#Still not sure about the exact method I'm going to use cause I'm not there yet

[tswwwit]

i keep thinking of bill's solution to rein!dip not having a tongue is like...

u know these parasites who bite off fish' tongue and *become* the tongue? a demonic creature version of that

i read the ficlet and keep thinking of these parasites im sorry

Don't be sorry! I absolutely thought of the same thing - though I'm not sure how the actual re-tonguing goes down yet! Bill would know a guy who sells a few parasites, though.

[bubblegumgothglados]

Do you want to hurt your victim?

Like really really hurt them? Like worst pain they've ever felt? And you want to do it with minimal risk of permanent damage?

Have you considered pulling their fingernails out? Here's a guide

What you'll need

Restraints. You probably want them supine in case they faint. You definitely want the hand you're working on well restrained so they can't flinch half way through and hurt themselves. You also probably want to gag them so they don't bite their tongue off by accident.

Tourniquet. To cut off the blood supply before removing the nail and then to help reduce the blood loss afterwards.

Pliers. For the actually pulling, you want maximum surface area but you also don't want to be flattening the curved edges of the nail because snapping it would be bad. So the exact size that'll be best will depend on the nail you're trying to pull. In any case make sure you can get a really good grip on it.

Anesthetic and pain killers. I'm assuming you only have access to over the counter stuff but get the best you can. If your victim uses their safe word when their nail is half way off dose them with pain meds and apply a topical numbing agent. From there you can either get them to a doctor to finish the job with proper local or finish it yourself because once its half way off it has to come all the way off it will not reattach.

Wound care supplies. Antiseptic, gauze, bandages, etc. I'm assuming you know wound care already.

Method

Restrain them as much as you feel necessary, sterilise the area and your tools, have your wound care supplies ready, clamp pliers down onto the nail, apply firm steady pressure up and away from the finger, wiggle slightly as it comes off. Pretty simple really.

As always if anything goes wrong be ready to call emergency services and get your victim to the ER. But really there's very little that can go wrong here. The only complication would be the nail snapping in which case you would finish removing the piece of nail you still have a hold of and then remove the snapped pieces.

Aftercare

Apply pressure until bleeding stops. Slather on antiseptic, wrap in gaze, and bandage. Do not apply ice, ice does reduce swelling but swelling is part of the healing process and ice impedes that process increasing total heal time. Re-bandage after a day or two, if the bandage has stuck to the wound run it under water until it loosens, do not soak (do not let them go for a swim). Keep an eye out for signs of infection.

Normal aftercare rules apply I.e. snacks, fluids, rest, and whatever emotional aftercare you both like and need.

Make sure your victim keeps their hand above heart level as much as possible over the next five days to stop blood from pooling in the wound.

There is the risk of damaging the nail bed causing the nail to grow back not quite the same. I've had this happen to me and it's slightly annoying not actually a problem

The nail should grow back in about six months, and then of course you can rip it out again

[blueteller]

Hello, Blueteller-nim! I just want to ask what's happening rn in tcf part 2? Who are the new gods that have been introduced (and how many of those newly introduced gods became Cale's enemies)? How many hunters Cale already defeated (and how many more should he defeat)? Is there any news about the Fake Hilsman? Did Cale adopted a new kid? (Pls say yes I want him to adopt more lol)

Hi! I believe this exact question was sent to me before? Sorry it took me so long to reply! Every time I started writing, new lore got dropped and I ended up re-writing this reply from scratch. There's a lot to cover, so brace yourself for tons of SPOILERS

I made a post about TCF gods once already, but turns out, parts of it are outdated! Some new information got revealed that directly contradicts my old assumptions about several of them. But we'll get to it.

First of all, the Hunter families. The plot of Part 2 so far consists of Cale going to different dimensions to deal with them.

So there were originally seven, but by current time there were only five left to deal with. Let's quickly run by each of them one by one.

Black Bloods; residents of the planet Xiaolen – specifically Xiaolen 1 – named Huayans (Fayence in the first raw translations, just in case you've seen that version before), led by Redok. They were human Black Mages who specialized in "White Magic", meaning their variant of Black Magic was more powerful and it looked white. Pretty neat. They flooded Xiaolen with dead mana in order to sacrifice the world and gather its energy called "Karma". Still little detail on how Karma works exactly, but we know it can be gathered by either killing or saving tons of people – guess which method the Hunters use. Cale got a dramatic fire power boost because of some universal balance rules, and defeated them pretty easily. (Xiaolen citizens made Cale a statue in his honor, much to his despair lol)

Blue Bloods; residents of Central Plains, a pretty young world from what we know. They were known as the Blood Cult, lead by a female leader called Blood Demon. They created hundreds of thousands of zombies called Jiangshi and planned to cause a 3-way civil war in order to do the same thing Black Bloods were trying to do. Cale got a water power upgrade because of a dead Dragon and defeated a tsunami with a tsunami and got a splitting headache because of some third eye mumbo jumbo – long story. They were a little harder to defeat than Black Bloods, but they managed in the end. Choi Han got to personally slay the Blood Demon. (Central Plains citizens turned Cale into a folk story/legend and apparently there's already a cult for him hahaha)

Purple Bloods; resident of Aipotu – who consists entirely of Dragons and Dragon-bloods, led by Dragon Lord Neo (yes I'm pretty sure the name is a Matrix reference – love the irony of it so much). Purple Blood's specialty was getting to "inheriting" Dragon powers via some very questionable blood transfusions and heart transplants. Nasty stuff. Neo's Attribute was time, or something quite similar to it, and he used his time powers to mess up Aipotu and the World Tree, intending to transfer himself and all his followers/slaves into a Virtual Reality the Hunters planned to make their own new world. Cale had to use Instant to defeat Neo, turning his own broken plate into dust and eating it to survive (VERY questionable method, Cale!!). Dragon Half-Blood also had to sacrifice himself so Cale set him up as an NPC in the Virtual World and he gets to be reborn from an egg as a legit Half-Dragon named Eden Miru. These has been the most recent events in the story (also Aipotu residents built Cale a church under Clopeh and named it Five Colored Light religion HAHAHAHA). Speaking of Virtual Reality…

Transparent Bloods; residents of Earth 3 – the world where Anh Roh Man lives, the guy who made Alberu's Taerang; leader unknown so far. Apparently ARM's parents are the one who made the Virtual Reality, and the Hunters bought/stole it (and named it "Raising My Very Own Precious Omnipotent God!"??? Which is just hilarious…) So the game wasn't originally designed by them. That matters a lot, because it seems like not only VR is sentient like every other world so far, it has even created an AI specifically against the Hunters and their influence. It seems that VR is, in fact, a real world, capable of containing real people and their souls. So Cale will definitely be heading there next to save it from Transparent Bloods. But before we get to them…

Five-Colored Bloods; no apparent residence, but I have a suspicion… We found out very recently their leader is called the "Wanderer King". Which just screams to me of the whole "Mercenary King" invented by the White Star – the exact same brand of arrogance, really. Their specialty seems to be collecting and transferring power; that's how Dragon Lord Neo was able to get so much power to influence an entire world and the World Tree. They will be a pain to deal with, because they seem to be allied both with certain gods and demons. Which is why, btw, in the most recent chapters Cale went to the freaking Demon Realm. But more on that in a bit~!

White Bloods; all we know about them is from Choi Jung Gun in Sealed God's Temple Test of Sloth. To directly quote him, "The White Blood family betrayed the Hunters and escaped!" (chapter 730) – which I actually mixed up in the past, my bad; I thought it was the Red Blood family that betrayed them and escaped. Speaking of which:

Red Bloods; also known as Thames, last known member being Jour Thames (or is it Drew Thames in the EAP translation? Whatever, I prefer Jour…) and the "Fake Hilsman" who stole Cale's retirement fund. Judging from Jour mentioning her brother when Cale got the Annual Rings of Life Ancient Power, I think it's safe to assume it's that guy. CJG said to Cale that " The Red Blood family perished a long time ago", but he also said that "The Red Blood did not perish", so I think they also betrayed the Hunters and faked their death.

If you're still with me after ALL of that exposition, let me now actually address the actual question: the gods involved in the plot of in Part 2.

There are 5 gods we must talk about, and why I need the Hunter families context first will become clear in a moment.

God of Balance; apparently female, wears heels, and approaches people from behind for intimidation. I'd call her the "gentle in disposition yet extremely scary" grandma type. Basically forcefully summoned Cale to meet her after defeating the Blue Bloods on Central Plains (Cale did not see her face) and told/threatened Cale that he should become a god. One of the "Five Ancient Gods", which seem to be one of the if not THE oldest Gods around who did not retire yet for some reason. Seems like a real piece of work, though doesn't seem evil? More like a strict law enforced or corrupt politician. She did beat up the God of Death over giving Cale the dimension-transporting mirror Divine Item that one time. She also wrote a rulebook on universal balance, apparently. That's why most of Cales powers were sealed and weakened during the Central Plains arc.

God of Hope; I don't believe their gender was ever specified. I think some people assume she's female too, but I found no evidence for it so far? I might be wrong. Anyway – thanks to them visiting Cale to "scare away" the God of Balance, we got tons of info. The God of Hope said: "Including Balance, Chaos, and I, there are a total of five Ancient Gods. We have continued to protect these seats without ever handing it over to another existence. My my, we are all quite greedy. We all desire power as well." So the five Ancient Gods seem to be Balance, Chaos, Hope, and I think the last two are Fate and Blue Wolf? [EDIT: The last two were revealed to be Justice and Injustice in the most recent chapter. My mistake!] Anyway – the God of Hope is sometimes stronger than Balance and that pisses her off. They seem to be one of the most reasonable gods we've met so far, not only admitting that they did not wish to become a god at all but were forced to, but also sincerely cheering on Cale's dream, explaining that Balance wanted Cale to replace Hope and be her lackey. No thanks, Balance, that's never gonna happen. …I mean Cale might still end up a god, with how things are going, but. Definitely not working for Balance.

Blue Wolf; I'm also unsure if the gender ever got specified, though I got the impression that they're probably male so far? In any case, they showed up during the battle on Aipotu. One of the evil Hunter Dragons tried to summon them with a corrupt Divine Item and Lock ended up swallowing a blue flame (yes it was exactly as weird as it sounds). They seem to be the reason why Beast People are able to control their Berserk Transformations at all? Which is quite interesting. Little to no depth on this god's character so far, though, except for apparently liking Lock and making him a successor of some kind.

God of Chaos; we found out a couple of things about them so far in the Aipotu arc. One, their followers are complete freaks; like, Shou Tucker from Fullmetal Alchemist level of messed up.  Their followers experiment on people AND themselves, like re-sewing limbs and creating chimeras (which explains lots of Hunter experiments honestly). Two, their representatives are able to use some weird similar-to-Dominating-Aura power which involves creepy Eldritch Horror Eyes? And Cale's gonna try and replicate that with the Donating Aura himself?? Well okay then…? Three, that god's power seems to be characterized by grey color (Dragon Lord Neo intended to use grey stuff to kill Aipotu with. Also worth mentioning; Choi Jung Gun apparently got poisoned by it, so now he's unconscious, slowly turning gray and dying. We'll see if Cale finds a way to save him.) Which – plot twist!! Actually came up in Part 1!! Looks like Sky Eating Water herself was subdued by that very god's power?! Together with God of War, no less, which brings us to the final god on the list…

God of War; turns out they're a double agent, if not a triple agent!! It's quite difficult to figure out what their deal is. Before, I kinda assumed they had to have some good intentions, because they helped created shelters and Cotton was their Holy Maiden and stuff. But nope. God of War is either working FOR or WITH the Hunters, although I'm inclined to think the latter. There seems to be something going behind the scenes, some personal agenda we don't know of yet? We know from Part 1 that God of War gave the people of the north a river, which the Sekka family hoarded selfishly for themselves, turning it into a lake. The God of War emptied the lake in retribution and sent a Divine Item that was a watering can full of fury. However – despite apparently all that good stuff and "breaking the slave chains" from Sky Eater Water, they also forced her to work for them as a Judge, which she hated so much she ran off. We now found out in Part 2 that God of War must have wanted to control Sky Eating Water, because she was so powerful she probably could have defeated the Ancient White Star by herself!! So, God of War teamed up with God of Chaos and chained her down in the lake in the Eastern Continent where Cale eventually got the Ancient Power from. A tragic end for her, but shows how merciless God of War was for his very own chosen one, in the end. God of War was also involved in giving Neo the knowledge on how to control Aipotu's power and the World Tree. There seems to be a lot more going on with the God of War we EVER knew, and the fact that the grey color has been set up back when Cale got Sky Eating water is straight up thrilling for me. I can't wait to find out more!!

So we finally covered all the Hunters and all the gods so far – goodness I'm sorry there's so much, but in my defense, that's about 300 chapters of context for it.

I roughly covered what happened so far through the two lists, but I'll add a few more things:

Cale defeated 3 out of 5 Hunter families so far: Black, Blue and Purple (like beating someone up and leaving colored bruises lol), with Transparent and Five Colors left. Also the ever-mysterious Hunter Leader called "The King's Successor", no idea if that's the Wanderer King or not, but I kind of doubt it. We'll see… (I also totally hope Cale kicks the a** of the God of Chaos, because they're a creep and deserve to burn in hell)

There seems to be another faction aside from Hunters & their supporters, or anti-Hunter gods like God of Death and non-affiliated people – there's a group called "Arbitrators" (raw translation, EAP did not get so far yet), which include Demons?? We don't know what their exact deal is yet, they seem to be about specific Divine/Demonic politics maybe? And Cotton is one of them because she turned her back on God of War?? And now Cale is in the Demon Realm, meeting a middle-aged demon princess named Aurora (whose father got dethroned and another guy took his place so Cale's probably gonna dethrone yet another monarch soon), and it turns out that the Arbitrators are totally BROKE, which kinda explains why Fake Hilsman stole Cale's money if he's one of them… Now Cale is scared because they want him to sponsor them HAHAHA – Alberu is gonna love the irony

No Cale did not officially adopt more kids sadly, but there's been some adorable kid characters showing up, and there's DEFINITELY a ton of new loyal Caleism followers – much to Cale's despair, as they're starting to worship him across dimensions… And with the Virtual Reality apparently being able to connect worlds, it's only the matter of time before Cale's slacker life is utterly screwed by multi-dimensional religion starring him as their Lord and Savior LOL

…So anyway, I hope it's what you've been asking for? Thank for reading this freakishly long post about my rambling on Part 2!

[balkanradfem]

I keep thinking everyone knows the exact same information as me, but since I'm about to make more posts about textiles and clothing, as I'm reading the book on them, I'm going to write down some basic information, just in case it's not very common, because a lot of this I only gathered recently. If I get something wrong please correct me in a kind way!

So where does the clothing come from, and how do we make it? During most of the history, textiles were made by women, from natural materials; flax, wool, cotton, silk, jute. Recently we started using more synthetic materials, like acrylic, polyester, nylon, spandex. If you want to make clothing from the natural materials, like wool or cotton, they first need to be processed, cleaned and combed, then spun into yarn, or thread. Spinning is the process where women manage to pull a thin part of the material and spin the fibres into one consistent, firm thread. It's super impressive to watch them do it and I have no idea how they manage to make it consistent, I've not yet tried to do it myself.

Once the thread is done, it can be made into a textile by knitting, crochet, or weaving. There are also other more complex, decorative methods, like tatting or lacing.

For knitting, you need two needles, or a special circular needle, or, there are also knitting machines, which you can use to make woolen fabric. For weaving, you need a loom. For crochet, you need a crochet hook. While knitting and weaving can be done by a machine, crochet can only be done by hand. Woven fabrics are firm, sturdy, durable, and not stretchy, while knit fabric is the most stretchy and soft. I'm not sure about crochet since I only have one crochet garment, but mine is very sturdy!

All of these methods were historically done by women; families were able to grow flax plants close to their homes, and women would then create linens, woven textiles made from processed flax, which was used to make sheets and clothing. Linen was specifically useful in keeping people clean, since it's very good at absorbing moisture. Used as an under-garment, it was capable of absorbing sweat, and protecting the outer layers, which were not washed. Experiments have shown that frequently changing into clean linen was more effective at keeping clean than showering and then putting on the same clothing back on.

Women's ability to create clothing was sadly exploited, and women were even banned to sell it commercially, or from competing at the commercial market, but their husbands were allowed to profit off of their craft.

In the USA, cotton was the most produced material, however for this too people were enslaved and exploited; cotton took human labour to grow, harvest and process, it also required a lot of water, and caused destruction of environment, because of the chemicals used in it's growth, and the unsustainability of monocrops.

Creating a piece of clothing out of textiles, or sewing, is a process that still cannot be completely automated; while you can use a sewing machine, you cannot make a machine that would produce a whole garment out of textiles. No mass-produced piece of clothing was sewn by a machine, it always has to be made by a human being. This is why a lot of the sewing labour is currently outsourced to third-world countries and companies use modern slavery in order to create fast fashion; there is no machine that can do it, so by the rules of capitalism, the companies are trying to get that labour as cheap as possible, often at the cost of human lives.

We didn't use to have as many garments as we do today, in the 18th century people would have two outfits, one for normal days of the week, and one for Sunday. The clothing they owned was usually made to fit them exactly, either by a female member of the family, or a seamstress, and these garments were made to last them for decades. As clothing became cheaper to buy than to make at home, and more of it became mass-produced, people started acquiring more of it, but also using it for lesser period of time. This would eventually grow into a bigger problem, due to the amount of chemicals and labour used to grow, process, dye and sew the garments, and the amount of waste we were starting to accumulate.

Introduction of synthetic materials, like acrylic, made the yarn and the textiles much cheaper, however it lacks the important properties natural materials have. Do you ever notice how synthetic garments sometimes continue smelling bad even after you wash them? That is because they'll absorb sweat, but become hydrophobic when wet, meaning they will take in your sweat, but refuse to let it go once they're in the water. This means that the longer you have them, the worst their stink becomes. This, of course, can be hidden by the generous use of scented fabric softener, but it won't exactly make the garment clean. This information I've learned recently, but it helped me identify what were the most synthetic pieces of clothing I had. Acrylic clothing had also proven to shed 1.5 more microplastics than any other polyester when put into the washing machine.

Having our clothing grown, processed, spun, woven/knit, and then sewn far out of sight, it's possible to lose the sight of where it came from, or how it's made. Only by trying to do it yourself, or learning closely about the process can one learn to appreciate what a monumental task it is, to create fabric, or a garment. Other than the synthetic textiles, of which I still know very little of, all of the natural clothing is a product of plants and animals, it takes land, farming, agriculture and water to grow the plants, raise the animals, and then labour to process and spin the fibres. It's also something people used to do in their gardens, inside of their homes, something that was normal for women to do, and to trade for anything else they needed, saving them from having to work for wages. Women making fabric was always to the benefit of everyone around them, while m*n taking over the industry and doing it commercially, ultimately brought slave labour to a lot of people, cheap and low quality garments to the select few, and money to the hands of the exploiters.

Being curious about clothing and what becomes of it, is a big benefit to the environment and the future of the earth! Knowing what the textile industry is doing, and how does it affect the planet, can be a great motivator to try and sew, or upcycle and mend clothing, or create garments. It's presented to us as something women were forced to do in the past, and it's connected to 'feminine hobbies', but in actuality, it is power to create something humans cannot do without. Women in the past used it's power too, whenever they could. And we are the only ones who ever used this power for good.

[slavicafire]

hi! thanks so much for all the resources you share here. i'm starting to reconnect with my culture and your blog has been so nice for finding info about slavic folklore! i have a question, and i know it can be personal so it's okay if u don't wanna answer, but what are some practical things you do with slavic spirits&deities? do you journal, meditate, or make spells and charms and use candles more? that type of stuff 😊 cause i am not sure where to really start

there are two important things to know as we get into this. one: what I do vastly depends on who it is I'm dealing with - and what I want. it'll be different depending on the deity or spirit, and it will be different whether the act is one of gratitude, devotion, recognition or demand - and it is something you will probably organically come into in your own practice, too. two: while what I do in my practice is most definitely not a good starting point (for many reasons), the underlying drive of it is something I share happily and openly. and that is the thrill.

this isn't science, one absolute truth, a neat list of prettily categorised ingredients and methods and associations and meanings and recipes that have an inherent and irrefutable worth and are more true or relevant than what any other person does or believes in. the main framework should be seeking, understanding, and experiencing the thrill - do what feels good, do what excites you, do what you feel expands you as a person. for some that's reading books and solving sudoku, and for others it's spiritual endeavours. it is art, and craft, and hope - and thrill. no absolutes and no clean truths.

but! there's still plenty to talk about in terms for practical tips to begin, of course: I would definitely start with recognising exactly what sort of act it is that you want to engage in - ask yourself what you want out of it, how do you want to feel, what do you want to say through it - and plan the activities in line with that, combined with understanding of who it is that you want to offer this act to. purpose is crucial - even if it very basic, like simply the need to express yourself, to ask for help, or just not feel alone. doing things just to do them will quickly drain your inspiration and start feeling silly, so always find the exact purpose why you're doing something, no matter how simple or small that purpose might be.

purpose will help you identify the tools, too: a demand or thanks require an offering, one of material or time or feeling. recognition and gratitude will require connection or meditation or action. if your act is multipurpose, so should be the means through which you go about it - a ritual can have many tools and many layers, and be as complex as you fancy in the given moment.

think of the other end of this act - the spirit, deity, ancestor, any sort of being in whichever way you see it or understand it - and think what sort of tools, actions, and outcomes they would want to see. bluntly - and sweetly blasphemously - put yourself in the place of the god you pray to or the spirit you seek. if you were in their place, what would you want to see? what would you want to hear, or be promised, or be given? what would be meaningful?

when I want to show my devotion to Death Mother, let us say, I go to a graveyard: I read the necrologies at the gate to honour the recently departed buried there, with their names and ages and sons and daughters; I walk the length of the place to have time for contemplation, and I clean a forgotten grave or pick up trash lying around; when I want to thank her, I make an offering - of food or blood or time or emotion. there's rarely incense and sage or crystals charging in the light of the moon - because these are not tools that bring me thrill, nor do I find the act of using them fulfilling. I seek to understand my purpose and challenge myself with finding the thrill and expanding myself in the most satisfying way I can afford at the given moment.

so those acts will have to be varied - and personal, intimate, ever-changing, ever-challenging - and the thrill is in the journey and the experience, much less the outcome or some absolute truth. build your own calendar of celebrations and rituals, your own framework of beliefs, your own offerings and spells and songs. you have all the time in the world - take joy and pleasure in discovering what you find truly thrilling in your practice.

and best of luck.

[lu-is-not-ok]

Do you do psychoanalyzing on other characters besides Yi Sang and Hong Lu? If so I’d like to hear you talk about Don and Faust, and why you think they share 2 egos (Telepole and Fluid Sac)

I mean! I can certainly try! Hong Lu and Yi Sang are just. I guess my field of expertise??? Since I care the most about those two??? But I can certainly try to analyze some other characters, though it might not be able to be as specific and detailed as I am when analyzing my favorites. Hope you understand!

Now then. Let's do this. Under cut we go as usual.

Fluid Sac

Let's start with the one we know less about, aka Headless Ichthys. In fact, we know... very, very little about Headless Ichthys.

Due to Meursault being the one to write the logs about this abnormality, we only get information on its physical characteristics, such as it having lost its head, and that there's something inside its sack that is said to bear resemblence to either a flower or a human nervous system.

That's it. That's all the definitive info we have on this abnormality. We can assume that it has Some religious significance due to its name, Ichthys, being the name of a religious fish symbol, but that doesn't help too much.

There is something interesting I want to note here, and that's the thing inside its sack. The fact that it's unclear whether it resembles a flower or a human nervous system is interesting... Because that mimics what Lunacy looks like. While Lunacy is described as rose-shaped by its Inventory description, the full Lunacy icon can also be interpreted as a brain on a brainstem.

I suppose, if you wanted to dig deep enough, the implications of it containing a symbol akin to Lunacy and having lost its head could could be interpreted as the abnormality being a symbol of a descent into madness. Which, honestly, that's the best I got from what little we have.

Because of just how little lore we have on the Headless Ichthys, unfortunately I can't go too in depth on Don and Faust with it in mind... But I'll still try.

Fluid Sac is a Gloom E.G.O, and though Gloom is one of those Sins I'm not entirely sure of, it does seem to represent taking actions due to one's built up negative emotions.

The main base E.G.O examples we have are Snagharpoon, which has Ishmael follow her compulsion to keep searching for "That bastard", and Land of Illusion, which implies that Hong Lu retreats from reality into his own dream world under heavy emotional stress.

As such, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Fluid Sac signifies something that caused horrible emotional stress to both Don and Faust, which would then kickstart their descent into madness. In more specific terms, this would be heroic delusions for Don and single-minded mad scientist-esque pursuit of knowledge for Faust.

As a brief sidenote, this would align quite well with the visual design differences between the two. Though the E.G.O outfits they wear are extremely similar, all the way down to both of them having green tints in their hair and fin decorations in the exact same spots, there are two notable differences.

One - the shape of the weapon. Don's weapon is shaped like a miniature Headless Ichthys clutching onto a perfectly round sack-orb. It looks almost more like a toy rather than a weapon. Faust's weapon is not only shaped almost perfectly like Headless Ichthys's sack, it also seems to have the same properties, as it bursts during Faust's Awakening attack animation.

Two - the article of clothing that mimics the Ichthys's hand-flippers. For Don, it's a cape-like piece of clothing that looks more like something you'd see on a kid's hero costume. For Faust, it's seemingly anatomically-correct recreations of the flippers that are attached to her jacket.

Both of those I think reinforce the idea of Don and Faust indulging in their methods of madness. Child-like obsession with heroism for Don (using toys and costumes), and endless scientific pursuits for Faust (only someone studying the abnormality closely could replicate its anatomy in this much detail).

It's a bit hard to tell anything from their dialogue lines as they are somewhat generic (my unrelated theory on that is that Fluid Sac is one of the first E.G.Os designed, based on its dialogue lines not having much to do with its abnormality, and due to its attack animations being uncharacteristically sparse in actual frame-to-frame animation), but they do seem to work as good reflections of Don and Faust in general.

Their Awakening lines seem to reflect their general attitudes, with Don's being jovial yet quick to resort to violence, and Faust's being self-assured and seemingly trying to predict all outcomes.

Their Corroded lines on the other hand could be a reflection of their attitudes after their descent into madness began. Don's single-minded "...Crush them." could be a reflection of how she views morality as black and white, and thus believes all that she considers 'villains' should be crushed by her. Likewise, Faust's line here implies that she's willing to do anything, even leave herself completely empty by 'disgorging everything', if it means she reaches what she's looking for.

Looking at the Sin Resources, both Faust and Don require Gloom and Lust to use Fluid Sac, and while Don also uses Pride, Faust uses Envy instead.

I already mentioned what I think Gloom means for Fluid Sac, and I think it being a requirement further reinforces it here. Both Don and Faust need to be acting under severe emotional stress to start their descent into madness.

Lust as a sin seems to represent acting according to one's desires, or more specifically, indulging in them. It also tends to have slight spiritual connotations in Limbus, making it the Sin of acting for the sake of some form of personal fulfillment as well.

Using it for Fluid Sac would make sense with the descent into madness interpretation. For both Don and Faust, their forms of madness are them overindulging in something they find personally fulfilling - heroism for Don, science for Faust.

Don's unique Sin requirement here is Pride. I already went into detail on what Pride as a Sin means in Limbus in the Dimension Shredder post, but to recap, Pride represents actions taken for their personal benefits, while ignoring their negative consequences on either other people or oneself.

This very much represents Don's madness quite well. Her heroic acts are rooted in what she personally perceives as doing good, and she completely ignores the collateral damage that she may cause in the process. Her willful ignorance of the harm she inflicts on others is one of the main things that led her to her personal form of madness.

Faust's unique Sin requirement here is Envy. Now, I won't go into detail on Envy just yet, as it's better saved for Telepole, but in very basic summary, it represents actions done in reaction to other people and their actions.

While there is still much we don't know about Faust, the inclusion of Envy as a requirement for her Fluid Sac implies that the root of her madness actually comes from someone else. There's not enough info for us to speculate on more details... but something tells me this might have to do with a certain Faustian Bargain, if you catch my drift.

So, that's Fluid Sac! For something with so little to dissect, it ended up leading to quite a good bit of analysis anyway! Call me Game Theory cause I'm about to put MatPat out of a job.

Telepole

Alright, let's once again start with the abnormality itself - Alleyway Watchdog.

The funny thing is that the Watchdog has the opposite problem to the Ichthys, as while the fish had very little lore, the Watchdog has a decent amount, but it's written by Yi Sang and as such it's hard to tell how much of its logs are facts, and how much is Yi Sang being Yi Sang and projecting onto the dog.

If there is one thing that is a definitive fact, it's that lack of being able to control oneself and being unable to tell who is controlling who is a recurring theme for this abnormality. The fact that it's unclear if the dog is in control of its own actions calls back to it, and the further muddling of what actually is in control of it only further adds to that theme.

It's unclear if the charred person on its back is controlling the dog, or if it's simply along for the ride unable to do anything to stop it, or if it is also under the control of something else. It's unclear if electricity is what is directly controlling the dog, or if it's something Yi Sang is projecting onto it due to his own experiences.

With that in mind, let's look at the three Sinners who have this E.G.O - Don, Faust, and Heathcliff. Now, I won't be looking at Heathcliff's case too closely, since this is meant to focus on Don and Faust, but I will be bringing him up when talking about Telepole on a general level, so that we have the biggest sample size possible.

In this case, having the Telepole E.G.O would imply these three have some issues when it comes to control, whether it's they themselves lacked control in their life, or whether it's their own degree of perceived control isn't as it seems. Since neither of those three have had their Cantos released yet, it's impossible for me to tell what exactly is going on here, but this is something to keep in mind.

Now, let's talk about Envy, as that's the Sin damage that all of the Telepoles deal. Envy appears to represent actions one takes as a reaction to what others do. This can take any form, whether it's revenge or following orders or being provoked or anything really. What's important here is that the action taken is a Direct Response to someone else.

The only base E.G.O that deals Envy damage is Heathcliff's Bodysack, which represents his impulsive and likely violent reaction to whatever Cathy did to him.

This all fits very nicely with the nature of Alleyway Watchdog, and Telepole E.G.O as a whole. The Watchdog's actions are all reactions to something else controlling it. Likewise, those using the Telepole E.G.O have their actions be influenced or even controlled by someone else.

Their Awakening lines (since there's nothing to analyze when it comes to their Corroded howls I don't think) all reflect a certain part of their personality, potentially implying that something about that is due to the influence of someone else.

Heathcliff's line expresses his impulsively violent tendencies, Don's ties back to her blind heroism, and Faust's has a clinical, detached feel to it.

As for Sin Resources, both Faust and Heathcliff use Envy, Wrath, and Lust, while Don exchanges Lust for Gloom.

Envy as a Sin Resource here once again ties back to the themes of control, implying that for all three, the actions they take are not entirely Just their own. Whether it's provokation or suggestion or something else, for all three of them, their actions are being encouraged, if not directly controlled, by someone else entirely.

Wrath is... hard to analyze. Partially because on first glance it seems to act as a shorthand for fire damage, and partially because no base E.G.O deals Wrath damage. My best guess based on other E.G.Os is that Wrath represents actions done out of self-righteousness. It's the "I deserve to do this, I DARE to do this." of Sins, in my opinion.

It's not necessarily tied to literal anger, as its name might imply, but rather a deeper reason that usually leads to anger - that being the idea that something should or shouldn't happen simply because you wish it so. After all, the most common reason for anger is for something to not go your way. Think children throwing tantrums over their toy being taken away, or a gamer smashing their keyboard over getting outplayed.

With all that being said, Wrath being used for Telepole could have several meanings. It could represent defiance, the idea that the Sinners act out because they believe they deserve better than the person trying to control them. It could also represent temptation, falling under someone else's control or provokation due to believing that they deserve something they don't have or to do something they can't without falling for it.

Now onto the more unique Sin resource requirements. Faust and Heathcliff both require Lust, a Sin representing indulging one's desires and seeking personal fulfillment. This would fit both Heathcliff and Faust, as their Telepoles seem to allude to the things they are already impulsive about - mindless violence for Heathcliff, and pursuit of knowledge for Faust. The actions they are being controlled or provoked to do are things they already wish to indulge in. Perhaps in their case, they are specifically being tempted into doing something, rather than being directly forced.

This however, is different for Don. Don's Telepole requires Gloom, which is a Sin representing actions done out of succumbing to negative emotions. This paints the actions she's controlled or provoked into comitting in a different light. Unlike Heathcliff or Faust, she isn't being tempted by personal fulfillment. No, in her case it's an expression of emotional stress. Perhaps in her case the control is much more forceful, causing her to act out, or perhaps her actions are a reaction to something bad happening to someone she knows. Either way, it's quite intriguing to note.

Unlike my Fluid Sac analysis, which I could get a little bit more detailed on thanks to touching on a facet of Don and Faust's personalities that are clearly evident, Telepole seems to more so reference their pasts, something that as of right now we simply have no access to.

I expect reaching Heathcliff's Canto will help a ton in this specific case, as it will help analyze the rest of the Telepoles thanks to being able to compare what it seems to reference in his revealed past to potentially similar events in both Don and Faust's pasts.

[leo-interactive-fiction]

I wanted to ask, do the RO's cut/maintain their own hair, or do they have it done by someone else?

Haha let's see...

E tries to make sure to groom their hair every morning. They can have embarrassing bed head because they are a restless sleeper that moves around a lot, so they always spend time making sure they're presentable. They get their hair cut every few weeks or so, and they're not too concerned about maintaining an exact length. "As long as it doesn't get in the way too much, I'm fine with it? W-Well, if you have any particular preferences...J-Just for reference!"

R used to go to a personal stylist every few days or so to keep their appearance fresh, although since becoming excommunicated from the family they haven't had access to such funds. Nevertheless, they still take very diligent care of their appearance, and the results speak for themselves. "Hey now, not everyone is born good-looking. It takes a great amount of dedication to maintain attractive qualities. It just so happens I'm hard working and blessed. Lucky you."

L always had their hair cut and maintained by their butler, Walter. Since the journey to Triaina, they have been following a detailed instructional pamphlet created by Walter on the specifics of their grooming needs, such as the exact length to cut and what products are used. They can't follow some of the instructions to the butlers' exact specificity, but they do their best. "Um, I apologize for any inconvenience, but would you happen to know if the water here is locally sourced from a freshwater spring? O-Oh, 'tap water', you say...? N-No, that shouldn't be an issue! Thank you!"

V handles all of their own grooming with the humble contents of their travel bag, which includes a knife, razor, scissors, pocket mirror, and a bar of soap. There are always traces of split ends, rogue hairs, or ragged lopsidedness, but it is never completely disheveled. It is enough to show you that divine intervention must have taken place somewhere along the way to keep their hair from looking like a matted rug left on the side of the road. "...Oh, I missed a spot. Hmm......Commander, don't stare. Get my knife. I'll fix it."

P doesn't put very much effort into their overall appearance, but they make an exception for their hair. At the very least, they spend some time in the morning to make sure it doesn't cause problems for them or get in the way, and in very special circumstances, they can spend an overabundance of time trying to style it to look better. Unfortunately, their hair naturally fights back against any drastic changes to its normal rugged look, so it requires a lot of effort to style. "Stupid piece of-- Hey M, can you get off your ass and get me a damn hairclip or something? I know you have some...Eh? What do you mean I'm taking too long?! No, it's not for a date with-- Just get me something for this!"

M's hair is a constant tangle of persevering bedhead. It has become the natural rest state of their hair, to the point where you don't think even a thorough combing session could make a difference. They don't even remember the last time they went to a barber to get it cut. Or perhaps they were just asleep when it happened. Nevertheless, it carries a very loose and natural feel to it that M enjoys. "Just so...you know...it can get even...messier...when I'm in bed...If you don't...believe...you're welcome to...'fact check' me..."

Raven's grooming habits can best be described between the ranges of 'potentially hazardous' and 'negligent character assassination'. During their time living in the backwash alleys, they've come to terms with all manner of trash and grime in their hair, and their method of cutting involves a quick chop with a knife when it gets a little too long for their liking, leaving it an uneven and jagged mess. You can't tell how often they actually wash their hair, but since coming to the academy and having access to a running water source, you haven't found anything too worrisome tangled in messy tangled in, although the sleek oily sheen has never faded. "If you tell me I'm not good enough to draw your gaze as I am...I don't mind changing everything about myself. My hair, my manners, my very identity... As long as you can look at me, with those same eyes...I'll do anything...!"

S has surprisingly tidy hair. Despite often having the rest of themselves covered in grime from their work, their hair stays relatively spotless. They say those from the Dens pick up habits to maintain a clean appearance while living through the harsh and sandy desert environment of Orden, but you can't say how much of that is very factual when it's relayed through S's unkempt grin. "Why ya sweatin' the small stuff? It ain't like I never shower or somethin'. You seen how huge those showers in the gym are? Ya can practically take a lap in there! How can ya not take advantage of that?! Speakin' of which, do ya think they'd let me have one for the dorms...? Dont worry, i'd share!"

F's hair has not been cut in a very long time, and they take great lengths to personally maintain and preserve it. No one but a select few are allowed to even touch her hair for normal maintenence, and not even Fiore is allowed to brush or style it. Their hair and their clothing are of the few personal features among them that they claim full ownership of, without any assistance or pretext, and so they safeguard those features very closely. "...You are wondering who did my hair? And what, pray tell, would you do with such information? Have them style your own? Well...perhaps if the discussion of extending your servitude is put underway...I may find the time in that period to indulge you..."

Thank ya for the ask!

[remcycl333]

hey! ive read your latest post multiple times and i have a few questions?

1. do i need to use “i love sps name” or can i just say “i love sp” without using their name bc i know that saying their name causes us to be more obsessed with them and then they wont remember us, will the affirmation still put me in the state?

2. everything about not needing it in the 3d makes me feel like this is literally detaching? I thought with the law of assumption we wont have to detach bc were essentially tricking our subconscious into believing we have something? so why would we need to not want it in the 3d? sorry but i really want my sp IN the 3d, or else i wouldnt ever do this.

3. what if i do everything right and it still doesn’t happen? its hard to put faith into all this when so little people have successes and even if i accept i created all my circumstances before, how do i know i can create the “good” when all i’ve experienced is bad?

4. what if i dont feel fulfilled at all? when i think of being with my sp i dont feel anything bc i was with him for 4 years hes not a crush or anything i would feel obsessive for. I always felt normal and right now i feel his absence but how do i “not” feel something?

thanks again, may i be 🎨⛸️ anon?

#🎨⛸️anon

im confused how you read the post multiple times when every question you asked is answered in the post ?

"for instance, say you're manifesting a relationship. being in a relationship might feel differently for me than it would for you. i might love differently than you. there might be things in relationships that are more important to me than you, that i hold dearer to my heart than you do. even if you've never been in a relationship before, i'm sure you have an idea of what your perfect relationship would be like. and it might be completely different than my idea. that's why it's important that we personalize our methods to ourselves."

here i explain that since we all experience states differently (specifically the state of being in a relationship), we should personalize our methods to ourselves. meaning your affirmations, if your preferred method is affirming.

"i used to repeat whatever affirmation worked for someone else, or make sure my daydreams were "perfect." but i'd never get the feeling. i would just go through the motions, trying to repeat these methods enough times so they'd manifest into my reality. but that was the issue. i was trying. i was forcing it.

imagination is natural and personal."

here i explain that you shouldn't just copy someone else's affirmation, but instead find one that works for YOU. i shared an example of the affirmation i used, but that doesn't mean you should use it! if you don't like it, then don't use it! if it doesn't give you the feeling, don't use it!

also, "saying your sp's name makes you obsessed with them" is the biggest limiting belief i have ever heard. if you were in a relationship with your sp, would you say their name? yeah, you would!

"your subconscious mind responds to feelings. it doesn't pay attention to your thoughts, whether they're in words or pictures. you are not imagining to show your subconscious mind what you want, you are imagining to FEEL and EXPERIENCE BEING the person who already has your desire."

here i explain that the exact affirmation you say does not matter, because it's not the words that matter, it's the FEELING they give you. you can affirm "i like burritos" and manifest your sp using that affirmation alone if it gives you the FEELING.

create your affirmation ON YOUR OWN! PERSONALIZE it to YOU! you experience love differently than i do. affirm what works for you.

"so my advice is take whatever you are manifesting, and take a night--perhaps the time when you'd usually daydream before falling asleep--and think about what it is you want. why do you want it? how do you think having it will make you feel? what will you do with it once you have it? what will your natural thoughts be when you have it?"

do this tonight. or right now, even. experiment with your affirmations until you find that one helps you feel like you're already with your sp. stop putting so much pressure on yourself! there is not right or wrong. and don't ask me to make you affirmations because they should be personalized to u!

2. "your goal should not be to imagine enough times that you get your desire in your 3D. your goal shouldn't be to get your desire in your 3D, period.

this is an inflammatory sentence for some, but hear me out. if you accept your desire as done in your 4D, and make the state of having your desire your dwelling state, your desire will reflect in your 3D because that's LAW. but your goal shouldn't be doing methods and fulfilling yourself to GET, your goal should be making yourself feel good. retreat to your imagination when you need to, if you're feeling bad or like everything's hopeless. retreat to your imagination and give yourself your desire. this can be as simple as repeating an affirmation a few times until you catch the feeling if you're busy with something else, or as involved as scripting or daydreaming about having your desire."

here i explain that YOU WILL GET YOUR DESIRE IN THE 3D NO MATTER WHAT. yes you are manifesting because you want your sp in your 3D. but you WILL NOT GET YOUR SP IN YOUR 3D IF YOU DON'T GIVE IT TO YOURSELF IN YOUR 4D FIRST! point blank period. so your goal should be giving it to yourself in your 4D. once you do that, you WILL get it in the 3D because that's LAW! but once you take your focus off not having it in the 3D, you will be able to accept that you have it in your 4D easier! stop focusing on the 3D. that's not detaching, that is manifesting.

this thing you said "I thought with the law of assumption we wont have to detach bc were essentially tricking our subconscious into believing we have something?" NO NO NO you are NOT tricking your subconscious into thinking ANYTHING! u have your desire in your 4D, that's a FACT! you have anything and everything you want in your 4D the second you desire it. you are not tricking your subconscious mind. also, your subconscious mind is YOU, stop acting as tho it's separate from u! it's YOU!

you're not tricking your subconscious, you are accepting that you have it in your IMAGINATION! how is it hard to believe you have something in your imagination? you're definitely overthinking if you think that you don't have something in your imagination. because its your imagination and you can instantly imagine anything you want, and boom! it exists in your imagination.

3. girl i see soooo many people post their successes every single day with the law.

i can't make you believe the law, i also can't make you apply it. if you don't want to apply it because you are scared of failing, that is not on me. it's not my fault if you don't get your sp bc you don't want to apply! i know this sounds harsh but TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! and TRY! what's gonna happen if you give it your all and don't get your sp? the same thing that'll happen if you don't try at all.

you've created good before. look at anything good you've ever gotten or experienced in your life. YOU manifested that, because you create everything! apply the law and prove it to yourself. no one can convince you. you need to put in the work and convince yourself. don't let fear hold you back from living a good life

4. it sounds like you haven't even tried to fulfill yourself? you said you were with your sp for four years. what type of thoughts were you having when you were dating your sp? recreate those. that's what i did, and how i came up with my "i love my sp" affirmation. and that got me my sp.

you don't feel his absence by fulfilling yourself. retreat to your imagination and be with him in your imagination. imagine what you'd be doing if you were together rn. since you've been in a relationship with him before, i know you know how you feel while in a relationship with him. experiment with different affirmations until you catch that feeling.

also, as i've said multiple times on my blog, the feeling of knowing can sometimes feel like nothing at all. just natural.

"sometimes the feeling of knowing doesn’t feel like anything!! for instance i KNOW my hair is brown, but i don’t feel any type of way when i remember my hair is brown. it’s just a natural fact to me!"

i hope this helped and i hope you take the advice i've given you. it's all i can do for you since i can't force you to apply.

[thescrumblingmidwife]

So what are the ways to stop a period (and fertility) as an adult? I need to figure out my plans for when that time comes. I mean permanently, btw.

Hi Anon,

I'm getting a lot of asks like this. Here's another one:

Anonymous asked: whats the safest way to stop getting a period as quickly as possible? i was told by my gynecologist that id be given birth control that'd stop them but i keep getting them and it's been months

So let's do a menstrual suppression post.

MENSTRUAL SUPPRESSION (AKA, Secondary amenorrhea)

What can be done depends a lot on your age, where you are, what kind of healthcare access you have, as well as your reason for seeking menstrual suppression.

If you experience medical complications like endometriosis, serious menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) or heavy menstrual bleeding that causes anemia, etc., you may find you have an easier time accessing treatments beyond BC than if you just "don't want a period." (FWIW - I think that's a completely valid reason for menstrual suppression!). Trans and GNC people will fall somewhere in the middle - depending on where you are, it may be considered a legitimate medical indication all on its own, and in other areas may result in a roadblock and discrimination.

Disclaimer - my scope as a midwife will be limited to the use of hormonal birth control until I complete separate training on offering gender-affirming care. So please take what I say here only as a rough guide to your own research. If I've missed anything or get anything wrong, please let me know!

PREPUBERTAL (have not yet gotten a period)

Leuprolide (lupron) is an antiandrogen medication that basically stops sex hormones from working. When used in prepubertal/early puberty kids, it's called a "puberty blocker." It's meant to be a temporary solution until the kid can be sure what they want to do next, as its effects are completely reversible. Pediatricians will usually refer you to an endocrinologist or a gender clinic rather than provide themselves.

Otherwise, I'm afraid that you must first go through the initial period of menarche until normal periods are established before you can then go on menstrual suppression.

ADOLESCENT (teen, not yet an adult)

Progestin-only birth control is the first-line treatment. The good news is that pretty much everyone can take it, and it's relatively easy to get. This works by keeping the uterine lining thin, and keeping a level of progestin high enough that you don't experience the withdrawal that triggers menses. Methods include: IUD (intrauterine device), Nexplanon (implant), Depo shot, and pills. In all methods, it takes several months to work, and spotting/breakthrough bleeding is a possibility.

---->If you take the pills, you have to take them at the exact same time every day, so the hormone levels stay even, or you risk breakthrough bleeding. Different brands have different progestins in them, so if one doesn't work for you after several months of taking it properly, you could ask your provider about switching to a different pill.

---->The IUD has the best record with total menstrual suppression after a few months, but it is the most invasive of the LARC methods to insert.

----> Nexplanon can take some time to achieve menstrual suppression, and some people still get breakthrough bleeding, but it is also the single most efficacious BC besides hysterectomy. Yes, even more than tubal ligation.

----> Depo shot is pretty good at achieving amenorrhea, but has more side effects (low libido, dry vagina, risk of bone loss) that can take a while to resolve after you come off it

Testosterone - If you are trans and go on T, it may stop your menstrual cycles/ovulation, but it is not a guarantee. People on T are counseled to also be on BC, because it is does not eliminate the possibility of pregnancy and is teratogenic (can cause birth defects). You should not go on T purely to stop menses, as it has other permanent effects - go on T for those effects and be pleased if it happens to stop your period.

ADULT (18/21+ up)

All of the above methods, plus:

Estrogen-containing birth control may offer more suppression but also increases certain health risks (like clots), and it has a number of contraindications (reasons why someone can't use it safely). Generally don't advise teens to use it.

Tubal ligation for FERTILITY CONTROL ONLY. This will not stop periods!

For transmen: Hysterectomy (uterus removed) and/or salpingectomy/oophorectomy (tubes/ovaries removed). This is a component of gender-affirming care - but you will likely need to find a specialized provider for it. The average gynecologist is not going to do an elective (no medical indication) hysterectomy ----> https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/hysterectomy

I have seen some evidence that Lupron can be used for menstrual suppression as well, but I haven't heard much about it being used outside of certain medical indications (like if someone has cancer).

GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

If you identify as trans or gender non-conforming and there is a gender clinic in your area, I recommend trying to get in with them, as they deal with this sort of question regularly. They have interdisciplinary teams (mental health providers, gynecologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, etc) that can meet all your needs. Someone trained in gender-affirming care will be best equipped to help you.

Here is a list of gender clinics in the USA:

Ok, all you Anons out there - I hope this is a good jumping-off point for you to find what you need. The TLDR is please try to find a provider who is willing to work with you and help you find what's available to you in your area!

[shinsengumi-archives]

I discovered recently that the 2 photos that were posted by people claiming that it's Yamanami Keisuke were not real photos of him. (Someone pointed out the family crest on the haori of the two men in the photos and they weren't Yamanami's). I've been looking for a portrait or photo of him but couldn't find any. The only description I found was Yagi Tamesaburo's: "he was not so tall, had fair-skinned lovable face"

Do you have any information about that? Anything about his appearance or personality would be greatly appreciated🙏

Is this the photo that people claimed was him?

This is actually a photo of Yamada Hachiro who was part of the First Japanese Embassy to Europe, but people often mistake it for Yamanami Keisuke and it was even used on his Wikipedia page at one point.

From the blurry photo, we can still see that the family crest (kamon) on his sleeve is different from Yamanami's family crest:

There are many fake photos of Yamanami Keisuke, but unfortunately, no confirmed photos of him exist.

According to shinsengumi-no-makoto:

Yamanami was “slightly tall” and had a pale complexion. His face was supposed to be somewhat round. He is described as a gentle, amiable man and was very intelligent. He enjoyed reading Chinese poetry. Yamanami was loved by the people of the Mibu neighborhood. Yet despite all of this he could be very severe when he needed to be. Aside from Kondo, it is said that he got along well with Okita, Todo, and Ito. His exact relationship with Hijikata is the subject of debate.

I'm not sure what was the original source for this description and it contradicts Yagi's statement that "he was not so tall". Yagi's quote is probably more accurate since it's first-hand.

The full quote from Japanese Wiki Corpus is: "he was not so tall, had fair-skinned lovable face, liked kids and talked to them wherever he met them (丈はあまり高くなく、色白の愛嬌のある顔。子どもが好きで、どこで逢ってもきっと何か声をかけた)" (from Rojin Mibu Banashi (八木為三郎老人壬生話) by Yagi Tamesaburo).

That page also describes his personality and reputation:

Sannan was a kind-hearted person and was adored by women and children in Mibu area. There was a saying "kind persons are Sannan and Matsubara Chuji" which was popular in the Mibu until the early Meiji period. According to Shinsengumi Ibun (exceptional matters), he had a good reputation among troops and in the Mibu area, unlike Serizawa Kamo. Kojima Shikanosuke, a sponsor of Shinsengumi, described Sannan as a "warrior but literate". Even Nishimura Kanefumi, who was known for his severe criticism of Shinsengumi, called him "a person who understands method of matters in some degree" in Mibu Roshi Shimatsuki.

We can see his personality first-hand through a letter and a Chinese poem that was written by him right before going to Kyoto:

The bounds of my aspirations lie beyond the edge of the heavens,  My endless loyalty is contained within one sword. Whatever steep and perilous roads lie in the ten thousand ri ahead, I make haste for the Imperial Capital to serve with honor and merit.

From this poem, it seems he was a person with a lot of ideals and high aspirations. While there are many theories about why he died, I think he died from depression caused by disillusionment towards the Shinsengumi.

From the letter and the poem, we can see that he was interested in the Chinese language.

Also, his name was likely pronounced Sannan (on'yomi pronounciation) instead of Yamanami (kun'yomi pronounciation).

[mirage-of-the-virtuoso]

Right, so, now my brain has gone down the rabbit hole of "what are dangerous thing that Siren (NMC!AU Chrysallus for anyone unfamiliar) to be playing 'fuck around and find out' with?"

And, honestly? Quite a few things. Chrysallus in his canon story has always been one to toy with dangerous substances, either for experimentation or for use in personal life or combat missions. That's how he learns how things affect people.

Siren did that to himself to cope with a lot of things, and to try and find something to stabilize himself in the unhealthiest of methods.

For example: remember the auric dust found in Auric Basin? That are basically the remains of fallen Exalted? Siren fucked around with that. Still determining what the exact consequences would be, but consensus says "very badly".

Bloodstone dust has always been deemed very bad as a substance. He would also fuck around with that, see how it alters his mind. Bloodstone Fen made it much easier, given that they go straight into the heart of a bloodstone explosion.

He would later fuck around with Brand crystals from Kralky and his minions. It wouldn't be unusual for him to be experimenting with them, but there is massive concern over why his hands have burn marks suspiciously like electrical patterns on his skin.

IBS in particular is when he slips the furthest into identity crisis again, and what does he do? He experiments with shards of crystallized dragon blood, with Jormag's blood. Those who don't know what I'm talking about: I'm talking about these

Icebrood Corruption tonics. He discovers that dragon blood can be altered via ectoplasm in order to turn it into make it into a drinkable tonic. This should never have happened. But Siren's already too deep into a rabbit hole of insanity, hopelessness, and copium: of course he drinks it.

At first, it was harmless. At least, that's what he felt. Maybe he felt colder than usual, but nothing to do harm. And it allowed him to sleep for longer periods of time, get some much needed rest.

But once the effects wore off, he felt this need to drink it again, just to feel stable, to feel at peace within his own mind. And the more Siren drank the tonics, the more it began to change his body.

And soon after, one tonic wasn't enough to feel balanced anymore. The whispers were getting louder, were telling him to relapse, to give in to his darkness. After all this time, Siren couldn't afford to do that all over again. He can't allow history to repeat itself.

But the damage had been done: his skin took on a strange blue hue unlike his own, almost frost-like, barely reminiscent of the creatures he's fighting up in the Shiverpeaks. And withdrawal effects from cutting himself off of those tonics were like freezing hellfire in his body. He was sure that it would kill him if he didn't take another tonic soon.

Someone does notice, and others are compelled to intervene lest their greatest warrior turns his blade onto them, though this causes a lot of conflict within the ranks. It's only out of sheer determination that Siren's not killed outright for what he did.

The most they can do is treat the withdrawal effects until they bring him to Aurene. Maybe she knows how to help the wayward champion that felt so disconnected from the world around him that he resorted to drinking literal dragon blood liquified by ectoplasm in order to cope, even if it was slowly killing him from the inside.

[eldritch-nightmare]

Do you think Jonathan and emmras past together effects their relationship

Like they were highschool sweethearts, and she just up and left him for ballet school. And then he committed and died after months of depression

And I believe in cannon he was the one who killed her and made her into a puppet

Like...there's gotta be SOME hostility and negative feelings, and romantic ones bc yk, their history

Toxic for sure

oh, it 100% does. prepare for a messy combination of thoughts, my friend.

like... before jonathan became the puppeteer and before they had broken up, they were so deeply in love with each other. emra genuinely considered abandoning all her dreams because she loved him so much, but she ultimately decided to put herself first, and she wanted to live a life that her parents could be proud of, so she ultimately broke up with him to pursue her dreams of ballet.

and then, as we know, jonathan isolated himself due to his broken heart and stayed isolated for years before his death. i'm actually not sure about the exact timeline because i don't know when emra left for ballet school, but he was 20 when he died.

but emra is the only person jonathan has ever killed with his bare hands. like, he typically only kills with his strings or other methods. he never kills with his own two hands, so i think that emra took that as some twisted sign of 'oh, he still loves me.'

and emra is his masterpiece. he brought her back into the form of a porcelain doll. she is his masterpiece. he will always be his masterpiece. and i think, in the beginning, everything was... okay. emra, blinded by her love for jonathan, willingly obeyed his every command. and he praised her for it! he gave her love, and he gave her praise, and she craved for more. she loved being with him again, so blinded by the memories she shared with him to see that this is no longer the jonathan she loved.

but, at some point, emra did something that broke the trust that the puppeteer had in her. and like a switch, all the praise and love she got from him was gone. he rarely ever visits her anymore, not unless he needs her to do something.

now, emra has monophobia. she has such a strong fear of being alone that she genuinely doesn't care about how the puppeteer treats her anymore so long as he is just around. and the puppeteer uses that against her.

and over time, emra's love for jonathan is replaced by a burning hatred, one she hides away whenever he is around out of fear of what he may do to her.

the puppeteer still loves emra, that much is known, but he actively goes out of his way to hide these feelings by pushing her around and manipulating her to make her feel less than him. the reason he brought her back is because he loves her, even if he doesn't want to admit it to himself. he would literally kill anyone who even thinks about hurting her. which is ironic, considering he's the one who causes her the most pain.

she is his only tie to the earth, the only thing that reminds him of his past that he can barely remember anymore.

he doesn't want to remember his old life as jonathan. he doesn't know jonathan. but jonathan is the person that emra loves. emra doesn't love the puppeteer, emra hates him. she'll never get jonathan back, and they'll never go back to what they used to be. that is a constant thought in both their minds.

emra wants nothing more than to leave the puppeteer. she and zachary have even talked about it together, but they're both too scared of what the puppeteer may do to them if they go through with it.

and the puppeteer just wants emra to continue loving him, that's all.

[priestessofpaimon-old]

Been thinking about Impostor!Albedo (fake albedo?, falbedo???) and who they could be and where they came from.

If we go with the theory that he is also another creation of Rhinedottir (Gold), he might be homunculus just like Albedo. Or something like Durin? (or maybe even Durin himself, that would be twist) Or a whopper-flower? Cause of the attack pattern in the trailer.

But mostly, I’ve been really struck by some dialogue that Falbedo (I’m going with this, I like it lol) said. These one's in particularly:

Especially that last line, “Useless things should be disposed of at the outset”. There’s something about it that draws me back to it.

Even before I realised that this Albedo is the fake one (which you can tell, cause he doesn’t have the star on the neck), I still thought this line was really out of character for Albedo; not something he would normally say. Sure he is a practical, aloof man, but this seemed too harsh.

This distinction also relates to the talk on Star-silver.

I pretty much picked up from the get-go on what Mihoyo was trying to do in regards to the ore. With the talk about how some are shiny and bright, making 'high-quality paint' but others are less so, having tons impurities which make paint viewed as 'fake or defective'. This seems like allegory to the possible differences between Albedo and Falbedo.

But this also got me thinking about another artificial being, Scaramouce. While I'm sure Scara and Albedo weren't made using the exact same 'methods', but I'm sure just like how Ei had to go through trials and prototypes to make the Shogun Puppet, Rhine probably did to. So what happened to those prototypes that came before Albedo?

Rhine from what we know wasn't really....paternal to Albedo. Sure, she taught him all he knew, but she was strict with him. It's even stated in Albedo's character story that "...his teacher would make good on her threat to leave him, should he fail." Not something you say to your supposed son.

And if she would say that to someone she consider her magus opus, how would she act to something she considered defective?

[liliumofthevalleyy]

I would like to give my honest contradiction. First of all, I want to make it known I ONLY read the prostitutes part as it's the only one I'm commenting on.

Jack the Ripper victims are all women, because that's how the original real life story goes.

"Abandoned kids would be easier" No they would not. And it was made clear in the Hunting of Baskervilles case. Nobody gave a care in the world about kids from the slums going missing. Even though the method at which they were kidnapped was "extravagant" [I.e. a fancy carriage with candy inside took them, and a driver with a rather "loud" presence]

And kidnapping Kids from stable families (middle class or not) would defy what the plot is serving, and the story it's representing (Jack the Ripper's). Sick people are a no-go by default, again diverting from the story, and depending on age range of sick people, it brings back to my point. And if status wise the sick people were rich, it would be too much of a problem + diverting from the "Jack the Rippers" plan in MTP's author version of "causing a big change by merely killing some prostitutes" [the exact word they used is wh*** showing that they themselves are representing how society sees them].

"No one points out the sexism, even Bond?" Because it was never about sexism. The real Jack The Reaper targeted prostitutes. So MTP's author went with it. And in the first place, in MTP author's version, he explicitly wrote why they targeted prostitutes, aside from following the original story, because the Jack The Rippers group are a-holes who do not regard the prostitutes as people, but something less. I need to stress that's not sexism from the author but these characters personalities are deliberately like that.

"They don't give a damn about historical accuracy" Sure, the author did not care about accurately portraying the French revolution and other real-life events that appeared in the manga, but he did for Jack The Ripper. Because it happens to serve his version of Sherlock Holmes and how he wants to write it. If you want to label it as sexism just for that, sure go ahead.

"Isn't using prostitutes a bad target?" Again, that argument is not with the manga but real life? Because that is what happened in real life???? I'm not an expert in the real story of Jack The Ripper or its details, so maybe i shouldn't speak in this regard, but I believe even though his targets were prostitutes he still became well-known and centre of the media. Far as I know because, considering the time period, there weren't many notorious serial killers with such specific victims.

I agree, we don't take the media seriously when they drop certain news, real or not. But that's "we" people of this current age, 2024, we have seen alot, and we who have Internet, and AI, and such platforms we simply can not believe much anymore, or react to much news anymore. Not "them" the people from a century ago, who still use mails to deliver letters and rely on paper-printed newspaper to find out about daily news. And are in an age of renovation and discovering.

"Why not a word about lack of interest I'm prostitutes in particular?" I'm confused, lack of word from who? The cops? Because if so, the chief of police explicitly says in one the chapters that he does not give a damn about the prostitutes, what worries him is the retaliation/rebillion from Whitechapel citizens due to the whole thing and the attention these murders are getting media-wise. Because again, this is the 19th century, and you said it yourself, prostitutes are considered lowest of the low, it's a reality.

Tome 8

Remember that no one forces you to read this. If you don't want to see your favorite manga being critized, block me and move on 😄

Prostitutes

The author really has a problem with women.

Jack the Ripper's victims are all (ALL) prostitutes. There is no particular reason for them to be targeted (not like in Black Butler), it's just to create fear. They are simple tools for the plan of men who don't even consider taking other targets.

The only reason is that they are easy to find. They could have been abandoned kids or sick people, it would have been even easier.

And no one points out the sexism of the situation? Even Bond?

It would be nice if we stopped using women as objects to be abused. Especially if it is not to say anything about it.

Of course, in the original story, Jack also attacks prostitutes. But we saw with the case of the Hound of Baskerville that the author doesn't give a damn, IRENE is proof that they can perfectly modify pre-existing stories. Bond is neither a trans man (?) nor a Moriarty man and even less an idiot who gets defeated by everyone.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION is proof that they don't give a damn about historical accuracy.

What is the reaction of the prostitutes? We see that the inhabitants of Whitechapel (all males) have decided to create a militia because they do not feel safe. But what are the opinions of the sex workers? Are they afraid to go out to work? Are they resigned because they have no choice? Are they used to such horrors happening to them? The murderers say vaguely that they are afraid to go out but these are only indirect testimonies, we do not see them.

Speaking of which, isn't it a bad idea to use prostitutes as targets? They are very often victims of violence and no one will come to their defense, especially at this time. And because of their profession, they are even less respected than other poors. So it's a big gamble to use them to create fear and indignation.

In addition, the two victims were seen with different men. Didn't anyone think that the crimes had nothing to do with each other and that there was just a smart aleck trying to get noticed by communicating with the press?

Good point, the organization that created "Jack" hired someone to manipulate the press so that it would be taken seriously. But just because the press says something doesn't mean people think the same thing. (WE don't always take it seriously when the media freaks out)

The cops admit they don't give a shit about Whitechapel, why not a word about the lack of interest in prostitutes in particular?

It would even be used to make Sherlock guess that this story is fishy, ​​like: "It's horrible but murder and violence against prostitutes is pretty common, it's strange that the press would get so worked up over a jerk who could very likely take on other people's crimes."

The Lord Crime

William presented himself as the Lord of Crime for free to his enemies.

Which, I remind you, is something you do NOT do when your identity is supposed to be secret. And you don't go there with your face out in the open either.

No matter how confident you are in your abilities, you remain cautious, the unexpected can always happen. Maybe one of the fake Jack the Ripper will manage to escape or survive, maybe someone saw him and his brother and will recognize them…

Ah but that's exactly what happened!

The guy whose brain works so much that he has to sleep a lot didn't foresee that?

Jack the Ripper

The case is not closed at all, the criminal has not been captured. (Don't tell me "in reality, we didn't know who it was. It's historical respect." Because, again, I would have liked to see this respect for the French Revolution.)

However, it is this absence of a culprit that created the following mess with Chief Inspector Arterton. It is not because the innocent accused has been cleared that the inhabitants will be reassured that the murderer is potentially still at large.

Moriarty & co. could have taken advantage of this to frame someone else, a nobleman whose downfall - rather than murder - would do much to help the cause. A nobleman whose real crimes are hard to prove but whose arrest would be credible (especially if he already has a track record of corrupting officials).

And Sherlock's test wouldn't have been whether or not the people who died mysteriously in an explosion were actually the real Jack the Ripper, but on the contrary not to say that the asshole (whom he knows to be a criminal) is innocent in the only case that could put him in prison.

(It's funny that Sherlock manages to guess what happened despite the few clues, but that we don't see anything of his reasoning. Really, how did he figure it out?)

Moriarty & co vs Sherlock & co

Who remembers when I said that the men on Moriarty's side are competent while those on Sherlock's side are buffoons? Everyone I hope, I say it in every review.

Well, we have another example of this phenomenon in this volume with Lestrade and Moriarty's spy, Paterson.

One is yelling, fidgeting and using a puppet show to try to convince Sherlock to take on the Jack the Ripper case (which he already intended to do so it was useless).

The other is calm, discreet and cunning, he even seems to know Bond, the new kid on the block, pretty well. (Yet more proof that Moriarty's team has super privileged and ✨special✨ relationships with each other)

One is ridiculous, the other is classy. One is manipulated, the other manipulates. I'll let you guess who is who.

Conveniently, the spy ends up at the head of the police force at the end, even though he officially did nothing to deserve that position and doesn't seem to have the power or connections to get it (apart from his connections with Moriarty, but it's not suggested that they had a role in that).

Moriarty and Sherlock

I like their interactions. I would like to see more of them. As long as the author doesn't remind us that Sherlock is inferior, the two respond well to each other.

Speaking of which…

Sherlock's zero points

Sherlock managed to find out that Moriarty was a mathematician thanks to the golden number on a staircase. This is his very first interaction with William.

It is therefore quite implausible that he has no points in Moriarty's test, as difficult as it is.

I could have accepted it if the author had taken the opportunity to inform the reader that Sherlock has very selective knowledge. That he has an enormous memory for what is useful to him during an investigation but that he is completely ignorant of the rest. This is what allows him to have space. He can know which locksmith in London makes what type of lock but not that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

But no, it's just a joke to humiliate Sherlock and show how much less intelligent he is than William.

Talk about a credible rivalry…

[sirthisisa-wendys]

Wendy!!!! I'm so sorry for seeing the request fic so late, I thought my ask didn't go through because Tumblr ate it up, but thank you so much for the Geto semi-angst fic, it got me in the feels😭😭😭 I love your work, you feed us so many amazing contents on the daily, it's just a God-given gift (no cap). This is a PSA: Tumblr fic writers are amazing, a gift to the Universe. Thank you for existing 🥺.

Also, also, also, my friend and I have been making up all these scenarios in our heads where Geto is a Sociology professor at a prestigious university, an epitome of conformity, but, he is also an underground tatoo artist who fights for the greater cause and sticks up for the underdog.

So, can I request a Geto x fem reader, where reader is a student at his Uni, and then comes across him at the tatoo place, and after all the wildin', he ends up giving her a tatoo? Only if you are free though. P.S. the Lemonade Toji fic was so sweet😭

P.P.S: Congratulations on your 900 follower milestone!!!

I am gonna stop now, this looked like a word vomit, I hope this is not too much.

- (Your pace anon)🥀

🥀 anon, this is too sweet! I'm so glad you enjoyed Your Pace - it was actually a lot of fun to write!

I'm so glad you're enjoying the other works as well. I'm happy that you're happy with my work. (I've never gotten a tattoo done for myself [yet] but I have been with friends who got them done. And I did extra research. Now I want to get my tatt done so bad lol)

NOW, ON WITH THE SHOW!

Inked: Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader

wc: 1.2k

tw: none

masterlist

"Yo! What can I do you for?

The tattoo parlor is really... "underground". That's what Eileen had said. And you can't help but be discomfited by the sight of a bunch of men around the parlor and not a single woman, except you.

"Um..." You clutch your handbag a little closer as you walk up to the man behind the counter, his long, black nails and tattooed face making you even more nervous. "I... I was wondering if you could give me my first tattoo." He's outfitted in a black sleeveless muscle shirt, and he crosses his tatted arms, tilting his head at you.

"Got something in mind?" The man raises a brow as you shuffle around in your bag for what you had thought up: the outline of a letter with your grandfather's signature on it. When you present it to the man, he snatches it up, eyes roving over the design and then back to you. "This it?"

"Yeah," you mumble. "Eileen told me to mention her when I came in. She couldn't be here, but she said you guys would take good care of me." The sounds of uproarious laughter behind you make you flinch, and the man looks you over once, then hands you back your design.

"Listen, I don't do first-timers. Eileen knows I prefer the more... experienced clients. But let me ask around and see if someone will be willing to take on the challenge. You squeamish?" You shake your head no. "Ticklish?" You pause, thinking about all of the places on your body that tend to be susceptible to touch, then shake your head no. "Okay, I'll be back."

The pink-haired man walks around the shop, peering at some of the men who are working and asking the others who aren't busy if they're willing to work on you. A few say no, and when he disappears into a small room in the back, you fear the worst. You hoped by mentioning Eileen that they would be more than willing to tattoo you - she's a favorite for more reasons than one around this shop - but it appears that no one is willing until the man comes back up to the front desk and sighs.

"Right, so," he exhales as he spreads his hands on the desk. "I have our most experienced man in the back willing to work on you. Since it's your first time, he's going to make sure you're taken care of." You walk back to the small room with the man and past a bead curtain, facing the chair you'll be sitting in and a man with long black hair facing a computer for a second before he turns around.

When his black eyes meet yours, you gasp, and he smiles even wider, eyes lighting up with recognition. You can barely contain your surprise as you sputter out,

"Professor Geto?"

"Y/n!" The pink-haired man frowns, stepping back a little.

"You two know each other?"

"Yeah, y/n is one of my former sociology students. She sat in the second row, right next to Eileen." Your eyes are too busy taking in the vast array of tattoos your professor has, his grey shirt sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. You spot a compass, a snake, a Leviathan, a skull, a jaguar... You lose count at sixteen tattoos as the men go back and forth about his daytime career, discussing the ethics of tattooing former students, and why the pink-haired man was so concerned when he tattooed Eileen all the time, despite being her brother's best friend.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." The pink-haired man gripes, walking off.

"So, can I see what you've got there?" You instantly stretch out your hand and offer him the design to scrutinize. His eyes drift over the page before he turns back to the computer, beginning to sketch it over again. "Where do you want it?"

"Right below my ribcage." Geto hums, nodding.

"I got it. Give me a few minutes to finish this and then you can take a look at the design." You look around the small room as he works on the design, taking stock of the "Yellow Peril" posters and socialist rhetoric posted everywhere.

"You're a sociology professor at this conservative university... but you've got Karl Marx framed on your wall." You laugh, a little baffled at the absurdity of it all. Here is Professor Geto, handsome as hell, normally all dressed up in his black mock turtleneck and tan suit, wearing simple glasses and discussing the human condition during the day, but by night... still handsome as help but an underground, socialist tattoo artist.

"Where else should I go? The echo chamber that would be a liberal university? Or should I go out and try to expose other ideologies to people who may be open to them and sharing them with their friends?" You hum at the thought, nodding.

"That makes a lot of sense."

"Take a look at it," The man offers, turning around in his chair and handing you the sketch. You look at it - and it's virtually the same, so you nod and Geto smiles. "Alright, show me where exactly you want it."

You roll up your shirt and point to the spot, and Geto applies the stencil transfer, then peels it off, leaving the outline behind. You watch as he begins to prepare his equipment, moving methodically to avoid mistakes or mishaps. A thin layer of ointment is applied to the transfer and when he's ready, he looks up at you and you inhale deeply.

"You ready?" You nod quickly.

"Let's get this over with." The machine begins to whir, and you brace yourself for impact.

"Don't hold your breath," the black-eyed man warns. "Just breathe in and out." When the needle hits your skin, you feel a hot scratch, making you hiss in a little. Geto tuts a little, then reminds you to take a breath. "It gets easier."

While he works, he makes small talk, like what you're doing with your degree and how long you have until you graduate. You ask him about his political leanings, and why you never knew he was a socialist before now.

"It's not my job to force my political leanings onto you all. I'm just here to expose you to all of the ideas out there."

And you agreed.

The tattoo didn't take long, and once you're finished, he lets you stand and take a look at it in the mirror.

"You like it?"

You examine the artistry and turn back to him, smiling widely.

"I love it." Geto begins his speech on aftercare as he places the bandage on your tattoo, and even hands you a piece of paper detailing the exact speech he just gave. You walk up to the counter after he's done, and swift fingers ring you up for the total, which you happily pay.

"When you can, you should come to our meetings," Geto offers, sliding you a flyer and winking. "I'd love to see you there." You take the flyer and look it over, trying not to let your eagerness show.

"This looks like fun," you answer. "I'll see you when I can."

And this time - you think as you exit the shop - I'll be in the front row.

[milkweedman]

very fast lock by lock washing method ! note: i don't recommend doing this on a piece of fleece--pick locks off first !

once you've got a decent amount of locks (this is about 100, which took maybe 15 minutes to pick), set up your washing area. you're gonna need a sink, a large container, a small container, and a bar of soap. fill the big container with hot water and soap, and the little container with just hot water.

in this case I'm using my big dyepot and a plastic yogurt container.

take a large bundle of locks, making sure they're all roughly the same staple length, or else you might loose the shorter ones in the water. take as many as you can fit in your hand and hold tightly around the cut end.

dunk your whole hand in the container of soapy water and swish it around vigorously for a few seconds.

if there's any spots that still look dirty (usually just the tips), scrub the spot on the bar of soap ...

and toss it in the small container of hot water. continue going through the locks. if at any point the water of either container gets too grimy or too cool, empty it into the sink and refill it.

once your small container has a few handfuls in it, pull out a bundle of locks at a time and hold it under a hot running tap for a few seconds to rinse it. gently squeeze it and set it aside. rinse the rest before you go back to washing. if you find the bundles stick to each other, you can just lay them over the rim instead. i imagine that some breeds might cause more problems here than others.

lay them out on a towel or napkin to dry for an hour or two (you can also put them through a salad spinner to help them dry faster, but it's not necessary at all). once fully dry they can be separated back into single locks very easily, and processed further for spinning (if necessary or desired).

for me, for this 100 locks from picking to setting them down to dry, was about 25 minutes (which is 4 or 5 times faster than the Margaret Stove method that i generally use, with the exact same equipment and no difference in end result)

NOTES:

1) this won't remove very much vm, so if you've got a particularly vm-ridden fleece, plan on additional processing afterward.

2) make the water as hot as you can stand to keep your hands in for about 10 seconds. if it's too cold this whole process won't work at all, but you also don't want to burn your hands.

3) always use dedicated equipment when working with raw fleece--once you've had raw fleece in a bowl, you should not use it to cook food.

4) your big container should be as big as you can manage, so that you don't have to change the water too often. your small container, however, won't benefit from being bigger.