#The error originated in October and May of this year

[dogstomp]

Dogstomp #2900 - December 9th

Patreon / Discord Server / Itaku

[tomicscomics]

09/29/2023

Happy (almost) feast day of the most remarkably unremarkable saint!  St. Thérèse of Lisieux comics all October long!

___

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the first repost I've done for Tomics (Tomics Resurrections don't count; get a life).  It was first posted last year, but there was an error in the original.  Like dear Thérèse, I am, by nature, a proud and sensitive soul, so I suffered greatly from this humiliation.  Thus, I resolved to repost the corrected version THIS year, along with a month of St. Thérèse cartoons to make up for my failure.  I just listened to "Story of a Soul" to prepare, and I think I'm ready.  Pray for me, for if I err again, my heart may collapse. JOKE-OGRAPHY: Also known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, she was a stubborn, emotional little girl who led a surprisingly normal life.  Inspired by her older sisters, she entered a convent earlier than was usually allowed.  She died young of tuberculosis, but during her short life, she grew remarkably humble and wise.  Her dedication to showing love in the smallest details of everyday life has led some to say that she -- more than many lofty theologians -- rediscovered the Gospel, and in the simplest way.

[pawborough]

October 2024 Check In

Hello, everyone!

Thank you all for being patient while we got our bearings for a big release of content. We’re happy to announce: 

Moontails are here!

In addition, the Leopard overcoat, the Fluff accent, and the Tint accent! 

Have fun! This took a huge amount of effort from the team, considering the amount of colors and stylization we had to implement. We’re very happy with what we have, and the amount of work that Moontails took will pay off when releasing Mystic breeds in the future. 

A big paw of thanks to our artists who helped make this possible! Including: 

Amelia, who illustrated and brought Moontails from concept to reality. 

Asp, who illustrated and designed the majority of the wings. 

Emma, Remmie, and Hydde, and Beetlesprite, all who helped with Moontail wing colors. Emma especially did the lion's share of wing, glow, and accentuating Leopard colors, and deserves ample praise for her hard work!

Hydde, who did plenty of texturing on both the Lacewings and several of the wing designs. And helped loads in the final sprint to get all the assets to a presentable state. 

And of course a big thanks to our wonderful developers who helped to code Moontails in! Round of applause to Harvey! With his work, we can now accommodate Moontail wings and glow in the dress-up section of a cat (moving them among the layers), and because of his work, new Mystics with extra appendages will be easy to implement!

That all being said, we are not completely satisfied with the Butterfly rendering on the Moontail wings. Ultimately, we decided that the design deserved more stylization in an effort to be style-consistent, however we did not want to push the release of Moontails back further, considering the drought of content for our supporters. Especially while we are still working on the game before widespread release. 

So, we made the decision to release a beta-version of the design, and are working on improvements which will be added in the next update. 

We would not do this if this were an official breed release with a fully launched product, instead we would opt to take the time as needed, but we made this decision in the wake of wanting to refresh the demo and the length of time already taken to get this specific breed off the ground, and because the use of our services currently is already a demo-ing rather than a full release. 

Design and illustration by Asp

It is also worth noting that the way we have formatted the wings for Moontails means that we can work on an Appendage accent, one which would change the color of Moontail wings like an accent, while leaving the original design linked to the Overcoat. This is still in development, but we're excited to see the technology in the works!

We are also working on improving the icons in the creator. So far we have altered the formatting to better accommodate longer titles. This will relieve the way that certain attributes would present offset. In addition, new breed icons have been added. We will slowly continue to update these over time. 

Some other notes for now:

The rainbow layers on Lacewings seem to not be working correctly on the demo vs. our staging/alpha server. We'll be taking a look at that when it is not late at night, but it may be more economic to just have it when we go to beta instead of spending a ton of dev time fixing the demo with updated code, when we know it is working in the application itself. 

You may need to refresh your cache or use an incognito browser to see the changes!

There may be errors generating. This comes from the fact that the demo is a snapshot of code a year ago, and as we've updated and perfected the main application, moving things over has been difficult. We have to weigh the pros and cons of keeping the demo as smooth as the cat creator on our application, as the cost does build up. We thank you all for the patience!

New Crests

New crests have been completed! 

Demonic Crest

Illustrated and designed by Giulia

Electra Crest

Illustrated and designed by Giulia

Library Backdrop Work in Progress

And here is a peek at a work in progress shot of our newest Library backdrop!

Illustration by Asp, composition originally by Giulia and Runeowl

Necromantic Cloak Preview

As we've explained, much of our artistic prowress is going towards accessories. The Necromantic Cloak is almost finished on the starter breeds. Here are a few flat colors for preview!

Sketched and colored by Remmie, lined by Tybaxel

Peter and Marion

We’re excited to show the designs for the main characters of “arc 1” of the onsite story: Peter and Marion! 

Illustrations and design by Amelia

These two will greet you both as you enter the site, and when you first join The Guild. Peter the Prowler is a graduate student of the World Spire in The Metropolis, and therefore sports its uniform. He is the beloved son of Maven, your Guildmaster. 

Marion the curly-furred Ragdoll, on the other hand, does not particularly want to talk about his past. But he accompanies Peter on most of his magical escapades. 

Borough Introduction Summaries

And speaking of story and lore, we have presentations for the text which will accompany the Boroughs as you sign up for the site and choose. These are not the detailed, dedicated descriptions one would find in the site encyclopedia, but instead summaries meant to entice players who are first learning the world of the game. So, they may be a bit more concise, but they’re still quite fun! 

-

Luna

“The night reveals what the day conceals.”

Nestled deeply in the throes of pine and darkness, Luna citizens study. 

In Luna, knowledge is the ultimate prize, and tradition lights the way. Esoterics, scholars, and those who seek to discern the shadow of the moon find their home here. Precision and understanding are treasured greater than gold. Yet, traveling both in and out of the shadowy deep is difficult and harrowing. The natural flora and fauna are seclusive and seldom friendly, and the people, too, do not take kindly to those outside. No cat but those within know truly what goes on among the penumbra. Yet the outpourings of record and magical cultivation have influence on worldwide culture to this day. 

Cats from Luna are whimsical and prone to deceit. Luna culture enforces a calm, suppressed demeanor, but within each individual beats the heart of an enigmatic philosopher. 

Sol 

"The strong endure, the worthy rise like the sun."

Resting on the backs of gigantic glaciers, the expansive arctic reflects sunlight with such a strong dazzle that it can blind those not amply prepared. The icy winds of the far North sharpen more than just claws, for a Sol cat is known to be intense and frigid. 

Sol’s competitive culture forces each cat to prove their worth through trials, duels, and the unrelenting wilderness. Like the Luna cats they once came from, Sol is adept in ancient magic and finesse. But unlike their sister Borough, tradition and spirituality is not among their values. Instead, Sol cats believe to thrive by individual prowess and self-sustained strength.

While newcomers are welcome to their borders, they are treated with the same icy trials that all Sol citizens are expected to overcome. Sol’s royalty is so revered and their nation so powerful, no cat dares to cross them. 

Abyssal

"Where the sea meets the horizon, adventure awaits."

Among a flourishing archipelago, two capitals oversee an expansive collection of maritime settlements. Vibrant tropical islands give way to mysterious, cold depths of the sea. 

Abyssal cats are explorers at heart, eager to sail new waters or dive for ancient secrets below the waves. Catfolk from Abyssal are seen far and wide throughout Kotemara, delivering large exports of fish, tropical wares, and an enthralling gossip or two. 

Indeed, no cat wields idle chatter like an Abyssal citizen back from sea. Known for being garrulous and guttural, Abyssal cats love a good story. Even if the truth may be hard to believe as you’re told of squids the size of continents and nautical beasts the likes of which have never borne witness. 

A small collection of Abyssal cats have adapted to underwater life and established independent governance among the deep, sparking a rift between Abyssal settlements, and simmering tension between its Queen and its Princess for generations of history. 

What is known as a happy collection of sea-faring catfolk eager to tell a good tale, lies beneath a treacherous background which leaves its citizens biting their claws. 

Zenith

"On the highest peaks, the stars feel close enough to touch."

At the peak of the world, cats of Zenith gaze upwards, seeking sight in the stars and the future they hold. Vast mountain peaks stretch high into the sky, with catfolk settled both among the green valleys and rocky heights. Zenith geology is observed to hold the magic of clarity, with its magicians known to drive themselves mad with future sight and prophecy. 

Yet, the average Zenith citizen is both competitive and friendly, if not a tad feather-brained. Getting a straight answer out of an eclectic Zenith cat can be as challenging as getting a kit off of milk. 

Zenith is known for its sports and physical amusement, both more passionate and proudly entertaining than the brutal and often bloody competitions of Sol. Cats travel far and wide to view Zenith’s friendly sparring, games of feather ball, and traditional olympics. Zenith cats are thrill-seekers at heart, but with a cultural respect for not only fun, but safety. 

Those blessed, or cursed, to bear witness to the future are often made leaders, sentries, and weathermen, gifted with great responsibility to deliver security to their citizens. It is a tumultuous fate, but one which the cultural emphasis on community protection pushes the catfolk of Zenith to seek. 

Harvest

“The deepest roots grow the greatest harvest.”

The heartlands of Kotamara, where the soil is rich, and community thrives. Green hills roll through sprawling prairies, windy fieldlands, and colossal forests, making up the largest expanse of land in all of Kotemara. 

Life here is rooted in the soil, with a delicate balance of cooperation and independence. The catfolk living in Harvest have mastered various agricultural efforts, working together in a smattering of villages and small cities. 

Harvest villages are often isolated by no choice other than the width of the land and the beasts which roam in the wastes outside. Their definition as a Borough has been debated, as there is little unity in the governance, vast differences in regional culture, and the only true commonality among every village is the propensity for agricultural settlement. 

But Harvest teaches value in community and togetherness, and Harvest cats are known for their generosity and hospitality… and delicious food! The traditional home cooked stews of Harvest are said to warm the hearts of even the most frigid Sol cat. 

Yet disagreements of agricultural efforts serve to raise the hackles of every Harvest denizen. Family holidays need not to mention the differences in agroforestry or the benefits of a tilled field, lest a vicious fight break through the friendly veneer of a community feast. 

Cogwheel 

"In unity, there is strength."

In the Southernmost region of Kotemara, several cats from the Metropolis felt stunted by the magical pursuits of the early city, wanting to tinker and create with their own paws. Disgruntled and full of inventive prowess, a traveling union settled themselves among the hissing steam vents and built a new city. 

The grinding gears of Cogwheel never stop turning. Here, cats meld metal and fire into something greater than the sum of their parts. Invention and creativity powers every step forward, as industry blossoms from the smoldering factories. Much of the new age technology with respect to locomotives, plumbing, and electricity have come from Cogwheel inventors. 

Cogwheel cats believe strongly in togetherness, unity, and teamwork, holding onto values kept from their genesis in Harvest. Sharing with their ancestors a propensity for hospitality and good food, with an even stronger emphasis on loyalty. Yet the strong grip that The Metropolis has on their governance and exports is palpable. Warm and welcoming is a Cogwheel cat until pushed so far… 

The Metropolis 

"Innovation never sleeps."

Welcome to the beating heart of progress. Within the towering walls of The Metropolis, artisans and inventors push the boundaries of possibility. Whether you're crafting the finest artisan pastries or magiceering the next world marvel, this is where the mystical and progressive collide. 

Fast-paced and unrelenting, there’s always more to build, more to discover, more to observe. The Metropolis’s center is home to the World Spire, a towering structure which overlooks the Spire Academy and helps to facilitate worldwide, cross-borough affairs. Here, the next generation of magicians are taught modern magical technology, making sweeping strides in the worldwide understanding of magic as a craft, as a power, and as a tool. 

Metropolis cats have a rigorous class system, with catfolk taking full advantage of monetizing new magical discoveries. Artistry has bloomed in the upper echelons, making way for beautiful craftsmanship and culinary elegance. 

But while The Metropolis places high value on aesthetics, beauty, and sophistication, it's home to quite the underbelly; full of scammers, black market traders, and thieves. Not to mention those who starve while others fatten on the spoils. 

No two Metropolis cats are the same, as the culture is a healthy mixture of all the differing catfolk who travel to it. But “stuffy” and “obnoxious” have been muttered around neighboring Boroughs.

- 

They may receive some TLC before final launch, but I'm happy where the lore is now! 

Development Check In: Where we are

This coming Monday, we plan to spin down Alpha and hit the ground running with getting to closed Beta. It’s been one hell of an experience to test and quash all the bugs we have needed to. We feel quite good about how much we have done and the state of the application after it went through the meat grinder. 

We are reaching a point in development where viability and fundraising is very important, so we are eager to polish what we have created, add the vital remaining functionalities, and get it ready for the next stage in testing before users can altogether play again. 

And as of today, we got incense working! 

The biggest things we have to do next for development are hook up proper buttons and routing, clean the formatting, and optimize everything we can for mobile. 

In addition, we’ll be combing over the feedback for how to improve our UX and make for an even better experience. We really appreciate everything users have done for us so far, and we’re super excited to be this far into development!

To summarize: We added two new accents, an overcoat, and a breed with three variations, shared two crests, a backdrop WIP, and Necromantic Cloak progress. Shared the main NPCs for arc 1, and the newest iteration of Borough summaries for sign-up.

What to expect next update: Further asset and development updates. Lots of repeat accessories, decor, and little things!

[genshin-impact-updates]

Web Event "Dream of Roving Stars" Now Online: Take Part to Obtain Primogems and Other In-Game Rewards

The experiences you've had, and the people you've met — these are the things that make your journey unique.

With Paimon by your side, let the stars carry you away as you recall your precious memories from the past year...

>> Click to Take Part in Event <<

〓Event Duration〓

September 28, 2023 – October 12, 2023 23:59 (UTC+8)

*Rewards cannot be claimed after the event ends. Please claim them in time.

〓Eligibility〓

Travelers who have reached Adventure Rank 10 or above can participate in this event.

*The data for the "Dream of Roving Stars" event will be collected up to September 25, 2023 00:00 (UTC+8) (there may be a margin of error of about 30 minutes) and is valid only for Travelers who have reached Adventure Rank 10 or above before the cut-off time.

〓Event Description〓

During the event, click to enter different data sections and view your travel memories. Finish viewing them to obtain Primogems and other in-game rewards.

You can also share the event and collect different blessings to obtain in-game rewards.

〓Share Memories〓

After viewing all data sections, you can enter the Annual Report to customize and edit your own travel memories. After editing, you can generate your own travel memory card.

You can share your own travel memories with others via a link/image. You can also invite your friends to share data by sharing the link with them. Upon the first successful share, you will receive Primogems and other in-game rewards.

〓Sharing and Collecting Blessings〓

After viewing all data sections, you will be able to click the "Share Blessings" button in the top-right corner of the event homepage to enter the Blessing Collection page.

You can share blessings with your friends via a link. You can also collect different blessings and obtain rewards by clicking on links from friends.

*Blessings from each shared link can be claimed up to 20 times.

〓Event Rewards〓

-REWARDS FOR VIEWING ALL DATA SECTIONS-

Travelers can claim corresponding rewards by viewing different data sections in full. You can obtain a total of Primogems ×180 and Hero's Wit ×12.

-REWARDS FOR COLLECTING BLESSINGS-

Collect all 5 different types of blessings to obtain corresponding blessing rewards as well as a reward for collecting all the blessings.

You can obtain a total of Mora ×70,000, Mystic Enhancement Ore ×4, as well as various materials and dishes from Teyvat.

-SHARING REWARDS-

You can claim corresponding rewards by sharing your customized data, as well as by sharing data with other Travelers. You can obtain a total of Mora ×40,000.

*The in-game rewards will be distributed via in-game mail. The mail will expire after 30 days, so don't forget to claim the rewards in time.

[Check the original article here for details on the social media sharing event.]

[dyscanthe]

Special Halloween Party Event

Chapter 1: Summoning Ritual

This is a rough translation of the story. You may encounter minor errors on the way, please be understanding and considerate (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠) With that being said, enjoy reading!

October has arrived, the season of Halloween is upon us. The mansion is lively, pondering what kind of Halloween we'd do for this year. One day... Me, Berrien and Miyaji are waiting for a "certain someone" in front of the mansion's door.

Clop... Clop... Clop...

Berrien: Oh, Elvira-sama's carriage has arrived.

Miyaji: She said she has an urgent request according to her written letter... I wonder what exactly happened.

I hope it's nothing too serious.

Elvira-san comes down from the coachman seat as I said that.

Elvira: Pardon me for my abrupt visit, Master of Devil butlers.

Greetings.

Elvira: Things have gotten a tad troublesome on my end...

???: Looks like the horses have stopped?

???: Have we arrived~?

???: Piano-chan, do you want a cookie?

???: Can I? Thank you ♡

T-This voice...

Miyaji: There are children inside the carriage...?

Berrien: Their voices sound quite adorable.

Elvira: I suppose it'd be quicker to show you.

"Kitty-chan..."

Eh!?

K-Kitty-chan...

Elvira: Could you come down from the carriage? I'll open the door now.

Kitty: Okay ♪

*Door opens*...

Kitty: Hello! I am Kitty! Nice to meet you!

!!!

Miyaji: T-This child is...

It's the real Kitty-chan...

Berrien: Aruji-sama, do you know this person?

Yeah.

Elvira: I get it now... It appears that Kitty-chan and the others were summoned from your world.

Berrien: Summoned...?

Elvira: I'll explain the situation.

[According to Elvira-san's story... Another witch performed a certain summoning ritual... And as a result, Kitty-chan and her friends were summoned to this world from the looks of it. The magical effect is only temporary... So they can soon return to their original world in a few weeks... But the witches' territory is an extremely harsh environment... So they were brought here to the Devil's Palace.]

Miyaji: In short... The urgent request is to take care of these children for a few weeks?

Elvira: Indeed, it is.

Please be careful not to attract people's attention to them just in case.

I apologize for having this matter imposed on you.

I'll leave the rest on your hands, Master of Devil butlers.

U-Umm... Y-Yes...

Kitty: Elvira-chan, you're going home?

Elvira: Yes... These people will be very considerate to you.

Kitty: Thank you for all your help ♪ I hope to see you again! Bye-bye!

Elvira: ... Bye-bye.

(Elvira-san smiled...)

Elvira: Well then... I'll be leaving now.

- after a while -

[We held a strategy meeting at the foyer after welcoming everyone from the carriage.]

Miyaji: I'll be giving them sweets to eat in the cafeteria first, but... What should we do next?

Berrien: Indeed. We have to inform the other butlers about the situation...

Kitty: Excuse me~

Wah!

Kitty: Oh, I'm sorry for surprising you.

Berrien: Kitty-chan... Right? Is there something troubling you?

Kitty: Can I know everyone's name if possible?

What's your name?

I'm [Player Name].

Kitty: Your name is lovely ♡ Are you the master of devil butlers?

You're right.

Kitty: So that means you're the master of this giant mansion. That's amazing!

I'll be in your care from now on ♪

[As she said that, Kitty extended her hand. I crouched down and shook it.]

(S-So cute...)

(I'm shaking hands with Kitty-chan...)

Lato: Flure, have you decided on the Halloween costume for this year?

Flure: I don't have the slightest idea at all...

Miyaji: This voice is...

Lato: Mm? Miyaji-sensei, and there's Aruji-sama and Berrien-san too.

What are you doing...

Wait, oh? Who might these little guests be?

Kitty: Hello ♪ I'm kitty!

Flure: I-It talked...

Kitty: Could it be you two are talking about Halloween just now?

This mansion will be holding a Halloween party!?

Flure: N-No... Err... We still haven't decided on a party exactly...

Kitty: Actually, we were talking about Halloween while on our way here ♪

Could Kitty join the party too if possible?

Huh!?

(This is a sudden and unexpected development...)

[And so, we talked about the topic with surprise in our hearts... We have settled on doing a "Halloween Masquerade" with Kitty-chan and her friends. The one who suggested masquerade was Flure... It seems like he has costume ideas in his mind. With that, Flure — who was burning with enthusiasm — ... has begun to prepare for the masquerade costumes at incredible speed.]

- a few days later -

[While walking down the corridor at night... I heard the voices of Miyaji and Cinnamon from the library.]

Cinnamon: Wow! So beautiful.

And the smell is so nice too~♪

Miyaji: Fufu, looks like you like it.

Cinnamon: Did you make this, Miyaji-san?

Miyaji: Yes, it is me.

Cinnamon: Amazing~! I wonder if I can make it too?

Miyaji: I'll teach you how to, so would you like to make it together with me tomorrow?

Cinnamon: Can I? Yay!

Oh, huh? The one standing there is...

Ah...

Miyaji: Oh, forgive me for not noticing your presence.

Cinnamon: Good evening, "arujisama"!

a-arujisama...?

Miyaji: It seems they're following how we act... So Cinnamon and the others are also calling you with "Aruji-sama".

Role-playing as butlers, correct?

Cinnamon: Yup!

[Cinnamon laughed with Miyaji after he said that. Seems like they have gotten close. I asked about the costumes that I've been so curious about ever since I entered the room.]

By the way, what is that costume?

Cinnamon: This fit is made by Flure-kun~!

What do you think? It's so cute~♪

It's incredibly cute.

It suits you very well.

Cinnamon: Ehehe ♪ Thank you!

Miyaji: That reminds me. Since Aruji-sama is here too... Shall I bring it here?

It...?

Miyaji: Could you wait here for a moment?

- a few minutes later-

Miyaji: I apologize for keeping you waiting. Here, please enjoy.

Cinnamon: Oh! It's cinnamon rolls!

Miyaji: I bought it at a bakery in town on passing. I thought it looked quite similar to Cinnamon-kun's tail.

Cinnamon: It's the same as my tail~! Look, look! arujisama!

You're right, it's the same.

C-Cute...

Miyaji: I also bought yours, Aruji-sama. Please enjoy it together with Cinnamon-kun.

Although it's nighttime already... It's fine once in a while, right?

Thank you, Miyaji

Cinnamon: Yay ♪ Let's eat it together~!

Yeah!

Cinnamon: Of course, Miyaji should join us too!

Miyaji: I...

Miyaji, come and eat with us too.

Miyaji: Thank you, Aruji-sama. I'll take up your words then.

- after a while -

Cinnamon: Zzz... Zzz...

Miyaji: He's fast asleep. I wonder if sleeping on my knees is comfortable.

I think he feels secure.

Miyaji: I see... I'm glad if that's the case.

Rest well for the night. Let's craft aroma candles tomorrow together.

Cinnamon: Munyamunya...

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Ikemen Villains - Ellis Twilight

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors.

Blank, ageless, and suspicious blogs will be blocked.

On the eve of Halloween, the aroma of sweet pastries filled the kitchen of the castle.

Victor: "It's almost time for them to finish baking. Come on, let's take the scones out."

Ellis: "Kate, let me do it. I don't want you to burn yourself."

Kate: "Thanks. Please be careful, Ellis."

Ellis: "Hm. They're nicely baked."

Victor: "Ahaha! Victor's original buttery scones are now ready!"

We gazed and smiled at the beautifully baked scones.

Tomorrow, October 31st, Halloween will come to this country, and the town will be bustling with excitement.

After talking with Ellis, we decided to do something for the townspeople, so Victor taught us how to make scones to distribute.

Even though we didn't live in a sunny place, doing this once in a while shouldn't have posed a problem.

(It's so typical of Ellis to be so friendly and kind to the townspeople that he wants to hand out candies.)

Victor: "Are you planning to distribute this tomorrow?"

Kate: "Yup, that's the plan."

Victor: "That's wonderful. You guys are truly kind-hearted!"

Ellis: "Victor, your hug is a bit too strong."

Victor: "Oops, my apologies! Love overflowed for a moment there."

Victor: "But do be careful about one thing. Tomorrow is the night of beauty under the moon." **

Kate: "Night of beauty under the moon?" **

Victor: "Ah, right. I haven't told you about this yet."

Victor proceeded to explain it to me.

He said that every few years, there was an occurrence where Halloween coincided with a full moon or a new moon, intensifying the cursed sins.

It was also called "beauty under the moon" because it blooms at the same time as the beauty under the moon flowers.

(So weird things like that happen. Is it because of the phases of the moon?)

Kate: "Thank you for the explanation. So, what exactly happens when the curse intensifies?"

Victor: "I wish I could tell you, but I don't really know all the details!"

Kate: "Huh?"

Victor: "The last phenomenon happened about 20 years ago."

Victor: "If it were 20 years ago, most of the crown members probably weren't even aware of their curse themselves."

Kate: "Right, that's true. Um, if it were 20 years ago, Ellis..."

Ellis: "I think it was around the time I finally started talking."

Victor & Kate: "Cute."

Ellis: "Fufu, both of you are thinking out loud."

Kate: "Sorry. It just slipped out."

Victor: "Ahem. So, to summarize, tomorrow is going to be a dangerous night for you two, considering it's been 20 years since it last happened."

Victor: "We don't know what will happen, so make sure to return before the moon rises."

I carried the scones with Ellis and started wrapping them one by one.

Kate: "By the way, the decorations in this dining hall are amazing."

Ellis: "It's a tradition. I've been helping Victor with it every year."

Somewhere in the middle of our chat, he suddenly muttered something.

Ellis: "Can I really spend tomorrow with you?"

Kate: "What?"

Ellis: "Aren't you afraid to be with me?"

Ellis: "If you're even a little scared, I'd rather stay away."

Ellis: "I want to make you happy, not scare you."

(Is it because we don't know what might happen tomorrow?)

I realized that neither of us really knew what to expect tomorrow.

(But I know for sure that he would never do anything to scare me.)

(And I don't want to be afraid of him.)

Kate: "I want to be with you. It's our first Halloween together, after all."

Ellis: "Thank you, Kate. Actually, I wanted to be with you too."

His sweet smile made me smile in return.

Kate: "Then we're in this together."

Ellis: "Yeah, together."

Ellis: "But I can't even begin to imagine what might happen if my curse intensifies."

(Right. Speaking of which...)

Kate: "You know, I might not even know what your curse is."

Ellis: "Oh, you don't? In that case, why don't you guess?"

William was cursed with the king's self-righteousness, so I think his sins would be self-righteousness and condemnation.

(Ellis is cursed with Thorns, so thinking along those lines...)

Kate: "Stabbing someone?"

Ellis: "Fufu, that's cute but slightly incorrect."

Kate: "Um, then..."

I pondered, and Ellis looked at me, smiling.

Ellis: "You look so cute as you search for answers. I think I'll keep it a secret for a little longer."

Ellis: "I'd prefer if you never found out, but if you figure it out, please tell me."

The next day, we headed out to town with the scones.

While Halloween in England might be considered less vibrant than in some other places, the town was livelier than usual, and you could sense the excitement in the air.

Fruit Vendor Granny: "Oh, Ellis, Miss. Happy Halloween!"

Ellis: "Hello, Anna."

Ellis: "Trick or treat."

Fruit Vendor Granny: "Trick or treat?"

Ellis: "Yes, treat. Here you go."

Fruit Vendor Granny: "Oh my, are these homemade? I'm so happy, thank you both."

Bookstore Owner: "Hey there, Ellis! Miss Kate! Oh, that's candy, isn't it?"

Bookstore Owner: "Then, if you don't mind. Trick or treat!"

Ellis: "Here you go, enjoy. It's loaded with butter, so it's sure to be delicious."

Child in a ghost costume: "Big brother, big sister! Trick-or-treat!"

Ellis: "Be careful not to trip. Here you go."

(Hehe, Ellis is really popular! And everyone seems to be having fun.)

As the sun began to set, the scones gradually began to decrease.

Kate: "Wow, they're all gone. That was quick."

Ellis: "Yeah. Oh, by the way..."

Ellis: "Want to do some trick-or-treating with me, too?"

(With me?)

Kate: "Trick-or-treat?"

Ellis: "Here. I saved the last one just for you."

Kate: "But if I take it, then you won't have any."

Ellis: "I'm fine. If you're happy, that's enough for me."

Ellis: "Or did you want to play a trick on me?"

Kate: "This one is fine. Thank you."

Ellis: "Fufu, you're welcome."

(He really always thinks about others' happiness.)

He gave me the last piece of candy without hesitation, prioritizing other people's feelings over his own.

Every time I saw him like that, I found his kindness endearing and, yet, a bit lonely.

(I want to make him happy, not just receive from him.)

Bar Owner: "Ellis, Missy! As a thank you for the scones, come by the tavern sometime. I'll treat you to a drink."

Ellis and I both look up at the sky simultaneously.

The sun had just started to set, and it seemed like there was still some time before the moon would appear.

Ellis: "Kate, are you ready to head back, or would you like to stay with me a bit longer?"

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Premium ╎ Epilogue

[deadly-espresso]

Fun Facts About TROJAN HORSE!

The original concept of TROJAN HORSE actually dated back to February of 2023 (At the time, Illusion of Flattery was my most recently posted song). I previously only had the original melody thought out at the time as well as some basic plot details (The subject of the song's name was Troy and he was like some sort of guy obsessed with a girl who didn't reciprocate his feelings and he had eventually plotted an attack on her after becoming a Trojan Horse). However, I had originally scrapped the song due to audio mixing issues and overall lack of skill (I hadn't even started implementing proper keys into my songs until Wanderlust and Illusion of Flattery). I had briefly revisited the song in October of 2023, but then I forgot about it again until May of this year.

The fake BSoD that I made for the warning screen at the beginning of the song was edited in MS Paint, of all programs. This was because it was the only program I had where the "System" font (the font that used to be used on Windows BSoDs (or at least Windows 9x systems, because the base of the edit was a BSoD from Windows Me)) rendered correctly (I couldn't access the font in FireAlpaca, and the font looked blurry in Krita because Krita renders fonts as vector images with no feature to turn off anti-aliasing) The edit was hard to pull off and I ended up having to make some minor adjustments to the edit in FireAlpaca, but the edit was certainly doable because, well, I made it.

Some more fun stuff about the fake BSoD I made is that does include a reference to a genuine error code (In this case, the error code "04" refers to an "overflow trap"). Also, if you compare the string of numbers in the error message to this Base64 index alphabet table, the numbers actually spell out a word in Base64 code (but then you'll have to decode that yourself 😏)

While I'm aware that TROJAN HORSE's very premise is bound to spark some KinitoPET jokes (even I've made my fair share of jokes about it), I actually envisioned the whole premise of the song long before KinitoPET was released to the public (The KinitioPET game's release was in January of this year, although I didn't learn of its existence until March. Funny enough, I had even envisioned Troy having a pink color scheme and wearing black tights (or maybe that just IS his leg color, since he chooses how he looks? 🤔) before the release of KinitoPET. However, I still think the release of KinitoPET did have some effect on the final version of the lore and song I settled on (for extra funnies, it turned out the creator of KinitoPET is named "troy_en").

Before that whole crisis I had on deciding what voice would play Troy in TROJAN HORSE, the placeholder voicebank I had used for testing the vocal tuning was Solaria's lite voicebank.

[mxmorbidmidnight]

My names and their etymology + mythological/historical origins

In the time I have walked I have been called many names for I am a shapeshifter. It is impossible for one name to encompass me just as one form cannot. The way I prefer naming to work is that each person calls me however they like. By that I mean however it is the person sees me, whichever name or title they see fit is what they will call me. I do like to make a bit of a game of it. Isn't it rather fun making a riddle out of something as simple as the name that you will go by, to bring research, history and etymology or any other of one’s interests into naming?

There are two options, you may choose your favourite of the names below or call me whatever you like. There are few honours greater than being given a name by another. As long as it is done with respect I will answer.

(this system makes complete sense in my mind however please let me know if you're confused and don't know what the fuck to call me).

And now my ramblings I will cease. Here are my names that I have snatched up. (please let me know if I have made any errors in my research).

Shapeshifter

This is what I am, if ever in doubt call me The Shapeshifter or Shapeshifter. In addition you could call me any other word for Shapeshifter, regardless of language.

Gestaltwandler

German for Shapeshifter (male or unspecified) from "gestalt" roughly meaning the way something has been put together. There is no equivalent in English however it is often translated to form or shape.

ilcruthach

From Irish origins meaning Shapeshifter. Etymology: "il"meaning many and Cruth meaning Shape

Versipellis

Latin for changing the skin/shapeshifter. Etymology: Vero meaning turn and pellis skin.

Vormveranderaar

etymology: “vorm” meaning form, “Veranderen/verandering” meaning change and “ver” to do or to become.

Werewolverine

• were is an archaic term for man, however in the modern day it refers to shapeshifting, hence the term “werewolf”

• I have a connection with the Wolverine and have since I was young, stumbling across it in a book.

• I art not going to lie to thee, it also has a lot to do with x-men and my fixation on Logan Howlett

Jackalope hare

• in 1932 Douglas Herrick of Douglas, Wyoming sold the first jackalope. A taxidermy project consisting of a rabbit that had antelope antlers attached to its head. It became a symbol of jest, prank and trickery. To this day much conspiracy and mystery shrouds the creature

• One of the forms I take is that of The Jackrabbit. Despite its name the Jack rabbit is in fact a Hare. Hence why I call myself Jackalope Hare.

Lovecat

This name I pecked up from my favourite band, The Cure. The song The Love Cats was released as a single in October 1983.

A snapshot of the lyrics;

We move like cagey tigers

Oh, we couldn't get closer than this

The way we walk, the way we talk

The way we stalk, the way we kiss

We slip through the streets while everyone sleeps

Getting bigger and sleeker and wider and brighter

We bite and scratch and scream all night

Let's go and throw all the songs we know

Into the sea, you and me

All the years and no one heard

I'll show you in spring, it's a treacherous thing

"We missed you", hissed the lovecats

"We missed you", hissed the lovecat

Dracaena or Drakaina

• dracaena is the romanised form of the Greek Drakaina, roughly meaning “she-dragon”

• depictions range across folklore and myth, the form with which I ascosiate myself with are that where the dracnaea has the lower body of a dragon and the upper of a nymph.

• Similar in form to that of Echidna, Campe and Ceto.

She-wolf

This name I adopted while reading Dante’s inferno. She is one of Dante’s three beasts he encounters, representing types of sin. It is thought the she-wolf represents greed. She is described as this:

And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings

Seemed to be laden in her meagreness,

And many folk has caused to live forlorn!

She brought upon me so much heaviness,

With the affright that from her aspect came,

That I the hope relinquished of the height.

The true meaning of the she-wolf as intended by Dante is not the one that made me choose this name. It was rather because as I was reading it in my mind I saw the image of a great she-beast, it was mighty, with a great coat, harsh eyes and a body like mountain framework. It was a divine being and entirely beast in its soul.

Titles I am called:

• sir goose, madam goose, great goose, anything along those lines

• The Goose, Scourge upon John of England (self bestowed to do with my ongoing feud with the monarchy of England due to my goose activities. HONK HONK HONK)

• wizard goose is something I have been called as of recent and I do take delight upon it.

• Witch and similar terms. Bonus points if you run across the room screaming YOU THERE WITCH!!

• oh yeah and also Morbid Midnight! The first shapeshifter name I chose for myself. My sweet moots have given me nicknames such as “morbs” and “morbie”

I leave you with this, a quote from Old possum’s book of practical cats by T.S Elliot that summarises how I experience names:

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,

The reason, I tell you, is always the same:

His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation

Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:

His ineffable effable

Effanineffable

Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

[imagination-mess]

Arcane University (Supernatural University)

This is supernatural Au within MHA universe. You can also take this as modern university au with supernatural creatures. This is more lore than anything of the university and bit of the reader. I will be making some posts on October that will be connected to this AU.

Word Count: 900+

A/N: There will be grammatical errors. I am tired when I was finishing this up. I will edit it later on.

Imagine a well-known supernatural university, Arcane, that is well known throughout the supernatural realm to be a safe area for parents who are creatures to send their children to get their education without running the risk of their children being exposed to the public. Public means being exposed to people who are your original humans and more often than not called normies, but it is the same humans who have been hunting them for generations. 

There is elementary school for monsters to teach any sort of creature to be able to bend during their middle and high years. They will be forced to go to the typical human education institutions. They need to be able to coexist with humans aside from the humans they already know growing up with. They need to be able to blend in with society flawlessly as if they are humans. They may need to branch out of their comfortable zone for job opportunities and such.

The humans mentioned previously who grew up with monsters since they were small children could have gotten permission to be able to attend those monster schools. It can be from families that are half-human to friends who kept their friends, who are creatures, safe from dangerous situations. Those cases need to be vouched by supernatural creatures to even let those human children attend within those schools.

The only exception to the rule is children who have a human parent but their supernatural parent is decreased, which leaves the child with no one to be able to guide them. They will be accepted with no questions asked. It is important to teach a creature how to be able to control their powers. It is risking the safety of everyone else who is a creature themselves to be in danger of being hunted down. 

The supernatural realm has strict rules to follow for their and others' safety.

However, Arcane University is forced by the outside government to let more of the original humans into their school, especially when a "freak" incident happened at a nightclub that resulted in one dead and many injuries with the same symptom of blood loss and broken bones. It was a nightclub that was 40 miles away from their campus. There were a lot of students from their university that night.  It doesn't help that there are few elected politicians who are supernatural hunters on the side. A very well known hunter within the supernatural realm has been seen outside of campus. They have had their sights on the university for the past few months due to an attack that happened within their sports competitions with rival schools. 

The eyes of those politicians and needing to prove this is a "normal" university like no other.

What once made a safe haven for supernatural creatures in university level to be forced to open their doors for transfer students and new students? Humans who don't know anything about their world. It is to protect the students within their university from being investigated any longer. 

The university created new buildings that aren't haunted by ghosts to prevent complaints from students. The new human students will have their own section on campus grounds, specifically at the dorms to houses where no creatures come is permitted on the premises. There are also a few fraternities outside of school grounds if they wish to join. 

They are trying to avoid incidents and problems. It’s the first year they are letting humans where all sorts of monsters are roaming the university. 

The monster students know they can’t mess with the humans unless they want to deal with the faculties' wrath. They were made aware immediately when the university was promoting extended days for applicants to be able to apply for the upcoming semester. 

However, the sports department has the most enraged monster students since there are going to be normies joining the sports clubs. They can’t reject them. Monster students didn't want to go out of their way to hide their appearance. They were once able to just let it go since this monster university. Now they have hidden their monster traits just because humans are being let in.

The classes are going to be mixed with monster students and humans. It’s inevitable that some students are becoming friends.  However, there is an important rule throughout the university: no parties after letting humans come into the university.

It did make a lot of monster students frustrated and angry, especially college frat houses. They make money at the entrance fee to pay off college debt or fund their activities, such as sports games.

Which results in some students sneakily having a party and inviting people who won’t snitch. This opens up the conversation about how humans are in such danger to be in monster houses where there is drug and alcohol influence. It’s just begging for an incident to happen, which is what the university is trying to avoid. 

Monsters are under the influence and losing grip of their human appearance, letting their monsters come through, such as earning their fangs.

You know you are a bit drunk, but you are seeing things that are making your heartbeat rise to beat rapidly. You did not just see someone bite into someone's neck and drinking from them. You didn't see scales on the blonde's cheeks when he accidentally electrocuted himself. 

Perhaps you got too much alcohol into your system. You were so trying to hold back from panicking to see strange things in the party. You were walking towards the exit of the house to only just run the rest of the way to the dorms.  You needed to leave. You no longer felt safe.

You will get used to it. This is going to be your new normal.

You can check out: Written Parts that are apart of this au, (headcanons): Ghost!Izuku (part two) Werewolf! Katsuki Coming Soon: Vampire!Izuku Vampire!Shoto

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Matricula of King’s College

Page 18 and 19 of a manuscript volume entitled; “The Matricula or Register of Admissions & of Graduations & of Officers employed in King’s College at New-York.”, shows Alexander Hamilton's and Edward Stevens's signed names.

There are contradicting claims as to when exactly Hamilton started studying at King's, and unfortunately this document does not settle much of the matter. Hercules Mulligan claimed that Hamilton; “entered King's Colledge in the spring of 75 in the Sophomore Class & on the terms he had proposed at Princeton and boarded with my family.” [x] While Robert Troup recalled; “I became acquainted with the General in the year 1773 at Kings, now Columbia College, in New York, where I was a student [...] When the General entered College, he did it as a private student, and not by annexing himself to a particular class” [x] And JCH fails to mention a solid date as to when Hamilton entered college.

Upon writing about Hamilton's youth, Broadus Mitchell comments on the Matricula with AH's name saying;

Alexander Hamilton's presence at King's in the academic year 1773-1774 rests on the testimony of his intimate friend Robert Troup, who more than thirty-six years later recorded that “I became acquainted with [him] in the year 1773 at Kings... in New York, where I was a student... When [Hamilton] entered College, he did it as a private student, and not by annexing himself to a particular class. The President, and Professors, instructed him at their leisure hours.” Hamilton made studious progress in the languages and other branches and, having “originally destined himself to the Science of Physic he was regular in attending the anatomical lectures, then delivered in the College by Dr. Clossey.” Notices of Dr. Clossy's lectures appeared in the newspapers, and it may be that Hamilton attended them, as any member of the public, on payment of the fee, was privileged to do. If he first intended fitting himself for the practice of medicine he may have been led to it, as previously mentioned, because Hugh Knox, his clerical patron of St. Croix, was also physician and apothecary; in addition, his boyhood friend on St. Croix and fellow student at King's, Edward Stevens, was probably already intending for Edinburgh to study medicine. Troup had good means of knowing when Hamilton was first at King's, in whatever status; Troup graduated A.B. in 1774; consequently 1773-1774 was the only session when he and Hamilton could have been fellow students. He roomed with Hamilton in the college building and named the other “particular associates” of Hamilton in college Edward Stevens, Samuel and Henry Nicoll.

The redoubtable Hercules Mulligan, who met Hamilton at the boat, as it were, remembered differently. Writing, like Troup, a full generation after the events, he shifted the dates forward a year, saying Alexander first came to New York in October 1773, prepared for college at Barber's Academy, and “entered King's... Colledge in the spring of 1775 in the Sophomore Class” but on his own special plan. He “boarded with the Mulligan family.” The fact is that the register of students and faculty of King's College has in the hand of President Myles Cooper the name of Alexander Hamilton under “Admissions Anno 1774.” He was one of seventeen admitted that year, his name occurring next to last. This would seem to be definitive for the date of Hamilton's formal entrance, or matriculation, but several circumstances leave the exact date, or even the year, in some doubt. The list of this class and others, none alphabetical, may have been written in the book at a later time, not when the class entered or graduated, which would make room for error. The official roster was carelessly kept; Hamilton was doubtless at King's “as a private student,” as Troup said, in the academic year 1773-1774, and then formally entered, as per the Matricula, in 1774, perhaps “in the Sophomore Class” as Mulligan remembered. He no longer “destined himself to the Science of Physic,” because when actually enrolled he was not designated “S.M.” (student of medicine).

Source — Alexander Hamilton, Youth To maturity 1755-1788, by Broadus Mitchell

[pandasmagorica]

Intro/tracking post

Last updated October 31, 2024.

Older queer white cis dude in California, pronoun he.

Love music.

Enjoy QL, mostly Thai, mostly series.

Here to read and comment on posts. Lack of posting does not represent non-engagment with a series. Reblogging represents engagement, not (necessarily) agreement with a post. Non-reblogging may (or may not) reflect an accessibility issue with the original post or that there is some other reason I don't want it on my blog (even if I like or agree with it).

If a series puts me off in the first episode, I will often abandon it, sometimes within the first few minutes. I'm less likely to abandon midway. If I'm considering abandoning a series I've otherwise liked up to that point, I'll often read the reviews on MDL or look up posts on the series, at risk of getting spoilers, to decide whether to go on with it (and it's gone both ways).

Not a fan of spoilers, but recognize it as a risk of engaging so I don't (usually) spoiler-shame. Please don't put them in comments to me, if you would be so kind.

Okay with sad endings if they're earned or otherwise inevitable.

Incomplete watchlist (which I will update from time to time):

In progress - active

Every You, Every Me (week by week watch)

(deciding) (binge watch)

Top Shows (in order as best I can, ask me on another day and stuff might move):

Until We Meet Again and everything I like better than Until We Meet Again. Expands as needed.

Not Me (best QL series ever for plot, acting, cinematography, and music, content warning for violence) (1 re-watch)

Bad Buddy (lots of fun, new discoveries on every re-watch) (3 re-watches)

Knock Knock Boys (episode 1 notes with mature content) (episode 3-6 notes without) (sex positive romantic comedy)

He's Coming to Me (heartwarming, delightful coming-of-age work. I didn't care for the library raid part and skipped it once on rewatch and there seemed to me to be some inconsistencies with the ghost rules.) (3 re-watches)

Cherry Magic (Japanese version, delightful, looking forward to the Thai remake if they ever settle the rights issues)

To Sir With Love (could get me to try lakorns)

Semantic Error (enemies to lovers comedy that hits all the right notes)

A Tale of a Thousand Stars (fine series, not sure why I haven't rewatched it, need to rewatch after Our Skyy 2)

55:15 Never Too Late (not QL but has a QL subplot, notable for having an older semi-out gay character) (1 re-watch)

Gaya Sa Pelicula (Like in the Movies) (odd couple thrown together, fall in love, hit limits

Eternal Yesterday (re-watch episode notes) (not usually into high school QL but the plot got me and it blew me away, achingly sad throughout) (1 re-watch)

Until We Meet Again (fine contrast between the ghosts of the past and the world of today, deep story, but has a few problematic scenes that I cringe at, theme music got repetitive; content warning for suicide) (2 or 3 re-watches)

Much as I love them, I don't automatically recommend every one of them to everyone. The right rec for the right person!

In progress - on hold

The Eighth Sense (on possible hold as I consider a trope I don't love)

Cherry Magic (Thai) (on apparently long-term hold pending rights issues)

I Promised You the Moon (but not actively watching)

Considering

Okay, this is a really long list and I'm probably not going to watch all of them, but a fan's gotta dream, right?

Although I Love You, and You?

Boys Be Brave

Ex-Morning

Happenstance

The Heart Killers

Leap Day

Living With Him

Mama Gogo

Midnight Motel

My Strawberry Film

Old Fashioned Cupcake

Oh! Boarding House

1000 Years Old

Peaceful Property

The Player

Revamp

Shadow (although probably not)

Stay Still

ThamePo

Tokyo in April Is...

Us

First episode watched but not committed to

Our Dining Table

Also Completed:

A Cut Above (in alphabetical order):

Near misses for my top list, bubbling under that line. Highly recommended.

Anti-Reset (episode notes) (speculative fiction on the future of AI, in a robot and a human who fall in love, quite emotional)

At 25:00 in Akasaka (review) (QL meta romantic comedy, content warning for dubcon that kept it off my top list)

Century of Love (episode notes) (a 120-year-old man learns to let go of the past and find his future with a young man he meets by chance who might be that loved one from the past after all, content warning for violence)

Formula 17 (campy and fun) (2 or 3 rewatches)

4 Minutes (review) (avant-garde metaphysical exploration of regret and renewal)

History 3: Trapped (very funny and enjoyable

I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama (feel-good comedy)

The Great Doctor (episode notes) (not QL) (medical/historical/time travel mashup, content warning for violence and gory medical stuff)

Kiseki: Dear to Me (watch notes) (top notch crime drama with a lot of humor - content warning for violence - includes an older gay couple) (1 rewatch)

Lovely Writer (very meta about the QL industry and quite funny)

The Miracle of Teddy Bear (episode notes) (magical and bittersweet; includes an elderly gay couple)

Moonlight Chicken (touching and fun)

Once Again (touching time travel, sad throughout) (1 rewatch)

180 Degrees Longitude Passes Through Us (intelligent and a good watch, melancholy, feels very much like a stage play)

The Sign (deeply flawed but wild and enthralling deep dive into northeastern Thai mythology disguised as a cop series - content warning for violence - yeah, it's a mess but it's a glorious mess)

10 Years Ticket (episode notes) (crime drama about two warring families, bittersweet ending - not QL, but there's a QL subplot)

3 Will Be Free (review link) (wild ride with great twists, content warning for violence, yeah I'd call it QL)

Unknown (review link) (found family, found love - content warning for violence, unrelated "brothers")

The Warp Effect (not QL, but some queer characters)

and a fanfic:

What's in Your Head (Bad Buddy zombie fic) (content warning for violence, requires AO3 login)

Others I enjoyed (in alpha order):

I enjoyed these enough to be happy I watched them, but not enough to consider them classics and in no danger of breaching my top 10.

Be My Favorite (fun time-travel fantasy with a strong political viewpoint and good twists, one of the mains is a bit hard to take)

Bed Friend (not sure enjoyed is the right word, has some triggers, but worth seeing, loved the cat role-play)

Bite Fight (so bad it's good; horror comedy)

The Boy Foretold By the Stars (fun, sweet comedy)

Choco Milkshake (fun, touching pet fantasy)

Cupid's Last Wish (fun body-swap plot, insane amount of food and landscape porn, rural settings, content warning for gross cow veterinary scene)

Dark Blue Kiss (pretty good, creepy interloper)

Dear Tenant (enjoyed isn't the right word, and had to pause and walk away from it partway for a major cry, but an excellent film)

DNA Says I Love You (review link) (sweet, sad, interesting gender minority rep)

The End of the World With You (mix of SF and fantasy, good story and relationships)

Eternal Summer (Taiwanese film about youth discovering their identity - bisexual love triangle - well done if a bit melancholy)

First Love Again (A slave and a woman in Goreyo fall in love, but the slave is killed for it. Two reincarnations later, they are two men in modern-day Seoul. Oh, and there's a spirit who used to be a cat guiding the former slave through his wish to be loved. Good balance between romantic comedy and drama.)

Ghost Host, Ghost House (nice supernatural treatment)

Gift Shop for People You Hate (not QL but has two minor gay characters making guest appearances, one evil and one harmless) (horror, with a very dark sense of humor) (this one doesn't show an English title on YouTube, but if you search YouTube under that name you'll find it) (1 rewatch)

Innocent (a relationship involving split personality disorder, very different, dubcon alert)

Jack O'Frost (melancholy and sweet)

The Man Who Defies the World of BL (very funny after watching several series and becoming aware of the tropes)

The Man Who Defies the World of BL season 2 (okay, maybe a joke can go on long enough)

Me, My Husband and My Husband's Boyfriend (bittersweet poly-ish story)

Midnight Museum (not QL but has a major bromance that could go full QL if there's ever a sequel) (a mess, but a glorious mess)

Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss (quite enjoyable)

Monster Next Door (extrovert falls for introvert, romance and miscommunications ensue)

My Ride (enjoyable comedy with dramatic moments - includes an older gay couple)

Naked Dining (good fun, lots of misunderstandings and food porn)

Neverland (web series from India, well done and too brief)

Our Dating Sim (fun series about the courage to correct your mistakes from the past, set in the video game workplace - a few cringe moments, but generally a very kind series)

Rainbow Prince (campy and fun, not enough songs for something that's supposed to be a musical, you have to be okay with cheesy)

Rak Diao (funny, very silly, very sitcom, although the harassment jokes got old fast and didn't stop)

The Rebound (sports meets organized crime and trouble mom, new entry into best grandmothers of QL, fun and thrills with some teary moments)

Silhouette of Your Voice (movie, a young man who is losing his hearing meets another young man who he can hear clearly - interesting take on disability, slow in places)

Sleep With Me (review link) (sweet lesbian romance, kinda slow for such short episodes, great disability rep)

Something in My Room (the abridged-episode version) (good, not great, ghost story)

Stay By My Side (review link) (fun ghost story version of Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss)

Tale of the Lost Boys (movie) (friendship story between a visiting straight Filipino and a gay Taiwanese aboriginal in Taiwan, heartwarming story)

Tinted with You (a way too short, fun time travel fantasy involving a painting and a mystical art lover that bring an art student together with an ancient deposed prince)

Twilight Kiss aka Suk Suk (fine, bittersweet Hong Kong film about an affair between two older heterosexually married men who are actually closeted gay men)

Twins (Thai pulp, fun, not too deep, some poop humor)

Wandee Goodday (a smart, sex-positive comedy with some missteps that kept it off my cut above list)

What Six Survivors Told (quick review) (zombie comedy, not QL but a bi character and same sex attractions, strong female characters, very funny)

Your Name Engraved Herein (not sure enjoyed is the right word but it's fine work)

Zero Photography (from Magic of Zero) (most entertaining product promotion vehicle I've seen in QL, even better than Pran & Pat's product placements in Bad Buddy)

Torn about:

These all had some kind of major issue that prevents me from recommending them.

Fish Upon the Sky (appalled at the racism/punch-down humor in episode 4, otherwise loved its play with form)

Last Twilight (entrancing series, but the characters didn't grow, the ending was poorly set up - needed a few more episodes - and it ultimately fumbled on disability rep)

Mr. Cinderella (nearly abandoned this one because of a supporting toxic character, but kept with it after reading a post about the traditional Vietnamese story it was tracking)

Secret Crush on You (cringed for the first half, considered dropping it, read the defense by trans reviewers, watched the rest, and suddenly it got really good)

Together With Me (mix of great content and really problematic content)

Lukewarm:

I'm more glad than not that I watched these but in retrospect would have been okay if I had missed them:

Bagan Beginning (Not-bad early Myanmar foray into QL, lots of food and antiquity porn, content warning for violence in the last episode)

Color Rush (interesting concept, just okay)

Enchanté (not as bad as people say it is, but also just okay)

Gay OK Bangkok and Gay OK Bangkok 2 (definitely gay and, er, okay)

Nitiman (okay enough)

Only Friends (episode notes) (a sex farce with too much toxic behavior for my taste and a last episode choice that left a bad taste in my mouth)

Our Skyy 2 Bad Buddy x Thousand Stars (counting the four episodes as one series even though they have different names, didn't love this but didn't hate it either, very pale compared to the original two separate series)

Our Skyy 2 Vice Versa (was just okay with a really bad idea at the base of its plot)

Star & Sky: Star in My Mind (not great, not bad)

The Tasty Florida (cute enough, just so-so)

Vice Versa (brief notes) (good concept, product placements became way too intrusive for my full enjoyment)

Ones I wish I could watch:

I only watch legit sources, both so the creators get money for it and to reduce the hacking risks that watching gray presents.

Triage (I don't have a Thai phone number to log in to AISPlay, and even if I did not sure if it would have English subtitles)

Manner of Death (I need a WeTV subscription and will check that out) (thank you to @lurkingteapot for this info)

I Feel You Linger in the Air

Peach of Time (supernatural plot) (supposedly I can watch this on WeTV using VPN but I'm not yet ready to make the leap to VPN)

Series I abandoned:

23.5, despite my pledge to watch it, very late (episode 11, mid-part-2/4) because of what I call the punching bag trope that just showed up

Accomplishment of Fundoshi Bartender (episode 2 when he screamed offstage about not dating married men - I know this series isn't intended to be realistic but I still need the other characters to react to his behavior - this series has gotten entirely too silly for me)

Candy Colored Paradox (bored by episode 2 or 3)

Cooking Crush (a few minutes into episode 1 [2/4] as it is getting way too silly for me, plus we're going to have to put up with hazing/bullying as comedy - at least they had some new sound effects)

Cutie Pie (hated the infantilizing, left by episode 3 or 4)

I Told Sunset About You (left in episode 1, not loving the high school content)

Love by Chance (had someone fall on top of someone else in the first 30 seconds, left immediately)

Love Stage (apparently without most of the music - I'm guessing there's rights issues - but I abandoned it after 2 episodes because one of the lead's acting felt flat and I didn't enjoy the humor)

Lucky My Love (first segment didn't engage me)

Meow Ears Up (lost interest in the first episode with the fangirls in the store incident)

Monster Next Door (I'm finding the visual effects painful)

My Secret Love (first segment didn't engage me)

One Room Angel (dropped after episode 3 because it's so depressing; open to returning if it cheers up)

Playboyy (a new record - I got scared away by the content warning before the episode even started - however, based on various posts I might reconsider in for a binge watch once it's over)

SOTUS (not a fan of hazing)

Star & Sky: Sky in Your Heart (abandoned around the time of the outhouse incident)

Theory of Love (abandoned when nearly at the beginning Gun's character was crying in the shower)

VIP Only (failed to engage me in the first episode)

Un-favorite tropes:

Falling on someone

Heavy seme/uke dynamic

Northern rural Thai loan sharks

Evil ex

Boss/Employee

Stuff that I've written as opposed to reblogged I've tagged #pandasmagorica so I can find them easier.

[britdan]

State Of Britdan - October 2023

A big month for videos, mappacks and even more??

- Rest In Peace Aidan (The Name Lol)

I've gone by many names, started as AidanTP, then moved on to Aidan the Mapper, shortened to Aidan Mapper, then went to Aidan, Tried to be Aid0n for a bit but ended up back at Aidan, and now it's time to say goodbye to it. From 2024 I will no longer be going by Aidan, Britdan will become my primary username, being changed on every account and being my display name too. This will be taking place over December and January.

- [Spooky Mappack] releases this month!

12 Maps of Christmas has had it too good for too long, time for Halloween to get the spotlight, this 4 level mappack is perfect for those looking for something spooky, keep an eye out on my YouTube for an early preview. And remember that the mappack drops on Tuesday the 31st of October*!!! *Date may be moved if complications arise.

- Aidan Plus set to receive a new series?

Yes, after killing off uncut videos I've decided that the plus channel needs an Identity of its own, so I decided to start doing original content on it beside my regular main Mari0 channel. This started with videos like "Best typos compilation" which just received its second installment. But it needs something bigger.

This series (while not finalized) will feature 10 minute-ish minimally edited videos around a certain topic, could be what I'm working on, opinions on things, events going on or just talking. This will be a bi-monthly series and I have 6 topics planned so expect a year or more of these videos, first episode is set to start in November!

- Aidan en Español?

Spanish users make up a sizable chunk of the mari0 community and I want to acknowledge that, which is why I'm planning to start offering Spanish subtitles on my videos in 2024, being non-Spanish makes this very difficult as I have 2 options to consider. I could either translate them myself which is prone to errors and such, as well as taking time out of my schedule but being 100% free. Or get someone who knows Spanish to localize it which will be more accurate and save time but would cost me money. Still very WIP, you'll have to wait and see where I take it.

[impetuous-impulse]

«Beausoleil»

Slowly working through the Victor biographies. Below are two excerpts related to the genesis of his nickname, though much is guesswork and speculation. I have put the original French first and the English translation below; all translation errors are mine.

Le 16 octobre 1781, Claude Perrin est définitivement porté sur le rôle du régiment en qualité de canonnier, dans la compagnie Savournin. Il a presque les dix-sept ans requis. Entrer dans l’armée équivaut à quitter sa famille, pour en adopter un autre. Un soldat gagne 6 sous et 4 deniers par jour et un tambour 9 sous et 4 deniers, autant qu’un caporal: déjà, la transmission de l’information l’emporte. Chacun à l’armée, à defaut de grade, gagne un surnom. Celui de Claude Perrin le suivra toute sa carrière militaire: «Beausoleil».

16 October 1781, Claude Perrin is definitively put on the regimental roll as a gunner, in the Savournin company. He is almost the required seventeen years of age. Entering the army is equivalent to leaving his family for adopting another. A soldier makes 6 sous and 4 deniers per day and a drummer, 9 sous and 4 deniers, as much as a corporal: already, the transmission of news [to him] is superior. Everyone in the army, in the absence of a rank, gains a nickname. That of Claude Perrin will follow him all of his military career: "Beausoleil".

Jacques Le Coustumier, Le Maréchal Victor, p. 19.

On peut penser que Claude ne regrette pas ce changement de vie. Il connaît maintenant ce qui doit être pour lui la vraie vie. Et puis il voit du pays… Après avoir été en garnison en Picardie, il suit son régiment à Valence, sous les cieux du Dauphiné, plus cléments que ceux de la Lorraine, mais dans un province alors agitée et d’où partira la Révolution. Cette ville de garnison lui offre son soleil et les distractions de jeunes hommes pleins de vie et d’espoir. Quand ils ne sont pas en congé, les officiers organisent des fêtes chez les uns et les autres. Naturellement les musiciens de leur régiment créent l’ambiance musicale. Claude les fait danser au son du violon et de la clarinette. C’est sans doute de cette période d’heureuse insouciance que lui est resté le surnom de «Beausoleil»: allusion à sa mine épanouie auréolée de boucles d’un blond-roux qui rappelle la représentation symbolique du soleil sous forme d’un disque entouré de flammèches? Il ressentira plus tard un sentiment d’embarras vis-à-vis de ce surnom qui lui restera dans l’armée. Mais, au fond, n’est-ce pas plutôt un surnom flatteur, très «Louisquatorzieme» et royal? Dans l’armée, c’est depuis longtemps un habitude de donner des surnoms mettant en évidence les traits physiques, parfois aussi psychologiques ou les origines provinciales.

We can assume that Claude did not regret [his] change of lifestyle. He knows now that this must be his true calling. And then he sees the country… After having been in garrison in Picardy, he follows his regiment to Valence [in 1787, it seems], under the skies of Dauphiné, milder than that of Lorraine, but in a province which was then in agitation and where the revolution started. This garrison town offers its sunshine and entertainment for young men full of life and hope. When they are not on leave, the officers organise parties at each other’s homes. Naturally musicians of their regiment create the musical atmosphere. Claude makes them dance to his violin and clarinet. It is without doubt in this period of happy frivolity that the nickname "Beausoleil" sticks to him: an allusion to his round, glowing face framed by reddish-blond curls, recalling the symbolic representation of the sun in the form of a disc surrounded by flames? He will later feel embarrassed by the nickname, which will remain with him in the army. But, at heart, is this not a rather flattering nickname, very “Louis XIV” and royal? In the army, it has long been a custom to give nicknames highlighting physical traits, occasionally also psychological ones or provincial origins.

Jean-Pierre Tairin, Le Maréchal Victor: Loyal sous l'Empire, fidèle sous la Restauration, pp. 19-20

Tairin also introduces this tidbit right afterwards:

Ses protestations musicales lui permettent aussi d’arrondir les fins de mois et placent dans un position privilégée entre la troupe et les officiers. C’est très certainement une opportunité d’entrer dans des milieux sociaux qui lui auraient été inaccessibles autrement. L’infatigable musicien au teint lumineux peut admirer la grâce des jeunes filles de la bonne société qui cherchent un mari et qui fondent à la vue de fringants officiers.

[Claude Perrin’s] musical engagements also enable him to make ends meet and place him in a privileged position between the troop and the officers. It is very certainly an opportunity to enter into a social milieu which would have otherwise been inaccessible to him. The indefatigable musician of luminous complexion can admire the grace of the young girls of good society who are looking for a husband, and who melt at the view of dashing officers.

As we read on, we will see that Claude Perrin will take a step further and marry one of them.

[tehuti88-heritage]

After My Dad, Part 1

(October 28, 2024)

OK…I'm starting to get errors again (it happens every time I come here, post a one-off, & think, hm, site seems to be working, let me try a multipart thread I've been wanting to start for months yet refrained because of the errors), but let me try to start this thread. It's a loose spinoff of the one about my dad's passing--very loose, though directly connected, it goes in a different direction. There's some genealogical stuff but it should get into topics some might consider a little "woo-woo" so there's that warning. It's been my way of trying to make sense of things.

Patchy & out of order due to my scattered brain. I'll add to this off and on, I can't guarantee when due to errors & anxiety. There's a Tumblr link on my main page where I will post all this at a later point in case of Universeodon malfunction, which happens when I write long threads. I'm jinxed.

The original thread: https://tehuti88-heritage.tumblr.com/post/763115474996330496/my-dad-part-1

The other day I went out to this little apple tree at the woods' edge to look at the exactly 4 apples it had. 1 nice big one, 1 ugly warped one, 2 tiny stunted ones. I'd planned to pick one, I chose the nice one, at a slightly later date, & bring it inside for a while, something I'd done last year when there were only 3 apples.

To my dismay…the nice big apple & its stunted companion were gone. They weren't on the ground. I finally spotted the remains of the nice apple shoved in a branch crook, half eaten. I pondered, should I take that apple still, or one of the 2 remaining? I finally decided on a new apple. Just seemed to me this half-eaten one had already been used as an "offering." I needed an untouched apple. The other 2 were too high to pick so I used a stick. Tried to knock down the tiny one, couldn't, so knocked down the ugly one. Figured maybe it's a sign that I'm meant to have the ugly apple & not the nice one.

I brought the ugly apple inside. Set it on my Irminsul where I'd once had the original apple. (The design of this Irminsul, I'm aware BTW, is highly problematic. Check Wikipedia to see why. I keep it only because I feel drawn to the Irminsul (rather than this symbol) itself, having found both Charlemagne & Widukind among my ancestors (I expected the 1st…was surprised by the 2nd), & so far nobody has created a new design. I'd like to create one myself, though 1. I suck at design, & 2. even if I do, it'll never catch on as this one has. So for now, this problematic Irminsul stays.)

You see some recent additions since the last time I photographed this. A set of charms & 2 statues of an old woman with goose feathers. Her name is Frau Holle or Holda. I set this up, wondering--though not quite sure yet--if she's the one sending signs, like the apples.

Firstly, some context:

Frau Holle.

(The young lady with the pillow in the illustration is not Frau Holle, BTW. That's Goldmarie. She's shaking Frau Holle's pillow, though. Same as the small statue in my photo.)

Last year, the autumn after my dad died, the apple tree, which I'd never noticed before, had only 3 apples. I took one. Didn't know why. Didn't know even what to do with it. I kind of wanted to eat it, but it might have a worm in it for all I knew. So I placed it on my Irminsul. Considered it an informal sort of offering, though to whom, I wasn't sure.

The Irminsul is a symbol of Odin/Wotan. Yet I feel no connection to him. I don't feel that he's reached out to me. Indeed, the more I read about the different Germanic deities, the more discouraged I felt. They're all grand beings, gods & goddesses of love & war & fertility. Nothing that has to do with me. I'm not a homemaker or a fighter. I'm a coward, a nobody, a nothing. Why would any of these beings want anything to do with me? I feel bigheaded just entertaining the concept, as you may tell from my posts here. May, might, maybe, uncertain, unsure, I don't know. I don't want to presume I'm worthy at all.

I kept the apple on the Irminsul throughout that winter & spring. Hoped for it to mummify. It did darken & shrivel, though remained mostly intact. Didn't turn to mush or smell bad. We got an ant infestation in the summer & at that point I reluctantly wrapped the apple in a disposable glove but kept it there a while longer.

I knew by now what the apple's ultimate fate should be. I had to give it back to the tree. It was only a temporary offering I took, now I had to give it back. I just didn't know WHEN. Should I wait exactly a year? I believe I took it in November. I wasn't sure when to return it.

The anniversary of my dad's death, June 29, I had to go out to clean the cat box. (Glamorous, I know.) I decided this was the day, this should be when. That evening I took the apple outside with me, carried it to the woods' edge, & gave it back to the tree.

There's an element here I've forgotten to mention: Among the Germanic deities, the goddess Hel.

I'd briefly toyed with the thought that maybe SHE was the one. Not a deity of love, war, or fertility. The deity of death. Why her? Because suffering & death seem to follow me everywhere I go. I seem destined to keep witnessing this, without being able to do anything to help. Whether it be my cat dying of heart failure, or the raccoon on the porch succumbing to distemper, or my dad slowly dying at home despite my pleas for him to go back to the hospital, it just seems I can only watch the pain, & do nothing. Maybe that's the point, I wondered? Maybe my point isn't love or war or fertility but to witness something's last moments; not to save them (I couldn't save my dad 😞 ), just to be there to see it. Maybe so that something wouldn't die alone or forgotten. Was that my purpose? Was Hel the one?

Accordingly, I looked up & read all the stuff I could find about Hel online. Can't really find info about her in Continental Germanic belief, however; it's all Norse stuff, which I can't really connect to. I figured she has some equivalent somewhere. She's even equated with Holle in some sources, though most conclude they are not the same. I reached this conclusion myself; maybe they share a superficial connection, but I doubt they are the same being.

I decided to venture an offering to Hel. I made a drawing. Since I'm no good at anything & have nothing of value to offer, still I've heard it's the intent that matters most. The drawing isn't how I envision Hel (I think it's posted here somewhere) but I offered it anyway, with all best intentions, then waited for a sign that she accepted it.

I never got any such sign. 😞

I could only conclude that Hel was not the one. That left…nobody. I could think of literally nobody I'd read about that might accept me as theirs. This realization really hurt. I've been rejected by most people and groups already…to be rejected even by a spiritual being you're reaching out to, well, that's a special kind of hurt. Like being rejected by your own parents. By the universe itself.

After leaving the apple under the tree--an offering given back, to whom, I didn't know--I remembered this, how Hel hadn't acknowledged me. Nobody had. My eyes filled with tears. I started crying as I cleaned the cat box. I dared to ask directly: Okay then, if it's not you, then who is it? Is there anybody? Send me a sign. It doesn't have to be big, just something small, just something obvious enough that it's not a coincidence. Please, just send me a small sign.

Immediately after I thought this…I felt a tickle on my leg.

[sally5674]

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Your Self Assessment Tax

If you have to pay the Self Assessment tax, it might not be so complicated, but you run the risk of having to face such penalties due to mistakes which can not only cause stress and take up much of your time. In this way, it becomes possible to work with HMRC without dealing with all sorts of troubles and remain accurate in managing taxes. These are the most common errors fellow Britons commit when making payment for Self Assessment tax and how to avoid them. 

 1. Missing the Registration Deadline 

 The worst mistake is not to register for Self Assessment on time which certainly hasty and unadvised. If you receive any taxable income not taxed at source, for example, through being self-employed, let alone owning rental properties or investment income, then you need to tell HMRC and get registered for Self Assessment by a specific date. 

 The Deadline: Otherwise, you have to register before 5th October following the end of the tax year in which you started receiving untaxed income. Failure to meet this deadline result in a delay in issuance of Unique Tax payer Reference, UTR and compounding your problems by facing fines for late submissions. 

 Avoid This Mistake: You are advised to register as soon as you realize that you need to fill a Self Assessment return. You should allow much time to be processed; hence, ensure that you submit your registration much earlier than the targeted time. 

 2. Prime Reasons Why People File Their Returns at the Very Last Minute 

 Nevertheless, it is still important to understand that filing your tax return right before the deadline is always a wrong strategy as it costs more time, leads to making mistakes, as well as extra fees and penalties. However, filing online should be done latest by 31st January because if more time is taken, it creates complications for instance when seeking for certain documents or solving issues with HMRC. 

 What Happens if You Miss the Deadline: In this context, if you have not submitted online by 31st January 2008 (or paper return by 31st October 2007), you shall be charged an instant penalty of £100. Further delays may cause an increase of fines and interest that can be charged for the agreement, equipment, materials and work. 

 Avoid This Mistake: It is recommended that you prepare for filing your return as early as possible. It is advised to start filing the returns early say before December so that if there are any complications they can be sorted out. 

3. Documentary Producers’ Negligence in Keeping Records 

 They also include good record keeping as this is very useful when preparing a Self Assessment tax return. One common mistake made is inaccuracy of record keeping, whereby tax payers do not maintain accounts for the entire year, thus increasing the chances of having wrong tax returns, or missing essential tax deductions or even worse, having the attention of the HMRC. 

 Why It’s Important: To support the amount of income and expenses you declare to your HMRC, it is necessary to keep proper records. Consequently if you are unable to offer proper backing documents when requested you may be risking penalties for inaccurate declarations or insufficient payments. 

 Avoid This Mistake: Original and accurate receipts and bills of any kind of income and expenses including bank statements should be preserved. But to avoid this, use special apps like a bookkeeping software to assist in the organisation of this process. As previously mentioned, one should go through his or her accounts more frequently than he or she files his or her taxes. 

 4. Failure to Pay Your Tax on Time 

 While most people remember to file their tax return on time they often forget that the final part of the process is paying the bill. If you do not pay the tax by the end of January, then it attracts not only fines, but also percent calculations. 

 Penalties for Late Payment: In the case that you fail to meet the deadline, then you will be subjected to an extra 5% on the amount of tax that you have not paid 30 days after the deadline. There are additional surcharges added when a tax is unpaid after 6 month and a year respectively. Besides, interest on the amount will be compounded with each passing day. 

 Avoid This Mistake: Schedule reminders on the due date for filing the taxes as well as the payment for the taxes. Before you fail to pay the amount due use the communication means provided by HMRC to discuss the possibility of a Time to Pay plan with them. This can save your money from penalties which are usually slapped on consumers who pay in installments. 

 5. Overlooking Payments on Account 

 If your Self Assessment tax bill is over £1,000 then HMRC may ask you to pay money in advance; this is called payments on account. These are payments made for the next year’s taxes and many people do not pay attention to them or do not understand what they are. 

 How It Works: Trade receivables are received in two instalments; the first is paid by 31st January and the second one is due on 31st July. These payments are calculated according to your current year tax estimated amount and assists to offset the ensuing year’s tax. 

 What Happens if You Miss It: Such failure may lead to interests being charged and hence resulting to higher payments in future. 

 Avoid This Mistake: Consider what payments on account are and how they affect payments schedules. Depending on the current financial situation if you feel that the payments made on account are too high due to a decrease in your income you can apply for a decrease in such payments through the HMRC. 

 6. ELIMINATE – not claiming all the available deductions and reliefs

 A majority of taxpayers lose out on attractive tax savings and incentives since they are not well-versed with the exemptions that are allowed to them. This can lead to overpayment of tax which if given a little more attention may not have happened. 

 Common Deductions You May Be Missing:Common Deductions You May Be Missing: 

 Allowable Business Expenses: When on a full-time business, the cost like consumables, business travels can be regarded as the deductible expenses. 

 Pension Contributions: Payments to a pension scheme mean that you can be able to pay less tax. 

 Charitable Donations: Gift Aid is another way through which one can also gain tax relief on the donation made to charities. 

 Avoid This Mistake: It is therefore advisable that you check with your research or a tax advisor to see if you are eligible to any other deductions. You can check with HMRC’s website for a list of allowable expense concerning the self-employed which you can use while preparing your return. 

  7. Advantage gained by filing the tax return 

 Failure to fill a tax return correctly or failing to complete it keep some essential information(Value 3) leads to penalties or more questions from the HMRC. Overlooking minor mistakes such as keying the wrong figures or omitting some income can trigger some hassles soon enough. 

 Why It’s a Problem: So even if there was a mistake made in a tile intentionally or not, the law which HMRC enforces does allow for penalties on unrealistic returns. The penalties vary with the type of mistake made either a s a result of carelessness or if it was done deliberately. 

 Avoid This Mistake: Make sure you have checked all the figures which are stated in your tax return before filing it. 

 8. Not Having Regard to All Possible Income Streams 

 When preparing the Self Assessment tax return, people may leave out strings of income that are small or received unevenly. Nevertheless, it is wrong to claim less income hence can complicate your relationship with the HMRC. 

 Common Income Sources to Remember:Common Income Sources to Remember: 

 Freelance or side jobs. 

 Rental income from property. 

 Interest on saving and from investment dividends. 

 Other income being proceeds from the sale of goods or, at most, unscheduled services. 

 Avoid This Mistake: Be very careful while tallying your income stream and make sure you report everything as it is. And even if the amount of the income is comparatively small, this income has to be declared. 

 9. Ignoring Communication from HMRC 

 A quite common mistake some individuals make is to either disregard letters or emails coming from HMRC most of the time assuming they are complicated or look threatening to the recipient. However, if taxpayers do not communicate back to HMRC of issues regarding their taxes, other issues and penalties arise. 

 Why It’s Important: HMRC might send you a message to inquire the details, a portion of your return or problems of your payment. Failure to respond to such communication leads to fines, delays or even legal v. 

 Avoid This Mistake: It is always important to read and reply to any letter or email coming from HMRC, this is in case there is a change in legislation or in the circumstances of the taxpayer. If you are in doubt as to what to do, you should contact HMRC or consult with an expert. 

 Conclusion 

 Ignoring these pitfalls will not only help you spend less time on it and less money on the taxation but will also help avoid a lot of stress caused by Self Assessment tax. Registering on time, filing early and keeping records, paying attention to all the income and all dates of payment, and documentation will ensure one does not incur penalties that are so expensive. That is why it is very important to stay organised and pro-active all year round and not wait for Self Assessment to panic. 

[dyscanthe]

Butlers in Wonderland

Chapter 1: Chasing the Rabbit

This is a rough translation of the story. You may encounter minor errors on the way, please be understanding and considerate (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠) With that being said, enjoy reading!

ITALICS - Narration; BOLD ITALIC - Choices

CH2⌦

[ Devil’s Palace, Private Room ]

One day in October, I returned to the mansion as usual, wearing the golden ring. The appearance of Devil’s Palace was different from the usual.

Oh this is…

Haures: Welcome back, Aruji.

Fennesz: Hehe, were you surprised?

Even the outfit Haures and Fennesz, who welcomed me, had a different atmosphere as well.

What happened to your outfit?

Haures: Actually this outfit is… In order to keep this year’s Halloween theme, Fleur tailored a costume for us.

So it's a Halloween costume.

Fennesz: Yes! Last year’s costume theme was vampires and werewolves but… This year’s theme is a story based on a famous novels from this world.

What kind of novel is it?

Haures: A girl who got lost into the mysterious world. The story is about a lady who encounters mysterious residents and tries to go back to their own world.

Haures: It's called “Aris in the Spooky Land”, do you know about this?

I know something similar…

Fennesz: Hehe, I see. But please don't worry. Even if you don't know the original work, you'll surely be able to enjoy the atmosphere.

Fennesz: Many of the butlers have never even read the novel.

Haures: Well, just because it's well-known novel doesn't mean that everyone has read it.

Haures: Thanks to my sister pestering me to read it to her every night, I have it memorized almost entirely.

Fennesz: I see, that's interesting. Anyways, this costume is based on a character from the novel. I hope you'll have fun this Halloween.

Haures: By the way, there's something I want to confirm to you, Aruji. Do you have any plans after this?

Why?

Haures: Actually, I'd like to invite you to participate in a certain "recreational activity.” I'm afraid it will take some time… Will it be all right if I start now? Though if it isn't an convenient hour for you, we can do it some other time.

We can do it now.

Haures: Thank you, Aruji.

Fennesz: So without further ado.... Let me explain about this recreation.

Fennesz: First of all, take a look at this ring.

Fennesz holds out his hand and places a beautiful ring on it. The red diamond-shaped jewel on the ring reflected the light and seemed to glow like a flame.

Fennesz: Well then, allow me.

He took my hand and gently placed it so that my fingertips were stretched out, and placing another ring on my finger that already had a gold ring on it.

How beautiful…

Fennesz: Hehe, is that so? But this isn't just a normal ring.

Is that so?

Haures: Aruji, now look at this ring.

Looking closer, I saw a beautiful ring shining on Haures’ palm. This time, it's a heart-shaped jewel with a bright red color that looks intense.

Haures: Well then…

Just like Fennesz before, Haures places a ring on my finger. As a result, three rings are now worn in my finger in addition to the gold ring I have beforehand.

What on Earth is this?

Haures: It suits you, Aruji.

Haures: Actually, that ring… I got it from a jeweler who had helped me in the past. Not only is it a real gemstone, it also has an unusual feature.

An unusual feature?

Fennesz: Yes, in fact the jewel is removable. Please excuse me for a moment.

Fennesz takes my hand and touches the gem on my ring. He gently held the jewel and gave it a slight twist. With a clicking sound, the jewel on the ring fell off. Haures also removed the gem from the other ring and showed it to me.

Haures: Now they Aruji just to test it out, could you take off the ring you just put on?

Do I just take them off?

As instructed, I tried to remove both rings from my finger. For some reason, the ring, which should have fit easily on my finger earlier, just wouldn't come off.

Eh? It won't come out?

Haures: It's a strange device, isn't it? I don't know how it works, but it seems that when the jewelry is removed, the lock is activated. Even though it's not that tight on your fingers, it seems like it won't come out.

Fennesz: That is, unless we return the two jewels we have on the ring.

Fennesz: Aruji cannot take off the two rings they have on. This means that they can't return to their original world because the golden ring that you're wearing won't come off.

What..?!

Haures: Rest assured, Aruji. This is purely recreational.

Fennesz: The main character in the original story is also searching for a way to return to their original world. We wanted you to experience that same thrill. That is the purpose of this recreation.

I see…

Fennesz: Now we’re going to take the "key" jewel with us and head somewhere in the mansion.

Fennesz: Aruji, please follow us and take the "key" to return to your original world.

Sounds interesting…

Haures: “Hehe, Well then…”

Haures: “Shall we leave now, Half Moon rabbit?”

Fennesz: “That's right, Full Moon rabbit”

Haures: “A very merry unbirthday to you”

Fennesz: “Happy Unbirthday!”

The two of them acted out some kind of character and then left the room. I don't know how similar it is though, seems to be based on a novel similar to "Alice in Wonderland.” Anyways, I went to take part in the "recreation" that the butlers had prepared for me. Just like they told me, I decided to follow the "rabbit.”