#Facades Market research

[me-amaraja]

Facade Market Insights: Regional Analysis and Key Players

Facade Market Growth Strategic Market Overview and Growth Projections

The global facade market size was valued at USD 244.3 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 409.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

The latest Global Facade Market by straits research provides an in-depth analysis of the Facade Market, including its future growth potential and key factors influencing its trajectory. This comprehensive report explores crucial elements driving market expansion, current challenges, competitive landscapes, and emerging opportunities. It delves into significant trends, competitive strategies, and the role of key industry players shaping the global Facade Market. Additionally, it provides insight into the regulatory environment, market dynamics, and regional performance, offering a holistic view of the global market’s landscape through 2032.

Competitive Landscape

Some of the prominent key players operating in the Facade Market are 

Bouygues

Hochtief

Skanska

Norsk Hydro ASA

Gartner (Permasteelisa Group)

HansenGroup

Enclos

Aluplex

Fundermax

YKK AP Inc.

Rockpanel Group

Schuco International (OTTO FUCHS KG)

Get Free Request Sample Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/facade-market/request-sample

The Facade Market Research report delivers comprehensive annual revenue forecasts alongside detailed analysis of sales growth within the market. These projections, developed by seasoned analysts, are grounded in a deep exploration of the latest industry trends. The forecasts offer valuable insights for investors, highlighting key growth opportunities and industry potential. Additionally, the report provides a concise dashboard overview of leading organizations, showcasing their effective marketing strategies, market share, and the most recent advancements in both historical and current market landscapes.Global Facade Market: Segmentation

The Facade Market segmentation divides the market into multiple sub-segments based on product type, application, and geographical region. This segmentation approach enables more precise regional and country-level forecasts, providing deeper insights into market dynamics and potential growth opportunities within each segment.

By Product

Ventilated

Non-ventilated

Others

By End-User

Commercial

Residential

Industrial

Stay ahead of the competition with our in-depth analysis of the market trends!

Buy Now @ https://straitsresearch.com/buy-now/facade-market

Market Highlights:

A company's revenue and the applications market are used by market analysts, data analysts, and others in connected industries to assess product values and regional markets.

But not limited to: reports from corporations, international Organization, and governments; market surveys; relevant industry news.

Examining historical market patterns, making predictions for the year 2022, as well as looking forward to 2032, using CAGRs (compound annual growth rates)

Historical and anticipated data on demand, application, pricing, and market share by country are all included in the study, which focuses on major markets such the United States, Europe, and China.

Apart from that, it sheds light on the primary market forces at work as well as the obstacles, opportunities, and threats that suppliers face. In addition, the worldwide market's leading players are profiled, together with their respective market shares.

Goals of the Study

What is the overall size and scope of the Facade Market market?

What are the key trends currently influencing the market landscape?

Who are the primary competitors operating within the Facade Market market?

What are the potential growth opportunities for companies in this market?

What are the major challenges or obstacles the market is currently facing?

What demographic segments are primarily targeted in the Facade Market market?

What are the prevailing consumer preferences and behaviors within this market?

What are the key market segments, and how do they contribute to the overall market share?

What are the future growth projections for the Facade Market market over the next several years?

How do regulatory and legal frameworks influence the market?

About Straits Research

Straits Research is dedicated to providing businesses with the highest quality market research services. With a team of experienced researchers and analysts, we strive to deliver insightful and actionable data that helps our clients make informed decisions about their industry and market. Our customized approach allows us to tailor our research to each client's specific needs and goals, ensuring that they receive the most relevant and valuable insights.

Contact Us

Email: sales@straitsresearch.com 

Tel: UK: +44 203 695 0070, USA: +1 646 905 0080

[oldguardleatherdog]

I would like to know more about pup history!

Well, hello, and thanks for asking! Sorry it took a while to respond.

Pup Play as we know it today got its start in 1986 at the International Mr. Leather gathering in Chicago when the partner of a leather artist at the Vendor Market, who showed up in a full-body leather pup suit and a mask crafted by a saddlemaker, started bouncing around the place barking and howling and humping the leather guys as they browsed the whips and chains on display-

-as a protest against the hardcore stoic impenetrable macho attitude that was prevalent among leathermen in those days - the standing joke was that "S&M" stood for "Stand & Model" - breaking through their poser facade, forcing them to interact and engage in a way that was just too cute and endearing to ignore or resist.

Pup Play began as an act of protest at the biggest leather gathering of the year against a cultural and institutional barrier to communication and connection. One guy - one dog - broke through that barrier, and nearly four decades later there are thousands of people around the world who pull on a pup hood and hit the ground or the mats or the dance floor barking up a storm, expressing ourselves in ways that are free and full, in a spirit of joy that at its best can transcend roleplay and allow us to experience, however briefly, "the time when the divorce between human and animal was not yet complete." (Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Princeton University Press, 1972)

That guy, "Ranger", who's a good friend and a real sweetheart, is still active in the scene here in San Francisco and is our "First Pup", the original (and best!). A year later, almost to the day, I came out as a gay man - and when I came out, I came out barking. The man who put me on all fours for the first time was the man who brought me out, my first and only Leather Daddy who set me on this wild path that became a life's work.

I'm Pup Number Two, 37 years on all fours. I taught the first Pup Play workshop on record (San Francisco, August 1997), where I presented the first Trainer/Handler curriculum to a leather audience for use and adaptation, conducted numerous clinics, demos, and performances for groups and clubs across the United States, and showed hundreds of kinksters of all ages and genders how they could find, embrace, and express their "inner canine." Over the past year, I've been giving my presentation/lecture on Pup History online and IRL for pup-and-handler groups; it's been well received and is being expanded with new research from the field for 2025.

For several years Ranger and I were the only ones doing this radical fringe weird thing that was viewed as disgusting and sick and immoral by the leather and kink community, vilified so strongly that for the first decade those of us who practiced this kink did so mostly underground, communicating through word-of-mouth and personal ads in magazines, because if it got around that we liked to bark in the sack we'd have been thrown out of the community as sickos who were barely a step above actual bestialists (a slur that has never been true of our practice or those who practice it).

In the US and Canada from 1986 to 1997, there were only about a dozen known pup players - researchers including myself are actively searching for others from that long-ago time if they even existed - and we had to fight like hell for years to be open about the kink that we loved and to be able to express ourselves openly in this way. That's surprising to many given the popularity of Pup Play today, but it took a lot of hardcore commitment in the face of opposition to get us out from the shadows and into the light of day.

I hope this is a good introduction to our history and that I've expressed it well enough to satisfy your initial curiosity! There's much more, of course, so if there are any particular areas you're curious about, let me know, awoo!

Thank you for asking. "Beast wishes" to you for a happy and humpy New Year!

Woofs + wags, Alpha Pup Bruzr

[lilbabypanda-blog2]

Two sides of a Gem (Part9)

Aventurine x (stoneheart)reader

Part8

The sterile glow of multiple screens illuminated Ruby's sharp features, casting angular shadows across his face. His pale hands glided over the keyboard with mechanical precision, every movement deliberate, every keystroke efficient. Data streams scrolled across the monitors—encrypted files, fragmented records, and blurry images of a woman cloaked in Nihility.

Acheron.

Her presence on Penacony had been a disruption, a crack in the carefully laid plans and fragile balance. Ruby’s crimson eyes flickered as he scanned line after line, each piece of information revealing little and raising more questions. She was an Emanator of Nihility, a force of nature bound to chaos and decay. Yet her motives remained obscured, her presence a specter in the shadows of this dream-soaked city.

For most, this would have been just another anomaly to log into a report. But not for him—not when Y/N was there.

His hands froze mid-motion.

Her name stirred something deep within the artificial core of his being—something heavy and unfamiliar. It was not fear, nor was it attachment—it was something else entirely.

He was never supposed to feel—not like this.

In the early days of his creation, he had been nothing more than a project—Prototype-7A, a marvel of engineering and ambition. The lab had been cold, efficient, and indifferent, filled with researchers who viewed him as an achievement to be marketed and sold.

But then there was Y/N—a bright light in a sterile world. Her older brother, his creator, had been the architect of Ruby’s existence. But it was Y/N who gave him something more—a sense of self.

"I can’t just call you 'Prototype-7A' forever. That’s… boring. You need a real name. Something proper."

He could still picture her small frame sitting cross-legged on the cold lab floor, her expression scrunched in thought as she studied him like he was more than just wires and metal beneath pale skin.

"Elias. That suits you, doesn’t it?"

At the time, the name had meant nothing to him. It was just another designation, another label. But when he repeated it back to her in his monotonous voice, she had smiled so brightly it made the sterile lab feel warm.

"See? Perfect."

It wasn’t long after that everything fell apart.

Her brother was gone. The lab had descended into chaos. And when the other researchers had tried to force Y/N into compliance—to hand him over, to strip away whatever shred of autonomy he might have had—it was the first time Ruby acted of his own volition.

He had protected her.

Because she wasn’t just his creator’s sister. She was his person.

The faint memory buzzed at the edges of his mind as he stared at the screen. Acheron’s file glared back at him, full of fragmented information and ominous gaps.

If she posed a threat to Y/N…

Ruby’s jaw tightened. He wouldn’t allow it.

He hesitated for only a moment before pressing the call button. The line connected with a faint chime, and her voice came through, light and casual, but with a sharp edge underneath—a mask as flawless as the one he wore.

"Elias? Everything alright?"

He paused briefly. It had been some time since she’d called him that. Out in the open, she used Ruby—a title, a facade. But here, in the illusory safety of the Dreamscape, she could speak freely.

“…For now,” he replied, his voice steady despite the faint crackle of something unreadable in his tone.

Her voice carried through the connection, bright and lilting, yet sharp as a blade beneath velvet. He could picture her in Golden Hour, bathed in soft light, with those sharp eyes taking in every detail around her.

“You called because of Acheron, didn’t you?”

Ruby’s crimson eyes flickered. She always knew.

“Yes,” he said flatly. “She’s an Emanator of Nihility. Her path to Penacony was… destructive. There’s no indication of her true goal yet.”

Y/N hummed thoughtfully.

“She hasn’t shown her hand yet. But I’ll keep my eyes open.”

A brief silence stretched between them before Ruby spoke again, his voice firm.

“Keep the cornerstone on your person at all times. Don’t let it leave your sight.”

“I know, Elias. I’m not careless.”

Her voice was light, but he knew she took his words seriously.

There was another pause before her voice softened slightly.

Ruby’s expression remained stoic, but something subtle shifted in the sharp lines of his face.

“…Good.”

Y/N’s next words were playful, but her sincerity shone through.

“You worry too much, you know that? I’ve got this.”

Before he could respond, she continued with a teasing lilt.

“Besides, who else would keep you from brooding yourself into a corner?”

For a brief moment, the corner of Ruby’s lips twitched upward—almost a smile.

“…Stay sharp, Y/N.”

The line disconnected with a soft chime, and Ruby leaned back in his chair, crimson eyes lingering on the faint reflection of himself in the dark screen.

His worries hadn’t been eased. Acheron remained an enigma. The cornerstone was still a target. And Aventurine…

Ruby’s eyes narrowed faintly at the thought of the blonde-haired schemer. His feelings towards Aventurine were… complicated. He didn’t dislike him—not entirely. But he worried that Aventurine’s charisma and reckless games would pull Y/N into something dangerous.

His pale hand hovered over the keyboard once more, pulling up another set of files as he dove back into his research.

Because until every variable was accounted for, and every threat neutralized, he couldn’t stop.

______________

The Penacony Dream Hotel lobby was bathed in soft golden light filtering through the crystalline chandeliers. Morning—or at least what counted as morning in a place like this—brought a strange hush to the space. Guests shuffled by, some looking well-rested, others clearly shaken from whatever dreams they had ventured into.

At one of the plush seating areas in the corner, March 7th was sprawled across a velvet armchair, sipping a bright pink drink from a fancy glass topped with an umbrella. The Trailblazer sat on the carpet, cross-legged, flipping through what seemed to be a Dreamscape user manual. Across from them, Himeko and Mr. Yang sat side by side, both with steaming cups of coffee in hand.

The faint click of heels announced Y/N’s arrival. She approached with a graceful stride, her usual sunny smile in place, but sharp eyes flickered across each familiar face before she settled down into an empty chair.

“Morning, everyone! Did we all survive our little dream adventures, or did someone end up in an emotional horror show?”

March raised her drink dramatically. “Survived, but barely. Some guy tried to sell me a dream insurance policy mid-dream. I woke up feeling financially scammed.”

The Trailblazer looked up from their manual. “I got lost in a maze made of floating sandwiches. I didn’t want to leave.”

Y/N chuckled, leaning back in her chair. “Well, I guess I’m the lucky one. I just enjoyed the view from the Golden Hour. Very shiny, very mysterious. Felt like they were hiding something under all that glitter.”

Himeko took a sip from her cup before speaking. “That’s what I wanted to discuss. Did anyone else feel like… something wasn’t quite right in the Dreamscape? Almost like we were being guided to certain places, seeing only what they wanted us to see?”

Mr. Yang adjusted his glasses, nodding slightly. “I noticed the same thing. Certain areas were accessible, while others remained obscured or strangely off-limits. Almost as if we’re being corralled.”

March frowned, her usual playful demeanor dimming slightly. “So, it’s not just me then. It felt… staged. Like a show we didn’t sign up to be part of.”

The Trailblazer flipped the manual closed with a sigh. “If this place is hiding something, then whoever’s pulling the strings isn’t doing a very good job of covering up the cracks.”

Y/N crossed one leg over the other, her smile softening as her fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of her sleeve. “I had a little… run-in with Mr. Sunday before heading into the Dreamscape. Let’s just say he’s far more polished than he lets on. Every word feels rehearsed.”

Himeko’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Sunday is a showman, but you’re right—something about him feels off. Did he let anything slip?”

Y/N shook her head lightly. “Nothing obvious. But people who play a part that well usually have something to hide. I plan on poking around a little more next time I see him.”

March leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “And what about him? You know, Mr. ‘Friend’ Aventurine. He’s got ‘trouble’ written all over him.”

Y/N smirked slightly. “Oh, Aventurine? He’s as slippery as they come, but he’s smart—too smart. He’s sniffing around the same mysteries we are, but he’s keeping his cards close to his chest. He even tried to get me on his side. Invited me for drinks and everything.”

March threw her hands up. “See? That guy’s charm is like quicksand. Once you step in, you’re done for. Y/N, tell me you didn’t—”

“Relax, March. I’m not that easy to win over, even with expensive drinks and silver words.” Y/N winked, but her voice lowered slightly, tone sharper. “But I do think Aventurine knows more than he’s letting on. He’s playing the long game, and I’m not sure whose side he’s really on.”

Mr. Yang folded his hands together. “Be cautious around him. Opportunists like Aventurine don’t show their true intentions until the moment it benefits them the most.”

Himeko leaned back, swirling her coffee. “And yet, sometimes people like that are useful—as long as you know how to handle them. Y/N, you’re sharp enough to keep him at arm’s length, but don’t let your guard down.”

Y/N gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve got it covered.”

March sat back with a sigh, her drink nearly empty. “This is all getting way too serious for a vacation. I wanted shopping, spa days, and maybe getting lost in a dream city—not espionage and mystery.”

The Trailblazer raised a hand. “I vote we investigate while pretending to have fun. Like spies in a movie.”

Y/N snapped her fingers, grinning. “Exactly! Think of it as a heist movie, March. You get to dress up, look fabulous, and occasionally outsmart villains. Isn’t that your dream scenario?”

March perked up slightly, her usual spark returning. “You know what? You’re right. Fine, I’m in. But only if I get a cool codename.”

Y/N tilted her head in thought. “How about… Agent Pink Snowflake?”

The group erupted in soft laughter, even Mr. Yang’s lips twitched into a smile.

Himeko finished her coffee, her expression turning serious once again. “All jokes aside, we need to keep our eyes open. Whatever’s happening here—it’s bigger than just some glittering dreamscapes. We stick together, share everything we find, and stay one step ahead. Agreed?”

Everyone nodded in unison.

Y/N’s smile softened as she glanced around the group. Despite the looming mysteries and the uneasy feeling in her chest, this crew—their camaraderie and trust—was a source of comfort.

“Alright, then. What’s next on the agenda? Shopping, investigating, or finding the Trailblazer another sandwich maze?”

The Trailblazer raised their hand again. “I vote for sandwiches.”

March giggled, and Himeko let out an amused sigh.

But then

March groaned dramatically, throwing herself back against her chair. “Can’t we have one festival where things aren’t suspicious? Just one? Is that too much to ask?”

Y/N chuckled softly. “Where’s the fun in that, March?”

The girl huffed but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips.

Himeko set her cup down with a faint clink. “We need someone to dig deeper into this—someone who can move around without drawing too much attention. The Dreamscape holds the real secrets of Penacony.” Her gaze shifted meaningfully toward Y/N.

Y/N raised a brow, feigning innocence. “Oh, are we playing the ‘send the charming one into danger’ game again?”

March smirked. “You are pretty good at it.”

Welt interjected, his voice calm but firm. “This isn’t something we can approach lightly. The Dreamscape isn’t a simple dream—it’s layered, unpredictable, and far more dangerous the deeper you go.”

Y/N crossed her arms, her casual smile never faltering. “I’ve handled dangerous before, Mr. Yang. Besides, if we keep tiptoeing around, we’re never going to get any answers.”

Himeko leaned forward slightly. “You’re volunteering, then?”

There was a brief silence as all eyes turned to Y/N. She sighed softly but nodded. “I am. Someone has to do it, and let’s face it, I’m… adaptable.”

March’s brows knitted together in concern. “But what if something happens? What if you get lost down there?”

Y/N gave her an easy grin. “I’ll just follow the sound of your voice yelling at me to hurry up. Trust me, March—I’ll be fine.”

The Trailblazer finally spoke, their voice steady. “Be careful, Y/N.”

She gave them a reassuring nod. “Always.”

March pursed her lips and muttered, “You better. Or I’m dragging you out of there myself.”

Himeko’s expression softened slightly as she placed a hand on Y/N’s shoulder. “Remember, if anything feels off, don’t push too far. Retreat and regroup. We can’t afford to lose you.”

Y/N’s smile turned genuine, softer than her usual easy grin. “I’ll keep that in mind, Miss Himeko. Promise.”

Welt adjusted his glasses and gave her a brief nod. “We trust you, Y/N. Just… don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Y/N stood from her chair, stretching slightly. “I’ll check in regularly, don’t worry. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with glowing dream-liquid.”

March scrunched her nose. “That stuff looks so weird. Like fancy soup.”

Y/N laughed lightly. “Fancy soup that sends you to another reality. Delicious.”

As the group dispersed, March grabbed Y/N’s wrist for a moment. “Seriously, Y/N. Stay safe, okay?”

Y/N patted March’s hand gently. “I will, March. Promise.”

With that, Y/N turned and began walking towards the entrance to the Dreamscape chambers. The glow of the Dream’s Calling—a cascading blue liquid-like pool set into an elegant golden frame—reflected in her eyes as she approached.

Behind her, the crew lingered briefly, watching her figure disappear into the chamber.

Welt adjusted his glasses again. “Let’s hope the answers she finds are worth the risk.”

Himeko’s eyes followed Y/N until she was out of sight. “If anyone can handle it, it’s her.”

March mumbled, arms crossed. “She better come back with something cool…”

The Trailblazer simply nodded, their gaze lingering on the shimmering light ahead.

[immaturityofthomasastruc]

IOTA Reviews: Pretension

Oh joy, another Felix episode. Because the last one was just so good, wasn't it?

Let's get into the nineteenth episode of Miraculous Ladybug's fifth season: Pretension

We start off with Kagami and Adrien heading to school, with the former making plans with Marinette to spend a little time together, all while Argos stalks them. We then cut to Gabriel, who's attempting to heal his Cataclysm wound with a machine that drains the energy from his imprisoned Kwamis. It fails because... uh... uhhhh... it just doesn't?

Kaalki: I told you. No magic can heal this wound.

Barkk: A Cat Noir Cataclysm can't be healed!

Yeah, they just say nothing can heal the wound, and don't even mention the fact that we've already seen the Ladybug Miraculous heal Adren when he was wounded by his own Cataclysm in “Miraculer”. And before you say it was a weaker version of the attack, check out what Astruc said a few years ago when the subject was brought up.

Whether you want to take this as fact or not since it wasn't explained in the show itself, the point is that we've seen Ladybug heal someone who was wounded by Cataclysm before. Then again, considering the recent reveal, that episode only opens up another can of worms.

Back at school, Marinette talks with Adrien and Kagami about how Gabriel only sees her as some crazy fan, though she doesn't do a lot to help her case.

Tomoe arrives, and just like she's done this whole season, is only here to provide exposition while nagging Gabriel to get Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous already. Gabriel comes up with a plan involving a gadget Felix accidentally dropped at the end of the last season. If you forgot, I understand, since it's a pretty weird thing to call back to.

Marinette: He feels worried and I would be too if I were him. He thinks I'm one of those fans who follows you everywhere, showers you with hand-knitted gifts and knows every single one of your middle name days.

Kagami: Isn't that what you used to do, Marinette?

Marinette: Yes... except no! I mean, yes, but I was doing it out of love and, besides, I've changed a lot.

Kagami: You are correct.

Marinette: Really? You think I've changed a lot?

Kagami: No. Well, not that much.

I love when even the show points out how little character development there is. Makes my job a lot easier.

Adrien goes with Marinette to talk to Gabriel about their relationship. We get a pretty somewhat chilling moment where Gabriel's kind father facade briefly fades as he orders Adrien to go to his room so he and Marinette can talk, all while he still puts on a welcoming image. After Plagg reminds Adrien that all Gabriel knows how to cook is pancakes, Gabriel then lectures Marinette about why he doesn't want her to see Adrien.

Gabriel: I don't think you understand, child, so let me put things differently. Life is like fashion. You think you have a choice, but all you have is the illusion of choice. And I decide what choices are given to you.

Marinette: You're wrong! (Shows Gabriel her sketchbook with her designs) Fashion is about listening to people, it's about understanding who they are, what excites them and creating the clothes that will help them express their inner world. Help them connect with others and make their dreams come true.

Gabriel: (Laughs and looks over Marinette's sketchbook) No, that's not fashion. That's making dresses for your dolls. Fashion is a product, a marketing strategy, an industry that relies on uninterrupted trend renewal that forces you to either throw away everything you have and buy more or, worse, to be out of fashion.

That bastard! I can't believe Gabriel wants to make an honest living by using market research data to his advantage! What a piece of scum...

I joke, but the rest of Gabriel's little rant is even worse, as he acts as if he decides what people like and don't like, even though he just mentioned the importance of keeping up with current trends. Seriously, this dude's talking as if the entire world revolves around his brand.

Gabriel: Thanks to the clothes I create, the celebrities who wear them, the advertisements I design and the Alliance rings that broadcast them, I create an idyllic vision. A perfection that everyone aspires to achieve, while keeping it just out of their grasp. You finally understand the difference, don't you? You listen to people's desires and create what they want. Somehow, people make you. Whereas I create people's desires. They buy what I decide to buy. They think what I want them to think. I'm the one who makes people. You think you love Adrien, but you're just under the spell of this world I've created. A world where Adrien is the star, shining high above. A world where you're just part of the crowd below looking up at him.

Let's see... a complete narcissist with an obsession with controlling others, puts on a facade to make himself look more approachable, uses his influence to sell something to the masses that are part of his greater operation, and acts as if his products are necessary for society to function when they're more of a luxury than anything else? Where have I seen this before?

Marinette goes against Gabriel's wishes and tells Adrien she loves him before rightfully telling him to piss off... through a pancake metaphor, for some reason.

Marinette: You know what the problem is with your pancakes? Way too much flour, not enough butter. You're using an old, completely outdated recipe. No one likes them like that anymore. And that's the good thing about being a baker's daughter. I don't even need to try them to know that they're tasteless.

You know, I could make so many jokes about the state of the show with this little speech, but I feel like it'd be too easy.

Meanwhile, Kagami tries to tell her mother that she's not interested in Adrien anymore, but we get the same crap Tomoe has been saying ever since Season 3. “You must follow our family legacy, Kagami!”, “Stop letting your emotions control you, Kagami!”, “I'm only blind for a cheap visual metaphor, Kagami!”, yadda, yadda, yadda. During this, Argos overhears this and outright kidnaps Kagami. Rather than call the police to report a kidnapping, Tomoe calls Gabriel, who had transformed into Monarch offscreen, and tells him to akumatize him (even though she's still carrying her useless Magical Charm), which he does, turning her into Matagi Gozen.

Matagi Gozen is basically Ikari Gozen, only instead of a centaur, she now rides a robot dog for some reason and has a bow and arrow now. Her powers are basically related to her size and riding a robot dog, mostly so we can focus on her Miraculous powers for the day. Even though Tomoe was seen wearing six Alliance rings before she called Gabriel, she only gets three powers, the Bee Miraculous' Venom, the Rooster Miraculous' Sublimation (which she uses to give herself an enhanced sense of smell), and the Mouse Miraculous' Multitude. It's really just the same setup we got in “Multiplication” with a few changes, and it's nothing special. Although, it's too bad that Monarch doesn't have the Dog Miraculous, as that would have really gone well with her powers.

As the four Matagi Gozen clones go on the hunt, Argos takes Kagami to the Eiffel Tower to hide out, where we get—wait, it's, it's, BY GOD, IT'S KAGAMI WITH A WOODEN CHAIR!

Argos transforms back into Felix, and unintentionally throws Matagi Gozen off the trail since she was tracking him through one of the feathers on his fan. It turns out that after that single conversation they shared last episode, Felix is suddenly developing feelings for Kagami, and the whole reason he kidnapped her, aside from “protecting her from her mother”, is to get to talk to her again.

Felix: We have so much in common, and yet, you're also so different. I've never met someone like you.

Kagami: We don't even know each other!

Felix: I know you. I've been following you non-stop.

Kagami: Even better! You follow me, you spy on me and now you've kidnapped me to get to know me?!

Felix: Uh... yes?

Kagami: You are utterly incompetent at social relations.

See? Felix isn't a sociopath who just tried to wipe out all of humanity last episode! He just needs to make friends, that's all.

Yeah, in case you can't tell, it seems like the show is still trying to course correct the characterization of Felix. Rather than the overconfident and manipulative wild card he was for his last five appearances, the episode is now trying to make Felix out to be a secretly awkward person with noble goals. Afterall, he saved Kagami, so by that logic, he has to be a good guy. Yeah, he technically stalked her like a creep, but it ended up being good in the end, didn't it?

After Marinette and Adrien transform into Ladybug and Cat Noir respectively, the Matagi Gozen clones start to track Felix through the scent of the aforementioned gadget. Right as Matagi Gozen finds Felix, Ladybug and Cat Noir arrive on the scene, giving Felix the chance to transform into Argos and escape with Kagami again.

Matagi Gozen: This is what heroes do? Not only did you help that monster escape, but now you're going to fight me? A mother trying to save her daughter?

Cat Noir: Hey, my lady. When you think about it, they're not wrong. We all want the same thing. If we let them save Kagami, we could seize the opportunity to get Felix's Miraculous back.

Ladybug: Too risky. They're under Monarch's influence.

Yeah, but you can't even try to negotiate a temporary alliance between Matagi Gozen? Yes, we know that she's working for Monarch, but the heroes don't know that. All we get is Ladybug asking Matagi Gozen to reject the Megakuma, and she goes back to fighting them. How interesting would it have been for Ladybug and Cat Noir to make an uneasy alliance with someone they don't know is working for Monarch?

After Cat Noir gets ignored during one of the few times he makes a decent point, he escapes to the sewer and detransforms, Matagi Gozen losing their scent trail. Matagi Gozen goes back to looking for Kagami, and decides to shoot her with some arrows tipped with Venom. Argos defends Kagami, and breaks up his fan to throw the pieces around and create multiple fake scent trails to throw off Matagi Gozen before detransforming. How Argos even came came up with this plan when I don't think he figured out Matagi Gozen could smell really good is anyone's guess.

As Kagami and Felix keep running away, Kagami asks the question I'm sure you've all been thinking.

Kagami: I don't understand. You have the Miraculous of the peacock, why don't you create a Sentimonster to get us out of here?

Felix: First of all, don't call them that.

Fine, “walking sin against nature” it is. Got anything else to say there, buddy? Maybe anything that isn't a half-assed speech meant to make the audience sympathize with you?

Felix: I refuse to create a being to manipulate them, control them, abuse them, and end up destroying them. When you bring a living being into this world, you have a responsibility towards them. Your duty is to protect them, love them, help them discover the true meaning of their existence. To deprive them of that... is monstrous.

Kagami: Are you talking about... yourself?

Felix: I'm talking about... us.

Come on dude! I said anything that isn't a half-assed speech meant to make the audience sympathize with you!

Okay, I've been putting this off long enough. Let's talk about Felix's ideology, his little speech, and, how it contradicts his previous appearances.

First off, for someone who refuses to create a Sentimonster to control and abuse, Felix had no trouble screwing around with Adrien in his first episode when his main goal was to get one of the rings from Gabriel. Hell, it makes even less sense why he'd keep that ring that we know can be used to control Adrien if his plan ultimately amounted to trading it away along with the fifteen Miraculous in Ladybug's possession.

Second, Felix literally created a Sentimonster to destroy humanity with just last episode, and he doesn't even mention that. Yeah, you can chalk it up to character development, but we don't even get a line about learning about the burden of ending a life you yourself created. It just feels like a way to make him seem more sympathetic after he went all “I'M THE GOD! I'M THE GOD!” last episode.

Third, and I'm just going to be honest about this, but why should I care about the life of a Sentimonster when the show has shown it doesn't care either? Ever since the end of Season 2, we've seen Sentimonsters be summoned and erased from existence left and right, and other than a single occasion (Ladybug), nobody has really brought up the fact that Sentimonsters are living beings too. Even putting that aside, most of the Sentimonsters we've seen have either been giant monsters, clones of other people, or mindless tools, none of which showed any desire to be alive other than to serve their purpose. It's only because Adrien, Felix, and now Kagami are revealed to be Sentimonsters that we should care about the ethics of summoning a Sentimonster in battle. Even in the last episode, Felix never brought up than Ladybug is essentially taking innocent lives whenever she de-evilizes an Amok.

And finally, the fact that this speech was used to set up a romance between Felix and Kagami, not because he saw a kindred spirit in her, but rather, because he believes that she's a Sentimonster too. You know that episode of South Park where Cartman tried to set up Token with a new girl, where the entire joke was that it was because Cartman believed that black people can only date other black people? This is basically that story with none of the irony. The episode seriously treats Felix taking an interest in Kagami specifically on the basis that she may be the same kind of artificial creation as him, as if he isn't capable of relating to anyone who also has to deal with abusive parents and isn't a Sentimonster. On a completely unrelated note, isn't it funny how out of the four rich kids with abusive or neglectful parents, Chloe is the only one who isn't a Sentimonster and is the least sympathetic?

Ladybug (having gotten a pair of scissors from activating her Lucky Charm offscreen) and Cat Noir try to stop Felix, but after a single speech from him, Kagami is now completely on his side for some reason.

Kagami: Felix is not your enemy! He's like me! He doesn't know how to express himself. Everyone is wrong about him! Including me.

Funny, I don't seem to remember you dooming all of Paris by giving over a dozen magical artifacts to a supervillain. Also, speaking from someone who struggles to socialize in real life, I can confirm that social awkwardness isn't really an excuse to kidnap someone. Just remember what happened in Misery.

Ladybug realizes that Felix and Kagami are vital to her Lucky Charm working, she decides to trust Felix. Felix then transforms into Argos and immediately escapes without contributing to the plan, while Kagami uses the scissors to cut the string of Matagi Gozen's bow after Ladybug and Cat Noir restrain the Akuma.

Ladybug then de-evilizes the Megakuma, uses Miraculous Ladybug to fix the damage caused by the fight, gives Tomoe yet another useless Magical Charm after the last useless one broke because it was completely useless, and Argos once got away without facing any consequences for his actions.

Afterwards, Kagami tries to stand up to Tomoe, but she orders her to hand over her ring containing her Amok—I mean, her ring that has absolutely no control over her, and is part of this thrilling mystery. Adrien also tries to stand up for Marinette, and Gabriel tells him to enjoy her time with Marinette... before saying he's moving to London next year. This is supposed to be a dick move, but with how often Adrien gets caught in the crossfire of Akuma attacks, with or without the mask, this is arguably the smartest thing Gabriel has done for the past five seasons. Adrien chooses not to tell Marinette about London, because I guess all that whining about hating secrets only mattered when someone else was withholding information from him.

The episode ends with Felix revealing that the ring Kagami gave her mother was a fake. Of course, this makes no sense because not only did we never see Felix steal the ring from Kagami, but Tomoe has a mental connection to Kagami, she should notice the ring is a fake. Also, you know how Kagami's arc so far has been a mixture of finding independence from her controlling mother while coming to terms with her breakup with Adrien? Get ready for all of that to be thrown out the window, because the writers are desperate to make him look good, Felix is now the one to save her from her mother and give her independence back, while also hinting at a relationship starting between the two. I'd say this episode fumbled the landing, but I haven't even gotten to the season finale yet.

This episode started out pretty poorly, and quickly went downhill afterwards. The idea of explaining why Gabriel's Cataclysm wound can't be healed was convoluted, Felix continues to be unlikable, Tomoe once again shows how terrible of an antagonist she is.

I'll admit, the chemistry between Marinette and Adrien was decent, but it's far too late to really establish a proper rivalry between her and Gabriel more than halfway through the fifth season, especially while discussing fashion when it's only been used to justify plots where she tries to make stuff for Adrien. The writers had plenty of time, yet rather than build up tension between the main hero and main villain, they decided we needed more episodes revolving around Chloe, Lila, and Felix.

Speaking of, Felix once again shows how poorly written he is. He was the one to instigate the conflict, it wasn't established if he even had a plan on what to do once he gets away with Kagami, and if anything, only made things worse because of his refusal to surrender, much less acknowledge his fault in this situation when the Akuma chasing after him is only as powerful as she is now because he gave his evil uncle multiple Miraculous to use for his Akumas. But no, he has to be the one to wreck Kagami's character arc and be the one to try and liberate her from Tomoe's influence because he's a good guy now! It says a lot when Cat Noir is the only one who still isn't trusting Felix at this point.

While it's nowhere near as bad as “Emotion”, this was still a really bad episode to follow up on.

THE BIGGEST IDIOT OF THE EPISODE IS...TOMOE

While Felix came dangerously close to winning the award, he at least showed more restraint here, and was able to throw off both Matagi Gozen a few times. Tomoe, on the other hand, got nothing to show any real intelligence, and if anything, proved she was just as incompetent as Gabriel is. She chose to nag Gabriel while he was suffering from the effects of his fatal wound, decided to akumatize herself instead of even considering contacting the cops to stop a single kidnapping, while ironically drawing more attention to herself in her attempt to save Kagami and stop Felix, decided to try shooting her daughter instead of the one who abducted her, and didn't even realize the ring capable of controlling her daughter was replaced by a fake when she should obviously be able to sense something.

[olderthannetfic]

Anon from 722398181104795649 again about YA as a G-D and it's failure(s). Your response is really interesting because it definitely aligns with the market research I've had to do over the last 3-ish months for work. Adult YA readers want YA to skew older superficially as escapism from the woes of adulthood (It's like someone who orders a pasta with broccoli in it because they appreciate the flavor it brings, but they have no interest in actually eating their vegetables). Teenagers feel alienated by the G-D that is meant for them no longer allows them to confront said woes with honesty or maturity for their age to prepare them for adulthood or discussing broader ideas. More teenagers skip over YA altogether or just reader adult genre fiction with some Middle Grade fiction mixed in because the teenagers feel in MG, there's still an honesty to the stories that they can understand, having once been young children. In short: teenagers think YA books are talking down to or patronizing them.

The result is YA authors pushing for NA, New Adult, as a G-D, which hasn't taken off within tradpub outside of romance circles. Mostly, because what they're pushing for is already an established genre for around a century: campus novels--books about characters 18+ who are entering college, establishing independence, beginning to explore sexuality and enter the workforce, etc. But, again, YA adult readers refuse to engage with adult genre fiction because there isn't the facade of protection from adult themes or topics, and there's an aggressive refusal among many agents in literary fiction (and some adult genre fiction) to encourage authors to sanitize their stories. YA authors began attempting to cross over into adult genre fiction with mixed, but overwhelmingly negative, results, as they cannot shake the stigma of writing YA. And the genre fiction crowds they want to appeal to have higher standards, typically, than the average YA writer is able to meet. YA authors then complain about the differences in publishing YA and genre adult fiction. It's like when MCU actors and directors get upset when prestige film directors don't consider MCU movies to be "cinema."

--

This is fascinating.

I pretty much missed the YA boom (slightly too old, not paying attention, etc.), so I've mostly encountered YA through its worst evangelists of the Hunger Games knockoff era, and often a good bit after their favorite books were at their height.

As I've said before, this really strikes me as that pattern where something is big when you're at a formative age, and it becomes the Normal Default to you.

I'm sure some of it is refusal to engage with adult nuance, but I'll bet a lot of it is resistance to leaving the name of YA behind. People spent so much time defending this niche that they started believing their own rhetoric about it being the only place the good queer stuff was or the feminist stuff was or whatever. They identified really strongly as A YA Fan. It's hard to let that go.

And if you don't remember much about pre-YA boom publishing, the fact that all that YA-tastic Mercedes Lackey stuff was filed under fantasy, not YA is completely obscure. The places you find stuff you'd like that aren't called "YA" are not obvious. The fact that YA in its boom era form isn't universal and eternal is not obvious.

I think people are waiting for their Cool Era of their early 20s to return and for the things they think should always be in fashion to come back... Like everyone else aging ungracefully, they may be waiting a while.

Gotta say, every New Adult book I've been shown sounds like a hideously boring contemporary romance that would probably make a good coffee shop AU against a backdrop of a canon that's dark or magical but that isn't really pulling its weight even if you like contemporaries.

[archinform]

The Lessing and Lessing Annex, Chicago

The Lessing (now The Commodore), 550 W. Surf St., Lake View, Chicago

The Lessing Annex (Now The Green Brier or Green Briar), 559 W. Surf St., Lake View, Chicago

The Commodore, view at Broadway and Surf St. Source: apartments.com

The Lessing (The Commodore) archival photo. Source: Chicago History, Spring 1985, p.30

I've always admired The Commodore, its severe facade of Roman brick with minimal ornament contrasting with its deep recesses and complicated footprint. I used to fantasize about living there; data about recent condominium sales put prices at $250,000-$300,000 for a two-bedroom unit.

Originally called The Lessing, the residential building was completed in 1897 at the northeast corner of Surf and Broadway, and designed by Edmund Krause.

New Yorker Herbert Croly observed in 1907 that while New Yorkers turned to Paris for models, Chicagoans favored simple, even modest exteriors. Chicago History, Spring 1985, p. 30

According to Carroll William Westfall, in "Home at the Top: Domesticating Chicago's Tall Apartment Buildings," Chicago History, Spring 1985, p. 21:

Multi-family dwellings, apartment and flat buildings, did not conform to nineteenth-century Chicagoan's cherished view of their town as a community of freestanding, single-family residences surrounded by fences protecting trees, gardens, and outbuildings. This image persisted long after Chicago had become a thriving commercial city and had ceased being merely a town.

Chicago History, Spring 1985, p.30

The story of The Lessing and Annex began with German immigrant Ernst Johann Lehmann, who began his career in Chicago by opening a small jewelry store on Clark Street. By 1874, he had been so successful that he moved his business to the prestigious corner of State and Adams. He called the new store "The Fair," a name that assured customers that they would be treated fairly. By 1882 The Fair store occupied every building along the north side of Adams between State and Dearborn Streets.

A short time later, the entire south half of the block bounded by Dearborn, State, Monroe, and Adams streets had been leased to The Fair in a deal amounting to a little over three million dollars. A great emporium would be constructed on the site, twelve stories high, costing two million bucks. The building would be the largest in the city and, in fact, the largest in the world devoted to merchandising.

Lehmann died in 1900 at age 50, 10 years after he suffered a mental breakdown, spending the remainder of his life in a mental institution. His wife, Augusta, via a male relative, gained control of the business. She also received the bulk of his wealth, estimated $10 miliion (about $331 million today). Augusta and the Lehmann clan had become interested in real estate before Ernst died. In 1897, the upscale Lessing Apartment building, designed by Edmund Krause, was completed at Surf and Evanston Street, now Broadway.

The Commodore, floor plan published in 1923

The Lessing was marketed to an upscale clientele and had 86 apartments, some of them with as many as eight rooms. Architect Edmund R. Krause broke the huge six-and-one-half-story complex into a series of projecting units with deep but narrow courts between them to provide light and ventilation. The Roman brick façade is organized into the classic three-part design of the Chicago School. Although there is a nifty oculus (a circular opening, especially one at the apex of a dome or structure), it is minimally decorated, centered at the top of each projecting bay. Digital Research Library of Illinois History

Oculus in the attic story

Entrance hall

Stairway

Interior views of The Commodore are available here

The quiet apartment building was disturbed in 1917 when a lurid tale of deceit and betrayal led to a murder that reads like a novel (see story below). 

MURDER AT THE COMMODORE IN 1917.

Shoots When She Learns He is Married. 

Dr. Louis H. Quitman Wounded by Cabaret Singer, May Die.

A video tour of The Commodore by sales agents is available on Instagram here

The Virginia Hotel, Chicago, was quite similar in design and simplicity to The Lessing.

Seven years later, the Lessing Annex was completed just to the south, facing The Lessing from across Surf.

The Lessing Annex

Apparently, the term "hotel" was sometimes applied to residential buildings that were not intended for short-term stays. "Fire proof construction, built 1902, steel and tile interior, brick exterior. The Green Briar was constructed of a different color of Roman brick than its neighbor across the street.

My photographs of the buildings:

Edmund R. Krause, architect

Edmund R. Krause was born in Thorn, Germany, on August 15, 1859, the son of William and Wilhelmina Krause. He studied architecture in Germany and came to the United States in 1880 at the age of 21. He began his architectural practice in Chicago in 1885 at the age of 25 or 26. For a brief time, he was in partnership with Frederick W. Perkins (1896) but, for most of his working years, he was a sole practitioner.... The American Contractor database that covers the period 1898 through and including 1912 shows that he designed 61 buildings. Of these, 25 (or 41 percent) were for either E.J. Lehman, the estate of E.J. Lehman or another Lehman family member. It is a great example of the importance of a major client to an architect. Another major client was the Fair Department Store. He designed six buildings for them – mainly warehouses or delivery stations – between 1904 and 1909. It appears that the large apartment building was his specialty, for he designed several. Most of them have been demolished, but one prominent commission still stands at the intersection of Surf and Broadway. Originally known as the Lessing Apartments, it was later renamed the Commodore and is now a condominium building. Designed in 1897 and completed in 1898, it originally had 75 apartments, 15 to a floor around a “U”-shaped central courtyard. Later, an Annex was constructed to the north using the same style yellow Roman brick. The Lessing Apartment Complex was one of the first, if not the first, large apartment building constructed north of Diversey. He also designed the 20-story Majestic Theatre building, at what is now 22 W. Monroe. It was subsequently renamed the Schubert Theater and, in 2005, was renamed the LaSalle National Bank Theater. George Rapp of the later firm of Rapp and Rapp designed the interior theater while working as an assistant to Mr. Krause. The building itself was recommended for Chicago Landmark status in 2005. To our knowledge, Edmund Krause designed only three structures in Edgewater: two houses and one commercial building. The first house he designed was at 1189-91 (now 6212) Winthrop. Cook County Recorder of Deeds records show his wife purchasing the lot on August 25, 1898. The permit for the house was issued the next month and he is shown as living in the house in the 1899 and 1900 city directories. It was a rather substantial frame house at 2,800 square feet. The Krauses sold the improved property on January 1, 1902. It was obviously a short stay. Edgewater Historical Society

Majestic Theater, Chicago, Edmund R. Krause, architect

[erhangwang]

DP2 - Wandering Earth

Week 8:

I used a hybrid of physical models and plan drawings to reveal my idea of the spatial organisation of the wandering earth gardens and the sun research centre.

Locating behind the nose cone (market stall previously designed), the first model shows some aspects of the initial idea of the Earth/Ground Garden which is having staircases to connect different levels of grounds and gardens. The second model is a cooling garden to combat the rising temperature in the future which uses terra cotta to increase the surface area of the facade and evaporates water to decrease the interior temperature. The overall shape exaggerates the external and internal press difference caused by the temperature difference, i.e. implosion.

For next week, I think I would focus more on the gardens and start drawing sections and axonometrics to think about how the space is organised vertically. I need to investigate how the gardens are educating the public while producing different experience throughout the timeline. There could be triggering systems and mechanisms that respond to the environment which may be affecting people's senses. And I think it would be helpful if I start designing the little moments and model the moving parts physically. I should also start doing computational fluid dynamics modeling for my market stall and use the result as the basis to design the structure that people walk through.

[clickerflight]

Fleeting: Part 5 - Phantom Pains

Authors Notes: HECC YEAH MORE OF THIS! Feel like it's been ages since I posted the last part of this. Then again, life's been crazy. Took me a hot minute to remember everything I had going on here. Good thing I keep some semblance of notes.

Masterlist - Part 4

Content: Vampire whumpee, human whumper, hostage, ransom, shared pain, knee pain, face and neck burns, trafficking

............................................

Muir’s face hurt. It stung and burned a little and Muir winced, taking a moment to send a message to Joseph to ask him if he walked into a silver sign or something. He really couldn’t think of what else could be making his face hurt so bad through their link. Though it could just be that Joseph accidentally maced himself with pepper juice. Muir was still unfamiliar with how strongly sensations came across their bond now that he was a vampire. 

Muir took a moment to filter out the feeling so he could get on with his work. He had been trying to crack down on Vampire ash operations, talking with rehab centers so when they did have rescues there would be places for those vampires to go, and figure out where the vampires were mostly being trafficked from. It was all so obnoxious. The black market for vampires in general hadn’t been that active just five years ago, but now, it was thriving. It was everywhere Muir poked his nose into. 

And he couldn’t hardly get his work actually done because everywhere he looked there was another corrupt cop or detective or whatever standing there. He’d been working hard to kick them out and get the hiring process changed so that at least his sector would have people who were actually invested in helping the community and not just looking for a power trip. 

Muir leaned back in his seat, running a hand over his still stinging face, trying to wish it all away. He liked his job and he wouldn’t be leaving it any time soon, but he sometimes felt like he was trapped within walls of unfair rules and regulations, fighting to move them enough to do some actual good so he would get to work that needed to be done. Thankfully, his voice held a lot of sway in the city since he’s made so much progress when it came to the vampire ash problem. Small victories.

He leaned forward again, typing away at his computer, scrawling through the sites where vampires were quite often traded. They weren’t explicitly marketed as vampires of course. They were marketed as ‘collectable floppy disks.’ Muir sometimes wondered if there were any real collectors of rare floppy disks that suddenly found themselves at the center of a vampire market.

He smiled a little at the thought, commenting on a ‘floppy disk’ marketed as having ‘research involving the Incan civilization.’

Info: What era of the incan civilization?

He stared at the page for a while. Was the vampire in question found in some Incan ruins then? Or had they been living since then and been kidnapped off the streets after someone found out how ancient they were? He added onto his question: And was it just dug up, or has it been in circulation a while?

Satisfied, he kept scrolling, commenting and adding helpful information here and there, keeping up the facade that he was just a regular here. This persona had bought a couple of vampires who he’d passed off to rehab centers, just to keep up his appearance in the servers. He was looking for a bigger score. Someone buying lots of vampires for a lot more than personal use.

 One of the government agencies had bought the site from what he’d been told confidentially when he was brought onto this side of the project, and once they decided to bust everything, they would try and go through everything and save everyone they could. 

It wouldn’t be everyone, but it would have to be enough. 

Muir got up, needing a refill for his water bottle. He stood at the watercooler, filling it up and watching people drift in and out of the office. He should take his break soon. He’d been at work since 2:00 AM and now that it was about 8:00 AM and he still hadn’t had his break, he thought he probably should. Maybe take a walk over to a cafe nearby. Stand in the sun for a bit to get used to the itching it still caused him. Speaking of which, his neck burned now too. He pulled out his phone to check if Joseph had answered, growing more concerned. Maybe he’d go to Joseph’s workplace and check on him during his break.

Just as he started to walk back to his desk, a splitting pain shot through both of his knees. 

He screamed, falling to the floor and people were on him in an instant. 

“What happened!?”

“What’s going on!?”

“Muir, talk to me buddy!”

“Joseph!” Muir gasped, pushing himself up and shoving the sensation away, now certain that something was wrong. “Joseph! Crap, that felt like he got shot!”

“Joseph?” Blaire asked, helping Muir up. “What’s going on? Do you know where he is?”

“He’s supposed to be at work, but-” Muir cut himself off, concentrating, pulling at the bond and trying to see, but he was still so new to this, he couldn’t get anything besides pain and fear. 

Thankfully, Granger took over the situation. Granger and Muir were not technically partners anymore, but they still worked close to each other in the office since Muir decided to work from here rather than the other facility mainly for detectives on the Vampire Ash cases. 

“Officer Blaire, call Dalton Rehab to make sure Joseph clocked in.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Blaire said, getting up and rushing to his desk to look up the number. 

Muir felt his phone buzz and pulled it out desperately. An image sent from Joseph. 

He opened it to see….

His bond mate was laid on a floor, blood staining his jeans around his knees, burns on his face and neck as he looked up at someone, terrified. His hands were bound behind his back, leaving his stomach so open and vulnerable and…. 

Muir felt sick as a text popped up next. 

We will contact you soon, Officer Muir. He is alive, but he won’t be for long if you get too involved. 

Muir pressed Joseph’s name without hesitation, calling whoever had Joseph’s phone to beg for some answers, but they ignored him, sending him to voicemail as the others clamored around him. 

“What is it?” Granger asked, and Muir passed her his phone to let her see, closing his eyes to reach into the bond. 

Granger snarled. “As if we’d let them get away with that. Muir, I’m taking this case. You know the rules.”

Muir’s stomach sank as he realized what she meant. He wouldn’t be allowed to help. He would be treated as a family member, unable to get involved themselves since he might do something irrational to get Joseph back. Still, he nodded, focused on the bond, sending comfort to Joseph that he hoped would be received. 

“Muir. What do you see?” Granger asked, noticing his effort. 

“I can’t…. I can’t see anything. I mean, I get the sense of concrete maybe? And- AUGH!”

Muir had been fully immersed in the bond when Joseph got hurt next. It felt like claws tearing into his skin, but the pain didn’t continue so Joseph wasn’t getting actively mauled. 

“What was that, a bear?!” Muir gasped, clutching at his arm as sweat trickled down his back. 

Officer Blaire was back. “He didn’t clock in at all today. They were getting ready to call you, Muir.”

“Joseph’s been kidnapped,” Granger said gruffly to Blaire, who’s jaw fell open. “Someone get the Chief! We need to get a team sorted out for this now!”

Someone took Muir’s arm as he pushed back into the bond, desperately trying to reach Joseph, but he got the sense that his bondmate was in too much shock to really hear him. 

Chief Staton was soon out of her office and Granger had some officers set up in the conference room, quickly explaining the situation to the Chief. Muir didn’t see his phone, but he assumed it had been passed to someone to triangulate Joseph’s position. 

He tried to relax. This would be sorted out soon. 

That was until someone rushed in and he heard the words ‘Keaton Gang.’

The Keaton Gang was called that because they were the biggest gang in the City of Keaton. At least three fourths of the corrupt cops Muir had busted had been in their pockets and he had been doggedly tailing them recently, getting the sense that they were behind some of the distribution of vampire ash in the city. 

This was personal. 

“Looks like they haven’t made demands,” the Chief said thoughtfully. “But I think we can expect what some of those demands are going to look like. We have a couple of scouts in the gang and we’ll see what we can do to get Mr. Blackham out of there, Detective Muir, but we need to be patient and you cannot go after him yourself, do you understand?”

“I understand,” Muir breathed, getting his phone back. 

“Good. You will have a partner with you at all times and you are to scry through your bond as often as you are able to get us information. We’ll get him back.”

Muir nodded. This was serious. There had been one case before of something bad happening to another officer’s loved one, and it hadn’t felt as serious as this. He could feel it from everyone around him that they knew exactly what there was to lose if they didn’t succeed. If Joseph was killed Muir would be out of commision for….

Muir didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to remember all of the times he caught Joseph crying at night, or just staring into space like he was listening to something far away. Someone far away. Even after they bonded and things got better, Muir could feel the space, sometimes. The hole he didn’t quite fill where someone else had been violently torn out. 

But Muir had so much responsibility they couldn’t afford his mourning period. He was becoming the face of the removal of vampire ash in the city and breaking up the trafficking going on. Everyone in the room knew it. 

“Make it quick,” he finally rasped, gripping his phone so tightly it left a bruise that faded just as quickly as it had been caused.

Part 6

From Dust to Ashes Taglist: @whumpsday @honeycollectswhump @writereleaserepeat @tragedyinblue @hyrules-sleepiest-knight 

@why-not-ask-me-a-better-question @thecyrulik @gt-daboss @currentlyinthespiral @pigeonwhumps @not-a-space-alien

[anchovies-4-dinner]

Let it Simmer | Yan! Thoma

What if: Every morning there would be a man watching you depart without fail.

Warnings: death, cannibalism, explicit gore (short)

Words: 2k

A/N: If there are any mistakes know that I will probably never fix them 🥴

---

The first time Thoma saw the man it was a random morning waving you off to work; initially he'd mistaken him as another vendor but the frequent glances gave it away. Thoma was no stranger to such attention considering his reputation, but he felt a sort of unease when the the man disappeared as soon as you were out of sight.

From then on it became a sort of habit for Thoma to look for the stranger.

Be it knitting or cooking dinner your fiance would often find himself drawn to the window, observing every change and detail for the familiar hunched figure. Though the 'vendor' came in a range of disguises Thoma was always able to recognise him.

The reasonable assumption was that he was just paparazzi trying to catch any fraying ends in hopes of reviving his own career. Despite this he would hear a nagging voice from the back of his mind; what if it wasn't just paparazzi? Lord knows how many people want Ayato dead and the last thing he wanted was for his innocent fiancé to be cuaght in the crossfire.

As Thoma pondered this he looked outside, numb to the scathing water prickling his skin through the rubber.

The vendor met his eyes for a moment before averting his gaze.

...

The stranger had taken a most opportunistic time; Ayato was undergoing a mission and Ayaka, as diligent as she was, lacked experience in such a situation. Thoma wouldn't want to paint a target on her anyway.

Asking for help from anyone else ran the risk of being backstabbed (who knows how the deep opposition's pockets ran), which left the ever responsible Thoma to deal with it himself.

Right. He'd helped his Lord with many businesses, how hard could this be?

"Good morning Sir, I don't think I've seen you before. Are you perhaps not from around here?"

Disarming the 'vendor' with a smile Thoma descended on the man as soon as the queue ceased. The 'vendor' stumbled over his words, snapping his gaze from Thoma's house in mortification.

"Ah- that'd be correct!" The 'vendor' nervously scratched his neck, trying to adopt a more innocent facade, "I do hope I'm not intruding too much seeing as here was the only spot near the market."

Thoma made sure to soften his smile even though he felt the opposite of endearment, "Not at all! Everyone is welcome in Inazuma, even people who sell knock offs."

The 'vendor' flushed scarlet as Thoma dragged his fingers across a cheap necklace; he took this moment to hum, "What's your name, by the way? I'm Thoma, a sort of fixer around here. Maybe I could even try securing an investment for you-"

"But I couldn't bother you with such things. We hardly know each other, and i doubt any of them would be interested." Now the man was shaking both his head and hands, maybe even in his boots. "I-It's good to start with something small, right? Perhaps you'd be interested in a necklace for your spouse!"

Thoma hummed, "Nice to know you've done your own research, though they are only my fiance currently."

As if realising his blunder, the 'vendor' nodded, hands clenched, "Apologise for the assumption, I would often see you both hanging off each other in town. Now, the necklace?"

Thoma noted the subtle pushiness; perhaps this may be an ordinary tradesman hoping to make it big in a foreign country but Thoma wanted to play it safe. There was a sort of restlessness in the man's eyes, as if he wanted to say something but was weighing the price.

Thoma coaxed it out of him by taking extra time in assessing the jewelries. He could've declined and let it be the end of it seeing as the products were of low quality, but that would hardly yield any results would it?

As the silence dragged on the 'vendor' eventually clapped his hands and decided, "My friend, seeing as you are struggling may I recommend something?"

He no sooner presented a necklace of noticeable quality as if to make the trap ever more enticing. A multitude of possibilities immediately overtook Thoma's mind: a bomb, listening device, vision suppressant, tracker...

"A little charm for the to-be-wedded couple; this jewel is actually a symbol of fortune and luck. Be sure to always wear it for the maximum effect!"

In the end Thoma bought it, but not without haggling the price down of course.

Thoma was by no means a direct threat seeing as his role was minor, and ridding of him may lead to bigger consequences (for one, angering the Kamisato family), meaning it was unlikely to be life threatening seeing as he was better alive and speaking.

That must be it. A listening device was much more useful than a bomb, so Thoma made sure not to say anything incriminating in its presence. You weren't privy to any of the Kamisato's business so he wasn't majorly concerned about you.

All he needed to do was get the proof.

...

The festive atmosphere was hushed in a remote cliff as a figure stood above the meandering crowd, a deep frown etched onto his features.

"You know, you never gave me your name."

The man flinched and turned to face Thoma who casually walked up to him. Despite his open appearance the 'vendor' felt as if he was being backed into the cliff's edge.

Before the 'vendor' could explain himself Thoma beat him to it, "Tell me, did you find anything interesting?"

"Why I have no idea-"

"Really?" Thoma began swinging the necklace on his finger, taking delight in how the 'vendor' recoiled at it's chipped appearance, "Say, why don't you just make this easy for the both of us and spill it already?"

The 'vendor' huffed out a laugh and pointed an accusing finger, "So you did it on purpose to draw me out, spilling water on the necklace to disrupt the listening device and watching me flounder to try and convince you to buy another."

"That's more like it! Though you didn't try at all to hide your intentions." Thoma beamed and grabbed the necklace.

It was a standstill.

Thoma admitted that it was risky confronting the man alone, but with how independently he worked the past month it was safe to say that whoever employed him was willing to throw him under the bus. Though he adopted a relaxed posture, his muscles were tense and thrumming, anticipating the 'vendor's' escape attempt.

A streak of light shot up in the distance. The wind tousled the man's clothes as fireworks exploded behind.

Thoma caught the shine of metal.

...

It was a quiet night home, what with his fiancé exhausted from the festival. Thoma, however, was far from tired.

Unfortunately he remained this way until you had to go to work. In your rush to work you hadn't noticed his sleep deprived state, leaving Thoma to ponder last night's event on the table alone.

It was when he was absentmindedly cleaning the floor that he heard a knock on the door.

"Good morning, Thoma."

"Detective Heizou..."

Thoma stood there for a good minute, thoughts racing until the man invited himself in. His eyes scanned the entirety of the house.

The former housekeeper could only force down his nerves and plaster a smile, "Tea?"

"Well It'd be rude for me to refuse."

With the kettle on the stove, the interrogation commenced:

"Apologies for my abrupt appearance but an interesting case has come to my attention. I have nothing but a few questions to ask of you."

Thoma stared at Heizou's light hearted disposition and tried to mirror it, "Of course, but may I ask about the case?"

"I'm afraid not yet"

Brilliant. Thoma resisted the urge to wipe his palms on his thighs, planting them on the table instead. Each question the detective shot Thoma answered with incredible care and thought, tiptoeing around traps and frequently praying for the end.

And the end did come, just not in the way he would've liked.

"You see, the victim in question was an innocent paparazzi with a single stab through the chest-" A whistle of the kettle pulled Thoma to the kitchen. Heizou continued, "Now, that could obviously be anyone, but what really helped narrow the list down was the handy journal he kept! Seriously, if everyone kept one my job would be ten times easier, but what fun would that be huh?"

"Fun wouldn't be the word I would use to describe your line of work, detective." Thoma's chuckle was regrettably strained. Thankfully his back hid his trembling hand as he poured the water.

"Well, perhaps it was a poor choice of words. I never liked beating around the bush after all." Heizou sniffed as Thoma approached with his tea, "Thoma you are under arrest for suspicion of murder."

It was futile yet Thoma tried arguing back, "On what basis? Do you have any incriminating evidence apart from a few entries?"

"Well, I could start with your unusual body language before I even said anything, or would you rather I talk about the red crusting your cuticles?"

Thoma bit his lip and glanced at his fingers. Of all things to slip from his mind...

The taller man reluctantly bent to place down the tea - only to crunch it into Heizou's face. As soon as Thoma felt the shards dig in pyro erupted from his hand and scorched the skin underneath.

A sharp pain bloomed in Thoma's gut as he was kicked away, winding him for a moment. When he gained his bearings Thoma looked up to see the detective stumble around, grunting when he hit the edge of the table. His mind blanked as he hurriedly snatched the kettle and slammed it into the back of Heizou's head; the already disorientated man crumpled and Thoma took this chance to throw his anemo vision across the room.

Heizou's arm shot up and gripped Thoma's wrist with a bone crushing pressure, but Thoma managed to jerk his own hand into an awkward angle, pouring the piping hot water onto the detective's abdomen. Heizou's mouth tore open from when it was melded together only for the other to strike his chin and send him to the ground.

With blood thumping in his ears, Thoma went to town with the kettle. Dull red speckled his face as the world blurred.

It was only when his arms grew numb that he regained his senses.

"I... Oh God-" Thoma dry heaved as bile bubbled up his throat.

Try as he may, his eyes refused to leave the battered remains of Heizou - shards of the tea cup were so far embedded you could only see the faint white underneath his dark flesh. His nose was disfigured and bent horribly out of shape, along with his mouth sticky from leaking blood. Thoma's mind lagged as he staggered to the bathroom and hunched over the toilet.

Disposing of the body was simple in theory, but Thoma was sure he could execute it perfectly.

...

"Smells nice, pass my compliments to the chef."

Thoma smiled as he felt your arms wrap around him; his knife thudded with each cut of the meat as the soup simmered on the stove. "Why, you doubt my culinary skills?"

"I just can't believe I have my own world class chef at home-" A knock at the door had you patting his stomach like a drum before separating.

The conversation was muffled but Thoma was able to spy the familiar uniforms of the police from the kitchen window. One of the pair caught his eye and offered a lukewarm nod, to which Thoma responded with a brilliant smile of his own.

"Can you believe it? Such crazy people on this island, and during a festival too!"

Thoma mocked concern and hesitantly ate. You on the other hand almost choked from how fast you were devouring.

"But what do you think happened to Heizou? I mean he does disappear often so I honestly don't believe it's of any concern. Did they find his body or something?"

You were obviously joking, even so Thoma swallowed hard on his lump of food. "He's a martial artist so that's highly unlikely."

"I guess you're right... Did I put you off? You don't normally eat this slow."

"I just had too much to eat before." Thoma gave a closed eye smile.

Images came as quick as they went.

"I'm just glad I saved a few mora is all."

[pixelated-pancakes]

Here’s Why Things Are the Way They Are

The Overall Layout

Let me start off by stating that one of the characters (read: Oliver Banks), in podcast, describes the Magnus Institute (TMI) as small. SMALL. 

Suffice it to say that I respectfully decline and offer you (what I deem) a medium sized building instead. Before you ask me, 'did you even try', I attempted to make two other layouts in the ‘small’ category that just. Did. Not. Work. So yeah. No small Magnus Institute for you.

The only reason I didn’t make it 'large' is because of a bit of research I did into probable locations of TMI, where none of the buildings were taller than four floors, or could be considered large by any stretch of the imagination. In terms of facade and size, I think TMI is kind of like a Starbucks on a college campus. It isn’t distractingly out of place, but you can find it easily enough.

Most of the more interesting shapes in the various floor layouts are the result of scouring Google maps and historical images for architecture typical of the 1800s. While it’s entirely possible for the building to have been gutted between now and then, I like to think of the Magnus Institute as being a preserved historical building, one that can’t be completely replaced without losing that status. Which is, unfortunately, why it doesn’t have an elevator/lift either.

Ground Floor Rooms

On this floor lies the rooms that gave me the greatest trouble: the Boiler Room and Artefact Storage. 

The source of my difficulties? MAG 038-040, three episodes wherein the amount of setting descriptions provided is greater than the sum of the descriptions found in the other 197 episodes. The entire Prentiss scene is extremely difficult to justify in a building with a feasible layout that can be designated as ‘small’ or even ‘medium’. 

Here are the most important points I used making this floor, just for easy reference:

Elias and Sasha have to find the boiler room ‘a few floors down’ 

The worms are on the upper floor (possibly the ground floor, one floor above the basement)

Elias and Sasha have to ‘turn a corner’ to see a ‘tidal wave of filth’ rushing towards them

Elias has to 1) lose Sasha, who finds her way into Artefact Storage and 2) take a roundabout route that requires 10-15 minutes to reach the boiler room (with one close call)

There are multiple corridors, only one of which contains the filth mass

Artefact Storage does not have any windows.

I spent so much time considering whether the Artefact Storage and the Boiler Room were in the basement or not — and I have been working on an alternate layout somewhere to do just that, if anyone’s interested — but ended up settling on the first floor because a lot of the descriptions didn’t line up with the idea of either of those rooms being in the basement. Elias’ ‘alternate route’ and ‘corridors’ from MAG 040 were one such description.

I also couldn’t bring myself to justify lugging a table all the way down to the basement.

(The reception, break room, toilets, and an administrative office are all located on this floor largely due to convenience and/or logic.) 

First Floor Rooms

This was the easiest floor to design. I didn’t want it to be too far from the research floor or Artefact Storage, and I knew that the library deserved its own floor. Simple, effective, and logical. I gave the head librarian an office, too. It’s what Diana deserves.

Second Floor Rooms

So, as it turns out, to run a business you need more than just the spooky parts. This includes offices for workers that are essential to keeping the company running. Marketing, accounting, the like. I also read on the wiki that the Magnus Institute has approximately 80 workers and couldn’t justify not having this floor. 

If you’ll notice, the HR department has an office smaller than the toilets. This is because Jonah Magnus deems it nonessential. The janitorial staff, however, are both very important and very well stocked, so they get one of the larger rooms. 

Third Floor Rooms

TMA explicitly states that researchers work on the third floor. Therefore, the research room is on the third floor. What is not explicitly stated is whether or not the floor levels are based on the British English floor system (which would make sense), where the ground floor is street level and the first floor is one level above, or the American English floor system (which would not make sense), where the first floor is on street level. I went for the obvious choice.

As for Elias’ office being on the third floor, in MAG 039 Elias states that there’s a manual release for the Archive’s fire suppression system “a few floors down”. Originally, I wanted his office to be on the second floor, or the first. In the end, I got a bit stuck on the idea of “a few”, which seems like it’s more than two, so all the way up to the top went Elias’ office. It stayed up there for character purposes — namely, the idea of Jonah Magnus being able to watch the city from his office.

Basement Rooms

In the basement is, of course, the Archives. Surprisingly, despite how much of the podcast takes place in the Archives, the layout is just as nebulous as the rest of TMI. 

Here are a few notable details I used in planning, all from MAG 038-040:

In the Archives, there is an office (likely small and intended for statement recording)

There’s an entrance to the tunnels in the Archives

There’s a storeroom intended for statements/files that need more care

From the storeroom, the office is visible, as is the door to the Archives.

While the second break room and toilets are not mentioned in the podcast, I thought I’d include them because it makes sense to me that a spacious area with only one exit has options in case of an emergency.

I am almost absolutely certain that I misinterpreted the description of the Archives, but alas, I won’t be remaking it for a while. The new version can wait until I’ve regained my sanity.

About the Stairs

The odd positions for the stairs are the result of trying to reason my way through the descriptions provided in MAG 038-040. My idea was that he and Sasha would descend all the way to the ground floor using the stairs closest to his office, only to run back up after meeting with a wall of corruption. 

At first, I thought that Elias’ “roundabout” route to reach the Boiler Room (MAG 040) would have him dashing through the library and down the other set of stairs, so that particular set of stairs by the Boiler Room only went up to the library floor. 

Then I thought it would be hysterical if Elias didn’t even bother running through the library because he is genuinely terrified of the librarians. (He tries to justify his actions by stating he wanted to extend Jon’s exposure to the corruption and Sasha’s encounter with the table, but he’s lying.) So in went another set of stairs.

TL;DR

The Magnus Archives is a wonderful podcast with descriptions that are highly immersive while allowing for a lot of interpretation by fans, which is something I've always appreciated in storytelling. Although I’m certain those at the Rusty Quill have their own layout, unless they choose to release all the specific details, the Magnus Institute truly is what we make of it.

Also, Elias’ description of the Prentiss invasion can get burrowed into by worms :) 

Me trying to explain the Magnus Institute layout according to the Prentiss Incident™

A Few Sources

Thoughts on layout and location of Magnus Institute

Robert Smirke (architect) - Wikipedia

Donald Insall Associates | Historic Buildings Research - Donald Insall Associates

Mostly Google Images of random 1800s buildings located in Britain and searches for reasonable building dimensions. (Never thought I'd Google, 'how big does a restroom need to be', but here we are.)

[stylinsoninnit28]

Justice for Queer Individuals in the Entertainment Industry: Behind the Glamour

It may often appear, that the entertainment industry, with all its glitz, glamour and bourgeoisie ideologies, is a beacon of acceptance and progressiveness. The short contradiction to that would be, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. The long contradiction will be discussed in this essay that attempts to highlight the grave injustice meted out by various individuals, who take advantage of the hierarchies present in this industry, to members of minorities, specifically the queer community, who need just as much space, representation and respect in all forums as white cis-gendered heterosexual people do. Beneath the facade of the pretty people with all the money in the world, in a near dystopian illusion (referencing the Capitol from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, 2008), is the harsh reality of controlling charlatans who, through the means of contracts, lies and multiple inhuman methods, wield authority over the “idols” of today, owing to their avarice and desire to constantly gain, bearing no thought or sympathy to the people we see and falsely believe to be the luckiest in the world. Scratching just the shell of the history, the truth behind this surprisingly shallow image of glitter and allure is frankly terrifying and continues to shock all who research through the hidden depth of this industry, that such backward mindsets could be possible in spaces that are often seen as TOO liberal at times. In this essay, I will attempt to delve into the challenges faced by the people trapped in this industry and advocate for justice and reform to ensure they receive access to basic human rights and dignity.

A Brief History and the Struggle Against Power Dynamics in the Industry

A History of the Struggle for Justice for Queer Rights in the Industry. This struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights in the entertainment industry is not a recent phenomenon. This relatively new field has seen activists rising in rebellion ever since the introduction of the Hollywood Production Code (also known as the Hays Code) in 1930. This set of industry censorship guidelines, enforced by the Motion Picture Production Code, aimed to regulate the content of films to ensure they were ‘morally wholesome’ and acceptable to a broader audience. Homosexuality was explicitly prohibited and any portrayal would have led to censorship and blacklisting, forcing queer characters and stories underground, relegating them to subtext or coded language. If queer characters did appear, they were often depicted in a stereotypical and/or derogatory manner, portraying them as villains, sexual predators or as objects of ridicule. The silencing and erasure of queer voices and experiences from the most observed and followed enterprise reinforced societal stigma and discrimination against queer individuals, hindering significant progress towards acceptance and equality. Despite, or perhaps because of, its restrictive nature, the Hays Code spurred resistance within the industry which continues even today. Although the HPC has now been replaced by the film rating system, the continued struggle to represent the LGBTQIA+ community well and as fairly as heteronormativity, persists in trying to make the industry a safer place for queer-identifying artists.

Power Dynamics and Its Role in Injustice Towards Queer Artists. The entertainment industry is notorious for its power dynamics, where a few in power wield an immense influence over the careers of the professionals of today. Closeted queer individuals are often held at the mercy of their agents, managers and/or executives, a result of a glaring imbalance of power, who pressure them to preserve their ‘straight image’ to maintain their marketability (and hence keep their pockets full), especially male pop artists whose target audience generally consists of young teenage girls. Signed contracts are often the bane of these artists who could have anything from legal action taken against them to being blacklisted in a way that could lead to them being cut off from further roles, working with other individuals, or being able to continue in the industry in any setting, as a consequence for breaking even a clause on said contract. 

The entertainment industry is interconnected in a way that all the biggest powers work in a coalition and cooperation, so standing in defiance to one would mean defiance to all, which would not be brushed away easily. Agents or managers are the ones who provide opportunities within the entertainment industry, controlling access to roles, projects, and promotions, resulting in their authority over the works of musicians, actors and other professionals, forcing these artists to conform to heteronormative standards, leading to them concealing their sexuality and/ or gender identities to prevent putting their success at risk. A perceived commercial appeal takes the forefront as opposed to genuineness or authenticity. To further their interests, powers in the industry encourage and/ or coerce queer artists into maintaining a more mainstream image to attract fans. Discrimination is still an unfortunate reality, and facing backlash from others, industry insiders or the general public, resulting in career stagnation, is still a fear for many. Threats of reputational damage, career disruption or exposure are some of the forms of abusive manipulation used to force professionals in the industry to comply with the will and authority of those in power. 

The Mental Impact of Being Closeted in the Industry

There is no doubt that being forcibly closeted would result in profoundly negative effects on one’s mental health, as individuals grapple with the emotional toll of having to conceal their authentic selves in an unforgiving environment with literally everything that they have worked towards at stake. The pressure to maintain heteronormative standards is not an easy task, considering that one has to suppress one of the most integral parts of one’s identity. Naturally, anxiety and stress turn up in undercurrents as the artist navigates the delicate balance of authenticity and survival. Living in a constant fear of being exposed, ostracized or discriminated against will lead to the development of stress. Isolating oneself would also result from a fear of putting careers at risk from being too loud, which could exacerbate feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness which could, in turn, escalate into depression. For many closeted individuals, the act of having to conceal their sexuality or gender identity can create a profound sense of internal conflict, identity confusion and impostor syndrome. Questioning one’s worth, leading through a spiral of self-doubt and uncertainty about their identity or future is an unfortunately common happening. This internal turmoil could lead to them seeking solace in unhealthy coping mechanisms through self-harm (substance abuse or physically hurting oneself), providing a temporary escape or a means to exert control over one’s emotions or as a ‘punishment’ for their ‘shortcomings’ from the pain of having to hide and pretend to be someone that they are not. In some extreme cases, the psychological strain could even lead to suicidal ideation and behaviour. The feeling of being trapped and hopeless can become overwhelming, making suicide the only perceivably plausible method of escape.

Case Studies of Experiences of Queer Individuals in the Industry

Elton John

(The cover page of the edition of the Rolling Stones magazine, 1976, where Elton John came out as bisexual)

An example of someone who was forced to maintain an image of heteronormativity but then later came out and expressed his story of being a closeted gay man in the music industry due to societal pressures to conform is Sir Elton John. Throughout his early career, Elton John struggled with his sexual orientation, grappling with feelings of shame and self-doubt in a world that rejected and marginalized queer individuals. As part of his closeting, John was forced to marry Renate Blauel, amid widespread speculation about his sexuality. Blauel was his beard, the marriage, a façade, as John continued to explore his attraction to men behind closed doors. In 1976, in a now extremely famous Rolling Stones interview, Elton John publicly embraced his sexuality, then becoming a trailblazer for queer visibility and acceptance. Elton John has spoken on multiple occasions about the struggles of having to suppress his true self due to pressures from the industry and society at that time and thus continues to inspire generations of queer individuals to embrace their identities and stand proud of who they are.

Kit Connor

(Kit Connor, photographed for The Guardian in July 2023, speaking up about forced outing)

In many cases, an individual’s queerness is made their entire personality, leading to their image being seen as nothing more than their sexuality or gender identity, relegating them into niches, resulting in them being viewed in a stereotypical light and pigeonholed into ‘being queer’ with no other facet to their character. Many fear their queerness being seen as a liability and then again, on the opposite end of the spectrum, fear being accused of ‘queerbaiting’, two evils, one no lesser than the other, one pressurizing queer artists to remain closeted, the other forcibly outing them, in most cases when they are not comfortable enough to expose their identity to the world. Kit Connor, a young, up-and-coming actor known for his roles in various film and television projects, was forced out by individuals who accused him of queerbaiting due to his major role in the series Heartstopper, a gay teen high school Netflix show, as a queer Year 11 student, despite his efforts to keep his personal life private, becoming the subject of rumours and speculations regarding his sexuality which intensified when confidential information about his private life was leaked to the media without his consent. Forcible outing perpetuates a culture of fear and discrimination, where individuals feel compelled to conceal their true selves to avoid reprisal, severely undermining efforts towards LGBTQIA+ visibility and acceptance, reinforcing stigmas and prejudice against many in the community that continue to face backlash. In response to his ordeal, Kit Connor has spoken out against this practice, advocating for greater respect for individuals’ autonomy, serving as a rallying cry for the call to a change within the entertainment industry, urging the insiders and the public alike to recognise and respect the rights of queer individuals to live authentically and on their terms without having to fear persecution.

Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles (Larry Stylinson)

(Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles, photographed on stage at Sheffield on October 31st, 2015)

Arguably the biggest boyband in the world, One Direction, had and continues to have its fair share of forced closeting. Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles, two members of the group currently on hiatus, are widely accepted to have been in a relationship since 2011. From being saddled with a womanizing image to a fake pregnancy, the media portrayed images of the two men are far from being the truth. So, while Louis was imposed with the image of being in a long-term straight relationship, Harry was portrayed as a serial dater with a preference for older women. His first stunt was at the age of 17 when he ‘dated’ the then 32-year-old Caroline Flack, a relationship that was wrong on so many levels, a fact recognized by even those who did not believe in Harry’s closeting. Louis and Harry then took to expressing their love through complementary tattoos, obvious sarcasm and their lyrical prowess. Once the band went on their break, the two have never been seen together in public (discounting Styles’ presence at Tomlinson’s performance of his newly released single ‘Just Hold On’ on the X Factor in December 2016), and the portrayal of their relationship turned to ‘mortal enemies who mutually respect each other’ as opposed to the ‘bro dude-bro pal’ image that was being sold in One Direction. Besides the obvious stunting in terms of dating, Louis also ‘had a son’, another popular method by the industry to annul the possibility of questions concerning an artist’s sexuality arising. Odd coincidences that don’t seem to add up to the story of ‘his’ child have never been explained, leading one to naturally conclude that Louis is not a father, unlike the media’s propagation of the subject. Harry, in a surprisingly candid manner, once opened up in a Rolling Stones interview (circa August 2022), saying, “Sometimes people say, ‘You’ve only publicly been with women,’ and I don’t think I’ve publicly been with anyone.”                       

Speaking about lyrics, both artists have been rather explicitly pointing to each other through their songs in their current solo released albums. For example, in his 2020 debut album, ‘Walls’, Tomlinson sings “Come so far from Princess Park”, on the 7th track, ‘Habit’, which is in direct reference to the area where Styles and he first moved in together. Styles sings “I remember back at Jonny’s place”, a reference to Tomlinson’s good friend who became a mutual one through the years of their relationship, in his 2022 album, ‘Harry’s House’s’ 13th track ‘Love of My Life’. Louis, who is on his second world tour, consistently sings “I love HIM” during his song ‘Back To You’, despite the original lyric being “I love IT”.

Multiple incidents, that would make a thesis by itself, occur and have occurred in a way that does not leave room for doubt that Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles were and are in a relationship, but the injustice and aversion of the industry towards queer artists and queer-friendly spaces within the professional fields affiliated with their work leads to these two artists to have remained closeted for the past 13 years and counting.

Conclusion

At the heart of this journey towards justice for queer individuals in this industry, lies the need for a collective awakening, transcending the confines of conformity and tradition. Policymakers and other leaders in this industry wield the tools of legislation and could be architects of change for the better, crafting a framework that safeguards the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Yet, true transformation requires more than mere rhetoric or legislative force, demanding a radical shift in the consciousness of the general public as well. Embracing diversity and championing inclusivity must be the pillars of our collective identity and unity. Confronting the entrenched power dynamics that continue to perpetuate the closet despite the constant progress through the years, a culture of empathy and understanding, as opposed to judgment and hate, must be cultivated, recognizing that each individual, regardless of station or circumstance, possesses an inherent worth deserving of recognition and respect. Amplify the voices of those who have been silenced. Sow the seeds of empathy and compassion. Nurture authenticity and truth. This will become a reality, as a spotlight is shone on injustice and change is demanded once passive observation turns into a fight for justice in all sectors, active participation to aid in an unfolding story of human liberation and equality.

[me-amaraja]

Facade Market Insights: Regional Analysis and Key Players

Facade Market Growth Strategic Market Overview and Growth Projections

The global facade market size was valued at USD 244.3 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 409.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

The latest Global Facade Market by straits research provides an in-depth analysis of the Facade Market, including its future growth potential and key factors influencing its trajectory. This comprehensive report explores crucial elements driving market expansion, current challenges, competitive landscapes, and emerging opportunities. It delves into significant trends, competitive strategies, and the role of key industry players shaping the global Facade Market. Additionally, it provides insight into the regulatory environment, market dynamics, and regional performance, offering a holistic view of the global market’s landscape through 2032.

Competitive Landscape

Some of the prominent key players operating in the Facade Market are 

Bouygues

Hochtief

Skanska

Norsk Hydro ASA

Gartner (Permasteelisa Group)

HansenGroup

Enclos

Aluplex

Fundermax

YKK AP Inc.

Rockpanel Group

Schuco International (OTTO FUCHS KG)

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The Facade Market Research report delivers comprehensive annual revenue forecasts alongside detailed analysis of sales growth within the market. These projections, developed by seasoned analysts, are grounded in a deep exploration of the latest industry trends. The forecasts offer valuable insights for investors, highlighting key growth opportunities and industry potential. Additionally, the report provides a concise dashboard overview of leading organizations, showcasing their effective marketing strategies, market share, and the most recent advancements in both historical and current market landscapes.Global Facade Market: Segmentation

The Facade Market segmentation divides the market into multiple sub-segments based on product type, application, and geographical region. This segmentation approach enables more precise regional and country-level forecasts, providing deeper insights into market dynamics and potential growth opportunities within each segment.

By Product

Ventilated

Non-ventilated

Others

By End-User

Commercial

Residential

Industrial

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Market Highlights:

A company's revenue and the applications market are used by market analysts, data analysts, and others in connected industries to assess product values and regional markets.

But not limited to: reports from corporations, international Organization, and governments; market surveys; relevant industry news.

Examining historical market patterns, making predictions for the year 2022, as well as looking forward to 2032, using CAGRs (compound annual growth rates)

Historical and anticipated data on demand, application, pricing, and market share by country are all included in the study, which focuses on major markets such the United States, Europe, and China.

Apart from that, it sheds light on the primary market forces at work as well as the obstacles, opportunities, and threats that suppliers face. In addition, the worldwide market's leading players are profiled, together with their respective market shares.

Goals of the Study

What is the overall size and scope of the Facade Market market?

What are the key trends currently influencing the market landscape?

Who are the primary competitors operating within the Facade Market market?

What are the potential growth opportunities for companies in this market?

What are the major challenges or obstacles the market is currently facing?

What demographic segments are primarily targeted in the Facade Market market?

What are the prevailing consumer preferences and behaviors within this market?

What are the key market segments, and how do they contribute to the overall market share?

What are the future growth projections for the Facade Market market over the next several years?

How do regulatory and legal frameworks influence the market?

About Straits Research

Straits Research is dedicated to providing businesses with the highest quality market research services. With a team of experienced researchers and analysts, we strive to deliver insightful and actionable data that helps our clients make informed decisions about their industry and market. Our customized approach allows us to tailor our research to each client's specific needs and goals, ensuring that they receive the most relevant and valuable insights.

Contact Us

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[partangel]

What are your plans after college? Do you have very specific goals set out or will you let things flow? Also, do you think you’ll stay friends with the people you met there? Currently having a crisis because I’m coming to the end of my bachelor’s and I have no idea of what my future will look like x(

hello! i dont find i have it all figured out or anything likewise...right now im toying with the idea of continuing in education and getting a doctorate so teaching in an academic setting is an option. most teachers from my faculty are also in practice and in my area i find it heavily important to keep your practice in check and in accordance to the latest research in the field. so for me pursuing investigation & teaching and being a professional informed by research are goals that align with each other. i have had a very good academic feedback until now within the research faculty and i have some papers aligned i can see publishing in the near future... however itd be a lie to say i am 100% certain that this is something i want and will pursue. lets see how this year with the thesis and my internship goes! i still have another year after that of supervised practice so... one ought to be patient! i also want to do something related to ceramics in the near future which is something i love dearly and id be lying if i said i didnt think about dropping out from college just to pursue that alone! me and my partner have a business idea we are in the middle of scheming that is about facade rehabilitation in buildings that have been decorated with tiles (azulejo) so thats something we have also been working on together... besides i would love to self publish a childrens book in the near future and to ask some friends to illustrate. you know! lots of ideas and things going on.... its normal to feel scared but ultimately its about how and what you want to contribute to society and a bachelor is just a paper (no offense) and literally i understand that we all work hard for it but it does not have to be THE thing you do for the entirety of your life. it should and it does inform your choices but you know. just do what feels right to you i think is the most important thing and to not let your major be the most important thing in your mind. keep some space to invent and explore and discover. there are so many things in the world and its all so lovely and as long as it gives you a sense of accomplishment and of contributing to your community or society its worth it. about friendships in college for me its truly a hard no. i love my friends dearly but in college i did not invest much in those relationships so im not really close to anyone and do not intend to be. but that really depends on the quality of the friendships you have. if you want to keep them theyll most certainly be there. people that enter the job market do not have the time that students do and your friendship dynamics may change due to that but its doable and its life! everything is a cycle etc etc. dont be scared! its a new phase of life and its all about growth! itll be ok! follow your heart and trust in yourself always 🤍

[darkhearthorns]

v2; modern || biopharmaceuticals

Name: Maverick Draven Occupation: CEO of EnviroCure Biotech

Biography: Maverick is a charismatic and enigmatic figure in the corporate world. Born into a wealthy family, he grew up surrounded by privilege and luxury. However, he rejected the notion of a life solely focused on personal gain and instead sought to make a meaningful impact on the world. With a passion for environmental sustainability and improving global health, he dedicated his career to leading a biopharmaceutical company that prioritizes the planet's well-being.

Maverick's journey to becoming a CEO was marked by hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. He graduated with top honors from a prestigious business school, where he honed his entrepreneurial skills and gained a deep understanding of the intricacies of the biopharmaceutical industry. Upon joining the company, he swiftly rose through the ranks, demonstrating his exceptional leadership abilities and strategic acumen.

Known for his mysterious and captivating presence, Maverick's unconventional approach to business garnered him both admiration and skepticism. Some dismissed him as a spoiled and arrogant heir, failing to recognize his genuine commitment to his company's mission. Behind his enigmatic facade, Maverick was a visionary with a burning desire to combat pollution, corruption, and unethical practices that plagued the industry.

Under Maverick's leadership, the biopharmaceutical company thrived. Leveraging his business acumen, he forged strategic partnerships, expanded the company's research and development capabilities, and spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives. His relentless pursuit of innovation and sustainability propelled the company to the forefront of the industry, receiving recognition for its contributions to global health and environmental conservation.

Despite his success, Maverick remained grounded and connected to his values. He actively supported philanthropic endeavors, directing resources towards initiatives aimed at improving public health, protecting the environment, and empowering disadvantaged communities. His commitment to corporate social responsibility set an example for other industry leaders and inspired positive change beyond the walls of his company.

Statistics:

Leadership Skills: Maverick possesses exceptional leadership abilities, inspiring and motivating his employees to achieve the company's goals.

Business Acumen: Maverick's sharp business mind and deep industry knowledge contribute to his success in strategic planning, financial management, and decision-making.

Environmental Advocacy: He actively promotes sustainability, implementing eco-friendly practices within the company and driving initiatives to combat pollution and promote a greener planet.

Charismatic Presence: Maverick's magnetic charm and enigmatic persona enable him to build relationships, negotiate effectively, and influence stakeholders.

Resourcefulness: He is known for his creative problem-solving skills, finding innovative solutions to complex challenges in the industry.

Networking Skills: Maverick excels at building strategic partnerships and leveraging industry connections to advance the company's goals.

Adaptability: He demonstrates agility in responding to market changes, embracing new technologies, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Philanthropic Spirit: Maverick actively supports philanthropic initiatives, directing resources towards charitable causes and encouraging social responsibility within the company.

[tritonmarketresearch]

High Energy Demand to Boost the Global BIPV Market

Triton Market Research presents the Global Building Integrated Photovoltaics Market report segmented by Application (Glazing, Roofing, Architectural Shading, Facades), Technology (Thin Film, Crystalline Silicon [Polycrystalline, Monocrystalline], Other Technologies), Industry Vertical (Commercial, Industrial, Residential), and Regional Outlook (, North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Europe, Latin America).

The report further includes the Market Summary, Industry Outlook, Parent Market Analysis, Impact Analysis, Key Insights, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Market Maturity Analysis, Industry Components, Regulatory Framework, Key Buying Analysis, Key Market Strategies, Drivers, Challenge, Opportunities, Analyst Perspective, Competitive Landscape, Research Methodology & Scope, Global Market Size, Forecasts & Analysis (2023-2030).

According to Triton’s research report, the global building integrated photovoltaics market is estimated to progress at a CAGR of 17.31% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

Request Free Sample Report:

https://www.tritonmarketresearch.com/reports/building-integrated-photovoltaics-market#request-free-sample

 Building integrated photovoltaic products are used to replace conventional building materials in the components of a building envelope like roof tiles, curtain walls, windows, etc.

As per the International Energy Outlook, the global power demand is expected to soar by around 80% by 2040, requiring trillions of dollars in investment to meet the high demand. Moreover, the world’s net electricity generation will increase significantly in the same year. Access to electricity is vital for operations across industries, especially in developing countries. Hence, the growing energy demand is estimated to create high demand for PVs in buildings for efficient power supply, thereby propelling the BIPV market on a growth path.

However, BIPV technology is at a nascent stage, being highly adopted in developed nations but witnessing a slow glow in emerging economies like India. The lack of awareness about solar power is estimated to hamper the studied market’s growth over the forecast period.

Over the forecast period, the Asia-Pacific is estimated to become the fastest-growing region. China, Japan, and South Korea have recently adopted net-zero emission targets to be attained by 2050. As per industry sources, energy efficiency and decarbonization under sustainable development could help reduce significant emissions from buildings. Moreover, the region is witnessing high population growth, which has elevated the energy demand. Therefore, the growing need to reduce emissions and high energy demand is expected to broaden building integrated photovoltaics market prospects over the forecast period.

The prominent companies thriving in the building integrated photovoltaics market are Tesla Inc, ClearVue Technologies Limited, AGC Inc, SunPower Corporation, Kaneka Corporation, MetSolar, Heliatek, Saule Technologies, Waaree Energies Ltd, and Ertex Solartechnik GmbH.  

Given the technological complexity and high capital requirements, the entry of new entrants is difficult. The materials processing step is technologically exhaustive and thus creates a high barrier for new players. Despite this, several players are entering the market owing to increasing demand and government incentives. However, the growing competition among existing players is expected to lower the threat of new entrants over the forecast period.

 Contact Us:

sales@tritonmarketresearch.com

Phone: +44 7441 911839

[akshayenterprises46]

The Hidden Benefits of Anti Radiation Chips: Exploring Their Manufacturing in India

Living in an age where innovation is rife, there cannot be a better time in history when people have become more or less addicted to electronics. From smart mobile phones and Laptops to smart home systems these gadgets excrete Electromagnetic radiation EMR, a potential health danger to human beings once one is subjected to this type of radiation for a lengthy period of time. This growing menace has resulted in increased calls for protective technologies such as anti-radiation chips and the country is cocooning itself to be a manufacturer. One of the key leaders in this field is Akshay Enterprises, an experienced anti radiation chip manufacturer that focuses on providing the audience with effective products for protection from damage caused by EMR radiation.

What Are Anti-Radiation Chips?

Anti-radiation chips are small, technologically advanced devices designed to minimize the impact of electromagnetic radiation emitted by electronic gadgets. These chips are applied to devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and routers, effectively reducing radiation exposure without compromising the device’s functionality. Their increasing popularity underscores their effectiveness in mitigating potential health risks associated with EMR.

Why the Demand for Anti-Radiation Chips Is Rising

Such as exposing people to EMR more than ever before, different electronic gadgets are used in the contemporary world for both personal and business use. There are arguments indicating that radiation exposure can cause health complications – short-term ones, which include headaches, fatigue, and long-term, which ranges from neurological disorders. This has boosted the importance of anti radiation chip manufacturer products to give consumers that relieved feeling.

India’s Role in Anti-Radiation Chip Manufacturing

India has very much improved its technology sectors and the production of anti-radiation chips is evidence to this. Being considered as an industrial area for innovations and cheap production costs, the country houses the manufacturers that serve both local and foreign markets.

However, Akshay Enterprises, an anti radiation chip manufacturer which deals in anti-radiation chips is excellent due to its quality, and research besides satisfying customers. Their sophisticated production line and observance to world standards make them reliable for all buyers of their products and services.

How Akshay Enterprises Stands Out

Akshay Enterprises uses the latest technology and conducts a series of tests before coming up with the best protection anti-radiation chips. In this way, the focus on sustainability and affordability fulfills the market need, and the constant improvement of the products does not deteriorate the efficiency of the company. Whether the customer wants to buy products for meeting business to business demands or personal use, Akshay Enterprises meets the needs of all types of customers with customized facades.

Key Features of Anti-Radiation Chips from Akshay Enterprises

High Effectiveness: Reduces radiation exposure significantly.

Versatility: Compatible with multiple electronic devices.

Eco-Friendly: Manufactured with sustainable practices.

Cost-Effective: Combines affordability with premium quality.

Benefits of Using Anti-Radiation Chips

Enhanced Safety: Protects against potential health risks associated with EMR.

Device Compatibility: Works seamlessly across various gadgets.

Easy Installation: Quick and hassle-free application.

Long-Lasting: Durable design ensures prolonged effectiveness.

Conclusion

Since more and more people are concerned about electromagnetic radiation and its impact on health, it is essential to hire an anti radiation chip manufacturer. India is blessed with ample manufacturing strength headed through innovators such as Akshay Enterprises which is now ready to cater the global needs in the most appropriate manner. It’s time everyone became wise consumers and started installing anti-radiation chips whether you are a single user or a company planning to buy them in large quantities.

Akshay Enterprises continues to lead the way, offering reliable, high-quality products that protect and empower users in a technology-driven world.