#only achievable through plastic surgery

[wildfairies]

my sims from ~3 years ago give me nightmares

[bunny584]

JUJUTSU KAISEN’S ANATOMY

Part II of this cute lil ask right here

A/N: Shit. You just graduated med school. And today…people expect you to…doctor? Mom come pick us up, we’re SCARED (real thought on my first day of residency).

S/N: Meet your first year surgical residency class. Undifferentiated little stem cells. The bottom of the surgical food chain. First shift last 36 hours and you work every second night until you drop. 

All you know is that you like to cut. Where/what/how that cutting comes will be decided later. Everyone has an idea of their subspecialty but…shit happens, preferences change and sometimes the spleen just bleeds for no fucking reason at 4 am when you’ve gotten 30 minutes of sleep in the last 3 days and you have to—what? Sorry. Forgive me. 

Let’s get into it.

For the love of God, interns — pick up your pagers. 

SURGICAL INTERNS ON CALL

Dr. Yuji Itadori 

Specialty Interest: ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY 

Don’t tell Dr. Sukuna about this but who here is shocked. This sack of muscles THROWS SUVS AT HIS MORTAL ENEMIES ON A RANDOM TUESDAY NIGHT??? Please???? He also does shit like watch Wormo-Man parts I-V and this is peak orthopod behavior. Yuji definitely has contests with his patients on rounds who can crush the cranberry juice or protein shakes the fastest. Spoiler, he always lets the patient win.

Everyone thinks he’s just joking around but it’s his way of getting post op patients to get their nutrition in. He’s a very thoughtful doctor, even though people assume he’s no thoughts just vibes between his eyes. 

Dr. Megumi Fushiguro

Specialty Interest: HAND SURGERY (can be achieved via Ortho or plastics)

Hand surgeons are a different BREED. Do me a favor and google “hand anatomy.” Not only will you find like 400 bones, there are 7,000 tiny tendons, lumbricals, digital arteries, veins and nerves all packed into the little mitts we take for granted. And to add insult to injury — all of the muscles and tendons are in latin. Like whoever decided that please take your seat on this one way train to hell :)

Nevertheless, Dr. Geto spotted Dr. Fushiguro on day ONE of intern year. How meticulous and neat he is. How intelligent he is in the O.R. As an intern, Megumi broke the record for the fastest carpal tunnel release for residents (4 minutes, 35 seconds — not faster than mine though, 3 mins, 52 seconds over here big dawg). Suguru is Megumi’s mentor within the first week. Two peas in one moody brunette, pod. 

Dr. Nobara Kugisaki

Specialty Interest: TRAUMA SURGERY 

Nobara is 100% resistant to the Satoru Gojo, MD charm. Unlike the rest of the residents, she isn’t squeezing into Dr. Gojo’s trauma ORs just to graze his gloved hand with theirs. Or make eyes over the surgical masks. No, Nobara did her first cricothyrotomy and became HOOKED. The day she had to climb on the gurney to tie off a patient’s external jugulars because after coding and ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) they were SPURTING out of the large pipes in their neck — she was sold. Trauma surgery through and through.

Real story btw. It was insane. Whirlwind of a day from the trauma bay to the OR to the ice cream we all scarfed down after because we won that day. And you don’t win every day. So the days you get to tell the Angel of Death to fuck off, you savor them. 

Dr. Maki Zenin 

Specialty Interest: VASCULAR SURGERY 

Little known fact about vascular surgeons is that they are gangster as fuck. Hear me out. They like the blood PAPER thin, right? Small, rusty pipes need to get fluid through, so thin the fluid out as much as possible. Meaning patients are on aspirin, lovenox, heparin, and every other anticoagulant known to man.

Everyone else with a working amygdala is scared to DEATH of these patients bleeding because you look at them sideways and suddenly hemorrhage everywhere. Not vascular surgeons and not Maki Zenin. “Aorta ruptured..? No prob, just sew it up with a couple stitches. What—like it’s hard?” - Every Vascular Surgeon ever. Maki just gives unhinged-unbothered-let-them-bleed energy to me. Plus vascular surgeons do all of the amputations. Maki is doing that with her cursed tools and scrubbing in with hand sanitizer only. Period.

Dr. Yuta Okkotsu

Specialty Interest: TRANSPLANT SURGERY 

The OG lover boy is NO different in this AU. He is sentimental. He cries with patients. Dr. Nanami met him during the first month of his residency and immediately took him under his wing. Yuta is always the last to leave the anatomy lab, making sure to stitch the donors completely closed — even though no one will see. When asked why he spends hours post call doing it, he says: “Because they deserve respect until the very end.” Nanami And Yuta are a perfect match. After Yuta’s first liver transplant, Nanami takes him to the same hill he lays on by the airport. They both say goodbye to the donor together. 

Dr. Toge Inumaki

Specialty Interest: ….he switched to PSYCHIATRY, still tight with the surgical interns though.

Hello, please this is also obvious. Inumaki is the only one in the group who can listen intently for hours without interruptions lmao. He saw that aggressive surgery shit and said absolutely not I’ll take my talents ELSEWHERE 😂

And you know, funnily enough, a good majority of surgeons ALSO were torn between picking surg vs psychiatry. My mentor told me that its because its as invasive, just without the scalpel. The rest of us meatheads just like the scalpel a little too much to put it down. 

Panda:

Specialty Interest: N/A

He is the hospital emotional support animal. 

E/N: Alright interns. Do your best not to kill anyone. And if your chief resident (me) is sleeping, don’t page me. And if you do page me the patient better be knocking on heaven’s gates. And if they are knocking on heaven’s gates, they better not have crossed into the bright light before I get there. 

Real E/N: Kidding. I am so full of shit lol. I am the senior that brings my juniors cafecitos and treats and takes their pager to let them get some well deserved rest. 

Don’t be late to your OR cases, Shoo!

[thefusioncelestial]

Mix 7: A Father's Gift

Mr. Jacobs was proud of his son. He was everything he wanted, if only his son, Derek would realize this.

But with the gift he was about to obtain, perhaps he would realize this.

Mr. Jacobs heard about a mysterious shop that was able to fix certain issues; of the bodily kind. Before he knew it, he was standing before its doors.

He scanned the surroundings before going in. It was wet and lightly raining, two tall walls of red brick, a reminder of the post WW2 era, flanking the doors on both sides. The door was wooden with no sign of paint or finish on them, and there was no sign save a strange symbol etched at the top of the door. Small enough to miss if you didn't notice. He couldn't make out the of the building, it seemed to never settle on a shape, style, or material. Mr. Jacobs soon put that out of his mind and walked through the door.

The room inside was darkly lit, but it had grayish carpet, dark green wall paper, and two Japanese style doors in the back. In front of them was a receptionist area that blocked access to them.

There was a man sitting behind it looking at him. His hair was concealed by a white turban, but his facial hair; medium sized eye brows & a carefully shaped mustache, revealed that his hair was jack black. He had striking green eyes. He was wearing a black shirt that had a galactic print on them. He could swear that he could see the stars twinkle & the galaxy itself slowly turn.

"Hello sir, I take you are here to take on a new look? You can be anything, or are you looking to heal some hurts that modern medicine has failed to heal so far," the receptionist asked in an confident tone.

"Not for me, but my son," Mr. Jacobs replied.

"How does this work? What do you charge?"

"What I charge depends on the reasons for the change, typically for men like you looking to change their sons, often for vanity reasons, I do not come cheap. I can't tell you how many "wimps" I changed into world class athletes," the receptionist replied.

He continued: "As for how, you go through the door to my left, pick the traits you want, and then get back to me & I'll handle the rest. Now give me your right palm, Mr. Jacobs." He came out of the receptionist desk & brought two chairs for both to sit.

He sat & so did the father.

He stretched out his hand.

As if instantly, Mr. Jacobs did as he was asked.

"How did you know my family name," he pondered.

"Oh forgive me, my name is Corsair, as for how, I would not make it as far as I did in my line of work if I didn't know who may prospective customers are," Corsair retorted.

Must be because my information is available online due to social media he thought.

Corsair had Mr. Jacobs's hand grasped in an embrace of both of his hands. He then moved his forehead to touch this embrace and closed his eyes. His secret revealed, he could read minds!

He saw the real reason for the visit. He did in-fact come to help his son. It was not to make him a star or make him more palpable to the marriage market or for some desire to use him for social gain. His son had confidence issues.

He dug deeper. Ah, there he is:

I see, from their conversations, the son feels mixed matched. He worked on himself hard both academically & physically and achieved a great result. One more year at university, and quite the healthy body with the aesthetics to show it. But he hates his face. Nothing he has done has ever worked. He considering plastic surgery. Mr. Jacobs supports his son, but wants a more natural way than the scalpel. My way is...magical if not natural. He just needs a little bump to bring out his features.

Corsair moved his head back up to face Mr. Jacobs & unclasped his hands and rest his on his lap.

"He doesn't need much. One measure. $1000," he said in a deadpan manner.

"Deal," Mr. Jacobs said quickly.

Corsair smiled, "Through this door."

He handed Mr. Jacobs a cup.

"Pick one to fill in that cup. The turn knob & valve is located under the giant cylinders. Keep walking forwards after you are done,' he said.

"Just like that," Mr. Jacobs replied.

"Just like that," Corsair replied with a big smile.

He opened the receptionist area to let Mr. Jacobs in, and he went through the door. It closed behind him.

The area was pitch black, but soon a green light, no a series of green lights sprang up. They were next to each other with some distance, but orderly. They were lined up on both sides of the room, forming a hallway.

He walked up to the first pair. They were giant green clear glass canisters. There was a glowing green liquid inside and to his shock; unconscious men with their eyes closed floating inside of them.

They seemed to be sleeping. They had a calm expression about them. Each canister had a distinct person in each. No matter the size, face, ect, they were all good looking & fit. It was a hallway of models.

Pick me. No me. No over here!

The men inside were mentally communicating with Mr. Jacobs.

"Wait you can speak without moving your mouths? Wait, are you being held against your will," he asked out loud.

In unison: NO!

Do not worry for us, for a part of us gets to live on in others. We get to live through others in more lives than what has been recorded in history. Choose.

Telepathy he realized. Fine, he would choose.

"I don't need much, I just want my son to be more confident himself. Realize his potential," Mr. Jacobs said loudly.

Far off in the back a canister glowed very brightly while the others dimmed.

After 10 minutes he approached the canister. For some reason he put his hand on it, and then a flash of the memories of the person on the canister flooded him.

A young soldier, living life. He was always positive no matter the situation. On track to a long distinguished career. About to go home. And then a large explosion occurred. A terrorist attack, killed his most of his platoon, and he layed on the ground suffering about to meet his maker.

Corsair appeared. He healed the soldier's body, but the soul was too detached to keep him going.

He was given an offer:" work through him to help others in need of help. You would live on by merging yourself with others to change their life trajectory in positive ways. You would still be considered dead to the public."

The solider, named Caleb agreed without hesitation, not caring for the life in the canister.

On the bright side, the canister men were given a new purpose & would join their new mental powers thanks to the green liquid that also anchored their souls to their bodies & gave them eternal youth. They created a gesalt mind palace where they could get to know of each other & live new lives in their perfect worlds.

Mr. Jacobs chose him. After he wiped a tear from his eyes, he looked down and found a water jug like hatch, the kind you find in barrel shaped drink dispensers, and pressed the release valve down. Green liquid filled the cup & he was done.

"Thank you for your service," said Mr. Jacobs. He bowed.

The serene body cocked a smile.

Mr. Jacobs wanted to take him home, but he knew he would die outside that canister and promptly left. He kept walking forward, not backwards as instructed, and came across a door.

He walked through it. He came out to the same receptionist area he used to come in. He turned and saw it was the first door he used to get into the hall way of perfect, to him, men.

Space time shenanigans.

He walked past the receptionist desk, turned towards Corsair.

"I take it you will keep the secret," he wondered.

"If this works, my life is yours," the father replied.

"The money has already been deducted, hand me the cup. The final step is near," Corsair said & then took the cup from the father.

He could not see what he was doing, but he heard shaking & swirling noises. They stopped. He pulled out a bag & In the bag was a green pill.

Corsair handed Mr. Jacobs the bag.

"Have him swallow it over night, right before he goes to bed," he said.

"Thank you so much, how do you take payment," Mr. Jacobs pondered.

"Payment is automatically deducted as I said before," Corsair replied.

They both wished them a great day & Mr. Jacobs went home.

His son was home the weekend before spring break, determined to do nothing. Maybe some extra studying.

His father gave him a bag with a green pill in it. Told him to take it before bed. Maybe an anti-anxiety pill? Some supplements?

He pondered. His dad has never given him anything bad. He did as he was told. He went to sleep.

His body began to float. He wanted to wake up and see what was going on, but he couldn't open his eyes, move his limbs, or get out of his dream. Did the pill he took induce sleep paralysis?

He had a mouth, but he could not scream.

He was floating about 3 feet above the bed, and then the bed sheets slid off, exposing him to the air from all sides.

Above him was a specter or ghost. It was Caleb. He was floating even higher than Derek was. Situated above Derek in the same resting position, he started to descend. Derek didn't move, couldn't move. Soon Caleb was occupying the same space as Derek.

Swoosh. A burst of wind flowed out from Derek's body.

Caleb faded away into Derek, and Derek soon glowed green.

In Derek's dream space, he met Caleb. Derek was scared at first, but he was able to be calmed down. He explained the situation. Derek was mad at his dad at first, but understood his good intentions.

"How much of me will change," Derek asked.

"I don't know, but you will still be driving the wheel of whatever it is we turn into," Caleb said.

Derek let out a sigh. It was probably too late to go back. He swallowed the pill after all.

"You will ride passenger seat no matter what," Derek said in confidence. Some of Caleb's mental aspects where seeping in.

Caleb smiled. Both of the men turned into tornadoes that then merged into one twister. It settled into a new person.

The green glow went away.

For Caleb's physical body, it began to change. During the mind meld, Caleb's DNA transfused into every part of Derek's body.

He grew more hair, eyebrows got thinner, his lips a more flush with blood getting pinker. His eyes reshaped themselves, while his ears changed angle a little to move towards the skull.

His chin and cheek bones thickening gave him a much stronger jawline. His skeletal changes generated new sensations, like the feeling of pops and pressures. From this moment forward, Caleb grunted. Not in defiance, but in acceptance of the new changes. You could hear "mmm" come from him.

With a suddenness & popping sound, his neck, shoulder, chest, arms, & legs exploded with new muscle at the same time as if he was hulking out. His fingers changing to meet the new proportions. His legs lengthened.

He let out an sharp "ahh" at the sudden changes. His body from his waist jerking up to make a weak triangle before settling flat.

His abs changed as well. He began to groan. He had a cross between his own and Caleb's. He could feel his abdominal muscles merge into one. The skin then constricted and reshaped them, giving form to each of his stones.

His nether regions were a 1 to 1 copy of Caleb's. Bigger & longer. Harrier too. As the changes came in, he could be heard breathing hard through his nose.

The changes were done. His transformation complete. He slept the rest of the night.

He got up before his father & went to the local gym: he needed space & a different environment from his father's home. No one saw him as a different person to his shock. He went to the locker room to get a full look of his changes:

He was bewildered. He was like a new man. Did he have to change this much? He loved the muscles, the power,....the confidence? He remember that Caleb was inside him now. Caleb was a soldier. A flood of memories hit Derek. Caleb's training & missions as a soldier, his buddies in the air force.

He returned home. His father was also shocked by his son's changes. They talked and found a happy medium. He wanted to know where this clinic was located, but his father forgot. No third chances.

He decided to go travel for this spring break. A visit to Caleb's platoon. The ones who survived. To the graves of the ones who didn't. They all deserved respect.

[the16thtower]

I watched the Substance last night and I think it would be really funny if the whole Substance set-up was a Herbert West scheme.

So here’s my pitch for a 3rd Re-Animator (I’m pretending the actual 3rd one doesn’t exist).

Picture this: Dan and Herbert are in their 60s, working out of a crappy plastic surgery in LA and living in a cramped apartment above it, trying to make a legitimate living. They’ve been on the run for the last few decades, moving every time either the authorities or Doctor Hill catch up to them. While Dan tries to fill his days giving C-list celebrities nose jobs, Herbert is once again yearning for the god-like power he held as a younger man. He maintains a supply of the serum but only for his own usage (the first movie hints he has a bit of a dependency) and for emergency circumstances at the surgery. His experiments have ruined their lives too many times before and they’re getting too old to have to keep moving. The two of them are close and begrudgingly fond of each other, but there’s a lifetime of unspoken feelings between them.

The two of them get mistaken for a couple and this eats at Dan, who resents Herbert for making him impossible to have a normal life. It culminates in a massive argument, where Herbert says that Dan ruined his own life by never choosing to walk away and pursue the things he says he wants. He questions how badly Dan actually wanted the whole white picket fence charade and Dan likens Herbert to a black hole, drawing him back in even when he doesn’t want to. The fight fizzles out, with Herbert upset that Dan feels trapped by him even after all this time and Dan still frustrated but also reckoning with his admission that Herbert was more important to him than his previous female love interests and “normal life”.

Herbert returns to his studies in earnest, this time exploring the effects of the serum on cellular reproduction. He wants a new companion if Dan isn’t happy to fulfill that role anymore and what better than a clone of himself? He manages to get the egg yolk from the beginning of the Substance to replicate and, in true Herbert West fashion, turns the needle on himself to see what would happen. Dan bursts in as the new Herbert is being birthed from his back. While initially smugly triumphant, retrieving his glasses from the older body, the new Herbert collapses almost immediately. Panicking as blood pools from his nose, the younger Herbert apologises profusely for his recklessness as Dan realises he needs to be stabilised with spinal fluid from the host body. Cue the homoerotic needle scene and we then cut to a terse Dan, arms crossed, staring down the younger Herbert as he enthusiastically digs into a bowl of cereal in a fluffy bathrobe. Herbert sardonically refers to Dan as “my hero” and Dan has to contend with the unexpected delight that comes from seeing Herbert as he was when they first met.

Through intensive testing by Dan, the two figure out that the clone is near-identical to the original Herbert and is unstable by itself, leading to them developing the procedure laid out in the Substance. There is more than one comment from the clone about Dan’s “impeccable bedside manner” as Dan obsessively monitors both Herberts’ well-being.

After about a week, we cut to a scene where Dan and the younger Herbert are out at a bar celebrating the successful experiment, where Dan is both excited by Herbert’s boasts that he’s achieved immortality and sad that he’s never going to see the Herbert that he spent years with again. The clone once again collapses and Dan has to rush him home, leading him to hook him up to the unconscious Herbert out of desperation. The older Herbert wakes up and is thrilled to find out that his experiment was a success. One of his hands is left visibly aged from not being switched in time and while Dan is shaken by this, Herbert marvels the change as a valuable warning.

The clone gets dubbed ‘Junior’ and, because Herbert in any iteration can’t be trusted to be normal, the two treat each other like father and son. There’s a lot of terrible dad jokes from Herbert. Dan often refers to Junior as "the boy".

The three fall into a routine after several months, with Herbert and Junior using Dan as an intermediary to pass along letters to each other. Dan becomes more possessive and protective of Herbert, a change that Herbert is surprised but receptive to. (Dan’s saviour complex for once is not at odds with Herbert’s god complex).

There’s a scene where Dan is examining Herbert’s back scar…

Dan: “You’re healing up better than I hoped.”

Herbert: “Well, I had an excellent surgeon.”

Meanwhile, Dan’s relationship with Junior is more tumultuous - he’s very familiar with what Herbert was capable of in his prime and he doesn’t trust Junior not to draw unwanted attention. He ends up implanting a tracking device in Junior while he’s unconscious for emergencies. Junior himself is more probing and direct in asking Dan why he’s decided to stay with Herbert for all these years, discontent in continuing to allow Dan to hide behind excuses like his older counterpart. Cognizant of the fact that Dan doesn’t fully trust him, Junior starts leaving the house for days at a time to attend to personal projects, leaving Dan to stew in his conflicting feelings.

Eventually, Dan decides to go looking for Junior using the tracking device and finds him making out with an older man at a gay bar. They briefly lock eyes before Dan leaves immediately. We see Junior slip a USB similar to the one Elisabeth receives into the man’s pocket as he continues to kiss him. The next day, the two have an awkward discussion.

Dan: “Last night… it’s fine, I just didn’t realise…”

Junior: “Let’s not kid ourselves, Daniel - denial is not attractive on either one of us.”

Dan: “… Is this… both of you or…?”

Junior: “Why don’t you ask him?”

At the next switch, Herbert wakes up to Dan at his bedside, holding his hand, unable to look him in the eye. Herbert asks him what’s wrong and Dan responds by asking whether Junior can truly be the same as Herbert, taking into account nature vs nurture. Herbert replies that while they’re the same entity, Junior has opportunities that he never could have dreamed of and that he’s thrilled that at least one version of him can appreciate that (his answer is vague and can be interpreted as the opportunity for scientific or sexual exploration - it’s definitely both). Dan considers the answer and finally asks Herbert to clone him so that Junior may have a companion.

Herbert gets an erection is thrilled and the two begin preparation. During this time, Herbert and Dan start to receive strange patients looking for plastic surgery to correct unexplainable deformities, who post-surgery are prone to severe infection and necropsy despite their best efforts.

The night of Dan’s activation, Herbert gently bids Dan sweet dreams before switching as Dan injects the activator. Junior watches enraptured, fully nude, as Dan splits open and the younger self slides out. Junior cradles the younger Dan in a blanket reminiscent of the scene from the first Re-Animator movie and picks up the needle to sew up Dan: “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take care of it.”

The younger Dan (who I will be nicknaming Danny) watches with rapt attention as Junior finishes his sutures, slowly draws the fluid from Dan’s back, and grips Danny’s thigh as he stabilises him: “You’re being such a good boy for me - look at you, you’re perfect.”

Danny shudders in relief and ecstasy. He manages to sit up, meeting eyes with Junior, who is drinking him in eagerly, still crouched. He looks to his older self’s face. Junior joins him, sweeping the hair from Dan’s face.

Danny: “Are we really that old?”

Junior: “With all we’ve accomplished… of course we are. It’s a minor miracle in itself.”

The two tend to their older selves before adjourning to their clinic, Junior leading Danny by the hand to begin their inspection of him. It’s slow, methodical, and Junior can barely keep his hands off Danny. (Whether this leads to outright sex, I'm in two minds about since medical and sexual intimacy are pretty much the same thing for Herbert. If it does, Herbert bottoms.)

We cut to later in the night. The two are outside of the house. Danny asks what they’re doing and Junior tells he’s got a secret he needs to show him. They arrive at a rundown warehouse. Inside we find a laboratory, video cameras, a setup for packaging medical equipment - Junior reveals that he’s been conducting his own experiments on how the cloning process functions, eliciting willing participants by repackaging it as a anti-ageing remedy for LA’s wilting celebrities and socialites. Danny finds himself pitying the subjects unable to use the Substance correctly, to which Junior objects.

Junior: “I’ve given them every tool to succeed - I can’t be blamed for their weakness. They may no longer be bound to the judgements of an unimaginative god, but if they succumb to their vanity, their greed… good riddance.”

The two spend an idyllic week together, enjoying LA for the first time since they arrived in the city and working on the research gathered on the Substance. They’re more casually intimate with each other, what was once fondness is now clear adoration. (Junior often uses pet names, Danny is big on touch).

There’s a scene where it’s late at night and they’re in the rain, Danny holding the umbrella as Junior is scraping up samples from a subject who disintegrated. He finds the heart and presents it to Dan, who smiles out of nostalgia.

Junior: “This one barely made it two months before it attempted to re-administer the activator. This really is the city of unfettered self-destruction.”

Danny: “To what end are we doing this? We already understand the limitations of this process.”

Junior: “I need data. I want every day I can get, Dan, and I need to make sure both of us can be there to enjoy it.”

In the background, we can see something is stalking the two of them, following them as they leave.

We cut to a seedy motel room, shutters drawn, lights dim, a chair wedged under the doorknob of the bathroom. A frazzled young woman with dried blood under her nose is trying to fight off a panic attack as she sits on the bed:

“I’ve taken too much of her time already - she’ll never forgive me. She’ll want to retaliate, I just know it. It’s not fair, I’m not the one who fucked up her life.”

Opposite, a man in a trench coat sits unnaturally straight, listening attentively.

“You poor thing. Of course it’s not fair - what an awful situation she’s put you in, so selfish. Getting angry at you for wanting to enjoy yourself…”

She listens distractedly, eyes focused on the bathroom door. Her attention returns to him as he starts making promises: that he can fix her other self, that she doesn’t need to worry, that he’s acquainted with cases like this and his talents as a surgeon can remedy the situation. She eventually leads him to the bathroom where an emaciated, oozing body is lying in the bathtub.

Dr Hill: “What a predicament. Let me speak to my patient.”

We cut to Junior noting later in the week that more subjects than usual are failing to properly switch or pick up their supplies. Danny slips one of Junior’s USBs into the pocket of a trophy wife Karen after watching her blow up in a coffee shop, which Junior takes as finally receiving implicit support from Danny on the venture.

However, before the switch, Danny uses a Sharpie to write instructions on Dan’s palm, warning him about Junior’s enterprise with the Substance. Dan wakes up and sees the note, showing it to Herbert.

Dan: “Your boy is a troublemaker.”

Herbert: “And yours is a tattle-tale.”

The pair are able to piece together what’s happening based off the data from the tracking device and the contents of Junior’s lab. Amongst the data and samples, Dan finds out a photo booth snapshot tacked to a wall, confirming Junior and Danny as lovers. Herbert finds him staring at it.

Dan: “… Do you think we’re still the same?”

Herbert: “I’d like to think so. Are we really that different? … I still have my boyish good looks.”

The pair’s moment is interrupted as they hear banging against the doors of the warehouse. As the doors begin to buckle, Dan and Herbert fall back on old instincts and start gathering as much of the research as they can. A dozen deformed humanoids stumble into the room, each clearly aged victims of the Substance having undergone drastic, futile plastic surgery in an attempt to regain their old appearances. The two flee back to their apartment and are attempting to barricade themselves into the room where the clones are unconscious as Dr Hill enters with his army. Hill reveals that he is still merely a head, held aloft on a borrowed body.

Herbert: "Doesn't it embarrass you, Dr Hill, that you survive off my crumbs? I'd say you're hardly better than a rat but a rat knows to keep to the sewer."

Dr Hill: "Rich coming from you, West - are you enjoying the prestige of being a sleazy Hollywood quack?"

Hill has his goons restrain Herbert and coerces Dan into grafting his head in place of Junior's under the threat of killing Herbert. Dan convinces Hill that Herbert will need to be connected to Junior to allow the body to survive such a drastic procedure, and manages to awaken both at once, allowing Junior to drive a syringe of activator into Hill's eye.

The three of them attempt to fight off the horde but Dan is quickly injured, leading him to desperately switch in Danny. Meanwhile, Dr Hill's skull splits with an almighty scream as the flesh underneath begins to bubble and swell, slowly filling the room with this enormous, pulsing brain covered in an angry chorus of Hill faces. Some of the horde flees, some are trapped underneath Hill's mass. Junior, Herbert, and Danny attempt to flee with the unconscious Dan but the Hill entity uses its hypnosis to force one of the remaining goons to grab Dan and push him into one of Hill's giant mouths. Herbert goes back after him and Danny has to stop Junior from following as Hill continues to grow.

We see from the street as Hill pops, exploding in a tsunami of blood. Later, cops pick apart the crime scene, counting Herbert and Dan among the dead. We then cut to a long pan through Herbert and Dan's ransacked apartment, as everything of value has been taken. We see into Herbert's private study, which has been similarly ransacked. We get the indication that much like Junior, Herbert has been working on his own project in secret, which appears to be a method of generating stabiliser without the original host.

We then cut to the car park out back of the apartment where Junior and Danny are desperately packing the last items into their car. Both are looking a little sickly and are hooked into some glowing IVs but are otherwise determined. It's not a perfect fix but it's better than nothing. Junior gently wipes away a trail of blood leaking from Danny's nose and the two peel away from the car park and onto the open road.

[madamlaydebug]

What is Addiction?

Addiction is when a person continually takes a substance - or engages in a behavior - with a destructive impact on their health and life.

In Ancient Rome, when a person couldn’t repay a debtor they were forced to become their slave, or ‘addictus.’ This is the origin of being “a slave to your addictions.”

Addictions take many forms; some of them may surprise you. Do you struggle with any of these?

Alcohol

Body piercing

Book collecting

Exercising

Food

Gambling

Hoarding

Narcotics

Plastic surgery

Pain

Pornography

Prescription drugs

Rejection

Relationships

Screens (smartphones, computers, tablets, TV’s, etc.)

Social media

Sex

Shopping

Tattoos

Tobacco

Video games

Working

Addicts crave the behavior or substance, even when they know it causes them physical harm, mental harm, and/or harm to their relationships. Addiction can lead to criminal behavior, poverty, homelessness, and death.

Addiction is not defined by how much a person engages in the behavior but by the impact it has on their life. A workaholic may be very successful in the office, but at home their relationships are failing and their anxiety is increasing.

What Causes Addiction?

People become addicts through many different paths, but seeking pleasure (or avoiding pain) is the ultimate driver.

Whether a person is addicted to heroin or video games, their goal is to alter their mental state and reduce subconscious-stress.

Some people believe that taking drugs leads to addiction - but this is only part of the picture. Not everyone who takes narcotics becomes addicted to them. Therefore, there must be another factor involved - the human factor.

Research involving mice found they became easily addicted to cocaine when kept in isolation. But, when the environment was enriched with social activities, interesting food, places to explore, toys to play with and new mice to meet… they stopped taking cocaine! Just like mice, humans get depressed, miserable and bored when trapped in an unfulfilling life.

Unresolved Emotions

Addiction often stems from trauma. Adverse experiences during childhood (e.g. divorce, emotional neglect, poverty) predispose us to addiction later in life. Addiction is a response to painful or traumatic events, not simply a poor choice that people make.

Demonizing addicts is counterproductive; they need to be treated with care and compassion to maximize their chances of recovery. Brain scans on people with a range of addictions reveal the same neural circuits are involved, and they all share feelings of shame and low self-value.

People develop addictions to try and cover up issues and uncomfortable emotions:

To cope with stress and life events.

To escape the pain of past trauma.

To create connections with others.

To achieve a sense of control in life.

To avoid facing feelings of inadequacy.

To hush internal voices of self-loathing.

Overcoming Addiction

There’s no one size-fits-all solution for all addicts, but here are some general tips:

1. Find the Right Help

Addicts using opiates and narcotics need help. Addiction experts can provide the highly specialized support needed for this kind of recovery. Addicts can also be aided with behavioral re-training and dedicated recovery groups.

2. Increase Self-Value

All addicts can benefit from increasing their self-worth. Any activity that improves physical or mental health enhances esteem. Getting a massage, eating vitalizing alkaline foods, and going for walks in nature are acts of self-care that enhance how we feel about ourselves.

“Because the one thing you want to do is to LOVE, and that love should begin with you” - Dr. Sebi.

3. Be Ready to Give Up

The addicted person must be ready and willing to give up their addiction; if they are forced to give it up they are likely to relapse.

What are you ready to give up?

[lizbethborden]

Femininity is a lot of work and it’s actually very difficult to pull off. Even the “clean girl” look, which is the visual opposite of the heavy coverage MUA look that’s been popular for a while, hinges on having seemingly perfect skin and a “naturally” flawless look, meaning there is a ton of investment in skincare, etc behind the scenes—skincare being just another arm of the beauty industry of course. The rules and standards of femininity are also always changing; a particular body type has been extremely popular and achievable through readily available plastic surgery and now that it has achieved total saturation, I believe it’s already starting to become unpopular—women getting their BBLs reversed etc.

I think that because of the amount of work it takes to be feminine, plus the deep emotional investment in femininity, it would be a misnomer to label it as “easy”—for the individual feminine woman, it is not. But on a social and cultural level, on the level of media representation and in terms of what kind of otherwise marginalized woman can achieve visibility, fame, or success, yes, femininity is “easy.” It is quickly intelligible. It is considered desirable. It affords access and results in better treatment.

I am not arguing for “pretty privilege,” nor do I think benevolent sexism (i.e. female servers who wear makeup getting more tips) is a good thing. I don't think "pretty" women institutionally oppress others. But I do think that this society promotes those it wants to see more of; that it will help a "pretty" woman succeed before an "ugly" one, and applaud the "pretty" woman much more. This society cannot even tolerate a woman at neutral--a woman with no makeup on, with her skin texture showing, natural hair, braless, simply existing in a physical state that is unaltered.

For masculine and GNC female people, these are the stakes. For many of us, we do not just exist at neutral, which our culture cannot tolerate anyway; we in fact actively cultivate a specific aesthetic or what some would call a gender expression that is in open defiance of feminine norms. That is why it is not, per se, "representation" for e.g. a masc/GNC lesbian or bisexual woman to see an extremely feminine woman in the public eye identifying as lesbian or bi. It can be even more alienating, in fact, than having her identify as straight. She is the easiest version of us to swallow, and we are nothing like her; not only do we not want to be like her, it would take so much active work to deconstruct the image of ourselves we've already built--something we've loved doing--and reconstruct ourselves in her image that it's like an unscalable edifice ahead.

[titles-for-tangents]

In conjunction with @silvermoon424’s new project to scan and archive Mitsukazu Mihara’s 6-volume manga series Dolls: IC in a Doll, here is a copy of an interview Mihara gave in 2006 with Manga Magazine at Otakon, recorded here by Tokyopop!

What a Doll! An Interview with Mitsukazu Mihara

(On the left-hand side):

Goth Loli goddess Mitzukazu Mihara has garnered an impressive level of fan devotion in Japan, largely due to the intricate and inspired Gothic Lolita fashions worn by her characters.

A master of the manga short story, Mihara-sensei began her career as an illustrator, gaining recognition and acclaim for her distinct illustrations in the Gothic Lolita Bible. Going on to create such noteworthy titles as Happy Family and IC in a Sunflower, Mihara-sensei took storytelling to a new level with Doll, a six-volume anthology series about a world where humankind coexists with an intelligent race of androids called “dolls”.

Gothic Lolita enthusiasts and sci-fi lovers - Mitsukazu Mihara fans are passionate, dedicated and intelligent. And with the release of Mihara-sensei's Beautiful People in February and Haunted House and R.I.P.: Requiem in Phonybrain in the fall, they're about to grow significantly in number. Get on board while you still can.

Manga magazine sat down with Mihara-sensei at the Otakon convention in Baltimore, where she discussed fashion, fandom and some of her surprising influences.

-Tim Beedle

(At the bottom:)

MIHARA-SENSATIONAL: FIVE FLAWLESS FABLES

New to the work of Mitsukazu Mihara? For those looking to sample the best of the best, we offer a few suggestions.

"A Maid Servant" (Doll, Vol. 1) When Tokiko's fiancé leaves her for another woman, Tokiko assumes it's because she's ugly. But when someone starts defacing Tokiko's doll, we soon learn that ugliness has many forms.

"Beautiful People" (Beautiful People) Telling the tale of Mimi, a strong-willed woman who achieves beauty through plastic surgery, Mihara-sensei reveals where the true beauty lies, while serving up some of her most intriguing character design work to boot.

"Grave" (Doll, Vol. 4) Mihara-sensei gave life to the dolls, but in this story, she gives them death. "Grave" takes us to the SG Corporation's press room, where retired or illegally remodelled dolls are scrapped. A fascinating look at mortality, "Grave" is chilling...and life-affirming.

"Haunted House" (Haunted House) A very black comedy. "Haunted House" tells the story of Sabato, a hapless teenager whose attempts at romance are continually ruined by his outrageous family. Boasts detailed gothic art and plenty of dark humor.

"Home" (Doll, Vol. 6) An emotional story that serves as a denouement for the entire Doll series, "Home" is only fully appreciated when read after the stories that preceded it.

(In the center:)

Manga: Welcome to Otakon, Mihara-sensei! Is this your first time in the United States? Mitsukazu Mihara: Not only is it my first time in the United States, it's my first time traveling abroad. I'm having the best time!

Manga: What are you impressions of Otakon? Mitsukazu Mihara: I love it. All of these amazing cosplayers - I could sit and watch them all day long. This is something you just don't see in Japan!

Manga: In Japan, the vast majority of your fans are Gothic Lolita devotees. What attracted you to Gothic Lolita fashion? Mitsukazu Mihara: I just love the spirit of Gothic Lolita culture. When I first started drawing manga, Gothic Lolita was just taking off and I wanted to incorporate the trend. I think we've grown together. Actually, though, my first works were not Gothic Lolita - they were inspired more by punk.

Manga: Let's back up a bit. How did you begin your career as a manga-ka? Mitsukazu Mihara: When I was first starting off, I was very much inspired by the work of Yumi Tada (Yukikaze, Ludlow Garage, Sitting in the Balcony). I actually became her assistant. While working for her, I was scouted and asked to enter my work in an amateur manga competition and was very surprised when I learned that I won! I then went on to submit my work to Shodensha, who accepted it. I've been extremely lucky in my career.

Manga: Other than Yumi Tada, who are some of your influences? Mitsukazu Mihara: Kazuo Umezu (Orochi, Scary Books) and Junko Mizuno (Hansel & Gretel, Pure Trance). I also really love Tim Burton.

Manga: Really? He's an influence? Mitsukazu Mihara: Oh yes! He's my biggest. Edward Scissorhands is my favorite film of his. I find the way he balances dark themes with humor and heart to be inspiring. And I can't wait to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Corpse Bride!

Manga: What about the science fiction aspect in many of your books? Your stories in Doll and Beautiful People remind me of the work of Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. Are you a fan? Mitsukazu Mihara: I'm a very big fan of science fiction. Blade Runner is one of my favorite movies. I'm also a fan of Asimov's robot books. In fact, the dolls in Doll actually follow the Three Laws of Robotics, even though it's never explicitly stated.

Manga: Let's talk about Doll for a moment. Aside from being a great piece of science fiction, there are a lot of social and psychological issues brought up by it. Did you intend for it to make so many statements? Mitsukazu Mihara: Yes, there were many issues I wanted to write about. Domestic violence, for one, remains a problem in Japan, and I felt Doll could be a good place to address it.

(Off to the left:)

Doll is fearless in its subject matter, tackling controversial issues such as spousal abuse, gender inequality, bulimia and sexual objectification.

(Center, continuing from previous page:)

Mitsukazu Mihara: However, it was never intended to be at the sacrifice of the story. Telling a good story comes first.

Manga: Your stories often cross into the fantastic or surreal, but the characters and their emotions always feel real and relatable. How do you pull this off? Mitsukazu Mihara: I take my inspiration from my own life and I only write about what I know. Now, I'll often take familiar things and exaggerate them for effect, but I have to stick to what I'm familiar with. For me to do it any other way would weaken the story.

Manga: How does Gothic Lolita fit into it? Mitsukazu Mihara: In Doll, Gothic Lolita fashion symbolizes eternal beauty. The perfect Ghotic Lolita never ages - she remains young. It's as if she's not human, but a machine - or a doll.

Manga: Do you have a favorite character in Doll? Mitsukazu Mihara: I like Ichiro, the Remodeler. Of all the characters, he's the most I like.

Manga: What has your experience been like working with an American entertainment company, as opposed to a Japanese company? Mitsukazu Mihara: It's actually easier to work with TOKYOPOP than with Japanese companies. Most publishers are not as concerned with quality, but TOKYOPOP pays extra attention to keeping the integrity of my work. I am extremely happy.

Manga: What are you working on now? Mitsukazu Mihara: I have a couple of projects I'm working on: Doku Hime and Shigeshoshi.

Manga: Do you have a message for your fans in America? Mitsukazu Mihara: Thank you for all your support! I'm so pleasantly surprised and grateful that the American fans "get it" despite all of the cultural differences! The fact that Gothic Lolita is so popular here in the States pleases me very much!

(End of interview and article)

[mariacallous]

On Monday 29 August 1994, sandwiched between a repeat of the 70s sitcom Happy Ever After and a showing of the 1988 movie version of Dangerous Liaisons, BBC Two broadcast one of the finest documentaries ever made. And now, thanks to a sudden wave of renewed interest, Three Salons at the Seaside has returned to iPlayer.

Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, who most recently helmed a couple of episodes of the new Willow series on Disney+, Three Salons at the Seaside is a beautiful, delicate 40-minute film about (as you’d expect) three hairdressing salons in Blackpool, all of which appear to cater exclusively to women aged 70 or above. It feels like a dispatch from a lost age. Customers, no matter how loyal, are always addressed formally. Fishmongers pop in from time to time to take orders. All the phone numbers have five digits. Perms, in all three of the salons, appear to be violently non-negotiable.

This does all sound a bit “Who remembers proper binmen”, I know, but the appeal of Three Salons isn’t nostalgia. Instead, Lowthorpe was clever enough to let the women take centre stage – and it’s spending time in their company that makes for the real joy of this documentary. Although there’s an obvious class difference between the three establishments – one has its opening hours written on notepaper and taped to the door – the clientele have all very clearly clawed through mounds of life.

At the start of the film, conversation flits between casual gossip (a Coronation Street star who had plastic surgery and now looks “like a goldfish”) and how big a sofa needs to be when you only ever sit on the edge of the cushion, but after a while it all begins to coalesce around death. There are dead parents and dead relatives and, in one slightly tragicomic scene, a dead woman called Betty who has to be elaborately described because there were so many old women called Betty knocking around in Blackpool in the mid-90s.

But, overwhelmingly, it is a film about widows. Lowthorpe’s subjects all talk openly – in a bracingly no-nonsense, let’s-get-on-with-things way – about having lost their husbands, and their struggle to carve out a new identity in the world now that they find themselves alone. And, in need of something to gravitate towards, they have all been drawn to their hairdresser. These places have become integral hubs for their customers, all of whom have found community in routine.

This isn’t to say that Three Salons is a bummer, of course. Not only are the women all so fiercely indomitable that only a fool would try to mess with them, but the viewing experience is happily gauzy. Scenes pass by unruffled, interspersed with long, dreamy montages of white hair being combed, with a burbling synth soundtrack that could very easily have come from a Warp compilation. It’s Slow TV before Slow TV was a thing – made before the docusoap juggernaut swept in and tried to make all its participants famous. It is absolutely gorgeous, like a remake of Agnès Varda’s Daguerréotypes scripted by Victoria Wood.

The increased interest in Three Salons at the Seaside comes largely from the peerless (and too little watched! And too hard to find in the UK!) comedy Documentary Now! from US cable channel IFC, which has for years found rich pickings in beautifully recreated versions of old documentaries. In April, Seth Meyers wrote Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport, in which Harriet Walter and Cate Blanchett play two hairdressers who not only prise stories of increasingly absurd spousal death from their customers, but also put together the 1994 Blackpool hair salon equivalent of Vogue’s September issue.

Like all Documentary Now! episodes, Bagglyport is exquisitely done – at one point Blanchett matter-of-factly passes around a “ransom bucket” because “Mary’s been kidnapped again” – but its greatest achievement might have been reviving the source material. Three Salons at the Seaside is in turns sweetly funny and endlessly touching, but, in the years since its first broadcast, it has taken on a new patina. It has become a reminder of just how fast things move. The relationships of these women all ended. The shops are no longer there. We’re watching a way of life that has been utterly lost. And, before we know it, we are all likely to become variations of these women, broken and adrift, but battling through. What an incredible tribute this film turned out to be. I really cannot recommend it enough.

[elena-oc-blog]

You guys are in for a lore dump treat copy pasted from my personal discord server. I was just suddenly possessed by the muse when trying to sleep some more this morning

I'll put it under read more so you don't have a giant block of text on your dash, you are welcome

A bit about the different kinds of magic in my world:

Inborn magic: magic one is born with. This magic involves no spell casting and is instead manipulating ones own magical energy to achieve things. Still requires skill and discipline and practice to get better at it but it's a natural base ability some people are born with. It's pretty rare among humanoids and animal folk but most mythic born have at the very least minor shifting magic to better blend in. Inborn magic is typically just one type (fire for example) but in some rare cases there's multiple though more than 2 types are almost unheard of and will also cause instability in the body which can lead to corruption and explosive mishaps.

Learned magic: this is magic gained through study that requires spellcasting, gestures, rituals, glyphs and whatnot. This magic is extremely varied and can be workshopped into new types! It's basically taking the fabric of reality and the magic energy that floats around in the world and interweaving/recoding them into something you want it to do. This takes skill and patience however, and if you do it wrong results can vary from "nothing happened" for small spells and "giant fucking magic explosion/death" for complex spells. Some people are more attuned to learned magic and can see/feel the flow of energy around them. The amount of magic energy in any given area can also vary depending on nearby sources of for example spirits, demons, holy sites or even deities. This magic also consumed some of your energy to use as fuel, this can be replenished with rest and food. Learned magic can also be imbued into items which is..

Imbued magic: potions, charms, glamour. This magic can either be permanent or temporary, though permanently imbueing magic into living beings has to be done very carefully and takes a huge amount of skill and energy. This typically is only done with cosmetic magics such as permanently changing hair/fur colour, magic tattoos, giving a human claws etc. Magic plastic surgery basically.

Potions/magic drugs only give the consumer temporary magic changes, the duration and strength varying on the skill level of the potion maker and the potency of the ingredients

Magically imbued accessories and charms will only work as long as the user is wearing them or are placed in the environment correctly/remain undamaged

There's also magic artifacts which are objects permanently imbued with magic so that they have magic properties. Making one of these again take a lot of skill, patience, focus and energy so these are rare. Bags of holding are a popular example of this and a beloved luxury item.

Lastly there is patron magic:

Magic that was given to a mortal by a divine being. This can be done by spirits, demons, hellborn and gods. the more powerful/higher ranked the divine being is, the more powerful the magic has the capacity to be. There are two types of patron magic:

Blessing/Curse (permanent with no further energy input necessary from the divine) and Contract (There are conditions and contact that must be upheld with the divine being or the magic will be taken away. This requires a constant flow of energy going into the mortal from the divine being)

There's also ascension or damnation where a divine being turns you from being mortal into a demigod, spirit, monster or demon but this is very rare and almost unheard of outside of folk tales.

Hope you guys enjoy this lore dump!

[creepymarshmallow3]

April 7, 2023.

"Beauty Deceived" incident

Minor - this poor fellow is based on eisoptrophobia (fear of mirror reflection). In the past, he was a popular model guy on social media. He was a very handsome and attractive guy of 27 years old, his name is unknown. He achieved fame through plastic surgery, while he forgot that his family helped him in this, which, after receiving fame, he treated as a family of freaks, forgetting that he was the same in the past.

Popularity captured the guy. He became selfish, greedy, and narcissistic. He always liked to look in the mirror, saying to himself "how beautiful I am) ~ I'm the best)". His fortune in terms of money allowed him to calmly correct the injuries and mistakes on his face, making him flawless again.

One day, he noticed one such mistake on his cheek - a large cut after a little trouble, he hurried to the plastic surgery hospital. Once there, he was met by a doctor, he was wearing a gauze mask and glasses. He seemed to know that the guy came to him and said to follow him, the guy obeyed, endlessly saying to the doctor along the way that he should try VERY well with his face, to which the doctor only listened in silence.

Arriving in the operating room, the guy took a photo covering the scar from the angle, and posted it, writing:

"Ready to see the new me?) Wait darlings~"

The doctor chuckled when he noticed the message and asked the guy to hand over the phone, according to the rules of the hospital. The guy did everything.

The operation went on for quite a long time, but the guy was sleeping under anesthesia and did not understand this.

When he woke up, he noticed that his head was in bandages. The guy was not embarrassed by this because of drowsiness, after anesthesia his head was spinning. The doctor solemnly said that everything is ready, but it takes a couple of weeks to recover. The guy lamented why it took so long, but the answer was "wait".

After a couple of weeks, the doctor announced that the deadline had passed and it was time to remove the bandages, the guy was delighted but also indignant that it was unbearably long, plus he felt strange. All those days, the doctor gave the guy medications, ostensibly to recover from the operation. The doctor reassured him, saying that his preparations had special compositions, since the guy needed rest. Finally, the bandages were removed from the guy's head. The guy scratched his nose, but he was embarrassed that he felt strange, and looking at his hands he shouted:

- What is this?! What's wrong with my body?!?!

The boy's body was dark in color and became thin. In the past, beautiful hands have become bony with claws. The doctor hurried joyfully behind the mirror, and the guy sobbed and trembled, not understanding what had become of him. Bringing the mirror, the doctor affectionately said with a smirk:

- Look at you, handsome)

The guy screamed. It was a white face, and there was no hair on the head, one eye was with a wide pupil and the other was black. The doctor took off his mask and goggles. It was a trollge smiling in front of a frightened out of his wits guy. He tricked the guy into making a trollge out of him for fun. Trollge said that now the guy is as beautiful as he is. The guy wasn't his first victim. The guy was crying and hysterical from hopelessness, and the trollge took a photo on his phone, posting it on the guy's account. The poor fellow at that time was scratching his new face with his claws, sobbing and trembling. Trollge stopped him, and said that the scars suit him, but there is something more interesting.

Then he told him to look in the mirror again. The blood-stained guy looked in the mirror at his new face, and suddenly, blinking, he found himself in a strange place. It was greenish-pale, fog all around. The guy looked back, noticing the window on the other side of which was the troll, who, before putting down the mirror, said:

- You said it yourself, "Try hard on my face," and you know. From your doll face, it was the hardest thing to change you, but now you are perfect)~

After that, he put the mirror glass down, leaving the guy alone, in silence, without the opportunity to call for help ...

Minor is not dangerous, but on the contrary, he is shy and withdrawn. He cannot leave the mirror, just as the living cannot get to him, except for inanimate objects that can move back and forth in the mirror. He can navigate through different mirrors. His face is scarred and he often cries. His ability is reflection control. He can change your reflection, making him either insanely beautiful or insanely scary, depending on how you ask him. He regrets who he was and wants to go home.

He can show trolls as a canonically creepy side, or even human version.

If you try to console him by saying that he is not bad or beautiful, he will fall into hysterics and simply hide from you from the mirror, the topic of beauty is painful for him.

[hairtransplantcostuk]

Understanding Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that involves moving hair follicles from one area of the body, often referred to as the "donor site," to a bald or thinning area known as the "recipient site." This surgical technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness, but it can also be beneficial for women experiencing hair loss. Find the hair transplant near me

There are two main types of hair transplant surgeries: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). FUT involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor site and dissecting it into individual grafts for transplantation. On the other hand, FUE involves extracting individual hair follicles directly from the donor site using a micro-punch tool. Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, so it's essential to discuss your specific needs with a qualified specialist.

The Importance of Finding the Right Hair Transplant Specialist

Finding the right hair transplant specialist is crucial for a successful and satisfying outcome. Hair transplantation is a delicate and intricate procedure that requires both technical expertise and an artistic eye. A skilled specialist will have the knowledge and experience to create a natural-looking hairline and ensure the transplanted hair blends seamlessly with your existing hair.

Moreover, a reputable specialist will prioritize your safety and well-being throughout the process. They will conduct a thorough evaluation of your hair loss condition, discuss the available treatment options, and guide you towards the most suitable approach for your unique situation. Additionally, a reliable specialist will provide realistic expectations and inform you about any potential risks or complications associated with the procedure.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hair Transplant Specialist

When it comes to choosing a hair transplant specialist, there are several crucial factors to consider. Here are some key points to keep in mind during your search:

Experience and Qualifications

One of the most important factors to consider is the specialist's experience and qualifications. Look for a specialist who has extensive experience in performing hair transplant surgeries and a proven track record of successful results. Check their credentials, certifications, and memberships in professional organizations related to hair restoration.

Additionally, inquire about their education and training in hair transplantation techniques. A specialist who regularly attends conferences, workshops, and training programs demonstrates their commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.

Specialization in Hair Transplantation

It's essential to choose a specialist who specializes in hair transplantation rather than a general plastic surgeon. Hair transplant surgery requires a specific set of skills and expertise that can only be honed through years of dedicated practice. A specialist who focuses solely on hair restoration is more likely to have a deep understanding of the nuances involved in creating natural-looking results.

Before and After Photos

Before making a decision, ask the specialist to provide before and after photos of their previous patients. Evaluate the quality and naturalness of the results. Look for patients with similar hair loss patterns and hair types to yours to get a better idea of what you can expect. This will give you a glimpse into the specialist's skill and ability to achieve the desired outcome.

Communication and Personal Connection

Effective communication and a personal connection are vital in the patient-specialist relationship. During your initial consultation, pay attention to how the specialist listens to your concerns, answers your questions, and explains the procedure. A good specialist will take the time to understand your goals, discuss realistic expectations, and create a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Facility and Technology

Visit the specialist's facility or clinic to assess its cleanliness, organization, and overall ambiance. A well-equipped and modern facility is indicative of the specialist's commitment to providing high-quality care. Inquire about the technology and instruments used during the procedure to ensure they are up-to-date and in line with industry standards.

Patient Reviews and Testimonials

Reading online reviews and testimonials from previous patients can provide valuable insights into the specialist's reputation and patient satisfaction. Look for consistent positive feedback regarding the specialist's professionalism, expertise, and overall experience. Be cautious of any red flags or recurring negative reviews, as they could indicate potential issues.

Researching Hair Transplant Specialists in Your Area

Now that you have a clear understanding of what to look for in a hair transplant specialist, it's time to start researching professionals in your area. Here are some effective ways to find potential specialists:

Online Directories

Online directories dedicated to hair transplant specialists can be a valuable resource in your search. These directories provide a list of qualified specialists in your area, along with their contact information, credentials, and reviews from previous patients. Take note of the specialists who align with your criteria and compile a list for further evaluation.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations, such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), have directories of members who specialize in hair restoration. These organizations have strict membership criteria, ensuring that the listed specialists meet the highest standards of competence and professionalism. Consider exploring these directories to find reputable specialists in your area.

Internet Research

Conducting a simple internet search can also yield results. Look for specialists' websites or online profiles that provide detailed information about their practice, services, and patient testimonials. Take the time to explore their online presence to gather more insights about their expertise and reputation.

Reading Online Reviews and Testimonials

Once you have identified potential hair transplant specialists, reading online reviews and testimonials can help you narrow down your options further. Here's how to make the most of these resources:

Authenticity of Reviews

When reading online reviews, it's crucial to consider their authenticity. Be wary of reviews that seem overly promotional or excessively negative, as they may not accurately reflect the specialist's capabilities. Look for reviews that provide specific details about the patient's experience and results.

Diverse Range of Reviews

Consider reviews from a diverse range of sources, including reputable review websites, social media platforms, and forums dedicated to hair restoration. This will give you a more comprehensive understanding of the specialist's reputation and patient satisfaction.

Patient Testimonials

In addition to reviews, patient testimonials shared by the specialist on their website or during the consultation can provide valuable insights. These testimonials often include before and after photos, allowing you to assess the quality of the results and the overall patient experience.

Remember, while online reviews and testimonials are helpful, they should not be the sole determining factor in your decision-making process. Combine this information with other factors, such as experience, qualifications, and personal connection, to make an informed choice.

Asking for Recommendations from Friends and Family

Personal recommendations from friends, family, or acquaintances who have undergone hair transplant surgery can be invaluable. These individuals can provide honest feedback about their experiences and help you find reputable specialists. Ask them about their overall satisfaction with the results, the specialist's approach, and the level of care they received throughout the process.

However, it's essential to keep in mind that everyone's hair loss condition and desired outcomes are different. What worked for someone else may not necessarily be the best approach for you. Use recommendations as a starting point for your research and evaluate the recommended specialists based on your specific needs and preferences.

[theressomethinghappeninginparis]

Okay so, a lot happened, I need to type faster and fill in my notepad quicker but I only have two hands. Short recap: weird Christian plant guy, I did some 6th grade chemistry on metals, and Luddick is an idiot. And I hope he'll never find this blog. Let me start with this: I am in Prague and found myself a room. I'm sorry not to be able to update as frequently, but there's so much stuff happening who can keep up with that...?

Transcript of the first and second page:

He's an ecert of Mueller's website. His newsletter is the funniest thing ever: "spread the work of the lord with science" and "how not to stay doomed" and "hello I made this website in the 1990s".

About the content, my notes are as follows:

He talks about his work being the one for the Lord and his "Master", which is, when you read further, a person we already know.

Talking about Eve and how she doomed the planet, he looks down on "mortals" and thus thinks he is immortal and claims these people dug their own graves.

He's fond of throwing people onto a stake it it gets him to his Christian world any closer. Apparently he's lost it.

There we are, the Golden Lion! That's Eckhardt, who has been around " a long, long time". He works with him to achieve at least immortality to break Eve's "spell".

Uhm yeah apparently cliamte crisis is his own work since he is just so, so good. He's batshit narcissist and I'm glad not to have met him.

Mueller is in Eckhardt work- and also fanclub and if everyone in there is just slightly like him, Lord have mercy on me. And Lara Croft. And perhaps Kurtis Trent if he's alive and after them, too.

Transcript of the third and fourth page:

The main thing here is that I re-read my notes again, on Eckhardt's Sanglyph, the metals he is harvesting, and the ones he had hidden in the paintings. Something was weird about the metals and I wasn't sure why. Then I read about cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and gallium- the names of the metals today. They are close in the periodic table, and since the alchemist needs a lot of them in a purified form, they are hard to get by for a normal person. What I conclude is the following: he wants to use cheap copper to do alchemist chemistry and turn them into other elements, something we normal people can only do with bombing atomic cores. If he manages to do that his way to using the Sanglyph and becoming the Golden Lion is way easier.

Transcript of the fifth and sixth page:

So, my internet friend "PassionforResearchion" calls herself a scientist and has a passion for biology, plastic and medical surgery. She also loves genetic mutations, especially working with animals that can regenerate- I'll spare you the photos of her work. She seems to work well with Muller, though- she uploaded a picture of someone looking a bit like da Vinci's man, but in her notes she claimed this was "the Master". Who, if she means the same one as Muller, has to be Eckhardt. The figure looks like it has enhancements on its body and a chest plate with a glove(?) and something within its heart. Did she do this to him?

I'll annoy Luddick to talk to me again, and can maybe use my contacts. Or my fake ones. I need the dossiers if they're worth anything ang get a visiting pass to the Strahov, I think they're doing more than just research on Nephilim and plants.

Transcript of the seventh and eighth page:

I found Vasiley's art gallery, I found it through the mails of Carvier and von Croy. When asked about Vasiley, they wonderef how I couldn't have possibly heard of his death. After some talk they handed me a newspaper with an article that I took a photo of:

he died in his private rooms (house?)

the Russian mafia is supposed to be involved (not the Czech)

they were after the paintings

someone at the newspaper suggested the Montrum from Paris came here to murder him (he had ties to Werner and Cervier)

the Police keeps quiet.

I need to find his adress and check his place out.

Transcript of the ninth page:

Ha, you will never guess whom I saw outside my hotel window! Just now! This guy. Fucking Luddick himself with an old red car and papers on the roof. He left for a smoke, I assume...yeah I totally didn't steal them. I did not. But I took snaps of the dossier of whatever I found important and left for my hotel room. The luck is with the idiots, and I am one of them.

I'm examining the dossiers right now. I have five photos on people and want to gather information on them as much as I can. Stay tuned, for I will try to get into Vasiley's place if I'm able to. Another crime scene to check out, can't wait to have my background check at some point!

[faith--in-the-future]

I've been saying for a bit that it's not... Louis' team, it's more than likely HIM. And hey, that's his choice so we should accept it bc if it was his team, I think he would have dumped them a while ago especially when he brought BMG on board. Matt Vines and Simon Jones would have been loooong gone. I want to know that he's happy with what he's achieved and accomplished so far bc it's great. But in order to get out this pop image and be accepted into an indie community, he has to put himself out there a little more and get out of his comfort zone. But again, he's in charge and we can only support him endlessly.

I've talked about this before but like objectively I do think that if he wanted to fire his team he could have and he would have done it by now so it means that he's choosing to keep them;

but it has to be said imo that not all choices are the same or that just bc you're technically choosing something it doesn't mean that it was a completely free or independent choice, to make a hyperbole think for example at women who choose to stay with their abusive bfs, technically it's their choice but in real life we know that that choice is heavily influenced by their trauma and they're definitely not free, to make a less dramatic example we can also think of how kids who grow up with parents who smoke are much more likely to start smoking too, and thats technically their choice but is it really? what about women who get plastic surgery to look like Bella Hadid? is that truly a free choice? what about teens from poor family who choose to pursue careers in stable fields that can give them a secure paycheck even if what they really wanted to do was paint ?

why are all these people deliberately choosing something that us from the outside can see will be bad for them?

the truth is that all of our choices are intrinsically linked to our experiences, to our environment, to what life and the world have taught us, bc all of those factors are what guides the way we see the world and the options laid out for us, can u really make a free choice if you can only see the options through the lenses of your own subjective experiences? if you cant even see all the options? if you've been taught that some are just too scary or that you're just not enough for some of them?

I conclusion I'm just saying we always need to consider this when we see people who are making choices we don't understand and also always exercise compassion

[doverfamilydentistry]

Transform Your Smile and Boost Your Confidence with Cosmetic Dentistry in Mountain Home, AR

Are you ready to unlock the secret to a radiant smile that can leave a lasting impression? Look no further than cosmetic dentistry in Mountain Home, AR! Your smile is not just a reflection of your oral health; it's also an essential component of your confidence and self-esteem. So why settle for anything less than perfection when modern dentistry offers an array of transformative techniques? Whether you're dreaming of pearly whites or longing for straighter teeth, this blog post will guide you through the incredible world of cosmetic dentistry and show you how it can revolutionize both your smile and your life. Get ready to unleash your true potential as we explore the power of cosmetic dentistry in enhancing not only your dental aesthetics but also boosting that much-needed boost in self-assurance.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on improving the appearance and function of teeth. This includes everything from correcting minor tooth alignment issues to providing more attractive smiles for those who suffer from self-consciousness about their smile.

There are many different options available when it comes to cosmetic dentistry in Mountain Home, AR. Patients can choose from procedures such as Invisalign®, veneers, crowns and bridges, bleaching treatments, and more. Many of these treatments can improve the appearance of teeth significantly while also improving their function.

Cosmetic dentistry is an incredibly beneficial option for those who are unhappy with their Smile. It can help boost confidence and lead to a more positive outlook on life. If you're interested in exploring cosmetic dentistry options in Mountain Home, please don't hesitate to contact our office today.

Source: Cosmetic Dental Associates

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is a wide-ranging field that can help you improve your smile and confidence. There are a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments that can help improve your appearance, including:

Inlay dental work: This involves using a small, thin piece of metal or plastic to fill in teeth that are missing or have been damaged. It’s a popular option for people who want to restore the look of their smile without having to go through surgery.

Dental implants: These are artificial teeth that are fixed directly into the jawbone. They offer the same benefits as traditional dental bridges – they allow you to eat and drink without feeling pain, they provide stability and support for your teeth, and they last for many years.

Tooth whitening: This procedure uses bleaching agents to lighten up teeth by removing the underlying layer of tooth enamel. Whitening treatments can be done on-site in our office using local anesthetics or by taking advantage of our advanced laser technology.

If you’re interested in improving your smile and boosting your confidence, Cosmetic Dentistry at our Mountain Home office is an excellent option for you!

Pros and Cons of Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry in Mountain Home, AR can provide you with many benefits. Some of the pros of cosmetic dentistry include:

-You can improved your smile and confidence -It is affordable -There are many different procedures available -Many patients have positive experience However, there are some cons to cosmetic dentistry too:

-Some patients may not like the results

What Services does a Dentist Offer?

Cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve a brighter, more confident smile. A dentist can perform dental procedures such as teeth whitening, fillings, and crowns. They may also recommend treatments such as Invisalign or bonding to improve your smile's appearance.

How Much Does it Cost?

Mountain Home is a great place to get cosmetic dentistry. There are many dentists in the area who can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. The cost of cosmetic dentistry varies depending on the dentist and the procedures that are performed. However, most treatments typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. If you're interested in getting cosmetic dentistry in Mountain Home, be sure to speak with a few dentists before making a decision.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Right for Me?

Cosmetic Dentistry is a great way to improve your smile and boost your confidence. With the help of a cosmetic dentist, you can transform your teeth into something that looks good and feels comfortable. Not only will you have a nicer smile, but you'll also feel better about yourself.

Some of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry include:

-A nicer smile that will make you look more confident -A restored sense of self-esteem -A more comfortable mouth area -Fewer dental problems in the future

If you are interested in cosmetic dentistry, there are a few things you should do first. First, take some photographs of your current teeth so that your cosmetic dentist can see what needs to be done. Next, find an experienced cosmetic dentist who can properly assess your needs and provide a detailed treatment plan. Make sure to follow through with the treatment plan as it will require regular visits by your cosmetic dentist.

Cosmetic dentistry provides a wide range of services that can help improve the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence. From teeth whitening to tooth restoration, cosmetic dentistry can give you the smile you've always wanted and make you feel more confident about yourself. If you are interested in restoring or improving the look of your teeth without having to go through extensive dental procedures, cosmetic dentistry is an option worth considering. Give our office a call today to schedule a consultation so we can help you achieve the smile and confidence you deserve.

[isabellasdigitalcommunities]

BODY MODIFICATION AND PORN CHIC

Body modification has become a popular trend on social media platforms, its not only individuals sharing their tattoos and piercing to share self-identity but its also plastic surgery and procedures that alter ones body shape. Microcelebrities and influencers that are not disclosing body modification on their social media pages are setting up women to think they have to achieve these unattainable beauty standards. 

Tiktoker and OnlyFans creator Mikaela Testa is a common example of influencers being transparent about their cosmetic procedures. She has admitted to fillers and botox in her face and how she dissolved them once she felt more comfortable with herself. However, she has frequently backtracked on body modification surgeries like the Brazilian butt lift which has angered her followers and made them lose trust in her simply because she won't be transparent (Prajwal 2022). This has led lots of young women to self-esteem issues, thinking that they naturally have to have the curves of Mikaela Testa when it's just not naturally possible.

Drenten et al. (2018) discusses how Instagram has become a significant space for influencers to engage in sexualised self-presentation in order to gain fame and monetise their online presence. They argue that this phenomenon is influenced by the pornographic aesthetic prevalent in contemporary culture, often referred to as "porn chic". By objectifying one's sexualised self, through poses and highlighting certain body parts such as the lips or breasts, this helps gain the attention of users which leads to a higher following or more clicks, and thus profitable commercial success. Social media users, particularly on Instagram are unknowingly engaging in unpaid labour and engaging in personal marketing to help influencers develop their brand and compete visibility which is synonymous with obtaining status and influence (Marwick 2013).

Dorfman et al.'s study into plastic surgery-related hashtags on Instagram found that a more than 1million posts used 21 different hashtags related to plastic surgery. This shows that not only are there influencer and microcelebrities out there not disclosing their cosmetic procedures, there are plenty more other people that are showing off what they have had done, normalising modifying one's body for vanity.

References-

Duffy  BE and Meisner, C 2022. “Platform governance at the margins: Social media creators’ experiences with algorithmic (in)visibility,” Media, Culture & Society, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 285-304

Marwick, A.E 2013, Status Update: celebrity, publicity, and branding in the social media age, Yale University Press, New Haven

Prajwal, P 2022, OnlyFans Star Mikaela Testa goes back and forth on plastic surgery claims, HollywoodMask, viewed 10 April 2023, <https://hollywoodmask.com/p/mikaela-testa-plastic-surgery.html>

[madamlaydebug]

What is Addiction?

Addiction is when a person continually takes a substance - or engages in a behavior - with a destructive impact on their health and life.

In Ancient Rome, when a person couldn’t repay a debtor they were forced to become their slave, or ‘addictus.’ This is the origin of being “a slave to your addictions.”

Addictions take many forms; some of them may surprise you. Do you struggle with any of these?

Alcohol

Body piercing

Book collecting

Exercising

Food

Gambling

Hoarding

Narcotics

Plastic surgery

Pain

Pornography

Prescription drugs

Rejection

Relationships

Screens (smartphones, computers, tablets, TV’s, etc.)

Social media

Sex

Shopping

Tattoos

Tobacco

Video games

Working

Addicts crave the behavior or substance, even when they know it causes them physical harm, mental harm, and/or harm to their relationships. Addiction can lead to criminal behavior, poverty, homelessness, and death.

Addiction is not defined by how much a person engages in the behavior but by the impact it has on their life. A workaholic may be very successful in the office, but at home their relationships are failing and their anxiety is increasing.

What Causes Addiction?

People become addicts through many different paths, but seeking pleasure (or avoiding pain) is the ultimate driver.

Whether a person is addicted to heroin or video games, their goal is to alter their mental state and reduce subconscious-stress.

Some people believe that taking drugs leads to addiction - but this is only part of the picture. Not everyone who takes narcotics becomes addicted to them. Therefore, there must be another factor involved - the human factor.

Research involving mice found they became easily addicted to cocaine when kept in isolation. But, when the environment was enriched with social activities, interesting food, places to explore, toys to play with and new mice to meet… they stopped taking cocaine! Just like mice, humans get depressed, miserable and bored when trapped in an unfulfilling life.

Unresolved Emotions

Addiction often stems from trauma. Adverse experiences during childhood (e.g. divorce, emotional neglect, poverty) predispose us to addiction later in life. Addiction is a response to painful or traumatic events, not simply a poor choice that people make.

Demonizing addicts is counterproductive; they need to be treated with care and compassion to maximize their chances of recovery. Brain scans on people with a range of addictions reveal the same neural circuits are involved, and they all share feelings of shame and low self-value.

People develop addictions to try and cover up issues and uncomfortable emotions:

To cope with stress and life events.

To escape the pain of past trauma.

To create connections with others.

To achieve a sense of control in life.

To avoid facing feelings of inadequacy.

To hush internal voices of self-loathing.

Overcoming Addiction

There’s no one size-fits-all solution for all addicts, but here are some general tips:

1. Find the Right Help

Addicts using opiates and narcotics need help. Addiction experts can provide the highly specialized support needed for this kind of recovery. Addicts can also be aided with behavioral re-training and dedicated recovery groups.

2. Increase Self-Value

All addicts can benefit from increasing their self-worth. Any activity that improves physical or mental health enhances esteem. Getting a massage, eating vitalizing alkaline foods, and going for walks in nature are acts of self-care that enhance how we feel about ourselves.

“Because the one thing you want to do is to LOVE, and that love should begin with you” - Dr. Sebi.

3. Be Ready to Give Up

The addicted person must be ready and willing to give up their addiction; if they are forced to give it up they are likely to relapse.

What are you ready to give up?