#dynamic pose in the middle of the chaos

[conjuringturns]

a promo photo for the 2000 london production of cats, featuring david ashley as munkustrap (x)

[holocene-sims]

🥧👻🦃

thank you so much for the ask!! ❤️

🥧 Pie: Which of your characters takes care of the others around them? How do they take care of themselves?

tbh the very nice thing, i think, about my cast of characters is that most of them are very kind and caring towards others; it's rarer to find cold/uncaring characters.

however (and i know this is the obvious answer), grant is one of the most caring and generous of them all. by default, his primary method of caring is acts of service, aka making himself of use to someone. do you need someone to make you soup when you're sick, be your shoulder to cry on when you're having a shit day, or come pick you up when your car breaks down? he's your guy!

he's not super good at taking care of himself, though. lmao. but he's trying! his current method of taking care of himself is to actually heal his trauma. also, on a smaller note, he is a huge fan of a nice skincare routine and cooking a good meal, so that's one of his practical methods of cheering himself up.

btw aoife is exactly the same as him, let's be real

👻 Ghost: Do you have a character or a scene that continues to haunt you? Something or someone you wish you had done differently or just can’t stop thinking about?

automatically, there are two scenes that come to mind, and they were both some of the biggest scenes in the story thus far, so i think my unhappiness with them comes from the fact that this is a sims story and i have to take the fully developed movie from my brain and convert it into pictures and text, and it doesn't match up. no matter how aesthetic i make it or how many song links i add to make it more like the movie in my head, it never feels just right.

ANYWAY

that said, the first scene is the end of the bachelor party scenes where grant is like blackout drunk and hallucinating/dreaming in 2x speed about his history with addiction, and even though he is engaging with addiction in that moment, he's traumatized by it. i think it all played out well as a whole BUT the flashback scenes did not feel dynamic to me, and that's what they should have been. i wanted it to feel like you're dragged along through that hell and chaos with him, and like you're experiencing the same oppression from substances and the people who encouraged it, and it just didn't because it was made out of stationary pictures. also, i hate using poses for more than two sims, so the party pics were bland.

the other scene is really just the end of the ireland trip where you learn a lot more about aoife's backstory. i didn't get to spend as much time with those parts because i was quite literally in the middle of working on them when i got the call my grandma died, so i abandoned them for a hot minute, and when i came back, i wanted so badly to be DONE with all that content because it took on some bad associations for me and i couldn't think much about it.

i do think it came out okay but i would have added a couple other scenes expanding on things there instead of pushing it off to another set of scenes. like i would have had a conversation there where someone tangibly discusses what aoife's parents were really like, and i would have expanded on that contrast of aoife the real person and aoife the embodiment of everyone else's desires because she's supposed to be a representation of a specific female archetype in art (medea/cathleen ni houlihan/aoife nic mhurchada - a category of women who've lost agency and/or everything they've ever known, and have endured things like forced marriage/love or symbolize stuff like someone else's freedom, etc.)

i did just kind of spoil aoife's design lmao but it doesn't matter anymore because the literature aspect is more of a fun fact and only relevant in one specific case (if you remember grant reading cathleen ni houlihan...) and i'll come back to it later, but if you read between the lines enough, you at least see there are two aoifes (so to speak.)

🦃 Turkey: What’s the most abundant burst of inspiration you’ve ever had? Were you able to translate that into writing?

hmm this is an interesting question! i'd say one of the most abundant inspo moments i've had was when @crazykissim and i decided on grant's future love interest 👀 i obviously can't share too much because it's a huge spoiler rn but i've had so much fun constructing the romance aspect into the story, putting twists on classic romance tropes, and developing an interesting personality and history for [REDACTED]. i've even built MULTIPLE lots for the romance arc. you know i'm serious when i build lmaooooo

it is translated into writing, though! the final versions of everything aren't quite done but i do have drafts ready and a full timeline set in stone :)

[xocadence]

“The Fall of Phaeton” c.1577–1640

CREATED BY PETER PAUL REUBENS

blog written by cadence

One of the most luminous and daring artists of the 17th century, captured a celestial catastrophe in The Fall of Phaeton, painted during his formative years in Rome. The painting depicts a pivotal moment from Ovid’s Metamorphoses —— a tale of youthful hubris, divine wrath, and cosmic chaos. At its heart is Phaeton, the ill-fated son of the Sun-god Apollo, who, driven by pride and desperate to prove his divine lineage, begged his father for the right to drive the Chariot of the Sun across the heavens. Against his better judgment, Apollo relented. But the task proved disastrous: Phaeton, unfit to wield the mighty steeds of the Sun, quickly lost control. The fiery horses, unbridled and ungovernable, tore across the sky, deviating wildly from their ordained path.

Rubens captures this moment of terrible splendor with breathtaking intensity. At the left, the Horae —— delicate, butterfly-winged goddesses of the seasons —— react in horror. These ethereal beings, symbols of celestial harmony and universal order, recoil as the heavens themselves unravel. Below, the Earth is engulfed in flames, its surface scorched by the Sun’s searing proximity. At the painting’s edges, the vast, zodiacal bands that arc through the heavens fracture and twist, thrown into disarray. Though unseen in the frame, the god Jupiter has already loosed his thunderbolt, a celestial judgment destined to strike Phaeton down and restore balance to a world on the brink of destruction.

The scene is one of sublime drama, its emotional and physical tumult rendered with all the visual opulence and dynamism that Rubens could summon. The horses rear and twist violently in their panic, their bodies tangled in straps and reins —— evidence of Rubens’s painstaking revisions. Pentimenti, or traces of earlier drafts still visible to the trained eye, suggest the artist’s obsessive reworking of the composition. These changes lend the work an energy that feels almost alive, as if the painting itself cannot fully contain the explosive force of the moment.

Beyond its visual spectacle, the tale of Phaeton resonated deeply with the moral sensibilities of the 16th and 17th centuries. In this story of unchecked ambition, artists and thinkers of the time saw an enduring parable about the dangers of hubris and the need for moderation. Dutch art theorist Karel van Mander, writing in 1604, interpreted the legend as a cautionary tale, an admonition “to keep the middle of the road, steering not too high nor too low.” The myth was also read as a political allegory —— a dire warning of the ruin that follows when immature or unfit leaders seize power, bringing devastation not only upon themselves but upon the people they rule. While such moralizing undertones undoubtedly inform Rubens’s work, the artist’s true focus seems to lie in the sheer pictorial grandeur of the story: the opportunity to convey a cosmic calamity through color, light, and movement.

Rubens’s mastery of the composition owes much to his formative travels across Italy around 1600, when he left his native Antwerp to immerse himself in the splendor of antiquity and the Renaissance. In Venice, Mantua, Genoa, and Rome, he studied the works of the great masters ——Tintoretto’s sweeping dynamism, Leonardo da Vinci’s intricate anatomy, Raphael’s grace, and Michelangelo’s sculptural power. At the same time, Rubens absorbed the innovations of his contemporaries, most notably Caravaggio, whose dramatic use of light and shadow electrified the art world of the time. The Fall of Phaeton bears witness to this extraordinary synthesis. The painting’s dramatic chiaroscuro, swirling energy, and the intricate poses of its figures reflect Rubens’s ability to blend classical ideals with the raw vigor of Baroque innovation.

In this singular work, Rubens transforms a tale of divine punishment into a visual symphony of movement and light. Phaeton’s fatal plunge is both a warning and a spectacle —— his outstretched form embodying the inevitability of his downfall, even as the heavens crack and burn around him. The painting is a testament not only to Rubens’s prodigious talent but to his profound understanding of art’s power to convey both beauty and devastation.

[speckled-and-spattered]

❝ So... How's it feel to know that everything you ever knew and everyone you ever loved was a big fat lie?~ ❞ Not the most welcoming of questions to aim at the newest member of their screwed-up little Freakshow, but Jax isn't the most welcoming person. Besides, Gummigoo is new. He's different. He's potentially fun.

Jax has everyone else down to a science; he'd like to believe, anyway. If the gator is going to stick around, he will need to see how Gummigoo fits into their little dynamic. How much prodding he can take... How much he might be at the risk of giving. When it comes to the circus, there are too many questions and not nearly enough answers. Could one blame Jax for seeking out information whenever and wherever he CAN get it? - (( *tosses a bratty bnnuy at gummy-gator* rip ))

@canon-fcdder

Gummigoo didn't know which was more terrifying: the deep void of nothingness he'd been thrust into after being confettied, the strangling weight of existence as he was brought back who-knew-how-long afterwards, or the very fact of the question now being posed to him by this bunny. He hadn't had much time for anything to settle in, not even the darkness that had taken him over shortly after stepping through that portal for the first (and last) time. He didn't know what Pomni had said to get Caine to bring him back, or if it had even been her to do so to begin with. He was just...there now, surrounded by colors and lights and chaos.

It...was almost like home, no matter how fake it had been.

Everyone had been...accommodating thus far, Pomni having had a breakdown after he'd popped back into existence, clinging to him like a limp koala while Ragatha gave him a tour (it had been his choice to take Pomni along, if he was being honest. She hadn't argued when he'd scooped her up, nor had she asked a single question once the tour was through), Zooble had....well anyways, Gangle had been too busy mourning over their 'comedy mask', whatever that meant, and Kinger had screamed at him before diving into a large pillow fort in the middle of the floor (as far as he could tell, that was a good reaction).

And Jax? He decided to try and send Gumi into a brand new existential crisis. The problem was...he didn't feel anything anymore, and he didn't know why. Was he over it already? Did Caine wipe that part of him away after bringing him back? Or was this simply his mind offering him a mercy after all that had happened?

"It...doesn't." Had been his simple answer, the gator having been left to his own devices in the main room after the tour. Ragatha had taken Pomni to her room for some rest, and the others had dispersed before they'd even set out around the halls. Though...he had a feeling this Jax hadn't just let them wander off unsupervised. From what he could tell, he had his own way of doing things, but how Gummigoo worked into it all, he didn't yet know.

Well, at least nothing could be worse than what he'd already been through...

"It doesn't matter anyways, not anymore. It wasn't real, and they aren't coming back. I don't even know why I'm back, or how long I'm going to exist this time, so...it doesn't matter." Maybe if he said it enough, it would be true.

[irunevenus]

The Fear of Women: Myths, Psychology, and Social Control

Since ancient times, women have been figures of fascination, power, and paradoxically, fear. Across various cultures, narratives have emerged portraying women as potential threats to men and societal order. These stories reveal not only the dynamics of gender power but also historical efforts to control and repress femininity. This article explores the origins and manifestations of this fear, examining its influence on myths, religions, and societies.

1. The Archetypal Fear of the Feminine

Woman as Creator and Destroyer

The duality of creation and destruction is central to the feminine archetype in many cultures:

In Hindu mythology, Kali, the goddess of destruction, is both revered for her transformative power and feared for her fury.

In Judeo-Christian tradition, Eve is associated with original sin, seen as responsible for humanity’s fall and the introduction of suffering into the world. This narrative shaped the view of women as wielding an ambiguous power: both life-giving and ruinous.

The Wild and Untamed Woman

In patriarchal societies, femininity has often been linked to chaos and untamed nature. This association bred fear, as nature's unpredictability demanded control. Women, with their sexuality and ability to give life, were perceived as possessing mysterious, potentially destructive forces.

2. Myths and Legends About Feminine Danger

Lilith: The First Rebel

In Jewish mythology, Lilith is portrayed as the first woman created before Eve. She refused to submit to Adam and left Eden. Later traditions demonized Lilith, portraying her as a seductress and destroyer, embodying men’s fear of women who defy control and submission.

Succubi and Witches

During the Middle Ages, tales of succubi—female demons who seduced men and drained their life force—flourished. Simultaneously, women were accused of witchcraft, allegedly making pacts with the devil and using their power to manipulate and destroy. This demonization reflected fear of female power outside patriarchal norms.

3. Psychology and the Construction of Fear

Fear of the Unknown

Psychology suggests that fear of women partly stems from the unknown. Biological processes like menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth were shrouded in mystery for centuries. Without scientific explanations, these experiences became fertile ground for superstition and fear.

The Castration Complex

Freud proposed that men, upon observing anatomical differences between genders, might develop a "castration complex"—an unconscious fear related to perceiving women as lacking or threatening male integrity.

Fear of Female Autonomy

At the root of historical fear of women lies a fear of their independence. In many cultures, women who challenged societal norms, refused submission, or assumed leadership roles were deemed dangerous. This fear is largely cultural, reflecting the threat female equality poses to patriarchal systems.

4. Social Control and Fear

Demonization and Repression

The fear of women led to narratives and practices aimed at containment:

Witch Hunts: In Europe and colonial America, tens of thousands of women were executed on accusations of witchcraft. Many were independent, elderly, or nonconforming women.

Regulation of Female Bodies: Practices like female genital mutilation, restrictions on abortion, and dress codes reflect attempts to domesticate and control women’s perceived power.

Religion as a Tool of Control

Religions often reinforced the idea of female submission, institutionalizing fear of their freedom:

In Christianity, Eve’s story and the concept of original sin were used to justify women’s subordination.

In Islam, controlling women’s bodies and behavior reflects a belief that, if left unchecked, they could cause societal disorder.

5. Cultural and Contemporary Reflections

Modern Fear of Women

Though in different forms, fear of women persists today:

Misogyny Online: The rise of online hate targeting women, especially those in power, is a modern reflection of this fear.

Gender-Based Violence: Violence against women, including femicide, often stems from attempts to reassert control over femininity.

Reclaiming Feminine Power

Feminist movements and gender studies challenge historical narratives that demonize female power. Efforts are underway to reinterpret figures like Lilith, Kali, and Eve as symbols of strength, autonomy, and transformation.

6. Conclusion: Overcoming the Fear

The fear of women is essentially a fear of feminine power in all its forms—creative, destructive, autonomous, and transformative. Throughout history, this fear has been used to justify repression, control bodies, and silence voices. However, acknowledging the origins and mechanisms of this fear is the first step toward deconstructing it.

Today, there is growing awareness of the need to balance narratives, celebrate femininity as a creative force, and reaffirm gender equality. Thus, what was once feared can be reevaluated as a source of transformation and progress for humanity.

[trexovablog]

Discover Your Zen with Yoga Classes Near You

Are you searching for a way to stay fit, calm, and healthy while juggling a busy schedule? Why not consider an online yoga class? Yoga has become more accessible than ever, with options ranging from general yoga classes near me to specialized classes like yoga classes near me only for ladies. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned practitioner, yoga offers something for everyone.

Why Yoga?

Yoga is more than just a physical exercise—it's a holistic practice that nurtures both the body and mind. So why should you consider adding yoga to your daily routine?

Think of yoga as a bridge between your busy life and your inner peace. Imagine standing in the middle of a busy street, feeling overwhelmed by the noise and chaos. Yoga acts as your personal oasis, offering you that much-needed break. It helps lower stress levels, improve flexibility, and even boost your mental clarity.

If you're new to yoga, don't worry! The beauty of yoga lies in its adaptability—no matter your age or fitness level, there’s always a class that suits your needs. And now, with the availability of online yoga classes, you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home to get started.

Benefits of Yoga

- Reduces stress and anxiety: Yoga helps in lowering cortisol levels.

- Boosts flexibility and strength: Each pose targets different muscle groups.

- Improves mental clarity: Mindfulness techniques can enhance focus.

The Convenience of Online Yoga Classes

One of the best things about joining an online yoga class is its flexibility. In our fast-paced world, it can be difficult to find time to drive to a studio for a yoga session. But with online yoga classes, you can practice anywhere, anytime.

Whether you're a morning person who likes to start the day with a gentle stretch or someone who prefers to unwind in the evening, online yoga classes fit into your schedule. You can take classes live, interact with your instructor in real-time, or follow recorded sessions at your own pace.

And let's face it, there’s nothing quite like rolling out your yoga mat in your living room, with no need to worry about traffic or rushing out the door.

Advantages of Online Yoga Classes:

- Flexible schedule: Practice whenever it suits you.

- Variety of instructors and styles: Choose the class that aligns with your goals.

- No commute: Enjoy yoga at home, saving both time and energy.

Finding Yoga Classes Near Me

Sometimes, despite the convenience of online options, you may still crave the community and energy that comes with in-person classes. Simply typing "yoga classes near me" into a search engine can help you find nearby studios or instructors offering sessions that suit your needs.

Joining a local class can be a great way to meet like-minded individuals and feel more connected to your community. Not to mention, it's easier to stay motivated when you're practising alongside others! Plus, many studios now offer hybrid options, allowing you to mix and match between in-person and online yoga classes.

How to Choose the Right Class

When searching for yoga classes near me, consider your preferences and goals. Are you looking for a relaxing, restorative practice or something more dynamic, like Vinyasa or Power Yoga? Many studios offer beginner-friendly options, while others cater to more advanced practitioners.

Take a moment to explore different styles and find what resonates with you.

Yoga Classes Near Me Only for Ladies: Embrace the Sisterhood

For many women, the idea of joining yoga classes near me only for ladies provides a sense of comfort and inclusivity. These classes are designed specifically to cater to women, focusing on aspects of health, wellness, and empowerment that are unique to the female experience.

Women’s-only yoga classes create a safe and supportive environment where participants can practice without judgment or pressure. It's about fostering a sense of community, where women can bond and uplift each other, both on and off the mat.

Imagine being in a class where everyone understands your experiences, from hormonal changes to the everyday stresses of life. This forges a special link that has the potential to be uplifting and powerful.

Why Consider Women’s-Only Yoga?

- Tailored practices: These classes often focus on women's health, including hormonal balance and stress relief.

- Empowerment and community: A space where women encourage and support each other.

- Privacy and comfort: Feel at ease without feeling self-conscious.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking to join an online yoga class or search for yoga classes near me, yoga offers numerous benefits that extend beyond the mat. And for ladies, yoga classes near me only provide a welcoming and empowering environment for ladies. So, why not take the leap? Your mind and body will appreciate it!

Final Thoughts

Yoga is more than just a workout; it's a journey toward personal balance. No matter where or how you practice, the important thing is to take that first step. Whether you’re joining an online yoga class from your home or attending a local studio session, yoga is waiting to help you find inner peace and physical vitality.

[aurum-rays]

Pyaar lafzon mein kahaan

I don't remember when I started watching the show, probably around 2016, on Youtube. I really liked PLMK. This drama reminded me of the female friendships in shows like Dill Mill Gaye and Remix that I used to watch as a kid. However, I didn't finish watching PLMK because it became quite problematic soon. The dynamic between Murat and Hayat became so complicated and abusive that it reminded me of another show that had an immense following in my teen years, Arnav Singh and Kushi Kumari Gupta’s Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon, which also had a toxic dynamic between the leads, as far as I remember.

PLMK was that comfort show which showcased wholesome female friendships and their work lives until it didn't. Naturally, I was put off and, like all the shows I quit in the middle for reasons like this, I went to the wiki page to read what happens with the storyline. I was glad I stopped watching. However, I still go back and watch those first few episodes every now and then for my three favorite girlfriends and the really pretty clothes.

The initial episodes of PLMK are absolutely fun - living with roommates, working for a boss you hate, and doing everything in your power to avoid the marriage conversation with parents. The group calls in the middle of the day, complaining about your bosses and gossiping with friends at the end of the day. It all sounds like a perfect montage of female friendships. The Urdu dubbing of the show is on point, and the actors excel in their roles. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to strangle Didam or even Derya. But Tuval has to be my favorite character of the show without a doubt, and sometimes Chala too.

Ipek and Asli are the roommates I would love to have. One is a sarcastic, head first kinda gal and the other is sweet and empathetic. If the show was just about these three roommates and their struggles in life and at work in a male dominated world I would've watched the hell out of it. But I don't want to talk about what the show could've been instead I want to focus on the few episodes i watched and keep watching again and again. In short the things i liked in the show and I don't mean just cute clothes.

Hayat’s desperation of finding a job so that she's not married off. Been there done that.

Born in a South Asian family, I could totally relate to Hayat masquerading as Suna to finally get a job, thus freeing herself from emotional blackmail and marriage threats from her family. Ultimately, it is wrong to pose as someone else, but luckily, Suna and Hayat have an understanding. Hayat is now a salaried individual, and Suna Pektas can follow her passion for studying birds. However, the chaos that ensues due to their qualifications difference is something to truly watch and enjoy on screen.

Khadoos boss and mean girls at work.

Hayat and Murat's "meet not so cute" is where this duo's "born to be enemies" plot takes off, and most of the time, their banter is fun to watch. Hayat whines about her new job to her friends Ipek and Asli, and their attempts to provide her with random solutions is something we've all done. Chala personifies the "work stress" we all experience. She is always on her toes, and her dynamic with her recorder should have earned her the title of best duo of the show.

Tuval is the best thing that has happened to the show. The way she calls Hayat her “nanhi gudiya” is so cute. I love Tuval madam. Everytime she's on screen my eyes were glued to my phone and I would go back and rewatch all her scenes. Tuval and Didam’s banter is also something I thoroughly enjoyed. She is the only one that can humble Didam and bring her down her high horse.

I like that Asli, Ipek, and even Fareeda Aunty are not just one-dimensional characters written to support Hayat. They have their own traits and personalities. In conclusion, PLMK is my mood lifter show ( the wholesome parts) that I rewatch many times.

[kalopsiawasteland]

“I LAUGHED AT THE WRONG TIME - SAT WITH THE WRONG GUY - SEARCHIN' "HOW TO START A CONVERSATION?" ON A WEBSITE”

INTRODUCING…

NAME: Roxana 'Roxie' Mage Diaz

GENDER & PREFERRED PRONOUNS: Cis woman (She/Her)

AGE: 21

BIRTHDAY: February 14, 2003

ZODIAC: Aquarius Sun, Leo Rising, Pisces Moon

SEXUALITY & ROMANCE: Bisexual / Biromantic

FACE CLAIM: Olivia Rodrigo

OCCUPATION: Singer/Songwriter/Actress

HOMETOWN: Coachella Valley, CA

CURRENT RESIDENCE: The Cove, Cape May, NJ

CHARACTER PLAYLIST: HERE.

UP NEXT: “BALLAD OF A HOMESCHOOLED GIRL” BY OLIVIA RODRIGO ROXIE DIAZ

BIOGRAPHY: tw dysfunctional family

Roxana was born and raised in a middle class home on the outskirts of Coachella Valley. With a mother who worked as an online assistant and a father who was a marriage and family therapist, there was never a lack of attention for any of the Diaz kids. If anything, their family dynamics were uberly healthy. So healthy, that it posed as an annoyance to Roxie who felt that dilemmas were pushed aside rather than addressed head-on and fixed. This feeling and viewpoint hadn't come around until her teen years, though whenever she attempted to bring it up - it was swept under the rug. Though there were these vastly differentiating views within the household, it didn't lead to any outward rebellion from Roxana. She loved her parents, even if their marriage that once was viewed so perfect was slowly coming undone in front of Roxie's eyes. Seeing that she was homeschooled, Roxana didn't really spend much time with other kids other than her siblings. This didn't necessarily upset her, seeing that it helped her mother out in the long run with all these kids running amuck in the house. Though chaos was the norm due to the amount of people in such a small space, Roxana always found herself clinging to her laptop and watching musicals as a way to disconnect from the hectic day-to-day of the Diaz household. Her favorite accessory her earbuds that she sported in order to drown out everything around her and escape. Roxana messing with Garage Band on her apps was one thing, but when she posted her silly little teenage angst songs on Tumblr, she wasn't expecting a following. Though she only has two albums out at this point (Olivia Rodrigo's discography), Roxie has around 3.2 million listeners on Spotify and has a cult following. She hadn't even attempted to move to LA, hunkering down in Cape May as a way of defiance and to drive a wedge between her and the limelight that seems to be slowly creeping up on her. Barely even having a taste of it, Roxie is torn; the pressure is already enough to make her shut down completely, but she can't shake this feeling that she was born to pour her heart out into a mic.

EXTRA-EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT HER!

Roxana is her father's daughter, if she likes it or not. Always overstepping when it comes to helping others and their problems a complete parallel to how her father reacts to her mom. Roxie is a romantic and tends to fall in love at the drop of a hat. Very water sign of her, but she romanticizes people and when they show their faults, she scrambles to fix them and that's when shit hits the fan. To this day, she knows she hasn't truly been in love, but she yearns for that fairytale type of romance; even if that expectation is only setting her up for failure. Roxana loves Y2K fashion as well as vintage pieces that she can throw together with a pair of chunky boots. Her fashion is her saving grace in her mind, seeing that she feels she doesn't get along with most people. Maybe it's the fact she is more of an introvert, maybe it's because she was homeschooled and that made her awkward - who knows (it's both). Roxana is beyond creative and once the inspiration hits, it's hard to turn it off. She's very talented through the ways of guitar and piano, and she's self-taught along with some fundamentals from her dad on the guitar front. Roxie tends to strive to make connections with people, but struggles in how to formulate strong bonds. The worry that people could be using her is also now another factor into her deficient social skills. Though, her awkwardness tends to give her an air of comedic timing to her being. She loves a good book, thrifting and attending hole-in-the-wall concerts. Roxie tends to try to blend into the background at events due to her lack of social skills, but attention seems to find her no matter what. She also doesn't help herself, seeing that she feels emotions so intensely and tends to be dramatic. She can't keep a secret to save herself. She's vulnerable, raw, real on the flip side of it. If you were to manage to maintain a good friendship with Roxie, she's always one to answer her phone at any hour. She'd also drop everything to be there for you in a heartbeat. Just a spicy Pisces who can't flirt.

PERSONALITY:

+ Creative, Loyal, and Romantic

- Melodramatic, Awkward, and Introverted

[dailyanarchistposts]

This is a time to embrace working-class unity and challenge the status quo of capitalist oppression.

May Day – a call to build an international movement of working class and poor people across lines of race, nation and religion for workers’ control and democracy from below, social justice and freedom from political and economic oppression – remains critical. In a country racked by anti-immigrant violence, racial and ethnic tensions, the fragmentation of the labour federation Cosatu, corporate scandals and political corruption, it is time to remember May Day’s roots and aspirations.

The day has become an institutionalised festival, yet its origins lie in powerful struggles for a united, anticapitalist, bottom-up, global justice movement, affirming the common interests of people, worldwide, against ruling elites and their divide-and-rule policies.

With the 2015 May Day set to be a showdown between South Africa’s rival union blocs, it is time to remember its roots and aims. Working-class unity is the only way to overcome problems such as class inequalities and national oppression in South Africa, a country ruled by the 1% and racked by periodic anti-immigrant violence.

Posing the problem as psychological – as in Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s claim that recent violence is “Afrophobia” driven by “self-hate” – ignores attacks on Asian foreigners and assumes a natural state of African unity. It completely ignores the role of class and capitalist systems in which divisions between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, exist within races and nations. A Zimbabwean worker, a Pakistani worker and a South African worker have more in common with each other than any of them has with the Zimbabwean, Pakistani and South African upper class.

Ruling classes pit people against one another by means of economic policies that entrench historic inequalities, political mobilisation on the basis of race and nation by parties, states, ideologues and propaganda. Suburbs that are home to the black and white middle and upper classes sleep peacefully, far from the chaos and misery that arise from these policies, whereas the working class and poor turn on each other.

South Africa’s incomplete transition out of apartheid has left deep racial inequalities and national divisions. The legacy of apartheid and segregation is visible everywhere: the black, coloured and Indian working class and poor are doubly oppressed, by race and by class; the main political parties provide no solutions, but are part of the problem.

Radical changes are needed. Those proposed by the Federation of South African Trade Unions (Fosatu) and, before it, the International Socialist League (ISL), Industrial Workers of Africa and the International Working People’s Association (IWPA) include placing power, including self-managed control of the economy, into the hands of a multiracial working class and poor majority, rather than in parliaments or corporate boardrooms.

Changing statues will not address the issues. Indeed, political mobilisation of this sort, delinked from a radical programme of working-class rule, will simply reinforce the myriad divisions – immigrant versus national, race versus race, country versus country – that are the key to the power of the 1%.

Radical changes require a dynamic labour movement with a radical project, allied to other popular sectors altogether outside the party system and the electoral arena. These positions lie at the radical roots of May Day, which began as a commemoration of and protest against the 1887 execution of four IWPA anarcho-syndicalist labour organisers from Chicago.

One of them, August Spies, declared from the scaffold: “If you think that by hanging us, you can stamp out the labour movement – the movement from which the downtrodden millions, the millions who toil and live in want and misery – the wage slaves – expect salvation – if this is your opinion, then hang us! Here you will tread upon a spark, but there and there and behind you and in front of you and everywhere, flames will blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out.”

Spies stressed popular self-emancipation: nonracial mass organisations to fight the state, capitalism and all forms of oppression and to establish a participatory, self-managed, democratic socialism, without state or corporate rule. This “Chicago idea” became part of the anarchist movement, especially in the Global South.

All states, all parties, were seen as betrayers of the working class, elections as futile choices between lying politicians – an insight many South Africans now accept. Even a workers’ party could not escape the logic of incorporation into a state machinery serving political and economic elites.

The IWPA practiced what it preached. IWPA militants such as the former slave Lucy Parsons, immigrants such as Spies and Samuel Fielden, and Americans such as Oscar Neebe and Albert Parsons led the main unions and working-class associations of Chicago, published radical newspapers and organised armed self-defence units. The IWPA took a leading role in a titanic 1886 general strike by black and white, immigrant and foreigner, centred on Chicago, and hence the organisation was targeted for repression. Eight IWPA militants were charged and four hanged.

In commemoration, the Socialist International, formed by anarchists, Marxists and others in 1889, launched May Day as a global day of action – in effect, it was to be a global general strike to build global labour unity.

May Day in South Africa started in the 1890s, among immigrant European workers. Early Witwatersrand events were whites-only affairs, ignoring the reality that the state felt no particular loyalty to white workers: more than 20 were shot down in the 1913 general strike, and martial law was used to suppress workers’ uprisings in 1914 and 1922.

An alternative May Day tradition emerged in 1904 from Cape Town, where local unions and the anarchist-led Social Democratic Federation (SDF) brought coloured and white workers together. The syndicalist ISL, formed in 1915, and Industrial Workers of Africa, formed in 1917, resolved to organise black workers, fight pass laws and secure complete equality through “one big union” fighting against segregation, capitalism and the state: the “Chicago idea” on the Highveld.

In 1917, the ISL organised a joint May Day rally in Johannesburg with the Transvaal Native Congress – the first local May Day with African speakers, including the ANC’s secretary general of the time, Horatio Mbelle. The Communist Party of South Africa, as it was then, continued the SDF-ISL tradition of May Day with a series of nonracial rallies to oppose race and class oppression. In 1922, the communist party demanded May Day become a paid public holiday, a demand taken up by the syndicalist-influenced black and coloured Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of Africa.

Massive May Days were held from the 1920s onwards, but the tradition withered under apartheid repression. May Day was revived by the South African Congress of Trade Unions in the 1950s and by the new unions of the 1970s. By the mid-1980s, May Day was again a day of mass action, as pushed by Fosatu and then Cosatu.

But, if the tragic origins of May Day are still commemorated today, its grander aspirations remain unfulfilled. The enormous power of a united working class remains shackled.

Labour-led organisations achieved surprising victories in difficult and divided contexts. These movements provide a resource base for ideas and strategies. By specifically organising among immigrants and by focusing on issues that disproportionately affected some groups of workers (racial oppression, for example), they built working-class counter-power, counterculture and solidarity.

This is a far cry from the situation today. The Cosatu labour movement has not succeeded in addressing its internal divisions. Indeed, its alliance with the ANC and the South African Communist Party has led to numerous splits, from the attack on figures opposed to President Jacob Zuma, such as then-president Willie Madisha, by Zwelinzima Vavi in 2007, to the expulsion of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) from Cosatu on the flimsiest grounds.

Within South Africa’s borders, ANC-driven neoliberal policies such as the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy and the National Development Plan have deepened poverty and inequality, creating a breeding ground for tensions on all sides. Regionally, South Africa is an imperialist power, deploying its superior economic power and military and political muscle across the continent, alongside the expansion of private and state-owned corporations in Africa.

South African military actions in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2013 onwards are protecting ANC-linked businesses. South African silence on corrupt candidates in fraudulent elections (the DRC in 2001, Nigeria in 2007, Zimbabwe in 2011) is governed by crude ruling-class interests.

This cannot be separated from South African contempt for fellow Africans and attitudes to the rest of Africa.

Numsa’s return to a radical project, with some roots in Fosatu, its break with the tripartite alliance and its formation of a United Front revives the original spirit of the movements and struggles that made May Day. Let us hope Numsa carries forward the radical spirit of May Day by way of bottom-up, participatory trade unions at a distance from Parliament, capitalism and the state. May Day needs to be linked back to its radical roots, its one-time internationalism and the vision of an inclusive socialism from below.

[welcometomypersonalhell098]

i dont usually post but this is the rare occurrence where I can dump about my boy, my love: FLOYD LEECH. Consider this the unofficial crashcourse to Floyd Leech likers. Or don't idk. warning for uh absolute word vomit and octatrio favoritism

1. His Dynamics (and by that I mean octatrio)

With Azul:

When Azul said the twins would probably leave him when he got ‘boring' in Chapter 3, I need us as a fanbase to collectively point at him and call him a BIG FAT LIARRRR. I know what I saw in chapter 3, and Floyd Leech—while not exactly a tactful person per se— CARES. Even when Floyd teases Azul and makes life harder for him, I’m pretty sure that’s just his love language. And!! Despite his teasing, Floyd really does have some respect for Azul’s magical strength as seen in the Beanfest event.

He goes through all the ‘boring’ stuff for Azul and Jade’s plots because he likes the fun results!! He calls them by their ACTUAL names. They’ve been together since like middle school, and someone as mercurial as Floyd hasn’t gotten sick of Azul? It means he definitely has a bigger attachment that he OR Azul would like to admit. They are besties that hate to admit it because of the NRC disease of Not Being Emotionally Vulnerable Ever ™

Like look at these drama queens they are having the time of their LIVES.

With Jade:

I mean, yeah, it would make sense these guys would be close as twins BUT their dynamic is so fun. Jade's more "polite" demeanor plays off of Floyd's chaos perfectly: giving the guise of a put-together brother always needing to reign in his twin's insanity. When really both of them are menaces to society.

Probably the best example is in the Glorious Masquerade event, where Floyd makes a tantrum after finding out Azul gets to go to Noble College. And Jade JOINS IN.

(credits to RoseAmber on YT for the screenshots: I hadn't fallen into my TWST fixation as hard with the event was out on the EN server o7)

And of course, it goes without saying that they make for a really scary team for Azul. God bless Miss Yana and the team behind the Octavinelle manga--they have my soul and then some.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO GOOFY ASF and i love that for them

2. His Character

And there is a LOT of it. So let's start with his design!

(sorry about the long image </3) BUT you can definitely tell a lot about him with this official pic

for one: he's definitely relaxed. It's definitely in his pose: the hand holding the hat up, the other in his pocket, and in his posture. As opposed to say, Riddle who stands ramrod straight, this is NOT the image of a guy that cares too much about what people think of him. he has his own style and he flaunts it. He's had lines where he talks about his octopus inspired socks and his thing for fancy shoes-- he could not care LESS about his loose clothes either much to Azul's chagrin.

ALSO this is way less concrete but like...his face matches his voice wayyy too well. Credit to the VO: Nobuhiko Okamoto (fun fact also the voice of BAKUGO FROM MHA???) for his voice especially his laugh. Something about the way his eyes are droopy and his sharp teeth are shown in the image?? That's a silly guy, right there. And his laugh is just the right amount of weirdly endearing and creepy it is absolutely wonderful.

Now, in terms of personality...

We all get it. He's a menace. In his Ceremonial robes and Lab Wear SRs, he definitely shows his flip-floppy nature. In the former, he's fucking around at one of Kalim's parties and in the latter he is subject to one of Adeuces' fuck ups--and surprisingly doesn't hunt them for sport after (yay!). It's his thing.

But!!! There's other things!! :D

Among the rest of the Octavinelle trio, Floyd is probably the most acclimated to land life. Even more than Jade, despite his love for the mountains and mushrooms. Because Floyd has the unique trait of just fucking throwing himself at anything and everything the human world has to offer. We know from the Stargazing Event that Floyd has a thing for high-end shoes from a conversation he had with his (mafia??) father. Despite his initial boredom with fashion in general, it feels very 'Floyd' for him to be fixated on the one item that is intrinsic to living on land: shoes.

He's also canonically really good at cooking...when he wants to be. Like all other things in his life, he tends to be flippant with when he feels like making a meal. But damn when he DOES. For example, during Culinary Crucible Sebek admits that Floyd is very skilled in the kitchen. (If anybody has his CC card....and would like to share with the class his vignette....wink wink nudge nudge). And in the most recent event: Stitch's Tropical Turbulence in the EN server he's seen making a delicious meal for the crew that everyone can't help but compliment: even RIDDLE. He also says its best when you "just wing it" and throw stuff together: which makes sense for his taste for weird takoyaki flavors. Jade has said before that in the Coral Sea they just kind of eat shit raw--which makes it pretty impressive Floyd has such a knack for cooking as a land-dweller activity.

I think it's been said that generally merfolk have a bad time with flight--which extends to the Octatrio. I believe there's been vignettes that focus on Azul's struggles in P.E., though I'm not so sure about Jade. What I AM sure is that chibi Jade is constantly going through it in flight lessons so, I'll take that as gospel for now. But!!! Floyd has a fucking blast. It's definitely not like he's a prodigy or anything but, he thinks it's fun to keep trying ("Haha! I'm like, so bad at this!") Which honestly is why my headcanon is that he is the ONLY of the Octatrio to not be failing P.E.. This also extends to his involvement of the basketball club.

For a merperson to adjust to walking on land is already a crazy ask. TO ASK THEM TO PLAY AN ENTIRELY NEW SPORT THAT RELIES ON NEW RULES, PUTTING INTO ACCOUNT PHYSICS ON LAND AND OH YEAH THEIR LEGS IS INSANE.

But, Floyd Leech does not care what you think is insane. Actually, maybe he does. Just so he can do it. To top it all off: he's good. He can be really good. Club Wear stuff hasn't come out yet in EN server but Floyd Leech can fucking DUNK. I've seen the art. I know what I saw.

His diligence can rival Azul's--he's just less consistent about it. I just think that's funny and pretty cool.

3. Him,,,,,,but like romantically

OKAY SO THIS IS THE PINING PART. THE DOWN BAD MANIFESTO IF YOU WILL.

Sorry it took so long to get here, but I'm here now. Lemme absolutely YAP about what I love about him.

I have some feelings about how authors write him (THIS IS ALL OPINION I LOVE ALL FANFIC AUTHORS ESP OP U DESERVE A KISS ON THE FOREHEAD <3)

I dislike the yandere/overly possessive angle the twins get. I do. But, I get where that interpretation stems from: they're outwardly violent, intimidating, and are basically the fish mafia. Focusing on Floyd though: I love it when he's just....a guy in fics. When he is complaining about his childhood-best-friend-turned-boss who scolded him, or when he gets excited when his crush goes to his basketball games, or when he just wants to SQUEEZE the cute person in his class because he's got cuteness aggression. Fluff, I just like fluff.

OOO OOO FICS THAT LEAN INTO THE "Eels are Cowards" LINE. MY HEART AND SOUL. THEY HAVE IT. Gonna give Jade a big fat kiss for saying that line BC GOOD GOD.

GIMME FLOYD WHERE HE IS STARING AT THE READER FROM ACROSS THE ROOM BC HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY WHAT HE FEELS. GIMME FLOYD WHERE HE STARTS TO CALL THE PREFECT BY THEIR NAME INSTEAD OF "SHRIMPY" EXCLUSIVELY. GIMME FLOYD WHERE HE WANTS TO IMPRESS HIS LOVE INTEREST AND GETS EMBARRASSED WHEN HE LOOKS "UNCOOL".

I love where Floyd gets moments where he is caught off guard. Not even necessarily flustered. SHOUT OUT TO @cloudedgalaxies on Ao3 AND Tumblr for one of my FAVORITE interpretations of this.

I love it when Floyd doesn't know what to do when someone actively seeks him out. He's a moray--he's known to be feared by even the creatures of the deep. People at NRC know to be wary of him and his brother: he's basically a hitman for Azul for Seven's sake. But, for some reason, Yuu don't mind it. And I mean that in the sense to refer to the prefect and YOU. I love it when the reader puts up with his squeezes, his mood swings, and his eccentricities. Because for them, it isn't "putting up" with anybody: it's just them spending a good time with Floyd. And that's not a response Floyd expects. HE'S the one who is supposed to be unpredictable! Not you!

So he gets quieter. More reflective. Maybe even more angry. Whyyy???? Why do you do that? Your unpredictability robs Floyd of his control. He likes to toy with people for their reactions, but he is wholly unprepared for yours. And that makes him flail. In @cloudedgalaxies ' fic 'Benevolent Souls', Floyd gets angry with the reader. He can't understand their motivations and that bothers him in a way that he can't even understand completely. Love is foreign to him. The sea is cruel and cold sometimes, even though Floyd loves it it can crush your vulnerability. It really can.

I love it when fics make Floyd love. Even if he didn't think he could. I love it when fics show Floyd's softness that he didn't even know he had. I really do: because he throws himself into loving like he does everything else he thinks is worth it. I LOVE when he thinks love is worth it. He's intense, and wild, and unpredictable, and he's so silly. I love Floyd Leech. I do.

🐙 — AUBURN'S SUMMER RAFFLE EVENT!

rules for entry !

1) reblog this post and list something you love about your favorite twisted wonderland character!! gush about them!! yearn!! PINE!! you can get as mushy as you want, we love to see it!! 2) understand that each prize will be a sfw piece, with no ocs or self inserts (since i dont know how well i'll be able to write them.) 3) understand that raffle entries will start june 16th and end june 30th. winners will be announced after the event ends on july 1st. prizes will be awarded as i complete them. 4) understand that absolutely no incestuous, pedophilic, or other "problematic" relationships will be accepted as a request. if you win and request something as such, your prize will be revoked and someone else will receive it.

prizes !

1st place . . . a 2000 word (minimum) x reader fic with any character(s), tropes, aus, relationship(s) you want. 2nd place . . . a 1000 word (minimum) x reader fic with any character(s), tropes, aus, relationship(s) you want. 3rd place . . . a 500 word (minimum) x reader drabble with any character(s), tropes, aus, relationship(s) you want.

if enough people apply, i will consider adding a 4th & 5th prize . . .

4th & 5th place . . . a 300 word (minimum) x reader drabble with any character(s), tropes, aus, relationship(s) you want.

if you have any questions, please let me know in the comments <3

[thedigitalmarketer19]

Mastering Payment Application Excellence: 5 Compelling Reasons Why Your Bank Needs a Simulator for Seamless FedNow Testing and Innovation 

1. The intricate nature of payment applications:  

In the dynamic landscape of financial technology, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of payment applications is paramount. The intricate nature of these applications demands meticulous testing across a spectrum of message flows, diverse configurations, and boundary conditions. However, the challenge lies in the absence of a comprehensive simulated environment that fully encapsulates both the intricate FedNow system and the intricacies of the bank’s middle-office/back-office systems covering payment sending and receiving processes. With such a simulated testing ground, financial institutions can conduct thorough assessments. Recognizing this need, banks may find themselves compelled to shoulder the responsibility of constructing their own simulation environment – a pivotal step in fortifying the robustness and resilience of their payment applications. 

2. Alignment with latest schema versions:

In the rapidly evolving fintech landscape, FedNow message schemas may undergo dynamic version changes, prompting necessary adjustments at various levels. To ensure seamless alignment, applications must undergo updates and rigorous review and testing processes. The undeniable demand for a simulation environment is apparent, encompassing not only FedNow intricacies but also simulating the intricate dynamics of the bank’s sending and receiving processes. This comprehensive simulation environment proves indispensable, providing a testing ground for applications to adapt swiftly to evolving FedNow standards, fostering resilience, innovation, and compliance in the ever-shifting financial technology landscape. 

3. Improve Product Deployment Agility:  

In the era of continuous banking evolution, the creation of innovative instant-payment applications is inevitable. To ensure these applications seamlessly function across diverse devices, leveraging Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products is common. However, the real game-changer lies in having a proprietary, lightweight, and cost-effective simulation environment for comprehensive testing. This internal testing facility becomes indispensable, elevating overall development, testing, and production deployment agility. It not only fosters innovation but also enables banks to navigate the complex landscape of instant payments with confidence, ensuring robust performance and a competitive edge in the ever-evolving financial technology ecosystem. 

4. Self-service Testing Capabilities:  

In the realm of payment technology, the absence of standalone simulators from Payment Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) vendors poses a challenge. Typically, vendors rely on professional service groups to craft customized simulation scenarios during onboarding, which may not always be transparently shared post-deployment. This lack of accessibility and transparency hinders the long-term maintenance of customized test scenarios. Recognizing this, banks increasingly demand self-service testing capabilities. Empowering banks with the autonomy to conduct their testing ensures not only efficiency but also long-term adaptability, addressing the evolving needs of financial institutions in a dynamic and competitive market. 

5. Continuous Performance and Stress Testing:  

Testing applications continuously in various scenarios can make them stronger. Banks require a user-friendly simulator for efficient performance and chaos testing. This kind of testing not only checks how well the application works but also how it handles unexpected situations. A lightweight simulator is the key. It improves both how the application functions and its overall performance. This makes the application work better, helps banks adapt quickly, and saves costs. In simpler terms, it’s like giving the application regular check-ups to ensure it stays in top shape, ready for anything in the fast-paced world of banking technology. 

Discover the Power of BlitzzPay Simulator: Your Key to a Smooth FedNow Adoption Journey. Visit www.blitzzpay.com for More Information.

[snarkywrites]

April Horoscopes: Manifestation

Aries Season is here adding drama, love, and courageous energy into our lives. After seasons with mostly Earth and Air planets, we are back to Cardinal. This is the start of the Astrological New Year and it has arrived with an influx of passion. Venus and the Sun are already in Aries this month and Mercury will enter on the 3rd. One transit to look forward to is the New Moon in Aries on the 11th. Set your intentions and dream big because this Moon will not be afflicted by Saturn. Instead, it is embraced by both Saturn and Jupiter. We will be welcoming the powerful Taurean energy on the 14th when Venus will be in domicile. Sun and Mercury will follow on the 19th, adding to a huge stellium that will conflict with Saturn. Nevertheless, this energy is still lovely and romantic. Mars will shift into a water sign after a long time and the Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th will add more of that dreamy water energy. A reminder with this Full Moon and the Pluto Retrograde on the 27th, that there is still internal work to be done but we can still feel and embrace the magic and inspiration it will bring.

 Aries – Your birthday season is here bringing you a period of contemplation and a little chaos. Mercury enters your sign on the 3rd changing the way we communicate from dreamy to daring and brash. This planet in your sign builds our momentum fuels us with passion and even more drive since it will be joining the Sun and Venus. When the New Moon enters your sign on the 11th, we will be fortunate to experience more of that Cardinal energy that will help us move forward. Expect some magic and manifestation powers during this New Moon. If you want it, envision, and go for it. Venus will be in the sign of Taurus beginning on the 14th. The energy now translates to “treat yourself” and you shall during your birthday season. Venus enjoys being in this sign, so more of the good will accompany you during this time. Another interesting transit will be on the 23rd when Mars enters the sign of Cancer. It will be a frustrating transit as this planet will squaring your sign until June. Try to be patient, because Mars will have you repeating tasks if you do not work things out properly the first time. Get focused, keep going and have fun. The Full Moon in Scorpio will be on the 26th, adding some exhilarating and teary moments as you focus on letting go. Finally, the month closes with a Pluto retrograde on the 27th which is going to allow you to reevaluate your career choices for the next five months once again. Card of the month: Ace of Cups Reversed; create fearlessly.

Taurus – Your birthday season also begins middle of the month but some notable transits for you are Mercury entering the sign of Aries on the 3rd. Here you will be reflective as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in your house of the subconscious. The New Moon on the 11th will be a great time for you to set your intentions regarding what you wish to gain and what you aspire to do in the next six months. A favorable aspect will be Venus entering your sign on the 14th. You are going to feel lucky and beautiful. Mercury and the Sun will join Venus on the 19th. You are going to be feeling more in your element once Taurus season begins on that day. Mars will enter the sign of Cancer on the 23rd, motivating you to create and produce. Socializing will not be an issue now as you can acquire more fame through social media if you put your all into it. The Scorpio Full Moon on the 26th will once again have you contemplating relationships as you look once again to those dynamics at work and your personal life. Issues relating to October 2020 might reappear demanding you to resolve them. Pluto will close the month with a retrograde in the sign of Capricorn on the 27th, making a positive aspect to your sign. More of that transformative energy will continue to follow you since Uranus is also in your sign demanding changes that will make you uncomfortable, but you can handle it. Card of the month: King of Cups; don’t be afraid of emotions or romance.

Gemini – Mars is currently in your sign making a positive aspect to Jupiter and Saturn. You are making things work and getting things done. Mercury, your ruler will be in Aries on the 3rd. This brings a positive dynamic between Mercury and Mars, which will add to your creative spirit and it will surprise you to see how much content you can produce if you keep at it. The New Moon in Aries on the 11th is a good time to put your projects out there because you could get the recognition you have been dreaming of. Taurus Season begins on the 19th when Sun and Mercury move in to join Venus. During this transit, you will want to take a break from the world and recharge as you await your season’s entry next month. Mars will leave your sign and enter the sign of Cancer on the 23rd, making you work harder for the money. The focus and dedication will allow you to build up your income, just make sure not to overspend. On the 26th, the Full Moon in Scorpio is a period of evaluation when it comes to your daily routines and habits. More contemplative energy followed the next day with Pluto Retrograde in the sign of Capricorn. This transits in conjunction could inspire a trip down memory lane but you will just smile and look back because you are on your way to more success. Card of the month: Queen of Pentacles; Be confident in your position of power.

Cancer – As a Cardinal sign you are probably looking for a way to feel more in control this month. Mercury enters the sign of Aries on the 3rd, allowing you to set your sights on the top and manifest greater things. It is the time to make your career dreams come true as the New Moon in Aries graces your house of career on the 11th. With this Stellium, you are on your way to making big moves and acquiring big things if you plan and get to work. A lot of heart, passion and focus will get you anywhere this year. Taurus energy will be amplified with Venus entering this sign on the 14th. This is a great time to receive praise for the work you have done and to have some fun connecting with colleagues or friends. On the 19th, we enter Taurus Season and Mercury tags along with the Sun to build on your need for socializing and the Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th adds some excitement and intensity to your house of romance. There will be huge decisions to be made when Pluto goes retrograde on the 27th that will focus on your relationships. There could be people from the past returning in your life. You have the choice to embrace or let them go. Card of the month: Ace of Swords: Use your creative energy now.

Leo – Like the other fire signs, you are going to embrace Aries season since it will make you feel quite excited. The expansive energy that this point in time will bring you is great for pursuing dreams and achievement before the summer. Mercury will enter the sign of Aries on the 3rd, so if you are in school or contemplating going back, you might feel encouraged to go with it and pick the program you are interested in pursuing. You are going to want to digest information during this transit and once the New Moon in Aries occurs on the 11th, you will feel more confident in what you envision for your future. Taurus Season begins on the 19th, which means you are going to shift gears and focus on achievement and recognition during this transit. You have the favorable energy from Venus that will allow you to shine brightly and impress either professors or bosses. When Mars enters the sign of Cancer on the 26th, you are going to want to retreat from the world and this is perfect since it will allow you to work hard on your pending projects or just find new ways to excel at work. The Pluto Retrograde will open your eyes and allow you to express yourself in ways that are going to be more beneficial in the long run. Card of the month: Six of Pentacles Reversed; Focus on yourself more.

Virgo – Aries Season might not feel like much of an inspiration to you as the intense Pisces Season’s magic continues to linger. Mercury enters Aries on the 3rd, which can be an uncomfortable placement for you. You might reconnect with the past and understand your need to make changes in the future especially with the New Moon in Aries on the 11th, prompting you to let go and forgive. Venus in Taurus on the 14th initiates a period of harmony for you. The Sun and Mercury join Venus on the 19th, officially creating a stellium in Taurus. This is going to bring some answers to the questions posed during Aries Season. If you are focused on relationships this period, try to heal before entering a serious one. Taurus Season will give you the courage to face what is to come and peace of mind. The Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th will have you traveling and communicating. Put your thoughts in writing to release tension and pain. The Pluto Retrograde on the 27th will once more magnify any issues with relationships and romance. Forgive, let go and be open to love. Card of the month: Five of Wands Reversed; opt for peace not chaos.

Libra – You are going to enjoy the powerful energy that this Aries Season has in store for you. Venus and the Sun are already creating harmonious energies to your romantic life. If you are single, you might meet someone interesting during this three-week period before Taurus Season begins. Mercury will be in the sign of Aries on the 3rd, making you bolder when it comes to communicating. The New Moon in Aries on the 11th will be a great time to fall in love again with your partner. Your heart may be full of joy during this transit since there is a sextile to Jupiter, it will bring pleasure and will inspire you. This is powerful and welcoming energy you need to close out this season. Taurus Season begins on the 19th. Sun, Mercury, and Venus will provide you guidance in matters of love as well as the financial. You might have support from others now or will feel compelled to dive into the treat yourself mentality that Venus will bring since it rules your sign as well. With the Full Moon in Scorpio adding to the themes of value and self-worth, you are going to feel empowered. The Pluto Retrograde on the 27th sets the tone for the changes that will need to be made for future success in work and home. Card of the month: Queen of Swords Reversed; watch your tongue.

Scorpio – You are going to work hard for what you want during this Aries Season and it will be successful especially with the New Moon in Aries on the 11th allowing you to show others who is in control and who is the boss. Your work ethic will shine as the planets in Aries form a sextile to Saturn and Jupiter during this season. Taurus Season will bring back some interesting dynamics into your relationships. You are going to evaluate what your partner has to offer beginning on the 19th when Sun and Mercury enter your house of partnerships. But thankfully, Venus is also there, adding comfort and joy to your life as well. You are able to effectively communicate while being diplomatic with friends and/or romantic partners. Single people might meet someone interesting now with striking Venusian qualities that are likely to keep you interested. A major transit will be the Full Moon in your sign on the 26th, a time where cycles are closing. You are going to learn a little more about yourself and your own capabilities. If you have felt down with all these stressful Saturn and Uranus energies, you are going to reclaim some of the control again. Pluto in Capricorn will start its retrograde motion on the 27th. Expect some changes in the way you express yourself during this transit. Card of the month: Seven of Wands Reversed; be wary of others.

Sagittarius – Fire is in the air this month which is a great change from all the Air energy that has accompanied us for the first part of the year. Mercury in Aries on the 3rd is going to make you more charming. The bold energy of Aries intensifies as the planets begin to build into a stellium in your house of romance and pleasure. On the 11th, the stellium is complete with the New Moon that will allow you to meet new people and you will experience a bit of nostalgia. You might reminisce on past relationships, as you think back to the Mars in Aries transit that happened last year. It also does not help that Mars in Gemini is bringing some transformations to the way you view relationships. After the passion and emotion of this New Moon’s energy, you are going to get more driven and focused once Venus enters Taurus on the 14th. You are ready to make your mark, and no one is going to stop you. Once Taurus season officially enters on the 19th, those plans you made earlier in the year will begin to take flight. As Mars changes signs on the 23rd, you are going to deal with a new emotional intensity you probably did not want to handle now. These transits will only help to make you stronger in the long run, so go with the flow and practice patience. More transformative energy with the Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th and Pluto Retrograde on the 27th. This will be your period of reflection and understanding as you prepare for Gemini Season next month. Card of the month: Two of Wands: Be fearless with your choices.

Capricorn – Get ready to feel fired up during the month of April as your focus shifts from the career field to the home. This is your month to make changes that make you feel more comfortable and to bring a nice peaceful energy to your home. Connecting with family will be huge this month as things begin to get more exciting when Mercury is in the sign of Aries on the 3rd, allowing you to reconnect with traditions and the past. With Venus and the Sun already in the same sign, things will amplify with the New Moon on the 11th, bringing you to focus on changes for the future as well as the successes that have allowed you to triumph for so long. Venus will be in the sign of Taurus beginning on the 14th, so if your romantic life felt a little boring, now is the time to meet new people and begin to feel desirable as this planet makes a trine to your sign. Sun and Mercury enter the sign of Taurus on the 19th, adding more flare and creative energy into your life. Your focus will gradually move from work to romance once Mars enters Cancer on the 23rd. Get ready to attract more emotional people that will provide some interesting perspectives to you. The Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th has you feeling more sociable, so this is a good time to reconnect with friends or just trim your social circles a bit. The month closes with Pluto, the lone planet in your sign will begin its retrograde motion on the 27th. More transformations ahead. Card of the month: Ace of Pentacles: Financial success awaits.

Aquarius – A big year for you and this month is going to bring lighthearted energy. With the Aries stellium forming, the way you communicate will be audacious and filled with courage. For the creatives, this energy will be inspirational and allow you to be more driven. You are going to have a wonderful time connecting with friends and family. Venus in Taurus on the 14th is going to be a favorable transit especially in the home front. This could be bringing more of a need to make aesthetic changes as you want to bring your ideas to life and renovation might make you feel emotionally satisfied. On the 19th, the Sun and Mercury will also join Venus. This Taurus season will be jam packed and a little stressful since the Venusian planets will be facing off with Saturn, but you can handle it. With Jupiter still in your sign you will be able to overcome and handle any obstacles that are in your way. The Full Moon in Scorpio on the 26th will make an opposition to Uranus. If you are feeling an itch to make changes, think things carefully. This is a transit that asks you to go with the flow and continue working towards what you want in the future. The month ends with a Pluto Retrograde on the 27th. While this can feel intense, it will not compare to what you faced last year with the Capricorn Stellium. You now have guidance and personal experience to handle it. Your power will be known after it. Card of the month: Ten of Cups is a reminder to seek your happily ever after.

Pisces – You are going to do a lot and reevaluate yourself during this Aries Season. Mercury in Aries on the 3rd brings you a sign regarding the way you manage finances. Do the research, be patient and try not to overspend with Venus and the Sun currently in the same sign. The New Moon in Aries on the 11th is going to get down to the gritty parts and will have you doing some more inner work. You are going to think about relationships as well with Venus adding bits of nostalgia. On the 14th, Venus will be in Taurus and the themes will move to connecting and socializing. You will reunite with people or just meet new folks during this Taurus Season which officially begins on the 19th. Mars will be moving in the sign of Cancer on the 23rd which can bring excitement, romance, and drama. Try not to be too dramatic during this transit as Mars tends to make us all a little more passionate. In Cancer it is likely to make us all emotional. The Full Moon in Scorpio is a breath of fresh air for you, and it will happen on the 26th. A Cycle will close, and you are going to feel a weight begin to lift off your shoulders. The opposition this Moon has to Uranus might bring some highs and lows, but you are going to feel enlightened after it. The Pluto Retrograde on the 27th adds a little flare to your relationships yet again. People from the past might return or you might see big changes in your social groups. Card of the month: Strength; you are courageous and powerful.

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Love On-Set (Pt. 05 of 10)

Pairing: Dacre Montgomery X Reader

Word count: 2.9K

Summary: You knew acting on Stranger Things season 3 would be a challenge, and you also knew, from the start, you'd have to work closely with Dacre Montgomery. But is wasn't a big deal for you, since this is your job and you're determined to act professionally. You had it all figured out, or so you thought, until the moment you were out face to face with Dacre. Then, this job became a lot harder than it was supposed to be, since you can't seem to focus whenever you're around Dacre. And you'll have to be around him a lot until the end of production.

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{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

×

All The Right Signs

“Gaten, get it together! It's fake raining!” Finn yells as Gaten messes up the scene for the fourth time. Everyone just laughs as you brace yourself.

“Five minutes everyone!” James shouts and you follow the kids as they run out of the rain as the water is turned off.

Today, you're glad the scene is outside, with all the main actors. It's always fun, and you need to keep your mind away from what will happen tomorrow. You thought the kissing scene was too far away, but now it's just around the corner. And you didn't do as James said. Every time Dacre showed up to work on that, you'd just sit, watch something and talk. And you always have fun together. The director never asked about the video though, so you just decided to let it go.

But now, it's tomorrow. And you're trying hard not to think about it until it's inevitable.

“Are you cold?” Dacre comes to stand before you, messing up your train of thought.

“A little, yeah.” You answer, removing some hair from your face.

“Well...” He steps closer, his hands rubbing your arms. You immediately feel warmer, but you don't think it's because of the gesture. “If Gaten manages to say his line without bursting into laughter we'll get out of the cold very soon.”

You can't help but blush, staring into his blue eyes. “He is–”

A camera flashing gets your attention, and both you and Dacre look at the source. Millie tries to hide her phone as if the bright light didn't startle you.

“I can't wait for tomorrow.” Natalia comments.

Unfortunately, they will have to be here, because the kissing scene isn't the only one scheduled. You still don't know if it's good or bad. Probably bad.

“Alright, let's get it done.” As James speaks, the water is turned back on and it starts raining again.

“Let's go.” You say in a low voice, accompanying Dacre back to your positions.

It takes another four attempts for Gaten to finally say his line without messing up, and the rest of you are free to finish the take. Afterward, before you can run to your dressing room to shower and change out of the soaking clothes, the guys decide to make some silly pictures with everyone soaking wet. In the middle of the commotion to strike a pose, Dacre finds he's way to stand next to you, an arm either on your shoulders or around your waist. You try not to give it much thought, hoping Millie's phone camera won't get your blushing cheeks.

When it's all done, you take a warm shower before heading to the van and an hour later you're at your hotel room. But the day isn't over yet. The guys are coming here to finally start working on the Battle of Starcourt scenes. But you still have some time before they show up, so you make yourself comfortable on the couch, a blanket around your shoulders as you watch Jaws since you're in the mood for a classic movie.

A knock on the door startles you a little, and you notice you were too immersed in the movie. Dragging the blanket with you, you walk over there after checking your phone. There's still an hour until they come and you didn't order anything. But you unlock it and swing it open, biting your lip when you see Dacre. “Hey.”

“Hi.” He furrows his eyebrows when he looks down at you. “I absolutely love your dress.”

“Really? It's the last fashion in my living room fashion week.” Giggling, you step aside, closing the door shut when Dacre comes in. “You're early. Nobody got here yet.“

“Yeah, I know.”

Raising an eyebrow, you shrug your shoulders. It's not like you would send him away. “I'm watching Jaws. So we can either watch it or put on something else.” Making your way back to the couch, you watch as he does the same, settling down beside you. “You want the blanket?” You decide to ask, just to be polite.

“Sure.”

That you weren't expecting. It's not cold. Well, not that cold. You just took the blanket to feel more comfortable since you're wearing shorts and a light blouse. “Ok.“ You mumble as you take the blanket from around your shoulders, fixing it on both you and Dacre.

Then you focus on the movie. Or you try to focus the best you can. Why is Dacre here? Millie's voice comes back to your head, her lastest advise making you bounce your leg nervously. She told you Dacre is giving all the signs he's into you. And you should do the same, or else he'll get the idea you're not interested and step back. Natalia assured it'll happen because Dacre is a gentleman, always have been, and he won't keep pushing you into something you don't want.

Taking a deep breath, you think about your options. You feel how Dacre's arm is touching yours, and you have an idea. Feeling the butterflies in your stomach going insane, you lean closer to Dacre. “Can I?” You ask, laying your head on his shoulder.

“Sure.” He answers, and after a few seconds of the most uncomfortable silence you've even been through, Dacre moves, putting his arm around your shoulders, what makes you snuggle closer to him, your head resting partly on his chest and neck. Your whole body is frozen for a moment, wondering what this is. Then he moves again, his arm sliding down to embrace your waist, and you decide to just end the small distance that was between your bodies, completely leaning on him. “Is this ok?”

“Yeah.” You nod, eyes tightly shut as your cheeks start burning. “The shark is attacking.” Trying to ease the tension, you gesture at the TV.

“It is,” Dacre mumbles, and you feel his chest vibrating as he speaks.

As the minutes pass by, you feel more comfortable. And it feels good to finally allow yourself to do this. It's something so simple, so silly, but still, it feels right. You've been dying to do this and you didn't even know.

Unfortunately, the hour passes by, the knocks and the chattering announcing that your time alone with Dacre is over. Sighing, you leave the blanket behind and go open the door, hoping nobody will notice that Dacre was here already.

•

“Ok, ok. Positions...” Joe says after the coffee table and couch were pushed aside, leaving a free space in the middle of the room. You stand beside Millie, script in hand as you wait to find out what scene they'll start with. “You there. You can be... There.”

“Why do I have the feeling we interrupted something,” Natalia whispers as she walks by, tilting her head at Dacre, who's discussing something in the script with Sadie.

“Dacre just came to...” To do what? Did he even come to do something specifically? “He came a little earlier.”

“I didn't know you could get this red,” Millie exclaims, staring at you. “Oh, my God, I'm so happy I'll get to see the kissing scene.”

The kissing scene. Nobody in the freaking universe will let you forget it. As if you needed them to remind you that Dacre's lips will be on yours by tomorrow night. “I want to get it done on one take, so don't screw it.”

“You should ask us to ruin it as much as we can so you'll get to kiss him more times.” Natalia sing songs and you Millie laughs, nodding.

“It won't be Dacre and I. It'll be Billy and Amy. It's a scene, it's our job.” You don't know what gets to you, the words just roll out. And they're all true. It won't be a real kiss. It's not like you don't want to do it. You want to kiss Dacre, and this is making you nervous, but it just won't be real. “Let's just focus here, ok?”

The next hours are tiring. They were right to do this because the Battle of Starcourt will be chaos, and it'll be a lot better if you kinda know the dynamics before having to actually shoot it. But you're distracted, forgetting your lines so many times you have to just keep the scrip in hand and read it. You're thankful for the kids being so crazy because they make you laugh and forget your anxiety for a while.

It's past midnight then they leave, and as you're saying your goodbyes at the door, you notice Dacre falling behind. When he's by the door, the others are already disappearing down the hall.

“Guess I'll see you tomorrow.” You mutter, looking down at your feet. If it wasn't for a meeting James called with the whole cast in the morning, you'd have the whole day to deal with before going to the set. It's better this way though, you think.

“Yeah. I'd be down for another gym date but I have this job that won't let me.”

Giggling, you bite your lip. “You think it'll be about changes in the script?”

“I'm sure it will,” Dacre mumbles, giving a look at the hall. When you follow his gaze, you see three blurs in the shape of heads, vanishing into the corner. “We're being watched.” He lowers his voice as if you were in great danger.

“Hope it's not the Demogorgon. I'd hate to save your ass. Again.” When you look back at him, you find his blue eyes already set on you. It makes you sigh, wondering why your legs won't work, and make you step back, returning to the normal distance you should put between you and someone else. “I'll get some sleep... Rough day tomorrow.”

“I agree.” Another glance at the hall, but you don't have time to check if anyone's there this time. Dacre leans closer and places a kiss on your cheek, as he usually does. Only this time is different. It lingers, for far too long, and at the same time, it ends too soon. And you're sure you felt the corner of his lips on yours. “Good night, (Y/N).”

“Good night.” Whispering, you stand by the door as he makes his way to the elevators, giving one last look back before disappearing in the corner.

• • •

Your hands are shaking a little, and you blame it on the cold wind. But the wind isn't that cold. Is it?

You're already in your position, at Hawkins Community Pool's parking lot, next to this random car and your stylist is finishing with your hair and giving the final touches on your make-up. No lipstick. You can't imagine why.

On your left, you see many pairs of eyes set on you. After this scene, James wants to shot the sequence, when the kids find a Demodog in the pool, so everyone is here. But you can't think about that now, you have to focus. Amy needs to come to life today, and you need to act like a professional. You knew acting in Stranger Things would be huge, and difficult, but you'd never guess it would be this hard.

You take the deepest breath you can when you see Dacre coming your way. Mullets were an atrocity to humankind, you think, but damn, he did make it look good. How is it even possible? He shouldn't be allowed to do that.

“Hey. You–”

“Everyone ready?” James' thunder voice cuts him off, and you have no idea if that's good or bad. No time to figure out. “Clean the set, let's do this. Dacre, (Y/N), are you ready?”

Nodding, you force your mind to remember the lines. You're Amy now... Which sucks because by now, Amy is already in love with Billy. Nothing will help you, you just need to get it done, give the audience the show they want.

“Great. Alright then... Ready and... Action!”

You're not ready for that, but you move anyways.

“I can't believe you took almost an hour to get here, Hargrove!” Amy yells, walking fast to end the small distance between her and Billy. “There's a freaking Demodog in the pool!”

“It's dead. So why the hurry?” Dacre keeps the smug smirk, the one that makes you want to slap Billy. Just a little bit. “Chill.”

“Don't tell me to chill. Can't you miss one single date? Not even when there's an interdimensional monster involved?” You punch Dacre hard on the chest, well not so hard, but he does give a tiny step back. This is Amy's jealously attack, and you make sure to make her look frustrated because despite the emotions overflowing, she knows she shouldn't be doing this.

“Why the hell you always think I'm with some girl?”

“Because that's where you always are.” Jumping to conclusions. That's the way Amy found to keep her heart away from Billy. Didn't work though. “You know what, it doesn't matter. We have a bigger fish to fry.”

When you turn around to leave, Dacre gets his cue, grabbing your arm and forcing you to stop and stumble back. “The damn thing is dead, it can wait.”

“Let go.” Amy pleads, stepping backwards as Billy comes closer. That's the moment where she gives up trying. This thing with Billy has been going on for a while now, and, as in real life, there's just this point where you stop fighting it. “Seriously, I'm tired of this shit so let's just–”

“I know you're jealous.” He mutters, just when your back hits the car. James loves to have you trapped like that. “Just need to figure out why.”

“I've said it once, and I'll say it again.” It's hard to follow the script, it's hard to keep breathing normally. It's so damn hard to keep eye contact with Dacre right now. “I won't be one of your flings so back the hell down.”

It comes out too low, and you wait for James to stop the scene. And you want him too. You can't do this. You can't stop looking at Dacre's lips, you can't control the butterflies in your stomach. This is just a goddman scene, why can't you get it together?

“Who said I want you to be a fling?”

That's it. It's happening. Dacre leans closer, so close that you have no choice but to close your eyes. He's saying something else, but you don't hear it. Your hands find their way to his chest, grabbing his jacket as if to steady yourself, to get a grip of reality. When his lips brush on yours, Amy is gone and you break character, taking a deep breath before pulling him closer, eager to end the small distance and finally–.

A loud noise, an explosion, makes both of you jump. One of the cameras near you come crashing down and if it wasn't for Dacre pulling you away, it would hit you. The whole thing moves like a domino effect, knocking a few more cameras with it. You barely hear James's voice, stepping further back, making sure you're far enough. The rest of the cast abruptly stand up from their chairs, worried.

“Everyone back off!” James shouts.

“Are you ok?” Dacre asks and you simply nod, a hand on your heart.

James dismisses everyone while he and his assistants check what happened. You silently walk beside Dacre until you reach the rest of the crew, looking down and trying not to think about the kiss. Or the almost kiss.

“What the hell happened?” Joe asks, and everyone starts talking at the same time.

There isn't much to talk about. Four of the five cameras are wrecked, and the director is pissed. But still, you're too far away, your mind stuck in the phantom of the kiss you craved for so desperately. Dacre stands by your side, but you can't look at him right now. So you engage in the conversation, ignoring Millie's and Natalia's stares, hoping nobody will notice your blushing cheeks.

An hour later, the big news arrive. Well, they're big news fort he cast, not for James. After analyzing the damage, James will have to suspend the shooting for five days. Which means you'll have five days off. Everyone starts making plans, and the ride back to the hotel is filled with happy chattering about who will go where. But you already know what you'll do. You'll fly home and use these days to rest. And think.

“Hey.” Dacre gets your attention, following out of the van when you reach the hotel. “What are your plans?”

“Uhm... I'm flying home.” Shrugging your shoulders, you keep his pace through the main hall.

“Oh, you live in LA, right?” Giving him a quick glance, you nod. “I'm living there too, I don't know if I told you.”

This lights up a spark in your heart, and suddenly, you're not so excited to stay away anymore. “No, you haven't.”

“We can book our flights together... If that's ok.”

His hesitation gets you by surprise, but then you notice how distant you've been acting since the kiss. Damn, he might be thinking you didn't like it or something. That he made you uncomfortable. That's exactly what you don't want him to think. “It is. When do you wanna leave?”

“Tomorrow morning?”

“That's fine by me.” You finally decide to look at him, and you immediately regret avoiding his eyes. Being nervous is... Normal. Maybe. But his eyes give you the reassurance you need. “I'll stop by your room in an hour so we can buy the tickets.”

“I'll be waiting.” His lips break into a smile, and you can't help but bite your lip and smile too.

“I'll be there.” You say as the doors open on his floor. Dacre mutters a goodbye, and right before the door closes again, you see when he winks at you.

×

@baker151910 @shinydixon @dreamin-of-dacre @hanoi15 @lickmymelanin @foccus @multific @uncookspaget @kellysimagines @peakascum

[sternguard77]

Here I am with the full 10 Plague Marines built. I feel like they ended up with a fair amount of character! The kitbash of Forge World Upgrades, Horus Heresy base bodies as well as a few arms and weapons filched from my leftover chaos and death guard bits really made them a unique squad. The loadout is fairly symmetrical so if I feel like it I can separate the unit into combat squads.

The thought at the inception of my build was for the squad to be geared for close quarters combat, so I always intended the unit to have a good density of melee weapons. The end result being these terrific feeling fellows.

These Flail lads are the other spawn of my mighty need for the most number of attacks in the smallest possible package. They came out pretty dynamic but damn were they a pain to put together.

The plague marine kit’s Flail arms were not sized for these torsos so after wearing out my hands trying to keep the arms pressed to the contact points I eventually broke out a clamp and a ridiculous amount of gel super glue to both fill the gaps and hold it in place. By comparison the other one was easier. Though getting the chains all on the trimmed down Icon arm proved to be a bit of a tedious build.

The Champion feels a little underdone if I’m honest. Maybe its the pretty basic pose but I definitely feel like I could do more to make him pop. Still his sculpt has a good amount of character so I do think he’s a fun model.

These melta lads by comparison I think I’m the least happy with. They’re really just guys with Meltaguns. If I had more interesting arms maybe they’d have caught my interest more but as it stands their kind of uninspired.

Having said that I don’t know why but I feel like these basic bolter lads have turned out really well. They’re all fairly dynamic despite being the same basic squatties that you always see from firstborn kits. The potbelly lad in the middle might be my favorite of the whole squad, earning him unofficial champion status for when I run the unit in combat squads.

[ks-caster]

Beth Liveblogs Black Widow

Bought that premium access on Disney+ so I can have the privilege of pausing for snacks and using subtitles as needed - so let’s go! 

Beth’s Spoiler-Free Review: Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the movie - the plot was compelling, the characters were likable, and the stunts were really excellent. I felt like hair and makeup dropped the ball on realism multiple times which I was sad about, because how she looks seems to be pretty important to Nat so I expected it to be done well in her movie. 

I did not like the way they framed the tail end (denouement - obviously because this movie is mid-series we know how it ends to an extent) - I felt like the connect-up to Infinity War was lackluster, especially compared to how enjoyable and dynamic the rest of the film was.

Spoilery live-reactions are under the cut. Click at own risk! Feel free to rebagel with your own impressions, thoughts, jokes and rebuttals!

The movie begins with a young Nat with blue dyed hair and visible roots, showing her natural red. Do you know how hard it is to get natural red out of hair, enough to make it blue and not green? And I’m supposed to believe that a middle-school age girl in 1995 Ohio had access to these chemicals? I’ll give her the white hair in IW/Endgame because she’s an adult with a lot of experience as a spy altering her appearance. But as a child? In the 90s? While her family is apparently in hiding? Sus.

The scene with Alexei laying on the on the wing while Nat learns to fly? AMAZING stunts. Amazing. AND someone in an action movie is finally smart enough to shoot the tires.

Nice skills on young Nat, getting the gun. Since we know from Endgame that Nat’s father is named Ivan, we know that Alexei isn’t really her dad. She also refers to presumably the red room as going “back.” Was she lent out to these agents to legitimize their family?

-0-

Nice knife moves, Yelena - I love the hand switch.

Ooooh so she was being mind controlled and the red stuff freed her? Interesting.

-0-

Nat is in Norway - visit Thor! He’d love to have you. (I’m mixing up my timeline, aren’t I?)

Supplies Dude whose name I didn’t catch refers to the Avengers breakup as a divorce - I kinda love it. It’s accurate!

BUDAPEST omg are we finally going to get the story?? Are we??

Box dye? I’m supposed to believe she got all that red out of her hair with flippin’ Loreal? Really? And that toner isn’t even the color she ultimately went - it’s too yellow. Sus.

-0-

Oop, looks like Nat got caught up in Yelena’s desertion.

Do not give Nat your metal frisbee, robocop - she’s been around Steve long enough that she knows how to use it.

I laughed out loud when she did the string him up thing with the cables - literal spider move, I love it!

Mystery box is empty - classic bait and switch.

-0-

BUDAPEST - WE ARE IN BUDAPEST - IT’S HAPPENING PEOPLE

Nat closing the door behind her is a small thing but I appreciate it - no sneaking up behind her.

When Yelena throws Nat in the kitchen and her feet hit the door and she spins before she hits the ground? That was a helluva stunt.

Oooooh honey. No body left to check is ALWAYS movie code for they lived.

Dreykov’s daughter? Another hint from Avengers 2012? C’mon, movie.

Riding the chimney down? Another incredible stunt. 

Dreykov can scan his soldiers’ bodies and terminate them if they’re too damaged to keep fighting? Big yikes. With Nat where she is character development wise, the stakes are now much higher because if she injures an opponent they may be killed remotely.

“Do you want me to chase him down and un-steal it?”

The car door under the bike was an excellent stunt - as was the car going into the subway. Though I’ve never seen a subway entrance big enough to admit a car.

Who hasn’t wanted to slide down the middle to avoid the crowded escalators lol.

Yelena making fun of Nat’s sexy poses I am LIVING omg.

Running water for wounds. RUNNING WATER. NOT ALCOHOL. The vodka goes on the INSIDE for the pain - the running water cleans the OUTSIDE. If there’s a convenience store then there’s a bathroom, with running water. Cleansing with something like alcohol is a LAST RESORT and you do not look like you’re at that point resource-wise. I thought these ladies were supposed to be highly trained in all of the things?

“Could be fun though.” “I saw where he put the keys” “Top drawer green cabinet.” I love their chaos.

Yelena’s vest and its pockets and the resulting conversation are positively majestic.

“You are sensitive.” “You’re a very annoying person.”

-0-

Do! Not! Move! Around! Like! That! While! Getting! A! Tattoo!!!! That poor artist was trying his best and Alexei just...

Ooooh was Red Guardian like Captain Russia? Interesting.

“Just don’t make a scene.” “You made a scene didn’t you.”

David Harbor running up that wall and then wiping out after the guard shocks him... I really loved that stunt, especially since they don’t show him being all super cut - he’s a big guy! He’s allowed to have fat over his muscles and still be a strong dude! I love it.

“Such a poser.” Girl, you need to meet Loki - he does a lot of hair flips too lol.

The sibling energy between the girls during the rescue!!!

“Whooooooa... this would be a cool way to die.” Yelena, I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you but get your head in the game girl.

Poor Alexei - he never gets to do the dramatic escape from *inside* of the aircraft.

Hang on, no ovaries? So all of these women are now in immediate, surgically-induced menopause? The uterus part makes sense if the intent was to prevent them from getting pregnant if they have sex during a mission, but, what, they gotta be on estrogen supplements for the rest of their lives? That’s just really poor planning. Like it was hilarious the way Yelena went into the biology of it to make Alexei uncomfortable, but that really doesn’t make sense to do to your superhero kids. It’s just bad science.

Love that Yelena keeps her vest even after she changes into her matching white flight suit. That vest better make it to the end of the movie.

-0-

“Honey, we’re home.” I 100% expected her to shoot him on sight tbh. it would have been funny.

Alexei squeezing into the uniform is such a post-pandemic feel. Also all of the fancy braids at that table; I see where Natasha got her propensity for them.

Animal cruelty warning, ugh. Poor piggy Alexei.

Oooh the photo album and Natasha remembered staging the pictures; they’re emotional for her but in a different way.

I wonder if robocop’s shield is actually Alexei’s.

The singing between Alexei and Yelena was a really beautiful moment because it was neither auto-tuned-good nor hilariously bad - it felt really real, especially the way Yelena’s so choked up she can barely make sounds come out.

Uh-oh, mama has one of those monitor your vitals and kill your ass suits. The suits I understand - the eyeliner though... when and why did she do her makeup?? That’s not really the thing that comes to mind for me when I’m getting ready to do something athletic, like say kidnapping my supersoldier fake family.

“This is a much less cool way to die.” Also WTF why would they do that. Wouldn’t it be easier to get the information out of her while her brain is still attached to, y’know, her mouth??

CLEVER CLEVER CLEVER they switched outfits and faces ooooooh like mother like daughter.

The door opening as Alexei is leaning against it dramatically bahahahaha

I love the plan. I’m thoroughly weirded out that Melina has a red wig just lying around that perfectly immitates Natasha though. 

“Yelena, it’s mama. You have a two-inch blade in your belt.”

Oh. My. God.

Antonia.

A pheromone lock preventing them from hurting them if they’re close enough to smell him - I like it. It’s clever and new.

Bahahaha poser! You posed I saw you! Still love the vest.

Natasha is really good at manipulating people’s emotions to get what she wants - I mean, scary good. So if she’s provoking Dreykov into beating her up, there’s a reason. 

“Using the only resource the world has too much of - girls.” Kill him. 

-0-

When I say I whooped out loud... SEVERING THE NERVE. Thank you for your cooperation. YAAAAAAS QUEEN.

-0-

“Slight change of plans - we are going into a controlled crash.” The way she said that was just so mom-like omg!

-0-

The grenade as a delivery system was super smart - but yikes what if she’d mistimed it and blew Natasha up? Also, after the beating she took and how hard she had to wack her own face into the desk to sever her olfactory nerve and the amout of blood we saw her leave behind from doing that, her face should be a LOT more messed up, come on makeup department.

“Get as far away from here as possible.” And then keep going because General I-Collect-Supersoldiers-Like-Stamps Ross is about to turn up at your location looking for trouble and he’d snap you ladies up like there’s a fire sale and you’re going out of stock.

This crash doesn’t look all that controlled, Melina. I’m starting to suspect that most of the widows won’t live long enough to make their own decisions...

All of the aerial stunts were amaaaaaazing - the way Nat slowed herself by sliding down the panels so Antonia could catch up with her and she could deploy her parachute... 

The vest survived the movie!!!

Fuuuuuck Ross is showing up and he sucks and I hate him and I’m super worried that he’s gonna take the vest from Nat if he takes her into custody. Please don’t let her lose the vest. 

Okay, there is now zero reason for Nat to stay behind. They have an aircraft. She had plenty of time to just board it and leave?

-0-

Okay okay okay Ross did not get her and did not take the vest. But am I supposed to believe she bleached her hair, toned it blonde, and then re-bleached and re-toned it to silver? Who does that? That would be terrible for her hair. Her scalp would be burned all to hell from the amount of chemicals needed to not only get all that red out but THEN get the blonde toner out. Y’know what color silver toner is? Blue/purple. Y’know what happens when you mix that with yellow? Green. And not a nice green either (I speak from experience). No. Her hair at the end of the movie? Cancelled. 

-0-

SHE GOT THE DOG!!!

Oh, ouch. Big ouch. I hurt like a lot now. This is so not an okay way to end the -

...

Countess I-Forgot-Your-Name-Already?

Oh no. Oh no. That’s worse. That’s a lot worse. We are now setting up the Hawkeye series and I while I’m horrified that this was how they ended the film, I gotta say that’s going to make for some wonderful angst in that series on both Clint and Yelena’s parts and I am here for it!

OVERALL IMPRESSION

I really, really enjoyed this movie, I thought the story was compelling, the stunts were really excellent, and I liked the character dynamics and the twist

I did not like the ending - it just sort of fell off quickly and didn’t feel satisfying after an otherwise really fun movie. I also take issue with the hair and makeup as shown among the characters, as seen in my several rants to that effect.

I would have liked to have seen a few more childhood/training flashbacks, and absolutely would have loved a cameo from Jeremy Renner (not just his voice) and to see him and Nat meeting and him giving her the whole dad speech that he does so well - bonus points if she could have then quoted him to Yelena or Antonia, showing the way that multiple people had a formative effect on her (an answer to the “The Avengers aren’t really your family either” comment).

[cryptofilm]

Bolt from the Dark | Animated Short Film

Bolt from the Dark | Animated Short Film by Prateek Mathur

The short film is available for crypto art collectors - NFT Rarible

Bolt From The Dark - Concept

The concept of this short film revolves around surrealistic art and fantasy. Surrealism is a movement that began in the 1920s and has been expressed in art, literature, and even politics. WWI had a profound effect on Europe, and many people believed that the conflict was a result of excessive rational thought and the materialistic values of the middle and upper classes. Artists of this belief were known as Dadaists, and they embraced chaos and the irrational. The Surrealism movement focused on these ideas of chaos and unconscious desires in an effort to dig deep into the unconscious mind, to find inspiration for political and artistic creativity.

The main character in the video is represented by a female body made out of dark wood. In place of a human head is a cube, with one out of the six sides connecting to the body. She is also holding two crystal eyes. The character does not represent a human form. She reacts to sound as conveyed by the movements of the cube and the way it lights up with the beat. Instead of her facial features – which he does not have – displaying emotions, her gesture translates her feelings. She holds her crystal eyes in her hands, and thus controls and manipulates her surroundings.

In contrast, an organic character is introduced. A “Wyvern”. The legendary bipedal, winged, dragon, usually depicted with a tail ending in the shape of a diamond or arrow, is a popular creature in European literature, video games, and modern fantasy. The Wyvern in heraldry and folklore, is rarely fire-breathing, unlike the four-legged dragon. It frequently features in modern fantasy fiction, though its first literary appearances may have been in medieval bestiaries.

In the video, the Wyvern’s poisonous breath is represented by fire, which can be equally as destructive. It also appeals to the sense of touch. The concept of the video originated from a desire to take the viewer on a journey of transformation, beginning in darkness and reaching for the light. However, it also serves as a metaphor for the recent events that have touched us all. Before the pandemic, we were living life without a care for the little things that seem so precious today. It has shown us how fragile our community is, and the subsequent chain reaction that will occur if one single aspect of our society falls. Unfortunately, given our innate habit to downplay more traumatic events, as life gets back to normal, we will most likely forget just how much the pandemic affected us personally, and we will eventually ignore the things which we learned. As human beings, we are motivated to see the bright side and do our best to forget the bad.

This story also demonstrates how people around us play an important role in changing who we are and vice versa. The healthiest option for anyone, is to be surrounded by people with rational thinking, who have the ability to consider the relevant variables of a situation and to access, organize, and analyze relevant information (e.g., facts, opinions, judgments, and data). This is not a skill one can just master. Unfortunately, any rational person can fall into the darkness, through mistakes and harmful influence. It is by definition what it means to be human. For example, at the peak of the Covid-19’s first wave, death and the ever-present threat of an unseen enemy pushed many people to find an escape. While some moved towards a more positive way of dealing with the issue, many fell prey to irrational thinking, tumbling deeper down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, thus wiping out the rational thought process of what is to be believed.

CONCEPT

The story begins with the character, emerging from the darkness and reaching a platform, from which she can observe her surroundings, seemingly filled with dragon eggs. The dragon egg symbolises a beginning. An empty mind searches, as it needs information, direction and knowledge so it may begin its journey. As the egg starts hatching, it now sits on the platform where the character was. A dark dragon tracks her and she is surrounded by others like her. This represents the pressure of our society and the need to be accepted. However, she continuously resists, attempting to escape the grip of darkness while the dragon follows her. She sees glimpses of light, and tries to look at the world from the point of view of the stars. Still the darkness inside her pulls her back. As peer pressure intensifies, she feels increasingly uncomfortable, but she is not alone burdened with this feeling. Many in the community feel the same. As the video progresses, she finds her strength to get out of the darkness. She can feel it in her heart, which is filled with energy to spare. Her heart is pumping, and the darkness slowly lifts. Still, she finds herself surrounded by three dragons. Afraid, in pain and exposed, she shares the pure energy in her heart, the light spreading to everything that surrounds her. Their heartbeats synchronise, and the character transforms into the brightest being there. This pivotal point of the story conveys a moment of change for the better. As bright ideas and joyful thoughts destroy the darkness, she is lifted up, finally free from the burdens of negativity. At the end however, the choice is hers as doubt can send her spiralling back down to the darkness once again.

TIMELINE

The idea of this video sparked in mid-April 2020. Back then, the concept was vague, with little detail. However, moving forward, the idea evolved into a more focused concept, filled with meaning. Using surrealism to express the idea was quite challenging. The concept at its core was always the same – a surrealistic character in a fantasy environment. In the very early stages, I initially had the character performing a contemporary dance, with disjointed movements. The dance would slowly evolve into ballet, with soft movements while the environment changed to brighter colours. While I abandoned this concept, the idea of a journey from a place of torment towards the light is still the main focus of the final video.

The inspiration for the character’s pose, presentation, and animation came from the amazing artist Donald Glover and his music video “Childish Gambino This Is America”, directed by Hiro Murai, a Japanese-born American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Glover’s dance moves are a bit uncomfortable to watch, as it is mostly a distraction from the background violence in the overall concept. Dances tend to be associated with frivolity (lack of seriousness) and vapidity, despite the fact that dancing has always been a communicative art of great cultural significance, spreading joy through movement. On the contrary, Glover’s movements represent a lack of seriousness, liveliness, and animation.

In order to develop the character, I designed several 3d models from head to toes and took multiple references for the character’s dynamic pose. The end result which represents a strong female character is satisfying. As a non-organic rigger, I hired a freelancer to rig the character with the specifications I required for the dragon. Initially, the first end result of the character’s overall look did not match what I had in mind and had a significantly high rendering time of 6 hours per frame. Therefore, I went back to the drawing board and simplified the design with the help of another artist, thus separating the render into multiple stages.

Initially, the project was divided into 50 shots which were then filtered into 30 shots maximum. I began rendering the shots in-house in early November 2020, as most of the budget went into purchasing assets and hiring freelancers. The majority of the render finished in early March 2021, after four and a half months of rendering. Patience is a virtue, and I found the overall look matched my expectations. After a private review of the short film, I collated feedback and polished the shots further.

Finally, regarding the name of the character Astrape, it was taken from Greek mythology. Astrape is a girl’s name meaning “lightning”. The twin sisters Astrape and Bronte were goddesses representing lightning and thunder. They would carry Zeus’s thunderbolts. Thus derived the name “Bolt from the Dark”.

Short Film by Prateek Mathur now available at Rarible.