#The way treasure is talked about in one piece is so impactful like

[olibensstuff]

NAMI IN THE STRAW HAT WHAT IF I CRIED

[level2janitor]

tactiquest structure

Edit: Play tactiquest here!

so i've posted a lot about tactiquest's classes and monsters and everything on here but i haven't really talked about the non-combat subsystems much yet and i wanted to go into detail about them, bc tactiquest has very different goals from most heroic fantasy systems.

tracking inventory, travel time, worrying about actually running out of your adventuring budget, are things a lot of big-damn-heroes fantasy systems throw out because they're just paperwork that gets in the way of your cool fights. that's not the case in Tactiquest! these systems are so core to the experience that removing them will make a lot of classes unusable. the game is built around them.

travel & exploration

tactiquest explicitly assumes you're running an open-sandbox hexcrawl and is designed to support that, including the fact the game is designed around random encounters. this is the sort of thing D&D 3e expected you to do, but people ditched random encounters because they thought they were boring and tedious. so classes balanced around that attrition of resources ended up with a huge spike in power other classes couldn't match.

the boring-and-tedious problem is mostly addressed by trying to make combat really good and resolve really fast. if i fucked that up the whole thing falls apart, but so far people are liking it

the second thing that helps with random encounters is your resources don't fully restore immediately at the end of each day like they do in 3e. resting is less effective in the wilderness and resources expended are a tomorrow problem, not just a today problem. so you don't have to have 3+ fights every single day just to maintain parity - 0-2 fights per day still adds up to difficult resource management.

because the game has such a focus on it, you can have classes like the ranger actually be good at travel and exploration instead of just giving them vaguely-naturey combat abilities.

economy

in most D&D-likes, even usually OSR ones, you accrue so much gold. just as a side effect of adventuring. to the point money no longer actually matters because you can throw piles of it at any problem. this is bad. it's a system that defeats its own purpose; there are no interesting choices involving money when you have so much the only real expense is like, 50,000-gold-piece magic items.

i don't just want players to care about money, i want them to worry about money, like a normal person. you're not batman who's a billionaire as a side hobby, you're spiderman who has to deliver pizzas in between superhero work because he's got bills to pay like everyone else. so a whole lot of effort has been put into actually designing prices and treasure amounts around this dynamic.

i also hate how games will usually go "oh adventuring gives you 900,000 gold for existing but a normal person's living wage is 2 gold a month". i don't want to be fantasy jeff bezos, thanks

inventory

this is something i just lifted from OSR games outright. you can carry ten things (and tiny things don't take up an item slot). that's the whole rule.

tracking inventory can add a lot of interesting decisions to a game and adds a new lever for abilities from classes and magic items. having a character play the merchant class which gets a bunch of extra inventory slots feels really impactful. finding a bag of holding that doubles your carry capacity feels so good when you actually have to watch your inventory.

supply

the only thing i felt was really unenjoyable when running games with strict inventory limits was tracking rations for each character that you eat every night; it felt too much like busywork with not enough payoff. so in Tactiquest rations are abstracted into a single Supply stat that's tied to the party rather than any individual character.

you can only restock Supply in towns, and it drops by 1 each time you rest. you can sleep without resting and this won't cost supply, but you won't regain any HP or other resources. this gives you the impactful decision-making of tracking rations without the annoyance of "okay it's been a day of travel, everyone make sure you dock a ration from your sheet" like twice per session

Supply is one of the things that slowly drains your funds and gives you a reason to keep seeking out treasure, tying back into the economy. it also gives merchants and rangers some extra mechanical levers for their class abilities to pull on.

[mmmooorriii]

on my nerves [kaeya, genshin impact]

enchanting, you were. always the talk of the town, the one who dazzled under the sun. no matter what you do, it was graceful. whether it be as simple as shopping in the markets, or whether it be tearing down opponents triple your size, in everything you do, you shone.

that's what made dear, captain kaeya despise you. you were always so elegant, it displeases him.

"i, myself, cannot fathom how arrogant they are." he would say to a nearby knight as you walked through the halls of the headquarters, chin up and posture straight. ignoring the overt stink eye captain kaeya would give you. you never knew why he had disliked you, for it is proper that anyone shall do what they do while looking their best. he probably does not care for how his clothes are fashioned—judging by the horrendous fur piece sat atop his shoulders, he really must not care.

the quiet—on your half atleast—arguments that happen between the both of you is considered quite humorous by the other knights. the scowls you both share and the silent competitions that occur whenever on field, your colleagues find it extremely amusing.

captain kaeya and you, both, do not feel the same, however.

you have endured every tease, every comment, every rock or stick thrown at your way, you had put up with grace, and patience. you resisted, and calmed yourself multiple times, resisting the urge to just slice the poor captain down in half. albeit all the urges, you held and kept to yourself. up until now.

you had just finished your field work and was fatigued from the lack of help, due to the uprising numbers of hilichurls and treasure hoarders that the knights have been trying to get rid of.

kaeya spotted you holding onto the walls of the hall, a smirk finding its way to his face. "lazing about? that's quite unprofessional of you." he laughed mockingly, standing infront of you with his arms crossed.

you didn't know what happened but something snapped within you, a fire igniting as it was doused with the fuel you've been storing somewhere. without missing a beat, your palm met his cheek, slapping the smug grin off his face.

"i have been working all day, fighting hoardes alone, without relief or back-up. you have no right to say that to me while you sit in the confines of your office. i will not sit back and let you disrespect me anymore, sir kaeya."

kaeya scoffed, half shocked, half pained. his hand reached to rub his jaw, mouth agape.

"who knew you had it in you?" he squinted, an amused smile evident on his lips. you almost rolled your eyes, standing upright and smoothing down your clothes.

"ive always had it in me, you just irk me." you say, turning around to walk away. heart pounding in your chest as you balled your fists beside you, leaving a bewildered kaeya behind you.

he must admit, he liked the way you treated him just now. pink tinged his cheeks as he hid a smile behind his gloved hand.

a/n: *cough* masochist kaeya *cough* anwww... its been too long (A LITERAL YEAR AND EIGHT MONTHS) since i last wrote uhm... but im back! i guess 😭 love y'all! - mori :*

[the-obnoxious-sibling]

Emotional damage aside

How do you think buggy arc, assuming we will get one, can play out without him interacting with shanks? And do you think buggy just getting over his past friendship would be having equally satisfying impact on the story as them becoming close again?

well, my shuggy bias is 100,000% at play here, but i think a version of buggy’s arc that doesn’t involve shanks in the end just can’t be as satisfying as one that does involve him, whether it’s a proper reconciliation or just confrontation/closure. the way buggy thinks and feels about shanks has been such a huge part of the way buggy talks about his life and thinks about his goals, it would feel imbalanced to me if he wasn’t there at the end, somehow.

but what could a buggy arc without shanks in it look like? that’s an interesting question. two options (one a hurt no comfort version of my lt fic still pretty shanks-oriented, one an honest attempt at a shanksless buggy arc) below the cut.

if we’re just saying no interactions, shanks can still be part of buggy’s story in absentia, as he has been for much of canon. something to strive for, the measuring stick of buggy’s life, always frustratingly out of reach… until now. now buggy can practically taste the look of shock and awe on shanks’ face when buggy beats him to the one piece! it’s gonna be so good, getting everything he wants and rubbing it in his stupid face. but then shanks dies. shanks is dead. he never got the one piece, and he never got to see buggy get the one piece, and buggy’s never going to see him again, and— the one piece is within buggy’s reach, and so is the person who killed shanks. what does buggy want more: riches or revenge? what does he value more: treasure or an old friend?

buggy wants the one piece for two reasons, right? one: because it’s the biggest most valued most legendary treasure on the planet, and buggy loves treasure. and two: because it’s captain roger’s treasure, and buggy wants to inherit that legacy, if shanks won’t do it. so i think we could manage a satisfying no-shanks arc for buggy if it involves him proving himself worthy of roger’s legacy. not by getting the one piece—i may be engaging in buggy-centric speculation but i think we all know that thing’s meant for luffy—but by gaining the respect of cross guild, and of the other emperors, and of the wider pirate world. the marines are wary of their misapprehension of buggy’s charisma; let’s see his real inspirational ability used for a good purpose. let’s have half the world call him a hero and half call him a monster, and either way mean that they consider him roger’s successor! let’s have rayleigh show up and tell buggy he’s proud of him!!!

[bricommissions]

hi, i’m sen (she/her, 25) and i’d like to request a genshin impact matchup!

my romantic preference is that everyone’s hot, please help. i’m a shortstack musical theater kid stuck in the body of an accountant. i love going down research rabbit holes; i enjoy solving problems and hunting down the misplaced puzzle piece that throws everything else out of balance. but i burn out very easily when doing that, and am actively trying to learn balance. i burn out easily in general, honestly. social engagements require a lot of recharge time in bed after.

i err on the side of politeness in social settings, but my sense of humor is so sardonic it generally comes across as too blunt. still, i try to keep my friends’ spirits lifted with bits and goofs. i also fluster easily and am probably very teasable, lmao.

this is probably more information than you needed/wanted, so i’ll leave two more nuggets: i love spicy food and iced coffee, and my love language is acts of service. i was going to leave three nuggets but couldn't come up with a third, which may be a nugget in and of itself :D

thank you so, so much in advance! we've dm'd recently, so please let me know if there's anything you need from me during the process!

hi hi dear friend sen !! thank you for commissioning me for a paid match-up ♡ your contribution to my writing career & helping me pay my bills means the world to me. thank you so much from the bottom of my heart ♡

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE . . .

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

YOUR MATCH IS : ZHONGLI !!

right away, i could see connections that would blossom between the two of you !! so for the sake of immersion, let's dive into this hypothetical scenario of you living in the world of teyvat ...

you're a traveler who likes to go from nation to nation, but liyue is the destination you travel to the most. you're paying the beautiful nation a visit, & everyone is happy to see you again. you enjoy third round knockout & their delectable beverages. after settling into an inn on the harbor, you immediately head there & order an iced coffee & a small appetizer of the spicy variety - two of your favorites !!

however, for the first time, there is someone sitting at your usual table that you don't recognize. it appears your schedules have finally lined up. this is where you first meet zhongli.

right away, you two hit it off. the conversations never seem to end & he is very curious to learn more about your travels. at one point, some regulars sit beside the both of you & politely tune in. the talk extends into the night ... one key thing you notice is that when you chime in with a rather blunt joke, no one laughs ... except when zhongli suddenly barks out a laugh, clearly a fan of your humor. judging by the reactions of the other tavern-goers, a laugh like this is rare. their faces are quite shocked. it's obvious he's laughing with you & not at you. it gets you a little flustered, but not in a negative way.

the two of you talk into the late hours of the night; long after everyone has left & third round knockout has closed. when the people on the street become fewer & fewer, you both realize it's time to go.

"allow me to walk you back in exchange for your wonderful company tonight, sen," zhongli would insist. & he does walk you back to the inn !! ... for reasons tooootttaaaallllyyyy unrelated, you decide to stay in liyue for a while longer.

what follows is you spending more & more time with zhongli. you take walks amongst liyue's breathtaking nature & solve ancient puzzles out in the wild; not so much for the treasure, but for the intellectual challenge your brilliant minds can team up for. whenever you feel that infamous sensation of burnout, you'll both sit in comfortable silence & enjoy the views ... yes, views ... zhongli is a very hot guy, after all.

he certainly finds you attractive, too. he has a faint blush on his cheeks whenever you're around. hu tao, who you meet in passing due to them being co-workers, is quick to point this out to you when he isn't looking with a wink & a nudge.

zhongli never expected to feel such a way for a mortal, & yet his heart races every time he thinks of you. he adores your focused expression when you speak with him about your research, or the passion in your eyes when you speak about your musical theater days.

on that fateful day when he approaches you with a bouquet of qingxins behind his back & a tender murmur of "sen..." —

well, i'll leave the rest up to your imagination !!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

THANK YOU FOR READING !!

if you're the person that sent this & are unsatisfied with the results, feel free to shoot me an ask or dm !!

if you'd like to receive one of these yourself, PLEASE DM ME !! you can commission a match-up like this from any fandom for just $5 !!

( i did put a little more pizazz into this one because i was tipped, thank you sen ♡ )

if you liked my writing, please consider commissioning me !! i am in dire need of help with bills & buying myself a bed that doesn't kill my back & body. i offer writing commissions such as custom character x reader fics, oc x canon character fics, comfort character emails, ship fics, & more ♡

CHECK OUT MY PINNED POST !!!!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[caffernnn]

I don’t remember if we’ve talked about this yet, but I’ve been thinking about how much Haru starts to work through some of the harder-to process emotions weighing him down in his dreams (not fully, but in useful bits and pieces). This has popped up throughout the series, but becomes even more prevalent heading into FS2, and it’s made me think about a possible dream I wish we could’ve seen heavily inspired by this moment in Moana.

Over and over again, Haru returns to his late grandmother’s words about becoming ordinary, both in relation to how he understands his position in the world (within his community, amongst his friends/family, later on with his teams and fans, etc etc) and where he’d like to be — will he accept becoming “ordinary,” whatever that has come to mean to him, or will his ambitions lead him to not go gentle into that good night? FS2’s way of addressing these central questions aside (don’t even get me started) what I think would’ve been impactful and neat to see is Haru revisiting that old quote/idea with her in his line of sight in a dream. This could go many ways (and I’d love to see someone else’s take with this as a prompt of sorts), but here’s one of my initial visions of how it could play out:

Haru, sitting outside of his home in Iwatobi, looking down like he’s contemplating something, like the answer might be lying in the grass. A weathered outstretched hand coming into view at the edge of his vision, familiar enough to make him look up at a face even here (in this nebulous moment outside of time) he knows he’s missed for quite awhile. She doesn’t speak, simply smiles at him, as Haru asks quiet questions. “Where are you taking me?”

Answers are not said, but they come to Haru anyway. Forward.

“Toward… what, getting older? More tomorrows where I’m tired and lost?”

Some, maybe.

“You made it all look easy. Becoming older, becoming ordinary.”

Hmm.

“I thought… I thought the hard part of finding a dream was over. I thought I made peace enough with the eyes on me to make it all hurt less until I eventually, I don’t know, arrived at the right moment to fade into a quiet happy ending.”

Not so simple.

A pause, because words are hard, because he feels he has the space for it here, because his grandmother hasn’t said a word but kind eyes that he’s missed so much are gradually unspooling the mess inside his chest. Then, “how do I find an ‘ordinary’ to fade into after all of this? How much do I have to let go?” … “what do I still have left to let go?”

Whatever compassion that is piloting his subconscious doesn’t respond to his fear with some explanation, just two hands once again reaching for one of his own and holding it gently, securely between them. A reminder that despite every fear screaming at him, this isn’t the end, he isn’t alone.

“Where do I go from here?”

Forward.

It’s not a perfect dream, but it’s one Haru wakes up with still lingering somewhere in his head. It’s not an immediate shift, but the dream settles something in him, helps him focus. It’s a visit that helps him to eventually accept that his control, his freedom, lies in the promise that time keeps moving and is taking him with it. It’s a small step in learning he doesn’t have to cling to goals that no longer ignite him how they once did. It’s permission to be kinder to himself, to care for himself like she once did, like his friends still do. It’s a reminder that despite his fear of looking into a mirror and falling into nothingness, people see him — there have always been people who cared beyond his swimming, who saw Haru and knew any greatness of his lied beyond whatever skills he could show off to the world. His “ordinary” has been in-the-making all along, and now Haru gets to meet the future with whatever’s in his heart and treasured bonds by his side.

Maybe the only thing he remembers of the dream is getting to see her again, the wisps of warmth in that memory, but that’s what matters most, honestly. He remembers love, he remembers being loved, and he moves forward.

[theexclusivestory]

Unraveling the Legacy of Mars's Ancient Collision

Mars has always fascinated us with its strange landscapes and the possibility of finding signs of ancient life. But recently, scientists have uncovered something astonishing about its past. About 2.3 million years ago, a huge asteroid crashed into Mars, causing a massive impact. This event left behind more than two billion craters scattered all over the Martian surface. These craters are like scars, showing us just how violent the collision was. In this article, we'll talk about what this ancient crash means for our understanding of Mars' history and whether it could have supported life.

The Cosmic Ballet

In the vastness of space, planets and moons often collide or interact, changing their fate. Mars, though smaller than Earth, has experienced such events. About 2.3 million years ago, a huge asteroid slammed into Mars after traveling through space. This collision caused massive destruction, releasing a tremendous amount of energy onto the planet's surface.

The Impact

When the asteroid crashed into Mars, it caused a lot of damage all over the planet. The place where it hit created a massive hole, hundreds of kilometers wide. The impact was so powerful that it turned the rocks and dirt into vapor and sent strong shockwaves through Mars' surface. After the crash, a melted rock shot up, making tall peaks and rough edges around the hole. The land nearby was left with scars and holes, and pieces of debris fell over a large area.

Formation of Craters

After the chaos settled and Mars cooled down, what was left behind were countless craters. They varied in size, from tiny to huge, and each one showed how Mars had been hit by space rocks over millions of years. But the big crash 2.3 million years ago was different. It was way bigger than anything else that ever happened on Mars.

Two Billion Craters

After the asteroid hit Mars, it left behind a lot of craters. There are now more than two billion craters all over Mars, which shows just how many times it got hit. These craters are like time capsules because they keep the story of when things crashed into Mars and how the planet changed over time. By studying these craters, scientists can learn a lot about how Mars' land and weather changed over millions of years.

Geological Significance

The billions of craters on Mars are really important for understanding how the planet's surface has changed over time. Scientists look at where the craters are, how big they are, and what they look like to learn about Mars' history and what has happened to it. By studying how often new craters form, scientists can figure out how many space rocks hit Mars and how powerful those impacts are. Also, when newer craters cover up older ones, scientists can tell which ones came first and piece together a timeline of what happened on Mars.

Window into the Past

Mars' craters aren't just marks from things hitting the planet; they're like peepholes into its history. The big, really old ones can tell us about what Mars was like a long time ago, like if it had water and if it could support life. Certain things inside the craters, like hills in the middle or stepped edges, give us hints about what happened after something hit Mars, like how the ground bounced back or fell down. Scientists can look at these things to figure out how Mars changed over time, like what its climate was like and how its land formed.

Implications for Life

Studying the craters on Mars isn't just about rocks and dirt; it's also about finding signs of life beyond Earth. These craters could be like treasure chests, holding clues to organic materials that could give us hints about life on Mars. Even though asteroid impacts can cause a lot of damage, they can also create special places underground where water and heat mix together, making a cozy home for tiny life forms. Figuring out where these craters are and what they're like is super important for finding the best spots to search for life on Mars.

Future Exploration

The discovery of more than two billion craters on Mars shows why it's crucial to keep exploring and studying the planet. Robots like NASA's Perseverance rover and the upcoming Mars Sample Return mission are ready to find out new things hidden in Martian rocks and soil. By gathering and studying samples from different parts of Mars, scientists want to learn about its past water, weather, and if it could have supported life. Also, new technology helps us make detailed maps of Mars, helping scientists find interesting spots to study in better detail than ever before.

Conclusion

Around 2.3 million years ago, a really big asteroid crashed into Mars. This event left a lasting mark on the planet – over two billion craters are scattered all over its surface as a result. These craters are like silent reminders of the powerful collision that happened long ago. They tell us a lot about Mars' history, like what its climate and atmosphere were like in the past, and whether it could have supported life. As we keep exploring Mars, these craters will keep giving us new things to learn, helping us uncover more about this mysterious neighbor of ours in space.

FAQs

What is the scar of Mars? Valles Marineris is like a big crack in the surface of Mars. Scientists think it formed because Mars was cooling down, and at the same time, the ground was rising up in the western part of Mars called Tharsis. After that, things like wind and water made the crack wider.

What element was found in the Mars rock? Scientists have looked at some information and believe that the stuff that makes up most of the ground on Mars includes things like silicon, oxygen, iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium. These are the main parts of the rocks that form when lava cools down.

Can Mars have life again? On Mars, the surface gets a lot of harmful radiation from space, and the soil has chemicals that can harm tiny living things. Scientists agree that if there's any life on Mars, it's probably hiding underground where it's safer from these dangerous things on the surface. So, if we want to find life on Mars, we should look underground where it's more protected from the harsh conditions on the surface.

How was Mars killed? Mars had a problem because it was smaller than Earth. After about a billion years, its insides cooled down and became solid, which made its magnetic shield weak. Without this shield, Mars couldn't hold onto its atmosphere, so it slowly disappeared into space.

Is Mars hot or cold? Even though Mars might seem warm because of its reddish color, it's actually quite chilly! It's much farther from the Sun than Earth, about 50 million miles more distant. So, it doesn't get as much sunlight and warmth. Also, Mars isn't good at trapping whatever little heat it receives. So, overall, it stays pretty cold.

Read more

[morelikeravenbore]

💕 self-love time! talk about which ones of YOUR creations (edits, artworks, fanfics) you like the most then send to other creators to do the same 💕

AAAHHHH! It's always a beautiful day 84 years when Ari pops into my ask bearing love and sparkles! Sorry it took me so long to reply, Im allergic to being nice to myself! 👍😁👍

It'll come as no surprise, I'm sure, but the thing I'm most proud of is my ongoing fic How to Make a Villain. Not only is it the first "serious" (serious?) piece of writing I've ever shared with anyone, but I'm proud of my commitment to updating it for the last eight months straight, and when I read back on it, I'm floored that 1. This all came out of my head? And 2. my skills as a writer have improved beyond my wildest expectations.

[read it here if you'd like: wattpad | ao3]

The second thing I'm most proud of is the creation and development of my 🦋 Aurélie, who, just like my fic, is the first original character I've ever shared with the world. The way she's outgrown my imagination to become someone who feels very real to me constantly blows my mind. And not only has she changed my life in ways I never expected, but she's made an impact on the lives of other people — which is straight up a dream come true. Even if nothing else ever comes from my ambitions to be an author, the fact that people know and love something that grew straight out of my heart is honestly one of the greatest things I've ever achieved in my life.

And thirdly, I'm proud of all the brilliantly talented, supportive, creative and funny friends I've made in this fandom, whose imaginations inspire and excite me every single day. I hope you all know how much I treasure you, and that even if this fandom were to die tomorrow (touch wood), I'll remember you all for the rest of my life.

[the-rippers]

4, 14, 18 & 38 for the asks 🖤💜

hi love <3

4. Beyon Magnetic: yes? no? would you put some songs back in Death Magnetic?

uhm YES?

i absolutely adore every single unreleased media we get (i said that while im grasping onto presidio stuff from street anger. it holds an impact on me ok?)

i would take Just A Bullet Away back. just everything about this song is a yes

14. Music Time Machine! You get a single opportunity to use this machine: it will take you on the day, hour and spot of every concert of your liking. So? What date will you put into it?

Cunning Stunts, i know the setlist by heart, watched it so many times i wore it a bit actually. just everything abt this concert screams ripper needs to be in it

18. Which piece of your Met merch is your treasure?

does pick that kirk handed my on my concert counts? if its sth i had to buy then uhh. cant decide which box, but i have all deluxe boxsets so them. yeah.

38. Talk abt something Metallica related that you mentally link to something that happened in your life.

one time at the airport i was informed i cant bring in knife- just kidding

i guess basically james hetfield as a person himself. i link myself with this dude, but not in the good way really. i can see his bad traits immediately and i can see them in myself, maybe thats why so many of his lyrics feel so close to home, with all parental figures, christian trauma, being an outcast and not having the guts to talk to other outcasts, feeling dirty of sins you've been told about from your family, the way he tried to escape his thoughts.

you can tell i love st anger huh

[talenlee]

MTG: Signposted Decks

Hey, this is a magic article about budget decks! I’m playing on Arena a lot these days, which means mythics and rares are things I accumulate through opening boosters. To that end, when I look at decks, I try to look at the decks in terms of what I have and what’s worth spending wildcards on. Any conversation after this point is probably going to avoid talking about incorporating rares into decks, which will almost always make decks better if you got ’em. My advice for any Arena free-to-player is to spend your wildcards on rare lands in the most recent set in the colours you want because they’ll go into every deck that uses those cards.

Signpost uncommons are a ‘recent’ addition to the game. Of course I say recent in that I know I first heard about them in Dragons of Tarkir, a set that’s almost ten years old. Anyway, they’re a design tool so that limited environments for each new set has some uncommon that either when you open them up in pack 1 give you a clear direction for what you want to pick, or, later, cards that nobody wants except the decks where it’s great, rewarding you for a consistent or clear drafting strategy.

These cards are limited cards, first and foremost, they exist to have an impact in the limited environment and do something relevant there. Almost always they are creatures or typal enablers, they’re usually priced well for limited. That’s important because limited is a place where a 4 mana 3/3 that flies is probably pretty good, but in constructed formats, there’s no reason to use anything but the best of the best.

Thing is, these cards are cool! These cards are cool and they often are designed to work within the set’s limited environment. Thing is, there are some times when those cards can be played alongside other cards they’d normally get to hang around and the result can be very satisfying, in a rhythmos sort of way. This isn’t how top tier standard decks get made, but there are some fun decks lurking around with these pieces that are interesting and, as a matter of playing in the limited environment, you’ll probably wind up having them in your collection to make decks with.

First up, I’ve written about one of these signpost uncommons and a deck that forms around them in the form of Insidious Roots. My Roots deck draws in cards from other Standard sets, particularly Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler and Undead Butler.

This deck is fun and I like how over time it’s evolved into a lot of different versions for me. For example, one version I’m using uses Honest Rutstein — two of these dance back and forth with one another cheaply and generate a lot of plant tokens. It doesn’t work well with Snarling Gorehound, which has pushed that card out of the deck.

But moving on.

Baron Bertram Greywater is an interesting card in that it costs just enough that you can’t put it in a low land count deck, but it doesn’t on its own support a big expensive deck. You want things like wraths or board sweepers to go with it. There aren’t a lot of recurrent token creators that aren’t vulnerable to the cheap sweepers, like Malicious Eclipse.

I got to play with Bertram alongside Kambal, Profiteering Mayor and Boneyard Desecrator in a limited pool and it was captivating. Every turn I was spending mana to sacrifice the rogues Bertram made that gave me a counter on the Desecrator, a treasure, and then, another rogue, and then all the while Kambal was draining my opponent. This trick was cool but just using that in constructed involves getting three permanents on the battlefield in a world where everyone’s trying to get the best mileage they can out of their Sunfalls. What I’d rather run alongside Bertram is treasure or blood creation that can expand reasonably well on its own.

One example of cards that can go into a deck would be Voldaren Estate, Restless Bloodseeker, Hall of Tagsin and even Collecter's Vault. Now, I’m not sure if that’s enough – you don’t want to make spot removal too good, and if your deck relies on exactly one big creature on the battlefield, that’s a potential problem.

Bertram also works with roles! I’ve tried him alongside my copies of Spellbook Vendor and Not Dead After All! That’s not so bad, and I even got to work it alongside Devouring Sugarmaw. I think that’s a really cool card, and I’m glad to get to attack with a big stompy underpriced creature.

At Knifepoint is a card that feels like it’s challenging to ever make it good even in draft. My impulse for this card, with a once-a-turn crime stipulation, is to try and find a way to maximise the ways I can use it on my turn and on someone else’s. It can generate creatures and benefits from having outlaws. That all works reasonably easily. But that implies a deck that wants to be slower, and then that presents me with the same problem as Baron Bertram.

After some combing through cards, the synergy I want out of At Knifepoint is a way to clog the board, fill the world with little tokens, commit crimes regularly and maybe keep as few creatures of my own on the board as possible. Specifically, I like the idea of building this deck to slowly take advantage of Choking Miasma, and Rakish Crew. A Deadeye Duelist is a common level crime machine that survives the Miasma, and Gnawing Vermin commits a crime coming and going. Swashbuckler's Whip can do crimes off-turn repeatedly, and Ballista Watcher, while expensive, survives miasma, commits crime, and even becomes an off-turn crime committer once you have mana invested in it.

And what you get out of this is a steady flow of creatures that you can throw under the bus, can pump up one another to attack with first strike, and all while the Rakish Crew bleeds them out.

… of course, that whole ‘two toughness’ does bring up the question of wondering what this deck looks like if it’s instead using Vial Smasher, Gleeful Grenadier. It benefits from At Knifepoint, being a 3 power creature, it pings opponents, then it makes all the tokens Knifepoint creates into pinging damage as well. You cast an outlaw, Vial Smasher commits a crime, At Knifepoint creates a token. That could all be done with commons and uncommons, without a lot of mana-expensive cards.

Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor is the latest puzzle for me to glare at. Sure, she’s a 4/4 for 4 on her own pretty solidly, but the question lingers of what exactly you can get double effects out of, in a budget deck in standard.

Problem: The most obvious thing she works with is planeswalkers. There aren’t any of those below rare in standard right now. Obviously. If you have them, there are some cool synergies – like Lilliana of the Veil can make someone sacrifice two creatures. Neat! Chandra, Dressed to Kill fires off a shock at your opponent’s face and makes 2 red mana.

Sandstorm Verge works with her to turn off two blockers at a time, which is more affordable than normal; mothrider patrol lets you tap two creatures, Traveling Minister lets you gain… two life and buff two attackers? Deadly Dancer becomes 2 mana for 4 power across two creatures? And Touch the Spirit Realm‘s channel splits across two creatures, just like Trumpeting Carnosaur.

Oh, and I suppose I should mention that Ertha Jo makes High Noon deal ten damage to your opponent’s face. If that’s a thing that you care about.

There’s always more. Signpost uncommons excite me! But here’s just three from recent standard sets that I think have enough juice to be worth chucking your draft cards around and see what you can play in the format. These cards feel like they’re just waiting to be some extremely pet cards, after all.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[getbysize]

How Can You Tell if a Persian Rug is Real?

Did you stand around somewhere, and you used to be on the tip of your toes when you were in the shop or over the internet looking at those amazing Persian area rugs? Could it be the only real thing?

It is likely as if you could touch it.

The piece brings delicate warmth to your space, creating a calming atmosphere in which you relax. However, if there is anyone who has a doubt, let's not skip them. It might be whispering it is visible and too good to be true when taking a closer look.

The Undeniable Charm of Authenticity

OK, so let's see the whole picture. To start, let us not underestimate our Persian rugs' being handmade, which are not produced in any other country in the world except Iran.

The truest indication of Persian home rugs is that they are handcrafted, and they originated from the heart of Iranian heritage and the most skilled craftsmen ever.

So, what might be signs of authenticity?

Examine the Materials

The materials used in the making of Persian carpets include wool, silk, or cotton. Fibres can be seen by taking a closer look:

Evenly spun – showing the meticulous handiwork

Shining naturally – not overly shiny like synthetic fibres

Dyed with depth – natural dyes age gracefully and don't bleed

The Intricacies of Craftsmanship

Closely scrutinize the back side of the carpet. While there are synthetic, machine washable area rugs on the market, these do not resemble a traditional Persian rug which is a product of original handicraft in their fine and different knots.

The exactness associated with the tying technique of knots is apparent while at the same time their variety is also a sign of handcrafted rugs. By its very nature bags are often absent from the factory's synthetic products divan.

Knot Count Matters

Have you ever heard people talk about the knot count of their rug?

They make a point as they go through the pile, depending on the number of knots per square inch.

In general, Persian rugs with the highest knot count have the grandest visual impact and intricate details that demand a high level of craftsmanship.

Flipping the Rug

You have to turn it over, and then this is what you should be looking for:

Knots - They should be snugly and randomly placed

Fringe-It is end-woven, not sewn or pasted on the main body of the rug.

The Sign of a Story

Behind every 8x10 area rug that hails from Persian tradition lies a tale. Each Persian rug aids in its own way in keeping the traditional Persian history with its unique motifs and colors. Some are weird and wonderful that's forgotten stories being woven into textiles.

Design Secrets

And now, onto the design. Every piece, every dye used in the production, is intentionally picked. Here's the key that distinguishes a real Persian masterpiece:

They must be built in a way that presents an open history

Vivacious colours due to the ancient dyeing methods used

The power of storytelling through movements of the motifs

The Feel-Factor

But wait, does this rug also feel good to the touch? They need to have perfect design in addition to good all other aspects.

Texture – A good rug should be plush, never plastic or brittle

Pile depth – This one changes; however, it is necessary to complement the tight weave

Unique, Like Snowflakes

Real Persian carpets are like snowflakes; no parallel lines exist. Each comes with its own marks and imperfections. Of the many things to be considered for purchase are:

Small and human errors that fully make a product original and inimitable

Fancy colour shifts that a rug can have as a result of the change in dye batches

Too Good to Be True?

Last but not least, how familiar are you with the saying? Think about it; if it looks too good to be true, it really might be. Persian rugs are a treasure. They are history, skills, and language- and it doesn't come for free.

Wrapping Up: Keeping It Real in a World of Fakes!

When you are buying Persian rugs that are high quality if you have to keep all these things in mind. The part- if you fail to buy such a thing it is a sign that the stuff is not authentic!

Enjoy the search, and let each of your ancient Persian rugs become a part of your home story while it weaves its own tale into your life through its unique narrative.

Lastly, the following are some things to consider in checking the authenticity of an octagon area rug or any Persian masterpiece:

Material quality and source

Knot density and craftsmanship

Historical and cultural design significance

Sensory experience and uniqueness

Price point in comparison to market value

[powpowhammer]

I've mostly been reblogging Nibposting only with tags, but as @thenib draws to an on-its-own-terms-as-much-as-possible-given-the-circumstances close, I wanted to say how much I've enjoyed and learned from everyone participating in it over these past years. I was a founding Kickstarter, Inkwell subscriber, turbo ultra with extra cheese member et cetera, and got a number of my friends to sign up after seeing the magazine and so on. I've treasured every moment of it.

In my opinion, sequential art--the ten-dollar word for good old comix--is the best way to learn about something. And to think about something. And there's a strong case to be made that it's the best way to tell a certain kind of story, too. There are struggles and joys I never would've considered without the watchful eye and deft pens of Nib cartoonists, who I have just realized could have been called Niblings this whole time. Seeing the artists and writers enter and graduate from the political cartooning stable (Matt, I have your books. Looking forward to your future work!) as well as evolve as people like Pokemon reaching their stronger stages (Mattie L graduating into a certified hottie!) made me realize that it's been a movement and I've been here the whole time. I think it would take too long and be even more boring if I just kept naming names, but please trust me when I say that if you contributed to The Nib, I became your fan (or preened smugly as an already-fan). Every single person made me think and laugh.

The Nib ain't just millennial comic upstarts, neither. It really made me feel like it was a link in the chain when long-suffering old hands like Tom Tomorrow (if you see this, Tom, between me and my father we own all your collections!) and Ward Sutton (new Sutton Impact collection when?!) joined the crew. You even got Keef Knight, the one comic artist I'd trust to be able to moonwalk on command! And of course there's the star-studded webcomicker roster of contributors that makes you point and go "Hey, I know that guy!". And a special shoutout to Rob Rogers, who I watched the PPG dump like a foolish knave in a cautionary fable killing their golden goose. (Rob, my relatives STILL love getting those greeting cards you did that they stock in every jiggle. I hope you get royalties for those. And I love your book!) When I saw that he had strips up on The Nib I did a little dance. The Nib provided a brief country for old (not just old!) men (not just men!).

There's a pretty cogent piece of (cynical, perhaps accurate) criticism that political cartooning on the left is an inherently doomed effort, like talk radio. (We are always pouring one out for Air America.) That a medium that by its nature cannot communicate deep nuance and benefits from superficial appeal will be doomed when trying to advocate for a deeply nuanced tent in a world with deeply nuanced problems. Much easier to draw a dinosaur labeled TAXES (or DEBT) and call it a day, like the somehow-collecting-a-paycheck hacks in your racist uncle's favorite rag. But for a long time (longer than Air America, ha!) The Nib made it work, and by howdy. They got the nuance in there! The Internet (and its infinite canvas, thank you Scott McCloud for burrowing into my brain like an antlion) allowed for long-form comicking that pried open issues to their guts and took us to new places. And told even funnier jokes.

I think a whole new cohort of people around the world have become aware of the power of cartooning to send a message, to advocate, to educate, and of course to entertain even when nothing seems particularly funny. There were times when I needed the relatable-millennial-problems comics even more than the reminders-that-the-world-is-bonkers-not-me comics. And The Nib was happy to supply plenty of both. I will be following EVERYONE'S careers with... great interest.

I guess I'll let legendary @daygloayhole Ben Passmore's last panel for the site sign us off.

The Nib closes today, September 1, 2023. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

(Thank you for everything.)

Here it is‚ the last comic for The Nib. Thanks for reading all these years!

[cooledtured]

Kagura Bachi: From Manga to Sensation — Why Everyone’s Talking About This New Anime

The anime world has been abuzz with one name lately: Kagura Bachi. This manga-turned-anime has taken the internet by storm, leaving fans breathless with its action sequences, intriguing story, and stunning visuals. But what exactly is behind this sudden surge in popularity? Let’s dive into the hype and see what makes Kagura Bachi tick.

From Humble Beginnings to Anime Superstardom

Kagura Bachi started as a manga written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono. It quickly gained a dedicated following for its unique blend of dark fantasy, intense action, and complex characters. The story follows Chihiro Rokuhira, the son of a renowned blacksmith, who seeks revenge against a gang of sorcerers who murdered his father. But this is no ordinary revenge tale. The world of Kagura Bachi is rich with lore, magic systems, and hidden societies, making it a treasure trove for fans of intricate narratives.

The Animation that Bleeds Cool

One of the key reasons for Kagura Bachi’s success is its phenomenal animation. Studio MAPPA, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, brought Hokazono’s vision to life with stunning visuals. The fight scenes are a masterclass in choreography, fluidity, and sheer awesomeness. Every impact, every sword clash, every burst of magic crackles with energy. And it’s not just about action; the animation masterfully captures the emotional depth of the characters, their pain, rage, and determination.

A Soundtrack to Fuel Your Soul

The music in Kagura Bachi is another element that elevates the experience. The soundtrack seamlessly blends traditional Japanese instruments with modern electronic beats, creating a soundscape that’s both epic and intimate. The opening theme, “SCAR,” is an instant earworm, while the emotional piano pieces during quieter moments tug at your heartstrings.

A Recipe for Success: More than Just Hype

While the animation and action are undeniable draws, Kagura Bachi isn’t just a pretty face. The story itself is compelling,with well-developed characters, intriguing mysteries, and a healthy dose of social commentary. It tackles themes of revenge, grief, and the corrupting influence of power, making it more than just a mindless action flick.

Is Kagura Bachi the New Big Thing? Hype vs. Reality

With all this praise, it’s natural to wonder: is Kagura Bachi really the new anime king? Well, it’s still early to say. The show has its fair share of strengths, but it’s not without potential weaknesses. Some viewers might find the pacing a bit slow in certain parts, and the heavy exposition dumps in the beginning can be a tad overwhelming.

However, the potential for greatness is undeniable. Kagura Bachi has all the ingredients for a long and successful run: a passionate fanbase, a talented production team, and a story with the depth and complexity to keep viewers engaged.Whether it becomes the “next big thing” depends on how it evolves and how well it addresses the pacing and exposition concerns.

Ultimately, the best way to know if Kagura Bachi is for you is to experience it yourself. Dive into the world of Chihiro Rokuhira, witness the breathtaking animation, and let the story unfold. You might just find yourself joining the legions of fans raving about this anime sensation.

Remember, this is just the beginning of the Kagura Bachi story. With its strong foundation and passionate fanbase, this anime has the potential to leave a lasting mark on the industry. So, keep your eyes peeled, anime fans, because this is one show you won’t want to miss.

— —

DANIEL SIMMONS | Writer POP-COOLEDTURED SPECIALIST cooledtured.com | GROW YOUR COLLECTION

[everywherenyc]

#SATISFACTION -

Finding something you adore, becoming a real whiz at it, and seeing how it touches others in a good way—it's like discovering a treasure trove of feelings! Imagine when chefs whip up a dish they love or artists craft a masterpiece; it’s like they've hit the jackpot of joy.

As a promoter, it's like being the architect of an empty room's transformation. You conjure up this mental picture of decorations, music, and happy vibes, then bring together your talented crew to make it happen. The flyer you create? It's like a sneak peek for everyone to know what the night's gonna be like.

Picture this: a room full of folks, dancing away, smiles on their faces. That feeling of contentment and accomplishment? It’s like finding the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle—it’s hard to explain, but it’s there.

Paying everyone, from the cashier to the security and especially the DJ, may be tiring, but it’s also immensely satisfying. Why? Because everyone can see the impact they've had on each person in the crowd.

It’s like making a beautiful, accidental masterpiece where every tiny detail was your doing. Chefs feel it when you take that first delicious bite of their creation, or when a comedian hears that genuine laughter at a new joke.

When Busta Rhymes talked about it, it hit home so deeply that tears flowed. All those years of cracking jokes, offering sincere advice, and promoting things I genuinely believe in—those built you up. People know me, and more importantly, I know myself .. Integrity, professionalism, humor, business-minded and always, always spreading positive vibes and life lessons. My actions have spoken for me for so long that I dont need words and its a blessing. It's a blessing because I wasnt doing it for a reason.. I just love to make a positive impact on whatever project I am working on.

Yes, the feeling that one gets when he's good at something and it affects someone postively,

is the best feeling in the world. It's like, a sense of validation or affirmation. It's like a big warm hug of approval that tells you your hard work paid off and your efforts were appreciated.

It can make you feel acknowledged, respected, and encouraged to keep doing what you love.

E-MAN 2023. https://linktr.ee/EverywhereNYC

#talented #gifted #artists #promoters #singers #dancers #performers #reaction #bustarhymes #diaryofaceo #stevenbartlett

SEE THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRjzQuzX-tg&t=3353s

"LIKE" if you can understand "COMMENT" to educate u on your thoughts

[heliads]

hey, do you write for Four? (Divergent) you could do where they both have a secret relationship but something happens that makes Four extremely jealous in the middle of a fight that f!reader is having, and maybe he says "you can stop touching my girl now" or something so...

english is not my first language, sorry :(

no worries, this was a fun request to write!

masterlist

There are a great many mysteries in the Dauntless complex. For a faction that prides itself on bravery, courage, not hiding behind doors when you can fight in broad daylight, there are far more secrets than the faction leaders care to let on. Whispers surround everyone, everything, and they’ll never go away.

You can guess what people are hiding here, behind black-suited lies and defenses as sharp as knives, but you’ll never know for certain. For one thing, no one in this entire faction has managed to piece together the fact that you and Four are dating, despite the fact that this relationship has been going on for months.

It started off as a secret, and you haven’t been able to drag it out into the light ever since. When you and Four met, he was two years out of his own initiation, just starting to get a grasp for how to be a training leader for the new crop of Dauntless. You had just dashed your blood into the vessel for the bravest faction, had just thrown yourself off of the roofline to land in Dauntless once and for all.

You should have known then that Four was too great a secret for you to keep. He had looked at you like you were something worth keeping around, and you liked how it felt a little too much. When the two of you started seeking each other out, either for silent glances in training or longer conversations after hours, there was no way it would have gone anywhere else.

Soon enough, Four was calling your name like a blessing, some guarantee of safety in the midst of all this mayhem. You knew you loved him when you won your fights and saw him watching you approvingly, when you could go through your fear landscape fastest because the one thing that scared you most was thinking that what you had with Four wasn’t real, and you already had to face that every day.

You graduated top of your initiation class soon enough, with both a new title and a hand holding yours. Four confessed how he felt two nights before initiation ended, praying that somewhere in all this darkness you’d be able to be his light. He didn’t like being so alone, he said. You made him think that there was a world outside of hurt and challenge.

The only problem was how it all looked. You couldn’t be happier with Four, and you know he feels the same way, but the facts of the matter line up differently to everyone else. If the other Dauntless knew that you and Four were seeing each other, they’d start asking questions about just when all this started, if it had any impact on your rankings. Corruption festers deep in Dauntless, but people still like to pretend otherwise. They’d jump on this in a second if it meant switching the blame away from themselves.

So, you keep it a secret. You’re allowed to be Four’s friend, of course, and train with him like the rest, but the moment your gaze lingers on him with the sort of softness that doesn’t belong in Dauntless’ cold atmosphere, people start wondering. You’re certain that a few people suspect, but most of them just joke about it. Wouldn’t that be something, the boy with hardly any fears and the girl who could make you think that she had none at all? If only they knew that their rumors were actually true.

The only problem with keeping this secret is that it isn’t quite enough. Part of loving someone is belonging to them, being able to seek their shelter in the midst of any storm. You can talk to Four, sure, and treasure his kisses when no one else is looking, but you still want something more.

You can’t help but envy the other Dauntless couples you see around the faction, the ones that get to walk with their arms slung low over the hips of their partners. These lucky ones pull their significant others close without a second thought, paying no attention to how it all looks. Or maybe they care too much, and every gesture is strictly orchestrated to give off the illusion that they’ve got it all. At any rate, you’d love to have that choice, to have or to hold. Anything more than the nothingness that threatens to swallow you whole.

You’ve brought this up with Four a couple of times now, but he knows just as well as you do that there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re only a few months out of initiation, working in your first choice of a job and still benefiting from your high rankings. People would suspect foul play if they knew you were dating, so it stays a secret. It has to stay a secret, as neither of you want the sudden attention that only comes with sordid rumors.

Yet, in the cold stillness of his room after hours, you can’t deny that it doesn’t feel like enough. You joined Dauntless because you were sick of being in the shadows. You wanted to make a name for yourself, be the kind of person that had people in awe of your slightest movements. You certainly didn’t sign up for this faction to skulk about in the darkness, exchanging clandestine kisses as if your love was something that wasn’t good enough to be seen.

As time goes on, it only gets worse. This should be perfectly fine- you have the boy you love, you have your faction, you have your job, yet it all feels like a slim shadow of what you should be experiencing. To live is not to hide, nor to lie, but to take risks on everything. That’s what the Dauntless believe, at any rate, that no risk is worth taking if you won’t devote yourself to it utterly, and as a Dauntless, you believe it too. Not going in blind to the dangers feels like a betrayal.

Still, there’s nothing you can do. Four tries his hardest to keep you happy, though. Today, for instance, he’s called you in to help with initiation, something about how he’d love to have an extra fighter on hand to deal with the useless masses. Some of these trainees scarcely know their proper forms, yet they’re still mouthy enough that you’d think they’ve been fighting all their lives. He wants you there to help keep the order.

You’re not about to pass up the chance to see your boyfriend outside of your apartment, so you take up his offer with a smile. Besides, Four becomes a different sort of person when he has to be intimidating. His back straightens, his eyes grow cold. In all honesty, it’s pretty hot, and you like seeing it. We all have our quirks.

Four strides briskly into the training room, you at his side. The initiates look surprised to see you, likely because they’ve grown used to having only Four and Eric watch them train. Their surprise is good; changes in routines will show who’s really good and who’s just coasting along with the norms.

Four reaches the front of the room, addressing the young Dauntless in a brisk tone you remember from your own training.

“Alright, initiates. Today, as you may have noticed, we will be joined by a special guest. This is Y/N, who’s going to be helping with combat training. She finished first out of her initiation last year, so if I were you, I’d pay attention. Might help some of you from ending up on the bottom of the rankings.”

You nod at Four. “First thing we’ve got planned today are some rounds of fights. Find a partner and get to the rings. If you want to get better, you need to put in the practice.”

You hear some muted grumbling from the back of the room and raise an eyebrow at Four. Sure, it’s early in the morning, but initiation has always been about hard work, no matter the time.

“I’m sorry, did I stutter? Get to work, or we’re going to stay here through the lunch break.”

Four chuckles to himself as the initiates quickly scatter to the nearest fighting rings. “I think this is one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. I haven’t seen these guys move so fast in weeks.”

You smirk. “Maybe you’re not being intimidating.”

Four arches a brow. “Is that so? I seem to remember from your training that you found me plenty intimidating.”

You just grin. “That’s different. I liked the intimidating part of you.”

You glance back towards the rest of the training room, pleased to see that the initiates have started their fights as promised. One thing that does catch your attention is a surly looking boy, the tallest and biggest around by far, who’s practically dragging a smaller boy to the ring. Evidently he’s in this for an easy fight, and once he wins in a matter of seconds, he’ll sit around and watch everyone struggle.

You gesture at the boy with your chin. “Have you had problems with that guy before?”

Four groans. “Shawn? He’s a nightmare. Thinks he’s the best thing to happen to this faction since the invention of the gun. I can’t stand him.”

You nod, unable to hide a cold smile. “I think he needs a bit more of a test.”

Four looks back at you, intrigued. “I like where this is going. Don’t worry about beating him up too badly, the medical wing has open beds.”

You laugh. “Perfect.”

You walk briskly down the training room towards Shawn’s ring, holding up a hand to stop the fight before it starts. “You know what, initiate, I think you need a better challenge.”

Shawn squints down at you. “What?”

You roll your eyes. “Stop punching below your weight. I’m going to fight you instead.”

Shawn looks irritated at this, but the smaller boy ducks away happily before you can change your mind. You jump up into the fighting ring easily, taking a stance opposite Shawn.

He looks nervous, but tries to shrug it off. “Whatever. I’m great at fighting, you should be careful.”

You raise an eyebrow. “I’m sure I’ll try.”

Shawn lunges forward, a beginner’s mistake. You dodge his attack easily, throwing him to the ground in one swift movement. Shawn, angry now, picks himself up and keeps going. At least he’s vaguely resilient. Still, he isn’t resilient enough a few rounds later, when his nose is dripping blood and he’s been thoroughly humiliated in front of the rest of the initiates. Four couldn’t look happier.

You nod once at Shawn before leaving him. “The next time you try and slack off by picking someone you know you can beat, I won’t go so easy on you.”

You’re used to Shawn’s type of boy: mean, cruel, finds great joy in causing other people discomfort. You assumed that he would avoid you for the rest of the class, especially since you just thoroughly kicked his ass in front of everybody, yet he seeks you out during the water break.

Shawn leers at you through a bruise already forming under his left eye. “You know, you weren’t bad out there.”

You give him a look. “I should hope not.”

Shawn seems unwilling or perhaps unable to read the room, and keeps going. “I wouldn’t mind some more help, you know. Maybe we could do some, uh, private lessons.”

The stress on the last few words makes it obvious that Shawn isn’t just interested in how to form a punch. Plus, he moves closer as he says it, letting his hand rest on your arm. Your eyes narrow, but before you can shove him off of you, someone steps in. It’s Four, looking angrier than you’ve ever seen him.

Four’s voice comes in a low hiss. “You can stop touching my girl now.”

You and Shawn turn to look at Four, both of your eyes equally wide. Shawn looks terrified of what is about to happen to him, and you’re stunned that Four would refer to you as his girl, thus cementing the belief that you’re together.

Shawn backs away slowly. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear.”

Four’s face is cold. “I bet you didn’t. I won’t mean anything by it when I send you to the medical wing right now. How do you think it would feel if I broke every single bone in your hand? I kind of want to find out.”

Shawn’s face is pale, mouth practically hanging open in fear. “We don’t have to find out, I promise. I’m going.”

Four watches Shawn run away, arms folded across his chest. You walk up to him, standing side by side.

“Your girl. I like the sound of that.”

The corners of Four’s mouth just start to turn up in a smile, although he’s too angry for the expression to fully form. “He shouldn’t have touched you. He’s nowhere near your level.”

You laugh quietly. “I don’t think he’ll be trying it anytime soon. He looks like he just saw death itself.”

Four smirks. “He might have, if he does it again.”

He glances back at you now. “And I’d tell the entire faction we were dating if I had to. I’m not ashamed of you, or scared of people knowing. Not in the slightest. I want you to be happy, no matter what.”

You smile for real now. “I am happy, Four. As long as I have you.”

divergent tag list: @rogueanschel, @with-inked-solace