do simulacra dream of constructed sheep?

let's get acquainted.

My name is Taylor. I drool over wizards and freedom-fighting bald men who always wear sunglasses. I write about (and sometimes draw) video game characters.

my fics.

AO3 | Graceless | Take What You Can Carry | Temporary Eden (hiatus)

blog links.

Writing | Drawing | Virtual Photography | WIP Wednesday OC Posts | Eirael Frostflow | Ula Aspengrove Baldur's Gate Mod List (WIP) | Fallout 4 Mod List (WIP)

side blog for moot appreciation.

Thanks for the tag @cep-stories

Rules: shuffle your 'on repeat' playlist and post the first ten tracks, then tag people.

I've said it before and I'll say it again as a warning this time. I literally only listen to classical playlists and the Clair Obscur soundtrack. It's for writing! @cep-stories attributes this malady to the reason I can't write fluff--my music's too sad! Haha!

Alicia by Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier Itsaca by Elskavon, John Hays Spring Meadows - Linen and Cotton by Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier Blush by Jessie Marcella Lumière - Promenade dans Lumière by Lorien Testard Spring Meadows - Cello Motifs by Lorien Testard Into the Storm by Marianas Trench (hey, look! a pop song!) Nocturne by Teodor Wolgers, Felix Rosch Fredag by Søndag Søndag Gustave by Lorien Testard

Laziest of nudges to those on my tag list! If you want to be on it (or off it!) go give a heart to that post!

Introduction to Pirittil

gentle nudges to @kt-catt, @cep-stories, @unovafarm, and @optimisticgrey to share any WIPs if you have them 🤍 (tagging according to my tag list. If you would like to be added/removed from the list, just add or remove the heart!

So as many of you probably know, I'm a little in love with my Snow Elf girlie, Eirael. But what you might not know? I've been doing a whole lot of worldbuilding behind the scenes of Graceless. Which includes developing cultures, cities, hierarchies, language, customs and traditions for this forgotten race of the Forgotten Realms. Out of that worldbuilding, came a story...

Pirittil's story.

It feels good to finally get some words on the page for this idea that's been bouncing around in my head for ages. Perhaps it isn't as polished as some of my fanfic writing, but the exposition muscle is a bit atrophied from not having written an original work in a while.

I'd like to dedicate some space in this blog to developing Piri and her brother Aulither as the story goes. I'm excited to share her with you!

This is a really neat game my beloved @eliwyntorleth tagged me in. See Eliwyn (and CEP's!) answers here!! The game she came up with is below!

First, pull up this ask list. Then, for ‘Questions for Your OC,’ whip out a random number generator. Whatever number you get, that’s the question you answer. For ‘Questions for The Creator,’ roll a d10 and answer the question for the corresponding letter!

36. Do they actively seek romance, or do they wait for it to fall into their lap?

Eirael actively hid herself away from finding love in the Quiet Veil. She believed her purpose was greater than having a domestic life, and therefore romance has never been a primary driver. Speeding on Mystra's apotheosis was the most important thing a sister of the Quiet Veil could do. And isn't devoting ones self to divinity the purest calling? Obligatory: Read more in Graceless.

20. If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so?

In Pure Ula Fashion™: "Romantic love, it's like... that queasiness ya get in your belly, right? Ya don't get that with pals unless ya want to roll in the bush at least a little. If ya get that feeling around your family... *shakes head* What I'm tryin' to say is that fooking friends is good and you can jab each other about it later. Ya don't jab when you love 'em, 'cause you never want 'em to feel like it was pretend, ya know?"

& My Question:

B) What inspired you to create them?

Eirael came about while I was busy working on my novel. I'd just finished reading... maybe Sinner by Sierra Simone? And I thought about the kind of character that would annoy Gale the most. So I came up with the idea of a Mystran cleric who is more devout, utterly self-righteous, and doesn't talk for the majority of the day. Eirael and Graceless were born. Ula is still a fledgling OC. I always wanted to play a firbolg character, but I don't know anything about firbolgs. Come to find out their lore has been retconned several times. Because I lack complete originality, Ula is the complete opposite of me: outspoken, quick to anger, brash... I love her dearly, but she's a harder character to write, for sure!

Tagging according to my tag list! It's open to moots who want to get a gentle nudge on posts like this so they can participate, too! Give this post a heart if you want to be on it!

Thank you to @drow-drow-drow (see what Rhyll has going on here and here!) and @cep-stories (see into Eliwyn and Gale's future here!) for the nudge to share!

Sneak peek at @cep-stories' @eliwyntorleth! I'm so excited to be able to draw her!! I think I'm really finding my own style!

This is from the old version of Chapter 10 of Graceless, but I love it so much. Still working on editing!

Gentle nudges according to my tag list! Go give it a heart if you want to be added!

Thank you to @kt-catt and @cep-stories for tagging me! CEP and I have bonded over studio ghibli movies before! Find out more about her here! And as for KT, I am 100% ready for her TED talk on lesser-known hindu deities, see the rest of her answers here!

1. What's your blog title from?

My handle is likely from some ancient blog I had going a decade ago. I thought it sounded edgy or something, and I've never been one to have numbers after my usernames. My blog title, "do simulacra dream of constructed sheep?" is a play on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, which inspired Blade Runner. And Blade Runner heavily inspired Fallout 4. In my fic Graceless, Gale has a simulacrum I've grown way too attached to. So really, it's just a way of combining two of my favorite video games!

2. Latest movie? What did you think?

I genuinely think the last movie I watched was Sleeping Beauty when I was sick. I'm not a movie person, which I know is unexciting. The last new movie I watched that I really adored was The Phoenician Scheme. I have been doing my annual re-watch of LOST though! I'm determined to watch the Director's Cut ending this time.

3. What are you looking forward to right now?

Hmm... I'm just about to finish up a podcast! It's an audio drama called Malevolent where the showrunner, Harlan Guthrie, allowed listeners to make decisions for the lead character, Arthur, as he bumbles about with a Great Old One in his head. Harlan also does all the voice acting himself, which is astonishing! Highly, highly recommend for those who love The Magnus Archives and Old Gods of Appalachia!

4. If you could do anything at all today, what would it be?

Finish all my current WIPs! I'm close on one, but writing has definitely taken a back seat to teaching myself how to draw again.

5. Drink of choice?

Morning: Coffee with creamer Afternoon: Unsweet Raspberry Tea or Lemonade in summer Cocktail: French 75 Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Always: Ice water

6. Hair routine?

I am super lazy. I wash and condition, then let air dry. My hair can't hold a curl for shit, so I don't usually do anything but brush it after a shower.

7. Favourite way to travel? Is there another you want to try?

I love being in an airplane, but I absolutely hate airports. We recently did a road trip with our dog, and that was a blast! I'd like to take the Chunnel when I'm in England in September. I doubt we'll find the time, but it would be fun!

8. Favourite month and why?

November, and it isn't close. The weather is lovely. The trees are beautiful. It has Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday. Food and family... I just love it! Like Christmas without any expectations of gifts.

9. Favourite time of day and why?

Sunsets are really pretty around here. I usually get to take the pup for a walk around sunset, so I get to see a lot of them. It's also when I get to hang out with my better half and talk about projects we're both working on.

10. Do you play or follow any sports?

I am a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. I love all football and wish I still played Fantasy. Alas. I've also been adopted into a family who adores the Kansas Jayhawks, so I get to watch a lot of games, even if I'm not particularly knowledgeable.

11. What kind of music has been stuck in your head lately?

I basically only listen to the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack and this Spotify playlist. I do a lot of creative work which isn't conducive to songs with lyrics. However, I have really been enjoying Leave Like That by SYML & Jenn Champion recently.

12. Dishes or laundry?

Ugh, dishes. I hate both, but laundry is the bane of my existence.

13. Something you learned recently?

I've been experimenting with different ways to draw hair, and I think I've come up with something satisfying! As for a fun fact, the children's show Bluey is drawn in blues and oranges which is within the color spectrum dogs can see!

14. What would you talk about if you could give a TED talk on anything?

I don't know enough about it to do a TED talk, but I'll rant about the declining literacy and media literacy rates in the US to anyone who will listen. Runner up: I think Baldur's Gate 3 did Mystra dirty, I don't think Gale was "groomed", and I think it's weird people hold a fictional deity to the standards of human morality.

15. Piece of advice you find yourself giving a lot?

"Sleep on it."

16. Piece of advice you would give yourself five years ago?

Ignore office politics, and focus on what your job offers you. It was a weird time, but honestly, I'm happier for right now anyway. Maybe also, "work is not a valid measure of your worth." I enjoy being poor and creative more than panic-addled and stressed.

17. Do you believe in luck and superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any?

I'm not particularly religious or spiritual. I don't believe in luck. I don't carry around talismans. I do, however, have a few quirks: 1. I never drink out of my Cowboys coffee mug the day of a game. 2. I never roll dice until I need to. 3. I always tap the top of my car when going under a yellow light.

18. Are you musical (play any instruments, sing)? Would you ever perform for an audience?

I used to sing? But I don't think I'm very good anymore. I would absolutely never sing for an audience.

19. Write, type or speak?

Type. I've actually gotten really good at it since starting Graceless. I vastly prefer typing on my keyboard than my phone.

20. What do you wish someone would ask you?

I welcome anything, honestly. But if I had to pick something... about my writing or OCs. I love talking about differing writing processes and OC head canons.

Questions below the cut for anyone who wants!!

Thank you to @eliwyntorleth for the tag! See the post for Eliwyn and Gale Here! Gentle tags, according to my tag list: @kt-catt, @optimisticgrey Absolutely everyone is invited to join!

Here is a link to the Enneagram test I used, and here is a resource for basic info if you already know your OCs type!

[image credit] Ula is an 8, aptly called The Challenger. At her worst, she's absolutely ruthless, and seeks to destroy what won't bend to her will. At her best, she courageously stands up for her flock.

[image credit] Eirael is a 1, The Reformer. At her worst she suffers severe depressions and nervous breakdowns, and she wants to rid herself of those she deems imperfect. At her best, she's incredibly wise and discerning.

being mindful of mutuals.

Hi friends. I know notifications can be stressful, and not getting notifications can be stressful. I would like to include as many people as I can in my posts, but only if they want.

If you would like to be included in my tag games, WIP posts, and whatever else I get around to posting, give this post a heart, that way I know it's cool. If at any point you don't want to be on this list anymore, that's totally fine. Just un-heart, absolutely no hard feelings.

Thanks for following, interacting, and otherwise being awesome.

Thank you to @bladesingerlily for tagging me! See Lily's astrology here!

Look at that! Eirael and I are both little fishy girls! (Raise your hand if you're surprised, haha.) Find your OC's birth info using this calculator!

Then, go here and enter your birth information...

click here for ula's!

grab the template [here]!

basics.

Name: Eirael Amastacia Gynvalethuril; Eirael Frostflow (Common) Background: God Touched Gender: Elf, currently femme Sexuality: Demisexual Pronouns: she/her; any

Thank you to @kt-catt for tagging me in both the Infodump and OC Template post (see here and here), as well as @eliwyntorleth (post) and @bladesingerlily (post) for including me as well! I love learning about all your OCs!

[grab the template here!]

basics.

Name: Ula Aspengrove Background: Outlander Gender: Fey Sexuality: Pansexual Pronouns: she/her; any