#if anyone has any tips on how I could improve these reviews

[mxsoyo]

Watching every Dracula adaptation! #2

Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi

Next up is the first authorised film adaptation of Dracula. The movie is actually based on a play adaptation from 1924, which explains some of the changes they made.

Should you watch it? Yes, but not for the reasons you might think. The movie is very funny (not intentionally), great to watch with friends. It is also free to watch on the Internet Archive. It is still recognizably the story of Dracula, but a lot of the details have been changed, especially the characters, so beware of that if that bothers you.

↓ Character and Story Changes + notable moments under the keep reading. ↓

Character Changes: -Renfield takes up Jonathans role of the young solicitor traveling to Transylvania in the beginning of the movie. Until he is put under Draculas influence where goes back to his book version after that. Dwight Fryes performance as essentially both Jonathan and Renfield are both very entertaining. Like that man is giving 200%. -With Bela Lugosi starring as Dracula, this movie was definitely the starting point of the sexy-fication of the character. Even thought I think this Dracula has even worse social skills than his book counterpart. -Mina is actually Jack Seward’s daughter in the movie, I assume this change was made to explain why the main characters would be hanging around at the sanatorium. Personality wise she is a bit blander than her book counterpart, partially because she spents a good chunk of her screen time under Draculas influence. -John Harker (just John, not Jonathan in this version) has been definitely changed for the worse. They made him the sceptic that doesn’t understand what is going on and is constantly doubting Van Helsings advice. He feels a bit more like a douchy version of Arthur than Jonathan. -Like I said, Jack Seward is Mina’s father in this version and is the character in name only and in the fact that he owns a sanatorium. -Lucy (her surname has been changed to Weston) is a single girl since Arthur and Quincey don’t appear. She has a stronger interest in the macabre and has a small crush on Dracula (despite everything about him). -Van Helsing gets a lot of good lines in the movie, he seems a lot less eccentric, and Dracula remarks that he has heard of him. But he is not yet the badass expert vampire hunter later movies make of him. -The movie also added two prominent characters the sanitarium worker Martin the and nurse Briggs, which both serve as a kind of comic relief. Story Changes: -As far as I know this is the first time the female vampires (Draculas roommates) are referred to as his wives. -We get a lot more scenes from the point of view of Dracula -Dracula actually introduces himself to the main characters as their next door neighbour and casually comes over for conversation before they find out he’s a vampire -Lucy dies very shortly after being introduced, but the plotline of the gang trying to keep her alive was given to Mina instead - The ending is surprisingly anticlimactic. They find Dracula lying in his coffin in Carfax Abbey, Van Helsing kills him off-screen, while John looks for Mina. -Afterwards Van Helsing also says they should leave without him, they do and then the movie just ends

Notabel Moments: -The movie starts with Swan Lake out of all songs and then is dead silent when it comes to background music afterwards -The opossums and armadillos (classical Romanian wildlife)

-this GIANT BEE (totally not a normal sized Bee jerusalem cricket in a miniature coffin)

-The BATS!!! Oh my god the spirit halloween bats! The bat driving the carriage?! -the spirit halloween plastic spider on a string -”I never drink... wine.” is such an iconic line, that I was surprised it’s not from the book, this also goes for ”the strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him” -The best scene in cinema history! I cant do it justice by explaining it, you’ll have to watch it yourself, it’s at 1:03:20

Next Up: Dracula (1958) starring Christopher Lee

[adobe-outdesign]

Pokemon review: Pinsir

(I don't have any Pokemon review requests right now and I actually think we're getting close to reviewing all of them, so here's one that hasn't been done yet.)

No Japanese game inspired by bug collecting and Japanese beetle fighting would be complete without a stag beetle Pokemon. Pinsir here delivers in a pretty interesting way—its counterpart Heracross is still reasonably bug-like with some monster attributes, but Pinsir is the exact opposite, being more of a monster with some bug attributes.

Having a bipedal stance, it only has four limbs—two freakishly long forelimbs and two incredibly stubby legs. The body is just an oval with a few segmented lines (the segments not resembling those of an actual beetle, if anyone was wondering), and it has this really cool gaping mouth full of horizontal teeth, as opposed to standard beetle mouth parts or the more traditional Pokemon way of giving bugs regular human-ish mouths. The horns are white in contrast with the brown body, and are covered in little "thorns", kind of a nod to how stag beetles have spikes along the inside of their mandibles.

Overall, it's a pretty neat design and I like how unique of a monster design it is. Sure, it doesn't really have a concept beyond just being a stag beetle, but the unique design really helps it to stand out. My only issues with it are that I wish the horns were even more oversized, but to be fair Gen 1 did have sprite size limitations. I also kind of wish it was just a little more colorful—stag beetles come in beautiful colors, like black and the maroon one above, so something a smidge higher contrast would've been nice, especially because there's so much brown in Gen 1.

While mega Pinsir exaggerates the horns slightly, making them longer and extending the spikes on them, it mostly adds a pair of wings. This might seem a little random relative to the horns for those who don't know what it's based off of, but actual stag beetles do in fact have wings, and given that there's only so much that can be done with the horns I think this is a logical enough direction. And look how happy it is about it!

Visually, the body makes a few adjustments that I really like. The lines on the body now match the eye shape, which feels much more natural and fills the space around the head. The mouth shape has changed subtly, and the eyes have been changed from the generic Gen 1 triangle eyes to a really cool ringed design that matches the body segments and a yellow color to match its new wings. The feet claws now face downwards (for grabbing things) and I really like the way the horn spikes are both longer and less erratic in terms of placement. The only arbitrary change is the fins on the arms, but they don't hurt anything. Great stuff here.

The wings themselves add some much needed color to the design, and are a good bug-like shape. I will say though that I think they're just a little too detailed considering how busy the body is. The random spikes go through the elytra, raising the question of how it closes its wings (I guess it doesn't necessarily need to as this is a battle-only form, but still), and the veins are hard to make out under the arms. I think the spikes could've just been dropped, and the veins greatly simplified.

Something about the wings also feel ever-so-slightly disconnected from the rest of the body—I think it's just because they're so colorful compared to the rest of it. I kind of wish the horns had just a bit of orange or yellow at the tips just so the color could be pulled through somewhere that isn't the eyes, and I also think a deeper, richer brown for the body would've accented the orange color better. However, as a whole, this design's pretty decent.

Overall, Pinsir has a pretty unique monster design that gives it a lot of flavor. Mega Pinsir improves on Pinsir's basic design quite a bit, with the only issue being a few too many details and a few minor color issues. Good stuff all around.

[aphrodeiities]

ꜰᴇᴇᴅʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ᴛᴡᴏ

last day to purchase any readings from me!

if anyone has any hesitation to purchase the venus persona chart reading, i would say that is no need for reservation—it is worth every penny, and even more! this was truly a beautiful blend of astrology and archetype and of visual and lyrical. the length and depth of the analysis is commendable; this document was thirty-seven pages long! you are so detail-oriented, insightful, and honest. you have such a gift of analyzing the small details and connecting overarching themes into a cohesive, enlightening piece. this reading did what it intended: i was left with the ability and inspiration to really step into my femininity and improve my confidence.

it's not just in the way that you offer tips and insights into aesthetically step into your beauty, but also how you can do so mentally and spiritually. first, you paint a vivid portrait of what fashion, hairstyle, and makeup could suit a person with carefully curated images and songs; but, you also delve into the attitude and obstacles that hinder a person from achieving or even just recognizing their own personal blend of chart and archetype. further beyond that, you delve deeply into the influence and effect of your beauty and charm. as you read through all the twelve houses, you are left with a better understanding of yourself, or at the very least, a bit of footing to get yourself going.

on a personal level, i resonated so much with this reading. i felt so seen, exposed, and called out—all in the very best way. you saw and understood my free-spirit and enigma; my uncertainty and insecurity. one of the most impact parts of the reading was that you called out the crux of why it was so difficult for me to really flourish, and that was due to my lack of self-belief and chase of an ideal image. there was a lot of hard truths and revelations (and confirmations), but it was necessary for growth. what i admired a lot was your honesty, stating it is as it was and not sugar-coating the messages. there were so many other things that were accurate too whether it was deep or light-hearted or somewhere in-between, but we'll just keep that between the two of us (😂)!

again, to those who are interested in the venus personal chart reading, i would highly recommend! it a great document to have done and later reference as you go on your own self-actualization journey.

so, here's the feedback/review! i hope that this was suitable.

but, i really do appreciate you doing this reading for me.

i was surprised that you wrote about being perceived as a trophy. because, i do feel like that way and that has been my experience... often times, me being elusive and "valuable" has caused people to try to lock me down, sometimes using nefarious and controlling ways to it—mostly at work, as you clocked in the tenth house portion. reflecting on it, paired with the mermaid/fae energy that you picked up on, it makes more sense. it kind of adds to the mystic and chase which probably why there was draw or achievement to capture what is perceived as a "flight risk."

also, my chart pointing to my previous eating disorder was wild. i'm still dealing with residual negative emotions about eating and body-image.

lastly, i'm going to take the leap and try out those clothing and makeup suggestions of yours. i don't really wear very vibrant colors or any makeup at all, but i'll give those styles that you mentioned in the reading a chance. i'm kind of vibing with that mermaid aesthetic of flowy, wispy clothes—maybe, just slowly introducing color. those pink, yellow, and green tones in the pictures are so pretty! i'll look into implementing similar things.

anyways, this has been very long! thank you again. i'm looking forward to bringing all these changes into the next year 💖

paid chart reading ⟶ venus persona chart reading & feminine archetype analysis + asteroid nymphe, bella, aphrodite sirene + degrees

[dreamystella]

How to be like: Sofía Vergara

Sofia Vergara is a freaking goddess. She is literally what anyone could dream about, her personality, her looks, her pride in culture is something we all wish we could adopt. Here is some tips to be more like Sofía Vergara:

𝕊𝕠𝕗𝕚𝕒'𝕤 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪:

Sofía has an extroverted personality and is incredibly sociable. Try talk to some new people, and if you are shy, try to just hang out more with your friends, ask potentially interesting people to hang out later.

Participate in conversations and give your opinion. Sofía does not sit out conversations unless it doesn't involve her and is always ready to give her opinion on something. As a judge on AGT, she was one of the kindest judges, always giving honest and critical feedback, but doing it so kindly and sweetly at the same time- one of her most admirable qualities.

Sofía knows her strengths and knows how to use them for hers and those around her, advantage. If you know you have great hair, flaunt it, if you know you are amazing at art, develop it further. Trying to fix our weaknesses is amazing, but try focus on the strengths if you want to be like Sofía.

She is not afraid of a challenge, such as in Griselda, Sofía had to change her mannerisms, her body, everything she usually relied on for the role.. But she took on the challenge as an experience and she had a beautiful outcome. Similarly, don't back down from a challenge (unless it harms you in some way), try to find a way to learn from the challenge- i know it sounds cliché, but it's really helpful.

𝕊𝕠𝕗𝕚𝕒'𝕤 𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖:

First, Sofía gives her face a nice wash using the Toty Escensical Balancing cleanser, to refresh herself but does not dry out the skin. I haven't used it myself but it has incrredibly high reviews and it costs $32.

The most important part of her skincare is, SPF. I recommend it, regardless of which person you want to be, if you want a glow up, use an SPF. Sofía will usually apply the Ilumina CC cream using a brush and if extra coverage is required, she also applies the Toty's CC creamy compact cream.

Apply any makeup afterwards, but remember to wash it off before you go to bed.

𝕊𝕠𝕗𝕚𝕒'𝕤 𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕦𝕡:

Mascara is a must if you want to look like Sofía Vergara. She uses too faced better than sex, or something like that to make her eyes look bigger and have longer lashes- she uses make up to enhance her features.

Don't pile much on foundation as she does use it, but she admits that she prefers to use artificial self tan and skin care products as it just gives her a preferred result.

If wanting her lip colour, use lipstick in any pinkish, nude shade possible. I myself would recommend Charlotte Tilbury's Hot Lips Lipstick, Liv it up pink, or the darker red one as these are her signature lipsticks.

She likes to play around with makeup looks, so dont be shy in trying new looks. She had a small era where she grew much more bushier eyebrows, compared to her signature thin ones.

𝕊𝕠𝕗𝕚𝕒'𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕖𝕥:

Always be positive. Sofía is rarely seen in any interview where she has entered with a bad mood, so try to be like that and think more positive.

Be proud of your culture and heritage as Sofía also is. She has been teased and made fun of because of her accent countless times. However, she has never bothered to apologise, in fact, she tries to emphasise her culture any way she can.

Try to be more easy going, as that is one of her's most noticeable qualities. Some tips to be more easy going include: writing in a gratitude journal to be more grateful, make more plans with your friends and stop negative self-talk.

She has this desire to improve herself, and looks up at her fellow co-star Julie Bowen due to Julie's determination and strict workout pattern. It doesn't matter if Sofía is an international superstar, she always tries to be the best version of herself.

Be more confident in yourself!.

"Confident people have a way of carrying themselves that makes others more attracted to them." - Sofía Vergara

Remember that creating confidence might take you some time, so don't stress about it, and take it slow and steady

Not everybody's confident their whole life.- Sofía Vergara

Don't be botgered of what others say, their opinion does not matter.

I think I'm going to be stereotyped forever, but I'm not scared of being stereotyped.- Sofía Vergara

𝔻𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖:

Sofía has a very big sweet tooth, and she does treat herself some times, but she focuses on heating healthy leafy foods and vegatables.

To be as confident as Sofía, practice positive self-talk.

“Beauty is really all about confidence. If you feel beautiful, then you are beautiful.”- Sofía Vergara.

Sofía does not workout as much as expected of her, mainly because she dislikes it A LOT. And that is completely understandable, she does work out a bit due to her age and the requirement of muscles, but she doesn't force herself to do something she dislikes. So if you don't want to workout every day, try, 3 times a week, if you love working out, workout for the healthy amount of time.

Be proud of your body! Sofía is an endomorph, the body type which is usually considered 'less attractive' as it involves more curves. But Sofía proved that B.S, as she proudly shows off all her curves! No body type is unattractive!

This is kinda random lmao.... pls lemme know if you who you want next- or i could make a self motivation blog

[joncawleynews]

Does Cognicare Pro Really Work? My Honest Review and Results!

Official Website:  https://rebrand.ly/ccp--official 

 Wondering if Cognicare Pro can really improve focus, memory, and mental clarity? If you’re like many others who are curious about cognitive supplements, you’ve probably heard a lot about this product – but is it worth the hype? In this video, I’ll share my personal journey with Cognicare Pro, including my results, the pros and cons, and everything you need to know before making a purchase. 

 🧠 What is Cognicare Pro? Cognicare Pro is a dietary supplement marketed to support brain health, enhance focus, improve memory, and boost mental clarity. Using a blend of ingredients known for their potential cognitive benefits, such as Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, and essential B vitamins, Cognicare Pro aims to help users achieve better mental performance without stimulants or artificial additives. But how does it actually perform in real life? What to Expect in This Video: In my review, I’ll take you through: What Cognicare Pro is made of: We’ll look at the main ingredients and their scientifically-backed benefits. My personal results: After using Cognicare Pro for several weeks, I’ll share any changes I’ve noticed in focus, memory, and overall mental energy. Pros and Cons: Every product has its strengths and weaknesses – I’ll go over the key benefits and potential downsides of Cognicare Pro. Is it worth the investment?: I’ll answer this based on my own experience and whether it’s a good choice for you, depending on your goals and needs. My Honest Results with Cognicare Pro Many people start taking cognitive supplements hoping for a noticeable difference, whether in focus, clarity, or productivity. After a few weeks of taking Cognicare Pro, I’ve seen improvements in mental clarity and energy, particularly during the midday slump. I’ll go into detail on how these changes impacted my day-to-day tasks and whether the effects were significant enough to recommend it. One key benefit I’ve found with Cognicare Pro is an increased ability to focus for longer stretches. Rather than feeling mentally drained halfway through the day, I felt a consistent clarity that helped me stay engaged and productive. However, like any supplement, results can vary from person to person. Pros and Cons of Cognicare Pro Cognicare Pro has some fantastic strengths, like high-quality ingredients and a noticeable impact on mental energy. However, it’s not perfect. Some users might find the price a bit high, and others may not see the same level of benefits. In this video, I break down what you need to weigh if you’re considering Cognicare Pro for yourself. Pros: Noticeable improvement in focus and mental clarity High-quality ingredients without artificial additives Positive feedback from many other users Cons: Higher price point compared to other supplements Results may vary depending on individual response 

🎯 Is Cognicare Pro Worth Trying? After my experience, I’d recommend Cognicare Pro for anyone looking to enhance focus and memory with a natural supplement. While it’s not a miracle pill, it does offer consistent support for cognitive function that could make a meaningful difference in daily life. Get Started with Cognicare Pro Thinking about giving Cognicare Pro a try? Before you do, make sure to watch the video to see if it aligns with your expectations and needs. If you’re interested in checking it out, I’ve included a link below where you can learn more about Cognicare Pro and current promotions. 

🔔 Join the Discussion! Have you tried Cognicare Pro? Or are you thinking about trying it? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts or questions – I’d love to hear about your experiences with cognitive supplements. 

👍 Subscribe for More Honest Reviews! If you found this review helpful, don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe to the channel! I regularly post reviews, insights, and tips on the latest health and wellness products, so you can make informed decisions and find the best products for your needs

[pinnaclemartialartssydney]

Parent's Guide to Supporting Their Child's Martial Arts Journey | Pinnacle Martial Arts in Marrickville Inner West, Earlwood Canterbury area, Caddens in Penrith area and Chester Hill, Bankstown Area in South West Sydney

Parent's Guide to Supporting Their Child's Martial Arts Journey: Encouragement, Safety, and Progress Have you ever noticed your child lacking confidence or struggling to focus? Perhaps they yearn for a physical activity that teaches valuable life skills. If so, enrolling them in martial arts could be the perfect solution! Did you know that over 1.3 million Australians participate in martial arts, according to a recent Roy Morgan study? "Martial arts offer a unique blend of physical fitness training, self-defence techniques, and character development. This can be incredibly beneficial for children, fostering confidence, discipline, and respect," commented hands-on dad and tea sommelier Dominic Brown of TopTea. However, as a parent, you might have some questions: How can I best support my child's martial arts journey? Is it safe? How will I know they're progressing? Fear not! This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to become your child's biggest cheerleader and ensure a safe, rewarding martial arts experience. Here are some tips to help you create a positive and rewarding experience for your child and yourself. Encouragement One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to encourage your child's interest and enthusiasm for martial arts. Here are some ways to do that: - Show interest in their training. Ask them what they learned, what they enjoyed, and what they struggled with. Praise their efforts and achievements, and celebrate their milestones. - Attend their classes or competitions when possible. Watch them practice and perform and cheer them on. Let them know you are proud of them and support their goals. - Encourage them to have fun. Martial arts should not be a chore or a burden but a source of joy and satisfaction. Remind them that they are doing martial arts for themselves, not for anyone else and that they should enjoy the process and the outcome. Safety Another critical aspect of supporting your child's martial arts journey is to ensure their safety and well-being. Here are some ways to do that: - Choose a reputable and qualified instructor. Research the instructor's credentials, experience, and teaching style. Ensure they are certified, insured, and follow their martial arts association's safety standards and guidelines. - Choose a suitable and comfortable uniform and equipment. Ensure your child's uniform fits well, is clean, and is appropriate for their martial arts style. Also, ensure they have the necessary protective gear, such as gloves, mouthguards, helmets, etc., and use them correctly and regularly. - Monitor your child's health and fitness. Ensure your child is eating well, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and avoiding injuries. If your child has any medical conditions or allergies, inform the instructor and ensure they know the symptoms and treatments. If your child is feeling unwell, tired, or in pain, let them rest and recover. Progress The final aspect of supporting your child's martial arts journey is to help them understand and appreciate their progress and development. Here are some ways to do that: - Set realistic and achievable goals. Please help your child identify their strengths and weaknesses and work with them to set short-term and long-term goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. For example, a short-term goal could be to learn a new technique, and a long-term goal could be to earn a new belt or compete in a tournament. - Track and review their progress. Record your child's training sessions, achievements, feedback, and challenges. Review their progress regularly and see how they are doing about their goals. Recognise their improvements and accomplishments and help them overcome their difficulties and setbacks. - Foster a growth mindset. Teach your child that martial arts is a lifelong learning journey and that they can continually improve and grow. Please encourage them to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, seek feedback, and try new things. Help them understand that success is not measured by winning or losing but by effort and improvement. Happy, Healthy, Confident: Let Pinnacle Martial Arts in Sydney Shape Your Child's Future! If you are looking for a martial arts school to help your child achieve their full potential, look no further than Pinnacle Taekwondo in Sydney. Pinnacle Martial Arts in Sydney is a leading martial arts academy that offers a variety of programs for children of all ages and skill levels. Whether your child wants to learn self-defence, improve their fitness, boost their confidence, or have fun, Pinnacle Martial Arts can provide the best training and support. Contact us today and book a free trial class for your child. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our Pinnacle Martial Arts family. Contact us on 0410 686 585 Book A Free Class: https://pinnaclemartialarts.com.au/book-free-martial-arts-classes/ Email: info@pinnaclemartialarts.com.au Website: https://pinnaclemartialarts.com.au/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/sydneypinnaclema Instagram: www.instagram.com/pinnaclemartialartssydney Is Pinnacle Taekwondo Martial Arts Near Me? Head Quarters: Pinnacle Karate Martial Arts Marrickville is located at 23 Yabsley Ave Marrickville Inner West Sydney Pinnacle Taekwondo Martial Arts in Chester Hill is located at 12 Banool St Chester Hill, Bankstown Area in Southwest Sydney Pinnacle Taekwondo Martial Arts in Penrith is located at the Penrith Baptist Church, Morello Terrace Caddens in Penrith Area Western Sydney. Pinnacle Karate Martial Arts in Earlwood Canterbury Bankstown area in Sydney delivers many Martial Arts Fitness and Martial Arts Self Defence programs Sydney wide. Read the full article

[bfxenon]

How to Get More Local Business Reviews from Travelers

Image credit: JPreisler.com

Call me a hopeless romantic, but I delight in extending the enjoyment of travel by writing reviews of the places I’ve been after returning home. It’s almost like typing a mini travelog, remembering the new experiences, for good or not-so-good, I had along the road.

I know that when I write a positive review of a local business or public amenity, it will give a lift to online reputation, rankings, and revenue. If I write a judicious critique of something that wasn’t so great, it can help business owners make improvements that should build up their metrics and success over time. And while pursuit of the great outdoors is often the search for silence, quiet is the one thing no local business owner should ever hope for in their online review profiles.

If you and your town depend on tourism for part of your economic health, today’s column is for you. I’ve got an original poll, stats, and tips to help your local business earn more reviews from travelers.

How many reviews do travelers write?

Image credit: MiriamEllis.com

"Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.” - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

For a long time, I’ve wanted to know if Jane Austen and I were alone in loving to write about our travels through Derbyshire and, you know, Peanut, California. Does anyone else re-live the inns and parks and restaurants and shops and public places visited like we do, by jotting it all down, I wondered. So, I did what any lady of wit and intelligence would do and took a Twitter poll to ask how many local business reviews other people write as the result of a trip. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond so that we can all see the data:

It’s good to know that 37.5% of people write at least 1-3 reviews as a result of travel, and that 13.8% find even more pleasure in writing as many as 4-6 reviews, and those who find themselves equal to penning 7-10 reviews are praiseworthy local business supporters, indeed. All told, 52.6% of wayfarers write at least some reviews. All good news!

But on the other hand, the fact that nearly half (47.5%) of vacationers and travelers write zero reviews about their experiences on the road or abroad is ill news, because of the lost opportunity this represents for local brands. In fact, it’s not just ill news…it’s familiar ill news. As we shall see.

Why don’t travelers write reviews? Stats tell the story.

Image credit: Nik Gaffney

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” - Doctor Seuss

From a previous large-scale Moz survey, we know that only 14% of US adults never write reviews and that is quite a different figure than the 47.5% of travelers who never write reviews:

We also know that over half of US adults will either always or usually leave a review if asked to do so by the local business:

But, unfortunately, 39% of respondents simply haven’t been asked by anyone to review a local business in the past five years. That number deserves its own graphic:

So not asking customers, including travelers, to write reviews could be a significant reason why your business isn’t getting the maximum benefits it could be enjoying from earning more reviews. But do you know what the #1 reason is that visitors to your town aren’t reviewing you on the road or when they get back home again? Forgetfulness.

The dominant 38% of respondents simply don’t remember to write you a review when they have free time. You can easily imagine this scenario. The vacationer has returned from touring Derbyshire (or Peanut) and they are sunburned, and their offspring and dogs are covered in sand, and they have to unpack the traveling coach, and they discover the power was shut off in their absence and now their refrigerator smells otherworldly. It’s probably the last thing on their mind right now, or even this week, to sit down and review the B&Bs, shops, state parks, and carriage rental service they enjoyed on the trip.

In order to win reviews from passers-by, your best bet will be to capture their text number or email address at the time of service and remind them.

But when should you do that?

Thank you Near Media (and university researchers) for answering my question

It’s been a standard best practice recommendation for many years to send local business review requests shortly after the time of service. Common wisdom has asserted that you should collect a customer’s email address or text line when they make a purchase from you and then follow up with them quickly with an email or text mentioning how much you would appreciate their review. This seems logical, but recent research from the University of Nevada and Arizona State calls this whole timeline into question. As highlighted in a must-read article from Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal at Near Media, this survey found that:

In the first 5 days following a transaction, customers leave more reviews if you don’t ask for them!

However, once 9 days have elapsed since the transaction, customers start leaving fewer reviews unless your business asks for them.

The window of time that results in the most reviews earned via solicitation appears to be between 9-14 days post-transaction.

The university researchers speculated that review requests that appear too quickly can feel pushy or annoying, whereas those which are received later feel like friendly reminders.

These findings are both novel and surprising, and this new suggested review request timeline strikes me as ideally adapted for businesses that depend, in part, on tourism. Travel, however much it may be enjoyed, is generally a bit of an ordeal. There are well-known memes about needing time to rest from the rest you were supposed to have on vacation.

A 9-14 day window gives visitors a recovery period, by which point they will also have strayed into the forgetfulness territory identified in Moz’s own survey. Your request in this slot could be just what is needed to remind the customer and warmly invite them to relive the good memories they made on their trip by writing them down in review format.

Near Media urges you to experiment, of course, with the behaviors and preferences of your own customers. Their activity may or may not match the findings of the university research, but to get an accurate reading on this, please look again at this statistic:

The #2 contributor to lack of reviews (coming in right behind forgetfulness amid busy-ness) is that the process of leaving a review is confusing and difficult. In our survey, we found that the younger your customers are, the more help they may need in leaving a review. Be sure your email or text includes instructions and a link to your Google review profile. You can get that link by looking up your business in Google (while logged into your account that governs your Google Business Profile) and then clicking on the “Ask for reviews” tab in the New Merchant Experience interface, as shown here:

You’ll see this popup generating the link to review your business:

You can copy that link and paste it into your texts and emails. By making it easier for customers to review you, you’ll get a more accurate picture of what the ideal time window is for requests in the community you serve.

A station wagon load of other tips for earning vacationers’ reviews

In addition to experimenting with your request timeframes, give these tips a try to maximize the number of reviews your business is receiving:

Pour everything you’ve got into great customer service. 63% of review writers take the time to provide reviews to show appreciation for businesses that take good care of them.

Respond to all your reviews. The #3 reason people don’t write reviews (as shown above) is that they don’t believe the business will care enough to read their sentiment. Indicate that you care a ton by responding authentically to what other customers have written.

Use space in your physical premises to clearly message that you want reviews. Windows, interior and exterior walls, front desks, tables, night stands, shelves, fences, business vehicles and other surfaces can all be places where you can put up a large or small sign letting patrons know how much their review will be appreciated.

Use print to further your messaging. Menus, receipts, mailers, bags, and packaging can all include review requests.

Train staff to request reviews at their discretion. I don’t recommend making employees repeat the same message to every customer that comes through a checkout. It sounds robotic and inauthentic as the line moves along. But when valued staff are encouraged to see review opportunities in more personalized interactions, a direct request from a helpful team member to a happy customer could add to your review count over time.

Avoid negative reviews by ongoing management of your local business listings across the local search ecosystem. A vacation can really go sour when inaccurate information about locations, hours, and phone numbers is live on your profiles. Manually update all of your listings any time there is a change, or use a helpful service like Moz Local to update your listings across the major platforms in a few clicks.

Use social media for storytelling about the role reviews are playing in the success of your local business. Most reviewers are unlikely to realize on their own how profoundly aspects of reviews impact the rankings of small brands that serve local communities. By talking on social profiles about how earning new reviews might enable your business to afford some beautiful new chairs for the dining patio or switch to an electric vehicle for delivery, it makes customers’ actions a powerful part of your story. Just be careful that you are not incentivizing reviews. Don’t offer gifts, perks, or money in exchange for reviews.

Speaking of things not to do, never engage in any form of review spamming. 40% of customers have received requests to spam the web with ineligible reviews that violate platform guidelines and are illegal in many countries. Don’t lose customers’ precious trust and respect by engaging in review spam of any kind.

Don’t forget that Google is not the only review game in town. Diversify your review requests to ask customers to review you on their favorite platforms. Our survey showed that while 66% of US adults spend the most time writing reviews on Google, others spend lots of time on Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Nextdoor and a variety of additional platforms. Google has a habit of losing reviews periodically, and by having your customers’ sentiment visible in multiple online places, you’ll be sure that visitors can read about you around the web, even when your Google Business Profile is experiencing a bug.

Finally, if this article is motivating you, take some time this week to think about visitors to your town. Hospitality business owners spend part of every day strategizing around making guests welcome, and this kind of care can apply to almost any kind of business located in a town or city that hosts lots of travelers. What kind of special welcome are you offering newcomers to your community? What are you doing to make them love their time with you, want to come back to you if they are ever in your area again, tell their traveling friends and family about you, and take the time to review your business?

Maybe you offer a vacationer’s special. Maybe you have a pretty sign in your window warmly welcoming tourists and asking them to stop in to ask your staff about fun things happening in the community. Maybe it's your shop with the bench outside for footsore walkers around your downtown, or your porch that has the dog watering station for people vacationing with their pets.

In a popular place near me, a community has signs posted asking visitors to tune their car radios to a particular station for information about the area. That’s an idea your town could take and run with, and I know listening to that station makes me have a special feeling of being considered and included in local life. Little things mean a lot.

One of the nicest aspects of local business reviews is that they are a lengthy novel rather than a short story. Whether you are operating in Derbyshire or Peanut, what you seek is a modest and ever-running stream of fresh reviews across time. Time to experiment, to try new things, to adjust your strategy on the basis of new data like we’ve seen today. 96% of US adults read reviews and 86% write them. It’s a form of content people can really enjoy under the right circumstances. With a little well-timed encouragement, more of your traveling customers will put their creative writing skills to work for your business, gifting you with better local search rankings, a persuasive reputation, and a lucrative upward trend in transactions.

Eager for more local business review tips? It is a truth universally acknowledged that Moz’s review survey is worth reading!

[expertseocompanymelbourne]

If you're a small business owner, you know how hard it is to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. This is especially true when it comes to marketing your business. That's why many small businesses choose to partner with an expert SEO marketing company in Melbourne that can help them reach their goals through digital marketing.

Optimisation and Marketing Services

With a team of experts at your side, you can rest assured that your digital marketing strategy will be executed flawlessly.

PPC Management - Pay Per Click advertising is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach new customers online. Our team will create customized campaigns for you based on the keywords that matter most to your business goals and objectives, allowing us to deliver relevant ads across multiple channels including social media platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Ads Manager with ease!

Social Media Marketing Services - Social media has become an essential part of any modern marketing plan because it allows businesses like yours access directly into their target audience's circles through engagement opportunities such as comments/post likes etc., which lead directly back onto their own websites where conversions are made (i..e: purchases).

  Data-Driven Strategies

Data-driven strategies are an essential part of digital marketing. They're also important for SEO, as they help you understand your customers and improve your website.

Data-Driven Strategies Help You Understand Your Customers: When you have access to accurate data about your customers' needs, preferences, interests and behaviors--and how those factors interact with one another--you can make smarter business decisions that meet their needs better than anyone else can. This will give you an edge over competitors who aren't using data in this way. For example, if there's a specific keyword phrase someone searches for when looking for information about your products or services but doesn't find what he/she wants on the first page of search results (or even at all), then this could be an opportunity for improvement!

Data-Driven Strategies Can Lead To Improved Conversion Rates: If there are ways in which visitors were leaving before reaching their destination page due to broken links or other issues within their path through the site's navigation links then these problems should be addressed immediately so as not only save money but also increase sales potentials going forward by reducing bounce rates while increasing conversion rates overall too.

Marketing Training and Consulting

As a leading SEO marketing company, we offer a variety of services and strategies to help you maximize your digital presence. Our team can help you with everything from content creation to keyword research, or even just reviewing your current strategy and making recommendations for improvement.

If you're new to the world of SEO and aren't sure where to start, we recommend taking our free course on SEO basics. This will give you an overview of what we do here at Zib Digital as well as some important tips about how businesses can improve their search rankings online.

You can't automate your way to digital success

You need to have a strategy, and you need the right tools and people in place who understand your business, know what works for your industry and customers, and can execute on that strategy.

They also have to have access to the right marketing messages that speak directly to their target audience in order to generate demand for their products or services. Lastly (and most importantly), they should be able to measure results so they can make adjustments along the way as needed.

We hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of what it takes to create a successful digital presence. If you're ready to take your business to the next level, we encourage you to contact expert SEO marketing company in Melbourne. Source: https://best-seo-specialists-company.blogspot.com/2023/07/maximize-your-digital-presence-why-you.html

[cleanvisualsagency]

How To Get The Best Of Your Graphic Designer Gone are the days when graphic design was only accessible for big companies with huge budgets. Nowadays, anyone can get the best of a graphic designer and make their own visual impact. But how exactly can you get the best of what a graphic designer has to offer? Here is a list of tips and tricks to ensure you get the best possible end product when hiring a graphic designer: 1. Know What You Want Before getting in touch with a graphic designer, it’s important to know what you want to achieve. Have a clear idea of the look and feel you’re after and be able to articulate it to the designer. If you have reference material of what you’re looking for, it is also helpful to provide it. This will make the designer’s job much easier and provide them with a better understanding of what you are looking for. 2. Give Clear Guidelines When delivering instructions to a graphic designer, it’s important to be as specific as possible. This includes providing any deadlines or restrictions, as well as font and color preferences. If a graphic designer has all the information they need upfront, it will save time on back and forth communication in the long run and make sure the end result is exactly what you had in mind. 3. Do Your Research Researching potential graphic designers is key to finding the best fit. Look at their portfolio and read their reviews and feedback. Social proof is an important factor in the decision making process and references are especially helpful in seeing how satisfied a designer’s clients were with the end product. 4. Ask Questions and Expect Clarification Graphic designers are creative professionals who specialize in visual solutions. Asking as many questions as you need to feel comfortable is important. Clarifying deliverables, timelines and budgets from the start are a great way to ensure a successful outcome. 5. Provide Feedback Promptly and Effectively If not satisfied with the first round of work, it’s important to give clear, constructive feedback. Let the designer know what you liked and what could be improved quickly and effectively, so they have enough time to incorporate your ideas. 6. Invest in the Process Graphic design is not an overnight process. It takes time, patience and trust in the designer’s creative process. Investing in the process and trusting that the end product will be worth it, is essential to ensuring success. 7. Respect Their Work Graphic designers are creative professionals who put in a lot of effort and passion into each project. Respect this work and show your appreciation. Making sure they are paid fairly is also very important. Following these tips will ensure you get the best out of your graphic designer and make sure you’re happy with the end product. At Clean Visuals, we offer graphic design services that are tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether you need a new logo, branding materials, marketing collateral, or social media graphics, our team is here to help you make a strong visual impact. Check out our graphic design pricing for more information about our services. What skills should I look for in a graphic designer? 1. Creative and artistic ability 2. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) 3. Conceptual and visual problem solving skills 4. Ability to effectively collaborate with clients and other professionals 5. Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills 6. Knowledge and understanding of typography, layouts, and color theory 7. Ability to stay up-to-date with industry trends and technology 8. Knowledgeable of printing processes and materials What qualifications do I need to become a graphic designer? The qualifications required to become a graphic designer can vary depending on the type of work you want to do. Generally, a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, fine arts, or a related field is the minimum requirement for most entry-level positions.

Having a portfolio of your work is also important, as employers usually want to see a designer’s past projects when assessing their qualifications. Having a good understanding of computer software such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop is also beneficial. Additionally, gaining experience in the field as an intern or freelancer is a great way to start a career as a graphic designer. What type of degree do I need to become a graphic designer? Most graphic designers typically have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college in graphic design, fine arts, illustration, or a related field. Some employers may also require industry-specific certifications or experience. Having a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills is essential, as hiring managers will typically want to see proof of your design capabilities. Additionally, having a good understanding of design software such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop can be beneficial when applying for jobs. Q: What education is required to become a graphic designer? A: An aspiring graphic designer should pursue a formal education in graphic design, which typically includes a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer graphics, art, creative design, fine arts, or a related field. Most employers also require some form of professional certification such as a Graphic Design Professional (GDP) designation from the Association of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC). A portfolio of high-quality design pieces, showcasing both traditional and digital design skills, may also be necessary to secure a job as a graphic designer. Q: What qualifications do I need to become a graphic designer? A: To become a graphic designer, you typically need a combination of a degree or certificate in graphic design, computer software knowledge (such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), strong communication skills, and art and design talent. Additionally, you may need a portfolio of work to demonstrate your talent and proficiency to potential employers.

[aaksconsulting]

WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE, AND HOW DOES IT EFFECT THE BUSINESS DOMAIN

We are living in a world where technology is advancing faster than ever before. Many people have started to adopt open source software over traditional software because it’s free and allows for more innovation with the end user.

WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE ?

Open source software is software that allows for the collaborative development of software. This type of software relies on a decentralised model where anyone can access and modify the source code. The benefits of Open Source  include its ability to be faster to develop, lower cost to maintain, and more secure. Open source  has already revolutionised the business domain with its ability to create more efficient and effective systems. Some of the most notable examples of Open Source software in use today include the Linux kernel and Apache web server.

HOW DOES PUBLIC ACCESS AFFECT OPEN SOURCE  ?

Public access to source code is one of the most important factors in the success of open source . When software is made available to the public, it can be reviewed and modified by anyone, which can improve its quality and reliability. This openness also makes it easier for companies to use and modify the software, which could lead to new innovations.

However, public access has its own set of challenges. Anyone can make a copy of the software and distribute it without permission, which could lead to piracy or intellectual property infringement. Additionally, when the code is open, companies may be reluctant to invest in it because they don’t know how it works or what risks they are taking.

Overall, public access to source code is an important part of the success of open source . It allows companies to use and modify the software easily, improves its quality and reliability, and makes it more likely that companies will invest in it.

PROS AND CONS OF OPEN SOURCE

Open source software is software that is released under a license that allows users to see, change, and improve the code. The Pros of using open source  are that it is cost effective, it often has better features than proprietary software, and it can be quickly adopted by a company. The Cons of open source  include that it can be difficult to find and manage developers for a project, it can take longer to develop a project using open source  than using proprietary software, and there may be fewer opportunities for revenue from open source projects.

HOW OPEN SOURCE PROVIDES VALUE TO A BUSINESS DOMAIN

Open source software provides businesses with a wealth of benefits, including increased efficiency and cost savings. Open source  projects are typically collaborative, transparent, and inclusive. This means that business stakeholders can interact directly with the developers who are responsible for the project. This transparency allows businesses to understand the code base and how it works, which can lead to improved efficiency and innovation. Additionally, open source projects often have a larger community of developers who can help solve problems and provide support. This widespread collaboration leads to better quality software that is easier to maintain. Finally, open source projects often have a lower development cost than proprietary software. In short, open source provides businesses with tangible benefits that can improve their bottom line.

CONCLUSION

In this article, we will explore what open source  is and how it can benefit your business. We will also discuss the different types of licenses that open source  comes with and how these might affect your business. Finally, we will give you some tips on how to get started using open source  in your business. I hope that this article has given you a better understanding of what open source software is and why it could be beneficial to your business. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below! true. For more- https://www.aaks.ca/

[lokiondisneyplus]

A review of “Journey Into Mystery,” the penultimate Loki Season One episode on Disney+, coming up just as soon as I paper cut a giant cloud to death…

Journey Into Mystery was the title of the first Marvel comic to feature either Thor or Loki. It began as an anthology series featuring monsters and aliens, but Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Larry Lieber were so smitten with their adaptation of the characters of Norse myth that the Asgardians gradually took over the whole book, which was renamed after its hammer-wielding hero(*).

(*) The early Journey Into Mystery stories treated Thor’s alter ego, disabled Dr. Donald Blake, as the “real” character, while Thor was just someone Blake could magically transform into, while retaining his memories and personality. It wasn’t even clear whether Asgard itself was meant to exist at first, until Loki turned up on Earth in an early issue, caused trouble, and Blake/Thor somehow knew exactly how to get to Asgard to drop him off. Soon, the lines between Thor and Blake began to blur, and eventually Thor became the real guy, and Blake a fiction invented by Odin to humble his arrogant son. It’s a mark of just how instantly charismatic Loki was that the entire title quickly steered towards him and the other gods.

But once upon a time, anything was possible in Journey Into Mystery, which makes it an apt moniker for an absolutely wonderful episode of Loki where the same holds true. Our title characters are trapped in the Void, a place at the end of time where the TVA’s victims are banished to be devoured by a cloud monster named Alioth. And mostly they are surrounded by the wreckage of many dead timelines. Classic Loki insists that his group’s only goal is survival, and any kind of planning and scheming is doomed to kill the Loki who tries. But this ruined, hopeless world instead feels bursting with imagination and possibility.

There are the many Loki variants we see, with President Loki, among others, joining Classic, Kid, Boastful, and Alligator Loki. There are the metric ton of Easter Eggs just waiting to be screencapped by Marvel obsessives (I discuss a few of them down below), but which still suggest a much larger and weirder MCU even if you don’t immediately scream out “Is that… THROG?!?!?” at the appropriate moment. And all of that stuff is tons of fun, to be sure. But what makes this episode — and, increasingly, this series — feel so special is the way that it explores the untapped potential of Loki himself, in his many, many variations.

This is an episode that owes more than a small stylistic and thematic debt to Lost. It’s not just that Alioth looks and sounds so much like the Smoke Monster(*), that it makes a shared Wizard of Oz reference to “the man behind the curtain” (also the title of one of the very best Lost episodes), or even that the core group of Lokis are hiding in a bunker accessible via a hatch and a ladder that’s filled with recreational equipment (in this case, bowling alley lanes). It’s also that Loki, Sylvie, their counterparts, and Mobius have all been transported to a strange place that has disturbing echoes from their own lives, that operates according to strange new rules they have to learn while fleeing danger, and their presence there allows them to reflect on the many mistakes of their past and consider whether they want to, or can, transcend them.

(*) Yes, Alioth technically predates Smokey by a decade (see the notes below for more), but his look has been tweaked a bit here to seem more like smoke than a cloud, and the sounds he makes when he roars sound a lot like Smokey’s telltale taxi cab meter clicks. Given the other Lost hat tips in the episode, I have to believe Alioth was chosen specifically to evoke Smokey.

Classic Loki is aptly named. He wears the Sixties Jack Kirby costume, and he is a far more powerful magician than either Sylvie or our Loki have allowed themselves to be. He calls our Loki’s knives worthless compared to his sorcery, which feels like the show acknowledging that the movies depowered Loki a fair amount to make him seem cooler. But if Classic Loki can conjure up illusions bigger and more potent than his younger peers, he is a fundamentally weak and defeated man, convinced, like the others, that the only way to win the game into which he was born is not to play. “We cannot change,” he insists. “We’re broken. Every version of ourselves. Forever.” It is not only his sentiment — Kid Loki adds that any Loki who tries to improve inevitably winds up in the Void for their troubles — but it seems to have weighed on him longer and harder than most.

But Classic Loki takes inspiration from Loki and Sylvie to stand and fight rather than turn and run, magicking up a vision of their homeland to distract Alioth at a crucial moment in Sylvie’s plan, and getting eaten for his trouble. He was wrong: Lokis can change. (Though Kid Loki might once again argue that Classic Loki’s death is more evidence that the universe has no interest in any of them doing so.) And both Loki and Sylvie have been changing throughout their time together. Like most Lokis, they seem cursed to a life of loneliness. Sylvie learned as a child that a higher power believed she should not exist, and has spent a lifetime hiding out in places where any friends she might make will soon die in an apocalypse. Our Loki’s past isn’t quite so stark, but the knowledge that his birth father abandoned him, while his adoptive father never much liked him, have left permanent scars that govern a lot of his behavior. The defining element of Classic Loki’s backstory is that he spent a long time alone on a planet, and only got busted by the TVA when he attempted to reconnect with his brother and anyone else he once knew. This is a hard existence, for all of them. And while it does not forgive them their many sins(*), it helps contextualize them, and give them the knowledge to try to be better versions of themselves.

(*) Loki at one point even acknowledges that, for him, it’s probably only been a few days since he led an alien invasion of New York that left many dead, though due to TVA shenanigans, far more time may have passed.

For that matter, Mobius is not the stainless hero he once thought of himself as. While he and Sylvie are tooling around the Void in a pizza delivery car (because of course they are), he admits that he committed a lot of sins by believing that the ends justified the means, and was wrong. He doesn’t know who he is before the TVA stole and factory rebooted him, but he knows that he wants something better for himself and the universe, and takes the stolen TemPad to open up a portal to his own workplace in hopes of tearing down the TVA once and for all. Before he goes, though, he and Loki share a hug that feels a lot more poignant than it should, given that these characters have only spent parts of four episodes of TV together. It’s a testament to Hiddleston, Wilson, Waldron, and company (Tom Kauffman wrote this week’s script) that their friendship felt so alive and important in such a short amount of time.

The same can be said for Loki and Sylvie’s relationship, however we’re choosing to define it. Though they briefly cuddle together under a blanket that Loki conjures, they move no closer to romance than they were already. If anything, Mobius’ accusations of narcissism in last week’s episode seem to have made both of them pull back a bit from where they seemed to be heading back on Lamentis. But the connection between them is real, whatever exactly it is. And their ability to take down Alioth — to tap into the magic that Classic Loki always had, and to fulfill Loki’s belief that “I think we’re stronger than we realize” — by working together is inspiring and joyful. Without all this nuanced and engaging character work, Loki would still be an entertaining ride, but it’s the marriage of wild ideas with the human element that’s made it so great.

Of course, now comes the hard part. Endings have rarely been an MCU strength, give or take something like the climax of Endgame, and the finales of the two previous Disney+ shows were easily their weakest episodes. The strange, glorious, beautiful machine that Waldron and Herron have built doesn’t seem like it’s heading for another generic hero/villain slugfest, but then, neither did WandaVision before we got exactly that. This one feels different so far, though. The command of the story, the characters, and the tone are incredibly strong right now. There is a mystery to be solved about who is in the big castle beyond the Void (another Loki makes the most narrative and thematic sense to me, but we’ll see), and a lot to be resolved about what happens to the TVA and our heroes. And maybe there’s some heavy lifting that has to be done in service to the upcoming Dr. Strange or Ant-Man films.

It’s complicated, but on a show that has handled complexity well. Though even if the finale winds up keeping things simpler, that might work. As Loki notes while discussing his initial plan to take down Alioth, “Just because it’s not complicated doesn’t mean it’s bad.” Though as Kid Loki retorts, “It also doesn’t mean it’s good.”

Please be good, Loki finale. Everything up to this point deserves that.

Some other thoughts:

* Most of this week’s most interesting material happens in the Void. But the scenes back at the TVA clarify a few things. First, Ravonna is not the mastermind of all this, and she was very much suckered in by the Time-Keeper robots. But unlike Mobius or Hunter B-15, she’s so conditioned to the mission that even knowing it’s a lie hasn’t really swayed her from her mission. She has Miss Minutes (who herself is much craftier this week) looking into files about the creation of the TVA, but for the most part comes across as someone very happy with a status quo where she gets to be special and pass judgment on the rest of the multiverse.

* Alioth first appeared in 1993’s Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective, a miniseries (written by Mobius inspiration Mark Gruenwald, and with some extremely kewl Nineties art full of shoulder pads, studded collars, and the like) involving Ravonna, Kang, and the off-brand versions of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor (aka U.S. Agent, War Machine, and Thunderstrike, the latter of whom has yet to appear in the MCU). It’s a sequel to a Nineties crossover event called Citizen Kang. And no, I still don’t buy that Kang will be the one pulling the strings here, if only because it’s really bad storytelling for the big bad of the season to have never appeared or even been mentioned prior to the finale.

* Rather than try to identify every Easter egg visible in the Void’s terrain, I’ll instead highlight three of the most interesting. Right before the Lokis arrive at the hatch, we see a helicopter with Thanos’ name on it. This is a hat tip to an infamous — and often memed — out-of-continuity story where Thanos flies this chopper while trying to steal the Cosmic Cube (aka the Tesseract) from Hellcat. (A little kid gets his hands on it instead and, of course, uses the Cube to conjure up free ice cream.) James Gunn has been agitating for years for the Thanos Copter to be in the MCU. He finally got his wish.

* The other funny one: When the camera pans down the tunnel into Kid Loki’s headquarters, we see Mjolnir buried in the ground, and right below it is a jar containing a very annoyed frog in a Thor costume. This is either Thor himself — whom Loki cursed into amphibianhood in a memorable Walt Simonson storyline — or another character named Simon Walterston (note the backwards tribute to Walt) who later assumed the tiny mantle.

* Also, in one scene you can spot Yellowjacket’s helmet littering the landscape. This might support the theory that the TVA, the Void, etc., all exist in the Quantum Realm, since that’s where the MCU version of Yellowjacket probably went when his suit shorted out and he was crushed to subatomic size. Or it might be more trolling of the fanbase from the company that had WandaVision fans convinced that Mephisto, the X-Men, and/or Reed Richards would be appearing by the season finale.

* Honestly, I would have watched an entire episode that was just Loki, Mobius, and the others arguing about whether Alligator Loki was actually a Loki, or just a gator who ended up with the crown, presumably after eating a real Loki. The suggestion that the gator might be lying — and that this actually supports, rather than undermines, the case for him being a Loki — was just delightful. And hey, if Throg exists in the MCU now, why not Alligator Loki?

* Finally, the MCU films in general are not exactly known for their visual flair, though a few directors like Taika Waititi and Ryan Coogler have been able to craft distinctive images within the franchise’s usual template. Loki, though, is so often wonderful to look at, and particularly when our heroes are stuck in strange environments like Lamentis or the Void. Director Kate Herron and the VFX team work very well together to create dynamic and weird imagery like Sylvie running from Alioth, or the chaotic Loki battle in the bowling alley. Between this show and WandaVision, it appears the Disney+ corner of the MCU has a bit more room to expand its palette. (Falcon and the Winter Soldier, much less so.)

[doublerainebow]

Artist Resources (Part 1?)

This is basically just going to be a bunch of resources I have found to be useful. I can’t say that I’ve used all of them, but I’m sure they’re all worth checking out.

I’m also gonna try to put a detailed description for most of the links so you have a better idea of what you’re getting. I apologize in advance if some of them are redundant lol

(I put “Part 1″ if in the case I make another one)

~Links to Tutorials, Tips, Resources, etc~

Another Resource List -- Leads to another Tumblr post. Apparently, the post isn’t mobile-friendly, so it’s suggested to view this on Tumblr browser. Has a bunch of other links. I’ve checked out a few of them (mainly the copyright stuff lol), and it seems that some of the links may be a bit outdated. Still, it doesn’t hurt to check out the links.

Arms and Legs -- Leads to another Tumblr post. A handy tutorial on elbow and knee placement.

Art & Game Dev -- This leads to my personal playlist of a bunch of YouTube videos. Has a bunch of tutorials and interesting videos that I’ve collected over the course of a few years lol.

Blamblot -- A website that contains resources and tutorials on comic lettering. This is primarily in reference to western comics, but it doesn’t help to take a looksie.

Commission Calculator -- Leads to another Tumblr post. Helps artists to stop selling themselves short.

Comparing Heights (hikaku-sitatter) -- A height comparer for centimeters.

Comparing Heights -- A height comparer for feet and inches.

Mouth Shapes and Lip-Syncing -- Leads to another Tumblr post. Useful for... drawing mouth shapes.

Reference Angle -- Useful for when you’re trying to map out a face from an odd angle.

Soft Proofing for Printing -- Leads to another Tumblr post. Helps when you’re trying to make prints of your artwork.

Textures -- A website full of different and mostly free textures. While this website is made for 3D texturing, it can also be useful for 2D drawings. Signing up gives you 15 free credits everyday, and you can use those credits to download some textures for free.

The Models Resource -- A website of models ripped from a wide array of games.

The Spriters Resource -- A website of sprites ripped from a wide array of games.

The Textures Resource -- A websites of textures ripped from a wide array of games. 

~Links to Stock Images~

Please check out whatever policies they may have for their images before using them!

(not sure if any of them are active anymore as I followed some of these accounts a long time ago when I used to be more active on Deviant Art lol)

adorkastock (formerly senshistock)

anatoref -- Leads to another Tumblr post. Has a bunch of hand photo references

charligal-stock

HumanAnatomy4Artist -- Does contain nudity

null-entity

PhelanDavion

RobynRose

~Links to Other Artists~

Akihito Yoshitomi -- Yoshitomi is a mangaka who has tutorials on manga making. He also has an insightful series in which he drafts and draws a 30-page manga in 18 days. Remember that every artist works differently and his process may be different from another’s.

Drawfee -- Drawfee is an improv drawing show of four artists: Nathan Yaffe, Jacob Andrews, Julia Lepetit, and Karina Farek. While they don’t have tutorials in a sense, their videos explain the different processes they go through as they draw. They also occasionally provide tips, tricks, and resources in their videos. They do have another channel and a Twitch channel where they host drawing classes in addition to other fun shenanigans.

EtheringtonBrothers -- Has a bunch of useful and eye-catching tutorials called “How to Think When You Draw”.

Mark Crilley -- Mark is a comic artist, specializing in manga, who has a bunch of tutorials about anatomy, perspective, comic making, and other things.

Miyuli -- Miyuli is an artist who posts tutorials on their Twitter. Their tutorials range from anatomy to clothing to other things. They even have a few books of art tips. Currently (as of the time of posting this), their 2018 version is free for download, so I highly recommend you download that. Some tips may be outdated, but they should still be helpful.

Whyt Manga (Twitter/YouTube) -- Odunze is a comic artist, specializing in manga, that has a bunch of tutorials on manga making and drawing characters of color.

~Links to Free Programs~

Blender -- A free 3D program if you’re into 3D modeling and such. I also personally haven’t used Blender (I use Maya lol), but I know it’s a respectable program.

Krita -- A free painting program if you can’t afford Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint. I personally haven’t used Krita, but I have recommended it to a few friends and they have positive reviews about it.

Paint Tool SAI -- Okay, this one isn’t free, but it’s a significantly cheaper painting program where you don’t have to pay a subscription. It’s 5,500JPY (~50 USD). I’m not sure how well it still works on modern computers (the last update was 2016), but I still use it here and there because I love the pen tool feature it has, and it still works like a charm for me.

~General Tips From Raine~

Raine admits that she’s guilty of not following her own advice, but Raine hopes that the tips that she does know will be beneficial to someone who will follow them. She’s also going to keep all her tips under the cut so as to not make this post a huge wall of text (even though it technically already is lol)

Also, if you have some resources, tutorials, tips yourself, please feel free to send them to me and maybe I’ll make a part 2 to this post!

ALWAYS LOOK FOR REFERENCE. This should really go without saying. You can’t draw from life if you refuse to observe life itself.

If you can’t find the exact thing you need, MAKE YOUR OWN REFERENCE. Time and time again, I can’t find something exactly that I need. So instead, what I do is that I take pictures of my own reference. Sometimes I even grab a friend and take pictures of them doing whatever it is I need.

Have a mirror handy when you’re drawing. Sometimes what you need is actually right there in front of you.

Having trouble drawing something? Do some studies. Take the time to understand what it is you’re drawing. I can’t remember the exact story, but I heard that the people who were working on Tarzan were having a hard time drawing his hands. So, what they did was spend a few hours looking at hands to try and understand how they work.

IT’S OKAY TO STUDY THE ART OF OTHER ARTISTS. Just as we look to the old masters as a reference, it’s definitely okay to look at modern-day artists for reference. Just don’t go copying exactly everything that they do, or worse, trace what they do. Just don’t do it... at all.

Not every line needs to be realized. The viewer of your work will automatically connect the dots.

DO NOT TRASH YOUR OLD DRAWINGS. Please, never ever do this. Your old drawings have value to them, even if they look terrible to you. Old drawings may hold ideas for things you could do for the future. They also serve as a way to see how far you’ve come as an artist.

GETTING BETTER AT DRAWING TAKES TIME AND EFFORT. You’re not gonna get better overnight. It’ll take months, or even years, to feel like you’re a competent artist, and even then, you’ll still have room for improvement.

DON’T LOOK DOWN ON YOURSELF IF YOU’RE TAKING A LONG TIME TO GET BETTER. It’ll be better for your mental health in the long run.

Alternatively, DON'T LOOK DOWN ON OTHER ARTISTS EITHER, ESPECIALLY TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER. You know the struggles it took for you to get where you are, so don’t go putting down other people when you’ve been in their shoes once.

KEEP DRAWING. If you’re not making an effort to get better, then you’re not going to be better. I get that it’s hard to find the inspiration to draw (I’m very guilty of this), but just keep trying. It doesn’t have to be big or spectacular. You don’t even have to post it if you’re the type who likes to post their art stuff.

Try to find references from real-life. It’ll help you better understand form, lighting, shadows, etc., especially if you’re going for a more realistic kind of art style. Otherwise, finding reference from things like cartoons, anime, comics, etc. are just as good.

Try new things. Try new art mediums. Try a different art style. Switch up the way you do things. Maybe you’ll hate it, maybe you’ll like it. Who knows if you don’t try.

Watch time-lapses (or speed draws/speed paints) of other artists!

Pinterest and Google are your friends if you need tutorials or references or whatever.

If you’re offering commissions, DO NOT WORK UNDER YOUR LOCAL MINIMUM WAGE. You are literally devaluing the work you actually put into a piece.

I like to think I’m an aficionado of Photoshop, so feel free to ask me questions on how to achieve something! I’ve used Photoshop for about 11 years now and know my way around the program. On another note, I do recommend setting custom keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop because the default shortcuts are terrible (in my opinion), and because having custom shortcuts increases the speed of your workflow.

Because I’ve been seeing this a lot lately in Twitter, you’re never too old to start in art. Art is just one of those things that anyone can pick up at any age because the only thing you really need to get good in art is time, diligence, and patience.

Try not to post hi-res images of your artwork to prevent art stealers from selling your artwork in high resolution.

Always, always, always add your signature and watermark on your artwork. I like to add my signatures and watermarks in places that’ll be hard to erase or crop out. I’ve also seen people add their signatures and watermarks in creative ways (ex. on a character’s shirt). You need to protect your work in an era where people will just blatantly steal it and make profit off your work.

Tag List

@reality-is-often-disappointing

[alwaysbeliev]

I Can’t Lose You

Happy Valentine’s Day! This is for the @rdr-secret-cupid adventure this year. Thank you for the prompt, @bloodylove3 and I hope you enjoy!

summary: When Dutch asks you and Arthur to pretend you're married for a job, you're nervous that you won't be able to hide your feelings for the outlaw. You manage to keep it in line, but things go wrong fast.

relationship: Arthur Morgan x F!Reader

word count: 3497

link on AO3

“Alright, here’s where we’ll start.”

It was mid-afternoon. The heat from the sun above was overwhelming, burning whatever it touched. Not even the shade was a relief with its cover. Animals all around were burrowed underground, hiding inside of trees, splashing around in the cool river nearby, and doing their best to stay out of direct light. You idly watched a small mouse scurry through the grass, digging at the dirt every now and then before disappearing into a hole. Quietly, you wished you were that mouse. 

For the hundredth time, Dutch was reviewing his next grand plan. There was a tipoff about a decent score, something that would help the gang move to a new camp, and it would be almost easy to pull off. Almost. But he was careful to plan, detailed to a fault, and now you had to sit through another lecture about making sure you were in the right place at the right time. He stood just inside the flap of his tent as he talked. The others were in a loose circle around him and Hosea.

You felt a drop of sweat slide down the back of your neck. What you wouldn’t give to go jump in the rushing water just a hundred feet away, even fully clothed. Imagining the relief alone made you sweat more. You could feel your skin throb, your cheeks turning red, your shirt sticking to your lower back…

“Hey!”

The sharp sound of Dutch’s voice cut through your daydream, snapping you back to reality. Others were snickering as you jerked your head over and tried to pretend you had been listening.

“As I was saying,” the man continued, “there has been a small change of plan.” 

Whoa, Dutch was changing his plan? But the score was just a week away now.

He carried on, “Arthur will be playing the part of your protective, but quiet, husband. You will need to cause a big enough distraction that we can enter without tipping anyone off. Can you handle that?”

“I thought Hosea was providing the distraction?” Your mind was turning, scrambling to remember if that was the original plan or if you were suffering from heat stroke.

“As I had said before, Hosea will be needed outside. It would seem awfully suspicious to outsiders if 5 men all seemed to suddenly rush inside together, don’t you think?”

You supposed he had a point. Outwardly, you agreed with him, but inwardly, your heart was pounding. Arthur? Husband? You barely made it through the rest of the session, managing to excuse yourself as soon as Dutch was done talking. Never before had you felt the palpitations on your chest that you did now at the thought of being with Arthur Morgan. Not just being with him, but pretending to be married. 

To say that you had a crush on Arthur was putting it lightly. From the moment you had met the outlaw, the sight of him caused your heart to race faster than his beautiful horse. You could barely speak around him, let alone carry on any conversation, and you were certain everyone in camp knew about it. Karen, Mary-Beth, and Tilly had approached you just last week to tease you about the way you fumbled over your words when Arthur asked a question. Now you had to pretend to be married?

The group dispersed as Dutch finished his grand lecture, chattering excitedly about the huge score. You felt light-headed and were rooted to the spot. Dutch was right, it should be easy, you had played the actor’s role many times before, but this… This wouldn’t be acting. And surely someone was going to notice that.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

A week passed quicker than any week you’d been through before. You and Arthur had prepared a scene, practicing to get it right, and you were feeling slightly more confident. The cowboy still gave you flutters in your heart, but rehearsed lines were much easier than improvised ones, and you were positive he hadn’t seen the longing in your eyes. It was easy.

But what wasn’t easy was how inseparable the two of you were becoming. Every morning, Arthur approached you near the campfire, offering a small treat, typically a piece of chocolate or a small fruit. The first time, your cheeks had flushed hotter than the summer sun. It hadn’t improved much. You would review your plan for the score, pause for a lunch time meal, and continue in the afternoon. Arthur often seemed to have other ideas, wanting a change of scenery, and you would find yourselves a few miles from camp on some rocky outlook or on a river’s shore, just shooting the breeze while the sun seared high above. Arthur even managed to convince you to leave your horse once, riding behind him with arms wrapped around his chest, content just to be near him. 

Finally, the day arrived. The gang all arose early, gathering their tools uneasily. Nerves always ran high the day of, regardless of how much planning had gone into the score, and your stomach churned. Karen had lent a hat, Mary-Beth a beautiful dress in your most favorite color, and you felt so fluffy and over the top. When Arthur saw you, his face seemed to go slack, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“My, my, Mrs. Morgan,” he drawled, taking a few lazy steps to close the gap to you. “Aren’t you lookin’ mighty fine this mornin’.”

Pouting and embarrassed, you waved him off, brushing a tight curl over your shoulder in a weak attempt to mask the color rising to your cheeks.

“Shut up.”

“Hey, now, I’m only tryin’ to lighten the mood.” He laughed before looking somewhat sheepish himself. “Besides, you really do.”

You paused, taking in his sincere compliment.

“Thank you.”

He didn’t have time to respond as Dutch stepped out of his tent, looking the picture of graceful leadership, commanding everyone’s attention. As you turned your body towards him, you saw Arthur’s gaze lingering on your figure, the dress complementing you perfectly. You focused on tugging on your white lace gloves, trying to turn your ears where it mattered.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~

“Alright, Mr. Callahan, now, here we are!”

Your voice pitched up, you pointed out the grandest building in town: the bank. Arthur guided his horse to the hitching post before hopping down, turning to help you down, your big skirt catching slightly and flouncing as your feet landed. Grinning at him, you tugged at his arm excitedly.

“Come on, darling, we gotta go get us a loan! That house ain’t gonna buy itself, you know!”

It was clear you were amusing the man at your side. Your anxiety was causing a jump in your performance, pushing you a slightly uncomfortable bit above believable, but you were pretty and young and the men were watching you. That was all that mattered.

With a grand gesture, you shoved the door to the bank open, stepping into the marbled interior with your boots clicking. The teller glanced up from whatever paperwork he was looking at. For a brief second, he studied the two of you, his eyes lingering on you in particular, before a fixed smile appeared on his face. 

“How can I help you?” he drawled. As practiced, Arthur opened his mouth to speak but you butted in before he could.

“Why, hello, Mr…?” You swept forward, extending a hand for him to shake. He glanced at Arthur in disbelief before gingerly shaking your hand.

“Mr. Monaghan.”

“Oh, Mr. Monaghan, how lovely!” You grinned widely, shaking vigorously. “Yes, me and my new husband here are looking to buy a house! Isn’t that just grand? We just got married, you know, just last week! Oh, we had the most beautiful honeymoon, didn’t we, darling? Traveled to see the ocean, oh it was gorgeous! Simply gorgeous! Have you ever been, Mr. Monaghan?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn’t. Not the way you planned it.

“The birds were so lovely, there were so many of them! Oh, and the food! Simply divine! Have you had seafood before? Crab, lobster, shrimp, oh it was perfect!”

As you rambled, the doors swung in again, allowing entrance to John and Javier. You didn’t spare a look for them, your energy pointed at the teller, and as planned, he didn’t seem to notice them. Your shrill voice and wild theatrics had his whole attention. You carried on as the men got into position.

“They paired the shrimp with-- What was it, my love? This wine, it was a red, wasn’t it? Or was it a white? Mr. Callahan is just hopeless about these things, you know, I’m glad I’m here to help him. Oh we had the most wonderful time together! I thought it might rain one day, there were these horrible gray clouds, but he told me not to worry, even though I wanted to, and sure enough, the sun was out by dinner time!”

The doors creaked again, allowing the last two men in, Dutch and Bill. All 5 men exchanged a look and, in one swift motion, they pulled their bandanas over their faces and drew their weapons. It was satisfying to hear the clicks of a few hammers. Your grin turned wicked and the teller suddenly realized what had happened. 

“We’ll take that loan to go, if you don’t mind.” You couldn’t help yourself. Arthur quickly stepped forward, shielding you with his body so your face was hidden, and you hurriedly moved towards the back of the men, allowing them to do what they needed. It was relatively painless and quiet, the teller moving hastily and without hesitation, filling bags with money and even allowing them access to the room with the safes. You served as lookout, casually standing at the window to keep an eye peeled for the law. Only when you heard Dutch’s signature goodbye did you turn away from it. Arthur made eye contact with you and playfully raised his eyebrows as he strode towards the door and you, ready to make for the horizon.

Without warning, the doors flew open, banging against the wall from the force behind it. Several lawmen were standing, guns drawn, ready to take out the outlaws. Instantly, shots were being fired. You didn’t know who fired first, but you dove out of the way, gripping your hat tightly so it wouldn’t be left behind. For some reason, your only coherent thought was Karen would have my hide.

Men were shouting, the smell of gunpowder filled the air. Flat on the floor, you couldn’t see anything, only heard Dutch shouting orders, police filling the streets outside, the solid sound of bullets connecting with flesh. There was nowhere to take cover. Somebody stepped on your leg and you gasped from the pain. A hand gripped your ankle and dragged you towards a wall. Panicked, you tried to scramble away until you registered Arthur’s voice trying to reassure you. 

“You boys play nice!” a deep voice bellowed from the porch. “We don’t want no hangings, now, y’here?”

“We will play nice when you play nice, Sheriff!” Dutch barked back. 

“This is a fucking massacre!” John spoke to the room at large. The men that had entered before were all on the floor, blood pooling around them, their guns laying forgotten on the wood. More were shouted outside. They were organizing to block all exits from town. There was no way you were gonna make it out now, you started to fear, and you could see the shared looks of the men with you echoing the same sentiment.

A surprised cry arose from outside as another gunshot cracked through the air. 

“There’s Mac!”

With renewed energy, everyone jumped up and sprang for the door. Feeling marginally brave, you snatched a gun from the floor, hoping you wouldn’t have to use it. Bill led the way out. Javier, John, and Dutch quickly followed, and Arthur made up the rear with you in tow, sticking to him like glue. 

The sun outside was blinding. You barely caught a glimpse of the street before you were rushed down the steps and around the side of the building. Back pressed against the wall, the pounding in your head started blocking out your hearing, and you only felt the vibrations in the air and under your feet. Even with all of Dutch’s careful planning, you were still trapped in this mess…

Arthur shouted your name. He stood, almost pressed to you, eyes burning. You snapped to attention, gun at the ready.

“We gotta make a break for it! Be ready on my count!”

It was all you could do to nod. You saw his horse in your peripheral, antsy and pawing, but waiting. You tried desperately to calm your breathing and gathered your skirts up out of your way. At the mark, you all ran, each in slightly different directions to mount their horses, spurring before fully mounted. Arthur was first and you scrambled after him, latching onto his arm and using the momentum of his horse to swing your leg over, skirts be damned. With a sharp cry, he urged his horse forward and away from town.

For a brief moment, you were free. Pounding hooves sounded behind you but were fading fast. The shouts of men continued to rip through the air, but you realized that they, too, were slowly growing faint.  And then a stabbing pain exploded in your thigh. A scream escaped before you could stop yourself. Trained well, Arthur didn’t stop his horse, but he tried to see what had happened, calling back to you with increasing desperation. You had been shot. The panic, the shortness of breath, and now the pain was too much. In a surprisingly short matter of seconds, black filled your vision and you were gone.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

The rustle of the trees. The soft sound of running water. Crackling of a campfire. Low voices outside your tent. Your hair brushing your face. Dull and throbbing pain in your leg. Heaviness in your chest. And, finally, the realization you were laying on a cot and not your usual bedroll. 

Slowly, your eyes blinked open. This definitely wasn’t your tent. These weren’t your blankets. Only the soft glow from the fire and a few lanterns shone on the one canvas wall. It was enough light to see that this was Arthur’s tent, the small table with his journal and flower, his photographs on the wagon side. His smell on the blankets. You breathed in deeply.

A snort by your feet caused you to startle. Sitting up slowly, you saw Arthur slumped in a chair, his hat drawn over his face, arms crossed as he breathed evenly, the occasional snore breaking the silence. An strong and sharp pain made you hiss and, in turn, woke the outlaw from his slumber. 

“You’re awake,” he mumbled, barely awake himself as he sat up. 

“Regrettably…”

“How’re you feelin’?”

“Honestly? Not great,” you said, chuckling a little. “But I’ve had worse. Why am I here?”

“Thought you might like a real bed. Well, realer than your bedroll. We can put you out for the wolves, if ya like.” His teasing tone was back, but it was more strained than normal. He looked absolutely exhausted. 

“No, this is fine. It’s… nice.”

Silence fell again. You stared at a thread on the sheet while Arthur stared at you. Usually there was a party the night after a big score, everyone drinking and being merry. There was a strange lack of boisterous laughter, though, and you had the weird feeling it was your doing. 

“How did we make out?”

“Oh, we escaped,” he said, leaning back in the chair again. “But we’re trapped here awhile, there’ll be law crawlin’ everywhere for a few weeks.”

“How much?”

Not even your fixation on the money got him to crack a smile.

“Dunno.” Shrug of his shoulders. “I’ve been in here, makin’ sure you don’t die.”

Arthur’s behavior was bizarre. You hadn’t seen him behave this way when another gang member was injured, not even when John had nearly been lost last year, and it was starting to worry you. Was there something else you didn’t know about? Was your injury more serious than he was letting on? For a moment, you studied his face, the ache and shadows clear in the weak light, and your heart skipped a beat when you saw the barest sign of a light track down his cheek.

“Arthur…” 

It was such a soft whisper, you weren’t sure he had heard you at first. He lifted his eyes to meet yours. You tried desperately to read him for a second before finally caving.

“Arthur, what happened? Did someone not make it?”

At long last, he managed a short huff of air that might be mistaken for laughter. Shaking his head, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he ran his hands across his face, removing his hat and setting it on his wardrobe. When he looked at you again, he actually had a small smile, and relief had replaced what you had mistaken for grief.

“No, no, nothin’ like that.”

“So what’s the matter?”

He tilted his chin up, exhaling long and low towards the sky, seemingly contemplating something. It was quiet for an achingly long time. Another deep sigh and he brought his chin back down, meeting your gaze steadily.

“I thought I was gonna lose you,” he murmured. “I heard the shot, your scream… I thought you were gone for sure.”

Okay… you thought, still bewildered. We’ve almost lost people before. What makes me special?

“And I didn’t get the chance to tell you…” You had seen him struggle with words in the past, but this was different. It was almost as if his voice was physically fighting him on saying anything. “I couldn’t stand to lose you, truth be told. You mean-- That is, you’re very important-- That’s, well…”

Tears pricked the corner of your eyes as you realized what he was trying to say. You didn’t dare utter a word, hoping, begging him to just spit it out. You weren’t positive this was happening, as now you were almost certain you had actually died and this was the beginning of your personal heaven.

“I can’t lose you, darlin’.”

The tears spilled over and dripped down your cheeks. You couldn’t even feel the pain in your thigh as it felt like a major weight had been lifted off of you. Arthur was startled, concern growing once more on his face at your tears, but when you started to grin and laughter bubbled up, he relaxed and looked as embarrassed as a school boy, dropping his eyes and smiling himself.

“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me to hear,” you finally said, shaking your head at the silliness of it all. “I can’t lose you, either, Arthur. You mean the world to me.”

Slowly, the cowboy rose from his seat and approached the edge of the cot. You gingerly shifted yourself over to allow him to sit beside you, and he took the opportunity. You soaked in the other’s presence for just a moment. With the softest gaze you had seen from him, Arthur returned his attention to you. He lifted a hand to cup your face, his rough thumb stroking your cheek as he drank in your features, looking truly content for the first time. Gracefully and ever the gentleman, he tilted your face up to meet his as he carefully kissed you. It was light at first. He was testing the waters, not pushing too fast. But when you met him eagerly, he leaned in, hard. 

You didn’t dare breathe for the duration of the kiss, your heart a frightening combination of pounding and not beating at all. The taste of whiskey lingered fresh on his lips and left your mouth tingling. When Arthur pulled away, you shifted forward slightly, not wanting it to end. But, courteous as always, he pressed a lingering kiss on your forehead and then sat back again. Your eyes flickered all over his face. You were still unsure if you could catch your breath.

“Wanted to do that for a long time,” he muttered. All you could do was nod. Wow…

“Can you stay with me?” you blurted out. “Tonight?”

“O’ course,” he agreed. He tugged his boots off as you scooted as far over as you could, lifting the sheet for him to crawl into. Warmth radiated from his skin and it was like stepping into a comfortable bath as he wrapped his arms around you. You sighed into his chest, drinking in his smell with your face buried in him, hands gripping his shirt. The dull sting in your leg was in the background of your mind. It didn’t matter to you, though; you were safe here. And this wasn’t going to end any time soon.

[head-empty-just-sigma]

fic writer ask game: 🥰 / 😈/ ✍ / 🦅 / 💞(s) /💥

thank you for the ask!! (and sorry it took so long for me to respond ah)

🥰 How do you feel about reader interaction? Are you open to receiving questions about your fics?

i love fan interaction! i could brainstorm for hours with someone about fics, au’s, anything rlly. i also like feedback on what i’m writing so i know if people are enjoying how i write/the content in my writing, etc.

😈 Has there been a point in a story where you did something just to be playfully mean to your readers?

i haven’t written and posted much but there’s a few scenes in my bsd Fey au where i take the comfort out of the hurt/comfort even tho i could’ve absolutely just let them have it lol

✍️ Do you have a beta reader?

nope. everything i write & post is edited and reviewed by myself only

🦅 Do you outline fics or fly by the seat of your pants?

i usually have like a 1 or 2 sentence idea or concept that reminds me of the main topic i wanted to write about & i’ll make a fic around that. i don’t do any outlining for chapters or anything else, i just go with the flow of the story with a general idea of the direction i want to go

💞 Who is your comfort character(s)?

i don’t have a comfort character for writing per se, but i do enjoy writing Fyodor and Chuuya the most in general, and PM!Dazai if i feel like writing an apathetic character or i want to just hate everything for a while

💥 How do you feel about criticism?

there’s no such thing as bad criticism, as long as it’s not just ‘this sucks’ y’know? i’ll take anything even if you dislike the entire fic and want to tell me why you disliked it, go for it. i always want to try and improve my writing, so if you have tips or catch me using incorrect grammar feel free to tell me about that too

my Inbox is still open if anyone else wants to send me a fic writer ask from the ask game! just scroll on my profile to find the list of questions <3

[pinnaclemartialartssydney]

Parent's Guide to Supporting Their Child's Martial Arts Journey | Pinnacle Martial Arts in Marrickville Inner West, Earlwood Canterbury area, Caddens in Penrith area and Chester Hill, Bankstown Area in South West Sydney

Parent's Guide to Supporting Their Child's Martial Arts Journey: Encouragement, Safety, and Progress Have you ever noticed your child lacking confidence or struggling to focus? Perhaps they yearn for a physical activity that teaches valuable life skills. If so, enrolling them in martial arts could be the perfect solution! Did you know that over 1.3 million Australians participate in martial arts, according to a recent Roy Morgan study? "Martial arts offer a unique blend of physical fitness training, self-defence techniques, and character development. This can be incredibly beneficial for children, fostering confidence, discipline, and respect," commented hands-on dad and tea sommelier Dominic Brown of TopTea. However, as a parent, you might have some questions: How can I best support my child's martial arts journey? Is it safe? How will I know they're progressing? Fear not! This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to become your child's biggest cheerleader and ensure a safe, rewarding martial arts experience. Here are some tips to help you create a positive and rewarding experience for your child and yourself. Encouragement One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to encourage your child's interest and enthusiasm for martial arts. Here are some ways to do that: - Show interest in their training. Ask them what they learned, what they enjoyed, and what they struggled with. Praise their efforts and achievements, and celebrate their milestones. - Attend their classes or competitions when possible. Watch them practice and perform and cheer them on. Let them know you are proud of them and support their goals. - Encourage them to have fun. Martial arts should not be a chore or a burden but a source of joy and satisfaction. Remind them that they are doing martial arts for themselves, not for anyone else and that they should enjoy the process and the outcome. Safety Another critical aspect of supporting your child's martial arts journey is to ensure their safety and well-being. Here are some ways to do that: - Choose a reputable and qualified instructor. Research the instructor's credentials, experience, and teaching style. Ensure they are certified, insured, and follow their martial arts association's safety standards and guidelines. - Choose a suitable and comfortable uniform and equipment. Ensure your child's uniform fits well, is clean, and is appropriate for their martial arts style. Also, ensure they have the necessary protective gear, such as gloves, mouthguards, helmets, etc., and use them correctly and regularly. - Monitor your child's health and fitness. Ensure your child is eating well, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and avoiding injuries. If your child has any medical conditions or allergies, inform the instructor and ensure they know the symptoms and treatments. If your child is feeling unwell, tired, or in pain, let them rest and recover. Progress The final aspect of supporting your child's martial arts journey is to help them understand and appreciate their progress and development. Here are some ways to do that: - Set realistic and achievable goals. Please help your child identify their strengths and weaknesses and work with them to set short-term and long-term goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. For example, a short-term goal could be to learn a new technique, and a long-term goal could be to earn a new belt or compete in a tournament. - Track and review their progress. Record your child's training sessions, achievements, feedback, and challenges. Review their progress regularly and see how they are doing about their goals. Recognise their improvements and accomplishments and help them overcome their difficulties and setbacks. - Foster a growth mindset. Teach your child that martial arts is a lifelong learning journey and that they can continually improve and grow. Please encourage them to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, seek feedback, and try new things. Help them understand that success is not measured by winning or losing but by effort and improvement. Happy, Healthy, Confident: Let Pinnacle Martial Arts in Sydney Shape Your Child's Future! If you are looking for a martial arts school to help your child achieve their full potential, look no further than Pinnacle Taekwondo in Sydney. Pinnacle Martial Arts in Sydney is a leading martial arts academy that offers a variety of programs for children of all ages and skill levels. Whether your child wants to learn self-defence, improve their fitness, boost their confidence, or have fun, Pinnacle Martial Arts can provide the best training and support. 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Pinnacle Karate Martial Arts in Earlwood Canterbury Bankstown area in Sydney delivers many Martial Arts Fitness and Martial Arts Self Defence programs Sydney wide. Read the full article

[palmett-hoes]

per your post "every single one of the monsters is autistic and/or adhd" will you elaborate on that?, if you do i will love you forever (not that i wont if you dont do it)

oh boy i would love to!!! unironically nothing brings me more joy than writing long, convoluted character analysis posts

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okay so i’ve written several posts before about why andrew is autistic. his moral code, the roundabout way he communicates, his body language, his stimulation-seeking behavior, his strict adherence to transactional deals, the emphasis on honesty, and a dozen other details. at this point i just take andrew being autistic as fact, not just an interpretation

h o w e v e r  i also hc that andrew is dyslexic, which is also a neurodiverse condition

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similarly, i’ve seen more than one person interpret kevin as autistic, and i absolutely agree that it fits. not just the hyperfocus on exy but mostly the way he communicates. he’s very indirect, especially in his affection but very direct with his opinions. he tries to be helpful in a material way to the people he cares about, even if he comes off as negative. he wants the people he cares about to be safe and successful so he pushes them to work hard and reminds them in measurable ways how to stay healthy. he doesn’t factor in a lot of room for emotions, so instead he focuses on quantifiable things that he can improve. i personally act very similarly. approaching someone emotionally is hard for me, so when the people i care about have problems all i can think to do is try offering solutions, check up on their well-being, etc. practicality instead of conventional sentiment is extremely common with asd

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so now let’s talk about neil. i had to think on this one for a WHILE but ultimately came to the conclusion that neil is adhd, probably hyperactive type. 

like obviously neil is high energy. i would say he probably does the most exercise of anyone on the team. morning run, morning practice, afternoon practice, night practice with kevin and andrew, plus he doesn’t have a car so he runs to class (on a BIG ass campus), and goes for an extra run when he feels stressed. that’s... insane, honestly.

neil reminds me SO MUCH of this post that goes:

“Was just informed by my mom that I do in fact have ADHD and the reason I thought I didn’t was because ever since I was seven whenever I got super energetic my mom would have me go chop wood so now when I’m feeling The ADHD I go chop wood”

(phenomenal post) and that’s neil to a t. tell me this isn’t exactly how neil handles his problems and also exactly what mary would have had to do to keep her unmedicated and very energetic son focused on the task of staying alive

neil also definitely has that ADHD on/off switch with his interest. the obvious being exy which is like the definition of a hyperfixation, but you can see it in other things: the way he runs totally hot or totally cold with people, his complete disinterest in his schoolwork, the way he can’t seem to sit still long enough to follow movies. but then there’s also the hyperfocus. doing the same drill for hours on end. watching exy game after exy game. staring at andrew until time falls away

what’s more, neil on many occasions shows racing thoughts, both in an anxiety way (and anxiety often goes hand-and-hand with adhd) but also as a way to quickly and accurately take in details about people to build a character profile of them. this is what allows him to connect with the foxes, how he manages to get through andrew’s puzzles, and even how he knows what to say in order to knock riko down a peg. his brain just works so fast and it takes in a lot of very specific details and disparate information to make connections.

but also like,, neil has a HUGE problem with time blindness. like the instant he didn’t have his mother around to manage and direct him anymore he lost all sense of time. he stayed in Millport for a YEAR. and what did he keep telling himself during that time? basically “i really need to move on, but not just yet.” for a YEAR! then he gets to palmetto and he’s like “i’ll cut and run in a month or two” then he doesn’t “i’ll be gone by halloween” wrong again “i’ll leave by the raven’s game” nope. like,, the boy just has NO sense of time and he can’t seem to make himself DO anything outside of an externally enforced schedule. and even then,,, HE HAD 48 FUCKING DAYS TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO DO TO NOT GET MURDERED! 48 WHOLE DAYS. he didn’t make a plan, he didn’t write down any letters with goodbyes, he didn’t GO TO THE FBI LIKE HE’D INTENDED TO THE WHOLE TIME! nah he just made out with andrew and when he finally got to zero he was just like “ah shit, that was fast. oh well guess i’ll die” and that’s time blindness, babey!

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let’s move on to nicky. 

now i think it would be really easy to say nicky is just adhd because he’s high energy and forgetful but tbh,, i don’t think that’s all of it. like if you really look at nicky’s character and especially at his problems, he has asd problems just as much as he has adhd problems.

so nicky is dual diagnosis asd and adhd. also nicky reminds me a lot of a girl i used to know who was autistic/adhd

so, adhd:

very generally speaking, ppl with adhd will struggle with sitting still, listening to and following instructions, planning/organization, following a schedule, and some social boundaries like “appropriate” times and topics of conversation

i would say you see hints of this with nicky. he’s definitely a rambunctious personality, constantly on the move, constantly stimulation seeking. he’s very tactile. he likes to dance, he likes to party, he complains about it but he’s an elite-level athlete. he’s also decidedly very chatty, and doesn’t seem to really pay attention to what he’s saying. he distracts himself and the people around him have to keep him on track. he has some trouble with boundaries. he’s a little all over the place. he’s almost a bit of an adhd stereotype

also one thing i find interesting is that when neil sees him in the library doing work neil is surprised to see he’s capable of that, especially bc when we see the upperclassmen doing work they generally do it in their dorms or on the bus and/or with other people around. that hyper-social nicky would be alone in a quiet place is weird. but this is like the most common tip for dealing with adhd. don’t do it in a familiar space. have a designated space and time to do work. limit distractions. just a lil detail

so now, asd:

in all honesty, most of nicky’s actual problems in the narrative could be viewed as stemming from asd symptoms. his number one issue being that he has a lot of trouble with nonverbal cues (and tbh, verbal ones too). the twins are mostly quiet. andrew especially (when he’s sober) communicates primarily nonverbally, and nicky seems to have a lot of trouble with this. despite knowing them for the longest on the team, nicky honestly seems to have the least insight into the way either of the twins actually thinks or processes things. he loves them, and he’s very forgiving of them, but he fundamentally doesn’t understand them. 

the twins, andrew especially, put up a LOT of nonverbal boundaries, and nicky sort of inadvertently keeps trampling all over them. he’s touchy in a way they don’t like. he talks a lot about their personal lives to other people. he treats them like they’re joking when they’re serious. etc. and like,,, you kind of get the sense that the upperclassmen feel similarly about him. beyond the homophobia, beyond the fact that he’s loyal to andrew, the upperclassmen still treat him with this sense of,, bafflement, i suppose? it’s clear that they don’t really understand him and he doesn’t really understand them. although, nicky IS curious about the upperclassmen, while the upperclassmen are pretty dismissive of him. it reminds me of when my sweet, floppy dog tries to play with my cat. their body language is different; they’re each receiving different signals than they believe they’re sending out

only,, nicky loves people!! he likes being around them, he likes talking to them. he’s interested in their lives and stories, but it’s very clear that he can’t read between the lines on people. he has an incredibly hard time with people who expect their actions to speak for them, which is most people, but is especially his cousins.

actually this is very much also an issue that i have: things need to be spelled out for me. the way i deal with it is i ask a lot of questions. ‘how do you want me to react to this potential situation?’ ‘what are specific things that make you most comfortable?’ ‘please explain to me exactly how you feel and what has prompted those feelings?’ and i’m always communicating vice versa like that with other people. a lot of specifics in both questions and answers

and the interesting thing is, when i was skimming through the books reviewing dialogue styles for another ask, i noticed that, actually, nicky DOES do this. with neil and the upperclassmen, nicky asks a LOT of quick, clarifying questions. things that ask after tone, that ask after intent. it’s kinda sad that he does this for communicating with acquaintances, but with the twins, the people he’s closest to, he makes a lot more assumptions. and i’m really proud of nicky for having this coping skill, because i can’t imagine it’s something he grew up doing. there’s no way he was raised in an environment that fostered this kind of open communication so it must have been something he learned about much later, probably in germany with the kloses, which would also explain why he’s a lil imperfect about it

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now last but not least, aaron

this is another one i had to think through for a long time before it felt like it fit

much like how i felt that it would be easy to read nicky as simply adhd rather than also asd, i think it would be easy to say aaron is autistic simply because he is quieter, less rambunctious. however, i actually think he’s adhd, likely primarily inattentive type

in all honesty, aaron’s #1 character trait for the first two books is basically that he’s disconnected. detached. separated both from his family and his team. not in the same forcefully apathetic way that andrew is, more,, spaced out. he’s just kind,, there. not really paying attention to what’s going on, tuning in every once in a while only if something really catches his eye/ear then tuning right back out again. just sits in his corner and plays on his phone. and the thing is, from the moments when he does tune in, you can tell that he actually does care. he backs nicky when seth insults him in tfc, and we know he cares deeply about andrew even if he’s become disillusioned with their fraught relationship. he even hangs with his family, doesn’t seem to really try and slip away to other friends besides katelyn, he’s fine spending his leisure time with the monsters. so it’s not totally apathy, he’s just,,, tuned out most of the time

and, yea, that sounds like adhd. it’s not the type that most people are familiar with, and for a lot of people this causes it to slip under the radar. it can make it hard to get help or a dx because it doesn’t fit with how adhd “should” look or how someone “should” act, but difficulty focusing your thoughts and staying in tune with the current moment is absolutely part of adhd

addiction is also a huge problem for people with adhd. a lot of stimulants affect people with adhd very differently than neurotypicals, especially in small doses, and an adhd kid who’s struggled their whole lives with the disorder might try speed or god-forbid meth or fuck even coffee and suddenly find that things are a lot easier for them. they start to self-medicate, they don’t actually know what they’re doing, and then they’re addicted, and everything spirals out of control. we don’t know too many details about aaron’s addiction other than that his mother enabled him, but wouldn’t this fit? it’s also an explanation for aaron still taking drugs at eden’s, given that cracker dust seems to be a mild amphetamine. (aaron talk to betsy about the neurocog and get an actual prescription please)

(total throw away but aaron plays videogames and videogames are like,, adhd culture)