#cycling wear mens for sale | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mikkomacko · 5 months ago

Note

all the blurbs for him and i you’re doing are so so cute and i love them so much!!

may i suggest a piece about their first date 👹

all my love always ♥️

Omg thank you so much for the kind words and for the request. I absolutely love you with all my heart.

Anyway, let’s get into it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Picking you up at 6 wear something prettier than usual

Nico's text came through at 4, only a couple hours before whatever plans he was dragging you into. You're a little surprised, thrown off by his timing. Hanging out with Nico is typically an after 9 o'clock thing when he sends a car to take you to The Rock or he skips the bar in general and invites you to his place. Not that you're complaining, in either situation you get to see him and you love looking at him.

The switch-up is nice though.

Luckily, you're good under pressure and a time crunch, so by the time 6 rolls around you're ready to go. A flowy red dress, the fabric expensive looking and classy even though it was from a sale rack at Windsor. Simple white shoes and your hair pulled up and away from your face. As for makeup, all you had to do was touch-up the makeup you'd done this morning.

Your phone buzzed but you ignored it, already knowing it was Nico outside. He's never late.

He was waiting outside the car by the time you got out front, leaning against the back door with his hands in his pockets. You almost trip on the sidewalk after getting a good look at him.

He’s dressed….nice. Nicer than you ever seen him before. He’s ditched the too-tight jeans and hoodie for a white linen button up and matching black linen shorts. Of the dozens of hats he’s cycles through, he’s wearing none, instead holding his hair back with a pair of sunglasses.

Brown Nikes and white socks.

Some things don’t change.

“Hey,” he greets, all white teeth as he smiles.

“Hey,” you repeat biting at your lip when he pushes off the car, right hand finding your hip as he leans down to press a kiss to your cheek.

Before he can pull back completely you place your hands on his shoulders, rising to your toes to give him a real kiss. The softer scratch of his beard catches you off guard and when you two separate you realize he’s even trimmed it.

He’s so sexy. Like crawling on your hands and knees in this pretty dress just for him sexy. And you want to tell him that.

“You look really good,” you say instead and he laughs.

“Who’d have thought, huh?” He jokes, pulling open the passenger door for you. You look at him in annoyance and he laughs again.

Nico quickly continues. “Gotta look like I deserve to be out with you tonight.”

You roll your eyes, trying and failing to suppress your flattered grin. He must notice because he laughs, making sure your dress is all the way in the car before closing the door.

The two of don’t talk much as he drives, just catching up on important things since you last saw him over the weekend. His hand sneaks over the console and finds yours, a good song gets turned up on the radio, and you stay like that until he’s pulling into a marina.

“Did you really tell me to put on a nice dress for a fucking boat Hischier?”

Chuckling, he leads you down the docks, passed sailboats and speedboats, until you enter the private and reserved area.

“Relax, we’re not getting in the water.” He swears, as you approach a large yacht. There’s a man waiting by the ramp onto the boat, a crisp white shirt and captains hat on.

“Mr. Hischier,” the man greets, shaking Nico’s hand and smiling at you. You give him a small wave, looking back at the boat as Nico talks with him. You can’t see much of the deck at the moment, but there’s a couple of men aboard, all of them wearing a similar button up to the captain.

They’re carrying trays of drinks platters across the deck, and you realize they’re servers, setting up a dinner. Nico has brought you on a sunset boat dinner.

The captain leads you two onboard, Nico holding your hand tightly as you step from the dock onto the landing.

“Right up this way miss.” The captain tells you, motioning along the side of the boat. You follow the thin path, Nico close behind you until you’ve climbed the four steps onto the deck.

The sight nearly takes your breath away. Flowers and candles on the elegantly set table, a bottle of wine in ice and two sparkly glasses, red and pink petals tossed around the deck. It’s all so beautiful.

“Nico,” you breathe out, and he slinks up behind you, his hand big and warm on your lower back.

“Figured it was time I stopped just taking you to the Rock,” he explained, and you turn to face him, cheeks warming when his other hand finds your hip like it belongs there.

“I like the Rock,” you laugh, biting at your bottom lip. “But I also like not having to share you.”

Nico leans in, presses his nose to the side of yours and you let your eyes fall shut, breath in the smell of his cologne and the mint gum he’s chewing. He kisses you, so light you think maybe you imagined it.

“You never have to share me,” he murmurs, “I’d give you anything you want.”

“What if it’s just you I want?”

He grins, not that you can see it. But you can hear it in his words, in his bated breath as he waits to fully kiss you.

“Then it’s me you get.”

Then he’s closing the small gap that existed between you two, lips fitting perfectly with yours and you hold on to his biceps, try to find a way to not float up into the pink and orange sky.

From that night on Nico no longer calls you his friend. Now you’re just his.

#nico hischier #mob boss nico hischier #mob wife reader #new jersey devils #New Jersey Devils mafia #him and i #him and I blurb #fluff #him and i chats

109 notes · View notes

tiredwitchplant · 1 year ago

Text

Everything You Need to Know About Crystals: Moonstone (White)

Moonstone (The Sacred Stone of the Moon)

Color: White, cream, yellow, blue, green

Rarity: Easy to obtain

Hardiness: 6.5

Type: Oligoclase/ Feldspar

Chakra Association: Brow, Heart, Root, Third Eye, Sacral, Solar Plexus

Deities: All Lunar Deities, Diana, Selene, Artemis, Isis, Chandra

Birthstone: June

Astrological Signs: Cancer

Element: Water

Planet: Moon

Origin: Australia, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, USA

Powers: Femininity, Calmness, Balance, Luck, Intuition, Healing, Sensual, Patience, Reproductive Health

Crystals It Works Well With: Aquamarine, garnet, pearl

How It is Created: Moonstone is a type of feldspar composed of potassium aluminum silicate. It can be found in a number of colors, but all examples demonstrate a particular sheen known as labradorescence; an effect also found in labradorite and blue moonstone. Labradorescence is a light effect caused by parallel hairlike structures laid down within the crystal matrix, which reflect light back and forth, creating different-colored effects, including blue, yellow, silvery gray, and white.

History: Moonstone is the sacred stone of India. During the earliest traditions, the gem was said to have been embedded in the forehead of Ganesh, the four-handed god of the moon, since the beginning of time. It was written in Hindu mythology that moonstone is made from moonbeams, thus its luster.

The magnificent gem is never displayed outside for sale unless placed on a yellow cloth, as yellow is a sacred color. According to other legends, Moonstone can give gifts of prophecy and clairvoyance to the wearer. It could also clear the mind for the wearer to welcome wisdom. But to unlock this ability, Moonstone must be placed in their mouths during the full moon. Since ancient Egypt it is considered as a spiritual stone as it is seen as the gem of protection for night travelers.

Since Moonstone looks a lot like the moonshine, ancient Romans believed that it was formed from moonlight. If you look at the gem closely, you’ll see a dance of light that lurks on the insides of the gem. Ancient Greeks merged the names of the goddess of love (Aphrodite) and the goddess of the moon (Selene) and christened Moonstone as “Aphroselene”. While the Romans believed that the gem exhibits the image of their moon goddess, Diana.

It is also known as an aphrodisiac and when worn by two people, they will fall passionately in love when the moon is high. Moonstone was once called the “Travelers Stone” as it is said to protect those who travel at night, especially at sea.

What It Can Do:

When worn, can attract true love and arouse passion

If you give your lover a moonstone during the full moon, there will be passion between you always

Can settle disagreements and return things to peaceful status

Sewn into garments can enhance fertility

Wearing moonstone protects sensitive emotions

Enhances divination, prophetic dreams and prevents nightmares

Great for meditation and scrying

Represents yin and attracts peaceful energy

Protects travelers at night and by sea

Considered good luck

Balances male-female energies and aids men who want to get in touch with their feminine side

Affects the female reproductive cycle and alleviates menstrual-related diseases and tensions

Helps with digestive and reproductive systems, assimilates nutrients, eliminates toxins and fluid retention, and alleviates degenerative conditions of the skin, hair, eyes and fleshy organs such as the liver and pancreas.

How to Get the Best Out Of: Wear as a ring or place on the appropriate body part, would recommend the forehead, for spiritual experiences, and solar plexus or heart for emotions. Women may need to remove Moonstone at full moon.

How to Cleanse and Charge: Moonstone is relatively soft stone, 6 on the Mohs scale, so it should be handled with care as it can be easily scratched or crushed. Moonstone should be stored separate from other jewelry in its own soft bag or lined box and should not be worn while performing strenuous tasks that could result in it getting bumped or scratched. It can be cleaned with plain water and a soft cloth. If it gets scratched, take it to a jeweler to have it polished out.

Charge your moonstone in the light of the waxing moon and keep it out of direct sunlight.

Crystal Grid: N/A Couldn't find one that wasn't too complex @_@

Sources

#moonstone #witchblr #witch community #witchcraft #occulltism #paganblr #gemstone #crystal witch #crystals #witchcraft 101 #witchcraft resources #geology #lunar #lunar witch #nature #geology rocks #rocks #samhain

334 notes · View notes

oidheadh-con-culainn · 5 months ago

Text

i treated myself to ordering a pretty pricey pair of trousers from an environmentally-friendly outdoor wear company, bc i've been looking for a pair of trousers with like, big side pockets like cargo trousers (for wheelchair purposes -- i want pockets i can access without getting up) but slimline enough that i can cycle in them on non-chair days, and with a comfy waistband situation, in a length and size that works for me as someone who is five foot four with short legs. this is not easy: i can only find those kinds of pockets in men's trousers mostly but only in brands that don't go small enough for me and often with horrible stiff fabric and chunky waistbands that don't suit a wheelchair very well

but these look like the holy grail. they have elasticated cuffs so the legs wouldn't get caught in my bike chain. they've got an elasticated waist too. big side pockets like cargo trousers. organic cotton but like, designed for doing outdoor activities so hopefully soft enough to be comfy but tough enough to last? from a company that my (better informed) sister tells me has good environmental credentials and which puts a big emphasis on sustainability

we will see. they were like. seventy quid. which is roughly twice what i've ever spent on trousers before but i'm trying to buy fewer cheap shitty clothes that need replacing five minutes later and were never really what i wanted in the first place, and instead invest in things that are actually what i want and are decent quality so they'll last. that's not easy but i'm hoping these are that, and i was ordering a fleece from their sale at the same time so i figured maybe i should treat myself. i have so many bad trousers in my life i need some good ones

and now i am very much in "pakige???" mode even though i only ordered them today. where are my trousers. i need to know if they fit. i need to put things in the big pockets

#if they don't fit i'm gonna be SO sad they would be SO perfect for several tasks in the next few weeks #evri says they've got my package!!!#so either it'll come tomorrow or i won't see it for a month #yay evri :/#personal

13 notes · View notes

piratewithvigor · 1 year ago

Text

Regal The Professional: Chapter 2

It isn't professional to smoke indoors, lie or cut another man's dope. Leon The Professional AU but make it found family

AO3

Chapter 1

Outside of the horrifically cold winter months, everyone in Blackpool biked everywhere. Biked up the pier, down the pier, home, to town, just about anywhere someone could think of. Every summer, there’d always be a story of so-and-so decided to bike clear to the east coast for a week, camping along the way. The only reason someone may not bike was if they were getting groceries for the week, where they’d need two hands. So they’d walk instead. Biking was the one thing he’d been so certain would follow him across the ocean. How wrong he’d been.

Cars were the big thing here. No matter how near somewhere was, if a car was available, a car was taken. Tony explained as best he could that a bike would simply get stolen, no matter how heavy-duty a lock was put on. Regal shrugged off the fretting as typical Tony anxiety and swore to never shrug off a warning after his fourth-hand shit-cycle was stolen less than seven hours after it was purchased. Regal hadn’t wanted to relent, but his finances simply couldn’t handle buying a new bike every seven hours. It could, however, handle a $10/month subway pass, so subways became his preferred method of transportation.

Frequent, convenient, somewhere that being recognized was and forever would be a rarity. No one questioned a man in a suit with a briefcase on the subway. At the right time of day, there would be another dozen men wearing the same ensemble, just in the same car. It didn’t clear his mind as well as pedaling up a hill might, but it only took a few weeks for the rhythmic clunking and frequent squealing of brakes to be as soothing. If he really needed to think of something besides an upcoming or recently completed job, Regal challenged himself to the ever-popular game of “What’s That Smell?”. On the day he’s sitting in the pretty-much-empty car, wiping Double J’s strangely sticky fake tan off the blade of his knife, he decides the smell is ‘human existence’ and resolves to play a new game.

Between the station he gets off at and the bodega underneath his apartment, he plays another game called “How Many Steps Is It To The Milk Section?”, in which he makes a guess of how many steps it might be to the milk section (285) and then counts, starting from the station exit and finishing right in front of the fridge doors. On the one hand, Regal resents himself a little for playing games like these. He’s a grown man and should just be going about his day as a grown man does; going to work, getting groceries, making himself dinner and then going home. These are the games he could play if he were still a child trying to skip every second plank on the boardwalk or only walking on un-cracked squares in the sidewalk, but not now. On the other hand, games like these are the only kind that keep him from thinking too much about his work when it does him no good to do so, the games hurt no one, and he’s only got 16 steps left to cross a distance probably closer to taking 40, so maybe a longer step here or there won’t make too much of a difference.

The milk section at the bodega (297 steps from the subway station) is right beside the bottled beer section on one side and the canned beer section on the other. Hanging over top of the door that he opens close to every day is a sign that suggests out of the three beverages, pregnant women may only want the one and should refrain from the other two. Pregnant women, children and him. Likely the only three groups of people living in the building who preferred milk to beer. Not that there were an awful lot of pregnant women or children. Regal would be the first to admit he probably counted for most of the milk sales at the bodega. He picks up two quarts and almost labels them 298 and 299 mentally before slipping them into his briefcase. He used to bring them up to the counter, but once the owner figured out exactly what he bought, when and how much it cost, a wordless transaction could be carried out; a five-dollar bill placed in the middle of the counter, two shared nods and the little ringing of the bell above the door.

The door to the actual apartment complex sits right beside the window of the bodega. It doesn’t lock anymore, if it ever did. Regal has a key on the chain he was given that supposedly opens and closes the lock, but it’s gone more unused than the rusted-through cast-iron railings that lead up to it. On the other side of the door is a lobby just big enough to host mailboxes for all 35 apartments in the building and a winding staircase that goes to every floor. 70 years ago, when the building was built, it probably seemed majestic, even luxurious. Now, with it being the only method of getting to the top floor, the value of the building isn’t quite what it was. It used to be a great place to raise a family, as a number of the older ladies will recount if Regal stands in the lobby for too long. Now, there’s really only one left, up on the fifth floor.

There’s about three places that Wheeler Yuta can go that are considered a reasonable place to spend his time when at home: the tiny bedroom that used to be fine before it got a second twin bed added to it, the kitchen which doubles as a living room now that they’ve got a portable tv to sit squarely in the middle of the table, and the hallway of the fifth floor, right outside the apartment. The third is the place Wheeler’s found is the least frequented by the rest of his family. If he’s quiet, no one will notice he’s out there for hours, feet through the old railings and dangling over the five-story drop to the lobby. The smell out there is also bad enough that no one notices if he’s stolen one of his dad’s cigarettes from the pack that leans up against the toaster most mornings (god forbid his old man go the full three-minute toasting time without lighting up).

It’s also the place where he can see the most people. It’s solitary, but also busy. A nice little paradox that keeps Wheeler’s mind occupied outside of school. Most people who come up the stairs live on the first four floors, so he never gets to actually meet them. The only real option is to come up with stories about them and imagine what their lives are like. Every so often, someone passes the landing for the fourth floor and Wheeler’s heart flutters a little. Like this guy in a suit and coat that looks almost too nice for a building like this.

He sets down the cigarette beside his leg and leans back on his palms, hoping that the man will just look past it. Never can be too careful about who might secretly be friends with his dad. The man walks past Wheeler, almost like he’d just keep going without even acknowledging him.

“Hi.”

Only when Wheeler pipes up does the man look down. He looks stern, like the guys who come to give presentations about drugs at school. Wheeler can’t tell if he’d be the police officer telling about how he busted someone for dealing drugs or if he’d be the addict who got clean and now makes a living talking about his darkest days. He doesn’t exactly seem like an openly kind man, one way or another.

“Why did you hide that cigarette?” The man asks. Not scolding like Wheeler was bracing himself for, but more like he’s curious. Like he’s never caught a nine year old smoking before. Like he’s never been the nine year old getting caught smoking before.

“The building’s got two kinds of rats; couldn’t tell if you were the kind who’d tell my old man,” Wheeler shrugs, quietly wondering if the polite thing to do would be to put it out. There’s a protocol for smoking around people, but his dad hasn’t exactly been the one to demonstrate it. “Got enough problems.”

The man takes a step closer, definitely curious now. For a moment, Wheeler wonders if he really has never seen a kid smoking before. That’s before he remembers what made him come out to the hallway in the first place. The bruise on his forehead he’d been keeping covered with his hair thus far that had become uncovered when he shifted positions.

“What happened?”

How far back did he want the story? Chuck and Orange met on the other side of the 78, crossed it for some damned reason, had a happy little honeymoon while they followed their dreams, started taking pain pills, started making worse decisions. Then Trent came into the picture and the decisions got worse. Somewhere along the line, Wheeler had gotten roped into their little fairytale against his will. Five years later, Kris was suddenly around and even though she was the best person in the world, she kept getting pushed back to the shadows while their parents tried to work their way backwards through all the bad decisions and made worse ones in the process. Now they live here, maxing out the last credit card on rent, boarding school and the bills for doctors who only advertise in magazines that get stashed under beds.

Or was that too far and he only means what caused the bruise? Simple, Trent’s back was hurting from being hunched over the table last night working, so he took some of the powder medicine and when he did, every missing item was instantly Wheeler’s fault. Ergo, the TV remote biffed at his face from across the table.

“I fell off my bike.”

His answer satisfies the man, who turns and continues down the hall to where Wheeler is pretty sure he’s seen him open a door before.

“Hey?”

The man stops and looks at Wheeler, a little less curious than he had been.

“Please don’t tell my dad about the cigarette?”

He won’t. He doesn’t say so, but Wheeler can tell he won’t.

Apartment 5D’s heavy wooden door opens a few feet down the hallway. The door is only heavy because Wheeler’s pretty sure it’s just metal with a wood paneling over it. And not a good metal either; just a heavy one so the overworked hinges creak every time it opens or shuts. It’s the door that indicates that Wheeler should probably toss the cigarette away. A quick crush against the metal edging of the floor and then into the abyss it goes.

There’s three men arguing inside the apartment and another one who slowly strides out in leather shoes probably worth as much as the building itself. They shine brighter than any lightbulb that’s been installed and the cows who made them probably ate better than anyone who lives there could ever afford.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this to us.”

“I don’t–”

“Funny how many people get memory problems these days, Ang. Must be the sun. They say that hole in the ozone, y’know? Can’t be out in the sun as long anymore. Man’s gotta know when to get out of the sun.”

As if Trent actually went out into the sun. The only time he was ever even awake during the day were the days that these men came by. Not often enough for Wheeler to remember their names or for them to actually acknowledge that Wheeler lived there too, but often enough that Wheeler could probably pick them out of a lineup by judging their shoes and pants.

“I don’t know how it happened, I mean, what’s my job? I’m just a holder, you give me the stuff and I hold it.”

The hide and seek game that Trent insisted they play sometimes. He’d give Wheeler and Kris 20 seconds to hide a brick and if Trent couldn’t find where they put it after ten minutes of looking, they got to share a popsicle. If he did find it, they played again. And again. Sometimes for hours until a new spot could be found. Then Trent put his work supplies wherever they had hidden the brick.

“You hold it.”

“I just hold it. I don’t look at it, don’t touch it, I stick it somewhere and forget about it. I don’t even know how to cut it.”

They’re all walking out of the apartment one by one, none of them looking all too happy to be there. Wheeler’s sure he should probably just sneak by and go back into the apartment if he can, but seeing them all argue together like this is so much more fun.

The man with the nice shoes isn’t watching at all. He’s got his back turned to them and something on his head that Wheeler can’t quite make out from this far away. What he can make out is Trent flanked by two other men in leather and purple and enough grease in their hair for a fish fry.

“Try ‘n follow me. At the start of June, we came here and we delivered you a shipment that tested 100% pure, right?” The shorter one starts.

“Now it’s July and we’re only seeing 90 here,” the taller one concludes. “Now Trent, buddy, we know accidents happen, a couple points down here or there, we know that, comes with the business. But somewhere in the last 30 days, we’ve got a whole 10% missing.”

“10% don’t just get up and walk away.”

“It does not, not unless it’s been turned to cut.”

The two of them seem like mean versions of Ernie and Bert, Wheeler decides. Trent’s obviously in trouble with them for doing something wrong with his work. Something missing. Great, something else he’ll blame Wheeler for.

“I mean it, I don’t know what happened. You gave me the stuff, I put the stuff away, it hasn’t been touched since I put it there. It’s not my business to touch it more than that. That’s all I know.”

Well, at least Wheeler’s not getting blamed to these guys.

“Trent… Trenty Trent, lemme tell you a story,” Ernie swings an arm over Trent’s shoulder. “You know why they call him-” he gestures with a pointed finger to Bert, “-Cool Hand?”

“No, no, not really. Circulation problem?”

Ernie and Bert both laugh, but it’s not the funny hissing kind like on Sesame Street. Just the kind where the joke isn’t actually funny and they’re not actually laughing.

“No, they call him Cool Hand cause he does this real cool thing where he gives folks a hand.”

“Oh. Well, that makes sense.”

“It’s what I’m tryin’ to do here for you, Trent, buddy. Tryin’ to give you the chance to be honest with us, cause us? We’re reasonable guys. We got into the force to help people, y’know. Can’t help people if they don’t help themselves, but if you’re not gonna help yourself, if you’re gonna be stubborn about this, then we’re gonna have to disturb him.”

Wheeler had almost forgotten that Nice Shoes was there. He’s still facing away from the others, mostly motionless, like he’s thinking of something else. When Wheeler squints a little, he can finally see it: headphones. He’s ignoring them and listening to music. It doesn’t seem very professional, but with shoes like that, he’s probably rich enough that it doesn’t matter.

“You’re not gonna want us to disturb him,” Ernie promises Trent, lowering his voice a little bit. “When he’s into his music, he hates being disturbed.”

“I’m telling you the truth,” Trent insists. It doesn’t seem to make either Ernie or Bert happy.

“I hope so. For your sake,” Bert sighs. “He’s got a talent for sniffing out lies. Like one of those carnies who guess your weight. It’s kinda scary. “You sure you don’t wanna change your tune, make it so I don’t have to interrupt his?”

“I swear it’s the truth.”

Ernie lowers his hand from Trent’s shoulder and shares a look with Bert. Neither of them are all too excited to disturb him for any reason. The only person who is is Wheeler. Nice Shoes has been standing there this whole time, ignoring everyone to listen to his music. It’s all Wheeler usually ever sees him do. Nice Shoes only comes on pickup days, so it’s only the third time he’s ever seen him, but the first where he’s been able to tell what he’s doing. And he’s certainly never seen him disturbed.

Ernie takes a step in his direction and pats Nice Shoes’ shoulder gently.

“Chris? Sorry for disturbin’, he says he didn’t do it. He wasn’t the one who cut the dope.”

“...oh.”

Wheeler can’t really place the tone. He doesn’t sound surprised. Just… disappointed? Like he expected better from Trent? Like he’d been counting on Trent to win the big game and Trent twisted his ankle on the way to the field?

Bert may have called him Chris, but Chris sounded like a person’s name. The look in his eyes and the way he slinks his way up to Trent makes him feel like anything else. So Wheeler decides he’ll stay Nice Shoes. Nice Shoes seems like the type of individual who would circle a man like a snake, going tighter in, sniffing as he goes like he’s a snake and is trying to figure out if Trent is worth eating or worth keeping alive. Even when he gently hugs Trent, Wheeler feels sick in the lowest pit of his stomach.

“No, of course he didn’t. Just… do me a favor,” Nice Shoes murmurs, leaning his forehead against Trent. “Find out who did by tomorrow, okay? Noon.”

He lets go of Trent and starts making his way to the stairs and, coincidentally, towards Wheeler. Calmly. His nice shoes clicking on the old linoleum. They almost make the linoleum sound nice too. Ernie and Bert follow after him, just a step or two behind. Trent’s frozen in place until they reach the old carpet that doesn’t serve much purpose besides keeping the stairs from getting slick in the winter. It’s as though the clicking held him in place and when it subsides, he’s able to rush to the staircase railing with the last of the confidence he ever had.

“Jericho, I didn’t cut your shit. I didn’t… so you can find out yourself!”

None of the men acknowledge him. They’ve dealt with enough tough guys that they can tell false bravado when they hear it. The desperation to still be seen as someone with any kind of power.

Unfortunately, as one of Wheeler’s legal parents, it means the last of his power is over him.

“What the hell are you doing out here anyway? Get inside and do your homework.”

Showed how much he’d been paying attention. Wheeler hadn’t brought home any homework in two weeks now.

“I finished it already.”

“Oh yeah?” Wheeler tries to move, but the slap still connects with his cheek hard enough to echo. “Well you can get inside and help your sister clean up! And quit smoking!”

From the peephole in his apartment at the end of the hall, Regal can see the boy scrambling from his sitting place to the apartment where the family lives. They’ve been neighbors ever since he moved in, but they haven’t seemed like the neighborly type thus far. Only the boy’s ever said a word to him. Regal doesn’t exactly mind it this way, it helps him keep a low profile if fewer people know him. But every so often, he does get the quiet urge to chastise this man for being stupid. Putting his family in danger for a measly 10%? He didn’t get a chance to actually see the shipment from the peephole, but it must be enough to be worth throwing a fuss.

There’s nothing else he can do for the boy once the apartment door is closed. Though he probably wouldn’t have done much when it was open either. Gun to his head, he can’t explain why he watched the whole scene unfold. He’s not in the business of calling cops (though from the looks of those men, he wouldn’t have done much good doing so anyway) and busting down his own door, guns blazing, wasn’t any more of an option. He’s certainly no caretaker. The only thing he’s ever watched over is the ficus on the windowsill.

Regal slides the peephole cover down and pulls off his coat. One of the few things he brought over from Blackpool and hasn’t thrown out yet. It holds up against New York winters without being too warm over the summer and gives him more than enough mobility to wear the grenade belt and two holsters undetected. Or perhaps detected and no one cares to ask why he’s wearing enough grenades to take down a building at the yank of a single pin. It is New York, after all; people mind their business likely more than they should.

The harness balances the weight across his back pretty well, but disrobing from everything is still a welcome relief. The same gentle relief of an addict giving into a vice. Where his body is no longer aching when he had never realized it had been in the first place. The shower (as lukewarm and low-pressured as it is) feels even nicer.

They’d promised noon, but Regal would have had to have been born yesterday to believe they’ll keep a strict schedule. The more than man shitily lied, the more Regal could count on him having been enough of an idiot to actually cut the dope. A full ten percent, what had he been thinking? How could he have believed it would go unnoticed? Just blindly written away as a testing error? He’s probably even stupid enough to keep his family in the same spot and not get them to a safehouse before noon and take his punishment like a man. Hopefully not enough of an idiot to not have some kind of gun in the house, but certainly enough to try and use it come noon.

Regal’s quietly grateful that the easy chair in the living room is cozy enough to sleep in as he settles down with his own 9mm on the side table. The nitwit next door may not be ready, but Regal will be damned if he makes the same mistake.

#broke my promise and posted even though Roman won #i don't care i need the serotonin #William Regal #Wheeler Yuta #Chris Jericho #Matt Menard #Angelo Parker #AEW #Regal The Professional #Writing

6 notes · View notes

dragonflight203 · 8 months ago

Text

Mass Effect 2 replay, part two of the Citadel:

-First time I’ve corrupted a save. I loaded falling through the Citadel background. I had to revert to a backup save and replay through the Council meeting yet again.

-I’m continuing my girl squad in ME2: I’m taking Miranda and Kasumi with me through this run. I’ve never taken either of them with me before, and they’ve both grown on me in past playthroughs.

I also just realized that I’m taking a human only squad with me in the human supremacy game. Uh. In my defense, past playthroughs have always had two aliens as squadmates.

-The running joke that the shopkeepers are only there to mind the shop and provide customer support is amusing. All sales are made through the terminal. Was this parodying something?

-The turian who loves his shotgun is also a winner. I always make sure sure to hear the full cycle of his dialogue.

-So post Battle of the Citadel, citizens are no longer permitted to carry weapons.

This can’t possibly be the first disaster the Citadel has been through. Does it go through cycles where weapons are banned, restrictions are loosened, then they’re banned again?

-Gotta love that the turian weapon shop keeper sells “experiences” (i.e, vacations) that involve people dying. Their deaths just heighten the intensity. No wonder the community is small.

-Paragon Shepard is such a sell out in ME2. But money is scarce. I wish this would come back to haunt Shepard somehow in ME3. I’ve seen some great suggestions.

-The writing for the most of of the Citadel is great. The salarian games salesman and the Tupari sales machine both have hilarious – and numerous! - lines. Someone was clearly having a good time. You won’t hear most of them in a normal playthrough unless you intentionally trigger them.

-ME1 played up the tensions between humans and turians, especially on the Citadel – you didn’t even see turians in the wards until you hit the marketplace.

Not so here. There are turian-human pairs all over the place.

Inadvertent change in tone, or intentionally reflecting the change in how humanity is viewed after the Battle of Citadel? You decide.

-Another contrast is with the Presidum bartender in ME1 and the Dark Star bartender in ME2.

Presidium bartender gave you an overview of the Citadel; Dark Star bartender tells you to check the news and wonders why humans keep asking what’s up.

-The bar does not have separate bathrooms for different genders.

Is that the norm in public areas? Given asari are mono-gender and the other species have who knows what going on (I’m assuming the Alliance defaults to he/she like they do asari, but the reality is more complex) it’s probably practical to have one bathroom and call it a day.

Humanity still differentiates, however – the Normandy has separate bathrooms for men and women.

-The Citadel and Omega bars indicate how different Shepard is from other humans now. Probably not unintentional that a player is likely to visit at least one early in the game.

On the Citadel, Shepard downs many drinks that the bartender repeatedly says they’ve never seen anyone handle.

On Omega, Shepard gets poisoned. The poison has killed every other human.

The game doesn’t linger on it, but these definitely show that Shepard is no longer “normal”.

-Why is the Presidium groundskeeper in armor when all the other turians in the bar are in casual clothes. What’s happening on the Presidium that requires him to wear armor?

-The Citadel requires permits for pets. I suspect that’s as successful as most cities that insist you need a license for your pet. There must be unregistered pets everywhere, especially in poorer areas.

-The volus used ship shopkeeper mentions Unification Day sales. Is that supposed to the day to celebrate the end of the Unification Wars? Well, the volus are a client race of the turians.

-All turians shuttles can fit a light mass accelerator canon. Of course they can. Why am I even surprised?

What I will ask is why those are permitted, but you can’t carry a pistol.

-The Level 26 ads are notably targeted for a poorer audience. Pawn shops, work arounds for shitty extranet connections, discount shops, etc.

-Ad by C-sec: If you see a synthetic unaccompanied by an organic owner...

Hoo boy, that’s some loaded language. I see Mass Effect is still leaning hard into the slavery parallels.

-In Saronis Applications, an elcor hacked their translator so they can control what emotions are attributed to their speech. Good for them. I wonder how common that is? It would be very useful.

-Gotta love Kion Louros thowing shade at the Sirta Foundation for always hiring asari shop keepers when they’re a human organization. I bet that’s a common tactic much derided by asari.

-For my sanity, I credit the Sirta Foundation for making some kind of improvement to medigel, not inventing it. Maybe they invented the means to easily store or apply it.

I struggle to believe there have been multiple space faring species for millennia and none of them developed medigel before. That just strains my credibility past believing.

-The incident with the volus accusing the quarian of stealing his credit chit and C-Sec then threatening the quarian with a vagrancy charge after she’s proven innocent is both very believable and incredibly sad.

And this, by the way Bailey, is why ignoring formalities is bad. It makes these kind of abuses of power too easy. I don’t doubt that prejudices are baked into the system, but normally some kind of protections are too.

After you’ve ignored the book to beat a confession out a prisoner, what’s an unwarranted vagrancy charge on top of that?

-Odd for the volus to call the quarian clanless. Quarians are close-knit; clanless isn’t what I’d call them.

-Yep, clanless is an insult. Probably one of the worst volus have. The volus used ship shopkeeper referred to her as migrant clan.

-Going renegade with the krogans so one pays you for the Presidium “fish” makes me feel so dirty. Going paragon might break his heart, but at least I’m not fleecing him for a false fish. :/

#mass effect #mass effect 2 #mass effect 2 replay

3 notes · View notes

nickgerlich · 1 year ago

Text

On Track For Sales

Once upon a time, when marketers had only mass communication advertising outlets, it meant that money was spent shotgun-style. Messages appeared in print or broadcast with little or no regard for whom might encounter them, if only because it just wasn’t possible to eliminate unlikely customers from those who were strong candidates. Thus, you wound up with men seeing ads for the latest women’s fashions, women having to endure beer ads clearly written with men in mind, and so forth.

There was a lot of wasted money back then.

But things are very different now, and thanks to digital marketing, it is possible to advertise with laser-like precision. While some people may view it as an invasion of privacy, others, notably Gen-Z, are in love with it. In fact, Gen-Zers are three times more likely than Baby Boomers to allow tracking in return for targeted advertising. They are also less likely to clear cookies or use ad blockers, and more likely to use a VPN.

I’m one of those Boomers in favor of it, too, because I see it for what it’s worth: Relevancy. I would much rather see ads that match my established interests. Yes, sometimes it can become a little too much, like earlier this week when I fell into a rabbit hole Facebook discussion on trail running shoes. Suddenly my feed was filled with ads for Hokas, Altras, Topos, and more. But that’s a lot better than seeing ads for things I will never buy.

I am increasingly convinced that we can also help curate the ads we see, if only by virtue of allowing tracking, actively engaging in conversation, and searching for products. It won’t take long to see the results, sometimes even the same day like with those shoes.

While some would prefer their online experience to be completely ad-free, that is a dream for another day. Advertising is what pays the bills and keeps our socials and search engines free. If the ads match our interests and proven buying habits, we are a lot more likely to engage with the ad, as well as make a purchase.

Compare that to the old way of advertising. If you still read a newspaper (I gave them up about eight years ago), you flip through the pages fairly quickly, scanning for news items of interest. And as far as radio and TV go, we change channels or hit mute on the things we couldn’t care less about. Once again, advertising dollars swirling down the drain.

Go ahead and track me, ye social media sites, search engines, and Amazon. It’s all good, man. Hit me with your best shot. I’ll wear out the current shoes soon enough, and I’ll be back for more, just like with my camera and cycling gear. Sure beats having to endure the alternative.

Dr “It All Ads Up” Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #tracking #online #advertising #GenZ

2 notes · View notes

atplblog · 2 hours ago

Text

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] Gudook 23 years Committed to advancing safety technology, has been a leader in home and outdoor sports safety and continues to develop the most innovative products in the industry.Gudook sports protective gear covers many outdoor sports such as skiing, skating, cycling, biking, skateboarding, roller skating, MTB BMX, etc. The main products include bicycle helmets for adults, skateboard helmets, children's helmets, electric vehicle helmets, goggles, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist, back, armor, etc., to provide consumers with a full range of sports protection from head to toe. To ensure the quality of products, so that the majority of sports enthusiasts can have safe and cost-effective protective gear.Gudook all products will be developed and designed concerning the United States, Europe, national and industry standards, and choose the stricter ones. Our Gudook adult one-piece bike helmet is fully integrated with the American people. Designed for exercise habits, especially for Americans. It wears more precisely, has a more complex design, and has the lowest fail-safe rate on the market. To provide safer and more reliable products, we continue to develop materials and safety technologies.We only want to provide our customers with the best products and protect your home. The excellent quality and the reputation of "safety" make the Gudook brand popular among sports enthusiasts, and it has also become a hot-selling sports protective gear brand on other major e-commerce platforms. Focus on the development, production, and sales of various fashion outdoor sports protective gear. With "safety, vitality, fashion" as the design guide, our goal is to provide quality products + excellent customer experience + excellent technical support.Gudook not only escorts you and your family but also helps support charities. Thank you for giving back to the community with us. 🚴【 Helmets for adults safe and sturdy】Gudook adult One-piece molding bicycle helmet, made of thickened High-density EPS buffer layer inner shell and PC outer shell, shock absorption, high impact resistance, provide higher safety performance and meet the US CPSC ASTM bicycle helmet safety standard. 🚴【Bike helmet for scientifically Designed 】 Lightweight and durable, with a 22-hole ventilation system to enhance the air circulation inside the helmet, distributed mesh thickened inner lining and head fully cushioned, more comfortable to wear, and can be easily disassembled for cleaning. 🚴【Bicycle helmet with Visors】Riding helmet visor can be detached or assembled to provide shade while riding, allowing you to reduce glare, improve visibility, and direct airflow. 🚴【Cycling Helmet adjustable】bike helmets for men/women is fully adjustable to fit the head circumference size (M) 21.2-22.6 inches, (L) 22.7-24.1 inches, provided by the adjustment dial, thickened chin pad, and adjustable length chin strap to make it Comfortable fit and comfortable to wear. 🚴【Bike helmets for】urban commuting city road mountain biking, enduro and off-road, skateboarding, roller skating, etc. This helmet is designed 14over age for European and American men and women's riders. [ad_2]

0 notes

tomorrowfashion · 3 days ago

Text

🚴‍♂️🌞 Stay Cool, Protected, and Stylish on Every Ride! 🌞🚴‍♂️Introducing our UV Protection Arm Sleeves for Men – designed for the modern adventurer who demands both comfort and performance. 🌿💪✅ SPF 50+ for maximum sun protection ✅ Anti-Microbial to keep you fresh, no matter how long your ride ✅ Breathable Cotton Bamboo Blend for all-day comfort ✅ Multipurpose Hand Gloves - perfect for cycling, outdoor sports, or just a day in the sun ✅ Easy-to-Wear design that’s as stylish as it is functionalRegular Price: Rs. 399 SALE Price: Rs. 238 – Don't miss out! 🏷️

Buy Now https://fup2.short.gy/xApmXD

Whether you're biking, hiking, or just out for a stroll, stay fresh, cool, and protected. Your skin will thank you! 🌿🌟#UVProtection #CyclingGear #OutdoorEssentials #SPF50 #StayFresh #ArmSleeves #ActiveLifestyle #MensFashion #Sale #BikeRide #SummerReady #SunProtection🌟🛒 Grab yours now at the best price!You said:

#CyclingGear #OutdoorEssentials #SPF50 #StayFresh #ArmSleeves #ActiveLifestyle #MensFashion #Sale #BikeRide #SummerReady #SunProtection

0 notes

the-blackorchid1 · 25 days ago

Link

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: ZC1.25 UNDER ARMOUR Mens XL NEW BLACK 1/4 ZIP ATHLETIC SHIRT COLD GEAR active.

0 notes

rockbrossports · 1 year ago

Text

Why Buy Cycling Apparel Near You at Rockbros?

Cycling is not just a sport; it's a lifestyle that combines fitness, adventure, and a sense of freedom. To fully enjoy your cycling experience, having the right gear is essential. If you're searching for high-quality cycling apparel for men, look no further than Rockbros. Buying cycling apparel near you and choosing Rockbros for men's cycling wear is a game-changer. Get ready to gear up in style, comfort, and performance, and take your cycling adventures to new heights.

When it comes to cycling, comfort, and performance go hand in hand. Rockbros understands the importance of both, which is why our men's cycling wear is designed with innovative features and high-quality materials. From moisture-wicking fabrics to ergonomic designs, Rockbros cycling apparel keeps you comfortable, cool, and dry, even during intense rides. The performance-focused construction ensures optimal freedom of movement, allowing you to push your limits and achieve your cycling goals with ease.

Cycling is as much about fashion as it is about function. Rockbros offers a wide range of men's cycling wear that combines style and design. From vibrant colors to sleek and minimalist aesthetics, our apparel allows you to express your style on the road. Whether you prefer a classic look or a bold statement, Rockbros has the perfect cycling apparel to suit your taste.

Ride in confidence and stand out from the crowd with their stylish and eye-catching designs. Investing in high-quality cycling apparel ensures long-lasting performance and durability. Rockbros takes pride in its commitment to quality, using premium materials and employing meticulous craftsmanship in the production of our men's cycling wear. Our apparel is designed to withstand the rigors of cycling, providing you with long-lasting comfort and style.

With Rockbros, you can trust that your cycling gear will stand the test of time, keeping you well-equipped and looking sharp for countless rides to come. Rockbros understands the needs of cyclists and incorporates functional features into their men's cycling wear. From reflective details for enhanced visibility to strategically placed pockets for storage, our apparel is designed with convenience and practicality in mind.

Make your cycling experience a comfortable one

Ride with peace of mind, knowing that your essentials are within reach and that you're visible to others on the road. Rockbros cycling apparel maximizes your cycling experience by offering innovative features that enhance safety, functionality, and overall enjoyment. Finding the right fit is crucial for optimal performance and comfort during your rides.

Buying cycling apparel near you allows you to try on different sizes and styles, ensuring that you find the perfect fit for your body type and preferences. Rockbros offers a variety of sizes and options, catering to different cycling disciplines and personal preferences. The knowledgeable staff at their store can assist you in finding the right fit and guide you in selecting the best apparel for your cycling adventures.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +61452597179

#cycling apparel near me #cycling wear men for sale

0 notes

crazyfashionsblog · 1 month ago

Text

Brand Wars: Which Indian Online Store Has the Best Clothing Selection?

With just a few clicks, you find yourself amidst several trend styles offered by top brands. Since millions of fashion lovers opt for online shopping in India, we're talking here about three popular brands such as H&M, Zara, and Beyoung. So, what's to be compared? Let's get into it and find out what shops for clothes online have to offer.

H&M

H&M is a fast fashion brand that designs an extensive range of clothing for men, women, and children. From basics like T-shirts and jeans to the sleeker variations that include dresses and jackets, H&M is one complete-stop shop. Its online shopping site is not complicated and is replete with endless options.

Affordability is the biggest plus of H&M; at affordable prices, you would find the latest in fashion. In addition, H&M from time to time goes on sale, so it is very appealing to budget-conscious buyers. H&M online shopping in India also offers its customers regular new arrivals ensuring the consumers never miss staying ahead of the latest fashion trends.

Zara

Another of the best online shopping sites for clothes in India is Zara. It is mostly known for its fancy and classy designs and provides high-quality clothing with a modern touch. Whether it is office wear, casual clothes, or even evening wear, the collection of Zara has a lot of varied options that are always in style.

The first attribute associated with Zara is the quality of materials and designs. This makes it cost more than H&M, but appropriate for long-lasting and luxury items. Its online store is very sleek and easy to use. The time cycle from browsing through purchasing to payment is not so time-consuming. If you are looking for eternal fashion with a tinge of elegance, then Zara is the right brand for you.

Beyoung

If you are looking for some young, fun, and trendy clothes, then the buzzword is Beyoung. It is an Indian brand that addresses the target group of younger generations with fresh quirks of design - from funky t-shirts to comfy joggers, all quickly having a place within their online fashion firmament.

The specialty of Beyoung is comfort and affordability. Here, their clothes would best suit those looking for styling without burning a hole in the pocket. The online shopping site is user-friendly, so shopping for clothes online is easy even when you are not an e-commerce person. The collection is curated with an eye on the basic Indian, keeping style and practicality in mind.

Comparing the Brands: What’s Best for You?

So, how do H&M, Zara, and Beyoung differ in terms of offering the best choice of clothing? Well, it all depends on what suits your personal style, budget, and fashion needs.

If you like affordable fashion combined with constant updates of new trends, then you're on the right track by shopping at H&M. You will find a lot of choices in their shop, so you should be able to find something that suits your taste. H&M also maintains an online shopping site that makes it easier for its users to make purchases, and you can enjoy shopping there even more through frequent sales.

On the other hand, Zara appeals to sophisticated consumers. It offers garments for the fashion-conscious who do not mind spending a little extra penny for good quality materials and very sophisticated designs. The clothing of Zara is ideal for anyone who will need premium fashion that lasts for years.

And so, young and trendy are the ones who prefer Beyoung. Young, comfort-oriented, and affordable, this clothing brand is liked by most Indian shoppers. Who is gradually growing as a brand in online shopping in India, its focus on catering to the needs of Indian youth has attracted this brand toward it. They throw fun styles not in a hole in their pockets.

Ease of Online Shopping Experience

All three brand’s online shopping sites are hassle-free to shop through: H&M, Zara, and Beyoung. The global recognition of the websites coupled with clear navigation and a rapid checkout process has been achieved in the case of H&M and Zara. The website of Beyoung, a local favorite, carries that personal touch to it which Indian shoppers love. Making online shopping in India across all sites hassle-free, all of them provide multiple payment options and easy returns.

Final Word

Ultimately, the best online shopping site for you will depend on your personal sense of fashion. In case you need cheap fast fashion, then H&M is the obvious choice. Since they hold frequent updates and sales, they are perfect for budget shoppers. In case high street fashionable clothes are what you want, classy, of good standing durable, then it's Zara for you. Beyoung is the ultimate way to get trendy, young fashion at pocket-friendly prices.

The next time you shop for clothes online, look out for these brands, and you will surely find something to suit your style. Try them out from the comfort of your very own house.

#Online Shopping India #Clothing Selection Comparison #Best Fashion E-commerce Sites #Indian Fashion Retailers #Brand Comparison India #Top Online Clothing Stores #Fashion Trends India #Affordable Fashion Online #Trendy Clothing Options #Clothing Quality Comparison

1 note · View note

arkholt · 3 months ago

Text

Comic Strip History: Mary Jane Shoes

Richard Felton Outcault is most notable for creating the first widely popular comic strip character, The Yellow Kid, for the New York World in 1895. Only slightly less notable is the fact that he also created the first widely licensed comic strip character, Buster Brown, for the New York Herald in 1902. Interestingly, the latter seems to have had a much larger effect on American culture than the former, due to the popularity of one particular license.

Buster Brown was a comic strip about a mischievous boy with relatively wealthy parents, who generally gets into some kind of trouble in every comic strip, gets spanked for it, and resolves to never do it again. As you can imagine, despite his resolutions he continues to do the same thing again, and the cycle repeats. He is assisted in his mischief by his dog Tige, who can "speak" but seemingly only in a language that Buster can understand. He is also often accompanied by a girl, Mary Jane, who is more well-behaved, though she does get involved in some of Buster's troublemaking from time to time. Mary Jane's relation to Buster is unclear. Some sources I found describe her as Buster's sister, some as his best friend, others as his girlfriend, and still others as his "sweetheart." The strip itself is also unhelpful. Their relationship isn't mentioned, at least in the strips I saw, though it's implied that they live in the same house. This could indicate that they're siblings, but she doesn't seem to appear in many earlier strips that take place at the Brown home. They do appear to be very good friends, though that wouldn't necessarily mean they aren't siblings. Outcault has stated that the character of Mary Jane is based on his own daughter, Mary Jane, though that is also the name of his wife. I'm not sure if this is the case, but given those facts it might be possible that the character is simultaneously Buster's sister and his "sweetheart," however odd that may seem.

Outcault was quite the entrepreneur when it came to licensing his characters, and offered to sell the Buster Brown license to just about anyone who wanted it. The story goes that in 1904, at the St. Louis World's Fair, he approached roughly 200 different companies and sold them one, though I have a feeling that number is a bit exaggerated. Still, it meant that almost any product you could imagine either had Buster's name on it or was being advertised using his likeness, or both. The license sales were done despite the fact that Outcault didn't own the copyright to Buster Brown, as that was firmly in the hand of the New York Herald newspaper. Of course, copyright of cartoon characters was a bit murkier in those days, and besides, as we've seen, a copyright or trademark owned by someone else has never stopped enterprising men from trying to make money off of it.

Either at the aforementioned 1904 World's Fair or earlier, Outcault also sold a license to the Brown Shoe Company. A representative of the company, John Bush, approached Outcault and made an offer, thinking the connection between the already established name of the company, Brown, and the name of the character, Buster Brown, would make Buster a good fit as an advertising mascot. While it's possible the license was obtained prior to the World's Fair itself, Buster was at the very least introduced as the mascot of Brown Shoe Company during the Fair. At the Fair, and at subsequent advertising events, the company would hire little people to dress up as Buster and hold signs advertising the shoes, next to dogs dressed as Tige.

It didn't stop at advertising, however. The company also introduced two new styles of children's shoes, the Buster Brown, a lace-up shoe for boys, and the Mary Jane, a single strap shoe for both boys and girls. Interestingly, Buster Brown himself can be seen in the comic strip and other appearances wearing both Mary Janes and Buster Browns. Both Buster Browns and Mary Janes proved to be very popular over the years, but the popular perception of Mary Janes changed. While originally meant as a unisex shoe, the overall shape and design of the Mary Jane became associated more with girls' and women's fashions as the years went on. Eventually, the company introduced adult Mary Jane styles, which became as popular with women as the children's shoes did, and remain so to this day. While it was previously a brand name, these days Mary Jane is used to refer to any shoe with that particular style.

The Brown Shoe Company still exists, though not under the same name. In 2015 they changed their name to "Caleres," and seemed to do everything they could to shed the baggage associated with their old name, including Buster Brown. The only mention of him on their website is on the "Our History" page. A previous version of the website had a page dedicated to Buster, and even a modernized Buster Brown logo, but neither can be found on the current website. The trademark for Buster Brown and Mary Jane also seems to have lapsed, though I'm not sure how much use anyone would get out of them anymore. Mary Jane has entered into common usage as the name for that particular type of shoe, so it would be impossible to trademark it anyway. While the characters are not well remembered anymore, their names have lived on.

For more information:

Outcault, Goddard, the Comics, and the Yellow Kid from The Comics Journal

Buster Brown Shoes and Mary Janes at America Comes Alive

Whatever Happened to Buster Brown Shoes? at The Straight Dope

Buster Brown at Encyclopedia Britannica

Buster Brown: The Iconic Comic-Strip Character and Shoe Mascot at Toonsmag

Buster Brown: Marketing A Name at Library of Congress

The Life and Times of Buster Brown, archived version of Brown Shoe Company history page

Why did Brown Shoe Company Change Its Name To 'Caleres'? at St. Louis Public Radio

Our History at Caleres

https://blog.arkholt.com/mary-jane-shoes

#comic strips #newspaper comics #comic history #comics #sequential art #buster brown #mary jane shoes

0 notes

barongtagalogs-blog · 3 months ago

Text

We are committed to offering a wide variety of fine Barong Tagalog for men and Filipiniana Dresses for women. Our mission has always been to offer a strong sense of style and comfort into our products, and while providing reasonable prices and the convenience of on-line shopping. We strive to design collections that are stylish yet classic; apparel that will continue to wear well through the changes of both season and fashion cycle.

Our products are hand made by skilled people with decades of experience using the finest materials available. Barongs R Us’ products are exclusively of the highest quality. They affirm a style based on elegance and refinement, crafted into every line and detail. Barongs R Us dresses the man or woman who is subtle yet demanding, classic but original, practical and always elegant. The person who is wearing our design cannot pass without being unnoticed.

#barongtagalog #philippines #barongs #philippine culture #custommadebarongtagalog #filipinopride #madeinthephilippines #filipinoculture #filipinowedding #pinoy

0 notes

bunniswritingdump · 5 months ago

Text

Raincoat Yandere game Concept work:

Initial concept-

Yandere dude with long black hair:

60s-70s time period.

He's obsessed with the girl who works at the local dinner in their city. He's an introverted person who takes a liking to her kind and sweet demeanor, and what a hard worker she is.

When he realizes that she's in a tough spot trying to get out of an abusive household, he vows to do whatever he can to save her.

Murder, stalking, and even turning himself into a frightening monster through unnatural means, anything to have and protect her.

Technical ℹ️:

For backgrounds; draw out the layout diagram, and use the angle stretch technique to create the backgrounds from scratch.

Find some gradient maps for day cycles to use over all backgrounds.

Create a testing game like EYHO2, testing the main menu, general menu, and diner server mini game.

Screen size for Backgrounds:

Screen size for text box:

Concept mental images-

A broken down car on a back road during a rainy night, Raincoat stops and sees it's someone he doesn't want near MC. While helping him change his tire, he takes the opportunity to swing a metal tool at the back of his head to kill him.

The Bright Yellow Raincoat he wears over his regular clothes, his long sleak brownish black hair and his big long lashed eyes that stare so intently.

Sitting at his usual booth in the Diner, soaked in his raincoat from the heavy storm outside. MC brings him Coffee and a sandwich.

April thinking that Henry sometimes sneaks into bed with her at night because she half asleep cuddles someone in her bed. It's not Henry, it's Chester, who crawls in through her open window to lay with her for a few hours.

^ Branching off this one,

After a particularly mean and rough night, April wakes up to being held from behind in her bed. Thinking it's Henry she notes it's the softest he's ever held her, maybe he's really sorry. She cries quietly in his arms until she falls back asleep. In reality it was Chester who wanted to bring her nameless comfort.

Characters-

MCs boyfriend (Henry), who's a douche handsome guy. The girls he often has hanging off of him or near him. The way he puts her down Infront of others all while wrapping an arm around her and telling her he loves her. The way he talks about making a family with her, demanding practically that she give him children.

The other woman(Gina), who's cocky about the fact she and MCs boyfriend are having an affair. Her blonde Farrah faucet hair and cocky face, her boobs which are much bigger than MCs and her. The way she rubs it into her face every day when MC gets home. Shameless. Also the fact that sh s told MC she wants mc to carry the baby for her to raise since she doesn't wanna ruin her own body doing it. Gina is trendy, up with the current looks and constantly acting like a spontaneous hit chick.

(Standby Name is April) The Mc who entered this relationship because her boyfriend was her brothers best friend. She loved her brother even though he was just as awful to her, and was living with him up until he shoved her off onto the boyfriend. Who's highest education is a highschool diploma, who's not taken seriously or treated very smart. The one who works hard and throws herself into her job making friends with regulars to forget her problems, who's so ashamed of herself for living this way and wanting to leave it all behind. April dresses like she wanted to as a child/teenager, which means her looks a little out dated and more styled like the 60s.

Raincoat (Chester), who lives a quiet life working as a Librarian. Who's smart but soft spoken and shy, who doesn't often get along with manly men because they think he's not as much of a man. He who finds comfort in MCs warm personality and thinks of her all the time. Who hated seeing bruises on her or witnessing the cruelty of others towards her. Raincoat, who finds a very mysterious book one day when going to help an elderly regular move stuff out of her attic to sell at a yard sale. A book that's been there for god knows how long. He's got a sweet tooth, doesn't do well getting up in the mornings, and often does of jobs for people he's friendly with done he's so knowledgeable.

Gloria is a new patron passing through town, she's been in a relationship with a very loving and well off man in radio business. When April chats with her she comes to understand just how terrible her relationship with Henry is, and this pushes her to leave him. Gloria should have an ending where she convinces April to leave with her when she leaves town to go live in California with her husband.

Doris is an elderly regular who's family has lived in the same home for generations. That is until her children decided they wanted to move state. She's key to the monster route, since getting close with her leads to April asking Chester to go help Doris clean out her attic for a yard sale. This leads to him finding a very old book that has him turn into a monster.Why does Doris have this? It was passed down in her family and she's never bothered reading it before, so she's all to happy to give it to the town librarian/bookworm.

Barb, April's coworker. She does both waitressing and cook work at the dinner. She has a husband and two kids she loves. When April comes in with bruises and the like she often ignores them because it's not her business to push. She does openly shit talk her own husband though in an attempt to get April to join her.

Jim, April's coworker and the regular cook at the dinner. He's a larger overweight man who's friendly enough, though he's very particular about when he gets his breaks. When April comes in with bruises and the like he ignores it because that's between her and her husband. He's not outwardly dismissive of Henry's treatment of April, but he does side with him sometimes saying things like ' well he's the man she should respect him more'. This often causes Barb to argue with him.

Game ideas narrative-

To start the game, the player wakes up dazed on the floor. They're trying to remember what they were doing, and what their name was as their head throbs. The boyfriend has just punched April, and they are struggling to pull themselves together.

Once the name has been input, they remember that they had tried to calm him down after he was mad about a burnt piece of food in his dinner, but it only made him more angry.

Ending Ideas-

Raincoat has become an inhuman monster, and April says she can't trust him not to do the same thing to her that everyone else has, especially since she'e never be able to get away. He is heartbroken, but offers the book and his life to her so that she can have the powers in his stead, and so nobody can ever hurt her again. He allows her to kill him, and she becomes inhuman in his stead. Nobody will ever harm her again. Strangely enough, this is the first time she's ever felt like a real person.

Branching similar to the one above, Raincoat is inhuman, but April trusts him to be loyal and kind to her since all he's done is protect her and help her. She decides to move far away with him, somewhere where nobody knows them and they can live in peace.

There should be a few bad ends where Henry or Gina kill April somehow. Needs more thought though.

There should be a path where Raincoat doesn't turn into a monster at all, stemming from a choice that disallows him from finding the mysterious book.

In endings for this path, Raincoat is more likely to lure Henry and Gina to secluded places and kill them there, or poison them. This path should be the default path unless special measures are taken to put him on the monster path.

An ending where April joins a new age 'religion' aka a cult, hoping to find happiness.

TECHNICAL INFO:

Sound effects needed-

Punching

Glass breaking

Raining

Door shutting

Door locking

Plates

Cooking sounds

Pouring drink

Talking ambiance

Backgrounds needed-

Diner outside

Diner seating

Diner kitchen

Diner back by dumpster

MC house

MC house kitchen

MC house living room

MC house bathroom

MC house bedroom

Street day

Street night

Street sunset

Variables-

Outline WIP 1:

*=This indicates Sound effects or music that should accompany the moment.

MC = The main character is speaking. April.

RC= Raincoat is speaking. Chester.

BF= Boyfriend is speaking. Henry.

GF= Girlfriend is speaking. Gina.

DO= Diner owner is speaking.

CW= Coworker is speaking. Barbara.

CH= Chef is speaking. Jim.

BR= Brother is speaking. Kenny.

DO= Elderly customer Doris is speaking.

GG= Glamourous Gloria.

………..

*=Ear ringing sound effect should play.

" My head is throbbing…"

- Show kitchen

" The floor feels nice and cool at least."

" Why am I on the floor though?"

" Why is he yelling so loud?"

" My eyes strain to look around, I'm in a kitchen, but who am I again?"

NAME PROMPT.

MC: " Oh… Why?"

" I whimper, slowly sitting up."

" My eyes land on the smashed plate of food on the floor beside me."

" Right, I remember now."

" Dinner got a little burnt, and he got angry."

" I tried to tell him he was stressing himself too much and to try and relax, but clearly that didn't work."

BF: " Clean up this god damned mess!"

" Henry stares down at me, seemingly disgusted just at the sight of my crumpled form."

MC: " Yes, of course."

" I watch him leave the kitchen, my body is still shaking all the while."

*= Cleaning up glass sounds.

" I'm careful as to not cut my hands when I clean up the broken plate."

" The food hadn't even really been that burnt, just the top part of it was a little charred."

" Though I suppose that's what I get for letting even that happen."

" After tossing the broken plate and ruined food, I make sure to clean the floor properly as well."

" I can hear him ranting in the living room still…"

" Worse yet, I can hear her too."

" Slowly I inch my way closer to the kitchen doorway to listen, even though I know it'll upset me further."

- CG of BF and GF standing together

BF: " How can she not know how to fucking cook? She's a woman isn't she?!"

GF: " I'm telling you, she's really not good for much baby."

- CG of GF wrapping her arms around BFs Neck

" Gina is stood with my husband, arms wrapping around his neck as she pulls him into a hug."

- CG with BF hugging back

" My heart hurts just watching the display off affection, especially when I see Henry wrap his arms around her waist."

" I can't remember when exactly Gina started popping up in our lives, Henry just sort of brought her by one day as a friend."

" Then he brought her again. It turned into a weekly thing until suddenly she just lived here with us."

BF: " I should've never married her, good for nothing."

- Hide CG

- Show living room

GF: " How's about this, you're still hungry right? There's a bar just down the road, the kitchens open there for a couple more hours."

GF: " Let get some drinks and food there, at least you know it'll be good then."

BF: " Let's do that, sounds swingin' "

" The two head to the door, put their coats on, and leave me here."

" As soon as I see the headlights of his car fade away, I crumple to the floor with tears."

MC: " How could I mess up this bad?"

" I stare down at the floor, feeling miserable."

MC: " I should've just done better, god damn it…!"

" My hands snake up to my scalp and tug at my hair in frustration."

" He loved me, just a year or two ago!"

" When did I start failing him like this? How did I lose his love like this?"

" Eventually, my tears dry and I sit in the dining room eating my now cold food."

-Black screen

-Diner inside

" The cheerful and lively sounds of work are more than enough to make me forget."

" After all, it's hard to think about anything else when I'm working."

CW: " April can you brew a fresh pot? We're down to the grounds on this one."

MC: " Yep, I'll get right on it!"

" After fiddling with the coffee maker, I get the fresh pot brewing."

" The smell alone is enough to really put me at ease, I don't think I could ever get sick of it."

( ATTEMPT TO FIGURE OUT PROGRAMMING SIMILAR TO THE DOKI DOKI WRITING POINT SYSTEM, DEPENDING ON FOOD ITEMS SOLD WILL LEAD TO EITHER APRIL OR HER COWORKER BEFRIENDING DORIS OVER TIME.)

*= Door chime ringing

" My eyes look for the time, and it's twelve o'clock."

" I know exactly who that is."

" Turning around, I head straight to the usual booth and smile at one of my regulars."

MC: " Welcome back, Chester."

RC: " Good afternoon April, how's the day treating you so far?"

MC: " Busy but fun, how about yourself?"

RC: " Oh you know, quiet but pleasant. Especially here."

MC: " Glad to hear it, though I wouldn't say it's particularly quiet."

MC: " So, will you be having your usual?"

RC: " Yes please, if you don't mind."

MC: " I'll have big guy back there cook it up right away for you."

" I head back behind the counter, peeking in through the window to the kitchen."

MC: " Hey Jim, Chester's here whip him up his usual please."

CH: " Twelve already huh? Tell Barb to get back here after this, it's time for my break."

MC: " I will."

" Pulling away from the window, I pour a nice fresh cup of coffee, pouring a little bit of creamer in and stirring two spoons of sugar in as well."

" Chester always gets the same thing when he comes in at Twelve."

" Two waffles, some bacon, and a big cup of coffee."

" One would think he would be getting lunch at this time, but this is more of a breakfast lunch combination."

" Apparently the man just can't get himself early in the morning, he's more of a night owl."

" Barb comes behind the counter, setting the dirty dishes on the counter by the kitchen door."

CW: " Chester's here, that mean I gotta take over for his break?"

MC: " Once he's done cooking this plate yeah."

" This is the general routine, and it has been since I started working here. It's nice, and I feel at home."

" The regulars don't ask too many questions either, when they see bruises or cuts."

" So I don't have to think about it, until it starts hurting."

" Boy, my head sure does hurt."

CW: " You know, April, you should take over the kitchen one of these days when he's on break~ I wanna try your cooking."

MC: " There's no way that's happening, I can't cook worth a damn."

" I laugh as if I'm joking, but the aching reminds me that it's true."

" I can't even cook dinner without burning it a little."

CW: " A shame hahah, I'm lucky I can cook, not all of us are as pretty as you are."

" Pretty, it's a polite compliment to make me feel like I've got at least one thing going for me."

" But I dont, I know I don't."

" Otherwise Gina wouldn't be around."

MC: " Oh stop that, you're plenty pretty Barb."

*= Bell dinging

" I grab the plate of food from the window once Jim sets it out for me, and walk to Chester's table."

RC: " Smells great as usual, thank you April."

MC: " It's my pleasure."

" Before I can walk away to let him eat, he speaks again."

RC: " By the way, I don't mean to make assumptions but…"

RC: " I've got some aspirin with me if you need some."

" I should've known he'd bring some."

" Though nobody brings up my bruises and cuts, Chester is the odd one out in a way."

" He doesn't point anything out specifically, but always happens to have extra aspirin with him to offer."

MC: " You sure you won't need it for your headaches?"

RC:" I'm sure, don't worry."

" He pulls a small paper packet of aspirin out from his coat pocket, handing it to me."

MC: " Thanks chester, you enjoy your meal, I'll come check on you in a bit."

" I head back behind the counter and take the medicine he's given me."

" One of these days I'll have to do something nice for him in return, Barb and Jim too."

" Sometimes it feels like they're too kind to me."

*= Sound of dishes and bell jingle.

" Work keeps me pretty busy throughout the rest of the day, but all good things come to an end."

- Outside diner, night

" Barb walks outside with me, cost buttoned up to her neck as she locks the doors of our humble diner."

CW: " Good damn, it's supposed to be spring isn't it? Whys it so damn cold…"

*= Locking sound

" The lock makes a nice click once it's shut properly."

MC: " Hey at least you only live down the street right?"

CW:" Yeah but it's still a bitch of a walk."

" Barb looks around, shaking her head."

CW: " I see Henry's not here, is he not picking you up anymore?"

MC: " Probably not, he's been a bit busy with work these days."

CW: " I guess you've got a worse walk then I do then. Tell that cheap jerk to buy you a car sometime yeah?"

" She looks down at her watch and groans a bit."

CW: " I gotta go make sure my God for nothin' husband put there kids to bed. I'll see ya."

MC: " I'll see you Barb."

" I adjust my own coat, pulling the collar up around my neck more before heading off in the opposite direction."

- Street Night

" It's gonna be a long walk, I can only hope that it doesn't start raining."

*= Wind whooshing

" The wind would usually be too cold for me, but it feels nice on my face right now."

" The streets are pretty empty right now."

" Not a soul around, only the occasional car passes me as I make my way home."

" There's only the sound of distant traffic far from me, and the wind."

" It's lonely."

" Before Gina came around Henry would come pick me up and take me home."

" I'd cook dinner, and we'd sit on the couch together listening to his favorite records."

" We would talk about it days, or his more so. "

" I'd comfort him when his day was too hard, and we were happy."

" I was happy."

" But I guess he wasn't, maybe I was acting selfishly."

*= Wind whooshing

" I can feel my body shake from the cold as I continue walking."

- Street at night, headlights showing

" Headlights light up my path from behind me as a car turns onto the street I'm walking on."

*= Car pulling up sound

" The car drives slowly towards me, catching my attention."

" The car pulls up beside me, and the window rolls down just slightly."

MC: " Can I help you?"

- Show CG of car window cracked open, too dark to see inside.

" I walk closer to the car to see whos driving, but there's no response. It's too dark inside the car to see their face."

MC:" Are you lost?"

" It's a little off putting, it's not like the silence lasts long though."

RC: " April? What are you doing walking at this hour?"

MC: " Chester? Goodness you gave me a startle there, why didn't you speak sooner?"

" I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling the tension that had built up in my body leave."

RC: " I apologize, I was chewing something and I didn't want to speak with my mouth full."

RC: " I thought that was you though, are you alright walking alone this late? It's awfully cold."

MC: " You night owl you…"

" I look around, off put by the eerie night."

MC: " Im alright don't you worry. Why are you driving around right now?"

" The window rolls down completely, and Chester leans closer to the window."

- Varient with Chester visable leaning towards the passenger window, a bag of candy in his hand.

" He holds up a big baggy filled with what looks to be candy."

RC: " Someone at the candy shop paid me in candy for helping them with something. It took all day but I feel it's worth it."

" What a silly thing to do, working for candy as if he's a child. It's endearing."

MC: " Don't rot your teeth on all that."

RC: " Hm… I suppose this much would rot them, perhaps if you take a piece or two it would help mitigate that."

" He gives the baggy a little shake, and I peer inside."

" It wouldn't hurt to take just one right?"

MC: " Well, if it'll save your poor teeth, then I guess I can help."

" I reach in and grab a lollipop from the bag."

RC: " Wonderful choice. Are you sure you'll be alright heading home? I could always give you a ride."

MC: " I'm alright, thanks though Chester. You should head home."

" Chester friends a bit, and nods."

RC: " If you say so, take care then, I'll see you at the diner."

MC: " Take care."

*= Car

0 notes