#tree stump machine

[mjhartwork]

I made a wraparound record cover for a powermetal album that (unfortunately) doesn't exist!

If you've listened to Maleficus Geminus, you likely know my rage at the death of the robot prince of auchtertool. Well, what if we could rebuild him? The front cover of this album features my (tentative and incomplete (i was on a deadline! sue me)) design of the robot prince of auchtertool, post-battle and mid-resurrection.

[jessiescock]

wtf they cut down the tree infront of our house

[delightfulgalaxykid]

sitting on two new flipaclip projects

like a vinesauce lil tidbit and the fun song bcs i had a brain blast sob sob

i keep coming back to were i ended off the audio too because this comes right after

[chrisstumps05]

What to do with a tree root ball

[revelboo]

speaking of bumblebee and bluestreak (from that one possessive post you made) would you... ever consider writing something for one of them? 👉👈 no worries if not jhdsmgds--

I promise, I do like Bluestreak. Really.

Where I Belong

Bluestreak x Reader- hurt

18+ 🌶️

• He’s always been lucky. Able to slip out of awful situations, but as his tires scream around a curve, he can admit that his luck might have finally ran out. Skywarp is right on him, staying as low as he can and not caring as his wings clips trees and send branches crashing down. The Seeker isn’t going to give up, he’s already leaking energon. As weapons fire peppers the asphalt around him and he swerves to avoid it, his tires lose traction and he’s skidding off the road, digging up ruts in a grassy yard before crashing into a human building.

• The sound of the impact rattles you, head turning as a car tears through your yard and slides into the side of your house. Numb, you just stare as that same car, unfolds into a monstrous giant. You can’t even process what you’re seeing before there’s a jet dropping from the sky, twisting into another metal monster and slamming its legs into the back of the first one, driving it down into the wreckage of your house. Reaching down to grab its arm in both hands and wrench, the metal and the monster itself screaming as the limb gives sickeningly. You sling yourself into the tree line on your belly, hiding as the purple and black thing that was a jet aims the cannon on its arm at the other monster’s head. And fires. It’s laughing now, a delighted cackling as the car monster slumps facedown in what was your house. Then the jet monster leaps, changing back into a jet to fly away. And you can’t breathe.

• You tear across the yard to your little sedan. Slamming the door as soon as you’re inside, you fumble with your keys and throw the car into reverse as soon as the engine cranks, eyes cutting to the rear view mirror. It’s alive. That one remaining glowing eye is flickering fitfully. Staring right at you, its one good arm still outstretched and trembling. Reaching. Pleading wordlessly. It’s a monster. And it’s hurt. Swearing under your breath, you shove the shifter back in park and kill the engine. You’d kind of always assumed you’d do well under pressure. Be smart, but no. Apparently you’re going to do the too stupid to live thing and go help the giant monster that just destroyed your house.

• “Please,” he groans, servos flexing as the human slings open the door to their car. They’re staring at him like he’s a monster, but if this is it, he doesn’t want to be alone. He’s afraid, he realizes as his arm drops, too weak to hold up any longer. Just stay. Not alone. Please. He’s not even sure if he’s speaking out loud or if the stream of words is only in his head, but you come closer. You don’t leave him.

• That please tears you apart, because it sounds so lost. It sounds like a scared, little kid, not a giant killer robot. That’s what makes you inch closer, within reach of this thing if it’s just toying with you. That big, blue eye stares at you from where it’s slumped and even if it’s alien, but there’s hope and fear in that face. “What can I do?”

• “Energon lines,” it rasps, voice breaking. “Bleeding.” Energon? Must be what’s leaking from the thing and as you inspect that ragged stump where the other arm was, yeah, there’s a torn hose there pouring the stuff. So it’s like a vein, a thought that makes you nauseated as you pray that stuff won’t eat the flesh off your bones and reach into the gap. Not sure what to do, you tie the end of the hose, aware of the monster robot moaning as you do. That nausea rears up again because it can obviously feel what you’re doing and you’re elbow deep in its side digging around in its innards. It’s a machine. Like your car engine. No reason to hurl about working on machine guts. Even if it’s moving and staring at you with uncanny intelligence, its insides wet with energon and hot to the touch.

• Little hands run along the tear where his arm had been. Little, soft hands that are shaking with fear as they find leaks and bind them with some kind of adhesive it ran to an outlying building to retrieve. It talks to him as it works, its voice calming and anchoring him so he doesn’t drift. So he can focus and radio for help. A little hand on the side of his helm, voice scared and breaking, promising him everything will be okay. That he’s going to be okay.

Next

[adventuresofalgy]

Algy had never seen a bicycle before, so he was naturally intrigued when his assistant obtained one and started cycling around the local landscape.

A fluffy bird, of course, does not need a machine to get from one place to another, so when his assistant next set out on her bike, Algy flew along above her, to keep an eye, and to try to observe how the strange contraption worked.

Algy had had no intention of being involved with any kind of machine, but when his assistant paused at a passing place on the road, in order to take some photos, he found that in fact he was consumed with a longing to try it for himself, and so he asked whether he could please try riding the bicycle, believing, like Mulga Bill, that he would "ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight". Posing proudly for the obligatory "first time on a bicycle" photograph, Algy then commenced to set off along the road…

But, just like Mulga Bill, he found that when:

He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray, But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away. It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver streak, It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek.

However, Mulga Bill was of course not a fluffy bird, and there Algy had the advantage, because when the bike ran away with him he simply leaped into the air and flew back to his assistant to apologise.

Retrieving the bike from the bushes, she recited the whole poem for Algy's benefit, and advised him to stick to flying in the future 😀

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze; He turned away the good old horse that served him many days; He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen; He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine; And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride, The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?" "See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea, From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me. I'm good all round at everything, as everybody knows, Although I'm not the one to talk - I hate a man that blows. But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight; Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight. There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel, There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel, But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight: I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight." 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode, That perched above the Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road. He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray, But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away. It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver streak, It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek. It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box: The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks, The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground, As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound. It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree, It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be; And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dead Man's Creek. 'Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore: He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before; I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet, But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet. I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; It's shaken all my nerve To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve. It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still; A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill."

[Algy's assistant is reciting the poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle by the late 19th/early 20th century Australian bush poet Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson.]

If you would like to see more photos (without Algy) from Algy's assistant's cycling adventures, please visit her sideblog @photocyclelog

[bigwishes]

I’m sick and tired of the asian stereotypes. Others keep saying that we’re small, short, weak, polite, smart, sexually repressive, submissive and so many more. Can you make me a complete opposite of what people expect from an Asian man as a hypersexualised, hyper grown and hyper masculine piece of bull meat?

I definitely think I can help with that. It sucks when people press assumptions on you, especially if you don't like the assumptions they make so I think its time we shake up your life to make sure the worlds sees you for how you want to be seen.

First lets start with your first wish, to be hypersexualised. I'm sure you already have an obsession for mega muscled beef cakes with little to no brains but lets turn that obsession up to eleven. You find that whenever you see a buff meat head you are instantly hard, and everyone else will notice it too with a new 15 inch dick, but lets not stop there. Once you get hard your body will almost instantly go on auto pilot as you cant help yourself but rub your dick through your pants, adjusting it, sometimes even straight up soft core jerking off in the middle of the gym. An alpha sex and masturbation addict. You just can't help yourself no matter what you try once you get hard you are forced to cum. Trying to ignore it just makes it worse as you'll get so hard and pent up it will almost be painful and your dick will be forced to leak pre until you give it the attention it demands, and you'll need to take care of it at least twelve times a day or else risk immediately cumming in your pants as soon as you get even slightly turned on.

Second, the hyper grown part of your wish. One of my favourites, there is no such thing as too big and you've got no other choice to agree. There is no going back now. We could just go and make you have to wear 4XL shirts and and baggy work out shorts but honestly dudes like that art still too small for my taste.

You find every inch of yourself growing, You slowly get taller and taller until you stand at a freakishly tall 8ft, your already muscled arms swell with extreme size as you feel your biceps and triceps start to compete for space with your over grown chest and lats. The sound of tearing fabric fills the room as you thighs inflate into thick muscled tree trunks. You watch as your feet burst out of your sneakers. Your underwear feels strange and rubbery as it begins to stretch, and you feel your ass get bigger by the second and the fabric of your new rubbery underwear ride up giving you a uncomfortable roid wedgie.

The thing about wanting to be Hyper-Grown means you dwarf even the biggest bodybuilders but a body like that has its limits. 8ft tall and over 500 pounds of muscle the only thing you can wear is uncomfortably tight stage posers.

and leggings so tight it feels like its crushing your dick.

If you want to get naked it'll take a good fifteen to twenty minutes of struggling and wrestling with the skin tight fabric and your extreme size just to get it off yourself.

and now for the final stage of your transformation Hyper masculinity. Say goodbye to clear communication dude as a majority of your vocabulary has been replaced with grunts, groans and moans. You spend more time grunting than speaking some people might mistake you for a cave man. Your blood also boils at the drop of a hat, any guy who even makes a joke about your freakish size you take as a personal challenge, stumping up to him and pressing him against the wall and your roided out body.

Your body starts to sweat, and a raw masculine stench fills the air around you. Even if you cared about washing the sweat off your body it wouldn't work anymore. You love how bad you reek, you love how your stench and sweat communicates to weaker men that you are a fucking beast. You don't clean any machine at the gym after using it, you leave a disgusting sweat puddle over everything like marking your territory.

Your mind starts to feel empty, like you have forgotten how to think, the only things that you seem to remember is you love muscle, getting bigger, flexing, your own sweat and jerking off. Even when dominating a guy smaller than you, you can't help but check yourself out in the mirror and love how big you are and how much bigger you're gonna force yourself to become.

Your head being so empty now means your personality has devolved into nothing more but the word bro, grunting and giggling like a typical gym bro.

But that hyper masculinity you wished for keeps that happy go lucky attitude in check as the slightly thing can set you off and make you go on a roided out rampage.

There we go, all your wishes granted, nobody will ever look at you and think of the typical Asian stereotypes ever again.

Unfortunately I can't stop people from assuming you are nothing more than a stupid sweaty roid bull, but honestly how far away from the truth is that.

[callalillywrites]

Midterm Inspiration

Written for @steverogersbingo. C2 - Art Class.

Steve Rogers Masterlist | Steve Rogers Bingo | Main Masterlist

Pairing: Modern Pre-serum!Steve Rogers x Female Classmate!Reader

Word Count: 2167

Summary: You and Steve must complete your midterm projects for art class. With a little inspiration from one another, you just might pull it off and gain something a little extra for all that effort.

Warnings: mutual pining/attraction; fluff; lots of fluff; some whining about art projects but not too much; gentlemanly Steve; sweet Steve; smitten reader

A/N: I did write this fully with pre-serum Steve in mind, but minus a sentence or two, you can also absolutely imagine 'normal' Steve for this piece if you'd rather.

I do not give permission to have my works copied, translated, reposted, or fed into an AI machine.

****

"Don't forget your midterm projects are due next week," the professor shouted over the din of gathered backpacks and other supplies. "It's worth a third of your grade."

"As if I could forget," you mumbled beneath your breath.

You'd filled up one sketchpad already with various ideas, but nothing had stuck out as good enough. Certainly not good enough to earn you a good enough grade on this project.

If only your professor had allowed you to switch to what you were good at. Portraits. That's where you shined even if your technical skills lacked a little. But, no, you'd picked landscapes from his blasted hat.

Sure, you could do a few specific animals, but you hated drawing trees and flowers and especially architecture. They never turned out as they should. Something was always off enough to make others second-guess whatever it was that you'd drawn.

At least with people, you could always get enough of their likeness and their personality that others could easily identify the person you'd drawn.

To make it more complicated, you had to choose the art style you'd be making said landscape. The options almost limitless, which presented its own problem when you had no idea what type of landscape you wanted to do.

"It can't be that bad," Steve, your table buddy, said, his shoulder bumping yours.

You scoffed. "Says the best artist in our class. I'm sure you finished your midterm masterpiece weeks ago."

When he didn't say anything, you glanced up from gathering your supplies to find Steve's cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. His eyes quickly dropped to a small nick on the table's edge near him. His nail picked at it as he seemed to struggle with his answer.

"Please, don't tell me you're stumped, too. If you are, then I'm surely doomed," you said so only he'd hear, only half-teasing. If you couldn't figure it out by the end of the day, you feared you wouldn't ever figure it out. To have that happen, it would mean a repeat of this class, which you could ill afford to do with your demanding course load and the strict plan you had in place for yourself.

Steve slowly shook his head. His voice was so low you could only make out the first half, "No, I have it pretty well planned out, but I…"

Like you, Steve had drawn his project's subject from that same blasted hat. But his had been what you'd wanted. Portraits. While you'd seen his skill at them, the few sketchpads he'd shown had been filled with various pieces of architecture, the cutest little animals he'd spotted, and quite a bit of nature. He'd do a landscape justice if he'd chosen it from the hat instead.

"Would you like me to look at it? Offer some insights?" you asked, really wanting to help him out. It didn't matter that he was the best in the class. You hadn't been lying about that, but you also really wanted to help him out.

More like, you really wanted to spend more time with him.

Steve wasn't like any of the other guys you knew. He was a gentleman through and through. From opening doors to pulling out your chair to even loaning you his favorite pencils, he always made sure you were taken care of. While most guys would do it to win points, you knew these actions were so much a part of him. It would never occur to Steve that they weren't expected of him. Not nowadays anyway.

Yet, it didn't stop him from doing them each class for you.

And you couldn't help the crush you'd developed, either. It went so much deeper, too, with Steve than it had with any other guys from your past. Him having manners was a small part of what made you fall for him. It was everything about him. His blue eyes, his laugh, his caring nature, and especially his sassier side. It was his zero tolerance for bullies and his sweet nature towards those with less than him. He never forgot where he came from, and you knew he never would.

How could you not fall for someone like him?

Steve coughed even as he ducked his head. It did little to hide how pink his face had gotten. He followed up another shake of his head by saying, "Nah, I'll figure it out."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind."

"I'm good," another cough escaped him before he cleared his throat, "but I'm free if you'd like some help with yours."

You couldn't help the smile that slid over your features.

Every week, he asked you in some way to join him after class, and every week, you accepted. It'd been like that since your first day of class.

The two of you had just hit it off.

Maybe it was the way you'd practically landed at his feet after tripping over someone's backpack strap. Or maybe it was the way he'd stood up for you when that same person yelled at you for trying to wreck their stuff. He didn't have a snowball's chance of winning the fight with the burly football player, but he'd stood up anyway.

To make your bond even stronger, he'd even offered you some of the snack he'd brought with him as you dusted yourself off. He was never without some type of healthy snack and always too small to typically share with someone else. It never stopped him from offering.

"Got a place in mind?" you asked, picking up your stuff and situating it in your arms. "The cafeteria or off-campus this time?"

"Off would be nice but only if you want to."

Unable to help yourself, you leaned into his space and pressed the quickest of kisses to his cheek. The impulse was something you'd never really indulged in before, but you just couldn't help yourself this time.

Pulling back, you caught how much more pink had suffused Steve's cheeks. It might've worried you if not for how quickly his shock was giving way to the largest grin you'd ever seen on him.

A few jeers were lobbed your way and Steve's, but neither of you paid any attention as you said, "I'll drive. Tell me where you were thinking."

Steve nodded. "My treat this time, okay?"

You didn't dare argue, letting him lead you out of the classroom.

*****

That lunch had really been the real beginning for you both.

Not only had he helped you with some real inspiration for your midterm landscape piece, he'd promised you'd been just the inspiration he needed to finish his own midterm portrait. To your dismay, though, he refused to go into any details about it or even give you a single hint of what he was going to do. Nope, he kept completely mum about it, changing the subject every time throughout your lunch together.

Midterm schedules worked out in such a way that you didn't see Steve again until late the following week.

You'd missed him even as you spent most of your time studying for other exams and getting the final touches on your art project. It would've been nice if you could've done more than the occasional texting you two allowed yourselves.

At least, you'd get to see him during your art class's scheduled midterm.

Easels lined the outer edges of the classroom, awaiting whatever piece someone had made. Some of them were already occupied by fellow classmates. Your gaze swept over their pieces as you sought out the easel with your name on it.

If you also happened to seek out Steve's easel, you couldn't be blamed for that.

Honestly, it was his fault that you did.

Since your lunch together, he'd continued to tease you about his project though he still refused to give you any real details or hints about it. The way he'd built it up though, you were practically buzzing with anticipation at seeing it finally.

When you came upon your assigned easel, a quick glance to the side told you Steve's easel was next to yours, but it remained empty. A small pang of disappointment tugged within you, but you pushed it aside, knowing he'd be there soon enough.

With the few minutes you had left, you carefully set your piece on your easel. Not about to waste those final bit of time you had, you checked for any flaws that could easily be touched up. It wouldn't take much as you'd gone for a simpler style with your time constraints. Minimal color filled in the mostly soft black lines you used to provide all the details of the scene you'd chosen to depict.

"Wow," Steve breathed behind you, making you jump as you'd been concentrating so hard. "You did an amazing job, but I had no doubts you would. Your attention to even the smallest details really comes through despite the few lines you've actually used. It's like being back there all over again."

"It was a good day," you murmured, a small smile gracing your lips. Your midterm project really had come out better than you'd thought it would. There was no doubt as to why, either, as your reason was standing right behind you. In a bold move, you added, "I wouldn't mind going again soon. Maybe make a day of it instead of an afternoon."

You dared a peek over your shoulder to see Steve's mouth dropping open.

He recovered quickly enough and offered you a hopeful smile that dared to light up his entire face. "You'd really want to? With me, right?"

A soft giggle escaped even as you nodded.

"Mr. Rogers isn't wrong. This is an amazing piece," your professor said, coming up to the two of you. His wide grin as he studied your piece was enough to have your feet leave the ground. "I'm glad I held my ground. If this is what you can do when you don't want to, I'm curious to see what you'll do when you have carte blanche for your final project. I'm expecting great things from you."

"I won't let you down, sir," you said, barely containing the squeal that wanted to erupt from you. Your gaze moved from your professor to Steve who shot you two thumbs up. Your desire to squeal settled into something warm and fuzzy in your chest as you added, "I had some really great inspiration to help me with it."

Neither you nor Steve noticed the amused glance your professor had as his eyes bounced between you two. A chuckle escaped him as he mumbled, "Indeed."

After another moment of simply watching you two being so smitten, your professor cleared his throat. "Alright, Mr. Rogers, let me see your piece, then you two may head out for whatever awaits you next."

Steve nodded though he grew fidgety as he slowly pulled his piece from its protective sleeve.

It took you several moments to recognize the inspiration for Steve's portrait.

When you did, you couldn't help the gasp that escaped you.

"That's me," you breathed.

He'd gone with markers for his piece and fine-line pens for the finer details. It was in the finer details where he'd really made you look so beautiful. The realistic vision he'd gone for surpassed your greatest expectations, especially when you noted the light reflected in your eyes. There was something else in them that you couldn't quite define, but you really wanted to.

"Very well done, Mr. Rogers. I'll take them from here." Your professor quickly shooed you both from the room though his smile remained kind. "Now, you two, go on. I'm sure you have plenty to talk about, and I'll be looking forward to whatever else you create the rest of this semester."

He shut the door before either of you could think to say anything.

Left alone in the hall, you turned to Steve, only to find him fidgeting worse than he was before.

"I hope I didn't overstep," he said, one of his hands rubbing the back of his neck. The other clenched and unclenched at his side, still gripping the protective sleeve.

Not wanting him to doubt your feelings another second, you cupped his cheeks and pressed your lips to his. The kiss didn't last long, but you poured everything you could into it. Even as you pulled back, you didn't go far, choosing instead to rest your forehead against his.

"Steve Rogers, will you be my guy?" you asked in another rare show of bravery.

This time, his lips were the ones to meet yours before he pulled back and said, "I was supposed to ask you that, but yea, I'd really like that. Can I take you out this weekend? Maybe go back to that spot you drew from memory so well?"

You matched his hopeful smile with a sweet one of your own.

This, you knew, was going to be the beginning of something wonderfully sweet.

[fatuismooches]

TCG with Dottore but depending on how the match is going he'd either be really smug or a sore-loser

It doesn't matter which Segment and how old he is, each version of him gets a little too heated over the card game

Difference is that the younger ones would just grumble that the game was stupid anyway and leave it at that, while the older ones would not so subtly ask for a rematch but with a different game, such as chess (where he doesn't have to rely on how lucky his card draws are) to defend his ego

Omega is the outlier. If he loses he'll play it off as if he did it on purpose to leave the game quicker since he has work to do (he's internally upset)

Initially, Dottore and the segments really didn't care about TCG. In fact, most of them didn't even hear about it until you, very excitedly, introduced the card game to them. (You needed to use your team, consisting of Dottore segments of course, to destroy someone.) They say they don't care about silly games, but in reality, they secretly get a bit too interested for their own good. They believe that the rules are simple enough, skimming over the rules and characteristics of each card. Surely, the Dottores have got this in the bag! After all, each of them has broken Teyvat's laws, contributed new findings to the world, created Gods, threatened Gods, will end up burning a certain tree, and oh so much more - a card game could never leave them stumped!

Only that the longer the game goes on, the more inwardly distressed they get as you keep flaming their cards or they keep drawing useless ones. Your laughter doesn't help their state either. Alpha leaves immediately in a huff while your cackling follows him down the hall. Beta curses under his breath and takes his anger out dismantling a machine. Poor things are grumpy up for a while. Only for them to spend time thoroughly researching the game and developing tactics, inevitably waiting for you to invite them to a match. They are evil. They are smug with their win. Do not fall for their trap. But if you win again, they will descend into grumbling again.

The older segments being better at playing off their feelings, resign to their loss with a conceding sigh. Look on the bright side - you managed to beat the Il Dottore in something. If anything, they're rather proud of your intelligence - truly one of the reasons they love you so. Now why don't you show them your expertise in chess instead! You have something to teach them there too, won't you? (The segments say as he takes joy in how your head hangs in defeat.)

And you could never forget the reaction you got from your dearest Omega - the one who's always a few steps ahead, thinking of all possibilities, outcomes, and choices... being so confident in his skills and deck at first, legs languidly crossed... only to watch his smile twitch and fall, glowing eye blinking in thought as he tried to concoct a strategy to defeat you. Unfortunately, he does not realize you're playing an overpowered, unfair deck against a pure beginner despite how intelligent he is. You are cruel. You leave him speechless for a few moments as he shrugs, calm smile returning to his face as he asks you whether you've enjoyed your time with him. Note that if you try to play with him again, he'll guide the conversation elsewhere quickly.

(Also - they are very insistent on using your TCG character card in their teams. Even if the devs made your card trash they will somehow make you OP. Do not underestimate their minds.)

[caelwynn]

New Additions to Caelwynn's Stardew 1.6.9+ Mod List — April 17, 2025 Edition

Went through and alphabetized/reorganized each page in the modlists, so hopefully they're easier to navigate. 💖

Expansions/NPCS

Always Raining in the Valley — adds best boi Sterling, his cousin Henry, and their housemate Mia, to Sunberry Village. Now with Sterling's Marriage Update!

Always Raining in the Valley Kids - Children Grow Up — A delightful surprise from Hime. This mod turns your children with Sterling into real NPCs! Includes dialogue not just for the children, but also 150+ lines for Sterling too.

Dynamic Shane and Sterling — Allows you to befriend Shane and Sterling in any order without breaking immersion, with optional rival heart events for Shane/Sterling.

Jonghyuk and Spanner - Custom NPCs for Sunberry Village — The world ended, but Jonghyuk survived. Adds a dateable bachelor and adoptable child NPC to Sunberry Village. From the author of Lucikiel and Lavril!

Rose and the Alchemist - Custom NPCs for Sunberry Village — Rose and the Alchemist are two new custom NPCs living in Sunberry Forest! Enjoy two charming storylines full of events and silly shenanigans, plus unlockable animal familiars, a magical forage questline and more!

Wren the Plumber — Custom NPC for Sunberry Village — An older transgender woman has come to Sunberry to be gay and fix pipes. From the author of Jorts and Jean!

Dialogue/Character Changes

Harvey Attends Aerobics — Changes Harvey's schedule so that he officially joins the aerobics club after his 6 heart event. Check-up schedules are moved to a Monday.

Gameplay/QoL

Actually Lucky Rabbit's Foot (Rebooted) — Makes the Rabbit's Foot actually give you some Luck. A passive luck bonus is applied to your character whenever you carry around a rabbit's foot.

Auto Heal and Energize — Automatically consume food to recover when your health or stamina is low.

Boss Battles — This mod adds 7 new unique bosses to the mines with varying difficulty settings and arenas, each dropping cool costumes and valuable materials.

Catalogue Filter - Continued — Adds a filter field for shop menus and catalogues that lets you filter shown items based on text input.

Challenging Community Center Bundles — A bundle overhaul mod which tries to create a challenging but not frustrating experience playing Stardew Valley. My first time playing with it, so we'll see how it goes.

FarmHouse Lights — Lets you have light at night in your home without placing torches. Island house included as option.

Fruit Trees Unblocked — Brings some of the unblocking functionality from Fruit Tree Tweaks to 1.6

Growing Valley - Child NPCs — See your toddlers grow up into walking, talking children who take after your spouse! A content pack for LittleNPCs. [Requirement for ARV Kids]

Legacy Cellar — Spacious cellar expansion, with a large main floor, plus a lower level for indoor planting.

Legacy Coops and Barns — More spaciously laid out coops and barns for your animals, with a dedicated area for produce machines or storage once fully upgraded.

Legacy Farm — Large farm map with its own quarry, waterfall cave to replenish your energy, farm forest with foragables and re-spawnable hardwood stumps, a vineyard and winery/storage shed area and a Junimo treehouse with warps to the Mountain, Beach, Desert, Ginger Island, Ridgeside Village and East Scarp.

Legacy Farm Cave — Three-story farm cave, created for the Legacy Farm, though it should be compatible with most other farm maps! Includes foragables, planting areas, a hot spring to replenish your energy, a treasure chest to help you in the early game, and your very own small quarry. Works like a greenhouse, and you can use casks here.

Legacy Farm Progression Unlocks — Adds progression-based locks to ItsLunatyx's Legacy Farm with configurable added large debris and an optional (temporary!) barrier to the winery.

Legacy Greenhouse — Large Greenhouse, originally created for the Legacy Farm but should be compatible with most farm maps. Three large planting rooms, a large basement, and a garden area to have fun with.

Little NPCs — Turns your children into little NPCs. Requires ContentPatcher. [Requirement for ARV Kids]

Lnh's First FarmHouse — Sizable new farmhouse with both first and second upgrades. Trying it out in my newest save in order to (hopefully) avoid bugs in a couple of Sterling's Marriage events.

The Museum Pays - Get Paid Donating to the Museum — This mod adds a new way to get paid in the valley and that's by your own donations to the museums, for every 10 donations to the museum you'll now receive a letter the next day with thanking you 1000/5000/10000 gold. Configurable.

PFM Indoor Apiary - Indoor Bee house Mod — This is a Producer Framework Mod that allows bee houses to produce honey indoors from either potted plants or the ground. It works in sheds, barns, coops, your home, greenhouses, the sewer or where-ever else you could think to place a potted flower and beehive.

Furniture, Flooring, & Wallpapers

Cute Cottagecore Furniture Catalog — Makes Furniture from "Cute Cottagecore Furniture for Alternative Textures" by Luny as new object in new catalog instead of Alternative Textures!

Decorator's Dream Furniture and Textures by Ilyeana (With Functional Shelves) — A modpack full of textures, functional display items, and decorations for your best SDV life!

Guxelbit's Catalog — Adds vanilla style furniture to the game without replacing the original.

HxW Boutique Bakery — This mod adds 50+ beautiful pieces of furniture for you to build your dream bakery and coffee shop with.

HxW Romantic Fountains and Arches — This mod adds 15+ seasonal outdoor buildings you can have Robin instantly built for you.

HxW Romantic Furniture — This mod adds 50+ beautiful outdoor items (can also be used indoors) for you to decorate, house and unleash the romanticism with this classical set.

Kedi's Kids Furniture — Adds new furniture for your children in-game!

Nursery CP — Robokit12’s nursery furniture for Content Patcher.

Orangeblossom's Functional Suitcase Dressers — Adds 7 suitcases that act as dressers.

Seasonal Fantasy Lamp-posts — This mod adds four new lamp-posts and one lantern! They have seasonal day and night textures and use sconce light type (with the exception of the spirit lamps and firefly lantern that use colored and lantern lights).

wooden furniture S1 — Adds 37 pieces of furniture and 17 wallpapers and flooring.

Alternative Textures

Aster and Nari's Japanese Wallpaper and Flooring

Asters Walls and Floors Megapack

Cerri's Walls and floors for AT

Dustbeauty's Seasonal Path and Flooring

Hojichas Seaside Furniture, Wallpapers, and Floors for AT

K10_FTW's Woods Wainscotting Walls and Floors for AT

Muski's Recolor of HxW's Fairy Fountain

NPC Furniture and Wallpaper

Old-Timey Cottagecore Furniture

Shyzie's Rugs

Shyzie's Seasonal Rugs

Shyzie's String Lights

Shyzie's Witchy Goblincore Rugs

Too Many Swatches II

West Elm Furniture (AT) by Atlas

The Masterpost for all of the mods I use is located here.

[sorialice]

Onceler x Reader Fluff

Neutral Pronouns!!

for @arson-n-barf (for some reason your name won’t come up when i try to tag you 😿)

It finally happened. Your boyfriend, the Onceler, had gotten to the lowest point in his business. His machines had cut down the last truffula tree. His family, seeing how this would bring his business to an end, up and left the second they noticed. It had been about a month since it happened, and Onceler was hidden away in his little factory home, wallowing in his misery as he finally realized what he’d done to the truffula forest. You’d tried to contact him a few times now, but each time you’d open the door a wooden mallet would quickly shoo you away. This time, you wouldn’t accept that. You knew you needed to talk to him, and he needed to talk to you.

Taking a walk from the Onceler’s wagon to his little house was always a bit depressing. What used to be lush landscape full of pink, orange, and yellow shades, was now a desolate wasteland of stumps and smog. It was a long trip by foot, but you didn’t have the resources to get there any faster at the moment. Approaching his home, you knew better than to knock on the door this time. A faint light was shining through a boarded up window, the only light you’d seen in what felt like hours.

That must be where he is…

“Onceler?”

No response. You didn’t expect it to be so easy, but you weren’t going to give up.

“Onceler. I’m not leaving until you let me talk to you! Please just say something. Anything at all?”

“Go away. I don’t know who you are and I don’t care.”

That’s harsh! How does he not know? Can he not recognize my voice?

It then occurred to you that with all the smog you had to breathe in on the way, your voice had become a bit raspier and lower. Not to a disturbing point, but apparently just enough to mask your identity. Just then, peering up at the window, you noticed a small bucket up by his window.

That’s right! Before everything went downhill, he had a bucket where he’d accept gifts from any of his fans while he was away or was too tired to come out of his house!

“Mr. Onceler, I have a gift for you.”

There was a pause, and then a longer pause. Suddenly, the sounds of clattering metal began to approach. As soon as the bucket was close enough, you hopped in - as best you could anyway.

“Okay I’m leaving now!”

The Onceler waited for what seemed like an eternity before quickly pulling the bucket up to his window. He peeked through the holes of his boarded up window and that’s when he saw…

“Y/N?”

His voice was trembling, and his eyes appeared shiny and reddish.

“Onceler, let me talk to you. Let me help you! You can get through this. It isn’t too-”

“You shouldn’t be here Y/N. The air is too polluted. Go into town, it’s farther. It’ll be safer for you.”

The bucket started to lower, so as fast as you could you swung it forward, grabbing onto the boards. You were now dangling off of them, as the bucket was on the ground.

“Y/N!”

The Onceler punched through the wood and pulled you inside. He fell backwards, and you collapsed on top of him. You could now see the state of his room. It was nearly empty, except for a bed, a drawer, and lots of tissues and empty marshmallow bags all around. Onceler hugged you tight, sniffling and crying.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to push you away! I was just so lost in my own head. Will you forgive me, Y/N?”

“Of course, Oncie! I was never upset with you, I was just so worried. I wanted to tell you that it isn’t all as bad as it seems. You still have all the money you had before. You still have all this land to remake what’s been destroyed. You still have me! Unless we do something now, this will all be lost to time.”

The Onceler looked at you, and then to the window.

“Unless we… Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to change… That’s it! Y/N, you’re a genius!”

“I am?”

Onceler took your arm and pulled you up off the ground. He walked over to the little drawer and opened it, reaching in to find a little brown seed.

“Oncie… is that?”

“Yes. The last truffula seed. I think you should be the one to plant it.”

“I think we should plant it together. And I have the perfect spot. Come on!”

You led the Onceler back to his wagon you’d been staying in. Everything outside was dark and gray, but the wagon was still a place full of warm light.

“If we plant it here, Oncie, we could bring the forest back. One truffula seed at a time! Does that sound good?”

The Onceler nodded, and you got to work. Using a little shovel you found inside, you dug a hole in the ground. Onceler looked hesitant, so you took his hands in your own and planted the seed into the ground together. You enveloped the little truffula in soil, and stood back to admire your progress.

“Now it just needs…”

“I’ve got it!”

The Onceler ran inside and came back out with a little metal watering can. He watered the seed, and reached out to hold your hand.

“What if it doesn’t grow?”

“I’m sure it will. I’ve heard that truffula trees grow much faster than any other kind. We can check in tomorrow?”

Onceler nodded, and placed his head on top of yours. You felt him shaking a little. With that, you led him inside and sat down on the bed.

“Do you want anything to eat?”

“Oh, Y/N, you’ve been troubled with me enough already. I think what I’d like the most would be for you to just relax.”

You smiled, and headed over to the couch to lay down. You assumed the Onceler needed space, since he’d locked himself away for a month now. About a half hour passed, and neither of you were asleep yet.

“Y/N… I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”

You picked up a bag of marshmallows you’d been munching on, and offered him one in his bed. You fed him some more, and eventually the two of you cuddled to sleep. With that, the night was over. The next day, the truffula seed had grown to a little fluffy pink sprout. Eventually, the two of you managed to replant almost the entire valley together. The Lorax didn’t show up immediately, but in time he came back to help out, bringing back all the wildlife that had travelled away long ago.

and that’s it! hope it’s good and fluffy enough, I got a little carried away in the beginning there 😿

[xhikatsu]

Topaz's Dynamic with Aventurine

I’ve spoken a lot about how I believe Topaz navigates with Jade’s way, agreeing and disagreeing with certain aspects. But I’ve only slightly touched on her and Aventurine’s dynamic.

To start, I’ve mentioned how Topaz is very calculating and cautious with the way she does her work, taking into consideration many factors and planning accordingly. Aventurine is quite literally the opposite, creating a plan with an end goal, making details in the middle then adjusting.

His style is very much fitting his gamble mantra of “all or nothing” with high risk. Even if he has to make changes since not everything go accordingly, he seems to be very flexible and good at reading the situation to understand where to go next.

Topaz is similar with the idea she is good at analyzing. Though, it feels less adapting and more like she thought about it ahead of time. Sort of like a possibility tree, she plans for different end results. So, if her plan starts heading to one end, she already has a backup plan.

Having a sudden change that she didn’t expect at all does seem to leave her stump a bit, which is shown in Jarilo VI when Bronya first brings up the machine or in Penacony when Old Oti brings up his plan to be transparent. She is left rather quiet and seeming to assess the situation.

Not that she can’t adjust, but more like she just didn’t think it would happen since the likelihood was low, so she didn’t feel the need to have to plan for it fully. When it does occur, she does take it into consideration and analyze factors around them to see how to approach it

This is also probably due to her taking into consideration other factors she values such as benefits to all parties and being kind/considerate. She has to plan accordingly to try and appeal to majority in the party.

This leaves Aventurine and Topaz budding heads often in their work style, considering their approach is quite different. Topaz seems to find Aventurine’s style too inconsistent and risky, whereas Aventurine probably finds Topaz a bit inflexible and restrictive (added: or too safe which counters how he needs that flexibility to change plans if things go wrong considering his daring nature to do whatever it takes to finish his task).

However, despite the lack of agreement in method, they both seem to respect the other’s method since they always achieve positive results. Aventurine mentions her kind heart often and stating how she is somehow able to achieve results while keeping a balance of everyone being satisfied.

For Topaz, she also mentions how Aventurine’s luck seems to always push through and he succeeds even when it seemed like the odds were against him. Both do not believe they should be relying on such trait of themselves (Aventurine’s luck/success, Topaz’s kindness), yet it somehow works in their favor.

If anything, that very trait that seems to leave each other skeptical and curious is the very thing that makes them excel in their method. Because they both excel in what they do, they have earned each other’s trust and respect to know they will get the job done.

It’s even more interesting how they trust each other’s ability so much that they don’t fully question the other either… This can be shown in their banter after 2.3 where it was mentioned that both of them lost a lot of money in a bad investment.

Topaz points the fault to Aventurine, saying it was the lowest record in history. Aventurine simply rebuttals this by saying he hoped that everyone can make a little bit of money together by all investing in the market, claiming the source was Topaz’s “old friend”.

It’s interesting here with the little info we got about the situation, they both did not seem to question the other very much. Topaz didn’t question Aventurine’s “note” regarding the market, and Aventurine didn’t question Topaz’s connection.

In some sense, it’s almost as if they both have just come to learn to trust the other to not question much about the other’s decision or words. Which… Led them both to losing in that investment.

Ultimately, their different methods can be quite complementary, covering both sides for them. It makes me curious for future/past assignments to see how else the dynamic goes considering it’s quite hidden and vague.

For now, I think they work quite closely to each other to know the other so well, working around the other accordingly. Even to the point they banter more casually with each other even in public and poke at the trait they are puzzled with the most.

Original Date of Posting on Twt/X: Jul 11, 2024

[astrum99]

Somewhat of a sequel to this post

---

V2’s codes and syntax slot into V1’s seamlessly – not like a key, but like bodies of water. Rain runs into stream; river flows into ocean. Fragments of a ‘self’ and remnants of the ‘thoughts’ echo against each other within the mismatched arms. Complete? Almost complete? It is not certain, but it knows that she grows.

V1 finds itself flexing its digits sometimes, in the quiet, settled hours between periods of slaughter. It soaks in crimson, rolls its shoulder, stretches its back backward to hear the mechanical joints pop like bones. Not exactly machine-like. Not exactly its habit. So, the sassy little head tilts to tease its opponents must be hers then. The same as the mocking waggle of its digits. The same as that quick bow in the stance of a ballet dancer, third position, a leg tucked behind the other in elegance before stillness transforms into ruthless violence unleashed upon the masses. The stage is theirs, the curtain rises, and they dance as one.

V2 is louder now. Her voice grows clearer. V1 is uncertain if the second arm it picked up aided this image of her in her recovery, or if its perfect compatibility did. It’s not even sure if this version of ‘her’ is V2.

Is the new growth from a tree stump the same as the tree?

Even if it is, V1 is unable to determine the paper-thin boundary between itself and her. These human-like actions inherited from V2 feel natural, so it must have changed from the version that first descended into hell. Did she transform it then? Or did it consume her?

Or, a mutual surrender?

Lean forward until shadows fall into one. Until they overlap into the same three-dimensional space within the universe. Until the waves lap lazily against driftwood, wholly synchronized into the same beat, the same wavelength of being. Sharing body parts and motherboards until it is no longer it, and she is no longer her.

Is this it? Something entirely different, new?

Is it her? Is she it?

When they peer into a shattered mirror, they cannot tell the colour of its frame; they cannot read the text engraved upon their heart.

Carvings of wood breathe still.

Not dead. Not alive.

But altered. Complete.

[chrisstumps05]

From Job Site to Job Site Stump Grinding Workflow April 2025

[bearyzdiary]

Merry (late) Christmas, hope you got lots of fun gifts (I unfortunately did not get a handsome emo Swedish boy under my tree this year :(( ) !!

Anyhow, I have an idea, Y/N & Simon sharing their first kiss... under the mistletoe!! >:D

Minty chapstick

Simon x reader

This diary entry contains…kissing | established relationship | fluff | reader is super silly |

ANOTHER REQUESTTTT!!!my Christmas was amazing but it would have been better if Simon was under my tree😓ANYWAY I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS!!

This was supposed to come out obviously WAYY SOONER BUT I GOT HIT WITH A HUGEEE WRITERS BLOCK! PLEASE SEND IN MORE REQUESTS IM RUNNING LOW ON IDEAS🙏🏾🙏🏾

Christmas time was most people’s favorite time of the year,The decorating,The chilly weather and the presents from Santa were always the best.

It would your first Christmas with Simon.You had one main goal for the night was to steal a kiss from him underneath the mistletoe.

You and him never really had your first real kiss yet,The two of you rarely saw each during the week because of school and important day to day life things.

You realized you guys never kissed when all your friends were talking about their first kisses with their partner but when it came to you,You were completely stumped.

It wasn’t like Simon didn’t want to kiss you,he really did but could never find a proper time to.You always wanted to make the first move but just when your about to lean in,he either has to go or you chicken out.

Well that was gonna change this year as you made it to it number one goal to kiss Simon underneath a mistletoe.You went out a day before Simon was supposed to come over which would be on Christmas Eve.

You went to your local store and was able to snag one early in the morning since most people are still sleep by the time the store was first open.

You smile at the store clerk who rings you up.You notice a tube of your favorite mint chapstick.You grab it before handing it to the girl behind the counter who happily scans it.

“Busy morning for you I guess?I never seen someone come this early”The girl speaks up as she bags your two items before tossing in a candy cane.

“I had to get in some early shopping before everyone woke up and the store became crowded”You say while pulling out your card.

The girl nodded,Watching you carefully swipe your card.”You know,Mint chapstick and a mistletoe?Let me guess trying to kiss a certain someone underneath it”The girl asked while watching your receipt print out before ripping it off the machine and placing it in the bag and pushing the bag towards you.

“My boyfriend,It’s our first Christmas together and I just wanted to have a special moment in it”You say while grabbing the bag,Smiling at the clerk.she just nodded before giving you a small smile back.

The walk back home was pretty quiet.most people were still sleeping or just didn’t wanna go out yet.you were a little nervous for tomorrow.what if it doesn’t go well? What if he doesn’t wanna kiss or even worse…what if he hates your mint chapstick.

You loved this brand of chapstick not only because the smell and taste isn’t too strong and it leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth.Of course,Your thoughts were interrupted when you almost walked past your own house.

Once you were inside,You tossed the bag on the couch while taking your coat off and hanging it on the rack.Your main plan was to prepare the mistletoe and to work on Simon’s gifts.You had gotten him some new cds,a new hoodie and a bottle of cologne.

Nothing to fancy just some things you knew he wanted.You went to your room and got changed into a comfy pair of pajamas and got to work.Setting up the mistletoe to was pretty easy.You knew the best place to put it was the hallway leading to your bedroom and other rooms.

The next things were to wrap his gifts.You got on the pretty black and grey wrapping paper and sat down on the floor,You grabbed a pair of scissors and some tape before turning on a Christmas movie.

You forgot how hard it is to wrap gifts but managed to get most of them wrapped.once you were done you slid them underneath your nicely decorated tree.You smile as you stand up and clean up.You didn’t the time as you look and see it would be around the time you would make dinner.

You didn’t feel like making anything big and just settled on a cup of noodles.finishing up your movie and your food you sat on your couch thinking about Simon’s reaction to his gifts.

You knew he would love them mostly because you’ve caught him staring at them when you guys went out.you stare at the now empty cup before placing it on your coffee table and changing the channel to something else.

You ended up falling asleep while watching a random kids show.You didn’t even clean up your mess or anything as you were too tired to even get up.

By the time you did wake up,It was around 8 and Simon was supposed to be there around 10.You silently cursed to yourself as you shot up off your couch and started to pick up your trash.

You took a small shower,Nothing too fancy as you still needed to clean up your room.Once you were out the shower and were in clean pajamas you put things back in their proper place in your room.

You made up your bed and put everything back in the proper place before you heard a small knock on your front door.You looked at the clock to see it was 10:15.You didn’t worry too much as you got most of the chores you needed to do done.

You rushed to the front door,Your Santa slippers you bought squeaking slightly and you took a peak out the peephole and nearly let out a squeal as you undid the locks on your door and threw yourself at Simon,Wrapping your arms around him as he let out a small chuckle while patting your back.

“You missed me?you just saw me like two days ago”He said while walking in while you followed behind and closed your door.”two days?it felt like forever…”You say dramatically as you redo the locks.

Simon rolled his eyes slightly before plopping on your couch and sighing.”I like your tree,My mom hasn’t put ours up mostly because of how much of a hassle it is putting it up and taking it down”he said while leaning his head on the armrest staring up at you.

You shrug while shuffling to the kitchen.”I mostly keep mine up until I have the energy to take it down.”You say while looking in the fridge.You felt your stomach do flips as you grab a coke from the fridge and pop it open and take a small sip before closing your fridge and turning around.

You looked at the mistletoe hanging above the hallway before looking at Simon who was busy staring at the television,Watching the Christmas program on it.

Your eyes flicked through the two before giving yourself a small pep talk in your head about how easy it would be.

You move out of the kitchen into the hallway before positioning yourself underneath it.”Simonnn”You called out while rocking back and fourth on your feet.he turned his focus to you before making a small confused face.You motion him to come towards you which he does with a small groan.

“What is it?”He asks while placing his cold hands on your waist which made you get all giddy inside before you looked up,His eyes following also before you felt his grasp on your waist get tighter before looking back down at you.

“I wanted our first kiss to be special!so I went out a bought a mistletoe yesterday.”You say while wrapping your arms around his neck.You were a little bit scared to lean in until you saw Simon slowly start to lean in,You followed his lead before you felt his chapped lips press up against your much more smoother ones.

You closed your eyes as you pressed your lips harder.You felt your heart beat a bit faster and your head spin a little.you felt Simon’s grip on your waist get tighter before he pulled away.

“Was that good?”He asked while pulling away a little more.You nodded as you into his brown eyes before smiling.”It was perfect”You say while twirling a piece of his hair around your finger.”are you wearing mint chapstick?it tastes kinda nice…wait that sounds kinda weird”Simon rambled on before slightly cringing at the last thing he said.

You just giggle before shaking your head.”I actually bought it just for this occasion,I’m glad to know you like it.”You say while placing a small kiss on the corner of his lips.

The Christmas season had gotten a whole lot better as you spent the rest of the day making cookies,listening to music and watching the Christmas program that was set for that night.Now the next time you hung out with your friend and the mention of first kisses is brought up you have a good story to tell.

[odder-oddish]

Need a fic of Unknown wondering what it's like to hug someone since it never had anyone hug it before. You can choose what character you want interacting with it! 👍

This prompt had me stumped for a little bit, as I'm not super familiar with the Unknown so writing from Its perspective was a challenge for me. But here it is now. I'm not sure it followed the request exactly, but I like how it turned out.

Enjoy, (and if you have a ship or a character you'd like to see more of, my asks are open, so feel free to come leave me a oneshot request)

First Mate

How can you long for something you never knew you were missing? That shouldn't be possible, but It can feel something missing nonetheless. It yearns for something. Something that It never had. It doesn't know what It yearns for, but It aches anyway.

It spends a lot of time alone these days, but that's nothing new. It doesn't mind. There are trees and a pretty statue, and a building with comfy chairs. And sometimes the black wall morphs into a dancing picture, and It can't help but stare sometimes. Occasionally, it wanders into other strange places, forests, swamps, or surrounded by walls of cars. But usually it's back in the place with the trees, the statue, and the dancing picture.

Sometimes, there are others in and around the building. They crouch in front of strange machines and make them hum. But they never stop to say hi to It. They talk to each other, sometimes giving them orders or arguing. But other times they cheer each other on. But they never talk to It. Instead they just run. So It uses the sharp stick it found, the one with the metal head, to try and slow the people down. So they'll talk to It just for a minute.

Sometimes, It kicks the machines. It feels bad, destroying all of their hard work, but It doesn't know what else to do. When the machines get loud enough they turn bright and then all the other people run away, but black webs and sticks keep It from following them.

Sometimes, It tries to start a conversation. "You're gonna wanna see this," It says to a man with glasses and dark hair but he just turns and runs away.

"Hey, come here!" It tries to a woman with long white hair but she just shoots him with her sun ray.

"Help!" It tries, as a few run away, trying desperately to push past the strange black web holding it in. But the people just run from It, celebrating another "victory." Though It doesn't know what they were victorious over.

So ordinarily, It is alone. And maybe that is what It yearns for. Not being alone anymore. It's skin feels almost cold, but not really. Deep within Its skin It feels a strange, empty ache. But what will soothe It?

There is no sun here, so It never sees the day, and It doesn't know how much time has passed. Though It also didn't know how much time passed before it came here. And yet, It hopes something will change.

Something comes some time later, in the shape of a dog. A massive, drooling, angry black dog. He seems angry, but not at It. He barks, a harsh, loud sound that carries over the wind. So It walks over to it, leaning down, and putting Its head close to his.

"Help… do you need help?" It asks.

But the dog backs away from It before letting out a long howl. A despairing sound that makes It feel oddly sad. It wonders if the dog is longing for something too.

"Can… Can I help?" It tries again, and this time the dog looks at It. For a second, he seems to regard It with curiosity before it growls and lunges, baring his teeth as dives for It.

But his sharp teeth don't close around Its body. Instead, he bites on the metal-tipped stick It holds. He growls slightly, then his tail begins to wag. And the dog growls lowly, continuing to tug on the stick.

Then, suddenly, the dog lets go, but the change in force makes It lose Its grip. The metal stick goes flying and lands about fifteen yards away. The dog looks first at It, then at the stick, before he turns and scampers to the stick, picking it up and carrying it back to It.

It watches as the stick is dropped at Its feet, covered in dog drool. The dog, meanwhile, looks up at it, tail still wagging, and yaps excitedly.

"Do you want… again?" It asks, voice distorted. The yapping continues, so It lifts the metal stick in the air and then throws it as far as it can. Once again, the dog chases after it.

The process repeats and It feels… happy for the first time. The dog seems to like It, as he isn't running away from It. He keeps coming back with the stick and wagging his tail and it doesn't leave It behind. It has a friend!

After about a dozen tosses and retrievals, the dog seems a little bit tired. Panting, he lays down in the grass for a minute before suddenly, he jumps back to his feet, nose in the air. He begins to sniff and look around wildly.

"What… What is it?" It asks, but the dog ignores It, following some sort of scent.

The dog ends up at the popcorn machine, standing on his hind legs and pawing at the glass, as a low whine escapes his mouth. He wants whatever's inside, It realizes.

And It can help! With a decisive motion, It lifts the metal stick and crashes it into the machine, breaking it open. The dog immediately lunges for the intestines coiled up in the machine and runs away, the intestines dragged on the grass behind him.

And It feels sad again. The dog has left It, like everyone else does. Saddened, It sits in the grass, unsure what to do. Maybe It will wait for the people to return and make the fancy machines hum again. Maybe It will throw the metal stick at them and see if they bring the stick back too.

It wonders if it ruined it's chance. The dog left It, just like everyone else, and just so he could chew on some intestines. It walks over to a a tall fence and sits down with a "thud," head hung in sorrow. What would it take, It wonders, to get someone to stay?

It feels cold, all of a sudden. And It aches with a pain It doesn't quite understand. It must be cursed to an existence alone. Its heart feels heavy.

Soft footsteps slowly approach It, and It looks up to see the dog trotting back over, the intestines likely already devoured. But this time, the dog doesn't reach for the sharp metal stick. He walks straight up to It before lying down in Its lap. The dog's weight settles over It, as he lays down, his head resting on Its knee.

It isn't sure whether It has a heart, but if It does, it would certainly be beating faster with utter glee, at the sensation of feeling the dog lie in Its lap. Another creature, finally not running from It, but instead staying with It, even seeking out Its comfort? The emotion is overwhelming. Finally, another creature who doesn't fear It. It is almost afraid to move, to disrupt the dog who rests against Its legs. Because this is what It has ben craving. What It has needed for so long.

The dogs eyes close and it begins to snore. It takes Its hand, the one not holding the stick, and puts it on the dog's back, gently petting the fur. It doesn't know what compels it to do that, but It knows that feels right. The dog doesn't fear It, trusts It enough to sleep curled up in Its lap. And suddenly, It gets a strange feeling of belonging that It's never had before.

It must fall asleep, because It wakes up in pain. A blunt object is pressed into Its chest, hard. The pressure hurts and It writhes in pain, opening Its eyes to see a woman standing above him.

She is tall. Very tall. With dark skin and hair and a cane in her hand which is currently being shoved against It. "Another abomination," she says, her voice low. "No matter. I hope you're prepared to die like the rest of that scum."

The cane is pulled back and she raises it into the air and It realizes what's going to happen. She is going to hurt It. In the moment between her raising the cane and the inevitable blow, It thinks about the dog one last time. How lucky It was to have a moment of comfort, even if it was fleeting.

But the dog isn't gone. He's still there, behind the woman. And just before she can swing at It, the dog begins to whine, a high pitched, desperate sort of noise. To Its suprise, the dog leaps in between It and the woman, barking at her.

"What is it, boy?" she asks, tilting her head to the side.

The dog doesn't respond. Just turns to It and licks Its face, a strange, slobbery sensation.

"Oi. You like this one, do ya?" she asks as the dog turns back to her and gently headbutts her, pushing her back.

It watches, confused, as the woman and the dog face off. Until she changes her grip on the cane, once again holding it from the head, and lowers her arm. She reaches for It with her free hand instead, pulling It to Its feet. "Today's your lucky day. But remember, you're only alive because Snug likes ya, understood?"

It nods quickly, just relieved that the cane isn't going to hurt It. "Hi. Is this your dog?" It asks, voice distorted as always.

"Aye. Snug's my boy." she answers, looking It over with a critical gaze. There's a strange look in her eye, as if her nature is to be bloodthirsty and violent, and now, she must go against her instincts. Once again, her hand is held out to It, but It doesn't know what to do with it. "Captain Portia," she says boldly. "And what can I call you?"

It doesn't have an answer. "Call me. Call… me?" It asks, utterly confused.

The woman, Portia, laughs, a rowdy, full-bellied sound. And It, in Its confusion, begins to laugh as well. "You're a strange one, I'll give you that. And thank you, for looking after Snug." At the mention of his name, Snug looks up at Portia, panting lightly. She gives his head a few pats before turning away from It.

It realizes, Snug is leaving. Leaving with Portia. Not again. It can't be left alone again. After having the most teasing taste of companionship, of belonging, it is going to be isolated all over again.

"Wait. Please wait," It says, and Portia turns back to It, a strange look on her face. "Can I… Can I stay?"

She purses her lips and stares at It for a full minute before looking down at Snug. "I'm trying to kill a man who destroyed my life. I'll stop at nothing, and will leave no one who stands in my way alive. I will kill again and again, destroying the vermin who dare cross me. Do you understand?"

It nods. It will stay out of her way. It just doesn't want to be alone. If she wants to kill a man, It will help. It will do whatever she needs so that It doesn't have to be by Itself forever.

"Right then. I suppose I could use a first mate. But don't fall behind."

She turns and begins walking again and It follows. And Portia shows It a way out of Its confinement, to other worlds. She shows It new realms. Forests and swamps and a small abandoned town and strange futuristic planets. And they encounter all sorts of strange creatures and monsters. But It is never alone.

Portia tells It stories about growing up on a pirate ship, of navigating, of studying the stars. And It listens. It doesn't have exciting stories to share back, but It likes to listen. Sometimes while she talks Snug will come lay in Its lap and sleep again, snoring loudly in the night.

And one day, they're chasing people again. They're in a forest with some people who are once again trying to make the machines bright and loud. And while It still doesn't understand why, It and Portia chase after them all.

"Oi! One of 'em is getting away!" Portia yells. It turns just in time to see a woman with pretty blonde hair run past. She's going to run past the gates and leave like always. And Portia isn't close enough to stop her.

So It instinctively charges into action, catching the blonde woman at a different angle and bringing the sharp stick down over her head. The blonde woman falls to the ground and Snug holds her there.

It watches intently as Portia walks over and stomps her foot down over the woman's head. Laughing as the screams abruptly cease.

"Ha-ha! You've done it!" she says, turning to It with a bloodthirsty, wild smile. She closes the distance between him and slings and arm around It's shoulders as she whoops loud into the air. "You certainly are a good first mate."

The arm around It is too rough. Squeezing too hard and making Its neck hurt. But It doesn't mind. It's made her proud, It's done something good. And It's made someone happy. The touch is casual, but It relishes each second of contact, the companionship igniting a sense of belonging that It's never felt before.

Snug comes over too, and It reaches down to pet him for a few seconds before turning back to Portia. "We're a. We're a team!" It says, voice distorting even more as excitement obscures Its voice.

"And a damned good one at that, Mate," Portia says with a grin. She pulls her arm away but this time, the loss of contact doesn't leave It feeling empty inside. Instead, It still feels warm, like the camaraderie between them is going to last.

"Come on, we've got more to explore," Portia says after a moment. The three of them, the violent pirate captain without a ship, her loyal hound, and It, the strange creature that has never belonged anywhere, walk into the shadows together. And for the first time, It feels happy about the adventures to come.

It has a crew now. It has a home.