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chadfallout76podcast · 2 months

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"Deah Shroud!: A Nick Valentine Mystery" EXPLAINED and AMA

It never occurred to me to do this last year, but a lot of people have asked me questions about our Fallout 4 play in the last year in the Discord, so I wanted to open an AMA but also explain "Death Shroud!" and some of the broader themes involved in it.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Part 1: Pre-production

Before I get into the story, I wanted to explain how this production even came about. Over the years after working together on some official community projects with Wes Johnson through Bethesda, we became good friends. I took a couple of his acting classes and he talked about the Fallout For Hope charity initiative I started and asked for help in organizing the gaming community for his Alzheimer's Association fundraiser. The idea was to host a month-long digital event of discussion panels, game shows, improv and a play with as many different voices of video games, film and TV as we could round up. In our second year of his VoiceAPalooza fundraiser, I wanted to do an original old time radio show and see if could bring back as many of the cast that we could from Fallout 4. It was Wes who first suggested an adventure with his Silver Shroud character (that he voiced in Fallout 4's radio plays) teaming up with Nick Valentine (voiced by the amazing Stephen Russell). Valentine is, for me, one of the best written, unique companions in Fallout lore.

So, I reached out to Stephen Russell who had joined us before for charity work and he was all in on bringing Nick Valentine back to life! After that things moved fast with Bethesda's Pete Hines and Emil Pagliarulo joining us to have some fun for a good cause. We tried to get EVERY companion from Fallout 4 that we could, but schedule wrangling is tough, and some people are just impossible to track down or find. Matt Mercer would've loved to have joined us as Macready, but unfortunately scheduling didn't work, so the best we could manage would be a holotape (the only reason our snarky gun running merc had to take the big sleep in the story).

After having everyone plugged in to reprise characters, it was time to put fingers to keys and find the story...

Part 2: The Deep Lore

The origin of this story started with a thought: how would the NPC's and characters we love perceive modification of their universe by us? We, as players aren't the true creators of this universe or these characters (Bethesda is). If anything, we the players are the equivalent of "lesser gods", reshaping it in new ways, unexpected and subjective ways, and sometimes even chaotic ways (I'm looking at you avalanche of adult mods with realistic jiggle physics and Thomas the Tank Engine Vertibird).

It started with a mental image of the small ways in which we start out modding games, or even the first mods we (using the "Engine of Creation) actually create. I had a mental image of Magnolia doing her thing, singing away sultry in a crowded and smoky third rail when she looks one way, back the next and sees new curtains. A subtle thing, something a little startling, but in a universe where recreational drug use is met with a YEEE YEEEE WHEEEE...a change you simply dismiss as being overtired or a little too juiced.

I'm a sucker for old time radio. I grew up listening to classic radio horrors like The Whistler, Suspense, and Lights Out on vinyl records and cassette tapes when I'd spend summers with my grandmother on a little island off the coast of Canada. Getting the tone, feeling and sound to stage an old-time radio show was the easiest part of this whole process...it's baked into my brain lol. The key of course is finding the right narrative voice.

Enter: Bill Lobley. If you play Fallout 76, he is the announcer for the "Tales from the West Virginia Hills" holotapes, but before that he's a prolific voice actor, maybe best known for his role as the truly vile Jeremiah Fink in Bioshock: Infinite. He has a FANTASTIC transatlantic voice for old time radio and was perfect as narrator in the script.

Part 3: What Is Going On?!?!

I had the base idea, the voices to pull it off, but what was the meaning and message of the whole thing? I always start there. From a meta experience level, the story is about dealing with subjective reality that’s being torn apart. After Fallout 4 launched in vanilla, we the players changed that world and reshaped it with mods. The small changes in perceived reality are meant for the omniscient player (us) and are not meant to be perceived by the characters themselves...and yet, what if they were? And if they were...WHY?! The answer was right in front of me: there's a difference between something born into a world and something MADE into a world.

You take someone like Magnolia or Nick, both synths, that obviously weren’t naturally born from two people. They were conceived as an idea...a human idea sure, but still they were made, not born. Without even needing to say in the script, the Trickster from the Grognak comic books who shouldn't exist yet does IS also an idea. Some MADE into a world but not born...a different world sure, but still the creation of it. Nick, Magnolia, any synth as ideas themselves would sense that the world was wrong and being changed in a way no one else would because of fundamentally who they are and what they represent.

Everything that unfolds is because Nora as a keystone event in the Commonwealth, a focal point of the causal nexus making her a unique entity in that world. A causal nexus is the link between a cause and its resulting effects and ignore the science mumbo jumbo, because here's an example of how that works:

The Sole Survivor, Nora, listened to Kent's message, chose to answer him and put on the outfit of the Silver Shroud. As a unique figure she shifted perceived reality of everyone in the Commonwealth by becoming the Silver Shroud, acting like him and making people believe that a fictional character exists.

Unfettered belief and faith in an idea = manifested reality.

Rejected belief and faith in the idea = dispels that reality.

This HAS happened before in Fallout lore in the instance of people with horrifying backstories and personal tragedies choosing to become someone else such as the Mechanist (Fallout 3 and Fallout 4) or even the Ant-Agonizer (Fallout 3). This time however it was a unique figure who did this, a figure fated and meant to reshape the Commonwealth for good, bad or ugly.

This opened a door, the door through which another figure could influence and enter a new universe provided it take the form of something already in it...a reality side-step into the form of the Mechanist. Concurrently, the moment that happened, reality counterbalanced by making the Silver Shroud who was already believed to be real BECOME real as the ying to the Mechanist/Trickster's yang.

Now at home in reality, the Trickster found himself very much alive and unbound by story but had very little power to do much at all. He needed something more, an idea and faith that already existed in the Commonwealth with the infinite universe of ideas made, but not born like himself. His goal wasn't power, it was to sow chaos, reshaping reality into a realm for any and every idea despite the consequences to reality itself.

So what did he need? The belief in the Old Gods and a focus point of belief in the idea: a staff. The universe is as adaptive as it is remarkable and where the Mechanist had its opposite: the Silver Shroud, the Trickster needed its twin: enter Sheogorath...because what better staff to tear apart and reshape reality than the Staff of Sheogorath. There is a quest added in the new Skyrim Anniversary Edition in which you can build it for yourself with a few items: Branch of the Tree of Shades, Ciirta's Eye, Fork of Horripilation. In this universe it would have to fashioned with things FROM this universe.

Two eyes were needed:

The eye of a True Believer: Kent Connolly

The eye of a True Seer: Mama Murphy

Affixed to the top of a staff of the purest heartwood from a Twice Born Tree. Living wood from Harold, born a man who eventually mutated into a living tree.

Lastly, it had to be soaked in the tears of ages end: barrels of radiated blessed waters courtesy of the Cult of Atom.

The Trickster had no magic of his own in this universe in which to act, but thankfully courtesy of some powerful allies, he was able to make contact with shadowy cults and worshippers of the old gods who gave him the name of someone truly of faith in the old magic to make all of this work: Jebediah Blackhall, who in this spin of the universe did unfortunately get his hands on the cursed book: the Krivbeknah.

Finding allies was all too easy, as the events post main quest left the Commonwealth changed. To many, the Sole Survivor and his/her companions would be hailed as heroes. To others, they would be villains, particularly in light of what Nora CHOSE to do to the Railroad to end the synth threat for good. That's a lot of blood on the hands of heroes...

As the Mechanist/Trickster, Blackall and the Lombardos began using the staff, its changes and shifts in reality rippled backwards through time, as changing one specific thing would change its entire existence. You change some curtains and the manufacturer of those curtains only every made one pattern...the world object becomes changed universally. Tapping into the Engine of Creation to make these changes, leaves anyone MADE not born aware of them as they don't fit into the design as it shifts around them. Nick, Danse, Magnolia would all feel and see it, be thrown off for a bit before settling into the changed reality state.

At the climax when everything starts falling apart and you get everyone from GlaDOS and the Joker strolling on in, the only way to end it all is to separate the Trickster from the Staff and restore the saved intended state of reality. The Silver Shroud finds himself powerless against the Trickster...only someone from this universe would be able to intercede, hard wired into the Engine of Creation itself as an existing element connected throughout its framework and history. After sending the Trickster off packing to the moon (thanks GlaDOS), but its a little too late for reality. It collapses around them, finding themselves elsewhere...the point between the mind, creation and the outcome of reality.

After the Shroud fades away, Nick has the power and choice to roll the universe, his universe back along the tapestry of choices that led him here. They all were haunted by the choices they made the first time around, something Nora couldn't live with...that ultimately led her relationship with Danse to fall apart. So Nick decides to go back further, as far back as he can go and he finds himself back in his office with Ellie waking him up.

There are consequences to what he's done, that he's not yet aware of, ones that will become clear in our next episode. The synths remember, as he remembers...Danse, Magnolia and everyone else remembers the fall of the Institute. They all find themselves at their starting point, moving towards their intended fated position to encounter the Sole Survivor. For Nick? He's starting down the path that will led him to be held prisoner and meet the Sole Survivor for the first time.

As he'll soon discover however, things don't play out the same way this time. Moreover, while he was rolling back reality to an early saved state, he made a huge mistake and completely forgot about something and someone so incredibly important...

You'll have to wait to see what that is...

#death shroud #chad: a fallout 76 podcast #chad: a fallout 76 story #fallout 4 #fallout for hope #wes johnson #fallout #fallout fanfic #nick valentine

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slashingdisneypasta · 5 months

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Horror Villains x Fem!Reader || Excerpts

Plot: Receiving a message from him specially for you.

Includes: Erik Destler, Inkubus, Jim Bickerman, Mayor Buckman and Stuart Lloyd. Obligatory pattern?? What pattern?

Warnings: Inkubus' is kindof sinister but what for you expect (side note- any guesses to whats inside the box? XD ) and Stuart's, reader is in university (I'm thinking around the 25 mark though). Also I wrote these in the notes app on my phone so I'm sorry if their are typos 😅

Tagging: @marinerainbow , @masqueradeball , @thecourtofgraywaves , and @your-mxnd-is-mxne .

Erik Destler

You felt the note be tucked into the palm of your hand when everyone was panicking because the lights switched off suddenly (of course, you had an inkling who was behind that fiasco immediately. Everyone did) and everyone was plunged into darkness. You breath had hitched, but then the lights turned on and there was no one next you- just your friends asking if you were okay and saying that it was the phantom.

You kept the piece of parchment in your fist hidden until you were able to slip away, say you needed some fresh air, and step out of the theatre to stand under a street light and open Erik's note for you; doing your best to flatten out the paper from its squished state with your hands.

His scrawl is a little smudged, and two of the corners are burnt, but you manage to make out his words. He's got lovely handwriting you think, a giddy smile twinging at your mouth.

_____

My dear,

After the show is over, I wish for you to meet me in my quarters.

There will be candles lit to lead you there, you only need to slip away from your frivolous companions and sneak down into the depths of the Opera house, if you're brave enough. I'm tired of the cat and mouse game you've been playing with me. Every flirtatious wink and pretty smile you send to my loge, every flash of your skin when you know I'm hidden there in your dressing room, every kind word you speak of me when others curse me... If your efforts are coming from a genuine desire to meet, I'll be waiting tonight. If not, I'll desist my watching. My listening. My attention.

That's my promise, and my offer- please consider it.

I hope to see you later, tonight. Enjoy the show.

- The Phantom

_____

A broader grin spreads across your lips as you finish the note and flick through it again, the important bits (the fact that he noticed your attempts to garner his attention at all, his offer, his hope). You've always been intrigued by the Palais de Garnier, and especially by its phantom~ There was truly something irresistibly fascinating about it- almost sexy. You can feel the excitement literally fluttering inside you like the wings of butterflies as you go back into the theatre and eagerly away the end of the show.

Inkubus

When you got home and pressed messages on your answering machine and heard that voice, you remember it clearly because it was so distinctive, and ardent, and sure, and so thick with something equally threatening, and... licentious, you immediately felt your blood run cold. The man at the busy coffee shop. Who sat with you at your table when their were no seats left and smelled like blood and looked at you like prey.

You didn't give him your phone number. You didn't even give him your name.

"Y/N... if you thought you would just brush me off and forget me like a random passerby, a footnote in your little life, you were mistaken. I told you, I have a few tricks up my sleeve~ "

You click to the next message numbly.

"In case you haven't deduced already, I also know where you live. And in case you think that I'm bluffing," the sound of a dark, soft chuckle revibrates from the speaker. "I left a small gift for you in your lovely bedroom. I'll give you a moment to go have a look."

Without a thought, you drop your bag and rush to your room after the click, stopping when you get there and cautiously pushing open the door. There you find a small box left in the mess of pillows and unmade blankets that is your bed that definitely wasn't there when you left in the morning, placed perfectly in the middle atop the covers, which you pick up carefully in one hand and take with you back to your answering machine; assessing it warily while you walk. It's wood but painted a terrible charcoal black, the paint coming off like soot on your fingers, and theirs a lock. You try to lift the lid, but without a key you won't be able to open it.

You press next on your answering machine, once again; eyes on the box.

"You'll get the key to what's inside next time we meet- and I promise, we will.

Y/N you have my full attention, and when I want something I generally get it. This is but a warning- by the months end, you'll want me just as deeply as I want you."

Jim Bickerman

He doesn't own a phone (he used to, but the telemarketers drove him up a wall and the old flip phone ended up in a lake somewhere) so when you get to his place, using the spare key tucked away under a little daffy duck figure on the porch, you see a tape recorder with a note taped to the front on the kitchen bench. "Hm," You hum, leaning your forearms on the bench and carefully unrolling the tape off the little beat-up machine and the note that says 'Read me' in thick permanent marker scrawl. Throwing away the tape, you press play and leave the tape recorder on the bench as you open up the freezer and pull out a pack of frozen potato gems. As you practically live here, even when Jim's not there too, you feel perfectly comfortable making yourself up and after work snack.

"Hey there, pumpkin. I'm off on a spontaneous job, got approached by a fella at the bar wantin' a couple protected deer off his property in Massachusetts. So I'll be off for about a week. Wish me luck I dont get in some trouble with fish and wildlife, eh?... " Sighing, you kneel by the oven and preheat according to the instructions on the bag. A week?? Crazy old man doesn't even have an email to contact him at! "but hey, pay-out promises to be good, the kid's got that new money look in his eye, so if all goes well when I get back I'll take ya out somewhere without a funky smell hm? You can wear something real pretty, and I'll pay. Course, you know the dress I like best." A grin quirks at the corners of your mouth, shaking your head. You do, you got it while shopping with him one day. "House-sit for me while I'm gone, won't ya?" Is that even a question?? He knows you love this place, it's off the beaten track and the lake's a quick walk from here. Not the lake he grew up next to, thank goodness; a really pretty one you love to read by while he fishes. Or just sit next to alone. "I tried to tidy up a bit but as we speak I'm in a rush, here. There's chocolate in the fridge and it's all yours. I'll miss ya, pumpkin, love ya. See you in a week."

After putting the potato gems away in the freezer to wait for the oven to preheat you pick up the tape recorder and take it with you to the livingroom, opening up a window to let in the fresh woodsy air before getting comfy on the couch and rewinding the tape.

Mayor Buckman

The note with your name on it folded neatly and left on your make up table beside a perfect sunflower when you got to your dressingroom after a show wasn't a surprise. There was always a note. Buckman never missed an opportunity to remind you that you're on his mind.

Pulling one side of your shawl over one of your bare shoulders, you take a seat in your dressing room chair with all other beautiful shawls and dresses and skirts of myriad materials and styles and colours strewn and hanging over the back, fold on leg over the other and lift up the flower, first; smiling and holding it delicately to your nose, feeling the soft petals on your cheeks.

You're approached plenty gentlemen in your line of work, being an actress on the stage. They find you beautiful, they love your voice, they think you're sweet. They want to add you to their collection of lovely things they've touched, or had.

But none of them were like Buckman, which is why you chose him.

He didn't look at you like you were a thing to have had. Not something to charm once and then never put anymore effort into; he always looks at you the same way with the same cheer and interest. He genuinely likes you, he likes talking to you, and he continues to prove it.

Next you pick up the note and flick it open for to read it slowly, feeling your heart flutter in your chest like no man's ever did before him- or ever have since.

_____

Steller performance as always sweetheart! Lord, I had the worst, most obnoxious boy next to me talking all the way through the show but I swear- I barely heard a word he said when you were on stage. How on earth could a fella notice anything else?

You were just magical, darling.

Anyway, I got a couple of boring mayor things to do get done quickly now while everyone's still milling about the theatre, I just wanted to tell you privately how amazing you were, in case none of the other idiots around here convinced you. I'll see ya at home later tonight. I'll make you something tasty for dinner. I love you.

- George

_____

Taking a deep breath, pause for a moment. You try to retain your graceful, sober togetherness because you're acclaimed actor and you don't get worked up over a silly man's sweet words... and fail; using the note and cover your goofy grin and closing your eyes shut, shaking your head.

Stuart Lloyd:

Finally at the bus stop, you open your phone for the first time and check notifications after a long, long day of work. God, that cinema is driving you up a wall. You can't wait to get that Masters, get a good job and get the hell out. 2 months to go.

Noticing an audio message amongst all the school emails, personal emails, and tumblr notifications, you think how odd that is- who leaves phone messages? Why wouldn't they just text you? A gentle humorous grin spreads across your mouth when you realise that it's from Stuart.

Of course, you think. Stuart's not terrible with technology, not at all, but it still just seems very him to leave a voice message rather then type out a text to you. He would never use emojis, either, you think. He's more likely to spend an hour composing you a short poem then quickly tap a small 'dimwitted' image to express his feelings.

After pressing play, you hold your phone to your ear and look out for the bus; blowing air out of your cheeks in exhaustion.

"Hello, uh, Y/N. I hope you're well, and um... you don't mind, that I uh- that I found your phone number in the employee files. I was unsure how to reach you, and I wasn't sure that our shifts were going to match up at all before um... before you left." You should mind, you think, but you don't. Stuart is always overstepping boundaries in that odd half nervous half holier then thou way and yet you... never mind. It's hysterical and you like him. "Um- for a better job I mean. I remember you saying you were going to leave, because well- because your course is ending, right? Congratulations, by the way. I don't think I said that. You must be... you must be very proud. Um- anyway- the reason for my calling, yes. I- " abruptly the tone beeps and Stuart's voice clips away, having taken way too long and been cut off. Pouting, you take your phone away from your ear and look for another message- and there is.

"Thank goodness, Stuart." Pressing the phone once again to your ear with an exasperated, fond grin, you shake your head. "Good grief."

"Right, um, I was too slow. My bad. What I was saying is I... I was wondering, if b-before you leave and I... miss my chance, if you wanted... " He clears his throat, and you start to feel anxious, heartbeat getting faster in your chest. You chew on the inside of your cheek. Where is he going with this? Why does he sound so nervous? "If you wished to a- accompany me on a... a date? I- look, I'm sorry if you feel that this is coming out of left field but I have not met a more pleasant person to be around for a long time, and I- " Stuart's voice clicks away from you again and you curse, quickly pressing the next audio message. There is 1 more message after this.

"It happened again. I apologise. What I'm saying is I appreciate you. And I'm not looking forward to working without you again in 2 months. And you're a- a very pretty young woman. If this comes off as... creepy... due- due to my age, or something, I apologise. I only thought that I would- that I should, give it a try. Thank you."

You start the final message.

"Oh!! I'll be working the next couple of days eight am to four pm- In case you wish to call me back whilst I'm available. Or not. Um, yes that's all. Have a lovely evening."

... for a few moments you remain holding the phone to your ear, head just rolling.

You never thought about Stuart romantically until this moment, he made your insides flutter but you never dared to go there. You pushed it down, you put the butterflies away in a box as best you could. But now they're out again and the fluttering is hard to ignore.

Before you can think anymore, you're calling him back.

"Yes? Hello?"

"Where do you wanna take me on our date?"

#writing fic is an addiction and i am an a d d i c t #luckily i am feeling better now so i can start writing slowwwwly XD #Horror Villains x Reader Excerpts #Horror Villains x Reader #Excerpts #Horror Villains #Stuart Lloyd #Stuart Lloyd x Reader #Mayor Buckman #Mayor Buckman x Reader #Jim Bickerman #Jim Bickerman x Reader #Inkubus #Inkubus x Reader #Erik Destler #Erik Destler x Reader

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sleepymccoy · 3 months

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Still thinking about a Star trek TOS Firefly au. So I'm gonna have fun writing it out.

I love the dynamic between Mal, Zoe, and Wash, so that's certainly becoming the triumvirate. Mal > Jim, Zoe > Spock, Wash > Bones. However Wash's job doesn't make sense for Bones so he's going to change to doctor.

Jim was on Tarsus 4 and suffered the same as in canon, famine leads to who lives lottery and he wasn't chosen but survived anyway. I think that makes perfect sense in the Firefly universe too, but I think unlike in trek Kodos is celebrated by the federation in Firefly for making tough choices and leading in a strong way. So he's not on the run, he's a constant background side threat who's still in power. The face of the federation in this version, but not the head of it. You feel me

After Tarsus, Jim and Bones met and became mates. I think Bones moved to a big fancy planet for his wife and child after a bit. In the meant time, we have Spock!

This got massive, have a readmore

Spock is the result of eugenic experiments (there's no aliens in Firefly 😢) like the serenity thing that the og story is about (but generational eugenics not brain poking)(because I want there to be many others, just also in hiding and with their own political factions and opinions) but his resulted in Vulcan-like stuff. I think he's still got the pointy ears and has excessively strong emotions that he's learnt to hide completely cos he was raised in a medical facility by cold scientists instead of parents and love. There's schools of thought about them, some want to integrate, some want them exterminated, some want them to form their own society. The federation stance is these eugenic things don't exist and if you see one kill it because it officially doesn't exist. So Spock is forced into hiding and hasn't really had a chance to form his broader opinion, cos it's academic anyway. They're all hiding now.

So, Spock's escaped (more on that later) and in hiding. He meets Jim and they click, probably meeting in some silly battle. I reckon Spock has ways to get away from the feds that Jim wants to learn, so Jim pushes for them to team up. They spend some time together either on someone else's ship or on a smaller ship just them two.

After a while that comes to an end and they put together a crew and buy a ship together. They hire Sulu and Chekhov who are a criminal team who need to get off this rock very fast please. Chekhov can fly wonderfully and has enough engineering knowledge that they're like hey we maybe don't need someone in the engine room!

Sulu is a jack of all trades. It takes a few months for them to realise how useful he is, he always has a skill they need and always knows someone who'll play as a contact. Absolutely invaluable.

Eventually the engine breaks beyond Chekhov's skill to fix and they've all heard of Scotty. Everyone knows about Scotty. I think this would make a good episode one.

They work Sulu's contacts and find Scotty who is, lo and behold, having a drink with his mate disgraced Doctor McCoy. Spock, immediate dislike, this guy is a doctor. Jim, holy shit! Bones! Why the fuck aren't you emailing me back!?

Turns out Bones has gotten divorced and threw a bit of a fit in a hospital and can't work on a core planet anymore. He agrees to join the crew and Scotty has some issue that forms most of the episode plot and joins too cos hey, crims gotta keep moving

The ep ends with meeting Uhura, who manages a lot of the residual resistance movement's comms. She's the most political of the bunch, but Jim is absolutely in agreement and so chuffed to meet her even tho he's never been too war-y before. Scotty and Sulu already know her. She takes a kind of Inara role on the ship, but she's not companioning, she's boosted the comms in the shuttle and is continuing this work. It's great for her cos she gets to move around and be hard to catch, and it's great for the ship cos it gives them access to loads of underground people who aren't the hated federation

I also think she helped Spock break out back in the day. I'm not sure if she was part of it and they've met, or if she helped run things so she knows Spock but he doesn't know her. She's gonna be their reason for getting accidentally involved in larger things in the story and why they get more altruistic with their jobs. Spock also pulls them into some of the eugenic stuff

I reckon episode two needs some Spock eugenic stuff to happen so that Bones can solidify himself as on team Spock in action even if he has a go at Spock. Cos everyone else follows Jim's orders and Jim is team Spock, so I think Bones needs a chance to prove it. To great danger to himself ofc.

Repeat characters (like in Firefly they have Badger and Saffron who rock up as major non crew characters) are Chapel and Rand. I think Chapel is still on a core planet as a nurse. I would have her join the crew in season two, to look for her missing husband. But in season one she can be an insider informant for the hospital heist episode, which they do mainly for the medical equipment cos Bones has like nothing to treat people with. And maybe Spock has some additional medical needs that Bones needs to learn (Spock hates this)

Rand is like a bit of Saffron energy but less totally untrustworthy. I think she works them for her benefit but in a way where when they meet again they're like hey Janice you're not allowed on the ship but it's great to see you! Like, maybe she hijacks them to get her somewhere or stows away super inconveniently. Or maybe she just steals from them old school style and has a very all's fair in love and war vibe about it. She just doesn't hold any resentment, so it's hard to resent her

If I were to cast this show I'd cast Bones and Jim and women because I think it needs more women, might as well put them in positions of power, and honestly I think Spock's character with the emotional repression and all would change being cast as a woman whereas the others wouldn't. Spock's character in this is gonna be playing into stereotypes and expectation to stay in hiding, and those change as a woman

I've definitely got less tension on board than Firefly. There's no Jayne equivalent making life hard for everyone, but you could write an arc in for Chekhov like that if you wanted to. He could go from disliking the danger Spock and Uhura bring to absolutely admiring them over like two seasons. Could be interesting, but it's not got much to do with trek really

There's no shipboard romance here either. There could be something cool in the Scotty/Uhura that happened later in trek canon. Maybe they've got romantic history, so when she joins the ship there's tension and they just fall into bed together pretty quickly. But I'd only put that in if it added something else to the story, which it might! I'm not actually writing, I'm brainstorming

And similar to what the did in Firefly I think Spock/Bones makes the most sense. Cos we don't need proof that Spock and Jim understand each other, they're captain and first officer. They have each other's back absolutely. And similarly with Jim and Bones, they'd have old loyalty and friendship to draw on. And I think they also just obviously get along. But Spock and Bones could do with some plot prodding along, so I'd do something like the Simon/Kaylee romance where there's tension and clear desire but they're bad at making it happen. There's too much in the way. But it adds reason for Bones to have Spock's back (cos we're coming at at the start of their friendship, not years into their five years mission) and you can occasionally see Spock relaxing the emotional wall with someone other than Jim as he develops more serious a crush

I want to see! The Niska episode where Jim and Spock get nicked and tortured, and Bones goes in to trade for them back. He can only afford one but true to the Empath ep he just trades himself and volunteers for the torture.

I also want to see a Jaynestown style ep where Scotty or Sulu are the hero. I think probably Scotty. He'd be easy to write as selfish in a he only cares about tech kinda way and then to find that he accidentally did this would be funny. He also likes to keep a low profile generally so it's extra hilarious

Hospital heist ep, with Chapel cameo. I don't think anyone's handing Spock over to the feds, but maybe they get caught and Chekhov tries to trade Spock for their freedom? Not in a pre planned malicious, but more that he just doesn't prioritise Spock's safety over everyone else's. He sees it as a last ditch leverage effort, for the greater good. Could be good drama

Saffron style ep with Rand but she steals from them. I do think that's hilarious, showing them be the mark. And I'd let her win, leave them stranded without whatever thing it is she fleeced and having to find a new magical tech engine bit. But hey she left some booze as an apology and made out with Jim so it's not too bad

I really like Firefly

#star trek #star trek tos #firefly #uhotty #spones

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variousqueerthings · 5 months

Text

SO WE'VE SEEN EPISODE ONE THE ELEVENTH HOUR (gosh I love the doctor-related silly puns -- Eighth Wonder, Northern Star, You're A Ten, etcetc, good stuff...)

and I remember when I was watching this. I remember being quite excited. I remember being really into the season trailer (which is pretty good, still), and I remember being like "oh what the doctor is holding a gun!!!??!!!" (which is still a pay-off I remember thinking worked overall)

It's a good introduction episode. Murray Gold kills it with the music especially, Matt Smith is not bad, Olivia Coleman is there (pls can she be in DW again as a bigger role??? it's Olivia Coleman and she has nearly nothing to do in this??????) and we get what feels like the central ongoing conceit between the doctor and the new companion: that the doctor left her and so her entire self was formed around her child-self's belief of him -- it's pretty fucked up stuff, great for future work

new Tardis is beautiful. more like a laboratory now, more clean lines than Nine's and Ten's which was put together by scraps (scrap!Tardis my bby). It's shiny now, like a toy

notes the Doctor calling the Tardis "dear" is charming! and "I am definitely a mad man with a box."

Now obviously I know where a lot of things are going, but I will try to be reeelatively episode-minded, as if this were the first time. so on The Measurement of m*ffat's era, here's the rating, and then below some more in-depth explanation as to why. I added two to the initial lot I drew up and clarified a couple of the others

EDIT: retroactively added "politics" to the scoreboard

a criteria will be rated 0-10, with 10 being best score:

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 3/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored): 7/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 7/10

(if tying into wider narrative) furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 6/10

companion matters (the companion doesn’t always have to be there, but if the companion is there, can they function without the doctor– and overall per season how often is the companion the focus or POV of the story): 5/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 6/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 7/10

isn't trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 6/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 7/10

politics (how conservative is it): 7/10

FULL RATING: 61/100 (if I can count....)

OBJECTIFICATION: so I had this on 4 and put it down to a 3. Upon rewatch it's pretty egregious, the kissogram joke extends for a fair amount of runtime, from the initial long-shot up her legs to the doctor having kind of a patronising line later on:

little old lady: "I thought you were a nurse... or maybe a nun?"

the doctor: "what sort of a job is a kissogram?" amy: "I go to parties and I kiss people. It's a laugh." the doctor: "you were a little girl five minutes ago." yikes. also worth mentioning that this hinders her ability to. do things. like run. you see her stepping gingerly over a little chain fence and puling her skirt back into place, while the doctor is running to do stuff

PLOT-POINT: she does much better here, with little-girl Amelia clearly being very lonely and adult-Amy never having gotten over the Doctor seemingly abandoning her. I took points off, because for a lot of the episode after Amy is an adult, she's no longer the POV character. The Doctor is. she does get to be re-centred nearer the end again though, with her warring feelings of the thrill of the adventure vs the abandonment coming to the fore several times

she doesn't do much to solve the mystery overall, but we'll get to that in a bit

the bit where the tardis leaves amy again and she has an emotional trigger to waiting up all night for him! and then the doctor leaves again! for another two years! that's interesting stuff! And while she treats Rory poorly, that kind of makes sense, she's not super well-adjusted

COMPLEXITY: the plot is nice and actually relatively restrained, with the exception of the whole "and now we coordinate with the world to make every number a Zero," but that's more like DW silliness than trying to be too big for its britches on narrative level. I knocked off a few points, because it occasionally did some annoying visual m*ffatisms, like the bit where the Doctor is remembering Rory taking pictures of Prisoner Zero, and when Amy was remembering seeing Prisoner Zero. I see you Sherlock...

FURTHERS CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: technically not fair, as this is an opening episode, but I note that the Doctor spends time readjusting to a new body, there's references to the past (including classic!who), and while there's nothing referencing to what happened in The End Of Time, and how the Doctor got to where they were, well... that's forgiveable, it's meant to start a new audience, don't get too bogged down in right before. this may be highly subjective, but I do think there's emotional throughline between Ten's characterisation and Eleven's (I ascribe to the "the Doctor is born out of how the previous Doctor's arc ended" HC which is partially confirmed in some cases at least!) -- Ten ended things badly and Eleven is reckless, forgetful, childish, kind of impetuous, and even casually mean in a sort of "eleven-year-old just says shit" kind of way. Perfect way to keep people at bay, emotionally.

whether that's intentional or just how M*ffat writes his favourite characters, hard to say ofc, but it works in this episode!

COMPANION MATTERS: Tbh I don't think Amy... does much... in this episode. She's kind of running around after the Doctor and getting abandoned, which is fine for a first episode, because she has no clue what's going on yet! happy for it to be way more about her emotional journey (although I note that Rose, Martha, and Donna all saved the Doctor in their first episodes)

however, I think there were opportunities to give her -- and Rory -- more! Geoff is some random guy I'm fairly certain we never see again, and yet he seems to be coordinating the main line of defense for some reason? give that to Rory, he's dead weight after the camera bit

I think one Moment that really didn't need to happen was her calling the Doctor to figure out how to get into the hospital and he has to tell her to use her sexy policewoman outfit to pretend to be an actual cop, when that is like. the one thing this stupid gag could have offered her

GODLIKE DOCTOR: ok, I've seen stuff about the Doctor's final bit opposite Big Eye, and I'm torn about it. On the one hand, the Doctor as earth's defender is well-established at this point, including for that matter, Ten in the Christmas Invasion. Howeeever, Ten actually... did something there, rather than just said "look me up, I'm so impressive," which made the monster run away, and there was a whole thing related to that in that Torchwood then blew up the aliens!

because the Doctor, pointedly, isn't always there to defend earth (Harriet Jones, beloved 4-episode character arc!)

It's a good way to show some highlight's from Doctor Who, including previous faces, but I think more could have been done + I know that's kind of the plot of M*ffat's run... the whole "Pandorica" being about the Doctor, the "Silence Will Fall" is about the Doctor, "Doctor Who" is the question that will be asked- urghhhh, okok this doesn't count here! it's hard to discount when you know!

also tellingly M*ffat did this back in Forest Of The Dead as well, and it felt kind of like a cop-out then. Sure hope it isn't a recurring theme haha...

beyond that, we have the Doctor doing a very "I am smart everyone shut up" thing here, however I think in this episode it can be relatively forgiven, because this is immediately post-Ten and the Doctor is messed up and the Tardis basically was on fire and they're still in the middle of regenerating, and so there's... yeah, there's precedent for that kind of dismissive behaviour and the Doctor does like people in this + there's the aforementioned post-Ten personality, which is like an inverse of Nine's, which was also prickly, but in a different way

"look at your screens, whoever I am, I'm a genius..." -- does a lot of "why am I doing this, because I'm a genius, you'll find out when you need to know" but is tempered by buoying other characters, especially... Geoff, for some reason. who is there. and never will be again

PREV DOCTOR WHO: Yeah pretty good here. Nothing to report. Loved the first 15mins of trying to figure themself out and enjoyed the acknowledgement of previous Doctors and there's no "I'm the new and improved" type nonsense, or writing out the past

HAMFISTED SEXINESS: I mean. Amy. Of course. And also the bit where The Doctor is changing and Amy watches, it's just kind of unnecessary and clearly just there to be like "we dare go where no one has gone before: thinking the Doctor is hot!"

WORLD: Feels like a world. It's called Leadworth I believe? We have a host of characters from the village + a mention of Amy's aunt + Rory and his co-workers. There's a place, there's people, let's see where that all goes.....

POLITICS: Nothing terribly egregious -- its main issues are the aforementioned sexism. And maybe a bit of this. Doctor-as-central kind of makes earth seem comparatively free of responsibility for choices (although I note this is different later on in Hungry Earth/Cold Blood)

Overall I have no sense of whether this is a high or a low rating for M*ffat, we shall see how others fare!

It's biggest failings were: objectification of its main female character and companions not having much to do, while its strongest points were Amy feeling like a real character with real emotional depth, the world in which she lives (which is where it takes place) feeling like a real place, being fair to the narratives that came before it, and the plot not going all over the place in the name of Complexity

#the measurement #im watching doctor who #im watching eleven who #will i do things as long as this again? probably not consistently but occasionally #onwards to the beast below!#this is unedited -- do expect mistakes #the eleventh hour

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el-im · 9 months

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do you have any tips for last year of uni, the first two years were online so haven't really made any close friends or connection with people. How to bare through it and grow too ?

oh hello. and oh boy. yes.

get a library card from the local library. even if it isn't the closest to you/campus, they likely have an online collection/hoopla access/etc. which may prove beneficial either for research or pleasure. i've had no companion so constant as my library books, and they stave off the feeling of isolation which will inevitably (even in the best of times) creep up on you. they will also give you something to talk about. "what are you reading?" asked by/to me has always led me to the best people.

go to events on campus. (i do not necessarily mean clubs, which affront me personally. i spent too much time participating in clubs in high school that the thought of continuing to do so at the collegiate level left a sour taste in my mouth. you don't have to go in for organized fun.) go to all the movie screenings you can, even the ones which don't sound at first like they may interest you. see the plays. go watch the english majors read their poetry in the union building and read the campus paper (if you have one), keeping an eye out for the events they cover, which may recur regularly. if you find one which seems interesting--seek it out. invite the person who sits next to you at your 8am lecture and makes snide comments about the professor you both hate. try not to bond over meanness. be genuine, and earnest.

go to events off campus. there's always a magnificent adjustment period where you're getting to know the place you've found yourself in. either it's new, and you've just arrived there, or otherwise you're new. even if you're attending a university in your hometown, you'll find that the options open to you are broader. you'll learn which bookshops and cafe's the other students frequent--what everyone's favorite thai place is, and which one to avoid altogether. know the best place to get coffee, or tea, and stick by that place with conviction. keep an eye out for posters around town, look up events at local theatres. go to everything that's free.

i have a lot of difficulty talking to people. i'm uncomfortable almost everywhere and will seldom speak to anyone unless they've spoken to me first. i think this is... fine, though maybe not ideal. the only advice i can give as far as meeting people and making friends, because i'm not terribly good at it, is: pry, pry, pry. ask questions about the things they mention, and get to the heart of things. if they talk about some hobby they enjoy, ask how they discovered it. ask about how their weekend went, and when they tell you what they did, ask about minutiae: ridiculous, unimportant details. treat every silly thing with seriousness, as though everything is worth investigating. (most of it is.) ask the girl in your english class what she's doing with a TI-84C in her bag--but be careful with that one.

ask people out in groups, if you're a little hesitant or uncomfortable. a couple of friends of mine go to trivia on wednesdays, and we started going before we knew each other terribly well. the group setting takes some pressure off you individually, and gives everyone something to talk about when you're back in class. create a community, and run with it.

if something touches you--say so. if you admired someone's presentation, take the time to write them a note about how a particular point hadn't occurred to you before, and has changed the way you thought about the subject. if someone does something you think is admirable, tell them. remember people are delicate things, and that almost everyone is nervous and uncertain. hearing that something they did in some way registered with you will always be a relief and an excitement. mostly, we are scrounging around the world looking for people to take notice of us, and invest some energy into trying to know us. with few exceptions, i've found these extensions toward other people are treasured and reciprocated.

write thank you notes. to friends, to teachers assistants who help you out, and to professors, if you feel they deserve them (most do not). learn how to write good thank you notes. ("do not start with the thank you" in and of itself has made me a better person/writer)

read the posters, and the event guides, and the lecture series announcements. go to at least a few lectures offered by visiting experts. the subject matter is unimportant. ask them questions, if you come up with any.

i spent the first two years of a four year program studying online from 2 or so hours away from the campus i was technically assigned to. i feel like i've been playing catch-up, and everyone else was better situated than i was when i did finally make my way to campus. it was lonely at first, and difficult, but it doesn't have to be. i am sending you all the love and the well-wishes i can rack up. it's more than alright to be nervous, but be excited also. read a lot, watch a lot of movies, try not to order the same thing twice at any restaurant. be honest with people, and don't worry about coming off as overly sentimental or cloying. if you like people--tell them so. explain why. do not squirrel yourself away out of trepidation. you are worth knowing, and people will be grateful that you've made an effort to ensure you're close to them. bring a warm coat if you're going out to meet friends in the afternoon--you may find yourself still out in the evenings, and cold. keep your hat on, and know you may end up many miles from where you've started. keep a record of it all. pictures and notes.

i hope you have a beautiful, eye opening, hilarious, and moving year. i suspect you will.

#asks #dvk-ok #<333

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blackjackkent · 22 days

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Pondering on the post from @vampireapologist regarding associations of The Dark Urge with OCD - made me consider a few things about the whole Durge concept for me personally that I hadn't really articulated to myself before. Reblogs are turned off there so just thinking out loud on my own post. XD (What they had to say was super interesting though so go read it.)

My own OCD is more centered around compulsive anxiety thought spirals than intrusive/violent ones so I don't exactly relate to Rakha (my Durge) specifically on that level (and, as vampireapologist pointed out, OCD intrusive thoughts are about fears, not an actual desire for violence like Durge thoughts anyway). But in broader terms, I do think I also find a lot to relate to in the concept of Resist Durge on a more general level.

I'm not too far into Durge run yet so obviously I don't know how it's gonna play out but Rakha is spending the early part of the game, uh, not doing so good. She's struggling a lot, and the Urge keeps winning. But she's already making progress and there are two fundamental things that are helping that along, and as I'm considering it now, they're two things that have been pretty fundamental to my own relationship with mental illness as well.

The first is conceptualizing the unproductive thoughts as something separate, something that can be interacted with, faced down, disagreed with; in my writing Rakha calls it "the beast" and she can tell when it's the beast's anger versus her own. And the second is the presence of friends who know what's going on, understand that distinction as well, and are actively committed to helping her through it. The companions are pretty much all, right from the get go, willing to say - whatever those thoughts are that you're having, we're still with you and we're not defining you by them and we're gonna figure this out.

And this actually does connect with the experiences I've had with my own thought spirals - conceptualizing them as something I could step back and look at and analyze and actively choose not to engage with was a really big turning point for me in learning to manage my OCD. And I've been lucky to have supportive friends along the way who would help me intercept thoughts that were on the way towards getting me stuck and who didn't judge me in my low moments.

I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this except that the connection hadn't fully occurred to me before, and now that it has I'm even more intrigued to see how the Resist path plays out and to write about it. And also that maybe when I start going down a thought hole I'm going to start picturing Sceleritas Fel in my head being a little shit and mentally beat him up with a rolled up newspaper. XD

#BG3 spoilers #I hope this makes sense - this really is just me thinking out loud lol #Rakha the dark urge

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ottertooferswriting · 3 months

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To the Soul-HalsinxTav Companion NPC

Completed Ch1 of my indulgence drow tavxhalsin story. Also on A03 here- https://archiveofourown.org/works/53408218

Finally playing through act3 and decided to finish up the first part of this. Not fully game canon compliant, after all there's so many ways that playthroughs can go so who's to say this isn't just one of them. I am not immune to the desire to make a 'tav' companion npc with a backstory that directly impacted my favorite companion. Wordcount: 4k Rating: M for canon violence and suggestive content in a flashback. Rating will change later. Much spice in the future. Spoilers for Acts 1 and 2, character spoilers for Halsin and Shadowheart. Summary:

“Halsin! Get down here we need you!”

She would never forget that name. Her rite of passage. Her first act of goodness. But what were the odds? It couldn’t be a mere coincidence. The druid was broader than she remembered. But that didn’t surprise her. After all, she had barely been a hundred and he was perhaps fifty years her senior when they had met.

Hazel eyes met her own shadowed purple, and time ceased to move. He looked…stricken. Ah but she shouldn’t have expected anything but. The spark of hurt was ruthlessly smothered. Of course he would be horrified to see her.

After all, she had once held his leash.

Ch1: What is

Damp, crumbling stone dust thick with the scent of rot splattering across her cheek stirred the drow from her trance.

The second tremor that ran through the rough stone floor knocked more clumps of debris from the ceiling onto her skin. As each pinprick of cold slimy grime stuck to her feverish flesh, the sensation was dismissed as quickly as it came. Relegated along with the other unpleasant aches and pains as a surge of adrenaline chased exhaustion from her limbs. Ignored.

Micarbryn focused her attention on the faint sounds that filtered through the floors above the holding cells, gathering her throbbing knee’s and battered hands under her center of gravity so she could push to her feet. The heavy rusted chains that kept her wrists hobbled clanked loudly in the near stillness and the drow froze, waiting for breathless seconds for one of the guards to come sauntering over to see if she had woken.

No one came.

Another tremor shook the structure, and a muffled thudding boom came right on the heels of the vibrations. Whispers erupted from the other holding cells as the walls creaked and groaned, and someone began crying. Cracked lips stretching into a grin, Mica slowly began to flex each limb, testing the hurts she had accumulated to see how well her body would carry her through the coming battle.

Someone had come. An attack on Moonrise had begun. It was only a matter of time before some of the cowards who called themselves Absolutists came down into the captive pens looking for leverage. They would not find it easy to snatch a meat shield.

Boots on the stairs. She had perhaps thirty seconds. Snatching up the wooden handle from a broken pick she had hidden three days earlier under her bed of rags, Mica jammed her improvised wedge into the rusted hinge on her cell door and levered her whole weight into it.

The hinge snapped with a sharp sound that was swallowed up by the rising cries and clashing of metal above them. Biting back her own sound of triumph, the drow wrenched the handle free and aimed for the second hinge. The scrape of metal along the stone floor mingled with the sound of running feet. She had no time to find the guard that kept the keys.

Squirming through the gap that she had made, Mica pushed to her feet with only the slightest of stumbles as her muscles burned. All around her, terrified eyes peered out from the darkness of cells, some reflecting the light others unseeing through the gloom.

She could run. The back passage wasn’t far. Escape was so close she could practically taste it. Her feet moved. Her hands gathered the heavy metal links that had been used to bind her into scraped palms. Voices called to her, pleading to let them out as she strode to the chokepoint just beyond the base of the stairs, and stopped.

The footwork was as easy as breathing. Falling into the ready position of defense, braced for the blow’s to come. She would not go down easily. It was almost a thing of beauty, that first swing of her chains as the unhelmeted head of an Absolutist came around the corner.

A sickening crack, the wet spray of blood. The man fell out of the stairwell like a puppet with its strings cut, crumpling at Mica’s feet. The element of surprise was hers for only a moment longer. Pivoting on her heel to redirect the momentum she had gained, the drow swung a second time at the shocked, red spattered face of the second guard. Impact, a cry of agony, the shock of the transferred force through her bones.

The second guard wasn’t going to go down in one hit. Ducking the frantic stab of the woman’s short sword, Mica threw her chain around the crossguard of the blade and yanked, disarming the half elf. She let the weapon clatter to the stone floor without trying to take it for herself. There was no time. The Absolutist had thrown her arms up to protect her face, so Mica aimed a kick to her gut instead.

The guard went down in a thrashing of limbs. Stamping her heel into a delicate knee joint, the drow bared her teeth at the sensation of breaking bone under her foot and lunged. Blood dripped from her chains, flecking her face. Grabbing the body, the drow hauled her second kill out of the way and planted herself again as the sounds of battle grew more intense above them.

Twelve seconds. That’s all it had taken. The voices behind her had gone silent when she had attacked, the crying prisoner hadn’t been quieted. Footsteps on the stairs. A voice she had grown to know well reached out, caught her attention as the gleam of weapons and armor entered her periphery.

“What are you doing?? You need to run, leave us! You can’t fight by yourself!”

“No.”

Shock silenced the clamor. Protestations and affirmations.

“They will not hesitate to kill each and every one of you. They will not pass.”

Three of them this time. Mica knew the moment they saw fresh blood. There would be no edge for her now. They saw a lone drow, bloodied and chained blocking their path and thought her easily killed. When the leading guard died under her chain, the remaining two worked together. Dodge, strike. The scrape of a blade along her forearm, through nerves already long dead. Her shoulder impacted the wall as she barely escaped having her skull crushed by a mace.

More footsteps on the stairs.

The fourth guard went down with a scream of rage. A pinch of cold in between her ribs. Ignored. Not now, she would handle it when she had time. Panicked voices behind her. Ignored. They could do nothing locked in their cells.

Pressure on her wrists, the hot slide of her own blood from the ragged edge of the cuffs. Ignored. She had an enemy to kill. Red skin, horns? New Target. No, there was no mark. Not an Absolutist. The spell that sunk into the fifth guard's back and sent them tumbling into death fizzled and sparked against the tieflings fingertips.

“ROLAN!!”

They knew him. That was enough for her. Mica sidestepped to open the way, to where Lia and Cal were sticking their chained arms through the bars of the door in a desperate attempt to reach out to their sibling. There was an odd look on the wizard's face; a pinched sort of paleness to his skin as he stared at her side as he rushed past her. He wasn’t a threat, so she could ignore him for now.

More footsteps. More death. Spells slung from behind her, backup she accepted as the bodies piled. She lost count at eight. An arrow in her thigh she snapped off. Ignored. Whispered words, the creed of her house every time she stumbled, every time her vision blurred.

“You do what you can, then you do more.”

Copper on her tongue, heaviness in her lungs. A roar from above, deep and primal and animalistic. A roar of rage and determination, a roar of fury and vicious satisfaction. A song that called to her frantically beating heart. They were winning. A brief moment of self indulgence in the lull between those now seeking escape instead of the defenseless prisoners. Perhaps it was the group that had returned Lichen to her. Come to trade at her Den.

The strange motley assortment of adventurers with the enhanced but strangely stagnant tadpoles had wriggled their way into her heart within two visits. She hoped that her little phase spider had survived the assault that had led to her capture.

“You do what you can, then you do more.”

Burn of poison in the wound at her shoulder. Ignored. She didn’t have time for it. Nor an antidote. Numbness in her fingertips where they slackened around the bloodied chain. Ignored.

Her impact with the floor as one of the Absolutists managed to shove past her drove the cold pinch between her ribs deeper. Wetness in her throat, rattling slick with a bubbling sensation. Ignored.

From the ground Mica lifted a hand, yanking on the tiefling who had been fighting from behind her with her telekinetic grip to pull him from the range of what would have been a deadly blow.

This one was important. This enemy could not leave. The mark of leadership was on them. Heavy footsteps on the stairs, a curse as someone admonished an ally.

“You're too big in this form, you're blocking the stairs!”

Cool relief trickled through her limbs as her second wind took some of the ache. Forcing herself to her feet, Mica ignored the sound of footsteps on the stairs this time. She knew them. They had come just as they said they would. The other captives would be safe. There was one more enemy to kill.

“You do what you can, then you do more.”

The wizard was capable, but his opponent was desperate. Rolan was bleeding, the terrified voices of his siblings begging, threatening the Absolutist as they struck again and again. She didn’t have much time.

Focusing on the soaked chains in her grip, Mica spat the mouthful of blood that had collected behind her teeth and bellowed a challenge. It was a raw sound, releasing the pent up agony and frustration and bloodlust she had been festering under for decades. The goad worked, the marked one turning to stare as she charged.

She only had one point of energy left. Despite the filth accumulated on the rusty links, the metal still glowed with psi force as she swung, the improvised weapon rebounding off the helmeted head with a ringing tone oddly similar to a gong.

The impact of the heavy weapon was a dull pressure, here one moment and gone the next. She was staring up at the ceiling, breath stuttering in her chest. The cold pinch between her ribs had slipped away, ripped out in the tumble across the blood soaked stones perhaps. How much time had passed? Surely nothing more than a moment.

Tremors of footsteps on the stone floor. Sobbing coming from somewhere close by. Lia. One of the others? She knew the face leaning over her. It was one of the adventurers, the Githyanki.

“Don’t dont dont! She isn’t one of them, she helped us!”

“Silence Teefling, I am not so foolish as to not recognize an ally.”

A hand under her head. Blood bubbled from her lips as she tried to speak. The expression on the fierce warrior's face tightened, and she reached into her pack. Paused.

“Chk! Who has a healing potion to spare?”

Rustling cloth, the faintest tinge of panic in another voice. Tavraith. It made sense that they would have been leading the charge.

“I’m all out.”

“I don’t have any either.”

“Shadowheart do you have a spell left?”

“...No.”

Pounding footsteps. The warlock shouting up the stairs.

“Halsin! Get down here we need you!”

After all, she had once held his leash. Exhaustion pulled at her eyelids. At her limbs. She was so tired, and cold. Something sticky was pooling under her back. But she had done it. They had come. It wouldn’t hurt to rest a little now. She was sure they could forgive her a nap.

- * -

Lavish. Opulent. Gaudy. If one was unaware of the internal machinations and dirty little financial secrets of the Siltweave house, then the soiree would have seemed an unending showcase of wealth. The illusion had been well crafted. Sipping at her glass of diluted wine, Micabryn let her gaze roam the packed dance floor and pockets of nobles milling about the room.

There was lady Sicxa, her arm wound around her latest male consort and already more than a little drunk. There was her husband, a hand on the other male's ass as he turned attentive eyes to his wife. His gaze was a little glazed, he must have been indulging in his drug of choice before the night started.

They had received an invitation to pad the number of guests. So had she, but that suited her needs. She had no desire to get closer to her hosts or curry their favor. She was here for the entertainment they had been boasting about.

At the head of the ball room, the lady and her husband sat in overly stuffed chairs. They too had been drinking heavily that night, and the slim silver chain that was looped about the arm of her chair had been splashed with wine more than once. It was almost laughably tiny in comparison to the form it kept in check.

Decorative. A good yank would have snapped the metal, but it was symbolic in its own right. They had been plying their toy with alcohol just as liberally as themselves. Drying rivulets of the dark red liquid had dripped down a strong chin, down a furred chest. It was an impressive, curious physique for a surface elf. A rarity. A curiosity.

He played his part well. Leaning up against the side of his mistress's chair with attentive eyes kept at the level of her chest. The wince when sticky, wine soaked fingers carded through his loose hair was hardly more than a twitch. Mica was unsure of exactly how long ago the Lord and Lady had come into the possession of their wild shapeshifting elf, but it was a small miracle he was still in one piece.

Music swelled, the song playing for the guests to dance too flowing into another piece without pause. The rim of a wine glass clumsily pushed against plush lips. The briefest moment of hesitation, eyes flickering down and fingers tightening on broad thighs when the lady of the house idly trailed sharpened nails over his naked shoulder. He drank, preventing more alcohol from spilling over his skin.

They would loose him soon to the guests. To those who had paid for the privilege of a timeslot with their rare and precious pet. Who knew how long they would keep him around after all? Better get your taste while they felt generous.

Fingers tightening over the stem of her wine glass, Mica took a steadying breath as the lady unhooked the silver, delicate chain from her chair. She stood, wobbling the barest amount in her inebriated state. As she stepped down from the slightly raised platform her slave followed. Crawling after her, not daring to rise.

Mica's knees ached in sympathy as the druid followed his mistress across the cold stone floor. Corellon save her but it was hard to not stare at the way the male's body moved. He was alluring, and shame at her own flash of want filled the drow as she flicked her gaze away. Appealing to her own tastes or not there was no need for her to add to the number of people who looked at him only as something to be used.

That wasn't why she was here.

The pair vanished behind a heavy velvet panel into a slightly removed alcove. It had been curtained off to allow the illusion of privacy, but Mica knew that if one stood close enough the sounds from within would be on complete display. A deliberate choice, one that created more of a separation between those who had paid and those who had not. No free shows with such an unusual toy.

She was in the third slot. It was surprisingly difficult to continue to mingle with the few people she could stand who had also been invited to the party, sipping her wine and waiting. Her mother had warned her, but perhaps she should have put more stock into her cautionary words. No one was paying her much attention at least, that was a small mercy.

The other slaves that were paraded out to tend to the crowds were equally as gut wrenching to look at. Too thin, dull eyes, automated movements. How her mother could stand interacting with the worst of their kind Mica did not know. She could not allow her own personal feelings to interfere. That would only end up with a blade in her gut and her family line extinguished.

She could not fail at this.

- * -

It had been a long time since she had truly slept. Through habit, Mica’s eyes only slitted open when consciousness returned to her. Her breathing did not change, her body did not shift.

Everything ached, which meant she hadn’t died.

Which meant Halsin had agreed to heal her. The sharp scent of herbs, alcohol and that particular bitter tang of painkillers filled her nose, turned her stomach. The last time she had been so injured…her gear. She needed her gear. Peering through her lashes, Mica took in the sounds and sights of the tent she had been left in. Wounded on other cots, mostly harpers. Near all of them were asleep, some drugged so far up to their eyeballs they could do nothing but stare into space.

The fighting was over then. She didn’t see any tieflings, gnomes or any of the others who had been in the cells with her, small mercy. They must have gotten out mostly unscathed.

A chair next to her cot with a discarded cup. Had someone been sitting next to her while she slept? An odd concept. Surely the party of adventurers had better things to do. Ketheric Thorm to deal with. She was getting ahead of herself. She didn’t know how much time had passed, if they had even managed to kill the bastard yet or not.

Her mouth was dry. Thirst was no new companion, nor hunger. The pinch in her gut told her that it would be unwise to try for much of anything, but something to drink would be nice. The cup on the arm of the wooden chair was the closest. Maybe there would be enough for a mouthful left.

Slowly, silently Mica levered herself up. Her arms shook. Her muscles screamed. But she could move. The cup was cool against her overheated fingers. The same fever from before then, if it felt so nice. Unsurprising considering the likely state of her after that battle. The scent of mint and honey overpowered the medicinal aroma’s all around her as the rim brushed her lips.

The tea had gone cold, but the sweetness was gentle and the liquid welcomed on her scratchy throat. She sipped when she wanted to gulp. There was only so long she had before someone came in to check on the patients. She only had so long to figure out if she was still in danger.

Harpers were difficult at the best of times, let alone when they had a questionably releasable former prisoner in their medical tents. Mica was under no delusion that she would simply be accepted into the midst of the group that had raided Moonrise. They had come to kill Ketheric, not to rescue her or even the others who had been held in the cells. Well, the adventuring party with the tadpoles had likely come for both.

Tavraith was the sort to prioritize that detail.

There was a commotion going on outside the tent. Angry voices, rising in volume steadily. Taking another drink of the honeyed tea, Mica set the cup down and swung her legs over the edge of her cot. She had pushed through worse. It took a moment before she could support her weight, but when she didn’t immediately crumple to the ground it was a win in her book. She would be moving around fine in no time.

The voice shouting sounded…familiar. Pulled forward by her own curiosity, the drow reached the flap of the tent and paused, peering through the slit to see what was going on outside. A small crowd had gathered near what looked like-ah. The prisoner pens.

Head and near shoulders above the rest, the druid stood. He was still blood spattered, so perhaps it hadn’t actually been that long since the battle. It was hard to hear what was being said over the din of the camp, but the angry tone and sharp movements told Mica enough. He was pissed about something.

A flash of white hair, pointed ears, bluish purple skin. A drow. Red eyes. A Lolth drow. Stripped of her armor, standing behind a harper who was arguing with the larger elf she stood tall. Haughty even in capture. Her expression twisted into disinterested scorn. An Absolutist then. One who stood without restraints, being taken away from the holding area for prisoners.

A shiver ran over Mica as the huge druid slashed his hand through the air, his deep timbre cutting through the noise.

“She cannot be allowed to wander freely amongst the camp.”

It was time to go. She might not be a Lolth drow herself, but she wasn’t going to push her luck. She had overstayed her welcome. She was alive, she had been tended to, she had been rescued. That was more than enough.

Carefully moving back through the medical tent, Mica checked the trunk at the foot of the cot she had been resting on and breathed a sigh of relief at its contents. Someone had been kind enough to bring her things. Likely one of her favored little ragtag group. She would find a way to thank them later.

It hurt to get her armor on. It hurt to get her aids in place. But she had dealt with worse. Dressed, her belt bags a familiar weight at her hips; the drow crept back to the flap of the tent to get one more look at Halsin before she left. She couldn’t help it. It was good to see him alive and well. Good to see him amongst friends. One of the group, the little Sharran had appeared and stood next to the elf so he wasn’t alone in the press of harpers. Her hair was white now, her garb a little different. Curious, but she had no time.

The others would be coming soon and she needed to leave. She would not put defending her on the shoulders of those who had already done her a great service. It would be ungrateful of her to drive a wedge within the group by making them choose a side.

It was nearly dark. If she moved carefully, she could be away and to an entrance to the underdark before sunrise. The back of the tent was easy enough to slip through. Standing fully straight and walking like she had every right to be there was second nature despite her aches. Three sets of eyes found her as she moved through the camp, none sought to stop her. None looked at her with anything less than suspicion.

She only needed to make one stop before she could leave. The extra supplies were likely to be guarded, but if she flashed some gold then it wouldn’t matter. She was paying for them after all, and getting out of the harpers camp. She didn’t need much, couldn’t even carry much more than dried rations and an extra water skin.

The commotion behind her erupted. Heart in her throat, its frantic beating filling her ears, Mica began moving the moment coin changed from her hand to the harper. Her purchase vanished into her bag, and she vanished into the night.

Droplets of blood were left in her wake. TBC- Ch2: What was

#bg3 #halsin #bg3 fanfic #baldur's gate 3 #halsin x tav #ao3 #drow tav #drow npc #named tav

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polyhexian · 1 year

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Okay. Finished Bambi. The movie really only encompasses a little more than half the book. It ends showing Bambi running off with faline into adulthood, happy. The book however continues and shows Bambi growing older and wiser in the ways of the forest and ultimately becoming the new prince of the forest. He is alone all the time, has no companions, has lost interest in faline and not seen her in some time. The book ends with him encountering some frightened fawns calling for their mothers and chastising them for not being able to take care of themselves. Ultimately this is a book written in 1929 about the life cycle of a wild prey animal that is like, directly pushing the narrative that hunting is bad and hunters are evil.

Which... I don't really agree with. There are no predators in this book, not of deer. The only thing the deer have to worry about is humans. They're not afraid of wolves or lions or any other large carnivores. Which means... Yeah, letting them run unchecked probably isn't actually great for the environment. Especially when we see how devastating winter already is. Now, maybe it's just that the meat industry was not as evil yet in 1929 as it is today? But I am of the distinct opinion that meat from a wild deer is more ethically sourced than meat from a factory farm cow. The conditions those animals are put through are so beyond inhumane it's indescribable. That deer had a life, a natural life, and fell victim to a predator. Its life was better than that cows ever was. Now, sport hunting is different- sort of, plenty of people who sport hunt do still use all the meat and pelts they harvest, and what harm is there in enjoying the work you are already doing?

I don't think anyone will disagree with me that killing animals for fun with no purpose isn't really... Good. If you're shooting deer and just taking antlers and letting them rot and it's not got some other purpose like culling the herd or preventing the spread of disease... Don't do that? Not that animals don't sometimes kill for fun but. We don't need to cause more suffering in the world than we have to.

It's hard for me to really get into the mindset of what the author might have really been trying to convey with this. I don't know what it's like to live in Germany in 1929 so I can't really imagine what kind of world he was living in, the world of humans and his morals or the world of ethical hunting and animal welfare. It is certainly presented that the best way to survive, to be proud and noble and regal, is to have no relations with anyone, to speak to no one, to have no friends or curiosity, to trust nothing and no one and to rely only upon oneself. Also to just get up and leave your wife one day and never go back.

On one hand, on a completely literal level, this is probably a very accurate depiction of a deers life cycle and how a deer survives long enough to become an elder. Only the lonely survive. On a message level I'm really not sure what it's trying to tell me. It does feel a bit like it's making a broader statement than just a brutal accurate depiction of wild animal life. It also hit me with a steel chair out of left field by dropping what I think the thesis statement of the book may be and it's that god is to us as we are to all other animals. Arbiter of life and death. Incomprehensible. Beyond understanding. Something greater than man is out there.

That shit was wild I wasn't expecting this to suddenly reveal Oh Fuck It's About God. So like. It's saying something. It's definitely saying something. I'm really not sure I have the context to fully understand what and I'm not sure I'd agree with it even if I did.

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brentusjoshea · 1 year

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We already know what the immediate future looks like for Doctor Who: David Tennant & Catherine Tate are back in an exciting adventure co-starring Neil Patrick Harris (who may/may not be playing the role of the Toymaker from a missing serial originally broadcast back in the day when they hadn’t invented colour yet). What lies just beyond that has still been a bit of a vague impression on the horizon.

It’ll star Ncuti Gatwa! It’ll be on Disney+! But outside of that? Not a lot. No costume. No TARDIS interior. And until today, no companion.

And now we know that Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor will be travelling through time and space with Millie Gibson, playing the role of Ruby Sunday (or Ruby Sundae? insert shrug emoji).

Of course there’s still a lot we don’t know. That’s by design. Gatwa’s first episode is at least a year away. And yet we can see some of Davies’ instincts for TV and the broader media landscape already starting to bear fruit in his vision for a new Doctor Who.

Gatwa, of course, rose to international prominence off the back of the Netflix series Sex Education (a streaming series available on Netflix dot com until Netflix dot com just fucking tanks because its foundations have withered away beneath it). Gibson, apparently, comes to Doctor Who (a long-running British TV series) straight off of Coronation Street (a long-running British TV series). One casting has an eye on an online international audience that engages with TV through streaming services (like the aforementioned Netflix, but also Disney+). The other, seemingly, is drawing off an incredibly well-established and terrestrial UK TV landscape.

It’s an incredibly RTD move. It’s potentially incredibly savvy welding of two distinct audiences. We’ll have to see if it pays off for him.

#doctor who #dr who #ncuti gatwa #gatwa #fifteenth doctor #millie gibson #gibson #coronation street #corrie #bbc #disney #netflix #sex education #sci fi #science fiction #brendan is back on dr who bullshit why are you asking

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inkofamethyst · 1 year

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November 25, 2022

Nothing of what I’m about to say is actually important! But I’ve had a chill past couple of days, and I’m thankful for that (*my December 1 deadlines glare at me from a separate tab*).

First off, went to see Black Panther 2. Overall, I did enjoy it, I’d say. I don’t think it was as good as the first one, but I also recognize that, for me, at least, a lot of the movie’s shortcomings were rooted in the way that the script felt like it was stretched too thin. This isn’t even about length. I think the movie was stretched between being a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, telling its own story, and connecting itself to the broader MCU. [spoilers ahead!] Now, there were a lot of things about this movie that I liked. I liked the tributes (they were both solemn and celebratory, bittersweet, a solid balance), I liked the way they handled losing T’Challa’s presence, I liked the Latine representation (though, honestly, I really wish we could have seen more of the underwater city), I liked the girl power, I liked Riri’s character (though that actress looks like a whole twenty-six year old,,, ain’t nobody in that theater thought she was nineteen, she just tiny (but she did a great job bringing that youthful energy)), I liked the political stuff, I liked the music, I liked the costuming. Nowadays I like the tiktok jokes about how Namor was literally making fanart about the girl he was most definitely into right after she whooped up on him. There’s a lot to like if you pull the components apart. The story just suffered a little, I think.

I think the standout MCU movies/shows tend to be the ones that don’t try so hard to connect to the broader universe. Moon Knight, the first Black Panther... that isn’t to say that universe connection is automatically negative, it’s just that it can feel forced, sometimes. Overall, I would recommend BP2. It’s not one of my top-ten must-see Marvel movies, maybe even not top fifteen, but it’s not one to skip either. I think sometimes internal/unconscious biases can influence how harshly I judge something, and that’s something to keep in mind too.

Second, onto discussing the event that has entertained me throughout the break: the dabloon trend on tiktok. Now, I joined the trend about two days after its inception, but dabloons are basically a fake currency on a small side of tiktok which can be used to purchase goods, they can be taxed, they can be stolen... I have had so much fun over the past few days collecting dabloons, travelling the world, meeting cats along the way (key note: the denizens of this dabloon world are almost all cats). I’ve enrolled in two universities dablooniversities, I’ve got half a dozen dragons, a pirate ship, more swords than I could ever dream of using, a house, a reformed robber-cat as a companion, and more. The trend runs entirely on the honor system with people keeping track of their accounts and items in their notes app, and it’s basically a giant dungeons and dragons game, a massive hallucination.

Lots of people have done analyses on the trend itself, but before I talk about those, it’s also pertinent to note that there’s sort of two sides to dabloontok: the fantasy traveler side (which I prefer, naturally), and the capitalist hellscape side (which I have little contact with). Both of these generally follow certain rules, but a little while after the trend started, some people noted that its increasing popularity was resulting in inflation. Some of those people splintered off, formed a full government (IRS, FBI, police, military, DASA (dabloon nasa), president, news channels (including a Fox News parody), etc), held an election, instituted a purge, formed mafias, formed revolutions against a government which would permit a purge (which like, yes to that)... Now, plenty of people have bemoaned the fact that part of such a wholesome fantasy trend which encouraged giving, travel, and trust turned into a copy of what we live through daily (one barista was literally offered a job as a tavern waitress... she was offered to pretend to have her real job), and others have theorized that by starting a system off with currency, it was inevitable that we would end up with late-stage capitalism. Still others have suggested that the problem was not currency, but rather a lack of imagination, as there is a difference between mercantilism and capitalism, and some people are so caught up in the real world that even in play it is difficult for them to do something else. It is worth it to note that plenty of people still exclusively engage with the fantasy components, but there tends to be an excess of shops and taverns with few original quests, and I think that’s what’s driving the trend to become stale.

Just to recount some of the fun adventures I’ve had:

I’m getting a dabplooma in earth magic (which I selected before receiving a pirate ship, otherwise air or water magic might’ve been more useful)

I almost had one of my organs harvested, but I used one of my hidden daggers to fight my way out

I cannot tell you how many cats have invited me into their homes for a warm meal and bed for free

I am currently carrying drug crystals for a Walter White-cat in one of my bags of holding? (I’ve never seen Breaking Bad)

I temporarily traveled with a posh Victorian cat who wanted to leave their life behind and see the world

A cat from the mafia gave me a gun but no ammo. That’s okay because I have two bows and multiple quivers of arrows, but still? Am I supposed to throw the gun??

I volunteered for the revolution to bring down the dablourgeoisie and liberate cat-kind from their market manipulation, but I have to assume that the government took the organization down from the inside because I never received contact from them again (never showed back up on my fyp). That was my first and last active interaction with capitalist dabloontok

I received +50 dabloons from Ikea. So. (listen. I know we’re anti-advertising, I know, I know brands aren’t people, I know, but it was shocking and funny, so I let it slide)

I bought lemonade which was poisoned and I blacked out and was transported to Dabloonia where I bought potions n stuff. Briefly considered murder for being transported without my consent, but they promised never to do it again.

Offered to help an injured horse which shapeshifted into a monster and stole a few of my dabloons, but I was thankfully saved before I needed to use one of my protective items (protective potions, spells, weaponry, and pets are all one-time use in-game, but you can hoard them so).

I’ve given away so many of my dabloons! Like, sure I was saving up for a house to store my things (which I eventually got for a steal (and later I also purchased a mage’s tower bc why not)), but I had a bag of holding and wasn’t over-encumbered, and so many people get robbed or go into debt and could use a few!

I’m just in awe of how quickly such a fun trend emerged after another fun trend, the Koopa one. The Koopa trend had the same punchline every time, but the setup was what made it funny. In every video, a person would act as though they were in a harrowing situation (fighting for custody in court, giving birth, being birthed, holding onto a cliff edge, etc), and in the middle, they’d swing their arms like a Koopa in Super Mario to the beat. Here’s a compilation, it’s a good time. But the dabloons trend is an improv trend, like the Woodchuck Revolution or the Furry/Gamer War, but it’s magical in the way that it doesn’t require you to make content to participate. Lurkers (commenters) are also active participants in the game, arguably the most active participants, and we can engage with one another, and it’s just... it’s fantastic.

I know Thanksgiving is meant to be really serious or whatever, but I’ve gotta say that I’m really seriously thankful for all of the fun I’ve been having over on dabloontok. I know, I know, tiktok rots your brain, but it’s filling that itch for dnd which I didn’t even know I still needed to scratch. I thought Critical Role was enough, but apparently not. I’m also thankful for all of the people who are totally indulging in this amazing thing with me. Maybe it is a little cringey, but it’s special and fun, and it’s rarely ever bad to spend time on fun.

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roadreavamp · 1 month

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Essential Tools for Electricians' Cars

Electricians are the unsung heroes keeping our homes lit and our appliances running. Every day, they set out in their cars, ready to tackle any electrical challenge that comes their way. But what powers these everyday heroes? It's not just their skills and knowledge, but also the arsenal of tools they carry. In this article, we delve into the essential tools that every electrician should have in their car. From screwdrivers to wire strippers, each tool plays a pivotal role in ensuring electricians can do their job efficiently and safely.Imagine being on the road, and you receive a call for an urgent repair. The importance of having a well-equipped car becomes evident. Not just any tools, but those that are robust, reliable, and versatile. The right tools can mean the difference between a quick fix and a prolonged, complicated job. We'll explore how these tools not only assist with the technical aspects of the job but also signify professionalism and preparedness. So, let's gear up and shine a spotlight on the indispensable tools that are vital companions for electricians on the go.

Understanding the Evolution of Cars

The evolution of cars has been a remarkable journey from basic motor vehicles to the sophisticated machines we see today. Cars have transformed dramatically over the decades, evolving through a series of innovations that have improved safety, efficiency, and comfort. The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) marks a significant milestone, reflecting a broader shift towards sustainability and environmental consciousness in automotive design.One of the key developments in car technology has been the advancement in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. Modern vehicles are not only designed to perform better but also to be gentler on the environment, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Furthermore, the integration of technology such as autonomous driving systems, connectivity, and infotainment has enriched the driving experience, offering convenience and entertainment simultaneously. These advancements underscore the car's evolution from a mere mode of transport to a sophisticated mobile living space.

Understanding the Role of Electricians

Electricians play a crucial role in ensuring our homes and businesses function smoothly. Without their expertise, we'd be in the dark, quite literally. These professionals are skilled in installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems. From lighting fixtures to complex wiring systems, electricians ensure safety and efficiency. It's a profession that demands not only technical knowledge but also a keen attention to safety protocols and regulations.Choosing the right electrician is essential for any electrical work. Be it a minor repair or a major installation, hiring a qualified electrician can save you from potential hazards and future problems. Look for licensed professionals who have a proven track record. Remember, quality and safety should never be compromised when it comes to electrical installations. With the right professional, you can ensure that your electrical systems operate optimally and safely.

Understanding Electrician Vehicles

When it comes to accessing information on electrician vehicles, one must consider the diverse aspects that make them ideally suited for electrical work. These specialized vehicles are essential for electricians, providing both the mobility to reach various job sites and the necessary storage for tools and equipment. A key feature of electrician vehicles is their interior organization; shelves, racks, and bins are usually customized to hold tools, cables, and other electrical components securely. This organization optimizes the electrician's efficiency on the job, allowing for quick access to tools and materials.Moreover, the exterior of these vehicles often features branding and contact information, making them a moving advertisement for the electrician’s services. Advanced models include enhancements like built-in power inverters, allowing electricians to power their tools directly from their vehicle. Safety is another critical consideration, with many vehicles equipped with LED flashing lights to indicate when work is being done nearby. In essence, an electrician's vehicle is not just a mode of transportation but a mobile office and billboard that is integral to the profession.

Essential Tools for Every Electrician

When it comes to the profession of electrical work, having the right tools is not just a matter of convenience, but a fundamental aspect of safety and efficiency. Every electrician's toolbox should be equipped with a set of essential tools that make navigating the complexities of electrical systems simpler and safer. Among these, a reliable multimeter stands out as indispensable; it allows electricians to measure voltage, current, and resistance, ensuring systems are functioning correctly and safely before proceeding with any work.Another vital tool in an electrician's arsenal is a set of insulated hand tools. Given the inherent risks of working with electricity, tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wire strippers, designed with insulated handles, are crucial for preventing electric shock. Additionally, a robust pair of safety goggles and electrical gloves are non-negotiable for protection against sparks, debris, and accidental shocks. This combination of precision tools and protective gear not only enhances the safety of electrical operations but significantly contributes to the efficiency and quality of the work carried out.

Optimizing Electrician's Car Tool Storage

For electricians, the efficiency and organization of their mobile tool storage system can significantly impact their daily productivity and job satisfaction. Optimizing an electrician’s car tool storage involves more than just keeping tools in place; it requires strategic planning and the use of ergonomic storage solutions that not only save time but also reduce the physical strain of accessing and transporting tools. Ensuring that every tool has a specific storage spot is essential for quick retrieval and helps in maintaining an inventory of equipment.Implementing modular storage systems is a game-changer for electricians. These systems allow for customization based on the size and types of tools, along with the nature of the electrician's work. Highlights include drawer organizers, stackable bins, and vertical storage options that utilize the vehicle’s space efficiently. For enhanced accessibility, equipment needed for every job should be easily reachable from the vehicle’s doors. Using foam inserts can further protect tools and prevent them from moving during transit. Ultimately, the goal is to create a mobile workspace that is both functional and safe, promoting a more organized and effective workflow.

The Power and Simplicity of Setting Up

When it comes to achieving personal or professional success, the importance of a proper setup cannot be overstated. A well-thought-out setup paves the way for efficiency, productivity, and ultimately, satisfaction in any endeavor. Whether it's setting up a new computer, organizing a workspace, or laying the groundwork for a project, the initial effort you put in is crucial. Investing time in configuring your environment to suit your needs can lead to an incredible boost in your overall performance.The process of setup, though it can sometimes seem daunting, is a powerful tool for enhancing your workflow. From the arrangement of physical components to the customization of software settings, each step in the setup process is an opportunity to tailor your workspace to your specific requirements. This personalization not only makes tasks more manageable but also increases the joy and fulfillment you derive from your work. By embracing the setup process, you're laying a solid foundation for success.

Staying Informed on Electrical Tool Advancements

Keeping up with the latest electrical tools and technology is essential for professionals in the industry. The rapid pace of innovation means that new and improved tools are constantly being developed, making jobs easier, safer, and more efficient. From wireless monitoring systems to battery-powered cutting tools, advancements in electrical tools are transforming the way electricians work.One of the key benefits of staying informed about these advancements is the potential for increased productivity. Modern electrical tools are designed to save time and reduce physical strain, meaning projects can be completed faster and with less effort. Additionally, advancements in safety features mean that modern tools are safer to use, reducing the risk of accidents on the job. Therefore, it is imperative for everyone working in this field to keep abreast of the latest developments, not only to enhance their professional practice but also to ensure their safety and that of others around them.

Safety Considerations for On-the-Go

When it comes to staying safe while on the move, a few key considerations can make all the difference. Whether you're traveling, commuting, or simply running errands, being aware of your surroundings is paramount. Always be mindful of the people around you and take note of emergency exits and safe zones in unfamiliar places. Carrying a personal safety alarm or a pepper spray can act as a deterrent and provide a sense of security.Moreover, leveraging technology for safety purposes has become increasingly common and effective. Apps that share your location with trusted contacts or services that monitor your safety can be vital. It's also crucial to have a charged phone and emergency numbers at hand. For those who often find themselves in less populated or potentially risky areas, taking self-defense classes can provide not just skills but also confidence. Preparation and awareness are your best tools for staying safe on-the-go. Read the full article

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seph7 · 6 months

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Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade is a short film with unusual subject matter. The viewer is treated to a vignette portrait of a murderer in an insane asylum. There is a glimpse of his twisted companion, and a look at the sorts of confused, eccentric bureaucrats who run the place. All of this is presented against the backdrop of the controversy of social attitudes about the patients.

The show stopper, however. is J.T. Walsh. Walsh, an underrated and highly skilled character actor, commandeers the entire production with his disturbing portrayal of psychotic murderer Charles Bushman. In between sequences in which we must endure an onslaught of Ringwold’s vapid lines, Walsh delivers a peerless performance.

As Childers waits to be interviewed by Tatum, Bushman approaches him, sits down to relax, and casually commences an appalling autobiographical monologue of personal anecdotes. Playing Bushman with subtle but masterful voice control and facial expressions, Walsh describes a couple of sexual encounters and an abduction as casually as if he were talking about cars (which he also talks about—I’ll never look at a Mercury the same way again.)

Harrowing and repellent, Bushman’s stories and persona are diabolically funny and perversely charming right up to the devastating point at which he viscerally describes just how much he enjoys ripping out a woman’s uterus and devouring her wet, glistening cervix. Walsh’s characterization is so sublime and convincing that it must surely set some new dramatic standard.

This unusual speech, with its gruesome climax, is sobering and sickening. It thrusts home the idea that the criminally insane may not really be very interesting or colorful past the initial impression—unlike in the movies. They are sick, shabby people who can quickly reveal just how perverted they are inside. More importantly, the crux of the Bushman segments reflects on Tatum’s hypothesis that the criminally insane might not be suitable candidates for release back into society. To wit, Bushman represents the sort of influences to whom Childers has been subject while locked up.

Walsh’s gem of a performance is one of the most striking and memorable bits of character acting that the average movie viewer is likely to see. It is creepy and powerful and completely disarming, because it is simultaneously casual and matter of fact. Audiences have been shortchanged to have not been treated to a broader range of this talented thespian’s work prior to his death. His role in Some Call It A Sling Blade, along with Billy Bob Thornton’s, make this independent project a good film pick for anyone who can stomach the subject matter.

#j.t. walsh #jt walsh #underrated actors #sling blade #some folks call it a sling blade #charles bushman

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oliviajames1122 · 6 months

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Car Garages in Reading: Your Ultimate Guide

Car garages, also known as auto repair shops or service centers, are an essential part of every car owner's life. Whether you have a brand-new vehicle or a trusty old companion, regular maintenance and occasional repairs are inevitable. This article aims to guide you through the world of car garages in Reading, helping you make informed decisions about your vehicle's care.

Finding a Reliable Car Garage

One of the first challenges when seeking car services is finding a trustworthy garage. Start by asking friends and family for recommendations. They can provide valuable insights into the garages they trust. Additionally, reading online reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google can give you a broader perspective.

Services Offered by Car Garages

Car garages offer a wide range of services, from routine maintenance like oil changes and brake checks to complex repairs and diagnostics. Some even provide bodywork and detailing services. Knowing what services a garage offers is crucial in ensuring that your specific needs can be met.

Cost of Services

The cost of services can vary significantly from one garage to another. Several factors influence pricing, such as the type of service, your vehicle's make and model, and the quality of parts used. It's advisable to obtain multiple quotes and compare them before making a decision.

Location and Accessibility

Convenience is key when choosing a car garage. Opt for a garage that is easily accessible from your location and offers adequate parking. A conveniently located garage can save you time and effort in the long run.

Quality of Work

The expertise of the mechanics and the equipment used at a garage greatly impact the quality of service. Experienced mechanics are more likely to diagnose and fix issues accurately, and advanced equipment ensures precision in repair work.

Warranty and Guarantees

Reputable car garages often offer warranties and guarantees on their services. These provide peace of mind, knowing that if an issue reoccurs shortly after a repair, it will be addressed at no extra cost. Always understand the terms and conditions of these guarantees.

Customer Experience

The way a garage treats its customers is a significant factor in the decision-making process. Friendly and helpful staff, clear communication, and a comfortable waiting area can enhance the overall experience.

Eco-Friendly Practices

In the modern world, many car garages are adopting eco-friendly practices. These include using environmentally friendly products and disposing of waste responsibly. Choosing a garage that cares for the environment aligns with a sustainable lifestyle.

Additional Tips for Car Maintenance

Regular check-ups are essential for your car's longevity. You can perform some basic maintenance tasks yourself, but professional maintenance is crucial for in-depth checks and complex repairs.

Choosing the Right Garage for You

Consider your needs and preferences when making a final decision. The garage that best aligns with your requirements and values should be your choice.

Common Car Issues and Solutions

Understanding common car issues and their solutions can save you time and money. Quick fixes may be possible, but some problems require professional attention. Learn to distinguish between the two.

Conclusion

Garages in Reading play a vital role in keeping your vehicle in top condition. By carefully considering factors like reliability, services offered, cost, location, and quality, you can ensure your vehicle receives the best care.

#car servicing reading #Car garages in reading #Garages in reading #car repair reading

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story-plaza · 10 months

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BGMI Unban Date 2023 :

The Potential Unban of BGMI A See into long-term of Battlegrounds Mobile India

The boycott on PUBG mobile in India in 2020 cleared out millions of portable gamers looking for an elective. Enter Battlegrounds mobile India (BGMI), a localized adaptation created particularly for Indian players. Since its discharge, BGMI has picked up colossal notoriety, but concerns about its potential boycott have been a point of talk. In this article, we'll investigate the current status of the amusement, the conceivable outcomes of an unban, and the potential affect it might have on the gaming community.

BGMI Unban Date: Theory and Expectation The boycott on PUBG Portable cleared out players enthusiastic for the return of the adored fight royale diversion. Whereas there's no official announcement with respect to the unban date of BGMI, there are hypotheses and hopes among the gaming community that it may well be unbanned within the close future. Players are enthusiastically observing upgrades and official declarations to memorize more around the potential unban date and the conditions encompassing it.BGMI Unban Date 2023

BGMI Upgrade: Consistent Enhancements and Upgrades

BGMI has been reliably giving updates to upgrade the gaming encounter. These overhauls incorporate bug fixes, optimization, unused highlights, and energizing increases to keep the amusement new and locks in for players. Customary upgrades not as it were address player criticism but too illustrate the commitment of the designers to progress the amusement ceaselessly. Players can anticipate unused maps, weapons, amusement modes, and other substance upgrades that include profundity and assortment to the gameplay encounter.BGMI Unban Date 2023 The Boycott Adventure: Understanding the Past and Show BGMI developed as a reaction to the boycott on PUBG Portable, tending to concerns related to information security and protection. The Indian government had prohibited PUBG Versatile and a few other Chinese apps due to national security concerns. BGMI, being a localized form developed by Krafton Inc., follows to Indian controls and points to supply a secure and secure gaming environment. However, it is vital to monitor the ever-evolving administrative scene to decide the status of BGMI's ban and potential unban. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Title Fashion: Personalizing Your In-Game Personality One of the one of a kind viewpoints of BGMI is the capacity to customize your in-game title with different styles and fonts. Players can select inventive and smart names to stand out within the gaming community. With a wide run of title styles accessible, players can express their singularity and make a interesting personality inside the diversion. This include permits for personalization and includes an component of fun to the gaming encounter, cultivating inventiveness and camaraderie among players. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Unban: Hope for the Return of Fight Royale The gaming community enthusiastically is standing by the unban of BGMI, as players expect the restoration of their favorite battle royale diversion. Whereas there's no conclusive timeline, fans stay cheerful for a positive result. The potential unban of BGMI would permit players to rejoin the action-packed fights, reconnect with companions, and reignite the competitive spirit that made PUBG Portable such a sensation. The unban would also have broader suggestions, such as boosting the esports environment and giving openings for substance makers and streamers. BGMI News and Official Upgrades: Remaining Educate Remaining educated approximately BGMI news and official overhauls is vital for players and devotees. Take after official social media channels, news outlets, and the official BGMI website for precise data and declarations. These sources give bits of knowledge into the game's improvement, potential unban upgrades, modern highlights, occasions, and community exercises. By remaining overhauled, players can be at the bleeding edge of any noteworthy changes or advancements in BGMI, guaranteeing they do not miss out on energizing openings and the most recent happenings within the diversion.

PUBG BGMI Download: Getting to the Game BGMI can be downloaded through official sources such as Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Players ought to guarantee that they download the game from true sources to dodge any security dangers or potential tricks related with informal downloads. BGMI Download BGMI Unban Date India: Trusts and Desires Indian players have been enthusiastically anticipating news about the unban date of BGMI. Whereas there's no confirmed date, the possibility of an unban has started positive thinking and energy inside the gaming community. Players are cheerful that BGMI will before long make a comeback, permitting them to submerge themselves within the adrenaline-fueled fights once once more. BGMI Download BGMI After Boycott: The Rise of Dull Squads Taking after the ban on PUBG Versatile, Indian players turned to elective recreations and squads. Dark Squads developed as a conspicuous community of players who kept on lock in in competitive gameplay. Whereas holding up for the potential unban of BGMI, Dim Squads showcased their abilities and strength, cultivating a solid community of gamers. BGMI Download BGMI Title Generator: Opening Inventiveness BGMI name generators have picked up notoriety among players who look for special and a la mode in-game names. These generators give different title styles, fonts, and images, permitting players to form personalized and eye-catching personalities inside the amusement. BGMI Download Tap Tap BGMI: Elective Download Strategy Tap Tap is an alternative app store that players can utilize to download BGMI. It offers a platform for clients to find and get to diversions not available on traditional app stores. However, players ought to work out caution and guarantee the authenticity andreliability of the Tap Tap stage some time recently downloading any recreations. BGMI Download BGMI Modern Upgrade: Energizing Highlights and Upgrades BGMI frequently discharges overhauls that bring unused highlights, enhancements, and optimizations to the diversion. These upgrades aim to upgrade gameplay, settle bugs, present modern maps or diversion modes, and provide an by and large way better involvement for players. Remain tuned for the most recent upgrades to investigate new substance and appreciate an upgraded gaming involvement. BGMI Unban Date 2023. Tap Tap BGMI Download BGMI: Official Sources and Solid Stages To download BGMI, players should depend on official sources such as Google Play Store or Apple App Store. These stages guarantee the realness and security of the amusement. Maintain a strategic distance from downloading BGMI from informal or third-party sources, as they may posture dangers such as malware or unauthorized modifications. BGMI Unban Date 2023. Tap Tap BGMI

Codashop BGMI: Helpful In-Game Buys

Codashop could be a prevalent stage that provides a helpful way for players to buy in-game items, such as UC (Obscure Cash), the virtual currency in BGMI. Players can use Codashop to best up their UC adjust and open different in-game rewards, skins, and customization alternatives. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Unban News: Remaining Upgraded and Educated To remain educated almost the potential unban of BGMI, take after solid news sources, official declarations, and dependable social media accounts. News outlets, gaming communities, and official BGMI channels frequently give the most recent upgrades, rumors, and insights into the unban advance, keeping players educated and locked in. BGMI Title: Personalizing Your In-Game Character Choosing an impactful and important in-game title is an basic portion of the BGMI encounter. Players can select names that reflect their identity, interface, or gaming fashion, permitting them to stand out in the competitive scene and construct their gaming notoriety. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI 2.2 Upgrade: Energizing Highlights and Improvements The BGMI 2.2 overhaul presented significant enhancements and unused highlights to the amusement. These upgrades might incorporate modern maps, weapons, game modes, social highlights, or performance optimizations, giving players with new substance and a more immersive gaming encounter. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Prohibited in India: Following to Regulatory System Taking after the ban on PUBG Versatile, BGMI was created to comply with Indian controls and address concerns related to data security and client protection. By guaranteeing compliance, BGMI aims to supply Indian players with a secure and agreeable gaming environment. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI 2.2 Upgrade Download: Getting to the Latest Substance To get to the BGMI 2.2 update, players can check for upgrades inside the amusement or visit the official app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) to download the most recent form. Routinely upgrading the diversion guarantees get to to modern highlights, changes, and bug fixes. BGMI Unban Date 2023.

BGMI Lite: Optimized Form for Low-End Gadgets BGMI Lite is a lighter form of the amusement outlined to run easily on low-end gadgets with restricted assets. It gives an optimized gaming involvement, guaranteeing that players with less powerful smartphones can too appreciate the fervor of BGMI. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Download TapTap: Alternative App Store Alternative TapTap is an elective app store that gives the option to download and update BGMI. Players can investigate TapTap as an alternative platform to get to and update BGMI, growing their alternatives past the conventional app stores. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Download Uptodown: Another App Store Elective Uptodown is another elective app store where players can discover and download BGMI. Be that as it may, it is fundamental to confirm the authenticity and dependability of Uptodown and work out caution when downloading any apps from third-party sources. BGMI Unban Date 2023. BGMI Boycott in India: Regulatory Scene and Affect The boycott on PUBG Versatile and the ensuing advancement of BGMI highlighted the require for a strong administrative scene in India's gaming industry. The boycott incited talks on information security, protection, and the mindful utilize of gaming platforms. The potential unban of BGMI will impact the administrative talk and shape the long run of the gaming biological system in India. BGMI Unban Date 2023. Tap Tap APK BGMI Download: Additional Download Choice For players who favor alternative methods, downloading the Tap Tap APK can give an additional option to access and introduce BGMI. Be that as it may, it is vital to exercise caution and guarantee the safety and authenticity of the APK record some time recently continuing with the installation.

BGMI UC Buy: In-Game Cash for Rewards UC (Obscure Cash) is the in-game cash utilized in BGMI to buy different rewards, skins, and other customization choices. Players can beat up their UC adjust through authorized stages, permitting them to open energizing in-game substance and improve their gaming involvement.

Certainly! Here's a link section featuring various resources and websites related to the topic of the potential unban of BGMI and Battlegrounds Mobile India:

- Official BGMI Website: Visit the official website of Battlegrounds Mobile India to stay updated with the latest news, announcements, and official updates regarding the game. Official BGMI Website - BGMI Official Social Media Accounts: Follow BGMI's official social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to receive real-time updates, news, and community engagement. BGMI Facebook, BGMI Twitter, BGMI Instagram - Gaming News Websites: Stay informed with dedicated gaming news websites that cover updates and insights on BGMI, including IGN India, NDTV Gadgets, and Sportskeeda. IGN India - BGMI, NDTV Gadgets - BGMI, Sportskeeda - BGMI - Krafton Official Website: Keep an eye on the official website of Krafton Inc., the developer of BGMI, for company news, announcements, and updates on their gaming products. Krafton Official Website - BGMI Reddit Community: Join the BGMI subreddit community to engage in discussions, share experiences, and get updates from fellow players and enthusiasts. BGMI Subreddit - eSports Platforms: Follow eSports platforms such as AFK Gaming and India Today Gaming to stay updated on BGMI tournaments, competitive events, and eSports news. AFK Gaming - BGMI, India Today Gaming - BGMI - YouTube Channels: Subscribe to popular BGMI-focused YouTube channels, including Dynamo Gaming, Kronten Gaming, and Mortal, for gameplay videos, tips, strategies, and entertaining content. Dynamo Gaming, Kronten Gaming, Mortal - BGMI Discord Communities: Join BGMI Discord servers and communities to connect with like-minded players, find teammates, and participate in discussions. Some popular Discord servers include Indian Gaming Community (IGC) and BGMI Official Discord Server. IGC Discord Server, BGMI Official Discord Server - Tech News Websites: Stay informed about the latest updates on technology and gaming through renowned tech news websites like Gadgets 360, Beebom, and TechRadar India. Gadgets 360 - BGMI, Beebom - BGMI, TechRadar India - BGMI - BGMI Instagram Influencers: Follow popular BGMI Instagram influencers such as Scout, Jonathan, and GodNixon for gameplay highlights, tips, and entertaining content. Scout, Jonathan, GodNixon

frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the potential unban of BGMI:

- Is there any official announcement regarding the unban of BGMI? As of now, there is no official announcement regarding the unban of BGMI. The status of the game's ban remains uncertain, and players are eagerly awaiting updates from official sources. - What are the possibilities of BGMI getting unbanned in the future? While there is no definitive answer, there are speculations and hopes among the gaming community that BGMI might get unbanned in the near future. However, it is important to rely on official announcements and credible sources for accurate information. - How can I stay updated with the latest news about the potential unban of BGMI? To stay informed, follow the official BGMI social media accounts, visit the official website, and keep an eye on reliable gaming news outlets. These sources will provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the game's status. - Can I still play BGMI if it remains banned? If BGMI continues to remain banned, players will not be able to access the game through official means. It is important to comply with the regulations and guidelines set by the authorities to ensure a safe and legal gaming experience. - What should I do if BGMI gets unbanned? If BGMI gets unbanned, players can expect official announcements regarding the unban and the procedure to access the game. It is advisable to follow the instructions provided by the official sources to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any potential risks. - Are there any alternative games available while BGMI is banned? Yes, there are several alternative battle royale games available for players to explore during the ban. Games like Free Fire, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Apex Legends Mobile offer similar gameplay experiences and can be enjoyed while waiting for the potential unban of BGMI. - Can I still participate in BGMI esports tournaments during the ban? If BGMI remains banned, official esports tournaments and events associated with the game will not take place. However, players can explore other esports opportunities in different games or participate in local community tournaments. - Will my in-game progress be lost if BGMI gets unbanned? If BGMI gets unbanned, it is expected that players' in-game progress, including items, achievements, and rankings, will be retained. However, official announcements and guidelines will provide more clarity on this matter. - How can I report any issues or provide feedback to the BGMI development team? Players can reach out to the BGMI development team through official channels, such as customer support or feedback forms available on the official website or within the game. Reporting bugs, suggesting improvements, or sharing feedback can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the game. - What precautions should I take while downloading BGMI or related content? It is crucial to download BGMI or any related content from official and trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Avoid downloading from unofficial or third-party platforms to ensure the security and authenticity of the game. Conclusion As the gaming community eagerly awaits the potential unban of BGMI, players stay cheerful for the restoration of this cherished fight royale amusement. Read the full article

#bgmi #bgmitaptap #BGMIUnban #BGMIUnbanDate #BGMIUnbanDate2023

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variousqueerthings · 5 months

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The Girl Who Waited... or hold on to your horses we are about to have probably the highest rated episode of the seaaaaason

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 10/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored): 10/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 9/10

furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 8/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 9/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 6/10

isn’t trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 10/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 7/10

Politics (how conservative is the story): 7/10

FULL RATING: 86/100 (if I can count….)

WELL OKAY THOSE ARE SOME RATINGS!

OBJECTIFICATION: BOOM! SOLID! NOTHING! IN FACT AMY IS IN HER... 50s? I can't count. She's been there for 36 years. and like yeah, she's maybe unrealistically slim, buuuut they gave her this neat hodge-podge armor that she made which bulks her out and the rest is like, Karen Gillen has slim arms, it's fine, and they did actually age up her face so she does look older and not like A M*ffat Fantasy older either

and younger Amy is also chill in this one, she's just vibing... well, she's not vibing, she's having a terrible time. but see beloooow on how that episode goes about writing her terrible time

PLOT-POINT: aaaand fuckn! winner *dings bell* it's all about herrrrr it's about her abandonment, it's about her relationship with Rory, it's about her ability to survive on her own and what it could do to her as a person, it's about the shit introduced on Day Flipping One (first episode)

and it does it well! scenes that in days of yore might have cut from Amy to centre on Rory and the Doctor (am reminded of her grief over Rory being erased from existence being undercut by the camera focusing on the Doctor, or about everything related to her with her pregnancy and Demon's Run)

this is the definitive Amy Exploration and while I've said I'm not the biggest Karen Gillen fan in the past, I think she was good in this! she has this kind of weariness to her, a bluntness, an awkwardness in the way she speaks and holds herself, the script and the makeup give her so much to do that doesn't mean she has to be attractive all the time, and it's so good for her ability Do Shit

COMPLEXITY: it sets up a neat Sci Fi concept in order to explore a very human relationship! the best kind of science fiction. like. no notes here, onwards

CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: arghhhhhhhhhhh everything I want

Amy and Rory explore their relationship on multiple levels, finally giving me a proper episode of Amy's feelings for Rory and not just little moments? check

an episode in which Rory and Amy challenge the Doctor in how he treats people and his morality, specifically in how it also affects his relationship to them, and what that does to them (and also changes them)?

an episode in which Amy gets to say fuck you to the Doctor?

"I don’t care that you got old, I care that we didn’t grow old together"

Amy facing herself???!!!!!!!!!! oh yeah good stufffffffff

COMPANIONS MATTER: this one sidelines the Doctor for the companions! it's all about them, they make the choices, they drive the plot, the Doctor is there to do a bit of science and facilitate the story for and about them!

“GODLIKE” DOCTOR: see above point! such a good choice to put him in the Tardis and not have him present when Amy makes her choices (also because she might have just killed him lol)

the one Part where he takes control is the tragedy at the end, and he gets pushback for it, it's not a brilliant solve for everything that everyone claps at him for, it's a sad simple necessity that's got a streak of pragmatic cruelty in it and echoes back on his relationship with Amy, and while young!Amy doesn't get to react too much to that, I think it's fine, because older!Amy does and says goodbye to Rory and young!Amy would never quiiite get that emotion I think, simply because she didn't live it

she was a bit antagonist with her older self, but not being too weird about her being onboard, but I imagine there's a small part of her that might be partly relieved or slightly discount older!Amy because she no longer exists

the one thing perhaps is that we won't know what they told her, and because this show has depicted Amy being kept out of the loop "for her sake" before, it's not like... 100% unreasonable to imagine the Doctor and Rory might pretty up the story again

but not knowing how that goes down is fine. it's a little mystery at the end of the episode

PREVIOUS DOCTOR WHO: there's not much of that in here and tbh I don't think there has to be. it's about Amy, not the Doctor's past

“SEXINESS”: FUCKING! THREE FOR THREE!!! ULTIMATE EPISODE GIVE IT A PRIZE!!!!!!

INTERNAL WORLD: it's pretty cool, kept reeeelatively simple so it could be explained in the first few minutes, built upon slightly, but ultimately remaining quite tight so that the focus could be Amy's hideout on this strange little world where everyone died once

POLITICS: not much politics in this one, so we refer back to how it treats its female companion and it's the gold star winner of the whole thing

FULL RATING: 86/100 (if I can count….)

Highest! Rated! Episode!

and who knows if it'll get beat, we shall seeeee

I mean, what can I say, Amy is a fully rounded character who's running the show and her relationship with Rory is explored, and the Doctor is having some fucked up morality, and it's got neat pacing!

it hasn't got anything that's actually "low" it's mainly just that not every episode needs to refer back to classic!who or have big political messaging, it was pretty fucking Solid!

one thing I would say that wasn't covered in the Rating is that I'm not vibing with this title. I understand where it's coming from (referencing back to kid Amy), but I think while it is examining that childhood anxiety, Amy is simply... not a girl. and in the grand *waves hands* everything of M*ffat, he really likes titles with "girl" in them, which is I imagine therefore not this writer's choice

Girl in the fireplace -- okay, it's the first time, it's fine The Girl Who Waited -- ehhh not a fan, but I guess Amy was a girl who waited, it's a bit reductive for the episode The Impossible Girl -- oh, come on this is silly, it's flattening out the whole character into a plot device The Girl Who Died -- *shakes fist* M*ffaaaaat stop!

But yeah. Episode! Fuckn Happening!

#im watching nu!who #im watching eleven who #the measurement #the girl who waited

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