the beginning and end overlap, and that's the middle
Aug. 7th, 2025 04:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miscellaniumit's not as texture-rich a movie as some others i've rewatched, sure, but i still feel as though there's something new for me to chew on every time. it's like a piece of gum that never loses its flavor, with all the pros and cons that implies (microplastics, etc).
this time i came away really wanting to watch picnic at hanging rock (i know, way overdue!) because the sag in energy once jesse is introduced was practically palpable and it reminded me of how the screenwriter hadn't wanted to take that direction originally, but also because that movie sounds like it's more about the relationships and dynamics between a group of younger women than any horror just like how the focus of rituals feels more locked in on the relationships and dynamics between these middle-aged men than the gritty details of their suffering.
( musings on trauma and isolation as themes )
Fancake Theme for August: Marriage of Convenience
Aug. 3rd, 2025 08:35 amrunpunkrun posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomcalendar
fancake is a thematic recommendation community where all members are welcome to post recs, and fanworks of all shapes and sizes are accepted. Check out the community guidelines for the full set of rules. This theme runs for the entire month. If you have any questions, just ask!
Lemon, Board 3
Aug. 1st, 2025 04:00 pmbattleshipmod posting in battleshipexMaybe you went too hard on entertaining the octopus? Whoops.
Leaving the newest hire to happily read over the gifts you gave it and hopefully not make more of a mess, you slip out the back to check on the Professor. She has papers tacked to different spots on the ground, and looks up enthusiastically as you approach.
“It’s you! Cafe help! You’re just in time, I’m pretty sure there’s something mechanical down here.” She grins, tucking an errant strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Not sure what size or if it’s in multiple pieces, but there’s only one way to find out.” Her form is indistinct in the fog, but you can see as she tosses you a shovel. “Still got some energy to dig?”
Mr. Snikkit appears at your elbow, handing you a muffin in the fog. “Had no idea the vegetable patch was so archaeologically and magically interesting!” he says, and bites into his own muffin. “I’m excited!”
You’ve come this far, you want to see this work day through. Gripping your shovels, you stride through the fog. It’s time to get to the bottom of this mystery once and for all.
Lemon Board 3 Grid and List of Goals
Lemon Collection | Prompt Collection (AO3) | Prompt Collection (Automagic App)
( Board 3 Rules )Works are revealed!
Jul. 30th, 2025 10:54 ambattleshipmod posting in battleshipexThe Shoulder Dragon Cafe is packed with everyone you’ve met over the course of your digging expeditions, from professors and cafe managers to congregations of assorted fairies, and some familiar faces from the lunch and dinner crowds. The cafe has even recruited the octopi as eight-limbed shoulder dragon scritchers, deftly preventing most shoulder dragon-inflicted incidents.
At the center of it all sits a giant booth sized for dragons, though at the moment its occupant is the newly awakened brachiosaurus. Despite his metallic composition, he eagerly crunches through the leftover vegetables from your first dig while the professors explain everything that has happened since his (speculated) era and his reawakening.
Around his feet whirl and beep three X-ray machines. The newest arrival’s fashionable hat features a yellow Glorbo gloriously riding in its teacup. (Though, now that you think about it, there should be a fourth – and the faint lemony scent ought to be stronger.)
“I’m glad the little ones were useful in reawakening me! Though, when my husband and I decided to retire, we didn’t expect a Dirt Empire, of all things, to rise and fall atop our old laboratory,” Gary the Brachiosaurus says as he pets the X-rays and blows rings of steam for the pterodactyl fairies to flutter through. He eyes the mechanical components you’ve brought in (and cleaned) from the gardens. “By the way, have you seen him? His name is Harvey, and is a mechanical brachiosaurus, like me. He would be in possession of the rest of our invention’s parts.”
Some of you explain the additional mechanical components you dug up at the Enchanted Vine, and his face literally lights up. His tail swishes happily. “Oh, joyous day! Once we find the rest of him, we’ll be reunited, and he’ll be utterly ecstatic if he wakes up to our fully repaired machine!”
What is their invention for, anyway? You mean to ask, but the professors have already claimed Gary for more questions, and between increasingly esoteric answers you pick up on time portals and alternate dimensions and mechanical life as Gary leans over to tap some instructions into the X-ray machines. The X-rays and pterodactyl fairies zip out the doors of the cafe on whatever task they’ve been given.
Well, you’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, you’ve done a good thing, creating so much and helping so many people along the way, and deserve a bit of time to relax. It’s time to enjoy the spoils of your hard-earned work!
Grape Collection | Lemon Collection | Pear Collection | Strawberry Collection
Congratulations to first place Team Pear, second place Team Strawberry, and joint third place Team Grape and Team Lemon!
We’d also like to thank all the players for another fantastic round of Battleship, whether you posted works, beta’d works, strategized, spreadsheeted, or cheered others on. The event wouldn’t be possible without your efforts!
Each member of Team Pear and Team Strawberry will get to pick one tag to be on next year's boards. Any member of Team Grape and Team Lemon who posts two or more treats to their team collections between the end of the game and the end of anon period will also be able to pick a tag.
In addition, any player can claim a tag by playing Rare Tag Bingo! Create a copy of that spreadsheet and select at least 25 tags that were claimed 25 or fewer times during the game. Then, create a bingo card (no free space) here or with another bingo card generator. Post works claiming these tags (and fulfilling prompts) into your team’s collection, and once you complete a line of five tag squares, submit your completed bingo card by either posting it in the #rare-tag-bingo channel or emailing it to battleshipexchange@gmail.com. (Optionally, cheer others on in the channel, or share your own progress!). This tag claim stacks on top of placement and treat tag claims. The deadline for earning a tag claim is the end of the anon period, but treats are always welcome.
But first, congratulations on a Battleship well done! Feast upon the over 3000 works created since the start of Battleship! We encourage you to be generous with your kudos and comments!
Creator reveals will be in two weeks: August 13 at 11:00 am EDT (3:00 pm UTC).
Team Grape has completed the third board!
Jul. 29th, 2025 05:03 pmbattleshipmod posting in battleshipexYou’re about to step into the Shoulder Dragon Cafe when you hear footsteps approaching in the distance. Coming around the corner are some of your missing companions, who are decked out in dirt-caked purple attire. Their X-ray machine whirrs as it speeds alongside them, wearing a teacup on its head. Inside the teacup, Glorbo is counting his pebbles and grapes. You can't understand his glorbo noises, but he seems happy!
Four more pterodactyl fairies follow them, looking as satisfied as a pterodactyl fairy can – seems they completed assembling their blueprint as well.
And looming ominously toward the back of the group is a person with a pitchfork who appears to be a bunch of grapes stuffed into a pair of overalls. You decide you don't want to ask as you usher your companions inside to rest for now.
TEAM GRAPE HAS COMPLETED BOARD 3!
Team Strawberry Comes in SECOND PLACE!
Jul. 28th, 2025 02:33 pmbattleshipmod posting in battleshipexOver at the Fraise Lounge, you are utterly covered in dirt, but you watch in excited satisfaction as the pterodactyl fairies place each of your uncovered machine components on the blueprint. Now Professor Zzt can assemble the machine, and you’ll finally be able to go home. This has been such a progression from seafaring.
Professor Zzt, however, is nowhere near the blueprint. Instead you find him at the edge of the garden, chatting to a little spark in his tiny hands with a concerned, then newly intrigued expression on his face. He flutters over to the blueprint and starts to prod at the components, taking some notes in sparkling, floating writing. A couple of you sneak closer, hoping to overhear something, and as you start to pick out increasingly loud cheering…
Wait a second, those voices aren’t just coming from the spark. Neither are those footsteps. You turn towards the cafe just as a giant dragon swoops through the garden’s gate. “You found it! You really found it!” he’s shouting. And trailing behind him are some of your companions! You even spot another X-ray machine among the crowd. It’s.. wearing a wiggling pear? Your own X-ray machine (and Barry Turtleberry on top) rolls up to reunite with its counterpart.
There were indeed two machines in the cafe garden! Professors Fuzang and Zzt contact their other colleagues in the area (how does a giant dragon use a tiny spark-communicator, you wonder?), and soon the garden is filled with archaeology professors, the rest of your separated companions, and even café managers, who are apparently also interested (and willing to let their quest-assigned adventurers leave their duties).
Everyone watches, enraptured, as the professors and (mostly) pterodactyl fairies assemble one of them into a giant mechanical brachiosaurus. At first, nothing happens, but then the pterodactyl fairies breathe their fairy dust into vents along its long neck. The brachiosaurus glows for a moment, and then a giant cloud of steam huffs out its nostrils.
“Hmm… Just five more centuries, please…” the mechanical dinosaur grumbles and rolls over.
One of the machines has been rebuilt! You still have another one to go, but the professors are busy debating the implications of their findings, and the pterodactyl fairies are occupied with helping energize the groggy brachiosaurus and helping him take his first few steps in however many eras.
And on the other hand… You look around at everyone’s dirt-covered clothes, and the giant mounds of dirt in the increasingly crowded garden.
“...Why don’t we head back to the Shoulder Dragon Cafe?” you suggest.
TEAM STRAWBERRY COMES IN SECOND PLACE!
Members of Team Pear and Team Strawberry will get one tag claim each for next year’s board, and pears will feature in next year’s lore! Teams Grape and Lemon, in joint third place, can also earn a tag claim by posting two treats by the end of the two week anon period. There may be an additional opportunity to earn tag claims through treats – stay tuned!
But, hmm… Something is happening with Team Lemon…
As you’re heading over to the Shoulder Dragon Cafe, you hear frantic beeping and whirring somewhere below you – looks like your X-ray machine has recovered from its rest! On top of it is a giant red button that says “PRESS ME!” Obviously, you do.
The world around you freezes. Your companions in the distance are stuck mid-pose, Professor Fuzang is suspended in the air, even the wobbly metallic brachiosaurus wobbles no more.
“If you’re hearing this, one of us has awakened, but the other is still buried deep underground,” speaks a message emitting from the X-ray machine. “If it wouldn’t be a bother, could you excavate both of us? Ah, and please forgive the time bubble – I’m sure you have plenty of your own responsibilities, and we wouldn’t want to keep you from them with our demands. This will give you all the time you need.”
Team Lemon now has access to the Team Lemon Continuation Collection! Treats from Team Lemon optionally posted to this collection in addition to their usual team collection will remain hidden beyond the main reveals time, until either Team Lemon completes Board 3 or the work is removed from the Continuation Collection by the creator.
All treats may continue to claim tags and boss points as usual, in accordance with any post-game arrangements with their team. If your team has yet to complete all Bosses and Boards, you have the optional challenge of completing them.
This officially concludes the main Battleship 2025 game! You have 48 hours from the end of the game to edit your works, which will be revealed on July 30, 2025 11:00 AM Eastern Time. Please remove placeholders and otherwise make sure your works are ready to go live!
Due to an AO3 bug, works posted shortly before collection reveals may get caught in an unrevealed state. To prevent this, the team and main collections will be temporarily closing at 11:00 AM EDT on July 29th, 24 hours before reveals.
Lemon, Boss 2
Jul. 28th, 2025 01:12 ambattleshipmod posting in battleshipexNew – hire? You look out front just in time to see an enormous yellow octopus sucker across the front yard and up the front window. The dragon breathes magic at it, seemingly annoyed.
“Go!” Mr. Snikkit calls, feverishly wringing out the mop. “Keep the octopus happy, you can show them the ropes later!”
You head out front, jumping over octopus arms as they grab patio furniture and throw it. The octopus and dragon seem to be in a slap fight, and you try to stand in the way. “Okay,” you try, pushing on the octopus’s squishy flesh. “No fighting?”
In response, the octopus slaps at you with a tentacle and the dragon breathes magic at you, but you dodge the tentacle and the magic washes over the dirt you’re still holding. Instead of golems this time, the dirt transmutes into little ceramic objects you can hear saying things. They’re the perfect size to fit into an ear, and when you pick them up you can hear voices? The dragon’s magic has made magic translators this time, and you can hear what the dragon and the octopus are saying.
“Just add another prompt to the collection, oh my god,” the dragon says with a huff. “Have you considered requesting more prompts?”
“I already have fourteen prompts!” the octopus says, thrashing in agitation. “I included five CCoF requests and nobody has even looked at them! Do you think I need to nominate some new tags? I could do Original Work, but no one is looking at my requests! I have nothing to read, and nothing to look at or listen to!”
It looks like to keep the octopus happy you’ll need to – make some gifts? A quick glance at what the octopus is talking about shows requests for art, and fic, and podfic, all waiting to be fulfilled. And you can absolutely do that. As the dragon breathes more magic under the roiling hotpot and the octopus bashes pieces of machinery together, you wave a hand to flag down the octopus. “Hello!” you call. “Can you tell me more about what you want for art or fic? And you mentioned you like podfic, too?”
Lemon Collection | Prompt Collection (AO3) | Prompt Collection (Automagic App)
( Boss 2 Rules )
Team Pear WINS FIRST PLACE!
Jul. 27th, 2025 07:04 pmbattleshipmod posting in battleshipex“And there!” Fuzang says as the pterodactyl fairies place the final machine component on the blueprint’s outline. “I can write so many papers on this!” It is, for the moment, an inert item – not to mention, more a vaguely shaped set of pieces than an assembled machine – but this does not reduce your joy one bit: you dug it all up!
Pearry the X-ray machine bleeps happily, satiated by the glorious dirt left behind by the Dirt Empire. Now that its mission is complete, it’s certainly earned the time to rest and recharge.
“What do you think this thing is for?” one of you asks Fuzang as he starts to assemble the components, flicking over hinges and pulling around wires and screwing pieces together.
“Well, I think we can safely discard ‘ritual purposes,’ given how intricate yet non-decorative it is,” he explains. Then, as he is turning two pieces over, examining where they should join, he pauses. “Interesting. From the look of their materials, I suspect these components are for two machines, and not only one like we’ve theorized. Fascinating!”
You all take a well-deserved rest while Fuzang splits the components into two sets and attempts to build two machines… but all in vain, as no combination seems to work.
You hear Pearry still rolling about – busy enjoying its role as Heir of Dirt, you suppose – and beyond that, the shouts of your separated companions (and whirring of their X-ray machines) at their respective cafes. You're pretty sure that you've dug up all the relics and components present here at the Pear Wiggler, but maybe your friends have also found something? You do have a tendency to end up doing the exact same things, no matter how far you start from each other.
When you bring this up to Fuzang, he perks up. “I did hear some of my colleagues from other universities are also trying to get dig permits in this region. Hmm, the Congress on Early Ancient Civilizations is coming up in a month or so. I'll ask at the end of my plenary talk!” He wiggles with excitement, pear hat wobbling in counterpoint. “Oh, thank you, this is going to let us understand the material conditions of the Dirt Empire so much better! This is amazing! It's the best day of my life!”
The café has closed, the Manager has gone home and won't disturb you, and the octopus is nowhere to be seen. Given past experience, your friends should come through soon enough – at least, much faster than Fuzang's scientific conference – so you won't be here that long. As you wait, some of you help a very excited Fuzang document the day’s excavation process, while others sit down and tell stories (the taco plant features prominently).
From what you can tell, Fuzang split the pile of component parts in half. Perhaps some of your companions will find the other half of both structures…
TEAM PEAR WINS FIRST PLACE!
But the game isn’t over yet! One more team needs to dig up all their machine components to finish rebuilding the machines buried beneath the café gardens.
All work caps are lifted! Once a second team digs up all their machine components, the game will end, and then there will be a 48-hour editing period before works are revealed. Please remove placeholders and otherwise make sure your works are ready to go live!
Teams in joint third place will be able to continue playing, even after the collections reveal – stay tuned for further details.