#not using his full name in a mild attempt to not clog his tag

[steelwxng]

hc + Metagross!

send me  ‘ hc ‘  + a word and i’ll write a headcanon about it regarding my character. Open! Safety. Familiarity. Companionship. Steven adores his Metagross, and beyond that every single Beldum, Metang and Metagross he sees. He's been with Platinum from when he was a small child, the Beldum growing into the Mega-able Metagross that he knows and loves today with him through all of his trials and tribulations. Not once has that trust they placed in their human companion wavered despite it all. The two are beyond close, and able to communicate non-verbally via Platinum's psychic abilities. On a mundane note, his house is slowly filling with plush beldums and figures of the entire line courtesy of his friends. A man says he needs decor once and it's all he gets as gifts now, beyond the occasional stone from Roark that is. Mothy dove headfirst into the beldum collection and at this point has knitted multiple themed scarfs and blankets for him.

[war--lords]

Congratulations on your followers milestone 😊🌸 then can I request a Nobunaga for hot god... Thank you

So this kind of got out of hand haha

Warnings: Female!Reader, mild family conflict, possible inaccuracyWord count: 2,435Tagged:#hanayomeTranslations and important notes:

Tengu (lit. heavenly dog) are Japanese legendary creatures that are regarded as either youkai (supernatural beings) or kami (gods). This fic treats Tengu as the latter.

Obi, as you may already know, is the ‘belt’ of the kimono.

Shinsoku means abbot/head priest of an abbey or temple.

Miko refers to a priestess.

Geta are traditional wooden clogs that resemble flip-flops.

Oshiroi is the name of the white powder used as makeup.

Aneue is a highly formal and archaic way of addressing one’s elder sister.

FYI, Kiku means ‘chrysanthemum’.

Enjoy!

Part 2 Part 3

1.

Sounds of hurried footsteps echo through the wooden flooring of the temple, and along with them, the chatterings of people. They come for one second, allowing the listener to grasp only a few words, before ultimately becoming an auditory blur as they grow further away. You are in a room tucked away in one corner of the temple, sewing the last few stitches that would make the final adjustments to a white over-robe. 

Once the moon is at her highest tonight, your little sister is to become a bride. Her procession begins in no more than two hours.

A couple other elderly priestesses are by her side, gently folding and twisting her hair up into an intricate hairstyle reserved only for those about to marry with delicate ornamental hairpins. Another is fixing up the wataboshi, the bridal hood that will hide Kiku’s face from all eyes except her groom’s. 

Never have you heard silence so loud that even the hustle and bustle in the hallways feel like a great distance away. The air is cold and tense, a complete antithesis of wedding preparation. Faces are grim and eyes are tearful—if only she were wearing black, you’d think this was a funeral instead. 

Young Kiku’s beautiful ebony eyes are narrowed in a mix of emotions even as one of the priestesses tucks a fan into her obi, the symbol for a happy future. Despite her general optimism, you know that she feels more like an item to be sold than a bride. 

Because it truly was a transaction.

——————————

Your family is a long line of clerical servants of the god Tengu who rules over war and prosperity. (You’ve always disliked that dichotomy.) The men and women of your family devote their whole lives as priests and priestesses with the privilege to communicate with him in his dwelling—a lone temple on top of the mountain Kurama that towers over your village. Seiiki—‘sanctuary’, they call it.

It has been decreed since the days of old that once a year, each autumn solstice, on the day of the full moon, the abbot would climb the perilous steps up the mountain to speak to the god Tengu. Tonight is that of a full moon, and so your father, the abbot, made the ascent. The news he delivered was unusual, but at that time you know little of how bitter it would all turn out.

“The god Tengu demands a young virgin as his bride in exchange for the earth’s eternal yield. At sundown, a fiery arrow shall descend from the sky and pierce the roof of the house in which this virgin dwells. When night falls, she will climb up to the peak of Mount Kurama to meet her groom and dwell with him in the Seiiki forever.” 

A girl for lifelong milk and honey, when each previous year the god Tengu would demand only a portion of the harvest he had already given. Of course, the atypicality wasn’t lost to the people, but they faithfully waited until sundown. The gods were never the most sympathetical beings anyway, and the people felt lucky that Tengu’s demands were not as outlandish as the others.

You were among the people at the temple grounds when the promised arrow indeed descended, appearing as a faraway white dot floating against the violet-pink sky. Before the last of the sun’s rays faded it flew towards the village, but what you didn’t expect was for those pale flames to pierce the very roof you were under.

Tied on its stem is a paper with ‘marriage’ written on it.

——————————

If she was composed during her dressing, now Kiku is anything but. In your arms she sobs, a pure white mess, smearing your miko uniform with the red face paint around her eyes. When she looks up at you, shaking her head in disdain, it looks as though she cried blood.

“I don’t want to go,” she croaks, “I don’t want to leave you.” 

“And I don’t want you to leave,” you reply. 

There are no tears in your eyes, for this predicament seems too fatal, too fast, like a bad dream. You wish it were a dream. You don’t tell your little sister you wish it were you—because she has her whole life ahead of her and because it is probably easier for your family to let you go.

The two of you are the abbot’s dear children, yes, but you are the eldest daughter instead of the eldest son—one that can continue his name. Even in your adulthood your father still looks at you the same way, like you’re something he didn’t ask for. It’s different for Kiku because Kiku is different. “She is the temperate lake to your forest fire.” That was what your father once said to you. Through it all, your mother is ultimately the one that loved you unconditionally, but behind her gentle smile, she hides the same sadness from your father’s disappointment for not having a son.

If you were to tell the truth, you’d rather be the god Tengu’s bride than stay here, but alas, he demands a young bride. Moreover, your father sees this as an absolute honor for Kiku to be chosen, though eventually you know he’ll grow bitter from only having your mediocrity left in his house.

The sliding door opens. It’s your father and mother.

“Procession will begin soon.”

“I need to fix her rouge,” you say without looking at him, “and then she’ll have to wear her wataboshi.” You hear a choked sound coming from your mother as she embraces Kiku. You look on somberly, but can’t stop yourself from stealing a glance at your father, who remains unmoving. You’ve never seen him look that sad before.

A shuffle of footsteps and you see the silhouette of a monk beyond the screen door—he’s considerate enough not to stand where your sister can be seen, at least.

“Shinsoku-sama, the procession is ready.” 

The moon is at its biggest and brightest, looking as though she is peering down to watch the events unfolding under her soft light. You’ve moved to the edge of the temple grounds with your parents and the clerics. The procession is only to be done by the betrothed and their attendants, and with the absence of the groom, Kiku was left to walk with only two other lesser miko and four monks to carry the traditional harvest offering. The click-clack of their geta is loud against the masonry floor, it being the only sound other than the buzzing crickets. There are no more exchanged words or touches allowed in this holy rite—the only thing Kiku can spare you and your family is a meaningful look before she takes her first step beyond the red gate, lantern in hand to guide her through the dark of the night. 

She makes her way up, up, following the curves of the stone steps, and not long after, all you can see is the flickering light of lanterns like gold slowly pumping through a vein. The bamboo forests surrounding the stairs sway left and right in the night wind, and it reminds you of a worried man rocking on his feet. The stairs twist and turn in a serpent-like manner, and the trees, taller and thicker, conceal their light, infrequently at first, but more and more as they venture higher before eventually they disappear out of sight.

Next to you, your mother is the first to break, letting out a long breath and a sob. You reach for her hand. When her cold fingers wrap around yours, you allow yourself to cry.

——————————

It is the fourth hour after Kiku stepped out the red gate, and the attendants who went with her haven’t returned. Rain started to pour not too long ago, and though it isn’t heavy, it’s enough to cause concern. You are in a prayer room with the other miko, joining them in their quiet chants. Your mother’s body and mind are too exhausted to participate, and it’s not like she can pray to a god that chose to take her daughter away forever. 

Truth be told, you feel the same, as the prayer beads on your palm feel much heavier than they should. The chants lose their meaning, replaced only by questions only the god Tengu can answer. You realize the futility of the situation and contemplate whether you should just run up those stairs and confront him yourself.

You’re picturing it with your eyes closed. The flight of stairs might be steep and many, and it might be dangerous going up there in the rain, but you’d be fueled with enough rage to overcome them. What happens there, you’d worry about later—the holy grounds are supposed to be accessible only to the abbot. Should the sacred boundary be created by a spell, you could always try to break it. Once the barrier is broken, you’d be able to come face-to-face with the god Tengu. 

You realize you don’t know what he really looks like, but it hardly matters. What then? Would you attempt to kill him for taking your sister away? No, that’s not really what you want. What do you really want?

Fatigue makes it easier for your consciousness to escape you, and unbeknownst to you, your wandering thoughts lull you into the beginnings of slumber. Your prayer beads are now stationary, and your chants are reduced into incomprehensible murmurs before they stop completely. 

Mind clouded with fog, the only thing you could see in your head is the lantern light flickering as it makes its way up the stairs. Golden light, twisting and turning. The wind’s howl in your ear, deafening. The orange leaves’ crackle as they are dragged across stone floors by the gale.

…lady…

The god Tengu’s arrow floats again in your dream as if waiting for its time to strike. Your eyebrows knit in anticipation, your eyes dare not look away.

…Milady…

The flames on the arrow’s tail seem to flicker before it grows stronger, its shape becoming larger and larger. In the blink of an eye, it flies, but this time not towards the roof of the temple.

It’s coming towards you.

“Milady!”

Just as the arrow pierces through your heart, you open your eyes with a pained gasp, but the trickle of cold sweat on your nape and your feverish breath makes you feel as though you’re still trapped in a dream. Some of the elder priestesses crowd around you, one of them holding your trembling hand as she places her own against your forehead. 

“You were shaking,” she says, eyes worriedly darting around to inspect your face, “Milady, you’re very warm.”

You’re still trying to gain your bearings when you hear a pair of footsteps dash towards the room. One second later, the screen doors open with a loud bang, revealing a young miko drenched from the rain—you vaguely remember her as one of Kiku’s company. Her eyes search the room before falling on you, and the look on her damp face turns into that of bewildered trepidation. She calls your name once and kneels in front of you, gently tugging at your arm to get you to stand.

“It’s Lady Kiku, she—when we got up there, we—I’m sorry, it’d be better for her to tell you in person. Please come with me. She’s downstairs, she—we need you.”

Equally, if not more confused than the miko, you force your numb legs to carry you out of the room and down the steps with her help. The cold of her clothes against your warm skin wakes you up a little. She guides you to the main hall, her footsteps leaving trails of water droplets as she goes. Once the door slides open, you’re equal parts baffled and relieved to see your little sister. The floor around her is littered with discarded hairpins and baskets of fine products, reduced into a dirty mess. She is weeping, her face buried in her hands. You unlatch yourself from the miko’s arm to rush to Kiku’s side, your arm around her. 

“What happened?”

“He…” she begins, looking up at you with wet eyes. She looks like a wreck, the oshiroi powder washed out from her face and her hair in a disheveled state. “W-We went into the Seiiki and everything seems fine, but then he—”

It is then your father interrupts, his voice booming in the cold, dim room.

“It isn’t Kiku the god Tengu wants.”

“—he saw my face as we entered, it was a huge room and we weren’t even face-to-face! I don’t know how, but he saw me, and a gust of strong wind blew, he… he told me that I wasn’t the one. And then he said your name. He told me to bring you. Aneue, he… he wants you.”

Your heart sinks, and it clenches as if responding to a piercing wound. One that’s left by a flaming arrow.

Kiku then proceeds to gather her now loose hair and moved it across one shoulder, revealing her bare neck to you.

You almost can’t believe your eyes—a crimson string blooms from the side of her throat, and when you reach out to touch it with a finger, it doesn’t smear or fade, as if it’s permanently embedded within her skin. As if she was marked. Stepping closer to see it, you realize that it is alive, its two ends moving ever so slowly around her. It would be a complete circle once it meets on the other side of her neck.

“You have until sunrise to see him,” your mother finally speaks, her face a tired blank canvas. Her daughter was returned, only for the other to be taken away. “We concluded that this string will make one complete round by then. He didn’t tell Kiku what would happen if the ends meet.”

“It’s a timekeeper enchantment,” your father supplies, “to make sure you make the ascent.”  

Every bit of composure in you snaps just then and you make for the door as fast as you can. Kiku captures your wrist just in time, a concerned look on her face. She gently places something into your open palm and you take it, inspecting it.

It’s a crumpled up piece of paper with the kanji ‘marriage’ on it. The look on Kiku’s face tells you not to question how that item came to her possession.

Your mouth runs dry. It seems like Kiku also has trouble speaking because her voice cracks as she says this to you:

“Aneue, he wants to see you in red.”  

[giveuselife-blog]

How Is Apples IOS 6 Passbook App Going to Change the Digital Wallet Global?

New Post has been published on https://giveuselife.org/how-is-apples-ios-6-passbook-app-going-to-change-the-digital-wallet-global/

How Is Apples IOS 6 Passbook App Going to Change the Digital Wallet Global?

How is Apples iOS 6 Passbook App Going to Effect Different Electronic Wallets?

Apple has entered the phone Wallet business with a brand new free apps in iOS 6 referred to as Passbook; a prelude to what would possibly quickly come to be a totally-fledged Digital Pockets. With the Apple emblem behind it, it’s far predicted that everyone components of mobile bills, ticketing, and discounts will Exchange all the time.

Introducing Passbook

On Monday, June 11, 2012, at the global Improvement Convention (WWDC), Apple introduced it is very own cellular Wallet application known as Passbook. Passbook is an iOS 6 free apps in an effort to be fully incorporated into the cutting-edge iPhone operating device. predicted to be released someday in October it’s maximum probably to launch at the side of the iPhone 5 release. Apple gives an API to enable developers to create, manipulate and distribute Apple-accepted boarding passes, reward playing cards, present cards, incentive playing cards, and more in an unmarried vicinity. In a similar fashion to the iOS Books and Newsstand apps, Apple is presenting a local platform that allows enterprise proprietors to get their business and career offerings in the front of iPhone customers.

A Beautiful User Interface

Apple’s Improvement of Passbook establishes an at ease-popular for supporting and setting up virtual tickets, shop cards, coupons, and gives within the cell iOS devices. An excellent array of capabilities will seem at the time of the preliminary release with loads more to observe as builders begin to combine the gadget some place else. Previous to its professional launch, Apple has already constructed an existing list of big stores that want to integrate the Passbook technology into current iOS programs, including Starbucks popular barcode payments free apps . extra small and large companies are anticipated to announce how they intend to apply Passbook to their benefit toward the release date.

Passbook provides a splendid looking easy-to-use card-fashion Person interface (UI) that updates stay as the store playing cards or passes are used. Apple has taken care of the way that a Consumer, and the commercial enterprise, interacts with the digital Passes. There are positive constraints, just like the length of the Skip, or the number of fields allowed, or how the Person can pick to be knowledgeable and so on.. but Apple try to offer a certainly open system. A software that may be used by any store wishing to offer virtual passes. There will also be a rich set of features, inclusive of time and vicinity based statistics, get entry to previous buying history, and get right of entry to non-public information.

Passes within the Passbook free apps itself are very attractive. They really feel extremely good to look at and play with. It feels a lot extra twenty-first century than a filled Wallet or handbag complete with paper and plastic. Every form of Bypass has a slightly distinctive fashion that lets in the Consumer to fast find the right one. For example, a retail coupon has serrated edges to graphically illustrate a reduction or a film price ticket has a half of circle clipped at the top to demonstrate the likeness of a ticket stub.

These Passbook requirements and the API indicates Apple are creating their foundation for the way they may wish to combine their generation with Visa, Mastercard or comparable charge card processing networks.

constructed in functions

Passbook is a fully functioning utility, and any commercial enterprise developing and distributing These passes can make the most the Passbook capabilities without delay:

Geolocation Push Updates Calendar Updates Geolocation: The Skip will mechanically seem while the iPhone Person reaches a specific location. when the device is close to a store, or whatever vicinity the Pass writer chooses, a message seems on the lock screen to alert the Consumer that they have a Pass (possibly a discount coupon or a loyalty card) that may be redeemed. Now not best is that this very convenient for the iPhone Consumer but additionally permits shops the option to push gives and incentives primarily based on various criteria, consisting of that of the area.

Examples:

A large chain espresso corporation provides their loyalty card via Passbook in order that it opens robotically as soon as a Consumer gets near a particular shop. Instantaneous get entry to is given to the barcode device which the Consumer truly scans on the terminal after which they enjoy their cup of coffee. They do not even need to kind in their password to free up the telephone. A Digital keep ‘pushes’ a hit the Instant they come at the shop; Passbook notifies the shopper of their current balance and the cut price to be had. A mass transit railway organization issue Passbook Passes to display the quantity of rides or credits to be had, with a scannable barcode for use at the ticket workplace. A ticketing company troubles Passbook tickets so that you can immediately pop up on the time of the concert, and once more when the tool holder receives near the venue; constructing up exhilaration and maximizing target audience engagement. Push Updates: All coupons, cards, and tickets include the capacity to dynamically update. Up to date records can be right away driven to the iPhone lock screen which then opens up the precise Skip in Passbook. The awareness is driven to the lock display, the applicable Skip then seems and the Updated statistics is rotated, with a few cool animation; quick informing the Person what is changed.

Examples:

An airline troubles Passbook boarding passes. in the last hour they need to Exchange departure gate, so push an update to all the Passbook boarding Skip holders who speedy get hold of the Up to date notification and the Boarding Bypass is robotically Updated. A big retail save, problems it’s loyalty playing cards thru Passbook. when a person spends over a positive amount and they flow to ‘Platinum repute’, Passbook presents them a little ‘congratulation replace’ and the Pass Photograph adjustments coloration to signify their new fame. Integration with Calendar and Reminders: The Pass may be tagged with a certain date and time. If activated, the reminder can seem in the Consumer’s iOS calendar. At the suitable time, the reminder will seem on the User’s device and the can right away go directly to the applicable Bypass in Passbook.

Examples:

An airline price ticket is bought with date exclusions and signals are despatched to the Bypass owner while an to be had open date provides itself. a person sends his birthday invites through Passbook and using the calendar invite characteristic the free apps will allow event tickets to be driven directly to buddies to simply accept and attend. By using combining Geolocation, live updates and the Reminder capability the stop Person can stay up for a splendidly wealthy revel in. And thanks to Apple’s ingenuity, the Consumer won’t be irritated By way of the little matters that could break the experience. As an instance the display screen does not rotate when a Pass is open; so in contrast to when using Safari, Passbook continues your barcode in one orientation. additionally, the screen stays lit while a Skip is open; nothing would be greater worrying than seeking to scan your Bypass and the screen saver comes on! using Passbook is an actually attractive, interesting, handy and useful enjoy. so much extra fun than vintage paper tickets, or plastic membership playing cards that clog up wallets.

As Apple offers superior capability, and developers get to integrate greater marvelous options, the Passbook platform will grow to be an amazing system for store cards, tickets, and charge innovations.

Bar Codes

To start with Apple is introducing Passbook with the integration of 2d bar codes. This simple barcode facility allows the Person to redeem the voucher and allows the retailer to verify the validity of the Skip. Apple selected 2nd bar codes, in place of the older 1D bar codes, as there were a few troubles with scanners recognizing 1D barcodes on a LED screen. The Pass author can select to generate a 2 Bar Code in any of the most famous formats; Aztec, PDF147 or QR Code.

near Area Conversation (NFC)

Regardless of a lot hypothesis, it doesn’t seem like Apple will launch Passbook with NFC (near-Area Communique) integration despite the fact that long term there seems to be mild doubt that this improve in hardware is on its way.

whilst NFC is launched in the next era of Apple iPhones it will offer the capacity to combine much better with retailers existing payment processing structures. NFC systems are at present being hooked up at many shops (in general larger establishments) as part of Credit card’s and Visa’s mandate on having a high volume of NFC and EMV transactions By using the yr 2014. Apple is anticipated to be on the front of the cue with the NFC technology as soon as its incorporated into the iOS as greater of the NFC bills structures emerge as to be had at merchants.

fee Integration

it is just a relay of time before Apple put its full weight behind the Passbook app to combine charge card facilities. despite the fact that, given the regulation and the overall complexity of the payment area, we can’t see Passbook completely substituting present payment cards (Credit card and Visa), however alternatively integrate the use of both of those offerings.

Apple is accurately imposing a Pockets app that works with present infrastructure, instead of against. Quite a few agencies have attempted to completely rework the cellular fee space whilst ignoring the exquisite weight and strength of the businesses they were trying to do war with; namely the banks and credit card organizations. With Passbook, Apple is smart to preserve These guys inside Via running with them and Now not in opposition to. Passbook is ultimately a platform for innovation permitting any business enterprise to without difficulty be a part of the mobile payments area, while not having to heavily spend money on their own Wallet application.

commercial enterprise Opportunity

Passbook is predicted to have an immediate Impact on all companies concerned in bills, loyalty cards, shop cards, gift cards, ticketing (airlines, trains, and so forth.), and incentive playing cards. Getting equipped for Passbook now could not be any more apparent for small or big enterprise alike. records have proven us that all of us aligning themselves with the Apple eco-device blessings massively. You best ought to consider what number of humans are going to be rushing to the store for a new iPhone five.0 and when they need to fill their empty Passbook, wherein are they going to show?

In a comparable fashion to the app store, Apple ambitions to seed 1000’s of new ideas and begin-ups. companies which are already working to examine this technology may be the first to announce and advantage from this new eco-machine. If you have pursuits for growing mind-blowing Wallet thoughts, then Passbook is a perfect platform for your creativity. businesses do not must overly put money into a standalone utility or try to remedy all of the interface challenges that Apple has worked out for them.

Apple has a protracted standing history of shifting the path of a companies commercial enterprise plans, even the most successful ones. Passbook has the ability to make dozens of merchandise besides the point or redundant in the near destiny.

some critics have counseled that Passbook is only a primary Pockets application and Now not a required addition to the iOS. And it seems These people are ignoring the proper Opportunity. records will show that the creation of Passbook all components of cellular bills, ticketing, and discounts will Alternate forever. Time to get on board.