#especially bc you can keep adding additional things to look for

[thanatos-zagreus-shagreus]

Yeah you're right about Alice finding Bonzo as having a high W value, instead of Fredi recommending Bonzo! What I meant was that I don't think that W needs to be upped for the balance. We know that Bonzo scores high on W, and we've heard quite a bit of Bonzo. If what we've heard is representative of the total caseload (which is absolutely not a given!) then we must already be high on W (although I admit I haven't actually run any numbers yet, which I suppose wouldn't be difficult to do, so I might do that later). Then Fredi might be pushing for more W to break the balance, by lying to Gwen about which values are low.

The following got way longer than I intended, oops!

I believe I've read in another of your posts some theories on what DWPH might stand for. My current (entirely ungrounded) theory is that whatever W stands for is more aligned with the Fears from tma than the other values. This would hook into my other theory, so I'll expand on that first:

I think that whatever the fuck is going on in tmagp is indeed its own thing, separate from tma, BUT that the tma finale has let the Fears into this universe. The oiar cases don't show that very clearly, because their system is built for their own paranormal stuff, not for the Fears, so they are trying to see the stuff from the Fears through their own lens. And to be fair, their own lens is good enough for their own paranormal stuff, which was already happening since forever, and hasn't stopped since the Fears got added to the mix. So we're not just figuring out a new paranormal system, we're also figuring out how it's newly interacting with the Fears. For instance, Ink5oul seems to have their own powers centered around transformation through their tattoos, but I remember them saying something along the lines of later coming to enjoy the fear in their clients as they are tattooed. I think that when the Fears got into this universe, they immediately felt the amount of fear Ink5oul inspired in their clients and other people, and made them an avatar. If you want a specific Fear, I'd say a mix of the Corruption and the Spiral, but we should remember that those are just categories. Becoming an avatar would be the moment that Ink5oul started enjoying the fear of their clients.

Within that framework, I think it would make sense that the Eye latched onto the OIAR. Like, come on, an organisation spying on literally everything and being able to get cases of people experiencing massive amounts of fear, even if classified as top secret? That's like catnip to something called the Beholding that feeds on fear. So the Eye threw its own avatars into the computer there (bc it needed to do something with them, I guess), and bam! it has a new headquarters. Whatever reason caused it to be unable to access digital systems is apparently not hindering it here (my bet is on the reason in tma being that the Web did something to make digital stuff inaccessible, so the Eye would instead use the tapes, which of course weren't really of the Eye, but of the Web. In tmagp the Web is also new in this world, so it hasn't been able to set up such precautions while technology was developing). With the Eye in the computer systems, that would also explain how we got the podcast. In tma we were listening through the tape recorders: we, the audience, were the Beholding. Now in tmagp we're listening through security cameras and computers. So if the Fears have come to this universe, I don't think anything's changed. We're still the Eye, but we're finally able to use better microphones (not to mention, microphones on devices that are a lot more common than tape recorders).

With the Eye in the computer system (and thus in Fredi), I can imagine that it's trying again to cause some kind of apocalypse. With all of the information available to it, it's probably already figured out what needs to happen: the quaternity needs to be out of balance. Getting back to the W value, I think that since the Fears have arrived and caused additional incidents, W has risen, and the Eye is using that by telling Gwen that more W is needed. In a horror podcast, paranormal always means scary, but I think that the kind of fear that the Fears embody might be more W than D, P or H. This would mean that not only are we seeing how alchemy paranormal stuff interacts with the Fears, we are also seeing the achemy getting directly imbalanced because of the Fears.

What even is the OIAR

This is not really a theory, more like a series of questions, gut feelings and ramblings of a madwoman.

I feel like we are led to believe that the OIAR, like all official government agencies, are doing some sort of service to the people, albeit with dark undertones. Occasional civilian sacrifice to keep the horrors at bay, and all that. It seems to track with everything we know about keeping a balance, about sending a Bonzo out to brutalize some party-goers, and about Colin's ramblings about what too much sulphur or mercury might lead to. But I have to wonder.

Why did Colin bring up Stasi? If the OIAR is a British government agency, why was he concerned with the East German secret police that doesn't even exist anymore? I have to assume that Fr3-d1 (or its prototype?) was created in the DDR, and for some reason the system along with the operations were moved to the UK. But why? If the OIAR is concerned with keeping a universal balance, surely it would take much more than one British organisation using their limited local externals. Does every government have their own branch? Or is there something deeper hidden in their history?

What rubs me the wrong way is the symbology in the logo, which at this point I've overanalysed to death. We have the symbol for the Philosopher's Stone (inverted, which could mean something or not), the laurels that were used to symbolise the completion of the Great Work, and the motto "Non vacillabimus", which conveys the idea of not faltering/hesitating/wavering. These do not feel like symbols of stability or balance, they feel like symbols of conviction towards a goal. The Philosopher's Stone is not created by merely keeping things balanced, it's the end goal of repeated, transformative processes.

This is where I'm going off the rails a bit, but I have to entertain the possibility that the OIAR was never meant to be a government agency to begin with. As has been pointed out, the logo does bear a striking resemblance to the royal coat of arms (with the lion and unicorn and all that), which is why no one would even think to question it. But the lion and the unicorn are also common symbols for the sun and moon, which must be brought together in union to make the Stone. And the quaternity (or circle divided in four) in the middle is similarly a common symbol found everywhere in alchemy. Additionally, the emblem doesn't even say "Office of Incident Assessment and Response", it says "O. I. A. R." Do we know for sure that's what it even stands for? It could just as well be an Order of some kind, and god knows there wasn't a lack of those in Germany.

The OIAR could have been established in Germany as another type of organisation, such as an alchemical fraternity of some kind, and then repurposed into a British government agency. Why? I have no clue. I just have this nagging feeling that all is not what it seems. And it doesn't help that they hid a major plot twist in the Magnus Archives logo and I didn't notice it until way after I'd finished listening. TMAGP being about alchemy, which is specifically the art of hiding secrets in plain sight, makes me more paranoid than ever.

No conclusions, local madwoman out.

[choccy-milky]

(SPOILER WARNING to people who haven't read your story) I SWEAR to GOD!!!! This is borderline anon-hate with my current state of mind after finishing The Raven and The Snake over this weekend. I finished it in two days. I'm a mess. I've even started making a playlist because I feel like I can't properly enter reality again. I'm supposed to be writing my bachelors thesis right now,,,, what have you done to me!!!!

I loved it so so so much, and I am very mad I cannot have a collectors edition hardback version of it on my shelf. There are many many moments that keep replaying in my head, and scenes that I saw so vividly when reading through it. The first imperio moment and Sebs shadow and imperio-green eyes as Clora was held captive, and the entire scene in the repository and how I was physically shaking as I slowly realised that Seb had made a fucking horcrux, and when it was CONFIRMED the GASP i GUSPED. It was so perfect, and so very Sebastian; because OF COURSE he made a horcrux (lowkey hot, sue me).

And the scene where Clive realised Seb straight up just died for his daughter without knowing he would be back, oh my dear lord.

And the idea of Seb being seen as a 'Ruffian' and that little mamas boi bitch of a Henry thinking his hand-me-down-riches, muggle ass would be preferable to a powerful wizard. I secretly wished they didn't have to keep magic a secret so Henry could have known just how inferior he was. AND SEB APPARATING SO FAR UMPH the skilllll.

I could go on and on and on, and maybe I will some other time in your inbox when I have another mental breakdown.

And now I'm also almost done with the small sequel. Just taking a break to bombard you with this unhinged message of mine. And how you draw Sebastian is so fucking good. It's actually what got me reading in the first place. I see your version as being in a completely separate universe from the game, cause the way you draw him just has that something, and it's not the same anywhere else. It certainly doesn't help my obsession that my own boyfriend has the same features and colour palette as him, now I think I might even use your art as inspo for next time we need wardrobe additions.

I love you and I hate you.

Ps. Of course I added Sarah Smiles to the playlist and also Far too young to Die, and Just One Yesterday. If you've any other songs you think match please let me knowww~~

BRUHHHHH I ALMOST FEEL NARCISSISTIC FOR POSTING/RESPONDING TO THIS ASK BC ITS JUST PRAISE BUT DAMN THANK YOU SO MUCH😭😭😭😭IM HAPPY YOU LIKED IT SO MUCH!! FORGET WRITING YOUR BACHELORS THESIS, TY FOR WRITING A THESIS ON WHY U LOVED MY FIC SO MUCH AND ALL THE LIL THINGS U ENJOYED BAHAHAHA (love the henry slander) im also glad u like how i draw seb too, and i love how thats what made u start reading it in the first place BAHAH but fr, sometimes i try drawing seb more accurately to his ACTUAL appearance and then im like... Who The Hell is this... and it may sound arrogant since im the artist but my seb is MY seb, yknow...its why i dont like drawing him with other mc's romantically. bc even tho its like, oh look, that's Sebastian Sallow™ from the hit game Hogwarts Legacy™! in my style if i draw him with another MC, its like, NO!!! THATS NOT SEBASTIAN SALLOW™, THATS CLORA'S HUSBAND🤺🤺THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING BOI??🤺🤺🤺 LMAOO but rly TY AGAIN💖💖💖 not only for reading but also taking the time to write all this and let me know how much you enjoyed it🥹🥹i (and all writers, really) always love getting stuff like this!! it also brings me back to when i was writing it, especially now that ive been finished with my fic for a few months, listening to u react to all the diff scenes is making me miss it and giving me nostalgia for my own damn fic FRRR😩 also i love that youre making a playlist LMAOO thats how u know the brainrot truly has a hold on you IM SO SORRY🙏🙏 i actually made a seb and clora playlist like last year and its somewhere in my ask tag if you look through that?? but one song that i can recommend off the top of my head (which i almost made their anthem in that OTP chart) is arms tonite by mother mother...whenever i listen to it i cant help but laugh to myself bc its SO perfect for the chap where seb sacrifices himself....YOULL SEE WHEN U LISTEN😇💖

[eightmagicballs]

Filthy Reins Fix

Okay nerds, here's the skinny.

(long story short yes you can have nicer reins no it's not a simple or perfect fix)

Reins ingame (kinda), yay (kinda)!

@studiosweetpeacc has been kind enough to let me upload the bridle that they made and I've been using to figure out reins since I was too lazy to make my own :') All LODS (but there is some clipping around the noseband at the lowest LOD bc I clearly can't decimate to save my life), base game swatches & gold versions HERE. You will also need the Invisible Reins fix I made for these reins HERE otherwise the default reins might clip through.

Just drag and drop both the bridle file and the invisible reins file into your mods folder, and you're good to go!

Note: These reins are always permanently visible. It does look a bit janky, but from what I've seen, it's better than nothing, and it'll do for now until I can muster the strength for the proper fix that's needed. Please bear with me until then :')

For the CC makers, read on to see how to apply this absolutely rancid addition to your fine work!

First, download this folder. It's got two packages, reinsinvisible.package (to hide the default ones) and a reinsOnly.blend file. You need the invisible reins in your mods folder to stop the default reins from clipping through yours.

Open the file, and import your finished bridle.

Delete the bone_bone_shape.001 layer and the rig.001 layer, you don't need them.

The reins UV map is sitting in the 'Bridle' section of the map, this is where they'll get their textures from, not the reins section. Make sure you move the reins UV islands out of the way, you'll be rearranging them with the bridle UV islands later.

Make sure both your reins and bridle layers are in Object Mode

Click the reins layer, and then CTRL/Cmd+Click your bridle layer (order doesn't matter)

Make your your mouse is on the view that shows the reins & bridle on it, then right click and select 'Join'.

They will now be on the same layer.

Now you can rearrange the UV islands as you see fit, and it's pretty much standard operating procedure from here on out, except you've got extra parts to your bridle mesh now.

IMPORTANT.

This here is the Rein bone that originally attached the reins to the noseband. That sticky-up bit is what keeps the reins attached to the bone. It's honestly not hugely noticeable in-game, unless you're looking real close. When you're making your own reins (which I recommend as this mesh has been beaten into submission, and it shows), use this reins file as your base for copying weights, etc. Any change will work, but your must have this sticky up bit that connects to that little blue thing as its what attaches the rest of the bridle to that bone and stops your reins from floating off when the horse turns its head to the left or right.

Okay, I think that's it.

I did say that this was a filthy fix.

If I can be of any help if you do decide to add this to your bridle mesh, please let me know. AND DON'T FORGET: you need to include the Invisible Reins package with your cc otherwise the default reins will clip through yours.

I do plan on making a better fix to this, especially since I'm after recently learning that there might be a source horse rig hidden somewhere, as there's a sim rig that is in fact capable of making overrides to every sim rig in the game (adding bones, etc). It's very exciting news if this is the case, as it means that it might be possible to add bones for things like martingales and stirrups as there are people who have added things like tails to sims already.

[moe-broey]

Had. An extremely funny vision to revamp Moe's staff.

The design isn't super final, I can never really decide how I want the accents to look... trying to keep them in line with how the Askr trio's weapons look. Especially the signature color magic glow that's present in their special arts!!!

Anna has it too!!!!! You just don't see it bc her art gets cut off in game. Also, additional image bc you don't see the handle v well in her special.

Which is why, here, the green gem is most prominent on Moe's weapon.... geen....... idk if I'm keeping the other ones that look like the summoning circle orbs. It was just something I wanted to try out!

BUT. BUT. The Main Idea here is that Moe added its own touch to the staff. Yeah, the dangly halo was a Neat idea, but this concept is just so much funnier to me..... says SO much about Moe as a character... it is ALWAYS. Making and customizing things. I can also see Moe using the carabiner practically as well! Now, I wonder why it held onto those two feathers in particular... 🤔

[anothermoirafan]

VAMPIRES AND THEIR NAILS

Ok so I've been thinking abt this 4 a while and I came to a conclusion that if there is a true united and connected (no matter how badly) vampire society then there must be norms? Some sort of rules or traditions. Now unfortunately Castlevania doesn't tell us much here, except tidbits such as having philosophy and a general sense of who is and who isn't in the community. So let's use logic instead. So usually, in the animal kingdom and human culture, norms and expectations, especially of beauty, were based on proving oneself to be succesful and therefore of the ability to afford luxuries that stand against reason of need. Take exotic birds for example; the show off of colors shocks and appeals to females (usually) but also makes it easier to be spotted as prey. The takeaway is ofcourse, that the beadzzled male can simply, by strength and intelligence, afford to be bedazzled. During human history, at least for most of, it was a signifier of wealth and class to be chubbier or even obese. The unspoken context was that even though most couldn't afford to feed their family, you were able to eat more than you needed or even wanted. Similar thing was for nails. Famously, in China, during the Warring States period (around 475-221 BC) long nails became a status symbol; a symbol of not doing labour, therefore not needing to have nails cut short for said labour. An added bonus was definately that healthy nails require a good diet, oils and frequent washing for good appearance; and can be decorated for extra measure.

Now back to the vampires. Considering the long nails of every vampire we see, and the knowledge that they can even be used in combat (see for:Raman) we can safely assume that linger nails are part of vampire signifiers and naturally occur afzer the transformation aling with fangs. Even characters who we would describe as practical (Dracula, he's dramatic but a scientist goddamit he knows what could be under) have them. I checked but unfortunately we don't see much of Tera's transformation but it'll definately be cool to find out if it makes it into her new design. Now we could assume that maybe nails are results of age but I feel as if that were the case again they wouldn't be that common.

How do vampires see their nails? Similar to humans, one would think, but i feel like there's more philosophy in there. Many vampires see their nails as as proof and extension if their animalistic side, cue trying to cut them and keep the human-short (great example is Lenore, who out of all vampires seems culturally very much still human or at least she tries to be) or embracing it and having literal claws (Dracula). But I want to talk about the detail of Carmila having red nails. With no knowledge of vampire technology I'm gonna say she used a formula way back from the Zhou dynasty in China at around 600BC or the Ming dynasty. Either way nail polishes of the time were limited in color but we knew they had red and adored it.

Why did I have this rant? Because I believe vampires use nails as virtue signaling.

Think about it. Vampires as a species are very cruel and deceitful so it's hard to know where somebody stays. But nails? Immediately u get the picture. Carmilla didn't just look good in red, she was the only general with colored nails, even Raman kept them natural (prob for combat but still). Think of the implications? She saw her vampirism as an extension and addition to her greatness. The color? Symbol of passion and prosperity. And upkeep? Probably expensive and rare, I mean she is a war general, I doubt that leaves time for manicure, but she did it anyways, probably HIRING HUMANS for it too. AND it matches her outfit. So u have these old vampires who keep their nails long as they accepted it, and think "yea this works" when all of a sudden a Bad BitchTM walks in and how do they know she means business? Colored nails.

And what does that leave the rest with. Think of all the times Styria hosted parties, galas and meetings with other vampire nations, putting up a good face, just for Lenore to cut her nails. Imagine the outrage and pity. She's the diplomat!! And yet, in company, she keeps her nails short. She already looks like a young girl, probably turned against her will, and the nails? Knowing Morana and Carmilla that had to be a constant fight. How could she represent them like this? Does she hate the gift of eternal life they've all been gifted with?

I imagine she tried to keep them long. For some time, probably an important politics season. Maybe she liked them, maybe she was waiting to cut them off, when she accidentaly cut herself. The pain. Anyone who has longer nails can tell u this is more often than u think, and considering vampire length and probable strength those cuts are good and deep. She cries. Of course the wound is already healed, ofcourse Morana and Carmilla yell how it'll pass but what they don't get is that the pain still happened. And it will again. And nobody understands.

She probably likes Hector's hands. He kept his nails short, he's a man of work, and thinks she likes the possibility of what he can do. But she just likes the nails. She even sometimes tells him to cut them shorter, since she wants to see how long and gradual human nail growth is. She enever tells him that, she lies and says "claws are for vampires" and she hates it. When she kills herself, Hector goes through the quartet's rooms for things and information and finds so many nail upkeep sets, hell even Striga has them. And Lenore has. Well a clipper. She never kept more. She couldn't.

[night-dark-woods]

I want to start adding text descriptions to stuff i reblog, do you have any advice? is there a guide or something you use, the style of your IDs is very nice.

hey! thats great that you want to start writing IDs. I've reblogged guides before and ill tag this post with the tag they're in (image descriptions) so its easy to browse!

in addition to those other resources, here's some guidelines i personally keep in mind, & what i structure different IDs like.

for text transcripts: source & type of image, author, date if possible. here are some pretend/template IDs:

ID. a twitter screenshot from user @.[username] dated [date] that reads: "[tweet]." End ID.

i put the period after the @ symbol so it doesnt try to tag a nonexistent (or unrelated) user on this site, and a screenreader will just pause there briefly.

ID. a photo of a page from the book [name] by [author]. text reads: [transcript]. End ID.

if the OP cited the author/book/source, you can just do "Transcript: [text]. End transcript."

for actual images:

type of image is really important!

photograph, edited photograph, reaction image, edited reaction image, painting, digital painting, digital drawing, etc. you should always put what kind of image it is.

keep in mind the purpose of the image!

if its an art piece or a photo of one, its good to describe the medium, style, colors, and subject.

if it's a reaction image or other meme, you don't have to describe the surroundings in loving detail. the "point" of the image is enough.

if its a photograph, it might also be an art piece, or from the news, or someone sharing their pet. the amount and kind of detail again depends on the point of the image.

don't make judgements or assumptions!

dont describe things as badly drawn or badly photographed- and on the flip side, dont describe things as cute or beautiful. describe whats in the image, not how it makes you feel. if you love a certain part of how a photograph is framed, or how the light is painted in a piece of art, say that specifically. "beautiful" means nothing! do you mean realistic? vibrantly colored? "cute" means nothing! do you mean in a cartoony style? or that the subject matter is a cat, which many people find cute? be specific!

dont make statements about the gender or race of the people in the photo or art piece, especially if it's real people (like a news photo) unless you know those things as a fact (celebrities, fictional characters, people you know personally, people where it is mentioned in the article the photo is from). you can just describe things like hair length, skin tone, etc. exceptions to this rule imo are stock photos- eg if im captioning my favorite stock photo of all time, cyber woman with corn, i am going to describe it as "a stock photo of a white woman in a futuristic silver and black wraparound visor, wearing a silver bodysuit and cradling an ear of corn near her face and smiling slightly."

here are some example descriptions, all from images i have on my phone.

ID. a photo of two cats laying head to head on someones outstretched legs, which are under a blanket. one cat is an orange tabby, and the other is a gray and white splotched tabby. End ID.

the point of this image is my cats- im not going to spend time describing the blanket, the couch, the stuff you can see in the background, bc it's not relevant to the image, and adds nothing.

ID. a photo taken through a rainy window at twilight, with the camera focused on the raindrops on the glass, so the lights in the houses across the street are out of focus. the lights reflect on the wet pavement in a warm yellow glow. End ID.

i took this the other night bc i thought it looked cool how blurry it was- id consider this more of an "art" photo, so im describing the aspects of the framing etc that make it that- i wasnt just trying to show how rainy it was, but to take a photo in an interesting way, so those traits are "worth" describing.

ID. a photo of an acrylic painting done on a cardboard packing envelope of a city street at sunset, all the building windows reflecting gold. there are purple fluffy clouds in the sky, lit from below with peach and gold. the USPS tracking number barcode is still visible in the gap between houses at the end of the street. the brush strokes are very visible, the perspective is wonky, and the orange underpainting is visible at the edges. End ID.

this is a new ID for something i painted and already posted and i dont feel like getting the old ID. medium, style, and specific details i think are important are included. the perspective being wonky is a bit of a value judgement i wouldn't make about Other people's art, but it's my own and i think its an important detail so!

ID. an edited catcrumb comic, showing a simple mspaint illustration of a cat happily sorting things into piles with the caption, "sort sort. i love to arbitrarily sort." the cat has been colored in gray and its ears have been colored like homestuck troll horns, and the sorting piles replaced with some classpect symbols. End ID.

this is a good example of a edited image- its important to give (to some degree) a sense of what the original image was, say that its edited, and describe the changes. i dont need to list the classpect symbols i put on there, bc its not relevant to the message of the image- it would do nothing but make the ID longer.

oh- and to cap off the post- here is cyber woman with corn:

ID. a stock photo of a white woman in a futuristic silver and black wraparound visor, wearing a silver bodysuit and cradling an ear of corn near her face and smiling slightly. End ID.

[fleetwood-cheese]

Phantom Thief Outfit Breakdown

Okay so exactly one (1) person asked me abt my opinions on the phantom thief's metaverse costumes (thank you @waywardsalt) bc I mentioned them in the tags of a poll so now you are all locked into my insane rant abt this topic. Originally this was a power point i made to vent but i realized its too long to post in its entirety (its more than 20 slides long) so you get this monstrosity of a post. I'm going to split this into multiple posts discussing each thief's designs bc there's a lot and it'd be too long; will link each post at top.

Ann - Makoto - Sumire - Futaba - Yusuke - Akechi 2

DISCLAIMER: I am not a designer, have relatively poor fashion sense, and these are largely just my opinions on the matter, obviously people are going to disagree. I'd love to discuss this and get feedback on it but if you're an asshole im not going to entertain you.

Starting with the worst (imo), let's begin with Akechi's black mask costume.

This is, from a purely design and visual standpoint, the worst to me because it simply has too much going on, and all of it gets lost in its attempts to be cool or intimidating. This attempt at being menacing, presumably, is lost in translation and mostly just makes it look uncomfortable, edgy, and sort of goofy.

It seems to be pulling on ideas of knight armor, birds of prey, straight jackets, and the general idea of being trapped or isolated, but very few of these things actually come across in the final design. (It also might have some bondage/bdsm inspiration, but I'm not sure how intentional that is.)

Firstly, the bodysuit isn't well executed here, and is complicated by the fact that it appears to also be booty shorts with matching leggings?? but they're all the same thickness?? This is confusing and goofy, and would look much better split into an actual top/pants combo. Additionally, the stripes add further confusion and lack the appeal of Loki's stripes, who I presume they're trying to tie-in/invoke with them; their diagonal direction certainly doesn't help. To fix this, I would keep the stripes on the top, but have them run up and down, and simplify the pants to solid black with blue piping along the sides. I think this separate top with the straight stripes would also do a better job of communicating a straight jacket than the current costume does.

Another major gripe I have with this outfit is the hems, but especially the pant hems. They're what I can only describe as boot cut and its awful; I grew up with the 2000s boot-cut obsession, and they don't look good on anyone except horsegirls who wear actual cowboy boots underneath them. I understand the frayed pant and sleeve hems are supposed to look unkempt and villainous, but it mostly just looks like he's walked on them. To solve this, I would effectively cover them up by adding armor; extend the boots and claws and give him actual grieves and arm guards to make him look more dangerous, sharp, and combat oriented, and invoke the knight aesthetic to clash with the detective prince persona and its white, ornamental style.

Adding additional armor also helps solve the problem of him looking so top heavy. This costume's huge neck guard and mask are super bulky and make you feel like he's about to break his neck; by adding weight to the legs, its no long all concentrated at his head. If you compare it to actual helmets, I think its roughly based off of the frogmouth helmet, which has one, continuous neck piece like the black masks. I would adapt it to look more like a closed helmet or a armet, which have a similar shape but much clearer plating and hinges and thus appear less stiff and might have better mobility.

My last major gripe is the cape, because it is SUCH a wasted opportunity. The torn fabric, while matching his frayed hems, is so boring; a cape made out of feathers would convey the crow idea so much better, and give him a sort of dark knight fantasy vibe that would look wonderful imo. You could even show the iridescence of the feathers, which would tie well into the black-grey-blue palette excellently. Im thinking something like the cape below, or possibly like the crowfeather set from bloodborne if you want some extra drama.

As for the belt, I'm fairly neutral on them; I could take or leave them really. You could remove them if you wanted to simplify the design, or keep them if you wanted an edgier look or to incorporate more bdsm elements, but in that case I would change them to look more like actual bondage belts and not, you know, normal pants belts.

Overall, when ranking these outfits for my powerpoint, I gave this one dead last placement and a solid 2/10 personal ranking.

[tomatoluvr69]

I would like... to see the baked oats recipe 👀

I have a very simple base which is like 2 mashed bananas and approximately 150g of oats in a blender with whatever type of milk I have on hand, until it forms a batter-like consistency. Then I usually add 50-100g more oats depending on texture and vibes. If I’m not adding anything else that’s sweet I’ll do a tbsp or so of something like honey or brown sugar or dates or whatever is sitting around. Then I add protein powder and whatever toppings/flavors I’m doing that time, last week’s was trail mix so I did chopped up nuts and some m&ms. Then I usually do baking powder but I forgot and it was fine lol. It’s super adaptable

So the gingerbread one was improvised as well, I’ll say what I did and a few notes for adapting it in the end. Apologies in advance because I use grams and I know that’s not standard lol

Into a blender, mix:

-2 ripe/overripe bananas

-150-170g oats

-1 cup milk of choice (I did some sour 2%) (did like 250g which is just over a cup if I recall correctly) but you could probably use water

-OPTIONAL: protein powders; I used two servings of vanilla plant protein bc protein forward meals are helpful for endurance training. I’d say toss in another little handful of oats or some almond flour or something if you skip this, and check the sweetness because you might want a little more if not going this route

-60-80g blackstrap molasses. You can go more or less based on your preference, I’d probably do like 100 next time if there weren’t 15 other flavors I’d like to invent before I inevitably burn out on baked oats

-3 tbsp ish ginger? I just poured a bunch in, I have a nice spicy ground ginger from a bulk bag at an Asian grocery in my hometown. I would add some and then mix and add more as needed

-big spoonful of “pumpkin pie spice” or the equivalent mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, etc

-pinch salt

-OPTIONAL: I always put black pepper into gingerbread so I ground up a bunch of black pepper directly into the batter.

Blend up and pour into 8x8 or 9x9 square baking tray, or whatever you got. I do this size for ease of meal preps. At this point I usually toss in ~50-70g more oats that don’t get blended up; because this is the texture blend and ratio I’ve come to enjoy. You could do all blended or none blended or whatever speaks to you. You could also mix in 1tsp (5g ish) or so of baking powder at this point. Taste the spices. Adapt to your level of sweet and spicy! I encourage you to add wayyyyyyyyy more ginger and pepper than you think you need, you want it sharp and spicy. Or at least I do lol.

Also, take a look at the texture. If it’s really watery, add more oats, if it’s really dense, add more milk/water.

Note: I don’t bother greasing my baked oat pan,usually I have one portion hot which sticks a bit and then the rest come out fine and then I soak the pan anyways. But you might want to do that if you feel like it.

Sprinkle white chocolate chips on top if you want. I like this to be a simple meal prep, but I diiiiiiiiiiiiiid toy with the idea of tossing together a simple stovetop caramel and putting a handful of minced dates in it to put on the bottom of the baking pan but I’ve been trying to keep things simple with my ribcage injury lol. And the white chocolate was awesome.

Note on sweeteners: between the banana, protein powder, and molasses, I personally did not require any additional sweetness. But taste it and see, you might like a spoonful of brown sugar, especially if you (like most normal people who are not trying to hold onto endurance training muscles while injured, and have a normal human appetite) don’t incorporate protein powders into your diet— really at this point I’m mainly adding them to baked oats only lol. I also have less of a sweet tooth these days, but I definitely toss in some additional sweetness on other batches that don’t have molasses in them, like when I use pumpkin as a base instead of banana.

These were so good right out of the oven but throughout the week I eat these microwaved, cold from the fridge, and packed into a mini Tupperware and eaten room temp and melty at my job in lieu of trail mix, granola bar, cookie, etc. i really like the texture but I want to be clear, this is oatmeal, this is not gingerbread! There’s a chewiness to it. But honestly I’ve been loving this bc it’s a way of like, eating cake every day, but in a way that leaves me feeling a lot more stable bc my job is very demanding and I don’t have time to be nursing sugar spikes and crashes all day lol

[sunnywalnut]

Adding a couple nutrition things to this post bc I feel like that isn't NEARLY as talked about as it should be:

-you need fats and protein in order to digest certain vegetables. Yes I'm being serious. Adding some kind of oil or dressing to your salad doesn't negate the fact that it's a salad. You're still getting nutrients. In fact, you're getting more because the fats are helping your body break them down into fuel.

-if you go to Subway (or somewhere similar) get the spinach instead of lettuce. It's higher in iron and other nutrients and likely the same price.

-while on that topic, a lot of types of lettuce actually don't have any nutritional value. Like iceberg lettuce. They just add crunch/texture to your food. Look in to what you're eating and see if there's another option that has more of what you need for the same or similar price. You'll likely be able to get it. Or at least know about the better options. Yes, this likely means that a lot of your salad only diets sucked ass because you weren't getting anything out of them. I'm sorry you had to learn like this.

-frozen vegetables/fruits are just as nutritious as fresh or canned. Don't let people convince you of "dying nutrients" they don't exist. Also you can add protein powder to smoothies to give a little bit more bulk and keep you full for longer.

-a good rule of thumb for a "well balanced meal" is protein for power, fats for satisfaction, carbs for fullness, and fruits/veg for everything else. Even just adding a handful of nuts, some peanut butter toast, or a bit of egg to my breakfast has DRASTICALLY increased my energy levels. You don't have to break it down into a direct science. You just gotta figure out what you can add to it. Cheese also has fats and protein in it. You can add cheese to everything. Trust me. I'm white.

-don't feel embarrassed if a drink(juice, soda, lemonade, etc) is too sweet for you. You're allowed to water it down so it's palatable. I know that people are going to give you weird looks about it, but trust me. It works. Plus you're getting more water in your system. Which is always a win. If adding more water than necessary in your kool aid is the only way that you currently are capable of drinking it, go for it. It's still water. Even if it's in sugar syrup (though obviously. The plan is to have more water than sugar syrup. But that's a bit more of a process)

-keep bottled water on hand if you're not capable of drinking/don't like tap water. Or a water filter. I live in an area with slightly hard water. It's still drinkable, but I don't like it. It tastes weird. Even if it's cold. So much so that I used to exclusively only drink juices, sodas, and other options even if I craved water. For my entire life. Because it was just gross. It was only until I was able to get a water filter/continuous access to bottled water that I was actually able to drink water to the point that if I DON'T have any during the day and try to go back to my "only drinking flavored liquids" ways, I can't. At least not for longer than a few days. Plus I'm feeling a lot better because of it, too.

-if Gatorade/Powerade tastes good instead of like salt, you're likely dehydrated as fuck. It's a sports drink with a lot of electrolytes(salt) in order to help you retain water in your body when sweating excessively. It isn't just a fad. it's real. It shocked me too.

-8 cups of water a day is bullshit. Or rather. 8 cups of only water. A lot of the things we drink during the day have water in them already, so it's unnecessary for us to down a whole gallon of water throughout the day on top of that. Yes water is important(especially plain water without any additives) but don't beat yourself up for not meeting your biological "quota" when you're also drinking tea, coffee, and soda throughout your day. You're getting your water. Just in a different way. Though you can absolutely add it in/replace some of your other drinks with it.

And these are just the ones I can think up off the top of my head. There's likely a bunch more that I haven't learned yet, but these are just the few that I've found while coming into adulthood in these last few years that are surprisingly not common knowledge/frowned upon???

Feel free to add your own.

In case no one told you growing up

Bras last longer if you let them air dry. Don’t put them in the dryer.

If you have a problem with frizzy hair, don’t dry your hair with a towel. It makes the frizzies worse. (I recently read an article that said to use a t-shirt? I brush mine out and let it air dry.)

Whites wash best in hot water. Everything else can be in cold - save on your electricity bill.

You can kill 99.9% of germs in a sponge by putting it in the dishwasher for a cycle or by microwaving it for 2 min (be sure to make the sponge damp before microwaving and to put a cup half full of water in with it and please DO NOT squeeze the sponge until it has cooled off)

Airing out your room/house and letting sunlight in every so often can decrease the number of household pests like silverfish and ants.

Black underwear is best during your period as stains are less likely to be visible.

To save money, put aside 10% of each paycheck into a savings account. It’ll add up.

Unless your hair has something on/in it (like grease or mud or something), using conditioner first can actually be the better choice. The conditioner holds in the good oils that help you hair look sleek and beautiful, which shampoo would otherwise wash away.

Speaking of shampoo - if you have long hair, washing just the bits that touch your scalp is generally enough. The rest of your hair gets cleaned with just the run off from your scalp.

If you put a tampon in and it’s uncomfortable/you can feel it, you didn’t do it quite right. A properly placed tampon is virtually unnoticeable by the wearer.

Apply deodorant/antiperspirant a couple hours in advance of when you need it. This gives the product the chance to block your sweat glands. Using deodorant just before going somewhere where you’ll sweat (this means walking outside for people in high humidity places) results in your sweat washing the deodorant off and starkly limiting its usefulness.

After running the dryer, use the dryer sheet from that load to brush out the lint catch - it gets everything off in a fraction of the time it’ll take you to get it clean with your bare hands. Paper towels also work well.

Wash your face everyday, or as often as possible. Forget which brand of cleanser is best. Just washing your face everyday will guarantee you clearer skin. And do you best not to pop pimples, as tempting as the urge may be.

Fold laundry asap after taking it from the dryer to avoid wrinkles. This may seem obvious for dress shirts and silly for things like t-shirts, but you’ll notice the difference even then once your shirts stop looking like unfolded paper balls.

[thewul]

We might as well complete the whole thing with the stuff that is missing, on the motors deck we have 2 square emplacement to fit the pumps that we mentioned, and also take a look at those oxygen in water vapor/water out to the water tanks, or pressure valves for air

amazing, amazing how it turned from an atomic battery car crash into an H2 flier

Thank you for having followed, and for your continued interest in BCS

conclusion: as you keep scrolling you will find an introduction, and so there ought to be a conclusion, which we are adding last not to interfere with the flow of things

and so as you will find out there was a concern with the refrigerated condenser not being sufficient enough to handle the cooling needs, which developed, of the vehicle and what we have taking place in the trunks deck is 3 things

1st, we have a redundant refrigerated condenser which is now 2 stages or 2 full deck heights instead of one

2nd, we have additional either air or water cooling units taking place immediately on its side

3rd, we have passive/active heat dissipators (the longer sections are fins or it's a row of silent fans for liquid cooling, depending), in front within the midsection row communicating with ambient air through floor vents in that row, and in the back as well where it takes the shape of a column communicating with the ambient air of trunks, which are ventilated

ie as we understand that heat dissipates upwards we are taping into the environments of the whole trunks deck for cooling the RV, or it is expected that heat from the motors deck will dissipates upwards to the trunks deck, and so we are further cooling this deck to absorb heat from the motors deck

we are doing so with active/passive cooling even by taping into the air cooling system of the RV, in the essence dissipating heat through communicating thermal environments with ambient air (within the trunks) or AC cooled air (in front,maybe in the trunks too why not)

now as you keep reading further you will understand why all of this had become necessary, basically because we are cooling a lot of stuff and we needed a stronger more capable cooling capacity

to finish with we added EPM's, Electronic Power Management units, there are 2 each servicing a row of 4 polymer ion batteries, locating them next to the batteries, since the solar roof has compartments to access either the batteries or now especially EPM's, made sense

design notes continued: in the end we opted for a bit of everything water cooling fins using silent fans in the trunks, plain water cooling in the front where we have less air to interact with, or we want to keep it at AC temp, in all we are alleviating upwards radiating heat from the motors deck which was the stated goal

we still have that encased module in between the trunks where we said we can have access to everything and it also disposes of touchscreens, meaning the cooling wall is not full height

my guess is, in the back we have a cooling wall, heat is gone from there, the water cooling in front is less robust we don't want to have fans even if they're silent basically, but because we have addressed heat in the rear of the vehicle we can reclaim that gain for the front, be critical of what you do and if it doesn't seem right it's probably because it's not

on top of that a 2 stage refrigerated condenser with a dual size compressor equivalent to 2 units, and that allows us to dispose of a dedicated water pump, in blue, conveniently located in the motors deck next to the water out duct that services waters and kitchenette

the enclosure that communicates only with the trunks in the back, however I look at it we may just have resolved one of, if not the, critical point in all of this, heat build up in the motors deck vs keeping compressed H2 tanks cool, cooling oxygen in for fuel cells and yes condensing water vapor/water out, plus the large fridges, it's crazy insane in that format

and it is all thanks to the air volumes of the trunks deck, especially the ventilated trunks, that we have enabled for heat transfer with the motors deck below

what if we cooled the trunks deck floors as well, we could at some point do we want, as we should, what is efficient and necessary or to turn that deck into a freezer, it's good thinking nonetheless and it will all depend on how much heat radiates from the motors deck

what we have ventilates the trunks, and that's not nothing for storing foodstuffs in it, and should provide a cool air layer on the floor of the cabin in front, what if the weather is cold, well it looks like the arid climate version this one, or if its cold outside then turn things, additional cooling, off quite simply

come to think of it because of the inherent nature of fuel cells the arid climate version was a bit more tricky to do, in a cold climate the worry about pumping hot air or oxygen in inside the fuel cells is less, so is keeping compressed H2 tanks cool, or condensing water vapor/water out

stripping down a complex version to obtain a simpler one is very valid, the thing is you need to design the more complex stuff first, which you may use later or someone has a use for it, not to say start by doing the complex stuff but yes it's a learning curve all of it, engineering is

the added value being when someone shows up for that complex version, guess what you already have it

also since it's still on my mind, ceramic thermal transfer plates below the vehicle, if the soil is arid and searing hot isn't it going to work in reverse and propagate heat the other way around

well no for two reasons, first diffusion bonded plates only propagate heat in one direction, second heat in ceramic is, wild guess here, tied to the way its crystalline structures are arranged, and so we could or should be looking at crystalline nanostructures that only propagate heat in one direction and not the other, quite some piece of work

which I guess has a lot of potential for different industries incl space tech, and we may look at this whole project and say it's a selfish guy that wants a truck but it is composed of a range of existing solutions and solutions that require R&D, including in nanotechnologies applied to advanced ceramics

[two-fu]

my art process

it still amazes me how a blank canvas can turn into a concept from your head like woah there hands and brain thank you for cooperating during this crucial time in my life /hj

if anyone's curious about my art process, i'm gonna put it down below (otherwise, just scroll past pls i'm mostly just rambling) this is not a guide. i repeat, this is not a guide (￢з￢)

ok, first let me let you this. sometimes my last few braincells work and i actually sketch out a concept straight from my head, but most of the time i just get inspired by a random editorial pic i find on pinterest or a movie scene that i find interesting and then just start with that. be warned that my process is pretty messy and probably only makes sense to me [lmao] but this is how i usually do it so...

i'm gonna use my most recent art for ref which was inspired by a ghost in the shell movie scene. first i sketch the character placement into the scene, then i move on to the bg. i loosely paint the background in one layer first, then paint the additional background details on a separate layer (in this case, the ceiling...holes?? yeah those holes with the light coming in)

i keep going and add in the rest of the background details as much as possible before i draw in the characters: glass panels, lights, wires. once i'm kinda satisfied with the background, i start to add the characters. i usually just paint them in a single layer, except for when some additional elements that need to be in the front/back of the character come into play.

in the case with kdj, i drew him in one layer, the wings on a separate layer, and the wires on another, so it would be easier for me to modify them as needed without messing up the kdj layer. for yjh, i just painted him in a single layer since it's only just him sulking lol

[also, whenever i feel like the character placement/scaling is off, i'm not afraid to resize the necessary layers because i know i can just correct the bad resolution by painting over it]

then i add a bit of lighting/shadow elements on the characters (don't come to me for this bc i don't have a solid grasp on that either. i swear i'll diligently study it someday but for now i just put in whatever feels "right" lmaoooo)

when i'm satisfied with how the characters look, i add in more small details that i hope could make the piece a bit more interesting and not too flat: glass reflections, floor texture, yjh's shadow, and some light reflecting off the cement floor

another thing i added was the bloom effect on a duplicate layer of the copy-pasted canvas. then i lowered the opacity for the bloom layer so it wouldn't look too severe, just the right kind of ambient glow from the lights and kdj's coat. ok that's about it. i could stop there BUT...

personally, i like to do a bit of post-processing after. this part takes a lot of experimenting and this is really the part i enjoy the most, especially when playing around with the colors to really set the mood for the illustration. for this one i...

added a layer for grainy texture and set it to soft light at 9% opacity

copy-pasted the entire canvas then duplicated it before adding a gradient map for the dupe layer then setting it to color dodge at 24% op (just to give it a bit of color and not make it look to desaturated like it originally did)

added an additional color dodge layer to brighten up the lower part of the canvas a bit

and that's how i usually make my art ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

sometimes it takes me only a couple of hours, sometimes times it takes days when i'm procrastinating a piece, and sometimes i just completely give up and trash an entire concept lol yeah it's fun and can be frustrating but i like that it shuts my brain up for a while and keeps me from thinking about awful stuff. idk maybe that's just me idk idk

if you've made it this far in my post, wow, i really appreciate you for sticking around through my yapping /srs ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

[hxdrostorms]

@eternalstarlights has sent: ⊱asks for muns with a multimuse or more than one muse⊰: 1-5, 9, 10, 13, 19.

⊱asks for muns with a multimuse or more than one muse⊰ [Accepting]

is there a muse that you wish gets more attention?

// OKAY SO it is kinda of funny bc, at the same time I'd love for it to get more attention, I don't have the time to properly offer more interactions and whatnot like I used to. SO, I most certainly would love to give the spotlight to Aiolos, who is my most "recent" addition to my roster of muses. It would be neat but also, I don't want to end up overwhelming myself, and letting my partners down.

2. if you HAD to choose, who’s your favorite muse?

// Deathmask! In general, I have such an EASY time writing asshole/villain-esque type of characters. In my experience, these are the types of muses I have the most fun playing. Even if admittedly, I can recognize how that may be a turn off to ppl, who are looking for smoother rides.

3. which muse is the trickiest to get into character for?

// Shaka's muse at times can be such a bitch LOL. I absolutely love him as a character, and I enjoy writing him. But given how much backlog I often have to double-check on. It can tire me out, but it's all in order to keep him in-character with my interpretation.

4. is there a muse that not a lot of people roleplay with?

// Look @ my first question's answer and come back here, bc that's one of the main contributors to this. Aside from it, I feel like there are some other aspects that may dissuade ppl, from interacting with the Amazon version of Scorpio Milo.

I love genderbend types of AUs, too bad the general tumblr RPC decided to declare war against them. Even though in Milo's case, I'm specifically playing a canon genderswapped version of the character. So, I don't blame ppl avoiding her out of fear of some kind of nonsensical retaliation.

Another thing that doesn't help her case is also... Myself. I may have her as an established muse, but I always struggle to maintain consistent female muses.

5. if you HAD to choose, who’s your least favorite muse?

// Unfortunately, that would be Scorpio Milo. I think he is my most mid-portrayal. I definetely enjoy worldbuilding with him, especially his amazon counterpart. But at times I feel like I struggle to write him, bc he lacks a firm basis, like my other muses.

9. why were you drawn to each one of your characters?

// OKAY SOO

At first I started off with only Aldebaran (brazil baby), DM (cancer baby) and Shaka (pretty baby). These three were my favorite characters, during my watch through.

Then, I added Milo and Kanon. Bc I liked the prospect of worldbuilding they brought to the table, especially Kanon. Milo's Amazon ccounterpart came some time later.

Then, I added Aiolos to the mix. After reading through EG, and the Zero chapter I felt like it would be genuinely fun to write him. Especially bc, he is the only one of the bunch that is still a minor.

Then, for discord only stuff, I picked up Aries Kiki and Cancer Deathtoll. TBH I'm mainly holding onto them as future additions. Bc I have yet to watch Omega, and read Next Dimension respectively. Admittedly Kiki would be SO canon divergent, bc I'd be basing off so many personal HCs & Aldemu indulgence. And Deathtoll is just all around, such an unique and different kind of character, I'm used to writing, so I think it could be interesting (I'm just waiting for Kuru to finish Next dimension, before I start reading it).

10. which muse is the most fun to write for?

// DM still takes the crown here. As I mentioned above, he is the type of muse I have the easiest time getting into the swing of.

13. what’s a weird headcanon you have for each of your muses?

// Weird more like fun......

Kanon and Aiolos picked on DM, who would pick on the much younger saints (Shaka/Aldebaran/Milo). Although, it is worth mentioning that Amazon Milo, would be spared from DM's shit wrath.

19. for each muse, is there a character you wish had a blog so you could interact with them?

// Spare more classic series canon muses KJDNFKDLJBD

UHHHHH MY MOST WANTED CHARACTERS FOR SURE INCLUDE and aren't limited to (from most wanted to least): Gold saints (I'll gladly interact with any, but I'm always open and on the lookout for: Aries Mu, Pisces Aphrodite, Gemini Saga, Aquarius Camus and Leo Aiolia) > Marina Generals (Chrysaor Krishna, Siren Sorrento) > Gods & their incarnations (Saori Kido/Athena, Julien Solo/Poseidon, Hades) > Bronze saints > Saintias > Silver saints > Spectres/Judges > God soldiers (I have skipped watching the classic Asgard season OOPS-)

Reminder - I'm not duplicates friendly, when it comes to my primary muses (it's not a matter of duplicate anxiety, BUT I've had some really awful experiences with them in other fandoms and since then, I've been avoiding them).

[vancouverkitchenrenovation]

How to Make a Bathroom Look Like You Spent a Lot of Money

Regardless of the style of your home, there are a few simple things that you can do to make it look like you spent a lot of money on your bathroom. This is especially true if you are moving into a new house or are just looking to update your bathroom.

Paint colors

Choosing the right paint colors for your bathroom is an important aspect of any bathroom design. When choosing paint colors, keep in mind the size of the room, its fixtures, and the overall decor.

The color of the paint should coordinate with the fixtures, as well as the color of the vanity. For example, if you want to use a light beige color, it’s best to choose a color that compliments the beige of your vanity.

Paint colors that have a green undertone create an organic vibe that is tranquil. They’re perfect for a powder room or living room, or even a bathroom.

A great way to find the right color for your bathroom is to get a color sample. You can either buy a small sample, or paint a piece of poster board with the color you’re considering. This will help you determine the undertones and how the color will interact with other fixtures in your room.

Storage solutions

Adding storage solutions to your bathroom can be a good idea. They are inexpensive and can boost the ambiance of your bathroom without a major overhaul. Choosing the right storage system for your needs is a matter of considering your needs and your budget.

A mini shelving unit can fit under the sink or next to your bath. These small units can hold all sorts of items, from toothbrushes to shampoo and soap. They are also a good way to show off your bathroom decor.

In addition to the mini shelving unit, you may want to consider a recessed open shelf to maximize vertical space. You can also install custom shelves into unused spaces, such as under the sink or in your linen closet.

Invest in a new set of bath towels

Investing in a new set of bath towels can be a quick way to give your bathroom a luxury feel without spending a lot of money. But when it comes to choosing the perfect towel, there are many factors to consider. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

Quality – Your towel should be made from high-quality materials. This means it should have an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. These towels are designed to be eco-friendly and long-lasting. You can also choose from single-ply yarns to reduce breakage.

Size – Your towel should be sized for your specific needs. Choose a towel that is large enough to fit you comfortably, yet thin enough to dry quickly. A heavy towel can take a long time to dry and may cause mildew odor.

Monochromatic color scheme

Using a monochromatic color scheme in your bathroom is not just a fun way to add some personality to your space. It can also make small rooms look bigger and larger than they actually are.

When choosing colors for your bathroom, you can choose from a variety of shades. While some colors are more effective than others, a monochromatic color scheme can bring cohesion to a space without being overwhelming.

You can create a monochromatic color scheme by using a single color, but you should also use contrasting colors to keep the look from looking flat. To create a cohesive look, follow the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of your space should be the dominant color, followed by 30% of your space in the secondary color, and finally 10% of your space in the smallest color.

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Whether planning a bathroom renovation or simply updating your existing space, Vancouver Kitchen Renovation can help you create a bathroom that fits your style and budget. With years of experience working with homeowners across Vancouver, BC, we know how to transform bathrooms into spaces that fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a modern look or something more traditional, we can help you achieve the look you want. As a locally owned and operated company, we pride ourselves on providing quality products and exceptional customer service. When you choose VK Renovation, you can rest assured knowing that you’re choosing a company that cares about your satisfaction.

We understand that to be successful is to stay ahead of the curve. That means staying current with the latest technology and design trends. We always want to improve our products or services without breaking the bank. That’s why we stay connected to the latest technologies of NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. In addition, at Vancouver Kitchen renovation, our primary focus is providing sustainable bathroom design and renovation packages, and we believe in sustainable living. Sustainable living is a way of life in harmony with nature. It is a lifestyle which focuses on the preservation of our environment. Sustainable living is a philosophy emphasizing respect for the environment and concern for its well-being. This means we should take care of the planet and treat it as if it were our home. We should try to preserve what we have and protect it from destruction. If we do this, we will enjoy the benefits of the earth’s resources for many generations. Whether you’re planning a major remodel or adding finishing touches to your current bathroom, we’d love to discuss your project. Book your showroom consultation online.

Main Areas of Service in British Columbia:

Vancouver

North Vancouver

West Vancouver

Burnaby

Coquitlam

Squamish

Whistler

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost for a bathroom vanities to be updated?

You will pay anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. It depends on which vanity you choose. This includes labor, materials, and any other associated costs.

Pre-fabricated and stock vanity are more expensive, but a custom-built one would be cheaper. Try painting the vanity or replacing the hardware if you’re on a budget. If you want to make a bigger change, you can also replace the countertop and sink.

How do I beautify my bathroom?

It’s possible to make your bathroom look great without spending too much money. We offer some helpful tips below:

Paint Your Bathroom Walls – Paint your walls a bright colour, such as yellow or green. This will give your space a fresh, clean feel.

Add Some Mirrors to Your Bathroom – Mirrors can add a sophisticated touch to any bathroom. They can also reflect light to dark areas. Mirrors are a cost-effective way to upgrade your bathroom.

Use Simple Accessories – Use accessories to create a stylish appearance. You can, for example, place a basket containing towels over the tub. You can add a decorative element to your bathroom by lighting a few candles in the area around the mirror.

Hang a Photo – To change the look of your bathroom’s decor, hang a photo. You should choose one with a bathroom theme. If you love the outdoors, choose a picture of a mountain landscape.

Stenciling Creates an Artistic Look – Another way to beautify your bathroom is with stenciling. Just cut out shapes using stencils and paint them on your walls. Be sure to paint the shapes several times before you move on to the next one.

Get a new toilet seat cover – People often forget about toilets when they think of changing their bathroom. Toilet seats are inexpensive and can be easily replaced.

You can change the colour of your sink faucet. You can create an original style in your bathroom by changing the colour of your faucet.

Install a Laundry Hook. A laundry hook will transform your bathroom. You can hang items like clothes or shoes from the ceiling and not put them away in drawers.

Add plants – Plants can be used to clean the air in your home. They can also be used to conceal unwanted items. Plants can be placed near windows to allow you to take in the views.

Towels that have been used up should be replaced by baskets. You won’t have any mess to clean up after guests arrive.

Add Storage Space – Storage space can help keep your bathroom tidy. You might consider installing shelves above and under the counter, as well as along the wall.

Make your bathroom look bigger by improving the lighting. Recessed lights are better than track lighting if you can.

Get Creative With Tile Designs – Tile designs can be used to create a unique design for your bathroom. You can incorporate different patterns and textures using this technique.

Create a Quiet Bathroom. Clear out all clutter and items from countertops and cabinets. Remove any items that might get wet and clean off the surfaces.

Update Lighting – Update your lighting system with new bulbs and fixtures. This will give your bathroom a new look.

Paint Walls – White walls can brighten up a bathroom and make it feel more spacious. They can also make a beautiful backdrop for artwork.

Mirrors are a great way to add light to cabinets. Mirrors can reflect natural lighting into dark areas of your bathrooms.

Hang Photos and Artwork – Hanging pictures or artwork in your bathroom adds beauty. Pick pieces that complement one another and fit together well.

How can my bathroom feel more modern?

There are many options to modernize your bathroom. A great way to create a modern bathroom design is to use simple, sleek lines. Also, you can use colors like black, grey, or white. Modern fixtures such as LED lighting or rain showers will give your space a contemporary look. Decluttering your bathroom and making sure that everything is in its proper place will give it a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance.

How can you make a bathroom look new?

Nowadays, bathroom renovations need little more than a new coat and a few new fixtures. There are times when simple updates are not enough.

In these instances, investing in an entirely new bathroom renovation may make sense. This is especially important for homes built after 1980. Old plumbing systems can lead to water damage or leaks.

Although a total overhaul may seem daunting, it is not impossible. It’s possible to create a stunning new space by preparing and planning. This is how you tackle a project this large.

Start with a plan. It doesn’t make a difference if you hire experts or manage the whole job yourself.

You will also have to decide whether to renovate an existing space or create a brand new layout. You’ll need to remove walls in order to allow for proper drainage if you choose to renovate existing spaces.

Once you’ve chosen the direction, draw rough floor plans. Also measure each room.

Next, you need to choose a colour scheme. While neutral colors such as black and gray are popular choices, these won’t suit every home. Consider choosing colours that compliment your existing decor. You could use warm colors like orange, yellow and gold if you have a lot of wood in your home.

Although choosing a color palette can be difficult, it is important to keep your options open. Make sure you leave plenty of time to shop for furnishings, appliances, and accessories.

Check out the local building codes. Depending on your district or city, you may be required to obtain permits before starting any major remodel. In certain instances, you may need a permit from your municipal hall. If you’re unsure what code applies to your area, contact your local building department or call the Building Inspection Division of British Columbia, and they can help you with your specific project.

You should consult a trusted bathroom contractor before you make any decisions. They can guide you through the process and provide advice about the permits that you will need. And don’t forget to take advantage of tax deductions. An eligible credit for tax credit is available for investments in substantial renovations, particularly those that are energy-efficient.

What will the bathroom decor trend be in 2023?

Bathroom decor trends are changing constantly. However, certain themes have been the same since the beginning. We’ll cover these below.

Minimalism – The goal of minimalism is to eliminate all clutter from our homes. This could be as simple as clearing out shelves and cabinets, getting rid of unnecessary items, and then replacing them with useful ones. It also means keeping everything simple and easy to use.

Urban Living: Many people like living in cities. However, many modern urban dwellers want to live in an area where they can still enjoy nature. When moving to a new city, they don’t want to lose touch with nature and green space. They have shifted back to smaller houses and apartments that have small yards.

Eco-Friendly – People are more aware of the environment. In turn, this has led to a rise in eco-friendly designs. Green design is all about designing spaces that are sustainable and healthy. Designers have many options for creating eco-friendly houses. Design professionals can use natural materials in their designs. A second way is to ensure that the home’s overall design doesn’t distract the eye from the surroundings.

Shabby Chic: Shabby chic is a style that was born out necessity, and not fashion. During World War II, women were forced to reuse old clothes to prevent wasting resources. After the war ended, they began collecting vintage pieces and repurposing them. Shabby chic is now a popular style in all design areas, from furniture to accessories to food.

Artistic Design – Artistic designs have been around for centuries. Artists have always sought to express themselves through their work. As technology has advanced, so too has an artistic design. We can now combine digital art with 3D printing to create unique objects not possible elsewhere.

Industrial Design – Industrial design isn’t a new concept. It dates back hundreds of centuries. It is because we have so many industries that industrial design is unique. To participate in this type of design, you don’t need to be part a large corporation. The internet makes it possible to do anything.

Modernist Architecture- Modernist architecture derives its name from the way it looks at traditional design elements such symmetry, order, and balance. Instead, modernist architecture focuses on asymmetry as well as irregularity. This allows architects to play around with shapes and sizes. Open floor plans are also available, with clean lines and blank walls.

Contemporary Design – This design combines both modern and traditional influences. It’s a mix of all kinds of design. This gives you something different and original that takes the taste buds on a wild ride.

Nature Inspired – Nature-inspired design emphasizes bringing the outdoors indoors. A room is alive with plants and flowers, while fountains bring in water. Here are some examples of natural-inspired interior decorating ideas:

Rustic Interior Decor: If you are looking for rustic, use reclaimed barnwood or cedar siding. These elements give the rooms a farmhouse look that can be used in any setting.

French Country Interior – If you love the country but hate the cold, consider adding a few touches to French country design. Soft furnishings and simple colors are best. Paint the walls a light hue and add some french provincial furniture to the space. You’ll enjoy spending time here during the warmer months.

Bohemian Style-If you enjoy the idea living in an urban area, but still desire a bit more country feel, the bohemian fashion will be able to help you do that. You can think of earthy tones and comfortable fabrics with low-key decoration.

Before you begin planning your bathroom renovation, here are some things to keep in mind.

There are many things to consider when you start planning a bathroom renovation. It is important to establish a budget and stick to it. This will ensure that the process runs smoothly and there are no unexpected costs.

After you have established your budget, you can start to think about the type of bathroom design you would like. Is it more traditional or modern? How much space will you need? These are all critical questions to ask yourself before beginning any renovation.

What does it cost to replace your shower?

A complete shower re/re in Vancouver, British Columbia, can cost up to $10,000. This is for a full project that would include:

Shower base (including drain)

Wall and floor tiles

Glass shower door or shower curtain

Fixtures (shower head, taps, soap dish, etc.)

Plumbing work

Waterproofing and tiling work

Ventilation

Permits

Statistics

The average midrange bathroom remodels costs $27,164, according to the latest Remodeling Cost versus Value report, and it’s projected that you will recoup 58.9% of that cost when reselling your home. (architecturaldigest.com)

2023 bathroom design trends: Floating vanities were favoured by 71% of those surveyed. (https://nkba.org)

2023 bathroom design trends: Large format tile (59%) was the most popular material for tub and shower surrounds. Slab surfaces (40%) were the next most popular (https://nkba.org)

WaterSense-labeled bathroom sink faucets use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute, reducing water use by 30 percent or more from the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute – without sacrificing performance. (elemental.green)

This article will reveal more about AntiBac surfaces and how Villeroy and Boch products have 99.9% fewer bacteria. (superbath.co.uk)

With this technology, whether you take a 5-minute or a 50-minute shower, you’ll use the same amount of water, reducing your use up to 90 percent! (elemental.green)

NKBA estimates that broken down, most of this cost comes from fixtures and plumbing (about 29 percent), followed by counters and surfaces (21 percent), labour (20 percent), and cabinetry and hardware (16 percent). (remodelista.com)

2023 bathroom design trends: 82% of those surveyed revealed bathrooms are now designed for two-person use. (https://nkba.org)

Other sustainability instruments developed by Noken include an ‘Eco cartridge’ (its two-position switch makes it possible to use 50% less water and energy), and a water ‘flow rate limiter’ (that uses jets and air to reduce water consumption). (decoist.com)

2023 bathroom design trends: 82% of those surveyed preferred low-maintenance, nonporous surfaces for their bathroom. (https://nkba.org)

2023 bathroom design trends: Bathroom faucet designs reflected wellness concerns, with 61% choosing accessible lever handles, 48% choosing motion and 36% going for the touch or tap options. (https://nkba.org)

2023 bathroom design trends: Heated floors were favoured by a substantial 75% of those who responded to the survey.(https://nkba.org)

External Links

houzz.com

2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study

Contemporary bathroom with eclectic tile and storage niche. Designed by Katie Monkhouse Interior Design

thespruce.com

How to Buy a New Toilet for Your Home

How To

Here are 10 things no one tells you about bathroom renovations

The bathroom is often neglected when it comes to home improvements. The bathroom is an important part of any house. There are many ways to make your bathroom more beautiful.

These are some ideas to help you transform your bathroom without spending a fortune.

Soften up the Walls – Painting the walls in soft pastel colours like light blue, pink, yellow, or white makes a huge difference in the bathroom’s look. This subtle effect adds a lot to the room’s charm.

You can add lighting to your bathroom. There are many options available. A lighting fixture that is suitable will brighten up the room and bring out colors on the walls. You can also use small fluorescent bulbs or string lights to get the same effect, but they are usually more expensive.

Add Storage Space – If your storage space is limited, shelves can be installed above the toilet or beneath the vanity cabinet to provide additional storage. These shelves can be used for towels, toiletries, and other items that are close to your heart.

Install a shower curtain – Shower curtains are an easy and useful addition to any bathroom. You can choose from a range of designs and styles, and they can be customized to suit your bathroom decor.

You can get creative with your towels – Towels are a great addition to any bathroom, even if you have an old towel rack. Try hanging a few colourful towels from the rod instead. You’ll not only have fresh towels, but you can also make your bathroom more fun.

Invite Nature in – While it may seem strange to keep plants in the bathroom’s bathrooms, it creates a nice atmosphere. However, make sure you don’t attract any bugs.

Relaxing bathroom atmosphere – Scented candles and oils can help create a calm environment. These inexpensive accessories can be used to create a calm ambiance in your bathroom.

Go Green – You don’t necessarily have to install a full-fledged green bathroom to make your bathroom more eco-friendly. To make your bathroom more eco-friendly, you can replace the paper towel roll with a reusable version. Switching to green cleaning products is another option.

Transform Your Vanity Cabinet – Vanity cabinets are usually made of plastic, wood, or metal, so you can customize these as you wish. You can modify the design of your vanity cabinet or add more features.

Get a new toilet paper holder – Your bathroom’s organization and cleanliness will depend on the quality of your toilet paper holder. It is time to change its appearance. You have many options to change its appearance, such as changing its size, shape, or colour.

The post How to Make a Bathroom Look Like You Spent a Lot of Money first appeared on Vancouver Kitchen Renovation.

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[moe-broey]

Jacket!!!! Ye olde varsity I got at the very beginning of my transition thinking "Oh fuck yes I am going to pass so hard in this" and. Well. It never worked I just have never passed a day in my life I don't think 😔 Eventually it just became a beloved test subject and has since gone through a bit of a transition itself LMFAOO

Some Notes:

> A lot of the decorations are taken from old backpacks I loved dearly that got absolutely fucking destroyed by the weight of all the shit I'd lug around in highschool LMFAO (sketchbook, diary, all kinds of notebooks...). Never had the heart to get rid of them. Specifically: The pink zippers, the holographic pockets, the glow in the dark stars, and the holo angel wings!

> The pink/blue checkers are from a small decorative quilt I thrifted years ago, I wouldn't be surprised if it was handmade (it's super soft material, btw! Important LMAO). I only took out one line of squares, I plan on stitching the rest of it back together (haven't done it yet though LMFAO). The reason for this was to upsize the jacket, so I can button it without it clinging. The pockets were added for funsies ESP cause it lined up very well and aren't really practical LMFAO (BUT YOU CAN PUT THINGS IN THEM! If you want!! 🎉🎉🎉)

> The patches (esp the name/pronouns one) were the first additions actually. Eventually more and more things were added, but I will say all the pins on the opposite side of the patches were haphazardly placed for a concert I VERY BADLY wanted to look good for LMFAOO (that's when the stars were added too! Fighting for my life on the car ride over speedrunning sewing and trying not to throw up about it AHAKHSKSHDK)

> Spike placement may be odd and I'd like to add more, but also I do frequently still carry around big heavy backpacks so I have to take that into consideration. Which is also why the wings have been bolted on. Those motherfuckers are NOT going anywhere LMFAO (has a really cool visual effect too!!)

> The material of the jacket itself (sort of a swishy windbreaker fabric) IS ABSOLUTE ASS TO WORK WITH. BY THE FUCKING WAY. IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. I would NOT recommend it to anybody ESPECIALLY someone who is just starting to fuck around and find out. I literally am just sticking it out bc of the sentimental value this fucker has to me 😭😭😭

This jacket was my first plunge into customization and punk fashion, I didn't have a plan and still don't have one (and I think it kind of shows lmfao). I do worry that it's too soft and cutesy. Kind of the whole point for me, when it came to leaning heavy into punk, was to feel sharper, like I had some bite to me. I might be getting closer, but I think I'm still just kind of a silly guy LMAO. But, I do think in a way, esp as my first project, it represents me well -- where I started, what I loved before the beginning, what I tried desperately to be, what I still wish for, reuniting with the things I loved and embracing them in a brand new context. It's still an ongoing project too! So maybe as I keep growing, it'll grow alongside me, maybe finding that grit I've been striving for along the way.

[arsenicflame]

hi sorry for keeping you waiting so long, i tried to give some actual. thought out thoughts here rather than just going. hey i really liked this (but hey. i really really like this)

so, touching on both parts in more detail (since it seemed silly to talk a lot about your addition and not go over the first part in more detail than that one comment)

In the latest draft, as in previous, I have it also highlighting Izzy's connection to his mum via midwifery and knowledge abt looking after kids/babies. in the latest draft in particular, Izzy is implied ftm who was absolutely being trained by his mum to take over as midwife for their village/town, had he not gone to sea with Ed instead. But it means he's still retained some knowledge of it all, so he takes on a lot of the baby care.

Id love to hear more about this bit in particular- i mean trans izzy is always good but i like the way this particularly works itself into the narrative, the way this could be a good moment for us, the audience, to learn this izzy is trans, or even some of the crew if thats a direction youre interested in going in- a kind of confessional moment, an opening up, letting in and hoping, trusting that its going to be ok. (im personally fond of adding a bit more grit into the canon, playing into historical setting a little (in the sense that, you have to be sure youre trusting the right people with this information, yknow? its dangerous out there) but even if thats not the kind of thing youre interested in theres still an element of revealing a secret about yourself that isnt something you say to just anyone) and not just that, but the way it works itself into the narrative in general- im enamoured by izzy having this experience because of his past. i can even see it as being a sort of catharsis for him, to find meaning with these bits of his life that often feel. complicated (ok now Im projecting gender feelings) to have learnt these skills in another life but to be able to come back to them now, to remember them and remember that time ? theres so much there to touch upon and im so so intrigued. i could continue on- izzy knowing ed before the sea? but this is just the first point i have so much more to go.

For example, the bassinet they steal off the ship goes into Izzy's room (which we've seen is small af, so like. He can't even close his door anymore with the bassinet there.) The bottle making kit (that was an interesting bit of research, to find out how the few bottles used might have looked if a wet nurse/someone else nursing that lived nearby/etc weren't available to just. nurse the kid directly) is in his chest at the end of his bed.

i love these small details in the world- of course izzy would put the bassinet in his room even at the expense of his privacy (if its an angle you're looking to play into at all there's some interesting paths involving izzy being unable to lock his door there) i love the undertone of izzy very much taking the lead on the baby in all this- yes he has midwife experience but maybe thats not all there is to it? does he like kids? is it past experiences? does he feel like he has to take on this responsibility? could he just never forgive himself if something went wrong when he wasnt full alert? maybe its not even something he understands, maybe its something for him to learn over the course of the fic.

Like, Archie reveals part of the reason she joined the snake cult was bc she just always has liked them. Even as a little kid, grabbing them gently and letting them chill on her arms/hands. Ed talks abt his mum teaching him how to sew, and jokes abt him and Izzy having darned each other's socks for years, thank fuck they both sew fairly well. That actually gets a smile out of Izzy, who mumbles out that his mum would be pleased to see he'd remembered how to keep a baby alive and that he'd maybe even done fairly well.

i think this bit in particular is really good- especially given what you say later about a return to kraken activities (even tamed), this feels like, an interlude. a moment of peace for them all, both from baby shenanigans, and from kraken business. a nice little break before everything picks up again. especially the archie bit- maybe you could play into this being like, an offering of peace between ed and the crew? ie: everythings tense with ed here even though theyre ignoring that, but its Weird having ed hang out with them after everything and archie just. opens up, is the one to invite him in- ed could make a comment about how he hates snakes and they could argue, but playfully, and suddenly the tension is cut? just as an example dont let me backseat drive your fic or anything but it would probably be good to have something in there that explains why the crew would be ok with sitting there with ed after everything (especially if you want to continue with some kraken era stuff, they would need to have a reason to trust ed in this moment if hes not already completely 'reformed' at this point in the story?)

(also: projecting my own interests hours, izzy and ed sewing is a beloved hc to me) i just love the extra depth of ed learning from his mum. specifically here, with paralleling ed and izzy and mother relationships. i also like it as an ed story for this moment because its something true, its not a fantasy story like telling the crew about the kraken, its not something that makes him look cool, its just, a precious memory.

Fang makes a gentle, kindly meant joke abt Izzy keeping them all alive fairly well, that she'd be proud of that too, and we cut to Ed's face just. Destroyed as he realises yeah, that's exactly what he's been making Izzy do, now and before. And he's just stepped back from the Kraken and the feelings that make that up to have that make him feel terrible. They used to live for each other, each sunrise they saw a defiant, blinding medal in reward of their survival. But it hasn't been that way for a long time, has it? And he can't decide if he wants to explore that feeling or make it go away as fast as possible, or maybe both.

hey. hey.

i feel like i need to make a silly joke about the constant mother-ification of izzy hands here before i address the rest of this because. ouch.

aside from how much this HURTS i do really love this as ed realisation (1)- hearing how his actions affect others outside of the obvious ways- its not just the crew is unhappy, its the crew is grateful to izzy for keeping them alive (something he would not have to do if it wasnt for ed pushing and pushing and pushing) i see it as an angle that he would never consider without this kind of thought prompting, the sheer impact of his actions across every aspect of someones life. Given what youve said later i dont see this as Ed's break open point but it would be really interesting for him to maybe, keep coming back to these realisations. keep finding himself thinking about that, about where his relationship is with izzy-

(ok coming back to this from a bit further down- seems like this bit is set, like, right at the end of the story, after theyve dropped off the baby, which would place it post kissing and realisations about toes which. could work but to me they feel like bigger moments for ed as youve written this? maybe im reading you wrong i definitely probably am but as i took it this felt like a nice interlude + first step moment rather than after all other realisations occur? ) (i should have remembered where this was placed when i was writing about it but of course. i did not. my brain does not work)

Like, should they keep the kid? Almost definitely not for various reasons, but the break of having to focus on baby is enough to make them both take a big step back to look at themselves. I have one drafted conversation in particular between Izzy and Ed that's essentially Ed lowkey forced to talk out his feelings re: Stede & Stede leaving bc the baby calms whenever he's talking, so long as he keeps talking (and unfortunately for all of them, prior to him leaving his room to check on Izzy and baby, he was in there just being sad abt Stede, so that's all he has on his mind, but it winds up being kind of sweet in the end. Izzy mentions some of the things even he liked or found interesting abt Stede, Ed is forced to step back from his hurt to remember how he felt prior to Stede leaving and to keep the convo chill regardless since baby is dozing so long as he mutters on abt how yeah, Stede did wear some v cool clothes and maybe they'll find a family who can afford things like cashmere baby blankets for baby. Stede would probably have bought one for this kid in a heartbeat.)

To elaborate more on this theme because god. its perfect i love it- it very much hits the nail on the head for me- the baby doesnt fix anything for them but maybe it provides a space for them to fix it themselves, to have those conversations theyve been dodging for years. i love the whole. baby induced cooperation for ed and Izzy specifically because yeah. for a lot of people babys are stressful and an additional tension to a relationship but frankly? this baby is a break, a breeze compared to what they normally do- especially recently. i think if having to deal with taking care of a baby could play a roll in genuinely fixing someones marriage it would be these two (again. its not the baby that fixes the marriage but the space the baby makes in their lives, the space to slow down and talk, to fret over things that arent their continued survival etc etc)

also this is a really interesting take for /why/ they start talking through things- just the pressure to keep talking about anything and everything and youve been at it for hours and you cant think of anything so you just blurt out things you never meant to say. its very them and especially very ed

I haven't written a lot beyond that bit of convo yet, but I'm leaning it towards that becoming a habit: Ed claims he's going to bed and do NOT let the baby crying wake him, bc he will not help nor will he be happy to be awake. Cut immediately to a half-awake Ed insisting on helping Izzy with the first of multiple nighttime feeds, then just. Staying put, usually dragging a cot into the hall by Izzy's room so he can be nearby (bc some feeds require them waking baby to keep baby on schedule, and sure he could leave Izzy to it, but then he feels terrible bc Izzy is pretty alone for the nighttime baby care. The crew helps a lot during the day, they take turns staying back from raids to look after baby even, but at night the crew has to try and sleep. Which leaves Izzy and Ed.) Eventually he grumbles one night that Izzy should just come stay in his quarters, and he's already moving the chest full of bottles/milk/etc supplies into them before Izzy can protest (which is more for show than anything, bc he feels Ed expects him to protest it, when really he's absolutely thrilled to be spending the nights close together again, even if it is mostly to look after the kid.)

ok i adore this entirely- one question though, why would the crew not help with nights? other than for narrative reasons, i mean. because for me, without some outside interference i cant see this crew not helping with a night shift, especially if eds 'refusing' to assist like you start with- do they not know nights are an issue? has izzy forbid them to help? maybe he doesn't want them so tired theyre at risk on raids? (does he not care for himself like that?) thats something to potentially explore a bit more in the story

one part i specifically want to highlight about this bit is ed moving izzy into the captains cabin without any regard for how izzy feels about it- i think youve perfectly threaded the needle here!!! he's doing something that is generally beneficial for izzys wellbeing but in the worst possible way and it is so very Ed its absolutely perfect. And then also Izzy's reaction- it perfectly encapsulates their co-dependent fucked up divorce™. Its very Izzy to love ed and be thrilled to spend time with him even if they havent actually talked about anything thats caused them issues, received any apologies. is it healthy? absolutely not but its absolutely the bullshit theyre on, and probably one of the things they'd need to talk though (if thats an angle you want to write about in this fic then- how is the moving addressed? maybe one of the crew brings it up, because someone from the outside is far more likely to notice the Dynamics here than they ever would)

(ok also continuing on from the ed realisation paragraph but modified bc i realised my timeline fuck up but it would work real good to have ed already having Thoughts of some kind about izzy & relationships, and perhaps it plays some influence into Ed doing this- whether he understands or not)

(bc by this point or maybe in this exact convo even I'd have them admit that their worst fear is finally finding someone to take the baby, who scoffs and tells them they somehow messed it all up so badly that this baby is just. ruined. throw baby in the trash, completely useless as a human. That won't happen, but they're both terrified of messing up a kid like their parents/other authority figures fucked them up as kids)

oh yes. i dont have anything to add here just. being scared of making the same mistakes as those who raised them did? of being the reason a child gets fucked up? of being just like your father? its absolutely perfect for what youre building to here and its a very. gentle confession about feelings. easing into it as you will.

And in the middle of his rambling he admits he's upset with himself for taking Izzy's toes (cut to an internal comment from Izzy, since the current draft is his pov, that he figures Ed's forgotten he was in the room or he wouldn't be saying any of this aloud, and he keeps quiet to let Ed talk and get the emotions out) That it wasn't right of him to do to Izzy and it didn't make him feel any better and now every time he sees the baby's teeny tiny toes he imagines someone eventually taking Baby's toes like he's done to Izzy's and it makes him want to cry because who could do that? To such tiny baby toes? But yet he's done it to someone he cares about and loves and who was once also a teeny tiny baby with teeny toes, and he hates himself for it- Finally Izzy has to interrupt him bc Ed is crying himself and working himself up into a breakdown over it, and he doesn't forgive Ed. But he does gently suggest that maybe no one takes anyone's toes going forward. Maybe he stops tugging Fang's beard (he actually hasn't done since they originally found Bonnet during s1, but he wants to acknowledge his own fuck ups as a show of solidarity to Ed) and they just. don't do punishments like that again. Surely a night up with a baby that won't sleep is punishment enough, is his nervous joke to Ed.

paralleling a lot of my feelings under ed realisation (1), i love Ed using the baby as a vehicle to process his feelings about izzy and his own actions- thinking about it all from a different perspective because as much as he can 'justify' his reasons to himself in context, thinking about it this way removes any way he can pretend it was reasonable. are these thoughts ed was already having? or even just some broad strokes of feelings induced by the fact thats hes had the headspace to think without constantly distracting himself with raids?

i dont want to repeat myself too much but. perfect izzy characterisation with him comforting ed about things that are probably things that izzy should be comforted over. ( but also i love your little note about him not forgiving ed, that is just. perfect (i have a lot of feelings about edizzy + forgiveness))

Cut to him and Ed locking eyes and Izzy softly continuing, telling Ed he loves him. That he's glad, if they're to be in this situation, that it's him and Ed, that there's no one else he'd want with him...although, that he would, also, have been fine if Bonnet had been here too, because fuck that's a third person to help at night and he's had kids, right? So surely he could help with this- Ed cuts him off with a kiss that takes them both by surprise, enough that Izzy stops rocking which means Baby starts whining again, and they wind up rocking together. Ed standing behind Izzy, arms around his waist, head resting on Izzy's shoulder, while Izzy holds Baby and half mumbles half sings every lullaby he's ever heard or even vaguely learned in the hopes Baby will finally go back to sleep.

That it's finally me and you, and you and me- Just us, and your friend Stede

everything about this is wonderful- i dont have a ton of feedback past 'more, i want to hear more, what happens next, where do they go from here what are the reactions, aaaaaa' etc etc but ill try to write something. better than that- this feels like just the absolute perfect moment for the kiss. all the cards are finally on the table, izzys admitting some... affection for stede (in some capacity) Ed's finally coming to terms with his feelings and actions and. yeah. i can just see them rocking together, both still a little in shock from the kiss, one singing and the other mumbling confessions and feelings and apologies and just. finally finally they are on the same page again. obviously not everything is fixed but. wow this is just the perfect moment. to me anyway.

But I admit that it's also just extra satisfying to me if after Baby is safe with Mary and Doug, Ed and Izzy and crew truly don't fall back into the worst of it. Yes, they're still raiding daily to keep busy and the pace is Too Much, but Izzy doesn't lose anymore toes. Ed is gruff and grumpy and back to the occasional rhino horn again now that Baby is off the ship, but his main goal isn't the raids now.

i really do like your focus of the slow burn of eds recovery- the idea that even after everything, theres still work to do, but also that they are going to do that work. not everythings fixed, not everythings even on its way to being fixed, but the doors open, both going to do their best. its going to be hard, theyre going to backslide, its going to go wrong and things will be said that they dont really mean but. theyll try and theyll try and theyll try and i think that is just. wonderful. recovery isnt easy, but all tears can be mended.

(bc by this point even he has to admit that yeah. What they have might not be as healthy as it used to be, but he does want to work on it and he still wants and cares about it and Izzy. He's even taken to again wearing the little ring with amethyst stone that Izzy gave him when he'd given Izzy his ring with the emerald in it, right around the knot of Stede's scarf that he wears as well. He'd also like to try things again with Stede, potentially, and Izzy makes it clear that he's here for all of this, so much so that part of the raids becomes Izzy questioning everyone they raid as to if they've seen a blond, pretty idiot with a small crew of more competent pirates helping him survive.)

what a wonderful ending. its so hopeful for what comes next, im just in love. i love the idea of the small things, like ed wearing the ring- did ed always wear it like that, or did he used to wear it on his finger? how long did it take izzy to notice he was wearing it again? not long i bet, thats the kind of thing izzy would pick up on immediately- also following on from that, how does that make him feel? whats his reaction- maybe he doesnt want to mention it to ed out of fear he stops if he mentions it.

some things to maybe think on here (for both this para + the previous)- how does the crew react when things turn worse again? (in any capacity, however short) does everyone hit panic stations? does this go steddyhands for you? or stede/ed + ed/izzy or something else!!!

ok thank u for making it thru all that i hope its coherent now i am just gonna gush for a sec because i really truly am in love with this idea - i mean. for me it hits several points i just adore but dont see done that much (the kid dynamics, just exactly how you hit on edizzy dynamics, particularly love the themes around not forgiving but choosing to move past, and just your silly little interjections about ed and izzy being just as fucking intense about the babys food + stede as they are about regular raid things.)

i just. aaaaa i am so bad with words but i love the way it sounds like youre handling this all. particularly like. i dont think i mentioned it up there but i can see the way bits of this (the post baby-raid bit, the calm moment after on deck) could work really really well in a story setting, as sort of a breather from the plot, a light hearted moment amongst a lot of stress (its a filler episode babey, lets go to the beach) it adds a lovely bit of texture to everything you have going on here

i love all your little world building details here i really feel like i get what youre going for with the dynamics here i feel like theyre tangible as people (thisll be a REAL embarrassing thing to say if ive got ur intentions entirely wrong but still)

i feel like theres a lot more i could say but most of it is just ! i love this i love this i love this !!!!!!!!!

i shall shut up now but god <3 i hope you finish this one day ill jump on it so fast dhvjnbdjvcn

random fic writing babbling and rambling below the cut. TW for discussions of babies, historical breastfeeding, birth, Ed's midwifery charge from his wanted poster (the inspo for these fic ideas that are being discussed below lol.)

I keep trying to write a fic based on the midwifery charge on Ed's s2 wanted poster but I keep getting hung up on the historical accuracy thing of 'where are they getting enough human milk to feed a newborn until they can get this baby to a new family.' Like. In theory, it is doable, but before I get into that:

to explain, the plot every time, even the times I've actively tried to write it differently, is that it's a thing of them choosing the worst time to raid another ship. Either they're mid-raid and hear this poor person still attempting to give birth while everyone else onboard is being killed or threatened by Ed and crew, or as in the latest draft, Ed and Izzy literally walk in to the room just as this person passes away post final push/baby fully delivered.

The baby doesn't fix jack shit between Ed and Izzy or Ed and the crew, bc that doesn't work irl and it ain't gonna work in fiction either.

But! The situation and how everyone pulls together to look after the baby does make Ed slow down and take a step back from the things that have been doing his head in abt himself and Stede and Izzy and life in general. Bc like. He didn't INTEND for this to happen, had he known someone on the ship was actively giving fucking birth, they would have passed it by and left that ship alone! That's too much extra risk/work, when he's intending to keep them on a briskly moving pace for raids. And he doesn't want to hurt a kid, so of course he's going to make their new mission finding someone or a family to look after the baby, and look after them well (god help them if he should find out that's not the case, even years in the future.)

In the latest draft, as in previous, I have it also highlighting Izzy's connection to his mum via midwifery and knowledge abt looking after kids/babies. in the latest draft in particular, Izzy is implied ftm who was absolutely being trained by his mum to take over as midwife for their village/town, had he not gone to sea with Ed instead. But it means he's still retained some knowledge of it all, so he takes on a lot of the baby care.

For example, the bassinet they steal off the ship goes into Izzy's room (which we've seen is small af, so like. He can't even close his door anymore with the bassinet there.) The bottle making kit (that was an interesting bit of research, to find out how the few bottles used might have looked if a wet nurse/someone else nursing that lived nearby/etc weren't available to just. nurse the kid directly) is in his chest at the end of his bed.

Izzy and Ed wind up, again at least in this latest draft, having a few late night, exhausted conversations as they feed the baby and take turns rocking/walking the hall with the baby, just generally so sleep deprived and focusing on the baby that they haven't noticed they're working together more again. It's still clear they have so many things to talk abt and unpack for both of their sakes, but that wax seal over their shared emotions for each other starts to crumble a little once the baby is onboard.

The conversations might not entirely evade the rest of the s2 events, but I can't say bc my drafts always falter right abt here, or when I'm trying to make it sound realistic that they are also, very much, now raiding other ships not just for loot but for anyone currently lactating to express milk for them to feed the baby

(honestly, i half wanna write at least one raiding scene in the fic simply to have Ed try and explain that demand. Yes, he's the dread pirate Blackbeard, the Kraken, your nightmare. Yes, he wants all the loot and money onboard. Yes, he's also currently an unintentional foster parent along with his first mate/husband and their crew to a newborn that needs more milk and as such, anyone currently breastfeeding is commanded to try and fill some of a bottle. Either way, you're giving up everything you have so stop thinking about it or asking questions, unless you know of anyone looking to adopt a baby, by chance. In that case, please give that information to Fang before giving up your expensive things and/or breast milk.)

There's a lot of tentative hope, among all of them re: the baby. All of them making little comments, here and there, that whether the kid winds up a pirate or not, they hope the baby will be happy. Looked after and loved, in the ways some of them either weren't or experienced a very unhealthy/dysfunctional version of.

I do know the ending pretty well, though elements of it could change.

But for sure, I'm thinking of a scene of the ship, dark, everyone quiet sitting on the deck after they've dropped the baby off with a new family (i keep hemming and hawing with it being Doug and Mary somehow having heard abt this kid some pirates are trying to unload, bc I like the idea of leaving a little room for a sequel in Mary being like 'huh sounds like this guy (Ed) is really upset over someone who sounds an awful lot like Ste-oh no' and letting Ed know what went down with Stede)

And as they sail into the night, Ed mumbles that they should consider the night as a night off, but be ready to fight tomorrow morning. He implies they can all go fuck off to bed or whatever then, but instead all of them, Ed included, wind up bunking together on the main deck. Sharing bottles of rum, taking turns at the wheel/making sure they're not about to run aground, and having conversations abt their childhoods, mainly the few happy things they remember.

Like, Archie reveals part of the reason she joined the snake cult was bc she just always has liked them. Even as a little kid, grabbing them gently and letting them chill on her arms/hands.

Ed talks abt his mum teaching him how to sew, and jokes abt him and Izzy having darned each other's socks for years, thank fuck they both sew fairly well.

That actually gets a smile out of Izzy, who mumbles out that his mum would be pleased to see he'd remembered how to keep a baby alive and that he'd maybe even done fairly well.

Fang makes a gentle, kindly meant joke abt Izzy keeping them all alive fairly well, that she'd be proud of that too, and we cut to Ed's face just. Destroyed as he realises yeah, that's exactly what he's been making Izzy do, now and before. And he's just stepped back from the Kraken and the feelings that make that up to have that make him feel terrible. They used to live for each other, each sunrise they saw a defiant, blinding medal in reward of their survival. But it hasn't been that way for a long time, has it? And he can't decide if he wants to explore that feeling or make it go away as fast as possible, or maybe both.

Cut back to Fang cheerfully telling everyone the story of how he wound up being named for his dad, becoming Kevin Jr, and we end on the implication that at least for the rest of the night, things will be calm for them.

Makes me mad as hell I can write this whole post out to discuss the fic, but I can't seem to finish a draft solidly enough to finally finish and publish lmao

[lifeafterpsychiatry]

wanted to reach out with some tips for dead on their feet tired from their first job anon- from another chronic pain haver who used to work food service! Sorry if some of this comes off as lecturing, mostly just trying to share stuff I wish I had learned earlier.

it's totally normal to be tired after 5 hours of strenuous activity, especially if that's the longest you've worked so far and it's on top of a general increase in shifts! no matter what position you work, food service is hard physical labor that is tiring.

also pain can add quite a lot of fatigue! you might be more tired than your coworkers because your body is dealing with more. pain is often inflamation response, which is taxing on your body in multiple ways.

Managing and minimizing your pain can go a long way to help you work sustainably, also! I don't know if you have any diagnosis or treatment for your pain, but definitely keep that up if you do (and look at seeing a doctor if you don't and are able!! it is not normal to be in pain daily, esp as a teen). Make sure you understand and use any ergonomic working positions and how to lift and carry things safely, these can make a huge difference. when in pain it's hard to not slump or lean into bad positions, but it's important to build the strength to do tasks sustainably. doing something wrong enough once can really injure you, but repeatedly doing something wrong can lead to needing months of physical therapy too. also, antiinflammatory meds like ibuprofen or naproxen are good to use to treat soreness but also help prevent inflamation while working, so taking them preventatively may help. Its common for people with chronic pain to need to take meds like those, and sometimes things like Tylenol in addition, daily to be able to manage pain and prevent worse flare ups (tho again should have doctor to talk about pain management with!) Personally I use naproxen (bc it lasts 12 hours) and Tylenol together to help manage my pain.

finally, especially for foot/ankle/calf pain: COMPRESSION SOCKS. you can get like sports ones and even those will help a LOT. they reduce and prevent inflamation, while adding some gentle support to your joints. also even cheap sole inserts to help add some padding in your shoes can help a lot (most non slip shoes suck with having any padding). compression and support garments can be lifesaving in general and there are a lot of different kinds, but I think basically everyone who works on their feet can benefit from compression socks.

Thank you for stepping in! I don't work and I have never dealt with chronic pain, so I didn't have much to say on either of those topics