#Exhibition Stand Dismantling | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

girlrotterr · 6 months ago

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— "𝐿𝛦𝛢𝑉𝛦 𝑊𝐼𝑇𝛨𐒆𝑈𝑇 𝛢 𝑇𝑅𝛢𝐶𝛦."

𝑃𝛢𝐼𝑅𝐼𝛮𝐺: artist!ellie x fashion designer!reader

𝘚𝑌𝛮𐒆𝑃𝘚𝐼𝘚: You attend an art exhibition where you unexpectedly lock eyes with your ex-girlfriend, Ellie Williams, whom you haven't seen in years.

𝛢/𝛮: omg?! not me becoming consistent?! heavily inspired by "no one noticed" by the marias!!

The gallery is a cathedral of silence, punctuated only by the soft clicking of heels against the polished hardwood floor and the low murmur of voices echoing from every corner. The walls are a crisp, sterile white, meant to let the art breathe. But tonight, they seem oppressive, closing in on you as the weight of old memories seep through the cracks of time. You’re standing in the midst of it all, surrounded by strangers who admire Ellie’s work like they’re deciphering some abstract language.

But to you, it’s not abstract. It’s painfully familiar.

Your eyes drift over the crowd, catching fragments of conversation—chatter about technique, boldness, meaning—but they wash over you like background noise. Your mind is elsewhere, pinned in the past.

College felt like a lifetime ago.

It was chaotic, with you balancing late nights in the sewing lab, surrounded by mannequins and fabric swatches, while Ellie lived in the art studio, her hands constantly covered in charcoal, paint, or ink. There had been nights when you’d find her sprawled on the floor, sketching out her wildest ideas with frenzied energy, and you’d sit beside her, watching her create worlds you could only dream of.

Back then, you both were consumed by your passions and each other. She’d stay up late to help you finish a garment, sewing alongside you even though she hated it, just so she could be near. And you? You’d sit in on her critiques, quietly fuming when anyone dared to criticize her work, even though she could take it, even though she loved the fight. The memory of her smirk when she’d dismantle an argument from one of her professors—god, it still lingers.

But the fire that had burned so bright between you had also scorched everything in its path.

You remember the late-night arguments, when both of you were too stubborn to apologize, too young to realize that passion wasn’t enough to hold everything together. The breakup wasn’t dramatic—no shouting, no tears. Just a slow unraveling, a quiet drifting apart until one day, it was done. She moved on. You moved on. Or at least, that’s what you told yourself.

The years that followed had been a blur of fashion internships and city lights. You threw yourself into your work, traveling between studios, pouring every ounce of yourself into fabric, stitching your broken pieces into new designs. You hadn’t heard from her since. Not directly, anyway. You’d seen her name float around in the art world, her work gaining traction, and each time, you’d feel a pang of something you couldn’t quite name. Pride? Regret? A mixture of both.

And now, here you are, in her world once again.

Your gaze is drawn to the painting in front of you—a massive, turbulent landscape of violent brushstrokes and bold colors. The reds are fierce, like anger seething just beneath the surface, and the blues are deep, almost suffocating. It’s raw. Emotional. It feels like her. It feels like you. The two of you, tangled in something you couldn’t quite control. You step closer, your breath catching in your throat as you notice the delicate lines etched into the paint—small, subtle marks hidden beneath the chaos. You know those marks. She used to make them with the tip of her palette knife, carving out tiny details that most people wouldn’t notice unless they really looked.

You’re staring so intently at the painting that you almost miss the moment she walks into view.

Ellie.

The air shifts the second she enters your line of sight, like the whole room inhales in unison. Your heart stumbles over itself, beating out of rhythm, as if trying to catch up with the sudden rush of emotions flooding through you. You haven’t seen her in years, but it’s as though no time has passed at all.

She’s changed, but not in ways that feel unfamiliar. Her hair is still short, though it’s more trimed now, less uneven than you remember. She’s wearing that same damn brown jacket, the one she always wore like a second skin, only now it’s more worn, the creases deeper, the edges frayed. Her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, revealing the tattoo that winds around her forearm— you remember tracing with your fingers in quiet moments. There’s a confidence to her now, a steadiness that wasn’t there before, like she’s found some kind of peace, even if it’s only partial.

But then there’s her eyes. Still that piercing green, sharp enough to cut through glass, or in this case, through the crowd. You watch as she shifts her weight, one foot tapping lightly on the floor, her posture betraying a flicker of unease as she nods absentmindedly to whoever she’s speaking to. Her hands are deep in her pockets, her thumb worrying the edge of the denim, a sign that she’s restless. She used to do that when she didn’t want to be somewhere—when she was lost in thought, in another world entirely.

You know her. You know her so well that it aches.

And then, as if drawn by some invisible string, her gaze lifts, scans the room, and lands on you.

It’s electric. The second your eyes meet, it’s like the ground shifts beneath you. Time folds in on itself, collapsing the years between you into this one fragile moment. You can see the shock in her expression, the way her brows twitch upward, just barely, before her features settle into something more controlled. But there’s no hiding the way her shoulders stiffen, or the slight parting of her lips like she’s forgotten how to breathe for just a second.

You’re both standing still, two statues carved in the midst of a gallery filled with movement, but you may as well be the only people in the room. Her green eyes are locked on yours, and for a moment, you swear you see a flicker of something there—something that mirrors the knot of emotions tightening in your chest.

Recognition. Pain. Something unfinished.

You can feel your pulse in your throat, in your wrists, in the way your fingers tremble as you drop your gaze for just a second. When you look back up, she’s still watching you, her expression unreadable, a mask of calm that you know too well. But underneath it—god, you know there’s so much more. Years of silence. Years of things unsaid.

She doesn't move. And neither do you.

You both just... stand there, holding onto the fragile tension between you like a thread waiting to snap. The air is heavy with what could be—what might’ve been—what still lingers between you like smoke from a fire that never quite burned out.

It’s your sophomore year, late spring. You remember because the air had that soft, electric warmth that made everything feel alive. You were both sitting on the edge of the campus fountain, surrounded by the sound of splashing water, the soft hum of people passing by, and the occasional flutter of birds overhead. Your fashion projects had been spread out between you—loose sketches and fabric samples fluttering in the light breeze—while Ellie’s hands were smeared with charcoal from a half-finished drawing she couldn’t quite get right.

“I don’t get how you do this,” she had muttered, frowning at one of your illustrations. She held it up to the light, squinting as if that would make the delicate lines make more sense. You had laughed, the sound coming out lighter than you’d intended, mostly because of how seriously she was studying your work. Like it was a puzzle she had to solve.

“It’s just fabric,” you’d teased, leaning closer to her to catch a glimpse of her concentrated expression. “You make art out of nothing but feelings—this should be easy for you.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t hide the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Art out of feelings, huh? That’s one way to put it.”

You watched her for a second longer, your gaze tracing the familiar curve of her jawline, the sharpness of her cheekbones, the way her hair stuck up no matter how much she tried to tame it. There was a smudge of charcoal on her nose that she hadn’t noticed yet. You found yourself leaning in, almost without thinking, using your thumb to wipe it away. The moment your skin touched hers, her body went still—like you’d pressed pause on her every movement.

Her green eyes flicked to yours, and for the first time since you’d met, there was a shift. Something unspoken passed between you, heavy and undeniable, hanging in the air between your breaths. You were close—closer than you usually were. And you could feel the heat radiating off her skin, mixing with the spring warmth, making the space around you feel almost too small.

Ellie cleared her throat, her gaze dropping to your hand still lingering on her face. “You, uh… you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.”

The words came out before you could stop them. And then the silence stretched out, pulling taut as the world around you blurred and fell away. The distant laughter of students, the splashing water of the fountain—it all melted into the background until the only thing you could focus on was the way Ellie was looking at you.

It wasn’t a stare. It was deeper. Like she was seeing you for the first time, really seeing you.

You didn’t move. Neither of you did. Time slowed, and in that moment, every boundary you’d carefully drawn between friendship and something more started to dissolve. You could hear your heart beating in your ears, your chest tight with anticipation, with something you hadn’t let yourself name before now.

Ellie’s breath hitched, so soft you barely noticed. “You shouldn’t say stuff like that,” she murmured, her voice lower than usual.

“Why not?” Your voice trembled, betraying you.

Her eyes flicked back up to meet yours, and there it was—the thing you’d both been avoiding for months. The truth that had been simmering beneath every shared glance, every brush of hands, every late-night conversation when the rest of the world was asleep and it was just you and her, tangled up in each other’s lives without even realizing how deep it went.

“Because…” she hesitated, biting her lip as if searching for the right words. Her gaze softened, like she was caught in a struggle between fear and wanting. “Because I wouldn’t know how to stop.”

The air left your lungs in a rush, and before you could second-guess yourself, before the doubts and the what-ifs could pull you back, you leaned in.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first. Her lips brushed against yours, the faintest touch, as if she wasn’t sure you were real. But then—god—then she kissed you harder, her hand cupping the back of your neck, pulling you in as though you were the answer to every question she hadn’t known how to ask. Her mouth tasted like spearmint gum and the faintest hint of cigarettes, warm and familiar. You melted into her, your hands gripping the edge of the fountain to keep yourself steady as everything around you spun.

In that kiss, there was no hesitation, no distance. Just the two of you, colliding in a moment that felt like it had been building for a lifetime. Her hands slid up your back, anchoring you to her, and you could feel the slight tremble in her fingers. But it didn’t matter. None of it mattered. Because you were kissing Ellie, and the rest of the world could’ve disappeared, and you wouldn’t have cared.

When you finally pulled back, gasping for air, you kept your forehead pressed against hers. The world had snapped back into focus around you—the chatter of campus life, the rustle of the wind in the trees—but it felt distant, muted, like it wasn’t quite real. Not compared to this.

Ellie’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked at you like you were the only thing she could see. Her breath was still shaky, her lips swollen and flushed. She swallowed, hard, and whispered, “I… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t…”

But you silenced her with a gentle smile, brushing a thumb across her cheek.

“You don’t have to explain.”

Because you both knew what it meant. You both knew that nothing would be the same after this, and you were okay with it. Maybe you were scared. Maybe she was too. But in that moment, wrapped up in the heat of the afternoon sun and the lingering taste of her on your lips, none of that mattered.

All that mattered was her.

The sound of your name pulls you back to the present. It’s bright and full of life, cutting through the thick haze of tension like a ray of sunlight. You turn just in time to see Dina pushing her way through the crowd, a grin spreading across her face as she practically bounces in your direction.

She’s the same as ever—sharp, effortlessly cool, with a wild energy that always made you feel like you were part of something big just by being near her. Her dark hair, tied up in a messy bun, hasn’t changed a bit, though there’s a new edge to her style—bold patterns clashing in a way only she could pull off.

Before you can even get a word out, she’s enveloping you in a tight hug, squeezing you so hard that you let out a laugh, the tension in your chest easing a little. She smells like lavender and cedarwood, familiar and grounding, and for a brief moment, the knot of emotions tangled in your stomach loosens.

“Oh my god, it’s been forever!” Dina practically yells, pulling back just enough to look at you, her eyes sparkling with genuine excitement. “I didn’t even know you were coming tonight! How the hell are you? You look amazing!”

You’re caught off guard by her energy, her enthusiasm wrapping around you like a warm blanket. You smile, shaking your head as you try to gather your thoughts. “I—yeah, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I wasn’t sure I’d even make it, but, you know”

Dina snorts, rolling her eyes playfully. “Yeah, tell me about it. But seriously, I’m so glad you’re here! You—” she gestures at you with both hands, eyes wide as if she’s sizing you up, “—still killing it with the whole fashion thing, right? I saw your last collection! so damn chic! The textures, the layering—ugh, I wanted to steal every piece.”

You laugh, feeling a flush of pride at her words. “Thanks, Dina. I’m still trying to figure out what’s next, but I’m glad you liked it.”

“Liked it? Girl, I loved it.” Dina leans in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “I mean, between you and Ellie, the two of you were always the most talented people on campus. It’s wild seeing both of you making it big.”

The mention of Ellie’s name sends a ripple of tension down your spine, and suddenly, the room feels a little too warm again. You glance over Dina’s shoulder, and sure enough, Ellie is still standing there, watching the two of you.

Dina follows your gaze, and when she spots Ellie, her face lights up even more. “Oh, shit, you haven’t seen her yet, have you?” Dina’s voice drops to a mischievous whisper, her grin widening. “This is gonna be good.”

Before you can protest, before you can even think of what to say or how to brace yourself, Dina’s already calling out, “Ellie! Hey! Get over here!”

Your heart skips a beat, your pulse quickening as Ellie’s eyes flicker to Dina. For a second, she looks like she might hesitate, like the distance between the two of you is a bridge she’s not sure she wants to cross. But then, with a slow exhale, she starts moving, weaving through the crowd with that effortless stride of hers—confident, but never cocky.

And just like that, she’s standing in front of you.

Up close, the years between you seem even sharper. You can see the slight changes in her face— the way her lips quirk at one corner like she’s fighting a smile but doesn’t want to give in. Her green eyes, though, are as piercing as ever, and when they lock onto yours, you feel that same jolt of electricity you did back in college, the same spark that never really went out.

For a moment, no one says anything. The air is silent with unspoken words, with the history that hangs between you like a thread waiting to snap.

Ellie’s lips part, and she starts with something simple. “Hey.”

Dina, completely oblivious to the tension, claps her hands together with a grin. “Okay, this is weird for me. Two of my favorite people, standing here after all these years—this is like, full circle, right?”

You manage a small smile, though your throat feels tight. “Yeah. Full circle.”

Ellie shifts her weight, glancing at Dina with a wry smile before her gaze slides back to you. “Didn’t expect to see you here,” she says, her voice soft, like she’s trying to keep things light.

You shrug, trying to play it off. “Didn’t expect to be here either.”

But the words feel thin, hollow. Because standing this close to her, with the buzz of the gallery around you and the memories swirling like ghosts in the air, it’s impossible to ignore the truth.

This isn’t just a chance encounter. This is something you’ve both been avoiding for too long.

Dina shifts her weight, a perceptive glint in her eye as she surveys the two of you, the tension thick enough to slice through. She opens her mouth as if to say something—maybe to break the silence, to diffuse the moment—but then she pauses, that playful grin still dancing on her lips.

“Okay, you know what?” she says, clapping her hands together once more. “I just remembered I promised Jesse I’d check on him. He’s probably stuck at the snack table, drowning in mini quiches. So, I’ll be right back!”

Before you can even respond, she’s off, weaving through the crowd with that effortless grace of hers, leaving you and Ellie standing there, caught in a moment that feels suspended in time. The sounds of the gallery fade into the background—the murmur of conversations, the soft clinking of glasses—until it’s just the two of you.

The silence stretches.

Ellie shifts her weight again, her fingers fidgeting at her sides. You can see the thoughts racing behind her eyes, a whirlwind of emotions waiting to be unleashed, but the words seem to stick in her throat.

“So, how’s the show been for you?” you finally ask, trying to fill the space, to ease the tightness that’s creeping in. Your voice sounds a bit steadier than you feel.

Ellie’s gaze softens, and for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitch up into a small, genuine smile. “It’s… good. Better than I expected, honestly.” She glances around, taking in the vibrant colors of her artwork, the way the lights catch the brushstrokes, illuminating the stories behind each piece. “It’s kind of surreal to see it all up here.”

You nod, watching her as she talks. There’s a light in her eyes that flickers with passion.

“Your work is incredible, Ellie.”

She meets your gaze again, and there’s a flicker of something deeper in her expression—gratitude with a hint of vulnerability.

“Thanks,” she says, her voice quieter now, almost contemplative. “I’ve been trying to push myself more lately.”

Your heart swells with her words, and the warmth of the moment wraps around you like a comforting embrace. But then, as if sensing the shift in the air, the gallery begins to swell with new energy. The crowd thickens, laughter and chatter rising, and the once-intimate space starts to feel almost claustrophobic.

Ellie’s expression changes slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. “I should probably go check in with some of the other guests,” she says, glancing over her shoulder. “Make sure everything’s okay.”

“Yeah, of course,” you reply, though a part of you aches at the thought of her leaving, of this moment slipping through your fingers like grains of sand.

But before you can say anything else, she steps back, creating a small distance between you. “It was really good to see you,” she says, the words almost swallowed by the hum of the gallery.

You nod, swallowing hard against the lump in your throat. “You too, Ellie..”

It was winter. Cold, biting, the kind of chill that seeped into your bones no matter how many layers you wore. You and Ellie were huddled in her tiny apartment just off campus, the one she’d insisted had “charm” but was really just a glorified box with bad heating. The windows fogged with condensation, and outside, snowflakes drifted lazily down onto the already blanketed streets. Inside, the space was warm and dim, lit by a single lamp in the corner and the flickering glow of a candle Ellie had lit for atmosphere.

But there was no warmth between you that night.

Ellie was pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, her hands running through her hair, tugging at it the way she always did when she was frustrated, on the verge of losing control. Her movements were restless, sharp, filled with an energy that seemed like it would combust if she didn’t do something, say something. She wasn’t looking at you—she hadn’t been able to for the past hour. And you, sitting on the edge of her bed, your hands clasped tightly in your lap, could feel the distance between you growing with every step she took.

“I just… I don’t know how to do this anymore,” she muttered, almost to herself, her voice strained, barely holding together. She stopped pacing for a second, pressing her palms to her forehead, her elbows resting on the back of a chair. “I feel like I’m drowning. Every day, it’s like… like I’m waiting for something to go wrong, and I don’t even know what it is, but I can’t breathe.”

Her words hit you like cold water, but you didn’t move. You couldn’t. You’d been feeling it too, the unraveling, the way everything between you had started to fray at the edges. It wasn’t sudden. It had been slow, creeping in like a shadow you couldn’t outrun. Long nights turned into silent mornings. Conversations that used to be easy, light, now felt like stepping through a minefield. Every fight, every misunderstanding, left scars you hadn’t been able to heal.

But hearing her say it out loud… that made it real.

“Ellie…” Your voice was soft, almost a whisper, like you were afraid of shattering the fragile air between you. “We can fix this. We just need to talk. We always work through things, right?”

She shook her head, her back still turned to you. You could see her shoulders rise and fall as she took a deep breath, as if she was trying to hold it all together. When she finally spoke, her voice was lower, more broken. “Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe we’ve been working through things too much, you know? Like, we keep trying to fix it, but it’s not working.”

You felt your chest tighten, your pulse quickening. The coldness of the room started to creep in, the warmth from the candle and the blankets no longer enough to fight it off. You stood up slowly, your legs shaky, and took a tentative step toward her. “Ellie, please—”

She spun around, and the look in her eyes stopped you in your tracks. They were red, bloodshot, like she hadn’t slept in days. And there was something else there—something raw, something you hadn’t seen before. Desperation, maybe. Or fear.

“I don’t want to keep hurting you,” she said, her voice breaking on the last word. “But that’s all I’ve been doing, isn’t it? Every time we fight, every time I say the wrong thing or don’t say enough… it’s like I’m breaking you apart, piece by piece, and I can’t stand it. I can’t stand being the one who keeps doing this to you.”

Your throat tightened, your eyes stinging with the threat of tears. “You’re not—” you started, but she cut you off, shaking her head again.

“Yes, I am!” Her voice cracked, and suddenly, she wasn’t pacing anymore. She was standing still, facing you, her fists clenched at her sides like she was trying to hold herself together through sheer force of will. “You deserve better than this. Better than… than me.”

The words hung in the air between you, heavy and final. For a moment, the only sound was the soft hiss of the candle flickering in the corner, the distant rumble of a car passing by outside. You could feel the weight of what she was saying sinking into your skin, settling deep in your bones. She was pulling away, tearing out a piece of herself, a piece of you, and you didn’t know how to stop it.

“Don’t do this,” you whispered, stepping closer, your voice trembling. You reached for her hand, desperate to hold onto something, anything, but she flinched, stepping back just out of reach. “Please, Ellie. We can fix this. We can figure it out, we always do.”

But she was already shaking her head again, her eyes glistening with tears she refused to let fall. “No. I can’t… I can’t keep dragging you down with me. You deserve to be happy, and I don’t think I can give that to you anymore.”

Your heart broke then. It shattered, piece by piece, with every word she spoke. You wanted to scream, to tell her she was wrong, that you could make it work, that love was enough. But deep down, you knew. You’d both been unraveling for months, slipping through each other’s fingers like sand. And no matter how tightly you tried to hold on, it wasn’t enough.

Ellie took a shaky breath, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet, barely audible. “I love you, but I don’t think I’m good for you anymore. And I can’t… I can’t keep pretending like I am.”

You stood there, frozen, as the words echoed in the small space between you. There was nothing left to say. Nothing that could change what was already happening. So, instead, you just nodded, your throat too tight to speak, your heart too heavy to protest.

She watched you for a moment longer, her eyes softening, filled with something that looked like regret, maybe even guilt. Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward the door, leaving you standing there, the candle flickering weakly in the corner.

The sound of the door closing behind her felt like the final nail in the coffin. The room was suddenly too quiet, too cold, too empty.

And you were alone.

The night air cools your skin, but the warmth of the gallery lingers, wrapping around you like a heavy cloak. You take a few steps down the street, trying to steady your breath, trying to shake off the flood of emotions Ellie’s presence stirred up. But as you reach the edge of the block, something pulls you back—an invisible tether, tightening around your heart. You stop, glancing back toward the gallery, the soft glow of the lights spilling out onto the sidewalk, the hum of conversations still echoing in the air.

You’re not ready to leave. Not yet.

With a deep breath, you turn and step back inside, the warmth of the space enveloping you once more. The crowd has shifted, people moving around the artwork like currents in a river, but you’re not drawn to any of them. Instead, you find yourself wandering, letting your feet carry you through the gallery without any clear direction.

The pieces on the walls are beautiful—Ellie’s unmistakable style shines through in every brushstroke, every burst of color. But there’s something else here, something you can’t quite put your finger on. You continue walking, the noise around you dulling to a low murmur as you lose yourself in the art.

And then, you see it.

Tucked away in a corner of the gallery, slightly off the main flow of the exhibition, is a painting that stops you in your tracks. Your breath catches in your throat, and for a moment, everything else falls away—the crowd, the noise, even the memory of Ellie standing just a few feet from you moments ago.

The painting is large, dominating the wall with its raw, unfiltered intimacy. The colors are rich, deep tones of reds and golds and shadows that dance across the canvas like firelight. And in the center, almost hidden in the interplay of light and dark, are two figures—tangled together, their bodies intertwined in a way that leaves no room for doubt. The lines are soft, delicate, but there’s a fierceness to the way the brushstrokes capture the curve of a back, the arch of a neck, the way two sets of hands grip each other as if holding on for dear life.

It’s you and Ellie.

Your heart pounds in your chest as you take a step closer, your pulse quickening with every detail that comes into focus. The figures are not exact replicas, not perfect portraits, but there’s no mistaking it—the shape of your body, the curve of Ellie’s form. The familiarity in the way your hands touch, the way your legs are tangled together, skin on skin, lost in the moment of sex.

Your fingers twitch at your sides, a rush of heat flooding your cheeks as the memories flood back. The night in question comes rushing to the surface—one of those endless nights in college, when the world outside had ceased to matter, and all that existed was the space between you and Ellie. The way her breath had felt against your skin, the soft murmur of her voice in your ear, the way she looked at you like you were the only thing that made sense in a world of chaos.

It’s all there, captured in the brushstrokes. The vulnerability, the connection, the way you’d both been completely unguarded with each other in a way that had felt terrifying and exhilarating all at once. The memory is so visceral, it’s like being pulled back in time, your body remembering the touch of her hands, the feel of her lips against yours.

You stand there, rooted to the spot, your eyes tracing every detail of the painting. It’s beautiful, in a way that makes your chest ache, but it’s also unmistakably private. This moment was yours—yours and Ellie’s—and seeing it laid bare here, for everyone to see, feels almost too intimate, like a secret exposed.

Your breath hitches as your mind races. Did Ellie mean for this to be here? Was it a message? Or just a piece of her past she needed to exorcise, to let out into the world in the only way she knew how?

You take another step closer, your eyes fixated on the way the light plays off the figures—your figure—highlighting the delicate curve of your waist, the way Ellie’s arm wraps around you, pulling you closer. It’s so raw, so unapologetic, and the emotions it stirs up are almost too much to bear.

You stand there, your heart hammering in your chest, you hear the soft creak of footsteps behind you. You know, without turning around, who it is. Ellie’s presence fills the space before she even speaks, the air between you charged with an intensity that has been building all night.

For a long moment, neither of you says anything. You can feel her eyes on the painting, then on you, her silence heavy with meaning. She’s watching your reaction, waiting—maybe even bracing—for what you’ll say, for how you’ll respond. You want to say something, anything, but the words seem lodged in your throat.

Finally, Ellie breaks the silence. Her voice is soft, almost hesitant, but there’s a vulnerability to it that makes your chest tighten. “It’s… from a long time ago,” she says, the words almost a whisper. “I didn’t think anyone would see it and know..”

You swallow hard, still unable to tear your eyes away from the painting. “It’s us,” you say, the words barely audible, but Ellie hears them. You can feel her nod behind you, even though she doesn’t say anything.

Another beat of silence stretches between you, the weight of the past pressing down on you both. And then Ellie speaks again, her voice lower now, more grounded. “I didn’t know how else to… capture it. It was the only way I could make sense of everything.”

You finally turn to look at her, and the sight of her standing there, just inches away, sends a fresh wave of emotions crashing over you. Her face is softer now, the hard edges you saw earlier had smoothed away. Just her, standing there, vulnerable and exposed in a way that mirrors the painting on the wall.

For the first time all night, the space between you feels real. Heavy with everything that’s gone unsaid for years.

You open your mouth to speak, but the words are still out of reach. Instead, all you can do is look at her, your chest tight with the weight of everything this painting has stirred up. There’s a part of you that wants to step closer, to reach out and touch her like you used to, to see if the connection that once burned so brightly between you still lingers in the spaces where your skin meets hers.

But for now, all you can do is stand there, your heart pounding in your chest, the memory of that night—of her —playing over and over in your mind like a song you thought you’d forgotten.

Somehow, you ended up here—Ellie’s apartment. You’re not sure how it happened. Maybe it was the tension in the gallery, the weight of the memories between you, or maybe it was Ellie’s quiet, almost tentative offer: “Do you want to come over for a bit?”

Now, the door closes softly behind you, and you find yourself standing in the small entryway of her apartment, the familiar scent of her space—wood, paint, and that faint earthy musk of hers—hitting you all at once. It’s like stepping back into a life you’d long since tried to leave behind, except everything feels slightly off now, like a song that’s being played just a little too slow.

The silence stretches between you, awkward and thick, as Ellie moves past you into the living room. Her apartment is small, but cozy. Messy in the way an artist’s space always is, with scattered paintbrushes, canvases propped up against the walls, and sketchbooks overflowing with half-finished ideas. It’s not much different from the space she had in college, except this time, the mess feels more intentional—like it’s been lived in, not just occupied.

You hover near the door, unsure of where to put your hands, unsure of where to put yourself. The air between you is charged, but not in the electric way it had been back in the gallery.

Ellie clears her throat, scratching the back of her neck as she moves around the space, avoiding your gaze.

“Uh, you can sit if you want,” she says, motioning vaguely toward the worn, comfortable-looking couch that’s pushed against the far wall. “I’ll grab some drinks.”

You nod, grateful for something to do, even if it’s just sitting down. The cushions sag beneath you, and you can’t help but remember the nights you’d spent like this before, curled up together on whatever hand-me-down couch she had at the time, talking for hours, or sometimes not talking at all. Just being.

But this isn’t like before.

Ellie disappears into the kitchen, and you take the opportunity to look around. There’s an easel in the corner with a half-finished painting—a cityscape this time, vibrant with color and movement. The table next to it is cluttered with tubes of paint, brushes, and crumpled pieces of paper with rough sketches. It’s Ellie’s world, laid out in front of you, and yet you feel like a stranger in it now.

The awkwardness creeps up your spine, settling in the pit of your stomach as you wait, the quiet stretching on and on. You can hear Ellie moving in the kitchen—bottles clinking, the soft sound of the fridge opening and closing. It should feel normal, familiar. But it doesn’t.

After what feels like too long, Ellie finally returns, two bottles of beer in hand. She hands you one without a word, her fingers brushing yours briefly in the exchange. The touch is electric, sending a jolt through you, but it’s gone as quickly as it came.

Ellie sits on the opposite end of the couch, as far from you as the small space allows. She takes a swig of her beer, her gaze flicking to the window instead of meeting yours, her posture stiff and uncertain. You take a drink, too, trying to focus on the bitter taste of the beer instead of the way the room feels too small, too quiet.

The silence stretches again, awkward and heavy, like neither of you knows how to bridge the gap. The weight of the past hangs between you—unspoken, but impossible to ignore. You’re both dancing around it, unwilling to dive in, yet neither of you knows how to avoid it.

“How long have you been working on the pieces for the show?” you ask, desperate to fill the silence with something, anything.

Ellie shrugs, taking another sip of her beer. “A while. A couple of years, I guess.”

You nod, not really sure what to say.

You can feel her eyes on you—intense and heavy.

“I don’t think I ever forgot how it felt.” she blurts out, her voice low and husky.

You swallow hard, your pulse quickening as the weight of her words hits you. You know exactly what she means. The memory of her hands on your body, the heat of her breath against your skin—it all comes rushing back, sharper now, more immediate.

Ellie leans back against the couch, her legs spreading just slightly as she sets her beer down on the floor with a soft thunk. She’s still watching you, the unspoken desire hanging thick in the air between you. It’s a look you recognize all too well—a look that used to drive you wild, that used to make you ache for her touch in a way that felt almost unbearable.

And now, sitting here in her apartment, that same ache is starting to stir inside you again.

“I know it’s been a long time,” she murmurs, her voice soft, “But I’ve been thinking about you. About us. ”

Her words send a shiver down your spine, and you feel your body reacting, your skin prickling with heat as the space between you seems to shrink. You can see the way her chest rises and falls with each slow breath, the tension in her body barely restrained. It’s like she’s holding herself back—just barely—but there’s no mistaking the hunger in her eyes, the way her gaze keeps flicking to your lips, your body, like she’s already imagining what it would feel like to close the distance.

You know you should say something, should acknowledge the fire that’s rapidly spreading between you, but you can’t find the words. All you can do is watch as Ellie shifts closer, her movements slow, her eyes never leaving yours.

“I’m not gonna pretend like I don’t want you,” she says, her voice dropping even lower, almost a growl. There’s no hesitation anymore, no awkwardness, just pure, unfiltered desire. “Because I do. I always have.”

The confession hangs in the air, bold and dangerous, and it takes everything in you not to close the gap between you and her right then and there. Your body is already reacting, your pulse racing, your breath coming faster as the tension between you reaches a fever pitch.

Ellie leans in slightly, her face inches from yours, her lips so close you can feel the heat of her breath against your skin. Her hand moves to your thigh, the touch light but deliberate, her fingers pressing against you in a way that sends a jolt of heat straight through your core. It’s a touch that’s both familiar and new, reigniting the fire that had once burned so brightly between you.

“You remember how good it was, don’t you?” she whispers, her lips brushing against your ear, her voice sending shivers down your spine. “I can see it in your eyes.”

Your breath hitches, and you feel your body responding, your skin buzzing with the memory of her touch, the way she used to know exactly how to drive you wild. The pull between you is too strong now, the desire too overwhelming to ignore. You want her—desperately—and you can see the same hunger reflected in her eyes, the way her hand tightens slightly on your thigh, her grip firm.

“Ellie…” you breathe, your voice a whisper, but she hears it. She always hears you.

She moves even closer, her lips brushing against your neck now, the warmth of her breath sending a rush of heat through your body. “Tell me you want this,” she murmurs, her voice rough with desire. “Tell me you want me.”

Your mind is spinning, your heart racing as you feel the full weight of her body leaning into you, her hand sliding further up your thigh, her touch firm. You can barely think straight, the heat between you unbearable now, every nerve in your body on fire as she presses her lips against your neck, soft but insistent.

“I want you..” you whisper, the words tumbling out before you can stop them. And as soon as they leave your lips, Ellie’s restraint shatters.

In an instant, her lips are on yours, the kiss rough and desperate, all the tension and desire that’s been building between you exploding in a surge of heat. Her hands are everywhere—gripping your hips, sliding up your sides, pulling you closer as if she can’t get enough of you. The kiss is hungry, wild, like she’s been starving for you for years, and now that she has you again, she’s not going to let go.

Your body reacts instinctively, your hands tangling in her hair, pulling her closer as you lose yourself. It’s overwhelming, intoxicating, the intensity of her touch, the way she knows exactly how to make you melt beneath her.

Ellie pulls you onto her lap, her hands gripping your hips, and you can feel the hardness of her body beneath you, the strength in her arms as she holds you close, her lips never leaving yours. It’s rough, raw, and so intensely familiar, like falling back into a rhythm you hadn’t realized you’d been missing.

Ellie pulls back just enough to catch her breath, her forehead resting against yours, her breathing ragged, her eyes dark and wild with need. “I need you,” she whimpers.

In a rush, your hands find the hem of ellie’s shirt, pulling it up and over her head. You toss it aside without a second thought, your eyes immediately drawn to her bare torso—her tattoo twisting along her arm, her skin flushed with heat. For a moment, you pause, breathless, as you take her in. She’s gorgeous. Strong and lean, every muscle under her skin defined, her freckles scattered across her chest like stars in the night.

Ellie’s breathing is ragged, her chest rising and falling heavily as she watches you, her lips slightly parted, her eyes burning with want. But she doesn’t say a word. Instead, her hands move to your shirt, tugging it up in one swift motion. You lift your arms, letting her pull it over your head before it, too, is discarded in the growing pile of clothes on the floor.

Her gaze drops immediately, her eyes sweeping over your body.

There’s something in the way she looks at you—something intense,that makes your skin burn under her. Ellie’s hands rest on your bare waist now, her fingers brushing over your skin as she takes you in.

“Ellie…” you breathe, the sound a mixture of a plea and a gasp, urging her to continue.

“Fuck…” she mutters, almost to herself as she leans back slightly to get a better view. Her hands slide up your sides, fingers trailing over the curve of your breasts, the sensation sending a shiver through your entire body. She looks at you like you’re something to be worshipped, her eyes dark with want, her touch slow, as if she’s savoring every second, every inch of you.

“God, you’re beautiful,” Ellie whispers, she’s taking her time now, her hands exploring every inch of your skin, her fingers brushing over your collarbone, tracing the line of your ribs, before they move back up, cupping your breasts with a gentleness that contrasts the raw hunger in her eyes.

You reach for her, your hands roaming over her body, feeling the strength of her shoulders, the hard lines of muscle beneath her skin. Your hands move lower, exploring the soft dip of her waist, the way her body feels beneath your touch—strong, every muscle tensing under your fingers as you stroke her skin. You let your fingers trace the outline of her abs, feeling the way her body responds to your touch, the way her breath hitches every time your hands move lower.

Ellie's hands grip your hips with an sudden urgency, your slick catches against her cunt, the soft, wet friction sending pulses along your clit. You feel her body respond—every muscle tightening, every breath hitching in anticipation.

Ellie's hands grip your hips with an urgency, your slick catches against her cunt, the soft, wet friction making you pulsate. You can feel her body respond—every muscle tightening, every breath hitching in anticipation.

“n-need to feel you,” she gasps, her voice wavering on the edge of breaking, raw and desperate. The intensity in her eyes makes your heart race, an unquenchable thirst that mirrors your own.

You begin to grind against her, your slick meeting her puffy clit, the sensation making you gasp as the friction builds.

“Oh god, please..” you whimper, a moan escaping your lips.

It’s intoxicating, the way your bodies move together, the way every roll of your hips sends ripples of pleasure through both your pussies.

“Fuck,” ellie breathes, her voice low and filled with a mix of need and awe, her eyes locked onto yours as you move together, a slow, delicious rhythm that feels like it’s been waiting for this moment for years.

“Come here,” she begs, pulling you closer, her grip tightening as you continue to grind against her. The slick sound echos in the air, mingling with the soft moans that slip from your lips. Each sound you makes pulls ellie deeper, melody that makes her crave more.

Ellie shifts beneath you, her body arching in a way that allows you to scissor closer. You can see the way her chest rises and falls, each breath heavy. Your eyes flutter shut for a moment, lost in the sensations, and ellie takes the opportunity to lean down, her lips brushing against your ear as she whispers, “You feel so fucking good, baby.”

The sound of her voice makes your pussy pulsate, your eyes snapping open as they lock onto hers. “d-don’t stop,” you breathe, your voice trembling with urgency. “I need m-more.”

“God, you’re s-so fucking good,” she whispers, her voice thick with desire, her gaze locked on yours, as if she’s trying to memorize every detail of this moment.

Ellie’s hands slide down your body, exploring every curve, every contour as she pulls you closer, her fingers digging into your skin, leaving marks that will linger long after this night.

“Ellie...” you breathe, the name falling from your mouth like a prayer. “Please, I need to feel you closer,” you whisper, voice all shaky.

Ellie gives in to the rhythm, moving faster, harder, each thrust sending shudders of pleasure racing through both of you. Your moans come out loud and whiny, mingling with Ellie’s desperate gasps.

“Fuck, yes!” You breathe, your body arching into hers, your hands gripping her arms as she pulls you closer. You can feel the tension building between you, the way your body responds together, every roll of your hips bringing you both closer to cumming.

“Don’t stop!” Ellie lets out a soft cry, her body tensing beneath you as the pleasure washes over her. You feel the way her body responds to yours, and it sends you tumbling over the edge, your own pleasure crashing down, pulling you both into ecstasy.

You collapse against her, breathless and trembling, the world around you fading away as you savor the warmth of her body against yours, the softness of her skin, and the way your bodies still pulse.

You turn your head slightly, your eyes catching a glimpse of the half-finished paintings scattered around her apartment, the abstract strokes, the splashes of color that seem almost chaotic, like her thoughts spilled out onto the canvas. You can’t help but wonder if you’ll be another one of those unfinished things—something she can’t quite complete, something left unresolved, a work in progress that she never intended to finish.

There’s a lump forming in your throat, but you push it down.

You won’t wake up to her. Not tomorrow, not ever. Ellie will go back to her life, and you’ll go back to yours, and this night will fade into the past, becoming another memory, another fragment of what you once had together.

With a quiet sigh, you press a gentle kiss to her shoulder.

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morgenlich · 1 month ago

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On March 14, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that called for the dismantling of seven federal agencies “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” They ranged from the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, to the Minority Business Development Agency.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services was also on the list. Congress created the IMLS in 1996 through the Museum and Library Services Act. The law merged the Institute of Museum Services, which was established in 1976, with the Library Programs Office of the Department of Education.

By combining these two departments, Congress sought to create an overarching agency that could more cohesively and strategically support American museums and libraries. The agency’s mission, programs and funding have been reaffirmed through subsequent legislation, such as the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003.

…

What does the Institute of Museum and Library Services do?

The agency provides financial support to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and historic sites. Libraries of all types – public, academic, school and research – also benefit from the agency’s funding.

Through grants, research and policy initiatives, the IMLS helps these institutions better serve their communities.

In the 2019 fiscal year, for example, the IMLS awarded funds to libraries in Nebraska to support economic development in 30 rural communities. The project created rotating “innovation studios” in local libraries and provided residents with tools, instructional materials and programming to foster entrepreneurship and creativity. More recently, IMLS awarded a grant to the Hands On Children’s Museum to develop a toolkit that museums across the country can use to support families with relatives who are in prison.

For libraries, the IMLS might fund technology upgrades, such as virtual reality learning stations, AI-assisted research aids or digitization of rare books. The agency also pays for community programs that take place in libraries, from early childhood reading initiatives to workshops that help people land jobs.

…

Without this support, many institutions will struggle to hire and retain qualified staff, leading to fewer exhibitions, stalled research and reduced educational outreach.

The consequences would be particularly severe for small museums and rural museums, which lack the fundraising capacity of larger urban institutions. They’re often the only sources of cultural and historical education in their regions, and their loss would create cultural voids that cannot easily be filled.

“It is an honor to be appointed by President Trump to lead this important organization in its mission to advance, support, and empower America’s museums and libraries, which stand as cornerstones of learning and culture in our society. I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation. We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations,” said Acting Director Sonderling.

ahaha this is going to be so unbelievably bad i don’t even know where to start. but posting this here because i really haven’t seen many people outside of r/museumpros and (as of today) r/fednews talking about it. gutting the imls is bad enough but sonderling’s statement….

#uspol #head in hands. i don’t even know what to say #i’ve had a horrible feeling since the 14th and it’s gotten worse

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v-ividus · 4 months ago

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23. Fragile Bonds: Trust in an Age of Psychopathy, Narcissism and Disordered Parasocial Attachment

“People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trust is the cornerstone upon which societies flourish; it is both invisible and palpable, a thread woven through the fabric of our interactions. Yet, the very essence of this social currency is fraying. With the proliferation of social media, we observe a disconcerting rise in narcissism, psychopathy, and parasocial relationships, urging us to reconsider what it means to trust. This upheaval generates a paradoxical landscape: while technology connects us, it simultaneously dismantles the relational networks upon which we depend. As Emerson astutely proposed, true hope emerges only when we confront our discomfort.

In our collective pursuit of empathy and understanding, we often overlook the destructive undercurrents defining our modern age. The rise of narcissistic tendencies fuels a distorted demand for validation, a hunger that cannot be quenched by genuine interpersonal connections. Digital platforms facilitate this relentless quest, enabling individuals to curate facades that mask emotional vacuity. Consequently, genuine trust has transformed into an elusive specter, often replaced by a transactional dependency that serves self-interest above relational integrity.

Furthermore, the omnipresent nature of social media amplifies the voices of those lacking moral grounding. Psychopaths thrive in environments where anonymity and detachment reign supreme, preying on the vulnerable with a predatory precision. The collective psyche becomes susceptible to manipulation, as trust morphs into a tool of exploitation. This societal contagion is insidious, eroding our foundational belief in the goodwill of others, and reconstructing a world where genuine connection is viewed with skepticism.

In acknowledging the sacred nature of trust, we must also confront its inherent vulnerability. The normalization of broken trust nurtures a climate of cynicism: a reality where the persistent hum of betrayal overshadows the comforting embrace of authentic relationships. Unless we challenge this pervasive narrative, we harbor no hope for the renewal of communal bonds. Fear and distrust overshadow love and connection, leaving us adrift in an ocean of alienation, urging a reshaping of our social interactions' moral architectures.

The Psychological Landscape of Humankind

Human nature, with its intricate complexity, embodies both a yearning for connection and the simultaneous drive to self-preserve. Our evolutionary lineage has equipped us with the tools to form social bonds; these bonds are not merely advantageous but essential to our survival. Yet, as individualism has gained prominence, so too has the cultivation of self-interest, often at the expense of communal welfare. Within this paradigm, narcissism emerges not just as a personality trait, but a pervasive social currency that disrupts relational dynamics.

Those steeped in narcissistic tendencies exhibit a profound lack of empathy, a characteristic that inhibits authentic engagement. The digital realm exacerbates this disconnect, providing fertile ground for manipulation and superficiality. Individuals wield their digital presence as an extension of self, often prioritizing self-promotion over genuine interaction. It stands as a testament to how our mechanisms of self-protection often shield us from vulnerability while simultaneously eroding trust. The paradox lies in our desire for connection juxtaposed against the fear of being exploited, cultivating an environment ripe for parasocial relationships.

Psychopathy emerges as a further complication in this tangled web of human relations. The psychopathic individual operates beneath a veneer of charm, exploiting weaknesses while exuding confidence. In the digital space, this blend of charisma and deceit thrives unchecked, as the disconnection from physical presence diminishes accountability. With social trust diminished, interactions become fraught with suspicion; we witness the warping of social interactions into transactions devoid of sincerity.

Ultimately, our collective psychological landscape paints a portrait of isolation rather than solidarity. As individuals retreat into their curated realities, the possibility of forging meaningful connections dwindles. Each fragmented relationship is a reminder of our vulnerability, yet paradoxically, it is in this discomfort that genuine hope flourishes—a hope that invites us to unravel the ingrained patterns that perpetuate trust's decline.

The Social Currencies of Trust and Safety

In this brave new world, trust serves as a currency, wielded or withheld depending on personal gain. With every digital interaction, a transaction unfolds; social currency exchanges hands, redefining our relational values. The stakes have never been higher, for within this shift lies the potential for profound ethical decay, driven by self-serving motives that erode the very pillars of connection.

A society that values safety must also recognize its dependence on trust, an intricate dance often undermined by social antagonism. As individuals navigate a labyrinth of relationships, the lure of self-interest becomes an oppressive force, overshadowing altruism and communal strength. The result? Individuals find themselves ensnared in a cycle of mistrust, spiraling downwards into isolation. To escape this cycle, we must confront the uncomfortable truths about our moral compasses, challenging the embellishments of our self-image against the harsh reality of our interconnectedness.

While societal discourses often echo calls for community building, the bitter reality is that trust remains a fragile concept, easily manipulated and dismantled. The undercurrent of distrust, fed by narcissistic motivations, has established an environment where personal gain reigns supreme. The sucrose allure of social media fosters a culture of parasitism, where relationships are formed and dissolved in a heartbeat, leading to an insatiable appetite for superficial connection.

For trust to flourish once more, we must commit to transparency, vulnerability, and the moral discipline required to navigate these turbulent waters. Each relationship must become a testament to our collective will to embrace the immanent discomfort of connection, urging us to linger in the tension that arises from our divided selves.

The Deterioration of Social Bonds

The historical narrative of society illustrates that bonds, once considered immutable, are now susceptible to disintegration. This deterioration is not merely a consequence of changing communication methods but rather an indictment of our moral evolution—or devolution, as the case may be. As we stand on the precipice of a new era, the absence of foundational trust threatens to rip apart the fragile seams that hold our social fabric intact.

The rise of social media platforms has opened doors to an expansive realm of connections yet has simultaneously ushered in a wave of deceitful interactions. This juxtaposition cultivates a culture in which trust is routinely betrayed, leading to a skeptical populace, incredulous toward the motives of others. These dynamics usher us further down a treacherous path, where authenticity is sacrificed at the altar of self-promotion and validation.

The pervasive nature of parasocial interactions further complicates the task of rebuilding social bonds. In these one-sided relationships, individuals invest emotionally without reciprocation, fostering a sense of attachment that distances them from genuine connections. As they cling to these illusions, they become trapped in a cycle of disappointment, burgeoned by unmet expectations of trust. The societal fabric, already frayed, bears the weight of these imbalances, accumulating layers of cynicism with each passing presence.

Ultimately, our communal experience is defined by these repurposed interactions; without conscious effort to reset these dynamics, we lose sight of the ethical lens through which we once viewed our connections. It calls for a reevaluation and commitment—not just an acknowledgment of the need for trust but an intentional practices to rebuild what has been lost. The burden rests upon all of us, urging us to challenge the status quo and reclaim the narratives that define our social existence.

Conclusion: Rediscovering Hope

As we confront the stark truths regarding trust and connectivity, we must recognize that change often rises from unsettling discontent. It is through these introspective journeys—when we allow ourselves to be genuinely unsettled—that the possibility for renewal is born. Discomfort breeds awareness, ultimately granting us the clarity to examine the morals underpinning our social institutions. To revive trust, we must first illuminate the shadows that threaten its existence, exposing the cancerous growth of narcissism and deceit.

Emerson’s resonance reverberates through time: "People wish to be settled; only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them." This profound wisdom underscores the necessity of embracing the unsettling nature of our current reality. As we navigate through uncertainty, we must not forsake our capacity for empathy; instead, we should cultivate an ardent desire for reform, instilling our interactions with the principles of honesty and ethical behavior.

As we foster these ideals, we instigate the rebirth of social trust, rekindling faith in our shared humanity. The task is arduous, but history has shown that humanity possesses an innate resilience; through the cracks of disillusionment, hope emerges not as an ephemeral notion but as a solid anchor for our collective journey ahead. Only then may we weave anew the tapestry of understanding, compassion, and trust to transcend the social malaise of our times.

#Ralph Waldo Emerson #Psychopathy #Narcissism #Parasocial Attachment #Philosophy #writerscommunity #writers on tumblr

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enteroctopusdarkysilis · 1 year ago

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✨Custom air Toa !✨

6/6, that’s the last one ! And the biggest one, too-

Closeups under the cut !

Front/back views

As you might notice, it is tall. And it has more than four limbs, which would not be a problem if it was the only one. But. It appears that all my green mocs end up with too much limbs, and I can’t fathom why. Really, another prototype standing on my desk also has for and so does the green hero factory one…You get the idea.

Anyway, the colour scheme for this one is dark green and silver, with some translucent bright green accents. Using only bright green would have brought too much contrast with the others Toas (notably the dark red one), but I had these cool pieces to use and no one else to put them onto. And since these are experimental…

The two supplementary limbs are intended as movement claws, given that we usually see air Toas moving in jungles (Lewa mostly, that is). The silver pieces at the front and back ends are respectively Kopaka’s skis and Pohatu’s foot pieces (shoes ?). The largest bits are made out of technic pieces directly, to give some simple angles.

Bust views

I find this silver/green chest piece really cool, it’s a shame I don’t have much of them. The two bright pieces on either sides are Vahki head pieces, and since their only connectors are on their relative tops (side of the piece in their actual orientation), you may remark that they are connected to nothing. I’m having the arm socket go through them, and the rest of the body’s shape avoid too many movements. While nice, this also limits the movement range of the arms, but it works well enough (these are not really made to play, anyway~). The two bright pieces with spikes are from a Ehlek. Wish I could have managed to put that one back together, but it instead served a higher purpose.

The Kanohi is Hordika Matau’s, with transparent Bohrok eyes underneath (it share this technic with my previous white Toa). The back piece is coming from a Piraka, but it’s actually a broken piece. I have quite a bunch of these, where the mask and flexible parts have broken off, so I make the most of it (like you might see in the future on another MOC). I’m using technic angle (type 3, to be precise) to keep the shape of the middle ones, but the others are free.

Finally, a (dismantled) leg view.

Finally, the leg segment !

The Toa was too big for proper leg showcase, my lights created terrible contrasts (shelf not deep enough…), so here is a stand alone leg instead.

Once again I have integrated the Metru chest piece to the leg, but as a foot this time. It offers a good stability and looks nice.

The next part doesn’t have much interesting bits, except that I’m using technic tubes to hold the additional piece, making this technic less illegal that my usual works (keyword : less; there is still a whole lot of stress on these poor pieces).

The top part is…somewhat more complicated. The frame is of technic pieces (like the additional limbs), which keeps together an immobile socket joint which keeps the double socket and two Bohrok feet (one for decoration, one connected to the hip socket). The double socket is used both to connect the two halves of the leg and to hold the small arm piece which is here only for decoration.

And that’s it for this series ! I’m hoping to bring them to next month’s exhibition, along with some Bionicle MOCs I haven’t showcased here because…shelf…Given the sheer size of my big project (posted here next week in theory), I’m gonna have to improvise something quickly, and profite of it to get some pictures of my other big ones while I’m at it. Eh, I’ll figure it out (and if I don’t, I’ll just delete that statement later :}

Thanks for reading, have a good day !

#lego #lego moc #bionicle #lego bionicle

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namidew · 8 months ago

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Plight of Prodigies

So the story (concept) follows three 17-18 year olds: Rohan, Sunila, and Juniper as they work to aid in the dismantling of the antagonistic organization that holds power over several facets of the planet, such as major companies. They aren’t alone in this however, as for one, they are what the people within the story call prodigies: people who are given magical blessings by a deity. Also, they aren’t expected to solely dismantle it, but instead to gather information as they seem less likely to hold any real power (as they are essentially teenagers.) So their magical academy for prodigies has several groups they send out for this purpose. It’s essentially a rite of passage or final exam of sorts? The academy keeps its affairs very secretive, so the identities of their students aren’t known until after graduation, if at all. They are very illustrious due to their long standing and leading role in the pursuit of technology and research.

World:

In the beginning of this world, there was nearly void and dark space, only containing “stardust” and magical energy. At some point, the stardust and magical energy congeal to form the deities and their specific realm. “Stardust” is exclusive to them creation-wise. Some time after that, the planets are formed. The planets form by magical energy pulling itself together (it’s sort of a weird gravity where it pulls itself inward and pushes a bit out but is pretty spherical?) So inside the planets, underneath a rather dense layer of earth, is a ball of magical energy. Given that some of the energy is pushed out and brought back in during the cycle, some of the magical energy remains outside of the planets’s “shell,” which formed to create the life on the planets. This energy also faintly leaks through the shell as well. So on all planets in the beginning, magical energy was very weak, only enough to act as a life source. So all planets had some variation of ordinary humans with ordinary plants and such. They vary to some degree but none possess any strong magic. All planets kept to a faintly similar development level given the amount of magic needed to form a planet. One planet in particular, was underdeveloped compared to others (in terms of its people, civilizations, and society.) It was also a pretty war torn planet, and as it continued, one day, a large meteor crashed into the planet, killing all life on it. The deities didn’t pay this any real mind. However, as it turned out, that planet held much more and much more potent magical energy than other planets, as did the meteor. So when the two collided, it broke a hole in the shell and the meteor. So the magical energy started to seep out much more than on any other planet. (The planet may have more magical energy due to taking stardust and thus explaining how it was able to accumulate more magic before the shell formed?) So the magical energy built off of the remains and remaining magic of the dead life forms, making magical plants and animal-human hybrids. While the plants and actual animals (no human aspects) have more potent magic, the human hybrids did not. Yet, now the gods took interest because this was the only planet to exhibit these traits. So they took to viewing the planet as a new entertainment, bestowing blessings to those they favored (or to those that opposed the other deities’s favorites.) Despite that, the deities are all on rather good terms with each other, their “fights” are just being playfully petty. A sort of family or friend group dynamic? They see the human hybrids as essentially play things or favorite fictional characters depending on the deity and the person. On that planet, they all believe in the same religion but may choose to exclusively worship certain deities or view them as more or less favorable. I haven’t fleshed out the deities’s designs or personalities or names too much. Back to the magical energy thing, there’s three types of magical energy: blessings, natural, and innate. Innate magic is the magic that works as a life source; it is a subsect of natural magic. Natural magic is the magic that exists within the planets and within space. It’s the same magic that non-human-hybrid creatures and plants use. The third, blessings, are the magic given by the deities. It is the only way to really feasibly channel magic as a human-hybrid. Also, human hybrids are generally humans with animal features (sometimes ears, always lower body and tails, but it may vary?)

Characters:

Rohan Candros (last name from a fantasy generator but I really like it) is a deer hybrid (southeast Asian, likely Filipino or Vietnamese) and was given a blessing by the god of song when young. He’s essentially the main character? His mom was also a prodigy, but failed to live up to the expectations she placed for herself, so she encouraged Rohan to excel in his magic and in most facets (such as academic, artistic, musical.) This ends up leading Rohan to push expectations onto himself for fear of letting down those around him. Also given he has no siblings, so more attention on him. His dad is alive and healthy too. He has a very loving and nice family. He agreed to take on the “final exam” because he prioritizes his goals and things within his self interest most genuinely, but does follow his own morals. He also wishes to search for his childhood friend who recently stopped sending back letters/texts. (Not sure how technology works in that regard.) He seemingly always acts calm and unbothered, a smile on his face near constantly. It’s not much of his genuine personality, so much as a front to seem more in line with what he thinks is expected of him. He’s not particularly athletic, and excels in mid-to-long range magic centered around music. He has a faintly-orangey-red magic. He’s also aroace, so that’s fun!

Sunila Gataki is a cat hybrid (unsure on her ethnicity, but it was originally going to be at least half Greek) who grew up on the more poor side? She has a few siblings and her parents struggled a bit to afford what they needed and often made sacrifices. She agrees to take on the “final exam” because she prioritizes stability and would be able to ensure that for her family most assuredly if she can fulfill the requirements for the payment and insurance it rewards. She is rather muscular and buff, more on the masculine side than feminine, but she’s the best at communication out of the three and while not one to shy from fighting, is rather thoughtful and slow to anger. She was given a blessing by a deity (I don’t know which one) and has lighting magic. She fights with a giant axe or with her hands. She has blue magic. She’s some degree of sapphic.

Juniper Amin is a bird hybrid (mixed Arabic and Black I recall?) and grew up fairly rich and sheltered. She isn’t entirely naive, her parents made sure to afford her the best education they could, so she knows quite a bit. She’s not too good at communication or people skills. She has a soft and innocent sort of look to her, and she is relatively nice but she isn’t particularly good with animals or kids, that’s more of Sunila’s thing. She agreed to take on the “final exam” because of her desire to learn and see the world more, given she wasn’t particularly able to when younger. She also aims for more personal interaction although not particularly good at it, because she either had an older sibling who was distant, or no siblings. I haven’t a clue what type of magic she has nor the deity who she got the magic from, but she uses a bow and arrow (I don’t know why she would given technology exists, but I like the aesthetic of bows and arrows more than guns.) She has green magic. She’s also some degree of sapphic.

Kian Bak (East Asian, Korean?) is the childhood best friend of Rohan who has gone missing within the past few months. He has a blessing of healing and moved away from Rohan’s town when they were young, and they kept in touch with letters or technology, primarily. He’s a dragon hybrid. Rohan doesn’t particularly say much about him to the other two until later on because Rohan is one of the type to not let much personal about himself be known.

All (most) details are pretty subject to change given the actual plot is pretty underdeveloped and I’ve changed it once before.

#nami rambles #plight of prodigies

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centuries-of-thoughts · 5 months ago

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A While-Reading Review:

The Secret Life of Groceries

By Benjamin Lorr

Part 1

At the 1956 International Food Congress in Rome […]the USDA set up an “American way exhibit.” It featured the first fully stocked supermarket outside of the United States. This was a modest staging, designed more for easy assembly and dismantling. It held a mere 2,500 brands, a few packaged meats in a lone refrigerated case, and a small selection of prepared food. When the exhibit opened, and crowds finally entered, the Italian women went berserk. One notable enthusiast began running up and down the aisles shouting, “It must be heaven…There are mountains of food!” Press reports described others as standing “stunned,” “goggle eyed,” “bewildered,” and “shrieking with surprise and envy.”

This was not media hype. Pope Pius XII himself weighed in, announcing his blessing from the Holy See. (Page 36)

I’ve never knew how much the grocery store is such an American thing. It could’ve only flourished and happen in America, originally. It as a normal way of life solidified before World War II, and by the 1950’s it became a social fact, just how you shop for food. This oversimplified summary is full of examples: 7/11’s start in the 1920’s, the rise of Piggly Wiggly’s (with It’s GameStop meme shorting story), and building a store so big it covers an entire square foot. While the world lost its minds over a very little mock grocery store in 1956, we were already living in Costco size stores.

So how did we get here? What in our mind causes the supermarket? It doesn’t answer it, if anything, its whole argument relies off of your familiarity with the American and the introduction of Joe Coulombe, the Trader Joe.

How Joe survived the corporate super market area of the 1956’s is nothing more than the true rebirth of American entrepreneurism. No truly, look up his theory papers: he combined the design philosophy of the Boeing 747 (newly released), targeting educated, but poor, GI Bill college students, and purchasing as self-expression. This was revolutionary in the sense that he had enough disposable, advent-grade, intellect that read the symbolism of America and pointed it towards his stores. He did everything, EVERYTHING, himself. He read laws to undermine industry norms and created new trends and cravings. He took risks and every tenth experiment hit, but it is nothing like our Trader Joe’s, he sold it and is run by someone else now.

This is a fantastic introduction into the mirror that is the American mind that became engrossed in the image and likeness of the supermarket. When you hear of the haphazardness, the care, and the expense that created our modern grocery stores, it is truly only down hill from here.

#book #book review #the secret life of groceries #food #food justice #philosophy #wendell berry

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pixelmate-exhibition-co-ltd · 2 years ago

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Transform Your Trade Show Experience with Pixelmate Exhibition Co., Ltd.

Welcome to Pixelmate Exhibition Co., Ltd., the enchanters who breathe life into your exhibitions! ✨🏛️✨ As the leading exhibition booth designer and builder in Bangkok, Thailand, we specialize in creating extraordinary booths that captivate and innovate, ensuring your trade shows and events stand out from the competition.

Unleash the Power of Custom Exhibition Booths Capture the attention of your audience with our custom-designed exhibition booths. We understand that your brand is unique, and we tailor our designs to showcase your distinct identity. From eye-catching graphics to innovative structures, we create a visual feast that leaves a lasting impression.

Elevate Your Brand's Presence Stand tall and be noticed! Our expertise lies in transforming ordinary spaces into immersive realms that tell your brand story. With strategic placement of branding elements and engaging interactive features, we ensure your booth becomes a focal point, attracting visitors like moths to a flame.

Stay Ahead with Innovative Designs Innovation is our middle name! We stay at the forefront of design trends and technologies, infusing your booths with the latest elements that mesmerize your audience. From interactive displays and augmented reality experiences to sustainable materials, we push boundaries to keep you ahead of the curve.

Seamlessly Blend Form and Function Our team of talented designers understands that aesthetics alone won't cut it. We seamlessly blend form and function, creating booths that not only wow visually but also serve as practical spaces for networking, product demonstrations, and engaging conversations with potential clients.

Experience Hassle-Free Project Management Leave the logistics to us! We handle every aspect of your exhibition booth project, from conceptualization and design to construction, installation, and dismantling. Our dedicated project managers ensure a smooth and stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on what matters most—connecting with your audience.

Elevate Your Trade Show Success When it comes to trade shows, visibility is key. Our booths are designed to maximize your visibility and attract foot traffic. With our strategic placement and attention-grabbing designs, you'll enjoy increased brand exposure, generate more leads, and achieve greater success at your trade shows and events.

Unlock the true potential of your exhibitions with Pixelmate Exhibition Co., Ltd. Follow us for regular updates and tips on how to make your trade show presence extraordinary. Together, let's create magical experiences that leave your competitors in awe and your audience wanting more! ✨🌟✨

#exhibition booth #tradefair #exhibitionstand #boothdesign #thailand #tradeshowbooth #tradeshowdesign #booth #booth design #exhibition

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vcraftstudio · 9 days ago

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Eco-Exhibiting: 6 Things You Can Do to Create a Sustainable Exhibition Stall

In recent years, sustainability has become an essential consideration across all industries, including event and exhibition planning. As businesses and organizations are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, the concept of eco-exhibiting has emerged. This approach focuses on creating exhibition stalls that are not only eye-catching and engaging but also environmentally responsible.

If you're planning to set up an exhibition stall and want to make it as eco-friendly as possible, you’re in the right place. Here are six simple yet effective steps to help you design a sustainable exhibition stall that aligns with the growing demand for green initiatives.

1. Use Recycled and Sustainable Materials

The foundation of any sustainable exhibition stall starts with the materials you choose. Rather than using disposable or single-use materials, opt for sustainable alternatives.

What You Can Do:

Recycled Wood: Instead of using new wood, choose recycled or reclaimed wood for furniture, shelving, or walls. It adds character and reduces the environmental impact of sourcing new materials.

Cardboard and Paper: Use recyclable cardboard or paper for signage, brochures, and displays. These can often be reused or recycled after the event.

Eco-friendly Fabrics: If your exhibition stall uses fabric for banners or tablecloths, choose fabrics made from natural fibers like cotton, hemp, or recycled polyester.

By choosing recycled or sustainably sourced materials, you significantly reduce the environmental cost of your exhibition setup and create a circular economy in the event space.

2. Embrace Digital Over Print

One of the easiest ways to minimize your environmental impact at an exhibition is to limit your use of paper and print materials. Traditional exhibitions are often flooded with brochures, pamphlets, and handouts that end up being discarded by attendees, contributing to unnecessary waste.

What You Can Do:

Digital Signage: Replace physical posters and signage with digital screens or tablets that display information interactively.

QR Codes: Instead of handing out printed brochures, use QR codes on your stall to direct visitors to online catalogs or digital resources.

Virtual Business Cards: Ditch traditional business cards and offer visitors the chance to scan your digital contact information via apps like LinkedIn or digital business card platforms.

This shift not only reduces waste but also creates a more interactive and modern experience for your visitors.

3. Energy-Efficient Lighting

Lighting plays a huge role in how your stall looks, but traditional lighting can be energy-hungry. Opting for energy-efficient lighting options not only reduces your carbon footprint but can also save you money in the long run.

What You Can Do:

LED Lights: Use LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs. LEDs are more energy-efficient and have a much longer lifespan, reducing the frequency of replacements.

Natural Light: If possible, design your stall to take advantage of natural light by incorporating windows or transparent panels in your booth design. Natural light is not only free but can also create a more welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.

Smart Lighting Controls: Invest in smart lighting systems that allow you to adjust the lighting based on foot traffic or time of day, further reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

By implementing energy-efficient lighting, you can significantly lower the environmental impact of your exhibition presence.

4. Modular and Reusable Design

Building a stall that can be reused at multiple events reduces waste and promotes longevity. Instead of constructing a one-time-use booth that ends up in the landfill, aim for a modular design that can be assembled in different ways and adapted for future exhibitions.

What You Can Do:

Modular Booths: Invest in a modular exhibition booth made from reusable components. These can be disassembled, stored, and reassembled for different events, reducing the need for new materials each time.

Customizable Displays: Create displays and furniture that can be customized based on the specific needs of each exhibition, eliminating the need for wasteful one-time setups.

By choosing modular and reusable booth designs, you’re not only reducing your waste but also saving on costs in the long run.

5. Minimize Single-Use Items

One of the most wasteful aspects of exhibitions is the abundance of single-use items. These can include disposable plastic cutlery, cups, napkins, and even giveaways. Reducing these items is a key step in creating a more sustainable exhibition.

What You Can Do:

Reusable Containers: Instead of using disposable plastic cups or plates, use reusable materials such as bamboo, stainless steel, or glass.

Eco-friendly Giveaways: If you give away promotional products, opt for eco-friendly alternatives. For example, instead of plastic keychains, offer branded reusable water bottles, tote bags, or plantable seed cards.

Water Stations: Rather than providing bottled water, set up a water station with reusable cups or encourage attendees to bring their own water bottles to refill.

By minimizing single-use items, you reduce the amount of waste generated during the event and make your exhibition stall more environmentally friendly.

6. Offset Carbon Emissions

Exhibitions, especially large-scale ones, often contribute to carbon emissions due to the transportation of materials, energy usage, and the movement of attendees. While reducing emissions is essential, you can also take steps to offset the emissions that cannot be avoided.

What You Can Do:

Carbon Offsetting: Invest in carbon offset programs that support environmental projects such as tree planting, renewable energy, or reforestation. Many companies offer carbon offset services where you can calculate your event’s total carbon footprint and purchase offsets accordingly.

Sustainable Travel: Encourage your team to travel sustainably by using public transport or carpooling, and provide eco-friendly options for shipping your stall materials.

Although you might not be able to eliminate all emissions, investing in offsetting programs helps mitigate your environmental impact.

Conclusion: The Future of Eco-Exhibiting

As sustainability continues to take center stage in every industry, the need for eco-friendly exhibition practices becomes even more important. By following these six steps—using recycled materials, embracing digital solutions, installing energy-efficient lighting, designing reusable displays, minimizing waste, and offsetting carbon emissions—you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your exhibition stall while still delivering an engaging and effective experience.

Sustainability in exhibitions doesn��t just benefit the planet—it also shows your commitment to social responsibility, which can be a powerful selling point for eco-conscious consumers and partners. So next time you’re planning an exhibition, remember that being green isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also good for business.

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axisdesigners1234 · 9 months ago

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Axis Designers: Leading the Way as the Best Exhibition Company in India

In the dynamic world of exhibitions and trade shows, the presentation and design of a booth can make all the difference between attracting potential clients and blending into the background. This is where Axis Designers step in, carving a niche as the best exhibition company in India. With a reputation for creativity, innovation, and excellence, Axis Designers are redefining the standards of exhibition design, making them the go-to choice for businesses aiming to make a lasting impression.

Innovation at Its Best Axis Designers pride themselves on their innovative approach to exhibition design. They understand that each client has unique needs and goals, and they tailor their services to meet these specific requirements. By integrating cutting-edge technology with creative design, they create visually stunning and functionally effective exhibition spaces. From interactive displays to immersive environments, Axis Designers ensure that each exhibition booth they design stands out and captivates the audience.

Comprehensive Services One of the key reasons behind the success of Axis Designers is their comprehensive range of services. They offer end-to-end solutions, handling everything from conceptualization and design to execution and dismantling. This holistic approach ensures that clients can focus on their core business activities while Axis Designers take care of the entire exhibition process. Their services include:

Custom Exhibition Stands: Tailor-made designs that reflect the brand identity and meet specific business objectives. Modular Stands: Flexible and reusable designs that can be adapted for different shows and spaces. Portable Displays: Easy-to-transport solutions that are perfect for smaller shows and events. Graphic Design: Eye-catching graphics that enhance the overall appeal of the booth. Project Management: End-to-end management ensuring timely and efficient execution of the project.

A Track Record of Success Axis Designers have an impressive portfolio of successful projects across various industries. Their clients range from small startups to large multinational corporations, all of whom have benefitted from the exceptional service and design expertise that Axis Designers provide. Their ability to understand the client’s vision and translate it into a compelling exhibition space has earned them a loyal customer base and numerous accolades in the industry.

Client-Centric Approach At the heart of Axis Designers’ success is their client-centric approach. They believe in building long-term relationships with their clients by delivering exceptional service and value. By closely collaborating with clients throughout the design process, they ensure that the final product not only meets but exceeds expectations. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence are evident in every project they undertake.

Sustainability and Innovation In an era where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, Axis Designers are leading the way by incorporating eco-friendly practices into their designs. They use sustainable materials and practices wherever possible, ensuring that their designs are not only visually appealing but also environmentally responsible. This commitment to sustainability, coupled with their innovative approach, sets them apart from their competitors.

Conclusion Axis Designers have firmly established themselves as the best exhibition company in India by consistently delivering outstanding designs and unparalleled service. Their innovative solutions, comprehensive services, client-centric approach, and commitment to sustainability make them the preferred choice for businesses looking to make a mark at exhibitions and trade shows. With Axis Designers, clients can be assured of a successful and memorable exhibition experience.

#axisdesigners #exhibition #bestexhibitiondesign #designcompany #exhibition2024 #exhibitiondesign #india #designers on tumblr #designers #best interior designers in india

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a-day-in-the-afterlife · 2 years ago

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The 14th Department Goes to the Aquarium

Mane

So, Ell finds the jellies absolutely ethereal. He’s lived up in the Celestial Realm his whole life and the otherworldly calmness that they exude almost remind him of home. He and Jamie spend an hour at the jelly exhibit, and Ell is so enraptured by the sight of them that his clumsy self bonks into the aquarium glass four or five times—on separate occasions—when he steps too close. After he is sufficiently amazed by the jellies, he goes to hang out with his father Youssef and the Manager, who together haunt the aquarium café, sipping on caramel lattes and watching over the other Soul Reapers.

Like Ell, Jamie loves the jellies. Something about their soft and translucent form makes him feel incredibly peaceful. He could’ve spent hours taking in their mesmerizing beauty, but soon moves exhibits in order to take in all the “wonderful lil’ critters” the aquarium has to offer. He is particularly interested in the beluga whales because “Bless my heart! Don’t they have the friendliest face you ever did see?” Overall, he enjoys the museum trip because animals of all kinds amuse him, and the low burbling of the water in the tanks is so soothing.

Ghilley is highly intrigued by the octopuses—with their extensive abilities to camouflage and maneuver their bodies, they’re even better at sneaking up on people than him! He read on the sign next to the octopus tank that the animals are so intelligent that they can solve problems, predict, remember, dismantle things, and even do puzzles, which is one of his favorite hobbies! Licht teases him by saying that Ghilley himself must be one of the ancestors of the octopus, since he is so old, and they are so similar. Ghilley allows the tease with an “Ufufufu,” but secretly vows to cover his boyfriend’s roommate’s bed in Legos as revenge.

He initially doesn’t have that much enthusiasm for going on this field trip (“Who’s going to admire my beauty in an aquarium? What, the fish? We should go somewhere with more people, darling!”), so Licht stalwartly shadows Ghilley in the octopus exhibit, commenting that he wished he himself was an octopus, since being able to change one’s “outfit color” based on one’s surroundings just sounded so tantalizing! Bored after standing in one exhibit for so long, Licht wanders into the amphibian section of the aquarium, where he stands, enrapt at the gorgeous colors of the (poisonous) frogs, for a whole hour, before calling over the Manager (who takes a “break” from her “coffee break”) to ogle at the animals with him—her close proximity and warm scent causes him to rethink his stance on the engagement of aquariums.

Die

Theo finds himself in a conundrum: he wants to spend time with Junee and the Manager, but he also desperately yearns to discuss the aquarium cleaning regimen with the staff. With how long he expects the latter conversation to last, he’s not sure he’ll have time to do both activities in the eleven hours that the 14th Department intends to stay at the aquarium! He almost takes up Cyrille, who professes to have discovered the secret to cloning, on his offers of allowing Theo to be in “two places at once,” but decides that on his day off, he might as well just get some info on what kind of industry-standard and nonabrasive detergents the staff uses to clean the aquarium, for he can spend time with Junee any other day. However, seven hours into the discussion with the staff, Theo feels a prick of conscience and spends the rest of the day gallivanting about the aquarium with June and Day.

Slightly disheartened by the fact that Theo initially chooses to spend what looks like the entire day with the aquarium staff, June is rescued from squeezing out a few manly tears by Day, who encourages him to do as he does and see how many times he could visit all the exhibits before the day is done. June likes the idea—only a true man could see all the animals in the aquarium more than once in a given day—and the pair cause a general ruckus as they speed through the various exhibits, staring at the animals in awe for no more than two minutes before rushing to the next tank. He feels especial pity for the turtles: if only he had thought to bring extra running shoes for them to feel the joys of speed as he did!

Louis, with a clothespin over his nose to block the stench, spends much of the day in the penguin exhibit. He can be heard announcing “Thou art a very dapper bird, although not as fine as me!” to every penguin who is willing to hear his blathering. He is most appreciative of their debonair coat of black and white and is even more intrigued when a trainer tells him that there is a breed of penguin called “Emperor.” A fellow royal, just like him! Upon the Manager’s request that he spend his time admiring the other animals as well (the penguin trainers were having trouble hiding their laughter at the pompous prince, and she wanted to give them a break), Louis bothers Verine and Ethan at the sea star habitat, and the sickly Soul Reaper wonders if life is worth living at all if this is how it’s to be spent (listening to the prince). Louis connects to the sea stars deeply because he, too, is a star!

Like many occasions when he has to interact with the other Soul Reapers, this field trip is a special brand of hell for Ethan. He stays with Verine by the sea star tank for some time, before his roommate, Louis, prances in and begins all manner of comparisons toward himself and the sea stars. Ethan, after listening to Louis for seventeen minutes, has to relieve himself of the prince and begins quietly examining the exhibits en route out of the main part of the aquarium and into the adjoining café and gift shop area. He spots Ell, Youssef, and the Manager there, and as he finds those three not entirely unpalatable in terms of disposition—Manager, especially—he joins them, although he scoffs at the trio’s preference for coffee over tea.

Hesperide

Sian is one of the few people in the entire 14th Department that visits the aquarium like a normal person. He and Noah throw out the terrible maps that they bought from Mori and peruse the exhibits at their own leisure, admiring the animals, and spending more time at the exhibits that strike their fancy. Sian personally finds the seahorses to be some of the most entertaining aquatic creatures in the whole aquarium; there are so many different designs they can take! As he and Noah stroll among the tanks, he can’t help but wonder if they’ll catch a glimpse of the Manager (he doesn’t know that she’s retired early from visiting the exhibits to drink coffee). Of course, he’s not going to say that—“Y—yo, don’t take that the wrong way! It’s not l—like I’m interested in hanging out with the Manager or anything!” No one believes him, though.

Enthralled with the idea of a more educational field trip, Cyrille is on Cloud Nine. He forgoes any interaction with his fellow Soul Reapers, preferring to study the various informational signs on the tanks, check the cleanliness and ethicalness of all the habitats, and interrogate the workers in the aquarium as to how they are maintaining all the animals and their tanks. He is satisfied in knowing that the aquarium takes care of all their wildlife properly and makes sure that their animals are comfortable and are in habitats as close as to the ones they would have been living in in nature. Although Manager tries to coax him from his awkward questions, he’s far too interested to take notice, but he ends up having the most fun of all the Soul Reapers during this field trip, when all his queries are satisfied.

Kati fights with Aitachi the entire bus ride to the aquarium and spends much of the time inside the building screaming obscenities like “Noctu and Noah are stupid!” from the top of his lungs. He is thoroughly shut up when Manager advises him to vent his feelings to the corals, which he does, and becomes much more relaxed. He had plans to follow Noah and bully him the entire time (he just wants some attention from his roommate, poor thing), but after seeing that Noah and Sian are too busy being mature by actually enjoying the aquarium, he thinks better of it, and instead, stations himself at the sea otter exhibit. They are so cute—although, not as cute as him! There, he finds Aitachi, who is also charmed with a childlike passion by the otters, and immediately threatens to bite him. He is rescued from being obliterated by the much-more experienced warrior by Noah, who “coincidentally” decided he wanted to drop by the sea otter exhibit.

As mentioned earlier, Noah enjoys the aquarium with Sian, perhaps in the way that it’s supposed to be enjoyed. He likes taking it easy, not wanting to cherry-pick any exhibits to see, but instead, choosing to admire the interesting ones as they came along. After seeing most of the aquarium together, he and Sian part ways, Sian deciding to go find the Manager (he finds Quincy instead), and Noah, feeling that Kati probably had gotten himself into trouble by now, decides to go look for the younger Evening Team member. He texts the Manager to see if she knows where Kati is (she says he’s in the sea otter exhibit) and goes to find him. He is just in time to see Aitachi and him ready to begin dueling, and delivers Kati from getting clobbered by the young Atiyah warrior and insists that it was an “accident” that he happened to bump into the pair. Noah forces Kati to apologize to Aitachi, and even though it was done in a most begrudging manner, the pair do not have any more quarrels (in that day).

Noctu

Despite Nine’s frequent wishes to be alone, he has long since realized that in public places where they have never been before, the three other members of Noctu will follow him around like orphaned children. As he’s pretty sure that the trio would get themselves into trouble otherwise—and on accident, of course—he’s contented himself to live with it. He and the rest of Noctu traverse the aquarium in a group and mostly juggle their party between the freshwater and saltwater fish exhibits. They do visit the rest of the aquarium, though, and Nine is overcome with panic when Aitachi is found missing from the group for all of twelve minutes. He is most excited when him and the rest of Noctu sign up to watch a video presentation on sharks (which do not have a live exhibit at the aquarium), but he mostly zones out during it and enjoys the silence of his own mind. Because they finish perusing the aquarium much earlier than anticipated, Kirr, Aitachi, and him retire to the aquarium café with Youssef, Ell, Ethan, and the Manager.

Day has been counting the days for this field trip the moment he heard it announced, and his excitement is rewarded with a great day at the aquarium. He loves this opportunity to “play” with Nine-Nine and the rest of his teammates and see all the pretty fishies! Day likes the freshwater and saltwater fish a lot—the clownfish amuse him to no end, but he is even more enamored when the group visits the dolphin exhibit. They remind him of himself—playful and smart! Day, who has no grasp on the concept of money, throws away his ticket to the shark presentation that he had already paid for, and decides that he’d rather still explore the museum further instead of sitting around to watch a video (he can’t sit still for very long). He finds June sadly, but earnestly, wandering about the exhibits by his lonesome, and instantly invents a way for them to hang out and see the entirety of the aquarium together by ways of running around it like a lunatic and see all the exhibits as fast and as many times as possible. It’s great fun and brightens June up considerably!

Having lived high up in the mountains all his life, Kirr is astonished by the sheer amount of aquatic life present in the aquarium. He has a terrible habit of calling every organism around them “a fish,” whether it be a spindly lobster or an entire coral reef. Kirr does not fear when Aitachi becomes lost, knowing the young warrior can take care of himself just fine, but he still looks for him and successfully tracks him down in the sea otter exhibit. Kirr is the first one to agree when Nine suggests that the group sign up to watch a video presentation on sharks, especially when he sees the poster promoting the video call sharks “the hunters of the sea.” The informative presentation teaches him nothing new about hunting, but he appreciates it nonetheless. Him, Aitachi, and Nine retire to the aquarium’s café after strolling about the entirety of the exhibits and are delighted to find Ell, Youssef, and the Manager enjoying coffee together. He himself is significantly less excited upon seeing his opponent, Ethan, there, as well, nursing a cup of what appears to be hot leaf juice.

Warrior Aitachi does not know what to expect upon entering the “aquarium” place that Miss Manager insists that the 14th Department tour. He is, however, sufficiently pleased when he realizes that it is a place to view many fish, even if it is merely a fruitless pastime. Nevertheless, he is enthralled with childlike vivacity at all the exhibits that he and the rest of Noctu visit and loves the sheer amount of color present in the watery tanks. He is not entirely distraught when he become separated from the rest of Noctu, for he can definitely take care of himself! Aitachi is wise enough to stay at the exhibit where he last was with the Night Team—the sea otter habitat—so his team can find him more easily. There, he watches the cute antics of the otters and is content until Licht and Ghilley, who were coming back from the aquarium bathrooms, have the audacity to compare his “cuteness” with the otters’! It puts him in a bad mood, and it is even worsened when that intrepid Kati comes from out of nowhere and bites him. He would’ve had no qualms at honorably cutting down the Evening Team member, but alas, Kati is rescued by Noah. After receiving an apology from Kati, Aitachi is reunited with Noctu and they head to their scheduled shark presentation before seeing the rest of the museum, and heading back to the aquarium café with the Manager.

Diluculo

If it isn’t already obvious, Youssef prefers to spend his time in the aquarium in its café, for he has seen many aquariums in his youth and would prefer to spend this trip to the museum watching over the other Soul Reapers. Since the café is elevated enough so one can look down from its ledge over the entire aquarium, he is joined by the Manager, so she, too, can survey what is happening among the rest of the members of the 14th Department. Youssef immediately orders for the Manager and himself two caramel lattes and they sip and chat and watch over the Soul Reapers like mother hens. Their small party of two grows as the day passes, and by the end of the field trip, it comprises he, the Manager, Ell, Ethan, Kirr, Aitachi, and Nine. Even though he appreciated the alone time with the Manager, none of the other Soul Reapers are unwelcome and only heighten his enjoyment of the trip.

Mori sees the aquarium field trip as an excellent business opportunity. He already sold several copies of a map of the aquarium (complete with animal facts pulled from Otherworldipedia) he had made prior to the trip to Noah and Sian. They sold for a hefty price and even if he had made no other profit that day, Mori would have still been satisfied, even though Quincy had called his maps fit for nothing but to be used as toilet paper and that was only if the world had run out of its supply of one-ply. Nevertheless, he stations himself outside the aquarium entrance and sells twenty-four copies of his map pamphlet before aquarium security ask him to not charge money for what they were already giving away for free inside. Mori is unabashed, however, and makes his way to the aquarium gift shop, where he sells many mass-produced, underwater-themed trinkets that he bought from a bulk party store online. He happens to make a killing, before the aquarium security, once again and less politely this time, ask him to buzz off.

Criticism is his strong suit, so Quincy wanders about by himself making rude remarks on all the fish and other underwater life. He only does this, however, to hide how bored and lonely he is, especially since his roommate, Verine, had decided to be boring and spend his entire afternoon embroiled in the sea stars. Despite this annoyance with Verine, Quincy still texts him hourly reminders in typical Quincy fashion (read: rudely) to take his medicine. He is infinitely satisfied when he finds Sian, who is a kindred spirit in criticism, and together they stroll about the aquarium, judging the creatures inside the tanks as if they weren’t completely and utterly entranced by their beauty. Quincy particularly likes the birds of prey exhibit (although he wonders why the aquarium, which focuses on underwater life, has one), for he has to admit contentment in watching the little moles and mice get absolutely massacred by the owls and hawks in the enclosure.

Verine doesn’t enjoy the museum one bit: it’s cold, it’s stuffy, and there’s too many people (which means more dust in the air). He has to content himself with his pills and tissues in the least popular exhibit with the sea stars (coincidentally, corals are significantly less interesting to watch than sea stars, but considering they have much more of a media presence with the “save the coral reefs movement,” more people tend to frequent their exhibit). He is secretly flattered with Quincy’s constant reminders to take his medicine, because it shows he cares, in his own denigrating way. He is not, however, amused by Louis’ frequent inquirings after his health, for they all follow a split-second look of pity, just as the prince begins one of his long ramblings about his own beauty, and how Verine should, instead of “focusing on his deformities,” look to the handsomeness that was the prince. He much preferred the awkward silence he had been sharing with Ethan before the prince’s arrival!

#um....i think this has been in my drafts for 3 years now?? i didnt know it was there help #afterl!fe #afterlife #after l!fe #afer life

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