#80 Plus Bronze

[bionicdogs]

the Cube

[ttrpg-smash-pass-vs]

On the left is a Bronze dragon, roughly in the 20-80 foot (6-24 m) range, and it can shapeshift. They love the beach and swimming, bartering for treasure, and are always up for a challenge. Even have Fus-Ro-Dah breath, if getting thrown 60 feet piques your interest! They're curious, have a strong sense of justice, and often go out of thier way to talk to people and help them.

On the right is a REAL centaur, not tiny My Little Centaur player class ones. Full sized horse with full sized human, anatomy works however you want because the books sure won't tell us. Great endurance, love peace but willing to throw down, and quick to indulge in food and drink. Plus they'll let allies ride them!

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

After I started playing Ironclad again I decided on a whim to see how often I could win if I actually took runs semi-seriously instead of doing things like taking searing bow floor one even though that never works out.

I've just completed 50 runs and ended up winning exactly half of them (A2O heart kills). I was hoping to hit a 50% winrate so I was happy to get to 25 wins on the final run (which was a barricade entrench plus apparitions run which got hit hard against spear and shield and nearly died against the heart setting up but then didn't even come close to taking damage for the rest of the fight).

Deaths were mostly in act 2 (twelve deaths), with seven in act 4, four in act 3 and two in act one (both times to the boss). I died more in act 3 than I thought - I generally think of 2/4 as the worst parts. I think I underestimated it because I kind of mentally group the end of act 3 boss gauntlet with act 4.

All deaths bar one were to bosses or elites with one death to spire growth in act 3.

Book of Stabbing killed me twice as did Reptomancer. Gremlin Leader 3 times. Shield and Spear killed me twice.

I never died to Donu and Deca, Time Eater or The Guardian. One death each to Slime Boss, Hexaghost and The Champ (I somehow lost to him even though I had demon form). Two deaths to Bronze Automaton, two to Awakened One and three to The Collector.

The Heart killed me five times making it the encounter that ended the most runs but this shows the limitations of looking at the enemies that killed you as sometimes it was Shield and Spear that did the most damage and the heart just finished me off.

But over 80% of my deaths can be attributed to act 2 or the end of the game (from the act 3 boss gauntlet onward). Even then it often probably comes down to decisions at earlier points of the run, maybe if I squeezed more value out of act one I wouldn't be dying in act 2 so much

[nitpickrider]

And so, with that, we conclude Captain America Vol 1. (1968-1996) I'll give a short sum up for anyone who doesn't want to jump below the cut. This volume is a classic. A 30 year epic that prospered under the hands of some of the best in the business and under the mind of one creative genius in particular who shaped and defined our understanding of one of the greatest characters in the Marvel canon. From the heaving ruckus of the Marvel 60s to the stumbling aftermath of the 90s Dark Age, Captain America shared some of the greatest moments, stories and emotions that you could ever pick off a rack. I thought I appreciated Cap before. I know much, MUCH better now. If you're interested in my thoughts on breaking the book down into eras, or want a sneak peak at the next Marvel book on the list. Peek below.

ERA 1, THE SIXTIES: What can even be SAID about Marvel in the 60s? A constant flooding river of new ideas tossed thick and fast one right after the other in a verbose style that we joke on because we love it. This was a foundational stepping stone of the modern comic book and Captain America is no exception. Weird science, kirby dots, story straining with a countercultural need to be about something, to turn into something people had never seen before and yet still with a casual familiarity that mad the bullpen feel like a gaggle of college yucksters making it up as they went along. Often imitated, never duplicated, Captain America in the 60s had about 5 too many Sleeper storylines but an energy that kept me hopping along gladly.

ERA 2, THE FALCON:

Words can hardly describe the breath of fresh air that Sam Wilson AKA The Falcon represented. Cap in the 60s could on run on that early Marvel energy for so long before the Bronze Age crept in and it needed something new, something modern, something that gave the stories some meat to sink into. Sam Wilson was that and more, a new perspective to every story that kept Captain America honest in how his symbol was viewed and accepted from the ground up by marginalized communities, not to mention someone who could bounce ideas and banter off Steve in every sense. There's a reason they become one of, if not THE enduring duo of equals in Marvel's canon. Captain America and The Falcon will always have a special resonance to anyone who knows them and this run getting it right the first time is why. Plus, cute birb.

ERA 3, THE BROOKLYN ERA:

With the 80s came a new style, a new grit and reality that came with New York's growth or degeneration depending on how you look at it. Urban sprawl and smog became a constant backdrop and ideas of street crime and urban decay become frightening realities for the residents. So Captain America was forced to confront and integrate himself into that new reality. He got an apartment, he got a job, he got a girlfriend, he lived in a tenement with people who lived and worked and toiled the same way he did. It's the closest he's ever come to being a Spider-Man style street level hero, fighting the ills of a world that feels real and tactile all around him.

ERA 4, EARLY GRUENWALD:

Now we get to the core of this volume, a single writer and creative that would steer the ship of defining Captain America to the largest extent since his original creators. Mark Gruenwald. A writer who had every idea of how one examined, deconstructed, reconstructed and puzzled with the inherent questions and contradictions inherent in the Sentinel of Liberty. Never does the comic go any length of time without making Cap question who he is and what his purpose is. It's an era that feels like nothing so much as building momentum, creating an engine to tell stories about a fascinating man and the fascinating people around him, never one to shy away from beloved secondary heroes like Nomad, D-Man and Steve's supporting cast like Bernie Rosenthal or Arnie Roth.

ERA 5, THE JOHN WALKER ERA:

Gruenwald's masterstroke, making Captain America look a modern, cynical world in the eye and ask "who am I, what is my purpose, and what does my symbol mean in a world where freedom and America are not synonymous terms." Not content to JUST look at that through Steve's eyes, the character of John Walker (Later USAgent) is a dark reflection of Steve that asks him what the consequences would be if his patriotism become jingoism by even one degree over the line. Forcing Steve to define for himself what kind of American ideal he is fighting to protect and what he's willing to sacrifice to back it up when the American Dream and the American Reality couldn't be further apart.

ERA 6, LATER GRUENWALD: Established with a world class storyline under its belt and nothing left to do but hit the gas and see where it goes, the later Gruenwald era is an expression of the joyous fun that can be taken from a comic that takes itself dramatically but not too seriously. New villains, new twists and pulling old favorites out of mothballs it's a comic that can go anywhere and do anything under an established writer who knows the character like the back of his hand. The Bloodstone Hunt, Capwolf, Superia. The kind of consistently good storytelling you can only get from a comic that has comfortably gotten into a once in a lifetime kind of groove.

ERA 7, THE @#$%^& 90S:

Like any comic that runs long enough in certain period of time, any good groove is going to run head first into the 90s and end up breaking its nose. I won't lie or sugarcoat it in the name of preserving the book's legacy. The armor storyline and everything surrounding it is ROUGH. The art is ugly, the power armor is dumb and the entire series seems content to wallow in a sense of its own cleverness for examining Cap physically in ways Gruenwald topped 100x over by taking the character apart mentally and emotionally. I WILL say however, that if you honestly meet this era's emotions on their level, if you're able to get past its flaws, you find that that Gruenwald spark is still right where it was. The new additions, Free Spirit and Jack Flag show promise in the mold of Cap's partners of old and the issue where Cap confronts his own mortality is truly poignant.

ERA 8, CURTAIN CALL:

Outside of the helm of Gruenwald for the first time in more than 10 years, it's easy to see that the series can't last too much longer in its current form. These issues are all about setting up something new, forcing Cap out of the comfortable spot he's made for himself and confronting an oncoming millennium with the sobering realization that this continuous stream must come to an end to plant something new. Returns of old concepts but with a millennial sheen that gives a hope for the future, it truly feels like the passing of the torch from the old guard to a new one that would take on the Event Comics era and the modern Marvel landscape one way or the other.

CONCLUSION, A LIVING LEGEND:

Captain America is a classic character. We all know it however as a fixture of the universe's main superhero team it's often hard to really frame him in your mind as a character in his own right with his own, independent stories to tell and a timeline that's rich and begging to be mined outside of The Avengers. Gruenwald forged a new path for Cap, dozens of other creators from 3 decades of Marvel comics reaching in to lend a hand to the tapestry of one of the true legends of comics. A story that twists, turned and sometimes stumbled but never the less kept itself to one, truly unalterable standard. Legendary. For those of you interesting in what Marvel book comes along next...Follow me on a journey to the Hyborean Age.

[ce-sac-contient]

Alicia Penalba (1913-1982) - Chrysalide III, 1974

Bronze with dark brown patina (51,5 x 80 x 47 cm)

❝ Le juste milieu. Quelque part entre s'en foutre et en crever. Entre s'enfermer à double tour et laisser entrer le monde entier. Ne pas se durcir mais ne pas se laisser détruire non plus. Très difficile. ❞

—  Romain Gary, sous le pseudonyme d'Emile Ajar, L'Angoisse du roi Salomon (1979) 

[missanthropicprinciple]

scrunchy nylon jacket, marithé + françois girbaud

rayon and mohair tank, poleci

rayon and linen skirt, skies are blue

handcrafted bronze gundestrup cauldron cernunnos pendant by vis a vis jewelry, woven necklace made by me

Specific fashion goal achieved! A few weeks ago I was reminded of one of my favorite old magazines from my teen years; the October 1999 issue of YM (Young and Modern). I was just 13 and was cycling around the block. It had been raining a bit and I remember the street was still wet and gravely. As I rounded the bend I saw a magazine sitting in a slumped, tented position on the road near the curb. Someone had evidently dropped it getting in or out of their car. I picked it up. Realizing it was mostly intact, though wet and stuck with pebbles, I held onto it, finished my turn around the block and snuck it into the house and into the chasm of my tiny bedroom. I eventually cut it up, kept one page folded up in my purse for years, and stuck parts of it into a scrapbook. Many years later I bought an unblemished copy for scanning. Also at random more recently, I decided to go on a hunt for some of the pieces in my fave photo shoot. Surprisingly, I found two of them.

The scrunchy nylon jacket from Marithé + François Girbaud was originally priced at $112 and I paid $182. It was a little steep, but it is a vintage late 90s piece, pre-revival of the brand. The seller listed it as being from the 80s but the exact design is from 1999. As much as I wanted the grey color I really love the black edition as it goes great with pretty much everything I own. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Wuuuut? So great. I was very lucky to find the unique rayon and mohair tank from Poleci. Original list price was $76 and I only paid $21. It fits me and has a great cut. Really the center of the outfit! Only downside is that it’s dry-clean only.

I wasn’t able to find the $72 skirt from Cubika (incidentally there’s a toy company by the same name) but I found a lovely rayon and linen skirt from Skies are Blue (new with tags). The original price was about $60 and I paid $29. It’s a different cut but I think it actually looks cuter, especially as the top part of the skirt is very similar to the Cubika one so it has the same look and line as the outfit in the magazine. Machine wash cold and tumble dry low which is very convenient.

I couldn’t find the exact $45 necklace from Dogearred so I added one of my own pieces. I bought a handcrafted bronze pendant featuring a replica of the depiction of Cernunnos on the Gundestrup Cauldron by Vis a Vis Jewelry for $90 and I made the woven necklace myself with cotton cord from Maine Thread. I’m not really into the tall boots so I would pair this look with Docs or leather sandals. In the end I paid more than the original look but two of these were 25 year old designer pieces and the pendant is something that I got long before I put this outfit together. Plus my jewelry wasn’t emulating the one in the mag; if I had gotten an actual piece from Dogearred it would have cost me a lot less. All in all, this is exactly what I wanted it to look like. It wasn’t my goal to look the way the model does - the goal was to look like me in that outfit. It works for me in a different kind of way, with my hair and my vibe. I love it.

[kindred-spirit-93]

Sup it's me Astron

So these are a few ideas of how I personally imagine the Greeks gods look like. Nothing concrete because I imagine their forms being very fluid.

The gods, despite now being in the modern age still like to incorporate Mycenaean and Minoan elements In their hair and fashion most of their godly design are based on Bronze Age archeology. It's fitting, since that's when most of Greek Mythology takes place, and it'll give the designs a unique look! This is only for their godly humanoid forms.

Aphrodite: her hair is styled and decorated with various pearls like the ladies depicted in Minoan frescos. I imagine her having no arms like the Venus de Milo statue.

Demeter: I personally imagine her to be more plump and round with strong blunt features, She has beautiful and eye catching hairstyles. I also like the idea of having the crown of the poppy goddess figurines

Poseidon: I imagine that he had one of those kickass haircuts usually seen in Minoan frescos of men

Hera: I imagine her being "cow eyed" her crown I think it'll be cool if it incorporates a peacocks plume/head crest. I imagine her having a lot of celestial starry motifs. But if there had to be any body horror with her it'll definitely focus on eyes a lot of eyes.

Zeus: he is a cloud

Artemis: silvery and celestial...yeah that's really it. Maybe she has an intricate head band and antler combo to heep her hair tied up but that's it. Although there has been times where I imagined her looking like those Amazon historical costume plates by Thomas Hope.

Persephone: I image that she has arm snakes be it jewelry or real based on the Minoan snake goddess figurines. A Mycenaean diadem with a narcissus/daffodil motif because it was the flower used by Hades to kidnap her.

Also I really love your Hera and Iris designs!

Also about synchrotism, I haven't given other pantheons much thought Im just scared that'll be too much of a big brain thing to think about. I personally think it'll be a fun and silly idea that at some point in time Zeus and the Olympians went through a rebrand and went by Latin names. The rebrand was highly successful but after the the Roman empire fell it became a sensitive topic. Was a strong but short era lol. Unless you have any ideas?

(PS the gods ichor is still gold in this story. Despite it having seemingly no basis in mythology it's still too iconic not to use)

ASTRON SAY LESS!!! >:D also thank you!! hehe i made another XD

rounded up a few references to make sure i got ur vision lol, ill get doodling the pantheon hopefully in this lifetime

aighty aphrodite:

plus pearls and maybe shells, venus de milo *nods*

--

poseidon (currently playing get in the water on loop and i *need* to learn how to capture eldritch horror in drawings for him lol XD)

this is what i found, did i get it right?

--

and for demeter did u mean she has a crown of the poppy goddess or a crown resembling the figurines? (both work i think but just wanted to triple check lol)

very clever snek symbolism with persephone btw! for all i know this might be super obvious to some lol but to me i love learning more and finding parallels and easter eggs in characterisations :D

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HERA!!! adore the 80s disco shes associated with but still love traditional clothing closer to their eras esp for her, kinda like how marriage and motherhood are seen as tradition that must be upheld.

dunno if this is a thing but iirc back in ye olden days a sign of wealth/ station was wearing luxurious robes (like on top of normal clothes) to seperate the nobility from the lower classes, which is kinda the vibe im getting here.

anyway this is what i found (mycenaean noblewoman) but make it cooler tones and feathers instead of flowers, maybe a veil too idk

--

ooooh body horror!! need to experiment with that one day! actually make it cosmic body horror lol. kill two birbs with one stone >:)

i think u handled the syncretism perfectly. literally no notes no nothing XD although zeus dipping his feet in sales & marketing and it failing instantly is the funniest thing ever, having it be a wild success then flop is so much better. awesome work!

--

bonus iris and hera bc they are my new blorbos and i will stay up thinking about the number of felonies iris gets away with till hera has to intervene lol. vanilla and pistachio are their favourite ice creams respectively (yay my first hc!)

drawn over og doodle so sorry if the colours arent the same lol i had to recolour it. enjoyeth :D

[undinoble]

PC Upgrade Journey!

(the picture is my old/current one)

I've mentioned here before how I've wanted to upgrade my almost 4 years old pc to something nicer, but I'm very against changing stuff for luxury instead of replacing things that no longer work, and it lasted for 3,5 long years, fortunately. The funniest part is that the upgrade hype really kicked in because my power supply broke.

So as I'm very invested now in getting some things in better shape I thought it might be funny to document the changes and see the final result vs the start!

And here's a special thank you for my lovely commissioners who support me and make it possible for me to enhance my work tools/work space!! 💖

Starting by my original configurations that are soon to change:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10400F;

Asus PRIME H410M-E DDR4 LGA1200;

T-Force Vulcan Pichau 16GB DDR4 3600MHz red (2x, only 1 originally);

Afox GeForce GTX 1050TI 4GB;

Lexar NS100 128GB 2.5" Sata III;

HD Toshiba P300 1TB 3.5" Sata III;

Mancer Thunder 500W Bronze 80 Plus (it broke and i bought the exact same, bc it worked long enough);

Mancer Fans 120mm Z100 in blue, green and red (i was so dumb choosing those fr);

Cabinet Pichau Gaming Kronen;

The whole setup costed exactly R$4,000 in February 2021 (around $750 at the time), it was custom settings and the store put it together before sending my way.

You served me well old friend 🫡

Right now I'm planning to make long term upgrades, starting by aesthetics and then weaker parts. Great news is that my computer is really well kept and all it's parts are in good condition, so I'll sell the old ones here in my country after upgrading

I'm aiming at a pleasant white and black PC with aRGB LEDs, inspired by my goal video card RTX 4060 Aero OC Gigabyte 8GB, I want to make a beautiful (and strong) setup!

Plans are: cabinet and fans are already bought, I'll buy the video card on black friday and, after I'm done paying it, a new motherboard + CPU and possibly new vRAM next year around second semester (depending on my financial situation).

This will be a wild run!

[scarlet--wiccan]

I'm not sure if this question makes sense but, Who's your favourite writer for Wanda? or someone you wish would write for Wanda again? Lastly, who is your least favourite writer for Wanda?

covered... basically all of this here

In general, I don't have favorites, especially not for characters that have been around as long as Wanda. While her core personality and characteristics have, mostly, stayed the same, a lot of things have changed for Wanda over the decades. Plus, I think that the genre and style of superhero comics has changed a lot from the Silver and Bronze ages to now. What I like best for 60s, 70s, or 80s Wanda is not the same as what I like best for her now.

[horn-of-leo]

Just thinking of the old grandpas' parenting style and I feel like it looks like Shion would be seen as the responsible/caring parent vs Dohko who would be seen as the irresponsible parent but if you look at how Mu/Saga turned out compared to Shiryu I think its a huge difference

Mu ofc isn't a horrible person but he does a lot of questionable things that really honestly does not make him seem great? I know a lot of the reason why he does nothing 80% of the time is because he's testing the drive of both Saori/the bronze saints and cuz (in the Poseidon arc) he was thinking more rationally/ listening to whatever Dohko ordered them to do since they couldn't leave the Sanctuary in case Hades did a surprise attack.

But also bringing up in the manga, after the Ikki arc and the silver saints come in to kill the bronze saints, Mu switches out the bodies of the (apparently still alive) black saints with the main 4, so the silver saints end up killing the black saints instead of them which is like really fucked tbh?? Like ig they were evil or whatever that's just still bad in general?? All of them already got what was coming for them and it just didn't feel deserved they go through that. Plus Mu's morality is never questioned because of it either? Though this was only in the manga, and Mu doesn't do anything like this again so I guess I can't really say it defines his character.

Also for Saga, I'm counting him in this since apparently the Saga origin story has it confirmed Shion was basically like the Gemini twin's father since they were the first saints to arrive of their generation and I think it's highly doubtful that he wouldn't not take care of them if they're the only babies around the Sanctuary, plus we don't need to go into what's wrong with Saga.

I'm not saying that Shion isn't caring or anything but I don't think he's someone who's regularly kind or warm to people. Rewatching the Hades arc and he wasn't kind one bit, which given the circumstances I can get, since for the most part the way he was like was half-acting/half-with the trouble at hand, it really gives no time to be nice to anyone but also counterpoint you're telling Shion is a kind man when the Sanctuary is like that??🤨 It didn't seem Saga was too far off from how Shion acts for the 13 years too.

I just feel like he's the type of parent to expect a lot from his kids while giving tough love for the most part. Like of course he will help them if it's really needed, but it really creates this pressure that they can't fail because the idea of disappointing him is something they wouldn't want go through. Which I can imagine that was why Saga snapped when he wasn't chosen as the Pope.

As for Dohko, I think it's a little harder to say because the whole time we see him as an old man who's already wise beyond his years so it's hard to know he was like since when he becomes young again he still has his experience behind him so ofc he'll still be the most level-headed out of everyone.

From what I think it looks like, Dohko used to be the type of guy who gets really heated up and just goes straight through into things without thinking (and not really counting Lost Canvas where he's a cool guy). He just looks like the type of person who's used to be very free and reckless where no one could even think he'd become a parent in the future but ends up being arguably the best one.

I'm just imaging them when they're younger on the topic of having kids when they're older:

Dohko: I'm not gonna be a dad! (will win the dad of the year reward in 200 years)

Shion: I don't want kids. (means it)

[hexpea]

Ch. 3 - A Chance at Freedom

With your permission, Suguru held out his hand and initiated his technique. A certain pulling sensation began at your chest as he drew you closer to him. It felt almost as if your body was being painlessly scrunched as he proceeded. 

The next thing you knew, you lacked existence. It was as if you had fallen asleep dreamlessly. Meanwhile, Suguru was holding your presence in its bronze-colored sphere form. 

He proceeded out of the bathroom with hopes that the sphere he created of you wouldn't disappear just as your wrist had earlier.  He kept his cheers back as you remained in your form. You weren't out of the woods just yet. Bringing you back was the ultimate sign that you were free.

He took a deep breath and released his technique, watching carefully as your body began to manifest outside of the bathroom. He was hoping that you wouldn't suddenly disappear once fully manifested. 

"Am I...free?" You asked as soon as your physical form completed its appearance. There was no sign of your body suddenly teleporting back into the restroom. All of you was there; you were floating, as usual, but you were there. The curse was that easy to break?

"It...looks like it," Geto smiled, a light chuckle escaping mid-sentence. "The question is where do we...you go from here?"

"I don't know," you swallowed a bit hard from the sudden realization that came with suddenly being 80 plus years into the future. Emotions began barrelling down on you. "My family...it's likely they're all gone, or who would remain wouldn't remember me. And I don't exactly have funds to just simply live on my own. I'm sure everyone thinks I'm dead or something!"

Geto stared at you, unsure of how to exactly tell you the truth. "You...you are dead," he mumbled bluntly.

"Huh?" You asked, at first unable to hear him. Once your brain caught up, you realized. "Oh...how do you know?"

"I found your class' files and a copy of your death certificate was there. I couldn't find an exact cause, but you passed away in 1935 at 18," he explained. 

"I see," you began mumbling as well. "I don't exactly understand... I mean, I understand that I'm dead, but how am I still here? And your technique worked on me, so...does that mean I'm a cursed spirit and not actually...me?"

"I'm...not sure," Suguru gave you a pained look. He hated that he didn't have answers for you. "For now, would you like to meet everyone?"

"Yes!" You nearly shrieked. You were so excited to be somewhere other than that musty, old bathroom. "I'd love to."

"Great, let's go," Suguru held out his hand. 

You went to reach it, but your hand floated right through his. As you touched him, he noted the cold feeling that went through his palm. He looked up at you with an expression of pity. 

"Well, that's an issue," you muttered, staring at your still translucent hand. "I'm out of the bathroom, but...the whole ghost-thing puts a damper on existing."

"Uh..." Suguru was lost. Surely there had to be a solution to your predicament whether that be finding the afterlife or finding a way to make you whole again, if that was even possible. "Can you follow me for now?"

You nodded happily. Suguru gave a small smile in return and began walking down the hallway back to the faculty room.  You simply floated behind him. It was actually quite convenient, not needing to walk. You simply stood straight, as awkward as it looked, with your feet a bit off the ground, relaxed, and your arms crossed over your chest - almost as if you were riding in an elevator.

The two of you made it to the faculty room. Suguru opened the door and you followed suit. Out of habit, he held the door for you but it was clear that you didn't need any chivalry.  You stared at the other person in the room: a man with a white crop of hair and a blindfold over his eyes. He was somehow reading a magazine despite the dark fabric that covered his eyes.

When the two of you entered, he was suddenly stunned, slamming the magazine on the desk in front of him and quickly coming to a stand. His jaw had also dropped and turned into quite a toothy smile.

"So you were able to do it! Is this her?" The man asked excitedly as if he were a child. Suguru nodded in response as the tall man came meandering over to you.

"Y/N, this is Gojo Satoru. He inherited the Limitless technique as well as the Six Eyes," Suguru explained as Satoru made 'eye contact' with you. Suguru had figured you at least had knowledge of the Gojo family line.

Satoru began inspecting you, staring at you from all angles. He even lifted his blindfold for a moment to reveal bright blue eyes that nearly glowed. You held back your giggles. This man was quite the character, he seemed fun to be around.  When he finished looking you over, he stood straight once more and held his chin between his thumb and index finger in thought. 

"What was your technique?" Satoru asked briefly.

"I call it yurei-jutsu!" You smiled happily despite it's clearly made up name. To be honest, the only thing you could remember was your graduation year. You couldn't remember what family you had or what your technique was actually called. 

"Yurei?" Satoru gave a small laugh. Suguru furrowed his brow at his friend as if to tell him to keep his thoughts to himself. "Like ghosts, right? So ghost form?" You nodded in response, losing your smile out of confusion. Where was he going with this?   He looked like he was searching his brain for something, knocking on his skull with his fist and pursing his lips. "If I remember...there is an inherited technique that is on register that sounds similar."

"You're kidding?!" Suguru exclaimed. For him, this was such good news. It meant one step closer to figuring out more about you.

"No, no," Satoru confirmed excitedly, scampering over toward the filing cabinets - a different set than the ones that held the school records, these cabinets were labeled 'Registered Techniques.' "Yep, here it is! Right at the top, how convenient!" He pulled a folder out and came back over to the two of you. "Apparition Technique," he smiled proudly.

"Apparition Technique?" Suguru repeated. You curiously looked over his shoulder as he opened up the folder. 

Suguru's eyes widened when he scanned the registered users. All were deceased, but they held your surname. 

"Hey!" You noticed the same thing. "Looks like we found my family!"

"Indeed," Suguru mumbled while reading on. 

Each technique that was known was registered, some obviously inherited while others are simply born into the world with the person. Yours was inherited, meaning that there was a long line of Apparition Technique users before you. This also meant that how your ability worked was jotted down as well!

"It says here that corporealization is a part of your technique," Suguru pointed at the bulleted list of abilities associated with your technique. 

"Meaning?" Satoru urged him to continue. 

"Meaning that she is able to come in and out of this form," Suguru used his thumb to point behind himself where you floated over his shoulder. "Can you do that?" He looked back at you.

"If I can, I have no idea how," you shrugged. "I thought I had a death certificate and everything, so...maybe my technique doesn't work at all." Suguru sighed in defeat. You might be right. 

"Well, anyways, looks like you also have ectokinesis, or the ability to manipulate cursed energy," Suguru continued.

"Don't we all have that?" Satoru chuckled. 

"It's different," Suguru gave his best friend a defeated look. "In this case, she can physically manipulate the energy as a weapon."

"Oh," Satoru stood corrected and continued listening.

"Inaudibility, inodorosity, invisibility - all traits of, well, being a ghost," Suguru sighed as he continued down the list. "Here's an interesting one, energy independence. Your cursed energy can't be detected, which is why nobody here noticed you were in the bathroom until Kugisaki found you."

"Is that the girl who also did the Hanako-san ritual?" You giggled. "I got a kick out of scaring her."  Satoru chuckled, realizing that Nobara had been spooked, something he didn't think was possible.

"Last two are possession and psionics," Suguru finished. "So, taking over people's bodies and psychic abilities."

"Interesting!" You smiled. "Too bad I can't actually do anything other than just float here."

"For now," Satoru encouraged, "I'm sure we can figure out what's going on to get you to where you need to be."

"But that could mean just being dead," you brought up that worry again, "not sure if I'm ready for the whole 'afterlife' thing."

"Yeah, we'll figure it out," Suguru confirmed hesitantly. "For now, maybe we can get you set up in a dorm."

You went silent and your smile faded. You absolutely didn't want to be left alone in this strange, new world. Satoru quickly took notice. "Hey, Suguru," he chimed in, "what if she went home with you? It's kind of useful that she stick with you. What if she gets trapped again and needs to be 'manipulated' back out?"

"Me?!" Suguru's voice cracked. 

Satoru nodded while you remained quiet. "It only makes sense. It'll help her get adjusted, too. Can you imagine being almost a hundred years behind?!"

"Eighty," you coughed to correct him. Saying one hundred made you feel like something ancient though you would be 99 years of age if you were 'alive.'

Suguru looked back at you and took in a deep breath. "Fine, that works," he caved.

"Great! Have a good night, you two!" Satoru grinned happily and slapped his friend on the back. "Nice meeting you, Y/N," he waved to you, no formalities needed.

Satoru slid behind Suguru who was still in front of the door and left the two of you alone. 

"Well, he was nice," you smiled at Suguru who was busy putting the file of your family in his bag. It may come in handy later if he needed to understand something.

"Sometimes," Suguru chuckled. "C'mon, let's head out of here. School day's over."

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

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[crosseyedcricketart]

Sephora 2024 Spring Sale

The spring Sephora sale is upon us! This one is always fun for me since my birthday tends to fall in this sale, so I get a sale and a birthday present for me. So, this is my own little wishlist I have for Sephora, and what I’d really like to get during this sale.

my little wishlist:

saie,

dew blush liquid blush in spicy, baby, chilly

sun melt natural cream bronzer in fair bronze

slip tint concealer in 1

glow sculpt cream highlighting blush in pink glow

slip tint tinted moisturizer in 1

glossybounce lip gloss oil in bounce, push, dip

merit,

flush balm cream blush in rouge, stockholm

the minimalist complexion stick in silk

bronze balm bronzer

signature lip satin lipstick in millennial, l’avenue, 1990

signature lip matte lipstick in vermillion, power, maison, classic

day glow dewy highlight in cava

shade slick tinted lip oil in sangria, pink beet, falcon, taupe, bel air

I have really been wanting to try out merit and saie beauty recently; I have absolutely loved their branding and philosophies so it’s only a matter of time before i get some of their products for myself. I am someone who doesn’t really like traveling with powder products since they are more likely to shatter; i’d rather have cream products, where even if they break, i can use them in a different container instead of having powder everywhere. All of these formulas are creams or liquids that are perfect for me to travel with. Plus, all of these products would be what I would reach for when I wanted a little pick me up, not so much full glam full cover makeup. I think the last time I did that was for my high school senior pictures. Because I was being professionally photographed.

I do have a larger beauty wishlist, but these are my want-wants, really, as opposed to what i would like to try and use daily.

makeup

yves saint laurent couture mini clutch eyeshadow palette in 100, 400

rare beauty soft pinch luminous powder blush in happy

rare beauty positive light silky touch highlighter in enlighten

tom ford eye color quad in nude dip, rose topaz, sous le sable

tom ford shade and illuminate contour duo in 0.5 intensity

tom ford eye defining pen eyeliner

huda beauty creamy obsessions eyeshadow palette in natural brown

patrick ta major headlines blush duo in just enough

patrick ta major dimension III matte eyeshadow palette

huda beauty rose quartz eyeshadow palette

mango people dewy glow cream highlighter

mango people cream blush & lip stick in cherry

tower 28 all-over hydrating concealer

natasha denona my mini dream eyeshadow palette

tower 28 shineOn lip jelly gloss in xoxo

natasha Denona glam eyeshadow palette

skincare

alpyn beauty super peptide & ghostberry moisturizer

farmacy lip smoothie lip balm

saint jane beauty luxury sun ritual sunscreen

mara sea silk lip balm

mara algae + moringa sea sculpt body oil

chia + moringa algae enzyme cleansing oil

mara seadream crème moisturizer

soft services speed soak gel body moisturizer

soft services buffing bar exfoliating body bar

soft services carea cream moisturizing + softening body lotion

merit great skin instant glow serum

oui the people hydrating body oil in orange blossom

summer fridays rich cushion cream moisturizer

Most of my skincare wants are just more rich moisturizers. I tend to have dry skin, unless it’s peak summer when it feels like I’m in a rice cooker, since that is super humid.

No matter how much I love beauty products, I do not wish to have the 2016 makeup collections, where there is so much that it is useless. If I ever get there in my career, I fully intend to give that surplus to someone who could use the bulk of it, like a makeup artist. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but I know I don’t want 80 foundations just rolling around in a drawer. That goes for skincare too; I do not want the skincare tiktoker collection that will expire in 6 months. I think, in a small thought, the best way to actually review that much product without wasting it would be to keep notes on the different products and how they worked, and how they compare to other products as a frame of reference, then use the product. I know for me that if I really need to use a skincare product before it goes bad, I’ll use it on my body. But that also would take more effort than a lot of people want to put into something, and I’m aware of that.

That is my little Sephora round up here for this spring and summer, and if you’d like, you can share with me what you’re looking at for this sale, or what you’re not looking at. Knowing me, I’ll end up just getting two products from this sale.

[dwn055]

im rewatching saint seiya and i am in a phase rn so bear with me cuz im thinking about this again so much, I got lots of thoughts im just gonna talk about

Other than just rewatching the original 80s one(plus like the rest if it cuz my siblings never got to watch all of it with me), i decided i'd give a chance to the knights of the zodiac netflix cartoon too and i was super surprised I really liked the second season alot more than i thought especially cuz I wasn't really the biggest fan of the first season

Honestly, the show isn't like the worst thing ever but like it had a very bad rocky start with all of the changes (Shaun💀, the military guy, i guess i can't really say anything too bad about it but the somewhat lackluster animation and how little impact of visuals we had as compared to the original ver,(like rly still thinking of the injustice of shiryu changing the direction of the waterfall only going up like an inch and its treated like he learned the move, its rly fucking funny how it was tho) plus the seriously fast pacing to cramp everything in there before the sanctuary arc but I'm actually glad I enjoying this show now cuz there's not alot of new material or spinoffs made from this franchise that is actually enjoyable unfortunately and i really did wanna give this show a chance when it first came out but we finally got to where its good!!!!! and like i actually appreciate alot of the changes they added or expanded in the 2nd season so the characters wouldn't seem so stupid or whatever. plus now the writing is evenly paced where it doesn't feel like things just immediately happen then move on before we get to fully take it in

Anyway im gonna try to see if I can make points of what i wanna say of what i like here so lol

There's a better explanation now for why Sienna is like some cursed Athena

More June or Genet(?) role into the story

The other good guys who are not the bronze saints are not sitting around twiddling their thumbs and their story is mixed into Marin's offscreen journey to StarHill

Their version explanation why the Sanctuary is duped for so long by Saga

Evil fucked up Athena prophecy

Ok, like first of all I know its supposed to be a build up for the Sanctuary arc but honestly I really didn't understand why they went with this plot, personally I'm still not a big fan of it but I think that they way they used it for the story of them already knowing Sienna is already a goddess rather than them thinking she's a fake like the original because it takes out the plot point of why hasn't anyone seen Athena around for like 13 years and how they let that shit slide so I can see why they changed that subplot. Plus honestly, I feel like the the reveal will probably be that Saga was lying that she was going to bring chaos to the world anyway just so he could take over, though idk im just guessing it's probably what it is but ig they could still make the prophecy happen and its just like "changed fate" or whatever

Genet (ok im just gonna refer to her original name June cuz i don't know how they spelled it)

I'm super happy they made June sort of secondary main character and expanded her relationships with Daedulus and Shaun cuz she deserved so much better and they really delivered. Like i thought it was sweet they had more of a father-daughter relationship in this one and it was really sad to see the scene when she discovers he's died(or dying from this ver)

I also thought it was kinda clever they made Daedulus be Shion's student along with Mu/be like the inventor(cuz of his name haha) since he didn't do jackshit in the original other than basically die, plus we get to see early Aphrodite appearance, and it was super cool. I really enjoyed seeing their ver and of the fight instead of the handwave in the original 80s anime, that already had to unintentionally butcher the story to make it Milo who killed everyone on Andromeda Island then last second say "oh yea Aphrodite was there too cuz he spit the rose at Shun's teacher that weakened him"(which Milo got away scotfree for, like he wasn't the one who killed everyone on the island but Aphrodite is the bad guy cuz he helped kill the important character)

But anyways it was nice seeing June just get focus in general and get to fight and actually be cool, when in the original she was just Shun's love interest cuz she's girl. also her sibling relationship with Kiki was super cute, I liked them qwq I'm excited with whatever they give her in the future honestly

Starhill subplot

June's part sort of a build up to this part but I did like that they had the other "good guys" travel with Marin and June to Star Hill instead of just sitting around playing jacks and cards while they wait for the next 12 hours. Honestly it didn't bring much interactions(other than basically June and Kiki) or rly bring depth to anyone else other than Marin having a connection to Aiolos and him being the reason why she has a mask/forgot her memory, like the most they got for the gold saints is that they're basically in denial about betraying the pope or whatever

but I still thought it was great to see something else going on and its actually very sad that Mu found out Shion(or Sion, im assuming from how they pronounced it) died the hard way, which leads to this next one

The whole reason why the Sanctuary is on the Pope's side

Since they changed the reason why anyone would actually be on the Pope's side in this one being that they don't want the world to be destroyed so they begrudgingly decide they should kill Athena no matter the sacrifices, plus they highlight the Pope's good side much more rather than his bad side, Also the explanation for why Saga's blue hair and pronouns ass isn't found out, cuz his magic turns his hair the same color as Shion's when he puts on the helmet which like yeah

This one was actually a really good change in my opinion cuz it makes some of the characters who should probably be smarter about it, seem less stupid, cuz in the original story in general, Saga's actions as the pope is probably the most sus out there that basically its hard to see why anyone would still think he's actually a good person telling them the truth about anything. Then the 80s anime had to really take liberties and just hope the people watching would forget the crazy ass lore/explanations they said about the Pope and somehow just try to paste Saga into the picture to follow the original story of the manga, where the anime starts that the good pope died so his evil brother Pope Ares took over as the new pope where things began to just suck ass for the sake of it but then they had to fit Saga into the story where he had actually killed the original pope 13 years ago instead and its like which one? the first one or Ares? Or a completely different guy altogether? (who's the Shion fill-in)

So I think that the whole "It's a hard decision but we gotta do what we gotta do because the prophecy could fuck us up if we leave it to Athena" and its like yeah it's definitely more plausible and basically when Saga's evil side does something sus, he's (im assuming accidentally)immediately cancelled out by his good side crying or whatever about his actions that the others use that to basically guilttrip the person going against him to feel bad which makes more sense why they are stuck in this dumb loop rather than just seeing a blatantly evil guy be in control, (which is something ig i can't actually fault the original story anyway cuz there was no such thing as gray morality back then in the 80s, or ig if u count whatever "gray morality" manga!Shura had ig tho imo its dumb as hell but anyways thats a rant for another time)

But anyways this rant was mainly for Shaka cuz honestly, I think the original anime made him a lot more evil or as evil as they could make him and its like there's no way in hell how someone like Shaka doesn't even have a doubt about Saga, though ig he still doesn't know that he's an imposter in either version but the manga honestly has a somewhat (really take this with a grain of salt)better explanation onto why Shaka doesn't think Saga is evil as compared to the anime ver because he explains its the same reason he spared Ikki where deep down he's not really evil, but also like you are still enabling him being evil rn dude??🤨

Cuz like the scene where Saga does the Demon Emperors fist that mind controls Aioria right in front of him to kill a person, Shaka doesn't even bat an eye that he used a move called that while in the kotz Shaka at least questioned him a little about it but then immediately justifies it to himself when the pope gave him a handwave explanation and didn't tell him of what he's actually mind controlling Aioria to do (im pretty sure)

Anyways that was probably my whole rant about this but wow I have a change if heart about kotz now, im actually looking forward to the second half since they kinda abruptly stop at Milo's fight, They really just needed that slowburn to actually become a little bit better storywise

[rwoshop]

ADMI Gaming PC: Intel Core i5-13400F CPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | 32GB 3200MHz | 600mbps WiFi | 1TB NVME SSD | MSI 100R | Windows 11 We have a great collection of Gaming PC's in our online shop. Our shop includes other essential Gaming equipment like GPUs, Gaming Chairs, CPUs and much more. Lets improve your gaming experience today with the ADMI Gaming PC: Intel Core i5-13400F CPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | 32GB 3200MHz | 600mbps WiFi | 1TB NVME SSD | MSI 100R | Windows 11. https://www.remoteworkingoffice.com/product/admi-gaming-pc-intel-core-i5-13400f-cpu-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-32gb-3200mhz-600mbps-wifi-1tb-nvme-ssd-msi-100r-windows-11/?feed_id=6286&_unique_id=6740dd860d854 #gaming #gamingpc #fortnite #pcgamer #gamer #cod #callofduty

[govindhtech]

ASRock PSUs Are Now Compatible With PCIe 5.1 And ATX 3.1

ASRock PSUs

With the introduction of ASRock power supply units (PSUs) for the ASRock’s latest market is DIY. A world leader in motherboards, graphics cards, small PCs, and gaming displays, is once again broadening its product portfolio. The well-liked Taichi, Phantom Gaming, Steel Legend, and Challenger series are the names of the new PSU product lineup, which is made to accommodate a variety of user requirements.

The most recent Intel ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards are fully supported by ASRock PSU, which can handle instantaneous peak power loads ranging from 200% to 235%. By doing this, users are guaranteed reliable power supply for upcoming technology. The single-line output, which has native 12V-2×6 cables and can deliver up to 600W, is made to satisfy the demanding power needs of next-generation premium graphics cards.

Quick identification is made possible by the dual-color 16-pin connection design, which guarantees correct insertion into the GPU‘s power socket. In order to ensure system stability and safety, the Taichi and Phantom Gaming models also have a unique integrated NTC sensor that tracks connector temperatures in real-time and switches on protection mode if temperatures rise above acceptable bounds.Image credit to ASRock

Taichi Series Power Supply Unit

In addition to being certified for 80 PLUS and Cybenetics Titanium efficiency, the flagship Taichi series power supply unit also possesses Cybenetics LAMBDA A+ ultra-quiet certification. Two native PCIe 12V 2×6 cables are among the fully modular cables found in these PSUs, which come in 1650W and 1300W variants. With a 10-year warranty and premium parts like SiC SBD, Infineon CoolMOS, and all-Japanese capacitors, the series offers dependable power for extremely high-performance systems.

ASRock Phantom Gaming

Phantom Gaming Series Power Supply Unit

With cutting-edge technology and elegant design, the Phantom Gaming series power supply unit supports gaming systems. Gaming may be possible with 1600W, 1300W, 1000W, 850W, and 750W power options. LAMBDA Platinum & Gold Cybenetics ratings Acoustic and 80 PLUS Gold efficiency certifications guarantee energy efficiency and low noise.The fully modular design, native 12V-2×6 connectors, high-quality all-Japanese capacitors, and 10-year warranty ensure consistent gaming system power.Image credit to ASRock

Steel Legend Series Power Supply Unit

Steel Legend series power supplies come in “Steel Black” and “Steel White” and have 1000W, 850W, 750W, and 650W variations for mainstream systems. With 80 PLUS Gold efficiency, Cybenetics Platinum & Gold rating, and LAMBDA A+/A/A- acoustic certification, it delivers excellent energy performance.

The fully modular flat cable architecture and small 150mm shell facilitate smooth cable management and installation while enhancing airflow for ideal system cooling. The Steel Legend series power supply unit can offer the power for next-generation systems with the same strength and dependability as steel with premium all-Japanese capacitors and ASRock’s 10-year warranty.

Challenger Series Power Supply Unit

With 80 PLUS Gold models in 850W, 750W, and 650W options and 80 PLUS Bronze versions in 750W, 650W, and 550W, the Challenger series is designed for consumers on a budget. These power supply units use 120mm golf blade fans for outstanding cooling and silent operation, together with steady, high-efficiency power. The Challenger series is prepared to push boundaries now is the time to upgrade and comes with flat, hard-lined wires for simple installation and a 5-year warranty.

What is power supply unit?

The hardware part that transforms alternating current (AC) from a wall outlet into direct current (DC) for a computer or other electronic device is called a power supply unit (PSU):

The primary purposes of a PSU are:

Conversion: Changing a wall outlet’s high voltage AC electricity into DC current

Controlling the DC output voltage to the levels needed by the computer’s parts is known as regulation.

Distribution: Giving the remaining components of the computer access to the DC electricity.

PSUs are a crucial component of servers, laptops, PCs, and other devices like game consoles. To preserve the hardware’s integrity, they make sure the system gets clean, consistent power.

Read more on govindhtech.com