#essence wigs

[akkivee]

i threw on my kuukou cosplay last night to see how it fits and suddenly understood what the kuukou actors be going thru, kuukou’s power is kinda scary LOL

[tarraxahum]

Randomly remembered all those times someone on a forum or wherever would ask, like, "if your comic was ever turned into a movie or a tv-show, what would you want it to be like", and I was always spewing something about obvious answers like Fortiche or whatever

BUT ACTUALLY. That's wrong.

The correct answer is that I would want it to be filmed as one of those film-student-project fan movies. Where no one has any money and their camera isn't stabilized and the 'sets' are all local buildings but everyone is very committed to making it work with what they have. And all the actors are friends or classmates or someone's parents and therefore look especially real and human.

[livwritessometimes]

F1 Drivers & Their Couples Halloween Costumes

: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Franco Colapinto, and Daniel Ricciardo

: Main Masterlist

: Author’s Note - Ik I’m a little late, but I had terrible migraine and just could not bring myself to finish this. But here we are! Here are some costumes I think that F1 Drivers will wear with their girlfriends

…

Max Verstappen

- Was absolutely against any stupid costume but the moment he saw this, it was over for him.

- For someone who was not interested in dressing up, Max took an awfully long time to make the cat’s head.

- Tried to show his outfit to Jimmy and Sassy……ya let’s just say, it did not go as well as he would have liked it to go 🤭

Lando Norris

- I mean….do I even need to explain this one???

- Lando was the one who came up with the idea (shocker)

- Put more effort and dedication into making the boobs than he does in race strategy! (He’d like to call this costume his life’s best work)

Oscar Piastri

- After rejecting several costume ideas (which included salt & pepper, socket & plug, jam & toast) he finally gave in to this costume (not that he had a choice)

- Decided to be Pete (totally called McLaren to get the orange hoodie set)

- Wanted to truly understand the essence of the character (spent 20+ hours trying to memorise the rap)

Charles Leclerc

- Honestly….even Charles has no idea why he suggested this costume.

- He wanted to do something fun….so he asked Arthur for help (this actually explains a lot why he was dressed like The Simpsons)

- This costume really grows on him, especially the headpiece (the expression reminds him of his years in Ferrari)

Carlos Sainz

- Tbh he has no idea what he’s doing! He’s just happy to be included.

- He doesn’t have many opinions about the costume; he just likes the fact that he gets to be close to his girlfriend.

- Gets so many compliments that he’s already started planning for next year’s couples costume.

George Russell

- Made a bet with Alex about who can become the most iconic Disney duo….hence Darla and Nemo 🐟

- Is more than happy to wear an orange wig, plaid skirt and glittery sweatshirt…🤨

- Even called Toto and asked him to play the dentist as a way to gain bonus points.

Lewis Hamilton

- He would rather die than be caught in these tacky outfits….which is why he found the best costume to wear!

- Got the suits custom made from the best designers (yes the alien is also custom made 👽)

- Won the best costume award (are we even surprised tho 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Pierre Gasly

- Just don’t ask why….this is what Pierre came up with!

- Now you might think the girlfriend is dressed as the chicken. Well….YOU’RE WRONG!!!

- Pierre insisted on dressing up as the chicken (bonus: he even asked Yuki to dress up as a knife)

Alex Albon

- Made a bet with George and he knew exactly what he wanted to become!!

- Truth be told, Alex made one hell of a Vector.

- He was surprisingly good at putting on the bald cap for Gru….which makes you wonder this isn’t the first time he’s done this 🤔

Franco Colapinto

- He had no intention of dressing up but got invited by the other drives, so he had to come up with something QUICK!

- Voila! Did a quick google search and decided to dress up as the first thing he saw.

- Not the best costume but 8/10 for his efforts and last minute planning 🥉

Daniel Ricciardo

- Does this not look like a pose Daniel would 100% do!!!!

- He said #Green&Proud

- Tried a lot to convince Max to dress up as the donkey 🫏….ya it didn’t happen!

…

Tags: @wobblymug | @evasmlp | @ln8118 |

[the-girl-from-another-time]

Look, I will always be the first person begging Disney to just stop with the live action remakes. Animation is not an inferior art that needs to be redone. I have also said that Snow White (2025) is pointless because Disney won’t do anything better or more interesting than Mirror Mirror or even Snow White and the Huntsman.

I want to explore this through the costuming of Disney remakes’ male leads.

In Cinderella (2015), which I can never say enough good things about especially in terms of visuals, Prince Kit wears the most stunning series of costumes inspired by early 19th century menswear while also evoking classic fairytale Prince Charming vibes. Everything about this is flawless. This movie really is the blueprint for how to do a remake so well you almost surpass the original.

Beauty and the Beast (2017) leans heavily into lavish and elaborate 18th century menswear for the prince. Look at that embroidery. The wigs. The cravats. I’m salivating. Unfortunately the CGI doesn’t quite capture the same essence.

Aladdin’s costumes in the 2019 film perfectly evoke the original version while also looking like they belong in a Bollywood film or lavish Middle Eastern period drama. Once again, embroidery and embellishments for the win.

In The Little Mermaid (2023), Eric’s costumes capture both the unbuttoned adventurous look of the original while also taking inspiration from menswear of the Romantic period in the 19th century. He has all the blousy white shirts and tight breeches you’d expect. That starched collar has me obsessed.

While not strictly a remake, both versions of Prince Phillip in the Maleficent movies have lovely, detailed fairytale costumes that wouldn’t be out of place in a Narnia film. The Renaissance inspiration is very present, especially on the right.

Basically, while many of these films pale in comparison to the originals, the costumes are gorgeous and detailed, suiting both the characters who wear them and the fairytale look of these films.

And then there’s Snow White (2025), where the male lead wears *checks notes* a … hoodie?? A fantasy version, but still. A freaking hoodie. This is embarrassing. If anything, he’s reminding me of Hunter Huntsman from the Ever After High series (right). Which is not what this movie needs.

Disney, I know you can do better. The downgrade is real.

[sloanout]

I am quite honestly obsessed with the Evanuris in regards to gender and it's performance. It's such a fascinating, under explored angle of their very existence. The Evanuris, the first of their kind who existed originally as spirits, literally pure platonic essences of ideas, inherently genderless and sexless, assumedly aromantic and asexual by the same logic. The advent of physical bodies capable of reproduction, based upon the dwarves, and all the complexity that comes with that.

Obviously, there's an overwhelming amount that comes with their conversion to physicality. They are no longer capable of being the pure beings they were before (pure here meaning undiluted and wholly embodying only one concept/feeling), they're susceptible to outside influence and complexity in a way their previous existences simply could not contain. Spirits should be understood as people in their own right, but it seems the big jump here is the formation of an ego, an identity that has more to do with "self" than "experience".

Where did it come from? Was their understanding of gender also learned from the dwarves? Did they even subscribe to the same model we, the human players, generally do? Many such questions, few answers, and the looming understanding that beyond canon there exist writers and creative voices that drive the intent here, and that while the DA team leaned towards being more in the know about gender identity and all that goes with it, they may not have been able to fully remove themselves from being humans socialized to understand gender in specific ways. We can theorize on how spirits-turned-elves would feel about their own bodies and persons, but we can never fully know.

What we do know from the text itself is that the Evanuris cast themselves in gendered roles, Elgar'nan as the father god and Mythal as the mother, and both acted out traits we would traditionally project onto those roles. Elgar'nan in particular fascinates me. His embodiment of tyranny leans so heavily into bloated, toxic masculinity (a move that works well in conveying what he's all about to the audience). He's so desperate to be the quintessential strong man, the great king, the dominating leader. Despite actively waging a war and losing ground to a crack team of mortals, he toils and frets over the size of his dragon. He thinks it needs to be bigger than his fellow gods' dragons. He thinks having the bigger dragon is a sign of his own dominance. This is not a metaphor for anything.

Speaking of which, he cannot fathom or accept the natural reality that all dragons are female. That Lusacan isn't male is an affront to him, something he has Ghilain'nan forcefully change so that his dragon can better act as an expy of himself. So it can better act as an embodiment of power and dominance. Because to Elgar'nan, power and dominance are inherently masculine. Where did this come from. How did he become so enamored with this performance of masculinity. Something something, wearing a wig to hide his male pattern baldness.

(that isn't a critique. Just more idle questions that keep me up at night. Truly what is up with Elgar'nan.)

At the same time, you have Solas and Cole, both spirits that ended up flesh and bone, and their gender is incidental at best. In stark contrast to Elgar'nan, I can't think of a single time Solas performs masculinity in any notable way. He performs as Fen'harel, but not as a man. When he's most comfortable, Solas is a sensitive aesthete who enjoys the arts and is unafraid to declare his love for his dear friend Wisdom. Of course, those aren't things inherently contrary to masculinity, but under the framework of traditional gender roles they're definitely seen as more "feminine" traits.

Then you have Cole, literally compassion incarnate. His actions and mind fit more with the idea of a caring all-mother than Mythal ever did, despite the fact that his assumed flesh and gender are male. His base traits don't change if he becomes more human - if anything, he doubles down on the empathy, now better able to understand the people he wants to help.

I don't have any uniting thesis here, just a handful of observations I've been rotating in the microwave. I suppose there is a through line in that the Evanuris were enthusiastic to assume physical forms, and thus much more interested in what the dwarves had going on. Proud as Elgar'nan and the lot are, it's easy to imagine that they took a lot of notes from how the dwarves carried themselves and socialized, and the conception of gender they ended up forming was heavily influenced by that. On the other side, you have Solas who has, at best, a contentious relationship with his own flesh and yearns for the impossible return to his spirit self, thus a more ambivalent and ambiguous gender expression. It's a person thing he doesn't want to have to grapple with, he was much more comfortable as an agender psychic worm.

Cole sits in the middle, incidental in body but not at odds with his existence as a human in Thedas - if anything, happy that he can more directly help. Cole always read as trans to me, not as a direct representation but an allegory, transgender in spirit, you might say. Hehe. I've heard some interpret him similarly, but see the spirit/human questline as a binary he's being forced to choose between. I actually think it's the opposite - not only is Cole going to be muddy and grey in his personhood no matter what, I find the human choice to be the more nonconforming of the two. A Cole that becomes human still retains so much of his spirit self, he reads to me like a synthesis of the two states rather than a full embodiment of one or the other. No wonder Solas was jealous of him.

Anyway, I just think it's crazy and delightful that elgar'nan made his sister perform gender affirming surgery on a lizard.

[qqueenofhades]

I'm watching the results come in for the French legislatives first round, and I have been following American presidential race and supreme court from afar. I am depressed. Please say something wise that will give me hope. I never thought to live through times like this.

Anonymous asked: Hey I know you said you’re avoiding posting about politics so absolutely feel free not to reply, but any tips about not getting hopeless? Especially when the fellow young people in your life are all clamoring to talk about how both parties are the same, they won’t vote, etc, etc (😑)?

Welp. It seems that what the people want to hear at this point is some Wise Words From Internet Grandmother Hilary, so... I will do my best to see what I can come up with. It bears repeating, as I have said many times before and will do so again, that I still have heard no better advice for living through The Horrors than the Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." Because, yeah. That, in its simplest essence, is it. We cannot control The Horrors. Individual people have never been able to control The Horrors, and five thousand-odd years after the invention of documented human history, here we still are, making the same stupid fucking mistakes. That is pretty maddening to deal with, and if you try to think of it like that, it is impossible to wrap your head around and it will only drive you crazy. So, then. What?

I will freely admit that I am scared too. Despite my best efforts, the post-debate furor wigged me out, I had to log off all social media and news sites for most of the weekend, not look at anything aside from one site I trust for two minutes, and try to get myself back in an okay headspace. So yes, rule number one: STOP DOOMSCROLLING. Please get a muzzle on that little voice in your head that says you HAVE to look, you HAVE to read everything, you have to KNOW JUST IN CASE HOW BAD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE. Then you look at stuff that makes you upset, and that leads to other stuff that makes you more upset, and then there you are in a stew of anxiety and anger and everything else that doesn't help. Do not look at the Bird Site Formerly Known as Twitter or news sites or anything else that is liable to have stuff that upsets you, especially in Panic!!! moments like this. It is designed to make you feel worse and it obscures the fact that nobody actually knows. Like, I devoutly hope that the anonymous "adviser to a prominent Democrat" and the NYT editorial board and everyone else screaming about how Biden should drop out right now step on ten Legos a day for the rest of their lives, but they also DO NOT KNOW (and given the NYT nakedly admitting to a personal vendetta against Biden for not giving them an interview, everyone can see exactly what this crass and unbelievably stupid sabotage attempt is, but yeah). Even if they get quoted in prominent publications, they do not know what is going to happen. They are not prophets. The NYT has, as noted, showed its ass 800 times before and keeps coming up with polls that are so ludicrously pro-Trump that it's becoming a cottage industry to debunk them. They are crass and cynical and trash and all that, they have vested interests, they have a platform, but repeat after me: WE DO NOT KNOW "FOR A FACT" THAT EVERYTHING IS DOOMED AND WILL NEVER BE OKAY AGAIN IF WE DO NOT LISTEN TO THE ALMIGHTY NEW YORK TIMES. In fact, the NYT has been so fucking wrong so fucking many times that at this point, I would bet on it being the other way around.

As part of my Bad Headspace Night on Friday night, I did picture the worst-case scenario of Trump winning, American democracy being overthrown, fascists around the world being emboldened, etc. It was a nasty mental picture and I didn't like anything that would come about if it did, but I had to remind myself that even if it did happen, well, the world would still be here, and good people who care about its future would have to do something to make that future happen. It would be ten times harder and it would be the result of another unimaginably evil and cynical fascist sabotage campaign, but... those are not exactly unprecedented in human history. (See: making all those mistakes over and over again.) People in the past were faced with those same exact moments where everything seemed monumentally hopeless and doomed for a generation, and they fought back, and they won. That's the thing. Fascists are evil and awful and terribly unnecessarily destructive, but they are not unbeatable, and they never have been. If we make the choice to resist them, then, well, they can be resisted. It will not happen by posting vaporous screeds on social media, or sitting on your ass and waiting for some miraculous savior/revolution/whatever to swoop in and save you, but it can happen, and it can work. That's what is very hard to remember in the current Horrors, but it's the way it's been for as long as there has been evil. It is not the be-all and end-all of the human experience and never will be.

Likewise: if a la the second anon you're being surrounded with people who are saying stupid things and making you feel worse: just don't be around them any more. It's that simple and you should do it. You can unfollow people who are posting defeatist rubbish, or you can avoid spending time with people railing about how everything is already doomed and voting is useless, etc. You may feel guilty because these people are your friends or you don't want to cut off contact, but you need to do what is best for your mental health, and if all you hear is BS, then, yeah. Pull the plug, cut the cord, do whatever you want. You do not owe anyone else your headspace, your attention, your mental health, or anything else, especially if it is demonstrably idiotic and incorrect. Find ways to do something. Go out and volunteer. Put down the phone (again, this cannot be overemphasized) and stop looking at doomerists on Twitter who get their engagement fix from making you upset and angry. Read a book, watch a TV show, visit a friend in real life, take a walk outside (if you don't live in a furnace, which unfortunately a lot of us do right now). Just sit and close your eyes and meditate. Stretch or move your body. Drink water. Super basic ordinary things that get you away from the increasingly frantic death spiral mindset and put you back in the reminder that things are never over and there is still a lot of time for everything.

As I said: I am doing this myself right now. It is not easy. I know it is not. I wish that we lived in a kinder timeline where this was not necessary, but as Gandalf says, nobody ever wishes for this and yet it happens nonetheless. But we can still control how we react to it and identify the things that are doing their best to make us feel terrible and doomed and hopeless, and make a choice to move away from them. We do not know what's going to happen, no. But we also do not know that everything is doomed, and you know what, it usually ends up not being that way. So that's what I can offer for now. Courage.

[rosealinie]

𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔅𝔲𝔱𝔩𝔢𝔯

ℭ𝔬𝔣𝔣𝔦𝔫 𝔐𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔰 - 𝔚𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔫 𝔟𝔶: ℜ𝔬𝔰𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔢

ℌ𝔲𝔰𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔘𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔯 𝔵 𝔚𝔦𝔣𝔢 𝔙𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔢 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔯

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰: 1/? ℜ𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔐 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔢𝔯𝔱

--------------------------♱--------------------------------

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 1 - 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔢𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤

𝔑𝔢𝔵𝔱 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯

--------------------------♱--------------------------------

ℑn the very heart of Victorian London, where cobblestone thoroughfares did teem with wayfaring souls of diverse station and age, there echoed the merry laughter of children as they did frolic, kicking a cherished sphere of leather. Couples and families did stroll, bearing their parcels with eyes aglow with the thrill of acquisition.

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of shops, there stood one solitary and enigmatic establishment, "𝔘𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔯," so it was inscribed. Herein, only those steeped in sorrow did venture—freshly bereaved widows and bastards alike sought solace within these somber walls. At the fore of the shop, a resplendent array of floral tributes did grace the entrance, whilst within, the true essence of a funeral parlor unfolded. Neatly arranged along the walls, coffins of various craftsmanship lay in repose, each adorned with a metal plate that bore the name of the wood, the price of the casket, and the nature of its design. All were polished to a gleam, as if cherished by hands long since departed.

In the very center of this solemn abode, more coffins were displayed, yet these were open caskets, revealing the exquisite linings of cotton, linen, silk, and velvet that did grace their interiors. A metal stand, sturdy and proud, did stand sentinel beside each casket, bearing forth the same inscriptions as those upon the walls, detailing the lineage of the wood, the cost of the final resting place, and the nature of its craftsmanship.

Thus, within this hallowed space, the air was thick with the weight of unspoken grief, a sanctuary for those who sought to honor the departed. The flickering light of candles cast gentle shadows upon the polished surfaces, whispering tales of lives once lived, now but memories entwined in the fabric of time. Here, amidst the somber elegance, the living did confront the inevitable, each detail a testament to the reverence held for those who had journeyed beyond the veil.

At the checkout counter, there lay a glass case of exquisite accessories, a veritable showcase of fine craftsmanship that did entice the eye. Within this transparent enclosure were displayed a myriad of treasures: delicate jewelry, timepieces of intricate design, eyepatches of varied hues, hats of all manner, bow ties, cosmetics, wigs, hair adornments, infant bibs, bonnets, and gloves, each a testament to artistry and elegance. Above each item, a small metal plate was stationed, imparting to the discerning customer the price, the nature of the metal or cloth, and the dimensions thereof.

Towards the rear of the establishment, a door stood resolutely closed to the public gaze, shrouded in an air of mystery. Before this portal rested a small cauldron, filled with water that danced with slices of lemon, orange, and lime, interspersed with fragrant blooms. Steam did rise from this vessel, yet the means by which it was heated remained an enigma, cloaked in the shadows of the shop.

Adorning the doorframe were clusters of flowers, artfully arranged to mask the dreaded scent of decay that might otherwise seep forth from the back room. Thus, only the sweet and refreshing aroma of floral and citrus did waft through the air, enveloping the front area in a pleasant embrace, a balm for the souls who ventured within.

Once upon a time, in an age long past, this establishment was deemed unfit for the public's eye, and yet, by some strange miracle, folk did venture forth regardless. The place was utterly besmirched, with spiderwebs festooning every corner, and dust cloaking every surface in a shroud of neglect. Coffins lay scattered haphazardly, whilst dreadful flasks filled with unsightly remnants cluttered the shelves of the building. The air was thick with a pungent odor, suffocating in its intensity, rendering the atmosphere most repugnant. Indeed, it was a sight most distasteful, though the aesthetic, to those with a peculiar eye, might have been deemed captivating—much like thyself, who found a strange allure in its grotesqueness, despite its revolting nature.

There be naught amiss in the ownership of a funeral parlor, yet for heaven's sake, one ought to maintain cleanliness and order! Thy husband, the undertaker of this establishment, had managed this abode alone for many a decade. The notion of such a venture had once seemed amusing to thee, yet it soon grew tiresome, and thus, for a time, thou didst refrain from participating in his labors.

However, upon a fateful day, thou didst decide to pay an unsuspecting visit, hoping to surprise thy beloved, for he had been in a state of melancholy that week, and thou wished to lift his spirits. Yet, what thou didst encounter was not the solemn dignity of a funeral parlor, but rather a veritable nest of vermin. What began as a visit filled with hopes of bringing a smile to thy love's countenance swiftly transformed into a full-fledged lecture on the virtues of cleanliness and organization.

For the fortnight that followed, thou and thy husband did labor diligently to render the parlor more presentable to the discerning public. Though the toil was arduous and the days long, thy husband’s countenance shone with joy at thy side, as if the very act of thy companionship had lifted his spirit from the depths of despair.

In witnessing the transformation of both the shop and thy beloved, a smile blossomed upon thy own visage, and it was in that moment of shared endeavor that thou didst resolve to join him in the stewardship of this establishment. Thus, it came to pass that the shop, once a haven of neglect, was lovingly restored to a state of care and dignity, reflecting the newfound harmony between thee and thy husband.

And so, it was through thy combined efforts that the parlor flourished, becoming a place not only of solemn farewells but also of warmth and camaraderie, where love and labor intertwined to create a sanctuary for those who sought solace in their time of grief. Thus, the tale of how thou didst come to work alongside thy husband in this noble pursuit was woven into the very fabric of the shop, a testament to the power of love and partnership in the face of life’s inevitable sorrows

[xinfinityl0ve17]

Malice Mizer Kami

"The number of outfits I have is quite impressive you know. I love shopping so I tend to make impulsive buys (laughs). Yeah I don’t dislike trends either. If I think something is good I’ll often incorporate it right away. But I don’t incorporate trends into my outfits behind the scenes. Fashion is something beyond trends so it’s not really in that dimension for me.

As for the obsession with costumes it can vary depending on the song but to express the essence of the song I focus on the character of each person and the concept of their image color. For me my image color is purple but that doesn't mean I’ll wear any shade of purple. I consider the story of the song and the color choices I make are in line with that.

The reason purple became my image color was during our debut. Before that most of my costumes were based on black or silver. But for the debut I thought, "Why not try a different color?" At first I resisted it with a smile but once I wore it it didn’t feel out of place at all so I decided to go with it and that's when purple became my color.

When it comes to costumes, there’s always some creative thinking involved. For example the costume for "Ver. Aile" had pants with a wide bottom part from the knee down. They were hard to pedal in so I made a foot strap in the same color as the costume (laughs). Before playing the drums I’d quickly turn around and put it on instant performance art (laughs). There are plenty of behind the scenes stories like that.

As for my favorite costume it’s hard to choose since I like all of them and each one has sentimental value... But the costume for "Gekka no YasoKyoku" stands out as one I particularly love. The lines are beautiful and the inner fabric is a lovely purple iridescent material there was a lot of attention to detail even in parts you don’t see. I think that costume has a very high level of completion. Also the white costume I wore this time is another one I really love. It's the one that came closest to my image. We always design our costumes ourselves but sometimes the final product isn’t exactly what we envisioned. But this time it turned out perfectly to the design and I’m really happy with it. It might even be a personal hit (laughs).

The part I focused on the most this time was the wig. It has a blue to purple gradient and up until just before the photoshoot I couldn’t find a wig that matched my vision. I was so worried. Then while I was walking around the city I found a purple wig displayed in a shop window. And the part of it lit up with lights was changing colors to a blue creating a natural gradient. When I saw it I just knew, "This is it!" Even though the store told me it wasn’t for sale I begged them to sell it to me. The shopkeeper asked, “Are you sure you want it with the color change?” and I said, “That’s exactly what I’m looking for!" (laughs). So I really focus on the details like that and I hope everyone will enjoy looking at all the little details too."

Credits to my friend for the photo

[orbital-obvious]

The Batman (2022) thoughts [pt 2/?] FRIENDS AND FAMILY (w Spoilers)

Kinda squeezing opinion about Batman Allies (mainly Selina) and Bruce's family (which includes his parents and Alfred) into one post but we'll live.

Martha Wayne being a woman with mental health issues that had to have gone to several mental facilities felt like a revelation. I am kinda sad I didn't see more discussions about it in the tags. ESPECIALLY since a lot of her anguish stemmed from Trauma and being so close to the public eye. This is intensifies tenfold if if you relate it to theories like "Bruce is Autistic". Because, HELLO, Martha's family probably viewed her as "wrong" if she exhibited neurodivergent behavior and I keep thinking about possible parllels between her and her son and Thomas accepting her as she is and ahhhhhhh. MUCH TO THINK ABOUT.

Selina Kyle felt much more down to earth in this, which I was thankful for. She felt very... not REALISTIC, rather un-fantastical. She is not Catwoman YET, and is weirded out by costumed weirdo Batman and that made their interactions a lot more potent. The movie also did away with some Catwoman-isms I don't like, what my friend reffered to as "too sexy to be alive".

Actually, I felt as if the movie used wigs to have a visual representation of Selina going into a "role" - being sexy, looking innocent, etc etc, while her no-wig look came into play when she was more her real self - which is part of the movie theme of identity.

That is not to say that Selina wasn't MESMERIZING, btw. They gave her this sparkly/flakey eyeshadow that reflected the light so prettily and made her shine.

Selina red wig look was the best Selina wig look. Gosh, Kravitz made that plastic wig WORK. ALSO NARRATIVE IMPORTANCE. The movie heavily associates black-red with the Batman, so Selina wearing a red wig and black outfit is singling that she is working with the Batman.

no "Hello boys!" from Selina. Thank fuck. Also I kind of enjoyed a version of this character that is not overtly flirtatious. Her romantic moments felt kind of sweet, actually. (I'm going to think about Bruce going "Selina?" when the eyecam gets turned on forever)

So..... Selina and Anika (her "friend" that also worked in the club) were dating, right?

I greatly enjoyed this version of Alfred. It was a diversion from the usual interpretation but I think still managed to capture the character's essence. Alfred is Bruce's father (Bruce, keep your teenage-angst-at-30 for yourself, please) - and I enjoyed his prodding trying to get Bruce Wayne to function like a person in society (level: impossible)

There is more staff than just Alfred - Dory the housekeeper, who also seems like a person who was with the family before the Waynes murder. I don't know why, but I really liked this addition. Maybe becasue it allowed my next point, which is-

It's never was outright said, but I got the feeling like Alfred was the Waynes bodyguard, not butler. Which makes a lot more sense in this more "grounded" universe. It also explains why Alfred was so torn about their death and gives better reasoning as to why he felt it was his duty to protect young Bruce. It's not only Bruce the death is eating up, but also Alfred, and perhaps even more so (as Alfred said, Bruce was just a kid). HOWEVER, I think Alfred dealing with those intense emotions and still not spiraling to WHATEVER Bruce had going on makes him a good foil to Bruce and a better mentor/father figure.

I was legit scared they were gonna kill Alfred. Not only cause I LIKE Alfred, but because I could not even begin to fathom the abyss Bruce would have spiraled into.

Martha was an Arkham? Bruce have a connection to ARKHAM? that's a FAMILY? are they in charge of Arkham Asylum? Are any of them alive? I get that the point here was to be like "Bruce Wayne is the prince of Gotham" (as per Falcone- using Prince cause he's the king) but. Like. HUH?

Thomas Wayne was an idiot for consulting Falcone, and that is the best case senario of that predicament. Especially in a city like Gotham. But that's just the thing - Thomas panicked in how this could have affected Martha / Bruce (I fully believe Alfred when he said it wasn't about the campaign) and that made him act out stupid. It's humanizing.

While I think the death of the reporter was way beyond a reasonable reaction, what business does ANYONE have with Martha's mental health? Rhetorical question, of course. Falcone hinted it was a hit piece but tbh I think it was more like a scandalous "tea" and "drama" about a public figure. There is so much to say about the personal life of public personas, prejudice regarding mental health and especially mental health WITHIN the Batman stories. The movie really wasn't about that, but, you know, many thoughts.

[arecaceae175]

Trick or treat!

(First Part) (<- Previous Part)

The walk back to the ranch was not long. As soon as they were within eyesight of the outer fence, Time tossed his candy bag in Warriors' general direction and jogged to Epona's favorite greeting spot. He whistled her song and she immediately came galloping to meet him. She was slower than she used to be, but still a graceful sight to behold.

Time stepped on the bottom slat of the fence and swung one leg over to sit on top of it just as Epona reached him. She whinnied in greeting and Time hugged her face.

"Hi, girl," Time said.

Warriors laughed. "We have to make sure Wild gets a picture of you with Epona. The headless horseman and his horse."

Wind nodded, then got to work digging through Time's candy bag to steal his favorites. Warriors rolled his eyes and handed him the bag. Wind beamed.

Warriors tried to reach out and pet Epona, but she reeled back and huffed at him, stomping her back feet.

"Wha- you know me!" Warriors cried. Epona huffed again and shook out her mane.

"I know, sweetheart," Time said. "He's just too hideous."

Warriors gasped in affront, hand on his chest. "Excuse me? This costume is beautiful. She must not recognize me with the wig."

"Time's entire body is covered," Wind reminded him gleefully.

"Yeah, but Time's her favorite person. That doesn't count."

"Perhaps," Time added sagely, "It's a skill issue."

Warriors' mouth dropped open.

Wind howled with laughter, rolling onto his side onto the grass. "Skill issue!"

Time's face wasn't visible through his costume, but Warriors could still feel the essence of his shit-eating grin.

(Next Part ->)

[low-budget-korra]

Comments on Netflix's Avatar The Last Airbender

*spoiler alert*

First of all I'm gonna start by saying it is one of the best adaptations I've seen so far. And that's the key word, adaptation. I've seen a lot of fans and others complain about some things that honestly, doesn't make sense because some things only work in a cartoon(just as much as some things only work in a book or a video game)

And before I start to talk about some topics that I judge important, I also wanna say that the production is fantastic, from the costumes to the CGI. It all looks amazing. (A part from Yue's wig)

1. The Script

It's not easy to pick 20+ episodes and make it fit in only 8 but damn they did a hell of a good job, especially when judging what was important to show and what they could let it go. Some fans commented that since there's no fillers, the Gaang and others miss some development but I think that for the universe of the live action what we got here it worked.

I can express how much I like to see Ozai and Azula's relationship and how it is now clear that he uses the siblings against each other, manipulating them to get what he wants. But I will admit I miss the fear Azula had, since it's implied in the show and some extras that she does fear Ozai, and fears becoming like Zuko.

I hope the 41. Is just fine after the battle in the north. See all of them bowing to Zuko after discovering that Zuko was the one that saved their asses and was heavily punished by that...it was beautiful. I loved the writers did that, give names and faces to Zuko's crew and a beautiful yet sad arc when Ozai banished his son and the men who he saved.

I also loved that they put weight into things that was treated as a joke, like Katara talking about her mother. She was a little kid who saw her mom get murdered in front of her and the live action made sure to let us know that it is not okay to make jokes about something so traumatic. All of the deaths here have tons of weight in it, it's not some random person, is someone we met, someone we liked, someone who helped. The costs of the war, something the cartoon manages to show us but know in live action, with real people, the massage gets stronger.

And they didn't forget Iroh's past like the fandom does, which is great. That actor, the earthbending soldier really let it all out, that's how you use the few screentime you have.

Sokka's isn't sexist and y'all were making a storm outta a cup of water, is not like Sokka sexist didn't go away after like the 4 or 5 episode in the original show. I think the live action was able to bring more depth to him in comparison to the first season of the cartoon. We see how he feels about his father's, the absence of him and his duty as warrior who kinda doesn't want to be a warrior.

I need a Gyatso in my life, I didn't know I needed to see more of him until the live action gave us more of him. Kyoshi was the Thor coming to Wakanda from this season, WHY THE FUCK BRYKE DONT WANNA GIVE US A KYOSHI SERIES? She is absolutely a jewel of a character. Roku and Kuruk, damn poor Kuruk man, so much pain in his words but again that's what it means to be the Avatar, it's not fun and games. Zhao saying to Aang what Korra villains said to Korra😭 that the world doesn't need the Avatar anymore, it hurt.

Guys I'm gonna say it, there's no way in hell for anyone to ship Kataang here. I'm saying this because some shippers complain that the secret tunnel part was different but c'mon, look at Kiawentiio and look at Gordon, it would be so s awkward and weird and just wrong. I know they don't have a big age difference, is only like 3 years but when they filmed Gordon looked so much younger than her, maybe in the next seasons the difference won't be that big.

The pace is good, once you start you don't wanna stop.

2. The Acting

Everyone is really good at capturing the essence of it's characters and somewhat making them their own. The highlights for me were Dallas and Ian, Its like they came straight from the show. Ken Leung's Zhao was also amazing as he was way more threatening here than he was in the show.

Kiawentiio was the Katara we were looking for, she is kind yet strong, brave and caring. And Gordon was Aang, sure, he has to learn a few things since he slipped a few times in his acting but nothing that could ruin the experience, that kid is good and just needs some experience.

Elizabeth Yu was Azula. It was different but yet the same character, is like learning something new of her and I like how cleared she show emotions with her eyes. Maria Zhang had great chemistry with Ian and I can't wait to see more of Suki. Arden Cho and Yvonne Chapman as June and Avatar Kyoshi look like they came out straight from the cartoon. Daniel Dae Kim...man is Ozai, so cold, so sharp, so scary, already way better than the cartoon version. I wanna see more of Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh since the character he really starts to shine in book 2.

3. The live action doesn't have the spirit of the OG?

Yes, it does have. The thing is now that we are seeing real people, things get dark one way or another but I don't think it ruined the spirit of the show. Aang is still a kid, Sokka still making sarcastic jokes, Zuko still annoying as hell, Katara still hopeful and strong... There's everything there really.

The thing is stuff like genocide, murder, war, death and suffering are, for some people, better to watch as pixels in a cartoon than real people.

I think it's a great adaptation and I would recommend it to every fan.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Andrew Doyle

Published: Dec 30, 2024

‘Protect Trans Kids’. It’s one of the many slogans you will see frequently displayed at protests by gender ideologues. At the recent demonstrations outside the US supreme court, where the state of Tennessee’s ban on ‘gender-affirming care’ was being challenged by the ACLU, there were even young children holding placards bearing the phrase. But if adults don’t understand what it means, how can the children who it ostensibly describes?

The concept of the ‘trans child’ has become an essential tool in gender activism. In order to justify reorganising society according to ‘gender identity’ rather than sex – and thereby admitting men who identify as women into female-only spaces – it must first be determined that the concept of a ‘gender identity’ is real. And if there is such a thing as a sexed soul that is misaligned with our body, it must surely be present from the moment of conception. As such, being ‘trans’ is not a decision one makes in adult life, but an innate quality that exists at all ages.

J. K. Rowling posted a statement on X regarding this topic earlier this week.

‘There are no trans kids. No child is “born in the wrong body”. There are only adults like you, prepared to sacrifice the health of minors to bolster your belief in an ideology that will end up wreaking more harm than lobotomies and false memory syndrome combined.’

The subsequent firestorm was inevitable. Even the most sensible of comments on this topic are liable to whip up a frenzy of rage and indignation. This in itself is proof of the absurdity of the proposition. If the concept of a sexed soul was legitimate, measured debate and discussion would be adequate to persuade the undecided. But given the weakness of the claim, threats, insults and tantrums are the more likely tactic.

The term ‘trans’ has been muddied in recent years by insisting that it is an abbreviation of ‘transgender’. Previously, it had denoted ‘transsexual’, a term that specifically relates to those who have undertaken surgery or other medical interventions to appear as the opposite sex. The lexical shift to ‘transgender’ implies that the existence of a ‘gender identity’ is incontestable, and that we each have ‘an essence of male or female’ (as one trans campaigner explained to me). No such essence exists, and so ‘transgender’, like ‘non-binary’, is grounded in belief rather than reality. It is a form of self-identification, a way to classify oneself with a concordant set of behaviours, tastes and dress codes, much like ‘goth’ or ‘punk’.

Given that no human being has ever changed from male to female or vice versa, the term ‘trans’ must therefore refer to a process undertaken to appear as the opposite sex. There are two methods by which this can be achieved. Firstly, there is the transvestic approach, by which attire, accessories and behaviour is adopted according to sex stereotypes. For example, a man might wear a frock, high-heeled shoes, lipstick and a long wig, tilt his head coquettishly, and generally behave in a caricatured manner of a woman. Cross-dressers rely on sex stereotypes for effect; whereas many women routinely wear jeans and a t-shirt and no make-up at all, a man who did this would be unremarkable and not identifiably ‘trans’.

The other approach is surgical intervention. For men who wish to appear as women this can include: orchiectomy (removal of the testicles), vaginoplasty (removal and reshaping of the male genitals to create a faux-vagina), breast augmentation, facial plastic surgery, tracheal shave (reduction of Adam’s apple), vocal surgery to raise pitch, hair removal and hair transplants. For women who wish to appear as men, this can include: mastectomy (removal of breasts), pectoral implants, hysterectomy, vaginectomy and phalloplasty (the removal of the vagina and creation of a faux-penis), and body contouring.

Whereas any adult surely must retain the right to dress as he or she chooses, there is a debate to be had regarding the ethics of such surgical procedures. To offer an analogy: if a man desperately desires to have his own arm removed, is the doctor who carries out such an operation not violating his professional responsibility to ‘first do no harm’? Would not psychotherapeutic treatment be more appropriate? On the other hand, many individuals who identify as trans argue that ‘gender-reassignment’ surgery is a psychological necessity. Irrespective of where one stands on that debate, it should be clear that no child can possibly give informed consent to any of these procedures. And so if ‘trans child’ approximates to ‘transsexual child’, then such a thing cannot rightfully exist.

However, if we decide that ‘trans child’ means ‘transgender child’, then we are in the realm of a philosophical or pseudo-religious belief. It is certainly possible for children to believe that they have gendered souls which do not align with their bodies. But such an esoteric view has not developed from a mature process of reflection and analysis. This is the same reason why Richard Dawkins objects to the concept of a ‘Christian child’ or a ‘Muslim child’. In such cases, invariably we are using a shorthand for ‘the child of Christian parents’ or ‘the child of Muslim parents’. Children are simply ill-equipped to have grappled with complex theological belief-systems and weighed up whether they accept them as valid or not.

Moreover, the term ‘transgender child’ points to a highly specific principle within a broader ethos. Given that it refers to the notion of a soul in the wrong body, it is closer akin to the idea of a ‘possessed child’ rather than a ‘Christian child’. Again, it is unfeasible to suppose that an infant could possibly have interrogated these beliefs with any degree of intellectual rigour. The main difference is that trans activists are lauded by the media and political class, whereas exorcists are given a wide berth.

As such, whichever way one looks at it, the very concept of the ‘trans child’ is incoherent. It makes sense to speak of ‘trans people’ because it is an effective shorthand for ‘people who call themselves trans’ or ‘people who believe they were born in the wrong body’, or ‘people who, out of psychological desire or necessity, present in accordance with the stereotypes of the opposite sex’. For the same reason, we can describe someone as a ‘Catholic’ without sharing his or her faith in transubstantiation.

But we need to recognise that this is a belief-system that no child can possibly comprehend, and so the phrase ‘trans child’ makes no sense. To use the phrase at all is to participate in the indoctrination. So while anyone has the right to refer to ‘trans children’, we have the right to tell them why such a phenomenon does not exist.

--

"A child is not a Christian child, not a Muslim child, but a child of Christian parents or a child of Muslim parents." -- Richard Dawkins, “The God Delusion”

"A transgender child is like a vegan cat. We all know who's making the lifestyle choices." -- Blaire White

==

The idea of a disembodied gendered "essence" disconnected from the biology of your anatomy is as ridiculous magical thinking as auras, astral projection, Islam's djinn, the Xian soul and Scientology's thetans.

Anyone who goes on about a "gender identity" should be treated no differently than someone with a ouija board and tarot cards, handing out copies of The Watchtower, or inviting you to a free "audit" session.

[wowstrawberrycow]

Brimby's Little Muffin Adventure Part 22

Uh oh! Looks like Angelica Pickles got ahold of the scissors again. I'm going to pretend she's the one styling it right now. I'm channeling that energy 🤣🤣🤣

I truly am feeling the essence of these gifs tonight. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

So I have just been gluing and cutting Brimby's hair. And wellllll. He's looking rough. I'm experimenting to see what works for this wig.

I am determined to give him lovely locks 😭😭😭

I haven't ironed or applied heat on anything so I'm hoping after the hair is glued on it will begin to look better.

The early stages are always the worst.😬

I'm also trying to remember that this is the first time I've ever made a wig. And the first time I've cut hair in this way.

[rocksibblingsau]

Alguna vez has pensado en una especie de "corona" para el rey/reina de los Rock Trolls?

En TWT siempre pensé que la parte dorada/plateada de Quincy y Essence y la peluca de Trollzart como la representación de una corona para esas tribus

Se que una vez vi un fanart de Barb y Thrash con cuernos de sus respectivos colores como una representación de la realeza, pero no lo e vuelto a ver

Translation:

Have you ever thought about a kind of "crown" for the king/queen of the Rock Trolls?

On TWT I always thought of Quincy and Essence's gold/silver part and Trollzart's wig as representing a crown for those tribes

I know I once saw a fanart of Barb and Thrash with horns of their respective colors as a representation of royalty, but I haven't seen it again

I actually find it really interesting that Barb, despite being cast in a role of being a sort of dictator, doesn't have a crown. Like one of the easiest ways to say 'evil queen' is a big giant crown.

I actually think that Rock Trolls DON'T have any kind of crown. It'd kind of fit in with Rock Trolls being a bit anti-authoritarian, I think.

[lenoue]

this might be unpopular but I really enjoyed dean/amara

there are valid criticisms about that arc but mostly people are just upset that amara wasnt misha colins in a wig and a trenchcoat (nothing to say to them)

or they don't understand the fundamentals of what amara represented

amara wasn't this evil that was seeking to destroy god's creation. she genuinely saw the flaws in god's design and presented another solution. and it was a solution that was accepted by many people. some would choose to do away with feeling joy if it meant they would also feel no pain.

she also wasn't trying to lure dean into her cold wet evil lair. she was one with dean as the mark and knew he had a desire to feel nothing. precedence for this was set in season 5 when famine told dean he was empty of desires. for people who don't presently have the capacity to deal with various pressing issues, shutting down their emotions allows them to compartmentalise and focus on what they can fix Now.

she saw dean as the one who gave the gift of freedom and she wanted to gift him with what she had.

the essence of her arc can be "dean have you tried taking this eternal lexapro"

[meepinmeat]

Mother Merlin

Look, my Magister Celestino is still canonically asexually produced by Dionel and 100% genetically him but thanks to the God Of Death (whom I'll be referring to as G.O.D from here on out) acting a lil surprisingly chill and also some weird tension..? And the clear implications of there being a Merlin during the First Divine War and possibly further back then before it,

So unfortunately, indeed, I have to make a previous Merlin for Celestino. First thing I defaulted to was the classic Merlin that we've seen with the white arcanist wig and the hermit robes. Then I remembered a modern AU with @bunnybird-afk that we did, and for such a miniscule detail of how Cel would be born since obviously fantasy shit doesn't apply there, so Dionel needed a surrogate mother to birth Cel.

Then I see art of this one Twitter user's (@nevermore_pic) depiction of Magister Merlin that's so breathtaking, and their collab/fanarts of their mutual (@okamoht) helps add duel to the fire of who I will introduce as Mama Merlin. The first Merlin in Celverse, who near the end of the First Divine War was on the brink of giving out after using up ALOT of her power to seal away the Hypogeans, striked a deal with G.O.D to retain her life force and essence in the living realm so she can stay and find a way to continue her duty in helping Esperia by living on in another person and they'll pick up from there. Thus, upon passing out, her essence went and fused with Dionel's life magic that went into the mixture that Cel would be born from. So kinda reincarnation but not really? But it's also why I'm calling her 'Mama/Mother Merlin'

And lemme add, yes, yes she and Dionel knew each other back then when they were both just mere peasant mortals 🤭