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i loved playing roadwarden...
#man. a long time ago i was thinking abt. what if there was a fantasy game that was set in a super hostile setting and culture was oral#also was thinking abt 'pre-industrial' type technology setting...#abt land that is hard to traverse and thus settlements are rather isolated#and anyway there was so much of my personal interests here...#also it was so lowkey. yet the stakes were crushingly high.#reminds me of how we view history... get 1000 year distance and more and historic events aren't presented with idk emotional heaviness?#like basically. here you read story abt conquest and assimilation but on a small scale#anyway got shy abt lose thoughts so it's only in the tags.
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So one thing led to another, and Iâve just paid a visit to the first (that we know of) confirmed Good Omens S3 filming locations. Due to the obvious sensitivity of this material, please tag it accordingly and share only with the fans consenting to know potential spoilers.

A fellow Good Omens fan has mentioned that residents of a certain Edinburgh area had unexpected guests recently, knocking on their door and telling them they are filming in their street soon. Imagine their surprise when a polite question about the details led to the offhand answer: âIT'S ONLY GOOD OMENSâ.
For those unaware, the City of Edinburgh Council has been working really hard on promoting the city for film and TV industry for a few years now (the effects of which we saw in S2), and has a set of very clear and very publicly available guidelines regarding the modus operandi here.
The Good Omens production has both large scale and a high impact on a specific location due to the crew size, amount of technology used, and requirement for crowd control in most of the exterior and interior scenes (e.g., bookshop, pub, or coffee shop windows), which is why not only the local authorities, but also residents were informed about the filming with an at least 8 days notice:

Ironically, I just had happened to have a trip here planned and a hotel booked within walking distance to the locations on the attached TM and parking plan map, so it would be a waste not to use this opportunity for the greater good of the fandom. Canât stay long enough to see the actual crew, so unfortunately the hair photos will have to be made by someone else. Disappointing, I know. But thereâs still a lot to be excited about!
According to the provided notice, the filming will happen within one working day with the required set-up planned for the day before, mostly in the afternoon hours. The attached map shows planned parking suspension and SYL dispensation on two streets close to the chosen locations, which is where the trailers and equipment vehicles will park:

Location One turns out to be, rather surprisingly, a cosy corner bookshop. The shop â one of the Edinburghâs oldest surviving secondhand bookstores â is very small, but crammed with a wide ranging library of beautiful books to serve readers and collectors, including antiquarian true first editions and signed copies.
Itâs giving Murielâs sweet and whimsical charm, but the bits and pieces of the unpublished Good Omens sequel point out not towards Whickber Street, where the angel currently resides, but more towards a new in-universe location. Maybe one that will be opened in the future post-Second Coming, maybe one that will remind one of the characters about a home base of operations back in the heart of Londonâs Soho (and theirsâ wait, who said that?).
Notice that the road closure includes north and south sides of the pavement visible in the last photo, so both indoor and outdoor shots could be expected:




Location Two seems a bit more complex, since itâs basically a skewed triangle consisting of one longer street and a short side street diverging from it. Conveniently for the filmmakers, the architecture here is uncharacteristic enough that it could be easily presented as British, Scottish, or even American. Iâm personally a bit partial to the last option since it would make sense story- and budget-wise, especially now with the two people previously adamant on shooting the US scenes only on location there not on the production team anymore.








The contrasting structures and materials visible here easily offer background for multiple potential contexts and scenarios, so much in fact that itâs easy to imagine more than one scene being shot here for cost- and time-effective reasons. Some of the buildings along the cobbled road have the right look and feel for historical flashbacks, as you can see below. I find the two separate entrances next to each other particularly lovely:




A considerable part of the buildings in the area, however, belongs to a more modern complex that communicates a very different personality and function. With a bit of camera and post-production magic, it could transform to a wide range of settings â please let me know your thoughts and ideas if you have any!






Specific filming times and more detailed information are consciously not shared out of concern for the crew and cast members who clearly donât want them to become public knowledge. Those of you who live in the area and might visit the set anyway, please donât forget to make sure that your presence wonât bother them as well as other locals. And remember to keep any new photos and information contained with tags so that you wonât spoil it to the people who would rather wait for the movie itself!
#good omens#good omens s3#good omens finale#good omens filming locations#edinburgh#good omens s3 speculation#good omens speculation#good omens s3 spoilers#good omens spoilers#seriously donât read it if you want to avoid spoilers#iâm dead serious about this#yuri is doing her thing#channeling detective aziraphale
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The Hunter
Din Djarin x f!reader | 4.2k | ao3 | masterlist
summary: you were used to seeing all sorts of beings around Daiyu, but a Mandalorian was still unexpected.
a/n: @deathwife happy @pedrostories secret santa! đ§Ą I hope you like this fic! I saw "Din" and "cyberpunk" and ran with it. It was fun (let me know how I did with the aesthetic, lol). Thank you to @katareyoudrilling for beta-ing (and keeping me on track).
tags/warnings: bounty hunting, flirting, fluff, canon-typical violence (while bounty hunting, ex. shooting blasters, fighting, etc.), touching, reader is not described but wears black pants, can run and climb and sneak around, set vaguely while Din is still bounty hunting, I played fast and loose with the layout of Daiyu lol
You saw him once before he ever saw you.
Crouched on a ledge well above street level, you watched the crowds ebb and flow below. It was somehow even more crowded than usual, with the new year holiday only a week away. You were in the second-largest marketplace in one of the nicer (but still not nice) neighborhoods on Daiyu. The neon lights from the shops and stalls around you kept you hidden, out of sight behind a sign, almost camouflaged in your matte black clothing. You were alert, looking for someone, when you saw him out of the corner of your eye.
At first you thought it was just something shiny that caught your attention. You turned your head slightly to look closer and found yourself staring at the back of a shiny silver helmet. You blinked.Â
A Mandalorian?
You moved silently to the other side of your small ledge, trying to get a better look at him in the crowd. He turned slowly in a circle, obviously scanning the people around him. He didnât look up at your ledge as you took him in. The neon lights around him reflected off of his extremely shiny armor, painting him in pinks and greens and blues. He was tall and broad, and you tilted your head as you watched him move smoothly through the crowd. You werenât sure the people around him even noticed how quickly they moved out of his way.
He turned into an alleyway and you moved to follow him without any conscious decision to do so. You scaled the short ladder to your right, jogged lightly over the balcony on the third floor of the neighboring building, and turned the corner.
By the time you got there, he was gone.
âŠ
Two nights later, you were walking slowly through the same market, a few streets over from where you first saw him, when you saw him again.
This time, you caught sight of him in the crowd in front of you. He was moving steadily forwards, helmet turning side to side as he searched the crowd around him again. You wondered who he might be looking for â it wasnât uncommon for bounties to hide out on Daiyu, after all.Â
Your own target would be occupied for at least the next few hours. Without examining the impulse too closely, you shifted your focus to the shiny Mandalorian and started to follow him through the crowd.Â
He took his time, you noticed. His steps were unhurried and his scan was thorough. As he led you closer to the eastern edge of the market, you wondered if he even knew where he was headed.Â
Daiyu was essentially one big city, but the levels and neighborhoods were often so different from each other that it was like being in many different cities at once. The eastern edge of this market followed a remnant of the planetâs original topography â a river ran along the surface, far, far below where you were now. But the tall, many-storied industrial zone that sat atop the river interrupted the city streets.Â
That is, unless you knew how to get through it.
As the Mandalorian approached what basically seemed like a dead-end, you turned and scaled one of the balconies to your right. You settled in about 3 meters back and 4 meters above his head, crouched in a shadow, wondering what he might do next.
He looked to either side, seeming to take in the way the buildings stopped just before the wall, leaving a tiny path along its face.Â
And then, to your surprise, he turned and looked straight up at you. You masked your reaction and raised one eyebrow. âLost, Mando?â
He tilted his head, and the deep voice that came out of the helmet made you shiver. âWhat makes you say that?â
You shrugged. âWell, you hit a dead end. Where are you headed?â
For a long moment, he just looked at you. You wondered what he saw. Then he shifted his weight. âIt was you. The other night in the market.â
You blinked. âMe?â
âFollowing me.â You scoffed, but he stepped back to scan you up and down. âLooking for me?âÂ
There was an edge to his voice, and you heard the potential threat underlying the question. You laughed. âMando, itâs not my fault youâre shiny. How do you sneak anywhere, when you light up like that?â You gestured at his armor, which was still reflecting the neon lights hanging everywhere along the street.Â
He didnât answer your question. âThen why follow me? Again?â
âWhat, a girl canât be curious?â You sighed. âMy stakeout got a little boring. And you really are very shiny, you know.â
He stared at you, but you noticed some of the tension leave his shoulders. âGo back to your stakeout.â
You stood on the balcony as he turned back towards the wall. âYou canât get through that way.â He looked over his shoulder at you and seemed surprised to find you standing. You dropped down from the balcony as he watched. âYou need to go about 10 minutes south,â you pointed to the right, âthat entrance is usually less well guarded.â
âYou seem to know a lot about it.â
You shrugged. âLocal,â you said, gesturing at yourself. You wondered if he would ask for help, but he started to walk away from you.Â
Just before he turned the corner, he looked back again. âThanks.â
Before you could say anything in response, he was gone.Â
âŠ
To your surprise, you didnât have to wait long to see the mysterious Mandalorian again.
The next night you were loitering outside of a bar (technically, you were sitting and having a drink at the stall across the street, completely blending in with your surroundings), tracking your target inside, when a familiar shiny reflection caught your eye.Â
He was lit up in orange and purple, this time, and he was walking straight towards you.
âMando,â you greeted when he stopped next to your table. âStill on the hunt?â
âAs are you.â His voice was even, but it was an interesting observation. You wondered if he was as intrigued by you as you were by him.Â
You gestured at the bar across the street, which had a line down the block of people waiting to get in. âOn another stakeout.â
He tilted his head and shifted his weight. âWho are you?â
You smiled. âFigured out Iâm not a bounty hunter?â When he didnât answer, you continued, âa bit of a freelancer. I find people. Information. Not like you, though.â
He seemed to think about that for a moment before nodding. âAlright. Thanks for the tip, about the factory.â
âAnytime.â
For a moment you both said nothing as you looked at each other, but you seemed to gather your courage at the same time.
âMando, dâyouââ
âI shouldââ
You both stopped, and you laughed. âDo you want a drink?â
He shook his head and stook a step back. âI should go.â Before you could respond, he turned and started down the street. You wanted to call after him, but your target surprised you by slipping out of the door across the street before you could think of what to say. You turned your attention back to your job and tried to put your mysterious, shiny Mandalorian out of your mind.
âŠ
You didnât see him for a couple of days, and as you wrapped up your own case, you figured he must have located his bounty. You put together the data packet for your client and tried not to dwell on the fact that he was probably off planet, already.Â
You donât even know his name.
Sighing, you stood from your desk in your tiny office and decided to treat yourself to your favorite cheap street food, from the stall that was kind of out of the way but always so good. You locked up and headed out.
You werenât sure why the Mandalorian seemed to fill your thoughts, but you found yourself thinking about him again the entire walk to your dinner. He was obviously fit â those shoulders - but that didnât change the fact that he was a bounty hunter you barely knew. You didnât really know him at all.
As you joined the line at the stall, you resolved to put him out of your mind.
Of course, right at that moment you felt a presence fall into step with you. You smiled as you looked to your right, already knowing what you would find.
âMando,â you greeted, crossing your arms. âFigured youâd be gone by now.â
He made a little huffing noise, and you wondered if youâd just made him laugh.
âStill here.â You moved forward in line and he moved with you. âIâŠâ he trailed off, and you noticed the tension in his arms. Was he nervous? âI could use your help.â
Your eyebrows flew upwards and you knew your shock was written all over your face. âMe? Iâm not a bounty hunter.â
He shook his head. âI know. But youâre good. And you know this place.â He gestured at the city around you. âHe keeps slipping through my fingers, he clearly knows his way around.â
You took a moment to study him. You wanted to say yes and jump right in, but you reminded yourself you still didnât know this man. No matter how interesting he seemed. âAlright, Mando. Buy me dinner and weâll talk.â He tensed, but you smiled. âDonât worry, Mando. Wait âtil you see the prices.â
He did, in fact, seem relieved when he saw how cheap the stall was. There was a reason it was so popular.
Dinner in hand, though he refused to get something for himself, you led him around the corner and upwards until you were perched on a half-roof that jutted out from where two buildings had been combined in some sort of wonky construction merger that left just part of the original roof alone. You knew there was no roof access from the inside, so it was a great place to sit if you knew how to get to it otherwise. It was even partially hidden by a large advertisement. He followed, scaling the wall behind you effortlessly.
âAlright,â you said, once you and the Mandalorian had settled into your new surroundings. âWhatâs the problem?â
He retrieved a bounty puck from a pouch at his waist and turned it on. You noticed how big his hands were in comparison with the puck, but brushed the thought aside. âBountyâs local â a Twiâlek named Lidar Tas. He knows this place too well, knows just where to hide.â
You nodded. Youâd heard of Tas and his gang of mudscuffers. âNever met him, but, well. His name is pretty well-known.â
He nodded. âIâve heard people talking about him, been chasing him for almost two weeks. Almost had him in the factory, but I swear he went into one of the water chutes on purpose.â
The Mandalorian sounded incredulous, and you couldnât help but smile. âHe probably did. Some of them are kept empty, but you wouldnât know the schedule or which ones without an in at the factory. Or a local. Itâs still dangerous but I can see why heâd go for it, running from you.â
He sighed. âYeah, I figured. Couldnât even tell which one he went into, though.â
You hummed sympathetically. âAny idea where heâs going next?â
He nodded, and put away the puck. âHeâll be over in the western market again, for the festival. I was hoping you could help me prepare for whatever escape routes he might take.â
You tilted your head, unable to hold back your question any longer. âWhy me?â
He turned toward you slightly. âI can tell you know what youâre doing. That first night, I knew someone was tailing me, but I couldnât find you. And you clearly know your way around.â
You smiled again, a bit flattered. âReally? Just from that?âÂ
âI know real skill when I see it.âÂ
âAlright,â you agreed. âWell, then how do you feel about having a second set of eyes?â
He stiffened. âI canâtââ
But you were already shaking your head. âNo payment necessary, Mando. Iâm happy to help.â
He moved his head in such a way that you thought he might be frowning. âNo, I can pay you a fair share of the bounty. I donât want to put you in danger.â
You scoffed. âWhich one of us knows this place? Iâll be fine. People are used to seeing me, the locals wonât even blink if they do. I promise.â He hesitated, and you smiled again. âCome on, Mando. Itâll be fun.â
He made that small huffing noise again, and you were certain this time it was a laugh. You grinned.
âAlright, but if I tell you to back off, promise youâll do it? I donât want you hurt.â
You nodded. That seemed fair, even though you knew you could take care of yourself. In agreement, you settled in to plan.
âŠ
The next night you resolutely ignored the fact that you were putting on the black pants that made your ass look amazing. And the jacket that you knew made you look cool and tough (according to your friends).Â
You met up with the Mandalorian well away from the market, and found him leaning against the corner of a repair shop. You smiled, knowing he was trying to be inconspicuous, but he couldnât hide from the neon lights and the way they reflected off of his armor.Â
âYou know, he probably saw you coming,â you said, gesturing at his armor.Â
He sighed. âHe did, early on. Tipped him off.â
âYouâre just too shiny, Mando.â You laughed and you swore he must have rolled his eyes at you.Â
His helmet tilted as he looked you up and down, and you ignored the heat that rose in your face. âItâs impressive, you know. That you can hide around here as well as you do.â
You shrugged. âThe secret is to only wear black, obviously.â You smiled. âShould we get started?â You both knew the plan, and you knew where youâd be as a lookout. He nodded and turned to walk towards the festival.Â
âHey, Mando, wait,â you said. He stopped and turned to look at you. âI just realized, I never told you my name.â
He turned back towards you and regarded you silently for a moment. âI wonât tell you mine.â
This didnât surprise you. âThatâs alright. I can keep calling you Mando.â You told him your name and did not fidget.Â
He nodded, once, and repeated it. You tried to hide the way you shivered at the sound. âLetâs go.â
âŠ
You split up as you headed to the market, and soon enough you were in one of your normal perches â a balcony well hidden by a neon sign. It gave you a good vantage point without being too bright, at least from the back. The colors and flashing lights also obscured the fact that you were lurking behind them.
âIn position,â Mando murmured over your comm. Youâd dug up an old ear piece so you didnât have to fidget with anything. You realized suddenly that maybe this wasnât the best choice. HIs voice was deep and gravely and it felt like he was right next to you, speaking lowly into your ear. âNo sign yet.â
You shook yourself lightly and cleared your throat. âNothing here.â
You were both silent for a moment. You forced yourself to scan the crowded street below and do your job.
âTarget spotted, moving north past the theater,â his low voice murmured in your ear. You shivered as you turned left to look. Sure enough, Tas was walking with a small group past the theater. He looked strangely carefree for someone who knew he was being hunted by a Mandalorian. Maybe he thought the hunter had given up?
âI see him,â you replied. âHeâll pass me soon.â
The Mandalorian was further up the road to your right, staying out of sight (and away from the neon lights). You knew he had to be using some sort of fancy equipment to spot Tas from so far away.Â
Tas and his group stopped, suddenly, and you realized where they were going before they turned. âMando, Tas must be doing a deal tonight. Heâs going inside the casino, just him and one of his lackeys.â
The casino was decorated for the holiday with even brighter lights than normal. The facade was almost obscured by the number of moving lights and shapes. You knew people like Tas used it to do business rather than gamble. Though maybe they did both â you wouldnât know, as youâd never been inside.
âIâm heading your way,â he replied, and you could hear the crowd on the street in the background. âDo you know where theyâd go?â
You shook your head, even though he couldnât see you. âIâve never been inside. Kriff, Iâm sorry, Mando. I just know thereâs a back door down the alley, Iâve had to watch it before.â
For a moment the Mandalorian didnât respond, and you felt your own disappointment start to roil in your gut. But then he surprised you.
âI donât want to ask this of you.â His voice was low and apologetic. âI canât go inside, theyâve seen me. Do you think you can without attracting notice? If itâs too dangerous, tell me.â
You hesitated, thinking about it. There were people streaming in and out of the casino â it was probably crowded for the festival. It should be easy to hide inside, with all those people.Â
Youâd been silent too long, you realized, when the Mandalorian started to say your name.
âI can do it,â you cut him off. âItâs way more crowded than usual, with all the people here for the festival. No oneâll look twice at me.â You looked down at your outfit and nodded. It could pass, you thought.Â
He said your name again. âOnly if youâre sure you can stay under the radar. I donât wantââ
But you were already moving. You dropped down into an alley a block over and made your way back to the casino. âIâll be ok, Mando. Iâll check in soon.â
âBe careful. Donât take any risks.â You tried not to read into the emotion you could hear in his voice.
It was too late for you to respond as you stepped up to the door. The Bothan working the door looked you up and down and then waved you in, looking bored.
You took a deep breath as you stepped inside.
It was about what youâd expected. Not quite seedy, but not exactly opulent. Everything was lit up in lurid red and purple lights. It was decorated for the festival but that didnât hide the fact that overall, the place had seen better days. You scanned the room as you walked and headed towards the bar along the south wall.
When you ordered a drink, you let the Mandalorian hear it over the comm. You settled in at the bar and thanked whoever designed the tacky interior for all the mirrors theyâd installed above the bar. You scanned the room slowly. There were tables for every gambling game you could name and many you couldnât. Your eyes caught on a door in the back corner, hidden in shadow. Tasâs lackey was hoving right outside of it.
You let your gaze keep wandering across the mirrors as you brought your drink to your mouth. âNortheast corner. Guy outside the door,â you murmured, barely moving your mouth. You heard a sharp intake of breath.
âThe side door?â he sounded out of breath, and you wondered what he was up to.
âThink so,â you agreed, taking another sip. âRight spot.â
âStay there,â he said, voice firm. âIâm going in.â
You didnât respond, afraid to distract him. Your mind played you images of the Mandalorian bursting into a room and being outnumbered, and you took a deep breath. He knows what heâs doing. You kept an eye on the door.
The next few minutes were excruciating. You waited, straining to hear anything, but unable to, over the crowd and the ringing of the games.
You didnât hear anything, but you noticed when the lackey outside the door went suddenly tense. You watched as he turned towards the door and without hesitation, you got up and moved to follow.
The room seemed much larger when you turned, ready to cross it towards the door. There were people in your way, people you had to shove past, and by the time you shouldered and elbowed your way to the other side of the floor the lackey was gone and the door was shut. You eyed it, wondering if you should go through.Â
The unmistakable sound of a blaster made the decision for you.
Before you realized you were moving, your hand was on the door and you were yanking it open. You were surprised to find a hallway, rather than a room, but there was only one door at the other end. You ran to it.
You took a deep breath instead of barreling through the second door. You pressed your ear to it, but you didnât hear anything inside. Easing it open, you found a room full of storage shelves. You heard rustling towards the back.Â
Stepping softly, you started to edge around the first shelf. You looked down the row and your heart started racing.
The Mandalorian was at the far end of the room, tying the hands of Lidar Tas. He was surrounded by bodies, all clearly down, except for one man sneaking out from between two shelves about halfway between you and Mando. It was the lackey who had been outside the door.
You froze, but only for a moment.
When the man turned and silently lifted his blaster, you were already there, tackling him to the ground. You knocked the blaster away before he even realized what was happening. By the time youâd knocked him out and looked up at Mando, he was already looking at you.Â
You grinned. âFancy meeting you here.â
He laughed. You could tell, even though you couldnât hear it.
âYouâre alright?â he asked, and you felt your face heat, though you werenât sure why.Â
You nodded. âJust fine. Came when I saw him move, and then heard the blasters.â
He stood and tugged Tas up, throwing the unconscious Twiâlek over his shoulder. You were a bit taken aback at his strength. âI need to get him to my ship. Could you, well. It would be easier if I could get there without going through the crowds.â
âI can help with that.â You smiled as you walked past him to the back door. âCome on, Mando. Whereâs your ship?â
You heard a blaster fire, and whirled around. The Mandalorian was already putting his blaster back in its holster, and you realized heâd just shot the man you knocked out. âMando?â You werenât exactly sad to see one of Tasâ men dead, but you were a bit surprised.
âHe might have seen you,â he said. âI told you, I wonât put you in danger.â
You looked down, trying not to see that as sweet.
âAlright. Come on, Mando.â
Your trip to the shipyard was surprisingly uneventful. Once you arrived, you werenât sure what to do, so you followed him up the ramp of his ship and watched as he put Tas in carbonite.
You realized, suddenly, that he was going to leave. The disappointment you felt at the realization seemed hugely out of proportion with the short time youâd known him, and yet⊠your stomach sank, and you bit your lip.
You didnât want him to go.
He turned from the freezer, and you could see it in the angle of his shoulders. He was about to say goodbye. So you spoke before he could.
âWell, Mando,â you said, aiming for a lighter tone and missing by a mile, âyou sure you have to go? Itâs been fun, having you around.â
He shifted his weight. âI have to turn him in.â He sounded reluctant, and you felt something like excitement start to build in your chest. Maybe he didnât want to go yet.
âOf course,â you agreed. âBut, you know, it is a holiday. If you wanted to stick around for another night.â You tried not to fidget as you looked at him. He didnât respond, and as his silence started to stretch, the excitement started to turn to embarrassment.Â
You sucked in a sharp breath and started to turn away. âIâll justââ
Before you could even take a step, there was a gloved hand on your arm. A large, warm hand. You shivered.
âOne more night?â he murmured, and you felt him step up behind you. The warmth of his body made you want to lean back into him. He squeezed your arm.Â
âYes,â you said, and you were surprised at how breathy your voice sounded.
He stepped even closer, somehow, and his armor brushed your back. You felt him lean towards you and when he spoke, it was like he was whispering in your ear. âWith you?â His voice was deep, so deep.
âYes,â you said again.Â
His helmet came to rest against the side of your head and his free arm slipped around your waist. âThe helmet stays on.â
You sighed and leaned back into him. You nodded. âAlright.â
âThen lead the way, meshâla.âÂ
You grinned and reached down to lace your fingers together.Â
...
Three months later your comm pinged while you were on a stakeout. When you looked at the message, you couldnât help but smile.
Heading your way for a hunt. You in?
...
a/n: happy holidays!
#din djarin x reader#din djarin x f!reader#din djarin x you#the mandalorian#din djarin fanfiction#x reader#the hunter fic#pedrostoriesgift24#pedro stories secret santa
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Some thoughts on Cara
So some of you may have heard about Cara, the new platform that a lot of artists are trying out. It's been around for a while, but there's been a recent huge surge of new users, myself among them. Thought I'd type up a lil thing on my initial thoughts.
First, what is Cara?
From their About Cara page:
Cara is a social media and portfolio platform for artists. With the widespread use of generative AI, we decided to build a place that filters out generative AI images so that people who want to find authentic creatives and artwork can do so easily. Many platforms currently accept AI art when itâs not ethical, while others have promised âno AI foreverâ policies without consideration for the scenario where adoption of such technologies may happen at the workplace in the coming years. The future of creative industries requires nuanced understanding and support to help artists and companies connect and work together. We want to bridge the gap and build a platform that we would enjoy using as creatives ourselves. Our stance on AI: ă»We do not agree with generative AI tools in their current unethical form, and we wonât host AI-generated portfolios unless the rampant ethical and data privacy issues around datasets are resolved via regulation. ă»In the event that legislation is passed to clearly protect artists, we believe that AI-generated content should always be clearly labeled, because the public should always be able to search for human-made art and media easily.
Should note that Cara is independently funded, and is made by a core group of artists and engineers and is even collaborating with the Glaze project. It's very much a platform by artists, for artists!
Should also mention that in being a platform for artists, it's more a gallery first, with social media functionalities on the side. The info below will hopefully explain how that works.
Next, my actual initial thoughts using it, and things that set it apart from other platforms I've used:
1) When you post, you can choose to check the portfolio option, or to NOT check it. This is fantastic because it means I can have just my art organized in my gallery, but I can still post random stuff like photos of my cats and it won't clutter things. You can also just ramble/text post and it won't affect the gallery view!
2) You can adjust your crop preview for your images. Such a simple thing, yet so darn nice.
3) When you check that "Add to portfolio," you get a bunch of additional optional fields: Title, Field/Medium, Project Type, Category Tags, and Software Used. It's nice that you can put all this info into organized fields that don't take up text space.
4) Speaking of text, 5000 character limit is niiiiice. If you want to talk, you can.
5) Two separate feeds, a "For You" algorithmic one, and "Following." The "Following" actually appears to be full chronological timeline of just folks you follow (like Tumblr). Amazing.
6) Now usually, "For You" being set to home/default kinda pisses me off because generally I like curating my own experience, but not here, for this handy reason: if you tap the gear symbol, you can ADJUST your algorithm feed!
So you can choose what you see still!!! AMAZING. And, again, you still have your Following timeline too.
7) To repeat the stuff at the top of this post, its creation and intent as a place by artists, for artists. Hopefully you can also see from the points above that it's been designed with artists in mind.
8) No GenAI images!!!! There's a pop up that says it's not allowed, and apparently there's some sort of detector thing too. Not sure how reliable the latter is, but so far, it's just been a breath of fresh air, being able to scroll and see human art art and art!
To be clear, Cara's not perfect and is currently pretty laggy, and you can get errors while posting (so far, I've had more success on desktop than the mobile app), but that's understandable, given the small team. They'll need time to scale. For me though, it's a fair tradeoff for a platform that actually cares about artists.
Currently it also doesn't allow NSFW, not sure if that'll change given app store rules.
As mentioned above, they're independently funded, which means the team is currently paying for Cara itself. They have a kofi set up for folks who want to chip in, but it's optional. Here's the link to the tweet from one of the founders:

And a reminder that no matter that the platform itself isn't selling our data to GenAI, it can still be scraped by third parties. Protect your work with Glaze and Nightshade!
Anyway, I'm still figuring stuff out and have only been on Cara a few days, but I feel hopeful, and I think they're off to a good start.
I hope this post has been informative!
Lastly, here's my own Cara if you want to come say hi! Not sure at all if I'll be active on there, but if you're an artist like me who is keeping an eye out for hopefully nice communities, check it out!
#YukiPri rambles#cara#cara app#social media#artists on tumblr#review#longpost#long post#mostly i'd already typed this up on twitter so i figured why not share it here too#also since tumblr too is selling our data to GenAI
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masterpost
á wc: 11.5k (total: ???)
á fluff, angst, fashion designer!hongjoong x model!reader (ft. personal assistant!seonghwa & photographer!wooyoung), slowburn, strangers to lovers, soulmates au if you squint, do french people actually say bonjour irl?
á playlist !
á Your day immediately turns eventful at the very second you open your eyes, receiving a congratulatory message from Hongjoong which was apparently because of your sudden popularity that skyrocketed overnight, following your first photoshoot. As you grapple with this sudden surge of attention, Seonghwa offers a welcome distraction by suggesting you assist Hongjoong with his designs for the upcoming autumn collection, all of which are still in progress.
a/n: apologies in advance, but it should probably be in your best interest to expect slow updates starting from now on đ„Č iâve been getting busier and busier lately so it might take a little while to upload the following chapters ă
ă
lmk what you think about this chapter! reading peopleâs feedback cheers me up a lot, and iâd really appreciate them especially rn since iâm having a hard time haha
tags: @beabatiny
You awaken to the soft chime of a message notification, the early morning light casting a gentle glow in your room. Blinking away sleep, you reach for your phone on the bedside table, the screen glowing softly in the dim light. The message is from Hongjoong, and your heart skips a beat as you read it.
Seems like you got a good head start in the industry. Congratulations!
Confused, you sit up, rubbing your eyes and trying to make sense of his words. You quickly type back, asking him what was going on, as you had just woken up. Hongjoongâs response comes swiftly.
The pictures from your first photoshoot were uploaded last night and theyâre currently going viral.
Your eyes widen in disbelief, and you hurriedly exit the conversation to check the social media platforms associated with Hongjoongâs brand. The notifications are overwhelming. As you scroll through the posts, your face appears repeatedlyâeach shot capturing a different angle of the Parisian venue, each pose more captivating than the last. The comments are a flurry of excitement and admiration. Each one is a testament to the impact the photos have had.
âWho is this stunning new face?â
âShe looks like she stepped out of a painting!â
âHer expression is so captivating; I canât stop looking!â
âSuch a refreshing presence, sheâs going to be huge!â
âShe exudes this ethereal vibeâlike a modern-day muse!â
If there was one thing you were expecting the moment you stepped into the industry, it was definitely not this. Well, you probably shouldâve. Your hands tremble slightly as you continue scrolling, unable to fully grasp the scale of the attention. Itâs surreal to see yourself through the eyes of so many strangers, each comment adding another layer to the overwhelming reality.
A hand ghosts over your mouth in shock, trying to stifle the gasp that escapes. âIs this real?â you whisper to yourself, the room around you suddenly feeling too small, too quiet compared to the roaring storm of notifications and messages on your phone.
Rushing to the bathroom, you splash cold water on your face, the chill jolting you awake. You even slap your cheeks lightly a few times, trying to dispel the surreal feeling thatâs settled over you. The mirror reflects your wide-eyed expression, confirming that this is, in fact, happening. You stare at your reflection, the reality of your newfound attention slowly sinking in. It feels like stepping into another world, one where your life has suddenly taken a dramatic turn.
Still in a daze, you return to your bed, clutching your phone tightly. You reopen the conversation with Hongjoong, asking him if any of this was real. You couldâve just been having a highly realistic dream, for all you know. On the other side of the screen, Hongjoong can almost sense your disbelief.
As real as it can be.
But even through the text, you sense a smile, a quiet confidence in his words. Just as youâre beginning to process everything, your phone rings again. It's Seonghwa. His voice is warm, laced with a hint of amusement as he says, âYouâre quite the hit lately. Have you heard of it?â
You let out a small laugh, still overwhelmed. âYes, Hongjoong actually beat you to it.â
Thereâs a brief pause, and Seonghwaâs voice becomes thoughtful. âHongjoong texted you first? Thatâs... unusual.â
âHuh?â
Seonghwaâs mind lingers on this revelation. Hongjoong, known for his reserved nature, seldom initiates contact with others. He was the type to keep his thoughts to himself, preferring the solitude of his creative processes. For him to reach out so directly is⊠well, itâs unexpected. He wonders if thereâs more to this than meets the eye, but he quickly shakes off the thought, not wanting to jump to conclusions.
He continues, his tone lightening again, âNevermind that. But seriously, congratulations! This is huge.â
You sigh, a mixture of happiness and anxiety bubbling up. âI still canât believe all of this is real. It feels like things are progressing too quickly, and while Iâm happy, thereâs this overwhelming feeling somewhere deep inside.â
Seonghwaâs voice softens with empathy. âItâs completely normal to feel that way, especially since this all came out of nowhere. It can be a lot to take in at once.â
You nod, though he canât see you, and explain your usual method of coping with major newsâpushing it aside until youâre ready to fully process it. âSo⊠what Iâm saying is I kinda need to put that method to use right now. Is there anything I can help with over there? I need something to focus on, just to distract myself.â
Seonghwa thinks for a moment, considering your offer. âWell, you could help bring some of Hongjoongâs designs to life. Unfortunately, he rarely accepts help, preferring to work alone because it helps him focus. But Iâll mention it to him and see what he says.â
Seonghwa hangs up the phone, placing it gently on the table in front of him. The lounge area of the building is quiet, save for the soft hum of distant conversations and the occasional clink of cups. He leans back in his chair, lost in thought about the conversation he just had with you. Just then, as if on cue, Hongjoong strolls into the lounge, his presence commanding a subtle shift in the room's atmosphere. He spots Seonghwa and heads over, a slight smile playing on his lips.
âThings are turning out well for her, arenât they?â Hongjoong remarks, settling into the lounge chair across Seonghwa. His tone carries a hint of pride, and Seonghwa can see a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
Seonghwa, remembering something from the call, tilts his head slightly. âYou know, she mentioned you were the first to tell her about all the attention sheâs getting. Thatâs... not exactly your usual style.â
Hongjoong raises an eyebrow, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. âWhat do you mean? I just wanted to congratulate her, thatâs all.â
Seonghwa isnât convinced and leans forward, a playful glint in his eyes. âYou donât even text first when it comes to both me and Wooyoung. Whatâs the deal?â
Hongjoong chuckles, shaking his head as if dismissing the notion. âItâs nothing. Just thought she should know.â
But Seonghwa isnât buying the nonchalant act. His eyes narrow playfully, clearly intrigued by this rare deviation from Hongjoongâs usual behavior. Hongjoong, noticing the look, quickly grabs a crumpled paper from his blazer pocket and tosses it at Seonghwa, laughing. âStop reading too much into it. Thereâs nothing there.â
Seonghwa catches the paper, laughing as well despite not being entirely convinced. He decides to change the subject, leaning back in his chair. âSo, how are the designs for the autumn collection coming along?â
Hongjoongâs eyes light up at the mention of his work. âIâve been making good progress with the tailoring and even started on some new designs. Though I left my sketchbook in my office today, Iâve got some photos of the pieces.â
He leans forward, pulling out his phone and handing it to Seonghwa. As Seonghwa scrolls through the images, heâs greeted with a series of designs that reflect the collectionâs theme. The first few designs are ethereal yet grounded, capturing the essence of the season. Thereâs a long, flowing coat made of rich, burnt orange wool, adorned with delicate embroidery of falling leaves. The next outfit is a layered ensemble featuring a deep forest green velvet dress, cinched at the waist with a leather belt, and paired with a capelet that mimics the texture of fallen leaves.
Each piece exudes a sense of elegance and warmth, perfectly encapsulating the quiet beauty of autumn. The use of earthy tones, mixed with subtle metallic accents, creates a harmonious blend of nature-inspired elements and modern fashion. Seonghwa can see the meticulous attention to detail in every stitch and fold, each piece a testament to Hongjoongâs artistic vision. It was admirable, as always.
As he continues scrolling, Seonghwaâs eyes widen slightly when he stumbles upon an unexpected photoâa candid shot of you holding a cat, your face soft with a serene smile. Itâs a stark contrast to the fashion designs, capturing a moment of unguarded warmth and simplicity. Seonghwaâs mind raced with questions, his curiosity piqued even further. Why does Hongjoong have this photo, and what does it signify?
Quickly, he scrolls back to the fashion designs, masking his surprise. He hands the phone back to Hongjoong, his expression composed but his thoughts swirling. âThese are incredible, Hongjoong. The way youâve captured the essence of autumn is truly impressive. I especially like the use of textures and the color paletteâit feels very grounded yet still has that ethereal quality.â
Hongjoong nods, pleased with the feedback. âThanks, Iâve been working on capturing that balance. Autumn has this quiet, reflective beauty, and I wanted that to come through in the designs.â
Seonghwa nods thoughtfully, but his mind lingers on the photo he saw. He canât help but wonder if thereâs something more going on between you and Hongjoong, something beneath the surface that he hasnât yet understood. As he hands the phone back, he decides to keep this little discovery to himself, at least for now, storing it away as something to discuss with Wooyoung later.
Clearing his throat, Seonghwa leans forward, his tone thoughtful. âYou know, I was talking to her earlier, and she mentioned feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the sudden exposure. Itâs a lot for anyone to handle, especially someone so new to the industry. She was wondering if there might be any way she could help with the tailoring of the designs. Not only to get some practical experience but also to have something to focus on, something to keep her grounded while everything else is so chaotic.â
Hongjoong listens intently, his expression contemplative. Seonghwa continues, âI know you usually prefer to work alone, to have complete control over your creative process. And I get thatâitâs part of what makes your designs so unique. But maybe just this once, it could be beneficial to have an extra pair of hands. Sheâs genuinely interested in learning and contributing, and I think it could be a good experience for both of you.â
As Seonghwa speaks, he watches Hongjoong closely, trying to gauge his reaction. Before he can elaborate further, Hongjoong cuts him off with a reassuring smile. âI donât mind at all. We can start tomorrow.â
Seonghwaâs eyes widened slightly in surprise. That was a quick agreement, far quicker than he expected. âGood, alright. Iâll inform her,â Seonghwa says, still processing Hongjoongâs easy acquiescence. He hesitates for a moment, then adds, almost tentatively, âOr do you want to do it instead...?â
Hongjoongâs brows furrowed in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â
Seonghwa quickly waves him off, standing up from his seat. âOh, no, no, nothing. Iâll let her know.â He makes a quick exit, leaving a bewildered Hongjoong behind, still puzzled over the odd exchange.
As Seonghwa strides towards the elevator, the gears in his mind are turning. The ease with which Hongjoong agreed to your involvement, coupled with the candid photo and the early morning text, is starting to form a pattern in Seonghwaâs mindâa pattern that suggests something more than just professional interest.
As the elevator doors open, Seonghwa is met by Wooyoung, who looks ready to step out. Without a second thought, Seonghwa gently but firmly shoves Wooyoung back inside, pressing the button for the floor where his office is located.
âWhat the hellââ Wooyoung begins, startled by the abruptness of Seonghwa's actions.
Seonghwa cuts him off, a serious look on his face. âThereâs something important we need to discuss. Just trust me.â
Wooyoung, sensing the gravity in Seonghwaâs tone, complies without further protest. As they reach Seonghwaâs office, Seonghwa gestures for Wooyoung to double-check the lock on the door, ensuring their privacy. âJust in case Hongjoong walks in.â
Wooyoung complies, yet thete was a puzzled look on his face. âHongjoong? What does he have to do with this?â
They settled into Seonghwaâs office, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Seonghwa starts, his tone hushed. âAlright, so get this: Hongjoong texted her first thing this morning to congratulate her on the viral photos. Can you believe that?â
Wooyoungâs eyes widened in surprise. âNo way! Hongjoong? Mr. âI-Donât-Do-Small-Talkâ? Like, for real?â
Seonghwa nods, his expression mirroring Wooyoungâs shock. âFor real. And it gets better. He even had a candid photo of her on his phone. You know, not a posed shot or anything, just her holding a cat. She looked so natural and relaxed. I accidentally saw it while scrolling through his design pictures.â
Wooyoung leans forward, clearly intrigued. âA candid photo? From Hongjoong? Thatâs... well, I definitely didnât see that coming. What else did you see?â he asked, pushing for more details.
Seonghwa goes into a contemplative gaze. âThatâs the thing, Wooyoung. He never keeps personal photos like that. And then, when I mentioned her feeling overwhelmed by all the attention, he was totally understanding. And, get this, he agreed to let her help with the tailoring for his autumn collection without even hesitating.â
Wooyoung's eyebrows shoot up. âWhoa, hold on. Doesnât he literally hate people interfering with his work? What do you mean he agreed just like that?â
Seonghwa holds his hands up, still a bit in disbelief himself. âThatâs what I donât get either. No arguments, no reservations. Just âsure, she can start tomorrow.â Itâs so out of character for him. Usually, heâs all about keeping things strictly professional and handling everything himself.â
Wooyoung leans back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. âSo, let me get this straight. Hongjoong, who never texts first, texts her before anyone else. Heâs got a candid, personal photo of her on his phone. And now, heâs okay with her helping out with his designs? ThatâsâŠâ
Seonghwa nods. âExactly. And when I asked him about texting her, he brushed it off, saying he just wanted to congratulate her. But I know Hongjoong. He doesnât do things like this for just anyone. Hell, he doesnât even text us first, and we've known him for years.â
Wooyoung grins, clearly entertained. âSo, what do you think? Is he interested in her? It sure sounds like it.â This was definitely worth the gossip drought that lasted for weeks.
Seonghwa shrugs, though his eyes gleam with curiosity. âI donât know, but itâs definitely out of the ordinary. I mean, Hongjoongâs not one to show personal interest in anyone, let alone a model he just met.â
Wooyoung clasps his hands together, shaking his head. âThis is going to be interesting. We should keep an eye on this. Maybe theyâre just friends, or maybe thereâs something more. Either way, itâs unusual for Hongjoong.â
Seonghwa and Wooyoung exchange a knowing glance, an idea slowly taking root in Wooyoung's mind. He leans forward, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. âYou know,â Wooyoung begins, âwe could give them a little nudge. Like, play matchmaker. It could be fun.â
Seonghwa raises an eyebrow, hesitating. âWe shouldnât make things awkward between them. What if theyâre just forming a friendship? We donât want to overstep.â
Wooyoung waves off the concern, his enthusiasm undeterred. âI get that, but think about it. Most great love stories start with friendship, right? Theyâre already getting along well, and thereâs clearly something different about how Hongjoong is acting lately. Maybe itâs worth exploring.â
Seonghwa sighs, shaking his head with a faint smile. âYouâre incorrigible, you know that? But I suppose you have a point. Itâs just... Hongjoongâs been very private about his personal life. We shouldnât push him into something heâs not ready for.â
Wooyoung nods thoughtfully. âWell, yeah, but heâs been alone for as long as Iâve known him. Heâs always so independent and hardworking, constantly putting the company and his designs first. Wouldnât it be nice for him to have someone who reminds him to take a breather, to enjoy life a little?â
Seonghwa looks away, pondering Wooyoungâs words. He knows that Hongjoong is fiercely dedicated to his work, often to the point of neglecting his own well-being. Itâs a quality they all admire, but it also worries them. Hongjoongâs solitary nature, while admirable in its focus, sometimes seemed to be a shield against something deeper.
At the same time, a part of Seonghwa agrees with Wooyoung. Hongjoong deserves to experience love, to be taught what it means to love and be loved in return. To have someone who sees past the professional facade and connects with him on a deeper level. Hongjoong has always been the rock for everyone else, the leader who guides and supports, but who supports him? Seonghwa knows that beneath Hongjoongâs calm exterior is someone who longs for a connection, even if he doesnât consciously acknowledge it.
Seonghwa finally exhales, nodding in agreement. âAlright, maybe youâre right. He does deserve that chance. But we need to be subtle, okay? We canât just throw them into situations and expect magic to happen.â
Wooyoung grins, practically bouncing in his seat. âOf course, of course. Weâll be subtle. Well, as subtle as we can be.â He chuckles, already plotting. âWe could start with simple things. Like arranging for them to spend more time together, under the guise of work, of course.â
Seonghwa nods, though he canât help but smile at Wooyoungâs eagerness. âFine, but letâs keep this quiet. The last thing we need is Hongjoong finding out and feeling pressured or uncomfortable. Weâll just... create opportunities for them to bond naturally?â
Wooyoungâs eyes light up with excitement. âYes, exactly! This is going to be great. Just trust me on this one.â
Seonghwa sighs, but thereâs a hint of amusement in his voice. âAlright, but no wild schemes, okay? Weâre not in a rom-com here.â
Wooyoung laughs, raising his hands in mock surrender. âNo wild schemes.â
â
The sound of fabric being meticulously fed through the sewing machine filled the room, but despite the soft hum, your mind was anything but calm. The task at hand was supposed to be a distraction from the whirlwind of unexpected fame and the gnawing anxiety about potential backlashâsomething that often follows a sudden rise to internet prominence. However, the complexities of threading needles and manipulating fabrics were proving to be more challenging than anticipated. You couldnât help but think that perhaps this was a bad idea, a sentiment only reinforced by the knots of frustration building in your stomach.
Hongjoong had stepped out to go to the restroom for a moment, giving you a brief respite. It was just enough time to let out a sigh of frustration, your hands pausing their clumsy movements. You were aware of how out of your depth you were, fumbling with the sewing machine in a way that likely confirmed his suspicions. He had asked several times if you needed help, always with a gentle tone that hinted at his concern. But prideâor perhaps a stubborn streakâhad kept you from admitting just how lost you felt.
âMaybe I shouldâve just volunteered to be burned at the stake in a Salem witch trialââ
âAre you alright?â Hongjoongâs voice sliced through your musings, making you jump slightly. You straightened up quickly, feigning concentration as you adjusted the fabric under the needle. The effort was futile; the moment Hongjoong leaned over your shoulder, his hand resting gently on yours, your cool façade crumbled.
His close proximity, the soft warmth of his hand, and the subtle, intoxicating scent of his cologne were all too distracting. âIâm gonna ask you a question, and Iâm gonna need you to answer it in full honesty. Is that okay?â
You swallowed hard, your gaze darting from his hand to his face and then back to the sewing machine. âI... um... sure, go ahead,â you stammered, trying to keep your voice at bay.
âDo you know how to use a sewing machine?â he asked, his tone patient yet direct.
You winced, slumping in your seat as you covered your face with your hands in embarrassment. âI thought it would be easy,â you admitted, your voice muffled by your palms. âBut I had no idea it would be so... intricate? I think Iâve used up half my patience already.â
Before you could spiral further into self-recrimination, Hongjoongâs soft laughter broke the tension. It was a soothing sound, yet its proximity sent an unexpected shiver down your spine. He pulled a chair over and sat beside you, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating from him. You kept your eyes fixed on the sewing machine, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
âDonât worry,â he said gently, taking your hand in his once more. âEveryone starts somewhere. Let me guide you through it.â
âAlright, letâs start with the basics,â he began, his voice warm and steady. âFirst, we need to thread the machine properly. It can be a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.â
He gently guided your fingers to the spool pin, showing you how to place the thread. âMake sure the thread is placed securely here,â he explained, his hand lingering over yours for a moment. âThen, weâll pull it through the tension disks. This part is crucial because it controls the tension of your stitches. If itâs too loose or too tight, your fabric might bunch up or the stitches might break.â
You nodded, trying to focus on his instructions rather than the slight warmth of his hand. âGot it,â you murmured, glancing at him again. His eyes were intent on the machine, but there was a softness in his gaze.
âNext, we bring the thread down here,â he continued, guiding your hand to the take-up lever. âThis part moves up and down as you sew, pulling the thread through the fabric. Itâs important to make sure the thread is seated properly in the eye of the lever.â
You tried to mimic his movements, your fingers fumbling slightly. He caught your hesitation and gently corrected your grip, his touch light but firm. âLike this,â he demonstrated, pulling the thread through the lever with practiced ease. âSee? Itâs all about smooth, even motions.â
You nodded again, feeling a bit more confident but still acutely aware of the slight tension in the air. It wasnât uncomfortable, just... different. âAnd finally, we guide the thread through the needle,â he said, his voice low and patient. âThis part can be a bit tricky, especially if the needleâs eye is small. Just take your time and donât rush.â
As you attempted to thread the needle, your hand shook slightly, and you fumbled with the delicate thread. Hongjoong leaned closer, his breath warm against your cheek as he steadied your hand. âHere, let me help,â he offered, his tone gentle. He carefully guided the thread through the needleâs eye, his fingers brushing against yours in the process.
âThere we go,â he said with a satisfied smile, leaning back a bit. âNow, letâs get to the sewing part. Start by placing the fabric under the presser foot, like this.â He demonstrated, his hands guiding yours to position the fabric correctly. âMake sure itâs aligned straight with the needle and the edge of the foot.â
You followed his instructions, your eyes focused on the machine but your mind wandering slightly. There was something about this whole situationâthe quiet focus, the close proximity, the shared taskâthat felt nice. You couldnât help but feel a slight twinge of self-consciousness, wondering if he could sense your awkwardness.
âNow, gently press the pedal to start the machine,â Hongjoong instructed, his hand still lightly resting on yours. âDonât go too fast; just a slow, steady pace. Thatâll give you more control.â
You did as he said, the machine whirring to life as you guided the fabric through. Hongjoong watched closely, offering occasional tips and corrections. âTry to keep your hands steady,â he advised. âAnd remember, itâs okay to stop and readjust if you need to.â
âOkay, got it,â you replied, focusing intently on the fabric and the machineâs needle. But despite your best efforts, you could feel your heart beating a little faster, your palms slightly sweaty. It was all so new, and the added pressure of having Hongjoong right there, guiding you, was both comforting and nerve-wracking.
As you continued to sew, the two of you fell into a comfortable rhythm. Hongjoongâs instructions were clear and patient, and his occasional praiseââGood, thatâs perfect,â or âYouâre getting the hang of itââhelped to ease your nerves. Still, there were moments when you couldnât help but feel a slight, almost imperceptible tension. It wasnât unpleasant, just a subtle awareness of his presence, of the closeness between you as he guided your hands and offered gentle encouragement.
After a few more passes, he smiled at you, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. âYouâre doing really well,â he said, giving your hand a light squeeze before releasing it. âJust keep practicing, and youâll be a pro in no time.â
You smiled back, feeling a mix of relief and a strange, fluttering excitement. âThanks, Hongjoong,â you said, your voice a bit softer than you intended. âI really appreciate your help.â
As you continued to practice, the room was filled with a quiet focus, the sound of the sewing machine blending with the soft rustle of fabrics and the occasional tap of Hongjoongâs fingers on the table as he worked on his designs. The space was filled with mannequins adorned with various pieces in different stages of completion, each a testament to his creativity and skill.
Hongjoong stood by one of the mannequins, testing out different fabrics and adjusting the drape of a garment. It was a half-finished piece, a beautiful autumn-inspired dress, rich with deep, warm hues and delicate detailing. The design was stunning even in its incomplete state, with layers of fabric cascading down in elegant folds. The room, spacious and filled with natural light, was a perfect backdrop for his work, highlighting the textures and colors of his creations.
As you worked, you found yourself unconsciously humming. It was a habit youâd developed over the years, a way to keep yourself company during moments of concentration. The tune was âLa Vie en Rose,â a classic melody that had always been a favorite of yours. Lost in the rhythm of your work, you didnât notice Hongjoong glancing over his shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he recognized the song.
The peaceful atmosphere continued until you completed your practice piece, checking the fabric carefully. To your delight, it was flawless, and you couldnât help but let out a small gasp of triumph. You looked up, catching Hongjoongâs eye as he turned towards you, clearly curious about your reaction.
âI think Iâm ready to help out,ïżœïżœ you announced, holding up the fabric proudly.
Hongjoong smiled, a warm and encouraging expression on his face. âReally? Let's get to work, then.â
You quickly tidied up your workspace, eager to join him. As you approached, you got a closer look at the dress he was working on. It was even more beautiful up close, with detailed stitching and a careful blend of textures. The design was both modern and timeless, capturing the essence of autumn with its rich color palette and sophisticated lines.
On the table next to the mannequin, you noticed Hongjoongâs sketchbook. The sketches inside were detailed and precise, showcasing his vision for the final piece. You couldnât help but compliment him, your voice filled with genuine admiration. âThis looks incredible, Hongjoong. The sketches were already amazing, but seeing it come to life... Itâs even better.â
He waved off your praise modestly, a small smile playing on his lips. âItâs not even halfway done yet,â he said, glancing at the dress. âThereâs still a lot of work to do. Thatâs where your help comes in.â
He gestured towards the dress, explaining his vision for the piece. âI need to work on the intricate details around the neckline and sleeves. Thereâs a specific embroidery pattern I want to incorporate, but it requires a steady hand and a lot of patience. I thought we could split the tasksâIâll focus on the main body of the dress, and you can help with the embroidery.â
You nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. âIâd love to help with the embroidery. It sounds like a challenge, but Iâm up for it.â
Hongjoong smiled, clearly pleased with your enthusiasm. âGreat. Iâll show you the pattern and we can go over the details together. Itâs important to get the proportions and spacing just right, especially since the embroidery will be a key feature of the design.â
âFor this part,â he said, pointing to a section on the sketch, âweâll use a simple running stitch to outline the design. Itâs straightforward but effective, especially for creating clean lines. The trick is to keep your stitches consistent in length. If theyâre too short or too long, it can throw off the balance of the pattern.â
As he demonstrated, you watched closely, noting the way his fingers moved deftly with the needle and thread. His attention to detail was impressive, and it was clear that every element of the design had been carefully considered.
âNext, weâll add some texture with a chain stitch,â Hongjoong continued, switching to another part of the design. âItâs great for creating a sense of depth and can really make certain areas pop. Youâll want to keep your tension even, not too tight or too loose, so the stitches sit nicely against the fabric.â
As he spoke, you couldnât help but notice the passion in his eyes. It was evident in the way he talked about each technique, his dedication to his craft shining through. There was something incredibly admirable about his focus and commitment, and it made you feel even more determined to do your best.
Once you both began working, the conversation naturally shifted to lighter topics. Hongjoong broke the comfortable silence first, glancing over at you with a curious expression. âBy the way, earlier... you were humming a song. Was it âLa Vie en Roseâ?â
You blinked, momentarily confused. You hadnât even realized you were humming. âOh, was IâŠ? Yeah, thatâs a favorite of mine,â you admitted with a small chuckle, recalling the familiar melody. âMy dad used to play it all the time when I was younger. He had this old recorder, and âLa Vie en Roseâ was always his go-to song. I guess it just stuck with me.â
Hongjoong listened attentively, a soft smile forming on his lips. âItâs a beautiful song. Thereâs something timeless about it.â
You nodded, feeling a warm nostalgia wash over you. âYeah, itâs one of those songs that just... helps me focus. I hum it when Iâm trying to concentrate, and sometimes I donât even realize Iâm doing it.â
As you shared your story, Hongjoongâs gaze lingered on you, a subtle fondness in his eyes. He seemed genuinely interested, as if he enjoyed hearing about these little aspects of your life. When you looked up from your work, catching his eye, he quickly averted his gaze, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.
You smiled, amused by the small moment of shyness. âDo you have a favorite artist?â
Hongjoongâs eyes lit up at the question. âDavid Bowie,â he replied without hesitation.
âReally? Great choice,â you said, your admiration clear in your tone. âHow did you get into his music?â
Hongjoong leaned back slightly, reminiscing. âBack in my school days, a friend of mine always shared their earphones with me. They had a playlist full of David Bowie songs, and I just... got hooked. His music was so different from anything else Iâd heard at the time.â
âWas it Seonghwa?â you asked, curious.
Hongjoong shook his head, a faint, nostalgic smile playing on his lips. âNo, it was someone else. Weâve⊠lost touch over the years.â
Before you could ask more, your phone buzzed on the table, lighting up with a notification from an app you rarely used. Hongjoong glanced at the screen and recognized the image on your lockscreen. âYou set that as your wallpaper?â he asked, a note of amusement in his voice as he saw the candid photo he had taken of you and the cat.
You laughed, nodding. âYeah, I couldnât resist. Itâs just too cute not to use as my lockscreen.â
Hongjoong chuckled, clearly pleased. âHowâs the little guy doing?â
âOh, you know, the usual,â you replied with a grin. âRunning away from me and munching on the flowers in our landlordâs garden. Heâs a real troublemaker.â
Hongjoong laughed at this, the sound warm and genuine. âItâs hard to imagine him being so mischievous. He looked so sweet and innocent when I saw him.â
You raised an eyebrow playfully. âMaybe you should come by again sometime and see for yourself just how mischievous he can be.â
Hongjoong paused, momentarily caught off guard. Was that an invitation? The way you said it, with a casual laugh, made it seem like a harmless joke. But there was a part of him that wondered if there was more to it. He quickly dismissed the thought, reminding himself to stay focused on the task at hand.
As you continued working on the embroidery, a sudden sharp pain shot through your finger. A fairly large needle had slipped through your grasp, piercing your skin and drawing a bead of blood. You hissed in pain, âOw!â
Hongjoong immediately turned his attention away from the dress, concern etched across his face as he took a few quick steps toward you. âAre you alright?â he asked, his voice soft yet filled with urgency. âLet me see your hand.â
You extended your injured hand toward him, wincing as you saw the small but painful wound. Hongjoong frowned, setting your hand gently on the table. âHold on a moment,â he said, heading over to one of the drawers where he kept a first aid kit. He quickly retrieved the necessary supplies, including antiseptic wipes, a bandage, and some ointment.
Returning to your side, he crouched down to be at eye level with you. When you made a move to stand, thinking you should let him take the seat, he placed a gentle hand on your shoulder, guiding you to sit back down. âStay put,â he instructed softly, his eyes meeting yours briefly before he focused on your injured finger.
Hongjoong took your hand with a surprising tenderness, carefully cleaning the wound. âYouâve got to be more careful next time, alright?â he said, his tone gentle yet firm.
You nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. âSorry, Iâll definitely keep that in mind.â He looked up at you and smiled, a small, reassuring curve of his lips that made your heart flutter unexpectedly. He then returned his focus to your finger, diligently applying ointment and wrapping it with a bandage.
As he worked, you couldnât help but let your gaze linger on his face. The way his brow furrowed slightly in concentration, the soft lines of his features... It struck you how effortlessly handsome he was, even in such a simple moment. You found yourself thinking that models must be relieved he chose to become a fashion designer instead of competing with them in front of the camera.
Lost in your thoughts, you suddenly blurted out, âYour lashes look pretty.â The words slipped out before you could stop them, catching both you and Hongjoong by surprise.
He paused, then chuckled, clearly amused. âNo, I mean, sorry,â you quickly tried to recover, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. âI just have this habit of accidentally saying things out loud that are supposed to stay in my head...â
Hongjoongâs laugh, warm and genuine, cuts off your rambling. âItâs alright,â he said, still chuckling softly. âIâm flattered.â
As he continued tending to your wound, you noticed the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners when he smiled, and how his presence seemed to have a calming effect on you, even when you felt like you were spiraling. You realized that he had probably picked up on your tendency to speak in a single breath whenever you were nervous or flusteredâa trait you found a bit embarrassing, but he seemed to find endearing. Itâs a little strange.
âTell you what,â Hongjoong began, a playful glint in his eyes as he looked up at you. âIf it makes you feel better, Iâll share one of my unsaid thoughts too.â
You tilted your head, intrigued and a little wary. âIâd appreciate that,â you said, though you werenât sure what to expect.
Hongjoong smiled, finishing up the bandage on your finger. âI think you look pretty.â
The words hit you like a gentle wave, unexpected yet disarming. You blinked, trying to process what he had just said. Did he⊠did he really just call you pretty? Your mind raced, heart pounding as you tried to find a response. Was he just being nice? Or was there something more to it? Maybe he was joking? Or not, given his sincere gaze? You felt your cheeks heating up again, and you could barely string together a coherent thought.
As you stared at him, wide-eyed and flustered, Hongjoong laughed softly at your reaction. âSorry,â he said, his tone teasing but gentle. âDidnât mean to catch you off guard.â
You knew from the look in his eyes and the slight smirk on his lips that he definitely meant to say that.
You both returned to your respective tasks, but focusing proved more difficult than before. Your heart raced, and every so often, your thoughts drifted back to Hongjoongâs unexpected compliment. It lingered in your mind, making it hard to concentrate on the delicate stitches you were working on. The realization of why your heart was fluttering was something you preferred to push aside for now, not wanting to dwell on the implications.
Meanwhile, outside the room, hushed whispers filled the corridor, inaudible to you and Hongjoong inside. Wooyoung, eyes wide and a hand covering his mouth, turned to Seonghwa beside him. âSo...â he began, trying to process what they had just overheard.
Seonghwa met Wooyoungâs gaze with a similar look of surprise. âNo way. Are they really...â
Wooyoung furrowed his brows in contemplation. âBut if they were together, wouldnât she have responded with something flirty? Like, you know, bantering back?â
Seonghwa shook his head, disagreeing. âSheâs not that type of person. Not from what Iâve seen.â
Wooyoung pointed out, âYeah, but when she told him his lashes looked pretty, she started apologizing like crazy. Would she do that if they were dating?â
Seonghwa considered this, then shook his head again. âUh⊠no, definitely not. Itâs not every day someone apologizes for complimenting their partner.â
âSo... whatâs the deal with them?â Wooyoung asked, genuinely puzzled.
Seonghwa shrugged, a thoughtful look on his face. âI think theyâre just friends, but thereâs definitely something more simmering beneath the surface. You can feel the chemistry, even from out here.â
Wooyoung nodded, his curiosity piqued. âThe awkward tension between them definitely supports your theory. Thatâs how these things usually start, right?â
He paused, then added with a mischievous grin, âDo we even need to play matchmaker? It feels like theyâre figuring it out on their own.â
Seonghwa laughed softly, a sound almost lost in the quiet hallway, but Wooyoung quickly hushed him. âShh, we canât let them know weâre here!â
Wooyoung then pondered aloud, âNow that I think about it, they would make a cute couple. Imagine being a model and dating the creative director of the brand youâre working for... Itâs like something out of a romance movie.â
Seonghwa nodded in agreement, his voice barely a whisper. âItâs only a matter of time before he starts designing pieces specifically for her, just like he used toââ
Their conversation was abruptly cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps from inside the room. Panicking, Seonghwa and Wooyoung exchanged wide-eyed looks before quickly scurrying away, eager to avoid getting caught eavesdropping on their friendâs private moment.
Hongjoong spared a glance at both sides of the hall, a confused expression on his face. âI couldâve sworn I heard something from out hereâŠâ
â
A couple of weeks passed, and although the internet buzz surrounding you hadnât entirely died down, you managed to keep yourself distracted from any concerns about potential media backlash. The credit for this went to Hongjoong, who had embraced your offer to assist with his designs. This partnership provided you both with a creative outlet and a much-needed escape from the spotlight.
You stood before the now-completed outfit you had both worked on, admiring the intricate details and the seamless blend of fabrics. âItâs stunning,â you remarked, your voice filled with awe. âI canât believe how beautiful it turned out.â
Hongjoong smiled warmly at your words, pride evident in his eyes. âYou should take some credit too,â he replied. âI genuinely think it wouldnât have looked this good if I had done it all alone. Your input was invaluable.â
His compliment made you feel shy, a soft blush creeping onto your cheeks. âWell, if you ever need a hand in the future, Iâd be more than happy to help,â you offered, your voice slightly timid.
âIâd like that,â Hongjoong murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. An idea seemed to cross his mind, and he looked at you with a glint of excitement. âHow about I take you out to dinner tonight? You deserve a proper thank you for all your help. Itâs not every day someone offers their time and skill like you did, and Iâd like to show my appreciation in a way thatâs more than just words.â
You started to shake your head, feeling that such a gesture was too much. âOh, you really donât have to. Itâs nothing, really...â
But Hongjoong was persistentâas he always seemed to be. He smiled reassuringly, his tone firm yet gentle. âNonsense. Youâve done more than enough to earn a nice evening out. So, let me treat you. Iâll pick you up from your apartment around eight. Just be ready.â
You couldnât help but laugh lightly at his insistence, knowing you wouldnât win this argument. âAlright, alright,â you conceded. âBut Iâm not expecting you to take me anywhere high-end.â
Hongjoongâs smile grew a little mischievous. âMaybe I will be,â he teased, refusing to give a clear answer. âJust be ready, and leave the rest to me.â
A part of you wondered if this dinner had been on his mind for a while, but you pushed that thought aside, nodding in agreement. Your phone buzzed with a message from Madame Dupont, urgently informing you that Pompidou was scratching at your apartment door. Your eyes widened, and you quickly told Hongjoong, âOh no. Iâve got to go. See you tonight!â before rushing out.
Hongjoong watched you leave, a bemused expression on his face. He shrugged lightly and turned back to the outfit on the mannequin, admiring the final product one last time before heading back to his office. When he arrived, he found Wooyoung lounging comfortably in his chair, looking as if he belonged there.
âSometimes I wonder if this office belongs to you or me,â Hongjoong mused, raising an eyebrow at his friend.
Wooyoung grinned cheekily. âItâs not my fault your office is so comfy. Anyway, are you free tonight? I need someone to go grocery shopping with me,â he whined dramatically. âMy fridge is empty, and I feel like I might starve to death.â
Hongjoong chuckled, shaking his head. âSorry, maybe next time. Iâve got plans tonight.â
Wooyoungâs curiosity piqued, his eyes narrowing with interest and a mischievous glint in them. âPlans? With who?â
Hongjoong hesitated for a moment, knowing where this conversation was headed. âWith her,â he finally said, referring to you. âIâm taking her out to dinner to thank her for helping me with the designs.â
Wooyoungâs eyes widened, a playful glint appearing in them. He leaned forward, his expression full of intrigue and mischief, as if he had just discovered the juiciest piece of gossip. âOh? Really? Just the two of you?â he teased, his voice dripping with implication.
Hongjoong sighed, deadpanning, âI know that look, Wooyoung.â
Wooyoung wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, a grin spreading across his face. âSo, is this a date?â he asked, stretching the last word with a teasing tone.
Hongjoong rolled his eyes, trying to maintain his composure. âNo, itâs not a date. Itâs just a dinner to say thank you.â
âOh, come on,â Wooyoung drawled, clearly not buying it. âYou hesitated. Youâve got to admit thereâs something there. The way you two have been spending time together...â
Hongjoong shook his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips. âYouâre reading too much into it. Itâs just dinner.â
âJust dinner?â Wooyoung echoed, disbelief lacing his tone. âYou donât take just anyone to a fancy restaurant, do you? I mean, I canât remember the last time you took me to a nice place, and Iâm practically your best friend.â
âItâs not about the restaurant,â Hongjoong insisted, though he couldnât help but chuckle at Wooyoungâs theatrics. âItâs about appreciating her help.â
Wooyoung leaned back, crossing his arms with a knowing grin. âSure, just dinner. But you donât have to dress up for âjust dinner,â do you? Or pick her up personally? Itâs almost like... I donât know, like a date?â
Hongjoong could feel himself being cornered, yet he maintained his stance. âItâs not a date, Wooyoung. Itâs a gesture of appreciation. Nothing more, nothing less.â
Wooyoung leaned in closer, his grin widening. âOh, I see. So, if she shows up looking stunning and you two have a great time, it still wonât be a date?â
âYouâre insufferable.â
âAnd youâre dodging the question,â Wooyoung shot back, laughing. âBut seriously, itâs great that youâre taking her out. You two would look good together.â
Hongjoong shook his head again, though his smile remained. âYouâre not going to let this go, are you?â
âNot a chance,â Wooyoung grinned. âBut hey, Iâm just saying what everyoneâs thinking.â
Hongjoong rolled his eyes good-naturedly. âWell, let everyone think what they want. Weâre just friends.â
âFor now,â Wooyoung teased, his voice sing-song. âBut you know, friends can become more. Itâs like a... pre-date.â
Hongjoong raised an eyebrow. âPre-date?â
Wooyoung nodded enthusiastically. âYeah! Like a test run. You get to see how you feel about it, how she feels about it. Itâs perfect! And if it goes well, who knows? Maybe itâll turn into something more.â
âYouâre really reaching here,â Hongjoong said, though he couldnât help but laugh. âBut I appreciate your enthusiasm.â
âWell, someone has to be enthusiastic about your love life,â Wooyoung quipped, grinning. âYouâre too busy being all serious and professional.â
Hongjoong shook his head, still smiling. âI think I can manage my own love life, thank you very much.â
âSure, sure,â Wooyoung replied, waving his hand dismissively. âBut just remember, if it turns into a real date, I called it first.â
Hongjoong laughed, finally giving in to the lighthearted teasing. âFine, you can have the credit if it does. But for now, itâs just dinner.â
âJust dinner,â Wooyoung repeated, still grinning. âWeâll see about that.â
Hours later, Wooyoung was proven right as he and Seonghwa found themselves in Hongjoongâs penthouse, assisting him in choosing the perfect outfit. The room was filled with various clothing optionsâjackets, shirts, pantsâscattered across the furniture. Hongjoong stood before a full-length mirror, trying on a sleek dark blue suit that accentuated his figure.
âHe kept insisting itâs not a date, but look at him now,â Wooyoung whispered to Seonghwa, chuckling as they observed Hongjoongâs meticulous attention to detail. He adjusted his tie, his brow furrowed in concentration.
âMaybe he just didnât want to admit itâs a date because then heâd have to acknowledge itâs the first time heâs taken someone to a fancy restaurant,â Seonghwa whispered back, both of them stifling laughter. The idea that Hongjoong was fussing over an outfit over an occasion he swears isnât a date was both endearing and amusing.
Hongjoong turned to them, an unamused expression on his face. âAre you two going to help me decide which of these looks more presentable, or are you going to keep gossiping about me even when Iâm right in front of you?â
âThe latter,â both Wooyoung and Seonghwa replied in unison, causing Hongjoong to roll his eyes with a sigh of resignation.
âAlright, alright, letâs get serious,â Wooyoung said, standing up from the bed. He approached Hongjoong, scrutinizing the suit. The tailored fit and elegant fabric gave off a sophisticated vibe, yet it felt a bit too formal for the occasion. âMaybe something a bit less formal?â Wooyoung suggested, tilting his head in contemplation.
As Seonghwa was about to offer his opinion, his phone buzzed with a message notification. Glancing down, he saw it was from you, containing photos of two different outfits with a message.
Which one looks better?
Seonghwa smiled, knowing you hadnât mentioned the dinner to him but aware of it nonetheless. You probably thought he was unaware of the plan. He quickly assessed the outfits you sent, noticing that the secondâa chic, knee-length dress with elegant detailingâwould pair perfectly with one of the outfits Hongjoong had yet to try on. Without revealing his thoughts, he texted back, âGo for the second one,â before slipping his phone back into his pocket.
âHongjoong, try on the dark black suit with the silk dress shirt of the same color,â Seonghwa suggested, nodding towards the outfit laid out on the couch. The combination was stylish yet not overly formal, balancing sophistication with a touch of modern flair.
Hongjoong raised an eyebrow but complied, heading to the bathroom to change. When he returned, the outfit fit him perfectly, the deep blue contrasting nicely with his complexion and highlighting his eyes. Seonghwa and Wooyoung exchanged satisfied looks.
Seonghwa walked towards him, undoing the first two buttons. Once he was done, he stepped back and nodded approvingly. âYou should wear that one.â
Hongjoong looked puzzled. âWhy this one?â
Seonghwa simply smiled, shaking his head. âJust trust me on this one,â he insisted, not revealing that the choice was to complement your outfit.
Meanwhile, you were at home, finishing up your preparations. After much deliberation, you had chosen the outfit Seonghwa recommended. The dress was elegant yet understated, perfect for an evening out without feeling too over the top. You sat on your bed, waiting for Hongjoongâs message, your heart fluttering with anticipation and nerves. As the clock struck 8 PM, your phone buzzed with a message from him.
Iâm outside.
You quickly grabbed your purse, slipped your phone inside, and made sure to lock your apartment door before heading down to the ground floor.
Stepping outside, you were greeted by the sight of Hongjoong leaning casually against his car, his eyes focused on his phone. The soft glow of the streetlights highlighted his sharp featuresâthe strong jawline, the soft curve of his lips, and the way his hair was neatly styled. The suit he wore brought out his eyes, making them seem even more captivating in the dim light.
âHongjoong?â you called out, your voice slightly hesitant. He looked up immediately, his eyes locking onto yours. For a moment, his expression softened, a warm smile spreading across his face as he took in your appearance.
As you walked over to him, you could see the admiration in his eyes. He seemed momentarily taken aback by how beautiful you looked, the dress flattering your figure in all the right ways. The elegant fabric and subtle detailing accentuated your features without being too flashy. âHi,â you greeted him, offering a shy smile.
Instead of a typical greeting, Hongjoongâs gaze lingered on you, and he finally spoke, his voice soft but sincere. âYou look beautiful.â
You laughed lightly, feeling a flush of warmth at his compliment. âIsnât that supposed to be an unsaid thought?â
Hongjoong chuckled, shaking his head. âNot tonight, it isnât.â
He moved to the passenger side of the car, opening the door with a gentlemanly gesture. âAfter you,â he said, his tone playful yet sincere. You thanked him, slipping into the car, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He closed the door gently, then walked around to the driverâs side and got in.
As the car pulled away, you found yourself gazing out the window, mesmerized by the cityâs beauty. The streets were alive with lights, the architecture blending old-world charm with modern elegance. The cityscape seemed to sparkle, creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere. âParis is so beautiful...â you whispered, almost in awe of the cityâs charm.
Hongjoong glanced over at you, smiling. âIt is, isnât it?â he agreed, his tone reflecting the warmth of your admiration.
The drive continued in comfortable silence, the city's lights creating a mesmerizing backdrop. Eventually, the car came to a stop in front of a high-end restaurant. The building exudes elegance, with large windows showcasing the warm, inviting interior. You looked over at Hongjoong, a hint of hesitation in your eyes. You werenât used to such fancy places, and the grandeur of the setting made you feel slightly nervous.
Hongjoong noticed your unease and offered you a reassuring smile, his eyes filled with warmth. âItâs going to be great,â he said softly, his voice calming your nerves. He stepped out of the car and walked around to open your door, offering his hand to help you out.
Inside, the restaurant was elegantly decorated, with soft lighting and tasteful decor creating an intimate atmosphere. A waiter greeted you both with a warm smile. âGood evening, sir, madam. Welcome to Le Ciel de Paris,â he said, his voice professional. âMay I say, you look lovely this evening, miss,â he added, glancing at you appreciatively.
Hongjoong nodded in acknowledgment, and the waiter led you to the highest floorâa stunning rooftop with a breathtaking view of the city. The night sky was a canvas of deep blues and purples, dotted with stars. A reserved table awaited you, set with fine china and candles, adding to the comforting ambiance.
As you took your seat, you couldnât help but express your gratitude and slight apprehension. âThis is all so... beautiful,â you whispered, your hands fidgeting slightly. âBut honestly, Hongjoong, I really donât think I deserveââ
Your words were cut off as Hongjoong placed his hand gently over yours, his touch warm and reassuring. âHey,â he said softly, his gaze steady and sincere. âYou deserve this. Youâve been amazing, and I wanted to show my appreciation.â
The sincerity in his voice eased your worries, and you nodded, smiling gratefully. Just then, the waiter approached your table, ready to take your orders. âGood evening. May I start you off with something to drink?â he asked, his pen poised over his notepad.
Hongjoong glanced at you, then back at the waiter. âWeâll have a bottle of your finest white wine, please,â he said, and the waiter nodded, jotting it down.
âAnd for the main course?â the waiter inquired, looking between the two of you.
Hongjoong smiled at you. âWhat would you like? Do you have any preferences?â
You looked at the menu, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the options, none of which were familiar to you. âI havenât tried any of these before... I think Iâll just have whatever you recommend,â you said, smiling sheepishly.
Hongjoong nodded understandingly, then turned to the waiter. âSheâll have the grilled sea bass with lemon herb sauce, and Iâll have the filet mignon with truffle butter,â he ordered confidently, choosing dishes he thought you would enjoy.
The waiter nodded, noting down your orders. âExcellent choice, sir. Your meals will be out shortly,â he said, giving a polite bow before leaving.
As the evening continued, you and Hongjoong indulged in light conversation, gradually easing into more personal topics. You took a sip of your wine and asked, âSo, how are you feeling now that Fashion Week is drawing closer? I know thereâs still a few months left, but itâs not as far as it used to be.â
Hongjoong leaned back slightly, exhaling softly. âHonestly? I do feel a little pressured and stressed out. The beginning of the process was quite overdue, which has added some tension,â he confessed, his eyes reflecting the weight of his responsibilities.
Hearing this, you immediately felt a pang of guilt. You were acutely aware that the delay was partly due to the time it took for you to return his sketchbook. âIâm so sorry about the sketchbook... I didnât mean to cause you any trouble or delay,â you began, your voice tinged with regret.
But Hongjoong quickly shook his head, raising a hand to stop you. âNo, donât apologize. Itâs not your fault at all. I completely understand why it took a while. You had your own reasons, and I respect that,â he assured you, his tone gentle and understanding. âBesides, Iâm grateful it was you who found it. The sketches are as personal as they are professional, and I couldnât have asked for a better person to return them.â
He then shifted the conversation, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. âAs for my goals for Fashion Week, Iâm really aiming to showcase something unique. I want my collection to tell a storyâsomething that resonates on a deeper level with people. Iâve been working on integrating sustainable practices into the designs, focusing on eco-friendly materials and innovative techniques. Itâs a challenge, but itâs important to me. I want to highlight not just fashion but also a message about sustainability and conscious consumerism.â
You listened intently, impressed by his dedication and vision. âThat sounds amazing. Itâs great that youâre thinking about the bigger picture, not just the fashion itself but the impact it has on the world. Itâs a refreshing approach in an industry that can sometimes seem so detached from these issues,â you responded, your admiration evident in your voice. âItâs inspiring to see someone so committed to their values and willing to take on the challenge of integrating them into their work.â
Hongjoong smiled, appreciating your support and understanding. âThank you. Itâs definitely a journey, but itâs one Iâm passionate about. Thereâs a lot of work to be done, but I believe itâs worth it.â
As the conversation naturally flowed, Hongjoong turned the focus back to you, his expression curious and concerned. âHow have you been handling the sudden exposure to the media? It must be a big change for you.â
You sighed, glancing around the restaurant. You noticed a fair portion of the other diners occasionally glancing in your direction. It was hard to tell if they were looking at Hongjoong, you, or perhaps both of you. The attention felt overwhelming, and you couldnât shake the feeling of being watched.
Hongjoong noticed your unease and seemed to read your thoughts. âTheyâre definitely looking at you,â he said, a wry smile on his lips. âPeople are still curious about you. The media has been persistent, trying to learn more about your background.â
You sheepishly rubbed the back of your neck, feeling the weight of his words. âItâs quite a lot to take in,â you admitted, your voice carrying a hint of anxiety. âHonestly, itâs a bit scary. What often happens with people who suddenly go viral is that the media and the public can switch up on them. One moment youâre the person everyone wants to know about, and the next, theyâre tearing you down for no reason. I canât help but worry about that, about what people might say or think. Thereâs probably already hate comments about me out there, and itâs just... unsettling.â
Hongjoong leaned forward, his gaze sincere and reassuring. âI understand your concerns, but you shouldnât waste your time or energy worrying about those people,â he said firmly. âThere will always be people who are negative or try to bring others down, especially online where itâs so easy to hide behind anonymity. But what matters is how you handle it. Youâve been genuine and true to yourself, and thatâs all anyone can ask for. The people who care about you and respect you will see that, and theyâre the ones whose opinions truly matter. The rest is just noise.â
His words were comforting, a reminder to focus on the positive and not let negativity overshadow your experiences. Just as you were about to respond, the waiter arrived with your meals, expertly setting down the plates before you. The aroma of the food was enticing, and you couldn't help but feel grateful for the delicious meal in front of you.
âThank you,â you said to the waiter, then turned to Hongjoong with a smile. âAnd thank you, Hongjoong, for this lovely dinner. Itâs really thoughtful of you.â
He smiled warmly. âItâs my pleasure. Iâm glad we could spend this evening together.â
You took your first bite of the grilled sea bass, savoring the delicate flavors. The lemon herb sauce complemented the fish perfectly, creating a harmonious and delightful taste. You looked up at Hongjoong, your eyes shining with delight. âThis is really good! You definitely recommended the right dish.â
âWell, Iâm glad you like it,â Hongjoong said, his smile broadening. âI wanted you to have a good experience here.â
Curious, you asked, âDo you come here often?â
He shook his head. âNot really. I usually only come here when Wooyoung or Seonghwa or both invite me to dinner. I rarely go to extravagant places alone. I prefer staying home or in the office, losing myself in work. Itâs just more comfortable for me that way, I guess.â
The evening seemed to slip away like sand through your fingers. Before you knew it, you were seated comfortably in Hongjoongâs car, the soft hum of the engine a soothing backdrop as he began the drive to your apartment. The dayâs events, from the delightful meal to the heartfelt conversations, had left you pleasantly exhausted. As you gazed out the window, watching the city lights blur past, you felt your eyelids grow heavy. Hongjoong glanced over, noticing your drowsiness.
âYou can sleep if you want to,â he offered kindly, his voice a soft murmur. âIâll wake you up when we reach your apartment.â
You hesitated for a moment, unsure if it would be alright to take up his offer. âAre you sure? I donât want to be a bother.â
He smiled gently, reassuring you with a calm, âWhy wouldnât it be? Itâs no trouble at all.â
Relieved, you returned his smile and shifted in your seat, leaning your head against the cool glass of the window. As your eyes fluttered closed, the rhythmic motion of the car lulled you into a peaceful slumber. Hongjoong kept his focus on the road, but every now and then, he glanced over at you, noting your serene expression. As the car came to a halt at a red light, he took the opportunity to gently remove his blazer and drape it over you, ensuring you were warm and comfortable. For a brief moment, he found himself mesmerized by your features, a sense of quiet admiration washing over him. A stray strand of your hair fell across your face, and without thinking, he reached out with the intention to brush it away. Just as his fingers were about to touch your skin, the light turned green, pulling him back to reality. He quickly withdrew his hand, clearing his throat and refocusing on the road.
As Hongjoong navigated the familiar streets leading to your apartment, he gently tapped your shoulder three times, rousing you from your nap. You blinked, momentarily disoriented, until your eyes met his. The warmth in his gaze instantly put you at ease. âWeâre almost there,â he informed you, a soft smile on his lips.
You nodded, slowly coming back to full awareness. It was then that you noticed his blazer draped over you, the scent of his perfume subtly filling your senses. It carried a complex blend of fruity, floral, and musky notes. Grateful for the warmth, you pulled the fabric closer, a small, appreciative smile gracing your lips.
Upon reaching your apartment building, Hongjoong exited the car first, walking around to your side to open the door. He extended his hand, helping you out of the car. âThank you,â you murmured, taking his hand and stepping out gracefully. You took a moment to straighten the slight wrinkles in your dress, feeling a bit more composed.
Just as you were about to express your gratitude, a familiar feline figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The cat leaped up, not into your arms as expected, but into Hongjoongâs, causing him to let out a small gasp of surprise. You couldnât help but laugh softly at the sight of him awkwardly adjusting his grip to properly hold the cat.
âLooks like Pompidou missed you,â you remarked with a fond smile, tilting your head as you watched the scene unfold.
Hongjoong chuckled, a mix of amusement and affection in his eyes as he gently petted the cat. âI can definitely picture you being mischievous now,â he cooed, lightly tapping the tip of Pompidouâs nose with his index finger.
An idea sparked in your mind. You quickly pulled out your phone, taking a few steps back to capture the candid moment. Hongjoong, caught in the act of playing with the cat, looked both charming and endearing. You snapped a photo, giggling softly to yourself before putting your phone away.
âYou have a kind soul,â you whispered, almost to yourself, as you observed Hongjoong. âThat must be why Pompidou likes you.â
As if on cue, the cat suddenly jumped down from Hongjoongâs arms and trotted towards the entrance of your apartment building. Hongjoong watched the felineâs departure with a soft smile, then turned back to you.
âIt looks like itâs time for you to go inside,â he said gently, the warmth in his voice unmistakable.
You nodded, taking a deep breath as you prepared to bid him farewell. âThank you for tonight, Hongjoong. It was really wonderful. And thank you for letting me help out with your designs. It was a great way to distract myself from everything thatâs been going on,â you said sincerely, your voice filled with genuine appreciation. âIâll definitely make sure to return the favor.â
He shook his head, a light chuckle escaping his lips. âYou donât need to. Your presence is enough for me,â he said, then quickly added, waving his hands as if to clarify, âI mean, youâre a really great friend. Itâs nice to have you around.â
The term âgreat friendâ resonated with you, touching a part of your heart that hadnât felt such warmth in a long time. You smiled softly, a heartfelt look in your eyes. âIâm glad you think of me that way,â you replied, your voice soft and sincere.
With that, you exchanged goodbyes, Hongjoong standing by until you safely entered your building. As the door closed behind you, you watched from the lobby as he walked back to his car, giving you one last wave before driving away. You stood there for a moment, reflecting on the eveningâs events and the unexpected bond you were forming with Hongjoong. The night had been more than just a distraction; it was a step towards something new and meaningful, leaving you with a warm, lingering feeling as you made your way up to your apartment.
Once you were back home, you quickly settled on the floor with your journal in hand, leaning your back against the bed. The quiet of your apartment contrasted with the eventful day you had, and you felt a comforting sense of calm wash over you. As you opened your journal, the blank pages seemed to invite you to pour out your thoughts and feelings. You began writing, your pen flowing across the paper.
The past few days have been really eventful, thanks to Hongjoong. At first, practicing the ins and outs of sewing was proving itself to be quite the struggle, but I was lucky enough for him to lend me a helping hand with zero judgment. Honestly, I still feel a little embarrassed over offering to help while being well aware I barely knew how a sewing machine operates... But anyway, when I got used to it, I wasted no time in helping him out with one of his designs for his upcoming collection for autumn. We finished it today, and I think itâs safe to say that it turned out great.
He insisted on treating me to a celebratory dinner tonight, and while I had initial hesitance since fancy places werenât exactly my style, I think his presence helped me get more comfortable with it over the minutes we spent there. He said I was a great friend, too, and I have to say that it was really heartwarming. I canât even count how many years have passed since the last time someone called me that...
But overall, I had a lot of fun today, and hopefully, Iâll continue to.
đȘ â lividstar.
#ౚà§ïčăïčlividstarïŒ#hongjoong#hongjoong x reader#kim hongjoong#kim hongjoong x reader#hongjoong fluff#ateez fluff#hongjoong angst#ateez angst#ateez x reader#park seonghwa#jung wooyoung
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Iâve been thinking a lot lately about the path Plus Dolls has taken. When I first started this project, the dream was to see plus-size dolls on shelvesâsomething truly accessible, widely available, and made for play. Thatâs still a dream I want to see realized, whether itâs by me or someone else. But after years of pushing toward mass manufacturing, I had to make a choice: compromise on my ethics or pivot entirely.
From 2018 onward, I was constantly exploring ways to make Plus Dolls a reality at a larger scale. I (or well, an agent on my behalf) pitched the concept to every major toy company, and every single one turned it down. That left independent manufacturing as the only option, which comes with a massive price tag: $250,000-$500,000 just to get started with even the most basic production at an overseas factory. And thatâs before even addressing labor conditions, material quality, and sustainability.
Dipping my toes into this world was extremely disheartening. I already knew the industry was bad, but seeing just how exploitative, unsustainable, and profit-driven it is from the inside was a different level of discouraging. Itâs one thing to buy mass-produced products, like fashion dolls, but itâs another thing entirely to be the one funding and directing that process. I couldnât do it in a way that felt right.
With all of this in mind, I chose to pivot. Plus Dolls are small-batch, artist-made resin dolls because thatâs the only way I could make them exist without sacrificing my own values. I still actively look into domestic manufacturing for plastic bodies and heads because itâs easier for me to verify the labor conditions and material quality. But the reality is, right now, thereâs no ethical way to mass-produce Plus Dolls that doesnât feel like a betrayal of what I set out to do.
Would I love for Plus Dolls to be more affordable? Absolutely. Do I want more plus-size dolls on the market? Of course. And if a company or individual with the resources to do it ethically ever steps up to make something like this widely available, Iâll be the first to cheer them on. But for now, this is the only way I can do it in a way that sits right with me.
I appreciate everyone whoâs supported this project, whether from the beginning or just recently. It means the world that people see the value in these dolls, even if theyâre not in the form I originally imagined. â„
#a few people are upset it's not for kids anymore#but honestly the factories that were willing to take us on#were so sketchy I would not trust them to make a childs product safely#plus dolls
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The Interior Of Despair
Les Mis Letters reading club explores one chapter of Les Misérables every day. Join us on Discord, Substack - or share your thoughts right here on tumblr - today's tag is #lm 1.2.7
Let us try to say it.
It is necessary that society should look at these things, because it is itself which creates them.
He was, as we have said, an ignorant man, but he was not a fool. The light of nature was ignited in him. Unhappiness, which also possesses a clearness of vision of its own, augmented the small amount of daylight which existed in this mind. Beneath the cudgel, beneath the chain, in the cell, in hardship, beneath the burning sun of the galleys, upon the plank bed of the convict, he withdrew into his own consciousness and meditated.
He constituted himself the tribunal.
He began by putting himself on trial.
He recognized the fact that he was not an innocent man unjustly punished. He admitted that he had committed an extreme and blameworthy act; that that loaf of bread would probably not have been refused to him had he asked for it; that, in any case, it would have been better to wait until he could get it through compassion or through work; that it is not an unanswerable argument to say, âCan one wait when one is hungry?â That, in the first place, it is very rare for any one to die of hunger, literally; and next, that, fortunately or unfortunately, man is so constituted that he can suffer long and much, both morally and physically, without dying; that it is therefore necessary to have patience; that that would even have been better for those poor little children; that it had been an act of madness for him, a miserable, unfortunate wretch, to take society at large violently by the collar, and to imagine that one can escape from misery through theft; that that is in any case a poor door through which to escape from misery through which infamy enters; in short, that he was in the wrong.
Then he asked himself:â
Whether he had been the only one in fault in his fatal history. Whether it was not a serious thing, that he, a laborer, out of work, that he, an industrious man, should have lacked bread. And whether, the fault once committed and confessed, the chastisement had not been ferocious and disproportioned. Whether there had not been more abuse on the part of the law, in respect to the penalty, than there had been on the part of the culprit in respect to his fault. Whether there had not been an excess of weights in one balance of the scale, in the one which contains expiation. Whether the over-weight of the penalty was not equivalent to the annihilation of the crime, and did not result in reversing the situation, of replacing the fault of the delinquent by the fault of the repression, of converting the guilty man into the victim, and the debtor into the creditor, and of ranging the law definitely on the side of the man who had violated it.
Whether this penalty, complicated by successive aggravations for attempts at escape, had not ended in becoming a sort of outrage perpetrated by the stronger upon the feebler, a crime of society against the individual, a crime which was being committed afresh every day, a crime which had lasted nineteen years.
He asked himself whether human society could have the right to force its members to suffer equally in one case for its own unreasonable lack of foresight, and in the other case for its pitiless foresight; and to seize a poor man forever between a defect and an excess, a default of work and an excess of punishment.
Whether it was not outrageous for society to treat thus precisely those of its members who were the least well endowed in the division of goods made by chance, and consequently the most deserving of consideration.
These questions put and answered, he judged society and condemned it.
He condemned it to his hatred.
He made it responsible for the fate which he was suffering, and he said to himself that it might be that one day he should not hesitate to call it to account. He declared to himself that there was no equilibrium between the harm which he had caused and the harm which was being done to him; he finally arrived at the conclusion that his punishment was not, in truth, unjust, but that it most assuredly was iniquitous.
Anger may be both foolish and absurd; one can be irritated wrongfully; one is exasperated only when there is some show of right on oneâs side at bottom. Jean Valjean felt himself exasperated.
And besides, human society had done him nothing but harm; he had never seen anything of it save that angry face which it calls Justice, and which it shows to those whom it strikes. Men had only touched him to bruise him. Every contact with them had been a blow. Never, since his infancy, since the days of his mother, of his sister, had he ever encountered a friendly word and a kindly glance. From suffering to suffering, he had gradually arrived at the conviction that life is a war; and that in this war he was the conquered. He had no other weapon than his hate. He resolved to whet it in the galleys and to bear it away with him when he departed.
There was at Toulon a school for the convicts, kept by the Ignorantin friars, where the most necessary branches were taught to those of the unfortunate men who had a mind for them. He was of the number who had a mind. He went to school at the age of forty, and learned to read, to write, to cipher. He felt that to fortify his intelligence was to fortify his hate. In certain cases, education and enlightenment can serve to eke out evil.
This is a sad thing to say; after having judged society, which had caused his unhappiness, he judged Providence, which had made society, and he condemned it also.
Thus during nineteen years of torture and slavery, this soul mounted and at the same time fell. Light entered it on one side, and darkness on the other.
Jean Valjean had not, as we have seen, an evil nature. He was still good when he arrived at the galleys. He there condemned society, and felt that he was becoming wicked; he there condemned Providence, and was conscious that he was becoming impious.
It is difficult not to indulge in meditation at this point.
Does human nature thus change utterly and from top to bottom? Can the man created good by God be rendered wicked by man? Can the soul be completely made over by fate, and become evil, fate being evil? Can the heart become misshapen and contract incurable deformities and infirmities under the oppression of a disproportionate unhappiness, as the vertebral column beneath too low a vault? Is there not in every human soul, was there not in the soul of Jean Valjean in particular, a first spark, a divine element, incorruptible in this world, immortal in the other, which good can develop, fan, ignite, and make to glow with splendor, and which evil can never wholly extinguish?
Grave and obscure questions, to the last of which every physiologist would probably have responded no, and that without hesitation, had he beheld at Toulon, during the hours of repose, which were for Jean Valjean hours of reverie, this gloomy galley-slave, seated with folded arms upon the bar of some capstan, with the end of his chain thrust into his pocket to prevent its dragging, serious, silent, and thoughtful, a pariah of the laws which regarded the man with wrath, condemned by civilization, and regarding heaven with severity.
Certainly,âand we make no attempt to dissimulate the fact,âthe observing physiologist would have beheld an irremediable misery; he would, perchance, have pitied this sick man, of the lawâs making; but he would not have even essayed any treatment; he would have turned aside his gaze from the caverns of which he would have caught a glimpse within this soul, and, like Dante at the portals of hell, he would have effaced from this existence the word which the finger of God has, nevertheless, inscribed upon the brow of every man,âhope.
Was this state of his soul, which we have attempted to analyze, as perfectly clear to Jean Valjean as we have tried to render it for those who read us? Did Jean Valjean distinctly perceive, after their formation, and had he seen distinctly during the process of their formation, all the elements of which his moral misery was composed? Had this rough and unlettered man gathered a perfectly clear perception of the succession of ideas through which he had, by degrees, mounted and descended to the lugubrious aspects which had, for so many years, formed the inner horizon of his spirit? Was he conscious of all that passed within him, and of all that was working there? That is something which we do not presume to state; it is something which we do not even believe. There was too much ignorance in Jean Valjean, even after his misfortune, to prevent much vagueness from still lingering there. At times he did not rightly know himself what he felt. Jean Valjean was in the shadows; he suffered in the shadows; he hated in the shadows; one might have said that he hated in advance of himself. He dwelt habitually in this shadow, feeling his way like a blind man and a dreamer. Only, at intervals, there suddenly came to him, from without and from within, an access of wrath, a surcharge of suffering, a livid and rapid flash which illuminated his whole soul, and caused to appear abruptly all around him, in front, behind, amid the gleams of a frightful light, the hideous precipices and the sombre perspective of his destiny.
The flash passed, the night closed in again; and where was he? He no longer knew. The peculiarity of pains of this nature, in which that which is pitilessâthat is to say, that which is brutalizingâpredominates, is to transform a man, little by little, by a sort of stupid transfiguration, into a wild beast; sometimes into a ferocious beast.
Jean Valjeanâs successive and obstinate attempts at escape would alone suffice to prove this strange working of the law upon the human soul. Jean Valjean would have renewed these attempts, utterly useless and foolish as they were, as often as the opportunity had presented itself, without reflecting for an instant on the result, nor on the experiences which he had already gone through. He escaped impetuously, like the wolf who finds his cage open. Instinct said to him, âFlee!â Reason would have said, âRemain!â But in the presence of so violent a temptation, reason vanished; nothing remained but instinct. The beast alone acted. When he was recaptured, the fresh severities inflicted on him only served to render him still more wild.
One detail, which we must not omit, is that he possessed a physical strength which was not approached by a single one of the denizens of the galleys. At work, at paying out a cable or winding up a capstan, Jean Valjean was worth four men. He sometimes lifted and sustained enormous weights on his back; and when the occasion demanded it, he replaced that implement which is called a jack-screw, and was formerly called <i>orgueil</i> [pride], whence, we may remark in passing, is derived the name of the Rue Montorgueil, near the Halles [Fishmarket] in Paris. His comrades had nicknamed him Jean the Jack-screw. Once, when they were repairing the balcony of the town-hall at Toulon, one of those admirable caryatids of Puget, which support the balcony, became loosened, and was on the point of falling. Jean Valjean, who was present, supported the caryatid with his shoulder, and gave the workmen time to arrive.
His suppleness even exceeded his strength. Certain convicts who were forever dreaming of escape, ended by making a veritable science of force and skill combined. It is the science of muscles. An entire system of mysterious statics is daily practised by prisoners, men who are forever envious of the flies and birds. To climb a vertical surface, and to find points of support where hardly a projection was visible, was play to Jean Valjean. An angle of the wall being given, with the tension of his back and legs, with his elbows and his heels fitted into the unevenness of the stone, he raised himself as if by magic to the third story. He sometimes mounted thus even to the roof of the galley prison.
He spoke but little. He laughed not at all. An excessive emotion was required to wring from him, once or twice a year, that lugubrious laugh of the convict, which is like the echo of the laugh of a demon. To all appearance, he seemed to be occupied in the constant contemplation of something terrible.
He was absorbed, in fact.
Athwart the unhealthy perceptions of an incomplete nature and a crushed intelligence, he was confusedly conscious that some monstrous thing was resting on him. In that obscure and wan shadow within which he crawled, each time that he turned his neck and essayed to raise his glance, he perceived with terror, mingled with rage, a sort of frightful accumulation of things, collecting and mounting above him, beyond the range of his vision,âlaws, prejudices, men, and deeds,âwhose outlines escaped him, whose mass terrified him, and which was nothing else than that prodigious pyramid which we call civilization. He distinguished, here and there in that swarming and formless mass, now near him, now afar off and on inaccessible table-lands, some group, some detail, vividly illuminated; here the galley-sergeant and his cudgel; there the gendarme and his sword; yonder the mitred archbishop; away at the top, like a sort of sun, the Emperor, crowned and dazzling. It seemed to him that these distant splendors, far from dissipating his night, rendered it more funereal and more black. All thisâlaws, prejudices, deeds, men, thingsâwent and came above him, over his head, in accordance with the complicated and mysterious movement which God imparts to civilization, walking over him and crushing him with I know not what peacefulness in its cruelty and inexorability in its indifference. Souls which have fallen to the bottom of all possible misfortune, unhappy men lost in the lowest of those limbos at which no one any longer looks, the reproved of the law, feel the whole weight of this human society, so formidable for him who is without, so frightful for him who is beneath, resting upon their heads.
In this situation Jean Valjean meditated; and what could be the nature of his meditation?
If the grain of millet beneath the millstone had thoughts, it would, doubtless, think that same thing which Jean Valjean thought.
All these things, realities full of spectres, phantasmagories full of realities, had eventually created for him a sort of interior state which is almost indescribable.
At times, amid his convict toil, he paused. He fell to thinking. His reason, at one and the same time riper and more troubled than of yore, rose in revolt. Everything which had happened to him seemed to him absurd; everything that surrounded him seemed to him impossible. He said to himself, âIt is a dream.â He gazed at the galley-sergeant standing a few paces from him; the galley-sergeant seemed a phantom to him. All of a sudden the phantom dealt him a blow with his cudgel.
Visible nature hardly existed for him. It would almost be true to say that there existed for Jean Valjean neither sun, nor fine summer days, nor radiant sky, nor fresh April dawns. I know not what vent-hole daylight habitually illumined his soul.
To sum up, in conclusion, that which can be summed up and translated into positive results in all that we have just pointed out, we will confine ourselves to the statement that, in the course of nineteen years, Jean Valjean, the inoffensive tree-pruner of Faverolles, the formidable convict of Toulon, had become capable, thanks to the manner in which the galleys had moulded him, of two sorts of evil action: firstly, of evil action which was rapid, unpremeditated, dashing, entirely instinctive, in the nature of reprisals for the evil which he had undergone; secondly, of evil action which was serious, grave, consciously argued out and premeditated, with the false ideas which such a misfortune can furnish. His deliberate deeds passed through three successive phases, which natures of a certain stamp can alone traverse,âreasoning, will, perseverance. He had for moving causes his habitual wrath, bitterness of soul, a profound sense of indignities suffered, the reaction even against the good, the innocent, and the just, if there are any such. The point of departure, like the point of arrival, for all his thoughts, was hatred of human law; that hatred which, if it be not arrested in its development by some providential incident, becomes, within a given time, the hatred of society, then the hatred of the human race, then the hatred of creation, and which manifests itself by a vague, incessant, and brutal desire to do harm to some living being, no matter whom. It will be perceived that it was not without reason that Jean Valjeanâs passport described him as <i>a very dangerous man</i>.
From year to year this soul had dried away slowly, but with fatal sureness. When the heart is dry, the eye is dry. On his departure from the galleys it had been nineteen years since he had shed a tear.
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In 2023, the fast-fashion giant Shein was everywhere. Crisscrossing the globe, airplanes ferried small packages of its ultra-cheap clothing from thousands of suppliers to tens of millions of customer mailboxes in 150 countries. Influencersâ â#sheinhaulâ videos advertised the companyâs trendy styles on social media, garnering billions of views.
At every step, data was created, collected, and analyzed. To manage all this information, the fast fashion industry has begun embracing emerging AI technologies. Shein uses proprietary machine-learning applications â essentially, pattern-identification algorithms â to measure customer preferences in real time and predict demand, which it then services with an ultra-fast supply chain.
As AI makes the business of churning out affordable, on-trend clothing faster than ever, Shein is among the brands under increasing pressure to become more sustainable, too. The company has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050.
But climate advocates and researchers say the companyâs lightning-fast manufacturing practices and online-only business model are inherently emissions-heavy â and that the use of AI software to catalyze these operations could be cranking up its emissions. Those concerns were amplified by Sheinâs third annual sustainability report, released late last month, which showed the company nearly doubled its carbon dioxide emissions between 2022 and 2023.
âAI enables fast fashion to become the ultra-fast fashion industry, Shein and Temu being the fore-leaders of this,â said Sage Lenier, the executive director of Sustainable and Just Future, a climate nonprofit. âThey quite literally could not exist without AI.â (Temu is a rapidly rising ecommerce titan, with a marketplace of goods that rival Sheinâs in variety, price, and sales.)
In the 12 years since Shein was founded, it has become known for its uniquely prolific manufacturing, which reportedly generated over $30 billion of revenue for the company in 2023. Although estimates vary, a new Shein design may take as little as 10 days to become a garment, and up to 10,000 items are added to the site each day. The company reportedly offers as many as 600,000 items for sale at any given time with an average price tag of roughly $10. (Shein declined to confirm or deny these reported numbers.) One market analysis found that 44 percent of Gen Zers in the United States buy at least one item from Shein every month.
That scale translates into massive environmental impacts. According to the companyâs sustainability report, Shein emitted 16.7 million total metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023 â more than what four coal power plants spew out in a year. The company has also come under fire for textile waste, high levels of microplastic pollution, and exploitative labor practices. According to the report, polyester â a synthetic textile known for shedding microplastics into the environment â makes up 76 percent of its total fabrics, and only 6 percent of that polyester is recycled.
And a recent investigation found that factory workers at Shein suppliers regularly work 75-hour weeks, over a year after the company pledged to improve working conditions within its supply chain. Although Sheinâs sustainability report indicates that labor conditions are improving, it also shows that in third-party audits of over 3,000 suppliers and subcontractors, 71 percent received a score of C or lower on the companyâs grade scale of A to E â mediocre at best.
Machine learning plays an important role in Sheinâs business model. Although Peter Pernot-Day, Sheinâs head of global strategy and corporate affairs, told Business Insider last August that AI was not central to its operations, he indicated otherwise during a presentation at a retail conference at the beginning of this year.
âWe are using machine-learning technologies to accurately predict demand in a way that we think is cutting edge,â he said. Pernot-Day told the audience that all of Sheinâs 5,400 suppliers have access to an AI software platform that gives them updates on customer preferences, and they change what theyâre producing to match it in real time.
âThis means we can produce very few copies of each garment,â he said. âIt means we waste very little and have very little inventory waste.â On average, the company says it stocks between 100 to 200 copies of each item â a stark contrast with more conventional fast-fashion brands, which typically produce thousands of each item per season, and try to anticipate trends months in advance. Shein calls its model âon-demand,â while a technology analyst who spoke to Vox in 2021 called it âreal-timeâ retail.
At the conference, Pernot-Day also indicated that the technology helps the company pick up on âmicro trendsâ that customers want to wear. âWe can detect that, and we can act on that in a way that I think weâve really pioneered,â he said. A designer who filed a recent class action lawsuit in a New York District Court alleges that the companyâs AI market analysis tools are used in an âindustrial-scale scheme of systematic, digital copyright infringement of the work of small designers and artists,â that scrapes designs off the internet and sends them directly to factories for production.
In an emailed statement to Grist, a Shein spokesperson reiterated Peter Pernot-Dayâs assertion that technology allows the company to reduce waste and increase efficiency and suggested that the companyâs increased emissions in 2023 were attributable to booming business. âWe do not see growth as antithetical to sustainability,â the spokesperson said.
An analysis of Sheinâs sustainability report by the Business of Fashion, a trade publication, found that last year, the companyâs emissions rose at almost double the rate of its revenue â making Shein the highest-emitting company in the fashion industry. By comparison, Zaraâs emissions rose half as much as its revenue. For other industry titans, such as H&M and Nike, sales grew while emissions fell from the year before.
Sheinâs emissions are especially high because of its reliance on air shipping, said Sheng Lu, a professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware. âAI has wide applications in the fashion industry. Itâs not necessarily that AI is bad,â Lu said. âThe problem is the essence of Sheinâs particular business model.â
Other major brands ship items overseas in bulk, prefer ocean shipping for its lower cost, and have suppliers and warehouses in a large number of countries, which cuts down on the distances that items need to travel to consumers.
According to the companyâs sustainability report, 38 percent of Sheinâs climate footprint comes from transportation between its facilities and to customers, and another 61 percent come from other parts of its supply chain. Although the company is based in Singapore and has suppliers in a handful of countries, the majority of its garments are produced in China and are mailed out by air in individually addressed packages to customers. In July, the company sent about 900,000 of these to the US every day.
Sheinâs spokesperson told Grist that the company is developing a decarbonization road map to address the footprint of its supply chain. Recently, the company has increased the amount of inventory it stores in US warehouses, allowing it to offer American customers quicker delivery times, and increased its use of cargo ships, which are more carbon-efficient than cargo planes.
âControlling the carbon emissions in the fashion industry is a really complex process,â Lu said, adding that many brands use AI to make their operations more efficient. âIt really depends on how you use AI.â
There is research that indicates using certain AI technologies could help companies become more sustainable. âItâs the missing piece,â said Shahriar Akter, an associate dean of business and law at the University of Wollongong in Australia. In May, Akter and his colleagues published a study finding that when fast-fashion suppliers used AI data management software to comply with big brandsâ sustainability goals, those companies were more profitable and emitted less. A key use of this technology, Atker says, is to closely monitor environmental impacts, such as pollution and emissions. âThis kind of tracking was not available before AI-based tools,â he said.
Shein told Grist it does not use machine-learning data management software to track emissions, which is one of the uses of AI included in Akterâs study. But the companyâs much-touted usage of machine-learning software to predict demand and reduce waste is another of the uses of AI included in the research.
Regardless, the company has a long way to go before meeting its goals. Grist calculated that the emissions Shein reportedly saved in 2023 â with measures such as providing its suppliers with solar panels and opting for ocean shipping â amounted to about 3 percent of the companyâs total carbon emissions for the year.
Lenier, from Sustainable and Just Future, believes there is no ethical use of AI in the fast-fashion industry. She said that the largely unregulated technology allows brands to intensify their harmful impacts on workers and the environment. âThe folks who work in fast-fashion factories are now under an incredible amount of pressure to turn out even more, even faster,â she said.
Lenier and Lu both believe that the key to a more sustainable fashion industry is convincing customers to buy less. Lu said if companies use AI to boost their sales without changing their unsustainable practices, their climate footprints will also grow accordingly. âItâs the overall effect of being able to offer more market-popular items and encourage consumers to purchase more than in the past,â he said. âOf course, the overall carbon impact will be higher.â
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Remote Job Search
Okay so I know this might be an insane place to ask⊠but whoâs hiring for fully remote roles. I am trained in PR, visual art, and international relations and of course graphic design and have worked as a flight attendant. I have plenty of transferable skills and like most young people around my age who have graduated college, the job search market is trash. From the online search engines (linkedin, indeed, etcâŠ) I always either 1. Hear that the role was filled months later, 2. Hear that the role was taken down, 3. (And this one usually takes some digging) find that the roles was filled in house. I always see posts talking about nepotism in the entertainment industry but no one wants to speak about it on a small scale, like the local restaurant who hires their kids as the chef, the principal who hires their nephew as a teacher. I donât mean to complain about fairness, because if my parents handed me an opportunity I wanted i absolutely would take it, but Iâd fight to make sure that I was capable and worthy of it.
I am well aware that we do not live in a meritocracy, but that does not mean I do not have the merit. I hate to complain here as this account is supposed to be my escape, but I know plenty of professionals have accounts here as well. I have had comments off for the sake of my mental health but reblog and Iâll check your tags. Believe me if I am turning to TUMBLR of all places for job search I have EXHAUSTED my options.
And I know I am not alone in my search. I am specifically searching for fully remote roles for personal reasons but you guys feel free to reblog with new info and tag! If this post can help any of us get what we need then my job here is done â
So as of right nowâŠ
Support a small artist
#jobsearch#remotework#remote jobs#kamastar39 thoughts#jjk fanart#geto suguru#jujutsu kaisen#gojo satoru#black reader x gojo#jjk nanami#kamastar39 refs#gojo#nesta acosf#valkyries acosf#acowar#amren acotar#pro feyre#rhys acotar#remote#travel#flight attendant#âïž#marvel#thanos#gravity Falls#buddie#artists on tumblr#disco elysium#pusheen#good omens
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Helmets Of The Chainbreaker War
It has been... a while, since I last did any worldbuilding on this blog. Let's change that!
Tagging @theprissythumbelina @bureaumantic @hessdalen-globe @the-stray-storyteller
A General Overview
Neither the Fuhrati nor the United Commonwealth would enter the Chainbreaker War with a standard-issue steel helmet. While their respective pre-war military concerns differed greatly, they were akin in the sense that both powers had simply never had to fight a war of the same scale and intensity as the one they were about to inflict on each other, against opponents as technologically and industrially developed as they were. After the harrowing experiences of the war's opening act, though, both sides would rapidly see the need to protect their soldiers from the withering hell of modern artillery, and invest immense resources to those efforts. The paths each side took would differ wildly.
The UC: Spare No Expense
The United Commonwealth would apply the same philosophy to the design of its 'Helmet, Infantry, Model-76' that it had to nearly every other aspect of its military equipment; quality at any cost. This approach was born out of a desire to preserve the fighting strength of its all-volunteer, professional-heavy army, and to avoid the public scorn that would've accompanied any mention of short-changing the troops. The resulting helmet, nicknamed the 'tinpot', would reflect this absolute focus on protective coverage, made at the expense of both cost and weight.
(More or less what I have in mind as far as shape goes. Think this, but without the front vertical spine-thing, and with the tail and side pieces much shorter and wider until they meet)
In addition to the sheer quantity of steel on display, the insides of the helmet were to be well padded. All these qualities, of course, added to the cost and complexity of their manufacturing process. This, combined with the Commonwealth's self declared intention to give every foot soldier in the rapidly expanding UC Army of Upepwani a helmet by the end of the year, strained the UC's resources immensely. Nonetheless, as her immense economic heft transitioned to feed the needs of her war machine, the United Commonwealth would meet its lofty goal. Over a million helmets would be made in a matter of months, even as production of every tool of war from shells to boots expanded by orders of magnitude.
The Fuhrati Empire: Making Do
On the other side of the lines, the Fuhrati Empire would find itself facing down a far, far more difficult set of challenges. The most immediately obvious, of course, was the sheer disparity between their own war economy and their enemies, both on net and in proportion to their actual military needs. The Empire had been a late comer to the wave of industrialisation that had spread across the Worlds, and imperial edicts and slave-worked factories simply couldn't compete with the commercial industrial machine of the Commonwealth. At the same time, the concentration of the Empire's industrial output into its Navy, which saw itself as actively competing with the UC's even in peace, over the Army, which hadn't faced a serious peer competitor in decades and relied on sheer mass to keep the peace at home, meant that when the Empire took to the field against a small but professional UC expeditionary force equipped with shell firing, breech loading, rifled artillery and bolt action rifles, it took with it muzzle loading cannon and rifled muskets.
When measured against the mammoth task of making up for decades of lost time in every other material field of war, helmets understandably took a slight back seat. Indeed, that a design was ultimately finalised and produced before the end of 76 A.S. at all owed much to the efforts of Prince Mahmud, commander of the Imperial Army, who lent his name to the 'Mahmud Helmets', as they were colloquially called.
(Again, something like this, again without that vertical stripe at the front, as well as without ornamentation and shorter side pieces.)
Still, even with the personal support of the Prince, the actual amount of helmets that the Empire could manufacture was dwarfed by the sheer number of troops they'd put into the field. This shortage would compel the Empire to concentrate its helmets, alongside other categories of equipment they were in short supply of, in 'elite' units like the Tharoon Guard, with non-Guard 'imperial' troops second in priority and vassal levy armies a distant third. This visible disparity would breed resentment in the ranks, and the sudden presence of helmeted troops in a sector of the front, or their handing out, was said to serve as a visible tell to friend and foe alike that their lives were going to get a lot more interesting
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idk I remember fandom during superwholock and before and after, here. we still made our friends and migrated to mostly conversing on AIM or YIM or on another site that had a chatroom. we were so excited when fan mail became a thing. people yearn for instant communication with people.
the discovery and content aspect is special to Tumblr because it has held over many principles from the earl(ier) internet without MUCH A CHANGE, and the community has understood those rules and grown with them. but when you talk about community and fulfillment and complain that *discord* ruins it, I just think you are antisocial. like, as soon as forums started having messaging features they were highly used. instant messaging is not the problem.
discords are not small little cliques with like minded people who just hive mind talk about outside fan content and never actually engage with it ..., they can be large, thriving and diverse communities of people who are united on one single single thing (The Conceptâąïž of Liking Blorbos (maybe they even are squicked by each other's Blorbos but are gathered because they like Liking Blorbos and people who Like Blorbos)) and will share the art and writing and OFTEN encourage people to share enthusiasm with the artists and writers (and to become artists and writers themselves). discords can also be small intimate places that are little more than glorified chatrooms. They span the gamut and none of them are why fandom is dying.
The capitalist hellscape that drove sooooooo many artists to Twitter because Twitter let you game an algorithm, get put in front of many strangers' eyes, and have them share, was good for FREELANCE BUSINESS and INDUSTRY NETWORKING unlike Tumblr? The capitalist hellscape that made hosting forums harder and harder, with their beautiful siloed topics and organization and their threaded conversations? the capitalist hellscape that made all the other major n00b friendly blogging sites ban any whisper of "subversive" content from pictures of tits to the very word tits? the capitalist hellscape that encouraged much more user friendly and visually appealing and responsive platforms to develop than clunky live journal and dreamwidth? the shortening attention spans of a global population of traumatized overworked poor people, leading them to pursue short form video content consumption over discussions and conversations and any other forms of media? those aren't what we point to???? no???? *discord*?!!?
it's not discords fault if you have social anxiety and can't enter a conversation or always overthink an emoji reaction to someone's message or have RSD when someone does or doesn't respond to a message in a certain time frame. but discord is, and has been for a while, the best way to keep in swift contact with people on a very human level of having a functional conversation - something Tumblr and Twitter and literally no other social media in years has been interested in supporting, despite THAT - not any form of content creation - being the pillar of community building. Talking to each other.
Make portfolio sites and post your art with good SEO and hope for the best! Use AO3 to post your art in such a way that it appears in tags as an archive! Get your writing and creativity out there in ways that the internet can scour. But our microblogging platforms are only ever going to be somewhere on the inconvenient-to-convenient scale of "posting something for eyeballs to see," and the algorithms and the search engines themselves are fucked to hell and back about getting eyeballs to see them. Our so called social media sites that remain are not built for much more than shoving a picture in front of people or doing short, linear, and 1:1 conversations in artificial bite sized barks, and the algorithms and the discovery features and even the psychological landscape of users on those platforms are built to encourage stunted relationships and promote outrage (text) and images and short form video. For the content creators, everyone's doing the same rat race they've been doing since 2009 on YouTube, chasing the eyeballs of people who might want to see their stuff, while the platform says "actually fuck you we're changing the rules and hiding you again even from the people who want to see you." Yeah!!! shits fucked!!! it has been!!! people who grew up watching YouTube creators on the early internet have written papers about this and sounded the alarms for years!!! and we have been talking about community - fandom or otherwise - for years to the deaf ears of people who just want to scroll content.
A fucking instant messaging version of a message board did not kill fandom.
anyway you can discover discords on disboard! or they're often listed for games now, or movies or etc. on official sites, and since official discords are often poorly moderated and bloated, you can ask some people in those who seem nice where else they like to talk. or you can ask people you like elsewhere on the internet where they're hanging out and talking to nice people, or you can make your own community. Whether you lurk or not is up to you and is not a failing, that's in YOUR head đ«” lurkers never made friends anywhere on the internet, but if you're happy lurking, I'm sure you'll find a place where you can happily lurk where people are sharing art and squealing and promoting commissions and finding new people to follow, and sharing their writing and hyping each other up and watching movies together and playing video games together.
or you could just dm a friend. it's way nicer than tumblrs awful, unscrollable DMS that have no search function and pull gifs from random people's posts and don't embed links properly or let you send more than one image or attach files or anything of modern convenience. there's no problem being antisocial, or being a lurker, but misidentifying the source of your angst is unhelpful and makes me think you don't actually want friends or help đ
and if all you want is a well-sorted feed of content put in front of you every day, the problem was never that other people want to hold conversations đ make that social media platform yourself, or throw money behind a new one, or learn to make rss feeds and be part of the renaissance of the collated blogosphere idk
#i have been seeing soooo much of discord killed fandom wahhhh today and im sick of jt#grumpy venting
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tuesday!
hello again! another 2-weeker because I was in Washington (Da Capital) for a portion of last week for an academic conference and boy howdy did that sap my will to live/energy to post.
listening: I finished relistening to TANIS! season 5 felt completely unfamiliar so I either never actually listened to it or it was just that forgettable. which tbh, it was. very forgettable. definitely good background white noise but really nothing cooking in there. very clear to me that at the end there terry miles was way more interested in writing a book than an audio drama.
for the sake of completeness I also am relistening to the black tapes. definitely a more cohesive narrative happening there even though I know the "finale" is looming ahead. also has not generally aged super well, and some of the attempts at writing academic experts of things in make me laugh a lot, and the overlap in voice actors for side characters is also amusing. I think this universe of podcasts only work if TANIS is a fictional podcast in TBT and vice-versa but that's not news. also why did they make cuneiform onâŠparchmentâŠas a plot point in s3âŠit's cuneiformâŠwouldn't it be on a slab of clayâŠanyways a reference to "current political discourse" in a s3 ep made me check the date and I didn't realize that this came out in 2020????? insane. way more recent than I thought (derogatory).
music-wise, saw Mahjong Crib live a few weeks ago at a local bar so I've been letting that run in the background. the bassist was incredibly high (as he should be) and very funny. the last song of the set he put the bass down and started going ham on cowbell. definitely in the family of freeform jazz which isn't normally my thing. still not sure this band is my thing, will probably not be purchasing this album for example.
reading: How Cheerleading Became So Acrobatic, Dangerous and Popular (David Gauvey Herbert): what it says on the tin. didn't realize how much of it came down to monopoly of an industry again. womp womp.
read these both on the plane back from the conference: By Proxy (Lise): mind the tags. really nailed a good dynamic between LWJ and JC imo. Wuxian The Ninth (spockandawe): was linked by the author in a server we're both in. the choice to just do the intro and finale is so incredibly valid. I should do that for my abhorsen/TLT crossover actually because I have the beginning done and definitely have a finale cooking in my head but writing all the bits in the middle seems exhausting and this has made it occur to me that I am allowed to just. skip all the shit in the middle. nothing is stopping me.
watching: fallow
playing: fallow
making: I have been speed knitting a pair of fingerless gloves for my mom! chose this pattern specifically to do them flat style because I was on the go and didn't want to think about using dpns, and I don't have the equipment for knitting in the round comfortably on that small of a scale.


finished carving the block for my holiday cards BUT printing them has proved. challenging. I have what turns out to be kinda shitty water-based ink that is a real pain in the ass to do more than one print at a time with because it dries so fast. it's also applying and printing extremely unevenly and patchy, and while I don't actually mind the texture that adds, the fact that I have to wash off my block & roller every 2-3 prints or so is really stymying my speed. I am abusing my boyfriend's amazon prime to get an oil-based printmaking ink shipped to me so I have put further printing on hold til today when that allegedly arrives. I miss living in closer proximity to a more professional art supply store :-( I've printed about 15 or 20 now and depending on how much nicer the ink looks I may restart lol⊠either way next year I think I will get thicker paper to mail postcard-style instead of in an envelope to save on postage and work? we'll see. I'm hand delivering around half of my cards over the course of the holidays as it is to make it simpler and cut back on the amount of envelopes and postage I'll need anyways so it's really not TOO badâŠ
I kind of want to carve a return label stamp as well but obviously the scale/detail of that is more challenging. the easier move is to order return label stickers obviously so maybe I will design some of those, not for this year at this time scale but y'know. I was thinking of putting up my holiday card designs on redbubble or etsy or whatever as well just for funsies.
eating: made deb smittenkitchen's lentil soup with sausage, chard and garlic! really good! my sausages are generic beef from the farmers market so I feel like I lost a little flavor in there by not using some sort of sweet or spicy sausage but it's still tasty and filling. according to comments it freezes very well so I made the full recipe and will be freezing about four servings. I am rich in frozen soups rn.
I was GOING to make her crispy cauliflower and cabbage salad as well but the half a head of cabbage I had in the fridge tragically finally went bad. so instead I did an improvization at her cauliflower with dates and pistachios salad. I did not have dates or pistachios, subbed in craisins and almond slivers, lmfao, but still tasty and has the same structure. I also got some salmon burgers from kroger that have TWENTY FIVE GRAMS of protein each and were very tasty.
misc: feeling very [horror movie scare chord] from networking at that conference. my advisor's previous student who I did not overlap with but am familiar because I have continued his work casually commented that he applied to over Four Hundred Jobs before getting the one he currently has that he. does not even like that much. (I think? unclear. he is kind of a hater at heart in the funniest possible way, bless him.) so I have the fear of god in me a little bit but it's Fine, I'm doing what I'm "supposed" to be doing that a lot of other people are not by doing extensive networking and looking for summer internships for what will hopefully be the last summer of my PhD program.
I gotta start thinking about my yearly roundup too!!! I did a bad job of keeping a spreadsheet this year for this to note everything down in an easy format so maybe I will do that in retrospect as a time-filling activity in the next few weeksâŠ
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Why Canadian Companies Prefer Digital Marketing Agencies over In-house Teams

In the ever-changing digital landscape of Canada, companies big and small have to make one very important decision: develop an in-house digital marketing team or hire the services of a dedicated agency. Far from being a routine operational issue, this choice has great implications for its competitive position, market relevance, and general growth trajectory. With the digital platform becoming increasingly complicated and the stakes of online visibility soaring high, a trend has definitely been witnessed across Canadian companies: that of choosing between the expertise and agility provided by digital marketing agencies over in-house teams.
Expertise and Specialization
This has been one of the major reasons for the tectonic shift in the approach of Canadian enterprises. Digital marketing is not a monolithic discipline but a constellation of specialized areas, each with its own particular demands in expertise. From SEO virtuosos to social media savants, content marketing maestros to PPC prodigies, agencies house a cadre of specialists under one roof. Such an assemblage of talent allows businesses to tap into a wellspring of knowledge that would be prohibitively expensive and logistically challenging to cultivate internally.
What is more, the digital marketing field keeps on changing 24/7, since that is when algorithms, best practices, and consumer behaviors change at the speed of light. This places agencies in a much better place to be updated due to their focus and the heterogeneity of their client base. They undertake heavy continuous learning and serious means of professional development investment to ensure that their strategies remain at the cutting edge of industry changes. This means a commitment to staying current translates into better marketing solutions for their clients-more effectively and innovatively.

Agency versus in-house: financial implications are huge and multi-dimensional. At face value, the retainers or project fees associated with agency services might appear huge. However, a close look will reveal that this is not true on the cost-efficiency level. By outsourcing an agency, a business may significantly reduce overheads like salaries, benefits, office space, and equipment, which are kept by full-time employees.
The next strong economic case lies in the fact that it can make that great sense of scalability and flexibility. It eases the opportunity to adjust marketing spend against seasonal demands, special campaign needs, or fluctuating economies without getting into the complexities of hiring or drastically reducing an internal team. That elasticity of resource allocation permits better budget efficiency and implores optimization of Marketing ROI.
Technology and Tools
The digital marketing arena is the haven for sophisticated tools and platforms-most of which come with heavy price tags, coupled with steep learning curves. Agencies, able to use economies of scale, invest in a wide array of premium software and technologies that would be financially unviable for most individual businesses to acquire. From advanced SEO tools to full-service social media management platforms, agencies arm their clients with the technological arsenal needed to drive marketing effectiveness.
Besides tools, agencies often have state-of-the-art analytics and reporting. These systems allow for the granular tracking of campaign performance, consumer behavior, and ROI. Insights gained from these advanced analytics become the powerhouse that drives businesses into making data-informed decisions and fine-tuning their marketing approaches with strategy precision.
Strategic Objectivity
One of the most overlooked benefits of hiring a digital marketing agency is the fresh perspective it brings to the challenges a brand faces. Sometimes a company's internal teams, despite being quite familiar with the brand, can suffer from tunnel vision or be stuck in paradigms. Agencies, drawing on diverse experience across industries and markets, have become a fertile source of new solutions and unconventional creative approaches, which for those within the organization can be virtually invisible.
This objectivity extends to performance appraisal as well. Large agencies are usually held to very tight KPIs through which they are accountable to deliver measurable results. The setup ensures a very transparent culture of business betterment, whereby the agencies fall under pressure to prove their strategies right and value-proposition-valid on a regular basis.
Time and Resource Management
For most Canadian businesses, more so for the SMEs, the job of dedicating or committing resources to build and maintain a fully-fledged in-house digital marketing team is surely going to distract them from their core business activities. By outsourcing such functions to an agency, this energy is freed for product development, customer service, and other mission-critical activities.
Furthermore, more often than not, agencies are in a much better position than in-house units to implement marketing initiatives. With the established processes, loads of already-vetted resources on standby, and a lot of previous work to its credit, an agency can consequently save time throughout the process from conceiving of the strategy to launching the campaign. This agility is paramount in the fast-paced digital landscape, where usually the early bird catches the worm.

Many of these digital marketing agencies boast of having an extensive industry network, including influencers, media, and technology partners that can open various doors of opportunity to collaboration. Beta programs and early access to new marketing channels/features fall into this category. To Canadian businesses, this is quite an invaluable asset that networks with potential new customers.
Moreover, most agencies have good relations with key platforms, such as Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn, which provide them with the latest features, premium support, and, in some cases, almost privileged rates. More probably than not, such partnerships are passed on as tangible benefits to the clients to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their digital marketing initiatives.
As a sustenance of risks
The regulatory requirements associated with digital marketing, encompassing privacy, advertising standards, and the specific policies of these diverse digital platforms, make hazardous minefields for businesses. This adds further pressure on digital marketing agencies because they possess specialized knowledge and experience in ensuring that their clients work in conformance with these regulations. This becomes even more crucial in instances involving Canada, where there are regulations like CASL, which is anti-spam law dictating strict requirements on electronic messaging.
Additionally, the agencies adapt by nature through adaptation to market changes. Their diversified client bases and regular activities with businesses in various industries enable them to identify and respond to the change in consumer behavior, change in technology, or economic conditions very fast. Adapting to the situation at hand helps hedge against potential risks associated with sudden changes in the market which could render several marketing strategies irrelevant.
Performance and Results
What's arguably most convincing in the move towards agency partnerships is the attention to accountability and measurement of performance. Most of the agencies operate on performance-based models with clear KPIs and reporting structures that generate tangible means through which firms realize their marketing return on investment. In other words, therefore, the approach is results-based, with continuous optimization of marketing to align with business objectives.
As such, agencies can contribute to performing competitive benchmarking. With many years of experience across industries and data, they can paint a view for a business regarding its relative standing in digital marketing performance from its competition and industry benchmarks. Such a comparative perspective may also help them zero in on opportunities for performance improvement and areas of differentiation.
The Future of Digital Marketing Partnerships in Canada
The trend of Canadian businesses partnering with specialized marketing agencies is showing no signs of abatement in the evolving digital marketing landscape. The recipe combining experience, the advantage of being cost-effective, technological advances, and strategic value when working with an agency makes compelling economic sense. And, of course, in-house teams will always have their role; it's actually quite important for big organizations. The passed "advantages to this kind of approach are flexibility and comprehensive capabilities available to organizations of any size.".

The collaboration with a digital marketing agency is considered an investment in terms of growth strategy and competitiveness. Increasingly, this is a cost consideration that Canadian executives are factoring in as Canadian businesses strive to find their way through digital complexitiesâand as a result, a way to innovate the catalyst for success in the long term.
#Canadian businesses#Digital Marketing Partnerships in Canada#Digital Marketing in Canada#digital landscape of Canada#advanced SEO
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Fandom Peeps to Get to Know Better
I was tagged by @fwoopersongs.
3 Ships You Like: I'm sticking to chinese fandoms in hopes of not exposing myself all in one go hahaha, MCS/XJY from Nirvana in Fire because I've got too many reasons why jingsu works so well??? Other than that I'll go for Thousand Autumns ShenYan, Di Yi Xian Shi YeRong, and Encountering a Snake Yi Mo/Shen Qingxuan for the most romantic heartbreaking elegy ever.
First Ship Ever: Percabeth
Last Song You Heard: it's actually shostakovich but jk let's go for a canto song èè by Sita Chan
FavoUrite Childhood Book: got into many series and franchises but I don't think I had one? Chinese it would be Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Currently Reading: was reading 饶çș§ćčłæż by çŠçłćŹç because I had a sudden entertainment industry danmei phase (probably still do), not anything at the moment. Oh and was looking into æ±æ·č's æšè” and other prose since YJ introduced me to Li Bai's imitation of æšè” yesterday.
Currently Watching: not at the moment, probably will find some time to watch Dune 2 but the nearest cinemas are all pretty small-scaled run down ones, unless I go a few hours to a bigger city hahah.
Currently Consuming: cheesy wrap
Currently Craving: hmm maybe chinese food because I haven't had it in a while
Tagging @circumference-pie, @nemainofthewater, @sunrequiem, @marilearnsmandarin if you wish, I don't really know who to tag so please just feel free!
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Last Monday of the Week 2024-01-08
My guests have just boarded their plane. It was good and now I get to learn exactly what happens when you make my apartment handle three people for two weeks.
Listening: Between the frigid weather and the Maladies, the back half of this trip featured a lot of crashing on the couch. Putting on various background music while people were around featured a lot of Jack de Quidt specials, here's "The Valentine Affair" from Marielda.
The second best part of having an extremely specific music collection that you put together yourself is being shockingly good at telling people who did a particular song when they ask.
Reading: "Small Scale Farmers and Peasants Still Feed The World", a defense of some older UN FAO numbers, and a rebuttal to the paper "How much of our worldâs food do smallholders produce?" and by extension Hannah Ritchie's article "Smallholders produce one-third of the worldâs food, less than half of what many headlines claim", which was an earlier Reading entry. I think I saw this paper when @probablyasocialecologist posted it.
(PDF linked from that page)
The paper makes some interesting points about the status of the data these studies are based on. It makes me less convinced of their point than it makes me doubtful that anyone has a good number on this, which is valuable on its own. It seems like both the FAO claims and the newer World Development papers have some very arbitrary choices that make it difficult to pin down, but that there is clear value in measuring agricultural productivity differently for these applications.
It mainly brings up the value of including utilization of agricultural calories instead of just looking at raw value output, basically incorporating that a huge amount of the value AND calories produced in highly productive agronomies like the USA end up in cattle feed or biofuels instead of in humans. A good point, we were just talking about this the other day in the biofuel hate tag! It also notes that if you ignore small scale animal agriculture and non-agricultural calorie sources you throw away a lot of calorie conversion in poorer parts of the world.
This is a big deal! Industrial vs Smallholder agriculture is a thing I care a lot about, each one has very variable upsides and downsides and where to focus attentions (yields, transport, industrialization) changes dramatically based on what is the main driver of land use and carbon emissions.
Basically I need to read some more things. Notes to follow maybe.
Watching: I continue to find Jet Lag The Game extremely good.
Playing: Nothing! Busy...
Making: Slides and slips arrived for the Microscope, so I can start doing real mounts. Did a very hasty saliva sample just to check it out, and like. Man it's so nice to have a real scope, you can see epithelial tissue so clearly even with plain old brightfield and no staining. Started working on some printed mounts for a camera. My brother brought my reliable old point-and-shoot up and that's perfectly suited to do some microscopy capture.
Tools and Equipment: I got a basic stylist's comb with a metal tail and it so dramatically simplifies handling long hair when you're washing it. Highly recommended.
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