#Famous Square Captures

[reasonsforhope]

"Amsterdam’s roofs have just been converted into a giant sponge that will make the city more climate resilient.

The Dutch have always been famous for their ability to control water, born out of the necessity of their homeland, much of which is below sea level.

Now, their expert water management skills are transforming the city skyline in the capital city of Amsterdam from one of terracotta tile, concrete, and shingles into green grass and brown earth.

It’s part of a new climate-resiliency trend in architecture and civic planning known as the ‘sponge city concept,’ in which a garden of water-loving plants, mosses, and soil absorbs excess rainwater before feeding it into the building for use in flushing toilets or watering plants on the ground.

If heavy rains are predicted, a smart valve system empties the stored rainwater into the municipal storm drains and sewers in advance of the weather, allowing the roof to soak up water and reduce flooding in the city.

In this way, the rooftops of buildings can be wrung out and filled up just like a sponge.

In Amsterdam, 45,000 square meters, or 11 acres of flat metropolitan rooftops have already been fitted with these systems, and the contracting firms behind the technology say they make sense in dry climates like Spain just as much as in wet climates like Amsterdam...

A 4-year project of different firms and organizations called Resilio, the resilient network for smart climate adaptive rooftops, rolled out thousands of square meters of sponge city technology into new buildings. As with many climate technologies, the costs are high upfront but tend to result in savings from several expenditures like water utilities and water damage, over a long-enough time horizon...

All together, Amsterdam’s sponge capacity is over 120,000 gallons.

“We think the concept is applicable to many urban areas around the world,” Kasper Spaan from Waternet, Amsterdam’s public water management organization, told Wired Magazine. “In the south of Europe–Italy and Spain–where there are really drought-stressed areas, there’s new attention for rainwater catchment.”

Indeed the sponge city concept comes into a different shade when installed in drought-prone regions. Waters absorbed by rooftops during heavy rains can be used for municipal purposes to reduce pressure on underground aquifers or rivers, or be sweated out under the Sun’s rays which cools the interior of the building naturally.

Additionally, if solar panels were added on top of the rooftop garden, the evaporation would keep the panels cooler, which has been shown in other projects to improve their energy generation.

“Our philosophy in the end is not that on every roof, everything is possible,” says Spaan, “but that on every roof, something is possible.”

Matt Simon, reporting on the Resilio project for Wired, said succinctly that perhaps science fiction authors have missed the mark when it came to envisioning the city of the future, and that rather than being a glittering metropolis of glass, metal, and marble as smooth as a pannacotta, it will look an awful lot more like an enormous sculpture garden."

-via Good News Network, May 15, 2024

[vestaignis]

Коломарес – самый фантастический замок Испании.

Испанский замок Коломарес – недавняя постройка, которую возвели в честь пятисотлетия со дня открытия Америки. Причем, строительство, начавшееся в 1987 году, возглавил доктор медицины Эстебан Мартин, который, как это ни странно, не обладал специальным образованием. Вместе с несколькими помощниками, которым ранее приходилось заниматься только кирпичной кладкой, он соорудил замок за 7 лет и в ходе работы освоил все премудрости строительства, это уникальное сооружение, позволяет проследить путь знаменитого мореплавателя через Атлантический океан. Автор проэкта и его помощники запечатлели в камне «Санта Марию», «Пинту» и «Нинью» – три корабля, которые приняли участие в плавании Колумба. Результатом столь кропотливого труда стал большой ажурный замок, площадь которого составляет не менее 1,5 тыс. кв. м. На сегодняшний день он является наибольшим памятником Колумбу не только в Испании, но и во всем мире. Любопытно, что при создании замка кроме кирпича были использованы мрамор, камень, стекло и даже древесина, из которой выполнили ряд элементов декора.

Это строение стало великим шедевром архитектуры, в смешанном стиле: византийском, римском, готическом и мавританском. И подобное смешение не простое совпадение, оно символично, потому что рассказывает об этапах развития страны и о многообразии культур, некогда населявших ее народов. Доктор Эстебан Мартин гармонично объединил в своем грандиозном сооружении элементы трех основных культур Испании времен Средневековья: христианства, иудаизма и ислама. Красота этой изумительной достопримечательности испанского курорта на Средиземном море в городе Бенальмадена, привлекает на отдых множество путешественников из разных стран мира.

Кроме того, архитектор символически отобразил и другие события испанской истории. Например, «Фонтан влюбленных» посвящен королевской чете – Фердинанду Арагонскому и Изабелле Кастильской. Эти монархи после долгих раздумий одобрили планы Колумба по снаряжению морской экспедиции.Еще одной составляющей Кастильо де Коломарес в Испании является часовня Santa Isabel de Hungria in Colomares, сооруженная в честь Св. Елизаветы Венгерской и числящаяся в Книге рекордов Гиннесса как наименьшая в мире церковь. Площадь этой капеллы составляет не более 2 кв. м, поэтому во время мессы в ней помещается только священник.

Colomares is the most fantastic castle in Spain.

The Spanish castle of Colomares is a recent construction, which was erected in honor of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. Moreover, the construction, which began in 1987, was headed by the doctor of medicine Esteban Martin, who, oddly enough, did not have a special education. Together with several assistants, who had previously only had to deal with bricklaying, he built the castle in 7 years and during the work mastered all the intricacies of construction, this unique structure allows you to follow the path of the famous navigator across the Atlantic Ocean. The author of the project and his assistants captured in stone "Santa Maria", "Pinta" and "Nina" - three ships that took part in Columbus's voyage. The result of such painstaking work was a large openwork castle, the area of ​​​​which is at least 1.5 thousand square meters. m. Today it is the largest monument to Columbus not only in Spain, but also in the whole world. It is curious that in addition to brick, marble, stone, glass and even wood were used to create the castle, from which a number of decorative elements were made.

This building has become a great masterpiece of architecture, in a mixed style: Byzantine, Roman, Gothic and Moorish. And such a mixture is not a simple coincidence, it is symbolic, because it tells about the stages of the country's development and the diversity of cultures that once inhabited its peoples. Doctor Esteban Martin harmoniously combined elements of the three main cultures of Spain during the Middle Ages in his grandiose structure: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The beauty of this amazing landmark of the Spanish resort on the Mediterranean Sea in the city of Benalmadena attracts many travelers from different countries of the world to rest.

In addition, the architect symbolically displayed other events in Spanish history. For example, the "Fountain of Lovers" is dedicated to the royal couple - Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. After much deliberation, these monarchs approved Columbus's plans to equip a sea expedition. Another component of the Castillo de Colomares in Spain is the chapel of Santa Isabel de Hungria in Colomares, built in honor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest church in the world. The area of ​​this chapel is no more than 2 square meters, so only the priest fits in it during mass.

Source: //kidpassage.com/activity/ispaniya/kosta-del-sol/zamok-kolomares?,/alandalus.ru/andalucia/provincia-malaga/benalmadena / castillo-monumento-colomares/,://balttur.spb.ru/countries/spain/ zamok-kolomares.html,/kuku.travel/country/ispaniya /dostoprimechatelnosti-ispaniya/kolomares-samyj-fantasticheskij-zamok-ispanii/,/portal.azertag.az/ru/node/20093, //www.tripadvisor . ru/Attraction_Review-g562812-d669392-Reviews-Castillo _ Monumento_Colomares-Benalmadena_Costa_del_ Sol_ Province_ of_ Malaga_Andaluci.html.

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

The Only One Worth Posing For

Pairing: Matthew Gray Gubler x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.1k

Warnings: fluff

Summary: You're a famous photographer so you often get invited to red carpet events. Your best friend is an actor, and you've taken tons of pictures of him. The only problem is that he only poses for your camera.

Square Filled: ​“yeah, you’re cold. I’m giving you my jacket” for @spencerreidbingo

Author’s Note: any and all comments are appreciated <3

x

Camera? Check. Extra lenses? Check. Press pass? Check. Supply bag? Check. Gorgeous pink dress you got just for this event? Check. You check the time on your phone to make sure you’re not running late, which you’re not. Your best friend should already be at the movie premier for his new movie, and you’re one of the photographers on the red carpet.

You’re a famous photographer that takes pictures of celebrities for events like movie premiers, the Met Gala, award shows, etc. Your career started in high school when you took almost all of the pictures for the yearbooks. Then, you took pictures of your friend’s graduation pictures and got paid less than one hundred dollars for it. Once in college, you took a lot of photography classes that allowed you to hone your skills and become better.

Someone saw your pictures on your college website and loved them so they got in contact with you, and that’s how you got your first job at a magazine. It took about a decade to get to where you are now and you couldn’t be happier. Along the way, you’ve met and hung out with a ton of celebrities including your best friend. You two met back when you were the photographer for the magazine, and you’ve been inseparable ever since.

Speaking of the devil, he texts you just as you are leaving the apartment.

Are you on your way?

just leaving now! be there soon xx

I can’t wait to see you :)

The message brings a smile to your face. He never fails to lift your spirits no matter how you’re feeling. He sent for a car to take you to the movie premier instead of you taking your own. When you get there, the place is packed with press, fans, and cars carrying celebrities. 

“Thank you,” you smile at the driver and get out.

You head to the booth to check in and present your press pass to her. She confirms you’re on the list before letting you inside the area where the press is located. You set your bag on the ground and take out your favorite lens to use in times like these, the kind of lens that allows you to zoom in clearly even from where you are. The more popular you got, the more expensive equipment you bought.

You got here at the right time because celebrities show up not long after you get set up. Much like everyone here, you call their names in hopes they pose for your camera. You get a lot of good shots of very iconic celebrities like Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, and Sandra Bullock. The movie did so much press to make sure it is the most popular movie which is why so many celebrities are here.

You look to the left and see your best friend walk down the red carpet with a huge smile on his face. Matthew Gray Gubler. A man of many tricks. A man who never fails to make you smile. He looks past every person who calls out his name until he finds your camera. His eyes light up and begins posing for your camera and your camera only.

“Matthew! Look over here!” one of them says but he ignores them,

‘Stop it’, you mouth to him and his smile only gets bigger. What did you expect? He always does this whenever you’re in the crowd with a camera. He only cares about you and your career. If you can get good pictures of him, then you can sell them for a lot of money. People around you are frustrated with you and him but you don’t care about them.

Matthew leaves the red carpet and joins the group of celebrities who are hanging outside before they can go inside the theater. There are only a few more celebrities to capture, then you’re packing up your things. Apart from being part of the press, Matthew invited you as his plus one.

“Are you serious with Matthew?” one of the other photographers says.

“Sorry. Maybe next time,” you shrug.

You bring your case back to the town car that is still waiting for you, and you toss your press pass into the backseat. There is no reason for you to have two outfits when you can wear your red carpet outside as one of the press. You walk back over to the same booth and check in as a guest. She gives you your guest pass and you make your way into the area where all the celebrities are.

“I’m gonna slap that motherfucker when I see him,” you joke to yourself.

“Y/N! It’s so good to see you!” Shemar Moore smiles when he sees you.

“Shemar! I thought you were still filming S.W.A.T.,” you grin and hug him.

“I couldn’t miss this premier.”

“Where is Matthew?”

“Last I saw him was by the entrance to the theater.”

“Great. I’ll see you inside.” You leave his side and go find your best friend. He’s talking to one of the younger and newer kid stars, and you slink up to his side. “Excuse me. Mind if I borrow him for a second?”

“Sure. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

You pull him to the side and away from everyone for some semi-privacy.

“What the hell was that back there?”

“What?” he laughs.

“You can’t keep posing for my camera only.”

“You tell me this every time, and what do I keep telling you?” 

“Mine is the only one worth posing for.”

“See? It’s law at this point.”

He leans in and kisses you quickly. You two have been testing the waters for a romantic relationship for the last couple of weeks. It’s been going well because you’re taking it at your own speed without the public knowing. 

“You’re gonna piss off the other photographers.”

“I don’t care.”

He pulls you in and kisses you much deeper this time. You only allow two minutes to yourselves before you pull away from him. Goosebumps litter your arms and you shiver slightly under his gaze.

“You’re shivering. Are you cold?”

“That’s not why I’m shivering,” you say and shiver again.

“Yeah, you’re cold. I’m giving you my jacket.”

He sheds his jacket and slings it over your shoulder to provide you with warmth. He slides his hand into yours and pulls you toward the entrance to the theater.

“Let’s go watch this movie. Afterward, you’re gonna let me take you home.”

“We live together,” you giggle.

“Even better.”

“You’re a dork.”

“Only for you,” he winks and kisses your cheek.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[twig-tea]

East Palace, West Palace in ep5 of Blue Canvas of Youthful Days

I have been punched in the solar plexus by Blue Canvas of Youthful Days episode 5. So much happens in that episode that is overwhelming, from Qi Lu setting up a Netflix-and-chill date with the clear intention of making a move, to his putting on the famous film East Palace, West Palace (1996), to Qi Lu hiding Qin Xiao in the closet, to Qi Lu's panic at his father realizing he's been lied to, to the devastatingly practiced way Teacher Liu steps to Qi Lu being abused and handles his father, to the way Qi Lu shuts down, to the way QIn Xiao keeps sending mixed signals and Qi Lu calls him on it directly. And nobody else in this episode let me rest either; Tan Fan trying to ask Teacher Liu to wait for him and Liu brushing him off AGAIN, and Turtle trying to call out

@lurkingshan was already more coherent than I can be right now about what happened in the episode in her post.

So instead I want to focus on some queer cinema history that this episode evoked by using East Palace, West Palace as the film that Qi Lu shows to QIn Xiao.

For those who don't know, EPWP is considered to be the first realistic depiction of a gay man in film by a mainland Chinese production. It is to my knowledge the first time a gay man says "I love you" to another man on screen. It was made before being gay was decriminalized in China (1997), and it was filmed by an independent production company and smuggled out of China to France in order to be finished and distributed. It ended up at the Cannes festival in 1997, but the director's passport was seized and he was placed under house arrest to prevent him from attending. Despite pressure to pull the film, it still aired that year. In 1998, the Film Law was passed to prevent anyone from making films outside of the studio system (and therefore censorship review), effectively preventing anything like EPWP from being made in the future.

The film is about a gay man who cruises in the notorious bathrooms in the parks on either side of Tiananmen Square getting harassed by police officers (a situation extremely familiar to the historical queer experience in Canada [where I'm from] as well) and playing what I'd describe as a psychological game with one of them; A Lan kisses the cop, runs, and then gets caught a second time, and uses the second police confession as an excuse to tell his life's story in the public record, all while pushing the police officer a little further into deviance. As far as I'm aware, this film has been banned in China since being made and never shown (please correct me if I'm wrong about that!).

This is hitting me hard because of the much more recent history of Blue Canvas of Youthful Days itself. As most of you know, but I'll capture here for posterity, episodes 1-4 of this show aired on iQIYI (a China-based app) on August 6, and within 24 hours they were pulled from the app with no information about the future episodes being shown. When I watched episode 5 today, after waiting for it for 3 months, I was immediately hit with a wave of anger that this gorgeous, emotionally moving and powerful episode had been held back from public consumption for months, for the same reasons that the film being shown within the episode had been withheld from viewing in its own country.

Censorship is such an ugly thing, it's hard to articulate but the emotions around it are so strong because we know, when they pull or refuse to show media that depicts our lives, it's because they don't want our lives to be real; they don't want us to exist. It's a very real threat. And to have this episode--which is all about an abused boy who is in very real danger but so bravely insisting that he shoot his shot and take his best chance at love and happiness anyway, using the iconic confession scene from one of the most famous banned films in Chinese queer cinema history to do it--to have this episode be the one that was prevented from airing......I am overwhelmed.

In the scenes they watch in episode 5, A Lan tries to prevent the officer from uncuffing him, and then the officer lets him go, but A Lan doesn't go far and comes back. He declares his love to the officer's face, and demands that his love be acknowledged and not dismissed. And the officer does not know what to do with it and reacts with violence, which is partially what A Lan has been angling at all along. The show really played with this by having all three of the couples in the show stymied by having their overtures dismissed this episode, but we almost didn't get to see it.

I'm so grateful this got distribution now, and on multiple platforms. Blue Canvas of Youthful Days is airing Saturdays and Sundays on GagaOOLala and Youtube (note, as per @thisonelikesaliens's excellent language posts, the subs on Gaga are much better), and on Mondays on Viki. I know there is an avalanche of content right now, but this show is so good and worked so hard to make it to us, please give it some love!

[l0v3tast3]

AHH Hello!!! I absolutely love your writing, it’s so good!!!!

I was wondering…

Y/n always wear a mask to conceal her identity, in hopes the 141 doesn’t find out that Makarov is her father!!

141 had captured Makarov for interrogation, and y/n is there. As the interrogation continues, they start to notice that y/n and Makarov know each other, by the subtle little informality they spoke to one another. And the truth starts to come out, little by little!!!!

✎ tysm i love you :(( i absolutely love this idea the angst potential is just *chef's kiss* i'm sorry this one took like over a month to make oops, also i tried to keep personal details abt the reader as vague as possible, pls let me know if there's something i can fix!!

✎ tags: female reader, military reader, major daddy issues, violence, mentions of blood, hurt/barely any comfort if at all, not proofread im too cool for that,

✎ word count: 2,704

the silence in the cold, gray interrogation room was so thick that you were choking on it. you knew you had just fucked up, badly.

you had done so well so far, too. you're fabricated identity had fooled everyone. the name you had chosen stuck, and no one ever noticed your old one threatening to jump from your mouth when you introduced yourself. you always kept the childhood memories and little anecdotes vague. you stuck to your rehearsed lines better than a world-famous actor. you did every single thing right.

and now, here he was, your own blood, fucking it all up for you, again.

technically, he had made you fuck it up for yourself. it was just how makarov worked; he was a spider weaving a web in the corner, watching, waiting. this man, your supposed father, didn't know anything real about you. he didn't know you as a father should know his daughter. but he knew which buttons to press.

he only knew what to say to you when it would allow him the opportunity of watching you fall a little deeper towards rock bottom.

you knew that the room had cameras covering every square inch, and the microphones ensured that you're accidental admission to your heritage was heard by your entire task force.

there was a red hot pit opening inside of you, caving your insides in like a black hole and threatening to consume your entire being. it was rage, you realized. something you only ever seemed to feel in the presence of one person.

you briefly considered killing him, right there and then. was this really the straw that broke your back? it truly was just another thing to add to the list. you had known he would do this.

no, you were angry at yourself.

on the other side of the door, the four men of the 141 task force were all stood still in shock. what the hell did you just say?

none of them wanted to believe it. they especially didn't want to admit that it made sense. you had done a fucking fantastic job of hiding it, they'll admit that, but even you couldn't hide everything.

price saw the way you tensed when you were passed laswell's photo of makarov in the bar, after you had all put an end to hassan's plan. he saw the way you dropped it and slid it to the next person quickly, as if touching the picture had burned your fingertips.

soap had asked you if you were okay more than once during the plane ride to russia. you were so restless, so different from your usual grounded self. you just said you were having some flying anxiety. he felt stupid now for writing it off so easily.

and kyle, the first one to trust you (and to even really talk to you), he had seen the anger sparking off of you while you shot your way through the tower to get to makarov. floor after floor, bullet after bullet, you had paved a path of blood through the mercenaries. he wondered if someone else had taken your mask and gear and was pretending to be you.

simon saw the fear in you when you all got to the last door. you had been so quick in your endeavor to get here, but he saw you hesitate to follow them in. he saw how you never took your wide eyes off of him, and how you stayed a few steps back, moving far out of the way when price began to escort him out in handcuffs.

and when they had asked you to go into the interrogation room, they all saw how you stopped breathing, and the sweat collecting on what little skin they could see above your mask. you had stuttered when you quietly agreed.

when you stepped into the room, makarov took one look at your eyes, and you knew he recognized you. no, he recognized the hatred. and it made him smile.

now, sitting in the cold metal chair, you realized that it wasn't just one mistake, but a series of them; you had let him unravel you, again. you understood, finally, that he saw you as he did everyone else. he saw you as someone that held him back.

part of you had always known, ever since you were young, still single-digits, and he would only visit you once every few months, if that. you had elected to ignore it. now you couldn't.

you couldn't move. behind you was the door that would lead you to the consequences of your actions. in front of you was the reason for those actions.

this is what you had wanted, wasn't it? it was like something snapped back into place, and you suddenly remembered that everything you had done up until now, every time you put the mask on before leaving your room, every lie you had told and every person you had killed had been to get you here. in front of your father. you remembered that the image of him with a bullet between his eyes was what kept you going.

if you killed him, would it finally absolve you? the gun on your hip felt twenty pounds heavier now. your fingers, folded together in your lap with a white-knuckle grip, felt like lead. would this sin make all the other wrongs right?

a tiny voice was telling you to just walk away, let the team's wrath come down on you and let them deal with makarov, but you had already thrown the table between you towards the wall, he was already on the ground with your hands wrapped around his throat.

you were yelling, no, screaming at him. all the compacted feelings from years and years of being as quiet as possible came up like vomit, spewing out in a mess that could never be cleaned up.

there were more than just makarov's hands on you, pushing and pulling you away from him and dragging you out of the room, kicking and screeching to let you just finally kill him, while two other blurry shapes hauled him back into his own chair.

the heavy metal door shut behind the two people practically carrying you, and they finally let you go. you stumbled a few steps away, whirling around for the next target of your fury.

your captain and lieutenant were standing in front of you, both tensed, waiting for you to do something. you couldn't exactly make out their faces- were you crying?

"what in the bloody hell just happened in there?" price snarled. it was the voice he used when he was face to face with his enemy.

"let me back in there." it was a demand. you needed to kill him.

"that's not gonna happen," simon barked. john and kyle had come out from the interrogation room to stand behind the other two men. "you need to explain, now."

they all stared at you with varying looks of anger and hurt. it wasn't the first time you'd ever had it directed at you, but this was somehow worse than all the others.

every cell in your body was shrieking at you to just run for the door, to somehow get through all four of these men, your teammates, your friends, and kill makarov. but their glares glued you to your spot.

"please-" your voice was trembling, years of grief and agony dripping from every word, "please, just let me kill him. you have to let me kill him." you spoke slowly and quietly, focusing on just trying to get the words out. you took a shaky breath and focused your eyes on a muddy bootprint on the floor. you didn't want to see the looks on their faces.

"you don't understand, you just- just let me back in there, please, i'll get whatever you need out of him, but he needs to die!" your voice was getting louder, and you briefly wondered if your father could hear you. "his men are probably already on their way here. don't you get it? if i don't kill him now, he will get out."

the men in front of you were more shocked now than anything at the change in your demeanor. you had been coined the "second ghost" throughout the units, partly for the mask, but also because of your detachment. you were kind, but you always held logic above emotion.

in front of them now was nothing short of a nervous wreck.

despite not moving, you were frantic. you were wringing your hands together, pressed tight against your stomach. your eyes darted from side to side, person to person, between them and the door to makarov.

price took a step forward and you took a step back. he was slow, bringing his hand up as if he were approaching a wild animal. if he was still angry, he was hiding it now.

"come on, kid, let's just get out of 'ere, eh? go somewhere away from him," he said lowly. the other three men watched tensely, not moving, but their hands still close to their guns. just in case.

"no, no- just let me- price, you need to let me back in there!" you were a broken record, you knew it, but there was nothing else to say, nothing else you could think about. this was what you had been waiting for, you were right where you had wanted to be for the past- how many years now? how long has he tormented you for now?

you could feel your father's presence in the next room like bugs crawling across your body. it made your head feel fuzzy and your hands shake. was it from rage or fear? you couldn't tell, so you chose the rage.

it was like bile stuck in your throat, all the pain makarov had caused you finally being unearthed. you wanted to throw it all up and spit it out onto him, lay your organs and hatred alike out on the table in front of him so he could see the decay. you wanted him to rot from the inside out like you had.

your eyes glanced at the door one last time before focusing on price. he was watching you, just a couple of steps in front of you now.

"let me back in there, john." it was a whisper, but still the steadiest thing you had spoken since they had dragged you out.

"no." he said your name quietly, and you heard it as the plea it was, but you're head decided it was done listening.

your body threw itself at him, swinging underneath his arms and onto his back to try and get him on the ground. the room exploded into yelling, and multiple pairs of hands were on you in an instant, hauling you off of price and forcing you face-down onto the ground with your hands behind your back.

cold metal latching around your wrists didn't stop your screaming and kicking, lashing out at the air around you. it didn't work well, because you were being hauled back to your feet and pushed into a separate interrogation room.

whoever was carrying you didn't bother with trying to attach your handcuffs to the table, basically throwing you in and slamming the door shut before you could get back on your feet.

outside the cell, the four men stood in silent shock. what was there to say, where would they even start? would they really be able to hear each other over your muffled screams to let you out?

you didn't know how long you had been in there once the door finally opens again, but you had stopped screaming and struggling to get out of the room. you had sat down at the table, your hands folded in front of you on the cold surface. you stared down at the blood beading and smearing around the handcuffs.

kyle squeezed in through the tiny amount he'd let the door open before he shut it quickly, keeping his eyes on you. you didn't look up, your red eyes staying fixed on one point even as he slowly moved closer. he followed them to see the red rings underneath the steel, and a pang of guilt squeezed his heart tight.

he sat down across from you, folding his hands in front of him on the table, mirroring you. you still hadn't looked up at him, or done anything to acknowledge his presence; you hadn't even moved.

"are you alright?" kyle implored. he kept his voice soft, bending over a little to try to look you in the eye.

it took you a few moments to respond; he almost started to think you didn't hear him before you opened your mouth slowly.

"is he dead?" you croaked.

kyle let out an audible sigh while he leaned back in his seat, bringing his hands up to drag them down his face.

"no, we still need him. you know that."

you didn't say anything after that.

after sitting in silence for two full minutes, he spoke up. "you realize not telling us about this makes you look really bad, yeah?"

"you don't trust me anymore?" you whispered it, like you didn't want him to hear and answer. you knew what he would say.

"you aren't making it very easy."

kyle wanted to trust you still. part of him was angry and confused as to why you had kept something like this from them. the other part, the bigger part of him, knew that you were on still on the same side of it all. and he knew the other three men felt the same, but they couldn't just dismiss this.

"we can work this out, ya' know. you just have to be honest with us," he added after you once again stayed silent.

"be honest?" you echoed. you finally looked up at him. "about what? you heard me. makarov is my father. i want him dead. that's all there is to say."

kyle took his turn to not speak, weighing your words, figuring out where to go from there.

"why didn't you tell us?" he finally asked.

you looked back down at your wrists. "if i had told you i was makarov's daughter before i joined the team, then all i would have ever been is makarov's daughter." you paused to take a deep, shaky breath. it was uncomfortable with your mask still on, wet with tears, but you refused to take it off, to give away the last piece of your identity that was still yours at the moment.

"it's something we should have known," he contended quickly. "we could have used the information you have-"

you cut him off, your eyes snapping back up to glare daggers at him. "you think i know anything more than you?" you barked. something between a laugh and a sob escaped your throat before you could continue. "i was eight years old the last time i saw him in person. i was raised by live-in nannies. he only visited, what, maybe twice a year? and i don't know why he even bothered, either."

your hands were clenched into tight fists, and the same sting that circled your wrists was appearing in your palms. you kept going though; you didn't know if you could stop now.

"every time i get somewhere, every time i start making a life for myself again, he fucks it all up. never showed his damn face, but it was him, it was always-" you finally cut yourself off, not wanting to drag more memories out from the dark.

"makarov may be my father, but i am not his daughter. i swear, kyle, i fucking swear it." you were pleading with him to believe you now. you needed them to understand.

you could see it in the way his eyebrows creased that he wanted to take your words as the truth. but he didn't say anything (what could he have said?).

the door opened once again, and price half-entered the room to wave kyle back out. he avoided your gaze, something he'd never done before. then you were alone again.

[1111jenx]

what are underrated fame indicators?

This is a lot of fun! Lets dive right in:

Some Underrated Fame Indicators:

Cancer Rising: To me personally, this is an extremely underrated fame indicators. With their MC being placed in Aries, people may forget that these people are HUGE trend-setters, go-getters and can attract attention effortlessly. Especially if their Moon and MC ruler is well aspected! Cancer Rising to me just simply radiate this influential yet ethereal and very relatable energy, this is the aspect where these people, despite being famous, doesn't feel out of reach to their audiences and can easily gain the masses' love. Cancer is often associated with nurturing, mothering, and caregiving. A Cancer Rising individual might exude a protective and caring aura, making them approachable and trustworthy in the eyes of the public. This can be especially beneficial for roles or positions that require a sense of reliability and trust.

Pisces Rising: Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of dreams, illusions, and spirituality. This gives Pisces Rising individuals a mysterious and ethereal quality that can be very alluring. Their presence might be felt more as an undercurrent rather than an overt display of charisma. Pisces is often associated with the arts, especially music, film, and dance. Many Pisces Rising individuals have a natural talent in these areas, and their unique perspective can lead to groundbreaking work that captures the public's attention. Unlike more fiery and assertive rising signs, Pisces Rising individuals might not seek out the spotlight aggressively. However, when they do find themselves in it, their genuine and unassuming nature can be a refreshing change and draw people to them.

Venus 3rd House: Ahh I have discussed this before but the 3rd house, another social house, is soooo underrated comparing to the 11th house haha! The 3rd House also relates to one's immediate social environment and connections. Venus here can indicate favorable relationships with peers, neighbors, and especially siblings. These positive relationships can provide support, opportunities, or collaborations that lead to public recognition. Venus is also associated with the arts. In the 3rd House, this can manifest as a talent for writing poetry, lyrics, or any form of artistic communication. Such individuals might have a knack for creating beautiful prose or scripts that resonate with audiences. While some astrological placements indicate worldwide fame, Venus in the 3rd House might bring popularity or recognition in one's immediate community or local environment. This can be through local media, community events, or social networks.

Mercury sextile/trine Venus: This blend of communication and aesthetics can lead to success in media-related fields, such as journalism, broadcasting, or acting. The individual might have a knack for presenting information in a way that is both informative and aesthetically pleasing. Mercury sextile or trine Venus can also indicate an ability to learn languages with ease and grace, which can open doors to international fame or recognition!! Venus bestows a natural sense of social etiquette and grace. When linked harmoniously with Mercury, this can translate to excellent networking skills, allowing individuals to build beneficial relationships in their professional fields.

Pluto-ASC harsh aspects (conjunctions, square, oppositions): This is a very fascinating one to me! As individuals with this aspect often undergo significant personal transformations throughout their lives. These transformations can be public and can captivate an audience, leading to increased attention or fame. Going back to that idea, Pluto's energy, especially in hard aspects, can sometimes be associated with controversy or taboo subjects. While controversy can be challenging, it can also bring fame or notoriety. Pluto's association with power can make these individuals influential in their fields. They might be seen as trendsetters or as people who bring about change.

Aquarius Sun: Not sure if you guys expected this haha but I think it should definitely be discussed!! Aquarius is known as the sign of the humanitarian. Many Aquarius Sun individuals are drawn to social causes and activism. Their dedication to making the world a better place can lead to public recognition and respect. Those with their Sun in Aquarius might be at the forefront of technological advancements or digital trends, leading to fame in these sectors as well. Interestingly, instead of traditional media, Aquarius Sun individuals might find fame through unconventional means, such as viral internet content, niche communities, or unique platforms. While they might not seek out the spotlight aggressively, once Aquarius Sun individuals gain a following, it's often fiercely loyal. Their genuine and consistent nature can create a dedicated fan base or audience:D

Sun opposite Moon: The opposition can lead to a profound emotional depth and self-awareness. This can be channeled into creative endeavors, making their work deeply resonant and relatable to audiences. This creates a dynamic and multifaceted personality. These individuals often possess a captivating duality that can draw attention and intrigue. The struggle to balance and integrate opposing parts of oneself is a universal experience. People with this aspect might openly grapple with this tension, making them relatable and authentic in the eyes of the public. Point blank being extremely comforting for others!! The Sun represents the public self, while the Moon represents the private self. This opposition can lead to a life where one's private matters become public or where there's a significant interplay between public and private life, often seen in the lives of celebrities:D

Mars in water houses (4th, 8th, 12th): Mars in water houses gives individuals a deep emotional drive and passion. This can be channeled into their work, making it deeply resonant and impactful. Their creations, whether in art, music, or other fields, can touch audiences on a profound emotional level. The water houses are often associated with hidden or subconscious themes. Mars here can indicate a hidden reservoir of strength and resilience, allowing individuals to overcome challenges and rise to prominence against the odds. The 8th house, in particular, is associated with transformation and rebirth. Mars here can lead to intense and transformative conflicts or challenges that, when overcome, lead to significant growth and public recognition. With Mars in the 4th house, there's a strong drive related to home, family, and roots. This can translate into public ventures related to real estate, family businesses, or anything connected to one's heritage or background. Mars in the 12th house can give an individual a mysterious allure. Their actions might be behind the scenes or not immediately visible, but when they come to light, they can captivate the public.

Sun aspecting Neptune: The combination of the Sun and Neptune can give an individual a dreamy, mysterious, and ethereal charisma. They often possess a magnetic allure that can't be easily defined, drawing people to them. In the world of film, theater, or any profession where "illusion" or "make-believe" is central, these individuals can excel. They can effortlessly slip into different roles or personas, making them exceptional actors or performers. The visionary qualities of Neptune combined with the Sun's drive can make these individuals ahead of their time. They might introduce ideas, trends, or concepts that are initially misunderstood but later gain widespread acceptance. Neptune's compassion and desire for unity can drive Sun-Neptune individuals to champion humanitarian causes, leading to public recognition for their efforts.

Here are some that I can think of on the top of my head:D Thank you for such a great question beautiful!

love,

saint jenx

[eikaprime]

M4rie

Another day, another day to ship Agent 4 with one of the Splatoon Idols. You can find this on AO3, or read the full text under the cut.

This is the second of six idol fics; the first, C4llie, can be found HERE or as Ch. 1 on the AO3 link.

M4rie

Art is not a waste of time. Prism folds up the latest letter from her parents (she stopped answering their phone calls weeks ago) and jams it in her pocket. She'll write back later, when she's not ready to spit at them.

Rent is due again tomorrow. So much for buying paints. She's keeping the lights on and eating ramen two meals a day, but what hurts is not being able to buy any paints. And with the Great Zapfish gone, electricity prices are rising. She's gonna need more.

This is depressing. She grabs her sketchbook (the last one she came here with, all the others are full and she can't afford more and this one's more than half full already, no don't think about it) and her favorite drawing pencil and hops a bus to the square. There, she spends a couple coins on a soda, sits in her favorite chair, and waits.

The elegant inkling is there again.

She's so pretty...

Prism sits with her phone on the table and sketchbook in front of her, using her phone so it doesn't look like she's staring. The umbrella. The kimono. Her white tentacles, tied back from her face; the red ribbon, dangling by one ear. She shades with quick, careful lines, and sits back at last.

It's not good enough. Prism glances from the page to the gorgeous inkling and back. It's never good enough, to capture how pretty she is. And she's always standing there, every time Prism comes back to the square. She must be waiting for someone.

She's probably already in a relationship. With a guy. A tall, strong, handsome inkling with short blue tentacles swept back in an elegant updo, with muscles that stand out beneath his tight shirt and a smile on his face as he leaves Grizzco. He probably gives her a quick kiss while she fake whines about salmonid slime and, after he takes a shower, they go out to dinner together and talk about their days. He's planning to propose next month.

Prism doesn't stand a chance.

The beautiful inkling smiles, and Prism realizes she's been staring. Oh cod. Her whole face burns and she looks away, fast, then back.

The beautiful inkling twirls her umbrella, winks, and... vanishes?

If that's not an invitation, Prism doesn't know what is. She jams her phone in her pocket and tucks her sketchbook under one arm, hurrying over. The beautiful inkling... was standing on a sewer drain. And swam down it.

Well, let it never be said that Prism backs down from a challenge.

~~~~

So, the beautiful inkling is named Marie, she thinks she's famous the way a lot of beautiful people think they are, and she's a secret agent. And now so is Prism, because she can't afford another energy bill. And also, because there are some really cool things to draw.

It's almost lunch time, so Prism takes a break. She sits on the railing by the superjump pad in Suction Cup Lookout and pulls out her new sketchbook, improvised from the insides of the envelopes her parents use when they write to her. A tree, the base and roots invisible, wrapped in a tentacle. The tentacle supports it; it grows from it. But it also traps the tree, away from the mountains on all sides...

“Distracted?”

Prism drops her pencil and almost falls off the railing trying to grab it; a strong hand grabs her hero suit.

“Let it go. It's just a pencil.”

“It's my last one,” Prism says, trying not to whine. She swings her legs back to the safe side of the railing, sketchbook folded and back in her pocket.

“It's just a pencil,” Marie repeats. She has a picnic basket hooked over one arm, the picture of elegance, and opens it. She offers Prism a sandwich. “Your favorite, tuna with lemon and garlic.”

Prism accepts the sandwich. She doesn't remember telling Marie her favorite sandwich, but it is. “Not just a pencil,” she says. “My last good drawing pencil.” She bites into her sandwich and almost moans. Cod, Marie must be a goddess. The goddess of sandwiches.

“Oh,” Marie says. “Sorry.” She bites into her own sandwich. When she chews, a smear of mustard on her cheek, she almost looks like a normal inkling, instead of a goddess. She swallows and asks, “What makes it a drawing pencil? Why is it your last?”

“They're expensive,” she says. “Good art things are graded, you can get lighter or darker lines with them. I usually stick to the H-level pencils.” She takes another bite of her amazing sandwich. “The lower numbered H's are great for sketches, and the higher numbers don't show through paints.”

Marie crouches over the picnic basket and emerges with two bottles of fizzy limeade. “You paint?”

Oh. “Yeah.” Prism finishes her sandwich and lays down on the railing, looking at the sky. She'd have to mix three or four different colors to match this shade. “I mean, not lately. Haven't been able to afford anything better than those squit packs for kiddies at the shell store. But we'll get zappy back, and prices will go down, and I'll manage.”

“I guess that explains why you main brush,” Marie says, and Prism sits up fast. “I've watched some of your matches. You're pretty good.” She smiles crookedly. “Could be great if you'd stop drawing on the ground all the time.”

“Hey, what's the point of a turf war if you can't draw hearts all over the base?” Prism asks.

Marie laughs. Prism hasn't heard her laugh before.

Marie has a pretty laugh.

~~~

Prism surfaces from the octoshower with a zapfish tucked under her arms and has to stop just to look at the sky. The stars are out; she's been down there for a while.

Marie's still crying over the headset.

A sigh rises through Prism, starting in her toes and leaving her empty. Callie, Agent 1, is down there. And Prism is up here.

Just a replacement.

Well, someone's gotta do it. And if she could tell her parents, at least they'd think this is worthwhile.

Prism gets a better grip on Little Zap-Zap and superjumps back to the canyon. There's a zapfish cage, all prepped and ready to go, by the bench; Prism places Little Zap-Zap inside. Listening to Marie like this feels wrong, feels like intruding, but she can't just go inside, so she turns off her headset and sets that on the cage... then sits down and looks up.

Stars. So many stars. The night sky isn't black, not really. Prism strains her eyes for the color she knows is there. In the shadows around the stars is the deepest blue, a blue that can suck you in and swallow you and make you feel like nothing matters. It's a blue she's never managed to make, no matter how she mixed her paints.

She doesn't know how long she sits there before the door opens. “Callie and I used to look at the stars together,” Marie says, her voice clogged.

“I never had anyone to look at them with,” Prism says.

“No one?”

Prism shrugs. “Some people make close friends, some people just... don't. I always had kids to hang out with at recess, and partners for field trips, and wasn't chosen last in gym or anything. And people showed up for my birthday and I got invited to a lot of parties. But I wasn't the inkblot others wanted on a sleepover, or to go to an amusement park, or anything.”

“That sounds lonely.”

“I guess?” She forces a laugh, her eyes on the sky. “I mean, from everything I know, you and Callie grew up together. Hard to say if you were best friends or squiblings, but either way, I never had that. How can you miss what you never had?”

“You must think I'm silly,” Marie mutters. “But Callie's... she's...”

“I do miss it,” Prism says.

Marie makes a tiny gasping noise, and she grabs Prism's shoulder, turning her until Prism's looking Marie straight in the eye. One of Prism's heart stops, because it's just not fair that Marie is so pretty, even with the skin around her eyes the slightest bit green from crying so hard. “You what?”

“I had my paints,” Prism said. “I had the television, and Blob Ross, and sneaking onto the roof to paint the landscape and I knew I was liked. But everyone else just, they all had someone who made them happier than they were alone. I used to wish I could have that, just once.” She turns away from Marie and gets to her feet, because this is a bit too personal. “But no use wishing for what you can't have! Come on, boss. You said the final area was Slimeskin Garrison, right?” Prism grabs her headset again. “Betcha I can find all the kettles before sunrise.”

Marie's jaw drops open and her eyes widen. It's the first time Prism's seen her speechless, and it makes her smile. She pulls on her headset and turns squid, ready to superjump, when Marie grabs her tentacle.

When Prism reforms, Marie's holding her hand. And she doesn't let go. And Prism tries not to read into it, but guppies, the prettiest inkling to ever ink is holding her hand.

“Don't go tonight,” Marie says. “Go home. You need to rest.”

“But Callie—”

“I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

~~~

The night after Callie's return is the best clam sleep of Prism's life. Or at least the past two weeks, since she basically moved into the Canyon Hut. Which, once she gets to her kitchen, is a problem.

She's completely out of food. And she left her sketchbooks there.

Shoot.

Well, it's—she checks the clock, oh g-zap, eleven in the morning, she really did oversleep. She'll get dressed, pop into the canyon for the couple outfits and the sketchbook she left there, grab breakfast at whatever cafe and turf until she's got enough for groceries.

That plan lasts until she pushes open the cabin door to find Callie and Marie sitting at the table, scrambled eggs in front of them both, and is stunned for a moment just how gorgeous Marie is with her tentacles tangled and sleep in her eyes. “Oh, you're Agent Four!” Callie says, getting to her feet. She hesitates a step away, then offers Prism a hand to shake. “We never made it back to Inkopolis last night, just too worn out, and I need to thank you.”

Prism shakes her hand. “Don't need any thanks, I'm happy to help,” she says. “Sorry, I kinda left some things here, and I need to grab them.”

“Oh, like your sketchbook? Your drawings are excellent!”

Prism stops dead, hand still mid-shake. “You looked at them?”

“Well, yeah.” Callie laughs and lets go of Prism's hand. “It was open on the table. You're a really good artist. And,” she leans close, “it seems to me that—”

“Callie.” Prism's never heard Marie use that tone before.

Callie giggles. “I just wanted to say, there were an awful lot of drawings of—”

“Cal!”

Just let Prism die right here. She wishes the cracks in the floor were big enough to slip through in squid form, and then she could slip into the earth, right through the Octarian bases, down and down until the earth swallows her.

Callie laughs again, but Marie's on her feet, pushing past Callie. “Here's your pajamas, and your sweatshirt, and both pairs of jeans and those t-shirts you wore, I washed it all,” she says, holding a bundle of clothes in her hands. “Thank you very much for stopping by I'm gonna get Callie settled back into the routine and take her to the doctor and crud howsabout you come back next week and we can do some recon just to make sure things are okay now bye!” She shoves the bundle into Prism's hands and keeps pushing, making Prism take a stumbling step back, out the door.

Prism knows when she's not wanted. Marie missed her cousin, they must have a lot to catch up on, between whatever torture Callie went through under the hypnoshades and Marie's new radio show. Prism turns to go, only to feel something hard in the bundle of clothes.

She peels away the top layer of clothes to find four sketchbooks, new. The barcode's been peeled off the plastic holding each one, tearing it, but Prism knows what they cost, she never goes for this brand they're too expensive they're too good. One of them's even the stiff tougher paper meant to hold paints, watercolors, even though Prism never told Marie the types of paints she used. And four individual brushes, H quality, each a different number.

Prism clutches the precious bundle to her chest and does not cry over it.

~~~

It takes Prism a month of patrols—of careful glances, of sketches of the landscape as cover, of refusing to stare at that crooked smile—for Prism to get a good drawing of Marie, not just a sketch. She thinks Callie knows, Callie's looked at her and giggled a few too many times, but she's also asked Marie just the right questions to make her laugh when Prism's got the sketchbook out. The final drawing she carefully, carefully transfers onto the sheet of canvas she splurged on, the one on sale for having a dented corner, and pulls out the tempura paints that are the best she can afford right now.

She captures Marie's kimono, the way it drapes and folds when she's leaning back on the bench. She captures Marie's parasol, carelessly dangling from one hand, almost to the ground. She captures the curve of Marie's neck. She spends hours mixing colors to get her tentacles just right, the way one half-fell from their bow the time she drew it, and the ribbon brushing her forehead. She even captures that cute little mole she'd like to kiss.

Marie, frozen in mid-laugh, her crooked smile wide and her eyes closed.

She wants to give it to Marie. She wants to ask Marie out. But if she's wrong... that could ruin everything.

But Prism is not a coward. She moved to Inkopolis by herself and she's a secret agent and a salmon run profreshional. She's started calling her parents again and only hangs up when they start talking about how she should be an accountant. Or a lawyer. Or whatever squit they want this time.

Besides, it'd be kinda creepy to have this on her wall. It's not some celebrity, this is her friend. And...

But when the time comes, Prism can't look. She desquids in the canyon on her day off, clutching the painting wrapped in brown paper, and walks over and shoves it in her hands "I made this, I hope you like it" and turns to run.

Only for a hand to catch the back of her shirt.

"And you don't wanna see me open it?"

Prism swallows down her fear. She doesn't answer, but when Marie tugs her shirt again, she turns around.

Callie's got the biggest grin on her face, and Prism looks away. She looks at the ground, her whole head the lilac of her ink and burning, as Marie unwraps the paper.

The silence when she sees what Prism made stretches forever. "I'm sorry," she says. "I, uh, I guess it's creepy, or,"

Marie grabs Prism's shirt, pulls her close, and kisses her. Smack on the mouth, the sort of kiss Prism's dreamed of for months, and she's too stunned to kiss back at first.

Only when Marie pulls away does Prism remember, and her burning face doesn't matter, because maybe she will get to kiss that cute little mole. "W-would you like to go for a picnic tomorrow?"

"Yes," Marie says. "I would. I'll—”

"FINALLY!" shouts Callie. "Cod, I was starting to think I'd need to get you together myself!"

[holewithinahole]

Tiptoeing the leyline | Otto Octavius x reader

Summary: Back to your universe, Otto captures you while you're distracted. He notices the marks a certain Dr. Olivia Octavius left on you.

Ao3 Link

Warnings: shameless smut, no genitalia specified (reader), no pronouns specified (reader), orgasm denial, overstimulation, unsafe sex, rough sex, creampie, non-native writer

And yes, I wrote a somewhat sequel to my Olivia fic, after several months. The fixation on Octaviuses is never over, my guy. Again, not beta, I'm not native so very sorry for any weird sentences or mistakes. I'm not 100% happy with it but I'll never be so, enjoy! (I just have to embrace the fact that I'm a slut for them.)

You should have seen it coming. From a mile away, honestly.

It’s easier to convince yourself that you’ve simply been tired. Even someone with super strength and freaky spider powers had to draw the line at multi-dimensional travel and two days of non-stop fighting. Especially when it involved someone as ruthless as Dr. Olivia Octavius. Your imaginary audience could laugh all they want, but you dared anyone to try putting their entire focus on swinging webs and punches to a woman who had, mere hours ago, rocked your world so hard you saw stars. And see stars you certainly did when that bus hit you square in the chest during the battle inside the collider.

Ergo, you blame Olivia.

Your body is sore as fuck, and you're littered with bruises and a nasty bite mark on the nape of your neck. What’s the point of having rapid recovery if you don’t even have time for it? You also blame your inner sense of justice (you were aware of the irony of fucking a supervillain and then talking about justice). Disappearing from your universe for a few days didn’t stop the villains of the week from robbing the poor corner-of-the-street shopkeepers, and the super ones from plotting their evil schemes. No rest for the wicked? What about the brave, the awesome, the work-devoted?

“Am I boring you or something?”

You glance back at Otto. He looks appalled behind his small sunglasses. It’s almost funny.

“Oh no, please keep talking,” you say evenly, “‘gives me more time to come up with an attack plan.”

What’s more difficult to admit to yourself is how totally out of it you are when it comes to anything Octavius-related. You’ve been happy living in your little world of delusion before the mind-altering and deliciously traumatizing altercation with Olivia. But now? Every taunt, every tilt of the head looks like an invitation. Knowing there were alternate universes was pretty mind-altering as well, come to think of it. 

“I’m curious to see how you plan to attack me in your current situation.”

Right. You push against the vibranium shackles holding you hostage in a chair. It was more for show if you were being honest; you doubted you could break free even with hundred-percent strength. Instead, you stare at the dirty walls of Otto’s new lair, trying not to focus too much on the flow of images his shiny actuators brought to the surface.

“Do not bother.” He lets out a bark of a laugh. “You’re completely at my mercy.”

You’ll give it to him though, he has been swift and efficient when he cornered you in a back alley and knocked you unconscious. In your defense, you did fight back against the actuator pinning you against the wall, but he said something and the next second, everything had faded to black. It was something insubstantial, something stupid and stereotypically evil like he’s famous for. Totally not something that made your heart skip a beat.

“I have to say,” he says conversationally, “I’m disappointed by how easy it was to catch you.” With two mechanical arms digging into the ground, he looms over you, the pans of his coat flapping against his naked skin. “You’re usually not that compliant.”

Don’t you fucking dare blush.

You tear your eyes away from his chest. “I was just bored out of my mind. Your tricks are getting old, Otto.”

He chuckles. “It worked in the end, didn’t it? Even if it wasn’t the desired effect.”

“If it wasn’t, why pull the same shit over and over again?”

“For fun.”

It leaves your mouth open dumbly. You scoff. “Failing is not what I’d call fun.”

Otto stares before lowering himself to the ground, soles tapping against the wooden floorboard. You’re trying your damn best not to meet his gaze, even protected behind your mask.

“What’s gotten into you?” He asks. “You’re never this… serious.”

It gives you a whiplash. “Uh?”

“Did I break something?” He muses to himself.

You certainly didn’t expect him to notice you were out of it, or care about it for that matter. Perhaps you’ve underestimated the man’s perception.

“All fine and dandy. Thanks for asking, Doc’.” Your tone is way too even to your liking.

You’ve always been a terrible actor and he sees right through your bluff. Which is saying something since he can’t even see your face. You make another attempt at breaking free but it only makes your suit rub against all of your bruises and cuts. Your wince makes the good Doctor raise a questioning eyebrow.

“So, I did hurt you,” he says, disbelieving.

“You kidding, right? You punch like a little girl.” That’s a big lie and also misogynistic.

Fuck, maybe Olivia was right.

You’re suddenly assaulted by a strong smell of damp leather as two fat digits slip underneath the edge of your mask and pull. “Hey! The fuck you think you doing—“

Does anyone grasp the concept of anonymity ‘round here? “Fuck, Doc’, I thought you were a bit more chivalrous than that.”

Otto doesn’t answer, inspecting your face. It’s making you uncomfortable how much he’s staring. Did he expect a model or something?

“I wasn’t expecting this kind of hurting,” he says. You frown, confused, but when he uses one finger on your chin to slowly turn your face away, you realize with horror he’s looking at the beautiful purple claim Olivia left on your neck.

“What—“ you sputter, withdrawing as much as you can. “That’s not what you’re thinking.”

“And what am I thinking, exactly?” Otto asks, evenly.

What is he thinking exactly? He barely reacted to your naked face, not even to gloat at exposing your biggest secret. And what do you want him to be thinking? That you have no game at all? What would be the point? If anything, you should be proud to show him you get any action.

He interrupts your inner monologue: “I wasn’t expecting the reason for your scattered brain to be sex.” You blush bright red. “I thought you had more self-control than that.”

His lips stretches, deliberately slow, displaying rows of straight incisors and sharp canines. “Unless you’ve been fighting an oversized bat.”

It would have been preferable at the moment. “Yes. You guessed it. How smart.”

Otto chuckles. “It probably wasn’t any good if you look this tense.”

“I have a good reason to be tense at the moment,” you hiss.

“I make you feel that way? My, I’m flattered.”

“You wish, Doc’.”

His hand glides on your neck, wrapping his fingers around your throat. A large digit presses down on the mark. “Perhaps, I do.”

Your bruised skin burns at the pressure but your mind burns even brighter processing what Otto just admitted; what he could be imagining as he traces the uneven blood crusts left by the sharp teeth of his counterpart. And your silence is even more telling; somehow even more than the quickening of your breathing, your pulse confessing everything to his touch.

“What do you want?” you struggle to say, mouth heavy.

He smiles, almost gently, but his eyes are predatory. You’re not unfamiliar with the look on his face and isn’t that a thrill. With Olivia, you could have used her actuators as an excuse for your actions; not that you had any intention to though. With Otto, however, the shackles are quickly removed and the raised eyebrow he offers looks like an opportunity for flight.

You don’t take it.

There he stands, the reason for sleepless nights, the unhealthy obsession you can’t wrap your mind around. He looks down and it feels intimate, almost natural if you could ignore your surroundings, the sensation of your suit, and the four red eyes watching you closely.

His fingers are back on the bruise, ignoring your question. “Who gave you this?”

You’re about to lie through your teeth when he adds: “No one important, I’m sure?”

Your spit is thick when you swallow. “Self-centered much?”

He laughs. “You don’t have to answer. You’ll forget them soon enough.”

Doubtful, you think. At the very least, you’ll be haunted forever by the juxtaposition of two universes. “Keep telling yourself that.”

You’re still frozen in the chair, free but still bound by the desire running rampant under your skin and his long fingers around your neck. He’s not even bothered by your comment; Otto has always been radiating confidence, and you know that if one person could erase Olivia from your mind, even for a moment, it’d be him. Fittingly. Her alternate self with whom you share a deeper bond, a long-term rivalry, a never-ending attraction…

He straightens up, hand leaving your neck and you feel a lot colder. In a smooth movement, he takes off his glasses, and you’re assaulted by the gentleness of his brown eyes. The same eyes you kept seeing alongside Olivia’s green ones.

“I want to erase all of this tension.” You realize he finally answered you when he says: “Now tell me, little spider, what do you want?”

There’s no way around it, is it? You can’t just admit you’ve been chilling in an alternate dimension with his alternate self and that you’ve been thinking about him every single minute spent running away and fighting. You can’t just admit you had the best sex of your life with a women-him who confronted you to the extent of the absurd and frankly unethical feelings you distil for your archenemy. You can’t tell him you’ve been fantasizing about the weight of his body, the strength of his hands, the thrill hidden behind each actuator… The thoughts are too much to bear or explain.

“You.”

The grin he gives you is enough of an acknowledgement.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Broad palms stretch across your back, feeling the dryness of your skin, dipping fingers in the tender joints of your muscles as you sigh. His silence almost feels reverent; a stark contrast with Olivia’s rough handling. She spent her time hovering over you, close but never touching, wallowing in the superiority induced by the distance between you. Otto however seems intent on pressing as much skin as possible to yours, enveloping you completely.

“Your back is surprisingly devoid of scars,” he comments.

Your haughty chuckle dies in your throat, distracted by the warmth of his hand snaking to your abdomen to pull you closer. “I always face my enemies,” you answer after a second or two.

His petting stops. “How brave.” The press of clammy skin and well-worn leather melt away the chill raised by his exploring hands. Not entirely because his breath bounces off the crook of your neck, and it’s so easy to get lost in the clash between warmth and cool. “What does that say about me?”

You understand belatedly the insinuation of your previous statement. “Is it trust?” He taunts, and you can hear the smirk in his voice.

“Hell no,” you fire back, “you’re the last person I could trust.”

It’s a lie; you’ve met far shadier and far more morally reprehensible enemies than Dr. Otto Octavius. “I’m offended.” His fingers are running higher on your torso, leaving chills behind like a powder trail ready to combust. You’re not certain you’ll be able to survive this wildfire. “Killing you would be a waste,” he adds as an afterthought.  

“Yeah, your life would be so boring without me.” You smile, stretching your numb arms.

“Indubitably.” The actuator holding your arms up loosens and your heart tightens at the admission. “Although—“

One fat finger from a hand you’ve, regrettably, forgotten press forcefully on your sex; its outline peaking scandalously through your suit. Your gasp is silent but your whole body tenses up against his chest. “—the same could be said about you.”

You swallow a snarky remark. Anything you say could incriminate you further, and your body already does an amazing job on its own. Thankfully, the Doctor is happy to keep the conversation alive: “Could we call this a truce then?”

You wouldn’t call a quick dirty fuck a truce. It’s a distraction, a wonderfully effective one. “As if!” You scoff. “You’re going to prison after this.”

Another finger joins its lonely mate, rubbing in tandem with the spandex against your pelvis. The suit is designed for comfort and to avoid chaffing despite being skin-tight (which you’ve never been more thankful for at the moment), but it’s not an efficient protection against the softness of his caress. You’ll soon want to rip the offending fabric off to press more forcefully on teasing fingers, but for now, you’ll hang on to the last thread of reason the suit provides you. Who knows if you’re not actually dreaming?

“You’re in no position to promise such things, I’m afraid.” He’s right and there’s nowhere else you’d like to be at the moment.

Otto retrieves his hand. “Hey! Don’t—” Your mouth snaps shut but it’s already too late.

You feel him straightening up, leaving your sweaty back to the cold air of the room. You can’t see him but you hear his chuckle and his actuators rattling.

“I see,” he says, “you’re just desperate.”

“Desperate for what? You?” Better dedicating yourself completely to the monkey business. “I’ve had the best fuck of my life two days ago, I’m not desperate.”

The claw holding your arms up retracts and despite the physical retrieve it offers you, you can’t help but wonder if you’ve played a role a bit too well. The shining eye of the actuator stares directly at your face, and you watch it stretch with dubious eyes— “Such a clever mouth.” – until it pushes you against naked skin, squeezing you back tight against Otto’s body…

“I’ve always thought a good fuck could humble you greatly.”

…and his unmistakable excitement. The remaining slivers of coherence leave you at the vulgarity of his sentence and the tantalizing, unique snap of his hips.

“Always?” Your voice is lost in a whisper.

His breath hitches, you’re almost certain of it. His nose brushes against your shoulder, and a hand snakes back over your abdomen as the actuator retracts, holding you even closer. It’s funny how you already are near losing your mind. Your eyes are open but you barely see, only the dark blur of the metallic beam on which you hold on. You’re completely helpless, bent almost in half by the weight of his body, trembling legs and shaking from anticipation; heady from his admission.

Otto hums and the sound vibrates through you. “Fuck, look at you.”

Desperate for the touch of a madman, two seconds away from panting like a dog from how fast your heart is beating, shameful…

“How could I not desire this?” His digits wander in the ridges of your muscles, the dips of your skin. His breath is hot and moist against your shoulder. “You entice me. I can’t wait to make you beg.”

The actuator fixated on your face moves closer, rotating his head in agreement.

“You’ll never hear me be—“

You startle. Another mechanical arm has taken hold of your suit, tugging before tearing it apart like a sheet of paper. A still coherent voice at the back of your mind fustigates you for ruining two perfectly good suits in less than seventy-two hours; the remaining ninety percent short-circuits. You realize, with no amount of dignity left, that your skin is dripping wet. “Shit.”

“Would you look at that?” You can’t look. You don’t want to look. “How flattering.”

The glide of his hand is disgustingly arousing, and you moan unabashedly when he finally – finally – relents and touches your neglected sex. It’s too good to be normal. Lost in your breathy whines, you think about Olivia and her sweet torture session. Even she hasn’t been able to tease such a strong reaction out of you this quickly. How fucked up are you?

Twice you left your body in the hands of an Octavius for experimentation, and you’re afraid this time will be the one that’ll leave you crawling back for more.

“So close so soon?” Otto tuts. “Disappointing.”

His touch stops altogether. You groan. “As lovely as it sounds to make you come more than once, I do intend on experimenting a little more with you.”

Damned Octavius-es! Loving to hear themselves talk, loving to drag things torturously slow…

“Nothing I haven’t seen before,” you pant, closing your eyes to gather your thoughts.

“You’re a degenerate, aren’t you?”

He steps away, and you hear the squeaking of leather falling to the ground. You yearn to turn around and watch him in all his half-naked glory. Instead, a metallic arm wraps around your ankle, pushing your legs apart. You feel exposed, the cold air of the warehouse striking your wet skin in an overwhelming contrast. It gets worse when Otto puts a wide palm on the curve of your ass, spreading you and observing the way you part in an embarrassing, squelching noise.

You have no time for a witty comeback: he presses one thick finger into you. You gasp. The intrusion is more surprising than hurting, it distracts you enough from your upending orgasm. His fingers curl inside you, so warm, spreading you open with ease.

He hums pensively. “You feel tight. You’re certain you’re not lying when bragging about your last date?”

A date. You manage not to scoff. “There are other ways to have sex. You’re just old-school.”

Otto chuckles. “More fun for me.”

His mouth is back to your ear, and his affected state is unmistakable. “Let’s see how long you can last before you beg me to fuck your pretty hole.”

The next minutes are excruciating. You lose your voice and all sense of coherency. He fucks you harshly, curling, twisting, scissoring his fingers as you pant hot, condensed air. You could have ignored it (you could have) if he hadn’t been alternating between making sure you were loose for him, and stroking you ‘til you’re leaking enough to use your precum for his mistreatment. And all this time, you were being watched closely by the red eye of his actuator, held tight by two others.

Two delayed orgasms later, and three fingers deep in you, you are near your breaking point. You’ve lost track of time, lost control over your vocal chords and you’re secretly glad you’re not in an apartment right now. The neighbors might have complained.

“Nothing to say?” Otto asks. You can hear his shit-eating grin.

“F-Fuck. No.”

“As you wish.”

He spits directly on your fluttering opening before stuffing four fingers in. You definitely scream this time.

“Otto!” You don’t even recognize the sound of your own voice.

He hums in fake interest. “What is it, love?”

Your heart beats even faster. You hate him for that. He thrusts against your walls. “Oh, fuck!”

“Not even close, darling.”

Your moan sounds devastated. His other hand snakes to your front, stroking you with clever fingers and you feel yourself overflowing. You know you could come from this alone, but your half-delirious brain somehow craves more. You want the press of his soft body on your back again, and his bruising mouth on your neck. Perhaps even his teeth right where Olivia marked you. You want his warm hands on your aching skin, on the map of scars he left on you.

“Now,” he sighs, “what do we—“

“Please.”

His stillness attests to his surprise. You share the sentiment but you’re this close to losing your goddamn mind; you don’t really care anymore except for the chance of feeling him inside you.

“What do you want?” he hisses, stroking you impossibly harder.

“You,” you cry out. Otto disengages with an irritated sound. “Wait!”

He grabs your chin, almost choking you in the process. You realize your cheeks are wet. “I’ll leave you like this, you hear me?” His voice is harsh, raspy. “Now, be very specific, pet.”

“Fuck me!” What a pathetic display you make. “I can’t take this anymore.”

You look directly into the actuator’s eye. It gives you a thrill. “Please, Doctor.”

You register distantly his labored breathing, the slight tremor in his fingers when he releases you to get rid of his trousers. Despite having been thoroughly prepared, the filthy glide of his cock stretches you wider, reaching deeper parts of yourself. Your legs tremble and the only reason you’re not collapsing on the ground is the tight hold his actuators have on you. His arms wrap around your torso, and the furnace of his skin turns you to embers.

“Come on, just give it to me!” Even in your tormenting need, you somehow find it in you to be bossy. “Otto—“

He grabs your face forcefully, turning it towards him. His strong nose is pressed in your right cheek, and the encompassing heat of his breath tickles the corner of your mouth. You want to kiss his plump lips so badly.

“From now on, it’s Doctor Octavius for you.”

The stretch burns from lack of lubrication, but he plunges into you without any concerns. The snap of his hips is so strong you topple forward in a pitiful cry. Otto fucks you harshly, frantically while holding your mouth close to his. He pants through his nose and you respond in kind by moaning loudly. If you had more time, you’d have wished for Olivia to wreck you like this, to have you feel her skin as she fucks you. Her fingers, her actuators, anything to make you feel this full.

“Doc’,” you choke, twisting your neck to partially meet his chapped lips, “harder.”

“You greedy little thing.”

The actuators at your legs disentangle themselves, planting in the ground in a loud crack. The combined strength of Otto’s hips and his mechanical allies pushes you completely against the metal beam. You’re glad, unable to hold yourself upright as you’re assaulted by this indescribable force.  Your screams speak volumes:

“Ah! Ah, shit!”

He’s now groaning against your cheek, sweat gathering on his forehead and running on your skin. The whole ordeal is disgusting and you want more. You need more.

Greedy. You’re so greedy.

In an unconscious movement, your numb hand releases the beam to bury itself in his damp bangs. It elicits a downright animalistic snarl from Otto, so you tug. Hard.

“Fuck,” he hisses. It sounds like pain but his hips shake, losing his rhythm.

The embers he created coil in your abdomen. Your limited movements don’t stop you from pushing against him, chasing the spark that’ll finally ignite you. You mutter disjointed sentences – ‘come on’s, ‘so good’s, and debauched iterations of his name – which he answers with more groans and moans of his own. You cling to him, breathing in the strong essence of leather and sweat, twisting your neck, even more, to meet his lips in an almost kiss, anchoring him closer and deeper until—

“Break down, sweetheart.”

He bites the scream you let out. It’s his words, this final act of stimulation, this echo of another universe, that lights you up. He catches your tears with his lips and you come, powerless against the intensity of the sensation. Otto follows you, pumping his spend inside you for what seems like forever. Your own clings to your trembling skin. You try to regulate your senses, still focused on the twitching of your muscles, on the throbbing length of his cock and his ragged breathing.

The actuators retract and you expect him to do the same but he stays anchored to you. The nuzzling of his nose against your cheek somehow manages to freak you out more than the aftermath of this whole conundrum. Your fingers in his hair relax, scratching his scalp in response to his caresses. Your neck hurts from the unusual position you force it into, but it’s the least of your worries when his mouth is right there.

Sadly, he steps away, slipping out from you in a deafeningly wet noise. Your legs fail you but you hold onto the metal beam, now warm under your touch. The contraction of your muscles has the unfortunate effect of letting his hot cum leek out of you, cascading along your thighs. Otto lets out a contemplative hum.

“You paint a pretty picture, I must say.”

His thumb dips into your flesh, spreading your sensitive entrance as more of him comes out of you.

You huff, straightening up. “Hands off.”

Your suit is in shambles on the ground; you look at it dejectedly. Olivia had the intelligence of divesting you of it, not ripping it to shreds. Men.

“Hard to take me to prison in this state, right?”

You turn to glare at him but you end up gaping at the two actuators throwing Otto’s leather coat on your shoulders.

“Thanks.” You try to summon your usual carefree attitude but you find yourself unable to. You’ve somehow been more easy-going with your life on the line and under the near-psychotic gaze of Olivia than you are now. You wonder what that says about you. “This doesn’t change anything. Next time, I’ll kick your ass so hard they’ll have to drag you to your cell.”

He laughs lowly. “’Sounds promising.”

He’s not insinuating—

You clear your throat, adjusting the coat around you to shield you from the cold seeping into your bones. You feel uneasy being watched so closely by three pairs of eyes. Otto hands you something: the ruffled mask he snatched off before. You take it.

“You know that the purpose of a mask is to hide your face?” you mutter, stuffing it inside one of his pockets.

He shrugs. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“…Sorry, what?”

It’s how you wear the mask that matters? Perhaps it’s better off… sometimes.

[brielledoesastrology]

Asteroid Hayao Miyazaki (8883) in your astrology natal chart

by : Brielledoesastrology (tumblr)

"I believe that fantasy in the meaning of imagination is very important. We shouldn't stick too close to everyday reality but give room to the reality of the heart, of the mind, and of the imagination." - Hayao Miyazaki

asteroid "Miyazaki Hayao" code number : 8883

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The asteroid "Miyazaki Hayao" (8883) is named after the famous japanese animator and movie director Hayao Miyazaki.

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Hayao Miyazaki is best known as an acclaimed Japanese film director and animator. He is best known for his imaginative and visually stunning animated films, often called anime. Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a renowned animation studio, and has directed some of his most popular and successful films.

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Miyazaki has been nominated for and won several Academy Awards. His film "Spirited Away" (2001) won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 making it the first and only hand-drawn and non-English-language film to win in that category.

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His work often deals with themes such as nature, conservation, growth and the importance of kindness.

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Miyazaki's films such as Spirited Away, Totoro, and Princess Mononoke are known for their compelling storytelling, beautiful hand-drawn animation, and unforgettable characters. He gained worldwide recognition and became an influential figure in the animation world. 

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Hayao Miyazaki's art style is characterized by attention to detail, fluidity, and the ability to evoke a sense of wonder and magic. His hand-drawn animations are known for their meticulous attention to detail and care put into each frame.

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Miyazaki often emphasizes the beauty of nature, including lush landscapes, intricate cityscapes, and fantastical creatures. His characters are brought to life by expressive facial features and subtle movements to capture a wide range of emotions.

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Miyazaki's art style also incorporates elements of traditional Japanese aesthetics, including a strong connection with nature and an emphasis on simplicity and elegance.

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Overall, his art style is distinctive and recognizable, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience for the viewer. 

(source : chat gpt)

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In astrology the asteroid "Hayao Miyazaki" (8883) could indicate : your artistic expression, your imagination, your storytelling, your environmental consciousness, or ur a sense of wonder and magic, where could hayao miyazaki's work inspires or influence ur life in a type of way, ur interest in animation, your interest in art , where u are widely respected or admired for your artistic work, where your artistic work could gain wide or global recognition, where u plan to retired a lot of times when u are old but you still do ur job anyway lmao

⚠️ Warning : i consider this asteroid as prominent and brings the most effect if it conjuncts ur personal planets (sun,moon,venus,mercury,mars) and if it conjuncts ur personal points (ac,dc,ic,mc), i use 0 - 2.5 orbs (for conjunctions). For sextile, trine, opposite and square aspects to asteroids i usually use 0 - 2 orbs. Yes tight conjunctions of planet / personal points to asteroids tends to give the most effect, but other aspects (sextile,trine,square,opposite, etc) still exist, even they produce effects. If it doesn't aspect any of your planets or personal points, check the house placement of the asteroid, maybe some stuff/topics relating to this asteroid could affect some topics/stuff relating to the house placement . ⚠️

[kingscrafty]

Tried to get back into drawing by creating Pokemon Legends ZA starter evos.

Meowscarada is based on a Harlequin, this was a tough one seeing as I bounced between picking a Pierrot or a Harlequin but ultimately picked Harlequin because it felt easier to choose the secondary type. I went with fairy because of the whole "kids love clowns but adults are terrified" thing, particularly when you realise what fairies are really like. The design looks too busy so I'm not all that happy with it, but I also wanted to try to capture the outfit without looking too 'meh'

Cinderace is based off of a marathon runner with neon running shoes and a paper square-like marking on the chest, seeing as there are one or two (ahem) famous marathons in France. Struggled to secondary type this one, almost went for normal, water (triathalon-based), or even flying (speed) but they just didn't feel right. I eventually went with ground because of all the running, but also because of the funny Napoleon being scared of bunnies story because I feel like he was the kinda guy to double down after a stunt like that

Empoleon is based even more off of Napoleon with his hat, a cape, and jacket patterns (thanks it has pockets). I wanted to add red in to the design seeing as Napoleon had red accents in most of his famous paintings, and changed the crown-like headpiece to match the sideburns . The high collar also got replaced by shoulder pads, and I tried to make the feet resemble Napoleon's boots - although with diddy legs like that it was kinda difficult... Also chose water/dark because damn Napoleon. You sure did some things huh

[deelaundry]

May Prompts #6 & 7 - Cold and Calm

Another update of The Private Personal Blog of Dr. John H. Watson; this is Chapter 28 in the fic. 

Prompts 6 and 7: Cold, Calm

Last evening, which Sherlock and John both were at home for, and isn’t that a miracle these days, Sherlock informed John that he didn’t want to go to Bill’s wedding.  Too many people, which John got, and too many preparations, which John didn’t.  Suits, a wedding gift, hotel room to stay in after, hire car to get there and back (Sutton Mallet, why’d they pick Sutton Mallet? Bill’s not from there and he said Deborah’s family are all Londoners. ??) were all squared away.  So what –

Sherlock interrupted at that point to hand John the most luxurious socks John had ever seen in his life.  The explanation for such socks was that Sherlock had been told that the floors are often chilly at weddings, and Sherlock wanted John’s toes to stay warm.

Hmm.

“Told by whom?” was John’s question (and he deliberately used “whom” so as to not distract Sherlock from the question by incorrect grammar).

The story was this:

Molly’s young niece had wanted to meet the famous detective, so Sherlock agreed to lunch with her and Molly at a small cafe.  They had an engaging conversation on forensic entomology (“You told a small child about insects eating dead people?”  “She was the one who led the conversation.  Quite insightful questions for one so young.”), and then Small Molly (Sherlock did not remember the girl’s name) mentioned she would in the near future be the flower girl at a wedding.

Regular Molly excused herself to the toilet, and Small Molly proceeded to impart to Sherlock all that she knew about weddings.

By the time Molly returned to the table, Sherlock had concluded he wanted nothing to do with weddings and the conversation had turned to other matters.

“Tell me what she told you,” John said.

Sherlock proceeded to do so, getting more agitated and speaking faster and faster as he went.  The thing he was most anguished about was that guests had to give a speech about the best man, and not only would many of the guests be embarrassingly and tediously incorrect about who exactly the best man was, because obviously John was the best man still alive (apparently, the Garroter of Somewhere had been a very generous person but was now deceased), but it was becoming frustratingly clear that capturing one’s feelings on paper-slash-screen was exponentially more difficult than recording one’s thoughts.

A nice tight hug, deep pressure in the right places, helped calm Sherlock down.  John explained that the under-ten set had a tendency to misinterpret, and then they had a conversation about what actually happens at weddings.

They had to consult Mrs Hudson on some of the finer details, but by the end of the evening Sherlock had once again agreed to come to Bill and Deborah’s wedding.

(And at the very end of the evening, when we were tucked into bed together, Sherlock told me some of the things he’d been trying to put in a speech about me.  God.  Tears in my eyes, on my face; me bawling like a baby, felt like.  Sherlock got alarmed, but I just held him closer and tried my best to reciprocate, to tell him what he means to me.  Not sure I did it justice; not sure I could ever do it, or him, justice, really.  Not sure that’s possible.  My love.)

--

@calaisreno @totallysilvergirl

PS from Dee: I googled “expensive socks” and got these by Bottega Veneta. Please look through the pictures to see the picture of the man wearing them.  He looks like a really odd flasher.

[astrojulia]

Could it be possible to have a small analysis of asteroid (4017) Disneya when looking at one’s chart? I do know it directly related to Disney, that’s for sure.

Asteroid Disneya (4017): Understanding its Signs, Houses and Aspects

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₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Warning: Did you come to my askbox for a short post? Sorry. This post is huge!

₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ About the Asteroid: Asteroid Disneya was discovered in 1980 and named after Walt Disney.Okay, dive with me on this asteroid. I FOUND NOTHING ABOUT IT, NOTHING! So I took a few paths to interpret. The first thing that is most often done by the astrology community in their studies is to get people's birth charts, see about the planet/asteroid and research the subject, I did that. But I also took the path of what Disney evokes in us. (I emphasize that this post is totally experimental, trying to find ways of interpretation).

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Sources and inspirations:None, I guess.. but I’ve four main points: Imagination and creativity; Innocence and nostalgia; Entertainment and escapism and finally how Disney affected the native life. The signs are more about what the native likes about Disney and the houses where they show it and how they like it. And when I talk about the Eras, I am talking about this. Also, the image template in from minikyuns on deviantart.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Asteroid Disneya in famous people birth chart:

Walt Disney (co-founder of The Walt Disney Company): Disneya conjunct Mercury and sextile Venus indicates that the Disney legacy and the communication of its ideas were deeply intertwined for Walt Disney. This aspect suggests an ability to creatively and effectively convey the magical essence of Disney's storytelling. The sextile to Venus further emphasizes the charm and appeal of Disney's creations.

Demi Lovato (musical artist): With Disneya trine their Moon, Uranus, and Neptune, and conjunct their Venus and Jupiter, it suggests a strong affinity for the imaginative and creative realms. This aspect may indicate that Demi Lovato's emotional expression, individuality, and spirituality are deeply influenced by the themes associated with Disney and its magical world.

Selena Gomez (singer): Having an unaspected Disneya suggests a unique and individualistic expression of the Disney influence. This could manifest as an independent and unconventional approach to creativity and entertainment. It's possible that Selena Gomez's connection to the Disney legacy is less influenced by traditional or structured expressions and more open to personal interpretation.

Miley Cyrus (singer, songwriter): With Disneya square her Mars, it suggests that Miley Cyrus may have experienced some tensions or conflicts in expressing her personal drive, ambition, or assertiveness within the Disney context. This aspect could represent a struggle to reconcile her own individuality with the expectations or constraints imposed by the Disney image or brand.

Zac Efron (actor): Disneya sextile his Sun, trine his Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus indicates a harmonious integration of the Disney influence with Zac Efron's identity and personal growth. This aspect suggests that the Disney association has contributed positively to his self-expression, expansion, discipline, and ability to embrace change.

Les Clark (animator): Disneya opposing his Mercury, square Jupiter, and trine Uranus suggests a dynamic interplay between Les Clark's communication style, expansion, and innovative thinking influenced by the Disney legacy. This aspect may have contributed to his ability to bring new ideas and creative concepts to life within the Disney realm.

Floyd Gottfredson (cartoonist): Disneya trine his Venus and Uranus, opposing Saturn, and sextile Neptune indicates a harmonious blending of creativity, uniqueness, and visionary qualities influenced by Disney. This aspect suggests that Floyd Gottfredson's artistic expression and ability to capture the imagination of others were deeply connected to the Disney legacy, despite potential challenges or responsibilities represented by the Saturn opposition.

Abe Levitow (animator): Disneya square his Sun and Pluto, sextile Mars and Neptune, and opposing Jupiter suggests a complex interplay between personal power, transformation, artistic drive, and expansion influenced by Disney. This aspect may indicate that Abe Levitow's connection to the Disney archetype had profound transformative effects on his creative expression and sense of purpose.

Asteroid Disneya by Sign

✧. ┊ Aries: may indicate a strong sense of individuality and independence in expressing the Disney influence. The person may have a pioneering spirit and an assertive approach to creative endeavors influenced by Disney themes. This native may like more active Disney films like Mulan or think that everything Disney is too childish, too fanciful or just for the money. They may also have an affinity for The Wartime Era films. Disneya in Aries stimulates a dynamic and pioneering imagination, fueling the individual's creative endeavors with enthusiasm and boldness. They may excel in areas such as animation, writing adventurous stories, or expressing their creativity in an assertive manner.

✧. ┊ Taurus: could suggest a connection to the sensual and material aspects of the Disney world. The person may appreciate the beauty, craftsmanship, and tangible elements of Disney's creations. This person might like older Disney movies like Snow White and Fantasia. They might also be the type that likes the Disney aesthetic. Disneya in Taurus fosters a creative imagination with a focus on sensory experiences and tangible expressions. These individuals may be skilled in creating visually appealing artwork, designing themed environments, or engaging in practical forms of creative expression inspired by Disney.

✧. ┊ Gemini: may signify a versatile and communicative expression of the Disney influence. This type of person may know all Disney movies and musics but not delve into any of them, or their favorite movies could be Disney-Pixar movies. Disneya in Gemini stimulates a versatile and intellectual imagination. These individuals may enjoy exploring different genres of Disney storytelling, engaging in animated conversations about Disney, or expressing their creativity through various forms of communication, such as writing, podcasting, or social media.

✧. ┊ Cancer: could indicate a deep emotional connection to Disney's themes of family, nostalgia, and home. The person may seek comfort and a sense of security through the enchanting and familiar elements of Disney. This native will like the movies they watched in their childhood and period, if childhood was in 00 it will be one type of movie, if it was in 2010 it will be another one. They might also like the Silver Age Era movies. Disneya in Cancer evokes a deep emotional connection to the world of Disney and a nurturing imagination. These individuals may excel in creating emotionally resonant art, evoking nostalgia through their creative work, or expressing their imaginative prowess within the realms of family and home.

✧. ┊ Leo: may highlight a strong creative flair and a desire to shine in the realm of entertainment influenced by Disney. The person may possess a natural ability to captivate and entertain others with their Disney-inspired expressions. This native may like Disney's most successful films like Frozen or the Golden Age Era films. Disneya in Leo ignites a vibrant and dramatic imagination. These individuals may shine in creative fields, seeking recognition for their Disney-inspired expressions. They may be drawn to performing arts, showmanship, or using their creativity to entertain and captivate others.

✧. ┊ Virgo: suggests a meticulous and analytical approach to the Disney influence. The person may pay attention to the details, craftsmanship, and practical aspects of Disney's creations. This is the type of person who might like Disney princess movies better, or who at least have a female lead. Also, they can be very interested in merchandise, especially official ones. Disneya in Virgo stimulates a meticulous and detail-oriented imagination. These individuals may have a keen eye for the intricacies of Disney's creations and may excel in the technical aspects of animation, visual effects, or craftsmanship related to Disney-inspired projects.

✧. ┊ Libra: may emphasize a love for harmony, beauty, and the social aspects of Disney. The person may appreciate the aesthetics, relationships, and partnerships that arise from the Disney world. They might like Disney princess movies, or ones with two leads like Wreck-It Ralph. It could also be those people who have the most affinity for Revival Era Movies. Disneya in Libra encourages a harmonious and aesthetically focused imagination. These individuals may excel in creating visually appealing artwork, designing Disney-inspired fashion, or using their creative expression to foster balance and beauty in the world.

✧. ┊ Scorpio: may indicate a transformative and intense connection to the Disney influence. The person may delve into the depths of Disney's themes, exploring the darker or mysterious elements that lie beneath the surface. It's the native who likes little known movies like The Black Cauldron or who makes it clear that it's not just a cute movie like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disneya in Scorpio evokes an intense and transformative imagination. These individuals may express their creativity through exploring complex and psychologically rich themes within their artwork or creative pursuits.

✧. ┊ Sagittarius: could signify an expansive and adventurous approach to the Disney world. The person may enjoy exploring different cultures, traveling to Disney parks, or embracing the broader philosophical and spiritual messages within Disney's storytelling. This is the kind of native that likes Disney because everyone knows what Disney is, it's a universal conversation, you can ask anyone "Who is your favorite Disney princess?" or "What's your favorite song?" that the person will understand. Disneya in Sagittarius stimulates an adventurous and expansive imagination. These individuals may be inspired by Disney's tales of exploration and may express their creativity through travel, cross-cultural storytelling, or by incorporating themes of spirituality and philosophical insights into their work.

✧. ┊ Capricorn: suggests a practical and disciplined approach to expressing the Disney influence. The person may appreciate the business side of Disney, aiming for success and recognition within the industry. This native may like to know about Disney's work, about producers, artists, writers... It may also be that person who doesn't like Disney because it thinks it's too childish. As well as liking more the Live-Actions and series that Disney shows on its channel Disneya in Capricorn encourages a practical and disciplined imagination. These individuals may approach their creative pursuits with structure and ambition, seeking to manifest their Disney-inspired ideas into tangible achievements within the realms of business, management, or entrepreneurship.

✧. ┊ Aquarius: may highlight an innovative and unconventional approach to the Disney influence. The person may appreciate the progressive and futuristic elements of Disney's creations, and they may contribute to the evolution of Disney's legacy. This native can be that Disney fanatic, as it brings together generations, creativity, technology... practically everything that aquarius has an affinity for. They could also be the person who likes Post-Renaissance Era movies. Disneya in Aquarius stimulates an innovative and unconventional imagination. These individuals may think outside the box when it comes to expressing their creativity, bringing fresh and progressive perspectives to Disney-inspired art, technology, or social movements.

✧. ┊ Pisces: could indicate a deep connection to the imaginative and spiritual dimensions of the Disney world. The person may be highly intuitive, empathetic, and feel a profound resonance with the dreamlike qualities of Disney's storytelling. This native can spend hours listening to Disney music and have a greater appreciation for Renaissance Era movies. It is also one more for the list that has princess movies as a favorite. Disneya in Pisces evokes a dreamy and spiritually attuned imagination. These individuals may excel in creating ethereal and fantastical artwork, expressing their creativity through music, dance, or embodying the mystical essence of Disney's storytelling in their creative pursuits.

Asteroid Disneya by House

✧. ┊ 1st House: suggests that the Disney influence is a significant part of the individual's self-expression and identity. They may embody the magic of Disney in their personal presentation. This native may have been influenced by movies on how to dress, speak, and behave in the world, and be inspired by some characters. It is also the native that, when Disneya aspects the ascendant, they appear like a character. Disneya in the 1st house brings a strong sense of innocence and nostalgia to the individual's self-image and identity. They may have a youthful aura about them and carry a childlike wonder in their approach to life. Nostalgia may play a significant role in shaping their personality and how they express themselves to others. This placement indicates that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through self-expression and personal image. They may enjoy adopting Disney-inspired personas or engaging in activities that allow them to escape from reality and embrace a sense of playfulness and joy.

✧. ┊ 2nd House: could indicate a connection between the Disney influence and personal values, finances, or possessions. The person may find value in Disney merchandise or have a talent for monetizing Disney-inspired ventures. This native may have learned life and moral lessons from some Disney movies, as well as taking inspiration from the melody and voice of the songs. Disneya in the 2nd house highlights a nostalgic connection to material possessions and personal values. These individuals may find comfort and a sense of security in collecting Disney memorabilia or investing in Disney-related ventures. They may have a sentimental attachment to items associated with Disney or seek to preserve the innocence and joy associated with childhood through their material acquisitions. This placement suggests that the individual finds entertainment and escapism through material possessions and financial resources. They may also invest in experiences that allow them to escape into the enchanting world of Disney and find pleasure in material indulgence associated with Disney themes.

✧. ┊ 3rd House: suggests that communication, learning, and short journeys may be influenced by the Disney world. The person may enjoy discussing Disney topics, writing about Disney, or engaging in Disney-themed educational activities. It's the native who will know a few more details about Disney (like the Eras... yes, I'm that native) and who will like how Disney uses elements other than just speech to communicate, like shapes and colors. Disneya in the 3rd house infuses the realm of communication and learning with innocence and nostalgia. These individuals may have a fondness for storytelling and may enjoy sharing Disney-inspired tales or engaging in conversations that spark nostalgic memories. They may also have a nostalgic connection to their childhood education or early experiences with reading Disney books or watching Disney movies. This placement indicates that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through communication, learning, and social interactions. They may enjoy discussing Disney-related topics, sharing their knowledge about Disney, or engaging in activities like Disney trivia nights, book clubs, or movie marathons with friends and acquaintances.

✧. ┊ 4th House: signifies a deep emotional connection to the Disney influence, especially within the family and home environment. The person may create a nurturing and magical atmosphere inspired by Disney within their living space. It's the native who likes stories that involve family like Lilo and Stitch and who can show more intimate messages using Disney narratives, as if using as an example "Oh, it's like that scene from Princess and the Frog that happens this, this, and that". These movies become a way of communicating what they want. Disneya in the 4th house deeply influences the individual's sense of home, family, and emotional foundations with innocence and nostalgia. These individuals may create a nurturing and magical atmosphere within their home, surrounding themselves with Disney-related items or creating family traditions rooted in the innocence and joy of Disney's storytelling. Nostalgia may play a significant role in their family dynamics and upbringing. This placement suggests that the individual finds entertainment and escapism within the realms of home and family life. They may create a Disney-themed sanctuary at home, host Disney-inspired gatherings, or use Disney-related activities to bond with family members and create nostalgic memories.

✧. ┊ 5th House: emphasizes creativity, self-expression, and joy derived from the Disney world. The person may find pleasure in artistic endeavors, entertainment, or working with children, drawing inspiration from Disney. It's the native who will watch the movies when the kids are watching and sing along to Disney songs. For them, music is a source of inspiration. Disneya in the 5th house accentuates the house of creativity, self-expression, and joy with innocence and nostalgia. These individuals may find great pleasure in artistic endeavors inspired by Disney, such as drawing, painting, or performing in Disney-themed productions. They may seek out recreational activities that allow them to tap into the nostalgia and childlike wonder associated with Disney. This placement suggests highlights that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through creative self-expression and recreational activities. They may enjoy engaging in Disney-themed arts and crafts, performing in Disney-inspired shows or productions, or participating in activities that bring joy and a sense of playfulness inspired by Disney.

✧. ┊ 6th House: suggests that daily routines, work, and service may be influenced by the Disney world. The person may find motivation and fulfillment by incorporating Disney elements into their professional life or daily tasks. It's that person whose work backpack has a huge Minnie, and at work celebrations and parties, everyone gives something from Minnie to this native. They’re also one of those natives who carry their favorite character into adulthood, not afraid to show that they still like Disney. These individuals may find joy and inspiration in jobs or volunteer work related to the Disney world, such as working at Disney parks or participating in Disney-themed events. They may infuse their daily tasks with a sense of innocence and nostalgia, seeking to create a magical experience for themselves and others. Disneya in the 6th house indicates that the individual finds entertainment and escapism through work, routines, and service.They may find solace and joy in integrating Disney magic into their daily routines and responsibilities.

✧. ┊ 7th House: indicates that partnerships, relationships, and collaborations may be influenced by the Disney influence. The person may connect with others who share a love for Disney, and the Disney world may play a role in their romantic or business partnerships. It's the kind of person who wants to marry in Cinderella or Belle's dress and who daydreams to have a Disney-style relationship, whether that be romantic or professional. They may be attracted to partners who share their love for Disney or engage in relationships that have a nostalgic connection to their shared Disney experiences. They may seek out opportunities to create memorable Disney-inspired moments with their partners or collaborate on creative projects influenced by Disney themes. Disneya in the 7th house suggests that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through partnerships and relationships. They may seek out partners who share their love for Disney or engage in activities that allow them to escape together into the world of Disney. They may also enjoy attending Disney-related events or traveling to Disney destinations with their partners.

✧. ┊ 8th House: suggests that the Disney influence may have a transformative and deep impact on the person's life, particularly in the realms of shared resources, intimacy, or psychological growth with innocence and nostalgia. These individuals may have a deep emotional connection to the transformative power of Disney's storytelling and may seek solace or catharsis through Disney-related experiences. They may use the nostalgia associated with Disney as a form of emotional healing or as a way to connect with others on a profound level. This native may have a liking for the villains. Disneya in the 8th house indicates that the individual finds entertainment and escapism within the realms of intimacy, shared resources, and transformation. They may use Disney-related experiences as a form of emotional release or engage in activities that allow them to explore the deeper, more transformative aspects of themselves through the lens of Disney's storytelling.

✧. ┊ 9th House: highlights the connection between the Disney world and higher education, philosophy, travel, or spirituality. The person may find inspiration in Disney's storytelling and themes as they explore these areas of life. Disneya in the 9th house expands the individual's quest for knowledge, spirituality, and travel with innocence and nostalgia. They may seek out spiritual or philosophical teachings rooted in Disney's themes or embark on journeys to Disney parks or destinations that hold nostalgic significance for them. They may also be inspired to pursue higher education or engage in storytelling that evokes a sense of innocent wonder. This placement suggests that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through travel, higher education, and spiritual exploration. They may enjoy visiting Disney parks or destinations, studying Disney-related topics, or incorporating Disney-inspired elements into their spiritual practices and beliefs.

✧. ┊ 10th House: suggests that the Disney influence may be prominent in the person's career, public image, or achievements. They may pursue professions related to entertainment, animation, or creative industries influenced by Disney. Disneya in the 10th house influences the individual's career, public image, and achievements with innocence and nostalgia. These individuals may pursue professions within the entertainment industry, animation, or creative fields that are directly influenced by Disney. They may be known for their ability to evoke a sense of innocence and nostalgia in their work, garnering recognition for their contributions to the magical world of Disney. This placement indicates that the individual finds entertainment and escapism through their career, public image, and achievements. They may pursue professions within the entertainment industry, animation, or creative fields that allow them to be involved with Disney-related projects. Their career success may be intertwined with their ability to provide entertainment and escapism to others through their work.

✧. ┊ 11th House: signifies a connection between the Disney influence and friendships, social networks, and community involvement. The person may find like-minded individuals who share their passion for Disney. Disneya in the 11th house connects the individual's friendships, social networks, and community involvement with innocence and nostalgia. They may find like-minded individuals who share their love for Disney, forming friendships based on a shared appreciation for the innocence and joy of Disney's storytelling. They may also participate in Disney-themed community events or engage in social activism related to Disney causes. This placement suggests that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism through friendships, social networks, and community involvement.

✧. ┊ 12th House: suggests a deep and hidden connection to the Disney world, possibly through dreams, subconscious influences, or spiritual experiences. The person may find solace and inspiration from the magical realm of Disney in their private moments. Disneya in the 12th house signifies a deep and hidden connection to the realms of dreams, subconscious influences, and spirituality. These individuals may find solace and inspiration from the magical world of Disney in their private moments or through dreams and subconscious experiences. They may use Disney-related imagery or narratives as a form of spiritual or emotional guidance. This placement indicates that the individual seeks entertainment and escapism in the realms of dreams, subconscious influences, spiritual experiences or are ashamed to accept that likes Disney. They may find solace and inspiration from Disney-related dreams, engage in activities that tap into the hidden realms of the subconscious, or seek spiritual meaning and guidance through Disney's storytelling and themes.

Asteroid Disneya Aspects

✧. ┊ Conjunction: When Disneya forms a conjunction with a planet, it intensifies and amplifies the energy of that planet. It can bring a strong focus on themes related to Disney, entertainment, and escapism in the areas of life represented by the planet. For example, a Disneya conjunction with the Sun may indicate a strong identification with Disney's magical world and a desire to express oneself creatively through Disney-inspired pursuits.

✧. ┊ Sextile and Trine: Disneya in harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) with a planet can bring opportunities and ease in incorporating Disney-related themes into the energies of that planet. It can enhance creativity, imagination, and a sense of joy associated with Disney. For instance, a Disneya sextile with Venus may indicate an effortless ability to find pleasure and enjoyment through Disney-related activities and a talent for creating art inspired by Disney.

✧. ┊ Square: A square aspect between Disneya and a planet creates tension and challenges. It may indicate a conflict between the energies represented by the planet and the desire for entertainment and escapism associated with Disney. For example, a Disneya square with Mars could suggest a struggle to balance assertiveness and taking action with a tendency to get lost in fantasies or distractions related to Disney.

✧. ┊ Opposition: An opposition aspect between Disneya and a planet represents a polarity and potential inner conflict. It may indicate a need to find a balance between the energies of the planet and the desire for entertainment and escapism associated with Disney. For instance, a Disneya opposition with Saturn could suggest a tension between the need for structure, discipline, and responsibility versus a desire to indulge in carefree and joyful experiences inspired by Disney.

Kisses from the Sea! 🪸

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[justforbooks]

Autumn in Thessaloniki

Known as the “Bride of the Thermaic Gulf” to romantics and the “co-capital” to pragmatist Greeks, Thessaloniki bears the name of Alexander the Great’s wife and sister with pride. This city, founded in 315 BC, defies simple categorization.

How can one capture the unique energy of Greece’s second-largest metropolis, now emerging as one of Europe’s most dynamic urban centers? Or convey the rhythm of a cosmopolitan hub that cherishes its millennia-old heritage while embracing global trends? Thessaloniki is a destination that enchants travelers, whether they come for an experience-packed city break or a longer stay that never seems quite long enough.

A journey to ever-relevant Thessaloniki is never just an escape or a change of scenery. It’s a multifaceted experience in a city that stands proudly among Europe’s most captivating capitals.

Thessaloniki’s love for the arts is evident not only in its domestic and international festivals and various artistic expressions but also in its fascinating museums and no fewer than 15 UNESCO World Heritage monuments. The 11 halls of the Museum of Byzantine Culture will transport you to the glorious era of the Byzantine Empire, revealing all aspects of private and public life of the period through rich collections of archaeological objects, relics, and works of art.

The War Museum presents the modern and contemporary history of our country, while the Archaeological Museum unfolds the entire history of Macedonia through masterful works of art and findings. At the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art – MOMus, you’ll admire works from the Iolas, Xydis, and Apergis collections among contemporary artistic trends from abroad and Greece. Two related and equally interesting cultural institutions will bring you to the Old Port and Pier A, a wonderful walk in any case. There, at the Museum of Photography, you’ll see unique images of a constantly changing city and get to know older and contemporary trends in the art of photography through a vast collection covering the period 1890-2015, while at the Cinema Museum, the magical world of Greek cinema comes to life.

Thessaloniki’s shopping scene is also a major draw, where you can indulge in retail therapy along the three main parallel streets of Proxenou Koromila, Mitropoleos, and Tsimiski, but don’t miss their perpendicular alleys, which hide shops full of treasures. The famous covered markets are also a unique experience, such as Kapani Market, a true feast of flavors and aromas, where, following the locals’ example, you’ll drink Greek coffee at the corner traditional cafe Modigliani. Nearby, a stroll through the also covered Modiano Market, known to older generations as the “Central Food Market,” is the new must-stop on the list for foodies and non-foodies alike. The 75 stores housed in the fully renovated space, which still retains its historic architectural character, compose a unique kaleidoscope of culinary trends and proposals that has nothing to envy from similar markets abroad. After enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, you’ll stock up on select delicatessen products and indulge in one of the top sweet Thessaloniki temptations, the amazing syrupy sweets from Hatzis pastry shop.

Thessaloniki’s emblematic monuments, scattered throughout the city, will enrich your walks between shopping streets, the waterfront, and up-and-coming entertainment neighborhoods with a historical dimension. Near Saint Demetrios, the city’s most important church worth a visit not only because it celebrates this month but also because it’s a monument of particular importance as the martyrdom site of Thessaloniki’s patron saint, the city’s Roman past comes alive in the ruins of the baths, square, and a gallery of the Roman Agora, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Also impressive is the nearby Kamara or Arch of Galerius, bearing the honorary name of a Roman emperor and detailed decorative reliefs from his victorious campaign against the Persians in the early 4th century AD. A few meters to the north, another recognizable landmark, the massive Rotunda from the same period, is preserved in excellent condition due to its conversion into a Christian church and is famous for its beautiful mosaics.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[kerena]

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS 2 :(𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑽𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄)

🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤

𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 : I’m not an astrologer, is just my observations so they’re not necessarily accurate.

Don’t copy.❕

🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤

💫 Mars nakshatra in the big 3 (especially in ascendant or moon) tend to have a natural athletic body or have a beautiful proportion. They can have little curvy hips. (Vedic)

Nakshatra of Mars :

Mrighashira -> 23,20° in Taurus to 6,40° in Gemini.

Chitra -> 23,20° in Virgo to 6,40° in Libra.

Dhanishtha -> 23,20° in Capricorn to 6,40° in Aquarius.

💫 I see a lot of ketu peoples with dark complexion, features or intense gaze/eyes. I find that they have common things. Jung kook of BTS : Magha moon. Olivia Rodrigo : Mula ascendant. And if Taehyung of BTS have a Ashwini moon it makes senses. Moon conjunct ketu can give same effects. (Vedic)

Nakshatra of ketu :

Ashwini -> 00° to 13,20° in Aries.

Magha -> 00° to 13,20° in Leo.

Mula -> 00° to 13,20° in Sagittarius.

💫 It’s a fact that a lot of peoples with Neptune conjunct ascendant or in 1st house may have complexes about their appearance and may had surgery because that. Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande, (apparently Marilyn Monroe too). Warning : it’s not bad, it’s just a observations because they are very popular and famous.

💫 The difference between Uranus conjunct ascendant in 1st and 12th house is that in 1st house people can more daring in on random things like tattoo, new hair colours, they can be more original and assume their “differences”. Uranus in 12th tend to “hide” their “differences” or/don’t dare to new change in their look/hair so the uranus’s themes can be not really important or even present. So it’s pretty true that a conjunction in 1st is different than a conjunction in 12th house.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 : the tighter the orb is of your planet in conjunction with your ascendant from the 12th house (that is to say that this planet is placed behind your ascendant) more this planet will capture the energy of the first house.

💫 Pluto in harsh aspects with sun/mercury/ascendant when they have their opinions they can’t tolerate an another or they can be too intense and have a black or white mentality. They can be really authoritarian and sometimes peoples can be quite “scared”/don’t want to express their opinion to them. This people can be very thoroughgoing and retain a lot in them.

💫 Juno in 10th can attract in their life a partner that have work linked with government or political field.

💫 Sun square Uranus can like to be different, I know that sometimes people interpret this aspects of someone that hide their differences but i think that this people can don’t have any problems to express their “differences” big or not. Like they don’t care about the opinion of others, for example if they like this shoes is their opinion and not the your etc..

💫 1st ruler in 5th can be funny, sociable and have good relationships with children.

💫 2nd house lord in 9th can have values associated with religion, they can be really religious and grow up in a religious family or a family member close to them can be religious. (Vedic)

💫 9th or 12th lord in 1st can according importance to religion and spirituality too. (Vedic)

💫 Moon/venus conjunct rahu (a malefic) in Scorpio in their d9 chart (navamsa) can have difficult emotional connection with spouse/problems with romantic things or the spouse can cheating to them. (Vedic)

💫 Moon in 8th can make a person suspicious, paranoid or with intense emotions. They can also be good at knowing the intentions of a person. They can be vengeful or/and very resentful. Moon conjunct Pluto can give same effects.

💫 Sun/mercury/Saturn or stellium in 6th house doesn’t like when people are disorganised.

💫 Mercury/Sun conjunct Saturn can make a person realistic, critical & mature. They can also be really patient.

💫 Stellium in cancer can have clear and smooth skin and they don’t have to necessarily wear intense makeup. Natural makeup look pretty good on them.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 : a stellium 𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 three planets or more 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 (𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇). The themes of the house 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗎𝗆 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 ����𝖾 very important 𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾. It possible that your birth chart does not have a stellium!.

🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤💫🖤

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤✨🖤

[m1ssword]

My favourite retro animes with their perks and perils

Let's start straight away!

1. Lady Oscar / The Rose of Versailles

(70s)

Such a lovely manga/anime series. The story follows the life of a military general's daughter Oscar and Marie Antoinette. Oscar is raised like a boy to succeed her as the commander of the Royal Guards at the Palace of Versailles. The story is set in France before and during the French Revolution.

Perks:

Strong multidimensional female lead

Surprisingly historically accurate

Interestingly captures the large scale of femininity and being a woman

Cool soundtrack

Interesting fact: this anime inspired the makers of Berserk (1997)

Perils:

You'll cry

2. Lady Georgie

(80s)

Lady Georgie tells the growth story of a girl named Georgie who lives in peaceful and pittoresque Australian countryside. Georgie doesn't know the secret about her origin while the rest of her family knows it.

Perks:

absolutely endearing setting

the storytelling of their childhood is beyond cuteness

reminded me of the book "The Little Princess" by F. H. Burnett

Perils:

I was a bit weirded out by the love square (?) which included her two adoptive brothers

The ending is not satisfying and the manga is even worse

The love between Georgie and her main love interest is quite bland

3. City Hunter

(mainly 80s)

City Hunter is a humorous anime classic from the 80s. The story focuses on Ryo Saeba, a famous underground sweeper in Shinjuku, and his partner Kaori Makimura. They together help different customers - which are all beautiful women, since Ryo is also well-known for his lecherous habits. Kaori keeps Ryo in check with her hammer.

Perks:

fun anime with a lot of seasons and movies

interesting characters

pictures the city life of Japan in the 80s

Perils:

the love story between Ryo and Kaori is sometimes frustrating

The fetishism of women in almost every episode starts early to feel like a worn joke (notice the time context)

Episodes follow the same plot almost every time, may start to feel repetitive

Tsukasa Hojo, the maker of City Hunter, has also done an another manga named Angel Heart which shares the same characters with City Hunter but isn't it's continuation. I don't yet have a full review of AH, since I'm currently watching it. Thus far, I have cried during every episode, it's good but different. (Please tell me in the comments would you like to have full review of AH)

And a lot more...

There is a lot more retro animes that I didn't mention in this post, like Candy Candy, Cowboy Bebop, Sailor Moon, Utena, Ranma, Akira, Lupin the III, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Berserk (1997). This is just my list of favourites and I hope that you would like to share your favourites in the comments!

With love,

Jessica

[apod]

2023 March 19

Equinox at the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Fedez

Explanation: To see the feathered serpent descend the Mayan pyramid requires exquisite timing. You must visit El Castillo -- in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula -- near an equinox. Then, during the late afternoon if the sky is clear, the pyramid's own shadows create triangles that merge into the famous illusion of a slithering viper. Also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, the impressive step-pyramid stands 30 meters tall and 55 meters wide at the base. Built up as a series of square terraces by the pre-Columbian civilization between the 9th and 12th century, the structure can be used as a calendar and is noted for astronomical alignments. The featured composite image was captured in 2019 with Jupiter and Saturn straddling the diagonal central band of our Milky Way galaxy. Tomorrow marks another equinox -- not only at Temple of Kukulcán, but all over planet Earth.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230319.html