#and it attracted a lot of very talented and skilled creators

[chickenstrangers]

2023 gifs in review tag game

tagged by @khaotunq (here!) to post my favorite/most popular gifs throughout the year. thank you!!🩵🩵🩵

I only started making gifs partway through this year, so there was a big learning curve and i still think i'm pretty newbie but it has been a lot of fun and it's nice looking back on how much i think i've improved, though i have so much left to learn next year

i am going to ramble too much because this is my post, fair warning, forgive my self indulgence

april

this was the very beginning, back in the photopea days before i tried photoshop (i am still quite fond of photopea, 1. because it is free and 2, for stills i think it's just as good as photoshop, but i could never figure out how to make gifs look good with its dithering system. i have seen some remarkable gifmakers using photopea tho so that's a my limited skill problem, and i'm glad i used it to dip my toes into the process!)

i only posted 1 set for abaab this month which looks not good but is still a very fun scene, but this was not actually the first thing i made (see below).

may

most popular: msp finale, tinn knowing all the words to gun's song <3

favorite: moonlight chicken, my first ever gifset and the reason i got into gifmaking because i wanted to capture the way moonlight chicken visually returned to locations and shots to underline its theme of loneliness being replaced by community, which is the mlc repetitions series

june

most popular & favorite: kiss me again (2018) and the lovely way june say's goodby to his friends (i learned how to add text to gifs for this one, and not only that but timed text! i thought it would get like 5 notes. it's very messy and doesn't look great, but i'm proud that i learned something with it, and i think its very funny and that's all that matters to me)

july

it's photoshop time now!! photoshop beloved you make such beautiful gifs and also you are So Slow and my computer cannot handle you.

most popular: only friends original trailer set

favorite: jimwen looking at each other set (the start of my most belovedest of series, the followup to the first ever meta i wrote)

august

most popular: part 1 of the can't i look at you edits, cool tones edition

favorite: part 2 of the can't i look at you edits, warm toned edition (i love them both but this has two of my all time favorite wen faces)

hey its my profile picture and also i find it very funny that the Os line up with his eyes, and the second gif i love how impossibly happy they look

september

my busiest month in terms of gifs, in large part due to only friends

most popular: topmew and fire

favorite: alanwen poetry edit i spent soooo long learning keyframes for the heartbeat effect and then the ghosting effect was a happy accident thank you person in the background walking past at the right moment

(i also love my charn laws of attraction set because he was a surprise favorite character this year, i loved collecting the quotes for how he speaks of himself)

october

most popular: only friends sandray finale parallel set (it is. very very close to 1k which is. so many).

favorite: he's coming to me edit because it was so fun to make for @dudeyuri

november

most popular: not me sean and black getting along super duper well!

favorite: moonlight chicken haunted house edit, accompanying this meta/creative writing thing. i loved choosing liminal feeling shots for it and i liked how the simple typography turned out

december

most popular: a little jim and wen set i am very fond of

favorite: the moonlight chicken new years set i posted today. i love this little chicken diner

hey look i managed to mention moonlight chicken almost every month (i swear, i watched so many favorite shows this year but i loved making mlc gifs so much)

and that's that! thanks for reading if anyone read til the end.

no pressure tags for some amazingly talented creators who have made some of my favorite sets this year (if you feel like talking about some of your highlights, whether monthly or not, because you all make so much incredible work and i'd love to hear about it) : @hoppipolla @sollucets @icouldhyperfixatehim @celestial-sapphicss @chinzhilla @krystaljungs @moonkhao and anyone who wants to, consider yourself tagged <3

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

'When Calls the Heart's Erin Krakow Leads Hallmark's April Movie Premieres: See the Schedule (Exclusive ETOnline)

HALLMARK CHANNEL'S "SPRING INTO LOVE"

All premieres are at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

Love in the Maldives  Starring: Jocelyn Hudon and Jake Manley Premieres: Saturday, April 1 Rae Parker (Hudon) has a very fabulous, single life that attracts thousands of readers to her monthly travel column, “Reservation for One.” Rae is surprised when her editor wants to send her to the world’s most romantic vacation destination -- The Conrad Maldives. She’s an adventurous spirit and staying at the luxurious Muraka makes it difficult for her to find the type of experiences she needs to write an article worthy of her column. It doesn’t help that Rae is terribly afraid of the open ocean and a hotel that floats in the middle of it. After a few failed solo attempts, Rae realizes she needs some guidance and support to undertake some of the challenges outside of her comfort zone. The Conrad’s guest experience expert, Jared Joseph (Manley), steps in and makes it his personal mission to give Rae the adventure she’s looking for… 

The Professional Bridesmaid Starring: Hunter King and Chandler Massey Premieres: Saturday, April 8 Years ago, Maggie Bailey (King) realized she had a particular skill set for being an ace bridesmaid -- and she went pro. Now she uses her talents to help brides navigate the tricky emotional and social dynamics that go along with planning their big day in addition to the practical. Her latest client, Alexis Shepard (Francesca Bianchi), is the daughter of Columbus’ mayor who is up for re-election. Alexis’ wedding promises to be the event of the summer with lots of scrutiny, so the mayor’s team hires Maggie to join the bridal party and help keep everything on track. But no one can know that Maggie is a hired bridesmaid, so she is introduced as Alexis’ old friend Maisie. Unfortunately, Henry Whittington (Massey), an ambitious local reporter assigned to the society story is sniffing around hoping to get close to the mayor for a scoop on the pending development  of local park land. To pull off her assignment, Maggie must coordinate three unhelpful bridesmaids and keep Henry focused on the wedding while hiding her identity, even as she begins to grow closer to him. 

The Wedding Cottage Starring: Erin Krakow and Brendan Penny Premieres: Saturday, April 15 A wedding guide creator (Krakow) must convince an uninspired artist and owner of a special wedding cottage (Penny) to renovate the rundown cottage to host a contest-winning couple for their dream wedding.

A Pinch of Portugal Starring: Heather Hemmens and Luke Mitchell Premieres: Saturday, April 22 When a celebrity chef walks off his show, prep cook Anna (Hemmens) must step into the spotlight and make the show her own, with the help of her Aussie cameraman (Mitchell) and Portuguese location scout.

The Spin Cycle (working title) Starring: Erin Cahill and Marco Grazzini Premieres: Saturday, April 29 Hazel Miller (Cahill) is a top publicist in New York City looking to build her empire. Diego Vasquez (Grazzini) is a top MLB pitcher who froze during Game 7 of the World Series. He also happens to be the guy who shattered Hazel’s heart in high school. When Hazel is tasked with spinning Diego’s image, it might be her biggest challenge professionally, and personally, as she takes him back to their hometown in Ohio to deal with what they've both left behind. 

HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES

All premieres are at 7 p.m. ET/PT. 

The Blessing Bracelet (DaySpring movie) Starring: Amanda Schull and Carlo Marks Premieres: Sunday, April 9 Dawn Spencer (Schull) approaches the Easter holiday trying to balance being a single parent while working to get out of the debt left behind by her ex-husband. Feeling overwhelmed, Dawn unearths a bracelet she made years earlier and stored away. She created it using four beads with the intention of using each one as a reminder to count the blessings in her life. As Dawn begins to focus on the good, her faith is renewed, and her life takes a positive turn. Thanks to the support of Dawn’s church community and the encouragement by Ben (Marks), who recently came into her life, the blessing bracelets help take her down a path she never could have imagined. 

Spring Breakthrough (Mahogany movie) Starring: Keesha Sharp, Demetrius Grosse, Rhyon Nicole Brown and Akono Dixon Premieres: Sunday, April 30 Single mother Monica Rollins (Sharp) excitedly waits for her daughter, Vivian (Brown), to come home for spring break, their annual tradition. Days before, after years of tireless dedication to her job, Monica is unceremoniously fired. To make matters worse, Monica is dealt with a second blow when Vivian announces her surprise engagement to Shawn (Dixon), someone Monica didn't even know existed and travels to The Gulf Shores for the engagement celebration. En route, she meets Clark Randall (Grosse), who also happens to be Shawn’s godfather, at the airport and an unexpected flirtation ignites. 

Click on this LINK to read the full article and see some pics at ET Online. 

[capitalmodelsuk]

Are You Looking for Architectural Model Makers?

An architectural model is a site map that looks like the building’s original architecture. Engineers or architects will make plans on paper before building a building. When building a big business or industry, it’s critical for business people to have a small model of the original building they want to build.

There will be a clear picture of the building’s exact appearance once its architecture has been created. They will construct this building model with the same tools and materials. The actual building can be constructed well if the model is constructed correctly and in accordance with the plans. Also, if they need to make any changes, they can put them in the model and check it before building the big building. As a result, they will need to go with skilled Architectural model makers london with a lot of experience.

These models are made by experts who have been working on building models for a long time. They will carefully and intelligently handle any architecture-related task. The model makers are so talented that they can make any kind of model and can also make models in two dimensions and three dimensions, which are in greater demand right now.

In the past, there were few model makers available worldwide; However, the number of Architectural Model Makers has increased significantly over time. The model makers are in charge of several models, including interior and exterior models, working models, engineering models, and prototype models.

They use a variety of models to create a one-of-a-kind statue that looks detailed, realistic, and very attractive, which should make guests or viewers raise their eyebrows! Most of the time, Architectural Model Makers take the ideas from each client and use them to create a new, one-of-a-kind model during the modeling process.

It’s not easy for architects to keep clients for a long time because they have to work hard to keep the models in good shape. Previously, applying thoughts and making any plans or models, model creators should examine about the financial plan with their clients first, and foster models inside the scope of the client’s financial plan.

We are in to such business since extensive stretch, and clients, who have given work to us, have kept a generally excellent relationship with us, because of our total commitment in the model making, and on time conveyance; which has made them completely happy.

The search for cost-effective, high-quality architecture to compete with other statues has come to an end here. You can get in touch with us right away to solve all of your issues with creating architectural models of high quality.

We work every day to assist our customers in contacting us whenever they wish to talk to us about business matters. We are architectural model makers who are involved in the creation of various models for large organizational buildings. Our customer service representatives will be available to provide you with complete information regarding the architectural modeling. Also, take on a few industrial projects to save money on real construction investments. To learn more about our architectural model makers london services, please visit our website.

Article Source: model making companies london

[not-poignant]

I just saw the bgreatest showman and i loved it but pitch black would adore it because your the only other person that canons/thinks he's into musical theater theatre in general from the globe scene from the movie. also does gwyn ever use a compass? cause i've had it in my head augus gifting him a very well designed engraved compass and i'm like...but would he like it though?? . oh and does eran like mild to moderate or heavy eye kohl?? and thank you for your writing i love it and your so nice

Hiya anon!

Omg Pitch would adore that film in SAL. I’m pretty sure that Barnum and Hugh Jackman like, unified in a movie, would be very inspirational for him. (SAL Pitch and his love of musical theatre foreverrrr - I’m also not the only other person that has headcanoned this! Back years ago now, like immediately after the movie came out and in the months that followed, there was a lot of people in the tags who headcanoned this - at least 100 - possibly in the hundreds with the amount of people who reblogged / liked those threads specifically. There were memes, there were stories, there was fanart of Pitch teaching Jack how to dance in a musical theatre way. Lol.

It’s tragic to think it comes across like I’m the only one who headcanons it now, but the fandom is pretty dead these days compared to back then, when there was all this meta. You could find at least five (5) posts that talked at length about who his musical inspirations were even, like, Gene Kelly, Astaire, that choreographer whose name I always forget but was really famous back in the 50s I think etc. Like folks got way more into confirming that headcanon than I did. I actually just followed fandom there, since they pointed it out to me first, and it made a lot of sense, since he was using actual moves from vintage films).

That landscape of the Rise of the Guardians fandom was extremely different back then compared to how it is now. The depth and level of the meta paralleled huge fandoms like Marvel. There was a boom of doujinshi. A good meta post could get 1,000 notes. Good gif posts would get thousands. You had to go into the RotG/Rise of the Guardians tag twice a day if you wanted to keep up with it, and there was almost no crossovers with any other fandom because Frozen hadn’t come out yet. People argued about how there was no way that Pitch or Jack could ever have a healthy relationship and so people should always say that the relationship was bad and wrong even if they enjoyed it, which was like, gestational anti bullshit, but very amusing.

So trust me when I say you and I are not the only ones who headcanoned that re: Pitch. It was a thing. Sort of like calling Emily ‘Seraphina.’ There was a time when that was just…canon. Not even ‘a headcanon where a lot of people disagreed.’ Was a time when no one disagreed, because there were no names and a popular post went around hinting that Joyce had confirmed Seraphina, which was all the fire the fandom needed lol.

Gwyn has compasses, many of them (they are given to him as gifts) and he occasionally uses one, but he’s not super attached to them and he has a habit of losing them or forgetting to use one. I think he would have used one a lot more when he was younger?

As for Eran, he wears kohl on his upper and lower eyelids but it’s not a smoky looked (it is winged though). This is a good example without the wing.

[khizuo]

Alright tumblr, for the last time I'm explaining why "just watch ponk!" is a shit counterargument to those who point out that there are not a lot of creators of color on the dream smp.

First of all, why the fuck are people so set on the idea that poc creators would just be "diversity hires"? does this make hannahxxrose and eret "diversity hires"? There are talented creators of color out there, some of who get more views than Michaelmcchill and Foolish got before they joined the dsmp? Creators who are known for their personality and minecraft skills? Creators who are friends with dream smp members? I mean, Crumb? Tapl? Eryn Cyberonix???

Second point: there's this cognitive bias known as the bandwagon effect, where ideas get more popular the more that people adopt them. while this doesn't exactly 1 to 1 apply to celebrity fame, it's a fact that people who are famous tend to attract more fame quicker, for themselves and their immediate circle. the first thousand youtube subscribers is the hardest to gain, you know, that kind of shit. small creators such as foolish, puffy, etc. have seen a MASSIVE boost in popularity and visibility since joining the dream smp, much more than a twitter thread or tumblr post of creators of color can provide.

additionally, there is the issue of whiteness being the status quo pretty much everywhere. people of color always have to carve out their own spaces for themselves, and they pretty much always have to work much harder than white people to achieve success. creators of color on the internet, especially black and indigenous creators, face a ton of internet bias against them from the very start, down to the fucking algorithm. this is even more prominent in the gaming community than it is in some other online communities. it's not a coincidence that most of the most popular youtubers are white. it's not a coincidence that white streamers on average get a lot more viewers than streamers of color. and it's not a fucking coincidence that ponk gets way less views than most other people on the dream smp.

here's the thing, though: I'm not saying that dream adding more creators of color solves this issue. it won't. this is a systemic issue and the only true solution is the dismantling of whiteness itself.

but. think of the exposure creators of color who are added to the smp will get. think of the way their viewer numbers will increase. think of the way these creators may in turn bring more attention and viewership to their own side of mcyt. think of the possible friendships that may be built between members of the dream smp and these creators, should they not already be friends. think of how the talent of these creators will finally be increasingly recognized.

there will probably still be a disparity, because white supremacy and colorism is baked into every aspect of life. the real sign of successful anti-racism will be when a minecraft series run by a creator of color featuring predominantly creators of color eclipses the dream smp in popularity. again, I don't pretend that more creators of color being added to the dream smp is the solution to whiteness being the status quo in the gaming community. I simply don't pretend that watching ponk is the solution, either.

in the here and now, talented creators of color are out there to be recognized. and they are not, because everyone has an in-built bias towards whiteness. adding creators of color to the smp is a recognition of their talent, not a gesture of patronization.

anyways, watch and support black and indigenous creators. continue talking about white supremacy. change up your media intake. read less books written by old white men. ferment the revolution. and stop using ponk's name as a performative gesture towards people of color.

(also, don't think I don't see the fact that creators of color are considered "diversity hires" by the mcyt fandom while white women creators and lgbtq+ creators are not. just call us tokens and be done with it, beloved.)

[that-thing-that-feeling]

Do you think Charlie has lost a little interest in playing Jonathan's character ?

Like depending on his other roles and also he said in an interview he is generally attracted to more challenging and dark roles, and Jonathan in first season was an anguish filled lonely being misunderstood kinda vibes but since season 2 his character has been sidelined, and the potential we see in Jonathan's story arc wasn't well portrayed by DB. So maybe along the way he has also lost a little bit interest in playing this character with what so many fans finding his storyline/character boring.

And also he is not much included in Netflix functions or comic cons. Also his is the only character not added on the tudum website. He wasn't invited to late night, etc can also add to the factor of him being not that vocal about his character being sidelined and not getting enough screen time.

I just hope DB would do justice by his character in season 5,he would get more screen time and a good arc.

And if it is not, atleast he wouldn't be burdened by playing a character (since 5th is the last season) that the show's own creators are sidelining when at first in season 1 he was one of the main character.

I hope Charlie gets more roles that he likes, where his acting skills will be more recognized and his potential wouldn't be wasted in.

Idk if he’s lost interest, but I think he must not love that he’s given very little to do and it’s not challenging. There are a lot of reasons he always says he’s nostalgic for s1 and the innocence of it, but one has to be he actually had a role in it.

Like if you watch him in As You Are (his best role imo), scenes in Marrowbone, or Will in No Future or Kurt in Soulmates, do you really think he’s challenged by the 15 mins of screentime or whatever in ST, in which they just don’t give him a lot to do as an actor? Its clear he’s grateful for ST, but he knows he’s been sidelined even though he answered that very diplomatically in that British GQ interview. But It’s frustrating to watch as a fan at least, bc it totally feels like they waste Charlie’s talent.

I’d also love to see him given more to do in s5 (altho who can count on it) and get more roles that use him and give him a chance to shine and do his thing.

[goatskickin]

So here is something I have wanted to do for a very long time. A challenge so old that no one really does it anymore – an Apocalypse challenge. The basic rules are this (copied from the original set of rules by Pinstar): The following is a set of harsh restrictions the family must obey. Each set of restrictions is tied to a specific career field. When a sim reaches level 10 in that career field, that restriction is lifted. A single sim may only lift one restriction in their lifetime. To lift all 14 of the main restrictions, it will take 14 different Sims (and with Pets, 3 pets). Why an Apocalypse challenge? Well, keep reading! 

For one thing, I was a huge fan of EphemeralToast’s Apocalypse Challenge way back in the day. That story was posted on the exchange, but you can still read it here. The humor is outdated somewhat (was written in 2007ish after all), but I was struck by how interesting and chaotic the challenge was. Also, as a CC creator (I am but a humble Goat, but I do be makin’ CC all the time!), this presents an opportunity to no only play my game, but play it on HARD mode, with no BodyShop CC until the Show Business restriction is unlocked.  

If you’d like to read the extensive list rules for the  Apocalypse Challenge, you can do that here. But the story will explain the basic rules.

And so, here our founder: Hope Springs-Eternal. Yes, I am very clever.

My idea for my founder was basically “dark haired female with an interesting nose”. I have no talent for making sims myself, so this is actually a whysim sim, edited to have a Greek nose and a Picasso (aka asymmetrical) lip. I wanted a sim who had unique features, ones that may be passed on to offspring.

Our gal Hope is a straight up Aries, with a Romance Aspiration and a Knowledge secondary Aspiration. A nerd who likes to get some. This will prove strategic shortly.

She also likes red heads. This will prove to get on my nerves shortly.

The apocalypse has not happened while the founder is in college, so none of the rules apply yet. This is lucky, as the fabulous Brainia U (created by Mootilda) is chock full of career reward objects that will be used plenty in order to prepare Hope for the miserable life she’ll have post-grad.

Just look at this place! Stunning. Hope will have some of her happiest, least hungry and stink free memories here.

As you can probably tell by the first image of our darling founder, she’s in a dorm. She’ll stay in a dorm for the entirety of college, as to save as much money as possible before the Big Crash. Dorms mean dormies! Let’s meet ‘em.

Rishell aka Rishell the Eyebrow Queen who we will be seeing a LOT of as she spawns on Every. Single. Community. Lot. She’s also a Secret Society member.

This gal with uh, creative fashion sense. (no I will not be doing anything to restyle the dorm. Hope needs to save all of her cash!)

This blonde gu- oh and the steaker is already here, hi.

A red haired girl who will not become interesting until later.

A…eugh oh boy. Thought I had all of my defaults sorted. You will def see more of this kind of foolishness, sorry. -_-

Outgoing Hope proves to be popular with the dormies, just as I thought. Just need to prevent her from romancing any of them, lest I lose my mind.

Yep. Dorm life it sure is.

Here’s hoping her 3 nice points to hinder her too much, she’ll need friends.

So the great pull of Brainia U is all of the varied educational community lots that are chock full of aspiration and career reward objects. Hope will make good use of them to skill skill skill skill. At this here is Rishell again (and then seriously at EVERY lot), finding her best (worst?) possible light.

Community lots are also a prime chance to get our founder some much needed aspiration boosts/scope for possible spouses.  Only people a part of the family line can lift restrictions, so a partner will be needed.

Though she did her best to flirt with this guy, Hope thinks he is U-G-L-Y.

I also love this attraction mod I have installed; agreeable is charitable Hope, it also disagrees with your negative chemistry. Dormie Improbably Named Goopy: “So…the secret society handcuffs…you use them for...other things?”

We will also be making use of the Hang Out inter – JESUS I really gotta get better at downloading CC…-_- Rishell the Eyebrow Queen: “It feels as though I was CREATED to just be in university, you know?!”

Good news is that the hangout sesh at this community lot will result in the first of Hope’s many boyfriends, Patrick. 

The bad news is AUGH my eyeballs. Rishell is too polite to comment on this dormie’s flesh toned pants and shoes.

Hope’s beau-to-be Patrick is a red head with the same purple eyes as her and some kinda silly facial hair. Uh, speaking of odd townified CC…

Cha-cha! A high-low fashion king.

Another dormie with a *chef’s kiss* great look.

“You know, I see you around the campus a lot, and I can see that you are pretty intent on making the most of your education. That’s pretty alright by me! But uh, I see you also making eyes on several guys. What’s the deal? “Well Rishell, my hirsute chum, I’ve thought up of a plan: it seems when I go on dates that my mood, even my biological needs, seem to fall away afterwards. I feel great! Energized even! I have been using the subsequent boost in my well-being after these trysts to study for longer, to learn more. I’m calling it bio-hacking. I can choose how I feel! I am strongly considering going for a Psychology major, and revolving my thesis around this theory.”

“Okay first of all I know what hirsute means you ass, my eyebrows are a sartorial choice; not like YOU would know anything about looking editorial Ms. Big Pants Little Shirt. Thirdly –“

Dorm life continues around our founder. Good thing several community lots have showers to use.

Hope has been indeed using the mood and asp boost from scored dates to skill skill skill. The skilling also sometimes provides a little aspiration boost as well (thank you Knowledge Secondary!).

Yes – the face of our beloved know-it-all.

Spousal candidate Patrick agrees to a date at the ichthyology lab…

…and it promptly ends, as genius over here forgot that she has to go to class.

“GOD she’s hot when she’s bad at planning *swoon*”

While Hope skills and dates and goes to class, dorm life continues to be chaotic and stupid.

“…hello? Is that.....snoring?...in the shower?”

Yep all normal dormie stuff here, move along.

What Hope is not good at, is Drama professors. Looks like she’s getting her A’s the old-fashioned way.

Another huge advantage of dates is the after-date gift! Sold and thank you Patrick.

…….goddamn repositoried CC, ffs

Freestyling for Tips is an okay (but not great) way to get $$$.

Agreeable Skyler continues to heart fart over Hope. Hope skills away, oblivious.

Patrick is still a thing, as is our streaker.

Dormies continue to do poorly at staying alive, boop boop.

“Listen – I’m into you. The fursuit is absolutely doing it for me. If you are game, I would like to slam you down like an underdog sumo wrestler with nothing left to lose. What do you say?”

*closes book gently* “Where is your room and how fast can you unzip me out of this”

Hope’s tiny dorm room provides little WooHoo opportunities, so a hottub on a community lot it is.

Truly, a beautiful moment for her.

“I am TRYING to feed my weak human body’s need for human touch and connection, and you are RUINING our SPECIAL MOMENT, bovine”

Herd animal interruptions aside, Hope is popular as ever.

Here is the dormie who always falls asleep in the shower being grossed out over Hope’s newest beau, some guy who is not Patrick.

Aiyana (apparently): “EUGH why don’t you go somewhere private to do that?!”

With redheads still on the brain, this mail carrier is also in the running for spouse. His name is Hobart.

Also despite their differences, Rishell truly is Hope’s bff. Mostly because she’s always at the dorm and also always at EVERY community lot. Risshell hasn’t stopped having an opinion about other people’s appearances though. “Listen, the crisp button down is what I love about this, though I’d love a flattering color on you even more. Pink or lavender perhaps? Also the low-rise jeans with this shirt are a choice; but are they the correct one?”

Werewolf Hair Guy: “I mean, with abs this delicious the outfit’s ambitious what can I say”

Hope’s still as social as ever, keeping up with college gossip. “You did a little lock and key situation, a little tie-up? My my, I didn’t know you were of that persuasion, Llama mascot”

“Consenting adults do as they like. Now, this was AFTER the bit with the school cheer in my mascot costume -”

I do like the Gossip interaction, as it fulfills the “Talk to…” want quickly. Time is to be considered on dates, as it takes away from skilling time. 

Speaking of dates, this is Hope’s other boyfriend, not-Patrick (uh, his name is Phillip I think).

They were gossiping about this dormie – who’s chosen a pretty foreshadow-y facial accessory.

Ka-ching! Thank you not-Patrick.

Having Hope be taught by someone also gets her to know other people that are not her boyfriends.

The same applies when she teaches others!

“You’re going to want to pull the scapel in a light, quick motion, as to not pull on the skin”

“PULL-...on the ski - AUGH”

This potential spouse was a dud anyway. Too bad Hope will not even consider those not of the red-haired variety. She thought bubbles black hearts for every guy but redheads.

She’s still got a soft spot for Patrick though!

Good thing no one is opposed to a little couch WooHoo on the lawn right?

Also did you notice I gave him a little makeover? New hair, kept the dastardly mustache.

"Patrick, your vibe is ‘Silent Movie Villain Spends The Ransom Money on Athleisure’. Personally, I love it”

I mean I wouldn’t be listening to any opinions from the girl who falls asleep in her mac and cheese but…

Patrick dropped off a DJ Booth as a date gift! I sold this immediately.

Ooh, but mailman Amish Beard aka Hobart is moving up in Hope’s roster. He’s got skills, which we will need in the coming days.

Also I gave him a new beard. The “Amish-chic” look wasn’t happening.

Dormie life for Hope continues to be as disgusting as ever.

Hope has gained enough logic skill for the Science hobby guy to bust down the dorm room door and invite her to the concrete haven that is Aspirational Laboratories.

Oh damn! I didn’t know you could get money from these SSX3 gaming competitions. We will be back to do this again.

Hope continues to make powerful friends. Literally – cheerleaders are known to have 10 Body skill points. This dormie may be useful in the future.

*Rishell observes sartorially*

Though Hope’s Romance aspiration has proved to be very useful (and necessary for scoping out spouses); it’s time for a change. The mood and aspirational gains for Romance are good, but getting caught cheating is risky. 

She’s going to need all of the friends she can get! The gains for fulfilling Popularity wants are smaller, but easier to do in the sort term (Dance with Someone, tickle, talk etc).

What better way to christen your new-found way of life than to throw a party?

...and by “party” Hope intends to invite over one of her boyfriends and that’s it.

“And it goes sliiiide to the left. Sliiiide to the-“

“THIS IS MY FOR CARDIO, CRäÉVE THE CARDIO”

Hobart is cute and he and Hope are cute together.

She’s at least got that going for her.

I mean a smart person wouldn’t leave trash on the ground for everyone to step on/pass out next to…

SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO PASS OUT

Our girl continues to skill until her needs drop, meet and befriend dormies, and fall prey to butts.

OMG FINALLY

I have been waiting for a Secret Society member who is not Rishell to show up. This one finally showed. I had to try “Random Secret Society members” with boolprop so that someone would be assigned to blazer loser squad. I think because Brainia U is a custom Uni hood that the Secret Society member assignments had to be poked just a little.

YES YES YES

NO NO NO idiot!!

Hope could not figure out how to get in the damn limo so no Secret Society just yet. UGH.

“Wahhhhh….I wanted to get in the cool kids club, waaaaahhh”

“Um excuse me, I am trying to sleep, do you mind?”

*sigh* I am going to have her keep up the relationships with the SS members in case they want to drag her out of the house in cuffs again.

omFg is everyone a member of the Secret Society now?!

In other news, dormies are usually disgusting but this happened too! Shower Dormie Aiyana and Rishell the Eyebrow Queen had their First Kiss with each other! 😍

“The way you always fall asleep in the shower? God, it just makes me want to take care of you and protect you for the rest of our lives”

“Rishell! Stop! You’re making me blush”

And then it’s back to the regular dormie BS. Please note the roaches on the ground next to the passed out dormie.

SS showed up again and AGAIN Hope did not make it to the limo in time. AUGGGGH. If this happens a third time and she doesn’t get in the car I am still counting it.

The next evening, when all through the dorm, not a creature, was stirring not even a dormie sleeping in the shower…

HOH HOH SCORE!

*bawk bawk* “you’re coming with me!”

“Excuse me, I-“

God, good to know that if your sim is too stupid to get in the damn limo that the Secret Society will try again every consecutive night.

“The cuffs look good on you Hope. Has that llama mascot and his boyfriend seen you like this?”

“Shut up Aiyanna. It’s my understanding that I am being apprehended to be initiated in some kind of club. I have agreed to all of this. The little lockup charade is an old tradition”

“In the car SCUM”

“Yes yes, I am very intimidated thank you”

~~~

That’s where I am leaving it for now! Part 2 of college coming very soon. Credits to Mootilda MTS for Brainia U.  Until then, Carry On, Woman!

[covenlegacy]

What does a golden white aura mean?

A noble kind of yellow biofield is precisely this energy, which gives its owner purposefulness, efficiency.

The golden aura characterizes individuals with great patience and the ability to get out of the most difficult situations, ready to sacrifice in comfort for the realization of a secret dream. The extraordinary skills of these individuals are evident already upon acquaintance, and in the process of communication, their positive outlook on life and strength are transmitted to the environment.

Golden aura color: meaning Carriers of such a biofield have a set of leadership qualities. They achieve success even in the most daring plans due to their sincerity and charisma. The internal control of these personalities is at the highest level, they are as viable as possible, boundless in their happiness. The main thing for them is to set a high bar and always meet it. Everyone feels the energy of such a person.

The golden aura allows you to become an excellent leader who will be able to motivate subordinates and will be responsible for all processes at once.

However, some of the owners of such a biofield are gifted with creative talents and prefer to give them a way into life. In any case, it is important for them not to waste their potential on trifles, so they set their priorities almost from childhood.

Specialties in the spirit of an engineer, builder, architect are also good options for “golden” individuals, but they are revealed as much as possible only in large-scale activities, in government or scientific posts.

The golden hue is the highest manifestation of the yellow color. That is why a person in such an etheric shell has wisdom, high spirituality, and developed intelligence.

These individuals will be happy to share their knowledge and experience with the environment. In their behavior, these people are impeccable, they are respectable and harmonious.

There is an opinion that a person's golden energy can be obtained from a yellow aura with certain efforts. You can achieve this at any age, you just need to avoid bad thoughts and indulge in pure intentions. The natural stage of the evolution of the biofield is to first achieve a stable and bright yellow color, and then make the energy golden.

The light aura is very attractive because there is a reflection of something Divine in it. The temperament and strong will of such a person lead to discoveries both in art and in the technical sciences. There are a lot of ideas and projects in the head of the bearer of golden energy, fresh directions of activity are generated in a matter of moments. Truly, such a person is called the ringleader and the soul of every company.

In a working team, it is a real engine of progress, and at friendly gatherings it is a cheerful motor tuned to a cheerful spirit and positive.

These personalities will always be at the epicenter of any events.

There is a legend based on the claim of psychics that the bearers of the golden biofield have three guardian angels behind them at once. Each individual has the first two, they stand to the left and right of us behind our backs and leave once a year because of sins and sins. The third guardian of man is the messenger of the Creator. He comes to a person at a variety of life moments.

It is believed that such a bright and bright aura is present in many children.

At an early age, the owner of golden energy impresses his parents with his aptitude for mathematics or success in various creative fields. Over time, the individuality of such a person fades, it absorbs the ordinariness of the world and ceases to sparkle, and this does not directly depend on the influence of the environment or the peculiarities of upbringing. In such cases, the clairvoyant is told that the angel simply left the grown-up baby, so the abilities decreased, the radiance of the shell disappeared and the soul lost the possibility of supernatural experience.

It also happens that a person wakes up one day and realizes that everything has changed inside her. A golden aura began to surround the person. The significance of such a strange change of energy has not yet been revealed for sure, because sometimes such a turn of fate happens to previously not outstanding people.

The unexpected emission of golden vibrations by the aura may simply have been given by God.

In this case, a person receives an epiphany, the highest gift in some creative sphere, the joy of being and the upliftment of the spirit. His desires begin to come true, he is overwhelmed with happiness from every moment of his life. This surge of energy always becomes an incentive for art. The light of the awakened soul is sometimes provided by an angel who comes up, who becomes a messenger, a rare but long-awaited guest from heaven. He visits the personality for a short time, but if he lingers, a person with a golden aura can be considered a genius. And he gives his fire, his unconditional love to the whole world.

Sometimes the carriers of the light biofield face the problems of earthly life. Their dreams stop coming true, and they get lost on the way to their goal. In this case, these people should take a break, be alone, relax, return the spent strength and emotions. Only then you can start a new milestone.

“Golden” individuals are very demanding, so they tend to punish themselves for their mistakes and blunders. You should not do this, because every failure is a useful experience, a life lesson in mastering grandiose plans. You should never lose your mindset for large-scale deeds and achievements.

Aura of golden color: what does each shade mean The pure golden light in the energy speaks of the brightness of the mind. The combination of golden and yellow indicates the process of development of reason and intelligence in a person. The halo above the head in golden tones when viewing the etheric shell of an individual is a reflection of bliss. This sign also occurs in saints and mystics. The violet-gold tone of the human aura embodies the presence of the maximum degree of knowledge, perfect experience. A golden stripe in a green or blue aura speaks of love for a person on the part of his followers and students, as well as about the excellent spiritual qualities of the teacher himself. Any main background of the bipole can have a yellow-gold border in the shoulders and head area. This shows a high level of mental abilities. As spirituality is achieved and the heart is purified, a bright blue frame with glitter appears around this shade. It demonstrates the transition to spiritual consciousness for a long time. From the crown of the head (or, more precisely, from the point of the epiphysis inside the head), golden sheaves can enter the aura. This is an indicator of the activation of the third eye, work on clairvoyance. A thick golden hue, the darkened color of the sun or the presence of dirty stains indicate unseemly reflections of a person engaged in selfishness and vanity. At the moment of compassion, lights of a shade of red gold can escape from the heart of a person. The golden aura is the result of a holy way of life, gratitude from the Creator for preserving spiritual purity.

People with such a biofield have developed intuition, courage, and high self-awareness. They are able to heal themselves and the souls of others. Most often, such energy is found in experienced sages or very stubborn and successful students in something.

A noble kind of yellow biofield is precisely this energy, which gives its owner purposefulness, efficiency.

The golden aura characterizes individuals with great patience and the ability to get out of the most difficult situations, ready to sacrifice in comfort for the realization of a secret dream. The extraordinary skills of these individuals are evident already upon acquaintance, and in the process of communication, their positive outlook on life and strength are transmitted to the environment.

Golden aura color: meaning Carriers of such a biofield have a set of leadership qualities. They achieve success even in the most daring plans due to their sincerity and charisma. The internal control of these personalities is at the highest level, they are as viable as possible, boundless in their happiness. The main thing for them is to set a high bar and always meet it. Everyone feels the energy of such a person.

The golden aura allows you to become an excellent leader who will be able to motivate subordinates and will be responsible for all processes at once.

However, some of the owners of such a biofield are gifted with creative talents and prefer to give them a way into life. In any case, it is important for them not to waste their potential on trifles, so they set their priorities almost from childhood.

Specialties in the spirit of an engineer, builder, architect are also good options for “golden” individuals, but they are revealed as much as possible only in large-scale activities, in government or scientific posts.

The golden hue is the highest manifestation of the yellow color. That is why a person in such an etheric shell has wisdom, high spirituality, and developed intelligence.

These individuals will be happy to share their knowledge and experience with the environment. In their behavior, these people are impeccable, they are respectable and harmonious.

There is an opinion that a person's golden energy can be obtained from a yellow aura with certain efforts. You can achieve this at any age, you just need to avoid bad thoughts and indulge in pure intentions. The natural stage of the evolution of the biofield is to first achieve a stable and bright yellow color, and then make the energy golden.

The light aura is very attractive because there is a reflection of something Divine in it. The temperament and strong will of such a person lead to discoveries both in art and in the technical sciences. There are a lot of ideas and projects in the head of the bearer of golden energy, fresh directions of activity are generated in a matter of moments. Truly, such a person is called the ringleader and the soul of every company.

In a working team, it is a real engine of progress, and at friendly gatherings it is a cheerful motor tuned to a cheerful spirit and positive.

These personalities will always be at the epicenter of any events.

There is a legend based on the claim of psychics that the bearers of the golden biofield have three guardian angels behind them at once. Each individual has the first two, they stand to the left and right of us behind our backs and leave once a year because of sins and sins. The third guardian of man is the messenger of the Creator. He comes to a person at a variety of life moments.

It is believed that such a bright and bright aura is present in many children.

At an early age, the owner of golden energy impresses his parents with his aptitude for mathematics or success in various creative fields. Over time, the individuality of such a person fades, it absorbs the ordinariness of the world and ceases to sparkle, and this does not directly depend on the influence of the environment or the peculiarities of upbringing. In such cases, the clairvoyant is told that the angel simply left the grown-up baby, so the abilities decreased, the radiance of the shell disappeared and the soul lost the possibility of supernatural experience.

It also happens that a person wakes up one day and realizes that everything has changed inside her. A golden aura began to surround the person. The significance of such a strange change of energy has not yet been revealed for sure, because sometimes such a turn of fate happens to previously not outstanding people.

The unexpected emission of golden vibrations by the aura may simply have been given by God.

In this case, a person receives an epiphany, the highest gift in some creative sphere, the joy of being and the upliftment of the spirit. His desires begin to come true, he is overwhelmed with happiness from every moment of his life. This surge of energy always becomes an incentive for art. The light of the awakened soul is sometimes provided by an angel who comes up, who becomes a messenger, a rare but long-awaited guest from heaven. He visits the personality for a short time, but if he lingers, a person with a golden aura can be considered a genius. And he gives his fire, his unconditional love to the whole world.

Sometimes the carriers of the light biofield face the problems of earthly life. Their dreams stop coming true, and they get lost on the way to their goal. In this case, these people should take a break, be alone, relax, return the spent strength and emotions. Only then you can start a new milestone.

“Golden” individuals are very demanding, so they tend to punish themselves for their mistakes and blunders. You should not do this, because every failure is a useful experience, a life lesson in mastering grandiose plans. You should never lose your mindset for large-scale deeds and achievements.

Aura of golden color: what does each shade mean The pure golden light in the energy speaks of the brightness of the mind. The combination of golden and yellow indicates the process of development of reason and intelligence in a person. The halo above the head in golden tones when viewing the etheric shell of an individual is a reflection of bliss. This sign also occurs in saints and mystics. The violet-gold tone of the human aura embodies the presence of the maximum degree of knowledge, perfect experience. A golden stripe in a green or blue aura speaks of love for a person on the part of his followers and students, as well as about the excellent spiritual qualities of the teacher himself. Any main background of the bipole can have a yellow-gold border in the shoulders and head area. This shows a high level of mental abilities. As spirituality is achieved and the heart is purified, a bright blue frame with glitter appears around this shade. It demonstrates the transition to spiritual consciousness for a long time. From the crown of the head (or, more precisely, from the point of the epiphysis inside the head), golden sheaves can enter the aura. This is an indicator of the activation of the third eye, work on clairvoyance. A thick golden hue, the darkened color of the sun or the presence of dirty stains indicate unseemly reflections of a person engaged in selfishness and vanity. At the moment of compassion, lights of a shade of red gold can escape from the heart of a person. The golden aura is the result of a holy way of life, gratitude from the Creator for preserving spiritual purity.

People with such a biofield have developed intuition, courage, and high self-awareness. They are able to heal themselves and the souls of others. Most often, such energy is found in experienced sages or very stubborn and successful students in something.

The shade of purity, divinity and perfection is precisely this color of the biofield of a person with incredible spirituality.

The white aura refers to those rare energies that are not given to anyone from birth, they can only be earned by their constant development, growth, and knowledge of the truth. This biofield speaks of a high level of consciousness of the individual, his truthful inner voice, persistent principles of life and views of the world.

White aura: meaning The owners of such energy are remembered for their modesty, concern for other people, and mercy. These individuals want to serve the Divine, and they know how to do it with real dedication.

An immaculate soul, independence, wisdom and the endless development of intelligence are constant signs of the happy carriers of such a biofield.

The white background of the aura is considered ideal, because such energy surrounded Jesus. Therefore, people with such an etheric shell have a strong faith, they are truly religious. But even if such a person does not plunge into the forces of the Creator, she will find herself in the development of psychic skills, abilities in parapsychology. These people direct all their peculiarities in a peaceful direction, at the service of the highest ideals, among which they especially emphasize peace on the whole planet.

For people in white energy, it is customary to fluctuate from extreme to extreme, when they turn from the stage of sympathy into indifference, and a healthy lifestyle turns into the use of narcotic substances. Therefore, it is so important to stop them in time, to call for the true path of enlightenment and awareness of the environment.

Due to this uniqueness of the biofield, the question often arises, and for whom is the white color of the aura characteristic? A uniform and pure snow-white glow appears in those who have left worldly worries and troubles. These are hermits, monks, saints.

The white biofield becomes a consequence of spiritual achievements and cleansing practices.

Such people are very friendly and even lucky, because there are strong heavenly defenders and angels behind them. The owners of such energy are not afraid of magical interventions and ordinary life adversities. Numerous studies show that the white shell is formed after constant practice of transcendental meditation.

In general, the aura becomes white after the opening of all the chakras in a person. A personality with a snow-white biofield is integral and powerful. She has a strong connection with the cosmos, the energy of the Universe, which also protects her and gives her spiritual insights.

There is an opinion that a bright aura is present in newly born babies, because they have not committed a single sin and came straight from heaven. The angels themselves and the Creator have the same aura, because they have all the colors of the rainbow mixed into one, forming a pure white shade. Such a rainbow light is actually healing, and it heals not only the body, but also the soul.

“White” people are often considered ideals. They are absolutely in harmony with the world and themselves, balanced and able to determine where the falsehood is and where the truth is. There is no negativity in them, their consciousness is trusting and unclouded by the chaos of everyday life. These individuals are capable of self-sacrifice, they are carriers of unconditional love, higher knowledge and will. In some cases, during the transition to another life, astral and spiritual, a white border also appears around the biofield.

Taciturnity, calmness and the ability not to meddle in other people's lives are undoubted advantages that the white aura gives.

How does this energy affect others? People are happy to listen to the wisdom of bright personalities, are surprised at their delicacy when giving the necessary advice and determination. Such individuals are distinguished by sensitivity in everything, an open and honest look that looks straight into the soul. Fear is unknown to these subjects, they prefer a wide personal space where there is no external control, but only privacy is preserved.

White light consists of virtually all the basic shades. Therefore, it cannot be achieved with bad thoughts, constant conflicts and depressions. They strive for this aura, restoring all spheres of life in balance. It is necessary to raise the high energy level of the chakras for many years, only then the biofield will become crystal.

If a person suddenly has the ability to self-heal or treat loved ones, most likely, a white aura helps him. What does such an abrupt change of life mean? It is always a surprise and even a fright that needs to be subdued as soon as possible, continuing to work on its improvement. Closeness to God is the highest reward for such people for their work, although they are always in close communication with people. In fact, each person in the white halo of energy is a channel of spiritual energy that has passed into physical reality.

The thinking of such people is very fast, but the mind is not analytical, but intuitive. And all because cause-and-effect relationships and meanings do not matter to the transcendental consciousness, from where these individuals draw information. Nevertheless, the learning process for such individuals is easy, the data is absorbed into the head quickly.

Favorite activities of the owners of white energy are reading literature, watching movies, theater productions, exhibitions.

All these manifestations of art allow people to understand the meaning of life without interfering with diving deep into their soul.

“White” people are able to transform the energy around them, transferring it to a higher level. They are also able to tune in to the wave of their interlocutor, showing maximum empathy. What does a white aura mean in a person in this sense? It becomes the color of a chameleon, which, if necessary, tries on some style of behavior, thoughts, emotions, etc.

In the process of communication, such personalities do not like only assertiveness, they are also alien to mass gatherings of people. This is due, on the one hand, to the difficult process of interacting with reality, and on the other, to a fragile physique. Most of all, such people like a pleasant atmosphere with an abundance of free space. When such an individual loses his strength, he begins to adapt to the environment, becomes dependent on them.

To become a friend to such a person, you need to get closer to him in spirit, show yourself a peaceful individual who does not create danger. Among such personalities, however, there are still many self-sufficient bachelors, because there can be no competition in terms of intimacy with the Almighty.

The romantic sphere is also important to these subjects, they want to be loved enthusiastically, even through sex transmitting divine experience. In a team, these people take a place in the relationships of small groups, find themselves in duets. So they can separately tune in to the characteristics of each acquaintance.

Earning a living and taking care of primary needs is definitely not a goal for which an aura of white color is created, which actually means the need for a person who can take responsibility for the financial component of life. However, the “whites” still appreciate money, considering them as guarantors of security. At the same time, such people spend a minimum of bills on themselves, trying to be ascetics. Ideal professions for such personalities can be considered a doctor, guru, librarian, novice, psychologist, artist.

It is believed that the aura can turn white for a while. This happens after healing from a fatal illness or directly avoiding death. Only after the next following of life's temptations, the biofield returns the usual color color. This happens after about six months.

[cursebreaker-lilith]

HC List #4-Wands

Wand HC’s! Mostly focused on the wood since there’s more variety than with the cores.

Also if you have any suggestions for Ismelda, Skye, or Murphy please tell me, because I don’t have their characterizations down as well and I’m not 100% sold on my choices for them!

Rowan

Hornbeam “with a single, pure passion, which some might call obsession (though I prefer the term ‘vision’), which will almost always be realised.”   Unicorn hair

I had a lot of trouble with Rowan. I considered, duh, rowan wood, and I believe the former head writer said Rowan had a rowan wand, but I think hornbeam fits. Rowan has a clear ‘vision’ and goals with which to get it, so it seems fitting.

Ben

Black walnut “If the witch or wizard is unable or unwilling to be honest with themselves or others, the wand often fails to perform adequately and must be matched with a new owner if it is to regain its former prowess. Paired with a sincere, self-aware owner, however, it becomes one of the most loyal and impressive wands of all, with a particular flair in all kinds of charmwork.” Phoenix feather

This is sort of inspired by someone who had done a wand wood post then deleted it :’) Anyways, there’s the good at charms bit (Ben’s specialty) but also it just fits Ben’s narrative. He is not someone honest with himself and that affects how he lives his life hugely, so a wand that reflects this problem makes sense. Then a phoenix feather core, because again, Ben’s problem is he has a lot of talent but is held back by himself. If he were to shake off his fears, i think itd be a good match .

Penny

Alder “not stubborn or obstinate, but often helpful, considerate and most likeable.” “whence comes its reputation for being suitable only for the most advanced witches and wizards.” Unicorn hair

Saw the first quote and was immediately like Penny! Then saw the second quote and knew it was Penny’s wand wood. Unicorn because she’s pure .

Merula

Red oak “You will often hear the ignorant say that red oak is an infallible sign of its owner’s hot temper. In fact, the true match for a red oak wand is possessed of unusually fast reactions, making it a perfect duelling wand.” Dragon heartstring

She fits that first part. hot temper, a good dueler, fast reactions, all very Merula. And she pairs it with dragon heartstring for extra power and ease to do darker spells.

Bill

Poplar “‘If you seek integrity, search first among the poplars,’ was a great maxim of my grandfather, Gerbold Ollivander, and my own experience of poplar wands and their owners tallies exactly with his. Here is a wand to rely upon, of consistency, strength and uniform power, always happiest when working with a witch or wizard of clear moral vision.” Dragon heartstring

It’s like Penny, I saw the description and immediately went Bill! Literally everything about that description fits Bill very well. Dragon heartstring, as its considered to do more powerful spells. As for some hc’s, I feel he’s one of the few Weasley’s to get his own wand just because he’s the oldest so he kind of gets everything new.

Tulip

Dogwood “Dogwood wands are quirky and mischievous; they have playful natures and insist upon partners who can provide them with scope for excitement and fun.” “when paired with a suitably clever and ingenious witch or wizard, can produce dazzling enchantments.” Dragon heartstring

I wavered between giving dogwood to Tonks and sycamore to Tulip but in the end I put dogwood for Tulip because I saw “clever and ingenious” and immediately thought of Tulip over Tonks (not that Tonks isn’t clever, but Tulip is more proud of her cleverness). Plus I thought of a wand much more known for mischief would delight her in rebelling against her parents. (I know the former head writer said her wand is meant to be cherry wood and a hand me down from her grandmother, but I like Tulip having her own wand. Fits with her sense of independence better.)

Tonks

Sycamore “The sycamore makes a questing wand, eager for new experience and losing brilliance if engaged in mundane activities.” “As may be deduced, the sycamore’s ideal owner is curious, vital and adventurous,” Unicorn hair

Like with Tulip above, both could fit either girl, but certain words made me choose these woods. for Tonks, it was the use of “curious” and “adventure.” Tulip rebels to break rules, but Tonks just likes fun and adventure, so this felt a better fit.

Barnaby

English oak “A wand for good times and bad, this is a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserves it. Wands of English oak demand partners of strength, courage and fidelity. Less well-known is the propensity for owners of English oak wands to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world, with the creatures and plants that are necessary to wizardkind for both magic and pleasure.” Dragon heartstring

Another one where I instantly put the wood to a character. With perhaps the exception of the “intuition” bit, every part just screams Barnaby. Loyal? Yes. Strong? Yup. Courageous? Deffo. Loyal again? Mhm. Affinity for natural world? Totally. And dragon heartstring for extra power.

Ismelda

Yew “Yew wands are among the rarer kinds, and their ideal matches are likewise unusual, and occasionally notorious. The wand of yew is reputed to endow its possessor with the power of life and death, which might, of course, be said of all wands; and yet yew retains a particularly dark and fearsome reputation in the spheres of duelling and all curses.” Unicorn hair

I had a lot of trouble with Ismelda. This probably isn’t what i’ll settle on tbh but it’s good enough. It’s sort of like her. Has a dark reputation but is much lighter on the inside.

Charlie

Ash “Those witches and wizards best suited to ash wands are not, in my experience, lightly swayed from their beliefs or purposes. However, the brash or over-confident witch or wizard, who often insists on trying wands of this prestigious wood, will be disappointed by its effects. The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant.” Unicorn hair

Charlie does have a canon wand for this period, which is Ron’s wand. Probably coincidentally, but the ash tree description fits him well, so I do like to think that the second wand he gets after he graduates was also ash. And a hc note, I like to think the wand Ron had was also a hand me down to Charlie. No way that wand got that bad in only 7 years, even if Charlie is a bit rough and tumble. Plus if it was a personal wand, why would he give it away? So, yea, he graduated, got enough money for a new wand and Ron received his old one.

Andre

Spruce “The spruce wand requires a firm hand, because it often appears to have its own ideas about what magic it ought to be called upon to produce. However, when a spruce wand meets its match – which, in my experience, is a bold spell-caster with a good sense of humour – it becomes a superb helper, intensely loyal to their owners and capable of producing particularly flamboyant and dramatic effects.” Unicorn hair

I had a hard time with Andre, but this called to me best with him. I thought adjectives like ‘bold’ ‘good sense of humour’ ‘flamboyant’ all fit well with him.

Jae

Redwood “redwood wands are not themselves lucky, but are strongly attracted to witches and wizards who already possess the admirable ability to fall on their feet, to make the right choice, to snatch advantage from catastrophe.” Dragon heartstring

I struggled a lot with Jae unable to decide if I wanted him to have Redwood or Fir. He always had dragon heartstring, but I couldn’t decide on a wood type. I liked them for pretty much the same reason in that both have an emphasis on coming out on top despite the odds which I think fits Jae. Anyways, I eventually picked redwood because I just liked the description in regards to Jae better aha.

Badeea

Walnut “Highly intelligent witches and wizards ought to be offered a walnut wand for trial first, because in nine cases out of ten, the two will find in each other their ideal mate. Walnut wands are often found in the hands of magical innovators and inventors; this is a handsome wood possessed of unusual versatility and adaptability.” Unicorn hair

I had another one originally, but “innovators and inventors” just fits Badeea much better than what I originally had. Not much else to say.

Liz

Apple “They are powerful and best suited to an owner of high aims and ideals, as this wood mixes poorly with Dark magic. It is said that the possessor of an apple wand will be well-loved and long-lived, and I have often noticed that customers of great personal charm find their perfect match in an applewood wand. An unusual ability to converse with other magical beings in their native tongues is often found among apple wand owners” Unicorn hair

One I took from that post mentioned above as I was rather stuck on Liz. But I do feel it fits. Liz is a Slytherin but is against the idea that Slytherin = dark, so that bit fits, plus she’s all about the magical beings and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was good at speaking mermish and such.

Diego

Red oak ”In fact, the true match for a red oak wand is possessed of unusually fast reactions, making it a perfect duelling wand. Less common than English oak, I have found that its ideal master is light of touch, quick-witted and adaptable, often the creator of distinctive, trademark spells, and a good man or woman to have beside one in a fight. Red oak wands are, in my opinion, among the most handsome.” Unicorn hair

So this is the same as Merula, but I feel he fits the second half of the description while she fits the first. A dueler, quick witted, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a distinctive spell, and I’m sure he agrees that his wand is as handsome as him. He however has a unicorn core as hes much lighter and nicer than Merula.

Talbott

Chestnut “The wand of chestnut is attracted to witches and wizards who are skilled tamers of magical beasts, those who possess great gifts in Herbology, and those who are natural fliers.” Phoenix feather

There was another I considered entirely bc it had like “mysterious loner” in it, but honestly this one sentence screamed Talbott to me. Like, he’s mentioned being great at comc, loves herbology and is one of the best in the class, and I would definitely say he’s a natural flier lol Now with chestnut wands, they change a lot depending on the core. But the description mentions only unicorn hair and dragon heartstring alongside specific descriptions, while the one above is standalone. So I’m assuming its meant to go with phoenix feather, which I would’ve given him anyways. Bird core for a bird boy.

Chiara

Willow “Willow is an uncommon wand wood with healing power, and I have noted that the ideal owner for a willow wand often has some (usually unwarranted) insecurity, however well they may try and hide it.”  Dragon heartstring 

It took me a while to decide between willow or hawthorn, both of which mentioned healing and insecruties. Eventually I decided on willow entirely because it’s a paler wood and fits her whole silvery aesthetic.

Bea

Fir “There is no doubt that this wood, coming as it does from the most resilient of trees, produces wands that demand staying power and strength of purpose in their true owners, and that they are poor tools in the hands of the changeable and indecisive.” Phoenix feather

While Bea has a big change, I wouldn’t call her changeable considering she’s sticking with her new style and outlook. And I would call her a survivor. Poor girl’s survived a lot already and she’s only 12. : (((

Skye

Spruce “which produces wands that are ill-matched with cautious or nervous natures, and become positively dangerous in fumbling fingers. The spruce wand requires a firm hand, because it often appears to have its own ideas about what magic it ought to be called upon to produce.” Dragon heartstring

I used this for Andre, but I feel it fits Skye too. She’s very brash and confident (or appears that way) so I feel she would have that firm hand needed.

Murphy

Ebony ”Ebony is happiest in the hand of those with the courage to be themselves. Frequently non-conformist, highly individual or comfortable with the status of outsider” Unicorn hair

Murphy is very open about how he is who he is, so even though he isn’t an outsider, I feel he has that “courage to be themselves” bit down.

Orion

Beech “The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant.” Unicorn hair

Yet another one where I read one sentence and was like oh that’s them. 

[professorsnape394]

The Potions Master’s Apprentice

Chapter Three: Steaming Sessions

A/N: This is the third part to my fanficiton ‘The Potions Master’s Apprentice (Severus Snape x OC)’. Chapters 1-16 can be found already uploaded on Wattpad under the same name. Feel free to leave requests in my inbox for anything Snape related you want me to write. Leave a comment below if you wish to be added to my tag list. 

Pairing: Severus Snape x OC (Dumbledore’s Granddaughter)

Summary: A talented young witch is employed as an apprentice professor at Hogwarts, but who will she be working under? Severus Snape is not best pleased with his new responsibility of taking on an apprentice, however she is relentless to create a friendship between them. Will she be successful? Or might the friendship just go a little two far? With the eyes of her grandfather constantly watching over them, an attempt at a relationship might not be in the cards for Aria Dumbledore and Severus Snape.

Word Count: 1726

Warnings: n/a

Credits to Gif Creator

As much as Severus hated to admit it, even to himself, thoughts of the young witch had persistently threatened to enter his mind the week following their initial meeting. Despite how badly Severus wanted to suppress his primal urges, he could not deny he had noticed her beauty.  An attractive witch of her age was a rarity in his life, and so he allowed himself the simple pleasure of a thought or two regarding the new Professor. That was until he actually got to know her. She had taken it upon herself to interrupt his last few weeks of solitude before his life was disrupted by masses insolent children. The once somewhat pleasant thoughts of the woman had now been replaced by anger and agitation. He had in fact been preoccupied in thoughts of Aria Dumbledore upon her arrival to his office on Tuesday morning. He was enraged at her boldness to contradict him and any thoughts he ever had regarding her attractiveness had for sure been killed during their most recent meeting, or so he told himself.

The following day Miss Dumbledore delivered a list of potions she wished to revisit with Professor Snape in order to give him time to prepare for their next session. The temper she had awoken within him remained, as her comments still lingered in his mind. Never before had he met someone so audacious, and brave he hesitated to add, that they would so cunningly insult him in such an underhanded manner. The rage inside him motivated him to test his apprentice's abilities even further. Inspecting the list in front of him Severus Snape began to devise a plan.

"You should have learned by now, Miss Dumbledore, that I am very much a fan of saving time and working as efficiently as possible." Severus begun, warranting an exasperated eye-roll from his coworker as she thought back to the caterpillar scenario. Clearing his throat and shooting her a threatening look Snape continued his speech. "In order to further prove yourself I have arranged for us to complete several potions from your list simultaneously. "

"You should have learned by now, Miss Dumbledore, that I am very much a fan of saving time and working as efficiently as possible." Severus begun, warranting an exasperated eye-roll from his coworker as she thought back to the caterpillar scenario. Clearing his throat and shooting her a threatening look Snape continued his speech. "In order to further prove yourself I have arranged for us to complete several potions from your list simultaneously. "

"I'm sorry?" Aria asked, not fully comprehending how his set up could possibly help her grasp the correct brewing method for each individual potion, especially since they were ones she had admitted she was not completely familiar with.

"As you proved the other evening you are very capable of brewing a potion on your own, with my help you should have no problem perfecting say four? maybe five?" He shrugged slyly.

"Five!?" Aria gasped. "You do realise Professor Snape that the list of potions I gave you were those I am unfamiliar with. I wish to spend the time going over them with you, so when the time comes I will have no problem helping the students. I fear this method may not be ideal in allowing me to master those fine details."

"Well then, Miss Dumbledore, I fear you do not have what it takes to match the skills I require in an assistant."

"I want to make it clear, Professor Snape, that I am not your assistant. I am to be your apprentice. This means it is your duty to train me as such. I will do as you ask of me, but believe me I will not be pushed around and made a fool of for the whole of this year."

"Then I hope this means we understand each other Miss Dumbledore, for I will also not tolerate the back chat I received the other day when lessons finally commence."

"Then I suppose we both have to respect one another’s wishes." Aria stated finally, circling the desk of cauldrons. Beside each cauldron she found the list of instructions. Taking the time to read each one carefully, realising these potions will take a little longer than she anticipated. "These cannot be completed in a day?" She questioned.

"Clever girl, you noticed." Snape retorted sarcastically. "You see now why I could not dedicate one lesson to each potion. The potions have different brewing times and can all be left to rest over night, this gives you time memorise the instructions between lessons. We will complete them over the next three days, giving us both the weekend free."

Complying to his wishes Aria set about collecting her ingredients and began brewing each potion one after the other. It wasn't long before Aria noticed the Potions Master get comfortable behind his desk, burying his head in another one of his dusty old textbooks, she knew he would not be attempting to assist her any time soon.

The day was long and tedious. Neither Severus nor Aria felt the need to engage in any kind of conversation at the risk pissing the other off. Severus was clearly a lot more used to the silence and spent hours behind his desk reading, occasionally making small notes in the margins of his book. Aria on the other hand felt every slight noise she made was amplified a hundred times over, hesitant to make too much noise at the risk of Snape telling her off.

The room quickly became stuffy and humid from the constant steam emitting from all five cauldrons. The young Professor struggled to work in her tight, un-breathable clothing, she had previously thought was a wise choice for her sessions with Severus. The witch peeled her thick locks of hair from her perspiring face, pulling it up into quick messy bun. Struggling to breath from the fumes, Aria took a short break, sliding off her uncomfortable shoes, hiking her skirt up to her thighs, to air out her legs and unbuttoning her blouse exposing her chest. This did not go unnoticed by the older professor, as he stealthily watched her over the top of his book, absentmindedly turning a page ever second or two. Aria let out a throaty groan, fanning herself down with a nearby notebook.

“Aren’t you hot?.” She panted.

Severus felt his jaw almost drop in awe at the woman's movements as she rose from her chair, reaching up to the sky to stretch out her bones, her skirt shifted further up her thighs as she did so.

"Can't we open the door or something." She gasped the heat getting the better of her. Severus wriggled uncomfortably in his seat, unable to take his eyes off her body. Her eye catching his, Aria awkwardly attempted to cover herself up. Shocked at the Professor's boldness, she began to roll down her skirt covering back up her legs, her chest on the other hand remained bare.

"Professor." She spoke again, trying to catch his attention.

"Umm, very well. If you must." He flustered, clearing his throat, embarrassed he had been staring in the first place, let alone been caught out.

"You don't tend to be around women much, do you Severus?" Aria questioned, seeing no reason either of them should pretend she hadn't just caught him looking.

"Professor Snape." He once again stressed. "And I don't really think that's any of your concern, is it Miss Dumbledore."

"Forgive me. I was just trying to make a little conversation." Aria found herself rolling her eyes at the man once again. "The day has dragged in after all, it might go quicker if we talk?"

"I prefer to work in silence." He retorted, carefully ensuring his eyes did not leave the page of his book.

"I'm just saying." She pushed further, ignoring his statement. "I don't blame you. Being stuck in this school 10 months of the year cannot allow for much of a private life."

"No it does not." Severus agreed, his eyes burning into the page, not seeing a word that was written.

"Still." Aria continued, going back to brewing her potions. "It doesn't mean it's impossible. I'm sure there's plenty of women in Hogsmeade willing to date, bar maidens and what not." She shrugged.

"That may very well be true Miss Dumbledore, but I am not interested."

"Men then." She stated, raising one eyebrow playfully, although she knew very well he did not bat for the other team .

"Don't be absurd." The Professor scoffed.

"What about hobbies." She chose to change the subject, turning up the heat on potion number 3. "What do you do for fun?"

"Read." Snape replied bluntly, motioning to the book in front of him, turning the page though no information entered his brain from the last.

The pair continued to talk for the remainder of the day, although Severus provided nothing but blunt responses to his apprentices enquires, he had to admit, he was not completely opposed to her company. Soon it came time for the potions to be taken off their heat and left to rest for the night. It saddened Aria knowing she had to go back to her quarters, having no one to speak to until it came time for dinner with Hagrid, and though she hated to admit it their conversations on bowtruckles and grindylows had become rather tedious.

Pausing as she reached her exit, Aria turned back to her mentor, who didn't even look up from his desk. "Professor Snape." She spoke to get his attention. "Do you fancy joining us for dinner? Hagrid and I, that is. I usually bring food down from the kitchens, so you don't have to worry about his cooking." She laughed nervously.

"Spending my evening in his cramped hut, being drooled on by that beast of his and discussing the best way to distinguish knarls from hedgehogs? Sounds like the perfect evening." He commented sarcastically. "Goodnight, Miss Dumbledore."

Letting out a short breath Aria Dumbledore flashed one last smile at the Professor before taking her leave. "Goodnight, Professor Snape."

Taglist:

@ayamenimthiriel

[blazehedgehog]

I was looking for RTX mods for games like GTA5 and found a one that looked rad, but it was effectively pay-walled behind Patreon to get access to it. I recall running into this with a Minecraft mod several years ago as well. What is your opinion on game mods that do this?

Note: it was pay-walled for $10, and supposedly will be released for free whenever it is "done".

I mean, I dunno. I’m definitely of two minds.

Mod creators have existed since the beginning of time and they’ve always worked for free. Which is cool! These people are doing things just because they want to do them. It’s a good way to build applicable skills for game development and there’s always been this kind of graduation process where you go from being a modder to a real-actual game developer. Because being a game developer pays money.

And that system is great. It was a sign of the true mega-fans. People who were so dedicated they took matters in to their own hands and did it themselves just for the love of the game and the love of the community around it.

But the internet and the gig economy is changing everything. People are learning they don’t have to “graduate” to an actual game developer if they don’t want to.

And that can lead to bigger, more robust mods, sure. The line between “modder” and “professional” can be blurred in some really interesting ways. Like, for example, take Cemu, right. The Wii U emulator. That’s an incredible emulator and it runs games very well! Arguably a lot of that is because they make $3000 a month on Patreon. It’s easier to justify working on the emulator because it’s bringing in money, and that attracts other talent looking to make money as well. And it leads to a very high quality emulator. I can often emulate Wii U games better than I can PS2, Xbox, or Gamecube stuff. Sonic Colors at 60fps in Dolphin is a struggle on my system, but 60fps in Breath of the Wild using Cemu is almost flawless. Cemu is magic, and it’s undoubtedly thanks to their Patreon. Horizons have been expanded.

But then you get what happened when Bethesda opened the real-money mod shop in Skyrim, where a lot of mod authors that were doing it for the good of the community flipped over and started charging for their mods. Where they’d have version 1.7 be free, but they’d release version 1.8 and you had to buy it. That kind of thing.

That really wounded the mod community and set a nasty precedent for what could be possible. It introduced a new side to people who would rather make a fast buck. It’s corporatizing something that was normally done for the intrinsic benefit of “because I want to see it” instead of “because I think I can make a lot of money from it.”That shifting of the moral goal posts can lead to uncomfortable directions.

(Understandably, the modding community reacted very negatively to that, and Bethesda turned paid mods off.)

It also calls in to question what games themselves are even charging for, developmentally-speaking? Is $10 for a shader pack really worth it when you could buy a whole entire complete game for that price? Depending on when and where you bought it, you could be spending $10 on the game itself and $10 on the shader mod for that game. That value feels a little out of whack, doesn’t it?

I don’t know how all of this shakes out. I suppose it all depends contextually on whether or not you feel its worth it. I personally wouldn’t spend $10 on a shader pack, but I did buy PPSSPP Gold back in the day because it was $8. I’ve come close to buying Redream.

But those are also emulators. There are a bunch of games across multiple genres I could use them with. They are a platform.

I’m sure a lot of work went in to the RTX Shader pack but also it’s just a shader pack and $10 for that feels a little steep. Going back to worth, PPSSPP Gold cost me $8 and Redream Premium is $5. Both of those cost less than that shader pack and offer more utility.

I dunno if that shader pack is such a good deal. Just because you can paywall everything doesn’t mean you should.

[mythgirlimagines]

Seeing as how certain Anons loved the Condemnation of the Guilty talentswaps, I thought I’d try again! Let’s give a warm welcome to Myth, the Former Ultimate Barista!

——————————————————-

BACKSTORY AND TALENT 

For all of her life, Myth has been living in a coffee shop that doubles as her home, along with her parents and two older sisters. The coffee shop (known as Latte Love) happened to start out as a collaboration between the Ultimate Pastry Chef (Myth’s father) and the Ultimate Mixologist (Myth’s mother). Coincidently, Myth’s two older sisters happened to be Ultimates before her, thanks to the fame of Latte Love, with her older sister being the current Ultimate Pastry Chef and her other older sister being the Ultimate Tea Master. Latte Love is famous for its wide selections of both drinks and pastries to enjoy with your beverage of choice, but it was catapulted into pure stardom thanks to a particular skill that Myth has, apart from her general hospitality and drink-mixing skills: latte art. Because of Myth’s adorable and expertly-crafted latte art, the popularity of Latte Love exploded, particularly on social media. Myth is also known for her romantic advice to her customers, despite not being in a relationship herself, which led to a lot of her customers finding love.

——————————————————-

RELATIONSHIPS

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Drummer

Wyre is the well-known drummer of the emo-grunge-rock band “FOZZIL HUNT”, and is famous for their wild drum solos and their equally wild personality. Wyre and Myth have been the best of friends, ever since they were little, and not even their busy schedules can keep them apart. When Wyre isn’t booked with tours and concerts, they always come to Latte Love and orders their usual, knowing that Myth would prepare their order with that signature sweet smile of hers. Wyre has a bit of a complex and love-hate relationship with a certain confrontational rebellion leader, and Myth always tries to pair them up, much to their protests.

Outfit: A red bandana on her head, elaborate makeup, a black tank top with her band’s logo on the front that shows off her tattooed arms, blue Jean shorts with brown holsters to hold her drumsticks in, black boots.

Anon Scar, Ultimate Drill Sargent 

With a loud voice and a strict and heavily-concerned demeanor, Scar‘s personality makes her the perfect person to lead soldiers in their crusade for their country. Commonly regarded as a mother to her soldiers in tales of the battlefield, Scar yearns to hang up her uniform and go back to the good ol’ days of childhood leisure. Scar has a strict schedule, and always arrives at Latte Love by the time Myth turns the open sign. Scar seems to be enamored by the skittish and fanatic priest, and just seeing him makes her maternal instincts flair up. Despite finding Scar eccentric, Myth finds her stories fascinating, and tries to pair the sergeant and the priest.

Outfit: A tattered bandana version of her face mask, black sunglasses, a black tanktop with a camo jacket slung on her shoulders, dark green pants, boots from original design.

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Fashion Designer

Having gotten his start working at his mother’s boutique, Fusion draws the design of the garments, while his mother makes the actual garments. Fusion originally went to Latte Love purely to both gorge himself on pastries and caffeine, and sketch the outfits of the customers that frequent Latte Love. But now, he has a new goal in mind: helping Myth with pairing up the customers. Myth considers Fusion one of her most frequent customers, and finds it amazing that this svelte and proper gentleman can eat his weight in food. Fusion and Myth have a mutual respect for each other, and consider each other “partners in matchmaking“.

Outfit: A blue and yellow striped vest over a red dress shirt and a yellow bow tie, white gloves that hide his work injuries, a tape measure tied around his neck and arms, pants, glasses and shoes from his original design, always holds a sketchbook.

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Gunslinger

Growing up as a fan of old westerns and historical fiction, Fusion II is a master when it comes to gunmanship and is especially skilled when it comes to the quick draw. Every good cowgirl needs a saloon, and Fusion II quickly established Latte Love as her saloon. But as much as Fusion II tries to play up the ”cool and stoic cowgirl” stint, it’s kind of hard to do that when she’s a bi disaster attracted to the oddly-energetic and childish bed tester. Myth can sympathize with Fusion II’s bi hangups and, as much as Fusion II tries to deny it, the sarcastic gun master really appreciates the kindly barkeep’s company. 

Outfit: A silver cowboy hat, jacket from original design with a gold sheriff star pinned to the front, over a red flannel shirt and a blue bandana around her neck, blue jeans with a brown holster that houses her guns, steel-toed cowboy boots.

Just Anon, Ultimate Card Shark

Janon is a feared name in underground gambling tournaments, and for a good reason. With his unreadable face and his skill in the art of cheating and deception, Janon truly earned the epithet of “The Night Terror”. Gambling and lying seems to be the only two things that Janon really puts effort into doing, for he puts the upmost minimal effort into anything else. Janon regularly crashes at Latte Love and occupies one of the tables to take a snooze. Despite Janon claiming that he does it for snorts and giggles, Myth quickly found out the real reason: to check out the adorable delivery person that frequents the coffee shop.

Outfit: A white and pink fedora, mask from original design, a brown jacket with suit-themed pins, over a pink and black tie with a bunny pin, a black belt with a bunny buckle, brown pants, brown shoes.

Sparkle Anon, Former Ultimate Pinball Wizard

Known for her loud and eccentric fashion sense and her equally eccentric personality, Sparkle dominated pinball machine after pinball machine in every local, and even extralocal, arcade. Needless to say, Myth’s day instantly became weirder the very second Sparkle entered Latte Love and loudly announced her presence to everybody. But ever since Sparkle found out that her favorite mangaka frequents the cafe alongside their twin, Sparkle has frequented the cafe much more. Sparkle’s little celebrity crush on the mangaka didn’t go unnoticed by Myth, and she helps the loud wizard with vocalizing her feelings.

Outfit: A wizard hat and cloak that is colored with obnoxious 90’s-esque patterns, glasses and boots from original design.

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Mangaka, and Wet Sock Anon, Former Ultimate Thanatologist

With their shared penchant of the horrific and cursed, this fearsome duo go about their interests in completely different ways. While Wet Sock takes a more cold and scientific approach to their interest in the macabre, Egg takes their macabre mindset and uses it to create popular horror manga. While they are thought of as a bane to the wholesome atmosphere of Latte Love, two people actually look forward to the twin’s presence: Sparkle and Myth. Despite Wet Sock’s severe denial of their feelings, Wet Sock still continues to stick around Myth’s desk, and Myth eventually found out the reason why: Wet Sock is head-over-heels for her. 

Outfit: Both of them wear entirely black gakurans and glasses, but Egg has a pocket protector and ink-stained hands, and Wet Sock has a skull pin and dirt-stained hands.

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Deliveryperson

From a young age, Curious has been working for a variety of companies as a door-to-door delivery person and is renowned for their punctuality and sweet smile. Curious is currently working under Latte Love, as its reliable coffee and pastry delivery person. Myth views Curious as a bit of a mystery. For example, she always gives Curious coffee to perk them up on night deliveries, but she never sees Curious actually drink the coffee. That, and she’s heavily concerned about the fact that a middle schooler is working full-time as a delivery person, and doesn’t seem to show any signs of being tired.

Outfit: An entirely green outfit consisting of a cap, polo shirt, pants and tennis shoes, with their hair in a small ponytail.

Anon Nerd, Former Ultimate Revolutionary

Born in a corrupt and dirt-poor city, Nerd grew up yearning for the government to be overthrown by someone actually worthy of leading, such as himself for instance. After gathering up a cavalcade of followers with his cynical, yet rousing, speeches, Nerd organized a revolution and managed to overthrow the government of the town, and lead the citizens to a healthier and more productive life. Nerd pities Myth and sees her as “a slave to the grain”, whatever that means. And with a loud and violent man, Myth paired him up with an equally loud and violent lady. Nerd is currently trying to seduce Wyre with loud protest songs.

Outfit: Same outfit from his original design but with a ragged green cape, a red armband, and a red megaphone clipped to his belt.

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate Priest

As a person born under the creators of a creepy cult from the middle of nowhere, Eldritch has been forced to conduct the religious proceedings of the cult, ever since he became a teenager. Needless to say, Eldritch hasn’t exactly been raised correctly, for he doesn’t seem to trust anyone who isn’t in his cult, and yearns to indoctrinate others into his religion. Unfortunately for the paranoid priest, he has fallen in love with someone outside of his fate, a maternal drill sargaent, and he is currently awaiting his divine punishment from his deity. And that blasted barkeep isn’t helping matters either. 

Outfit: A black hooded cassock with oversized sleeves and a golden cross necklace, 

Dream Anon, Ultimate Bed Tester

One review from Dream is enough to make or break entire bed companies, and she takes her talent very seriously. Despite what her talent and clothes would suggest, Dream is very energetic, has trouble standing still, and her hyper attitude is quite contagious to boot. Ever since she happened upon the coffee shop run by the nice barista, she has found the coolest girl ever: an actual cowgirl! Dream thinks it‘s very funny to watch the sharpshooter get all flustered and blushy when Dream gets too close to her. Myth always looks forward to Dream’s daily visits and her energy is enough to brighten up Myth’s day.

Outfit: A pink sleeping mask, a blue hoodie with a fluffy hood and a pink swirly pattern over a black t-shirt with a pink heart on the front, black and white pajama shorts, white socks and pink slippers, hair that reaches her mid-back. 

Iris Anon, Jr. Ultimate Samurai

Before meeting Iris, Myth thought that samurai became extinct a long time ago. You would not believe Myth‘s disbelief of an actual samurai heiress not only existing in the modern day, but also eating at her cafe and actually liking the food. Just like with Fusion, Iris chose to help Myth out in her matchmaking endeavors, for she actually has romantic experience and can offer the patrons advice. While initially in disbelief that a middle schooler could have more romantic game than her, she decided to let the clumsy yet earnest samurai work her relationship magic, and it actually worked half of the time, much to Myth’s astonishment.

Outfit: A blue kimono with a yellow galaxy-like pattern all over, a silver katana sheath, white socks and brown geta sandals.

Purple Anon, Ultimate Statistical Analyst

Whenever Fusion gives his order out to Myth, he always adds candy to his order for somebody named “Purple”. When asked who Purple is or why she never eats or drinks at Latte Love, Fusion claims that Purple is really shy and never really leaves her house. However, Purple still manages to be an indirect assistant to Myth, Fusion and Iris’s matchmaking endeavors. Whenever any of the matchmakers have an idea, Fusion will text the idea to Purple, to get a statistical analysis on the success of the plan. Myth is truly grateful to Purple, for saving her chocolate-dipped bacon from failed plans, even though the two never met.

Outfit: A black jacket over a purple turtleneck and a red and black striped tie, skirt, stockings and shoes from original design, mid-back length hair in a ponytail and black fake glasses.

 This series centers around Myth’s matchmaking misadventures, as she works hard to stir up romance between the eccentric customers of her coffee shop, along with the help of Fusion, Purple and Iris. Successful results may vary. Basically a Coffee Shop AU!

 ——————————————————

APPEARANCE 

Barista!Myth wears thick and square-rimmed glasses and her long hair in twin braids with a green hairband on top. As for her clothing, Myth wears a brown apron with Latte Love’s logo on the front, over a green turtleneck sweater, brown pants and black slip-on shoes.

 ——————————————————

PERSONALITY

Barista!Myth carries herself with a calming and extroverted personality. However, Barista!Myth is a very low-energy extrovert, and is very content with just watching and conversing with people from behind her front desk. A lot of her younger customers compare her to a kind, patient and caring mom, and she’s just the person to talk to, if you want advice. Barista!Myth has a surprisingly amazing memory, and just by looking at her regulars, she can remember their name and their usual. Barista!Myth retains her love of matchmaking and terrible puns from Romantic!Myth.

——————————————————-

I hope you like this talentswap and don’t mind the rarepairs! If you don’t like the ships, let me know! Have a sweet week, everyanon!

-Fusion Anon

---

I love this!!

[jebazzled]

should you open a site?

Hi there! If you've been around the block a time or two in rp, you've probably thought about opening a site of your own - or maybe you've already given it a go. How did it go?

Mixed reviews, yeah?

Here's the thing: the Venn Diagram of people who want to staff a site & people who are well-suited to staffing a site actually has very little overlap. You probably should not open a site, or if you are going to, you should make sure you're doing it in a way you can sustain and for the right reasons.

In today's tutorial, we're going to unpack the reasons people are drawn to staffing - both good reasons and bad reasons - as well as the things that most frequently close sites. Hopefully, this will give you some good shit to think about next time you get that itch. You know the one.

Before we launch into some troubleshooting, I'd like to talk about staffing more broadly, and why it should matter to you whether you are doing a good job.

Of course, it's important to do a good job managing your site so that it has some longevity, builds a positive community, and becomes a place that people enjoy spending time.

But it is also important to remember that

when you staff a site, the site becomes part of your reputation.

The roleplay community is both very large and very small - there are always people you've never met before, but there are also always people around who you recognize. Stick around long enough, and you start to see people who always seem to be buzzing a project that doesn't open. You see people who are always staff searching. You see people who habitually buzz, open, and ghost two or three or more projects a year.

Maybe you are one of those people.

Folks notice, dude. There are a number of folks in the rp community who I am sure are perfectly nice, but whose sites I will never join, because I know from observation that they will ghost or formally close the site within three months.

No one will straight up tell you, "hey, you have a reputation for being super flaky." But it might be why you have a hard time filling a staff search. It might be why a buzz or opening is lackluster. It might be why none of your members seem to be super committed to your site: they assume you, too, are not very committed to your site.

It is in your best interests for future projects that your current projects go well. So you should consider carefully, before asking a dozen or more people to invest their time and creative energy towards your site, whether you will be able to sustain the project.

A lot of people treat staffing a site as the inevitable next step when you've been in rp a long time, and that is simply not the case. Staffing isn't about having ideas or talent. Staffing is about project management.

Staff don't need plot and lore ideas: you can crowdsource these from members.

Staff don't need coding or graphics skills: you can commission these from creators in resource communities.

Staff don't even need to be excellent writers.

Staff need to be able to set goals and achieve them, delegate and accomplish tasks, mediate conflict, and manage and recalibrate expectations. This is, of course, very unsexy, and often is tedious: updating claims, monitoring activity, engineering and executing events. I think a lot of people remember what a fucking pain it is to do ads all the time and it's the first thing they stop doing, which then means they don't have new blood to replace the folks who joined and ghosted after the buzz, and then the site dies. None of it is open heart surgery, but all of it is at least somewhat important.

If you don't want to do the boring day-to-day work of staffing, you shouldn't staff! Members on site don't have to do that shit, and also get to opt out on the emotionally exhausting work of conflict mediation, app review, etc. You can be a longtime roleplayer who never staffs. It's allowed.

But you want to open a site. Or you have opened sites and it's been underwhelming. For whatever reason, you're here. So sure. Let's talk about opening sites.

Reasons to open a site

There are lots of reasons why someone might want to open a site. Some reasons are better than others, with the broad distinction that writing-centric reasons are generally much stronger reasons to open a site than psychology-driven reasons.

GOOD REASON: Control

If the pro of not running a site yourself is the lack of responsibility, the con is the lack of control. Being a member means you're dependent on admins to keep the site open - and we've all been in situations where the staff of a site lost interest before we did. Being a member also means being at the mercy of the staff for plot, lore, and etc, depending on your community. On a "member-driven" site you might feel more empowered to have a hand in the worldbuilding - but if the staff decides to double down on the one subplot you thought was stupid and boring, you're left navigating having a good time by yourself.

Opening a site because you want to be able to rely on the site's availability and attractiveness to you for your own writing needs isn't a bad reason to open a site. After all, we build the community and the environment we want to see. So if you don't like something in a writing community, and it's not something you can work with staff to fix - it might make sense to build a community that does fill those needs.

GOOD REASON: Ideas

"Having ideas" is, in my opinion, the least important thing when it comes to staffing. But it can be a reason to open a site of your own! If you have a fictional world you can't find elsewhere, or a really specific overarching plot idea, or a rich vision of lore, it might be easier for you to develop your own playground for these ideas than to bend them to fit an existing site.

BAD REASON: Control

"JB, JB, how can it be two things at once?" Because! Haven't we all been on sites where the admin staff were on a major power trip? When admins start making decisions for members and against a member's wishes, whether it be for character progression or plot development, admins are being unreasonable and demanding. Remember: this is a collaborative hobby. If you can't handle the idea of a member writing something without your eyes on it, you are likely getting too invested in having power over what other people write, and you need to back way off.

BAD REASON: Influence/Importance

Writing is such a personal and intimate thing, and it becomes so easy to get too emotionally invested in how people write or don't write with you. We all know people in the rp community who base their sense of self around rp (I go in on it at length in my troubleshooting tutorial here). These are the people who will have 5 characters accepted within a week of joining, with 20 threads written with 2/3 of the site's members, and who will leave in a tearful hurry within a month saying they feel excluded.

Do you feel Seen?

If you are relying on rp to tame your insecurities, it is never going to work. Staffing a site, claiming the most important canons, and having your hands in every subplot won't automatically make you the most popular person on the site. And even if it did? You would still be insecure, because that is some shit you have to work through offline, dude.

Do not open a site because you think being the admin will make you feel important/popular/beloved. It is not about whether or not you actually are included or excluded in a community - until you unpack your insecurity and your sense of constantly being overlooked or excluded, you could plot with literally every character combination possible and you wouldn't be happy.

If you are wanting to staff because you like to feel special/important/etc, the problem is not the site. It is you. You are never going to get that fulfillment from staffing a site.

You need to work through this without the pressure of running a site.

Why do you want to open a site? Is it for a good reason, or a bad reason? Is it just because you feel like you should? I shouldn't have to tell you that that is a stupid reason.

Opening a site for the wrong reason is a losing proposition.

If you open a site because you want tight creative control, you are going to frustrate your writers, who will likely go elsewhere to write more freely. If you open a site because you want to feel important, you're going to take it very personally when people get mad at you for admin things like denying their apps, handling their interpersonal conflicts with impartiality, or turning down their proposition to turn your Harry Potter site into a Harry Potter/Doctor Who crossover.

If people feel driven out by your power-hungry attitude and rigidity, your site's activity will die, and it will get harder to recruit new people, and it will fizzle out until you either ghost or tell your four remaining members that you're throwing in the towel.

If you feel personally attacked by the thankless work of staffing, you will emotionally burn out, and likely either ghost your own site, or close it. If you are a person prone to lashing out, you might first encounter massive interpersonal drama.

If you are going to open a site, do it for the right reason.

Reasons to close a site

Let's also talk a little about those of us who have opened sites before. Most of us - if not every single one of us - have also closed a site. Sites close for a lot of reasons, and they aren't all admin's fault: a site is, after all, a community. Sometimes the community loses interest, grows apart, or otherwise dissipates. But it is true that staff sets the tone, and that ultimately, staff are who decide to put the board offline.

So maybe you've closed a site. Maybe you're one of the people I mentioned earlier who buzzes, opens, and closes three sites a year. Let's take a good, hard look at why your site closed. It might be a good reason not to open a site again - at least not until you figure out your root issue.

Time

One of the most common reasons why admins will close a site is a lack of time. Real life gets too busy, and the grind of keeping the site up is just too much. It happens! RP is no one's real job. Everyone has a real life.

Not having time to staff won't necessarily be a nail in your reputation's coffin. But it is a reason that you should take into account next time you have the itch to staff.

Some situations are more understandable than others, as far as scheduling goes. For example, if you open a site the summer after graduation when you have a lot of time, and then realize how time-consuming job-hunting is, you might close your site to make time. If you open a site while sitting comfortably at a low-stress job and then you switch to a fast-paced, customer-facing position, you might have less energy and less downtime for the site. If you opened a site when your kid went to grade school, and now you're homeschooling them during the pandemic, you simply might not have time anymore.

The commonality here? A circumstance changed, and the person living the circumstance didn't expect the change. It was a surprise.

By contrast, if you're a tax accountant, you know when your busy season is, and it would be stupid and irresponsible for you to open a site in December knowing that you're about to be bogged down in tax season until April. If you're a school teacher, you know that the start of the year is a whirlwind, and it would be stupid and irresponsible to open a site on the first day of school. If you know that normally your workload doesn't even allow you time to participate on a site as a member, it would be ridiculous for you to open a site during a two-week slow period.

You can close a site because you're too busy for it. You can do it again, a couple of years later. But if you make a habit of doing it - and doing it often - people are going to notice that you just don't have time for the sites you want to open.

I remember being on a site several years ago that closed seemingly without warning. The staff said they didn't have time to run the site anymore, a claim I took at face value - until a month later, when they opened a new project.

I remember being deeply annoyed: either they had been dishonest about the reason for the site's closure, or they were stupid enough to think that a month-long lull was reason enough to expect to be able to maintain a site. If you are too busy to keep your site open, that is fine - but you then shouldn't open another site until you have been distinctly not-busy for a while.

You can take steps to mitigate time constraints, on your next project: you might build out your site's world and administrative process around what tasks you can automate with scripts and etc, to minimize the amount of administrative tasks you need to do. You might go no-app to skip another task. If you're a person who experiences time-blindness, and you have no idea how long you spend on any task, you will need to deliberately select your staff based on their ability to execute tasks on time and efficiently in ways that you cannot.

Staffing may also just not be for you! And there is nothing wrong with that.

Burnout

You might find yourself worn down with the grind of staffing: the ads, the claims, the app review, the mediating conflict, the way your own writing can often come last. The concessions you might make to plots you'd like to do in the interest of pleasing the greater site community. Etc. It's a lot, and it's a thankless job.

And it's always going to be like that. You can counter some of the things that suck up your time - automate claims, go no-app, narrow down your advertising to a tiny list of blogs and servers rather than a dozen directories - but staffing is always going to be, at times, exhausting and thankless. If it's too exhausting and thankless to be worth sticking around - that's fine! But you can't keep being surprised that staffing is like this. It isn't really a realization you can have more than maybe twice, and it's not a realization you can keep having at two months in and expect it not to be a sticking point.

Premature Death Calls

Listen: your site is not dying two weeks after the site buzz. The swarm of activity when you opened was an artificial high caused by bottlenecking your membership intake. Keep posting your ad after your site opens to keep new members coming in so even when your site buzz population moves on to the next buzz, you've got members there. Don't throw in the towel too early, Denise!

Boredom

Unlike the above, where site buzz members move on to the next buzz because they're always chasing the next big thing, you being bored with your site is a potential reason to close. After all, you're the one putting in the time and energy. If you're not vibing with it, it's not like the community is entitled to you keeping the site open as charity work.

But similarly to the time reasoning: this is a rationale you can only use sparingly.

If you have a habit of losing interest on an idea, you should not be opening sites. It is one thing to misjudge your interest and its longevity once. But if you do it two or three times a year - it's a pattern, and you shouldn't ask a dozen or more people to invest their creative energy into something if you know there's a strong possibility you'll lose interest within a few months.

(It will not be different this time, dude. It is never different.)

Drama

Any community of people is not without conflict. Sometimes, the conflict gets to be too much, and whether your members scatter to avoid it or you close to be done with it - it's worth evaluating if it happens more than once. If site drama keeps closing your site, the call might be coming from inside the house.

If you came on staff because you wanted to feel special and important: you are likely causing some of the drama. When you take it so personally whether or not people write with you, how much they write with you, etc, you are setting up for your expectations to 1) be unreasonable 2) to not be met.

If you came on staff because you like control, you might be too rigid, and your controlling and unyielding approach to your site may be driving your members away.

If every site you run closes due to drama, you might look at their common denominator. What behavior do you exhibit that might be unwelcoming, abrasive, or toxic?

(Linkin Park voice) Breaking the habit

People notice, if you are constantly opening sites that die after two months. RP is a weird atmosphere where two things are constant:

Sites often have a shelf life of 2-4 months before they die either due to admin neglect, lack of new membership, or infighting with the existing members

Sites are often being launched by the same people over and over again

Which is to say, I think some of us in the resource/admin chat space tend to think of early site death as a problem of member attention - people being drawn away from existing sites by new and shiny buzzes. This is true to an extent - but I think we latch onto it because it absolves us of the truth that some admins are not just bad admins, but habitual bad admins.

To be clear, I don't mean that they are nasty people - just that they have a track record of not being great at keeping a site open. But just as some people are perennial site hoppers - some admins are perennial site starters, and that doesn't seem to be something talked about with as much depth as site hoppers. And perennial site starters feed the site hopper problem: if the perennial site starter wasn't opening a new buzz every two months, the site hopper wouldn't have a new flashy thing to get instant gratification on, would they? They would need to do some more long term plotting and character development.

I've staffed my site for two and a half years now, and the relief of having a space with such longevity is incredible. Because my community trusts that the site isn't going to close on a whim, people invest in long-term plots - for example, when we polled members in March asking if they wanted a specific event to happen in the spring or in the fall, an overwhelming majority opted for fall. Six months out, six months to plot and thread and worldbuild - on so many other sites, it would feel risky to count on anything that far in advance.

Wouldn't it be nice to have more stability in the rp world? More opportunity for deeper plotting and character development, slow burn plots that are legitimately slow to burn, the satisfaction of executing a plot years in the making. We can have that, if we focus less on having a vast number of short-lived sites and more on building sustainable, welcoming communities that allow for ebb and flow without going straight to closure any time there's a slow or difficult period. We can have that, if we're more thoughtful in our staffing - even if it means not staffing at all.

I hope this tutorial was helpful to you! As always, feel free to drop your requests for future tutorials in my askbox. In the meantime, all best, and happy writing!

[clareisa]

Ateez In Hogwarts

- I added a couple of random facts about their life in Hogwarts in this post. Do you like it? Should I add it to other Harry Potter posts in the future as well?

- gifs and pics are not mine, credits to rightful owners

- English is not my first language, so please let me kindly know if I did a mistake

Hongjoong:

House: Hufflepuff

Blood Status: Pure-blood

Personality: loyal, helpful, friendly, smart, hardworking, determined, emotional, bright

Pet: ferret

Wand (WOOD): Alder wood -  Alder is an unyielding wood, its ideal owner is often helpful, considerate and most likeable. When an alder wand is happily placed, it becomes a magnificent, loyal helpmate. Of all wand types, alder is best suited to non-verbal spell work, whence comes its reputation for being suitable only for the most advanced witches and wizards

(CORE): Phoenix feather core -  Learns most varied magic, hard to be chosen

Patronus: Dolphin

Favourite Classes: Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms

How Amortentia smells to him: Fresh flowers, Chocolate, Cherries, An ocean breeze

After Hogwarts working as: Auror - He became Auror because of his protective nature and sense for justice. He wants to destroy and punish those who could endanger those who are innocent and protect his loved ones 

Random:

head boy

always helps the new students with anything and everything

Hufflepuff won a house cup couple of times mainly thanks to him

music is always coming from the Hufflepuff’s common room when Hongjoong is composing on his piano

his ferret is always on his shoulder, even he is trying to hide her in classes

Seonghwa:

House: Ravenclaw

Blood Status: Pure-blood

Personality: Intelligent, curious, mom-like, polite, sassy, honest, ambitious, dependable

Pet: Birman cat

Wand (WOOD): Vine wood - Vine wands are among the less common types, and their ideal owners are nearly always those witches or wizards who seek a greater purpose, who have a vision beyond the ordinary and who frequently astound those who think they know them best. Vine wands seem strongly attracted by personalities with hidden depths

(CORE): Thunderbird tail feather - Powerful, but difficult to master. Can sense danger and cast curses on their own

Patronus: Orca

Favourite Classes: Potions, Herbology

How Amortentia smells to him: Pancakes, Jasmine, Petrichor, Vanilla

After Hogwarts working as: Healer and alchemist - Combination with his intellect, curious nature and the need to helping others he will be the head of St. Mungo’s. In the future, he will be known for creating lots of new medicine 

Random:

almost everyone has a crush on him

protective of his best friends group “Ateez”, no one want to cross him

with Yeosang, helping to Madam Pomfrey with sick students in Hospital Wing

scolding his friends for dirty or unironed robes

number one student in the whole school

Yunho:

House: Hufflepuff

Blood Status: Half-blood

Personality: cheerful, lively, friendly, loving, peaceful, diligent, warmhearted, daring, charming

Pet: Golden Retriever

Wand (WOOD): Cherry wood -This very rare wand wood creates a wand of strange power. For cherry wood often makes a wand that possesses truly lethal power, whatever the core, the wand ought never to be teamed with a wizard without exceptional self-control and strength of mind

(CORE): Horned Serpent horn core - Exceptionally powerful and sensitive. Can warn its owner of danger by emitting a low musical tone

Patronus: Dragon

Favourite Classes: Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration

How Amortentia smells to him: Cinnamon Rolls, Apple pie, MOrning breeze, Honeysuckle

After Hogwarts working as: Dragonologist - He always aspired to be one. He admired and was fascinated by them since he was a little kid. After he found out his Patronus is a dragon as well, Yunho knew he was destined to work with those dangerous but awe-inspiring creatures

Random:

best keeper Hufflepuff’s Quidditch team ever had

often secretly going to Forbidden forest, curious about creatures living there

classes are never boring when Yunho is in... if San is around is a mess

always brings a yummy food to his friends from the kitchen elves

often seen chasing after his golden retriever who is as energised as him 

Yeosang:

House: Slytherin

Blood Status: Pure-blood

Personality: cunning, passionate, savage, charming, bold, perfectionist, clever, humane, kind, tolerant

Pet: Serval

Wand (WOOD): Elm wood -  Elm wands prefer owners with presence, magical dexterity and a certain native dignity. Of all wand woods, they produce the fewest accidents, the least foolish errors, and the most elegant charms and spells; these are sophisticated wands, capable of highly advanced magic in the right hands

(CORE): Phoenix feather core -  Learns most varied magic, hard to be chosen

Patronus: Black Swan

Favourite Classes: Astrology, Potions

How Amortentia smells to him: Mango, Gardenia, The beach, Wine

After Hogwarts working as: Hogwarts Potions professor - Actually started with Seonghwa at St. Mungo’s. After he received a letter from the headmaster he immediately agreed and quickly became a favourite teacher at Hogwarts

Random:

new students are often afraid since his gaze is sharp and quite intense 

not the teachers' favourite thanks to his straight forward nature

rumoured to be half-siren thanks to his angel-like appearance and voice

love the wintertime when he can snowboard on the hills in the Hogwarts area

always with Seonghwa in Hospital wing

San:

House: Hufflepuff

Blood Status: Muggle-born

Personality: creative, happy virus, caring, crazy, warm, humble, easily fooled by fake sincerity, skilled

Pet: Slow Loris

Wand: Red Oak wood- The true match for a red oak wand is possessed of unusually fast reactions, making it a perfect duelling wand. ideal master is light of touch, quick-witted and adaptable, often the creator of distinctive, trademark spells, and a good man or woman to have beside one in a fight. Red oak wands are among the most handsome

(CORE): Dragon heartstring core -  Powerful, easy to learn spells though can easily be committed to another owner

Patronus: Capuchin Monkey

Favourite Classes: Herbology, Charms

How Amortentia smells to him: Orange, Chocolate Cosmos, New Books, The Moment Before It Rains

After Hogwarts working as: Curse-Breaker - Employed by the Ministry of Magic, but doing lots of work for the Gringotts.  Almost the equivalent of archaeologists, San loves the travelling included when he is tasked with bringing back gold from tombs and often have to break curses to enter them

Random:

messing around in classes with Yunho

with Wooyoung, they have the cutest Hufflepuff-Slytherin friendship in the school 

often the victim of pranks cuz of his sweet and naive persona

has his own little garden in common room with exotic flowers

often gets detention for causing everyone to laugh in class

Mingi:

House: Gryffindor

Blood Status: Muggle-born

Personality: passionate, optimistic, jolly, enthusiastic, heroic, reckless, gallant, lovely, sweet

Pet: pink pygmy puff

Wand: Ash wood - Ash wands cling to its one true master. Those witches and wizards best suited to ash wands are not lightly swayed from their beliefs or purposes. The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant

(CORE): Dragon heartstring core -  Powerful, easy to learn spells though can easily be committed to another owner

Patronus: Lion

Favourite Classes: Flying, Charms

How Amortentia smells to him: Cakes baking in the oven, Bacon, Freshly washed hair, Lemon

After Hogwarts working as: Quidditch player (Seeker and captain) - Is not the safest job in the world but the euphoric feeling of soaring through the air on a state-of-the-art broom surely just can’t be beaten for Mingi. He has natural talent and can make his teammates always ready for anything

Random:

too soft for his little pink pygmy puff, but always loses her somewhere

sometimes clumsy in casting spells

Yunho is his best friend but in Quidditch he is his biggest enemy

always late to classes thanks to his love for sleeping

supporting his friends no matter what, often cheering for them in Quidditch games if they don’t play against Gryffindor 

Wooyoung:

House: Slytherin

Blood Status: Pure-blood

Personality: ambitious, gracious, smiley, driven, fair, cultured, observant, sociable, keen

Pet: Russian Blue cat

Wand: Hawthorn wood -  Hawthorn wands may be particularly suited to healing magic. Hawthorn is not easy to master, however, and one should only ever consider placing a hawthorn wand in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent

(CORE): Unicorn hair core - Consistent magic, bonds strongly to the first user

Patronus: Black Mamba

Favourite Classes: History of Magic, Ghoul Studies

How Amortentia smells to him: Wisteria, Clothes Fresh Out of the Drier, Morning dew, Pumpkin pie

After Hogwarts working as: Ministry of Magic official - started his journey at Department of Magical Law Enforcement in lower positions. But Wooyoung thanks to his talent, ambitions, manners and skills quickly became head of this department

Random:

pulls pranks on San very often, but he always takes care of him

always get what he wants

in Hogwarts, he can enjoy the muggle music and art dancing that his pure family hate and judge

always makes girls around blush

a charming gentleman with best manners

Jongho:

House: Gryffindor

Blood Status: Half-blood

Personality: strong, energetic, athletic, observant, bold, spontaneous, principled, gentle

Pet: Sugar Glider

Wand: Beech wood - The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant. When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry not seen in any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation

(CORE): Veela hair core - very individualistic and temperamental 

Patronus: Shark

Favourite Classes: Ghoul Studies, Defence Against the Dark Arts

How Amortentia smells to him: Wood, Fresh Waffle Cones, Lemon Grass, Coffee

After Hogwarts working as: Auror - working alone with Hongjoong.With Jongho’s power and talent, no one was surprised that he became a one. One of the best Aurors out there, feared by many dark wizards

Random:

MIngi’s most trusted team-mate and beater in Gryffindor team

often hanging out with Hongjoong and training for the Defence Against the Dark Arts class 

best in duelling club along with Hongjoong

often asking Yunho to teach him more about magical creatures and how to defend against them

Part of the frog choir, angel voice along with Yeosang

[zoe-dinh]

Shameless Media: A Start-up's Guide To Digital Stakeholder Engagement

OVERVIEW

Today’s businesses exist in a world where everything is rapidly changing. How organisations communicate with stakeholders, and vice versa, have been transformed by the digital age.

Not only are stakeholders powerful and tech-savvy, thanks to digital media, they now also have direct contact with companies and organisations 24/7 (Ozer 2020).

Companies therefore are much more accountable for their conduct and value (Tench & Yeomans 2017). This can either play to their advantage, or hinder it in a critical way.

As such, businesses need to foster relationships with stakeholders by leveraging the power of digital media. The goal is to have a community of people who support the organisation, who resonates with the brand’s value and message.

An example of modern organisations championing this is Shameless Media. Utilising digital media, Shameless engages with their stakeholders through strategic branding and content marketing.

How can we capture people’s hearts and minds in an attention economy? Let’s learn from this millennial start-up.

CASE STUDY: SHAMELESS MEDIA

Profile

Shameless Media (SM) is a millennial gen Z’s destination for all things digital content. Operated in Melbourne by a team of five young women, the company was founded in 2019 by writers Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews.

Although relatively young, the podcast venture has accumulated a consumer base of over 20 million listeners, plus a growing community of 220,000+ followers across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. SM also recently created a brand-new agency for content creators and influencers, The Sana Agency.

Stakeholders

Since its inception, the podcast has not had a single episode that has not been sponsored (Forbes 2021). More notably, Shameless listenership is overwhelmingly 94.7% women in their 20s (Gillezeau 2021).

SM's key stakeholder groups thus include:

1. Consumers: audiences, readers, listeners; and

2. Sponsors: collaborators, business partners.

Current digital operations

PLATFORMS

1. Podcast

At first glance: Eye-catching cover. Good tag line (“The pop culture podcast for smart people who love dumb stuff”). Almost always seen in the Top Charts.

My thoughts: I was surprised to discover how new the podcast is. Its popularity, large growing number of listeners and content quality make Shameless seem a lot more established.

Open and honest, the hosts are not afraid to let audience knows where they stand on critical issues (feminism, politics, climate change etc.). New episodes are regularly scheduled which is good for audience retention.

As a consumer, I am drawn to the show/company for their seeming authenticity and relatability. Not to mention the well-balanced research that allows audience to form their own opinions without being spoon-fed. 10/10 recommend.

2. Website

At first glance: Layout is easy to look at. Visually appealing. All relevant info seems to be there.

My thoughts: Nice design, but not as much interactivity as I would have liked. When I tried looking for more information on the founders and organisation, something like an About Us section for example, there was none. Neither was there any resource or material on the business side of things (annual reports or data analytics or anything of the sorts).

One may excuse this considering the age of the organisation. However, I believe SM might benefit from a website update or revamp. It will certainly be helpful for those like me who are curious, who do research on the firm and would therefore like more access to information.

3. Instagram

At first glance: Quite large following. Relatively high audience engagement. Content layout not my personal taste, but appealing overall.

My thoughts: Shameless has great social media presence, especially on Instagram. The company made good efforts in interacting with followers. There are the ‘Your say Fridays’, polls and Q&A every other day on Stories. Users regularly comment on posts (memes, podcast updates & announcement), and many get replies from admin.

Overall, Shameless is doing very well with social media engagement and audience interactions.

4. Facebook

At first glance: Not much to see/do as this is a private group. Nice cover image though.

My thoughts: Large community of readers of nearly 34,000 members. The group has been active since 2019. While discussion threads cannot be publicly viewed, those interested in the content can find related episodes on the Shameless podcast.

Over on Instagram, there are links in bio to the book-selling site for each month’s pick. Makes me wonder whether or not these are affiliate links.

5. LinkedIn

At first glance: Small-to-medium sized following. Appealing visuals, though not too much information.

My thoughts: I have seen the Shameless LinkedIn profile before, but has only started following them recently. The account is not too active, the latest post was from a few months ago. Perhaps this is because the content that circulates on LinkedIn often revolves around business culture, not the usual focus by SM. Most of the posts thus far are general announcement and job openings.

In the future, SM might be benefit from a more active LinkedIn page, so as to not only attract new audience and potential talents, but also to establish their presence more firmly among competitors in the corporate world.

DIGITAL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

The corporate brand is constantly being co-created by organisation with their stakeholders. Dialogical communication is said to enhance this along with corporate reputation (Gundolf et al. 2018; Ozer 2020; Rosenberg & Seager 2017).

In reality, what might this look like?

From tactics to dialogic communication in digital media, let’s look at how SM has been engaging with stakeholders.

Dialogical communication in digital media

Tactics

Potential areas of improvement

Lack of strategy

Upscaling the business

Other types of content, especially video

CONCLUSION

So far, leveraging social media has helped Shameless achieve their goal and stay true to their brand. “Win their niche, core audience, nurture specific community of mostly young working women” (Gillezeau 2021).

The company’s success is in no small way thanks to the relationship they have with their audience. SM has intimate understandings of what the audience wants, and are able to deliver it.

This is in large part due to the founders being in the same demographics as their audience. As McDonald put it, “[W]e wanted to tap into a younger demographic that we thought were generally being ignored by mainstream media” (Forbes 2021), which explains the company slogan.

“We make content for ourselves, our mates, and you”.

Branding and content wise, SM is doing a good job capitalising on the trends, particularly with interactive content, content marketing, and online content communities (Clark-Keane 2021; Thomson 2019).

Yet, it is also important to note the fortunate position SM finds themselves in. As a millennial start-up, they are already advantaged by having skills in digital media and technologies.

Nonetheless, through forces of strategic digital communication, Shameless Media has been successfully engaging with their stakeholders through a combination of clever branding and content marketing.

---

REFERENCES

Clark-Keane, C. 2021, ‘7 Content Marketing Trends to Watch in 2021’, Wordstream, https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2020/11/23/content-marketing-trends

Forbes, T. 2021, ‘How I Do It: Shameless Media’s Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews on building their empire’, Fashion Journal, https://fashionjournal.com.au/life/how-i-do-it-shameless-media/

Gillezeau, N. 2021, ‘Shameless Media: The podcast start-up that’s rejecting big offers’, Australian Financial Review, https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/how-they-built-it-shameless-media-20210330-p57fbu

Gundolf, K., Jaouen, A. & Gast, J. 2018, ‘Motives for strategic alliances in cultural and creative industries’, Creative Innovation Management, vol. 27, pp. 148-160, DOI: 10.1111/caim.12255

Johnston, J. & Rowney, K. 2019, ‘Social networks’, Media Strategies: Managing Content, Platforms and Relationships, Taylor & Francis, Sydney, pp. 75-103.

Kim, K. 2021, ‘How to make sure you’re marketing to Gen Z the right way’, Sprout Social, https://sproutsocial.com/insights/marketing-to-gen-z/

Ozer, D. 2020, ‘Organisations’ use of social media from the perspective of dialogical communications and marketing-oriented public relations’, In B.O. Aydin, S. Gurbuz & O, Dugan (eds.), Public Relations in the Networked Publics, Peter Lang, Frankfurt, pp. 211-235.

Rosenberg, M. & Seager, P. H. 2017, ‘The Big Picture: Four Trend that Change Everything’, Managing Media Businesses, Retrieved from ProQuest EBook Central, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-52021-6_1

Smart Insights 2020, ‘7 ways to reach and influence millennials using social media marketing’, https://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/7-ways-to-reach-millennials-through-social-media-marketing/

Tench, R. & Yeomans, L. 2017, ‘Exploring Public Relations’, Global Strategic Communication, Pearson Education, Harlow, Available from: ProQuest EBook Central (14 August 2021).

Thomson, C. 2019, ‘Top Marketing Trends For 2020’, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/10/03/top-marketing-trends-for-2020/#6889ba113d5d

-END-

[sugar-petals]

Please do a tarot reading on bts personality? Thank you

if we’re talking personality, it’s time for the big guns. i promised i’d use this deck to an anon, today we’re doing a shaman soul reading. 

Jungkook: THE RAINBOW

A sign that the end of the storm is near. This card is truly blessed and imbued with great innocence because that’s exactly what Jungkook is. It’s the “everything is alright” signal: The rainbow symbolizes completion of the soul in the Himalayan region where shamans consider rainbows a bridge to the afterlife. Believe it or not: What we see as JK is the last incarnation of his line. His journey is basically complete (!), it is whole. He’s found what we will all find and the end which is a state of profound happiness. There’s a reason why he brings so much ease, fun, and talent everywhere he goes. That sense of lightness and positivity is deeply embedded in him. Brightness, bubbliness, fleeting moods but always optimistic. His personality is all about joy and the feeling of soaring high. It’s not a farce we see on camera, he really is like that. What I noticed is. Since we see a colorful bird dashing forward on a ray of light, I believe JK is headed somewhere blissful, and he’s headed there fast. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, pretty much. Not just the shamans in Nepal consider the rainbow as an arch, Norse ones do, too. The Bifröst bridge connects Midgard to the Æsir. Jungkook has a sort of divine connection going on. That’s why his personality is dignified. Bifröst is translated to ‘shimmering path’, that he got famous was destined from the beginning.

Hoseok: THE SWEAT LODGE

Hey, Mama. I am not surprised that this card is all about a connection to mother earth and all things maternal. The hut — and the ritual that is behind it — is essentially an image for the womb. Hoseok is looking for that warm and cozy feeling in his life. That tells you a whole lot about the personality we rarely see on stage, it’s a much calmer state. The act of sweating disperses old habits and bad thoughts, this is precisely what he seeks. That blissful, protected place/state of being attracts him, or rather, draws him back into his past. His character is so youthful and cheery because he longs for a space like the sweat lodge that leaves you relaxed, drained from the weight of the world, and without sorrows. What he longs for is purity. He’s let go of demons and phases in his life he’s grown out of. His goal is to feel renewed and being without baggage. Note also that the sweat lodge is a community place. He is deeply social, it’s not an act. Hoseok aspires to be a nurturing figure in the future, and peace is very important to him.

Jin: TAMING THE WIND

Think about it: Something as dynamic as air representing Jin makes a lot of sense. He might be a fire sign, but air is nonetheless strong in him. He is a person who is self-directed and cannot be grasped at any time. Air does what it wants, and few other forces can stop it. On top of that, wind is malleable. It can be completely still, gently blowing, come on strong, or be a flat out hurricane. The different levels of intensity are all present in Jin’s character. As in, he can be the introvert of all introverts only to turn into extroversion embodied. The card tells us about just how versatile he can be. That he will achieve more consistency in the future is represented by the act of taming: Yes, he will settle. Visually, the feather is the most important part of this card. It symbolizes a holy dedication to life and distributes smoke during shaman rituals. It can also be interpreted as a pointer when you’re in alignment. So, I’d describe Jin’s character as something that dispels the old to bring about harmony. Thus, he is wild and tame alike. Very interesting duality.

Namjoon: THUNDER

Next to Jimin’s card, this is the most powerful one I pulled. If you’re familiar with The Tower in tarot, THUNDER is similar. Especially in its spiritual weight. Thunder always hails of new things coming. Namjoon is that kind of vanguard. Even his voice booms like thunder man, that’s no coincidence. That he’s the leader of one of the most famous boy groups on this planet means something dramatic and big coming our way. At his core, he is revolutionary. Namjoon is Namjoon because of his message that’s loud, terrifying to great many a hater, and a call to awakening. I am certain he is on his way to enlightenment, I’m not kidding. Because think about, thunder comes first, then: lightning. It describes his personality progression well: Namjoon did a full 180° in the last years. He did all of his shadow work. This card always says a person is about to fulfill their purpose, so he’s currently at the very brink. He is scared to the core but knows that he’s destined for great things. Like buffalos storming ahead, he is unstoppable just like that. It’s because of him that the game changes 😊

Yoongi: THE PRESENT

Beside the literal interpretation of Yoongi being a present to this world which truly is the case, this card also means unconditional offering in a general sense. You’d think it’s his wonderful music that he has gifted us. The meaning of the card says otherwise, things go deeper, it’s about something that is not material in nature. Only true love and true feelings can fully belong to a person and they can give them as a present. I think this is what Yoongi’s personality at its deepest level is about. He is a generous man. Who is more giving than someone so dedicated and full of tender emotions. The card is also a signifier of gratitude, and I think Yoongi truly is thankful. The winged woman shown on the card lifts up the sun, which tells me Yoongi wants to uphold joy and that he was sent to us as an angelic, radiant being. Lil’ cherub he is. The card is colored in such a bright yellow and orange way, I think he could be a kind of light worker, even, if you’re familiar with this concept. What Yoongi’s aim is at its most basic level is to gain access to the happiness of life. And he wishes so dearly we experience it, too. I need a moment.

Jimin: THE INCA CROSS

Ooof. Oh shit. This card is a massive fucking deal. I’m stunned every time I see it. It has a huge wtf factor. A simple but overarching symbol. To shamans, the Inca Cross symbolizes all directions and dimensions coming together. It even connects the Underworld with the Gods themselves. It also has a hole in the middle, allowing us to travel to a different perspective. It tells me Jimin is the one holding everything around him together with his personality. He is that cross, a compass basically. He has access to greater wisdom. The Inca Cross is a big leap, this is what Jimin essentially is. What he exudes propels us forward and unites us. He can make people change their mind and direction in life. He is only halfway aware of that skill. I wouldn’t mess with him either way, he is the true axis of Bangtan. The crucial (=cross-like!) one, even Namjoon said that. Now what’s also important is not just the cross itself but also the color. It is made of solid gold, a very warm tone. His charm and soothing character is innate to Jimin, and that is a regal feat. It’s very important that he knows his worth, that is the crux —cross— of the matter. Now this is where it gets really metaphysical: That the Inca Cross bridges the lower, middle (Human), and upper realm to shamans in Peru is no coincidence. It tells us Jimin was sent from a place that is not this, aka the middle world. I think even people who are not into spirituality can feel that. He is either a saved soul from the Underworld so this is his first incarnation after a long time or he was sent from the Gods. Because the cross connects all worlds, it could even be both at the same time. And since the Inca Cross allows dimension and time travel (!)… maybe he can do even that. This card is telling me the wildest shit.

Taehyung: HEART OF SKY

During the last tarot readings I drew The Empress for him several times, the energy is no different here. This card has Queen of the Night type of imagery. It’s a very dreamy, whimsical woman immersed in melancholy, dressed in lavish garments. It’s not hard to see the parallel to Taehyung’s character. He is just as nostalgic and concerned with all things that bring more beauty to this planet. That is his purpose. I repeat: Taehyung is here to spread the fine things in life to bring us sophistication and wholesomeness. The Heart of Sky is quite possibly the card most connected to creativity and love. It encourages the one receiving it to paint. We know he’s already an artist at heart, the shaman cards know it, too. Heart of Sky means to pour out your emotions. And to show all your talents in a gorgeous way. The card is just… spot on. Nighttime plays an important role in this illustration, Tae is more Moon than Sun in personality. He’s in tune not just with his divine masculine, but also feminine. Perfect balance. The Heart of Sky carries with it a strong ethical component also, that means Taehyung is figuring out his intent very often. He’s a benevolent person, a creator. A good person, a benevolent heart. He wants the best for everyone, you and me, anybody.

Bangtan: THE SUN 

I also pulled a card for the personality of the group as a sum. THE SUN is pretty straightforward: BTS are luminaries, a figurative giant. A super-star. Shamans connect the sun to male energy so the allegory fits, there’s a bright and positive masculine quality in their work. BTS are a hot topic and the energy is high. Sometimes even overpowered because their solar pizzazz is so ardent — burning out is the #1 danger here. That’s why the members connected to the moon and night (Joon, Tae, Yoongi, to some extent Jimin) are so important to balance everything. Passion, humor, creativity, playfulness are always around when BTS is near. The sun is at the center or the universe and widely seen, the group indeed takes that center spot right now. Many other life forms depend on the sun, revolve around it, BTS and their light are needed. If they fall, a system collapses. The card tells us they are currently at their zenith, truly radiant now, soaring like the winged spirit on the card. Also, to state the obvious: Come on, who’s the sun of BTS? Hobi’s personality sticks out the most, reflects back to the group dynamic. This is his card and time to shine. He makes or breaks the deal and the cards know it. He sets the tone.

bighit: THE JAGUAR

I wanted to see what the personality of bighit as a whole is, too. Unsurprisingly — what came out is an animal who’s a roaring force to be reckoned with. The energy is a lot more competitive and serious compared to The Sun. I find it convincing and see why these cards came out: Lighthearted group, big business company. Now, the Jaguar has a dark side as well as extreme advantages. He sure doesn’t look like the scariest animal ever, but being on top of the food chain allows him to do whatever he pleases: He’ll never be prey. On the other hand, he is protected because he’s so strong. Bighit does have that quality of being untouchable. Much like the jaguar, it’s an undertaking that operated in the shadows for long. We know that Bang PD claims to have the secret success formula and isn’t as public as say Lee Soo Man and JYP. There is a component of mystery, and the other companies are careful because of it. On the light side, BTS certainly have powerful and rational guidance. To give an analogy from the jungle book: Bighit is like Bagheera, the voice of reason, infusing BTS with strength and knowledge.

if you like my readings, support your local tiger on ko-fi 🐅