#because they were known to utilize magic and other 'irrational' things
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memoirsverse · 6 years ago
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1, 48, 49?
Get to know my character
01. What does your character’s name mean? Did you pick it for the symbolism, or did you just like the way it sounded?
I was trawling around on Google for names, and found that one of the meanings of Evelyn was “little bird,” which seemed fitting. “Alvar” is a take on the Scandinavian “Alfar,” i.e., Elves.
48. Is there anything in particular that would ignite your character’s jealousy? Or does your character not get envious?
With interpersonal relationships, including romantic ones, Evelyn has a sort of… non-possessive way of viewing them. However, she will react with what may seem like jealousy if a) she sees someone going after a person she cares about who would obviously be harmful/have dishonorable motivations, or b) she feels like she’s being pushed aside or replaced. In general, Evelyn can sometimes be envious of people who seem to fit into the world around them, who belong, who seem made for the world they’re in. She’s never felt that, and it’s always been a sore spot for her. I’m not sure if she’d get really testy about that, more that she sees it and wants it.
49. What is something that your character has nightmares about? Are these frequent? Do they heavily affect your character’s mood?
Oh, Evelyn has recurring nightmares about the Time Wars (which in the crossover verse also involves Nemesis, the Outsiders, and the Old Ones, as well as the Time Lords and Daleks– or, if the verse has her end in Eight’s era, the Time Lords and Faction Paradox, which would be even more fitting, actually, and is a theme I want to explore here). About being burned alive on a battlefield, which is how her time as Galatea ended. She also has nightmares about being bound to her part-human form, being crammed into a dark, too-small space, and suffers from a mild form of claustrophobia (which may be exacerbated in stressful situations) because of it. The woman has massive psychological trauma that she has not even begun to make peace with or work through, even though it’s been heavily suppressed.
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Scrying
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WARNINGS: creepy images, mild gore and violence
Summary: Loki investigates some magical mirrors and has a terrifying encounter.
Word count: 2500+
Author’s note: Pre-Thor and not part of my fanfiction series (for now)
The ancient art of scrying is prevalent in many cultures across the cosmos. This technique is utilized to divine the past, the present, or possible futures. Scrying tools are not limited to mirrors. Any reflective surface can be used for scrying: metal, stones, water, fire. What the scryer sees may be personal to them, or it may have nothing to do with them at all.
“Are you hoping to see your future lover?”
Loki looked up from his book. A grinning Thor was leaning over the desk, threatening to mess up Loki’s piles of carefully-taken notes.
Loki was interested in a wide variety of topics, and his curiosity was not superficial. A topic could be subjected to intensive research for weeks, even months. The latest one to catch his eye had been mirrors.
Mirrors were surrounded by numerous superstitions. They were said to show visions. Breaking them was considered bad luck. Some believed they could trap people’s souls, especially the souls of those who were dead. With magic being as diverse as it was, Loki held to the notion that not all such fears were irrational.
And mirrors held a special meaning for Loki. Because of his ability to cast illusions, he knew better than anyone how images could fool people. He startled himself when he walked in front of a mirror while disguised.
Thor had heard many of the same rumors, but he didn’t believe any of them. For him, mirrors were just tools for vanity.
Loki was planning on visiting a place called the Vale of Mirrors. Stories about it varied and many sounded exaggerated, but they all agreed that the Vale held some very mysterious mirrors, possibly the most powerful in the universe.
Loki wasn’t interested in scrying or seeing any deep truths. He just wanted to experience the mirrors for himself.
Loki gave his brother a bored look. “I would not waste my time asking such empty-headed questions.”
“You may find out that your sweetheart is a lizard,” Thor continued. “Or a troll.”
Loki’s eyes dropped to a drawing on the table, depicting a man cowering from a storm of whirling leaves. His mother had warned him about delving too deep into powerful magic, but the temptation was just too great.
“You should be careful in the Vale, brother,” said Thor, taking his hands off the table. “You might accidentally summon a Fire Demon that will gobble you up!” Chuckling to himself, he left Loki in the shadowy corner of the library.
The distant planet Loki landed on was largely uninhabited, so nature flourished freely. The planet’s three faraway suns gave off a comfortable light through the blue and gold trees. Furry animals with long snouts leapt through the branches, and worms twined around the trunks. Colorful rocks crunched beneath Loki’s boots.
Strangely, many of the trees were broken near the tops, with the severed branches lying in a heap around them.
Loki plucked some leaves off the ground. They were very soft, like velvet.
Placing the leaves in his coat, he continued on through the forest, following a faint but undeniable tug of magic.
At last, he reached the grove he had seen so many times in illustrations. The trees here looked as if they had been pruned. In the center of the grove was a perfectly circular pond with worms swimming in it.
Wondering if the pond was one of the mirrors, Loki peered into the water. However, it was so clear he could see right to the bottom.
Loki walked around the pond and found the ground sloping down into a pitch dark cave. He lit up his hand with yellow magic and went in.
The tunnel led to a circular room with nine large mirrors on the walls, each a plain sheet of glass.
Loki studied the mirrors. He could only see himself from several different angles. Nothing unusual.
Loki then noticed that everything was still. The sounds of rustling leaves and animals had stopped. There was invisible magic in the cave, but it was static, unmoving.
Maybe he had to focus. He drew closer to one of the mirrors. Still nothing changed.
Just as Loki was wondering if he needed to use a spell, the eyes in his reflection darkened, and the face became longer and narrower.
Loki stepped back and noticed that all the reflections were changing, growing broader or thinner, their hair morphing into other colors, until each one was a different person. All of them turned to face him.
“Who are you?” Loki asked.
“Why have you come here?” one of them asked back.
“I am here to see the magic of the Vale.”
“We can show you a great many things,” said another man.
Each of them was standing in another cave, also full of mirrors. It was his own world, multiplied a myriad times.
Maybe the mirrors were windows into other worlds, ones he could see but not touch.
Or maybe he was the reflection, and the others were reality.
Loki summoned up his courage. “What do you have to tell me?”
“Are you afraid of your future?” one of the reflections asked.
Fate was not something Loki considered very often, because it unsettled him. The conviction of most Asgardians was that no matter what came to pass, they would face it courageously.
Loki was not nearly that confident. Still, if that was what they offered, he would take it. “What do you know of my future?”
The magic in Loki’s hand extinguished itself, but the mirrors remained lit with their own eerie light.
“If you are not afraid …” said the reflection.
“You should be,” all of them hissed.
The cave and the mirrors disappeared. It was very dark, but Loki could see the faint outlines of trees. Leaves were falling around him – some silver, some a ghostly blue. The gleaming tips of creature’s snouts darted in and out of sight. Luminous worms as large as snakes swarm in a murky black pond in front of him. The whole place gave off the stench of wet leaves and dirty rainwater.
Loki heard a crackling noise that grew progressively louder. Ice was creeping over the forest floor and up the trees. Pinpricks of red light appeared in the rocks, like a million eyes looking up at him.
Terror gripped Loki. Every muscle in this body wanted to run. But just as that thought crossed his mind, a wind blew him onto his knees.
All at once, the trees broke at the point where their trunks forked, as if a giant scythe had cleaved off their tops.
Loki looked into the pond. The reflection looking back at him seemed melancholy.
Then his reflection’s arm grabbed the front of his tunic and pulled him into the dark water.
Loki barely had time to gasp.
But he wasn’t drowning. He didn’t even feel like he was underwater. The other him had vanished, and he was floating in empty blackness.
It isn’t real, he reminded himself.
His toe hit something solid, and he fell onto hard ground.
Loki’s head was on its side, and he could see that he was on a patch of rocks that smelled vaguely metallic. Beyond the rocks was a thick black fog. It was extremely quiet.
Loki tried to push himself up, but he couldn’t move a muscle. Even his eyelids had been forced open.
Something oozed up from between the rocks, flowing over Loki’s fingers and seeping through his clothing. The scent of blood filled Loki’s nose. He tried to get up again, but to no avail. His magic wouldn’t respond, either.
The blood kept coming, and Loki wondered if it was his. He thought he could see ghoulish faces in the rocks, screaming silently. Maybe they were the ones bleeding.
Just as Loki thought he would be trapped forever, the rocks turned to dust beneath him, and the liquid vaporized.
Loki twitched his fingers and found to his relief that he could move again.
He got to his feet shakily and wiped the blood off his face. The fog was gone, and he was on a barren plain. He stood there, legs apart and eyes alert.
The wind picked up, and dust got into Loki’s eyes and clothes.
Loki then thought he saw something hovering in the distance, unmoved by the wind. A spark of flame, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Was it a friend or an enemy?
The bits of dust started to twist themselves into cable-like strands. One end was anchored to the ground, while the other end waved in the air. Instead of attacking Loki, they started converging on the tiny flame.
The flame could be his only aid in this place He started running toward it.
Immediately, some of the cables started moving towards Loki. Their ends became pointed, like spearheads.
Loki pulled a dagger out of his coat and sliced through the cable closest to him. The cable exploded, its dust spraying over Loki. However, no sooner had it burst apart then it reassembled again.
The cables slashed, making small cuts on Loki’s hands and face. One of them darted straight towards his chest, and he dodged it.
If Loki had been facing a conventional opponent, he would have known how to fight. But these were very different entities. Stooping down, he put away his dagger and unleashed a blast of magic.
The magic scattered the pieces of dust much better than his dagger could.
Loki charged towards the flame. As he cupped his hands around it, it grew slightly larger, lighting up his face with its orange glow. It was pleasantly warm.
Loki smiled a little, but he knew he had to be careful. Fire was fickle, and not easily controlled.
Similar types of magic were attracted to each other, Loki remembered. He conjured a small flame of his own and held it steady.
The cables were advancing on him.
He strengthened his magic, and the flame grew along with it. He unleashed them both as one fiery blast. The cables were disintegrated instantly.
Loki grinned proudly. He extinguished his own magic, but the small flame stayed.
The ground quaked, making Loki almost lose his balance. The plain began turning into sinking pits of dust. Soon, only the patch of ground Loki stood on remained.
Many voices whispered all around him, speaking as one. “Will you join us? Or will you be the one to escape?”
Burning white objects, like stars, began showering from the sky. Loki had nowhere to run to, so he shielded his head.
He hated this. He had fought hundreds of enemies before, but none of them could compare to the forces of nature.
The flame spread out above him, incinerating the objects as they came near. But he could feel the flame weakening.
Fight nature with nature, he thought.
Some of the objects grazed Loki’s arms, scorching him through his clothes. When they fell around Loki’s feet, Loki saw that they were leaves, sharp as glass and smoldering with white fire.  
Images danced in the flames. A blue crystal mounted in gold. An army mounted on winged horses.  A rift in the sky that was full of stars. A long sword stained with blood.
Just as suddenly as it had began, the bombardment of objects stopped.
Loki took his hands away from his head, and the orange flame shrunk again.
Rocks rushed out of the pits, and as he watched, the cave walls rebuilt themselves around him.
There was a flash of lightning and a thunderclap that made Loki cover his ears. He was almost certain the cave roof had split open.
Then it was absolutely silent.
The flame was gone. The leaves were gone. Except for the nine mirrors, the cave was empty.
After a few heartbeats, Loki hurried back through the tunnel into the open. The sunlight blinded him, and he fell to his knees.
When his eyes refocused, he realized he was kneeling by the edge of the pond, which was clear again. The sun was warm on his back. He watched the rippling water and fluid movements of the worms, and gradually his heart stopped pounding.
Loki gingerly reached up to touch his face. There was no blood, no dust. All his wounds had healed, but the sensations still remained.
He had to laugh at himself. He, the illusion-caster, frightened by false images. Nearly all sense had departed from him in the cave. He had always prided himself on being the rational one in his family, but it seemed fear always triumphed over intelligence. He knew the best thing to do was to go home, talk to other people, and remind himself that reality still existed.
He pictured Thor coming to him and asking, So, did you see your future lover? and him answering, Yes, and it turned out to be myself. Now please leave me and my books in peace.
Loki saw that more of the trees were broken than before. Perhaps he had actually left the cave during his vision.
The blissful scenery suddenly seemed to be overlaid with sinister images. Anything – from the ground to the plants to the sky itself – could turn against him at any moment.
Loki backed away from the pond. Then he reached into his coat and took out the leaves he had picked up. They were still blue and gold, and as bright as ever.
What had the Vale been trying to tell him?
Here’s a piece of music to go with this story (lyrics in description)
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precontis-blog · 6 years ago
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-----   THE   LEGEND   OF   SLEEPY   HOLLOW   ;
          This is going to be a huge information dump based on how I’ll be portraying the character, etc. Please take the time to read this, as it will explain a lot about how he’s modernized, and how I intend to play him. Below, you’ll see a bit into the legend, what he is, and how he carries himself. I also will be including how his powers work, and how he himself differs from the legend   ( as legends are not always accurate ).
-----   LORE   :   THE   HEADLESS   HORSEMAN   ;
          The headless horseman is known as a man on horseback who is missing his head. He either carries it under his arm, upon his horse, or he is missing it altogether. If he is missing it, it’s known that he’s searching for it. It is believed that he was a man killed during the Battle of White Plains in 1776, decapitated by an American cannonball. The shattered remains of his head are known to be left on the battlefield while his comrades carried his body away. Eventually he was buried in the cemetery of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, from which each Halloween night he rises as a malevolent ghost, furiously seeking his lost head.
-----   LORE   :   WHAT   IS   A   DULLAHAN   ?   ;
          They are headless unseelie faeries, known to carry their heads with them, either on the saddle-brow of his horse or raised in his hand. A hideous grin splits the face from ear to ear, and the eyes dart about. The entire head glows with a phosphorescence so that the creature may use it as a lantern guide through darkened groves and laneways. When a dullahan stops, a mortal dies by call of name. They are possessed of supernatural sight, holding his severed head aloft to see vast distances across the country. He can spy the house of a dying person, no matter where it lies. Those who watch from their windows are punished with blindness, either by a splash of blood thrown upon their faces, or by use of his whip. He is usually mounted on a black steed, and uses a human spine as a whip. He also has a black coach, drawn by six black horses, and it travels so fast that the friction created by its movement sets fire to plantlife.
          All gates fly open to let him through, no matter how tightly locked. The coach has additional candles in skulls to light the way, its wheel spokes are made from thigh bones, and the covering of the wagon is made of human skin. It tends to speak as little as possible, and stops before the door of a house to shout the name of the person about to die. He may also stop at the very spot a person will die. Unlike a banshee, the dullahan does not pursue specific families and its call is a summoning of the soul of a dying person rather than a death warning. There is no real way to defend against the dullahan because it is Death’s herald. However, an item made of gold may frighten him away, for dullahans appear to have an irrational fear of this metal. Even a small amount of gold will suffice.
-----   WHAT   HE   FOLLOWS   ;
          Despite being the headless horseman, it’s very clear that Eadric himself hardly follows folklore. He may be a headless man on horseback, but it’s clear that he still has his head and it isn’t exactly a lantern. In fact, he appears completely human when not being, well, the headless horseman. What is true happens to be his manner and year of death, as he did in fact die in 1776 from a cannonball that decapitated him. Just as Eadric’s current head isn’t exactly his own, it’s a replica that was created by Death when he chose Eadric to be one of his heralds.
          Eadric was born in North Tarrytown   ( which would later be called Sleepy Hollow )   and was buried in the Old Dutch Church. If someone were to search his gravesite and dig up his coffin, they would find a corpse dressed in his old military uniform taking place of his body. He does not only rise on Halloween night, and he can in fact call upon his powers at any point, day or night.
          In fact, aside from being considered an unseelie faerie, he’s also technically a ghost as well as undead. Here’s how I break these down:                     ---   He, himself, is undead. He is a reanimated corpse, except his body is untouched by the stages of decay. Eadric’s organs and all continue to function normally to give off the appeal that he is still a living, breathing, human being despite being semi-immortal.                     ---   He is a ghost in the way that his horses are ghosts, and they are individual extensions of his own person. He is known to be seen with one horse, or he will ride a carriage drawn by six. Regardless, these horses are ghosts and are often seen as wispy shadows.                     ---   He is a faerie by way of his powers and how they work. Conjuring ghost horses and a ghost carriage, utilizing reality warping magic to do so, while also managing to remove his own head at any point in time. He betrays the laws of life in favor of being Death’s herald.
          Despite his horses and carriage all being ghostly in manner, physical lifeforms are capable of touching them. These objects are as cold as a winter night, but they can still be used for transportation. The coach is, of course, follows lore where it is all black and it is decorated with skulls that have lit candles in them. The wheel spokes are made of thigh bones, and the wagon’s cover is made of dried human skin. Surprisingly enough, it does not smell all things considered. From the cover hangs several lanterns as additional light.
          He still does possess supernatural sight, and his eyes do glow a shimmering blue when using it. When he calls upon the soul of a dying person, he is meant to draw the soul into one of the lanterns he carries   ( either one of four on the coach, or one that hangs from the horse’s saddle ),   but he is also known for consuming them. Contrary to lore, Eadric is not a man afraid of speaking his mind, and in fact he quite enjoys talking. Most other dullahan tend to be silent during their work, but he has no issues regardless.
          So when does he not have control over his powers? On the night of a full moon. It will force him to be the horseman for the night come dusk, and there is always a soul for him to reap. In order for him to fully take a soul, he must call upon his power. Otherwise he cannot completely call someone to death, though he may still taste their soul as a human if he so wishes.
          Upon his neck is a scar that runs clean around, obviously the supernatural seam that keeps his head attached, and the seam that magically comes apart when he is to remove his head. He can undo this seam at will, appearing completely and utterly human while just... waving his head around.
-----   WEAKNESS   :   GOLD   &   DEATH   ?   ;
          You heard it here: Eadric is in fact weak to gold. But he isn’t afraid of it. In fact, he finds gold pretty and a nice decoration, whether it be on a person or object. However, gold in and of itself works similarly to kryptonite on Superman, except it has to make direct contact with his body. Not necessarily skin, so long as it touches him at all it will do. The gold, as a strange purifying element, will nullify his powers and prohibit him from calling upon his horses or any supernatural abilities he may have. This includes his super sight, and it strips him of his semi-immortality.
          This is the best time to kill him, as any mortal wound that’s considered fatal will do, but be warned that if the gold object is not left on his person, he will be resurrected come the next night. There are three ways to kill a dullahan, and two of which are definitely permanent while the gold method is partially temporary.                     1)   Keep the gold object on his person, or find a way to sneak gold inside him. Have him swallow it, inject it, etc. If this gold leaves him at any point, he will come back the next night.                     2)   A sickle dipped in lamb’s blood, cut cleanly through the seam that keeps his head attached.                     3)   Death’s touch / Death’s weapon in general.
-----   THE   MODERNIZATION   &   HIS   GOALS   CURRENTLY   ;
          When I say that he’s modernized, I mean it in the fact that he isn’t stuck in 1776. He dresses   ( more or less )   normally, with the exception of his more Victorian goth fashion, but he sums that up to his interest in history and horseback riding. At least that’s what he’ll tell anyone who asks, assuming they’re liked enough to get a kind answer. Eadric knows what the internet is, he has a phone, he’s seen cars, etcetera.
          Eadric has been out of his coffin since 1996, when North Tarrytown was changed to Sleepy Hollow. Since then, he has watched the world change and grow, and he has been a part of it in secrecy. Most people don’t know that he’s the headless horseman, just as people often assume he merely shares the name of the man who supposedly died and was decapitated in 1776.
          As for his goals, well, he’s sort of been straying from the path of what he’s meant to be doing. Calling forth souls of the dying was his initial goal, but Eadric is bored of the humdrum afterlife he lives, as he was never the man to follow rules. In secrecy he explores just how much he can put a soul through before it breaks, just as he’s more fascinated with getting himself into dangerous situations, or allowing people to figure out just who or what he is. Eadric is in fact amused by the terror he creates by simply riding through a town, and each year he crafts himself a new whip by tearing out the spine of several victims by his own hands.
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dragonballnextfuture · 3 years ago
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Goku (Next Future)
Superhuman Strength: vast physical strength, in base form he has been shown to lift four tons in a ten times Earth's gravity environment, can can literally move entire planets and even universes out of their orbit barehanded with no other supplementary power or aids.
Absolute Strength: easily lift astronomical structures such as being capable of lifting entire planets with ease and has the power to shatter the space-time anomalies with only a single strike. has the strength to shatter planets, universes and multiverses. able to easily move entire planets out of their orbits at will and can also move universes and multiverses as well without any supplementary powers or aids. can also easily move Planet Jupiter by only using his bare hands.
Superhuman Speed: can catch bullets with impressive ease, and run at speeds faster than the eye can track. speed increased to the point of being able to move faster than time and space.
Absolute Speed: can move at speeds that not even the most attuned of beings can grasp and outrun or avoid anything. can move at infinite velocities, allowing user to surpass and perceive light speed movements. move past time and space itself and even beyond multi universal.
Superhuman Durability: Even without ki enhancement, Goku's natural Saiyan physiology allowed him to easily survive most earthling weapons, such as bullets or axes, with none of them leaving more than a bruise, or simply breaking when in contact with his skin, however grenades and missiles were said to be capable of dealing heavy damage to him, and a alien laser weapon was show to leave him near death after one shot. Through the utilization of ki he can enhance himself to endure far more damage than without ki. As a God and the most powerful being in the universe, Goku can endure powerful god-like techniques.
Absolute Invulnerability: As the Omni-King, Goku is immune to any/all kinds of damage, be it physical (internal and external), mental, spiritual and even conceptual. Death due to old age (as opposed to preemptive death) is seemingly, literally, one of the only causes of death to Goku. Because of this, Goku cannot be injured or defeated.
Superhuman Senses: While mostly intended to showcase his "not-so-human" origins, or as a comic-relief in the early manga, as a child, Goku displays superhumanly accurate senses of smell and sight, and even recognized his grandpa by his smell. However, his enhanced senses also allowed him to have incredible reflexes in combat and martial arts, giving him great response time to his enemies' attacks. In Dragon Ball GT, Goku's senses are so pinpoint accurate, that he does not depend on his sight to be aware of his environment, even allowing him to catch moving inanimate objects with just his hearing.
Absolute Senses: As the Omni-King, Goku is able to have all senses enhanced to an infinite scale, allowing him to see, smell, hear and otherwise limitlessly sense everything in existence, including conceptual forces and even immaterial beings/entities.
Absolute Immortality: As the Omni-King, Goku possesses absolute immortality, is unable to die, age, get sick, or be permanently wounded, is absolutely self-sustained, and as Goku's mind and soul are as immortal as their biological bodies, he is immune to mental/spiritual damage. Goku's existence and soul as the Omni-King of the 13 multiverses become completely free and independent of even the concept of reality, making him unbound to the subjects of life, death, and manipulations. Also, the power cannot be removed, rendered truly perfect and absolute. With this ability, Goku is completely immune to any injury and can never be killed.
Telekinesis: Goku can manipulate and influence other objects and matter around him just by using his mind. He uses this while in a hospital to take water out of a glass until Chi-Chi interrupts his concentration. Goku uses this power to demonstrate his abilities to Shido.
Telepathy: Goku is able to read and sometimes sense other peoples thoughts by using his ki and can utilize communication with them mentally.
Omnipotence: After awakening his true power within him and becoming one with Da'at's Spirit, Goku unlocked his most powerful ability: Omnipotence. After becoming the Omni-King, Goku is the most powerful being in the 13 multi-verses and is the king of gods in which he can achieve anything without limitations or conditions. Goku can also create an omni-verse from a thought and can easily destroy the entire omniverse when using this power but chooses not to use it. Goku can also annihilate and create easily entire galaxies. Goku is fundamentally and literally invincible, completely immune to all every single powers in existence, and able to defeat the combined might of all creation and its mightiest beings just by wanting it, without the slightest effort, including an Omni-King. With this ability, Goku is the 'One Above All' and the most powerful being of the 13 multiverses. Goku's power is virtually superior to that of all the Omni-Kings which includes the likes of Michael, Zeus, Zeno, Metatron, Odin, Izanagi, Juno, Amun-Ra, Olorun, Amaterasu, Gabriel, Uriel, Bleuberi, Batala, Raphael, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Elohim, Hope, Grim Reaper, Jupiter and Brahma. He is one of the six Omni-Kings to possess this power.
Omniscience: After awakening his true power within him and becoming one with Da'at spirit, Goku unlocked his second most powerful ability: Omniscience. After becoming the Omni-King, Goku has the capacity to know every knowledge that is presented within the 13 multi-verses. With this ability, Goku is the most intelligent being in the 13 multiiverses, even more smarter than Erion. His intelligence also surpasses that of Odin.
Omnipresence: As the Omni-King, Goku is present everywhere at the same time, referring to an unbounded or universal presence. It is related to the concept of ubiquity, the ability to be everywhere and nowhere at once. Goku even appeared right behind Lord Erion.
Omni-Senses: As the Omni-King, Goku is able to have all senses enhanced to universal to multiversal scale, allowing him to see, smell, hear and otherwise sense everything around the universe and beyond, including conceptual forces and even immaterial beings/entities.
Omni-Perception: As the Omni-King, Goku can perceive anything/everything, including the past, present and future, reality, causality, boundaries, energy, even destiny and ultimately everything else that can be perceived/comprehended.
Absolute Knowledge: As the Omni-King, Goku has gained unlimited knowledge, allowing him to understand the meaning of everything by communicating with or understanding the multi-universal consciousness with everything perceived as a unity.  This power is capable of awaking Goku, both spiritually and mentally. This is a sub-ability of Omniscience.
Omni-Magic Manipulation: As the Omni-King, Goku has unlimited access to all forms of magic and other mystical and supernatural forces. He can bend, break, and even create natural laws, distort the fabric of reality on a cosmic scale, perform unbelievable miracles, and create things without limit. Goku is now immune to all opposing magic and can even break through all outside mystic defenses.
Almighty Magic: As the Omni-King, Goku possesses the truest and omnipotent form of magic which surpasses all the rules and has no need for any justification as to how or why feats are accomplished. Goku Magic abilities even surpasses that of Odin who is known as the 'Greatest Magician in Existence'.
Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku can create organic or inorganic matter from nothing either as finished objects or simply unfinished elements. Goku can create energy, souls and life of any complexity, dimensions or realities, stars, etc. As long as it can be defined as object, Goku has the power to make it reality and inter-dimensional.
Omnificence: As the God of Creation and Omni-King, Goku can create anything and everything without any limitations such as existence, dimensions and realities. Goku can basically create everything that is presented in the universe.
Absolute Destruction: As the Omni-King, Goku can destroy everything without limits, from concepts, boundaries and causation, to studies like metaphysics and science, even irrational "concepts" like the fabric of nothingness or the totality itself. However, Goku doesn't use this ability often, because of his pacifistic nature.
Planetary Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku can create planets of various compositions and sizes with the level of detail depending on mastery of this ability. Goku may also be able to create organic matter or even complex biological lifeforms on the planet if it meets suitable conditions for life.
Cosmic Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku has the capability to create dimensions or universes in a cosmic scale including the creation of galaxies, planets or moons.
Dimension Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku can create dimensions and nearly anything within the dimension (objects, creatures, etc.) and travel to them by creating a portal or just by wishing. Goku can bring other objects and organisms to their dimensions, although they must use more energy and concentration to do so. Goku might make a dimension where only they are invisible, and thus hide whenever being hunted by others.
Universe Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku can create an entire universe and everything that occupies in it, including also its residents, environment and locations. Goku can create the residents with roles, powers and skills to inhabit their universe.
Universe Recration: If a universe is destroyed, then Goku can recreate a universe from its beginning state in any way he wish. Goku can even reform a singular universe by inducing a new Big Bang Event altered according to their wishes and even recreate a universe that was originally destroyed.
Alternate Universe Creation: As the Omni-King and God of Creation, Goku can create a dimension, reality and/or reality-continuum. As such, Goku is able to both consciously and unconsciously create status, expertise and abilities for the occupants of the created universe if they deem it necessary.
Galaxy Destruction: As the Omni-King, Goku can easily destroy an entire galaxy and everything in it, just by punching a planet.
Universe Manipulation: Goku can manipulate the entire universe and everything within. As the Omni-King of the 13 multiverses, Goku virtually rules over all of the universes with great benevolence.
Multiverse Creation: As the God of Creation and Omni-King, Goku can create multiverse of infinite collection of realities and everything that occupies them, including it's residents, environment and locations. Goku also created the 14th multiverse, 15th multiverse, 16th multiverse, 17th multiverse, 18th multiverse, 19th multiverse, 20th multiverse, 21st multiverse, 22nd multiverse, 23rd multiverse, 24th multiverse, 25th multiverse, 26th multiverse, 27th multiverse, 28th multiverse, 29th Multiverse, 30th Multiverse, 31st Multiverse, 32nd, 33rd Multiverse, 34th Multiverse, 35th Multiverse, 36th Multiverse, 37th Multiverse and 38th Multiverse for Gabriel, Uriel, Poseidon, Apollo, Xicor, Hercules, Thor, Raphael, Amaterasu, Divine, Gohan, Vegeta, Broly, Dogma, Sophia, Broly, Bleuberi, Batala, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Elohim, Hope, Grim Reaper, Jupiter and Raziel to rule over.
Multiverse Destruction: As the Omni-King, Goku can easily destroy an entire multiverse and everything in it. However while Zeno and Zeus are powerful enough to destroy a single multiverse, Goku can destroy multiple multiverses.
Multiverse Recreation: As the Omni-King, Goku can recreate the multiverse from its beginning state in any way he wish. He can reform the multiverse by inducing a new Big Bang Event altered according to his wishes and even recreate a multiverse that was originally destroyed.
Multiverse Manipulation: As the Omni-King, Goku can manipulate the entire multiverse and everything within. As the Omni-King of the 13 multiverses, Goku is the absolute ruler of the 13 multiverses and can manipulate everything within it.
Life Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku is able to create living beings or matter using several different ways, these beings can either be completely unique/original, modified/evolved versions of already existing ones or simply normal beings without any major modifications.
Soul Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku can create souls which is the manifestation of a person's essence. He can construct another's sense of self with nothing but his own imagination or inevitably allow his creation to develop to their own sense of self. The souls cannot be destroyed by conventional methods, but can be damaged or absorbed by malevolent forces.
Genesis Creation: As the God of Creation, Goku create other lesser or equal beings from themselves and make as many beings as he want without losing any energy.
White Hole Creation: As the Omni-King, Goku can create white holes, as a black hole "sucks" matter in via gravity, a white hole spits it out.
Light Manipulation: As the God of Light, Goku can create, shape and manipulate visible light, commonly referred to simply as light, is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight.
Time Manipulation: As the Omni-King, Goku can manipulate the time in general area or a specific target in various manners, the basics revolving around accelerating, slowing, stopping and even rewinding or looping. The range of area affected is proportional to the mastery of the user, with top levels can affect the entire space and time continuum.
Time Manipulation: As the Omni-King, Goku manipulate time and reality through the basic manners of acceleration, slowing time, freezing or stopping time in an instant and looping in a general area. Goku can manipulate all time in the 39 multiverses and remake them into a different reality.
Time Acceleration: As the Omni-King, Goku can accelerate/speed up time for himself or others up to practically light speed while still moving normally.
Time Reversal: As the Omni-King, Goku can rewind time to a few seconds, minutes, hours, days and years into the past and alter it.
Time-Stopping: As the Omni-King, Goku can stop time while being unaffected themselves, or may also allow others to be unaffected.
Reality Warping: As the Omni-King, Goku can create, change, destroy, or even alter reality just by thinking about it, as such when he can make changes from nothing. Depending on the power of a reality warper, He may alter something as tangible as physics to something inconceivable like logic.
Ability Creation: As the Omni-King, Goku can create/manifest/develop virtually any ability, be it existing or brand new, and bestow it to others or himself.
Divination: Goku can employ divination, a method of reading the future, the present and the past and/or provide help to a problem at hand by using an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Divination can be achieved by communicating with the supernatural or by reading certain patterns.
Dimensional Travel: As the Omni-King, Goku can travel between different dimensions and universes and can cross over different planes of existence and travel to various forms of realities. Goku later bestowed this ability to Xicor.
Absolute Recreation: As the Omni-King, Goku can recreate perfectly anything/everything to the exact state it was in before it was destroyed, such as recreating a person who died in every single detail from his memories, personality, thoughts, his body as it originally was, powers, soul, every detail would be recreated, even down to the molecules and atoms that made them up. With this ability, Goku can recreate planets, universes, multiverses and even a Omniverse.
Absolute Restoration: As the Omni-King, Goku can restore anything back to its original state. This ability is a safety system with no consciousness that aim to maintain and prolong the state of the universe. It only acts in situations where factors capable of altering or destroying the reality have actively started working, and it will come into play to annihilate those factors, taking the form of any natural and/or supernatural phenomenon.
Wish Granting: After fusing with Shenron, Goku can grant any wish for others, acting as the manifestation of the desire for others into reality and can grant their dreams.
Absolute Wish: As the Omni-King and physical incarnation of Shenron, Goku can grant any wishes of others or himself without any limitations: no resource needed, no condition required, no limited number, no delays for use/reuse, and no exception whatsoever.
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diversemymedia · 7 years ago
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Into the Badlands Always Gave The Only Main Black Woman the Shortest End of the Stick (Spoilers)
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When Season 2 of Into the Badlands returned, I was excited to see where everyone was, especially Veil (Madeleine Mantock). Season 2 takes a six month gap after the Season 1 finale. Veil had just given birth to her son, Henry, but had been kidnapped by Quinn (Marton Csokas) and lived under him and his henchmen in some forsaken place. I was disappointed by her situation because I could see the incoming trauma that plenty characters of color must face if it meant survival. I thought that it could be the beginning to a meaningful character development and I hoped for the best. However, I wasn’t foolish enough to think she could be exempted from death, and it’s something that forever lingers in the back of my mind with any character of color. One day on Facebook, I came across an article titled “Into The Badlands Gave Us The Worst Character Trope In Its Finale”. I never read it and just by seeing the headline, my guess was right on the money. 
When I first heard about Into the Badlands, I was hesitant. However, actor Daniel Wu, who portrayed the series’ lead character, Sunny, gained my support as I did more research and discovered that he was part of the producing team. Around this time, there were strong discussions of representation going on, and Asian males were part of it. So you could imagine how glad I was when it wasn’t part of the ongoing trend of appropriating East Asian culture & martial art traditions by whitewashing it and giving the lead a white face. The pilot wasn’t the greatest, but I supported the diversity. I was ecstatic to see a martial arts based series that could wholesomely portray an East Asian male without writing him off as some silent caricature or magical Asian stereotype. To add to the hype, his love interest, Veil, was a black woman doctor. He also found a protege named M.K. (Amaris Knight), who’s actor is part South Asian. There were other minor characters of color, but when I first saw Veil, I knew that I had to keep my eye on her because she was the only woman of color with a main role. Mantock is a biracial, light skinned actress, so in my mind I immediately thought of colorism and women in Hollywood. I figured she probably wouldn’t have gotten the role if she weren’t, but I considered her black nonetheless and the showrunners showed their stance also.
Since I was small, I always noticed the token black friend, but after stumbling into online threads and videos posted by black fan girls, I began to notice the unfair and bizarre disconnect with Black woman characters in television, games, books, etc. They were virtually nonexistent and it made me realize that black actresses have a much harder time getting on-screen compared to black men or their non-black counterparts. To make matters worse, the few black woman characters are poorly handled and are written with overused characteristics that translate into unhealthy stereotypes (e.g. the “strong black woman” trope, the “easily angered black woman” or the “sassy black woman”). No one is saying that strong, upset, smart-mouthed black women don’t exist, but it’s not all those black women are. Those same self-sufficient, lively and outspoken women have vulnerabilities and flaws too, and it was a side I rarely saw utilized to counterbalance the issue.
Veil’s backstory was minimal but interesting: She was an orphan under Quinn’s care and was adopted by her parents as a sign of gratitude from Quinn. In Season 1, Veil discovered that she was pregnant with Sunny’s baby and wanted to leave the Badlands. She does whatever it takes to remain alive so she can give birth to her baby. Unlike many other women, she lacked fighting prowess and I figured she’d eventually learn something being with Sunny, a peak martial artist. She didn’t. I didn’t stress it because I figured there were future seasons where I could look forward to that. To make up for it, Veil was intelligent. She could outsmart and be clever without falling into the black genius trope. She invented prostheses to aid the disabled and overall possessed a natural maternal instinct. And while those were great, she’s wasn’t reluctant to risk her life if it meant survival. Her choices were irrational at times but it added depth and complexity to her character’s flaws. Ultimately, she was able to sway a situation in her favor because of her well-known profession. It was something I loved. Veil’s character didn’t have the best writing, but I was blown away seeing that she survived the first season despite being in the middle of so much carnage.
There were few issues that I noticed, like the erasure of her black parents (or parent, considering she’s biracial) and it’s an ongoing trait I’ve began to notice whereas if a character is biracial or racially ambiguous, the character’s parents/relatives of color are out of the picture (e.g. Vixen in the web series, Vixen. Madison Pettis in The Game Plan, Rashida Jones from Parks and Recreation, etc. [Note that it’s mostly women]). Personally, I see it as a tool to avoid confirmation of racial identities and to avoid casting “too many” actors characters of color. Sometimes, there can be a complicated portrayal of race when it comes to biracial characters. In some cases, I find it even weirder when biracial characters have two monoracial parents. Eventually, Veil’s parents are tragically murdered by Quinn, and although it’s still one of the worst traumas any of the characters face, I have mixed, thankful feelings that both weren’t black characters made to instantly be killed off. However, to reaffirm her race, I think I would’ve been fine with a black parent dying off-screen alongside their white partner.
When Veil died in Season 2, I was struck with some emotion. Not only was the death scene heartbreaking, but I was upset by how easy it was for me to predict the scene before it could happen. I thought about the many times black characters have had to sacrifice themselves for the needs of others (commonly known as ��Heroic Sacrifice”, racially as “Sacrificial Negroes”) and it bothers me when I see it done to upcoming black actresses because roles for them are scarce to begin with. Since fridging women was a common thing before white feminist leads became a thing, it’s like the fridging torch was happily passed down to women (and even men) of color. Very soon into the season, I had issues with Veil’s predicament since there was nothing she could do to escape her kidnapper’s abuse. She was repeatedly caged in cramped rooms, was always punished by being separated from her baby and went to disastrous lengths to kill one of Quinn’s henchmen during a failed attempt to escape. To add insult to injury, she was still defenseless unlike plenty of the other powerful [white] women in the series. Even Lydia (Orla Brady) showcased some kind of self-defense when killing off thieves that ransacked her father’s group. She’s a Baron’s wife, so it wasn’t questioned. So, why not Veil? She’s the one dating the deadliest Clipper in all of the Badlands and I find it difficult to believe that a character like Sunny never once thought about the potential threats that could follow Veil—I sure fucking did. Just look at where it got her. 
Halfway into Season 2, Veil managed to escape and seek sanctuary at The Widow’s fortress. Unfortunately, a decision that Veil made in Season 1 is casually brought up by the Widow (Emily Beecham) and she is so angered she gives Veil and her baby back to Quinn, despite her belief to “protect all women”. The scene was so pointless, I would’ve preferred the writers not make Veil escape at all. At this point, Veil is abused even more because of her escape. She’s physically assaulted, forced into marriage, nearly raped and more secrets (such as killing the guard and slowly killing Quinn under the guise of treatment) have been revealed in a manner that unintentionally downplays her initial cleverness. When Sunny finally arrived to rescue Veil, I was happy and praying that my own suspicions on Veil would be biased and wrong. During the fight with Sunny, Quinn was stabbed for the hundredth time and still managed to stand and hold a blade to Veil’s neck. For the protection of her loved ones, she sacrifices herself by thrusting the blade through her own throat and into Quinn’s. At this point, I was moved by the acting, but pissed by the writing. Jade (Sarah Bolger), Lydia, Tilda (Ally Ioannides) and Bajie (Nick Frost) are white characters who were all so close to death this season. Jade was spared by both the Widow and Quinn, Lydia avoided natural death situations three times over, Tilda was beat to a bloody pulp by The Widow and Bajie was stabbed in the side with a rusty scissor—yet they all miraculously happened to live. I just never understood it. I can appreciate Sunny being alive, but when I see white main characters constantly outwit death and outlive main characters of color, what other conclusion am I suppose to come to?
Veil’s death instantly reminded fans about the controversial death of Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) from the now cancelled series, Sleepy Hollow. A year before the Into the Badlands Season 2 finale, the showrunners of Sleepy Hollow had Abbie killed off by making her sacrifice herself, trying to fool others that she did it for the greater good. Abbie was the epitome of a disrespected black female lead. She was given less focal episodes and put through countless traumatic experiences: She got the worst of beatings in fights, spent weeks in dark/demonic dimensions, all to constantly be rescued by her white male co-lead. This time around, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) had also recently been killed off from The Walking Dead. Although it is understandable that the actress was going to be leading a new series, her character’s death followed the same sacrificial circumstances.
I think fans of the series could agree that Veil’s character was wasted potential. It’s just unsurprising to see that a series trying to uplift bad ass women only seem do the job for the white ones. Just as The Widow’s ‘feminism’ was selective enough to cast out Veil from her fortress, the showrunners ironically did the same. Even if her death was used in a way to motivate Sunny’s story, that’s practically the definition of fridging. What Veil had experienced was enough to motivate Sunny’s arc, Henry’s arc and potentially her own. In retrospect, she could’ve fled with Sunny and learned to defend herself and her son to her best ability. Veil would’ve started out rough but improved overtime (similar to of Daisy from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). I’m sure plenty of other fans would’ve died to see a face off between The Widow and Veil if they ever crossed paths again. With Sunny and the Widow going toe-to-toe on plenty occasions, Veil could’ve done the same, and it would’ve served the Widow right to get her ass handed to her by the woman she singled out...but nope. White feminist antics are apparently more important. Just the thought on how it could have gone makes it all the more depressing. If it was intentional or not...damn you, Al Gough. With the Abbots around, there’s a chance Veil can be resurrected. They can either save Veil for Season 3 or introduce another black female character.
Into the Badlands, Season 2 Rating: 1.5/5 stars
Feel free to follow my blog for more posts on racial diversity & representation.
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mercidercqu · 7 years ago
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  I’m such a Disney fanatic that it doesn’t matter what time of year I visit the magical House of Mouse; all that matters is that I’m there and biting down into a turkey leg within my first twenty minutes after arrival.
The last time I’d done Disney at Christmas was back in 1996 when Disney decided to decorate the timeless Cinderella’s Castle like a giant birthday cake. Apparently, it was an ironically “tasteless” decision for guests, but as a doe-eyed six year old who firmly believed that Mickey Mouse was real until I was 12, I thought it was fantastic.
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(allears.net)
So here are the pros of visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth at Christmas:
You’re in Walt Disney World, escaping frigid temps from most places across the country during winter
It’s Walt Disney World
Turkey legs
Dole Whip
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade
Performances
Snow falling down Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood Studios (really)
Pictures with Santa
Pictures with Santa’s Reindeer
Pictures with every Disney character donning their Christmas garb
Swimming in the middle of winter
Hot tubs (depending on your resort)
Again, it’s Walt Disney World. Isn’t that enough said?
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  And the cons (if you really want to call them that)
It’s extremely, extremely, extremely jam packed on Christmas Day
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  (This was us on Christmas Day stuck for about 45 minutes in Fantasyland)
My dad, fiance and I wanted to go to our favorite spot for our first Christmas without my mom. Disney had always been our favorite place growing up, and a part of that has always been because the magic overtakes you the second you arrive. Especially this Christmas, we wanted the opportunity to escape the reality of not seeing my mom’s presents under the tree, of not hearing her make breakfast and subsequently cursing because she never knew how to make an over-easy egg, to not spending the most family inducing holiday with…our actual family. Walt Disney World was not only a place where we could escape the reality of my mom’s death, but be somewhere to celebrate the memories she helped us create for the twenty-six years I had her.
We stayed at one of the economy hotels, All Star Sports, which was actually our favorite out of all the “All Star” resorts we previously occupied. There’s something so exciting about being around larger than life surfboards and shark fins, and an enormous football field where “real” snow fell from the sky every night at 6 o’clock.
On our last morning in the resort, a Cast Member advised us that the park usually hits capacity on Christmas Day. We thanked her for the head’s up, and then brushed her off when we got on our bus, eager to begin our magical day at the Magic Kingdom. Well what she told us was no joke – there were people everywhere. Even smaller rides, like the People Mover and even the Carousel of Progress were inundated with visitors. There were cast members segregating the flow of traffic, holding up arrows and signs and helping navigate the overwhelming flow unlike any I’d ever seen before.
I’d done Christmas at Disney a few times growing up, but I had never seen it as busy as it was this past holiday season. The park hit capacity around noon and we darted out of the park after making our way through Fantasyland, ducking the hoards of people in Frontierland and grabbing the first bus that came around. It sounds like a headache but it was the furthest thing: it gave us the opportunity to head back to the hotel, unwind in the warm water, grab a bite to eat and actually enjoy Christmas talking with one another. We opened up presents, laughed, reminisced about all the holidays my mom made so magical and wonderful, we took pictures with Santa in our lobby and frolicked in the foam snow that fell from the sky at our resort. It was an absolute blast and by far one of my absolute favorite days spent in Disney World. We were so busy, then heading off to Hollywood Studios, that I actually forgot it was Christmas!
Each park and resort is decorated so beautifully for the holidays: larger than life trees, decorated with every ornament you could imagine, children wearing Christmas shirts and Christmas hats, hot chocolate, Christmas carols, and there’s just a spirit of Christmas that flows throughout the kingdom. It’s unlike any other way you’ll celebrate the holidays, even if you’re not spending time in the parks on Christmas Day itself.
John and I visit Walt Disney World often and this past trip was our first time utilizing the Memory Maker. It allows you to capture every picture they take in the park – from rides, to pictures in front of iconic park staples, it was worth every penny. One thing I love about the photographers in Disney is that they sometimes add a little magic to your photos without you even realizing it.
  My mom’s favorite Disney character was Tinkerbell. The day before she died, I told her that I was wearing brand new Tinkerbell scrubs to work. She got so giddy and excited and asked me to send her a picture of them that night so she could see. It slipped my mind when I got home, only to remember later that night after the scrubs were lying on my bedroom floor and I convinced myself I’d just send her the picture the following day. I received a phone call at 6:30am the next morning that my mother had died.
It’s that typical, irrational guilt that I still carry with me more than a year later that I never sent her that picture. So ever since, I try and find symbolism that my mom’s still near me whenever I run into something Tinkerbell. When the photographer uploaded these pictures to my Magicband, I was stunned of who he added.
Walt Disney World may have hit capacity on Christmas Day, but that couldn’t matter to me in the slightest. It’s still a place that is in a world of its’ own, a world of wonder and of magic and of happiness. There’s no way that photographer could have known what Tinkerbell meant to me, but I’m glad my mom convinced him of it anyway.
  Walt Disney World @ Christmas: Magical or Absolutely Wonderful I'm such a Disney fanatic that it doesn't matter what time of year I visit the magical House of Mouse; all that matters is that I'm there and biting down into a turkey leg within my first twenty minutes after arrival.
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topicprinter · 8 years ago
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Today is the 3rd anniversary that my wife & I are the owners of our day spa. It's been a joyous journey to say the least.Two years ago, I posted about our move into much larger location - http://ift.tt/2mDsLDv we signed the lease, we knew we were taking a huge risk. It was like betting your life's saving on black in roulette. The space was in reality way too big for us at the time, and wasn't something we should have took.Today, we are generating roughly $65,000/mo in revenue, we our eyes on sight of the magical $83.3k ($1m/yr). We have grown the spa more than 10x since the day we bought it. It hasn't been the easiest journey, to say the least.That image where they show you what a real entrepreneur's life is like? Yeah, it's true. We have grown, stumbled, fell flat on our face, stood back up.The worst of this was in May of 2016, we walked into our spa under 6" of water. A 1" line broke in the middle of the night, and left our entire spa flooded. The damages were so bad that we literally had to close our business for 3 weeks to "remodel".On top of all of that, we were just exiting the season. Typically you want to have a great May to sustain your June/July. Yeah, that wasn't happening.Yet, we fought back, and continued to grow.My 3 Biggest Keys to SuccessInspect Everything.Don't ever assume anything. If you aren't growing your business the way you want to, inspect the full process. Turn over every detail. Secret shop yourself. Sometimes, there are things that you are missing.In September, I was looking at our numbers and was kind of bummed out we haven't grown much year over year. I knew that we should have, but something wasn't right. I looked at our schedules, we seemed to be filling up nicely. We seemed to have plenty of appointments on the books. Our room utilization was a bit low though.I had our front desk start tracking how many appointments we were rejecting, and why.It turns out that I was understaffed. I had assumed we were running perfectly. I had assume that we were only rejecting maybe 1-2 appointments per day. Turns out that we were rejecting 4-6 appointments on a weekday and 8-10 on a weekend day.This is a huge KPI for us to monitor now.The Emyth is Right -- Create Processes so you can work ON your business, not IN your business.In October of 2015, my grandfather passed away in Poland. I had to go over there to take care of his things. I had a small irrational temporary fear of flying at the time because of the last flight I took, I had a huge anxiety attack. My wife asked me if she should go with.At this time in my business life, our day spa's doors were never open unless we were there. We were approaching our season, and no way we were going to close for a week. So in 5 business days, we trained two of our staff members to handle the front desk + operations for a week.Since that day, we have started creating processes for everything. Everytime an issue arises, we write up a protocol on how we would handle it. Occasionally, we will throw out random "homework" to the staff to see how they would handle the situation.Just last week, we had a major sewage backup into the spa. We had to close the spa for the day to clean up the waste from the floors (thank god it was all on tile). The very next thing we did once the issue was rectified, we typed up a "memo" on how to handle such a situation. Each time we type one of these documents up, we share it will all the staff and put it into a Binder.The other huge side benefit of this is that when you have processes, inspecting your progress is much easier. It's also much easier to train & hire, as well as explaining the expectations.Lean Startup's Philosophy - Pivot Fast & Often.Every single month, I try to change some part of our spa in an effort to increase revenue. We make assumptions on what should improve and how, and we test it.For example, we built a relatively well known promotion for two hours at the spa for just $99. It was and still is the staple of our business. Saturdays & Sundays are our busiest days. They tend to fill up rapidly.Somewhere in November, we realized that we were filling up way too quickly on those days, and we were leaving much to be desired in the middle of the week. So we came up with a pivot -- $119 for Sat/Sun, $99 Mon-Fri.Turns out, that the higher price was still more than acceptable. From November, we have tested different pricing each month and slowly have increased our average service hour from $52 to $57.You should be able to test any part of your business to see if there is an improvement.
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