#Patchwork sans

[ilovemlp39]

More discord stream doodles lmao

Credits

"Eyilas!Sans" belongs to: toxicfreddy65 (on DeviantART)

"Taky!Sans" from "UnderCare" belongs to: Abby-LGF (on DeviantART, but unsure if active anymore)

"Mem" or "SO!Sans" belongs to: UniQueen357 (on DeviantART)

"Parasite!Sans" belongs to: @zombiejb1

"Past!Sans" from "Pasttale" belongs to: Croassy (on DeviantART)

"Music!Sans" from "Musiciantale" belongs to: quotevianflaky (on DeviantART)

"Echo!Sans" belongs to: @und3rtal3fr3ak

"Ivene!Sans" belongs to: Chezcaik10 (on DeviantART)

"Pathwork!Sans" belongs to: @leilanising

[theforgottencrow]

Can i call patchwork!sans patchy?

I think he likes it :) Patchwork sans belongs to me

[juniemunie]

She's here!!! Say hello to Patchwork, she's my Errorink "kid".

She's a creepy lil puppet that does her own thing in the multiverse. She can't speak, but it's not like she has a need to communicate anyway since you rarely ever get to see her as she doesn't socialize... ever. You might see traces of her because she will always meticulously arrange any area she comes across to perfection.

As her name says, she patches up AUs and cleans up after her parent's messes. She doesn't appear to lean on either side and remains neutral.

Heres a short comic on how I think she came to be

Maybe ill make a part 2 who knows this was fun to make

If you wanna know more about her, feel free to read below:

How does she clean up exactly?

Welp, heres a lengthy explanation: I've always assumed that the multiverse is more or less data in a diskspace, and said disk contains all the data of the AUs.

For every new AU, it takes up space. For every destroyed AU, it frees up space.

Sometimes when a new AU uses the freed up space, there still isn't enough room, so the AU fragments itself to be placed somewhere else in the disk. This makes things harder for Ink (difficult to locate and assist, as well as causing "loading" issues and glitches) and for Error (harder to destroy completely because theyre all over the place).

Patchwork, lives up to her namesake by slowly and tediously stitching and arranging these fragmented AUs together, regardless if theyre going to be destroyed or not.

As for her interacting with other characters:

If she sees an incode outside of their respective AU, she will attempt to guide them back to their respective universe if it still exists. Pretty good right?

But if their AU doesn't exist anymore.... well. She doesn't like loose ends. [So yes, she is not allowed in the Omega Timeline.]

Other miscellanous info:

She can and will organize anything she can get into. Ink will find his once messy art studio cleaned to perfection and all of his sketchbooks arranged alphabetically and by date somehow. Error comes back to the antivoid to find his puppets lined up neatly and staring down at him which freaks him out. PJ's corner will have all the paintings straightened out. Even Gradient's laptop icons are all organized and cleaned up as well lmao

She moves like a slasher stalker. If you spot her, she will stare at you unmovingly. If you move your eyes away from her for even a moment, she will be gone.

[art-vortex]

(via Coussin avec l'œuvre « "Motifs Patchwork Irréguliers Colorés" » de l'artiste Art-Vortex-fr)

[sayruq]

Everyone knows a family that has lost a child in Zamzam, a camp for hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Sudan’s Darfur region. Hunger and disease have become grim features of daily life, and a child is dying in the camp every two hours, according to the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). “There have been many, I cannot remember them all. The latest died yesterday,” says Laila Ahmed, who lives in the camp with her nine children. Like most of Sudan, Zamzam has had no phone or internet connection for the past two weeks, but the Guardian managed to talk to refugees through a satellite link.They described a desperate situation, with no clean drinking water and little access to medical treatment. Families share meagre food stores. Almost 25% of children are severely malnourished. Dengue fever and malaria are sweeping through the camp. Beyond its perimeters roam militiamen who kidnap or attack women who venture out to collect firewood or grass for their donkeys. Apart from one small distribution in June, no food aid has arrived since fighting erupted across Sudan on 15 April. “I think we are approaching starvation,” says Abdullatif Ali, a father of six. “The people are suffering from malnutrition, disease – many issues.” Zamzam was set up in the mid-2000s in the wake of the genocide in Darfur, carried out by predominately Arab militias called the Janjaweed. Before the current war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which grew from the Janjaweed, a patchwork of international aid agencies provided services to Zamzam, but they abruptly pulled out when the fighting started. Since then, the camp’s population has swelled with new arrivals fleeing fighting farther south. “This is a vast, overpopulated camp that needs a large amount of support, but it has been completely left on its own,” says Emmanuel Berbain, an MSF doctor, who visited recently. “It’s a complete catastrophe, to be honest.”

[eightmakesonebraincell]

the essence of youth is summers with you (teaser)

genre: poly!surfers!ateez x fem!reader, childhood best friend!san, sort of college!au, slice of life and coming of age, slow burn, fluff, angst

length: 1.5k (teaser) + approx. 38k (full fic)

c/w: surfer!ateez (deserves a warning), explicit profanity, more angst when you think things will get better, remaining tags to be revealed with full fic

synopsis: when you move away from your hometown at the age of six, you discover that summer in namhae takes the form of a skinny, dimpled boy who loves the sea and holding hands– choi san. but as the summers go past and he goes to seoul for college, bringing back new friends each year, you start to develop feelings that run deeper than just friendship. will your summers of youth become ones of love and dreams, or will they end in pain and heartbreak?

a/n: surprise!! we’re actually using full stops and paragraphs for once! full fic will be released in exactly one week so enjoy these crumbs until then

you’re all sitting on a patchwork of picnic blankets and beach towels spread around the small fire that san has constructed, now experienced from having made one three years in a row. haneul shares the towel with you on one side and yunho on your other.

dinner had been greasy meat grilled by wooyoung’s skilled hands paired with cheap alcohol that made you all wince when it went down. it had been finished off with skewered marshmallows– the most vital part of the night, as mingi had fervently reminded everyone.

someone had then suggested a round of ‘truth or dare’, which most definitely did not stop at one round. the flushed cheeks and tipsy slurs not only made the dares increasingly bizarre, but it made everyone daring enough to actually do them.

but as the night had continued on, the outlandish dares slowly trickled off and more of you picked to answer truth questions. with the mellowing ambience of the campfire and the clearing buzz of alcohol in your systems, it was only a matter of time before the night fizzled into calm.

“mingi,” haneul directs her question at the taller, “ if you were to date one of us excluding me, who would it be?”

his eyes dart from her to you and then to every single one of his friends.

“i’d date you all,” he shrugs. “but if i had to pick one person, then probably yunho, since he’s been there for me from day one.”

yunho knocks shoulders with him appreciatively whilst joking, “your parents would love to hear that answer.”

you spot san and wooyoung cringing at the thought and you’re reminded of snippets of a conversation about surfing as a distraction and escape from home.

“seonghwa, truth or dare?” mingi asks, moving the game on to the next person.

“truth.”

“if you had to pick between love and friendship, which one would it be?”

seonghwa hums for a while, watching the dancing lick of flames.

“i think it depends on the situation, because in the end, they’re not that much different from each other. in love there is friendship, and in friendship there is love. it’s impossible to say that one is more important than the other.”

there’s a collective boo as he skirts around the question, but you all understand where he’s coming from.

it still doesn’t stop san from retorting, “the whole point is to pick one.”

seonghwa chuckles and downs half a shot to appease the other of his apparent half answer, then tosses the same question at him.

“what about you, then?”

much to his disappointment, san actually has an answer.

“i would probably choose love. i think you’re right in saying you can’t separate love and friendship, but the thing that sets a romantic relationship apart is being in love,” he muses. “it’s hard to find friends you love, but it’s even harder to find a friend you fall in love with, so i would probably hold onto that no matter what.”

a few of you subconsciously nod along, words resonating with yourselves.

haneul nudges you curiously, “what do you think?”

you relax into her side as you slowly formulate a cohesive answer from your thoughts.

“i think i would choose love, too. i’ll admit it’s a much more difficult relationship than friendship and it often requires sacrifices to be made…it can even mean having to let go of somebody completely.”

hongjoong glances at you, guilt pricking at his chest.

“but at the same time,” you continue, “when you love somebody that much, sacrifice becomes something you want to give and are willing to offer to the other person, and you develop a depth of understanding, connection and intimacy strong enough to overcome anything that isn’t always possible with friendship.”

“you and san are both such gross romantics,” haneul pretends to gag.

“yeah, shoot us for it,” you poke her in the side. “wooyoung, truth or dare?”

“since everyone’s picking truth…truth.”

“who’s someone you’re sorry towards or thankful for?”

he whines indignantly, “why are we suddenly getting so personal,” but proceeds to think about his answer seriously.

“if i’m honest, i’m sorry towards everyone. i know there are times i fall short as a friend and make mistakes, but you all always forgive me and embrace my imperfections so graciously. sometimes it makes me wonder if i even deserve you guys.”

there are immediate noises of protest and wooyoung smiles, waving away their words of objection because he knows that he’s wrong. it’s just that knowing doesn’t always stop him from feeling a certain way.

“and of course, what i’m sorry for goes hand in hand with what i’m thankful for. but i’m also especially thankful for y/n,” he reveals.

your body reacts instantly to his unexpected answer, blood rushing towards your cheeks and ears as he looks at you appreciatively.

“i haven’t known you for as long as most of the other boys, but i’ve seen how happy and vibrant they all are whenever they return to seoul or whenever they talk about you. and i can definitely see why, now. you make them happy– you make us happy.”

mingi clears his throat, jumping in to add to the younger’s answer, “when i’m here in namhae with you, with everybody, it feels like home.”

a home that he’s never really had until yunho, san, you, and the rest of the boys came along.

“so thank you for giving me a home here,” mingi looks at you earnestly.

if he were sitting closer, you would reach over and squeeze his hand reassuringly.

“no matter how many years go by, you’ll always have a home here,” you tell him instead.

“and the rest of us?” yunho jokes, lightly slapping your knee where your legs have slowly made their way into his lap over the night.

“you all have a home here,” you amend.

because namhae is not the same without san, and namhae is not the same without the rest of your friends, either.

you continue asking each other questions, even after midnight has long ticked past and haneul has retired back to the beach house for some sleep. nobody wants the night to end, because despite already having been attached to each other’s hips all summer, the time you are spending now around the campfire is different.

life slows down and the nine of you are the only ones to exist along with the stars and the ocean waves.

“you know what we should do?” wooyoung pipes up when you are all quietly watching the fire.

he grins, “we should do that thing where we shout at the ocean.”

“just…straight up scream?” hongjoong frowns.

a smile starts to spread across san’s face as he understands wooyoung’s vision.

“no, like our dreams. regrets. confessions,” san elaborates, making a move to stand and brushing the sand off his shorts.

seonghwa questions, “are we really doing this?” and yet he stands up as well.

“when will we ever get a chance to do this again?”

one by one, you all get up on your feet and wander down the beach closer towards the water. it’s silent, save for the crash of waves, while you eye each other and wait for somebody to start it off.

yunho clears his throat, then yells his next words from the very depths of his chest, “i want to become a famous choreographer!”

there are shared giggles at the striking contrast in volume after hours of low, heartfelt conversation, but it’s enough to fill the rest of you with courage and desire to do the same.

“i want my parents to accept that i won’t be a lawyer like they wanted me to be!” yeosang calls out.

mingi takes a huge breath with his entire body, “i hope i’ll win the lottery one day!”

you all break out into laughter, happiness and vigour running high through your veins. it definitely feels a little silly and a little childish, but is that not the charm of living in the prime years of your youth and spending it with your friends?

reservations now completely thrown to the wind, the boys holler and yell both serious and unserious aspirations with their entire soul, cupping the sides of their mouths with their hands to carry their voices further out across the waters. you watch them with deep affection and tenderness and your eyes suddenly start to well up with the intensity of your emotions.

thank you for showing me what love feels like.

you can continue to love them as friends, and that is already more than you could ever ask for.

taking a deep inhale of the chill of emerging dawn and blinking away the blur in your eyes, you join the boys and yell your heart out to the ocean. your screams blend together into a symphony of dreams and hopes; the swell of the chorus and the pinnacle of the movie.

and even though you’re all half-delirious from the lack of sleep, hair ruffled and mismatched pajamas wrinkled, it feels like anything and everything is possible in this moment.

from here on, it’s the nine of you against the world and whatever it may bring.

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[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week. #6

Feb 16-23 2024

The EPA announced 5.8 billion dollars in funding upgrade America's water systems. 2.6 billion will go to wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, while the remaining $3.2 billion will go to drinking water infrastructure. $1 billion will go toward the first major effort to remove PFASs, forever chemicals, from American drinking water. The Administration all reiterated its plans to remove all lead pipes from America's drinking water systems, its spent 6 billion on lead pipe replacement so far.

The Department of Education announced the cancellation of $1.2 billion in student loan debt reliving 153,000 borrowers. This is the first debt cancellation through the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which erases federal student loan balances for those who originally borrowed $12,000 or less and have been making payments for at least 10 years. Since the Biden Administration's more wide ranging student loan cancellation plan was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2023 the Administration has used a patchwork of different plans and authorities to cancel $138 billion in student debt and relieve nearly 4 million borrowers, so far.

First Lady Jill Biden announced $100 million in federal funding for women’s health research. This is part of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research the First Lady launched last year. The First Lady outlined ways women get worse treatment outcomes because common health problems like heart attacks and cancer are often less understood in female patients.

The Biden Administration announced 500 new sanctions against Russian targets in response to the murder of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. The sanctions will target people involved in Navalny's imprisonment as well as sanctions evaders. President Biden met with Navalny's widow Yulia and their daughter Dasha in San Francisco

The White House and Department of Agriculture announced $700 Million in new investments to benefit people in rural America. The projects will help up to a million people living in 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It includes $51.7 million to expand access to high-speed internet, and $644.2 million to help 158 rural cooperatives and utilities provide clean drinking water and sanitary wastewater systems for 578,000 people in rural areas.

The Department of Commerce signed a deal to provide $1.5 billion in upgrades and expand chip factories in New York and Vermont to boost American semiconductor manufacturing. This is the biggest investment so far under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act

the Department of Transportation announced $1.25 billion in  funding for local projects that improve roadway safety. This is part of the administration's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program launched in 2022. So far SS4A has spent 1.7 billion dollars in 1,000 communities impacting 70% of America's population.

The EPA announced $19 million to help New Jersey buy electric school buses. Together with New Jersey's own $45 million dollar investment the state hopes to replace all its diesel buses over the next three years. The Biden Administration's investment will help electrify 5 school districts in the state. This is part of the The Clean School Bus Program which so far has replaced 2,366 buses at 372 school districts since it was enacted in 2022.

Bonus: NASA in partnership with Intuitive Machines landed a space craft, named Odysseus, on the moon, representing the first time in 50 years America has gone to the moon. NASA is preparing for astronauts to return to the moon by the end of the decade as part of the Artemis program. All under the leadership of NASA Administrator, former Democratic Senator and astronaut Bill Nelson.

[darkpetal16]

Quick question for all the boys: what nickname would they give to their partner?

ALL?? OK BABE I GOT YOU. but like I can't do an "all" post again there's just too many now lol.

Underfell!Sans (Red): Babe (all), sweetheart (for the shy or introverted babes), doll/dollface (for the feisty babes)

Underfell!Papyrus (Edge): Love (but very sparingly, he’s not fond of nicknames):

Underfell!Wingding (Fell): My dear / My love / My other half / My heart (all emphasis on the my)

Underfell!Asriel (Prince): doesn’t use nicknames unless explicitly asked to. Might refer to you as partner / mate / spouse however.

Underfell!Grillby (Fellby): Sweet girl/boy/pup & Little firecracker.

Underswap!Sans (Blue): Not fond of nicknames but will occasionally call you his puzzle piece. If you ask him to call you something specific, he will.

Underswap!Papyrus (Stretch): Honey, honey bear, honey pie, spicy honey, and if he wants to be ornery / annoy others in public. . .honey bunny wunny.

Underswap!Wingding (Thread): My dear, my little patchwork, darling, marshmallow / cinnamon spice / pumpkin pie.

Underswap!Asriel (Buttercup): Dummy (affectionately). He gets embarrassed by nicknames.

Mafiafell!Sans (Hit): for feminine presenting partner: doll face, sweetheart, lil lady, cookie. For masculine presenting partner: pal, buzz, lil gent, dish. For neutral, mixture of both depending on his mood.

Mafiafell!Papyrus (Boss): He doesn’t do nicknames, per se, but instead waxes poetry for you about you in private. He’d also prefer it if you didn’t give him nicknames in public. Reputation is very important to him and his family and he expects you respect that.

Mafiafell!Wingding (Don): Muse, my dear, darling, puppet, marionette, toy

Mafiafell!Asriel (Heir): Meadow, my haven, my sunshine (if early riser) / my nightfall (if late sleeper)

Slumbertale!Sans (Slumber): Buddy, chum, pal, bucko, friend, fella who naps with me, pillow, blanket, kitten (if you nap often) / puppy (if you do not take naps often), the one who makes plans, my worser half (jokingly), my alarm clock, etc. He’ll come up with obscure and odd nicknames depending on your routine together.

Slumbertale!Papyrus (Mayor): MY RIGHT HAND! There is no bigger compliment because this fella HATES to rely on anyone so if you’re his right hand then you’re someone as invaluable to him as his own right hand.

Slumbertale!Wingding (Abyss): Dewdrop.

Slumbertale!Asriel (Unending): My dream come true, dreamer, buttercup, butterscotch, butter biscuit

Slumbertale!Grillby (Sleeby): His nickname will be dependent on your favorite drink. For example if you like pina coladas he’d call you his sweet coconut, and if you like soda he’d call you his pop-heart.

Horrortale!Sans (Axe): No nicknames unless you specifically tell him to. He just doesn’t think about it.

Horrortale!Papyrus (Sugar): My little meatball, Strawberry jam, rhubarb pie, my berry, love, heart, SOUL

Horrortale!Wingding (Ghost): my heart / our hope

Horrortale!Asriel (Yarrow): butterscotch, cinnamon bun, and sun drop

Horrortale!Grillby (Calcifer): no nicknames!

Reapertale!Sans (Reaper): Nothing set in stone. He'll come up with one time nicknames for puns. Like if you were burned alive & died to met him, he'd call you hot stuff. If you drowned he'd call you a mermaid with lungs. Things along those lines.

Sciencetale!Sans (Doc): he tried nicknames. It came out awkward because he kept stuttering and he was deeply embarrassed so he never did it again.

Sciencetale!Wingding (Professor): Treasure

Siren!Sans (Siren): That’s a human concept, so he wouldn’t choose any. You can tell him what you want him to call you and he’ll accommodate.

Siren!Wingding (Apex): Same as above.

Dustttale!Sans (Dust): Idiot, fool, daydreamer, dreamer, (and very rarely when he thinks you aren’t listening) my miracle

MASTERLIST (HCS & REQUESTED SCENARIOS)

[xinfinityl0ve17]

Yukari Ōba

Yukari Ōba is the exclusive fashion designer for MALICE MIZER. All of their costumes are her work.

People with titles like "planner," "editor," or "writer" often like to separate their jobs into small roles. As a result, some people end up with two or three titles and end up saying how busy they are. Among them i think the profession of designer is currently being broken down into the most minute distinctions. It’s not just about people who create design sketches, cut fabrics, or shape the garments—there are specialists in hats, accessories, knitwear, and so on. I can understand if someone with a foot fetish only wants to make things related to feet, but recently, something’s been bothering me. It starts with the question of whether it's okay to refer to Ōba-san simply as a "costume designer."

She’s responsible for the image of MALICE MIZER after their revival. Under the name of costumes, accessories, and hairstyling, she handles everything from patchwork to welding (pay attention to KAMI's hands this time) to even the stage props. Can we really call her a "designer" or "costume person" in just one second?

However, as I was agonizing over this, Ōba-san spoke enthusiastically, saying, "This part was really difficult, look at it! Oh, and here too..." She talked joyfully about how she changed the fabrics little by little and factored in lighting effects. She said with a laugh, "People often tell me, 'No one will notice you went that far,' but I love doing it." Through her words, I understood one thing: Ōba-san doesn't care what she's called, as long as she can create costumes. It’s her passion. That's why such lively, remarkable costumes are born from her work.

Mana

Mana had told me, "I imagine the feathers gently falling off!" (laughs). It wasn’t meant to change that much, but after making it, I thought, "I want to make it cuter," partly because too much of the legs were showing. I used a fabric called washer organza for the feathers, and also incorporated it into the underskirt, creating a tutu-like effect with about four layers to add volume. The pom-poms were something Mana brought in, saying, "I want to attach these somewhere," and when he attached them herself, she said, "It's cute!" (laughs). Actually, he also made the wig and chains with his own hands.

The butterflies on the wings aren’t real, of course (laughs), but I dyed each one individually. Even in places where it seems casual, there’s a lot of effort behind it (laughs). The fabric for the costume was something Mana requested, saying he wanted a luxurious material that looks like beads. I brought various options and he was especially fond of this one fabric because it’s very light. He even said, "It feels like I’m wearing nothing, this is perfect!" (laughs). It was a hit (laughs). As for the accessories, he said he wanted something with the feel of a wedding fountain with light shining inside it (laughs). I remade it several times to create something that bounces back when touched.

We also tore up light blue feathers and embedded them. We worked hard on even the smallest details that might seem like nothing at first glance (laughs). To make sure the guitar strap doesn’t get tangled, I discreetly made the wings detachable with Velcro (laughs).

Közi

Közi is someone who likes to plan everything from the start. When I first saw the design, I thought of a fiery phoenix, so I decided to make it based on that image. The fabric is the same as Mana's but in a different color. He said, "I've worn something like this before." This time, he wanted something that resembled a jumpsuit. Even though it has no elasticity, I went ahead and made it, but when he wore it, he said, "It's tight..." (laughs). Even though it was restrictive, he’s someone who enters the role through appearance.

The feathers on the chest were dyed with a gradient because I wanted to add that effect, but balancing it was tricky. While adjusting during the fitting, I mixed in red, which is his signature color. This jumpsuit also has Velcro to make it easier for the guitar strap to pass through. The accessories ended up looking very different from the design sketches because when we attached them to the sleeves, it made playing the guitar difficult (laughs). So, when we finished one sleeve, we decided to wrap it around his neck, creating a more luxurious design. The wings on his back are made from aurora film, which changes color depending on the light, appearing red or gold. The material is aluminum, making it very heavy, but the overall cohesiveness of the costume is strong, so he managed to play with it as it was. As for the strawberry hat, we added three-dimensionality using feathers, doubling its size at Közi’s request.

By the way, when he wears the costume, he’s 196 cm tall, from his shoes to the top of his head (laughs). All the members end up being around that height, right? So we make the inseam 100 cm. People always ask, "Who on earth is going to wear these?" (laughs).

Yu~ki

He had an image of a "beast" in mind, and even Yu~ki himself said, "This is quite an adventure." The skirt was actually his first try—a dress made of enamel, something we figured out together during the fitting process. It’s a double-layered design, with the back being longer and slits cut into it, creating this eerie look. The bones are designed to resemble human bones, adding shadow to enhance the effect. The back is made of two layers of umbrella-like fabric, with a sheer fabric sandwiched in between to create a shadow effect. At first glance, it looks like a single layer, but there's a lot of depth (laughs). In terms of time, his costume was the fastest to make because once Yu~ki decides on a design, he sticks to it.

Yu~ki, from the start, based his look on the initial image and always strives to get as close to it as possible. The hardest part was dealing with the enamel fabric's texture. Although we wanted it to look big, enamel has this shiny, slick look, so we used a technique like gathering to create a pinched effect, making it appear more three-dimensional, even under lights. This time, it's sleeveless, but the tattoos he recently got give it a good balance. However, it seems it takes quite a long time to paint his arms, which is a challenge (laughs).

Kami

For Bel Air, it seems that the design he envisioned was difficult to realize. This time, I adjusted the shape of the collar slightly upwards to make it easier to take off. Since taking off the costume was a concern, I incorporated his favorite Rurubar lace in two layers and embroidered it with CD sequins to give off a subtle shimmer, ensuring that the fans could see the light reflecting off it. The sequins were also added to the wings, inspired by his recent thematic focus. They create a fantastical effect, with a gradient from blue to purple as the light shines on them. The wings are the largest element, but they’re lightweight, which allowed Kami to say, "I want to perform while wearing them" (laughs).

For the headpiece, i dyed a cup and embedded black feathers as an accent giving it a mysterious shape that he can just throw on. Lately, he’s been wanting to wear a pink wig that he bought himself, but it’s a bit too intense, so I’m thinking of adding some mesh to tone it down (laughs). The overall concept was inspired by looking at an insect encyclopedia, specifically butterflies. Additionally as Kami insisted from the beginning, there’s a tail attached (laughs).

Gackt

This time, all the members wanted to have wings, so that served as the basis for the design. The members had very detailed requests, particularly Gackt, who was inspired by his favorite movie, The Crow. He wanted the outfit to highlight his beautiful body lines, so while the design is simple, it also needed to allow for movement. Ideally, I would have preferred a stretchy material, but I was determined to use cotton velvet, which has a dark and moody atmosphere, while also creating the effect of gold shining through the darkness.

The cotton velvet, combined with cut velvet, made sitting difficult for Gackt, but when the light hits it, the gold stands out clearly against the black backdrop. The wings, which he was very particular about, were designed in three layers. When closed, they fold up slightly, but when fully opened, they span 4 meters. For live performances, Gackt uses strings to control them, allowing the wings to spread open. The construction is sturdy, with hidden mechanisms for the strings, making the wings quite heavy. The wings were made using about four different patterns, and sequins were added so that when the light hits them, they appear three-dimensional. We used an incredible amount of feathers for the wings as well.

The end

[bratzbrat]

.・゜-: ✧ :-　　𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞!

𝐀 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭!

pairing: Kento Nanami x fem!reader !!!

WARNINGS: 18+ CONTENT AHEAD!!! | mentions of stitches | slight begging | teasing | fingering | dom!nanami! | public fucking! | mentions of getting caught! | female reader! | mirror kink! | cumming inside

wc: 1.3k+

"I got here as fast as I could!" you yelled as you barged into the restroom where Nanami was leaning onto the sink for support, clutching a bloody gauze to the side of his abdomen.

"what happened!" you yelled, rushing closer to remove the half assed patchwork he'd done. smacking his hand away every time he tried to touch the wounded area. "this don't look too good, Nanami-san..."

"think you could patch me up a bit?" he mumbled, leaning his head back, "fuuck" and groaned,  tightening his jaw as you pressed a wet cloth against him to clean the wound.

"that's what you get for not being careful!" you snapped, prepping the needle to stitch him up. taking a deep breath in before you spoke again, you calmed yourself a little. "what happened?"

he bit his tongue to stop himself from whimpering while you repeatedly stuck a needle in him to patch him up. "overtime," he sighed, bringing a lazy hand up to brush it over your cheek.

"don't try to get sweet with me now," you huffed, moving his hand away from your face as you finished the last of the stitches and covered it up. "there." you stated, trailing your fingers over the patch.

"I'm sorry, thank you." he held you by your hips and pulled you close, slinking his arms around you as he rested his head in the crook of your neck, breathing in your comforting scent. "this mission didn't go as planned," he murmured, "there was a special grade present."

"a special grade!?" you muttered, brining your hands up to run it through his messy blonde strands of hair, picking out whatever little debris you found.

"mhm" he sighed, leaning back to look at your face before pulling you in for a long, sweet kiss, one that left you breathless.

"what are you doing?" you gasped, knowing exactly what that kind of kiss lead to... "returning the favor." he murmured. nevertheless you we're leaning your head back as he planted more kisses down your neck, moving to your collarbone as he undid the buttons of your shirt, "you're hurt... hah~"

"mm- let me have this—" he heaved and you could feel his cock growing in his pants as he's pressed up against you, "let me have you— please." he pleaded, and after a nice long look into your eyes he got the confirmation he needed. he grabbed your hips, spun you around and lifted you, to place you sitting on the edge of the sink.

your legs spread of their own accord, his thighs keeping them open as he inched closer, sliding his large hands up your legs to reach into your underwear and plunge two fingers inside your sopping wet cunt.

"I've only kissed you and you're already this wet for me?" he teased, retreating his hand to make you suck on them before plunging them back into you, "such a messy little thing, aren't you," he cooed, curling his fingers inside you, to hit your sweet spot, everytime his fingers pumped in and out, in an unsteady rhythm. but still so good, that you grabbed on to his shirt, exposing his toned, sweaty body even more.

"na-mm, nanami-" you stammered, softly moaning and panting against his chest as you arched your back, pressing the soft, squish of your breasts against him. even in this state, he still brought you so much pleasure. but he stopped. the pressure building up inside of you screamed at him for stopping, but it came out of you as a pining whine.

the sound of him unbuckling his belt made you shove back a bit, looking up at his face then back down to where his hand was now stroking his thick cock. "think you're ready enough to take it?" he heaved, hips bucking into his own hand.

"a-aren't you uhh- to hurt to do this?" you worried, despite how badly you wanted him right now. especially after he just took his fingers away from your now needy pussy.

"please baby," he begged, running his free hand up your plush thighs, to pull you closer to the edge of the counter. "I need you. right here. right now."

you slid off the sink and turned to face the mirror. you caught a glimpse of your flushed face and immediately averted your eyes. "what's the matter sweetheart?" he teased, gripping on to your hips once more, "to shy to look at my perfect girl?" and before you could answer he bent you over and thrusted into you, hips smacking against the softness of your ass, not giving you a chance to adjust to him.

"look at her." he panted, "look at how pretty she is for me," he coaxed, lifting your head up by your hair to look at yourself in the mirror. "that's it, look at yourself as I fuck you into the counter." he moaned, grunting and panting from each thrust as his fingers digged into the curve of your waist, thumbs pressing into the small of your back and his balls slap up against your cunt as you rubbed your clit, desperate for release.

if you didn't know any better, you'd never have guessed he was injured... his thrusts were precise, and in an even rhythm, compared to his faulty finger fucking. his large hands left a stinging sensation as he smacked your ass every three to four thrusts. a result of you trying to hold back your moans.

what fun was it if he couldn't hear your orgasm inducing cries and moans of the ecstasy he brought you? "you're holding back love— afraid someone might hear us?" he murmured, leaning downward to whisper in your ear. "moan for me." his thrusts picked up, harder and faster, a desperate attempt to fuck those sweet moans out of you.

and he wouldn't stop until he heard them.

"na-na-miii, ngh-ahh~" you moaned, unable to hold it in. you gave in, letting your moans loose, for all those who were passing by to hear, how good of a fuck you were getting. but mostly just for him. only for him.

with each of his thrusts your moans got louder and louder and he loved nothing more... well, maybe he loved they way your cunt would squeeze around his cock everytime he lands a crisp smack on your ass. or the way you would whine for him when he slapped and rubbed your clit as he fucked himself into you. or the way — okay maybe he liked some things more, but right now, your moans were the only thing fueling him. keeping him hard enough to bring you to orgasm.

"that's it, that's it baby, fuck—" he cooed, leaning to suck the supple skin of your neck, "don't hold it back." he grunted, as his thrusts got more and more desperate.

"can I- mm- cum inside you?" he quivered, right on the verge of filling you up. and you nodded. a little too eagerly for your liking.

both of your bodies tensed up as you were brought closer and closer to climax. one of kento's hand moved from your waist, to replace your hand in rubbing your swollen, pulsating clit, while his other hand ran up your belly to grope your breasts, then to your neck as he pulled you back, hips bruising against the counter, to lock his lips onto yours. his tongue explored the inside of your mouth, more than your own ever did, going past your teeth and greeting your tongue. he left a string of spit to fall as he pulled away for breath, huffing and heaving for breath.

your hand somehow accidentally turned the tap on as your were trying and failing to keep yourself up right when he picked up the pace. "ahh- I'm gonna-ngh-c-cum~" you whined, padding at his thick fingers rubbing your aching clit as he fucked you over the edge. and as if on command you felt the familiar, warm feeling of him filling you up, keeping himself buried inside you, so as to not spill a drop of his seed.

panting and heaving for breath, he rested his head back in the crook of your neck.

*slip click*

the door swung open, revealing Nanami balls deep inside you, and you bent over the sink... both your heads spun to see a tired woman dumbfounded, as she was exhaling a puff of her cigarette. "this definitely wasn't on my 2024 bingo card..."

Na na mi! Na na mi! na na na na na na mi! ⏤͟͟͞͞☆

©𝐵𝑙𝑢♡

[holybibly]

Hello! this is my first time ever putting in a request and if it doesn't inspire you feel free to ignore. I love the idea of Wooyoung just marking someone up like crazy. Neck, chest, boobs, hips, inner thighs. Everywhere! Even better if they have something important the next day so the reader tells him not to and attempts to push him away but he continues like a little leech. Thank you!

Hi Bunny, It's an honour to fulfilling your first request. I like the idea and think Wooyoung really is a bit leech. But who wouldn't want those plump, sensual lips worshipping your skin? I mean, who wouldn't?

The unholy hours are back on the air again, my dear little bunnies.

Wooyoung had a feeling that he shouldn't be so upset about your conversations with the other members. Hell, they were like family to him, and there was nothing wrong with talking to any of them. You can have friends; yes, you absolutely could have had friends, but Mingi was too close to you, Seonghwa smiled too sweetly at you, and... and why the hell were there hearts in Yeosang's puppy eyes when he looked at you? Of course, San was the third person in your relationship, and Hongjoong wrote a song for you for no reason. He wrote a whole damn song!

He hated it so much. Every time he saw that one of them was getting too close to you for his liking, he would be on fire with uncontrollable jealousy. You were HIS girlfriend, not Atееz' girlfriend. His own.

But Wooyoung knew that he had to be in control of himself, that you would always be back with him in the end. But damned, that stupid song never let him rest. Damn that incredible talent of Hongjoong's. He always wanted you for himself; he wanted to be the only one to touch you, to hug you, to smile at you, to look at you with heartfelt eyes, and to be the only one to write a song for you. Unfortunately, Wooyoung couldn't stop you from communicating with any of the members, but he could make it clear to them who you belonged to. He suggested that it wouldn't hurt to remind you of that.

You were happily in the kitchen, humming and preparing dinner, when Wooyoung came home from dance practice. This time, there were no arguments about who would do the cooking. Once again, Wooyoung couldn't help but admire you and feel that he was falling in love with you even more than he already was. You were perfect—perfect for him in every way—and he loved you like crazy.

He could never get enough of the way that your beautiful face would light up when you looked at him, and he wanted to keep that light all to himself.

"Welcome home, baby! Dinner's almost ready, and... Wooyoung, what are you? What are you doing?"

Wooyoung immediately pulled you close to him and started planting light kisses on your neck until you giggled and pulled away from the ticklish sensation. He chased after you as you tried to pull away, but his strong arms pulled you back into his arms effortlessly. His lips were on your neck immediately, kissing you harder than before.

"God, Woo, what has got into you?" You laughed lightly, half-heartedly pushing him away so you could get back to cooking. "Can you at least wait until we have finished eating? I'm not the one who's on the run."

He thought for a moment before pulling you tighter with a loud whimper.

"No. This is absolutely impossible; I missed you so much, your undivided attention." The touch of his teeth on your soft skin made you cry out, "You've been paying too much attention to the other members lately, baby. Can you just be mine?" You could feel the pout on his lips as they glided greedily down the nape of your neck, leaving a trail of aggressive hickeys in their wake.

"Aren't you jealous, baby?" You asked, running your fingers through his hair, tugging lightly at the long strands, giving in, and letting Wooyoung's hot lips leave more marks on you.

Wooyoung pinned you against the counter with his whole body, still desperately biting and kissing your neck. You're sure you'll look like a patchwork of his hickeys and kisses tomorrow. One of his hands is reaching up to turn the cooker off. To hell with dinner, it would make a great breakfast if he decided to let you out of the bedroom in the next couple of days.

"I hate it when they act like you're their girlfriend too; you belong to me and me alone, my love. The way they touch you and the way they look at you are a pain in my neck."

"Wooyoung, we have talked about this before, oh…"

His hand quickly reached under your skirt and cupped your pussy in a rough way. Wooyoung moaned into your skin as he felt the wetness seep through your panties and onto the palm of his hand. Such a sensitive, tender baby; you were already so wet with him. How could he take the risk that someone else might have a go at you?

"I know, I know, sweetheart, but I can't help myself. It's annoying how they behave with you." Wooyoung's lips slid lower, and now he left passionate kisses on the top of your chest, scraping the skin with his teeth and leaving countless hickeys in his wake. "But I'll show them you're mine." The only warning before he bit down hard on your collarbone was his hot breath on your skin.

"Wooyoung, God!" You gasped, the pain of the bite mixing with the pleasure of his fingers as they rubbed your clit through your panties, the thin lace adding an extra layer of stimulation. If there was one thing you were sure of now, it was that Wooyoung wasn't going to stop until you were covered in hickeys and his bites. Sometimes it was a bit too much for you, but it was better than a series of endless tantrums and childish sulks.

Your hands gripped Wooyoung's hoodie, and your eyes closed in pleasure as the touch of his fingers became more demanding and insistent. You moaned, throwing your head back to allow Wooyoung to access your neck and chest even more for his aggressive, possessive kisses. God, there were times when you thought you were on a date with a leech rather than a man.

You were so wet that you were dripping profusely. Wooyoung's hand was covered in a sticky, clear liquid, and the lace pants had become uncomfortably sticky, now more irritating than stimulating.

"I... I don't think that's true, ah-ah, s-seriously, Wooyoung. All the boys are very, uh, polite and nice to me..."

"Exactly, baby. They're all so sweet to you; they always cling to you; Hongjoong even wrote a song for you." Wooyoung's voice was full of hoarse irritation as his lips left your breasts for a second, where there was now a large purple hickey. "And all the other guys around you—you don't see them looking at you, undressing you with their eyes, thinking about how to fuck you. Every one of them wants to stick his dick in you."

You leaned against him, your voice taking on a tone he could only describe as sultry, and pressed your face against his shoulder with a little laugh.

"God, are you ever going to forget that stupid song? That was two years ago, Woo, and by the way, have you really forgotten how you undressed me with your eyes the first time we met, hmm? You almost fucked me right there in the restaurant; do you remember that?"

"That was something different; it was love at first sight, you know? Anyway, I am going to be the one to fuck you senseless, leave my marks on every inch of you, and then I am going to send you back to the members. Everyone will know that you belong to me."

"Is that a threat? Or a promise, Woo?"

"I can promise you that you can't go tomorrow."

You glanced sideways at the half-cooked meal cooling in the pan.

"That's right, isn't it?"

He pulled his wet fingers out from under your skirt, only to immediately put them in his mouth and lick the moisture that was covering them. Wooyoung gave you one of his famous glances from under his lashes before he gave you a wicked smile. The corners of his plump, swollen lips were in a devilish curl.

"Oh, darling, it's a bit of both."

"You are too full of yourself." You giggled and gave him a sweet kiss on the lips before Woo scooped you up in his arms and carried you off to the bedroom. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and held on tight. Your legs are wrapped around his slender waist to keep you from slipping.

"So many promises. You'd better keep them all."

Wooyoung pressed his lips to your ear, the hot breath burning the delicate skin before the tip of his tongue flicked across it.

"You know it's going to happen, baby. I'm going to give your greedy cunt as much cum as it wants. I will bite you until there is blood, until every inch of your skin is the mark of my teeth. I'll screw you so good you'll forget your name, baby.

A few moments later, when you reached your bedroom, Wooyoung let you fall onto the soft mattress, crawled onto the bed after you, and immediately pressed his lips to the bare skin of your thighs.

"Oh? You sound so confident, Wooyoung." You cooed as your hands began to undo the buttons on your top with a wide, cheeky grin. "Terribly confident that your cock will be more than enough to satisfy me."

Wooyoung knew exactly what you were up to, and it was a mockery to the point of madness. It was the oldest trick in the book, and it worked on him like a charm. His teeth sank into the inside of your thigh, making you scream. His tongue immediately ran over the reddened, insulted skin.

Wooyoung tore off your skirt and panties with a growl as he ripped the offending garment from the body of his naughty little baby. You let out a squeal at his harsh actions, the sound immediately turning into a loud moan as his mouth descended upon your skin once more. He moved higher and higher up your belly, trying to leave as many angry purple marks as he could, leaving sharp bite marks on your thighs as he went. As he pulled off your top and bra, he pulled away from you for a second to study his work of marking you—the bright purple and pink flowers that littered your body didn't even come close to satisfying his need to demand.

You were already such a mess beneath him that you rubbed your thighs together in the hope of somehow relieving the tension between your legs. Wooyoung, seemingly more aggressive with each new hickey, returned with renewed vigor to his task of sucking out new marks on your chest. Your hands became tangled in his hair, pulling his head closer to you and arching your boobs towards his insatiable mouth. Two of his fingers slid between your wet folds and rubbed against your pink, tight hole before he pushed them inside of you.

"Damn, you're wet." He growled, lifting his head to look at you. "Is your pussy desperate for it? Are you hungry to be stuffed, baby?"

Your pout didn't match the way you rubbed against his fingers.

"You're such a tease, Woo. I know half a dozen other guys who could fuck me good if you weren't up to it. I think San would be the first one in line."

"Baby, you're playing with fire, do you realize?" Wooyoung growled as he forced your legs apart and positioned himself between them.

"Maybe I just want to be on fire; who knows?"

"Hmm, really? Then I'm going to show you how to burn the right way."

[ofmdrecaps]

07/24/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Butterflies; Taika Waititi; Leslie Jones; Ruibo Qian; Vico Ortiz; Kristian Nairn; Rachel House; Minnie Driver; Bronson Pinchot; Articles; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards/OFMD Colouring Pages; Love Notes; Daily Darby / Today's Taika

Hey lovelies, very short one tonight. Hope you're all doing well <3

== Butterflies ==

Okay so this is a bit out of order today but-- our friends over at Never Left Podcast have a new Episode out! This episode focuses on flowers! Check it out here! Now, why is it being spotlighted at the top? Well they highlighted the butterflies in Ed's hair for episode 5 of season 1 and that has been a revelation for me and quite a lot of other folks!

Source: Never Left Podcast Twitter

Even David decided to poke his head in.

Source: David Jenkins' Twitter

== Taika Waititi ==

Today is Time Bandits release day! If you have Apple TV it's out and so far I'm enjoying the heck out of it! Please oh please if you can support Taika and Jemaine and all our lovely AoNZ folks!

Source: Taika Waititi's Instagram

Another interview with Taika and Jemaine!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paramount Television Studios (@paramounttelevisionstudios)

A little bit of Time Bandits BTS with Rachel and Taika!

Source: Felicity Ward Instagram

There's a new commercial up for the Fa’atasi Collection, inspired by Next Goal Wins. To learn more, visit their site.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Accompany Creative (@accompanycreative)

Source: Accompany Creative Instagram

== Ruibo Qian ==

Ruibo has been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune for the premiere of Kate Hamill's 'Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B'! Check the article out here!

Source: SanDiegoUnionTribune

== Vico Ortiz ==

More beautiful shots of Vico from Them Fatale's Pride Month show!

Source: Them Fatale's Instagram

== Leslie Jones ==

Leslie's going to be on Beat Bobby Flay on FoodNetwork this Thursday at 9PM ET!

Source: Leslie Jones' Instagram

== Bronson Pinchot ==

Bronson has been having a lot of fun doing his Serge bits on instagram-- and he's got another with Ned Low this time!

== Kristian Nairn ==

Some fun news for Kristian!

Source: Kristian Nairn's Instagram

== Minnie Driver ==

More Minnie out with her friends at the beach!

Source: Minnie Driver's Instagram Stories

== Articles ==

Thank you to our friends over at @adoptourcrew for sharing these articles:

Max: The 23 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch

WBD Related: NBA Rejects Warner Brothers Discovery Bid, Going With "Long Term Arrangement" With Amazon

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

Our friend @melvisik is keeping our Cast Spotlighted with more Cast Cards, this timeof Stu Turner, another casting director that got snubbed by the Emmys.

annnnd Tino L. "another stand in (according to https://ofmd-crew.com/)."

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

= OFMD Colouring Pages =

More Our Flag Means Pride colouring pages from one of the most beautiful souls @patchworkpiratebear!

Source: Patchwork PirateBear's Tumblr

== Love Notes ==

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Third Eye Thoughts ™ (@thirdeyethoughts)

Source: thirdeyethoughts Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @thelatestkate

Source: The Latest Kate's Instagram

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Today's gifs courtesy of two of our most magnificent fandom giffer @sherlockig and @meluli <3 Thank you for all the wonderful gifs you share with us regularly!

[xhxhxhx]

I'm trying to write these earlier in the day.

I used to put off writing until I finished the smaller, more tractable tasks I set for myself. But by the time I finished the little things, I had no energy for writing.

Now, though, I find I don't have the energy for the little things if I start writing too late in the day. If I start writing late enough, I don't have the energy to exercise.

It's 10:15 a.m. Let's see if I can't finish this with energy to spare.

I.

I write to you from San Francisco, a small town on the Pacific Coast of California, servicing a patchwork of commuter suburbs around what we call the "San Francisco Bay Area."

Back in the 1950s, they called the City "Baghdad by the Bay," after its profound ethnic and religious divides, low-intensity urban warfare, and decrepit public infrastructure.

It's awful. Even here in the Green Zone.

II.

Americans like to say that San Francisco has a "Mediterranean" climate. And it's true that it has a Köppen climate classification of Csb, which we call a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate."

Köppen is a three-tier classification scheme. It designates climates by three-letter labels, with each letter dividing the world into finer and finer categories.

The first Köppen letter divides the world into five parts, each designated by the first five letters of the alphabet: tropical A; arid B; temperate C; cold D; and polar E.

Four of the five letters separate the world into mutually-exclusive categories by mean temperatures in the hottest and coldest months, making for a neat algorithm.

If it's above 10ºC in the coldest month, it's tropical A, else:

If it's above 0ºC in the coldest month, it's temperate C, else:

If it's above 10ºC in the hottest month, it's cold D, else:

If it's below 10ºC in the hottest month, it's polar E.

Arid B is an irregularity. It's based on a precipitation threshold, not mean monthly temperatures. It's also hard to characterize in a single phrase, since it varies with the seasonality of the precipitation. It's higher if the precipitation comes in warm months.

But never mind that. It's not arid in San Francisco. That's part of the problem.

In San Francisco's Csb, C stands for temperate, s for dry summer, and b for warm summer.

Temperate means it averages above 10ºC in the hottest month and between 0ºC and 18ºC in its coldest; dry summer means it gets less than 40 mm of precipitation in its driest month; and warm summer means it averages below 22ºC in the hottest month, but above 10ºC for more than four months each year.

Now, is that Mediterranean? It's not obvious to me that it is. Let's go to the map.

III.

Here's beautiful California, in all its climatic variation, courtesy of our friends at the Köppen-Geiger Explorer:

Let's start in the Los Angeles basin, along the borderlands between the yellow and sienna towards the bottom of the map.

Los Angeles divides into three primary climate regions, which provide a useful key to the California experience.

The coast of western Los Angeles, from Santa Monica down to Palos Verdes, and continuing along the coast of Orange County to the south, is a cold, semi-arid steppe, or Bsk.

It's a climate it shares with Colorado Springs, the Texas panhandle, and a swathe of the Eurasian steppe lands, from Crimea to Volgograd to Inner Mongolia.

South and central Los Angeles, south of the 10, but extending northeast to a frontier in Culver City, Mid-Wilshire, and Koreatown, and south through Anaheim and Garden Grove to Irvine, is a hot, semi-arid steppe, or Bsh.

It's a climate it shares with Gaza, the West Bank of the Jordan, Mosul, the Zagros foothills of Khuzestan, Amritsar, and the northern, or Turkish, part of Cyprus.

North of that, extending from downtown across the mountains into the San Fernando Valley, and east across the river to El Monte, Pomona, and Rancho Cucamonga, is the last part of Los Angeles, the hot-summer Mediterranean, or Csa.

This climate, the climate of Glendale and Pasadena, of Burbank and Sherman Oaks, of Van Nuys, Encino, and Calabasas, is what I think of as the actual Mediterranean climate.

Because it's the climate of the actual Mediterranean.

It's a climate it shares with Athens and Rome, Syracuse and Tunis, Jerusalem and Jaffa, Florence and Naples, but not, significantly, a climate it shares with San Francisco.

Because it's too warm for the city by the Bay.

IV.

Now let's look north, to the Golden Gate.

Here you can see that the Bay Area is, as you might have guessed, a homogeneous and indistinct stain on the map of California.

Does it have semiarid steppe lands? No. Does it have hot summers? No. From the South Bay to the Valley, from the West Side to the East Side, everyone has the same climate, and nobody's very happy.

San Francisco shares a climate with Oakland which shares a climate with Mountain View which shares a climate with Sausalito which shares a climate with San Jose which shares a climate with Berkeley and Richmond. It's a climate that stretches, like an open sore, down to Santa Cruz and Monterey.

It's all the same fucking climate.

It's called, as you may recall, the warm-summer Mediterranean climate, or Csb. Not hot summer. Not the summer of Glendale or Pasadena. No. A warm summer.

How warm is a warm summer? Is that a Mediterranean kind of summer? Is that the kind of summer you get in the south of France or the Greek islands? Well, no.

You know who else has a warm summer?

Fucking Galicia, that's who. The Parnassus Mountains. Mount fucking Lebanon.

You know who else has this fucking climate?

The Pacific fucking Northwest. Because it's cold and wet there. Just like San Francisco.

VI.

San Francisco: It's cold and damp!

I fucking hate it.

[art-vortex]

(via Coussin avec l'œuvre « "Patchwork Abstrait en Noir et Blanc" » de l'artiste Art-Vortex-fr)

[ateez-ana]

treasure film days

For those who have not seen the treasure film, the boys had to do individual challenges and group challenges to "find" the treasure

pt1 the challenge

The air crackled with nervous energy as the Ateez members gathered around a table in their Sydney hotel room. They had just received their 'Treasure Film' challenge sheets, a colorful array of tasks designed to test their courage, resourcefulness, and, of course, their comedic timing. It was their first time filming in Australia, and the vibrant energy of the city was infectious.

Ana, scanned the sheet, her brows furrowing. The tasks were a mix of daring and ridiculous, each matched to their individual personalities. San had to swim with sharks , Wooyoung had to ask a friend of her mom to give him food , and Mingi had to order some things in a pharmacy all by himself Ana’s eyes settled on hers: 'Skydive and take a selfie.'

Ana glanced at Hongjoong, their leader, who was carefully studying his own challenge, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He knew about her fear of heights, “Ana,” Hongjoong whispered, his voice laced with amusement, “You okay?” Ana swallowed, forcing a smile. “Just… thinking about it.” “I bet you’re going to be great,” he said, his voice laced with a reassuring confidence that calmed her a little.

A couple of hours later, the group gathered at the airfield, their nervous laughter echoing in the vast, open space. Hongjoong stood nearby, a watchful observer, a small smile playing on his lips as the cameramen began their preparations.

Ana sat at the edge of the runway, her heart pounding like a drum solo. The skydivers, clad in bright orange jumpsuits, seemed calm and collected, though their faces seemed to radiate a strange kind of madness.

“Ready, Ana?” the cameraman asked, his voice a little too chipper for the situation.

Ana’s knees trembled.

One by one, the skydivers climbed into the plane, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension. When it was Ana’s turn, Hongjoong approached, his hand on her shoulder, his eyes twinkling.

“You got this,” he whispered, a reassuring squeeze before he stepped back.

Ana took a shaky breath as she climbed the ladder of the small plane, the cold wind whipping through her hair. The world shrunk beneath her as the plane ascended, the vast expanse of the land becoming a patchwork of greens and browns. Her stomach tightened, fear tightening its grip on her. This was crazy.

The wind hummed through the plane windows, and Ana, with her pale face and wet eyes, clung with all her might to the edges of the seat. Her heart was pounding like a maddened buffalo in her chest.

'Ana, are you ready?' The instructor's voice, a burly man with a smile too cheerful for the situation, echoed through the noise of the plane.

'No, no, no,' Ana let out a sob. 'Why are you doing me this? I pay you, I give you everything you want, but please don't make me jump. I'm not cut out for this kind of thing.'

'Don't worry, Ana. It's an incredible experience. Look at the view!' The instructor pushed her toward the open door of the plane.

Ana clung to the door for dear life, looking down in horror. The ground stretched like an endless chess board. Her stomach clenched as she saw the distance, and her legs began to tremble.

'I can't, I can't, I can't,' Ana whispered, tears threatening to overflow.

'What's wrong, Ana?' the instructor asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

'I'm afraid of heights,' Ana said, her voice shaking. 'I'm afraid of dying. I'm afraid of everything.'

'Don't worry, Ana. I'll be with you all the time. Come on, just a little jump!' The instructor pushed her lightly into the void.

'No! No! No!' Ana screamed, clinging to the instructor with a force that would have probably broken her bones.

'Ana, relax! It's just a jump!' The instructor, feeling a little uncomfortable with Ana's iron grip, tactfully tried to free himself from her. 'Besides, if you get off now, you can tell all your fans later,' he said with a wry smile.

Ana froze. His fans! The thought of the shame she would feel if her fans found out about her fear of heights filled her with a new terror, a terror even more intense than the fear of falling.

'It's okay,' Ana said, taking a deep breath. 'I'm going to do it, but… can you hold me tight and not let me fall?'

The instructor looked at her with a wry smile. 'Of course, Ana. I'm going to hold you very tight. Get ready for the adventure of your life!'

And with that, Ana, holding on to the instructor like a koala to a tree, launched herself into the void, screaming like a little girl. The wind whipped her face and the sound of her own scream echoed in her ears. Fear paralyzed her, but despite the terror, a small thought floated into her mind: at least her fear of heights would be a great story to tell her fans.

Ana took out her phone, her hands still trembling. She focused her lens on the breathtaking panorama and pressed the button, capturing the moment, the feeling of being alive, free, and conquering her fear. She had done it.

Back on the ground, she was greeted by laughter and cheers. The crew, the cameraman, the other Ateez members - even the skydiver who jumped with her – all seemed to be in on the joke, their faces lit by amusement.

“Ana!” Mingi cried, doubling over as he choked back a laugh. “Your face was priceless! Do you even realize how funny you were while falling?”

Even San, managed a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I knew you could do it, Uno,” he said, using his nickname for her.

Hongjoong just smiled, his eyes warmly admiring.

pt2

The air crackled with anticipation as Ana, Hongjoong, Yeosang, and Wooyoung stood in line at the concession stand, the smell of buttery popcorn and sugary soda filling their senses. This wasn't just any movie night; it was a challenge orchestrated by Hongjoong himself. He was dared to watch an entire English-language film without subtitles, a feat that seemed impossible considering his infamous sleepiness.

'I'm going to have to rely on the power of sheer will,' Hongjoong declared, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness as he surveyed the massive popcorn buckets. 'And this glorious sugary fuel.'

Wooyoung, ever the playful instigator, nudged him playfully. 'Don't worry, hyung. We'll all be your personal translators, even if they're just mumbled whispers in your ear.'

Yeosang, on the other hand, was surprisingly invested. He leaned towards the counter, his eyes scanning the menu with an almost academic curiosity. 'What kind of film did you choose, Hongjoong?'

'A classic,' Hongjoong said with a dramatic flourish. 'One that will truly test my limits.' He winked, 'Just wait till you see the trailer.'

The popcorn, a mountain of fluffy goodness, arrived, and they settled into their plush seats in the darkened theater. The crew had rented the entire space for their little experiment, a decision that felt both luxurious and strangely isolating. The lights dimmed, the opening credits rolled, and the story began to unfold.

The first few minutes were a blur of unfamiliar dialogues and foreign accents. Yet, Hongjoong, driven by his own challenge and an intrinsic need to prove himself, clung onto every spoken word, every dramatic inflection.

As the movie progressed, however, fatigue began to set in. His eyelids grew heavy, his head bobbing forward in an act of defiance against sleep. Around him, his friends succumbed one by one. Yeosang, with his usual quiet dignity, leaned against Wooyoung’s shoulder, his head resting against the soft fabric of his hoodie. Wooyoung, barely able to keep his eyes open, surrendered completely, his head drooping against the seatback, a slight snore escaping through his parted lips.

Ana, who had always been a light sleeper, managed to stay awake for a surprisingly long time, occasionally turning to Hongjoong with a concerned frown. But eventually, she too succumbed to sleep, softly snuggling up to Wooyoung, finding comfort in his warmth.

The rest of the film moved at a snail’s pace. Hongjoong, alone in a sea of slumbering faces, felt a mix of annoyance and pride. He’d lost count of how many times he’d had to fight the urge to close his eyes, to succumb to the comforting embrace of sleep. It was a mental battle, a testament to his determination. As the last image faded and the credits rolled, he finally let his head droop, defeated by the unrelenting fatigue.

He looked around at his friends, their faces peaceful in sleep. A gentle smile played on his lips as he observed Ana, curled up against Wooyoung like a sleepy kitten, Yeosang, comfortably slumped against Wooyoung’s side, and Wooyoung, fast asleep with a soft, rhythmic snore.

“Always the champions of sleep,” Hongjoong muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper. He knew that his friends would feel a pang of embarrassment once they woke up

pt3

Ana stared at the camera, perched precariously on a stack of books on San's desk. It was supposed to be a simple 'good morning' message for Atinys, but the simple act of greeting their fans seemed to be turning into a comedy show starring only Ana.

'Good morning, Atinys!' she started, her voice bright and bubbly. 'It’s a beautiful day outside...' She glanced at the window, a thin sheet of rain lashing against the glass. 'Okay, maybe not a *beautiful* day, but it's a day nonetheless!'

The camera caught the faintest twitch of San’s eyebrow as he sat on his bed, his headphones on, completely engrossed in his phone. San was good about respecting her space, mostly. But this lack of interaction was a little... unnerving. Especially when she could feel his eyes on her every few seconds.

'Anyways,' she carried on, 'I hope you all have a wonderful day, full of sunshine and... and... well, I don’t know, anything you enjoy? I’m still trying to find my own sunshine.'

She sighed dramatically, leaning on her hand. This felt less like a greeting and more like a therapy session.

“Oh, and remember to eat breakfast, and drink lots of water,' she continued, suddenly serious. 'And if you’re feeling down, just remember… you’re not alone.”

She paused for a beat, then added with a mischievous grin, “Not literally, but you know what I mean.”

San finally looked up from his phone, a barely-there smirk playing on his lips.

Ana, emboldened by his amusement, decided to up the ante.

“Speaking of feeling down,” she said, gazing directly into the camera, “I’m feeling a little… under the weather.” She let out a dramatic cough, followed by a cough so fake even a five-year-old would know it was staged.

San, unfortunately, was not a five-year-old. He snorted, a sound that was half-suppressed laughter, half-choked disbelief.

“Why are you so… theatrical?” he grumbled, still staring at his phone but a hint of a smile creeping onto his face.

Ana pretended not to hear him, continuing with her performance. She coughed again, with theatrical flair, then leaned forward like she was about to reveal a shocking secret.

“Actually,” she whispered, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper, “I think I’ve caught… the San-flu.”

San finally broke, throwing his head back and laughing. He was truly laughing, his shoulders shaking, a joyous sound that echoed through the room.

'I think you need to teach me some of your acting skills,' he said, his voice still tinged with amusement.

“I already did,” Ana replied, tilting her head with mock solemnity. 'That’s why you're always so dramatic.”

---------------

'San, do you think this is cute?' She showed him the recording, a grimace plastered on her face.

San burst out laughing. 'No offense, Ana, but that was, well, how do I say this politely… not quite 'cute'?' he chuckled. 'More like 'caffeine-deprived-zombie-trying-to-awaken-a-sleeping-giant'.'

Ana groaned. 'This is hopeless.'

'Don't say that!' San encouraged, his eyes sparkling. 'Look, just be yourself, alright? We love you, cringy moments and all. Just imagine you're talking to your friends.'

Ana contemplated his advice. 'Okay, maybe I can do this.'

Taking a deep breath, she began recording again. 'Good morning, Atiny! It’s Ana,' she started, her voice sounding more natural this time. 'I hope you’re having a great day.' She decided to channel her inner San and added with a chuckle, 'If you’re not, then don’t worry, you’re not alone. We all have those days. And remember, you’re all amazing!'

As she finished the message, her eyes darted to the clock. Only ten minutes left until the group message deadline! She quickly moved on to the next part, trying to think of something cute and memorable.

'Okay, how about this…' she muttered to herself, placing a hand on her cheek, pretending to be shy. 'Good morning, Atiny! Today is going to be amazing, just like you!'

A loud, snorting cough from the living room made her jump. She peeked through the door to see San clutching his stomach, tears streaming down his face.

'What?' Ana asked, bewildered.

“You're… you're channeling your inner-Mingi, dude!' San said between fits of laughter. 'Your facial expressions are priceless!'

Ana’s cheeks flushed red. 'Oh, no, I can't be caught dead trying to do a Mingi.'

San managed to compose himself, wiping his tears with a sleeve. “Okay, okay, how about this? Go for a simple, classic good morning. And maybe, just maybe… try a dance move? A little something for the fans.”

Desperate for a solution, Ana grabbed her phone and started scrolling through videos on TikTok.

'Oh! I got it!' she exclaimed, her eyes alight with an idea.

The camera started recording and she threw her hands in the air, mimicking a classic K-Pop move. But as she tried to execute the motion, her feet got tangled, and she stumbled, landing flat on the carpet.

A wave of laughter erupted from the living room. 'Ana!' San's voice rang out. 'Don't worry, I'm fine!' Ana called back, scrambling to her feet. “Just a little, uh, choreography malfunction.”

She decided to play it cool and finish the message, flashing a strained smile at the camera. “Okay, Atiny, I hope you have a wonderful day. See you soon, and always remember… you're all amazing!'

She uploaded the message and hurried to the living room, where the rest of ATEEZ were gathered, their faces a mix of amusement and concern.'You alright, Ana?' Yunho asked, his eyes filled with concern.'Yeah, just a few bumps in the road,' Ana replied, flashing a smile. 'But hey, at least it made San laugh.”San, wiping away a tear, nodded. 'Indeed. You know, Ana, for a girl who’s absolutely terrified of being cute… you’re a natural comedic genius.'

[mostlysignssomeportents]

1900s futurism

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in TUCSON (Mar 9-10), then SAN FRANCISCO (Mar 13), Anaheim, and more!

I'm profoundly skeptical of the idea that the future can be predicted, and doubly skeptical that sf writers are any kind of prophet. The former grotesque fatalism (if the future can be predicted, then what we do doesn't matter); the latter is tragicomic hubris.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/07/the-gernsback-continuum/#wheres-my-jetpack

That said, few people have been more consistently useful in understanding and anticipating (and yes, building) the future than my friend and colleague Karl Schroeder, whom I've known since I was 16 years old. Karl was the first person I heard say the world "internet." Also: "fractal," "World Wide Web," "ftp," and numerous other touchstones of the future just over the horizon.

Karl is, in fact, a futurist ("foresight consultant") who approaches the work with the same shrewd insight, wild imagination and humility that he brings to his fiction. In a new essay written with both his futurist and sf writer hats on, he nails down the toxic shadow cast by the 20th century sf, or, as he calls it, "The Science Fiction of the 1900s":

https://kschroeder.substack.com/p/the-science-fiction-of-the-1900s

Karl starts by describing the odd "double vision" of the future of the 1900s. On the one hand, many of us (myself included) were convinced that nuclear armageddon was inevitable. Unlike the unhinged architects of the nuclear arms-race, realists understood that a nuclear war would effectively end the future. As Einstein put it, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

But the flipside of that certainty that the future would end with the first nuclear strike was the belief that if we could just somehow walk the tightrope over the chasm of nuclear holocaust, we'd emerge in a future worth looking forward to: "a new era of peace and prosperity for all."

Contrast that with the existential dread of today's polycrisis: environmental collapse and political decay up to and including fascism. These aren't the binary proposition of nuclear annihilation vs Utopia – rather, they're a continuum of worse-and-better outcomes of every description. As Karl writes: "It’s not that simple. Our future now is an exhausting spectrum of scenarios, each with its own promise, and its own problems."

For Karl, we have entered a new epoch, but we've dragged in the long-expired way of imagining (and hence creating and navigating) the future with us. What makes this a new epoch? For Karl, it's the kind of future on our horizon. He cites Charles C Mann’s 1491, a superb history of the Americas before Columbus:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/107178/1491-second-edition-by-charles-c-mann/9781400032051/readers-guide/

1491 radically reframes "the patchwork of propaganda and inference" that makes up the received narrative of the so-called "New World." It describes a land of flourishing cities, art, science and culture "in the Americas while Rome was just getting its act together." Contact with colonizing Europeans was a disaster for First Nations people, who call this period "The Invasion." It was an epochal break.

Futurism is an inextricably historical discipline. The willingness of some settler-colonialists states to consider this epochal break forces us to reframe our literal place in history, the story of the land under our feet. At its best, this futuro-historical work can begin the long work of reconciliation, as with the Canadian government's promise of $23b in reparations for the First Nations people who were kidnapped as children and sent to murderous "residential schools" before, during and after the Sixties Scoop.

The sf of the 1900s is no longer fit for purpose, if it ever was. It's a literature that was steered by open fascists like John W Campbell, who explicitly saw the literature as a means of inculcating a societal narrative of the triumph of white, corporate technocracy over all other forms of government:

https://locusmag.com/2019/11/cory-doctorow-jeannette-ng-was-right-john-w-campbell-was-a-fascist/

Karl isn't the first sf writer to try to overturn this orthodoxy – indeed, it was continuously challenged by radicals within the field, as with the New Wave, personified by the likes of Samuel Delany and Judith Merril (who both mentored and introduced Karl and me):

https://pluralistic.net/2020/08/13/better-to-have-loved/#neofuturians

The cyberpunks took a good hard run at it, too. For plenty of writers (including me), Bruce Sterling and William Gibson's 1981 story "The Gernsback Continuum" was a wake-up call:

http://writing2.richmond.edu/jessid/eng216/gernsback.pdf

Not for nothing, William Gibson has long insisted that his 1984 classic Neuromancer should be read as utopian: after all, it depicts a future in which the inevitable nuclear war only reduces a few cities to radioactive ash, sparing the rest of the planet.

Bruce Sterling once paid me the supreme compliment of describing a 2003 story I wrote about the ways that algorithms will enshittify self-driving cars as "making everybody else in the business look like they live in a dark basement growing on the mulch from old STAR TREK scripts":

https://craphound.com/stories/2005/10/12/human-readable/

Schroeder – along with today's new radical sf writer cohort – wants to fashion a fictional futurism that is fit for this world and its crisis: "in our modern technological society, science fiction tells us what to spend our time and money on." The fact that our mediocre billionaires are mired in the sf of the 1900s means that we're getting some decidedly old-fashioned futures.

For Karl, Musk is a poster-child for this profoundly conservative, backwards-looking vision: "He’s fighting the intellectual battles of the last century, a 1900s hero dropped into the 2000s with an unlimited budget to reshape the future to fit the era he’s from." Musk's obsessions – "Space flight. Settling Mars. Cyberpunk-style brain-computer interfaces. Artificial Intelligence. Self-driving electric cars. Humanoid robots." – are 1900s science fiction.

Ironically, much of this fiction labels itself "hard sf," despite the fact that interstellar travel is utter fantasy – as is mass-scale, near-term interplanetary civilization:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/09/astrobezzle/#send-robots-instead

Karl wants "a future for the 2000s." He points to some efforts to make this happen, like Neal Stephenson's Hieroglyph anthology, edited by Ed Finn and Kathryn Cramer:

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/hieroglyph-ed-finnkathryn-cramer

The "Hieroglyph" is Stephenson's shorthand for a recognizable, tangible, meme-able gizmo or other touchstone for a 2000s-era vision of the future – a replacement for jetpacks and flying cars. Karl's story for the anthology, "Degrees of Freedom," focuses on an abstraction (governance: "the single most important thing humanity can focus its creative energies on right now"), and by Karl's own admission, it's not quite the hieroglyph Stephenson was looking for.

But Karl did come up with a hieroglyph in a later work, the "deodands" of 2019's Stealing Worlds – a software agent "that believes it is some natural system, such as a river or forest, and acts in its own self-interest, that being the preservation and thriving of that natural system":

https://memex.craphound.com/2019/06/18/karl-schroeders-stealing-worlds-visionary-science-fiction-of-a-way-through-the-climate-and-inequality-crises/

(My own contribution to Hieroglyph was very gadget heavy – "The Man Who Sold the Moon," about autonomous lunar 3D printers. It won the Sturgeon Award):

https://memex.craphound.com/2015/05/22/the-man-who-sold-the-moon/

I've been impressed with Karl since the day I met him in 1987. There's no one whose thoughts on the future I'm more interested in hearing. I don't think that's a coincidence, either: Karl is an autodidact who was raised by a Mennonite TV repairman – the first TV repair shop in the Canadian prairies. If you want to understand the future, try being raised by someone who takes that kind of deliberate approach to which technology to adopt, and how.

Name your price for 18 of my DRM-free ebooks and support the Electronic Frontier Foundation with the Humble Cory Doctorow Bundle.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/07/the-gernsback-continuum/#wheres-my-jetpack