Lupi

Nothing Doing no. 23

This is my headcanon for Derek

Links on my pinned, check out this post for what to expect from me at each place.

I've seen many a eulogy and criticism for this site as the days have been counting down, so I'll keep it brief, eggbugs.

I actively worked towards making cohost a place I could be more open, nuanced and different. This site helped me recognize how insidious other places have always been and how I play into it. I went into this knowing cohost wasn't going to be perfect, bad people exist everywhere regardless of website design or how moderated it can be.

But where cohost always surprised me was how thoughtful people on here were. People here actively searched for things that interested them instead of relying on an algorithm to passively feed them. People here had more to say than the way others have been trained to keep it short and snappy for microblogging rage bait. People here posted with no regard for whether something "did numbers", they were more themselves. Whenever I deal with racism online, I'm used to having to shrug it off and moving on. But here? I saw whole thought pieces about how what I went through sparked discussions on how cohost should be better.

So wherever you move next, I hope you keep what made cohost special with you wherever you go. Because it's the people on the site that make the experience worth it.

I'm honored to be referred to as a cohost artist. I get called "cohost's own jesncin" and get recommended as one of the artists to follow on this new site who regularly shares art. I'm flattered that my friendly presence was appreciated here. Thanks for everything.

previously
Chapter 1: The Door
Chapter 2: The Pilot
Chapter 3: The Priest
Chapter 4: The Warmaker
Chapter 5: The Emperor

[Original fiction, 9k words this chapter]

6. The First Step

Stiff and sore, I nevertheless hunched in the direction of the new arrival, left hand glowing with the key as I extended my right cythorn. Saffa was exposed in space to my left; Dufore stood to my right, spreading their hands in a placating posture of surrender. I did not have spare thought to scorn their choice, my mind racing with what I might hope to do with only the power of my cystem against a chrononaut. I could see no more sign of the Emperor than had been left of Birleg.

"Who are you?" Saffa said, her high voice wavering. There were new tears in her clothing, some of them bloodied, from the explosion of violence that had knocked us all down.

The chrononaut looked at her. "You're not one of Lucius' tree people."

"I'm from the Commonwealth," she said, with a hint of what might have been hope.

"The fuck is that?" Their voice was deep and curt, unmistakably tired.

previously
Chapter 1: The Door
Chapter 2: The Pilot
Chapter 3: The Priest
Chapter 4: The Warmaker

[Original fiction, 8k words this chapter]

5. The Emperor

"It is the whole moon, then?" Yarbe said, their voice flat and cold.

In my service, I have often spoken with Alliance and Commonwealth personnel, as captor or occasionally captive, and even on a couple of occasions as circumstantial allies. I have never had the opportunity to speak to an Affenstrin Warmaker; one handles Affenstrin at the longest range possible or not at all. Standing face-to-face with one as I was at that moment, I was stunned to my core by the normalcy of their manner.