#but also. please do not get SO consumed by the ideal of labels

[televisionenjoyer]

WHY ARE MOVIES GETTING DARKER I AM ON MY KNEES

Ok fuck it let's go. My amateurish opinions on the three biggest mysteries of film: why they're getting darker, less vibrant and harder to hear. As someone who has worked on camera, montaging, effects and animations, colorimetry when I'm allowed, and on one weird occasion, audio (but I'm an enthusiast ok?)

The short answer is because of technology. The long answer is more nuanced

- Why are movies getting darker?

The "official answer" that filmmakers give actually is technology. Digital cameras allow for much more detail with less lighting required. It also allows videographers to play with different light and exposure settings on the go, instead of having to go with the limitations of the pre-bought film's asa and the precalculated ideal settings. Also film is notoriously bad at capturing dark scenes and responsible for much of the graining we see on analog tv and film.

So basically, they claim it's a stylistic choice. Which could be debated, I mean, after at least five years of everyone complaining about poor lighting, you'd think they'd finally give it up.

BUT there's the whole fact that (certain) special effects are generally easier to pull off when the viewer can't see enough to detect any flaws. They require less care and thus are cheaper and faster to produce. Any studio's wet dream.

Less notably, it's easier to work "down" on colorimetry than it is to work "up." Taking away light from a shot is easier than "creating more light", the latter sometimes leading to very "digitally broken" results. It looks bad. Just grab any video and crank the exposure. It looks horrible.

"But what does exposure have to do with color?" Everything!!! Color IS light!!!

Which leads me to the last reason, HDR. Which leads me to one of the reasons why everything looks so dull.

- Why are movies less vibrant?

So. What is HDR? High Dynamic Range refers to technologies that achieve a much wider light variation. And as we established earlier color IS light, okay? So. More light, more color, brought to you at the hand of display technologies such as OLED and microdimming.

These technologies ramp up the price of domestic screens exponentially. This is why you see domestic televisions that are way above the 2000 dollar mark. And then people will say "oh but my low end television supports HDR, so that's not the issue". Yes. Supports. As in supports files encoded in HDR. Doesn't mean that they have the necessary technology to take advantage of it. Yet they get to put the HDR10 label on their product and get in on the newest marketing fad (it's the new 4k dude. Which is the new 3D. You get what I mean)

And since it is the newest fad, then of course filmmakers HAVE to get in on it. I mean, it's more quality, who doesn't want more quality?

me!!! please stop. not everything has to be aimed at high end equipment (more on this when we get to the audio aspect, aren't you excited?). HDR looks like DOGSHIT if your tv isn't actually OLED. And most consumer TV's aren't OLED.

Tech rant over, I assure you that there is a cultural aspect to this. Don't worry, you're not insane. And it probably is related to the clean girl minimalist iOS style UX modest and demure mentality that is advancing on the 2020s. But it is also related to an art medium shift that we've been undergoing since wayy back when. The sixties.

Yes. I'm gonna go there. I'm gonna talk about Star Trek. I'm going to elaborate on my previous slight outrage.

So. Star Trek marks the beginning of a transition from black and white television into color. It also lands on that weird spot where the whole medium of film and television was still figuring out which elements to import from the ancient medium of theater and which were best left behind.

As a result, Star Trek is very theatrical. And color is a good friend of theater, a medium where everything has to be maximized so that the people in row fifty could appreciate the show almost as well as the people on the first row. Color is a good friend of theater: in wardrobe it helps the performers stand out, boosts up the characters' personality traits, etc. And in lighting, it amplifies moods, conveys emotions and atmospheres related to particular scenes.

The version of Star Trek that you can find on streaming these days is considerably altered from the original product, remastered to make it more palatable to our contemporary brains. As a result, many scenes have been visually altered. The following example shows the original master on the left and the remaster on the right

And while at first I held my head in my hands and asked "why, god, why??" The answer is probably that this reads as unserious as fuck. Having the technology now to desaturate scenes and make certain settings look "cloudy", "gritty", "dark and grim," and so on changed the way we perceive colors in regards to mood on modern film and television. This primary color ass setting in today's context reads as goofy, on a scene that is actually meant to impose concern on the viewers. This wouldn't read this way on theater, but it does on television, because we see them as completely separate mediums.

(however I insist that, star trek being a culturally significant show, making these type of creative decisions strips it of its original intent and shits on its cultural value as a window into how they did television in the sixties. so like. fuck you paramount)

Now, television has been getting thematically darker this century (some call it the post-9/11 effect. I wouldn't know. I am latinoamerican) and our palate as viewers has grown more used to these desaturated settings, to the point where seeing something vibrant like the original star trek makes us feel like we're watching a kids show. And not even a modern kids show, more like teletubbies or barney, because have you guys even seen bluey?? It's so... pastel-y.

It's not just HDR. Movies have gotten less vibrant because we're miserable. Sort of. And television and film have grown obsessed with appearing more serious. (Not that sitcoms and comedy movies have ceased to exist, I'm generalizing.)

- But why is dialogue less intelligible?

Official Answer? Technology. Nowadays we are able to capture subtleties in dialogue, so actors don't have to project their voice 24/7, and we can get more intimate dialogue, something almost intended to be a secret that you shouldn't be listening to, making you feel like an intruder. It's the intent.

Unofficially? Technology (marketing fad edition). It's surround audio!!! That's the real culprit!!! And listen, I love surround audio, I have two 5.1 systems at home that we bought secondhand and work like a charm. All that being said: why is star trek tos in 5.1? (YES I'm still on star trek). Why is everything natively encoded in surround audio on streaming these days, left to be down-mixed in real time by your tv?

I'm going to quickly explain surround to y'all using 5.1 as an example. On stereo (which is how most consumers watch film and television) you have two audio channels: your left and right speakers. 5.1 has six: front-left, center, front-right, rear-left, rear-right, and subwoofer. Most dialogue goes through the center speaker. Downmixing is when your tv takes all these channels and mushes them into two: left channel (containing left-front, left rear, center and subwoofer) and right channel (right front, right rear, center and subwoofer). So your center channel is suddenly competing with all these other frequencies and gets a bit muffled.

But wait! It gets worse! 5.1 is now ancient by technology fad standards. For a while there was 7.1 and now the newest, incredibly expensive marketing fad is Dolby Atmos (you might have seen it as a badge on streaming services such as Disney plus). This protocol supports up to 64 channels. You know, if you're crazy and rich enough.

Dolby Atmos was originally developed for cinemas but it's now being sold to direct consumers. According to Dolby, the ideal sound configuration in your home in order to listen to this material the way it was intended from the comfort of your living room is of at least eight (very fancy) speakers and up to 12 speakers.

So. Even with a 5.1 system your audio is still down-mixed.

In conclusion:

Film and television did not get shittier (well, they have, but that's not the sole culprit of this crisis), it just became less accessible and overall uninterested in catering to the average consumer.

[1-800-headmates]

welcome to 1-800-headmates!

we are another build a headmate blog!

requests are CLOSED!

we are anti-rad.queer and anti-trans.id. leave.

all info + dni under the cut ^^

this blog is run by two mods!

mod ideal is bodily 21 and has both a neurogenic monocon median system named the abstract system and an endogenic polycon system named the ideal system! please use plural they/them to refer to them unless members state otherwise! you can find them over on @idealism-world! their favorite aesthetics are weirdcore and webcore <3

mod sewers is bodily 22 and is a polyfrag DID system with mixed origins alters named the sewer system! please use collective he/it/any for mod sewers unless member state otherwise! its favorite aesthetics are scenecore and old webcore!

mod ideal and mod sewers are dating <333

this blog has nothing to do with selling headmates and does not believe in system hopping.

for your request, be as specific or as vague as you'd like! you can say "can i get a fictive of (so-and-so) please" or something like "can i get a 18 yr old split fictive of X and Y who has ghost and cat themed pronouns and genders please" both these are fine, no ask format needed!

we will not do factives (sorry!) but we will do fictives of media we know, which includes:

BUNGOU STRAY DOGS, danganronpa, persona series (especially 5), chainsaw man, needy streamer overload, homestuck, doki doki literature club, borderlands, creepypasta, slenderverse, marble hornets, regretevator, pet simulator 99, my little pony, the world ends with you, yugioh (specifically duel monsters or season 0/the toei anime), death note, percy jackson (pjo + hoo), steven universe, invader zim, boku no hero academia, pokemon (all pokemon, and we can try humans)

these are in no particular order and range from past and current hyperfixes to media we've consumed enough of to feel confident making headmates for, except bungou stray dogs, which is our mutual hyperfixation. request bungou stray dogs please 🙏🙏🙏

also we will not do god/above god related headmates for alterhuman reasons, sorry! fictives of god or godlike characters are fine. gods from mythology do not count as characters and we won't do those, but we can do inspired ones :>

here's our format!

* means you have to request these to be added, or else they'll be left out! you can request for any parts to be left out though!

Name(s):

Age:

Pronouns:

*Orientation:

Gender(s):

Likes:

Dislikes:

*Identity: (desirdae/dissomei/alter flags/etc!)

*Kins: (you can specify if you want fictionkins or otherkins, if you just say kins we'll do both!)

*Emoji(s):

*Typing quirk:

*Music: (could be bands or a few song!)

Faceclaim/Moodboard:

we won't assign headmates roles but you can ask for specific personalities that are similar! (ex. if you want a caregiver you can ask for someone caring and responsible)

mod sewers will sometimes do art for headmates!

any headmates requested here are okay to form by default! if you would like to ask that a requested headmate not be replicated outside your system, please add that in your original request ask!

if someone asks that, please don't actively try to form them! however please keep in mind that we have no way of enforcing this rule and also accidental formings happen and if you accidentally form someone requested to not be shared, that is alright :)

if you do form alters from this blog we greatly appreciate asks or reblogs letting us know and how it’s going and from the formed alters specifically are also very nice !!! :D

also if you do form sysmates from this blog feel free to use this userbox and/or @ us in posts about them! credit is completely optional (bc like. thats a person now and theyll obviously change a lot from original design) but i would request at least a like or reblog cuz they make us happy

do not interact

rad.queers, rad.queers neutrals, anti endos, proshippers, zionists, anti contridicatary labels, anti self-dx, anti mogai, people who believe in "trans.androphobia" and fakeclaimers.

[cooked-fish-nation]

💛 A post about Miko x Byakuren 💜

Featuring my headcanons and highly biased observations. Please correct me if I got anything from canon wrong.

Image sources: Miko, Byakuren

My interest in Touhou resurfaced recently alongside my attempts at learning various eastern religions and philosophies. Guess which characters perfectly aligned with my interests and are also The Perfect Foils (a narrative device I love)? Yeah...

And just look at these two! Sharing many of the same colors but in different parts of their design 💛 💜 Even the way they pose and hold their respective signature items are complimentary!!

And just to get this out of the way: I know I use the term ship but I don't want them to kiss ever. Or anything else conventionally or unconventionally romantic. There's no label for the type of relationship I imagine them having but just know that, for better or worse, they are each other's one and only.

💛 💜 Yin-yang Yurism: A mostly serious analysis

What drew me initially (that I still love) is their The Pragmatic Asshole vs. The Idealistic Nice One dynamic. I love how much they highlight each other's strengths and weaknesses in equal measure, as foils do. But the more I look into the them, the more contrasts I find??? It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Of course, we also have the human-advocate vs. youkai-advocate thing. But then there's how the two advocate for their respective sides.

Miko, despite her many appearances showing her meddling with human affairs and claiming she could lead them to a bright future, she never goes very far. And it's because she's very aware of the balance in Gensokyo and chooses to accept it (for now), even if it's kind of fucked up from a human's perspective.

Byakuren, on the other hand, is actively protecting, caring for, and teaching youkai her beliefs. I don't think she's unaware of Gensokyo's balance but I do think that she aspires to fight fate for the sake of her values rather than accept it like Miko.

This also goes back to the whole pragmatism vs. idealism thing that I previously mentioned.

I could go on but let's save those for future posts. Also I'm still far from done consuming their content...

💛 💜 The yin-yang gets worse: A headcanon

Relatively serious analysis over. I had this idea that not only are they opposites that balance each other out in a meta-analysis sense, but an in-universe one too. Listen listen.

Miko could pose a danger to Gensokyo's balance if she chooses to lead the humans. And Byakuren teaching youkai not to bother people would readily pose a danger to the balance if the youkai actually listened...

Their human and youkai advocacy therefore need to be kept in check. So what if they just checked each other? But like...it's enforced in-universe and isn't just narrative device.

Kanako (she is a very integral part of the ship) just looks at these two and goes like "I have an idea" with a wry smile. And so, every time one of them gets the idea to Do Something, somehow the other person will be alerted in a way that pushes them to interfere. Surely they won't wise up to it! And even if they do, what are they gonna do it about it? Not try to stop their biggest rival from making their respective side too powerful? It's perfect.

Engineered soulmates of philosophical rilvary for the sake of the world. That's my Miko x Byakuren 💛 💜

💛 💜 Closing thoughts

I don't yet have a concrete idea of how to develop them but they will absolutely be an inextricable part of each other's eternal lives to degrees of which no one else can compare.

Love the idea that at some point they both wise up to the fact that fate has strung them together and oh do they try and struggle to get out of it like prey bugs in a spider web.

Yeah that's all for now.

[sp00kymulderr]

Pedro boy sexuality & gender headcanons

A couple weeks ago @perotovar shared their headcanons around Pedro characters and their sexualities and gender identities, here. It was such an interesting read as someone who has had many of my own thoughts around these things, it was really cool to see how someone else sees these characters through a queer lens and the little things in their characterisations that make us connect these thoughts to them, and that makes us connect to them in the way we do.

I mentioned that I would share my own thoughts and so, here we are! We actually have basically the same hcs. Just for a few of the boys for me though as I tend to stay in my Ezra & Dieter corner for the most part. I don’t know some of the other characters well enough to have any major thoughts about them.

I would love love to hear from other queer members of the fandom here, if you have any thoughts to share!

Also obviously these are just my silly little ideas and just for fun, I read all flavour of fanfic and whilst I would love to see more work from an lgbtq+ perpective I will happily consume all the (perceived) straight fic out there.

(I will also just ask that if you feel I have used any outdated/incorrect language here please let me know, I’m always learning, and I’d like to be corrected if there’s anything in here that could be considered harmful).

Ezra – I’ve mentioned it before and maybe it’s just because Ezra is my favourite character of all time but I very much see him as non-binary, genderfluid, using primarily he/they pronouns but doesn't mind any pronouns, and who really doesn’t care about or consider gender much at all. Honestly, this is a sci-fi character and I’d like to think that when we get to the point of living in space gender won’t even be a damn thing anymore lol. In the same vein, Ezra is pansexual.

Dieter – Bisexual king, of course. That’s literally canon. He would most likely label himself as queer and leave it at that though, rather than specifically defining himself as bi. I love to think about Dieter as somewhere under the non-binary umbrella but I’m not entirely sure where yet; gnc although again there is some fluidity there. Also, Dieter’s ideal way to love is in poly relationships, for sure.

Marcus P – Marcus is bi. He is a beautiful bi boyfriend, just look at him. He took a long time to come to terms with his sexuality, but now he is much more comfortable with it and allows himself to have the experiences he missed out on when he was less accepting of himself, and now he can be proud of who he is.

Joel – I actually hadn’t really considered Joel much in this way until Erin’s hcs but now...oh man…Joel is aromantic (and graysexual maybe). I feel it in my gut, like especially thinking a lot about the stuff with Tess. I don’t necessarily think it’s something he fully understands about himself, even in his later years, but it’s there.

Javi P – Hetero. Loves women. We know that. But, I can also see him questioning. I think when Murphy shows up, there’s something there. Something in his mind. He’s the least likely to ever act on it, given the external factors, but he’s certainly had moments of thinking about it which unfortunately probably cause him a lot of anguish.

Din – Aroace. I don’t even know what to say, this just feels very real to me.

Marcus M – Demi oh my god very much demisexual and demiromantic. He needs the connection first, and the rest will follow. He loves hard, and he loves forever when he gets there, much like Erin said he only ever really loved his wife.

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

Howdy! Same person who stayed anonymous so I wouldn't get harassed by fans here, and I have another thing to say.

People think that media like this may not have an outside influence on the world, but in reality it does. It may seem stupid, but the media portraying relationships like these as normal caused me to stay in an abusive relationship for two years. I apologize if it's oversharing, but I used to watch shows like this all the time when I was younger (Not sharing my age because then people will try to claim I have no idea what I'm talking about.) and this, paired with other personal events in my life, made me think that relationships like these were normal and healthy. Luckily, I now realize they aren't.

The glorification of bad characters who have little-to-no redeemable qualities or ways to justify what they did just because they're "hot" or "sexy" needs to stop. It causes people to glorify abuse and abusers. I used to be a major SPOP fan and, shamefully, a Catra simp, so I could keep going on about a LOT of stuff this show does, but I won't.

I, once again, apologize for oversharing and for how long this post is. Thank you for addressing all this in the show despite the criticism you're getting.

you don't need to apologize! i'm so sorry you had to go through that and i hope you're out of that relationship now. this is exactly what i've been saying. i can understand why some people may want to believe that c//a is a good ship, especially considering that this is one of the very few queer representation we have. it especially concerns me that kids watching this may take this as good representation, i've already seen posts saying stuff like "i want what they have" or "i want someone to look at me the way catra looks at adora".

the only reason i spotted the toxicity in the show early on is because i was also in a close (platonic) relationship with a person who was very much like catra, and i was in the process of figuring out that this isn't normal. i tried to get myself to root for catra, but i just couldn't. and it confused me that the fandom didn't see the problem with this show and instead acted like it was the biggest masterpiece to ever exist.

relationships in the media are rarely realistic, especially the enemies-to-lovers trope. it may look exciting in a story but it very rarely works out irl. more often that not, when it does work it, it ends up being an abusive relationship like c//a. but there are healthy fictional relationships that you can look up to, and those ships don't get the attention that these toxic ones do, because they are labelled as "vanilla" and "boring".

the point of this blog isn't to start unnecessary beef with the fandom or demonize the show. it is to help people understand the red flags in catra's and adora's relationship. when consuming a piece of media, it is always wise to be open-minded and critical, because even the best of the best can have flaws. it's the same as reading the classics while also acknowledging that they were a product of their time, and most likely had some problematic ideals embedded into them.

i think it's still okay to like catra as a character. i like a lot of villains myself, because they are complex or sympathetic or just plain fun to watch. but you need to still acknowledge that these are objectively bad people, regardless of their motives. i've seen a few catra fans who admit that catra's redemption was rushed and that they didn't like c//a either. i respect these types of fans a lot, because they are able to like a character without being blind to said character's flawed treatment.

anyway, if any of you want to see actually healthy relationships and good queer representation in media, i suggest shows such as The Owl House, The Legend of Korra, Infinity Train, The Dragon Prince, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Steven Universe and Arcane. please don't settle for the toxic relationships. not only are they not good representation, but they are actively harmful for the community. it's time we stopped romanticizing abusive relationships just because they are angsty and have "sexual tension".

[fictionparadiso]

Welcome to my Eden's Garden

Hello, you may call me Paradiso, and I welcome you to my Tumblr blog where I will share with you my brainrot, character adoration and general ravings about fiction. (Note: This blog WILL contain NSFW stuff, which I will both tag and write in the title, so you can be almost 100% sure you will find it). Now, to the basics:

DNI Information

Please, if any of the following groups apply to you, do not interact with this blog:

Minors - I am sorry, but I do not feel comfortable interacting with minors with a blog like this. So I would kindly ask you to interact with me if you are under 18.

Haters - I know this term is VERY ambiguous, but basically - if you do not like the content this blog focuses on OR you are not comfortable with any of my identities or styles or whatever - feel free to block me. Both you and I will spare our sanity.

I'm sure there are other groups or traits that I do not feel comfortable with which I have not mentioned. In any case, I just want to clarify that I reserve the right to block you without indicating a reason. If I do not feel comfortable interacting with you or your content, I will either ignore or block you, it isn't necessarily personal and I will not give any warning, just wanting to put that out there.

What you can expect

Now, this blog will heavily focus on the characters that I like and my headcanons or short fics of them (usually in general, other characters or with a self-insert reader). If it is self-insert the reader will be either M or GN coded (sorry, not comfortable with F!Reader).

If you want to share your enthusiasm about any of the characters or franchises you see on my list (or even don't see, but just want to scream at someone about them), I may be your guy~

When I write NSFW you can expect a listing of the kinks and such somewhere at the beginning so you know if it is or is NOT for you. Some of my kinks are pretty out there, so don't feel bad for not sharing them.

My F/O list

While I would not label myself as Fictosexual, I do tend to develop feelings towards characters in media and think up a lot of different scenarios. I also do not get jealous about my F/Os, so if you like any of the one's I like, feel free to rave about them with me! (if you're comfortable, of course)

💖 Main Romantic F/Os 💖

Iwai Munehisa - Persona 5 - #I call Shotgun

Maruki Takuto - Persona 5 - #No more Tears

Harumi Takeda - My Senpai is Annoying - #My Senpai is Lovable

Diavolo - Obey Me! - #Deal with the Devil

Drayden - Pokemon Black/White - #Under your Scales

Unabara/Neptune - Heaven's Design Team - #In Heaven

Alistair - Dragon Age Origins - #Be my bastard king

🌹 Other Romantic F/Os 🌹

Gladiolus Amicitia - Final Fantasy XV - #Shield for a Shield

Rengoku Kyojuro - Demon Slayer - #My Heart is Ablaze

Bryce - Jock Studio (NSFW source) - #Party Teddy bear

Derek - Jock Studio (NSFW source) - #Gentleness personified

Uzui Tengen - Demon Slayer - #Flamboyant Party Animal

Dojima Ryotaro - Persona 4 - #Dad and Idyll

Leon - Pokemon Sword/Shield - #Champion of my Heart

Archie and Matt (poly) - Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby - #Waterbound Trio

Lysandre - Pokemon X/Y - #Whatever Boss says is true

Lt. Surge - Pokemon (he's in too many games) - #Sparks are Flying

Lucifer - Obey Me! - #Prim and Proper

All Might - My Hero Academia - #You are my Hero

Gentle Criminal - My Hero Academia - #Gentlemen Bonding

Rider/Iskandar - Fate/Zero - #Conqueror of my Mind (purely aesthetic, I have NOT consumed any Fate media yet)

Clive - Final Fantasy XVI - #Raven-haired heartthrob

Hawke - Dragon Age II - #Hawke Fever (purely aesthetic, I have NOT consumed any Dragon Age II media yet)

Hjalmar an Craite - Witcher - #Rage of the Islands

Jacques de Aldersberg - Witcher 1 - #Burnt Rose (very morally incorrect)

Siegfried - Witcher 1 - #Ideal Knight

Graves - League of Legends - #Mutual Coin Fever

Sett - League of Legends - #Kneeling for the Boss

Garen - League of Legends - #For Demacia's Hero

Dion - Final Fantasy XVI - #My only true Emperor

Akira Konoe - Persona 5 Strikers - #Heroes don't wear capes

Fatgum - My Hero Academia - #Bubblegum dreams

Zayne - Jock Studio (NSFW source) - #Fanclub for the king

🍀 Main Platonic F/Os 🍀

Kanjori Mitsuri - Demon Slayer - #Mochi Breathing

Kocho Shinobu - Demon Slayer - #Butterfly in the Night

Bayonetta - Bayonetta - #Let's Dance on the Moon

Cynthia - Pokemon Diamond/Pearl - #Domineering Companion

Kirijo Mitsuru - Persona 3 - #Two in Harmony

Yennefer of Vengerberg - Witcher - #Obsidian Star

Geralt of Rivia - Witcher - #The White Wolf

🌊 Other Platonic F/Os 🌊

Triss Merigold - Witcher - #Magic Allergy

Ahri - League of Legends - #Nine-tailed Charms

Lux - League of Legends - #Prism in the Rough

[onlinehomesupplience]

Rediscovering the Classic: Coca-Cola Original Taste Sparkling Soft Drink

In a world where trends come and go, there are some classics that stand the test of time. Among them is Coca-Cola, a beverage that has been enjoyed by millions around the globe for over a century. With its iconic red label and distinctive taste, Coca-Cola Sparkling Soft Drink Original Taste continues to be a beloved choice for refreshment and enjoyment.

A Taste That Transcends Generations

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Whether enjoyed on its own or as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails, Coca-Cola adds a touch of magic to any occasion. Its effervescent bubbles dance on the palate, delivering a symphony of flavors that tantalize the taste buds and leave you craving more.

Quality You Can Trust At Vita Point, we understand the importance of quality when it comes to beverages. That's why we're proud to offer Coca-Cola Original Taste Sparkling Soft Drink in a convenient 330ml size. Each bottle is carefully crafted using the same time-honored recipe that has made Coca-Cola a household name for generations.

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For those looking to get creative, Coca-Cola can also be used in a variety of recipes. From classic floats and slushies to savory marinades and glazes, the possibilities are endless. With Coca-Cola, you're limited only by your imagination.

Commitment to Sustainability At Vita Point, we're committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. That's why we're pleased to announce that Coca-Cola Original Taste Sparkling Soft Drink is now available in a fully recyclable bottle. By choosing Coca-Cola from Vita Point, you're not only treating yourself to a delicious beverage, but you're also doing your part to protect the planet for future generations Recognizing its environmental impact, Coca-Cola has undertaken various sustainability initiatives. These include efforts to reduce water usage, recycle packaging materials, and invest in eco-friendly technologies.

The Coca-Cola Experience:

Opening a bottle or can of Coca-Cola is more than just consuming a beverage; it's an experience steeped in nostalgia and anticipation. The sound of carbonation, the effervescent bubbles, and the distinct aroma all contribute to the sensory delight of enjoying a Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola Original Taste Sparkling Soft Drink is sure to delight your senses and leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied.

Visit Vita Point today to experience the magic of Coca-Cola for yourself. Cheers to good times and great taste!

At Vita-Point, we're proud to offer Coca-Cola Original Taste—a taste that's stood the test of time and continues to bring joy to millions around the world. Cheers to refreshment, cheers to happiness, and cheers to the simple pleasure of enjoying a cold Coca-Cola on a hot summer day.

[soapcraftz]

The Ultimate Guide on How to Label Your Soaps for Sale: 10 Expert Tips

How to Label Your Soaps for Sale

Introduction In the world of handmade soaps, an eye-catching and informative label can make all the difference in attracting customers and boosting sales. Your soap packaging should match the quality of your handmade products. This ultimate guide will provide you with ten expert tips on how to label your soaps, ensuring they stand out in a crowded market.

1. Know Your Audience Before diving into the label design process, it is crucial to understand your target audience. Are you catering to eco-conscious consumers or do you want to appeal to a broader demographic? By identifying your ideal customers, you can tailor your soap labels to resonate with their preferences, values, and lifestyles. 2. Highlight the Benefits Soap buyers are frequently drawn in by the potential benefits that a particular product may provide. Take advantage of this by clearly and concisely listing the main advantages of your soap on the label. Whether it's nourishing ingredients, therapeutic properties, or a delightful scent, emphasize what sets your soap apart from others. 3. Use Captivating Visuals Visual appeal plays a significant role in attracting potential buyers to your soaps. Consider incorporating designed graphics, illustrations, or photographs that align with your brand identity. However, be cautious not to clutter the label with excessive visual elements, as simplicity often speaks louder than a chaotic design.

4. Prioritize legibility While creativity is essential, readability should never be compromised. Opt for clear, legible fonts and ensure that the text is sized to be easily read at a glance. Using fonts that reflect the style and personality of your brand can add a touch of uniqueness, but always ensure legibility remains a top priority. 5. Comply with Legal Requirements In soap labeling, it is crucial to comply with legal requirements set by regulatory bodies. Familiarize yourself with the specific guidelines of ingredient lists, weight measurements, and safety warnings. This ensures your label complies but also instills trust and confidence in your customers. Include a complete list of ingredients, specifying any potential allergens. Display the net weight of your soap. Adhere to any safety labeling requirements, such as precautionary statements. 6. Opt for Eco-friendly Packaging In today's world, eco-friendly packaging is essential to customers, so it can be a good way to sell products. Use recyclable or biodegradable materials for your soap labels to reduce waste and help the planet. Explore options like plant-based or recycled paper for your labels. Use eco-friendly adhesive or glue. Avoid excessive plastic or non-recyclable materials.

7. Include Simple Instructions Soap usage instructions may seem obvious to some, but providing clear and concise usage guidelines can still be valuable. Mention how to apply the soap and any recommendations for storage conditions on your label. This adds a professional touch and ensures your customers get the most out of their soap-buying experience. 8. Incorporate Your Branding To establish a strong brand presence, incorporate your logo, brand colors, and tagline into your soap labels. Consistency in branding all your products helps build recognition and establishes trust with your target audience. 9. Test before Printing Before mass-producing your soap labels, it is essential to test the design and overall appearance. Print a few samples and evaluate them under various lighting conditions to ensure colors, fonts, and graphics are visually pleasing. This step helps avoid any costly mistakes before committing to a large batch. 10. Stay Informed and Evolve Lastly, the world of marketing and design is ever-evolving. Stay updated with the latest trends, consumer preferences, and legal requirements related to soap labeling. By continually adapting to changes, you can ensure your soap labels remain relevant, appealing, and compliant.

Conclusion Properly labeling your soaps for sale is essential for running a successful soap-making business. By following these 10 expert tips, you can create visually appealing, informative, and compliant labels that captivate your target audience and elevate your soap brand to new heights. Remember, a well-designed label is not just a sticker; it is a powerful marketing tool that communicates the essence of your soap products and entices customers to reach for your soaps. Read the full article

[fernweh-writes]

Your writing gives me so much life and wholesome vibes! ;-;💕 If you wouldn't mind could you do the slashers with a s/o who loves to make home cooked meals for them.

Ahhh, thank you so much hun <3 As someone who loves to cook and who’s goal in life is to be a spoiled housewife, absolutely.

-Fern

Slashers x S/O who likes to cook

slight nsfw content if you squint

Michael Myers

This man craves a sense of normalcy in his very peculiar life. After all, he was diagnosed with a case of crazy at a young age and ever since no one had made an effort to care about him. One of the main reasons he would ever keep you around would be because you fit the housewife role that he needs wants. You give him the one thing he always wanted that no one else ever could, domesticity.

Michael has a weird schedule and just sort of comes and goes as he pleases. This can make having a hot meal ready quite difficult, but once you begin a steady routine of cooking for him he starts to appear whenever you’re cooking. Well at least most of the time, stalking and killing can keep him very busy sometimes.

He’s not very picky about what you cook, so you have plenty of freedom to make whatever your heart desires. He’s certainly not going to complain. Although, if you remember his favorite meals and cook them for him from time to time he will be extra grateful. His gratitude is often expressed through becoming very handsy with you.

Likes to watch you cook! Again he loves the whole domestic thing and watching you serve him cook for him pleases him. Plus you just look so cute wearing an apron. Also loves how focused you can be. Don’t expect him to help you though, this is your job y/n.

Pretty sure everyone agrees that Michael has a major sweet tooth so if you bake him sweets he decides you’re never going anywhere… ever. He’s keeping you, end of story.

The only thing he ever helps with in the kitchen is licking the bowl when you bake. Snatches the spoon from you as well, he wants all of it.

Bo Sinclair

Another man that is very much into the housewife thing. Like he gets off on it.

We all know Bo isn’t quite right in the head, but we all love him anyways! He wants someone to serve him, after all he needs to be in charge and to have control over everything. This includes controlling the roles within his own home.

The fact that you willingly cook though and actually enjoy cooking sends him over the moon. He knew that he had made the right decision when he decided to keep you. This just makes him further believe that you were meant to be his.

Home cooked meals remind him of the good parts of his childhood. So watching you cook with an apron tied around your waist while humming and just being content with what you’re doing makes him melt. It’s also going to make him more likely to open up and be a little more vulnerable with you. Watching you cook just puts him at ease.

Cooking his favorite meals though is what really gets to him. Especially if you decide to go all out and be cheesy by “setting the mood” with candles and fancy silverware. He’ll make fun of you and pretend to hate it but the lack of malice in his voice gives him away.

You can often find him standing around the kitchen while you cook as well. This started once you asked him to try something once to see if you needed to add anything. Now he won’t stop waiting around for free samples.

Bo decides that winter is his new favorite season. The shop doesn’t have any heating and he also spends a lot of time chasing victims around the woods or down the streets. In other words, he’s spending a lot of time out in the cold weather. Walking into his warm house to find the sweetest wife in Ambrose putting a hot meal on a plate for him makes his day. Don’t be surprised if he begins to bring up his other ideas about how you can keep him warm.

Vincent Sinclair

Vincent isn’t obsessed with the whole housewife thing the way that Bo is. He could really care less if his s/o cooked or not after all he had survived this long.

But, Vincent often gets lost in his work. This leads to him losing track of time quite often, so skipping meals isn’t something out of the ordinary. It’s not that he means to it’s just so easy for him to forget unless his stomach starts growling.

He does love that you love to cook for him though. Anytime you bring food down to his workshop so that he doesn’t forget to eat he absolutely melts. He doesn’t know how you could be anymore perfect.

Although he doesn’t expect nor necessarily want his significant other to take care of him he does enjoy the fact that you do so anyway. It shows that you care about him in a way that he hasn’t been cared for in a very long time. Especially enjoys the sentiment of you making him his favorite meals. Not only do you take care of him, you take the time to remember the little things about him! He doesn’t think he could possibly feel more loved.

After the first time he watches you cook, he’s hooked. You just look so cute and content in the kitchen. Seeing you so happy and at ease puts him at ease. It lets him know that you’re happy in Ambrose and that you really do love him.

Unlike most of the other slasher, he will help you clean up the kitchen. You two make quick work of all the dishes since you wash them and he dries them and puts them away. It started off with him washing the dishes until he watched you struggle to place plates at the top of a cabinet. Although, he did enjoy being able to press himself against your back while he helped you.

Thomas Hewitt

The fact you love to cook not only delights Thomas, but helps out Luda Mae as well. With you handling the kitchen, it takes one of the most time consuming chores off of her hands. Allowing her both a chance to rest as well as a chance to finally clean up more of the old house. And we all know whatever makes Momma happy makes Thomas happy.

Honestly though, you’re going to have to take up gardening as well. After all the town is pretty much abandoned and there isn’t much to work with. Hope you know recipes for making human meat taste good…

Once again, we have another slasher who’s ideal life involves a housewife. Thomas just wants his life to be normal for once but he also wants someone to truly care about him. He is always the one taking care of other people in the family so having you to take care of him is the one thing that keeps him going.

Thomas works hard and victims are always putting up a tough fight. Since all of Thomas chores take a lot of physical exertion, he always feels like he’s starving at the end of the day. Luckily he has you! You’ve never failed to have a hot meal waiting for him.

Don’t tell Momma, but he thinks that you’re a better cook.

Please ask him his opinion on the food. Thomas hardly ever gets a say in anything since Hoyt usually gets to call the shots. It may not be much, but you asking him for his input makes him feel important.

Cooking his favorite meals after you know he’s had a hard week just does something to him. Maybe it’s because it shows him that you care, that you pay attention and notice things. Whatever the matter, he definitely enjoys tossing you onto the bed after dinner to show you his gratitude. After all, no good meal is complete without dessert.

Stu Macher

His parents were hardly ever home so Stu learned to fend for himself. This included a lot of unhealthy takeout. You have no idea how he survived off of pizza for so long. Is your cholesterol okay Stu? Killing people and having to chase them down is probably the only reason he ever survived without you.

Lucky for him, now he has you! And you love to cook for him and he enjoys everything you cook. Making him his favorite foods is a quick way to get him excited so please cook them for him after he’s had a hard day.

Expect to have a fancy kitchen and anything your heart could desire to cook with. You two will definitely have a house with one of those walk in pantries so that you have plenty of space for ingredients. If you’re going to spoil him with good food obviously he is going to spoil you by giving you everything you need to do so.

Stu never though he could enjoy cooking, but you quickly show him that it can be fun. This means you can expect him to willingly help out from time to time, whenever he’s in the mood to help. It also means you can leave at ease knowing he won’t be feasting on takeout anytime you go somewhere. At least you thought so until you came home to an unbelievable amount of pizza boxes on the counter.

He is determined to invest in a label maker and put puns on all of your spices like the adorable dork he is.

Billy Loomis

Mr mommy issues absolutely loses his shit when you cook for him. Billy absolutely thrives off of you taking care of him. Once you start cooking for him he won’t allow you to stop, it becomes an expectation.

Billy likes to cling to you while you cook, quite literally. He’ll have his arms wrapped around your waste with his head resting on top of your head/shoulder so that he can watch what you’re doing. Hopefully you can maneuver around the kitchen with him attached to you because he isn’t going anywhere.

After being together for so long, Billy usually tells you when he’s going to “hang out” with Stu. Knowing he wouldn’t be back until very late, you left out food that he could easily heat up. Finding food on the counter with instructions of how long to microwave it melts his heart. Now he’s one hundred percent sure that you’re permanent.

Shows his gratitude more than you would expect him to. He will put away the leftovers while you clean up the kitchen. It may not be much, but it’s one less thing for you to do before going to bed at night.

Don’t worry, he’ll be the one in charge of dessert. It’s another way of showing his gratitude.

Brahms Heelshire

Obviously cooking for him is a requirement so it’s a good thing that you enjoy cooking. But it’s the way you go the extra mile for him that makes him set on keeping you.

You always make him his favorite foods which just fuels his spoiled ass. If you make something you don’t like he’s going to try an throw a tantrum over it. May even go as far as to stay in the walls for a whole day. But when he finds his dinner has gone cold because you had went to bed before he decided to stop being stubborn and come eat he will realize he was in the wrong.

Just make sure to put your foot down, otherwise he will never eat any of his vegetables. He’ll pout about it and complain the whole time but whatever it takes to get him to eat healthy. Eventually he will learn to stop complaining.

No one has ever actually enjoyed doing something for Brahms. He always had to force people into pretending that they cared about him. But you not only took care of him you enjoyed doing it. The home cooked meals you made left him feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. You put your heart into the things you cooked for him, put your time into making something you would enjoy.

I keep thinking of you hiding something in his food as a way to get him to eat something without him knowing. One day he catches you sneaking in the ingredient while he’s in the walls and he is outraged. How dare you lie to him y/n, after he was such a good boy no less!

If you bake him sweets he will make himself sick from eating so many. You’re his impulse control, please hide the sweets from him so that he doesn’t get sick. It’s for his own good.

Jesse Cromeans/Chromeskull

He’s a very busy man so having you cook for him fills him with joy. There’s nothing like coming home to a hot meal after a day of chasing people down and dealing with idiots like Preston. His injuries can also leave him feeling very drained so it’s good that you know how to make plenty of different meals to make him feel better.

If you ever wanted to learn more about cooking he would 100% pay for classes for you. Could even arrange for them to be during times when he goes on business trips so that you have something to keep you occupied while he’s gone. When he gets back he expects you to show him everything that you learned.

Jesse loves it if you ever bring him food. Granted the first time you showed up at one of the warehouses he freaked out because you could’ve been hurt. Spann makes sure to reassure him that she knew you were coming and arranged for you to be kept safe the whole way there and back.

I can also see Spann being flattered if you brought extra food for her. It saves her time and allows her to get more done within a timely manner. Also means she doesn’t have to worry about everything falling apart while she tries to get food.

Watching you cook does something to Jesse and he’s not against picking you up and carrying you upstairs. He can think of something much better to eat than whatever you’re cooking. This has also led to the smoke alarms going off more than once.

[sourwormsaresour]

idk if anyone has talked about this but I feel like no one has pointed this out yet. 

So, this fucker right here: 

Do you know why he’s named “chocolate” and how this food is associated with this character? 

Let’s start with how chocolate is made. The cocoa tree that produces cocoa beans and ultimately chocolate is very finicky with the environment it needs to thrive in; you need a very warm, humid climate year-round where it can also be protected from strong weather like harsh sunlight and heavy winds. That’s easily done within the rainforest where the weather is naturally maintained and surrounding trees can protect the cocoa tree from weather or in farms where these trees will be grown with other trees that will provide them with the protection they need. Alternatively, you can create a warm and humid greenhouse instead where the tree can be under constant surveillance to maintain its environment. The greenhouse approach is often seen in research to find ways of growing chocolate in other places around the world and hopefully making the approach affordable and sustainable enough to use over traditional methods. 

Here’s what the lab used to cultivate cocoa trees looks like. It’s called the “International Cocoa Quarantine Centre” and is based in Britain. 

Another factor in growing a cocoa tree is elevation. Ideally, you should be between 30-300 meters (about 100 to 1000 feet) above sea level or at least under 600 meters (about 2000 feet), which is considered low elevation. In general farming, lower elevations will create sweeter fruits that can ripen faster; the downsides of farming at such a level is everything being prone to rot faster, including the plants that bear the fruits themselves (specifically their roots). Farmers in low elevation need to consider factors like lower ventilation and lack of natural drainage, which can cause rotting.  Because of how complicated the conditions for cocoa trees are, it can get costly to grow and maintain them. One way to alleviate the cost of maintaining cocoa trees (besides exploitation of workers and unsustainable farming) is by tree grafting. This technique is commonly used in creating more trees in general and especially common in the chocolate industry. Grafting involves simply taking parts of a tree and attaching it to a tree that is genetically similar and doing so helps grow new cocoa trees, control the quality of the cocoa beans, and reduce cost of production overall. 

Here are some of the things that can happen if you don’t grow your cocoa tree properly. Unfortunately, some of these issues are unavoidable; why they happen and how to prevent them remains unknown and researchers are still trying to find answers that can explain why it happens and how to prevent or resolve them. 

After years of growing and waiting for the tree to mature and produce pods, we finally have cocoa beans to harvest and make chocolate. Creating chocolate itself involves a controlled form of rotting we know too well: fermentation. Disclaimer: some say fermentation is the opposite of rotting because it prevents decay but others say fermentation is defined as a controlled form of decay while rotting is defined as uncontrolled decay. For this post, I’ll stick with the latter definition. Fermentation allows us to get stuff like alcohol, yogurt, and kimchi by breaking down items, essentially making them decay and rot, to create new items by using microorganisms like bacteria and yeast to perform the process. Before cocoa beans turn into chocolate, they need to be fermented for a certain amount of days- no more and no less than necessary. It’s not going to be like wine such that aging the product will make the quality better. Over-fermenting leads to a waste product that’s just completely rotten, moldy, and just unusable in the end. And like any type of fruit, the cocoa pod will ultimately ripen and rot after it falls off the tree if it’s not used over time. Improper fermentation will also cause mold to occur, causing the beans to rot than ferment. Mold can also be caused by moisture coming in contact with the beans. Unlike cheese or meats, the mold on cocoa beans can cause long-term health issues if consumed. What we end up getting after fermenting, roasting, and grinding the beans is a pure cocoa paste or “pure chocolate.” Once the chocolate is made, it cannot get moldy; it can develop a mold-like appearance called bloom but that’s safe to eat and technically not mold. However, if you separate the cocoa powder from the paste, that can mold if it comes in contact with water.

Look at how moldy these cocoa beans can get: 

Pure chocolate has health benefits like providing antioxidants, being a major ingredient in skincare as cocoa butter, and reduce health issues. However, the chocolate we’re all used to eating is some cocoa paste with added ingredients (milk, nuts, fillings, etc.), and these ingredients are the things that end up turning chocolate into unhealthy food. You can eat pure cocoa paste, but it wouldn’t be defined as chocolate and it won’t be as tasty; even bars labeled "70% cacao" have added ingredients to it. One particular ingredient in chocolate that is a great example of how it makes chocolate unhealthy is processed sugar. Sugar itself has addicting properties and is unhealthy for many reasons, yet it’s a huge part of why we love to eat chocolate. It’s also why we have to eat chocolate with added ingredients in small quantities despite the health benefits chocolate has- the benefits and the downsides cancel each other out (i.e. pure chocolate prevents tooth decay but sugar causes tooth decay, chocolate lowers blood pressure yet sugar contributes to health issues that can cause higher blood pressure). The development of chocolate as a sweet candy in today’s world rather than a healthy ingredient also plays into this.

Based on this info, we can see how chocolate shaped Cioccolata as a character and his Stand’s abilities. The mold and rot aspect of Green Day is easily explained with the fermentation process and how the process of chocolate is susceptible to mold up throughout. Green Day’s functionality working only when victims are underneath Cioccolata is because cocoa trees require lower elevations to thrive and how lower elevation increases chances of rot in produce. The constant surveillance and maintenance of cocoa trees in a laboratory setting can reference Cioccolata finding pleasure in recording his victims’ misery, his “research” in torturing their bodies, as well as the intense and detailed work that comes with studying and practicing medicine. The tree grafting in the chocolate industry connects to Green Day’s second ability that allows it to dismember and reassemble Cioccolata with mold. It also connects to Ciccolata’s sadistic nature when it comes to manipulating his victims’ bodies and the brutality of his Stand’s mold being able to break people’s limbs apart (think Sorbet’s 36 frames, Gelato’s possible taxidermy when he was discovered by Formaggio, and how bodies affected are easily snapped apart when mold gets on them). The dichotomy of chocolate as healthy food and junk food also relates to Cioccolata as a character who should have been good (because he’s a doctor) but does more harm instead. The role of sugar in chocolate plays into that as well, but it’s especially related to how sugar cubes are used to control Secco and Cioccolata full name in JORGE JOESTAR is Dolcio Cioccolata (literally “sweet chocolate”). Hell, I can go on about how Secco’s name has a connection to chocolate too. 

I’ve seen how characters in VA are shaped by the food they’re named after, down to their Stand abilities, so it’s nice to see that Cioccolata follows this too. Let me know if you guys have other information that can add to Cioccolata’s characterization. :)

Btw this is based on some Googling I did, which involved reading a few papers that came up on search and a Chocolate tour that I did when I was in Guatemala last month, so please let me know if the information is incorrect or add with your findings to correct it. 

[whiskery-louis]

Surprise

**as you all will come to find out I am a die hard Louis girl and I just had this idea stuck in my head all day. Hope you like it!

*Louis Tomlinson x reader

*little bit of smut at the end

*please give feedback and interact with any of my work! means so much

One more day, just one more day until you would get to see Louis. You kept repeating this over to yourself in your head as you made another call at work. The only thing getting you through the monotony of your day was that you were seeing him in only 24 hours. Due to Covid your relationship had come to a halt, the two of you were only casually seeing each other for about three months due to his job, but you knew you wanted it to be more. And then out of nowhere the whole world shut down and you suddenly had to endure months of facetimes and texting. All you had wanted was him to ask you to fly out and stay with him, but he had Freddie and you knew he had to put his child's safety above yours. 

Thankfully the clocked ticked to 5:00pm and you were done for the day. You slammed the lid of your laptop closed as you made your way to the kitchen to look for some dinner and pour yourself a glass of wine.

Hey love, how was your day? 

Your phone chimed from the counter, you saw his name and a small smile spread over your lips. You replied with a photo of your glass and a thumbs down emoji. Before you even had the chance to put your phone down his face lit up the screen.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern clearly written across his face.

“Just the usual, getting yelled at by customers for doing my job and not getting enough support from management.” you sighed. “It’s exhausting. I don’t even like my job Lou but it pays so well for me only just being out of school.”

“I’m sorry love. I wish I could be there to cheer you up.”

“It’s okay Louis, I get to see you tomorrow and nothing else matters today.”

At the mention of your trip his face dropped, your heart sinking along with it. You instantly knew something was wrong.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

He sighed, “Brianna doesn’t think it’s a good idea. She said if I go she doesn’t know if she’ll want me to see Freddie unless I quarantine after. She doesn’t want to risk him getting sick and honestly I don’t either. It would kill me if he got Covid because of me.”

Your heart felt heavy, and you felt the tears prick the back of your eyes. “Oh,” you muttered. “I get it Lou, of course I do. Freddie’s health has to come first. We can reschedule...again.” 

“Hey now, I didn’t say I was canceling.” A small frown forming on his lips.

“You didn’t have to,” you said sadly. “It’s Freddie, and I wouldn’t want him to get sick, or you, or Brianna because of a silly trip.”

“No don’t say that, it’s more than just a silly trip Y/N. But it's also not the safest time.” He sighed again running a hand through his already messy hair. “I’m so sorry babe, I know how much you were looking forward to your time away. I was too, god I just want to be with you. Fuck Covid.” 

You had a sad smile on your lips as you picked up your glass and took a large sip. “You can say that again,” you scoffed involuntarily. “Really Louis, we can figure something else out when things clear up. I’ll call Sara and see if she can get off and we can do a winery trip or something. But I gotta go, I wanted to get a walk in before it starts to rain. I’ll call you later.”

You gave him another small smile before ending the call. You finished the rest of your wine and headed into your bedroom to change before heading out. You had lied to get off the phone, but part of you hoped that a walk would clear your mind but all it did was give you more time to wallow in your disappointment. 

It felt like all the joy that had been building over the past weeks was just sucked out of you. It was going on four months of not seeing him and you didn’t know how much longer you would be able to do this. The two of you had only been seeing each other for about three months before quarantine happened, and since then you had only been able to hang out about five times, never for longer than a week at a time. It wasn’t the ideal way to begin a relationship, and honestly you weren’t even sure where you stood with him. The two of you had never actually put a label on what you were doing. You wanted more, you wanted all of him and wanted to give him all of you, but the universe seemed to be doing everything in its power to keep you apart.

And you wanted to be mad at him, you really did, but you knew the concerns were valid. It was always the same promises you made each other only for them to be broken. Sighing you headed back home, planning to finish the bottle of wine you opened and drown your sorrows with some ice cream. 

I canceled the Airbnb, I’m so sorry babe. We’ll figure something out soon. Xx

His text sent you over the edge, and you turned your phone off as the tears began falling down your face. You kept reminding yourself that you weren’t even officially dating but he still managed to consume your every thought. You were planning on talking to him about it on your trip and now you lost your chance. It wasn’t a conversation you wanted to have over the phone.

You put Criminal Minds on knowing a rom-com would just make you more upset due to your weak emotional state. “Fuck Covid,” you muttered to yourself as you stuffed your face with ice cream. 

Six episodes and two bottles of wine later and you managed to stop feeling sad. You fumbled for your phone in the dark trying to figure out how late it was. You cursed as you hit your hand on the edge of the coffee table.

“Alexa lights on,” at the sound of your voice the string lights illuminated your small living room. Where the fuck did you put your phone, you threw the blankets you were using on the floor and heard a thud. “Found it,” you muttered. You turned it back on and were shocked that you had no missed messages or calls from Louis, you just assumed he was taking the time to process his feelings just like you were. You were also surprised to see that it was past 10 pm. You were so enthralled in your show that you lost track of time. Thankfully it was Friday and you could sleep in tomorrow. You began cleaning up your mess before heading for bed.

As soon as you entered your room you heard knocking on your front door. You instantly looked around for a weapon, since you spent the night watching a show about serial killers you assumed the worst. You panicked and grabbed the lamp off your bedside table. As you were inching your way down the hallway the person knocked again. 

You reached the door and bent slightly to look out the peephole.

“Fuck!” you yelled as you put the lamp down and all but ripped the door off the frame. “Louis! What are you doing here?” you threw yourself at him.

“Oh fuck its so good to see you,” he kissed the top of your head through his mask.

You pulled back and looked up at him in amazement. “I don’t understand, how are you here? After our call I never expected…” you trailed off at a loss for words.

“Well are you going to let me in?” he chuckled as you moved over and pulled him in and shut the door behind him. He looked around your house with a slight smile on his face.

“What’s the look for?”

“This is exactly how I pictured your place to be.” he had taken his mask off and shoved it in his pockets and you could see that he had a slight stubble coming in.

“Well you have seen it in photos and during our video calls.”

He laughed slightly as he shrugged his jacket and shoes off. “I know but it's the little things. Like the photos on the wall, the five blankets on your couch. Everything just has your touch to it. It's perfect.” he ended his little speech as his eyes fell back on you, the smile so huge on his face that it gave him the cutest crinkles around his eyes.

His beauty took your breath away and you could feel the tears pricking at the back of your eyes again. He sensed the change in your mood instantly.

“Hey hey, what’s wrong?” his hands engulfed yours, pulling you down onto the couch with him.

“I just can’t believe you are here and I’m not dreaming. How did this happen?”

You leaned into his side, tracing the tattoos on his arms that were wrapped around you. You had never been more content in your life, this is all you had wanted all throughout quarantine and he was finally here.

“Something didn’t feel right after our call earlier. I just knew that I couldn’t wait any longer to see you. Covid has messed enough up for us and I wasn’t going to let it ruin another weekend.”

“But what about Freddie?”

“I called Brianna before I bought my ticket and we agreed as long as I don’t go anywhere and test negative when I go back, that I could still see him and not have to wait the 14 days. So I booked the next flight and here I am.”

“So you mean to tell me that we’re gonna be stuck inside the whole time you are here?” 

He was looking at you so intently as he answered, “I hope that’s okay with you Y/N. I have missed you so much since the last time we were together and I need to see you, to be with you. I-I...my feelings for you are very apparent when we are apart and I’m not the best with words but I want to be with you. I want you to be mine Y/N.”

You were floored at his words. Louis had never been one to openly express how he was feeling, it was always like pulling teeth. And through all the curveballs that had been thrown at you over the past few months you would have never guessed that he felt this way. You looked up at him, his eyes searching your face for a reaction.

“Y/N please say something.”

You reached up and pulled his face down to you, your lips attaching to his. He pulled you closer as he deepened the kiss, his hands rubbing circles on your lower back. You broke away resting your forehead on his.

“Louis I am all in, I always have been. I’ve been wanting you to say that for so long.” you kissed him again. “You are all I have ever wanted”

The grin that lit up his face was contagious and you knew you had a similar one plastered on yours.

“This is just the beginning for us love,” he pulled you closer and kissed the top of your head once more. “If we can make it through these past months, we can make it through anything. As long as we are together that is all I need.”

You just nodded in agreement, placing a light kiss on his chest.

“You know Louis, there is one thing that could make this night better.” you looked up at him with a smirk on your face.

“Oh hmm, and what would that be?”

“Why don’t you follow me?” you stood up coyly and grabbed his hand so he would come with you to your room.

He stopped short leaning against your bedroom door. You looked back at him in confusion. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“Say what?”

“What do you want to do to make this night better?” there was a huskiness to his voice that hadn't been there previously. 

Two can play at this game you thought. You met his glare with a smirk on your face, your hands went down to the hem of your sweatshirt and you slowly pulled it over your head so you were standing in front of him in only a pair of shirts, your breasts on full display.

“I want you to fuck me Louis. I want your hands all over me, I want you to show me what I’ve been missing these last four months. I want you inside me.”

Your eyes still locked on him, you slowly pulled your shorts down and as you threw them across the room, Louis closed the gap between the two of you, his mouth finding yours as his hands were on your body. One on your hip, pulling you close to him and the other massaging your breast.

Normally the two of you would engage in mind blowing foreplay but there was no need tonight. It had been a long four months apart and soon Louis was filling you up and you were moving along with him. The sex was always good between the two of you but tonight was something more. 

“Faster,” you muttered against his lips, your hands were wrapped around his backs leaving marks to claim him as yours.

“Fuck Y/N,” he breathed into your neck as he burried himself further into you.

“I’m almost there Louis.”

He picked his head up and locked eyes with you as his pace increased. “I know baby me too, let go.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against yours, the two of you releasing at the same time.

He pulled himself out and rolled onto the bed next to you, wrapping you in his arms.

“Ya know love, I have to give it to you, that did make tonight better.”

“Mhm,” you sighed as you rolled your eyes and moved closer to him. “I’m so glad you’re here Louis. Best surprise ever.”

[messyflowr]

having adhd + being aromantic

heya friends :D I hope you're all doing great and taking care of yourselves :] if you haven't already, make sure to drink some water and/or grab a snack. that being said, let's get into today's topic: aromanticism and adhd!

disclaimer: I'll - of course - only be talking about my experiences as a person with !! self-diagnosed adhd that also happens to be aromantic*! your experience might be different so please be respectful if you decide to reply to this post :) that being said I'm excited to hopefully reach people with similar experiences to mine!

*(also important to note I pretty much feel No romantic attraction, if you are demiromantic or greyromantic, etc. your experience is bound to be different and some things might resonate less with you).

let's get into it! (long post ahead)

aromanticism combined with adhd is definitely...an interesting pair. for me, I've never felt the "rush" to get into a romantic relationship, another thing about me is, I hyperfixate on people (especially new friends). that usually presents as an amplified qpr.

I thought that since I always wanted to be around someone, always be talking to them, always focusing on them, that I must want to BE with them. insert impulsivity, I ruined a few friendships because of unnecessary love confessions.

when I spoke to my friends (middle/high school), I felt left out when they talked about their crushes, since I didn't have any! I never took interest into someone Like That. so I started saying "well I have a crush too actually!" even when, in reality, it was an obsessive idealization of someone at best.

it took me till a few years later to realize that "wait?...I never wanted to kiss that guy...I didn't even really want to get into a relationship with that girl..." and that's when I found the label 'aromantic'.

I, in some way, never "realized" that being in a relationship would entail all that it does: kissing, sexual acts, commitment, etc. (I still do not get any of this stuff, that's why the list is short lmao) so when I said I had a "crush" all my brain really processed is "I want to talk with this person a lot, get to know them well, form a deep bond, hang out together often, because I think they're so nice!"

that, you might think, is not a huge issue once you figure it out, right? WRONG.

I still struggle with hyperfixating on people, and it's hard to set good boundaries (especially at first) because I show the same interest alloromantics show (if I had to guess...) to their romantic interest just...without any romantic intent!

sometimes I still question myself, "what if I want to be with this person?", "I must want to be with them!" and adhd only makes it Worse.

if you have adhd or know anything about it, you know how addicting novel stuff is to us, really. so, if someone shows interest for me, my brain finds that a fun, interesting, new situation, which sometimes results in me leading people on or confusing them.

is kissing "novel, interesting, etc." to think about? yes! would I actually ever kiss that person? absolutely not.

if you relate to any of the feelings I shared, you're not alone, you're not crazy, you're not a bad person. you are valid and it IS hard.

it is especially hard because (I'd assume) hyperfixating on someone that is available and interested in you as an alloromantic comes with its struggles, and you're always going to be in the process of balancing your time and managing your symptoms, but your attraction is straight to the point.

as an aromantic, it's not. (again, talking as an aromantic that feels little to no attraction). we're just working hard to not ruin anything. it's confusing, and like any hyperfixation, it consumes us and our time.

I'm SO lucky to have friends that understand that and that generally wouldn't question anyone for just wanting to spend lots of time together, but I can see how that could actively and continuously ruin friendships.

if you're aromantic and have adhd and are struggling because of it right now, you're going to be okay, you are a great person and you are loved.

I wanted to touch up on a lot more relating to this subject, but this post is adhd-unfriendly (read: long) enough already, soz...

if you read through all of this, thank you so much & feel free to share your experience, reblog, etc. doesn't matter if you are demi or grey etc., really!

have a great day, I love you :D

[skekheck]

All About the Seven Clans: The Grottan

THIS POST CONTAINS EVERYTHING I COULD FIND ABOUT THE GROTTAN. SOME INFORMATION WRITTEN HERE ARE FROM OLDER MATERIAL AND MAY EITHER CONTRADICT STATEMENTS OR IS NO LONGER RELEVANT. I WILL DO MY BEST TO STRING IT ALL TOGETHER AS COHERENTLY AS POSSIBLE. IF THERE IS INFORMATION THAT I AM MISSING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I’LL ADD IT!

Clan Index: Dousan Drenchen Grottan Sifa Spriton Stonewood Vapra

OVERVIEW

Deep within the the caves of Grot (also known as Cave of Obscurities, Land In Darkness, and Hole In Ground) lived the Grottan. Long believed to be extincted by most “daylighters”, these cave-dwelling shepherds lived in peace and knew little about the world above. Rarely did the Grottan leave their caves and it wasn’t until the late Age of Division did they reappear to the other clans. Because of their subterranean life, they were the most attuned with Thra and the Crystal, even to that of the highly spiritual Dousan. 

The Grottan’s clan color was black/blue, their totem animal the Hollerbat, and their core elements were the night, shadow, and the past. Their sigil color was dark brown/black and their pennant colors was dark blue with brown detail.

Characteristics

Over hundreds of trine, the Grottan evolved to live within the dark, deep caves. They had the smallest population with only 37 members, but were believed to have lived three or four times longer than the average gelfling. Their skins were a variety of greens with pink or orange undertones. In the J.M. Lee book series, however, they had extremely pale skin much like the Vapra. Grottan hair was predominantly white-blonde with hair streaks of green, green-blue, red, and sometimes a combination of the three. They kept their hair mostly out (and messy) with braids and/or in ponytails. Their hair was adorned with beads, string, and sometimes random objects.  They were usually covered in dirt and didn’t regularly wash, but they never minded.  A Grottan’s wings were sheer and almost transparent.

The most distinguishing features of the Grottan were their large eyes and ears. Grottan eyes had very dilated pupils that allowed them to see in the dark. This in turn made them very sensitive to sunlight and it took a while for their eyes to adjust. Eye colors strictly stayed between brown and black. With their ears, they were able to pick up even the tiniest of sounds from miles away making them also the best at hearing. Some were even able to hear the vibrations of the earth and could make out the individual songs of rocks, sands, and mountains. 

Grottan clothing were made of nurloc rump and were mentioned to be very soft. The colors resembled worn-out rags and of dirt, mainly tones of gray and brown with a dark reddish color. Other colors were yellows and blues. Some preferred to wear black cloaks and others sported head wear. The Grottan were hoarders and wore random objects on their clothing that weren’t meant to be worn as accessories. They rarely wore shoes, preferring to go barefoot as it helped them traverse the caves.

According to skekNa the Slave Master, a Grottan’s essence improved eyesight.

Life Style

Being a small clan, the Grottan were closely-knit. There was a great focus on community and maintain strong relationships with one another. It took teamwork to make Domrak as well as the entire caves of Grot habitable for themselves and other creatures. The Grottan maudra and her elder council gave adults assigned duties based on the skills they learned from schooling and their apprenticeships. Activities were done in complete silence, pouring all of their focus and effort into their tasks. The Grottan strongly believed in the quality of work so they were given flexibility and lax with how much time they took with it. This idea reflected in all forms of their lifestyle, making them one of the most easy-going of the seven clans. They were also avid collectors and kept all sorts of objects and knick-knacks in their homes. 

The Grottan’s Observance of Thra, the Crystal, and Aughra

As the Grottan lived underground, they were both figuratively and literally the closest to Thra. They held observance and devotion to the planet and the Crystal of Truth as well as honored life in the best way they could. Every day they would find a crystal vein and said quiet prayers to it with a loving expression. Because of their location if anything happened to Thra the Grottan were the first to know.  

Being the embodiment of Thra, the Grottan loved Mother Aughra as well. Until the late Age of Division, very few gelfling knew of her yet the Grottan spoke as if she was their friendly neighbor. Grottan maudras would send their apprentices above ground to seek her council and trade with her podling assistants for herbs and salves that were difficult to procure within the caves. They even wrote songs about her including the way to get to Aughra’s Hill and orrery. 

Plenty of songs that revolved around Thra that most gelfling thought were myth the Grottan believed to be the truth. Some of these myths, like the Song of the Six Sisters, were even credited by Grottan storytellers. As being keepers of history, plenty of artifacts found within the Tomb of Relics provided proof of their validity. 

Daily Routine

A Grottan morning begins with the sound of a single note from a firca and followed by a bow across strings and a voice. The music grew so loud that it could be heard all throughout Domrak.  Childlings were sent to teachers to learn alchemy and other skills, older childlings were under apprenticeships to build on specialized skills, and adults set out to do their daily tasks. There were animal caretakers, shepherds, gatherers of certain material, fungi gardeners, alchemists, herbal sages, those who measured the water levels of the cave’s inner lake, and other occupations. The Grottan would spend much of their day dedicated to their duties.

Grottan Calendars 

Being underground, they had to use other means of telling the time of day, season, or trine. They were able to create an underground clock or sky calender of sorts using the tiny holes that shined sunbeams from the ceiling of Domrak. The walls were marked and as the beams traveled, it indicated the time of day. For night, the Grottan would use the reflection of the Sister Moons cast upon the lake. 

The water levels also showed what season and trine it was. A ritual which the Grottan called Moontide was performed when the water level reached the highest point. The Maudra Grottan would climb to the bottom of the Domrak cavern, marked where the water level touched the rocks, and labeled it with the number of trine.

The Art of Grottan Alchemy

The Grottan were resourceful and had a number of tricks which was thanks to their expansive knowledge in alchemy. The caves of Grot, which had a consistent cool temperature, made it an ideal place for storing items that would otherwise spoil or be unstable. This was especially true for valuable ingredients found above ground.  They could be studied and manipulated without the risk of destroying or igniting them. This made the Grottan the most magically wise of all gelfling. 

They had a vast knowledge of pastes, powders, bombs, elixirs, and more with various uses. Plenty were used for healing, igniting fires, or clearing out debris or animals. The Grottan knew how to carefully clear away debris from a collapsed tunnel with explosive without damaging it or the structure of the caves. They also knew how to carefully keep animals, such as the hollerbat, out of their ventilation chutes with smoke bombs. Of course they were taught to use them carefully but of course are prone to accidents. There have been notiable accidents with smoke bombs that if the smoke gets on a gelfling’s face they wouldn’t be able to see clearly for days. Many Grottan would carry their concoctions on their person having pockets within their clothing to hold containers or pouches. 

Alchemists and herbal sages overlapped each other because both were adept in alchemy and medicine. They had an endless knowledge of fungi in particular, which were a favorite among Grottans. They had extensive knowledge of uses from medicinal to poisons to the intersection between using toxic materials for healing illnesses from the toxins of other creatures. 

Diet

The Grottan lived on a mainly vegetarian diet although they would eat meat from time to time. The caves provided a variety of flora, fauna, and fungi so the Grottan rarely sought out plants from above ground. They’d eat large portions of mushrooms and root vegetables grown from cultivated colonies by farmers. Leafy greens were considered a rare treat as they only grew in places where sunlight reached. These rarities were called “dayfare”. Of the game that the Grottan caught were mostly fish and creatures like armalig. This grew less common as quarry became more difficult to find as time went on. 

Grottan food was very flavorful thanks to the seasonings, seasoning pastes, and spices they used. Anything that was edible they would use. Grottan meals were not made the same way as each gelfling had their own unique way of preparing food. Grottans also applied alchemy to foods to preserve them. Pickling solutions were usually done with sugar, salt, and vinegar that improved its shelf life and gave intense flavor to otherwise bland ingredients. 

A staple Grottan food was the glowing mushrooms and moss which, when consumed, made the eater temporary glow as well. 

Although the Grottan never traded with other clans, their spices and seasonings would end up in the hands of other gelfling. Most likely, Aughra’s poddling assistants would trade them for other things. Grottan spices and seasonings would end up in places like Ha’rar’s Port Market fetching high prices for their rarity. For a time, the origin of their items were acknowledged but may have disappeared along with the memory of Grottans. 

Mutualism With Cave Creatures

The Grottan had a mutualistic relationship with various cave creatures, particularly the nurlocs and hollerbats. It was thanks to these creatures that the Grottan were able to live within Grot. The animals were accustomed to their daily and nightly feedings from the gelfling. The Grottan learned to care for each species from the wisdom of past generations, including quantity and menu options which were given through careful oral instructions.  In exchange, the creatures benefited the Grottan in many ways.

Nurlocs aerated dirt as well as making conduits of fresh air from loosening soil when they dug. Thus, providing fresh breathable air for the Grottan and other life in the caves. The worms’ shedded skin, fur, and scales were seen as valuable material for clothing, ornamenting, and instruments. The antlers of water nurlocs, which fell off every thirty to forty days, were made into flutes. The hollerbats, the clan’s totem animal, provided the Grottan with material that would repulse outsiders. Their dung was extremely flammable but never emitted a terrible smelt when burnt. The dung was turned into a special paste called everburn which was considered one of the most valuable resources for the Grottan. It was used for fires, torches, lantern wicks, candles, and hearths. They were collected in bulk, sterilized and stabilized using salt, and made into the paste which was stored indefinitely in jars. It was said that a candle, when its tallow was mixed with the paste, would burn for days. 

Not all of the cave’s creatures were disciplined. To protect themselves from these unruly creatures, the Grottan utilized nonlethal alchemical methods like smoke bombs to keep them away. 

Finger-talking

Sound echoed and bounced within the caves making it almost unintelligible by the time it reached a gelfling’s ear. It was hard for one to talk to someone if they were not in close proximity of each other. So the Grottan created a complex language called finger-talking to compensate. It involved tapping on the walls of the caves in specific patterns and rhythm. It was complex enough that it could relay complex emotions, meaning, and locations. The signals could be heard when one pressed their ear against the wall thanks to the way crystallized minerals within them carried sound.  A dozen conversations would go on at once so names were specifically distinguished by the speaker when relaying their message.

Daylighting

Daylighting was a term used to describe Grottans going above ground, also known as “the top side”. It was considered a forbidden act as many hardly knew of the dangers of the world above. Only experienced gelfling assigned by the maudra were allowed to go. The tasks were usually done for finding ingredients and materials otherwise not found in the caves. There were few exceptions were the special missions to Aughra’s orrery as mentioned before. Trips above ground were always highly organized and planned so that they would go out and back in without making their presence known to other gelfling. They would almost always go out at night to avoid being blinded by the Three Suns.

Despite this, many Grottan (especially younglings) would go top side without the maudra’s permission. Those who were not immediately blinded by the suns would go as far as the Endless Forest and listened to all the unique sounds of wildlife and howling winds that weren’t found within their caves. But the one thing Grottan remembered the most was the sky, something that both fascinated and terrified them. It was said that they’d dreamt of it even trine after their trip. 

Domrak, the Hometown of the Grottan

The Grottan hometown, sometimes called “Place-In-Shadows”, was hidden deep inside the rocky caves of Grot.  It was surrounded by tunnels, crevices, and ravines as well as a large lake. It was decorated with glowing moss and the dim but iridescent crystal veins that lined its walls. The Grottan would travel to their small cave homes on small canoes or bridges. Far beyond Domrak, aside from the Tomb of Relics and the Sanctuary, was the Breath of Thra. Generated from the center of Thra was a series of warm air/wind tunnels. Its currents went through a network of underground tunnels and could be used to travel to and from Grot. 

Remnants of the Arathim, the original residents of the cave, could still be seen from the multiple holes carved within the walls. Much of their relics have been removed or transformed, much like the Arathim thread-hooks. They were made by the spiders to hang their webs, but the Grottan repurposed and resculpted them to anchor their bridges.

Both in Age of Resistance and the J.M. Lee book series the Arathim attempted to reclaim their ancient home and destroyed Domrak in the process. In the show, the Arathim agreed with the skeksis to capture all of the Grottan using threaders in exchange for their home. But it was all a trap as the darkening had already infested it with darkened nurlocs killing them while destroying Domrak in the process. Rian and Deet convinced them of the skeksis plot against them and afterwards won their alliance in the gelfling resistance. The Arathim freed the gelfling they enslaved and evacuated with them from the caves.  

In the book series, skekLi the Satirist lead the arathim invasion. He strategically manipulated Naia and friends by using Tavra under the control of a crystal-threader named Krychk to keep tabs and eventually lure them to him. The invasion was successful that not only did they destroyed Domrak but also reduced the Grottan population. Naia, Kylan, and Amri were able to stop him and the Arathim with the help of urLii the Storyteller and urVa the Archer. 

The Tomb of Relics and Its Keeper

The Tomb of Relics was the most sacred place in the caves that the Grottan watched carefully over. It was a giant catacomb protected by a heavy stone door filled with artifacts collected throughout history. Shelves, chests, and crates were filled to the brim with treasure such as books, tapestries, tools, artwork, and more. To get there, it took half a day’s walk from Domrak. 

How all of these artifacts came to the tomb was a complete mystery to the Grottan. They came up with many theories to explain it, like gelfling adventurers or Aughra herself putting them there. The closest of these theories, unbeknownst to them, was that of a slow, pale four armed creature which the Grottan wrote off as something that added a mysterious charm to the tomb. The four armed creature, named urLii the Storyteller, was the Tomb of Relics’ true keeper. One of the few mystics who lived away from his brethren, urLii traveled all throughout Thra to find and keep artifacts in a safe place. Being a very private individual, very few knew about him aside from Maudra Argot. It’s not clear if this was the same for other Grottan maudras. However, in the J.M. Lee book series urLii had a different relationship to the Grottan. He didn’t hide himself and freely taught childlings about all types of medicines and poisons.

Interestingly, it was the original home of the Dual Glaive. The weapon was placed inside a chamber by its creators skekGra the Heretic and urGoh the Wanderer for safe keeping. It was inaccessible to anyone but gelfling and lied within a passageway. It was protected by traps meant to test those who entered it. This included chasms, sharp swinging pendulums, and rock creatures similar to Lore. For those clever enough to spot them, there were secret passages that skipped all of these tests and lead right to the resting place of the swords. During the late Age of Division, Ordon and Fara bested the traps and took the Dual Glaive to help them fight the Arathim. 

A game called Gricksies was loosely based on the layout of the tomb. It was a race against time where the Grottan would go through a maze, threw shells, gems, and stones when they reached the end, and ran back before a candle burnt out. A ditty simply called Gricksies was sung to infants when their parents tended to them. 

The Sanctuary

A grand valley that lied in the heart of the mountains. It was the only place the Grottan were allowed to frequent outside of the caves (although was not technically considered above ground). Only visiting it at night, they would sit and meditated upon the song of Thra which they believed was best heard in the Sanctuary than anywhere else. The Sanctuary was once an ancient mountain lake or the elusive headwaters of the Black River as made evident by the petrified aquatic plant formations including plant and fungi that surrounded it. Remains of its ancient water were all but a small pond of shallow water found at the very base of the gorge.

The Sanctuary was once home to the bell-birds, which were capable of moving mountains with their singing. Every seven hundred trine, the birds would use the Sanctuary for roosting and finding mates. By late Age of Division, however, the birds went extincted. The bone shafts of a bell-bird’s feather were able to produce the song of Thra when blown into it. The birds also inspired a famous song created by Gyr called “the Bell-Bird and the Mountain”. 

Vliste-Stabe

Also known as the Sanctuary Tree, it was the Grottan’s patron tree. They called it “the mirror of the mountains” because it had two faces. The first was a pink petaled tree that stood visible on one of Grot’s many mountain peaks. The other was an inverted stone tree that dangled deep in the Caves of Grot. The surface-side face had pink flowers that bloomed three times a trine and shed them late winter. The bottom-side face was a mystery as the Grottan knew it existed but none could find it. That was until late Age of Division where Deet happened to stumble upon it. One of the Grottan’s most romantic songs were based on the tree, which alluded to its two faces, was called the Mirror of the Mountain.

Other interesting aspects of the Sanctuary Tree was that it was capable of speech but only allowed very few to hear it. It was also capable of showing visions of the future with their flowers attached on its roots. It was noted to have a close friendship with Aughra who she would sometimes come to for advice. Like the other Great Trees, the Sanctuary Tree struggled to keep the darkening at bay until it finally succumbed to it when attacked by a pack of darkened nurlocs. Before it died, it gifted Deet with the power of darkening absorption. 

Relationship With the Skeksis and Other Clans

During the early Age of Division, the skeksis sought alliance with the Arathim. When they refused, the skeksis cast them out and gave the caves of Grot to more willing subjects: the Grottan. As they became sensitive to the Three Suns, they turned reclusive to the world and eventually became forgotten. Although they were the least influenced by the skeksis, the Grottan still had rituals and prayers based around them as they still held the belief the lords were protectors of the Crystal.  

As they rarely had any contact with other clans, the Grottan viewed them with skepticism. Whenever a Grottan would go top-side, they made sure to stay clear of other gelfling. This wariness was engraved by the Grottan maudras who did so in order to protect their clan as they believed other clans wouldn’t be kind to them. 

Although they’ve been isolated for hundreds of trine, Grottan have a unique connection with the Vapra. According to the Song of the Six Sisters, Thra entrusted the founders of each clan with elements of Thra to protect. The sixth clan known as the Silver Sea Clan was tasked with not only looking after day and night, light and shadow, but also the past and future. Because Thra requested seven clans and the original task became too difficult for one single clan, the Silver Sea Clan split into two: the Grottan and the Vapra. The Grottan became keepers of the night, past, and “dark things that should be left in shadows”. Due to these associations, other gelfling, especially the Vapra, feared them and eventually looked down upon them. The Grottan still carried these stigmas even after they were believed to be long gone. The Grottan equally didn’t like the Vapra as they were offended that their sister clan wanted nothing to do with them anymore even before they “vanished”.

The Grottan had many names for the gelfling that lived above. These included (but were not limited to) "daylighter", "sun-brain", "moon-child", "sky-baby", and "tunnel-screamer”. In return, outsiders sometimes called the Grottan “Shadowlings”. 

Notable Grottan Members

Deethra: Better known as Deet, was a Grottan who lived in the late Age of Division. She was an animal caretaker with a deep respect and love for Thra. When the Sanctuary Tree revealed a vision to her about the darkening, Deet went above ground to warn the All-Maudra and joined the gelfling resistance to save Thra. 

Maudra Argot the Shadow Bender: The Grottan maudra during the late Age of Division, she was also the oldest maudra who lived during that time. In her youth, she frequently went top side and even assisted other gelflings in the Arathim Wars. She guarded part of the Dual Glaive within her walking cane.

Lath'N: Husband of Mitjan and father of Deet and Bobb’N. He tended to the Nurloc herds until he evacuated with his family when the Arathim invaded and the darkening took over the caves.

Mitjan: Husband of Lath’N and father of Deet and Bobb’N. Like his husband, he tended the Nurloc herds. He and his family evacuated when the Arathim and darkening invaded the caves.

Bobb’N: A small Grottan childling, he was the son of Mitjan and Lath’N and younger brother of Deet. 

Amri: A skilled alchemist who lived during the late Age of Division.  In the J.M. Lee’s book series, he helped Naia and Kylan with trying to find Gyr’s firca and eventually joined them on their quest to light the fires of resistance.

Maudra Ermet: A Grottan maudra who lived during an unknown time in the Age of Division.

Nep: A grottan who lived during an unknown time in the Age of Division. The apprentice of maudra Ermet, they were given special missions to visit Aughra’s orrery.

Sylus: A grottan songteller who lived during an unknown time. He was believed to be the originator of the Song of Six Sisters which he dream-etched onto a tome in his sleep. 

[Sources: Song of the Seven Gelfling Clans, the official Dark Crystal website, Song of the Dark Crystal, Tides of the Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance: An Epic Return To Thra, Author Quest: The Gelfling Gathering, Heroes of the Resistance, the Dark Crystal Age of Resistance: The Quest, the Dark Crystal Bestiary ] 

[system-threat-detected]

So I’m running a D&D game set in the Horizon universe, so I think about a lot of unnecessary worldbuilding stuff, like main exports/imports of tribes, what resources they might have available to them based on in-game evidence, and other stuff. It got me thinking about their clothes. Specifically the stranglehold the Oseram seem to have on linen. 

I don’t actually know a lot about clothes, cloth, or armor, so take that as you will. It’s something that vaguely interests me, but most of my knowledge comes from quick google searches, or that one time I went down a cloth-based rabbit hole on Wikipedia, so please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong about stuff. 

Out of all of the tribes that we see in-game, the Oseram are the only ones who use (what I’m assuming to be) linen in their armor. While this can be chalked up to design language - trying to get us to read someone as Oseram at a glance just by looking at them - I’m going to read more into it. 

Flax, the plant that linen is made from, grows well in Idaho/The Claim, and enriches the soil with nitrogen, blooms early, and is easily replaced by native plants, making it ideal for terraforming that part of the US. It would make sense for DEMETER to put it there, meaning the Oseram would be the ones who produced and sold the linen found everywhere else in game.

[ID: three Oseram mercenaries, dressed in leathers, metal, and cloth. end description.] 

Your average Oseram citizen also wears this cloth, though most of them seem to be wearing forge-worthy leathers (which could pass as armor anyways) based on my exploration of Pitchcliff and Free Heap. 

Another demographic who wears this non-leather cloth are common Carja citizens, as well as the poor/displaced people of Sunfall. More wealthy citizens and outlanders wear silk, and the nobles wear almost exclusively silk(Charles why did you think putting silkworms in the middle of Utah was a good idea? They are not native animals. Charles the silkworms that produce usable amounts of silk have been so domesticated they can’t even survive in the wild anymore. Charles silkworms can ONLY eat Mulberry tree leaves, which, thinking about it, I may actually have found in The Jewel. Charles pls.), but that’s a topic for another post. 

[ID: Five Carja citizens from the Horizon Zero Dawn art book. Two are labeled “Craftspeople Woman” and “Craftspeople Man”, who appear to be wearing mostly linen and some silk. One is labeled “Artisan”, and is wearing some linen, a lot of silk, and some decorative machine parts. The last two are labeled “Villager Man” and “Villager Woman”, and are wearing all linen, no silk. End description.] 

It makes sense that the Carja have access to this linen, as they canonically have good trading relations with the Oseram. 

It’s also worth pointing out that black/purple dye is time consuming and extremely difficult to do. The shadow Carja/Eclipse made it part of their Whole Aesthetic, which I find hilarious(but looking deeper into the implications, horrified). They’re canonically starving all the time and they still find the time to dye black clothes. 

[ID: A turnaround of an Eclipse thug, whose outfit is mainly tattered, deep black cloth, with some dark red, bullets, and a white mask. End description.] 

Black dye can come from chestnut trees, so there is, in fact, an in-game basis for this, as I found chestnut trees in The Jewel while looking for avocado trees, but I’m even more incredulous they figured out how to make purple. The most likely sources, since they obviously don’t have access to that super exclusive Mediterranean shellfish, are Rocky Mountain Irises, Blackberries, Elderberries, or Daylilies, none of which I have seen in game, but can grow in the Utah area.

We can interact with exactly one Utaru in the whole game, but the concept art for them appears to be mostly woven/dried plant leaves or leather, and some machine parts.

[ID: The front and back views of two Utaru. They both are wearing outfits with strips of dried plants or leather woven together in alternating black and yellow patterns, a mysterious mint green cloth, red feathers, a little bit of black fur, and a dried grass cape. Both are wearing hats made of woven plant/leather, machine parts, and what appears to be wood. End description.]

Looking at Rea, the Utaru we interact with in-game, the mysterious mint green is toned back to a more natural green, and it actually looks more like leather than fabric.

[ID: A waist-up in-game rendering of Rea, an Utaru woman. The rendered textures make everything previously assumed to be cloth or plant fiber, besides her grass cape, look like leathers that have been tanned differently. End description.] 

It’s possible the Utaru have access to cotton, but there simply isn’t enough in-game information to confirm or deny that. 

The Banuk and Nora tribes overwhelmingly use leather and hide, along with assorted machine parts (like metal or cables) in their wardrobe. It makes sense for them to be dressed this way, as where they live is colder than the Sundom or Plainsong. I have, however, noticed there are strips of cloth used in their outfits. 

[ID: Four generic Banuk warriors, wearing leathers dyed their traditional light greens, blues, yellows, and reds. Their heavy, warm outfits also include furs which range from, and sometimes gradient from, blacks to whites. There are strips of what appears to be vibrant blue cloth wrapped around their limbs, as well as attached to their weapons. End description.] 

The blue cloth the Banuk use to tie their boots up/their arm wraps on and on their spears is obviously a reference to the Blue Light, and is the only cloth in their outfits. The rest is warm leathers or furs. Their territory, Ban-Ur, is mostly covered in glaciers, so it makes sense they’d opt for overall warmer clothes.

While we know from Bergrund that the Banuk don’t like trading for ‘necessities’, it is possible that the easily-dyed blue cloth is one of the things they will trade for, as it holds religious symbolism for them.  

And the Nora:

[ID: Concept art of four generic Nora Braves, all wearing outfits comprised of natural leathers, white machine metal, and blue machine cables. End description.] 

[ID: Aloy wearing the Nora Silent Hunter Heavy armor. The armor is mostly made of natural leathers, but there is a green and blue net woven of some unknown material. End description.]

The green/blue net/rope stuff we see in Nora outfits is most likely woven from natural fibers taken from dogbane, nettle, or milkweed. 

Aloy’s scarf looks like it’s made of silk, 

[ID: An in-game image of Aloy. She is wearing the armor Teb made for her, and is standing in the dappled shadow of a tree. Her blue scarf is shining like silk. End description.]

But there’s a possible explanation: It’s the same one she had as a kid, that Rost wrapped her in as a baby. He was a well-traveled man, maybe he found it while he was on his vengeance quest, and kept it because it reminded him of his wife/daughter or something. (She’s wearing her baby blanket around her neck)

This, however... 

[ID: An in-game rendering of Olara, a Nora woman who is wearing an outfit made of natural leathers, dark blue netting, a dark blue cloth sash, leather belts, and what appears to be a knit wool shoulder cowl. End description.] 

Ma’am where did you get that wool. There are no sheep here. The Banuk have all the goats, and they don’t even use them for that. There are no Angora rabbits here. No alpaca. And yet. There you are. With your knit wool(?) shoulder cowl. Someone please help me out here. What could that be made out of. 

And then there are the Tenakth. The game doesn’t specifically state where they are from, but since only Carja texts seem to mention them, and the Banuk/Oseram/Nora lore we are provided doesn’t mention them at all, I’m assuming they’re south of the Sundom, kind of around Arizona/New Mexico area. So like. Hot. Dry. Sunny. I’d argue that what little we have seen of their designs supports this. 

[ID: Concept art of members of the Tenakth clan, shown from two different angles, one male, one female. Both are, wearing classic Tenakth blue and red body paint with thin white lines. Both are wearing light armor around their neck and forearms, and the woman is wearing a red chest wrap that appears to be made of cloth. They are both wearing skirts made of woven plant fiber, green, yellow, and red dyed leather, and red leg wraps. End description.] 

The body paint we see could easily double as natural sunblock, since they clearly don’t have the light, airy Carja silks to keep the sun off their backs. But I’m getting distracted again. 

[ID: An in-game rendering of Ullia, a Tenakth woman. The texture pattern on her clothes suggest the red material around her chest, arms, and legs, is in fact, cloth, while the strips of material around her waist and upper thighs are leather. She is also wearing shin-guards that appear to be made of dried bamboo. End description.] 

BAMBOO???? What does it MEAN?? (After a quick google search, I learned that bamboo does, in fact, grow in the Americas. A quick google search informed me it is native to a lot of South America, Central America, and the Southeastern United States. Why or how it got to the Southwestern States is beyond me, but it’s making me think the Tenakth territory (The Clan-Lands) is a lot wetter than I originally thought. Or they stole it from whoever boarders the eastern part of their territory.) But again, I’m getting off topic. Back to cloth. 

The Tenakth are known for raiding, and taking what they believe to rightfully belong to the strong, so even though they’re nowhere near The Claim, it’s likely they have stolen a linen from the Carja, but not enough to be able to consistently make a whole outfit out of it. They seem to just use it where it would be the most useful, like for attaching the bamboo/machine metal to themselves as armor. This lines up with having a scarcity of a certain material, so I’m pretty satisfied with this explanation. 

This concludes my long and unnecessary analysis of Horizon world clothing styles. I hope you all had as much fun reading this as I did figuring it out!

BONUS:

[ID: A still from the Horizon: Forbidden West trailer, showing two members of the unnamed clan that lives in what was once the Yosemite area. They are both wearing outfits made of leathers, scavanged machine parts, natural rope/string bindings, and carved wood. End description.]

Whoever these guys are, they don’t look like they have cloth, but they’re likely capable of growing flax, if I’m right about where they’re from. 

And the other one: 

[ID: A still from the Horizon: Forbidden West trailer, showing a person standing in a field of red vines, holding a withered carrot in their hand. They are wearing a yellow and green outfit, which appears to be made mostly of woven leaves and leather. End description.]

These people who appeared in the HFW trailer, who I’m no longer convinced are Utaru, don’t look like they have cloth either, but we don’t really get a good look at their outfits in the one scene they appear in the trailer. 

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Smart Contract :

A smart contract is a self-enforcing piece of so ware that is managed by a P2P network of computers. Smart contracts are e cient rights management tools that provide a coordination and enforcement fra- mework for agreements between network participants, without the need of traditional legal contracts. They can be used to formalize simple agreements between two parties, the bylaws of an organiza- tion, or to create tokens.

A smart contract is a self-enforcing agreement embedded in computer code managed by a blockchain. The code contains a set of rules under which the parties of that smart contract agree to interact with each other. If and when the predefined rules are met, the agreement is automatically enforced. Smart contracts provide mechanisms for efficiently managing tokenized assets and access rights between two or more parties. One can think of it like a cryptographic box that unlocks value or access, if and when specific predefined conditions are met. The underlying values and access rights they manage are stored on a blockchain, which is a transparent, shared ledger, where they are protected from deletion, tampering, and revision. Smart contracts, therefore, provide a public and verifiable way to embed governance rules and business logic in a few lines of code, which can be audited and enforced by the majority consensus of a P2P network.

Why Smart Contract for MLM Business

MLM business concept starts to attract all start-ups, entrepreneurs and many more peoples. So, lets we can see about this tempting MLM business pros and cons,

Pros of MLM Business

Direct sale from the wholesaler

Low start-up cost

Can choose the product & services as per the person wish

Open business model

Leverage

Low risk

Time Freedom

Portability

Huge potential income

Personal Development

Low operating cost

Portability

Cons of MLM Business

There some disadvantages too in MLM business, they are,

Negative Stigma

High rejection rate

Old School marketing

High turnover rates

Hard to get Trademark

Low success rate

High Competition

Consumes enormous time to grow & work

Numerous Scams

Company requirements

These points can be easily overcome by Smart Contract. Smart Contract aid to show authority over the asset in the market and monitor A to Z business activities and all peoples, which easily identify the lack or bug and fix it.

How Smart Contract Uplift MLM Business?

MLM is the best and easiest business strategy to develop the business in the market. It also gives an easy way to gain trust from consumers which will lead to achieving brand name across the globe. Step by step it grows and spread worldwide like a pyramid, therefore it is also known as ‘pyramid selling’.

To achieve this global trademark MLM follows a process that is, they choose a representative to sell the products to customers and train them.

Anyhow, every fortune come with some unfortunates like that There are two risks in this type of network marketing, they are,

The representative, sale the products from wholesaler to end-user, sometimes these reps can cheat wholesaler.

While a rep joining the business, they want to pay some amount of money. At this point, the wholesaler can be a fraud.

To avoid this and overcome it, the smart contract came to frame.

Smart Contract traits make it easier to gain trustworthiness and stand with it, to gain faith from consumers. The most tempting part of the smart contract is that the automatic transaction, if once the terms & conditions meet in the contract the funds will be automatically transferred from one person to another person account based on the condition in the smart contract. These terms and conditions are designed & drawn in smart contracts based on authorized people's requests.

So, this avoids trust issues and gain the profit as promised on both side parties this will play a vital role. No need to worry about the fraud or cheats while coming to MLM with a smart contract. In this way, smart contracts uplift all types of MLM business.

Benefits of MLM Platform by Smart Contract

While using the MLM platform is used in the business, it aid to gain enormous business advantages by admin keeping a tab on representative and end-user in the network about their progress as well as payments respectively. Some of them are listed below,

Easy Tracking

Effortless Payment

Secured & International Transaction

Assured Data safety

Avoid Malpractice

No additional fees

Multi payment ways

Peer-to-Peer systems

No third party

These will benefit both parties, which is the tempting part of the MLM concept in business.

Use-Case of  Smart Contract MLM

Well, we have already seen and discussed about the benefits of smart contract MLM and how it role play in business sectors. Here as the name defines

we are going to see the highlights/predominant features of MLM Smart Contract Software, they are

Automatic Transaction - Once the terms & conditions of the contract meet. So cheating.

Transparent - Avoid fraud activity between the contract person.

Irreversible - That means, the contract is unbreakable.

No third party - Smart Contract can be kept as secret between the involved parties

Security - Both asset & data are highly secured in the digital form.

Efficient - It saves time by avoiding the paper work.

How Do I Build an MLM Website with Smart Contract?

Starting an MLM company can be rewarding but you would have to compete with other well established MLM companies on the World Wide Web.

Lots of MLM script software are available in the market today as a white-label solution offering source code. Developcoins is one such MLM script development company which helps to build your MLM website with smart contract solutions

Despite the fact that the MLM business is still a green business, it will continue to blossom because more and more users will embrace the use of MLM in the nearest future. So, if you have an entrepreneurial mentality and you wish to join a massive technological revolution, you can build use MLM script from Developcoins to start your own MLM business with advanced smart contract functionality!

The best way to start an MLM business is to make use of an MLM script software from Developcoins which will save you a lot of time and money.

Initially, the MLM business supports more crypto projects. More and more business people are seeing MLM development as an opportunity for business.

The reason behind the hype of the MLM platform is the Smart contract. The smart contract has been securing all transactions worldwide. This hype has inspired many entrepreneurs and crypto enthusiasts to build an MLM and what another easy way could be there for MLM website development with a smart contract than MLM script.

TRON is a blockchain-based decentralized platform that was founded in September 2017, by a Singapore-based non-profit organization known as “Tron Foundation.” The TRON platform strives to offer highly scalability, high productivity, and high availability for all DAPPS( Decentralized Applications) in the TRON atmosphere. The TRON network uses its own native token Tronix (TRX) to function. TRON DApps are really useful for individuals, startups, and large enterprises to enable smooth, seamless, and streamlined functionality for their businesses.

The primary reasons why TRON Smart Contract Development is an ideal choice for your business include,

TRON unlocks the true potential of decentralization

TRON runs based on a computerized automated system and eliminates the need for a third-party. Therefore, it ensures more security and risk-free operations.

TRON guarantees high ROI on minimum investment.

TRON enables you to gain strong trust from the investors towards your business

Transactions are more speedy with TRON and the platform also guarantees huge returns on referrals.

Key Benefits of Smart Contract-Based MLM Development on TRON

Launching a smart contract based MLM software is as reliable as the one that is built on Ethereum.

TRON Network for smart contracts MLM development assures high-end security.

It is easy to expand your user base as a TRON based smart contract MLM development ensures users’ trust towards your MLM platform.

There is no Gas price or Gas limit in a MLM platform on TRON Blockchain. Therefore, owners can enjoy higher returns over each transaction on the platform.

Owners have the flexibility to customize the TRON smart contract MLM software according to their individual needs.

The initial entry fees will be low in a TRON based smart contract MLM platform

Users will be rewarded with a certain number of TRX whenever they join the TRON smart contract MLM platform

The enhanced security in a TRON smart contract MLM software makes it the safest investment choice for users.

Active participation and referrals in the platform will guarantee high-profit revenues for users

Not just rewards, there are also several other gifting schemes involved for users with smart contracts MLM development on TRON.

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With a broad team of blockchain experts, developers, programmers, market analysts, strategists and more, and with an experience that is second to none, Smart-contract.us ensures the most promising and profitable solutions for your business. Our solid expertise assures the most stable, and reliable smart contract-based MLM development on TRON/ETH solutions, that will capture potential investors’ eyes towards your business and make you a key player in the competitive market. Our deep knowledge of the solidity language will make sure your TRON smart contract MLM software runs smooth and error-free.

Smart-contract.us strive to work closely with you and understand your individual preferences and make sure we adhere to them. Our TRON / ETH based smart contract MLM development solutions are highly scalable and customizable, allowing you to achieve a launch in your own desired brand.

Smart-contract.us prioritize quality and the security of the platform and the users. Our solutions are also quick and cost-effective. Leverage our TRON/ETH network for smart contract MLM development solutions, and we’ll make your business thrive in the marketplace.

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Sannion has suggested that many people are in need of some direction as to starting or maintaining a devotional practice. I am perhaps not the best guide in that my own practice is rather personalized and idiosyncratic. However, I thought I would give some examples of what I do nonetheless, in case it helps anyone. (Though please, please don’t just copy my examples unless they are truly directly relevant to your own practice and spiritual relationships – rather, use this as a way to spark ideas for the types of things you might do yourself. Devotional practice should be personal, and arise from your own understanding of and history with your deities.) Some folks recently have described a single day in their practice, but each day is too different for me to do it that way. I don’t have many daily practices other than following certain taboos, a few simple things I always wear or do as I go about my day, that sort of thing. More and more, I have been led to a free-flowing sort of approach that tunes in and responds to the forces around me, rather than executing a pre-planned set of actions. This is actually trickier to do well, a balancing act. Ideally, it should lead to more devotional practice and magic, not less. I think I am only ready for this now because I spent so many years building a foundation. One thing that helps me keep the balance is my schedule of holy days. Each month, certain days (calculated by the lunar calendar) are set aside to focus on certain gods or spirits. Right now, I have eight of these, but I’m always in the process of refining it. This ensures that I never go too long without giving Someone their due. It also keeps a sort of rhythm to my spiritual life, going through the cycle over and over. Added to this are festival days (which involve more elaborate and specific rituals and activities), which are more unevenly scattered across the year. Of course, even on a day with no special focus, I might end up doing major ritual or trancework. But here are some of the smaller things I do more often to maintain and deepen my devotional relationships. Prayer Beads – I have a set of prayer beads I made about 5-6 years ago, where each god or spirit or group of spirits in my “personal pantheon” is represented by a different, symbolic bead (amber for Apollon, lava rock for chthonic Trophonios, etc.). I usually take these out on my walk to work in the mornings. I do not have set prayers. Often I simply pause at each bead and hail the entity, and perhaps talk to Them extemporaneously for a bit. Sometimes I ask for help with something, give thanks, etc. Sometimes I go through and with each one mention a certain type of thing sacred to Them, or recall the last devotional act I did for Them, or the next I plan to do, or something of that sort – almost a game, meant to keep my mind on these things. I find this practice nicely centers me in my web of divine relationships. Clothing, Jewelry & Hair – On holy days, I always pay attention to what I wear, choosing the colors associated with that deity, and anything else that seems appropriate. No matter what day, there are certain colors and fabrics that are off-limits to me, and everything I wear must align with the aesthetics of my spirits (which have slowly become my own for the most part, but definitely didn’t start out that way). Every day, I braid my hair in some way – this began several years ago as a temporary devotional practice for one of my spirits, just something to be noticeable and remind me of him each day, but then I felt strongly that I should keep doing it, and I think of the braids as intertwining myself with my gods and spirits. It is also significant to choose to make that more important than any personal preferences as to how I wear my hair. I also choose my jewelry carefully – every single piece I own has meaning, usually directly connected to a specific entity, and which pieces I wear each day are my statement of intent. No matter what else, if I go outside the house I am wearing a ring for my Husband and one for Dionysos, and when I am in my home “alone” I wear a second ring for my Husband. I wear a small piece of jewelry when I go to bed each night to connect with my dream-spirit. I also have stretched ears, which I did on request from my spirits to symbolically open my hearing to Their voices, and only wear a few simple sets of plugs, having given up pretty earrings as a sacrifice. (I also have nearly 30 devotional tattoos which state my allegiances in a permanent manner on my skin, but while I have them every day, obtaining one is obviously a more special occasion.) Images and Playlists – I keep a large folder of images that I find beautiful or powerful on my computer. I have them sorted into various folders, including ones for most of my gods and spirits. My usual screensaver is a random slideshow of all these images (since my computer is on for hours each day usually, it’s a nice way to be reminded of Them, and also useful occasionally for divination), but on holy days I set it to just the folder of that specific entity. Likewise, I keep playlists of music for each of Them and play them on Their holy days or when doing any sort of ritual for Them. I revise both of these periodically, as my relationships and understandings of Them change over time. Shrines – I have shrines for all of my gods and spirits in my house, but some get a lot more use than others. Most are just placeholders of sorts, making a space in my home for Them and an appropriate place to leave offerings if necessary, but not a focus of worship, as a lot of my worship is done outdoors. The shrines for my Husband and Dionysos however have cushions in front of them and I often sit in front of the “activated” shrine (when the candles and incense are lit) and pray and commune with Them. All my shrines developed organically over many years – the items on them tend to have deep significance and I periodically review them to make sure they still represent my current view of Them. I try to personalize anything mass manufactured (for example, by painting common statuary), and mostly focus on unique items that have a history with us, even though those are usually much less spectacular (for instance, the small lump of white marble I found on the shores of Naxos on Dionysos’ shrine, or the bowl of unusual coins I have slowly accumulated for Hermes, or the special ritual pipe for my Husband made from a bone of His sacred animal). On holy days, I light up the appropriate shrine while I am home. But I also often do this whenever I’m feeling Their presence, or want to invite Their presence. Especially at night in a darkened house, the glow of the shrine draws all focus there. Physical Offerings – I make both traditional and personal offerings to the gods regularly. At the very least, I do this on Their holy days, but with my core group I do it more often. These might include things like: alcohol (paying attention to both the type and even the picture on the label), flowers, incense, coins, stones, food, drink, etc. Each one has a wide variety of sacred symbolism to draw on. So I might pour out Stone IPA beer for Hermes, or leave figs on Dionysos’ shrine, or lay out a piece of honeycomb for the nymphs in some numinous spot outdoors. Aside from the shrines, repositories for my offerings might include bits of wild nature throughout the city, special trees or stones, the creek, or I might leave something on the street or at a crossroads, especially if it is for Hermes or might double as a glamourbomb for someone. Activities – On holy days, and sometimes on other days that feel imbued with the presence of a certain god or spirit, I try to tailor every activity to Them – what book I read, what movie I watch, even what errands I do. I might save a shopping trip for Hermes’ day, or go out dancing on Dionysos’ day. I’ll start reading a book about sleep on the day for my dream-spirit, or start an art project on the day for my collective spirits who are closely tied to my artwork. I clean the house on the last couple days of the lunar month, in accordance with the practice of taking out the sweepings on Hekate’s deipnon. Miscellaneous – I say a special prayer to Dionysos each time I consume any kind of intoxicant. On the full moon, I smudge all the animal spirits who live in my house in the form of pelts, taxidermy and bones. I only smoke cigarettes for ritualistic purposes in very precise circumstances, as per the taboo laid down by my spirits (or else I get rather ill). On certain holy days, I do not eat meat, due to Their wishes. On Apollon’s day, I have a special set of taboos and actions due to the oracular work. Almost all of my non-fiction reading is religious in nature, either overtly or somehow related to one of Their interests.  I am constantly open to receiving any omens or communications They might send me as I go about my day; I pay attention to things I see when I’m thinking of Them especially. I do divination when I need to know what They want or am not sure I’m receiving a message properly (and I find choosing the method of divination to be important in itself – runes for Odin of course, a fairytale Tarot deck for my spirits, a Greek mythology deck for my primary deities, etc.). Hopefully that’s enough to paint a general picture of my approach to devotional practice. I would very much like to see more people writing about what they do.

Dver, author of https://forestdoor.wordpress.com/