#Parlor Trick

[tnlnyc]

Beware the AI Hype

Every day, claims of an “extinction-level threat” by new generative AIs fill the press. Beware the AI Hype as it comes with a carefully crafted sleight of hand. Current State of AI Generative AI has some basic uses around remixing but gets everything else pretty wrong I’m not opposed to generative AI. MidJourney has created the picture at the top of this page. I have edited the content of this…

[eiden-fucker]

So, like,

is the implication that he can't see the 3D optical illusion

because one of his eyes is a gemstone?

[thebookwormdaydreamer]

i love the magic in jonathan strange and mr norrell. no system, just mysticism, folklore, and nature. that kind of mystery and wonder is something i love in fantasy. don’t need intricate world building or detailed magic systems, give me the sense of wonder.

[bawdybooster]

the way i was getting excited at the idea of being hypnotized by a carny, only to mournfully slink away from "Turn" like the lamia did LMAO

You're so real for that, Anon. Carny Hypnosis is a well of untapped potential. Here's hoping this piece puts an end to your mournful slinkage and brings some excitement back to you~

--- --- ---

Amidst all the noise surrounding the carnival, your mind felt drawn to one booth in particular.  There wasn’t anything particularly exciting about it — No larger-than-life rides or over-the-top food being served — it was just the Carny and his Wheel of Colors.

You approached him, your eyes torn between his stylish figure and the technicolor wheel beside him.  Blinking lights adored the wooden device, with a variety of mysterious prizes hidden beneath placards.

“Care for a spin?”  He asked, eyeing you up.  “The first one’s always free.”

“What do I stand to win?”  You asked with uncertainty.

“Everything.  Nothing.  Who knows?  Perhaps you’ll see tonight’s Grand Prize~”

You pondered, staring at the wheel.  There were so many different colors it was hard to focus on just one.

“Shall I spin it for you?”

Before you could say anything, the Carny took his hand to the wheel and spun it into life.  The colors blurred, whizzing around at a blinding pace.  It felt so hard to look at it all, and yet… something was soothing about their overwhelming presence.

You heard a chuckle in your ear.  “They’re quite pretty, aren’t they?  Pretty colors you just can’t take your eyes off of.  It’s so nice to stare at them and let them calm your mind.”

You hardly knew who was talking to you.  All you could focus on was those pretty colors.  The way they bled out from the prize wheel, dripping into your mind with technicolor stains that eroded all sense of feeling.  You could hardly tell what was going on until the wheel began to slow its pace, coming to a standstill on a yellow placard.

The Carny reached over and pulled it up, a sly grin on his face.  “Well, well,” he chuckled, “Seems you’ve won another spin.  Shall I spin it again for you?”

Your mind stumbled, trying to understand his words.  “Spin… again…?”

“But of course!”

The wheel began its spinning whirlwind once more, colors flying out into your mind.  They spiraled and wound around and around, coiling your vision until they were all you could see.  All you could think about.  All your mind could focus on as blissful words whispered into your ear to remind you of how good it felt to just stare at those colors.

And every time it came to a stop, the Carny would take up the colored placard and announce you’d won another spin.  Before your addled mind could say anything to stop him, he’d start the process once again, spinning it one way, then another, pulling card after card until those spinning colors had left your mind a melted puddle of incoherence drooling from your lips.

Your body rag-dolled, falling limp as you stumbled onto the ground.  All you could think of was those pretty colors.  There was no room in your mind for standing on your own two feet — not when the colors were spinning.

The wheel came to a stop again, this time landing on a sparkly gold placard.  The Carny turned his attention to you, grinning smugly at the sight of you knelt before him.

“Well, well,” he beamed, “It appears the wheel has selected tonight’s Grand Prize!”

An empty giggle escaped your lips at the announcement, your mind still focused on the pretty colors on the wheel.  A pair of hands clasped onto your body, lifting you up to carry you off the ground and into the arms of the Carny.

“That’s right, dear.  You’re tonight’s prize!  And you’ve won a wonderful, relaxing, extended vacation to let these beautiful colors wash away your troubles~”

[coreofgold]

@youllalwaysbemyporcelain for Kieran for a Discord starter

The difference between Aloth and Iselmyr is always apparent. While Aloth is graceful, methodical, shows affection in private, Iselmyr is loud, boisterous, not afraid to fight and not afraid to show anything in public. So, the person who runs and hugs Kieran from behind while shouting his name is definitely Iselmyr. "Kierie! I found ye!" She lifted him up in the hug

[duckapus]

Somehow these are all the same kitten.

[anthonycrowley]

don’t believe in ghosts don’t not believe in ghosts but a secret third thing (have a healthy skepticism to most spiritual things but overall am willing to hear you out unless your device was invented in the victorian era at which point i automatically press the bullshit button)

[justletmeon12]

Thing that Definitely Isn't Going to Happen That'd Be Cool to See

So, whoever Alastor's puppetmaster is (probably almost definitely Lilith) is going to attack the hotel and/or Lucifer and Charlie, which means he's going to have to fight everyone. He knows this, and Nifty and Husk know this, but all anyone else knows is that some enemy's going to attack. Nifty and Husk want to defend the hotel, but they know that if Alastor has to fight, they'll have to fight for him.

Now, Alastor doesn't like Charlie or his servants or want redemption or anything, but he does want to fuck this person over for controlling him.

So, he offers Nifty and Husk some modifications to their contracts. Specifically, he gives each of them a lot more of his power and a lot more freedom to do as they will (basically, he can't order them to fight for him), with the "catch" that he can take the extra power back whenever he wants or if their contracts are broken, plus they can't talk about the deal or why it happened. It's an obvious win for both of them, so they do it.

Leading up to the fight, Alastor lets Charlie know he'll be calling in his favor: he simply has to do his radio show on time today, and he'd appreciate it if she could make sure he makes it no matter what happens.

Cut to whatever battle happens. Alastor pops up, the villain gives some kind of dramatic monologue about how their precious little puppet will destroy them all, reveals his chain to the horror of all, and commands him to attack with all he's got... Only for him to have jack.

He politely explains that, while he knows it's rude, he's "regifted" their power.

While Charlie, Vaggie, Angel, and Lucifer are still picking their jaws off the floor, this person starts wiping the floor with him and Husk and Nifty leap into action with suspiciously-familiar powers. And because Alastor signed them away, they aren't "his," so unless his mysterious benefactor knows exactly how to make him reclaim them, he won't take them back.

Then Charlie realizes that his "little favor" was a cute way of telling her to literally save his ass and get him away from the battle back to his (presumably somehow safer) radio tower.

[asailorsdrunkeneulogy]

Modest Mouse || You're The Good Things

[smaller-comfort]

"And a small comfort to her sorrow"

Catullus 2 is where my username comes from: solaciolum, the diminutive of solacium, a comfort. A small comfort; now, even smaller (for travel and convenience).

[rumi411]

need to see them queen out together

[the-valiant-valkyrie]

grampa youre two seconds away from getting replaced if you dont get less lame in the next four seconds

[rubiatinctorum]

:/ turns out i haven't bothered to learn anything for piano in THREE YEARS oh no................

[anosci]

every pixel is simulated

[coreofgold]

@hiddenpxpercuts for Dean

"I'm sorry, I must have had. . .a bit of a memory lapse." That's one word to describe Iselmyr. "What was it I did or said?"