#Carrot food logo

[nr1-logo-design-inspiration]

Rabbit + carrot logo design concept 🐇 🥕

Write your thoughts on this 💬👇

Thank you! 🙏🧡

[faeriekit]

Lunch Break

a two-prompt phic phight fill for @fuyuthefoxwriter; demon!au and fangs

Notes: 1. This IS a continuation of my prev. demon!au (Visitation) 2. based on the laws of Phic Phight you CANNOT read the previous iterations, as it is nsfw and therefore cannot be linked 3. but for the already present fans…it’s a continuation from that. Also, it’s gray ghost. 

*

Valerie likes her boyfriend. 

He’s cute, with a button nose and blue eyes. He’s sweet. He’s kind, and he’s gentle, and if she leaves him alone he takes the toaster oven apart just to see how it works. It’s kind of like living with a small dog who takes apart pillows if you don’t give them enough attention. 

Valerie loves her boyfriend. 

…But the goddamn teeth. 

She pushes his face away, cutting off their kiss with no warning. Danny squawks. 

“Danny,” Valerie implores, again, because they are in public and not in the comfort of their own apartment, “If you cannot keep human teeth while we are making out, we are not going to make out anymore.”

Her stupid, human-shaped boyfriend pouts. Valerie should be pouting. Valerie has to avoid shredding her tongue like she’s kissing a cheese grater. 

Danny, who is the cause of all this, should not be pouting as if he’s been denied the opportunity to stick his tongue in her mouth for no reason, instead of his habit of turning his extremely normal and flat human teeth into something extremely hazardous to tongues and lips everywhere. 

Danny makes the world’s saddest eyes she’s ever seen. It’s very rude of him. Valerie deserves better. “But Val! I brought you lunch!” 

For one, it’s six in the evening. A more apt word might be ‘dinner’. Secondly…

“I work at a burger restaurant,” Valerie points out, arms crossing over the Nasty Burger logo on her shirt for extra emphasis. “I already have dinner. I also have to be back on shift in half an hour, so if you’re not going to put your teeth away, I’m going to finally finish Don Quixote or nap trying.” 

“Yeah, but you hate eating work food for lunch,” Danny points out, because he does do some very sweet things by 1) recognizing her likes and dislikes and 2) applying them liberally throughout their relationship. He holds up a weirdly large tupperware in his hands. It’s clear. It’s green. 

It’s Fenton salad. 

“...So my Mom packed you leftovers after I picked up stuff at the Ops Center, since she knows you like the dill vinaigrette she makes after the ectology conference every year, and she added the shredded carrot and the crumbly cheese you like since no one else in the house eats it, plus some of those little orange slices and the croutons…”

Valerie’s lips purse. Fenton salad. Her favorite. 

…She takes the container from Danny’s outstretched hands, determined to ignore his smug look. Valerie prefers to be right, but higher in priority comes accepting free food from her boyfriend’s mother.

“You’re welcome,” Danny offers, smugly sweet.

“If I kiss you, will you get me with your teeth again?” Valerie asks. She’s deeply suspicious of both his motives and the timing. 

“...Maybe?” 

Valerie looks at him. “Change your answer.”

“...No?” 

“Close enough.” Valerie draws him in, and Danny lets himself be drawn in; the kiss is sweet, and short, and tastes kind of like mandarin oranges. 

He definitely had some of her salad before sharing. Whatever. It’s a good thing she likes him. 

The kiss is lovely, and not very long; separating is a little harder, though, when Valerie realizes that Phantom’s tail is still wrapped around her waist. 

“...Danny.”

“Mmhm?” 

“I have a shift to get to.”

“Yeah,” Danny agrees, entirely ignorant to his least controlled limb holding her back. 

“So,” Valerie continues, and then scratches at the fur in his tail until he flinches with recognition. “Unwrap me, please.”

“Do I…have to?”

Valerie’s look flattens. Danny makes entirely unacceptable goo-goo eyes at her. 

“I have a shift in ten, and your mom’s salad to devour. Move it or lose it.” 

Danny’s tail unwraps. Danny sighs, leaning in for one last peck—

Valerie feels the tips of fangs bite explicitly into her lips. 

Her growl is hardly intimidated by Phantom’s rush of guilty laughter, her demon-shaped boyfriend slipping out of her fingers. Great. Now she can taste blood— the thing she was trying to avoid. 

Seeing him in all of his claws and fangs and teeth and horns in daylight was always a little strange; he was never quite opaque in sunlight. He was always a touch translucent, only just shifted outside of reality. 

And the stupid cow ears.

No, they're not endearing. Shut up.

It certainly didn’t help that if someone saw him turn into a demon, his whole ‘hiding his identity as a half-demon’ thing would be over! He needs to pick better spots for his random acts of infernal dramatics!

“I’m sorrrryyyy,” Phantom shouted from a healthy fifty feet away, floating in the air. It made him hard to reach, but an excellent target. “I looooovvee yoooouuu!” 

No. Valerie will resist reaching into her armor for a weapon to shoot her boyfriend out of the sky with. It is rude. It is unkind. More importantly, Valerie’s not interested in having a public identity reveal behind the Nasty Burger any more than Danny is. 

It’s fine. There’s other options. 

“Put a shirt on!” Valerie hollers back, hands over her mouth. 

Phantom’s mouth drops in the distance, little fangs glinting in the evening sunlight. His clawed hands go over his chest, looking for some perceived gap in his coverage. “I’ve got fur! I don’t need one!” 

“Exhibitionist!” Valerie heckles back. “Nudist!” 

Phantom squawks in offense. “Come on! I’m covered!” 

“Get some pants!” Valerie shouts back, finally attracting the attention of one of her employees. At the sound of the Nasty Burger’s nasty back door creaking open, Phantom bolts off. 

Good. That’s what he gets. 

Temerity peeks through the back door. Her name tag is upside down, again. “Boss…?”

Valerie brushes herself off, grabs a plastic fork from where it was sitting on her ebook reader, and reclines back onto the plastic lawn chair that counts as their ‘break room’. “It was nothing, Temmie. A demon got into the dumpster again.” 

“Oh.” Temerity’s countenance warms. She’d always had an interest in the local occult scene. “Did it leave anything behind?”

“Nah,” Valerie replies, popping open her tupperware. Just her lunch, apparently. “You need any help…?”

“Nope! We’ll be fine until you get back in.” 

That for sure means something’s wrong. Whatever; Valerie is totally satisfied to finish off the last fifteen minutes of her shift with some literature, a bucket’s worth of satisfaction, and her boyfriend’s dismayed texts pinging in bursts onto her phone. 

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 10, 2024

Reworked Character #1: Marco Rossi

POTENTIAL TRIGGER: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to neglect, self-harm, alcoholism, SA, death, and torture.

Real name: Marchrius Dennis Rossi

Alias: Intelligent Soldier

Occupation: Major of the P.F. Squad

Retirement plans: Become a mechatronics engineer, foster a bunch of kittens, and start a company that designs and develops functional computer models, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity programs for both military and civilian usage

Special skills: Proficiency in lightweight firearms, mechatronics engineering, computer science, intimidation tactics, and drunken-style boxing

Hobbies: Creating artificial intelligence and technological viruses from scratch, calculating complex mathematical equations and running times of computer programs in his head, taking naps at his desk, completing crossword puzzles, and stargazing

Likes: Cat cafes, maintaining his manliness, his quick mental calculation, going on smoke breaks with Tarma, Eri, and Tequila, and subway rides where there are little to no people around him

Dislikes: Large lines in front of restaurants, being wrongfully distracted from work, spending vast quantities of time away from Perifa and Midori, computer crashes paired with slow Internet, and torture

Favourite food: Chinese noodles (preferably its mildly spicy) and barbecued burgers and hotdogs with onions and honey-flavoured carrots

Sexuality: Sex-repulsed, aromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 17 (in 2022), 23 (in 2028), 25 (in 2030), 27 (in 2032), 29 (in 2034), 36 (in 2041), 38 (in 2043), 39 (in 2044), and 42 (in 2047)

Blood type: A-

Weight: 162 lbs. (73.48 cm)

Design: He's a 5' 7" (170.18 cm) Italian-American ectomorph with an average musculature, broad shoulders, ivory skin, a cleft chin, and dull turquoise eyes. Marco sports wavy strawberry blonde hair, characterised by a large forelock that falls to the tip of his nose on the right side. On the left, two short, thick strands with subtle waves curve gracefully above his eyebrow. His features are further accentuated by well-groomed sideburns and a neatly trimmed chinstrap beard.

He bears occasional dark circles under his eyes and a distinctive glass left eye in a lighter turquoise hue. He has accumulated several battle scars: a few stab wounds on his right shoulder; vertical cuts on his chest; a deep slice mark extending from the left side of his nose bridge to the back of his trapezius muscle; multiple lacerations and severe burns on his back; a large patch of scar tissue on his right lumbar region; and bullet wounds on both calves and one on his left thigh. To cope with his emotional pain, he has a history of self-harm, which has resulted in the horizontal scars visible on his right forearm, hips, and inner thighs.

He's well-known for his cutting-edge, cybernetic left arm crafted from sleek, high-strength metallic alloys and advanced, artificially intelligent flexi-circuits, allowing for enhanced strength, agility, dexterity, and precision. It also has micro-sensors and neural interfaces seamlessly integrating with Marco’s nervous system for intuitive control. It possesses a high-strength, serrated blade made of tungsten, capable of extending up to 12 inches (30.48 cm) from the forearm. It can temporarily deploy an energy shield that surrounds him, providing protection from incoming attacks. This shield is powered by advanced capacitors and optimised for maximum efficiency using AI technology.

Marco's military gear consists of a white headband, a metal dog tag necklace with his name, and a platinum grey sleeveless shirt. He wears a crimson vest with four pockets and an embroidered logo of the P.F. Squad on the back, alongside khaki-green army cargo pants tucked into his olive green paratrooper boots. He also wears a leather belt with a snap-on silver buckle, mahogany gloves, a sheath for his combat knife, and a gun holster for his trusty handgun. The pockets of Marco's army cargo pants carry two boxes of cigars, while his vest contains a gilded lighter he found in Gerhardt City, a black case for his garnet-hued reading glasses, and an old photograph of pre-teen him, his father, and his childhood cat on a leash at a park during autumn.

Over his shirt, he wears a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. His right forearm is wrapped in worn gauze, and he wears two black bandoliers that form an X-shape, holding bullets for his handgun. Marco carries a khaki-green load-bearing backpack containing camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, a Gatling shot, and a thunder shot. He's always carrying around a red-orange laptop adorned with a bronze circle on the lid, housing a black six-pointed star at its centre. This custom laptop serves as his mobile command centre, where he develops malware to breach enemy cybersecurity, tackles various classified technological assignments for the military, and works on personal software projects.

He wears his father's circular, gilded watch on his right wrist, using it to check the time as a reminder of his father's enduring presence and an opportunity to seek guidance from the past. The timepiece features an ivory dial with burgundy hands and black Roman numerals from I to XII, interspersed with four thin etchings. Additional details include a secondary display bar showing the time and AM/PM indicator, while a leather strap is secured with a matching gold buckle.

Character summary: He's a charismatic and cautious leader who takes immense pride in his high intellect, computer expertise, and masculinity. He's a self-reliant introvert who prefers to accept help and emotional support from others when absolutely necessary. His stoic demeanour is a constant, making it challenging for him to show humour or vulnerability. Due to being a workaholic, he has developed a harmful habit of neglecting his own basic needs, including eating when necessary. He mainly struggles with loneliness because he finds it difficult to form meaningful connections due to his exceptionally high intellect, which can make it challenging for others who may not be able to keep up with his level of understanding. He also struggles with major depressive disorder, trust issues, a fear of abandonment, and unresolved trauma stemming from past experiences. While Marco tends to internalise his emotions, he has learned to open up to trusted individuals when his burdens become too overwhelming to bear alone.

Despite his gentle and taciturn nature, he's capable of being ruthless and will fly into a deep rage when General Morden's name is mentioned near him. When interrogating others, he employs a menacing tone, his aloof demeanour making those on the receiving end feel uneasy and intimidated. He doesn't hesitate to wield threats of violence or exploit vulnerabilities, and with Trevor by his side, his intimidation factor is amplified. He's a socially awkward loner who doesn't tolerate distractions and has a strong fear of losing his current friends.

When experiencing great distress in relation to past trauma, he's prone to having a full-blown mental breakdown and indulging in suicidal ideation. Marco tends to get stressed easily, which has led to him developing a chain-smoking habit. He privately grapples with self-harm and binge drinking, often consuming multiple beers at once, while concealing his struggles with alcoholism and suicidal thoughts from those around him. He attempts to conceal his struggles with alcoholism by either excessively partying or withdrawing socially, and privately harms himself due to his reluctance to burden others or cause unnecessary concern. Additionally, he struggles with denial, finding it difficult to accept the loss of his father and former war comrades, and resisting the idea that he needs professional mental health support.

He has a dry sense of humour that he rarely showcases, and when he does, his witty remarks often blend English and Italian. Having learned some Japanese from Tarma and Eri, he occasionally sprinkles Japanese phrases into his jokes. He deeply cares about his friends and will stop at nothing to protect them, even if it means putting his own life at risk. He finds great comfort in the presence of his best friend, Tarma, thanks to his breezy and optimistic attitude. Although he doesn't always show it, he genuinely enjoys Tarma's jokes and appreciates listening to them, even if they occasionally test his patience. Additionally, he cherishes his calico shorthair cat, Perifa, a heartwarming birthday gift he received from Fio prior to the Survival Island Occupation.

He’s in a polyamorous queerplatonic relationship with Fio and Tarma, a bond that satisfies his deep-seated longing for emotional intimacy. He’s close friends with Trevor, regularly mentoring him in computer skills like reading binary code and enjoying social time together, but their occasional marijuana use has raised concerns due to Marco's pre-existing unhealthy smoking habits. He holds Tequila in high esteem, recognizing his pivotal contributions to the success of the Regular Army and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. special forces unit. He deeply values his wisdom, open-mindedness, fatherly demeanour, and exceptional covert agent skills. He dislikes accompanying Nadia on shopping trips because her constant meddling and overly inquisitive nature frustrate him.

Having never experienced raising children, he had always doubted his ability to provide love and be a good parental figure, consumed as he was by his own interests and mental health issues. But everything changed on Christmas, in the aftermath of the Unforeseen Invader Conquest, when he adopted an abandoned baby girl with striking features: pinkish-orange hair streaked with pale blonde and bright teal eyes flecked with dark brown. With the guidance and support of his friends, he discovered valuable parenting skills and named his new daughter Midori. He transformed into a loving, supportive, and overprotective father, dedicated to ensuring her happiness and safety. He made it a point to offer wise advice, hoping to spare her from his own past mistakes.

He found immense joy in watching Midori form close bonds with his friends, affectionately regarding them as uncles, aunts, and grandparents. Her friendship with Pocke, Walter's adoptive son and a Martian infant, brought him equal delight. He was particularly grateful for the ways his friends nurtured Midori's passions: Tarma and Alisa encouraged her interest in engineering, while Walter and Trevor fostered her love of music. He can't imagine a world without his adoptive daughter, who has brought him a new sense of purpose and motivated him to overcome his personal hardships.

He often mistakes Sophia Greenville for his mother due to their similar appearance, and he's always embarrassed when he accidentally calls her "mom”. Nevertheless, he's deeply grateful for the maternal affection she shows him, treating him like a son and unknowingly becoming the kind of mother he wishes he had. He finds comfort in spending quality time with his cat, affectionately referred to as his "dramatic little princess”. He enjoys engaging in playtime, giving gentle pets, and even using soothing baby talk to calm his feline companion. He's easily offended by people who rudely insult cats, going as far as to comfort the insulted feline and silently glaring at the person who uttered such words.

Whenever he's had too much to drink, he starts to act rowdy, easy-going, overly affectionate, and clingy. When sexual activity is mentioned, he reacts with extreme discomfort as he finds it to be disgusting. He’ll either become nauseous or start gagging, displaying expressions of strong distaste towards the person discussing the topic. If he unexpectedly encounters someone engaging in sexual activity, he often experiences a panic attack, feeling lightheaded and overwhelmed. In such situations, he usually tries to seek comfort and support from a trusted individual to talk to and receive a reassuring hug. This experience may also trigger unpleasant thoughts related to sexual matters, leading him to fear that he's somehow perverted and disgusting. He'll only lose his temper with others if they say something extremely rude to him or his friends, intend to hurt his loved ones or tell him blatant lies. Although he tends to have a pessimistic outlook on life, he sometimes manages to see the brighter side of things. 

He has a sleepwalking habit, often accompanied by vivid dreams of fighting or killing someone, which greatly annoys and frightens Tarma, who’s frequently the target of these nocturnal episodes. He resents being hailed as a war hero due to his intense aversion to fame and his conviction that conflict should prompt sombre reflection, not glorification. He dislikes flirtatious advances and has low tolerance for complaining, bullying or excessive talking, which can trigger irritability and extreme defensiveness. He feels uneasy with romantic inquiries and is secretly intimidated by Gimlet, whose rape threats, relentless verbal aggression, and frequent heated confrontations leave him on edge. He has a commanding presence that demands respect, and his consistently serious demeanour can make him seem intimidating and unapproachable to others.

He's incredibly introspective and prone to questioning the intentions of his friends and his own worthiness of having meaningful friendships. He defines his masculinity by embodying traits like physical strength, courage, independence, leadership, and assertiveness. However, he makes a conscious effort to avoid toxic masculinity by ensuring his behaviour doesn't harm others' feelings or self-worth. Despite this balanced approach, he admits to having some vanity regarding specific issues he considers unbefitting of his ideal masculinity, such as sagging pants and carrying toys, as he sees these as detrimental to personal dignity.

He's a consequentialist who believes that all life forms are more capable of destruction, ultimately prevailing the act of creation. He also believes that all conflicts are gradually moving towards the equitable unification and collective strength of humanity. In his perspective, it'll pave the way for a new era free from violence, hate, and political corruption.

Backstory: Marchrius Dennis Rossi was born on April 13, 2005 in Twin Falls, Idaho, United States. Marco's mother, Katalina, was a researcher for a secret government project, and his father, Salvatore Rossi, was stuck in a dead-end office job. His parents had a distant relationship and had Marco, hoping that a child would bring them closer together and fix their broken marriage, but they often ignored each other and argued. Katalina had never wanted Marco, viewing him as an unplanned consequence and a responsibility that hindered her career. His father provided unwavering support and care, while his mother was neglectful and emotionally absent, hiding her true behaviour behind closed doors. But despite this, Marco shocked his parents by exhibiting a fast-growing intelligence at a very young age.

From the moment he opened his eyes, he muttered his first word, "daddy". He learned how to walk at 3 months old and showed advanced motor skills by 5 and a half months. He skipped object permanence altogether and completed his first crossword puzzle at just 1 year old, astonishingly understanding political terms. By the age of 2, he had memorised all 50 U.S. states and read two books in their entirety, demonstrating a profound understanding of their documented subjects: moral philosophy and psychoanalysis. By 4, he was answering calculus-level questions and describing his feelings about endangered animals in zoos with sophisticated vocabulary.

From the age of 2, he would occasionally see a pair of glowing red eyes in darkened corners or places drenched in darkness. He described them as always watching him and swore that they belonged to a living, breathing creature that seamlessly blended into the darkness. When he turned 5, he created an imaginary friend as an excuse to enjoy his alone time and avoid befriending the children who frequented the local park. This imaginary friend was named "Jubby", and Marco often drew him, depicting him as an anthropomorphic snow leopard with golden eagle wings, Komodo dragon legs, and a face covered in a ball of black scribbles.

Before he turned 6, his neglectful mother, Katalina, grew fed up with how "weird" he was. She was also annoyed by his persistent fear of a glowing pair of red eyes that watched him occasionally and his uninterested attitude towards forming connections. While Salvatore was away from home, Katalina took matters into her own hands and packed her belongings. Before leaving, she noticed Marco standing before the basement door, which was wide open. She investigated and saw the same glowing pair of red eyes, which terrified her.

Believing that Marco was attracting an evil spirit, she pushed him down the basement stairs and locked the door, hoping to contain the perceived threat. Abandoning Marco, she left the house, leaving him absolutely terrified. Marco attempted to cope with the trauma by conjuring up Jubby, but he claimed that his imaginary friend never came to his aid. This painful realisation marked the day he began to harbour resentment towards his mother, feeling unappreciated, unloved, and viewed as a burdensome presence in her life. When Salvatore returned home and discovered that Marco was trapped in the basement by Katalina, he was infuriated. His father attempted to track down Katalina, but it was too late. This traumatic event instilled in him a lasting fear of heading down into dark basements alone.

During his time in grade 1, Marco struggled to make friends and often looked sad when he saw other children with their mothers, a concern his father noticed. To cheer him up, his father brought home a Turkish Angora with a black, orange, and white fur coat, which sparked Marco's love for felines. As a result of his childhood cat's fondness for eating bugs, he affectionately named her Grubley. At the age of five, his father introduced him to the world of computing, igniting a passion for computer science that would last a lifetime. Salvatore was always supportive of Marco and his passions, encouraging him to excel in school, chase his dreams, and make the most of the opportunities life has to offer.

Marco knew he had an uncle, but his father forbade him from seeing him. Salvatore had warned him that his uncle was untrustworthy due to his con artist lifestyle and struggled with alcoholism. However, he was permitted to visit his aunt and grandparents, who were incredibly kind. They encouraged him to appreciate nature and the simple things in life, rather than spending all his time on the computer. He has fond memories of his grandfather teaching him how to barbecue. His grandmother, an immigrant from Italy, taught him some Italian and often shared photographs she had taken in her home country before moving to the United States.

His father unknowingly sparked his interest in the Tuatha Dé Danann, an ancient race of demigods that existed before all life, and two antediluvian places, Atlantis and Ultima Thule. He would silently observe his father spend a short amount of time researching these fascinating topics when not working. Marco would eventually discover that he has a slight hint of Tuatha Dé Danann DNA, leading him to wonder if others might also have ancestral ties tracing back to the Hadean Eon.

He was bullied by many students for being perceived as "friendless" and for having an abnormally high intelligence, leaving him feeling isolated. A few students attempted to befriend him, but he rebuffed their efforts, fearing they would eventually abandon him. He also struggled to connect with them on an intellectual level, feeling like an outsider. During high school, he was involved in a few physical altercations, but he typically managed to defuse the situations with his words or, if necessary, defend himself relentlessly. In his spare time, he mastered the unconventional art of drunken-style boxing, giving him an edge in self-defence. Despite his school troubles, he excelled in all his classes and achieved outstanding grades in mathematics and computer science courses.

Before graduating from a state technical high school, Salvatore died due to health complications caused by Huntington's disease. Shortly after, Marco's beloved cat, Grubley, peacefully passed away in her sleep. Marco was devastated by these losses, compounded by the shocking revelation that his father had been secretly battling Huntington's disease without ever sharing his struggle with him. The last gift his father gave him was a red-orange laptop, which was intended to be a graduation present. Rather than letting the tragedy consume him, he transformed his grief into a driving force, cultivating resilience and independence. To move forward, he made the difficult decision to distance himself from his remaining family, seeking to leave the past behind and forge a new path.

He began developing artificial intelligence to engage in online debates and sophisticated computer software, including anti-viruses and error-checking tools, as a means to earn a living and hone his programming skills. He went so far as to meticulously rebuild and upgrade the desktop computer in his father's old office at home, enhancing both its design and performance. Marco decided to attend officer's school at the Academy of Special Technologies and subsequently joined the prestigious Peregrine Falcons Squad shortly after graduation.

Unlike many of his peers, he quickly distinguished himself through his exceptional leadership skills and computer expertise, earning him a spot as 1st Lieutenant of the P.F. Squad. This was also when he met Tarma, forming a fast friendship after discussing their interests, reminiscing on their childhoods, and having a couple of beers. Tarma was his first real friend, whom he holds dear, despite viewing him as a “maniacal gearhead”. Through his friendship with Tarma, he discovered the value of having friends and stepped out of his comfort zone to befriend the other members of the P.F. Squad and Regular Army. He would also gradually develop a queerplatonic relationship with Tarma as he deeply cherished their friendship and came to realise that it filled a void of emotional intimacy left by his father's passing.

During his time in the P.F. Squad, Marco created a computer virus for fun, which inadvertently spread to the Regular Army's mainframe server. The virus destroyed several security systems, compromised the lowest echelons of the Regular Army, and nearly triggered the launch of a nuclear missile. Fortunately, a military scout named Trevor, whom Marco would meet years later during his recruitment into the P.F. Squad, managed to stop it. Marco refuses to discuss this potentially disastrous incident, even after a few too many beers.

When the Amadeus Syndicate served as the scientific and medical branch of the Regular Army, Marco met Doctor Amadeus, the organisation's founder and Nadia's clone mother. They had a cordial relationship, and Doctor Amadeus was particularly impressed by Marco's exceptional computer skills. She wanted to utilise his talents for a bioengineering experiment, aiming to create super soldiers using abandoned Martian and Invader technology.

During a battle against a terrorist attack, Marco suffered severe injuries and was taken to one of the original Amadeus Syndicate's medical facilities to recover. Doctor Amadeus seized this opportunity to force herself upon him to collect semen and DNA samples, leaving him deeply traumatised. The experience was so distressing that Marco tried to suppress the memory, inadvertently forgetting much of the history and purpose of the Amadeus Syndicate in the process. He also swore his revenge to kill Doctor Amadeus one day for what she did to him. As a result of this event, he began to act strangely anxious and slightly aggressive when in a hospital or near Nadia for prolonged periods of time.

During the first coup led by General Morden, he scraped together the remnants of the Regular Army government forces to reassemble the P.F. Squad. He became the leader of the governmental resistance against General Morden but at a great cost. As he, his comrades, and his friends were approaching the last known base of the Rebel Army, disaster struck. General Morden and his soldiers ambushed them, seizing the opportunity to decimate the remnants of the P.F. Squad, leaving Marco with mental and physical scars that would haunt him forever. 

Marco endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of General Morden, Allen O'Neil, and the Rebel soldiers, who brutally tortured him, gouged out his left eye, and severed his left arm. After experiencing a strange tingling sensation of familiarity, General Morden realised that Marco possessed Tuatha Dé Danann heritage. Intrigued, he discreetly collected DNA samples from Marco, which would later be utilised by the Amadeus Syndicate for experimentation in bioengineering and advanced military technology. The cruelty continued as Morden forced Marco to witness the slaughter and torture of his comrades and friends. Devastated by the losses and horrors he experienced, Marco teetered on the brink of giving up. He was even convinced that his best friend, Tarma, had perished, plunging him into a deep depression. 

However, Tarma managed to escape the Rebel Army's clutches and staged a daring rescue, reuniting with Marco. With Tarma's emotional support and his own newfound rage, Marco found the strength to keep fighting. Before confronting General Morden, Tarma constructed his prosthetic left arm using technological debris and cutting-edge medical technology available to the Regular Army. However, it took him a couple of weeks to adapt to his new limb. Together, they became legendary heroes, ultimately defeating Morden and restoring world peace. Marco's bravery earned him the rank of Major, but he soon grew to resent his war hero status as he realised that the media often glorifies conflict.

Marco continued to lead the P.F. Squad together with Tarma, who is the true linchpin of the elite task force of the Regular Army. Marco joined forces with Tarma, Fio, and Eri for a second mission to thwart General Morden's second coup. Although the mission technically failed, as they captured a Martian troop from the Pipovulaj Army disguised as General Morden, the Regular Army's higher-ups deemed it a success nonetheless. This moment got on Marco's nerves as he deeply desired to see General Morden brought to justice and face the full consequences of his actions.

Following this success, Marco attempted to resign, but his higher-ups quickly denied his request. They insisted on his participation in a mission to eliminate the remaining remnants of the Rebel Army and other operations addressing threats to global peace such as the Pipovulaj Army.

[gladosisstillalesbian]

Your Name Is Chell

Chapter Four: Talk To Her - Read It On Ao3

-

Maybe, you think — and it makes you feel mean, but you think it, as you peel the carrots and snap them between your teeth — you just want something for yourself. Everything you have is shared: gifts with eyes and ears, clothing and bedsheets and old canned food with that same little logo that’s stamped across her side; even your time belongs to her, when she wants it. And she usually wants it.

Maybe “quiet” really means “alone.”

It’s not like you don’t like it — you smile when she comments on the films you watch, flush when she curls you close — but she has a way of taking things and turning them over. Opening them up, exposing their underbelly. A way of pulling things apart. Things can’t be shared once they’re so thoroughly digested — you just want to hold this for a little while before the dissection begins.

-

[danshive]

I’ve seen people say stores should be fined for not donating food past the “best by” date (which is different to a “use by” date, and is still perfectly edible and fine) instead of throwing it out.

I’m in favor of stores doing that, but I don’t like the idea of fining them for not doing so. That’s a stick approach. People don’t respond well to threat of punishment, and it should be a last resort used when there aren’t better options.

Depending on the egos and wealth involved, some businesses might just plan their finances around that loss.

While I could be mistaken, I think a carrot approach would be better.

What I have in mind is two rewards for stores that donate edible foods instead of throwing them away:

1 - Tax benefits, and a system in place that keeps the process from being a headache for stores. Make it a financial net-gain that way instead of threatening a fine.

2 - Official certification with a well-designed logo that stores can legally use in promotion if they meet the qualifications. Have it be good PR for the store with a ready-to-go, recognizable seal of approval they can use.

[obihiro-division]

"Fear is temporary. Regret is permanent.”  -Dan Skinner

Introduction

Hisoka Tetsumasu is the leader of the Obihiro division rap battle team, Veiled Vanguard. He is widely known by his old nickname, now stage name N. Although he is recognized today in the world of zoology as a man dedicated to breeding race and show horses in Japan, the shadow behind him details a long history of crime. The most significant of his old ventures cemented him as one of the first men to establish a black market on illegal hypnosis microphones. Now several years later, he reemerges back into the public eye, albeit unwillingly.

While most people may describe Hisoka as a strong, silent man who spares only a few words to his colleagues, Hisoka's true personality shows when he is isolated with his horses. That is a surprisingly soft, timid man who is absolutely obsessed with horses. While the circumstances that have led him to the northern part of Japan was unfavorable to say the least, Hisoka has been quite content raising horses for both racers, hobbyists, and even rich and famous people. This led to his connection with the Kamiyama family, the father of said family being a huge fan of the horses Hisoka and his colleagues raise.

Hisoka has been antagonizing the Chuohku government for years now, but with this sudden summons by the Chuohku officials, the man is doomed to sing and dance for his captors hoping he can find another way out from the mountain of damages and debt he has left in his wake.

Appearance

Currently Hisoka sports a head of long red hair that obscures a portion of his old tattoo; A dragon that wraps around the length of his right arm and up around the right side of his head. His eyes are a sunny yellow color.

Typically he sports a black, white, and pea green tracksuit, with the team's symbol on the front as a logo. The jacket of his tracksuit is typically unzipped and shrugged off his shoulders to show off his black turtleneck underneath. For footwear, he dons a pair of black combat boots. He also wears gloves, both to cover the end of his tattoo on his right hand and also for his work.

Hypnosis Microphone

Originally Hisoka had no talent when it came to wielding a real hypnosis microphone, which led to his making of faulty, weak hypnosis microphones. However after his life had been turned around and getting thrown into the D.R.B., his microphone actually takes form! Hisoka’s mic takes the form of a grey amethyst microphone with a silver horseshoe arching over the head of the square mic. Instead of being on a stand as most amethyst microphones typically are, it appears to be handheld. His speakers take the form of an abstract chandelier, with the main body acting as the main speaker. The branches of the speaker alternate between ordinary candle holders, to hands which wriggle and move around behind him (something he is having difficulty getting used to).

His rap ability “NULL” completely nullifies his opponent’s ability. This ability is dampened by the fact Hisoka is seemingly unable to use this ability on command, rather it is dependant on his emotions.

Hisoka’s gravelly voice makes for an intimidating factor. His chances for actually utilizing this effectively is dampened by his anxiety. While in the past he might have been able to egotistically sing about himself, a good majority of his tracks these days start with him repeating phrases as a way to hype himself up. But as soon as he can rid himself of his anxiety, he is surprisingly capable of returning to his old self, with a new appreciation of his teammates supporting him.

Entomology

Hisoka - Written as “scarlet”, “think”, and “song”. 

Tetsumasu - His last name literally translates to “iron growth” or “iron expansion”.

Trivia

Hisoka is right handed.

He loves horses and nearly all forms of racing but despises police officers, detectives, and anyone else that may pry into his life.

His favorite food is carrots while he hates red meat and brussel sprouts.

Surprisingly, Hisoka used to live a very reckless and dangerous life in his past dabbling in an array of violent and addictive habits. This was all dropped after his life was literally and figuratively destroyed by ████.

Due to the trauma he suffered at the hands of ████ Hisoka has severe PTSD. He has difficulties sleeping and can be irritable in stressful situations (no doubt something that’s going to increase).

Hisoka used to be a researcher that worked under Rei Amayado when the war had technically ended. Hisoka however chose to betray him and steal from Rei to establish his black market business after being influenced by his brother. Hisoka lives under the assumption Rei may be trying to hunt him down, although it’s unknown what the conman really thinks of Hisoka.

He owes a lot to the Rikiya family, especially to Toshiko Rikiya as she was the one who helped him recover and get him connected with the owners of Spur Stud Ranch.

[becomingkatie]

Theo is still not doing great. Now that we've been tracking his every litterbox attempt, it's clear that pooping is more of the trouble than peeing. He's peeing about twice a day, but only pooping every three days, and mostly outside the litterbox. Lots of going in and out of the litterbox before every pee and poop, having to try for each. It's heartbreaking, and he's on an all-wet food diet now to boost his hydration, and the vet recommended some additional supplements for his joints (he definitely has some pain) and his urinary tract in addition to pain medications in the hopes that some of the troubles are just that it hurts him to assume the position and not that something worse is wrong internally. But as more time goes on and he doesn't improve, it just gets hard. And of course putting the medicine in his food makes him not want to eat the food, and he won't take pill pockets anymore. He's tired of it. We're tired of it.

We didn't travel for Christmas like we'd planned, because we can't leave him with a sitter and feel comfortable right now. I still haven't mailed my brother and his wife their presents - since we were going to drive, there was no time pressure to prepare, and then when we cancelled our plans everything felt chaotic and I need to actually get them in the mail asap. I finally wrapped all but one, and that one is a mock-up of the pottery stamp and I had to wait for the paint to dry before I could wrap it. I wanted to make something for him to unwrap, but didn't want to buy it without talking with him first so he can decide what the stamp actually has on it, whether it's his signature or a logo or something else.

Since we can't really travel right now and she's semi-retired, my mom is coming to visit us. She's coming up today and staying three nights. It's a long drive at over eight hours. Not as long as the drive I used to make from here down to where she and my dad lived, but still not a fun solo drive. I'm very grateful she's making that drive just to see us, and I'm excited to give her her presents and hug her and have her see Theo. Part of me feels guilty for not traveling and feels like if she sees us mixing medicine into his food multiple times a day, tracking every litter usage, she'll be like "of course you couldn't travel!" Even though she and my brother were already like "do not worry! your cat is sick! stay home and do what you need to! we'll see you when we see you!" and didn't make us feel bad about it.

I'm trying to come up with some ideas for what to do while she's here. I've got food mostly figured out but not activities.

I've also been in a BAD MOOD lately, and I think a lot of it is that the year is ending and a new year is starting and I just feel like I failed this year? Like I feel disappointed in myself for not getting my next book finished and published, and instead of getting in better shape I slid into worse shape, and my head is just a really negative space right now. And when your own head is a negative space, that negativity leaks out. I keep a wall calendar specifically so I can look back at the end of the year and see all the things I did - remember that I started a writing group, that I played DND for the first time, that I grew carrots and turned them into cake, etc. So after Mom leaves when I have some alone time it's imperative that I spend some time turning this headspace around so I can stop spewing negativity. I'm not even enjoying being in my own presence, so I know Ken can't be enjoying it.

This has been... way more negative of a post than I realized! But the wrapping paper I bought this year is super cute, the gift I'm making for my best friend Molly is coming along adorably and I'm really excited to post pics here after I send it to her, and I have a consultation at the hair salon later to talk about cutting my hair and dying it pink! There's good!

[paranatellonta]

Be-wish-Dish

The camera slowly zooms in on a shallow, sparkling metal bowl filled with a colourful salad.

A high, slightly croaking voice starts talking: “Have you ever cooked dinner and wished it would turn into something else? Then the new Be-wish-Dish is what you’ve been waiting for! Any edible material you throw into the Dish will mirror the meal you’re really craving—why don’t you take a bite?”

Two hands with long, green nails cup the metal bowl and lift it in front of the stomach of a middle-aged witch with curly hair and a bright green hat. Suddenly, she looks straight into the camera and says: “Don’t be like me, though. Last week, my Be-wish-Dish was the nearest bowl around when I was mixing the ingredients for an extremely valuable spell, and I really thought I’d be able to resist—but I ate every last bit, because it just looked so good!”

The witch grabs a fork and digs into the colourful salad with gusto. As the camera zooms out and the Be-wish-Dish logo fills the screen, a deeper voiceover warns: “Be aware that food emulated by the Be-wish-Dish mirrors the properties of its components; if you are allergic to the original ingredients, you may experience the same reaction to the magically altered meal. In situations where the only available food is that which you’d rather not identify, however, the Be-wish-Dish is absolutely ideal.”

—

[Image description: Photo of a salad with grated carrots, chickpeas, small pieces of red bell pepper, red cabbage, and spring onion, in a metal bowl. The sides of the bowl reflect the colourful vegetables.]

[nerdyenby]

Orange time :D Ranboo pov

Pregame

Oh my goodness this bit

Sir you do not get to “Hey everybody” us after all of this

Garfield Kart????

WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS?? /aff

Ran made it a whole 12 minutes without laughing at himself, I’m so proud of them

“I don’t know who you think you are, Philza- phil- philza? I don’t know who the hell you think you are but his favorite food is goddamn lasagna” garfieldfan2487 my beloved

“Stop making me think, get out of here you ganti” losing my absolute mind

The eye contact and “… you like Garfield?” killed me

GARFIELD KART IS REAL?!!?! I thought they were clowning

Leaving himself a message and creating lore for their MCC scuffed persona is so Ranboocore

Aimsey instantly becoming Garfieldfan2487’s best friend can be so personal

Ran and Callum’s interaction is everything

“Just like Garfield gets destroyed by Mondays, I am getting destroyed by the IRS”

Ran FINALLY breaking character, it’s been almost an hour my liege, cmon /lh

So I was under the impression Martyn was pg, guess not lol

All the skins 😭

The music just being a single kazoo note on repeat is so good

Bingo but fast!!! :D

BINGO BUT FAST?!!

MCC really said no to democracy and I respect that

Bingo but Fast

Are… they actually all going to be bingo? I don’t know if I want to believe that

Shoutout to Martyn for actually having played this game before

Why are there elytras???

They have to say bingo 😭

I feel like they’re killing it but they’re in fifth lol

Ewwww why is the savannah green?????

Battle Box

Excuse me why isn’t this game sillier?? /j

Thus Noxite and Ranboo’s rivalry begins

Sneeg mvp :))

Martyn mvp!!!!

Eat the carrots!!

ORANGE V YELLOW MY BELOVED!!!

“Fist up or die” so true Kara

Magic school bus conversation my beloved

Ran and Phil throwing their chickens at each other is so silly of them

Hole in the Wall

The hitw logo <333

Ran is so excited, I can stop smiling

Ranboo could I get you to consider: accents

This whole event is just going to be overstimulation central and I’m ready for it

Martyn’s “Nuh uh, if my parents couldn’t get me to eat me vegetables then you can’t either”

Sot music <333

THEIR SPRINT :((

MY STREAMER POPPED OFF

Garf permission granted, still don’t know what that means tho

They’re so real about how ideal the stimulation of hitw with hunger is

Ranboo zooming in and making eye contact is so intimidating what

Survival Games

“I’m so garfed up right now” “damn dude” KARA

THE SURVIVAL GAMES LOGO <33333

What does MCCAF stand for?

Everyone laughing at Martyn taking fall damage is so silly of them

The way the music cuts out just before they encounter their first other team is legit terrifying

“Is there a /top command?” 😭😭😭Ranboo my favorite Techno stannie

“You can now use /top” MCC MY BELOVED 😭😭😭

No clue how or when they got in first but I love that for them

Phil is merely playing Rocket Spleef, okay? Let the man enjoy himself /lh

The scoring is scuffed, don’t worry about it

SYLVEE TOP 5!!!

High key thought my computer froze when Ranboo just walked up to Phil and stared into the camera

TGTTOSAWAF

“I’m trying to maximize our garfage, okay?” “You can’t garf when you’re dead, Sneeg! There’s no garfing in hell!” […] “Of course you can, you’ve never been more surrounded by orange, that’s where we’re supposed to be” “I jump into the lava to be reunited”

I expected the dark to be darker ngl /lh

Now THIS is dark darkness

This is exactly the level of chaos I was craving

I was restraining myself from making a “gay on gay crime” joke when Ant justified punching Ran with “the chick-fil-a took over my keyboard, I’m sorry”

Slow falling into the void is so painful

“Who’s being a guy?” “Not me” RANBOO 💕💗💖💕💕💗💖 or should I say 💛🤍💜🖤

Kara asking if she can swear in game 5 is iconic, Sneeg is right there queen /gen

Kara going feral, as she deserves <333

Why is Martyn surprised? He was popping off

Martyn getting a screenshot of himself in the top ten “Sending that one to mum” I love him, okay??

“Dodgebolt with multishot” Sneeg is so real for that

Kara just had a kazoo on hand?? And perfect pitch??????

Sands of Time

Kara and Martyn having a whole “no you first” “no YOU first” over who gets to run is so!!!

Ranboo calling H a nerd, my streamers <333 (but seriously I don’t know if they’ve really interacted? Like they were both on dsmp but I can’t remember anytime they’ve actually spoken)

That sound effect is so cruel but if that’s the only thing scuffed about sands I’m happy

Omg what if all the vaults were down the same path

“Oh surely” “don’t call me Shirley”

Ranboo you idiot

You died in lava pal, the key is gone

They are merely gaming

That reaction was so delayed lol

Ran snickering at “under where?”

That was terrifying but so cool, it’s really lucky that they went in with like 30 seconds left

I really do want Ranboo to get third

Martyn being terrified of buildmartmanager!Grian is so real

Ranboo is so Techno-coded this MCC :((

Big Sales at Build Mart

Awww it’s the og map

The new game logos are everything, I would sell my soul for stickers of them

“Oreos!!” “No, that’s ore” “Oh” me too Kara, me too

Ran falling twice in a row and Sneeg just laughing at them

I’m actually down for the little nether run

Ran and Aimsey stopping mid game to wave at each other my beloved

Noooooo

Wow they are really bad at this /aff

Skyblockle

This event is just a love letter to everyone who’s been here since the beginning and it makes my heart really happy

The way they made a scuffed logo for this game because it’s the only time it’s getting played does something to me

WHY IS RANBOO TAKING A SELFIE???

I’m so down for end crystals actually

Sneeg mvp!!!

“I think I’m the April fool” we been knew Ran

Martyn mvp

Oli my beloved

BLUE!!!! IM SO PROUD OF THEM!!!

GEM WON!!! MASSIVE DUB FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE

Yeah yeah, I may be a Ranboo fan first and foremost but I’m rooting for almost everyone but him, they deserve to maintain their status as career loser /aff

Dodgebolt

HELL YEAH!!!

Ok I got spoiled (saw Skeppy won) but yellow and green!!! Aimsey and Oli!!! My bois!!!!

I think Oli wins no matter what, actually

PUNZ /pos

OLI MY BELOVED 😭

This is insane, I want a 1v8 here lmao

JOEL!!!! Blue was my pick going in so I’m happy no matter what lol

THAT TRADE!!!

FROG WIN!!!!

INSTANT BETRAYAL!!!

ANOTHER TRADE?!!?

Revenge lol

“Babes I died” “It’s okay babes” GLOWDUO OWN MY ENTIRE SOUL

Punz and Krinios are IN SYNC

EMPIRES WIN!!!

Martyn popped off <333

Chicken infection????

THEY ADDED THE PLAGUE TO MINECRAFT

Martyn’s chicken noises are everything

Every MCC should end with zombie tag, actually

I love this team so much

Martyn just sounds like Elmo now 😂

“I’m working, honey. You gotta bawk to pay the bills” I’m dying

Can’t believe Noxite is vaccinated smh /j

I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it a million more: SCOTT SMAJOR NEVER MISSES!!! He always does a superb job of making teams and matching vibes and he absolutely deserves to be proud of that

[nr1-logo-design-inspiration]

"Letter C + carrot" logo 🥕

[sgtmickeyslaughter]

Weekly Tag Wednesday

thanks for tagging me @jrooc @lingy910y and @iansw0rld ive had a hellish day and this was fun!

name_gigi

location_looking at this iconic building while i wait for my horrible afternoon meeting to start thinking about how i prayed for this big girl job and now i have to...do the big girl job

and now for the randomness!  tell me your most and least favorites of:

candy?

most_i like a lot of chocolates, but the white rabbit candy logo is my favorite and i always pick up a bag when i see it

least_peeps, fuck those nasty little weirdos

seasons?

most_spring! rebirth and light!

least_depends on where you are, summers in the city are miserable but if i had to experience winter in a place where i had to shovel snow it would be game over

hot beverage?

most_coffee <3

least_super sweet hot apple cider, it hurts my teeth

cold beverage?

most_super cold fresh water also iced coffee <3 <3

least_coca-cola, same reason as cider i dont like really really sweet things

colors?

most_pink and olive

least_dark/saturated purples

vegetables?

most_any delicious roasted vegetable

least_any boiled/most steamed vegetables

traditional foods from your country state?

im not going to use the names but...ifkyk

most_cubed raw fish in sweet/savory sauce and fried spam on rice w/ nori

least_bland white fish steamed in banana leaves

insects?

most_moths

least_those little creepys like house centipedes/earwigs i haaaate them and spend all summer viciously murdering them

cake flavors?

most_funfetti or carrot cake (mickey's nickname for ians ass btw)

least_probabaly a bad chocolate or red velvet esp with a bad cream cheese frosting

non-gallagher or milkovich shameless characters?

most_anne 😍 cutest on the show

least_kash and linda karib yall deserve each other fr 😒

what about you? @st4rrylesbian @gallavichroom @mickeyheartian @darlingian @fierromilkovich @gallawitchxx

[nimblermortal]

@icryyoumercy

I’m sorry, I’m going to wake you up, let me just be a little bit quieter over here...

This might be the best package you’ve sent me yet and I haven’t even opened the bag yet. Chain wear indication in German? A pencil that grows when you’re done with it?

I feel like Hyacinth probably has encountered such a pencil before, but I have not.

And you sent me sprinkles! You’re proving a point from a conversation we had months ago! I am excited to open them and taste them. Hmmmm what sort of cake can I make in order to decorate... or should it be chocolate shortbread cookies? I can’t really decorate a sour cream marbled pound cake, or an angel food... usually I decorate Hyacinth’s carrot cakes... and the flourless chocolate tort would make a good base... I may have to do Cake January again after all.

TWENTY GRAMS OF PROTEIN IN ONE GRANOLA BAR? Holy cow, what sort of utopian future are you living in? What does that even taste like? I kind of want to open it up with my whole family and have us all have a nibble, but I also want to keep it in the car forever next to my emergency sunflower seeds...

I don’t know if “<big>Chocolat: 64% Cacao</big> für feine Desserts <small>auch zum naschen</small>” is funny for real but I think it is.

POWER MALT POWER MALT MY FAVORITE! I hoarded the last one so hard I ate the last bites in the weeks before Christmas. I will try to do better with this trust. OH MY GOSH I WILL HAVE TO BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO OF THEM!

Wow this is. An immense load of chocolate. This is really impressive.

I’m not sure if the Ruweilfabriek tag is an intended part of this package but it is received and acknowledged. (Do you know the manufacturer Hirschmann? I keep explaining to techs how the H in their logo is a pun.) There’s also a mysterious suction thing that unscrews into two parts. I have dropped one on my computer. There may or may not be a decoder ring in your letter but I refuse to read it until I’ve been properly astounded and baffled by the rest of the items.

CHOCOLATE FROM GONDOR. (Giandor) MIT MANDELCREMEFÜLLUNG? Excellent, I love almonds! Hyacinth doesn’t like primary almond flavors so I get that one to myself :)

Zuckerfondantfüllung, interesting, I wasn’t aware fondant could be... more than technically edible. An experiment!

Mm, Haselnüssen. In den USA gibt’s fast keine Haselnüssen, stattdessen haben wir Erdnüsse, und deswegen ist es etwas besonderes, Haselnüssen zu finden, obwohl ich weiß dass sie in Europa genauso enttauschend wie Erdnüsse hier seien sind. Seien sind? Is that a real thing?

Tourist habe ich vorher gekriegt, das ist auch gut. Nicht für teilen mit dem Hund. Und Bärnerschoggi auch! Aber Cremant ist neu, meine ich. 55% ist aber fast nicht dunkel... hier, aber wir haben Herscheys. I’ve read entire books about why American chocolate is so terrible and it comes down to freakin’ wossisname Herschey deciding to ignore all existing knowledge about how to make chocolate and come up with his own process for - guess what! - an inferior type that tastes of candle wax. And yet Americans learned to eat it, despite knowing that European chocolate was better, which is why German and Swiss chocolates have such nice reputations, and somehow we’ve never replaced the godawful stuff.

[optional rant about chocolate being grown and native to very different parts of the world from where it’s famous for whoaaaaa it’s time to lie down again guess what guess what Patrick today I learned to clean sinks. not the sink part. the U-boat part. Which is not an U-Boot sondern. With pipes. Ye ken? Taken them apart to make the extra stinkyslime. For drainage purposes.]

Update: Hyacinth says thank you for the espresso chocolate, which I told him was his, and then I explained that you didn’t really send it at him because it’s coffee, and he said well tell him thank you anyway then maybe I will get more, and I said well I will certainly share the rest it’s about a kilogram of chocolate, and he said well tell him thank you anyway then maybe I will get more, so that’s Hyacinth for you, he says Thank you.

[vulpine111]

I would like to draw some purple bats eating fruit for the Food Not Bombs poster.

I'm not sure what sort of bats do this (if any) but I wanted to draw them next to pomegranates. Bats and pomegranates are associated with goddess Persephone. I have a feeling she'd be happy if I went through with this.

For a different poster, I would probably do a handful of rabbits eating carrots. The rabbits would also be purple! (In honor of the fact the Food Not Bombs logo's hand is purple, lol.)

[foyil420-blog]

Creating A Creative Blog Name

Hello and How is your day? GmaKelly here with some Creative ways to name your Blog. I found a fountain of information on Creating a Creative Blog Name. I love it, wish I had found this when I named mine. This makes it so much fun to come up with a name that you can be proud of for years to come. Creating a Blog Name Determine Brand Value You already have determined your Niche and probably some Keywords. You want your Blog Name to be relevant to your Niche. Something that has visibility, and it relatable to you, meaning when they see the name they see your Blog or Product. Identify Target Audience Along with identifying your Niche, you should have also identified your Target Audience. You want your Blog Name to be a recognized term for that demographic. ie: someone that is 50 yrs old will not have the same understanding of someone that is 25. Brainstorm Potential Names Make a list of all the Names you can think of. Even the ones that are just stupid. Don't laugh, stranger things have happened. Take that list and run them through Google, see what's available, what's taken, what is similar. Check a Niche Research Tool and compare the result Is the Name Available: When you settle on 2 or 3 names you want to make sure those names are available as a Blog Name or even a Domain Name. You don't want to end up promoting someone else's site, Test It! Test it by asking your friends, co-workers and anyone else whose opinion you value, how do they like the name for this product or service. Roll around in your mind. Is it easy to say, spell, is it memorable? Put Brand Everywhere! Once you have established your Blog Name or Domain Name, you will still need a Logo. Your Brand includes not only the Blog Name but also the Logo. They both need to be memorable and connected to your Niche. Then spread that EVERYWHERE you can, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. You want to get as much exposure as possible. Post your Blog regularly to all these sites. It not only expands your exposure but it also breeds trust with your readers. See my Post:Building Your Money Making Brand Ways to Create Crazy Names I looked up some Creative Names On-line and came up with this list: (note: According to Kinsta.com these are live sites, so none of these are available). Unique Names - Arctic Wolf Network - (security) - Purple Mango (multiple businesses) - Blue Kite Website Solutions - The Maroon Door (restaurant) - Unchained Carrot (market) Use or Make-up Words - Intrepid - Adventurous (travel marketing) - Defendify - security - Kaboom Fireworks - Wanderer - travel - Semi Colon Bookstore Use an Idiom, Adage or Common Phrase - When Pigs Fly - food - Light As A Feather - health - To Each Their Own - beauty - Bent Out of Shape - jewelry - Soft As A Grape - clothing Something Epic - Atlantis Sports Club - Titan Alarm - Jarvis Surgical Catchy Business Name - Combine Words - Groupon - Omnilert - Securiteam - Intelivision Rhyming - cognitive memory key influencer - 7-Eleven - Hobby Lobby - ElemenOPillows - The KnickKnack Shack Miscellaneous Naming Suggestions: - Use your Focus Keyword or 2 and string words together, create your own word. - Use your Own name - best if you have already have a following - Use a Thesaurus - find like words ie: Target - Bullseye - Use Alliteration - ie: Starbucks Stories - Use Acronyms or Abbreviation - ie: NASA, AARP, - Portmanteau (2 words added together) ie: Labradoodle - can be confusing - Common Saying - - Words in Another Language - ie: Blog de Pelis - Choose a Random Name - ie: The AV Club - movie reviews - Check Competitors Names - ie: Allstate has an Allstate Blog Final Thoughts There are over 600M Blogs posted daily around the World, standing out will be difficult. But keep your Niche and Target Audience in mind and that narrows down the target quite a bit. Naming your Blog or Domain can be a daunting task for some. You have to take so many different factors into account. I hope you enjoyed this post. I was amazed at some of the options to come up with names that I never thought to consider. If you have questions or comments please leave them below, or do you have a Unique or Creative Blog Name leave me a message and tell me about it. Thank you for sharing your time with me. Have a great day! GmaKelly To learn more about Blogging and How to Make Money from Home click here. Read the full article

[financialsecrets]

Creating A Creative Blog Name

Hello and How is your day? GmaKelly here with some Creative ways to name your Blog. I found a fountain of information on Creating a Creative Blog Name. I love it, wish I had found this when I named mine. This makes it so much fun to come up with a name that you can be proud of for years to come. Creating a Blog Name Determine Brand Value You already have determined your Niche and probably some Keywords. You want your Blog Name to be relevant to your Niche. Something that has visibility, and it relatable to you, meaning when they see the name they see your Blog or Product. Identify Target Audience Along with identifying your Niche, you should have also identified your Target Audience. You want your Blog Name to be a recognized term for that demographic. ie: someone that is 50 yrs old will not have the same understanding of someone that is 25. Brainstorm Potential Names Make a list of all the Names you can think of. Even the ones that are just stupid. Don't laugh, stranger things have happened. Take that list and run them through Google, see what's available, what's taken, what is similar. Check a Niche Research Tool and compare the result Is the Name Available: When you settle on 2 or 3 names you want to make sure those names are available as a Blog Name or even a Domain Name. You don't want to end up promoting someone else's site, Test It! Test it by asking your friends, co-workers and anyone else whose opinion you value, how do they like the name for this product or service. Roll around in your mind. Is it easy to say, spell, is it memorable? Put Brand Everywhere! Once you have established your Blog Name or Domain Name, you will still need a Logo. Your Brand includes not only the Blog Name but also the Logo. They both need to be memorable and connected to your Niche. Then spread that EVERYWHERE you can, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. You want to get as much exposure as possible. Post your Blog regularly to all these sites. It not only expands your exposure but it also breeds trust with your readers. See my Post:Building Your Money Making Brand Ways to Create Crazy Names I looked up some Creative Names On-line and came up with this list: (note: According to Kinsta.com these are live sites, so none of these are available). Unique Names - Arctic Wolf Network - (security) - Purple Mango (multiple businesses) - Blue Kite Website Solutions - The Maroon Door (restaurant) - Unchained Carrot (market) Use or Make-up Words - Intrepid - Adventurous (travel marketing) - Defendify - security - Kaboom Fireworks - Wanderer - travel - Semi Colon Bookstore Use an Idiom, Adage or Common Phrase - When Pigs Fly - food - Light As A Feather - health - To Each Their Own - beauty - Bent Out of Shape - jewelry - Soft As A Grape - clothing Something Epic - Atlantis Sports Club - Titan Alarm - Jarvis Surgical Catchy Business Name - Combine Words - Groupon - Omnilert - Securiteam - Intelivision Rhyming - cognitive memory key influencer - 7-Eleven - Hobby Lobby - ElemenOPillows - The KnickKnack Shack Miscellaneous Naming Suggestions: - Use your Focus Keyword or 2 and string words together, create your own word. - Use your Own name - best if you have already have a following - Use a Thesaurus - find like words ie: Target - Bullseye - Use Alliteration - ie: Starbucks Stories - Use Acronyms or Abbreviation - ie: NASA, AARP, - Portmanteau (2 words added together) ie: Labradoodle - can be confusing - Common Saying - - Words in Another Language - ie: Blog de Pelis - Choose a Random Name - ie: The AV Club - movie reviews - Check Competitors Names - ie: Allstate has an Allstate Blog Final Thoughts There are over 600M Blogs posted daily around the World, standing out will be difficult. But keep your Niche and Target Audience in mind and that narrows down the target quite a bit. Naming your Blog or Domain can be a daunting task for some. You have to take so many different factors into account. I hope you enjoyed this post. I was amazed at some of the options to come up with names that I never thought to consider. If you have questions or comments please leave them below, or do you have a Unique or Creative Blog Name leave me a message and tell me about it. Thank you for sharing your time with me. Have a great day! GmaKelly To learn more about Blogging and How to Make Money from Home click here. Read the full article

[mamcc]

Improving customer experience through nudges: Instacart

Instacart’s tagline is “grocery shopping made easy.” Additionally, the brand’s logo is a small orange carrot on a simple green color pallet symbolizing healthy, fresh ingredients. Efficiency and improved health were two drivers that attracted me to shift from in-person to digital grocery shopping in 2018. At the time, I was regularly traveling internationally for work and Instacart allowed me to manage one aspect of my life from afar. The company made the promise that I could plan and order groceries even while I waited in a distant airport. In the first few years using the service, it did indeed deliver on this promise of more control over a busy schedule. Further, the company also provided a path to maintaining a healthy diet. After being on the road, I could seamlessly return home and shift back into a comfortable routine of meal prep.

Now, five years into using the service I’m debating cancelling because it feels like the brand is failing to deliver on its promises consistently. Based on this week’s reading, I identified two customer touch points and nudges the company is using that are counter to the brand image and value proposition.

Efficiency nudge. The brand has built a model where the customer selects what day and time their groceries are delivered from a list of time slots. More recently, the company introduced nudges to prompt the customer to select unpopular times like early mornings, late evenings, or even the following day to smooth out operational inefficiencies and address the tight labor supply (shoppers and drivers). This nudge is accompanied by discounts, like $3 off your order. As a cost-sensitive student with more schedule flexibility, I often follow through with these nudges and select discounted time windows. However, I’ve found that more often than not my order is still delayed. This outcome detracts from the trust that Instacart has built with customers. Customers are engaging with its nudge under the belief that their order will be delivered according to their selection and with efficiency. However, instead the customer is experiencing inefficiency, delays, and what feels like Instacart misrepresenting the accuracy of their delivery capabilities.

Health nudge.  As a health sensitive customer, I appreciate the access  Instacart provides to a range of grocery stores and products. However, the company has started to promote the purchasing of unhealthy, processed foods. Nudges occur during the shopping touch point. As you add products to the cart or finalize your order the company will ask if you want to take advantage of discount opportunities. These are usually discounts on the bulk purchasing of unhealthier brands (Kraft, General Mills) that are selling sodas, cereals, snacks, and condiments. As a customer it feels the brand is being somewhat disingenuous in how it messages the importance and value it places on advancing health outcomes. Further, the brand has the opportunity to customize discounts based on customer ordering patterns but instead trying to offload cheaper, processed foods.

Perhaps if the company improved these customer touch points to be in line with customer interests and brand image it could improve loyalty. Further, there are definitely opportunities to more effectively customize nudges based on customer segment, as well as ordering patterns and interests.