#above average fashion sense – style.

[analyticallyminded]

tag drop 1/?

muse.

[analyticallymindedaa]

tag dropping bc tumblr ate my tags part 1

[tarotofhope]

PAC: ✿ Your couple archetype as Plant & Animal Spirit ✿

(Please Read My Pinned post *IMPORTANT NOTE* before selecting a Pile)

NOTE: This reading is applicable for all kinds of romantic relationships, also whether you're asking for a current/future partner. You have to decide by yourself which one you are and which one is/could be your person. I'll just be mentioning Person A and Person B.

Pick an Image by meditating and selecting the image you feel called to. You can be attracted towards more than 1 image. If you are not able to select maybe this reading isn't for you.

Pile 1

Person A - Starfish and Eucalyptus

Welcome to your reading Pile 1.

This person is very tough, personally and spiritually. This person has heightened senses and they will use this quality for their personal growth and clarity. I can see major earth, fire and water sign traits. This person can empathize well with people and they are also known for regeneration and renewal just like the starfish because the starfish can regenerate its arms by itself. By this, I mean to say that they can survive a sudden downfall in life or can handle huge hardships much better than others and they've gone through many serious hardships as well. They might be very young and successful too because they are very ambitious and a go-getter. They know how to take as well as create opportunities. They have great entrepreneurship qualities, could be doing a family business or self employed. Their height could be average or short. They are very pure and sacred. Like the Eucalyptus tree, they are very abundant, protective and strong. I love how Eucalyptus and the Starfish qualities are going hand in hand.

Person B - Unicorn and Pomegranate

Unicorns represent other worldliness, tranquility, healing powers, purity, innocence and grace. This person is very unique, they do their own thing. They might be very spiritual and calm. They don't like conflicts. They could be into any healing professions such as Reiki, crystal healing, therapy, yoga, counselling, tarot, white magic, etc.. They are someone who use the above mentioned qualities to enlighten the masses. Something is very magical, different and rare about them, either the way they look or present themselves or their approach to life. This person is very complex and full of surprises, could be witty and funny as well. This person has heavy water and air sign traits. This personal could change their hair color very much, or they change their overall style of looks and fashion every now and then. They could have average to tall height. They look very beautiful, graceful and enchanting. They could also have very beautiful hair. They look dreamy and could have very beautiful eyes. The pomegranate represents fertility, life, regeneration and marriage. This person is very passionate, fertile as well as very spiritually abundant, they could also be religious.

Connection of Person A & B

They both value spirituality equally. Person A could teach person B to persevere. Person B could ease Person A's mind by their wit and charm. Person A is a bit serious and B is more chill. They both can become a power couple. They respect each other's uniqueness and boundaries. Person A could be very protective of Person B. They would always help Person B.

This was all I got for you, my dear Pile 1.

Love, light, hope and peace to you..🌺🌻🌼

Pile 2

Person A - Caterpillar and Hawthorn

Welcome to your reading Pile 2.

This person does not look introverted from the outside but is someone who likes solitude most of the times. They are people who are tough and strong. They have a logical approach towards life and just like the caterpillar, they can break through/find their way out of any difficult circumstances. They might look fragile but are not because finally they are meant to transform into a butterfly. They can easily cut out toxic people from their life and can leave toxic situations behind for their own sake. They are not the ones to sit back and see their life unfolding before their eyes but the ones to come forward and take charge. They have good problem solving skills and they also like abstract concepts. They also seem very airy and fiery to me. They are very multi-talented and prosperous. They are very fertile and fiercely protective of their loved ones because hawthorn represents fertility and protection.

Person B - Moth and Maple

This person is full of wisdom and inner strength. They life is full of massive changes and transformations. They know that change is inevitable so they are not afraid when their life turns upside down. Like moths, they might appear dull or have dark feminine/dark masculine characteristics. They might have sharp features to their face or dark hair. Just like moths are attracted to light, they might be attracted towards beauty. Now, for every person it would be different, some are attracted to outer beauty while some are attracted to inner beauty while some, both. They are also someone who always look tired, has a lot of burden/responsibility on their shoulders because their whole life seems to go on non-stop and whatever they are doing, there's not much relaxation in it. They could also be interested in astrology and spirituality with the maple tree here and there are full of knowledge and wisdom. They are into deep conversations and don't like small talk. Very scorpionic/plutonian energy. They might also be very picky/choosy with people.

Connection of Person A & B

They would definitely be a power couple because they have the same outlook towards 'Change.' They, together would stand so strong like pillars with each other when things are bad. They would inculcate same values in their offsprings if they marry. You both could meet at workplace or you both are into the same line of work. You guys are made out of the same fabric. It is just that one has more experience than the other one(could also be superior-subordinate at work).

This was all I got for you, my dear Pile 2.

Love, light, hope and peace to you..🌺🌻🌼

Pile 3

Person A - Bear and Cactus

Welcome to your reading Pile 3.

This person is very resourceful but they could also be lazy. I'm also getting that they work out a lot and have build a lot of muscles, they have good physical strength. They could also have broad shoulders and broad chest area. From the outside, they might appear very rough and tough, but from the inside they are like a cuddly soft teddy bear. They might give the best hugs. They are very soft from the inside, might be actually very emotional too. They are also very protective of their loved ones and they stand like a protective shield for their own people and belongings. Nobody would want to mess with them. They might also have a lot of wisdom and experience. Major Taurus, Leo, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra and Pisces energy. They are known for their courage, confidence and leadership qualities. They are very practical and can come up with good solutions to problems. They might also like good food. With the cactus here, again(I need not say much), they are known for their strength, protectiveness, resilience, perseverance and endurance. Just like the Cactus, they have a strong and tough outer appearance but are soft from the inside. Their appearance might intimidate a lot of people and so people might be afraid to strike up a conversation with them.

Person B - Squirrel and Gulmohar

This person is known for its adaptability, resourcefulness, playfulness and organisational abilities. They are very clever and smart. They know all the tricks of the trade. Their movements could be very quick and fast just like the squirrel. They could also be very mischievous. They have a great foresight and it's not easy to get a hold of them. They are very active and can't get themselves to be at one place all the time. They are always doing some or the other thing, a busy bee. They like variety in life. They don't like to be boring or get bored, so they are always surrounded by people who match their craze. They like excitement, fun and travelling. Major Libra, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius energy. They could also have a great sense of humour or their humour is broken. Their physique could be petite and small but that is just a facade, don't go on their looks, they can build or bring an whole empire down with that little body. I'm also getting a cat's energy here. So much similarity. Like the gulmohar, they are very vibrant and are known for their beauty and grace.

Connection of Person A & B

Both are quite similar in resourcefulness but also quite the opposite otherwise. One is funny and the other one is serious. Tall-short couple or it could be that one is plump and the other one is skinny. Person A could be very protective of Person B. Person B will bring a lot of fun and adventure in Person A's life. Person A will show Person B that being at home can also be good too, cozy and warm. They bring different things to the table so they'll have to adjust with one another. They might have arguments sometimes but they need to look at the bright side of their relationship.

This was all I got for you, my dear Pile 3.

Love, light, hope and peace to you..🌺🌻🌼

Pile 4

Person A - Crow and Lavender

Welcome to your reading Pile 4.

This person is so clever and witchy. They always keep a poker face/resting b**** face. They might be into astrology, tarot, witchcraft, wicca, paganism and spirituality, could also be their main profession. They could also be into healing professions such as Reiki, therapy, counselling, crystal healing, etc.. They have very unique or different(different from their community) firm beliefs and a standoffish personality. People might consider them weird or awkward so this person A is misunderstood a lot. They might have heavy Gemini, Aquarius, Pisces, Scorpio, 8th House/12th House placements. They appear intimidating to some people while very intriguing to others. They have this mysterious aura around them. So much goth vibes. They are into dark humor. They could also be a bit closed off or very picky or choosy. They have this huge contrast in their personality such as they could be very secretive, shy or quiet but could also be very talkative with people close to them or they can take a stand for themselves and others. They can communicate their emotions very well. They are a good blend of logic and emotions. The crow is also associated with the third eye and crown chakra, so these people have great wisdom and intuition and can work as a spiritual medium such as a tarot card reader, shaman, tantrik, exorcist etc. They can either use their speech for enlightenment or manipulation. Lavender represents innocence, silence, purity, devotion, peace and calmness. They remain calm unless they're provoked. Purple color of lavender also represents the third eye chakra.

Person B - Sparrow and Eucalyptus

Person B This person is very positive and cheerful, very hard working, but at the same time also very chill. They know how to relax even in a busy schedule. They are very community oriented people because sparrows work in their community and they live in harmony with each other and are very social. They are a symbol of good luck, hope, joy and harmony. They could also be very funny and talkative. These people have this good blend of fire, air and earth signs. They are very sociable as well as reliable. They could have a sweet speech or could be good singers. They might also be a musician or like to play instruments. They are like a good luck charm for many people. They might also be very extroverted and sturdy. They don't give up on things easily. They are hopeful, productive and goal-oriented, very materialistic but very kind and helpful. They might even offer good advice to people. Like the eucalyptus tree, they are very strong, protective and abundant as well. They are a go getter and also strive hard to get things done. They might also like travelling a lot. Their career could be related to travel and tourism.

Connection of Person A & B

You guys are like earth and water, different from each other but you both compliment each other, you need each other. Person B could be mesmerized by Person A's mysterious aura, intuition and uniqueness. Person A could love how funny, community oriented, hard working, kind and traditional Person B is. There is a mutual respect for each other's talents and gifts. You guys balance each other well.

This was all I got for you, my dear Pile 4.

Love, light, hope and peace to you..🌺🌻🌼

Thank you so much for being here. I post PAC readings every Tuesday and Friday. Do love and support by reblogging, liking or following.

———————————♡ ♡ ♡———————————

[toomanytookas]

A Fic Menu for Friendship!

My cherished @schnarfer. How wonderful that our little pieces of the internet intersected such that we could meet. It really does feel like I've known you always sometimes...

And how delightful it has been to be a bit of a garçon de cuisine in your kitchen as of late! Inspired by our convo about reclists as pairing menus, for the @swiftiscruff friendship exchange^ I've whipped up a very non-serious one (liberties absolutely taken with the genre) that is a riff on your masterlist and its wonderful contents. 🖤✨

For increased accessibility/given that tumblr can sometimes be weird with images, text of the menu with some formatting preserved is available below the cut! I haven't included links because they're all findable via Al's masterlist; see above!

^Thank you to Cat and Han for creating this event! It's been so lovely to see everyone's posts.

Cafe Schnarfer

Beautiful works handcrafted by head chef Al

Tonight's Menu

-First Courses-

If Wishes Came True (3.87k)

The newest dish on our menu. A perfect tasting platter of some of our chef’s specialties: sparkling love, a character you adore but want to give a firm talking to, and endings that make the angst feel incredibly worth it.

Recommended pairing A healthy slice of cake and a cola flavoured lollipop.

Difficult (12.03k)

The first dish developed for the restaurant! A must for those who enjoy notes of instant chemistry, a bit of self-destruction, a lot of Fleabag energy, and hopeful endings.

Recommended pairing A strawberry milkshake, whipped cream vodka optional* *strongly suggested to make things a little messy, just don’t accidentally give it to the kids

-Entremet-

Purple Haze (5k)

An opportunity to take a brief break from our menu's angsty notes to indulge in a heady, vintage-styled treat. This isn’t your average op-shop find, we’re talking high-end fashion, baby!

Recommended pairing A couple of gin bucks should do the trick. Or just the ginger ale if you’re not in the mood for a buzz!

-Second Courses-

Go Your Own Way (10.87k)

A dish close to the hearts of our whole kitchen. A perfect selection for those who have fallen for a fuckboy and find it therapeutic to recognise your past in a wonderfully raunchy but still angsty story. The finish of this dish manages to incorporate senses of both sadness and hopefulness, making for a cathartic aftertaste.

Recommended pairing A warming Mexican hot chocolate. You'll appreciate how it matches the spice and provides you with some added comfort when things get achy.

Endurance (15.11k)

You will never forget the first time you experience this dish and will always find a way to convince yourself that you aren’t boring for ordering it time after time. A slice of spiciness coupled with a heavy dash of the forbidden add immense depth to a texturally rich feast full of historical flavour.

Recommended pairing A U.S. Army-issued chocolate bar and maybe a prairie oyster for the vibes. But then make sure to treat yourself to some actually  nice-tasting chocolate.

-Dessert-

The Kit Kat Trilogy (16.25k)

The dessert you’ll think about for 10 years and then come back for more. Save room because it is full of delicious angst and delightful romance that you won’t be able to help but consume whole. On a day when you’re low on time, you’ll consider stopping by for just another taste of this memorable sweet treat, we guarantee it.

Recommended pairing A full roast dinner. Even if it’s just for yourself. And maybe a glass of champagne to throw at the wall when things get angsty for a sec.

-Digestifs-

Dial Drunk (7.70k)

Let’s celebrate the end of our meal with lots of hope that emerges from some long-endured darkness.

Recommended pairing The loveliest hot breakfast you could possibly make, full of all your favourites and with plenty of food to go round.

Illicit Affairs (7.47k)

Let’s derail the end our meal with a real hot mess. Maybe you’ll wish you had picked the sweeter option, but, damn, you’ll enjoy the deeply achy ride.

Recommended pairing Wrap yourself in a blanket warm from the dryer for this one. And maybe have some water? The lack of flavour will be a good break from the intensity of it all while still keeping you hydrated.

I love you, Al! 🖤😘

[darkspellmaster]

With the Scarabia manga coming out next February, I'm also curious to see who Scarabia!Yuu would be a foil for. All of the leads so far contrast the main "villain" of that arc in some way. For example, Yuuta contrasts Azul, because he's plus sized, but confident in his own skin. Part of me suspects that they could be like Addie in my fics where they come from a wealthy background while being less naive and more aware of what Jamil is going through. Who knows at this point. I just hope that they won't be a Kalim clone.

I don't think they'll be a Kalim clone. As you said the Yuus contrast the blottee.

Yuuken vs Riddle = Follows rules, responsible, honorable, willing to stand up for anyone and caring. He's also someone who wants to see his team mates success. He's a leader, and holds his team to high standards while being understanding and willing to do what he can for others. Gives advice, and likes to cheer people on in achieving their dreams.

Yuuka vs Leona = Strong and determined, doesn't back down, cares for others and animals, kind and willing to let her skills/fists do the talking. She seems to be some who would fit what Jack would want Leona to be as a leader of Savanaclaw.

Yuuta vs Azul = Kind and caring as well as confident in himself as you pointed out. He's also someone who wants others to sit and enjoy a meal rather than run off, and share that food with others as a means of connecting.

Each seem to hold a mirror up to the person that is going to blot. So this person is going to hold up a mirror to Jamil's desire to be himself and covering that with a mask. Also, I think it seems to be a pattern where if the author is NOT one of the members of D6th, then the Yuu will be a girl. Apparently it's the writer Majiko! who did the first chapter in the Anthology, so the style is more cute and sweet rather than how Savanaclaw's is more shojo-esque.

So my thoughts come down to what sort of person would hold up a mirror to Jamil. If he is a mix of the Genie and Jafar, with a hint of Jasmine in there, then my guess is we're going to see a mix of Aladdin meets the Genie.

The Yuu in this case I'm going to say was a former Yankee, think Arisa from fruits basket. The reason I'm thinking this is because if anything resembles the same sort of master/servant deal, its the set up with the gangs in Japan. And it would give some really great contrast to Jamil in regard to reasons for hiding their skills and intellect. This Yuu could be smart, but they may be hiding it due to the way they grew up. Like Deuce, they may have stepped away from that life and are now friends with a Kalim, who they're loyal to. Again think Tohru and Arisa. While they're smart, they only recently really starting to apply this skill and mostly are average or above average (Unlike Jamil's faking it) when it comes to schooling, but they're better than their Kalim and genuinely help them out (or want to as they see their friend struggling with their own issues as far as their back story goes).

In my mind they mirror Jamil in regard to showing real kindness and loyalty to their friends, and I can see them being protective but allowing for mistakes to happen and are there to cheer on their friend even when they screw up and help them get up and try again. I also see them being street smart and knowing how to make a yen extend because they come from lower income, They're diligent and have a keen eye observing others. But they have their own flaws, enough so that Jamil can trick them into coming to the dorm.

I think they're going to be cheery and kind, non judgmental. Physically I can see someone who would match Jamil's style in some ways. Tokyo street fashion, but cute over all.

I'm probably wrong on this, but it would make sense to have a "Street Rat" be the one to give Jamil a lesson in regard to being who they are and strong in speaking what they think and not hiding it. See the whole "Bee yourself" moment from Aladdin. This character would be confident in who they were and who they are now, and proud of their skills, even if they had to work hard to get them.

That's at least what I think. What about you? What's your thoughts on the new Yuu?

[calciumdeficientt]

oh my god please make some headcanons on nerds.. Thad Carlson..

Ohohoho I’ve been waiting for this one. Sat in my hovel rubbing my greasy little hands together waiting for a nerds request. Uuuuuuugh neeerds i love you nerds.

THAD CARLSON HCS

Holds the little bit of height that he has over Dan up as much has humanly possible. It’s all he has since his brother abandoned him to go warm the benches for the actually decent football players. Yeah he may be stereotypically cool now but who’s above average in both IQ and height DAN? That’s right. Its Thad.

Started the yardstick craze amongst the nerds, it began when he would slap one on the desks after the people he was tutoring inevitably fell asleep out of pure boredom -his teaching style is very much just shut up and listen while I recount the entire lesson verbatim. Then eventually he found that the sticks were pretty sturdy and good to use when fending off bullies or playing Star Wars outside of the library after all their lightsabers were confiscated due to the events of … the Bucky incident.

Thad is the nerd that’s least bothered about G&G. It’s not that he doesn’t care for it at all, he’s just less interested in high fantasy than the others. If he had it his way, their campaign would be on a shuttle fighting interdimensional space lizards and not picking mushrooms and befriending gnomes in the woods. He’s a total sci-fi freak, he’ll take literally anything he can get. Star Trek, Star Wars, the twilight zone, the x-files… so on and so forth. If he was a bit tougher i could see him really vibing with Tom about the grittier, more horror centric sci -fi classics like Alien and the thing. But alas, Thad and Tom are just acquaintances, in the sense that Thad is acquaintances with Tom’s knuckles and his firm grip on the waistband of his underpants before he gets wedgied so hard he sees the dark souls death screen.

He’s always had the lisp, it just got worse when he got his braces. For the first two years of bullworth he had headgear, which made him more of a target than any other nerd, he was glad to get it off but it was all for nothing. He still gets called metalhead, even though the metal is just on the inside of his mouth now. Thad had many many sessions of speech therapy as a kid to try and curb the lisping habit but it just didn’t work. He’s doomed to always say “thizzle thizzle thizzle”

Thad is very nearsighted, the lenses in his glasses are like the bottoms of milk bottles, if he was in a pinch they could definitely be used as a pretty stellar weapon. They don’t crack very easy which is good considering the amount of abuse they’re subjected to every day. He is usually able to buff out the scratches and still be able to see pretty well, but he has a few spare pairs in case of swirlies and other more unsanitary uses for his frames. He soaks the affected pair in disinfectant and wears a spare pair for the duration of the day. Once he’s out of pairs he just sort of shuffles around the school all squinty like Jimmy. This makes him all the more susceptible to bullies, so if he can help it he’ll cower in the library until classes are over, he’s always three lessons ahead anyway.

Has the most bomb music taste ever ( he mentions Elvis Costello in a voice line and real recognises real.). Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Smashing Pumpkins, Oingo Boingo. He’s got them all on tape, CD and on vinyl too. (Just you wait little buddy they’re gonna be back in fashion soon) one halloween he dressed up as Adam Ant from the Prince Charming album cover. That was until he was chased back into the dorm by the Jocks. Don’t fret babygirl they just weren’t ready for you yet.

[kaiser1ns]

KIKI KIKI i have a questionnnnn what is ur favorite thing about chika??

NYX MY LOVE , sorry for the delay but here we go !!! this is going to be like a selfship post but anyway enjoy :3

one of my favourite things about him is his eyes — the color and the form. i can stare at them all day and observe the way he expresses his emotions with only just a look: they widen when he is excited, narrow when he is sceptical, when he looks away showing disinterest.

especially love it when his eyes go big and he just stands there with no thoughts in his brain, looking like a cute small kitten.

of course, you would have guessed it ... his arms !!! i don't even have to talk about it, just know that once i get him to hold me, i am not leaving his embrace and he doesn't have a choice letting me go either. i'm also kinda tall, slightly above the average, 168cm (5'6") and chika is 183cm (6'0") so it's gonna be so much easier when we hug or kiss. wrapping my arms around his waist, while he hugs my shoulders. hugs !! from !! behind !! where he wraps his toned arms around my chest and i can feel his heartbeat, resting his head on top of my head or me hugging him from behind, my arms wrapping arous his waist while my head rests on his back. he doesn't have to bend much just to lean slightly forward while i tilt my head up and then steal a kiss.

next is his jaw ! i just found it so attractive for some reason, it's not too sharp just perfect. it's actually a little embarrassing talking about things i found attractive in fictional men because i do find them appealing in real men. neck/collarbone/jaw kisses are a must ! just appreciating every part of him and showing it in kisses, so many kisses!

i have a little bit of a long nails so it's really calming for me when i trace all over his arms, squeezing the soft flesh, scratching it, feeling his muscles tightening... i think he will love receiving massages, and good for him because i have magical hands, gonna make him relax because for someone who looks calm, he is very tense! don't worry baby, i got ya ♡

next his lips, those soft lips, that i can kiss every day and night ♡ tiptoeing to reach his beautiful and soft face, cupping his cheeks with my hands and leaving a loving kiss. kissing his neck if standing close together, as the height difference is literally perfect. surprising him with a quick peck on the lips or cheek by pulling him down by his collar or reaching up. when he smiles, oh my that smile im melting, blushing and giggling because he is just so cute i could nom nom him. i will always nom nom chika !

i'm not done with his arms. play !! fights !! one of my love languages is physical affection and i also tend to show my love by hitting and biting. so i launch at him with all my might, fists flying, slaps landing with sharp snaps. he barely flinches, effortlessly twists out of my grips. i go harder, twisting his arm back, and he responds with just enough force to match me, never more. i know he could easily overpower me, but he’s learned where the line is—never crossing it. i taught him well. play fighting with chika is my favorite time ♡

okay but his fashion sense, im stealing his wardrobe, all of it !!! he dresses so nice i would like to wear his clothes all the time, oh my god his shirt would probably be slightly oversized and i will use them as pajamas. mmm, yes we are the dress to impress couple, hitting pose 28 !!!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST his amazing and pretty long hair. i don't like men with long hair, but there are exceptions like chika, my pretty princess. i bet its so soft and fluffy, running my hands through it will be like me playing with clouds. playing with hid hair would calm me down in seconds, even making me fall asleep on the spot. occasionally dying the yellow tips again almost turning myself into a minion with those yellow painted hands. i love his hair and the style he has it (please bae don't cut it, i will love you no matter what but please dont)

OVERALL I JUST LOVE CHIKA, ALL OF HIM. he climbed the ranks to be one of my favorite characters faster than anyone, so he set a new record !!

(please someone get me a boyfriend because im so lonely and the way i cope is by liking and obsessing over fictional characters, thank you!)

[avelera]

The Artistic Courage to Not Have Hollywood-Ideal Beautiful Protagonists

And why I think it's a visible symptom of what visual works have artistic quality/integrity in general

I wouldn't say that having physically "ugly" protagonists means a story is automatically good but I think having characters (who aren't villains) who aren't the pinnacle of mainstream society's ideal of beauty is often a sign that more thought and care than the average has been poured into a work, y'know?

I was thinking this while watching my S.O replay GTA 5, where the three main male protagonists are average, at best, scaling to what appears to be deliberately ugly in their character design. Clearly, thought went into the appearances of those characters. They weren't designed to be picture-perfect male power fantasies of physical beauty. They're schlubby middle aged dudes. And while portraying the far more realistic and common appearance of middle aged dudes didn't immediately make the game a wild success, I do think it is a symptom of the level of thought and care in the game that makes it popular to this day.

I've been thinking of this phenomenon where "Imperfect Appearances = Actually a Good Story" with regards to works of historical fiction, and whether I expect them to be any good. A certain amount of "modernizing" of historical standards of beauty is pretty common, even forgivable, in most shows and movies but when a woman in a work of historical fiction is very obviously wearing lipgloss and has her hair styled to our current mainstream standards of perfect shiny long hair, in an era where, say, all women would have had their hair bound back, I tend to side-eye a bit and expect the worst.

It's not that women in historical fiction need to be depicted as ugly (though I give massive respect to any story willing to show more realistic humans in general) but when I see promotional shots where the women in a historical fiction piece are made up as if they're ready to walk onto a modern fashion photo shoot, then I begin to doubt that any thoughtfulness or effort went into their appearances. By extension, I begin to suspect that such a lack of care for accuracy and such a lack of artistic integrity or vision probably extends to the rest of the piece.

The thing is, I suspect it takes a bit of artistic bravery to say, "No, these characters are ugly and/or average. They're not perfectly made up for the runway, because that doesn't make sense for this story." I imagine that Hollywood is rife with idiot producers who see a woman looking less than perfectly made up and ask why she looks ugly. Or who look at an average (or even above average but not perfect) looking person filling a heroic role and ask why someone "ugly" was cast instead of some male or female ideal. Because my imagined (but slightly informed, I'd like to think) vision of this idiot producer is that he's some idiot bro with incredibly shallow taste and lacking any artistic instincts or integrity.

But he's the producer so he gets his way unless you, the artistic creator, push back and sometimes the creator (or costume designer, makeup artist, casting person) might not have the clout to do so. And there's of course pressure from actors and actresses too, I'd imagine, who likely want to look their best unless there's a good reason not to. But the good reason might be that it's not realistic to the story or (gasp!) the story will have greater resonance if the characters have a more average, or even ugly, appearance because most people aren't the physical embodiment of Hollywood perfection.

Anyway, this is just something I think of when eyeballing live action media in general. Does this show or movie or game have the guts to let people be average, be ugly, or even be beautiful but unusual? If not, my expectations start out quite low that it will have the guts for any other artistic vision either. It's not impossible! It's just a symptom I've found marginally reliable.

[shit-enmu-says]

Mun rambles:

I have a sort of crack head canon about Enmu being a trans man.

My reasoning is as follows. To me his infatuation with Muzan reads as gender envy. I myself had a weird infatuation and obsessive admiration towards people I had gender envy towards. That being said, I don’t think he actually is “in love” with Muzan (though I do think he is attracted to men. I write him as primarily gay, but occasionally attracted to other genders).

I think in Muzan’s case he’s confused feelings of gender envy and admiration with attraction, and would behave much differently around someone he was actually attracted to, in the unlikely event something like that ever happened.

Enmu is said to have praised and envied Muzan as he died. While I do think a lot of that had to do with the power and strength he held, it would make a lot of sense for a trans man in particular to covet such power. After all, Kibutsuji is supernaturally strong, carries himself with confidence, dresses well and is considerably above average in height for a man during the Taisho Era.

Enmu is also one of the few characters we see dressing more Western style. A long tailcoat is an easy way to hide one’s body shape in an age where binders don’t exist. Pinstripes are a way to elongate the body and give more of a straight shape. Not like I don’t use that little fashion hack myself. While I do think that after becoming a demon he gained the ability to shapeshift into a male body, I think he stuck with the outfit because he liked it. Daki was able to make herself look older, we’ve seen Muzan in a variety of different forms and even Rui, a Lower Moon was able to make his family of demons resemble him. I think Enmu would probably be able to transform his body to that of a male’s without much trouble.

This last part is purely projection but he seems very bitter about his own lack of power. He seems very eager to prove himself and increase his own strength which as a trans man I found somewhat relatable. He is the first demon we see who is that driven. Not even becoming the highest ranking of the Lower Moons is enough for this guy and I don’t think it’s just others he’s trying to prove something to, but perhaps himself as well.

Anywho that’s my thought lol

[loki-zen]

when and why'd everybody switch from corsets to bras? (I don't got tits so you might have to explain things from a fairly basic level.)

well okay so i’m not a garment historian but:

Relevant Background:

I’m not sure what kind of garment you think of a corset as? If you’re thinking of something very stiff and restrictive, then you’re thinking of something that was never everyday wear for working women (ie the majority of women) anyway, although towards the end of the corsetry era with the development of cheaper production methods and plastic boning a working class woman with a decent job might’ve owned one to wear on Sundays. Working women did wear supporting garments that were corsetlike in structure (sometimes called stays, although the terminology isn’t strictly differentiated) and these were quite practical to do physical tasks in so long as you had the knack of moving in them.*

Tightlacing (the use of corsets to achieve significant reduction in waist size over time) was always a fad restricted to a small number of trendy rich women and was condemned by medical and moral authorities at the time. Fashion corsets for richer women still might achieve a fair few inches waist reduction, but:

the primary purpose of foundation garments such as corsets was never waist/size reduction, it was about achieving whatever was the fashionable silhouette or shape (while keeping everything ‘supported’, including the breasts). Early off-the-rack clothing for women was developed in the corset/stays era, and the notion of taking a single shape and sizing it up and down makes way more sense when you imagine it in the context of the expectation that everyone is being foundation-garmented into the same vague shape!

average/ common-to-have breast sizes in European women (both absolute volume, and breast size relative to torso diameter (which is what bra ‘cup sizes’ measure) have increased significantly since the early 20th century.

So,

When?

Between the 1920s and 1960s.

This is the era when the bra first appears, initially just as an innovation in the design of foundation garments, which have always changed in form frequently anyway - with new developments in terms of available fabrics, shaping technology and closures, and of course for reasons of fashion (which are sometimes downstream of the above, new things often being popular with designers and trendsetters).

The new corset/stays is a two-piece made up of the new brassiere and a sort of underbust stays called a girdle, but traditional corsets remain in use for some purposes - they’re still popular in bridal wear for instance.

The brassiere in this era features various innovations in garment technology such as underwiring (a variation on metal corset boning that achieves slightly different things in terms of torso shape (and feel/weight distribution, but not in an ‘unambiguous improvement’ way)) and elasticated fabric (developed around the turn of the century, and a structural necessity for bralike objects).

Why?

well as usual in history, lots of reasons. A big factor was World War I, but not in the way people like to think.

There’s a sort of revisionist history about corsets. Many 20th century feminists (lacking in knowledge for a combination of culpable and non-culpable reasons, and doing that very common thing of taking rich women’s historical experiences as universal and primary source scaremongering as accurate reportage) liked to think of them as Tools Of Oppression. Pop culture - funded by advertisers who wanted to sell their newer clothing styles, and tbh ever-ready to imagine women as vain and useless and not having contributed anything to society until five minutes ago - was ready to back them up, and following this you get a lot of accounts that say the wearing of corsets was primarily ended by women’s liberation, which WW1 contributed to because it was the First Time Ever that women had jobs, which of course you can’t do in a corset. That’s an extraordinarily blinkered, middle/upper class view of who ‘women’ are! But upper/middle class women set the narrative, and their upper/middle class mothers and grandmothers wore very different and more restrictive garments than the majority of women, who have always been expected to work. However this narrative - and the fact that working did get middle/upper class trendsetters out of their restrictive garments (but not into the garments worn by working class women bc that Just Wouldn’t Do) - did contribute to the corset going away and not coming back.**

Moreover, WW1 helped kill the corset for 2 reasons:

during the war, the stuff to make corsets with was rationed/needed for other stuff to a greater extent than the stuff for bras, which use a lot less fabric.

after the war, which meant fabric shortages and rationing, a new look developed which allowed the rich (trendsetters) to demonstrate their wealth by being very loose and flowy. It lacked a defined silhouette that would have required traditional shapewear, so helped to cement the corset’s exit from the market. (This look was also highly feminine, and that was definitely a cultural factor in its popularity at this time.)

When people stopped wearing corsets, they stopped making comfortable corsets or innovating in practical ways in the design of corsets using modern fabrics and taking into account modern body shapes (as people have done with bras), so people are unlikely to find them more comfortable and be tempted to go back to them. We also stopped wearing so many layers of clothes all the time in general because of central heating, and (especially casual) clothing in the modern era has in general remained - for men and women - less fitted than it was in the past.

[noveldivergence]

Ottilie Khan

28 • United Coalition of Planets

Role in Story: Main protagonist; Ottilie is a human junior diplomat, unaffected by the plague and accomplished in her own right,  who is selected by the well-known Talomar diplomat Ka’lan Tern to accompany the team on a mission to the Nyari Imperium. She is expected to aid Ka’lan in brokering both peace and help to find a cure for the plague; however, she eventually begins to discover that not all is as it seems both with the Imperium and with what she knows about the Coalition and the Talomar.

Goal: Her initial goal is to help broker peace with the Nyari Imperium; this goal persists throughout the story, but is eventually superseded in focus by other goals. The next goal she faces is discovering and dealing with a sedition plot in the Imperium court, and her goal shifts to preventing another Nyari civil war, in order to persist in upholding her first goal. These goals are based in altruism, self preservation, and personal ambition simultaneously.

Physical Description: Ottilie is a cisgender woman of South Asian descent, who is shorter than the average human at this point in humanity’s development, standing at roughly 5 '4". She has darker skin, a prominent Roman nose, dark brown eyes, and black hair, which is long, but almost constantly tied up in a low hanging bun. She is thin and petite, with a flattish chest and few curves. She is not very muscular or athletic either. She has no distinctive scars or tattoos, and only stands out amongst humans for having pierced ears, which is rare and not particularly in fashion at this point in humanity’s development. Ottilie has a very practical fashion sense, and almost never wears makeup or styles her hair. She has a very clipped and precise way of speaking, with little room for misinterpretation but some room for offense to be taken from bluntness. Ottilie is trying to work on this though, particularly in studying the different ways cultures within and outside of the Coalition live their lives and formulate their ethics and morals.

Personality: Ottilie is defined by her hard work, persistence, and ambition. She is generally a decent person morally, letting her work speak for itself, but in past encounters (particularly at the Academy), she has not been above benefiting from the failures and missteps of others to help her succeed in her goals. Despite this, she isn’t one to intentionally sabotage anyone in order to reach what she wants. She is very stubborn in her beliefs and opinions, which she realizes is something she needs to negotiate within herself to succeed more in foreign diplomacy.  She often lacks empathy, can be selfish, is very opinionated, and has a prickly demeanor in casual encounters; these flaws make it difficult to make and keep friends. Ottilie doesn’t seem to mind this much. Gradually, and before the story takes place, Ottilie has been attempting to test and renegotiate her perceived boundaries, in order to strengthen her abilities as a diplomacy broker for the Coalition. While some admire this, and it has caught the attention of those in charge, her divisive personality has not earned her a great deal of friends from the Academy. It has earned her respect in the halls of the Coalition, though, which, at least outwardly, Ottilie seems to value more.

Occupation: Ottilie is a junior diplomat, earning her respect and experience in her field within the Coalition. She is not quite where she’d hoped in her career yet, despite being further along than most of her peers of similar age. While she has surpassed everyone’s expectations for her, Ottilie has yet to meet her own expectations for herself. This fuels her to go above and beyond.

Habits/Mannerisms: Ottilie has several nervous tics that are almost unnoticeable, namely flexing her hand, clenching her jaw, and blinking quickly when annoyed or perturbed. Occasionally, her hands will flutter unconsciously when she is flustered, but when she catches herself, her attempts to suppress it are almost more noticeable than when she just allows it to happen. She does not have any notable vices such as synthetic alcohol or drug use, nor any “bad” habits such as nail biting or hair chewing. Her mother and some of her friends view her love of traditional non-replicated foods as a bit odd, but harmless as far as “habits” go, and it isn’t looked down on as more than a quirk or curiosity.

Background: Ottilie came from a rather typical home for a human from the Coalition. She grew up not on Earth, but on a colonized M-class planet closer to Talome known as Caliban. Her father is an aquaponics engineer, and her mother is an agricultural genetic engineer. While both always had high expectations of Ottilie as their only child, they were very loving and supportive, never herding her towards one field of study or another. When Ottilie became fascinated with Talomar culture and cultural sociology/anthropology in general, they encouraged her to pursue that as a field of study; however, Ottilie soon found her desires went far beyond the scholarly. In her studies about Coalition history in interacting with new worlds, she kindled her own desire to do the same. Human diplomats were of course accepted to the Coalition programs for foreign relations, but few had yet to make names for themselves. Ambitious Ottilie determined she would be the first (or at least the first most notable). While she wasn’t as cutthroat as some of her classmates at the Academy, never choosing to purposefully undercut any of them, she also wasn’t particularly friendly with her classmates, causing her to miss some networking opportunities. However, her impressive work and research led to her catching the attention of several higher ups in the Coalition, who were specifically interested in her research into cultural immersion as diplomacy, as this method is non-standard amongst the majority of Coalition cultures. This is chalked up to her humanity and humans being more physically and mentally adaptable, but Ottilie’s ambition certainly stands out amongst her peers for her willingness to go beyond the standard expectations. When the plague begins, Ottilie is studying at a graduate school on Talome. She is front and center for the damage of the Talomar plague, feeling suddenly helpless to do anything to aid her friends, peers, and compatriots. When Ka’lan Tern, a Talomar diplomat of great note whom she admires, comes up with the idea to contact the Nyari Imperium, Ottilie is shortlisted and eventually selected for the mission to the Imperium. She is suddenly thrust into the spotlight of Coalition foreign affairs, with millions of lives on the line; part of her though can’t help but be excited about the thought of succeeding and all that might mean for her. A much bigger part is terrified of the weight of responsibility in her potential loss.

[jpriest85-blog]

Recently played @pdrrook VN Perfumare and fell in love with the setting and characters. I'm so looking forward to reading more of this story when Perfumare: Avulsion is fully released.

I'm now compelled to share some art and basic info about my MC.

Name: Violeta Reyes Liz Morren

Pronouns: she/her

Preferences: Bisexual

Birthday: February 23rd

Height: 5ft7”/170.18cms

Appearance: A curvy Latina woman in her mid-20s of average height, with a Bronze complexion and black medium length straight hair. She has an oval shaped face with freckles, hooded eyes, and a full mouth. Normally, dresses in classy feminine vintage style fashion in public with makeup and hairstyles inspired by starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Notable features: Violet eyes that she normally hides with color contact lenses, and noticeable dimples when she smiles or laughs

Personality: At first glance, Liz comes across as a very charming and attentive person. Which has helped her in her job (both at the perfume shop and her illegal side gig) and staying under the radar. Being observant of people and how they behave is useful for making a sale or determining if they're a potential threat and acting accordingly to try and get the best outcome. Especially if it's a situation where she doesn't always need to rely on her affliction. Liz is well aware she's an attractive woman, and she's not above using it to her advantage. After all, she doesn't always need to use Allure to get someone to do what she wants when a coquetteish smile, asking sweetly for a favor, combined strategic use of cleavage can get the same results. Although she does enforce a strict professional relationship boundary with her clients and suppliers.

While Liz usually comes across as friendly and accommodating, she still keeps others at arm's length due to her past. She used to have a pretty good childhood growing up and was raised in a large and loving family with her parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and a seemingly endless number of cousins. Until she developed her gift and was shipped off to the academy suddenly alone because of something she couldn't control. At first, young Liz thought that if she worked hard and could control her Allure ability, maybe she could come home one day. Sadly, no matter how hard she worked or how well she did all the letters she wrote home, they never responded. Eventually, Liz got tired of the heartbreaking silence and just stopped trying to reach out to anyone. Until Reed started attending the Academy and wouldn't leave her alone.

Now, Liz can count the number of people she trusts and depends on with one hand and still have fingers left over. Although with those few people, she tends to be more open and relaxed around them. Sure, she'll still smile politely with other people. She works in retail, it's expected. However, when Liz trusts someone, she is more expressive, genuine, and affectionate as opposed to the more carefully affable persona. She'll argue with you, cry, make dirty jokes, and ramble about whatever new thing she's passionate about.

Additional info & Headcanons

Both her alias and real names are references to brands of cologne/perfume. Her alias given name Liz in reference to actress Elizabeth Taylor who had her own line of perfumes, one of which is called Violet Eyes, and her real name Violeta Reyes came from Agustin Reyes’ Royal Violets cologne. 

When it comes to Liz's personal scent preferences, she likes using solid perfumes that have a fresh and light scent like in linen perfumes. Solid perfumes travel better and last longer than liquid perfumes and tend to have more subtle scents so they're less likely to overwhelm her sensitive sense of smell. 

Liz’s native tongue is Spanish and she became fluent in Italian due to growing up with Reed. Sometimes she'll rapidly switch between English, Spanish and Italian (complete with hand gestures) during conversation if she's very excited or angry. Normally Liz tries to avoid getting too animated in public because it'll draw unwanted attention, although there are exceptions like when an obnoxious customer crosses a line and she tells them off, or when she's around someone she trusts.

She'll also use Spanish terms of endearment with loved ones. Which makes things interesting for the various LI saves. Jewel and Laurent seem to be the types who'll become flustered, which would make Liz coo over how cute they are. Meanwhile, Reed, who's constantly addressing her with “bella” and “tesoro” is mentally agonizing himself on his save whenever Liz calls him “guapo” or “cariño” in return.

Since Liz was left to fend for herself so young, she had to learn how to take care of herself quickly. A particular skill set she developed was mending clothes and diy repairs. It helped save her money on clothes and repairs around the house over the years, excluding major issues with plumbing or wiring, as she doesn't have the training for those kinds of problems. 

Back at their Academy days Liz once saved Reed from an embarrassing situation when he ripped the seat of his pants by helping him discreetly sneak back to his dorm to change and even mending the ripped pants for him. Ever since Reed always asks Liz for help whenever he needs something mended or altered. Over the years, Liz started getting annoyed when she started feeling less like she was helping out a friend and more like Reed was using her as his personal seamstress. They even argued about it a few times until finally settling on a compromise. Whenever Reed needs some clothes fixed or altered, he has to be willing to do some chores or cook for Liz in exchange. It even worked for a while …until Reed learned Liz also be used to mend or take in Flavio's clothes too. Although, to be fair, Flavio rarely asked for Liz's help in the first place. 

Since Jewel and Reed don't get along, Liz often times finds herself having to play mediator between the two. Except whenever card games are involved. One day, when work at both the Perfume shop and bar was slow, the three of them found some playing cards and wound up playing poker to pass the time. Considering Reed is so competitive and the fact Liz knows him so well, he'd consistently wound up losing against her. The game quickly devolved into a childish argument between Reed and Liz, and in a bizarre reversal, Jewel had to play mediator between them.

Since Laurent is a fan of classic noir films, he was very caught off guard when he first started visiting the perfume shop and saw Liz wearing her vintage attire. Especially on his route, Laurent wasn't quite sure if Liz was real or a dream since she looked like one of those beautiful actresses from classic black and white films but in living color. 

[disabledinwonderland]

 Hey, all so I am on a bit of a David Tennant binge, and I think that as an actor and a role model for me, there are a lot worse people I can be looking up to, but seeing the conversation around him, it’s an interesting thing to see the conversation and to realize that we don’t know him. 

But this has article I found this when I couldn’t sleep and I now understand the assumptions about him as this article was a wild ride from start to finish we see that he is known as a very clean-cut, family guy, but we all know that wasn’t the case and that all of us have history’s with others and the one that got away and I have that and due to my disability I do have some other factors that I don’t have a significant other at the moment.

I also see that he has some amazing growth from Dr who to now and we would expect that of anyone, but GQ does its homework, and from watching his video diaries when he was filming Dr. Who, listening to the Confession podcast, and watching other interviews with him, and seeing Georga’s content with him we see that.   There are a couple of things that we see that he has admitted before he was married.

 He has Aspergers and I don’t know if this was a joke comment but with other comments, he has said it makes sense he would as he is honest to a fault has anxiety and struggles with imposter syndrome.

So, this is something that with the shoelaces incidents is a typical Aspergers/ ADHD due to sensory issues and we see that at comic cons and on camera he has talked about being over stimulated I know anyone can be over stimulated but the way he talks about it, it seems like he has had a diagnosis. When he received his honorary doctorate of Drama from his Drama college, we see that when they were reading out his academic achievements, they said that he was extremely above average academically and that they knew he was going to succeed in any chosen career.

We also see that he has a couple of hyper focuses this being Shakespeare and Dr. Who, we know that he has a passion for Shakespeare and that he is very passionate about it, we also see that he can cook and that they did show his flat in Cardiff that he rented out when he wasn’t filming Dr who.

But the one that stunned me and it does now make sense as Drama school would have taught him how to mask is that Billy Piper mentioned that he was well-known in the Cardiff gay scene,  I know that there are some people who has picked up clues but I didn’t know that Billy piper essentially has let the world know he is Bi sexual, not just a flamboyant gay man, and that he

[i]

I know that this seen isn’t really gatekept, and it is a very discreet place but it now makes sense to a few comments and behaviours that he has and one endearing one that makes him more relatable to me is, his being at parties and award show’s and putting his foot in it, this is something that I find I do as well it as he has admitted it is imposter syndrome due the anxiety he battles.

I am also seeing and we need to be aware we only see a curated version of him this is where Georga’s saying when he purchases new clothing or he parades them around so this is a kind of performance and I when my housemates do it after about 3 days it does get tiring, but we see that, he has a bit of an old school showman's ship flair and that can come across as flamboyant, and I see that straight men are now getting interested in fashion and during the lock down he did have the extensions from filming but then grew his hair I am sure he would have had access over zoom to hair styles but he has mentioned he does like the longer length.

Also, I do see that he has a non-binary child there are a lot of links with non-binary, [ii]people who often are autistic and we know that there is a possibility that in his private life, he keeps secret that he might use non-binary pro nouns but with what is happening in the USA and the UK about gender-affirming clinics, we see that there is a bit of backlash for adults who support their children, but I am sure that others in his life that he would have got advice and Georgia has mentioned that they are following conservative advice.

But I have left the links below and let’s remember that he is a human and has made his decisions and that most couples do go through some rough patches in life and it’s how they handle them but in being in the gay seen it seems to me that his wife was very aware of that and being married to an actor and keeping family life happen is something she needed to be very aware of, as when the children where very young he went from being everywhere on social media to not having it at all, we see that he does have a smart phone from him playing wordle and that you need that linked to Facebook but you need an account but don’t have to post and he has mentioned that he would be constantly chasing the dopamine high, and he mentions he often gets either into a state of hyper focus or where he can’t concentrate due to anxiety and being wound up.  

Also, him being so lanky yes, we know he keeps fit, but I do wonder if that is from taking medication for anxiety or stimulants for ADHD as we all have seen very ADHD traits and Aspergers/ Autism goes hand in glove with ADHD.

But putting this together and him playing gay and bi roles very well, yes, he is a trained actor but that’s a whole other blog post.

[i] https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/gq-tv-david-tennant-interview-doctor-who

[ii] Non-binary link to autism - Neuroscience News

[ileovwonyo]

Merry Christmas🎄❤️ hohoho 🎅

Christmas Day is a celebration that goes past religious affiliations, embracing the widespread topics of adoration, liberality, and harmony. It fills in as a reminder that, no matter what our experiences, we can meet up to commend the delight of life and the soul of generosity. Wishing everybody a Happy holidays resembles enchanting that changes the air around us into an embroidery of warmth and euphoria. With every expression, maybe, we discharge a whirlwind of imperceptible snowflakes, each conveying a wish for joy and warmth to one another. It's a prompt that, notwithstanding different backgrounds and beliefs, there is an aggregate longing for satisfaction and generosity. The wish turns into a scaffold that unites individuals, making a feeling of fellowship that characterizes the genuine soul of Christmas. Hence, regardless of where your location at, I broaden my warm wishes of happy Christmas to you with a lively hohoho laughter just like Santa Claus.

In consideration of these circumstances, I present to you, my dear DIVEs, a special gift in the form of a photograph capturing my moments in Japan over the course of these month. December in Japan, unfurls as a charming excursion through a city that consistently meshes custom and celebration into the texture of its metropolitan scene. Neon signs become fully awake as nightfall falls, changing regions like Shinjuku and Shibuya into multicolored wonderlands. Also, the smell of road sellers offering warm treats consumes the atmosphere. The food evokes a sense of indulgence and comfort, from steaming cups of amazake, a sweet rice drink, to the irresistible aroma of roasted chestnuts. One can't get away from the appeal of Tokyo's colder time of year enlightenments. Choosing to visit Japan and have some fun with your loved ones is a great move!

The fashion landscape wakes up with a striking and eccentric matching amidst the colder time of the winter chill—the powerful combination of monochromatic and pink outfits. This well-known blend not just challenges the customary variety range related with the season yet additionally adds a lively and contemporary wind to the winter style. A light pink winter coat turns into an assertion piece when worn with a striking gray shaded head scarf that helps me keep warm, making a visual symphony that attracts attention in the ocean of quieted winter tones. For a casual yet stylish ensemble from head to toe, a long cargo black skirt matched with a basic larger than average tee shirt work out some kind of harmony among comfort and trendiness. The intensity of the pink and monochromatic tone revives the setting of Japan's road, making an easily stylish look that consistently mirrors a daytime and night time walks around the area. Accessorizing also becomes an important component in dominating this vogue mix. A chic MiuMiu white handbag with a hot pink high socks and black crocs embellished with adorable ensembles completed my comfy yet sophisticated look in Japan.

Wishing everybody a happy Christmas loaded up with warmth, love, and valued minutes. May the soul of the time carry chuckling to your homes and consideration to your souls. In a world frequently clamoring with difficulties, may this day be a reprieve, a sign of the straightforward delights that associate every one of us. As we trade gifts and accumulate around tables, we should embrace the common mankind that joins us, rising above boundaries and contrasts. May the wizardry of Christmas reach out past today, encouraging empathy and grasping in our regular routines. Here's to a time of generosity, where each heart tracks down its own motivation to sing with the delight of special times of year.

[morethanaloveinterest]

A Regal Look at Elizabeth Swann's Costumes in At World's End

I may not be an expert in historical fashion but I know good costume design when I see it - let's dive in!

 We first meet Elizabeth in Singapore, disguised as a native, presumably a man. Going to meet Sao Feng results in her having to remove most of the outfit down to this. I like that her hair is braided, sort of like a queue, which would have been more common here. I also really like the gag of how much firepower she's hiding under that poncho (and not so much the joke where she has to strip down to go in the bathhouse).

Female representation: 5/10 The first bit is 10/10 for being a very good outfit that tells us a lot of information about where Elizabeth is on her journey (i.e., a very prepared pirate). But then the whole bit of getting her down to her undershirt and especially being looked at from under the planks is pretty tiresome and a 0/10, so I averaged them.

Practicality: 7.5/10 The whole outfit gets a 10/10 for being the most practical thing she could possibly be wearing in this situation. As with above, the following outfit is pretty disappointing but I wouldn't give it a zero, so the overall rating is a bit higher for practicality.

 When they leave Singapore, Elizabeth is wearing this costume for the next few scenes. It appears to have an Eastern-style undershirt, with slacks and shoulder protection added on. It definitely feels like an outfit she cobbled together in a hurry and that makes sense for the situation (being on the run from the East India Trading Company). It's also I think the only time we see her wear armor until her pirate king outfit. This shows us how well she's adapting to pirate life on the run as well as her goal of getting everyone to make a stand and fight back against their enemies (her main goal for the movie).

Female representation: 10/10 Not gonna lie, I was sad not to get a full-length picture of good quality because it is one of my favorites of hers. It fits the situation perfectly and tells us a lot about her. It's also unique from what the fellas are wearing without singling her out as the lady of the group.

Practicality: 10/10 Easily the most practical thing Elizabeth ever wears. The only negative I can think of is that she might be hot, but she mainly wears this in Asia and then to the ends of the earth, where it is certainly cold at some points (it looks hot in Davy Jones' Locker but we don't know if it is).

Sao Feng has her dressed in this outfit while she is his captive. She wears it while she is next captive of the EITC on the Flying Dutchman until James Norrington helps her escape. It is obviously a ceremonial costume and is absolutely gorgeous. The embroidery alone is amazing, let alone all the other detailing. it is easily as rich and beautiful as any of her dresses in the first movie.

Female representation: 10/10 Honestly, the outfit for a woman who is currently a captive and mistaken for a goddess does not usually look like this. I would expect something white and billowy with a lot of skin showing (though obviously that is a Western view and I'm sure things are different in Singapore, but this was made by Hollywood after all). Anyway, I couldn't ask for better.

Practicality: 8/10 Being ceremonial, it presumably is not the most practical outfit for the kinds of adventures Elizabeth is on. It does allow her to climb up a rope to escape, which is more than I can say for most of her gowns.

And here she is, the pirate king! After taking a dip in the last outfit, she presumably puts this together from whatever was on the ship she and Tai Huang (and his men) take to Shipwreck Cove. And just look at it - it's beautifully made and actually has some good armor for going to war at last. It's perfect in every way.

Female representation: 1000/10 Our leading lady gets a costume change before the final scene and actually gets more layers? That never happens. She looks like the hero of our story and the king of the pirates and it's wonderful.

Practicality: 1000/10 Again, she actually gets to wear armor! In a battle! None of our other leads get that. It wouldn't do much against a direct shot, presumably, but there is a lot of shrapnel from the canons and I'm sure it would be some help against a sword. I can't think of another lady who gets such a practical change of outfit for the final battle.

This is presumably what she was wearing under the pirate king outfit. But of course she looks great in it. It's also more feminine than anything she has been wearing before it (even the other undershirt was more clearly a man's). That makes sense for her wedding night. Or the morning after, technically. It also makes sense canonically for it to be sunset but the mood lighting adds to the romance of the scene. I particularly like how the skirt (?) pieces swirl around as she runs down the beach.

Female representation: 9/10 It's basically like wearing a man's button down the morning after, but it is also actually her own clothes and she looks pretty without inviting oggling.

Practicality: 8/10 She's not wearing any shoes (except Will's boot briefly) and has a lot of skin bare for being in the Caribbean. It doesn't compare practically with the other outfits of this movie, but I mean I would wear it.

Ten years later, we check in Elizabeth wearing this outfit while taking her son to meet Will. We don't get a lot of information about what she has been up to all this time, if she is still pirate king or whatever. but we can see that she is pretty far from the proper lady we met in Port Royal. She is wearing a loose shirt and skirt with a waistcoat - presumably man's clothes above the waist and the skirt could be loose pants for all I can tell (there aren't a lot of pictures sadly). In any case, we can conclude that she is still bucking tradition even if she is now a wife and mother. Even if she might not be a king of all of the pirates anymore.

Female representation: 10/10 For a lady pirate wearing man's clothes, she looks pretty great - just loose fitting and comfortable instead of it being an excuse to show skin. Not that I expected otherwise from this franchise at this point (they've done fantastically going against tropes the whole time and especially with Elizabeth's outfits). A wonderful last scene of her.

Practicality: 9/10 Obviously not as practical as the armor, but she's not going into battle. It's a great outfit for what she's doing.

More costume reviews HERE

Check out my thoughts on Elizabeth and other female characters here

[sayhwaet]

Deep Dive

NAME: Beowolf 

BODY 

height: 178cm 

strength ★★★☆☆ 

dexterity ★★★★☆  

health ★★★★☆ (A pretty hardy type of man, doesn't get sick often. Doesn't go out of his way to take care of his body, but also doesn't necessarily live an unhealthy or excessively dangerous lifestyle) 

energy ★★★★☆ (Generally in favor of conserving energy, but he does have more of it than average) 

beauty ★★★★☆ (I think he's just about average for an Agustrian man. Not exceedingly, ethereally beautiful or fine featured in the way the Nordions are, but a rugged handsome feller) 

style ★★☆☆☆ (More function than fashion, and definitely not a man to make a big deal of clothing or appearances) 

hygiene ★★☆☆☆ (He's a man who travels with other men) 

SKILLS 

perception ★★★★☆ (Above-average. He likes to see how a situation plays out before he throws his lot in) 

communication ★★★★☆ (Surprisingly good! I think he's not afraid to speak up, and generally makes himself pretty clear) 

persuasion ★★★☆☆ (Decent. Would have to be, since he has to negotiate contracts for himself.) 

mediation ★★☆☆☆ (He's more the type to just dip if there's a problem, especially an interpersonal one. Laters.) 

literacy ★★☆☆☆ (He can read.) 

creativity ★★★☆☆ 

cooking ★★★☆☆ 

tech savvy ★★★★☆  

combat ★★★★☆ (He's all right)  

survival ★★★★★ (Knows when to fight, and knows when to retreat.) 

stealth ★★☆☆☆ (Unfortunately, more the type to make himself known.) 

street smarts ★★★★★ (Unmatched. I think he knows what's up. He can enter any city and make five friends before he gets to the pub.) 

seduction ★★★★☆ (He has a certain Han Solo charm that ladies find appealing, but I don't think he's particularly slutty.) 

luck ★★★☆☆  

handling animals ★★★☆☆  

pacifying children ★★★★☆ (Probably decent with kids, but not spectacular. Knows they need to be watched out for, and will do so unprompted. I like to think he played a mild big-brother supporting role for the younger folks in Sigurd's army) 

MIND 

intelligence ★★★★☆ (More cunning than booksmart or educated, but he's no dummy either.) 

happiness ★★★☆☆ (If it sucks, hit da bricks!) 

spirituality ☆☆☆☆☆ (Looks out for himself and the people close to him, and doesn't expect a higher power to do it for him) 

confidence ★★★★☆ (He knows he's got swag) 

humor ★★★☆☆ (I think he's more laid-back than outright comical or funny. Dependent on who's around, his sense of humor varies from boisterous in a group, to dry on his own) 

anxiety ★☆☆☆☆ (This man is so chill) 

patience ★★★★☆ (More the type to watch and wait how things pan out than the type to go rushing into things headlong) 

passion ★★★☆☆ 

nice         ★★☆☆☆     mean  

brave       ★★☆☆☆     cowardly 

pacifist     ★★☆☆☆     violent (His profession is violent, but he's been shown to be actively against excessive violence) 

thoughtful ★☆☆☆☆    impulsive   

agreeable ★☆☆☆☆     contrary 

idealistic   ★★★★★     pragmatic (Pragmatic to a fault) 

frugal        ★★☆☆☆     big spender (He's aware of the value and importance of money. I think he makes decent wages, but not enough to be considered rich) 

extrovert   ★☆☆☆☆     introvert (Such a bro, can make anyone into a homie) 

collected   ★☆☆☆☆     wild 

ambitious / possessive / stubborn / jealous / decisive / perfectionist  

SOCIAL 

charisma ★★★★☆  

empathy ★★★☆☆ (Tries to be a bit more detached, but can usually pretty easily pick up on how someone else is feeling) 

generosity ★★☆☆☆ (Doesn't give what could be traded) 

wealth ★★★☆☆  

honest   ★☆☆☆☆ deceptive (Generally very up-front and honest. I think it's gotten him in trouble more than once) 

leader   ★★★☆☆   follower (Can lead if necessary, but I don't think he likes the responsibility) 

polite     ★★★★☆  rude (Not outright rude, but I also don't think he walks on the eggshells of social convention much. Like he's not gonna belch in someone's face, but he's also unlikely to mind his p's-and-q's) 

political ★★★★☆  indifferent (Generally doesn't care much, unless he feels his employer specifically is going overboard, then he'll care – but only enough to tell them to fuck off and leave, not enough to fight for any specific cause simply for the virtue of it all) 

BELIEFS 

higher power ★☆☆☆☆ (I don't think he gives it much thought) 

fate/destiny ★☆☆☆☆ (Same as above) 

magic ★★☆☆☆ (Has probably heard of people that use magic, but I doubt he's seen many of them in person before joining Sigurd's army. Definitely one of those things that's for other people) 

soulmates ★★☆☆☆ (Wouldn't that be a funny ol world, if there were someone whose heart was the match to his missing pieces? It would take a lot to get him to admit it out loud.)

good and evil ★★★☆☆ (Can't really afford to be a dreamer and make a stand, and is flexible enough to utilize a grey-morality view of the world. There are lines he won't cross and won't allow others to cross in his presence, but usually he won't hold a grudge against them if he needs to work with them in the future. I emphasize usually specifically about Arvis by the way - he will be holding a grudge about that, Erica)

luck ★★★☆☆ (Referenced in his death quote, but I don't think luck as a concept is necessarily something that he subscribes to or relies on. He picks his battles according to his understanding of his capabilities, and that's how he's gotten this far) 

PRIORITIES 

family ★★☆☆☆ (I don't think much of his blood family remains, and though he might occasionally consider his merc buddies family while they're working together, it's a tentative relationship that he's prepared to leave at any time) 

friends ★★☆☆☆ (See above) 

love ★☆☆☆☆ (Would be nice to have he thinks, but isn't going out of his way for it.) 

home ☆☆☆☆☆ (I don't think he has any particular loyalty to Agustria, nor any other location for that matter. He keeps the concept of home very close to the chest, but I don't think he's actively trying to build or maintain a sense of home for himself. Like he's not actively putting down roots.) 

health ★★★★★ (All about numero uno, baybee.) 

praise ★★★☆☆ (Likes it. Gives him a big head. Won't go out of his way for it, though.) 

justice ★★★☆☆ (He'll quit a job if he thinks it's unjust, and I honestly think he'll get into a fight over it before he does so. Won't go on a crusade though) 

truth ★★★★☆ (Generally up front. Thinks that most interactions end up being business transactions of some kind in the end, and prefers it when both sides have the whole picture) 

power ★★★☆☆ (Understands that his fighting ability is what allows him to live the life he leads, but would never get drunk on power or the quest for it) 

fame ★★★★★ (Cant' be a successful merc if no one knows who you are, the confidence with which he asks for that 10k says it all to me) 

wealth ★★★★☆ 

others' opinions ★★★☆☆ (Like what I said about most things being a business transaction: he understands that most of the time a conversation is an interview in disguise. He won't bend over backwards to make himself more presentable or to betray his own morals, but he knows that his living relies on other people wanting him around)