#〖 AESTHETIC: I FIND BEAUTY IN THE MOST COMMON DREAMS 〗

[missholland]

Farewell, a place once called home!

I was homebound this week for an illness recovery, and thought it was the perfect time to rewatch one of my ultimate comfort shows: The Untamed.

Some people watch stuff once. Some people religiously rewatch their favs because they discover something new each time. I'm certainly part of the latter clan, and I cannot believe I never wrote about Wei Wuxian (WWX)'s post-resurrection return to Lotus Pier before.

The second half of episode 45 throughout episode 46 is quite a journey on its own right: the setting, the aesthetics, the dialogue, the emotional weight as one of the biggest secrets finally came to surface.

A very long rambling analysis ahead so bear with me!

Considering the latter half of episode 45 was mostly consumed with Si Si and Bi Cao exposing Jin Guangyao (JGY)'s dark past, there were only a couple of Lotus Pier moments that worth mentioning.

As WWX and Lan Wangji (LWJ) walked through the entrance of Lotus Pier, I was immediately taken back to what WWX said to LWJ in episode 6 when they were healing their injuries in the Cold Spring. WWX asked LWJ to come visit him in Lotus Pier one day, and I bet the circumstance they eventually found themselves in episode 45 was far from what WWX thought the visit would have been like.

Let's also take another step back to episode 34, where Jiang Cheng (JC) interrogated WWX. WWX admitted that he wanted to go back to Lotus Pier even in his dream, but at the time, he had probably given up all hopes of ever making that come true.

What else is there? His master and madam died, his disciple elder sister Yanli died, he got expelled from his own clan. It was virtually impossible to prepare WWX for the event of episode 45 where he actually got to walk into Lotus Pier again.

Let's now cruise into the main event - episode 46! Fed up with how the big clan meeting went following the revelation of JGY's wrongdoings, WWX and LWJ stepped away from the front room and made their way around Lotus Pier. They were likely just wandering around at the time, as their concentration was totally occupied with finding out who might be the mastermind trying to expose JGY. Then again, it might as well be WWX's muscle memory as they somehow ended up right in front of the ancestral hall.

Despite initial hesitation, WWX eventually decided to come in and paid respect to his Master, Madam and Yanli along with LWJ. It's not the first time we saw this incredibly tranquil and beautiful room. It really was WWX's most frequently visited room, whether it was being punished by Madam Yu (story apparently travelled all the way to Gusu) or having heartfelt conversation with Yanli. WWX telling LWJ his childhood stories inside the ancestral hall was probably the most mundane sequence during this whole ordeal, and a small moment of normality for WWX before our resident killjoy JC walked in.

Yes JC, we know it's your house but surely yelling in the middle of the ancestral hall whether your family was resting in peace isn't a very good idea? Our WWX certainly didn't expect any less from all the unpleasantness coming out of JC's mouth, as since forever he only let his anger do the speaking and not the common sense. LWJ was ready to have a showdown, but WWX calmly told him to stand down and let it go.

But did JC let it go too? Of course not. He was irritated by WWX's calmness and tried to spill some more frustration to get the other to react. He clearly picked the right route to go down on by picking on LWJ and Wen Ning (WN). Worse, he proceeded to single out LWJ and insulted his commitment to WWX.

That prompted WWX to yell out JC's courtesy name Jiang Wanyin, a name we didn't hear very often throughout the show but in this instance it was most memorable, especially coming from WWX. That itself drew a clear boundary in their relationship at that moment, from brothers to mere acquaintances in the cultivation world.

WWX wasn't afraid to ask a proud JC to apologise, but all JC was gonna do is pushing the button even more. He took a very personal swipe at their confidant/soulmate-ship that led WWX to, quite uncharacteristically, violently held JC's collar.

Our dearest is giving JC what he wants! Although to be perfect honest, I thought it was quite hilarious that JC for whatever reason was confident he could take on both of them. WWX possibly since he wasn't at his finest during that moment, but prime LWJ though...?

Thankfully, WWX looked up and saw Yanli's name. He knew very well it would break Yanli's heart seeing the two of them like this. He's gotta be the bigger person (and fair enough, he's already knackered from being the lure flag for the puppets). As our beloved couple once again tried to leave in peace, JC decided to make it as hard as possible for them. Here he is, triggering LWJ's angry lover protector mode.

I love the swift but determined arm push LWJ did to JC a second after this to get him off WWX, then right away his expression transitioned back into anxious lover worrier mode. LWJ didn't even give JC a second look. He promptly escorted WWX away but was still super alerted to give JC a good old Piss Off for STILL ONCE AGAIN not letting it go.

Let's take a moment to admire this bittersweet yet romantically charged frame before getting the tearfest started.

Now, our sweet baby WN just flew in with WWX's Suibian sword, got a couple of hits from JC's Zidian but was still determined to stand tall and asked JC to unseathe Suibian. JC was angry and confused, LWJ was probably also angry and confused, WWX has fainted, so now WN is the only sane one and the voice of reason. His cold lack of reaction (because he wasn't surprised at all) placing next to a shocked pikachu LWJ and confusingly mortified JC was the perfect comparison.

LWJ's face tells me that as soon as he saw JC taking out Suibian, he was already somewhat fearing the reason behind it. He hasn't quite reached the destination yet, but he was on the way. After all, he's one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable characters in the story thanks to his sect's education. His eyes made it look like he was holding on a tiny glimpse of hope that maybe it's not true, maybe it's not the worst case scenario, but it was certainly mixed with fear that it might be.

It's very different from JC who's just completely out of the loop, no hint of any possibility that he might be able to work out what happened. If WN wasn't there to SPELL IT OUT, JC would just remain angry and confused for the rest of the episode.

As JC is still in deep denial, and WN precisely recounted the event on the mountain in great details where JC was tricked to go find Baoshan Wanderer who could fix his core, LWJ only had eyes on WWX. His ears were listening to everything WN said too, but his focus was on WWX while he did his own reflection on how he reacted to WWX abandoning swordsmanship in the past (the same way JC did).

All the burning questions LWJ had inside his head - why WWX no longer carried Suibian, why he made all these excuses to not get back into practicing swords, why he took on crafty tricks, why he had a change in personality and demeanour, why he behaved so strangely after getting Suibian back - they are finally answered. But in the most unimaginably painful and heartbreaking way. LWJ's trembling face and tears scream PAIN, the pain you feel when you know someone you love is in pain, but you are also aware that whatever you feel is only 1/10000 of their actual suffering.

Pain and anger come together time to time, and LWJ has heard enough. He just wanted to get WWX out of here, out of this hell of a truth. He made his feeling known by stamping Bichen loudly on the ground and took WWX away, once and all.

Our baby WN really shined here. He wrapped up this dreadful revelation by daring JC to find anyone who can unsheathe Suibian, but not before hitting him with possibly the last thing any human being as competitive and eager to win like JC wanted to hear - did you know you were supposed to beneath your disciple older brother forever?

WN kept his head down and let out a sigh. He knew he shouldn't have done it since he promised WWX, but that was as much as he knew he had to do so. His guilt toward WWX was starting to hit him, but it was also obvious that a huge burden has been lifted off his shoulders.

We're now getting to the end of WWX's unexpectedly eventful return to Lotus Pier. Without JC's unreasonable pot-stirring screaming, we're finally given a lovely shot of Lotus lake at night with LWJ ensuring WWX's body not leaving his caring touch. I don't think we've had a proper conversation between LWJ and WN up to this point, and what makes it so special is that it's a genuine exchange between the only 2 people left who deeply care about WWX - a lonely anti-hero who's been walking alone on his deeply misunderstood journey for so long that it lasted through 2 lives.

Sweet WN also thanked LWJ for taking care of A Yuan and we got to learn about how LWJ managed to save A Yuan back then. It was sad but heartwarming knowing that WN was content with not disclosing A Yuan's past to him, as he's had a happy childhood and blessed life thanks to LWJ. Although, he acknowledges that eventually A Yuan would find out, just like JC did about his golden core.

Now as the conversation circled back to the golden core swap, LWJ asked WN a question that truly, you only ask when it's about someone you love. 'Is it painful?'. Not 'How did Wen Qing do it', but was it painful for WWX. What was the feeling he had, what was the pain he suffered, what was it like. It's not a sympathy question. It's something you want to know and empathise when your loved one goes through hard time. It's such a deeply specific and personal question, because when the person you love is in pain, you are too. You even want to feel it too, and LWJ is no stranger to that if we recall him leaving the same burn mark on his left chest as WWX had. Shame that this detail was never explained in the show.

As WN described:

'He should be sober enough to see the golden score which connects to the spiritual vein be separated from his body and feel the spiritual power die down little by little, until it is motionless and nothing can be felt'.

You can feel LWJ's pain peak as he was told WWX remained awake for 2 nights and 1 day with only 50% chance of success. As someone who deep down admires his soulmate's talent from a young age, what could be worse than having to hear that his other half had accepted to be mediocre for the rest of his life and never ascend to the top as he could have easily done?

Poor WWX regained conscious and realised where he was. Unsurprisingly, all of his Lotus Pier memories were tied with Yanli and he's overwhelmed by the image of her and flashback of their time together. What is home to WWX, the one who was trying his hardest to grow lotus somewhere as deadly as Burial Mounds? JC was his family, but not anymore. Yanli is no longer around, but till her death, she remained his family. She might have had married into Jin clan, but she embodied everything about Lotus Pier. Yanli is home. Yanli is Lotus Pier.

Seeing Yanli die at Nightless City was saying goodbye to the last person on earth who cared about WWX (or so he forgot about LWJ), which pushed him to giving up on his own life. So is Lotus Pier still home without Yanli? Is there even home without Yanli? WWX was barely treated like a proper guest at Lotus Pier. He was just someone who knew the way around, as home no longer hold the same meaning as it once did.

Lovely WWX was finally jolly again at the possibility of snacking on some tasty lotus seeds he must have missed dearly. Yet his little happiness was seemingly switched off by the rigid rule follower LWJ. If anything I was surprised that WWX agreed to give up the lotus seeds that quickly, of course not without sulking in disappointment.

But all of this only make the following moment even more glorious and poignant: the high and mighty LWJ who grew up obeying 3000 rules at Gusu Lan Sect literally picked a lotus with his own hand and give it to his soulmate, much to his shock and confusion.

At first I thought Well that's the least LWJ could do, has WWX not suffered enough, would a few (hundreds) lotus seeds matter that much. He's been in pain, he needs to be coddled and spoiled till the end of the world! So LWJ willing to break one tiny rule (tiny, comparing to all the others he broke because of WWX already) is a well deserved comfort that WWX needs.

But then it also hit me - it is an example of making compromise in a healthy relationship. WWX used to hold on to his wine and was willing to put up a fight for it, most of the time against LWJ himself. So why was it so easy to him to just have an awkward chuckle and drop the lotus seeds as LWJ didn't want to break a rule?

WWX compromised, as you would in a partnership. You don't have it your way all the time, you work together toward the same goal and there are times you're willing to put your partner's values above your own benefit. WWX, despite not fully happy about the decision, still agreed to give us the lotus as LWJ was uncomfortable. And in return, LWJ was okay with putting WWX's needs above his ingrained principle about 'stealing'. At the end of the day, it's not about winning or losing in a relationship. You win together and you lose together.

We really are spoiled with lotus romance in this episode!

But maybe... just maybe... LWJ doesn't know whether WWX would ever get a chance to return to Lotus Pier. Should this be the last ever opportunity, he would probably rather WWX's final memory of the visit not being JC's anger and resentment. In return, it is a rare carefree moment on Lotus lake, one his WWX's favourite places, eating lotus seeds with the only 2 people who still care so much about him and willing to go to the end of the world for him.

If this is meant to be a farewell to a place WWX once called home, while LWJ couldn't change the unfortunate circumstance that led to this challenging visit, he at least has done his best to give it a drama-free peaceful ending for the person he loves dearly.

[drconstellation]

Brazil and The Dream of Escape

I was delighted to find in the Xtras that the machine created to be used by Furfur to use to find out how many demons Shax could requisition for storming the bookshop was inspired by the movie Brazil. This is another nod to Monty Python member Terry Gilliam, who directed this film, and who almost directed the failed GO film in the 1990's.

I love this film. Always have. Yes, I was around when it came out in 1985. I'm that old. It's always been in my top 5 favourite films. And its totally relevant to Good Omens.

Brazil can be described as a dark dystopian story based on the novel 1984. It doesn't have a happy ending, but its funny, horrific, ludicrous, romantic and timelessly beautiful all at the same time. Its so iconic that when ever I see its influence in other productions its been unmistakable.

It stars Jonathan Pryce long before he was a James Bond villain or the head Sparrow in Game of Thrones, a comedic turn from Robert de Niro and a handful of other famous faces that you are bound to recognise, such Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm and Jim Broadbent.

Pryce, as Sam Lowry, lives in a world that is strictly controlled with paperwork that comes in multiple copies, where people are routinely arrested and tortured and a long running unexplained terrorist campaign sees bombs explode in the most random of places. Sam has dreams of a beautiful woman floating in the sky, and he is a sliver-armoured winged hero trying to rescue her. He eventually finds that she is real, and finds out her name through various means via his work and contacts. He tracks her down, but that is where it all starts to unravel as she is mixed up with an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.

Its easy to see the common themes and elements that run through the film with GO: the desire to run away and escape (that doesn't work,) a totalitarian authority controlling the masses, propaganda, piles of paperwork, an undercurrent of rebellion, torture and abuse, forbidden love between classes, a villain hidden in plain sight.

There is an art deco aesthetic to the film that also carries over to other films and shows it has influenced, and the busy work floor scene that stops on a dime to watch the tv show de jour while the boss isn't looking is one of the highlights of the film.

It was a reference of this that caught my eye in the Cohen Brothers modern fairy tale The Hudsucker Proxy, where they copied the busyness of the work floor for their mail room scenes, but also the art deco aesthetic. That's another film that is always in my top five films, and could go a round of comparisons with GO - its got time stoppage, an angel appearance and a near-godlike manipulator.

It also appears, surprisingly, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The casino at Canto Bight is Brazil inspired, in the way its introduced to us, its decor and the music. I know some people hate this film because of what they did to Luke, but I love it, the whole thing is just utterly gorgeous to look at.

And if you've watched any of Loki recently, since S2 of that show finished not long ago, you would also seen some influence from Brazil in the retro look.

I love the classic art deco style. my grandparents had an art deco house that I spent many of my childhood hours in. The style itself is a clean, unadorned look, and often is meant to give a look of movement, speed or strength. A classic example of this is the Bentley, of course, which comes from the height of the art deco era in the 1930's.

Hell is the other place we see the Brazil influence in GO, where is looks like it's constantly several decades behind the times, with overhead projectors and manual typewriters and odd looking not-quite steampunk contraptions.

Brazil is available to stream on Disney at the moment, if you'd like to take a look. I highly recommend it, its one of those influential films that once you know it, you see its long reach in the most unexpected places.

[centrally-unplanned]

I always find the 'semiotics' or symbolic language of media interesting from an evolutionary perspective. Recently online there was a bit of a discussion about run cycles in animation; a guide to running written by Hayao Miyazaki from back in 1980 for which we had the text due to its inclusion in collected-writings book Starting Point has been missing its original accompanying visuals for all this time. Someone (Rebekah Machemer) found and scanned those drawings so now we have the complete work:

Very cool stuff, and really great to recover any lost production media like this. In the essay itself Miyazaki gets a bit philosophical - why care about running animation at all?

Above all what is most important is what one wants to express through the act of running…Men of strong resolve, who are wearing heavy armor and carrying swords, should run in a way that weak extras cannot. The running of surging masses on fire with anger, the running of a child doing his best to hold back tears until he reaches his house, the running of a heroine who has forsaken everything but the desire to flee—being able to show wonderful ways of running, running that expresses the very act of living, the pulse of life, across the screen would give me enormous delight. I dream of someday coming across a work that requires that kind of running.

On the one hand this all resonates; make the character visual, express their identity through motion, etc. On the other hand...girl who runs like this? I don't run, like, at all! It's not a common occurence in my everyday life to see a single person running, and if I do it is 99% of the time someone working out. I am pretty sure when I do run its way less an expression of my Forsaken Herione vibes and instead an expression of my 12-hours-a-day-on-a-computer workout routine.

-How you think you look running

-How you actually look running

What I am not saying here is that Miyazaki is wrong or anything to care about running. Instead I am saying that when he discusses how beautiful the act-of-running is, that is only partially coming from observing reality; it primarily comes from animation as a medium. Animation's value-add is the art-in-motion, you want the screen to be expressing itself to the audience through movement. You as an audience member want to see the animator themselves express their own aesthetic to you through that movement. There are a million ways to make that happen but running is one of the strongest; its character focused, universally applicable, common *enough* that you know what it looks like, you can make it diegetic to a climax if the plot demands it, etc. It makes sense for animation to utilize it, and it does - more than just animation, film all over does! It's a universally common symbol in the language of film with decades of meaning built into it.

But that meaning does not first come from real life, it comes from those demands of film-as-a-medium. In all likelihood no one has ever emoted a climactic meaning to you while running, or after running, you don't have a frame of reference for that. When you, as a viewer, are emotionally moved by the act of running, you feel that because film as a medium taught you to feel that. Compare it to how animation/film often focuses on the eyes and mouth for expressing emotion - that is not an invention of film, that is how real human beings communicate, when talking to a person you focus primarily on their eyes and mouth. The semiotics of film's language around eyes is built primarily from real life, which is much less true for running.

What is cool is how much of a semiotics of running animation has been built up given its origin within the demands of the medium. Miyazaki had a hot take and a desire to see artists push the craft as early as 1980; since then I can think of hundreds of running cycles artists have put their own touch on. I think of these as real Artist moments - it is something that the craft leads you to that you become obsessed with perfecting, existing for its own sake, something that interplays between observation and pure creativity. I can see these scenes now outside their own story, as the use and evolution of language. Which is neat!

[nickeverdeen]

Hi! I didn't see anything saying you weren't taking match ups, so I was wondering if you would make me a harry potter match up!

I'm a demifem, they/her, I'm a lesbian, intp. I'm very emotional, thinking about becoming a therapist. I don't cry a lot, but I get teary eyed from time to time. I talk to myself alot. like, ALOT.

music is a big part of my life, I like Alice Pheobe Lou, Clairo, Girl in Red, and Dreamer Isioma. I love oldies, (Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Lesley Gore) listen to most music, depending on my mood.

I wear Gremlincore[cottagecore but grunge, worms, mushrooms, bones], dark academia, chaotic academia, or outfits inspired by the 1920s-1970s. I have brown fluffy hair, layered pixie thing with bangs. I'm plus size, and 5'3, but wear old doc martens and boots.

I love nature, and make art. I do leather and wood pyrography, beadwork, and watercolor the most. I love moomin (fave: smufkin), Harry potter, studio ghibli(howls moving castle). I spend most of my money at estate sales and local resale stores.

I'm not super comfortable with touch, except for my partner. my romantic love languages are touch, words of affection, and time. my favorite plant is mossy weeping willows. I also love reading fantasy, mystery, and mythology(Celtic, Asian, Gaelic)

Your Harry Potter match is…

Luna Lovegood

Luna would love taking you on quiet walks through the Forbidden Forest or the Hogwarts grounds, pointing out magical creatures and plants

You both share a deep connection to the natural world, and she appreciates your knowledge of different plants, especially your love for mossy weeping willows

Luna would be fascinated by your leather and wood pyrography and beadwork

Luna would adore your Gremlincore and dark academia style, often borrowing elements from your wardrobe or gifting you odd trinkets she finds, thinking they’d suit your aesthetic perfectly

She might even introduce you to some of her eccentric accessories

Despite her usual dreamy demeanor, Luna has a way of understanding and supporting your emotions

When you're feeling down or teary-eyed, she offers a comforting presence, knowing just when to speak and when to let the silence heal

Luna enjoys your diverse music taste, especially when you introduce her to oldies like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Sometimes, you both sit by the fireplace in the Ravenclaw common room, listening to music together, with Luna occasionally humming along

Estate sales and resale stores are your shared paradise

Luna has an eye for unusual and unique items, and she loves how you can transform old finds into something beautiful through your art

Luna would join you in reading fantasy, mystery, and mythology books

She’s especially intrigued by mythology, often drawing parallels between ancient myths and magical creatures

You both spend hours lost in books, sharing theories and insights

Luna understands your discomfort with touch around others but loves how you seek out her embrace

Whether it's holding hands, resting your head on her shoulder, or gentle caresses, Luna cherishes these moments of connection with you

"Howl’s Moving Castle" would be a favorite film for both of you

Luna loves the whimsical nature of the Studio Ghibli world, and you bond over the beauty and depth of the films

She often compares you to Howl, seeing a kindred spirit in your creativity and depth

Luna encourages you to pursue your goal of becoming a therapist, often reminding you of your natural empathy and ability to understand others

You and Luna often talk late into the night, discussing your day, your dreams, or just random thoughts

Luna loves planning impromptu picnics for the two of you, often in secluded spots like near a hidden grove of willow trees or a quiet corner of the Hogwarts grounds

She packs quirky snacks and brings along some of her odd trinkets to show you

Luna is fiercely protective of you in her own gentle way

She doesn’t let anyone dismiss your emotions or belittle your thoughts

While she might seem aloof, she’s quick to step in when someone tries to hurt you

Luna frequently whispers sweet nothings or words of affection when you're together, especially when you're in your shared bubble of comfort

Luna would love to help you care for a small collection of magical plants, perhaps even finding some magical moss for you to add to your favorite plant collection

Luna loves watching you do pyrography, often fascinated by the intricate designs you create

Christmas with Luna is always magical

She’s as enthusiastic about the holiday as you are, often crafting homemade decorations and filling the air with a sense of wonder and joy

You two create your own little world during the holiday season, complete with traditions that are uniquely yours

Luna absolutely loves your fondness for Moomin, especially Snufkin

Luna loves your adventurous spirit and is always eager to join you in exploring new places

Whether it's wandering through the woods or discovering hidden corners of Hogwarts, every journey with you feels like a magical adventure

You and Luna find comfort in shared silences, often sitting together without the need for words

Whether you’re both engrossed in a book or simply enjoying each other’s presence, the silence between you is never awkward but filled with unspoken understanding

Your artistic talents inspire Luna in her own way, and she often weaves stories or creates little charms based on the designs you make

You both feed off each other’s creativity, making your bond even stronger and more magical

[vannahfanfics]

I am a Demi-girl who is Queer and I have adhd, dyslexia, austism, and anxiety so I can be kind of scatter brained, I’m shy at first but once I warm up good luck getting me shut up! my hobbies are reading, knitting/crotchet, video games, and learning new things. I currently have a my dream job which is working at a public library (I work in the teen department) so I get a lot of time read. I am fan of most generas but I really like horror, adventure, and mystery.

Hi, sorry for the delay in completing your commissions! I am on a pretty rough residency block right now where I am working 12-14-hour shifts most days, with only four days off in a twenty-eight-day block. :') But, I finally managed to find some time and energy to work on these! Thank you very much for your patience, and I hope they were worth the wait! :) Your second commission will be soon to follow~

I match you with...

Sanji from One Piece!

Ah, Sanji—one of my first manga/anime loves ever! I'm therefore a little biased toward him, but I have good reasons to say that you two would fit well together. :) So, let's dive in, shall we?

We all know that Sanji gravitates towards women, so all you'd have to do is appear in his general vicinity for him to take notice of you, LOL... But what makes you catch his eye in particular? First, I think he would find your personality utterly adorable. He'd be charmed by your scatterbrained tendencies, finding it a refreshing contrast to the rather collected Straw Hat ladies, Nami and Robin... All your flustering about would give him plenty of opportunities to lend a helping hand, and he'd feel so fulfilled by that. Nothing brings him more joy than being of service, especially to a lovely lady! He'd also adore how you're shy at first but gradually get more bubbly and outgoing as you open up to him. He'll feel so gratified, knowing that you've chosen to bare your true self to him because you feel safe and comfortable in his presence. Such knowledge would allow him to let his walls down, in turn, until you two are as close-knit as could be. :)

We all know the Straw Hats are some of the silliest pirates on the Grand Line, for better or for worse. Though Sanji is one of the more serious of the crew, he's still one who can unleash his inner goofball on a regular basis. So he'll appreciate your silly, childish side! I think the thing he would find most cute about that side of you is your tendency to talk to yourself. Just the unconscious way you babble to yourself without even realizing it sometimes makes him grin from ear to ear. He'll also very much appreciate your commitment to making others smile. That's a Straw Hat must, but also, Sanji also loves to make people smile in his own way—filling their bellies with good food! The way you want to share the simple beauties of life and the things that compel you with the people you care about in order to brighten their lives just resonates with him, and that draws him to you in a way he's not drawn to anyone else.

I think Sanji would also enjoy your inquisitive, adventurous spirit. After all, he's an adventurous spirit himself! He can't help but find your unquenchable thirst for knowledge and stories infectious, to the point that he'll start seeking out things to learn and read just to understand what captivates you so—or, at the very least, have an excuse to readily engage in your hobbies with you. Even if it doesn't grip him with the same intensity it grips you, it won't stop him from curling up beside you so both of you can dive into your respective books, as often as he can! He also finds your art history background so fascinating. He's a guy that can appreciate aesthetics! He'll just stare at you in dreamy-eyed adoration as you go on intellectual rant after intellectual rant about art, utterly captivated by your breadth of knowledge and your passion.

In summary, I think you and Sanji have more in common than one can see at first glance, and that will lead to the two of you gravitating toward one another and connecting to each other in a meaningful way. <3

Switching gears, let's talk headcanons! You made a little note about indulging in some drinking from time to time. I feel like this little detail about you would actually play a pretty big role in your relationship! Sanji is a chef, after all, and he'll hone into any facet of your life that involves food and drink. I think he'd take your occasional enjoyment of alcohol as a means of doting on you. :)

Sanji prides himself as a man of the kitchen, and that isn't limited to just food. He also knows his way around alcohol, to the point that he could be a bartender in his own right. When he hears that you like to indulge in some drinks on a day off or when you're out on the town, he files that information away for later use.

Whatever you like to drink, Sanji will start having it on hand for those days when you're able to relax and not have to worry about work. It'll start off as just something nice he can do for you, getting you a drink so you don't have to get up and prepare it yourself.

Soon, though, Sanji's culinary creativity will start to itch, and he'll wonder how he can make it more special for you. He'll begin to experiment, finding various ways to dress up those drinks for you. He'll take careful note of what you seem to really like, incorporate that for further use, and find ways to improve upon it. He just can't help it. He's a chef, and chefs ever strive to push the limits of their ability!

It's a simple thing, Sanji pouring himself into making drinks for you every now and then, but it's really just a testament to how much he adores you. If he can make you smile with something he crafted with his own two hands from nothing but a bunch of inert ingredients, then he'll get a rush unlike anything else. Nothing brings him more joy than someone he cherishes enjoying his food and drink. :)

Now, for the final part of your match-up, I wanna touch back on your love of sharing things you love with others, particularly stories. It's something that Sanji will reciprocate. If that's the way you express your love, then he wants to express it in the same way so you can hopefully understand just how much he means to you. :) It's not hard, since he's really a gift-giving, quality time, and acts of service kinda guy. Here's a scenario to that end!:

"Wowww..."

You sigh in reverence as you snap your book shut, having just read its final words. You turn it over in your hands to just stare in awe at the cover, basking in the feelings of satisfaction and closure brought about by the masterful conclusion of the story that you'd been absorbed in for the better part of the day. Yet, for all your gratification, you are also sad. It had always been a bittersweet thing to you, reaching a story's end; you could never relive the experience of reading a book for the first time, and once it was over, you were always left with a persistent hunger for more that could never quite be satiated. Even if you had a new story to become engrossed in right at your fingertips, the one you had just finished lingered in the back of your mind for several days, occupying your idle thoughts.

"Still, all good stories must come to an end someday," you remind yourself with a wry smile as you rise to place your newly-finished book among all the rest on your bookshelf. A towering testament to your love of tales, it spanned the entire wall of your bedroom and was stuffed to the brim with books of all subjects and genres. Already itching to fall into the realm of fantasy, you scan the spines before you. However, nothing jumps out at you; not even your well-read favorites seem like they will quell your rapidly rising appetite for the written word, and you sigh in vexation. The book you'd just finished was the last of your new stock. You had landed yourself in a bookworm's greatest pickle.

Should I just read something I haven't read in a while? Or should I go out and buy some more...? you wonder, idly tugging at the spine of one of your childhood favorites before shoving it back into place. Paralyzed by indecision, you hopelessly scan the entirety of your bookshelf several times over before you are interrupted by an excited knock on the half-open door. You turn to see your beloved boyfriend, Sanji, smiling broadly as he pushes the door fully open with one hand while concealing something behind his back with the other.

"Oh, you've finished your book! What good timing!" he exclaims, his grin widening. "I've got a gift for you, my love~"

Sensing that Sanji has come bearing a solution to your dilemma, you immediately perk up, your eyes honing in on the arm held behind his back.

"A gift?" you echo excitedly, shuffling in place as anticipation and impatience overtake you. "What kind of gift?" you ask, though you very much know the answer already.

"Well, while I was out shopping, I happened to pass that bookstore you really like..." Sanji starts, motioning for you to take your place back in your reading chair as he approaches.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh," you urge while you scurry to follow his directions. You all but throw yourself in your chair, only to sit eagerly up on your knees and hold onto the armrest as you squirm restlessly at Sanji's agonizingly slow and dramatic reveal.

"I happened to look in the window and saw a book I thought you might like," he continues, chuckling at your childlike avidity.

"Let me see, let me see!" you plead. The theatrics are simply too much for you to handle; you need it, need to feel the firmness of a brand-new hardcover in your hands and smell the tantalizing musty scent of new pages wafting up your nose. "Please, Sanji, don't tease!"

Finally, he pulls his arm out from behind his back, revealing a gift bag. It is one you'd seen many, many times, as it was the signature gift bag from the aforementioned bookstore, and it never fails to fill you with giddiness and expectation. You immediately make grabby hands at it, prompting Sanji to chuckle once more as he obediently hands it over.

With all the ravenousness of a child tearing into a much-anticipated birthday present, you rip the tissue paper from the bag, yank your prize out from its depths, and toss the bag aside so you can focus on what is likely to be your newest obsession. Your eyes dilate like a cat's as you drink in the gorgeous illustrated cover, a rarity in these days of photographed models or simplistic symbolic designs. You marvel at the lovingly crafted details until your curiosity reaches a breaking point, compelling you to abandon your appreciation of the artwork to instead flip open the cover to read the summary printed on the dust cover's inner leaflet.

"Oooh... This is interesting..." you praise. As you suspect, the vibrant cover is accompanied by what looks like an equally vibrant tale of high fantasy. Though you are itching to dive right in, you do in fact recall that this was a present—and it was customary to offer thanks for such.

"Thank you, Sanji!" you squeal, dropping the book in your lap so you can throw your arms out in invitation for a hug. "This is just what I needed! You've made my day!"

"Really? I'm glad, darling!" Sanji beams, stooping down to return your embrace. He then squawks in surprise when you tug on his shoulders, scooching to the edge of your chair so you can manhandle him into squeezing in beside you. "M-my love, what are you—?"

"Read with me!" you bleat, and, without waiting for his response, wiggle into a comfortable position so you can prop up the book and get started.

Sanji soon recovers from his momentary shock, his rigid body melting as understanding dawns on him. As you snuggle into him, he shifts slightly until you are both resting comfortably in the chair, then winds his arms around you and props his head against yours so he can have a good view of the book. The two of you fall into a contented silence as you plunge together into the world inked within the crisp off-white pages, embarking on a journey into the unknown, hand-in-hand...

Oooh, you are so excited!

Interested in a commission? Check out this post!

[i-did-not-mean-to]

A real beaut'

Dear @fishing4stars, here is your story about a really ugly ship.

As evidenced by a discussion with Shadow on the server, Círdan is one of the only characters I consistently write Gen stories for.

So, hooray for love that is neither romantic nor sexual in nature.

Words: 1k

Characters: Círdan

Prompt: Seaside (and an ugly ship)

Warnings: A very ugly ship

At first, Círdan had taken immense pleasure and pride in the construction of ships that were not only uniquely suited to the difficult crossing they would have to brave but also breathtakingly beautiful to behold.

Through the ages, he had perfected his techniques, managing to create ever more elaborate and stunning vessels while keeping to a reasonable and steady rhythm.

Yes, he was justly proud of the fruits of his personal development and lovingly executed labour.

Unfortunately, he was not spared the terrible realisation that befell most quasi-immortal beings: after a certain point, the inevitable stagnation raced the just as inexorable boredom to the finish line that would determine which one would ultimately destroy a dream and enterprise so consistently and faithfully pursued through the years.

Moreover, fewer and fewer elves arrived at the Havens to be granted passage into the West—Círdan could only surmise that almost all who wanted to leave had already done so.

All that was left for him to do was to wait endlessly for those who were still holding out for an improbable miracle or who did not let haste and common sense overrule their obscene desire to witness the tragedies and heroics of this declining age.

Torn between his sense of duty and his dismay with both his plateauing skills and the tardiness of his people, Círdan spent long days musing about the matter of shipbuilding with all the intense focus and harried sadness proper to one so old.

"Well," an elf who passed by the now quiet and dark workshop almost every day joked, "why don't you make it a really ugly ship? Challenge yourself and your well-honed skills and tastes, why won't you?"

"Ugly?" The mere idea of wilfully, consciously creating something aesthetically displeasing jolted the old shipwright wide awake in an instant.

As ludicrous as the idea sounded at first, he could not deny that there was a strange but enchanting draw to the very concept.

All his life, he had abided by the rules—patiently bearing the brunt of others' mistakes without so much as complaining—and he had never dared even consider deviating from what was strictly expected and needed from him in the name of frivolous pleasure and wicked humour.

"I shall try," he agreed and gave the passer-by a friendly nod.

As he walked along the murmuring sea, he found that he could not put this new project out of his mind.

Of course, he would hold off on depriving any willing soul of a vessel for as long as he could, but, secretly, he had to concede that it would be well-deserved if these dilly-dalliers arrived on the Blessed Shores on a ship so misshapen and unlovely that the Valar themselves would be shaken out of their peaceful stupor by the incongruous cacophony of shapes and colours.

Thus, finding no rest in any other activity, Círdan set out to find the most mottled of trees for his planks.

Throughout his more than respectable lifespan, he had known many a people and had been granted the honour of becoming intimately familiar with their visions of beauty.

Ever ambitious and dutiful in his craft, Círdan consequently decided to cobble together the most despicable and appalling elements he could think of in hopes of creating a proper eyesore.

Drawing from the sheer endless inspiration of his long life, he paid homage to friends and foes by going against every rule—written and unwritten—that defined and decided loveliness.

As the sun wheeled its way across the sky through endless days of labour, he toiled relentlessly, warping the mottled, irregularly grained wood into grotesque shapes and splashing garish paints haphazardly on boldly exposed structural elements.

Often, he was found laughing raucously to himself—as unlikely as it had seemed at the outset, Círdan felt his love for his craft revived and his own soul reinvigorated by this absurd contraption that soon grew to positively obscene dimensions and made him happier than many a gorgeous vessel he had made before.

When he finally stepped back to admire his handiwork, he had to suppress a shiver of delighted distaste—truly, he thought, this ship was a testament to his skill as much as to his bravery. It was absolutely hideous.

“Unusual style,” a young apprentice declared upon glimpsing the monstrosity. He cocked his head in earnest interest and let his hand travel along the hull slowly. “It must have been so hard to get the right fit. I surmise that she can make the crossing?”

Círdan frowned in vexation. He was a shipwright, not an artist and—no matter what challenge he had taken on within his mind—he would never have created something that would not fulfil its primary function excellently.

“A true masterpiece,” the lad exclaimed and went on inspecting the vessel eagerly. In his eyes shone a fierce love for both his craft and his master, and so Círdan could hardly resent him for having completely missed the point of this enterprise.

Círdan was, naturally, sincerely taken aback by that reaction—thus far, he had been well pleased with his shockingly unpleasing work but now, he started to doubt himself. Had he lost touch with the tastes and predilections of the times so utterly that he had been indeed mistaken in his conception of ugliness?

Moreover, the group of elves arriving at the Havens to cross the ocean never to return displayed a similar level of unprejudiced awe. Dazed, Círdan felt his hand being grasped and shaken vigorously in congratulation for his daring and innovative creation.

Sitting by the ocean, his feet in the water, Círdan watched his experiment drift out onto the open sea—she moved beautifully, as expected, because every incongruent piece had been hand-fitted into a clashing kaleidoscope of ill-assorted but meticulously balanced efficiency.

Despite all his ambitions, the ship was loved by its passengers.

Closing his eyes as he leaned back against the warm sand, Círdan decided that—one way or another—he would take this as a win.

@fellowshipofthefics Here's number 4/5 for this week.

I love the server, I love the prompts, and - of course - I truly love y'all!

This is entirely dedicated to the FOTFICS server and the brilliant people in it!

Lots of love

[holygroundgone]

2ha Plushie Review and Preorder Speculation

I'll be judging all the 2ha plushies that I am aware of by several different metrics: Face, Body (referring to shape and design of nipples/symbols), Clothes, Overall Aesthetic and Availability (as of 3/10/2024) My judgements in these other than availability will of course be subjective and graded along my own tastes and preferences, listed in no particular order:

Omodoki 0.5 20CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (body embroidery unknown) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (Zero paws out of five)

Starting off with my white whale, my unattainable first love, beloved moonlight dazzling beauty and perfection...

Omodoki 20cm Taxian-Jun plushie in his full glory, with husky ears and his mian guan and elegant shoulder pads and most importantly (in my heart) golden haitang pin from his initial manhua design. His impetuous and insouciantly fanged childish expression is charming and precious, wielding the immense and unavoidable charisma of the emperor of the two realms, he is truly perfect in all ways.

I mean no offense to the omodoki 20cm Chu Wanning that is his counterpart, the headpiece, hair and clothes are all good, face shape is also good, but in my heart I want to see CWN with golden eyes, so my interest is diminished.

Unfortunately, demand for these is high and supply is low. I have searched many sites in states of unattractive desperation- just about every permutation of carousell, taobao, mercari (US and japan), reddit, discord servers, individually messaging danmei merch sellers..... I have suffered buying him on aliexpress only to be told that he was given a wrong address... and would be Destroyed by the post office. In a fit of rage and tears I went to the post office at my soonest possible hour only to find the seller had sent an empty slip of plastic (scam). This post is also a call for help. If you own him I will spend many dollars and also my soul to possess dear precious sweet Taxian-Jun. I will write you anything you want, draw anything you want, give up my dignity to see him in person with my own eyes 🙇

As of right now, if you want to own these plushies, give up all hope and dream for a reprint.

Omodoki Wedding 20CM

(not pictured- CWN's wedding veil)

Similar to the 0.5 dolls, the wedding dolls are similarly difficult to find in terms of availability, though I have not seen as much hunger and desire to own them from others and myself.

The clothes and headpieces are quite nice, however in my eyes the faces leave something to be desired. I'm even less invested in blue eyes Chu Wanning (though from a canonical standpoint wherein the only description I remember is black, blue as a common and iconic portrayal of white cats makes sense. However I repeat that golden eyes Chu Wanning is my favorite, mirroring Tianwen and the color of his spiritual constructs as well as being a perfect complementary color to Mo Ran's purple) and Mo Ran's eyes are also looking somewhat on the blue side as well.

These dolls lack charisma.

Face:🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (body embroidery unknown) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾 🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (Zero paws out of five)

Midsummer Night 20CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I actually own these- excellent clothes, excellent clothes and accessories (if you buy both you get the collar and leash!) excellent concept... To me they are perfect. Charming expressions, charming faces, hair embroidery...

The clothes are very high quality and come with wonderful details such as Mo Ran's clothes resembling a maid uniform decked out in cute little bells that jingle- provocative and inspiring of what might cause such bells to jingle raucously. It's peak boytoy outfit hours, giving the sense that the designer was intricately fantasizing about the midsummer night's dream in question as they designed it.

The body embroidery is exquisite-

Nipples AND intricate and gorgeous flower womb tattoos? Sign me up, brother. But they also come with a secret:

Their cute little plush butts bear the pawprint of the other's color. Truly the most intimate and erotic plush dolls that have been made yet.

And the best news? They're incredibly available right now as far as I know- ebay, aliexpress, anime/danmei goods online stores. Grab them now before they're gone!!

The only reason I can imagine to not buy them is that you're not into the bdsm subby Mo Ran vibe going on here, to which I say... Buddy, whose midsummer night's dream do you think this is?

That being said, they're not necessarily representationally perfect in terms of portraying the characters in terms of wearing more modern clothes that aren't the same as outfits from the novel. Also, I think I saw something implying that they're meant to be 2.0, and if that's the case Mo Ran is just as milk pale as Chu Wanning, which is mid from that direction.

For fun, I put him in a maid dress 💖

MOFANS 20CM

Face:🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (body embroidery unknown) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Taking a bit of a dive... I'm not certain if these dolls are more available due to possibly still being in print (mofans seems to reprint more often/better availability than omodoki) or if they're just not particularly popular.

I'm not a fan of them myself- this type of hair in particular is incredibly unattractive to me, though someone might enjoy brushing it (?) The faces aren't horrible, though Chu Wanning's pout is a little awkward. Not particularly charismatic.

I grant extra points to the clothes for having two separate outfits available- basic brocade robes and the more done up robes in the picture, complete with cute little cat purse for Chu Wanning. However, especially in comparison to the omodoki 20cm 0.5 outfit for Mo Ran, his outfit here leaves something to be desired, especially in absence of his mian guan.

If you like them, go ahead and get them, they're available in most places, even on mercari last I checked, but personally I have no interest in adding them to my collection.

(I don't know the source) 20CM

Face:🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Similar to the last dolls, these can be found fairly easily. However... Why would you want to? Sold at roughly the same price as the above dolls, the quality is just not there. Cheap looking clothes, cheap looking but admittedly fluffy looking hair, and while Chu Wanning's face is passable Mo Ran is an uncomfortable abomination.

If there's one thing I can praise, it's that they apparently have little butt marks-

and normal heart nipples and paws on hands and feet, but it's just not nearly as endearing as the midsummer night dolls' body embroidery.

Plush Wonderland 20CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Just recently becoming available with full photo proofs, the plush wonderland dolls are ones I ordered but haven't received yet!

I'm being somewhat strict on clothes, first of all, because these are not clothes that were designed for the ranwan dolls, rather I believe they are clothes available on taobao and made by cosmile? Not fully certain, but it's clear that the effort hasn't been put in in that regard, so I'm somewhat disappointed, especially having bought the clothes before having seen them. I'll definitely be spending more money on aliexpress looking for suitable clothes for them...

Furthermore, when it comes to the body embroidery...

I'm not a fan of the weird and incongruous animal symbols. No nipples? No belly button? I feel like it'll look weird if they're in outfits that show the chest. However, the paws are good, uniformly pink.

With my criticisms aside, the other particulars of these dolls are excellent. The hair embroidery in particular is some of my favorite, especially for CWN. The faces are adorable and lovely, the little sparkles in their eyes are very precious, good charisma. Mo-Zongshi having a slightly tanner skin tone is good! And the fact that you can get all three is absolutely everything to me, unbelievably satisfying and pleasing, thank you for giving me life.

And when it comes to availability, they're available right now! In addition, I don't know how Plush Wonderland is when it comes to reprinting, but I have a feeling that these will be some of the most readily available ranwan plushies yet. And can you really beat that with the price they're at? You can even buy them with skeletons included.

(unknown) 20CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾 (projected) Body: 🐾🐾🐾 (projected) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 (projected) Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 (projected) Availability: (preorder)

Only just recently becoming put up for preorder on taobao and aliexpress as a design without proofs, it's difficult to foresee how they'll look without said proofs. However, the design is certainly appealing! A point deducted from face for Chu Wanning's face lacking character, though the gentleness might be enjoyed by some.

Also, I prefer nipples instead of these chest symbol type designs. It remains to be seen!

Kadokawa 20CM(?)

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: (body embroidery unknown) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (0 paws out of 5)

So unavailable I can barely even find information on them from googling, I have the luck of having bought them through japanese mercari (they're still in a warehouse waiting to come home🥹)

They gain an extra point in clothes despite the basic outfits looking just a little cheap because these dolls also had available fluffy kitty and husky outfits with little purses!!! come on!!!

I'm ambivalent towards CWN's black eyes here, however his expression and everything going on with Mo Ran's face are so adorable with their little eyelashes that it doesn't even matter.

Despite being listed as 20cm, they look smaller than the 20cms I've seen in person, which is not a problem for me but should be noted regardless

Omodoki 13CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: (body embroidery unknown) Clothes:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (0 paws out of 5)

Another omodoki plushie that cannot be found outside of split second secondhand purchases... 🥹

10cm (and adjacent sizes) hold a special place in my heart for their extra cuteness due to being smaller than the 20cms. These in particular have very cute faces, though the blue eyes Wanning is certainly a drawback for me.

MOFANS 10CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Recently reprinted and available once again, these precious little babies can be yours! I recently bought my own and am planning to get them tiny little maid uniforms, as well as another little Mo Ran for non-display cuddling.

There are small details here and there that prevent them from being perfect in my mind- no paws on the feet, Wanning's hair making him look particularly unwanninglike, their silly little dudous (?) looking somewhat like diapers (offset by their adorable little cat and husky bibs) and now that I'm thinking about it mofans seems to portray cwn with a non haitang peonylike flower which is disharmonious... However, they're so cute that I can't hold it against them, the faces are particularly adorable.

They're soft, they're fluffy, they're sweet little babies.

Omodoki 10CM

Face:🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾 Availability: 🐾🐾🐾

With somewhat sporadic availability (though they seem to have restocked on Plush Wonderland), these tiny squishy little things had a glow up for me when I realized they didn't just have grey little bodies- those are dudous.

Rest assured- they have cute little plush butts. (photo from my boy waiting in the warehouse for his daddy to pay child support (shipping costs))

They're very simple in terms of face and body, which I wouldn't consider much of a plus or a minus however compared to other entries on here it feels somewhat lacking. In addition, it's blue eyes CWN, so personal deduction from me.

(unknown) 10CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (preorder)

A preorder available on aliexpress and taobao that just recently got a proof photo, these sweet little boys are adorable. The clothes are just little bibs, so there's not much to say there, and it's surprising to see a Mo Ran with a middling eye color compared to his Wanning counterpart- they look somewhat on the blue side, but I know I'll be preordering these when I have the money.

(unknown) 12CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (preorder)

Another taobao/aliexpress preorder, this time without proofs, I'm not the biggest fan of the (presumably) printed on little caped dumpling body type plushies as opposed to full bodied nude with clothes plushies, but the designs for these are cute enough for me to want to preorder.

@half_som 10CM

Face:🐾🐾🐾 Body: 🐾🐾🐾 Clothes:🐾🐾🐾 Overall Aesthetic:🐾🐾🐾🐾 Availability: (korean interest check)

Recently posted here for an interest check (the demand survey specifies that it's for domestic korean purposes and that there will be a US GO demand survey, however as far as I know there is no GO as of right now and so I'm planning on buying with a proxy service for now)

With very simple cute design, I'm the most excited and interested in getting all three CWN TXJ MZS together, especially pleased with MZS's tan skin.

[sho-minamimoto]

6 20 23 Sho

1 7 8 23 Shiba!

Sho

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

Hmm.... hard to say since Sho is just. completely batshit. I guess the easiest and most obvious answer would be that we're both artists and like to find beauty in aesthetically strange things. But I dont think i have a single thing in common with him personality wise LOL

20. Which other character is the ideal best friend for this character, the amount of screentime they share doesn't matter?

I think susukichi and sho have extremely similar temperaments + quirks and if they weren't on opposite sides of The Conflict they'd get along great. I said once before that Susukichi would be the Sho Minamimoto of NEO if sho literally wasn't also already in the game. Their vibes are super similar and they both want to have a fun time.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

This one marketing image from when the anime was airing is the funniest thing in the world to me. like. why the fuck is sho even here. he is in no way buddies with anyone in the hachiko gang (during this specific timeframe anyways) there is literally NO logical reason for him to be posed alongside this specific group of characters here. This image from sho's pov is just him + guy hes actively trying to kill + guy he's stalking only bc he's joined at the hip with the guy he's trying to kill + guy he met twice and beat the shit out of one of those times + 2 people he's never met or interacted with before ever. On a marketing level its clear they just wanted to include him with the main characters simply bc hes a super popular character among fans but it's makes for the most unintentionally hilarious image ever.

Shiba

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

First. he's extremely funny and dresses like a harlot. Second THE LAYERSSSS Shiba's primary motivation is like a puzzle that the narrative gives you all the pieces to and then invites you to solve. Not in that the game doesn't tell you what it is At All, it says as much that he's on a powertrip towards ascension, but it's difficult to wrap your head around Why until you deliberately examine and unravel each of his relationships with the other shinjuku reapers: how they affected him, what their side of the story is, why they're emotionally estranged but still sticking together, etc. I enjoy that you have to take the time to put it together yourself, but also the full picture you get once that puzzle is complete is one that i enjoy immensely. The fact that the core of shiba's plight is rooted in his relationships (or lack thereof) is very true to the spirit of twewy and I greatly appreciate that they applied all this to the game's main villain AND gave him a chance for redemption on top of it. His final scene is one of my favourites in the game and really sticks with me.

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

The memes. Shiba's so easy to meme on its great. I have a folder of shiba memes on my desktop whenever i see a new shitpost or edit i Have to save it. im glad he gets clowned on so hard. Shi Basuks Cok lives in my head rent free. I wish shiba's va did small comms like I've seen other voice actors do sometimes bc i would pay him money to hear him voice act that post as Shiba for real. But i can dream

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

I know i like Just finished talking abt how much i love the shiba memes but i also dislike how Majority of what i see of shiba is Just the memes and jokes. I wouldn't go as far as say i despise them at all (or i wouldn't have a folder of shiba memes) but I think its disappointing that i hardly see anyone actually take him seriously as a character or give him any consideration for analysis. Or not as much as I'd like to see, anyways (when i do see it it fucks hard though.) I also get the impression sometimes that some people take delight in the memes + clowning on shiba specifically bc they think he's just Not well written or interesting which bums me out a little.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

this clown shiba edit i made a yearish ago. i hold it close to my heart.

[docolives]

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND… OLIVIA ANN HARTMAN

we used to laugh / flora cash 🎧

blood & muscle / lissie 🎧

keep climbing / delta goodrem 🎧

livvy is … the quintessential horse girl, red-bottomed shoes, crisp white linens on body and beds, family dinners, a soft heart, a determination to move mountains, a glass of wine in a manicured hand, that single tear in the corner of a blue eye, ocean sunrises, a best friend and sister all in one.

There's something to be said about the siren call of horses. Of all of the things that Livvy and I might have in common, our love of those is the biggest, most tying thing. A lot of people who know me online probably don't know that I was the owner of a (retired) thoroughbred racehorse, which was a literal dream come true of mine. I grew up like a lot of kids, fantasizing about having my own horse. I read the Thoroughbred series religiously, wishing that I could be Ashleigh Griffen, I knew movies like Black Beauty and The Last Unicorn by heart, watched Spirit over and over again... and that's the biggest thing that Livvy has taken from me. My horse girl days heavily inspired Livvy and her personality. We also share a love of soft pinks and the sounds of the ocean. It's just that it's our love of horses that fuels is: me to play Livvy, and Livvy to make them her life.

In relation to my other characters, I would say that Livvy is my princess. She grew up in an old money type family that has been in Merrock for years and years. I took a lot of inspiration from that sort of aesthetic: a character who wears high end fashion with Louboutin heels, never goes out without diamonds in her ears, paints her nails, has a lip gloss in every nook or cranny she can find... but has that quiet intensity to her that can burn if you get a little too close. Where Nari is a woman who is loud and outspoken and laughs at everything she sees and radiates sunshine and rainbows, Livvy is the kind of woman who is one step ahead of you mentally and has already figured out the question before it's been asked... but with a smile on her face and a polite word for everyone she comes up against.

My friends also inspired Livvy! I so badly wanted to play a character that would have strong connections to my friends, since she was coming in later down the line -- she was the wife of a dear friend's character, and the sister of Erin's Mandy; because Emily and Claire were born to play siblings! Because of Livvy's connection with Mandy, family became a strong, grounding point of who Livvy was, because of her connection with Nathan, love became something she desperately sough out, but always seemed to be struggling to find. The face claim of Claire Holt did inspire some things in Livvy, too -- her sense of wit and humor, her love of fashion (Livvy very secretly did modeling gigs years ago as a gentle nod to Claire always joking about being a model).

Career-wife, I was torn between a pediatrician and a physical therapist or a veterinarian when creating Livvy; I knew that I wanted her to be someone who helped and healed others, and had original settled on pediatrician when I realized it would be easier to build connections with others in the same field... but instead wrote it into her (somewhat tragic) backstory of having a lover who lost a child when she was still a very young woman, herself. Ironically, I had chosen physical therapist around the time that I broke my foot and uh, had to consider doing that. It felt right! I actually don't like anything medical-related, which is why I'm slowly transitioning her away from working in offices, to working with horses. My desire to play a healer who makes lives good again is so much more achievable around the smell of leather and hay.

There was a sort of 'second round of inspiration' for Livvy that kicked in once she was once again a single woman figuring life out, which is when Livvy 2.0 was born. Girl boss Livvy. High standards Livvy. Love yourself Livvy. Her personality did change a little bit, in which she was no longer afraid to go after what she wanted and be who she wanted to be, instead of the princessy girl most people were intimidated to get to know and talk to. That inspiration, I took from who we all wish that we could be. Strong, independent women as beautiful inside as they are outside.

Livvy's personal life is, mostly, personal. Originally, she was supposed to fix her marriage and go on to have babies and live a happy life -- things don't always work out, and instead, she ended up filing for divorce. But the original inspiration was two people who had broken in every conceivable way, but were mending and fixing things day by day. These days, my inspiration for her love life is a girl who thinks she just wants to have fun and not care about relationships or connections, but deep down, is lonely at night. Not me, necessarily, but people of that age bracket who tell themselves they're fine, when really, they want more out of their lives. Friendship-wise, Livvy was inspired by those girls in high school who were popular with everyone: the cheerleaders, the math nerds, the choir girls, the witchy types... simply because she was kind to them, maybe a little quiet. That translated well into adulthood. And, of course, she's a cat person. I'm a cat person. If you guys haven't figured this out yet, you pretty much will in time.

Oh, and listening to a lot of music by women -- Livvy's playlist is one of those playlists that's like, 90% songs by women. It's hard not to be inspired by songs by women about heart break or standing tall, or figuring things out as they go.

[roses-and-lightnings]

5 Things You Never Get Tired of Writing

@lizzy0305  tagged me??? I’m IN TEARS! 😭😭

rules: list five things you never get tired of writing. it can be tropes, themes, characters, phrases, whatever brings you joy. then tag five people!

1) Self indulgence

I write a lot about myself and my own feelings, but aside from that, every single thing I write has to have a dash of me in it, otherwise it doesn’t work. I write based on my own features, my own personal experiences and tastes, my feelings and morals and vision and craziest dreams. I am guided by them. Anything else feels extremely outworldly.

In fanfic I’m a specialist in trying putting myself in someone else’s shoes, so my writing of a character that’s not mine will mostly be built on empathy and sympathy and common/canon knowledge about the character and their universe.

2) Details

Adding details is my way of telling how passionate I am about my writing. I like writing about scenarios, sounds and appearences. It’s important to me what’s my character sees, listen, touches, smells and tastes, how they move on the scenario that moves with them, what they know and learn about the world they live in, but mostly, I spend entire paragraphs nonstop writing about what’s in a character’s heart. How they feel, what they feel, their thoughts, how and why they act like they do, how their bodies react, their intentions, everything.

3) World building

It’s too fun to research and make the rules, or find something in canon that matches perfectly with how you intended to do your fiction (or change it entirely because of one misplaced thingy that feels odd). Things like “soul science” were invented, and a spell called Vitae Florere that literally blossoms life on those who are nearing death’s door.

4) Character lore

I may or may not have written the story, but man do I have a paper for each of my 87 original characters, listing their backstory, physical appearence, character development, personality, personal flaws, talents and hobbies, their sexual orientation, birthday, zodiac sign and astrology chart, their aesthetics, which season of the year they like most, which color and element I associate with them, their deepest, darkest secrets... it doesn’t matter if they only have a single sentence worth of screen time!!!

5) Dialogue

If I can’t make it writing the whole paragraph, or the rest of the story, I absolutely love the talking my characters do, just their lines and their speeches (man I love writing accents and archaism in speech), without a proper context. It can end on something deep, beautiful that holds a lot of meaning for the eventual context I am definetly GOING TO write haha

Or it can be something like:

(My character and her relatives walk into a bar)

“What would you like to eat?”

”Your mom.”

- Taken of an actual draft

I’m tagging @brightredsunset800, @icarus-aetius @luendland @danpuff-ao3 and @mrviran

[nicole14yolo]

Have You Ever Heard of an AI Beauty Pageant?--AI Girl Generator

The World’s First AI Beauty Pageant, WAICA, kicked off this April, attracting over 1,500 AI creators. Recently, the competition crowned its first-ever "Miss AI." The event drew global participation, with 1,500 AI beauties competing. Judging criteria included beauty, technical skills, and social media influence. The focus was on hands and eyes, common challenges in AI-generated images. Social media influence was assessed based on online following.

The winner received $5,000 (approx. 6.88 million KRW) and $15,000 (approx. 20.47 million KRW) in commercial benefits, earning the title of the world's first Miss AI.

Fanvue, the organizer of the inaugural Miss AI pageant, stated that the competition aims to expand AI’s influence and help creators monetize their content. Many contestants have indeed become internet celebrities, bringing economic benefits to their creators. Human beauty pageant winners have historically generated significant commercial returns for TV, film, advertising, and media industries. In today’s mobile internet era, even live-streaming someone sleeping can attract payments. So, what kind of business is it to create and manage an AI beauty queen?

Specific content of AI beauty pageant

Let's start with the technical aspects. The first criterion is the creator's proficiency with AIGC tools, including the effectiveness of prompts, output quality, and details like hands, eyes, and backgrounds. According to public reports, creators primarily use text-to-image models such as OpenAI (DALLE), Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. Additionally, they incorporate multimodal and voice models to give contestants conversational abilities. For instance, the winner, Kenza Layli, can interact with fans in seven languages on Instagram and TikTok.

Next is appearance. As in traditional beauty pageants, looks are extremely important. Most candidates for "Miss AI" are slim white women, with the top ten winners fitting conventional beauty stereotypes and having high realism. Some less successful entries, though adhering to the golden ratio, appear stiff, often triggering the "uncanny valley" effect.

Interestingly, the competition also adapted human pageant elements like posture, composure (personality), and speech (Q&A) for AI contestants. They were asked questions such as, "If you could have one dream to make the world a better place, what would it be?" Kenza Layli said her goal is to empower women in Morocco and the Middle East through artificial intelligence.

Finally, social media influence is evaluated. WAICA officials assess AI contestants' social media presence based on fan engagement and audience growth. Many AI contestants are managed by tech companies as commercial influencers. For example, Lu do Magalu from Brazil, a major Facebook influencer with millions of followers, appears in product reviews, promos, ads, and music videos, making her one of the most lucrative AIs globally. Kenza Layli, the winner, has over 200,000 followers on Instagram and works primarily as a life coach.

Who Profits from This Beauty Pageant?

The biggest difference between an AI beauty pageant and a human one is the distribution of benefits. Human beauty pageants are highly centralized and authoritative, with human expert judges holding the power and the hosting TV stations, platforms, and sponsors reaping significant commercial rewards, such as traffic and advertising revenue. In contrast, the direct beneficiaries of AI beauty pageants are the general creators. Why does this “benefit decentralization” occur? I believe it is due to three changes in the times:

Diverse Aesthetics

Public aesthetics are no longer confined to the single standard set by expert judges. With the widespread use of social media and short video platforms, people can easily find influencers who match their personal tastes. Traditional, centralized beauty pageants struggle to please everyone and have lost their authoritative appeal, often sparking controversy. AIGC's open and diverse generative capabilities can cater to various aesthetic preferences. For instance, AI contestants like the cool-girl Lil Miquela or ocean conservation advocate Anne Kerdi break stereotypes, signaling a shift toward a decentralized, personalized aesthetic era in beauty pageants and the entertainment industry as a whole.

Technological Democratization

Technological democratization is a prominent concept in the AI era. It aims to break the monopoly of technology by a few elites or giants, lowering the barriers to access tools, platforms, and resources so more people can participate in developing and using new technologies. Large models and AIGC have ushered in an unprecedented era of "technological democratization," significantly lowering the creativity threshold. Whether or not someone has professional skills in painting or video editing, they can use large models and AIGC tools to bring their ideas to life simply by writing prompts and speaking natural language. For example, the text-to-image and text-to-video tools used by WAICA contestants allow individuals and small teams to create "AI influencers" at a low cost, which was previously hard to achieve.

Human-like AI

Unlike previous virtual idols, "AI influencers" possess higher degrees of human-likeness. This is due to continuous advancements in NLP, voice synthesis, and multimodal technologies. Over the past year, numerous impressive AI models like GPT-4 and others have emerged. These models enable "AI influencers" to not only speak but also interact with humans in real-time, without relying on manual dubbing and post-editing, making them more realistic and immersive. For instance, "Miss AI" champion Kenza Layli shares her daily life with her brother and sister, enriching her character and enhancing emotional connections with her fans.

An AI creator, Furkan Sahin, stated, "When we look at real influencers, they appear perfect, just like AI." From this perspective, AI has significantly unleashed the productivity of beauty, decentralizing creative power and aesthetic benefits to ordinary people. Everyone can create beauty, signaling the end of centralized aesthetic dominance. In the future, customized "AI beauties" tailored to individual preferences might even surpass human idols and stars in market potential.

AI Image Generator

Picit.AI is an AI Powered Vision Create & design platform where you can bloom your inspiration. Here are some specific tutorials:

1. Enter the website: Open Picit.AI and select the AI image generator.

2. Enter prompt words: Enter relevant prompt words to describe the idea according to your own ideas. After entering, click to generate the waiting result.

3. Result check: In this step, you need to check whether the style, details, elements, etc. of the generated picture meet your needs. If there is anything that needs to be added or changed, it can be modified on the basis of the input.

4. Enjoy your work: After adjustment, you get the artwork that matches your imagination. Next, you can enjoy your works and share them with others or social networking sites.

By following these steps, you can effectively use the artificial intelligence image generator to create a unique and visually attractive artificial intelligence girl tailored to your preferences. Enjoy the creative process and explore the infinite possibilities of art generated by artificial intelligence!

Conclusion

This competition not only shows the application potential of artificial intelligence technology in aesthetic creation, but also provides a platform for global AI creators to display and communicate. With the continuous progress of AI technology, we can foresee that there will be more similar innovation events in the future to further promote the development and application of AI technology. The artificial intelligence beauty pageant makes us rethink the definition of beauty and the boundaries of creation. As Will Monanchi, co-founder of Fanview, said: "This is not just a game, but also an exploration of the creative potential of AI."

[jessmaasbeauty]

5 Essential Questions to Ask Your Bridal Hair & Makeup Artist

Choosing the right bridal hair and makeup artist is a crucial step in your wedding planning process. The perfect artist will not only enhance your natural beauty but also ensure you feel confident and comfortable on your big day. At Jess Maas Beauty, we believe that communication is key to achieving your dream look. Here are five essential questions to ask your bridal hair and makeup artist to ensure everything goes smoothly.

1. What Is Your Experience with Bridal Hair and Makeup?

Experience is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a bridal hair and makeup artist. An experienced artist will be familiar with the unique demands of wedding day beauty and will know how to handle various challenges, such as different skin types, weather conditions, and time constraints.

Jess Maas Beauty Tip: When discussing experience, ask for specific examples of weddings they’ve worked on, including any challenges they’ve faced and how they overcame them. At Jess Maas Beauty, our team has extensive experience in bridal hair and makeup, and we’re happy to share our portfolio and testimonials from previous brides.

2. Can I See Your Portfolio and Read Reviews from Past Brides?

A portfolio provides a visual representation of an artist’s work and style. It’s essential to ensure their aesthetic aligns with your vision. Reviews and testimonials offer insights into other brides’ experiences and the artist’s professionalism and reliability.

Jess Maas Beauty Tip: We recommend reviewing our online portfolio, which showcases a variety of styles we’ve created for brides. Additionally, reading reviews from our satisfied clients can give you confidence in our ability to deliver exceptional results.

3. What Products Do You Use, and Are They Suitable for My Skin Type?

The quality of products used by your hair and makeup artist is critical. High-quality, professional-grade products not only provide a flawless finish but also ensure longevity throughout your wedding day. It’s also important to ensure the products are suitable for your skin type and any specific needs or sensitivities you may have.

Jess Maas Beauty Tip: At Jess Maas Beauty, we use only the best professional-grade products, carefully selected to suit a variety of skin types and tones. During your consultation, we discuss any skin concerns or allergies you may have to ensure the products we use are safe and effective for you.

4. What Is Included in Your Bridal Hair and Makeup Packages?

Understanding what’s included in your bridal hair and makeup package helps you budget effectively and ensures there are no surprises on your wedding day. Common inclusions are trial sessions, travel fees, touch-up kits, and services for bridesmaids and other members of the bridal party.

Jess Maas Beauty Tip: Our bridal packages at Jess Maas Beauty are comprehensive and transparent. We include trial sessions, travel within a specified area, and a personalised touch-up kit for the bride. Additional services for the bridal party can also be arranged to ensure everyone looks their best.

5. What Is Your Process on the Wedding Day?

Knowing the artist’s process on the wedding day helps ensure everything runs smoothly. This includes understanding the timeline, how they coordinate with other vendors, and their contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances.

Jess Maas Beauty Tip: At Jess Maas Beauty, we create a detailed schedule for your wedding day to ensure we have ample time for hair, makeup, and any necessary touch-ups. We coordinate with your wedding planner and other vendors to ensure a seamless experience. Our team is also prepared to handle any last-minute changes or challenges, ensuring you remain stress-free.

Conclusion

Asking the right questions is essential to finding the perfect bridal hair and makeup artist for your wedding day. By understanding their experience, reviewing their portfolio, ensuring the suitability of their products, clarifying package inclusions, and knowing their process on the wedding day, you can feel confident in your choice.

At Jess Maas Beauty, we pride ourselves on our expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to making you look and feel your best. Our personalised approach ensures that every bride receives the individual care and attention they deserve. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start your journey to a flawless bridal look.

[design-studio-91]

Conquer Your Castle: Top 5 Google Questions about Interior Design in Bangalore

Let's face it, Bangalore! Our homes are our sanctuaries. They're where we unwind after a long day, entertain loved ones, and create lasting memories. But sometimes, that dream living space can feel a little...out of reach. Fear not, fellow Bengalureans! Whether you're a seasoned homeowner or a wide-eyed first-timer, a beautiful and functional home is absolutely within your grasp.

But where to begin? Well, judging by the internet's collective curiosity, many Bangaloreans are turning to Google for answers. So, we at Design Studio +91, Bangalore's premier interior design company, have compiled the top 5 most-searched questions about interior design in Bangalore, along with some friendly advice to get you started.

1. How can I make my small Bangalore apartment feel bigger?

Living large in a compact space is a common challenge in Bangalore. Here are some interior design in Bangalore tricks to create a feeling of spaciousness:

Lighten Up: Embrace light colors! Opt for white, cream, or soft pastels for walls and furniture. These shades reflect light, making the room appear larger.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Strategically placed mirrors bounce light around the room, creating an illusion of more space.

Multitasking Marvels: Invest in furniture that does double duty. Ottomans with storage, convertible sofas, and beds with built-in drawers maximize space and reduce clutter.

Sheer Genius: Ditch heavy curtains for sheer fabrics. They let in natural light while maintaining privacy.

2. What are the hottest trends in interior design in Bangalore for 2024?

Bangalore is a city that thrives on innovation, and that extends to interior design! Here's a peek at what's trending:

Biophilic Design: Bringing the outdoors in! Think natural materials like wood, stone, and plants to create a calming and rejuvenating atmosphere.

Sustainable Chic: Eco-conscious materials like bamboo and recycled furniture are not only good for the planet, but add a touch of modern elegance.

Japandi Fusion: This blend of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality creates a clean, calming aesthetic, perfect for busy Bangalore lives.

Bold and Beautiful: Don't be afraid of a statement piece! An accent wall in a rich color or a unique sculptural lighting fixture can add personality to your space.

3. How do I find my own unique interior design style in Bangalore?

Your home should reflect your personality! Here's how to discover your interior design style in Bangalore:

Inspiration Station: Browse online platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, or explore design magazines. Create a mood board to gather visuals that resonate with you.

Think Lifestyle: Consider how you use your space. Do you crave a minimalist haven or a vibrant entertaining area?

Embrace Your Heritage: Bangalore is a melting pot of cultures. Let your unique background inspire design choices.

Don't Be Afraid to Mix It Up!: Your style doesn't have to fit neatly into a box. A curated blend of elements can create a truly personal space.

4. How much does interior design in Bangalore typically cost?

Interior design in Bangalore can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of your project, the materials used, and the level of customization. Here are some tips for budgeting:

Set a Realistic Budget: Before diving in, determine how much you're comfortable spending.

Prioritize: Decide which areas are most important to you and allocate funds accordingly.

Get Quotes: Consult with several interior design firms in Bangalore to compare prices and services.

DIY Power: Don't be afraid to tackle some projects yourself! This can be a great way to save money while adding your personal touch.

5. Should I hire an interior design company in Bangalore?

Hiring a professional interior design company in Bangalore can be a great investment. Here's why:

Expertise: Experienced designers have the knowledge and skills to create a functional and beautiful space that meets your needs.

Time-Saving: Working with a designer saves you time and effort, allowing you to focus on other priorities.

Access to Resources: Designers have access to a network of vendors and suppliers, often getting you better deals on materials and furniture.

Stress-Free Process: A good design firm will handle all aspects of the project, from initial consultation to final installation, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the transformation.

Design Your Dream Home with Design Studio +91

Ready to turn your Bangalore apartment or house into a stunning and functional haven? At Design Studio +91, our team of passionate and experienced interior designers in Bangalore is here to help you navigate the exciting world of interior design. We offer a variety of services to suit your needs, from full-fledged project management to consultations and product sourcing.

Here's what sets Design Studio +91 apart:

Personalized Approach: We take the time to understand your vision, lifestyle, and budget to create a space that is uniquely yours.

Collaborative Spirit: We believe in open communication and collaboration throughout the design process. Your input is invaluable to us!

Quality Craftsmanship: We only work with the most skilled and reliable contractors and vendors in Bangalore to ensure the highest quality results.

Budget-Conscious Solutions: We work within your budget to create a space you love without breaking the bank.

Ready to take the first step towards your dream home?

Visit our design studio located at 1572, 2nd floor, above Home Story, near HDFC Bank, Agara Village, 1st Sector, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102. You can also explore our portfolio and learn more about our services on our website at http://www.designstudio91.com/. We look forward to helping you create a Bangalore home that reflects your unique style and brings you joy for years to come!

So ditch the endless internet searches and unleash the potential of your Bangalore living space! With a little planning, inspiration, and perhaps the helping hand of a professional interior design company in Bangalore like Design Studio +91, you can transform your house or apartment into a home you'll love coming home to.

[fabien-euskadi]

I got tagged by @sapphirecastles​  - thank you so much, I really hope you are doing well and that your days are full of smiles and happiness.  And sorry for taking so long to reply, but my PhD is eating every minute I have.

Nicknames: I have three: Jesus (I suspect that is the fate of all men with long hair and a beard, but, in my case, the story goes a little further, considering that, once, I found an image of Jesus in a bus in Malta – and that image was, basically, a carbon copy of my face); The Pharaoh (that would require a lot of time to explain… and, probably, many would not understand my mad sense of humour); The Dame (an ex used to complain about how long I would take to get ready in the morning - so, she would always say: “there goes The Dame”).

 Height: If you use the Imperial Measurement System: 5 ft (wait, you wanted to know the inches as well?); if you use the Metric System: 1 meter (wait, you wanted to know the centimetres as well?).

 Last thing googled: “post-metropolis”. It was for an academic paper I was working on. To be honest, it’s a rather scary concept - in my text, I even call it “dystopian”:

 Song stuck in my head: “Tazama Jua” - by Chaostar. Actually, the whole “The Undivided Light” album is a masterpiece. I kneel before the person who introduced me to this wonderful project (you know who you are).

 Followers: Technically, 3472. But I have no idea how many are for real - even if I clean the porn bots frequently, they keep popping like mushrooms. However, some of them are for real and I treasure them all.

 Amount of sleep: After many years of catastrophic insomnia, I am, at last, managing to have a decent amount of sleep every night - usually, around eight hours. It may not sound like a big deal, but it’s really, really important to me. Fixing my sleeping issues was on the top of my to-do list for 2023, and that shows how much the lack of a proper rest was damaging me, physically, mentally and, most of all, emotionally.  

 Lucky number: Do I have one? I guess any number that brings me luck is my lucky number. And, for some time, that number used to be 292. Yes, 292.

 Dream job: Becoming a writer is not a dream, it’s where I shall be, no matter what.

 Wearing: A rather common pyjama. I am stuck at home, working on academic papers – all my fashion sense came to this place to die.

 Movies/books that summarise me: “The Death of Miguel Guerreiro Murta”. It’s one of my WIPs, one of the books I am working on. Per se, I wouldn't say it summarizes me, but it has many autobiographical hints mixed with a touch of fantasy. But, in the end, this is my Book of Disquiet, my Nausea - and that may have summed it up. And yes, the tittle was inspired by Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”.

 Fave song: Right now, it must be “Scared to Death”, by HIM. Strictly speaking, it’s not my favourite song ever. It’s not even my favourite HIM song (that would have to be “Beautiful”). It’s not even my favourite song from the “Screamworks” album. But this is the song that best describes me now… and I may have already said more than I should.

 Fave instrument: Probably, guitar – both electric and acoustic. Learning to pay guitar is, indeed, on my to-do list.

 Aesthetics: Maybe, I don't have a specific aesthetic that pleases me. Maybe, everything, in the right context, can be aesthetically pleasing. Even I can be aesthetically pleasing in the right context. Yes, you can find me aesthetically pleasing if... if you happen to be just a Mon Cherie away from the alcoholic coma.

 Fave author: Emily Brontë (needless to say which is my favourite book written by this amazingly talented young lady). She simply made me realize that I was destined to become a writer. I owe her that.

 Fave animal noise: When Lenina, my cat, purrs by my side, expressing (quite loudly, I admit) how happy and comfortable she feels. Or the sound of unadulterated joy that Duke, one of my dogs, makes when I pet the back of his ears.  

 Random (I didn’t know ↓):

 The only way of saying "I Love You" in Modern Greek is "Σε αγαπώ" (you can read it as "Se agapó"). It is a far better way of expressing romantic feelings for someone than the Portuguese one: "Amo-te". Way better, actually, way better.

  Tagging everyone who feels like replying to it.

I got tagged by friend Amy @menlet !!!!!!!

nicknames: Caseyp (said like casey-pee) or casez

height: Very Short.

last thing googled: the address of a place we want to move because i wanted to see how far it was from my work.

song stuck in my head: it's hard to have a song stuck in my head atm because there's a small child outside who is banging on a toy xylophone and going "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" and it's the sound of the summer tbh song of the year 2023

followers: 1100ish

amount of sleep: 6-7 hours I think

lucky number: 7 or 21

dream job: making niche products and selling them.

wearing: Skirt I fell asleep in, bra, home depot jacket that i borrowed from a friend. no shirt.

movies/books that summarize me: idk if any books or movies summarize me but Marie Antionette 2006 and Portrait of a Lady On Fire being my top two favorite films are very like... Me Flavored

fave song: love me more by mitski SORRY also all of the album Remember That I Love You by Kimya Dawson

fave instrument: harp and cello

aesthetic: rococo, various shades of pink, flowers esp roses, heart shaped things, love letters, rabbits, valentine's day Vibes(tm) in general, bright pinks and blues, lace, gold gilding, clowns

fave author: tbh not sure! I must admit that I haven't regularly read enough in recent years to accumulate a favorite author u_u

fave animal noise: the way my cat meows

random: anna is making me a cup of chocolate milk :)

Tagging anyone who wants to do it! eve, roy, @kingfucko , @ddddaikon @tundrakatiebean @sunny-burn @bugdotpng whomstever

[klarsynt-arc]

emil edits / mutuals may reblog

“ my first vision was a storm.  i was twelve.  i saw my mom die.  i remember everyone always talking when they thought i couldn’t hear— you know how adults treat kids like for some reason what they say around them doesn’t matter.  they’d say i was lucky cause at least i wasn’t there.  but i was.  i’m always there. ”  

[klarsynt]

tags