood. He has an intuitive sense of when they need comfort, when they need space, and when they need reassurance. He never invalidates his partner's feelings and always makes an effort to understand them, even when he doesn't fully comprehend their point of view. His empathy and understanding make him the perfect partner, always putting his significant other's needs before his own.

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↬|Satan|

When MC is cold, Satan can warm them up with his fire. As demons, they can stay awake all night long together and never run out of things to do. MC may find the horns comforting to lay against when they want to cuddle. Satan has a soft spot for all kitties MC and may spoil the cat with all the treats they want. Despite Satan's dark exterior, he is actually quite sensitive and considerate of MC's feelings. Satan loves to make MC laugh by telling jokes (maybe a little too dark, but who can resist them?) (Actually, I really enjoy dark humor)

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↬|Asmodeus|

Asmodeus is known for his beautiful vocals which is why it's no surprise that he's quite a good singer! If MC is stressed or sad, he can serenade them as a way of comforting them and showing his love. A song can do wonders in lifting one's spirit. With his singing, Asmodeus can give MC a chance to relax and escape reality for a moment. After he's done singing, he'll wrap his arms around MC, giving them a light kiss on their cheek.

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↬|Beelzebub|

Beelzebub is a very attentive and thoughtful partner. He is always aware of the MC's mood, their likes and dislikes, and their needs. He will surprise them with thoughtful gestures, such as cooking their favorite meal or buying them a small but meaningful gift. Beelzebub also enjoys being tactile and affectionate with the MC, and he shows his love through touch and kisses. Overall, Beelzebub is a great partner and always tries to make the MC feel safe, loved, and appreciated.

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↬|Belphegor|

Belphegor is a great listener and loves when MC vents and shares stories with them. Belphegor is a huge snuggle bug and loves making MC feel comfortable and cozy. Belphegor is very loyal and protective of MC, always having their back no matter what.

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↬|Diavolo|

Diavolo has an excellent memory and remembers every single detail of his time with the MC, both big and small, and will often surprise them by referencing things they did or said in the past, which shows how much he was paying attention and how much he values their time together. Diavolo has the ability to sense the MC's need for affection and attention from miles away, like a sixth sense, and no matter what he is doing, he will rush to the MC's side when they need him. Diavolo has a knack for writing emotional, meaningful letters, poems, and love notes for the MC.

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↬|Barbatos|

Barbatos knows how to make every single dish that the s/o may want, and he knows how to mix certain drinks into certain flavors. As the head butler of the Lord, it's essential for Barbatos to know everything that's beneficial to the s/o's physical and mental well-being. He'd surprise and shower the s/o with their favorite dish or drink whenever he can be of service. This is to cheer up the s/o whenever they feel down and to make them smile and laugh again.

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↬|Simeon|

Simeon has a special ability to soothe, relax, and calm his partner with his gentle, soothing voice and calming presence. This makes him a great listener when you need to vent or just talk about your worries and stresses. Simeon is also very attentive and observant and notices lots of little things about you, such as when you're not feeling well or feeling down. He is always quick to come to your aid, whether it's by getting you your favorite snacks and hot drinks, or by offering a listening ear and words of comfort.

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↬|Solomon|

Solomon has the ability to be a wonderful listener. He can fully devote himself to listening to his partner and understanding their feelings and thoughts. He is able to ask meaningful questions and offer meaningful responses, allowing him to truly understand and connect with his partner. This is a highly beneficial ability in a relationship, as it allows both partners to come together and feel closer and more intimate. It also helps to resolve conflicts and build trust between the two people in the relationship, as it shows them that they are being heard and that their feelings are being taken seriously.

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[rumble-aint-a-rumble-without-me]

I don't know if this has been done before, if it has ignore my ask but i was wondering if you could do a set of headcanons explaining how the boys show love? Like do they compliment? Do they do things for their s/o? Are they constantly expressing affection or is it special when they show love? Do they do grand gestures or is it more of a low-key thing? Again I haven't read all of your posts so if this has been done already I'm sorry. It feels like something that would have been done before but I can't find it.

A/N: This request has been making its round in the fandom, but I haven’t done this yet! I’ve done dating headcanons before, but not an in-depth of how the boys show their love! Thank you so much for requesting, I was super jazzed to write this!

DARRY CURTIS

For Darry, I definitely think he’s acts of service or quality time as his giving love language, and maybe words of affirmation for receiving?

He’s giving the vibes that he’d always be trying to do things for you or having you around, I really think those moments are seriously when he’s the most happy and thriving

So for acts of service specifically, I can see him being the boyfriend to carry your bags or hold doors for you, cook you dinner, or do chores around the house that benefit you like picking up your favorite foods when he goes grocery shopping

Also! Doing your laundry! Got a feeling you’re spending so much time around the house, your clothes work themselves into the laundry cycle and Darry makes sure to leave them on the foot of the bed for you, carefully folded up

And with quality time, he just likes having you around him, y’know? It’s kind of self-explanatory-

Boyo just wants to be with you, watching a movie, cooking, shopping, sitting, working, watching, Darry wants to be at your side and just stay there, hanging out in your orbit

SODAPOP CURTIS

Physical touch and words of affirmation as his giving love language and quality time as his receiving language!

I think Sodapop has a little problem with wondering if people really like him or not? Like if they just think he’s pretty or actually like him? So going out of your way to hang out with him makes him feel really appreciated

But he’s definitely gotta have his hands on you, both as a way to get out all of his chaotic energy and as a way of loving on you at all hours of the day!

Hands on your waist, keeping you close when you go dancing, toying with your fingers, or nuzzling along the line of your jaw when you cuddle, Sodapop is very tactile and very dexterous

And the words of affirmation, oh my good Lord, this boy will shower you with so much sweetness that you’ll feel like you took a bath in syrup

He thinks you’re pretty, thinks you’re smart, thinks you’re incredible, gorgeous, hard-working, lovely, funny, you’re everything to him and he’s gonna let you know it every day

PONYBOY CURTIS

Pony’s giving love languages are words of affirmation and quality time and his receiving is physical touch because I say so

Pet his hair, kiss his cheek, lace your fingers with his and tug him around, pressing into his side, Pony absolutely melts whenever you touch him

Words are really kind of his thing? He’s a writer babes, let me just tell you, you’re gonna be immortalized in his writing as his muse, forever and ever no matter what happens between you two

He writes you love letters and little notes, chock full of compliments and affirmatives about how much he cares about you! I highly suggest keeping these and thumbing at the corners when you miss him <3

And quality time? You guys do spend a lot of time together, but it’s usually around the guys, so Ponyboy does try and take some time out so it’s just the two of you guys together 

You go to the movies together a lot, do your homework together (either at his place or yours), and go on walks to watch the sunset like the hopeless romantics you both are!

DALLAS WINSTON

You can argue with me all you want, but Dally’s receiving is words of affirmation and his givings are acts of service and physical touch

He may be all big and tough, but Dally’s got a soft spot for you and your words always manage to resonate with him, he values your thoughts and opinions over anyone else’s

Yes, I know that he’s an asshole with a bunch of unresolved trauma, but he’s got some gallant traits and I think that he knows how to treat a lover, knows how to be a good person 

He defends you endlessly, guards your drink, picks you up from wherever you are, and takes you out all the time. Dally wants to do things for you, okay? Ya might as well let him do what he wants

And physical touch is such a straightforward concept for him, you can’t look me in the eye and convince me that he’s not one of the touchiest boys, you just can’t, okay?

So many kisses you think you’ll never breathe again, hands finding homes in the dips of your hips or the pockets of your jeans, linking his fingers with yours to give you a little more freedom but still keeping you close when you guys go out!

JOHNNY CADE

Johnnycake my beloved, I’m gonna give him words of affirmation and acts of service for giving and words of affirmation as receiving too!

I think he’s got a rough relationship with touch that’s too long to discuss here, but I really do think he flourishes under compliments! Tell him he’s smart, tell him you like his hair when it’s ungreased, just tell him you like him for crying out loud- 

Johnny likes to talk with you? Which seems weird cause he’s often painted as this shy and quiet kid who never really talks to anyone, but he’s got some sass, we see it when he’s with Ponyboy

So he talks with you and I kid you not, every other statement out of his mouth is a compliment your way, he’s constantly praising you for every little thing under the sun, I’m not even joking

And he’s always down to do things for you! You need something, he’s jumping to get it for you or already giving up what he has to give it over to you

Johnny’s personally offended whenever you try to downplay your needs or thoughts, he wants so badly to help you out and show you how much he loves you, I’m begging you just ask if you need something 

TWO-BIT MATHEWS

This handsy little man definitely has physical touch as one of his giving languages and I think gift-giving is another! I’m torn between acts of service and quality time as his receiving

Two-Bit likes having you around and will often call you up just to hang out or join him on whatever adventure he finds himself in, whether that’s just watching his sister or hitting up a part in the neighborhood

He shows a lot of his love through little trinkets? You’ve probably got shelves full of the little doo-dads he’s given you-

Some of them are stolen, some of them were handmade, and some were actually bought, but all of them, you can rest assured, were given to you with nothing but love and adoration

Hands, hands, hands, if Two’s not touching you, he’s not going to have a good day and he will throw a hellacious fit if you don’t let him keep at least one finger linked with yours

Two likes to have his hands on your hips or tracing the lines of your body, he’s a sucker for your eyes and likes to draw shapes on your skin, especially over your stomach and shoulder blades!

STEVE RANDLE

Love languages for Steve-o are acts of service and words of affirmation for giving and physical touch for receiving!

I think he’d benefit from you showering him in hugs and kisses? Tracing the greased swirls of his hair and squeezing his hand whenever you go to link your fingers together-

With acts of service, he’s constantly trying to do everything for you, man’s a cheerleader and wants nothing more out of life than to be at your beck and call

Carrying your backpack or shopping bags, driving you around when you guys go out on the town and all that! He will not let you pay for anything, it’s a fight every time you try to pay for food- 

Cheerleader also literally means nothing but compliments, okay? He’s got nothing but kind words to give to you in he’s gonna tell you all about it, every single thought that passes through that head of his

Wearing an outfit he likes? Compliments and kisses. Helped him out with a car at the DX? Tells you how well you did and how you’re a far better helper than Sodapop ever was

TIM SHEPARD

Darling Timothy Shepard has acts of service and physical touch as his giving love languages and acts of service for receiving too 

It means a lot to him when you do things, helps him know that you really do care for him like you’ve been saying, it’s that reassurance he needs, especially if you’re taking care of him by taking care of his siblings

Giving acts of service looks like him defending you, picking you up or driving you around town for things other than dates, and paying for dinner when you guys go out

You’re his doll, y’know? He’s never really had anyone steady to take care of him so he’s gonna make sure that he’s steady in your relationship, he’s gonna be there always to take care of you

He’s iffy with receiving physical touch but gives it out very freely, mostly focused through touches or kisses

He’ll run his fingers through your hair, trace your cheekbones, hold your hand or slip a hand into your back pocket, kiss your cheeks and the spot below your ear, making sure you feel his love <3

CURLY SHEPARD

Curly’s got physical touch and acts of service as his giving love languages, much like his older brother, but his receiving is words of affirmation!

He needs to be smothered in kind words, okay? He won’t believe them at first but just keep it up and he’ll be a happy little Curly in no time, you’ve got to get through that tough outside

As for physical touch, it’s self-explanatory. He likes to have his hands on you and he’s gonna touch you all the time, just as long as you don’t mind, of course, he’d never do something you’re not okay with

Specifically, I’m talking about him tracing shapes into your skin when you’re laying next to each other, his hand finding a home on the inside of your thigh when you’re sitting in a booth at the diner, tons and tons of kisses all over your face, neck, and hands

Acts of service looks like him giving over his jacket when it gets cold in the evenings, sharing the fries on his plate when he can tell you’re still hungry, carrying your backpack down the school hallways

He doesn’t always know how to show his love through words or anything, so he relies heavily on actions and doing things for you as a way to try and make sure you know how he feels about you

[trans-cuchulainn]

Could you recommend some good resources on accurate depiction of parchment in the medieval period? I feel like most people interested in medieval studies have a basic understanding of what it is and how it’s made, but you seem more well-versed than most on its tactile properties and regular use cases. Where can others acquire this knowledge?

most of what i've learned about manuscripts and book history has been either during my degrees or from work (i have worked in various libraries including with special collections, although mostly with early printed books and later paper manuscripts in that capacity). and in terms of what it's like to interact with, i have learned this mostly from interacting with it, but if you don't have a library or museum near you that will enable you to do this, it's a bit harder. this makes it hard to give recommendations although there are lots of very good books out there about books and manuscript history

(there's one i read early on in my journeys with palaeography etc that went into loads of detail about different writing surfaces including wood and wax tablets and so on, but i cannot remember the title and past me did NOT write it down which was really unhelpful. if i remember it i'll post about it)

there are also a ton of online resources about manuscripts though. lots of museums have online guides to manuscript production, parchment, writing through history. there's lots of codicology stuff out there. so it's not like you have to learn it in a formal environment -- that's just where i learned it and therefore mostly from lectures rather than shareable resources

but to understand parchment specifically i think understanding the process of making it is a crucial step to understanding why it is the way it is (and why it's not paper). here's a couple of youtube videos that give an overview

this is a more detailed video about a project that got people to make parchment themselves which is just kinda interesting (haven't watched it all the way through but am watching parts):

once you understand how parchment is made and the resources that go into it, i think it's easier to understand why it probably wouldn't be used for ephemera and scraps, and that helps you think about situations where people might use something else -- e.g. a wax tablet to take hasty notes, send messages that don't need to be permanent, send messages that are emphatically not permanent (your recipient can melt it and hide the note), etc -- as well as beginning to rethink the modern world's reliance on the written word in general and consider how oral messages and other non-written communication might have been used

as for the tactile side of things, as i said in a previous post, if you can't touch book parchment, go find your local irish musicians and see if the bodhrán player will let you handle their drum (or good quality orchestral timpani will do too! but with a bigger drum it's harder to feel both sides of the skin). drumskins made of goatskin are very similar on a tactile level to parchment, just a little thicker and not processed to quite the same level as a writing surface. it helps you stop thinking of them as super fragile once you realise people are whacking them with a stick regularly, and you can learn about the difference between the hair side and the flesh side of the skin and stuff and see the way the hair leaves traces in the skin and so on. this helps with the tactile understanding

(the cheaper the bodhran, the rougher the reverse side will be even if the front is still nice and smooth, which also makes you realise the difference between high quality books where you can barely tell which side of the page is the hair side, and low quality ones where they're not fully treated, there's still hair, whatever)

i talked to a conservator lately who told me the way he got into book conservation was via musical instrument repair -- they are more similar than you would think -- and i know trad musicians scattered far and wide enough to be reasonably confident that even if you're in an area with no touchable medieval manuscripts, you can probably at some point find a drummer who will let you play with their bodhrán in exchange for a pint or something, lol

but in the mean time there's lots of cool videos about there about parchment making which i do think is a crucial step to understanding it as a writing surface! and i will see if i can remember the names of any of the books i've read...

[radiation]

Video games talk dont even mind me

Bro video games as a whole are so far behind movies in terms of storytelling and pacing that it’s kind of baffling. Which of course is obvious and makes sense for plenty of reasons but like, just think about it — watching movies a lot can’t help but train a certain muscle that gives you a strong instinct for structure. I find that people who watch movies very casually, without too much artistic consideration, and don’t really know the language associated with it are still very often irked by specific issues with a movie’s pacing, dialogue, etc and are relatively capable of putting it into words. Likewise, for many movies out there, regardless of your opinions on any specific directorial choices, you do feel as if the movie is essentially cohesive and creatives involved reasonably knew what they were doing and were acting very intentionally, and there weren’t any major oversights. This includes independent films as well. Meanwhile I think both players and developers much more commonly lack the instinct for narrative cohesion when it comes to video games. Definitely a fair amount of exceptions to this, but in general I find it’s difficult to find video games that are very narrative heavy & aspire to great artistic heights that don’t suffer from inherent structural problems, pedantic dialogue, tons of dead air, etc in a way that wouldn’t slide as easily in a movie. A lot these flaws certainly have to be due to the presence of gameplay elements and having to balance that with story when the two are almost always, at least in some small respect, inherently at odds. As for the inability for devs and players to pick up on / fix these flaws…is it because gameplay can distract from it and make up for it? With longer games that have runtimes closer to the experience of a television series, is there a similar reaction where if it’s long enough you will sit thru smaller, momentary issues because you enjoy the bigger picture? Yet games are a lot more engaging than a show as a audio, visual, and tactile experience, you can’t multitask and tune the information out as easily as with a boring episode of a show, so you’d think people would be more picky? But maybe because it’s so attention-demanding people are more immersed, and believe in the experience enough to more easily accept the story? Books demand the same kind of active attention to experience though, and the bar for story in books is a lot higher, so what gives? Well a lot of these have kind of obvious answers but still Interesting questions to ask that lead to Damn , That Is Still Crazy How Much This Shit Is In Its Infancy like sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy with how many writing issues are present in games, particularly in indie games that are Trying To Be Good At Writing that feel excessively obvious and yet I often struggle to find my sentiment mirrored by others. IDK. And back to movies the thing is I feel like if the same people trying to write these kind of games had pursued movies instead then they would’ve ended up making well structured movies that avoided all of these pitfalls. WHAT IS IT WITH GAMES? Well we know what it is with games and we could spend all day discussing a million more reasons this is the way it is but no matter what I think we should just be super conscientious of these pitfalls when making narrative focused games and aspire to a greater level of intentionality that is absolutely possible . Build that muscle by really understanding the quality of storytelling long-present in other mediums.Well the other issue with indie devs is that everyone believes they are totally breaking new ground story wise that they don’t take a step back, humble themselves a bit, and cross-reference what they’re doing with the tons of other stories that have already achieved similar things But thats a conversation for another day .

[belamew]

What other “special” line of Eevee are there?

I'll try not to list too many! There's many more than the below. Each eeveelution has MANY different lines.

Vaporeon:

Royal - Notably a deep, royal blue color. Their face fins don't have the ribbing structure holding them up, so it drapes next to their face instead. 7/10. Doesn't really lower their quality of life, but their face fins are a lot more delicate and easy to tear. Fine if pet-only, but not battling.

Lotus - Often more green in color, but not exclusively. Their key feature is with their tail fins, splitting and overlapping. 4/10. Makes swimming harder.

Flareon:

Charcoal - black flareon! Unlike shinies, albinism and melanism can be bred for. 8/10. Just a good ol flareon with dark fur. Score would be higher, but there's some issues with in-breeding, which isn't as bad of a problem anymore thank god.

Oh My Fluff - yes that's the actual name. They're bred to have more brown fur and are EXTREMELY fluffy, looking more like an eevee. 2/10. Their fur is HELL to manage and while flareon are fluffy, the fur on the their torso is typically short and not long. This messes up their heat regulation. Susceptible to heat stroke. How do you mess up so bad that FIRE TYPE can get a heat stroke???

Jolteon:

False shiny - bred to have that greenish color of a shiny. Not an actual shiny tho. Fairly easy to breed due to color variation and p harmless tbh. 9/10. I kinda don't care if they scam people lmao. Quality of life doesn't suffer genetically.

Elegance-Style - distinctive trait has their usually spikey fur draping down instead. 10/10. Looks goofy, but a p harmless line. This line is weaker fighting wise tho.

Jolteon in general actually has p okay lines.

Since I'm NOT AT ALL being brief, more below the cut for the other eeveelutions.

Espeon:

Lavender-Point - you may see this trait on other Pokémon, but the "point" gene gives Pokémon darker fur on their face, ears, paws and tail(s). This line has darker purple at those points. 10/10, entirely harmless. Looks cool. This gene shows on eevee! Although at that point it's a darker brown or black, not lavender.

Twin Tail - has a fully split tail! While typically harmless, I've heard of breeders splitting the tail a birth if it doesn't have a perfectly split tail :( 5/10

Snow - an albino espeon! Contrary to popular belief, not all albinos have red eyes. This line is noted for having white fur and blue eyes. 3/10 because this line often ends up with bad hearing issues and are very sensitive to the light... which isn't good for an espeon.

I've honestly got SO many more on espeon.

Umbreon:

Moonlight - selectively bred to have have very pale, nearly white yellow rings. Very pretty. 9/10. Linked to odd lethargy? But they're just a little more lazy and sleepy.

Starlight - another albino! Pure white fur, purple-blue eyes. Rings are tactile visible but are also white and not very noticeable unless it's dark. 5/10. EXTREMELY sensitive to the sun. Tends to have eyesight and hearing issues.

Halloween - their rings are more orange than the per usual yellow, more noticeable canine fangs. Bad history with being used in illegal, to-death fights. Wildly believed to be more aggressive, but this is false. 8/10, bad history, but not a bad Pokémon.

Umbreon and espeon face less issues than sylveon. The feelings involved to evolve are a LOT less strong than the ones needed for a sylveon. Emotional manipulation tactics aren't typically used on them. They're usually just treated well.

Leafeon (has the least amount of lines):

Bright Eyes - blue or green eyes! Not... really much else to them. 7/10 for eye sight problems.

Spring time - hybrid line! Often crossbred with other grass types, specifically flowery ones, to get leafeon with flowers. 9/10, doesn't typically cause issues.

Glaceon:

Princess - noted for paler, bluer coloration (similar to a shiny). The ribbons on the side of their head swirl in a curl like pattern. 4/10. They tend to have pretty bad joint issues, especially when they get older.

Snow - surprisingly, not an albino! White fur, very pale baby blues where they should have darker markings. 9./10, very pretty. Sensitive to sunlight.

Both leafeon and glaceon have false shiny lines.

Sylveon:

Flower - their bow is feathered into a several splits, forming a full circle that looks kinda like a flower. Their coloration tends to lean more peachy.

Butterfly - two sectioned bow that looks like a butterfly wing. They lean more purple in coloration.

No rating. The lines themselves don't have genetic issues, but the trauma they're put through is 100% not worth it. There's very, VERY few breeders that do this ethically. I do not trust a SINGLE sylveon breed line except for albinism and melanism since those are popular for ALL eeveelutions and don't require strict sylveon/sylveon breeding.

I could honestly talk about these breed lines all day. I see them a LOT at the daycare.

[monstress]

hii. if u dont mind, could u please share that "change of attitude" towards journaling? i feel like i really need that.. since i myself changed my attitude towards drawing and have been much more productive and happy doing it this last year. however Writing About Myself its another beast completely.. hope u r having a nice day! 🍃

hope you're having a lovely day as well! anyways as i was typing this up, what starts as a small tidbit has gone off the rails so i suppose this is my blanket advice as a newbie in journaling:

the materials!

choosing the titular journal aka notebook:

soft vs hard cover - i didn't realize this is SUCH a deciding factor until much later. most people prefer soft covers since journals can get massive with use but it's very subjective. be tactile - if it just don't feel right in ur hands, it's not gonna be something u reach out for when u have free time.

size - the most common sizes are A5, A6 or regular aka travelers notebook. you have to think abt who you are as a writer. do u have a large handwriting that takes up pages and pages? do you like space or are you overwhelmed by a blank page? do you travel a lot and do u want something unobtrusive in your bag? choose something that will reasonable work as a part of your daily life.

paper texture - paper that is smooth to write in are a great source of pleasure. notebooks with 100gsm paper is a good benchmark.

price - pleaseeee do not break the bank to purchase a fancy notebook. an expensive notebook can become an unloved one. you'd be too stressed to ensure every entry is perfect and pretty enough and the notebook eventually becomes too intimidating for you to fill in. check out your local hypermarket or online stores for quality notebooks. moleskins are overrated--in my country, they are v v expensive so don't feel pressure to buy a certain stationary just bc you see them often on ig/tiktok like my journal cost me approximately RM10 (USD2.34) and my new one w 100gsm paper cost me RM17 (USD4) like affordable options are out there!

build a connection with your notebook - listen...this sounds strange but having an attachment with your journal and making it inviting as possible is a great source of motivation. personalize it: add stickers, doodle or paint the cover. get a fabric/pvc cover to keep it clean if you'd like (you can add lil papers/stickers on ur actual notebook cover before putting on the pvc cover! very cute and easy)

and your pens:

again: less is more! use any relatively cheap pens you like - be it for the ink or smoothness. if you want to journal a lot, expect to lose a few pens during traveling or just around the house lmao

for fans of darker inks like me, i use Uni-ball Signo Broad, M&G R3 retractable gel pen and my favorite: Faber Castell RX Gel Pen 0.38mm - which cost like RM1.49 (i dont wanna convert - it's change money in america)

final note: i don't use fountain pens so i'm afraid i'm not well-versed enough to advise in that department but i deeply respect (and a little in awe) of journallers who use them 🫡

the tenet!

purpose: what do u plan to use the notebook for? daily journal? art journal? planner? all three? it's your life! live deliciously! since i have a 9-5 job, i know i can't keep up with more than one journal so i've been using mines as a diary and i dump my daily activities/thoughts/reviews of all kinds of media i'm currently obsessed with and it fills up quick!

don't be too hard on yourself: if you missed a day or two of journalling, it's fine - take it back up. write down anything memorable you'd like in the past few days. if you come across a certain blank page your brain is blanking to fill, perhaps after a previous dark entry, skip the page. skip two pages if needed. don't be scared of blank pages. if it needs to be blank, let it be.

it doesn't have to only be words! add stickers, dried flowers, receipts, ticket stubs, other ephemera you collected in the day. be artful! go crazy on page decoration!!

if there's anything you take away from this post, it's this: if you truly want a journal that is used up quickly, do not have plans to share it on social media. personally, i find once you are in the mindset of sharing your journal for an audience's consumption, you get worried whether it's "aesthetic" enough or is it too boring or too ugly or too dark or that you don't upload regularly enough. social media can be inhibiting your creativity or motivation to journal like let your animal brain ruminate in private! stay free from the shackles of responsibility!

[mamawasatesttube]

what do you think the c4’s love languages are?

kon and bart are both Definitely physical touch guys. they're the snuggliest. they are cuddlebuds. they will bicker relentlessly until cassie breaks a wall just kool-aid manning her way out of the room to get away from their latest stupid "no way!" "yes way!" "no way!" "yes way!" bullshit, and yet bart is actively in kon's lap the entire time. to an extent all 4 of them are into physical touch, like they are all generally a pretty tactile team, and they can often all be found in a big puppy pile, but kon and bart are the Most tactile and clingy.

kon is also the biggest acts of service guy known to man. he makes everyone food, he folds all of their laundry, he'll fuss if tim or cassie (or bart, but thats Much rarer) gets sick, etc. tim is also an acts of service guy, but in lil understated ways that are just tiny things that are really thoughtful. schedules trip routes so that they can stop by a restaurant he thinks bart will like, has cassie's mom's birthday in his calendar, etc.

tim is also very much a gift-giver (learned behavior from his childhood, tbh). this manifests both as "i saw this weird-looking pebble while taking a walk earlier and i thought you'd like it :)" (bird behavior) and as "i panicked because i didn't know what to do for bart's birthday so i bought him an apartment. hey why are you guys laughing at me shut up"

cassie... words of affirmation!!!!!! she will tell her friends she loves them and she will tell them OFTEN!!! this is also part of why they all agree she makes an effective leader bc she's Good at inspiring people and making them feel loved. it comes naturally to her!! she's also very receptive to words of affirmation in turn. she's the kind of person to leave little notes like "i love u!!!" and "ur hair looks amazing today!!" and "have a wonderful afternoon!" in people's lunchboxes or clothes.

all of them are big on quality time. they like to plan things together (well, tim cassie and kon plan things. bart usually does more of a HEY GUYS I FOUND A GAME WE SHOULD TRY SOMETIME!!!!! and then waits for them to discuss who's available when so they can just tell him when and where to show up.) and hang out regularly bc!! prioritizing each other!! spending time together on purpose!! feels good all around. i think its a big one for all of them tbh bc All of them are... pretty lonely at times, so the fact that they have each other and Choose to be with each other is v much a love language. kon and bart in particular will also just show up at each others' (and tim and cassie's) homes like LET ME IN. I WANT ATTENTION.

[zerokrox-blog]

My Headcanons for Steddie (Steve Harrington & Eddie Munson)

Steve is not afraid of bugs, he is the type to take them out of his house/let them free. Eddie HATES bugs but also hates killing them

Steve & Eddie can both cook & bake so they take turns. Cleaning is a job they do together.

Steve's parents neglected him and because of that he is very touch starved. He is very tactile with his friends though.

Eddie and Steve get together by complete accident. They flirt all the time & at some point they end up moving in together & starting a life together and have the realization years later that they have basically been a married couple without clarifying their relationship.

Wayne likes Steve. They bond over cars, sports, music and Eddie. Steve will never tell Eddie but the first time Wayne calls Steve 'son' he cried. Also Wayne doesn't give Steve any shovel talk bc when he sees how they are together, the way they communicate, and interact he knows he has nothing to fear.

Steve's love language is acts of service & words of affirmation. He loves making lunches for his kids & meals for their families should it be needed. Eddie thinks its sweet. Eddie's love language is physical touch & quality time. So Steve makes it a point to reach out & touch him as well to spend time together. They also meal prep and cook for the week together. Its Eddie's favorite time of the week. They both really like getting random gifts for each other.

They both like low key dates. And one of their favorites is to make dinner & eat together and while cleaning up they dance in their kitchen. Its very soft.

Eddie wears all of Steve's clothing bc it's larger than him and feels like a hug. Steve loves it. He works out constantly to keep his shape bc he likes seeing his love swimming in his clothing

Steve became a teacher & liked it but he ended up becoming a paramedic after a year & a half of teaching bc he is used to working under pressure and much preferred it to teaching

Steve knows sign language & can speak Italian. Eddie knows French & sign language. They both learn Spanish together bc they felt learning a new language together is important. Now they mostly flirt and even swear lovingly at each other in Spanish.

They are both SUPER competitive. But when playing games with their friends they will team up to destroy them. The kids hate it.

The party called Steve 'dad' one time and he was so pleased. He was almost skipping Eddie nearly cackled at the look on his face. (Eddie's bandmates got a photo and it becomes the one they use on social media for a bit simply bc of how besotted Eddie looks)

Eddie's band Corroded Coffin becomes fairly well known not super famous but also not unknown. They win a grammy and Eddie cries as he thanks his family & mostly his beloved Steve for their support (it's also how he comes out to the public)

After the grammy's a photo circulates of Steve Harrington-Munson in a soft butter-yellow sweater and jeans, shaking hands with James Hatfield (Metallica), Vince Neil, & most importantly he is getting hugged by Ozzy Osborn.

They have 4 cats named Ozzy (orange tabby), Hattie ( blue maine coon), Bush (sphinx) and Pinkie (british shorthair)

Steve and Eddie fought over which last name to go by when they got married. When they chose to hyphenate their last name to be Harrington-Munson and when their friends asked why Steve smiled & said 'all stories should end on a good soft note. And the Munson's have given me my best and sweetest ending.' Wayne & Eddie cried..they both blamed it on allergies

Steve's parents try to come back into his life after Eddie becomes famous. But it doesn't work bc Steve already has his family. He has Eddie & Wayne, the Hopper-Byres, the Henderson's, the Sinclair's & the Wheeler's.

Steve and Eddie both learn how to braid hair for the Sinclair's bc the nearest place is almost an hour and half trip away. And its easier for them to go & learn bc Erica HATES people she doesn't know touching her hair and while her mom can do it, she works full time & it helps to take some of the load off.

Eddie and Steve eventually adopt 3 older kids and 3 middle aged kids who are harder to get adopted. They make sure before they do, to have a good support system in place, have gone to therapy, and learn ways to help. Their kids are diverse in culture but they try their best to help their kids stay connected to them.

[lily-orchard]

I'm looking for PC peripherals, I was wondering if you could tell me what you use and if they're worth it?

Mouse - Logitech G600

This is the only mouse I use. I've used it for over ten years, and they're relatively cheap as far as high grade mice go (about $50). I did use the Naga for a while, but after having to replace them too many times from the mouse buttons breaking off I just went back to this one. If you're like me and prefer having the MMO style buttons for any game, this beats most of the others in terms of quality and price.

Keyboard - Steelseries Apex 5

Though I don't use a keyboard for games, I do a LOT of writing, and it's been a pain in the ass finding a decent keyboard that doesn't stick, doesn't feel awkward, and isn't crazy expensive. So I swear by hybrid keyboards (Mecha-Membrane) because they're not as expensive as mechanical keyboards and have that tactile feel.

For some reason the fingers on my right hand have this strange sensation in them that makes me compelled to hammer them on the keyboard if there isn't enough tactile feedback. I have no idea why. Plus the clickity-clackity is very satisfying for my ADHD brain.

And as someone who frequently works in the dark, a keyboard that lights up is borderline mandatory.

Any Mecha-Membrane keyboard is good, just don't buy from Razer.

Keypad - Razer Tartarus

The keypad is for video games, but I find it's quite helpful while editing as well. I prefer it because of the additional buttons on the thumb. Keyboards have a problem where a lot of keys are badly positioned and this is a much more comfortable way to get more use out of your fingers.

I know I just said don't buy Razer, but the problem is Razer is the only one who makes them in this way. There used to be one from Logitech but it's discontinued and crazy expensive and other keypads don't have the same strengths these two do.

Gamepad - Logitech F310

I've had this since 2004 and haven't replaced it since. It's cheap, it's durable, it's high quality, it's everything you could need. Every other PC Gamepad is just this but more expensive.

[callmearcturus]

Okay, I wanted to catalog all of my switches bc I just keep getting them when they go on sale so I weirdly have a lot of them and I don't wanna forget which is what. So.

What the fuck are all of these anyway?

Haimu Whisper Silent Tactile

Bought these because I realized the portable keyboard I use for writing fic on the go was just, uh, noisy! It was loud, so these were on a huge discount and I was like "silent AND tactile, okay sure" and grabbed them.

I'm typing on them now! I love these things. They are super satisfying and good! I like them more than the boutique switches I got and they're about the same as the Gateron Kangaroos but without the noise, so perfect! Would recommend!

Akko Wine Red Linears

The pre-lubed variant. I got these on sale because I wanted lubed switches but was not and will never hand-lube anything. These might be the first switches I ever bought? They're fine, good firm linears.

But I'm not a linear fan, so I don't use them anymore.

Durock Shrimp Silent Tactile Switches

I got these for my mother's keyboard for work so it would be quiet and they are amaaaaaaaaaaaazing. They are pricey so I waited and waited and waited for someone to put them on sale. Fucking worth it. They sound nice and deep but quiet and they have a good level of feedback. Maybe my third fave tactile, and a must-have for quieting down a spacebar.

Akko Lavender Purple Tactiles

Ah yes the cream of the crop for cheap switches. Honestly, god bless Akko for making really good budget switches. These were my first tactiles, and instantly I was converted to Tactile Life. Now, I find the resistence on them too low, but also I am a bit of a freak who liked a lot of resistence and feedback on the switch, so these are still very good for non-freaks.

Gateron Aliaz Silent Tactile

Andy sent me a couple of these in a trade, and they were life-changing for quieting my fucking spacebar, but wow these are tactile? I am playing with this switch in my hand right now and it doesn't feel tactile to me at all??? But it absolutely does its job. I'm of the opinion you NEED a silent for a spacebar, it's mandatory.

Akko Jelly Pink CS Linear

I think these came with my mother's keyboard when I bought it for her, but I swapped them all out for Durock Shrimps. However, these are perfect nice switches! I like them! I realized from these that I really like the box stem. Maybe I'm making it up, but they seem like they are more stable. These are perfectly fine linears. Good sound!

Gateron G Black Linear

These came on my portable keyboard and like 5 of them had bent pins, so wasn't a huge fan and have swapped them out.

I mean they aren't bad, they are SILKY smooth linears with medium-push so I did use them for a few days, but... Linear bores me. I see why its a Gamer Switch tho, it's nice and quick.

AKKO Jelly Purple Tactile

I forget why I have these, they came with something.... They're similar to the Lavs, but are firmer and have the box stem, so I kind of like them more than the Lavs? I think they would be perfect to put on your modifier keys while running linears on the alphas, which is a technique to avoid mis-hitting mods.

I have better tactiles than this but they are solid.

NK_Silk Olivia Rosette Linears

D'AWWWW MY FIRST SWITCHES. They came on my very first keeb, which I used to write the majority of KTOWL.

These are pre-lubed and are even smoother than the Gat Blacks. They are unfortunately the opposite of the touch profile I want, but they are super high quality for the linear gang.

AKKO Jelly Blue CS Tactile

what do you mean these are tactile, what

I mean, I LOVE these. I got these on an AKKO board and I fully intended to swap out the switches for my own fancier, handpicked ones, but I liked the feeling of these so much I left them on for like two months before swapping out.

I can't believe their tactile. I mean, I'm playing with one now and I guess I feel it, but it's like the most gentle, polite tactile ever.

Jwick Taro Tactile

MY FIRST REAL BELOVED. These were on sale (gosh, recurring theme here) and I love purple and taro so obvsly had to have them.

Unlubed, box stem, no wobble. The POM stem hitting the nylon housing makes for VERY good sound. I love the feel of these guys. I love the pop, I can just fidget with one of these all day. GOOD SHIT.

Gateron Kangaroo Tactiles

This and the Haimu are fist-fighting for my fave switch. I love these. They are bossy, aggressive tactiles with a solid pop. They are bouncy lil shits with a great sound. Noisy, so I would only run them under thicker keycaps like MT3 or SAs, not Cherry. But man, under the right cap they are musical.

I think I just slightly like the Haimu because my main keyboard is the portable one with XVX caps so the quiet is currently better, but I will be using the Kangaroos again in the future for sure.

Black Gazzew Boba U4T Tactile

I waited months for the Gazzews to go on sale. On the main mech keeb subreddit, people swear up and down that these are The Best Tactiles, they're life-changing, they cannot be improved, etc etc.

They're.... fine. Better than Akkos, sure, but ranked under the Shrimps, Kangaroos, and Haimu Whispers.

I don't know why but they just don't thrill me. I can feel the difference in them, how they don't require a lot of downward pressure to actuate but they have a POWERFUL feedback bump. I feel like I should like these! I want my tactiles to drag me into an alley and punch me in the face when I press them, and these have that profile.

But I just don't love them. I swapped them out for the Kangaroos and Haimu Whispers. These are all sitting in my commemorative Waypoint Radio coffee cup on my desk.

OKAY THAT'S EVERYONE. I am gonna keep this as a reference for myself so I don't pick up a switch and go "uuuuuh wtf is this again."

[wishing-stones]

So we've got an idea of how the lads show their love/care but how do they prefer to receive it? What love language are they most receptive to?

This is a good one!

Another readmore because I can never not write literal mini-essays for prompts.

Killer likes physical touch. It's his love language too. He prefers to be in physical contact with those he cares about if they let him (and even sometimes if they don't, but he'll be mindful of very strictly enforced boundaries. He just leans on and drapes on and uses people as armrests, that sort of thing) He's pretty Sympatico with quality time and acts of service, but he's a little awkward with words of affirmation and is hot-and-cold on gift giving. Small, occasional gifts are okay, but constantly being showered in them makes him a little antsy. (So do words of affirmation. He doesn't feel deserving of them in more intimate and private settings, but if you reaffirm he's a badass or tell him that you like something he did, he'll puff up and strut like a peacock.) The way he best likes to be shown affection is to lay on or with him and just... chill. Watch a movie, play a game, just snuggle up... Makes him happy. You get the heart-shape soul.

Dust prefers acts of service. He gets a little awkward with physical touch for too long and words of affirmation fall absolutely flat with him. He likes gift giving and quality time, too, especially if it's something like parallel play quality time. Just vibing in the same space, doing your own things. Give him little things that make you think of him, and it helps him feel less like a screw-loose fuck up. Actively choosing to be in the same space as him helps with that, too. Words of affirmation make him feel smothered, and he likes his personal space too much to go for really long periods of time with physical touch. He likes it, but in small doses. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and leaning are fine. So are heads in laps and kind of casual contact, but he doesn't like cuddling together for too long and is viscerally adverse to PDA. It embarrasses him.

Axe vibes hardest with words of affirmation and physical touch. He likes to be told he's doing a good job and things that others like about him-- he's spent too long thinking the worst of himself and in his own mind for too long. He's unlearning those thought patterns, but having external validation helps him so, so much. He's also a cuddlebug, and is content to be used as a pillow, chair, bed, or just to be leaned on. He's indifferent on gift giving-- he can be a little forgetful, so he feels bad if he gets gifts and doesn't remember to return them, and acts of service, while nice, make him feel like he isn't pulling enough of his weight. He's good with quality time, too, but he's oftentimes busy and distractions while he's cooking or working on something can be disastrous. (He's working on this in R&R, but it's slow going)

Cross is best with quality time. He doesn't mind physical touch, either, as long as it isn't public-- he's very guarded around other people, so spending quality time away from that, one-on-one, makes him relax and feel more at ease. Away from prying eyes, he's also quite tactile and likes to be in contact, so quiet, private cuddles are a great way to express affection to him. He's a little shy with gift giving, but it's also a pretty safe area if you're first working things out. Just... don't shower him in them. Words of affirmation can make him a little uneasy because he is also hard on himself, and it doesn't often feel genuine to him. Acts of service make him feel a little useless, he could have done that! You didn't have to! And then he feels guilty because he didn't do it before you did.

Baggs likes gift giving the best. He's a very, very busy man, and so doesn't have a lot of time to devote to dealing with other forms of love languages often. Giving him little presents, leaving them on his desk for him to find, "here, I got this for you because you mentioned you might need one," all make him very happy. He likes the feeling that someone thinks about him while he isn't around (and without him doing it) so actually thoughtlessly that they just pick things up for him because they can. He's also good with acts of service, especially if someone else is looking out for his well being (because... he sure doesn't.) Making sure he eats, takes breaks, rests, etc, and bringing him things are the least time-consuming ways for him to feel loved. He's decent with physical touch if he's not actively doing something, and words of affirmation just inflate that ego and superiority complex more. He could pencil in quality time, but that one's the hardest for him to handle-- he oftentimes does not have the time to devote to it.

Nightmare can vibe with any, but in order from best to least receptive, it goes acts of service, gift giving, quality time, words of affirmation, and physical touch. He's a similarly busy man and doing things for him because he hasn't gotten to him makes him feel less harried. He appreciates it. He's also quite good with quality time, as he doesn't mind chilling in the same space for a while, as long as it doesn't disturb him. He's difficult to give gifts, but he really likes anything that anyone he cares about has given him (part of the reason he has his #1 Boss mug, and there's things that the boys have found, picked up, or made all over his office.) Words of affirmation stroke his ego, but too much and he starts to think it's not genuine. He's not used to people wanting to be in contact with him, but if they actively choose that, he won't complain. (He is kind of soft, comparatively, and no, not everyone who touches him gets gooped, he's very good about what he does and does not want to get slimed.)

[furreservation24]

I like scp, I'm even responsible for 682 in ask. This is a small reference from there. Translation:

(1)

SCP-682 - Hard-to-Destroy Reptile Height; 2.5+ meters Weight; 400+ kilograms Humanoid like body with an elongated torso, well-developed chest and shoulders, and legs that are short relative to the rest of the body. Reptile moves faster on all fours and in water. Keep distance from people and rarely makes contact, On questions about his (or past of some other speciement) past Responds reluctantly or does not answer at all. Communicates important information only when he thinks it is necessary, but because of boredom he often does not mind chatting. To allied people is biased and skeptical, rarely makes concessions and is willing to follow the instructions of only those in whom he sees leadership (in his opinion) qualities. The Lizard himself is incredibly proud and willful. He will try to kill anyone who dares to shake these qualities in any way he can. He communicates more willingly with those he trusts, but he can still be rude and aggressive even when showing affection. Very patient and thoughtful. He does not hide the fact that he acts in his own interests and claims that coincidences with people's goals are just coincidences.

-Has a high intelligence; -Rather lazy and apathetic; -Can eat anything; -His body is toxic and carries many infections; -Doesn't remember names and makes up nicknames instead; -Sometimes nicknames become basis for offensive jokes, or already offensive jokes; -Easily loses his temper; -Sometimes reads with glasses due to farsightedness; -Knows most human languages, including dead languages and those used in other dimensions; -Has defended 15 doctorates; -Fears SCP-2935; -Thinks he and SCP-076-2 are alike; -One of his wounds never regenerates; -Considers it incredibly foolish to trust SCP-073; -Keep gifts; -He is very tactile and loves to have his neck, stomach, and back scratched, but only allows this to happen to a few and is very embarrassed by his small weakness; -Those whom he sympathizes, often does gentle bite (although people do not do without bruises and small cuts); -He is a hermaphrodite; -He has a vital need to destroy something or bring suffering to avoid stress, because it takes a lot of energy to contain anger; -He is actually afraid of people; -As a Deva 682 is still a very young individual and translating his age into human terms, you could say he is still a teenager; -DON'T CALL HIM TARASQUE; -Hates the Scarlet King far more than anyone else; -Doubts (fears?) that he change something before he is killed for good.

(2)

Likes: Water; Swimming: Spoiled and/or unhealthy food; Destroy; Being alone; SCP-1762; SCP-3000; Summer; Slumbering in the sun; Hearing the wind; Sleeping by piling on top of someone; Sandy beaches; Bully someone; Biting; Tear apart;

Dislikes: People; Crowds; Washing; SCP-999; Reptiles; Scarlet King; Ask for help; His name; When called Dragon/Tarask; Showing emotion; Missing someone or something; Loneliness; Pain; Boredom; 

(3)

SCP-682 from Omega-7 Squad (Pandora's Box). A stretchy, well-woven, tight and fire-resistant fabric is used to reduce damage (to both the reptile and the suit itself) without constricting movement. Shoes are not provided for the free use of claws. Clothing is sewn individually due to the peculiarities of the body structure. Cylinders with special mixtures for inducing mutation and adapting to it (like improving regeneration or muscle growth) are attached to the belt. SCP-682 in a D-class robe. A XXXXXL size with custom tailoring is required due to 682's physical features. However, he often tears his clothes and finds them uncomfortable.

[renlyslittlerose]

Kinktober Day 4 - Scent

Today’s kinktober prompt: Scent (along with some armpit lovin')

Covered Up in Your Sweat - 997 words

Rated: E

Content: Scent kink, armpit licking

---

“Kriff, Obi-Wan, you smell so good.”

Obi-Wan was certain that he did not, in fact, smell very good. He’d just been practicing in the training courtyard for the last three hours, going through his kata beneath the hot mid-day sun, sweat beading up along his brow, beneath his arms, and along his low back. It had been nice to exercise outdoors, the air refreshing, the sunlight warming, while the dappled shadows from the tree provided relief from the hotter parts of the day.

But as soon as he’d returned to his quarters he’d been accosted by Anakin, Anakin’s eyes bright and cheeks a bright pink that poked through the bronze tones of his skin. Obi-Wan barely had time to ask what he was doing before he was stripped naked and tossed on to the bed, Anakin joining him in short order, canines flashing in the light as he dove down and shoved his face against Obi-Wan’s neck.

“I smell like sweat and dirt,” Obi-Wan remarked, wiggling under Anakin as his nose tickled the corner of his jaw.

Anakin made a frustrated little sound, teeth nipping as he rutted against Obi-Wan’s thigh. Obi-Wan’s own cock stirred at the ministration, and he couldn’t help but gasp when Anakin started teasing one of his nipples, thumb and finger rolling the nub, making it hard as he continues to breath in deep.

But just as Obi-Wan started to relax into the sensations Anakin was moving again, lips frantic and hungry across his jaw and down his neck, tongue slick and hot, breath hitching. A moment pasted - a shudder in their bond - before Anakin grabbed Obi-Wan’s arm and shoved it high above his head.

“Anakin!”

Anakin shoved his face against Obi-Wan’s armpit, a deliriously little sound breaking past his lips as he took in a deep breath. His grip was strong along Obi-Wan’s wrist, holding him up, locking him in place as he rubbed his nose against the sweaty hair, breath hot and stuttering. His eyes were closed, golden lashes spread out across his cheeks which were pink with arousal, his brows furrowed in deep concentration and focus.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan repeated, this time softer.

“Don’t ask me to stop,” Anakin whimpered, desperate and pleading. He raised his head just a little - enough where Obi-Wan didn’t have to crane his neck to see him - and stared at Obi-Wan, locking him in place. “I just want to smell you, t-to taste you. To make your scent my own,” he continued, a shy quality to his tone that gave Obi-Wan pause.

Obi-Wan had been asked a great many things by Anakin - most he gave, some he withheld - but this was a first. Though Obi-Wan supposed it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Anakin was a tactile man, loving any and all sensations that Obi-Wan could give him. Scent was just part and parcel of the experience - their exchanging of their bodies as they came together time and again, despite Obi-Wan’s reservations.

“Relax your grip,” Obi-Wan whispered. “I’ll hold my arms aloft for you.”

Anakin’s brows furrowed, pupils going wide. Obi-Wan could feel his arousal against his hip, hard and insistent, leaking streams of precome across their skin. Obi-Wan’s cock twitched at the thought of Anakin’s obsession overruling all decency, and he reached down to stroke himself to hardness just as Anakin dropped his head back down and licked.

Anakin bathed Obi-Wan’s pit with his tongue, the flat of it pressed against the skin and hair, matting it down to cling uncomfortably against Obi-Wan’s skin. Anakin groaned and whimpered as he did so, nose pressing against Obi-Wan’s pit, desperation and arousal coming off of him in waves, coursing through their bond that bled openly between the two.

It wasn’t so much the sensations as it was Anakin’s enthusiasm that made Obi-Wan’s cock hard, little pearls of precome slipping past to make his hand glide quick across his length. He let out a soft groan and bucked up into his hand, his other one curling into a loose fist as he kept it resting above his head, giving Anakin all the access he wanted. Anakin was humping his leg now, thrusting into him as he continued to breath in Obi-Wan, lips sucking on the sensitive skin, tongue hot and wet across him.

“You taste and smell so good,” Anakin whimpered, desperate and pleading.

“T-the other one,” Obi-Wan said without realizing what he was asking for.

But Anakin knew - sensed it even before Obi-Wan voiced the words aloud. Raising his head he kissed across Obi-Wan’s chest, streaking spit along the way, coating Obi-Wan further in his messes. Obi-Wan dropped his left arm and raised his right, groaning as Anakin immediately pitched forward and continued his assault. It almost hurt the way in which Anakin pushed in, pressing into tight muscles and soft skin, but Obi-Wan couldn’t find it in himself to ask Anakin to slow down.

He was such an eager boy, and Obi-Wan adored that about him.

Anakin was now fully draped over Obi-Wan, humping into him as he licked and laved and whimpered. Obi-Wan could feel Anakin was close, his hand shoved between his legs, knuckles brushing Obi-Wan’s own cock as he played with his. A few more pumps and Anakin was coming, seed spilling across Obi-Wan’s groin and thighs, thick and hot as it lashed his skin. All the while Anakin kept his face pressed against Obi-Wan’s pit, a look of ecstasy spreading across his face as he shuddered through his orgasm.

As soon as he was finished he was crawling on top of Obi-Wan, trying to kiss Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan pushed him away then, laughter slipping past his lips.

“Don’t you dare kiss me with that mouth!”

Anakin grinned and continued his pursuit.

[radiation]

On some level though I feel like I’ve mostly fallen out of love with video games that aren’t either 1. Very short 2. Very unusually good 3. More than likely both. Which sucks because I am so insanely passionate about video games as a medium but the thing is (and keep in mind I’m mostly talking about games following some kind of narrative that’s tied to progression), more than almost any other medium, video games have the potential to just completely waste your time

When comparing games to somewhat similar mediums - because of the gamification they tend to be longer than movies (even if they’re attempting to tell the exact same story), unlike books you can’t necessarily skip through parts you don’t like, and unlike shows you have to be actively engaged with them, you can’t just tune them out a bit and look away when you feel like it. Video games’ inherent interactivity and the deep engagement + commitment that comes with it are both their greatest potential and the piece of the puzzle most likely to ruin the experience when gameplay becomes tedious or meaningless. that alongside the fact that games are a marriage of so many other different mediums that are hard enough to pull off on their own, but the addition of gamification can feel fundamentally at odds with these other art forms and the story being told / ideas being expressed, it’s like … games are just so tremendously easy to fuck up man

And of course this is all subjective but with all of that in mind…Man, I get so much more frustrated when finishing a disappointed video game then when finishing a disappointing movie, or book… maybe not a show, but honestly I always feel like finishing a disappointing show feels more uhhh…on me? Because it doesn’t have the same sunk cost fallacy / tactile-based investment of an interactive medium, and you tend not to buy shows individually like you do with games. Idk. Not to say the panacea is to completely eliminate tedium from games though because that’s not universal, sometimes and even often times it’s an integral part of the gameplay experience. It’s really just about intentionality with everything. Which is a really simple thing to say but the application of it runs so so so fuckin deep. And with that in mind yeah that is more often than not gonna mean trimming unnecessary stuff, decreasing overall playtime, just having a shorter more catered experience and prioritizing quality > quantity. Which again like seems obvious but video games are so Damn complex it is really really goddamn easy to lose sight of this stuff and forget to apply it to every facet of the experience and their points of intersection