#plus following the style that they believe to be the standard

[dragoncookies]

The Unlocked Healing Center Scene

There are many, MANY scenes in which you could pick apart the ever-loving shit out of Fitz's dialogue and his actions, or just look at how his character is treated from the POV the scene is being told from and compare that to what objectively might be happening.

But one of my favorite's has got to be the Unlocked healing center scene from Keefe's POV, because GOLLY was Fitz just bagged on in that scene, in an almost undetectable way.

(This also isn't meant to be hate on Keefe btw. He's a fine character, not my absolute favorite, but there's no reason to hate on him. It just so happens that Keefe's POV of Fitz is especially patronizing in this scene).

First of all, Shannon starts the scene with presenting us with how lonely and sad he was, just straight up:

”sadness

Nervousness

Regret

Loneliness

Plus a hefty dash of anger.

Coming straight from Fitz” (-Unlocked, idk what page lmao).

I mean, the man was grieving. He just broke up with his maybe girlfriend AND lost the only chance he had to finding his terrorist older brother (who might or might not want to end him and who has caused him and his family immense stress/trauma for the past 4 books if not their entire lives to a degree) in one fell swoop (because of the maybe girlfriend he trusted a lot, not to mention Fitz values trust almost more than he does love so you could basically say the girl he loved).

Me personally? I would just cease to exist after that, but here we have sad, nervous, regretful, lonely and angry Fitz in the healing center waiting for his maybe-bro to wake up. 

Once Keefe DID wake up, Fitz was nothing if not worried for Keefe and trying to comfort Keefe. Fitz was obviously GENUINELY worried for Keefe. Look at this:

”Fitz tore a hand through his boringly perfect hair. ‘I get why your mad. But I’m only trying to help. I know what you’re going through-‘

’Right-you totally know what it’s like to have you mom do deadly experiments on you,’ Keefe muttered. ‘I must’ve forgotten that part of the Vacker history.”

’Maybe not,’ Fitz conceded, ‘but I know what it’s like to have a traitor in the family. And I also remember how scary it is to wake up in one of these cots after being brutally attacked-just like I know how hard it is to talk about what’s wrong, because it feels like you’re admitting the Neverseen beat you. But they only win if you keep pretending everything’s normal, because you end up making the damage permanent.’

’I’m not damaged-‘

‘You’re right. That’s the wrong word.’ Fitz blew out a breath. ‘Look, all I’m trying to say is that I wouldn’t be walking right now if I hadn’t let Elwin help me. I probably wouldn’t even be alive. So I want to make sure you get the help you need-and you do need it, Keefe. No matter what you believe. But accepting help doesn’t make you weak. It just means you’re taking care of yourself.’”

Such an underrated Fitz moment, imo.

First and foremost, lets just take a second to point out the "boringly perfect" hair comment. I don't know why this stuck out to me, but it shows how differently these two characters think. While Fitz has his hair styled "perfectly" because its been his lifestyle to maintain a perfect façade, here we can see that Keefe STILL doesn't understand just what goes beyond this perfect façade of Fitz's. Keefe values freedom, loves rebellion, and his hairstyle reflects that. Keefe makes it messy, but a masterpiece. To Keefe, Fitz's hair is just generic and standard. Perfect, well presenting, but it follows the standard of whatever is considered "perfect" to elves, so we can see that it is repulsive to Keefe's nature.

This is much the same as how much Keefe sees the scale of what Alvar's disappearance has done to the Vacker Family. Keefe continues to reject the idea that the Vackers aren't as perfect as he once believed. As soon as Fitz even mentioned the idea of empathy for Keefe, the idea of relating to him, Keefe immediately rejects it, and rejects the idea that Fitz could have gone through any mental/emotional turbulence as a result of the horrendous situations Alvar has put him and his family through. I mean, for crying out loud, Fitz had literally tried to kill his brother in an emotional mess of conflicting feelings and guilt just two books ago, and unheard of crime for the elves. Fitz had to spend weeks and WEEKS in the healing center. Keefe was there when Alvar, on his deathbed, described how the "Vacker Legacy" was what drove him to a life of crime.

Yes, Keefe was having a rough time to put it lightly, but taking it out on others isn't justified (if you want to be mad at Fitz for taking his anger out on others, now you have to be mad at Keefe for taking his emotional distress out on his friend). We can certainly understand it, but we can't justify it, and because the POV is from a likable character, we're more willing to trust what the character says. Since Keefe presents Fitz's actions in a way that makes them seem appalling and jerk-y, and if Keefe presents this idea in his POV that Fitz is always Mr. Perfect and never has trouble in his family, then the readers are more likely to believe that. Objectively, based on what Fitz is saying and doing, we can see he's struggled and is struggling a lot. Fitz had to have worked on learning to receive help himself (asking for help is a SKILL, believe it or not) in order to truly explain how important it is to Keefe in the way he did.

Who just says "Accepting help doesn't make you weak, it just means you're taking care of yourself" and doesn't mean it in the kindest, most sincerest way ever?

Not just Keefe can take this advice, anyone should.

Side note: I also feel like he gave himself bad flashbacks to when he called Sophie damaged in book two when he accidentally used the word here. Ouch.

At another point in this scene, Keefe also shows how irrational he can be, as Fitz is simply trying to do the right thing and get Keefe the help he needs, and Keefe is ABSOLUTELY DEMONIZING Fitz for it. Keefe's health was Fitz's priority, and Fitz didn't necessarily care if he stepped on Keefe's toes to get him the help that he couldn't see he needed (Sophie was in the room as this point):

Unlocked page 561:

“‘Uh, you should probably step back, Sophie,’ Fitz warned. ‘I think your emotions are too strong for him.’

’No, they’re not!’ Keefe argued-and wow,did his voice sound strained. He cleared his throat and tried again. ‘Nothings wrong. I swear, I’m fine.’

’He keeps saying that,’ Fitz told her-because he was begging for a face-punch. And if the world hadn’t gotten so spinny, Keefe might’ve given it to him when Fitz added, ‘But Keefe’s been picking up all our emotions without even trying. And he’s always been able to do that with you, so I think you’re overwhelming him right now.’

’Okay, I’m done liking Captain Perfectpants,’ Ro announced.

‘Keefe was right there with her-which was probably why he blurted out, ‘Uh, for the record, most of the emotions are coming from you, Fitzy. You wouldn’t happen to have some unresolved feelings for anyone in this room, would you?’”

I'm not gonna lie, if somebody read my emotions and called me out on something that I was VERY touchy about, and was a relatively new blow, I would just leave the room. That was an A class jerk move right there.

Not saying Keefe IS a jerk, because all the characters have acted jerk-y in the series and everyone has their moments, but it was still pretty rude of Keefe to make that comment. What’s annoying is that nobody in the books seemed to react as though it is rude when Keefe makes these kinds of comments. If it was anybody else who had said that, there would be an apology required in order for that character to be redeemed. 

Keefe also literally wanted to PUNCH Fitz, because Fitz was...making sure Keefe stayed alive? Because Fitz cared enough about Keefe's health to make sure the details were pressed out and make sure the facts of the situation were clear? So Elwin could actually do his job??

Keefe hated Fitz in this moment because Fitz was being a practical, helpful guy, but from Keefe's perspective it just makes Fitz look like an asshole.

Ro’s unsolicited opinions are also very unhelpful, since Ro is written to be in support of what Keefe wants (or just in support of whatever will make Sokeefe happen…she’s kind of creepy about her Sokeefe obsession ngl), it makes her more likable and therefore the readers are more likely to trust what she says or take her opinion as their own. 

But Ro saying things like “I’m done liking Captain Perfect Pants” is rude, because it 1), insinuates she will only like someone based on how much they please her, and 2) denotes him to his perfect facade, which undermines his brilliant and complex character. 

Eventually, Keefe tried to apologize to Sophie in a telepathic conversation. He didn’t remotely consider apologizing to Fitz. 

I mean, Keefe was crazy terrified and hurting but...I don’t get how when Fitz was hurt and acted out he was suddenly “toxic and trash”, but when Keefe did the exact same thing nobody said anything.

And nobody even knows Fitz is hurt because nobody asks him. Nobody talks to him about how hard the Alvar situation is for him because they’re scared he’ll just get mad and yell at them, or they just assume he’s just mad about it and wanted to kill Alvar. 

Is nobody going to see that there’s some deep emotional/mental trauma to unpack here? Is he always just going to have to help himself all the time?

At least Keefe has people who understand him, who are willing to talk to him about what’s wrong and help him through it. He had a seriously traumatic childhood, and I’m not comparing their trauma or anything, that’s not what I’m trying to do. What I am trying to say is, Keefe’s got a whole crew of people helping him, people who want to make sure he’s okay, people who care for him, and he rejects it, deems them annoying in Fitz’s case, and just discounts the effort and energy they spend on him.

There is a lot more to unpack from this scene, but it’s mostly all along a similar vein of what I talked about here (this is long enough haha). There are also tons of little details about the Vackers in Unlocked that just emphasize how pressured Fitz is into the Vacker mold, and how the Alvar drama just makes it worse. 

For example: reading Fitz’s registry file, it says that it is “highly suggested that he choose someone on his match list” because of how dragged the Vacker name already is. So when people want to get upset with him for choosing "his reputation over Sophie", we have text evidence that its more complicated than that. Fitz isn't just choosing between being liked by the world and the person he likes, he's choosing whether or not to maintain a level of peace within his family at his own sacrifice. SPOILERS! (if you haven't read stellarlune don't read the rest of this paragraph). Eventually it was his sacrifice, because as of stellar lune, Sokeefe is official. Fitz couldn't repair things with Sophie quick enough, so she moved on.

It also mentions in Keefe’s detention slip write ups about how people actually hassle Biana and Fitz at Foxfire for Alvar being apart of the Neverseen. Because of their family, because of the Alvar drama, Fitz and Biana can't go to school without people bullying them.

Theres also this sad note in Fitz’s Base Quest instructions where Fitz writes about how you can use you special abilities while playing base quest, but included a little side note that said “but it's no fun when you turn invisible the whole time and hide Alvar!” Which just insinuates that Alvar would turn invisible and leave to go do whatever else he wanted while Fitz still thought they were playing. :( 

Depressing. 

[skylarsblue]

»zenless zone zero«

Details of Belle's room, because I like her a lot and she deserves more attention.

[Desc: Belle's wooden desk. Featuring an industrial style lamp, a metal lock box under a standard black file box. There's a pair of white headphones with green detailing, and a clear plus(+) and minus(-) symbol for volume. A pencil holder that looks a bit like film, though it has numbers & letters. It holds a pair of scissors, a graphite pencil, an exacto blade/box cutter, a marker, and a mechanical pencils/pen. There's a scrap/sketch book in the center, brown and seemingly leather. There's a latch and band to keep it closed and it's covered in stamps, most notably one with a four leaf clover. On the wall are two post it notes, both with little doodles. This hints that she's creative. Either collecting stamps and stickers, which would align with the stickers all over her room and her pension for memory keeping (see the memory board the player can edit), and that she at least does small doodles, if not draw as a hobby.]

[Desc: Beside her orange box tv; which is inspired by vintage 70s/80s tube televisions with knobs/dials; is a game console on top of a VHS player. It's seemingly inspired by the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, based on it's shape. There are three game cartridges, one in the machine. The one in the console is half visible, but what we can see has a blue smiley face. The second cartridge with a visible sticker seems to be either a horror or "biohazard" type shooter game. Though that's my interpretation.]

[Desc: Beside her desk is a wall with pipes. On the lower pipe there are more post it notes with more small doodles, stuck to the pipe with small magnets. One features a small yellow star and three big question marks. Two features a figure running with their hands over their head, carrying a heart. Three has some illegible writing and an emoticon face. On the pipe above this one are VHS tape boxes. Most are in kanji I cannot read, but the ones I can are- (1) The Silence of the Butterflies (2) I'M NOT A BANGBOO (3) The Sixteenth Split. I like to imagine the first movie is maybe a reference to Silence of the Lambs, based on the title alone. Which, if it is, might mean Belle likes horror/psychological horror movies.]

[Desc: On the table beside her mini fridge is a hybrid music player. It plays records via a slit in the front, almost like a CD player. And there's a space for walkman tapes above that. The volume knob is notably loud, there are tiny numbers and Belle's set it to the second-to-last setting. There's a box of records beside it with two semi visible packages. The first one is in kanji I, again, cannot read. But my guess, based on the art, is some kind of alt style music. The one behind it has a barely visible animal mascot with vibrant blues & greens, and the sharp art style makes me think of electric rock or pop. Behind this is her night stand. On the nightstand is a blue "GameBoy" and a yellow mug that says 'LENMAN', which is also seen on a soda can in her room. Lemon soda, I would guess.]

[Desc: The wall beside Belle's (unmade) bed. There are five posters. One features art of a woman's face above the movie title; 'REVERSAL'. There is some silhouette art that vaguely looks like some ethereal monsters, followed by the movie tag line underneathe - "Night of the Ethereal Reversal". Might be a Night of the Living Dead reference. Which further makes me believe Belle likes horror movies. The second poster is covered by One & Three, which makes it pretty hard to know what it shows. What I can see is an unfinished title - "---- Slayer". There's eyes on some of the visible artwork and it looks vaguely like a record with scenes on it. The third poster features various Bangboos climbing away from a large, glowing, orange, Bangboo that seems to be "exploding" with energy, exposing its skeleton & heart. There's kanji I can't read, but under the kanji title is the word "THUNDER". And the words "BANGBOO POWER" are behind the artwork at the top. The fourth poster is one also seen downstairs in the Random Play store. The title is 'Coffee Mate'. Based on the style & energy of the artwork, my personal guess is that it's a romantic, slow paced anime film. The fifth & last poster is titles Ports Peak. The art is blue with a red chainsaw blade shape cutting through the middle, in the blade shape is the vague image of a man's side profile. Based on the blood splatter pattern & the chainsaw, this is likely a horror movie. The art makes me think of Evil Dead & Texas Chainsaw Massacre, personally.]

{Desc: Beside Belle's leather couch is a red electric guitar & an orange amp. On the couch is also one of her console controllers...which has no joy sticks, only a d pad, buttons, and bumpers. Also, she has stickers on her leather couch, clearly showing she gives no fucks.]

[Desc: On the floor, in a divot in the wall beside the small stairs that go up to her bed's raised platform is a skateboard & a framed poster. The skateboard features a green dinosaur/monster with it's mouth open. The bottom says FATE, likely the brand. The framed poster features two smiling tigers on the top & bottom of a logo, on a red & black striped background. Since she also has snowboard goggles in her room, I'm guessing she uses the skateboard when the weather is too warm for snow.]

[Desc: Next to Eous's charging station is a yellow dresser. On top of it is a boombox radio that has two mixtape spots. There's a small display with random colors that currently displays a pause symbol. It also has an antenna, which means it could be used as a standard FM/AM radio. Beside the boombox is a rabbit statue that Belle is using to hold a pair of black, green & blue snowboarding goggles. Small note, on Eous' coat is the words "Random Play - Staff", and his scarf has their name in small text.]

[Desc: At the end of Belle's bed is a pair of red shelves, and a pair of industrial metal & wood shelves. On the red shelves are three record sleeves. The small text on the albums is gibberish, but they're all made by 5AM Studios. The first and top one is black with white graffiti-bubble letters that say "3Z". R'n'B maybe? I've seen art like this for some R'N'B albums. Below it, the second album features some art of a Bangboo riding a cat through a ring of fire. Above the art is the word ZENLESS. The font & style give me, personally, some rock vibes. What subgenre of rock, I'm not sure. The last album is a art of a spider on a black & red ombre background, contrasting the spider, which features the same gradient in the opposite direction. The spider seems to feature the name of the band or album, but I can't tell what it says. I do know that this shit has to be a metal album. I'm like, 90% sure. On the industrial style shelves are some VHS tapes & a box. These tapes look like the type you buy for your own recordings, rather than ones with movies. Underneath that level is a technicolor piece of artwork in a frame. There's an illegible signature in the right bottom corner, meaning it's an autograph.]

[barflovski]

I just found your art and had to give a follow, your style is so distinctive and I love all the details and stuff!

On that note, though, as someone who's writing a Style almost novel-length story regarding mental health and stuff in their teens (based on my own experience partly) I got extra interested in Kyle's scarring and how he seemed underweight and unhappy with himself in one of your older pieces of art. Sorry if this is weird or sensitive for asking, you can ignore this if you like, but if you feel comfortable do you have any thought processes behind these choices and such? Or just any headcanons in general?

Thank you in advance and again sorry if this is weird.

Thank you so much! And this isn’t weird at all, I’m fine with people asking about my art or thought processes behind it all - I put it up on the internet for everyone to see after all!

TW for discussions of an ED and SH

How I portray Kyle is both a mix of how I perceive his character and a reflection of myself. In the actual show Kyle is shown to be pretty unhappy with himself often - like in the list he’s pretty fast to feel crushed at being voted the ugliest boy in school and really takes it to heart. In several episodes he’s also just pretty uncomfortable with his hair, his looks, and his body. Overall as a character he seems to really lack confidence in himself. He’s also pretty harsh on himself when he can’t succeed.

So his ED that I portray is a mix of both of that - he’s convinced he’s ugly and hates his body, and he thinks he doesn’t deserve food or to feel okay because he thinks hes ugly and gross, which is failure, so he starves himself. Kyle’s extreme need for success and pressure from his parents is also something I see a lot in the show. The SH part of teen Kyle is way more personal to me. But Kyle does not respect his body at all. He thinks it’s worthless. So when Kyle messes up, or fails, he cuts. His parents are extremely strict and have extremely high standards for him. So as his mental health got worse as a teenager, his grades and home life stopped being so perfect like they were when he was a kid. So his parents got even more strict and judgmental and hateful, so Kyle’s mental health just got worse and worse, leading to him believing he’s just worthless and a constant failure. All the stuff with his parents mixed with body dysmorphia, struggles with his sexuality, and bullying at school lead him to cut. Because it’s hard to be focused on all the abuse and shit he faces when he’s cutting himself daily. It’s basically an escape. Plus it’s something Kyle has all to himself, it’s something his parents don’t know and can’t judge him for.

So I guess. Kyle struggling with SH and an ED in his later years is something I believe he would struggle with as a teenager. And it’s also a headcanon I find comfort in as I draw, write and think about Kyle’s road to recovery. His struggles are something I both envision and develop as a sort of coping device. And it helps me a lot. But I hope this helped. I’m always open to any more questions!

[firewalkzwit]

runt // jonathan crane x reader. (10)

Chapter 10

cross-posted on AO3

masterlist

Bloodshot eyes tried to stay open at the expense of aching tear ducts. Bruce Wayne had documented his night on his journal before his sleepless memory erased important details. Though he knew he wouldn't forget her, he still wrote down his close encounter with the unfortunate victim of Scarecrow. He felt greatly irresponsible to leave her to her fortune where he did, in his irrational impulsivity forgetting to even make sure she could drive her way out. From his screen stared back at him the same captivating face that he'd seen before, remembering why he was stunned stupid beyond the standard ID procedure. Bruce was hardly the type to be unethical during his rather unorthodox nightly activities, yet he was overwhelmed by guilt. It soon clicked as he scanned through her connections that she was the younger sister of a low category goon that used to work for Carmine Falcone, who had recently died. The same guilt washed over him, she was alone and surrounded by misfortune. Dates coincided with the ambush on Falcone's men at the dock, it was like two plus two for him to deduce the cause of death, which he chose not to bother to check. Guilt.

His record failed to provide any information on where she worked, which only made his prying more difficult to serve his ultimate goal; locating her. The last time she had worked officially was as a janitor in Gotham University four months ago. Although one is innocent until proven otherwise, the Batman often needs to resort to expecting the worst out of everyone, but Bruce Wayne wasn't allowing the mere idea to cross his mind. Guilt kept washing over him followed by a wave of empathy, feeling oddly connected to her. She was just a kid, alone in the world. Her brother had been her caretaker legally for as long as he'd been an adult, and it was all the family she had, or used to. Both Bruce and her were lone runts, losing the people most important to him to matters of fate, yet he felt the familiar feeling from his childhood of having blood on his hands lingered. Batman on the other hand, held the belief that compromising oneself for money had its consequences, and her brother got the worst end of the lottery of unfortunate outcomes. It felt unfair to think she had to pay the consequences of God's gamble on her life. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Bureaucracy is not exempted to the multimillionaire Bruce Wayne, especially because all the privileges he could potentially favor from were revoked when he moonlighted as the protector of Gotham. He wasn't a fan of making calls and use of his contacts anyway, as Bruce was considerably detached from Wayne Enterprises and all its stakeholders. When Batman had to explain to Gordon why he needed the help of the police influence to contact Gotham University about Y/N, it bothered Bruce to lie to Gordon about her being a suspect on the fresh case they had on Crane. In a way, he had the necessary arguments to back it up, but the innocence of his lie was cleared by the motive of his sin.

Two nights passed since he last saw her before he met with Gordon again to receive the information he needed. The last record of her home pointed to a small condominium in the outskirts of Park Row. Ouch, dark memories for Bruce which he'd rather not approach unless necessary, but everything was too close to home for Bruce to let himself turn the blind eye on the young runt. Besides, he insisted to himself on it having nothing to do with Batman, believing firmly that he responded to his duties.

The place was dreadful, one of the most unapproachable places in all of Gotham, and for a city like it, awarding it the 'most unapproachable' title was a big deal. The Batman prowled looking down at the dismal building where she had her home. The condo was small and cramped, three buildings stuck together with the architectonic style of a working class London flat, only smaller, and hers in the left corner. The three buildings had for pillars convenience stores and under hers a humble Chinese laundry shop. As he approached, it was more Bruce than Batman hoping that he'd find her safe, and clear his conscience.

Y/N hadn't heard of Dr. Crane for the past two days since he'd been in her apartment, and while at some hours of her days she'd feel her disdain for him dissipate, it would occasionally come back to strongly strike in her a desire to drown him in the water she boiled to serve him tea. It was unpredictable, and she knew she needed to pull herself together before her feelings took over her decisions. Engaging with Dr. Crane shouldn't be any different from her job as a waitress in the 44 Below. It all served a greater purpose, she'd tell herself. She simply had to smile and take it easy and repeat the phrase in her head. Her eyes were immerse in the television as she watched from afar, seated on the small kitchen table as she chopped tomatoes for an insipid salad she'd eat with the chicken breasts she had recently grilled, a frugal meal it was. The last time she had delighted her taste buds with good food felt longer than it was, but in reality it had been roughly about four months ago, dates she'd rather not think about unless it was to remember how much she hated Batman.

The kitchen knife in her hands suddenly trembled in her grip, stabbing the cutting board as a noise outside her balcony startled her. The window was open, letting out the nauseating and invasive smell of the chicken on the griddle pan. The silence of expectation, waiting for another sound to invite her curiosity to look outside, was composed of long seconds, and it took no more than a minute before the lack of discretion of whatever lurked in her debatable portion of property practically begged her to look. She placed the knife on an approachable distance as her slow walk, similar to that of a hunter, approached the window with growing terror as the suspense prolonged itself. She sprinted and rested her weight on the wall beside the window, her arms glued to the wall as her neck and head peeped to the side to look outside the open window.

It was easier to expect a unicorn to fly into her apartment than what (or who) did. He was discrete, unlike when he was outside her apartment. Shocking to see someone with the stealth of a feline move, as usually those with such a talent for discretion were not seen, as they would hide under the shadows. The shock was too much for Y/N to bare, she couldn't dare to breathe, paused on a sharp inhale and frozen against her wall with her eyes wide open. Her nostrils flared as she debated on whether to jump and reach for the knife on the edge of her table, or stay where she was, but before she could gather the courage to do anything at all, the vigilante turned as he perceived the presence he suspected, confirming her fear once their eyes met; it was the Batman.

"I'm not here to hurt you." The familiar soft yet raspy voice scratched her eardrums unpleasantly. She hated that voice, clandestine and almost inhuman. Although her body battered on her chest to yell at him to get out, she was petrified. What could she do? It was too much to process, and she was glued to the wall still without a limb moving, shocking he was able to see her in the shadows despite her immense secrecy product of her fear. Seeing she was still immobile, he slowly began to approach trying to not scare her, but then again one can approach slowly trying to calm the opposite party, or approach slowly like a hunter prowls furtively on its prey before pounding. Her senses suspecting the latter, she slowly began to walk as well, semi-crouching as her head tilted trying to discern if it really was him. As she finally reached a safe proximity to the table, her impulses got the best of her, and she got a rapid but clumsy grip of the kitchen knife which she held onto the tightest she could. Her tense muscles and flexed arm pointed the weapon at him, and her agitated breathing hesitated.

He remained still, displaying no signs of being startled at the threat.

"Move and I'll cut you... Real ugly." She threatened, yet her voice lacked conviction. Her tone trembled and sounded insecure, but both knew that fear was bound to impulsivity, and impulsivity was bound to disaster. The vital parts of his body were protected, and she was no fool to omit this. Yet the gesture her fingers did drawing a circle around her chin seemed to indicate the obvious; if she were to feel threatened by any movement on his behalf she'd cut his face. Or that's what she thought, since it took only a second before his unmatched speed caught a grip of her wrist and spun her around, pressing her back against his chest and her own wrist under his control, the knife was close enough to her own face to cause her to gasp. She winced at his manoeuvre, the tightening on the muscle under her scapula caused by the sudden stretching of her arm that moved her entire body still felt sore after being released from the tension. His forearm was significatively stronger than hers, and she couldn't battle against him even if she tried, she felt foolish to have even attempted to point a knife at Batman himself, known to take down men with guns unarmed many times.

"Let go of me!" She squirmed under his grip, which only tightened her body against his cold, shielded chest. Her head against his neck, she could feel the sharp bone of his jawline against the top of her head.

"I needed to make sure you were alright."

"I don't want you checking on me, pervert." Batman needed only the grip on her wrist to move her around like a puppet, as he spun her around again using his other arm to tighten her chest around his, her arm flexed so tightly against itself her forearm ached at the tension. Her hand held the knife still, the bottom of the weapon grazing Batman's hand wrapped around her wrist. The keen edge of the knife had a dangerous proximity to the Bat's cheek, and in his physical power he rested an immense trust in that she wouldn't do anything, she was too afraid to. In a way, the knife was also terrifyingly close to her as well, as her face was close enough to his to feel his hot breath on her nose and mouth. Her derisive response was followed by a long silence which was staled by the sound of the television, and their fast-paced breathing, almost synchronised.

"It's dangerous, you here on your own." His voice finally spoke with its usual severity, it felt like he was scolding her rather than looking out for her. Frankly, she wanted neither from him, she only wanted to cry, feeling overpowered and surrendered to the man she wanted to unmask and force to face public condemnation, although at that very moment she just wanted to choke him to death. Realistically, she only got her way on one of her many irrational desires; and it was to cry. She broke down, impotent, her grip on her knife weakening as the weapon dropped down on the floor. Her whole body softened, and she only remained standing thanks to Batman's hold on her. She weeped like an infant, and she felt like one, a runt.

He hesitated. He hardly ever hesitated, but display of emotion was not his usual pick from the deck of options he had when he chose to react. His hand travelled from her back to her face, his gloved thumb caressing her humid cheek in an attempt to comfort her. She flinched at his touch, a soft caress from the Batman, to her, felt like whiplash. She recoiled and struggled, trying to free herself from his grip.

"I said let go of me you murderer!" Y/N screamed as her head shook uncontrollably, she was displaying an authentic tantrum and was out of control. Having Batman so close and under complete sobriety, unlike their first encounter, didn't get from her the heroic response she expected from her own emotions. She had hoped that if she ever encountered the Batman, she could trick him into surrendering his identity, and that under his own dread he'd beg for her to kill him, and she'd comply. The scene in her apartment was nothing like she pictured, seeing the man she blamed for her brother's death only triggered in her erratic responses and an utter display of surrender to her terror and trauma. Despite her state, he complied to her urges, her body collapsing on the floor as she sobbed on the verge of hyperventilating.

"You're not safe here." He repeated like she was slow, which only irked her further.

"I don't need you telling me to know that. Why do you care?" Her voice trembled, exacerbated. "Why do you care!?"

He didn't answer, he couldn't. She knew, and she knew he knew she knew. She could tell he felt guilt, and wanted to wallow on how his emotions leaked from him, she wanted to hear him say it to give her pride satisfaction, and her ache a partial fulfillment. He had killed her brother, and as if he was trying to torture her, invaded her space. Laid on the ground like she did when the police gave her the news, her tears dropping on the cold wooden floor.

He longed to hold her and comfort her, and in a way, comfort himself. It was Bruce who longed to hold her, he wanted to find solace in feeling understood by her, even if she hated him for it. He felt selfish, guilty. Yet he wanted to hold her in his arms like he hadn't wanted something in so long, hold himself. To see her sobbing as her arms wrapped around her knees, trying to find the contact of something warm in her own body felt like seeing himself, and it anguished him.

He failed to tell she didn't just hate him, he was fuelling her dread even more.

[maplesunflowers]

Hey.... what's ur fave internet horror series/project/etc

Or the one u think is like the best thought-out slash most intriguing

Thank you Corvus for allowing me to finally info dump on one of my most special of interests. Love you Bby 🥺💕

Ironically I made a whole ass Tik Tok a while ago listing my faves too lol

First up, EverymanHYBRID. This might be a hot take, but despite Slenderman’s reputation nowadays, I still think Slenderverse series are GOOD and I will die on that hill. While everyone sees Marble Hornets as the superior Slenderman series, I have always preferred EMH. The story was way more interesting and Evan, Vinny, and Jeff were way more likable protagonists that you genuinely wanted to see everything work out for them, which is why is was so heartbreaking when things didn’t. Plus, as cringy as HABIT maybe seen today, he’s still a super fun villain. He’s just evil for evil’s sake, he doesn’t care if these are people’s lives he’s destroying, he’s going have fun!

This Is My Milwaukee isn’t necessarily horror in the sense you’re thinking, but I love showing it to people and watching their reaction. This video was the trailhead to an ARG that’s now defunct, but honestly I still think the video stands on it’s own as a weird little video to show your friends. 

Possibly in Michigan is one of my all time favorite YouTube videos in general. I found it when the audio from PiM went viral on Tik Tok a few years back and instantly few in love with its surreal style. The Perfume Song and Animal Cannibal live in my head rent free. 

This House has People in It is another surreal trip I adore. I just love that it’s something you need to rewatch multiple times to catch everything that’s going on, plus the fact that there’s hours of extra hidden content on the “security” website that adds to the world building and story of this family. 

Sexygirlmax2019/ Hey Peabrain, You Teleport? Is so underrated and I wish more people talked about it. It’s one of the few Tumblr ARGs and it was made by two 15 year olds, which is SO impressive to me that two teenagers pulled off such an amazing ARG that had a satisfying ending when a lot of companies who’s LITERAL JOB IS MAKING ARGS can’t manage to do that. 

Hi I’m Mary Mary is just a gold standard. The story is engaging, and the EDITING, THE EDITING IS SO GOOD! Honestly the editing my favorite thing about the series, it’s just god tier. But the story is just as amazing as the editing, you feel for Mary’s struggles against her monsters and want to see her win and escape the house she’s trapped in. 

Mystery Flesh Pit National Park isn’t going be for everyone (especially if you’re someone who isn’t good with body horror) but I love the idea for weird stuff going on in a National Park and it surprises me that you don’t see a lot of stuff playing with that idea. I love the idea of this weird, eldritch creature being found and of course humans first thought goes to Capitalism. 

Vita Carnis is another body horror series that won’t be for everyone. This series has managed to do the impossible and has made my desensitized ass absolutely paranoid over their FUCKING MIMICS!!!!! LIKE SERIOUSLY, FUCK THE MIMICS SO HARD!!!! I BOTH LOVE AND HATE THEIR EXECUTION SO MUCH!!!!! IT’S SO WELL DONE, IT’S DOING WONDERS FOR MY INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS!!!!!

The Ningen is actually made by the same person who made the Monument Mythos series, tho I don’t believe it’s a spinoff. It follows a lot of lore surrounding the cryptid while also making it its own thing as well. The Ningen has always been one of my favorite cryptids but since there’s not a lot to it’s backstory no one ever seems to do anything with it, so it’s REALLY nice to see this obscure cryptid get some love.

Echo Rose/Nettlebrook actually stars the same person from Daisy Brown (another series I love) but wasn’t made by her, it was made by her cousin. Echo Rose is really funny and it makes you feel like you’re just watching someone’s vlogs, but in the background a mystery is unraveling with a missing girl. 

[thecreaturecodex]

Menehune

Image by Hugo Solis, © Frog God Games. Accessed at the artist's deviantArt page here

[This is art from an actual Pathfinder product! These menehune appeared in Razor Coast, a long delayed (and sadly, not very good) 3pp Pathfinder module. The mechanics that game used for menehune was as a variant of gnomes, which makes a certain amount of sense, with fire themed powers, which doesn't. That kind of sums up all of Razor Coast: it was more interested in stereotypes about Pacific Islanders and riffing on vaguely Hawaiian themes (like Pele and volcanoes) than it was about actual Pacific Island cultures.

Interestingly, there's a fair amount of debate about the age and origins of menehune legends. Some folklorists believe that they're syncretic, a combination of Native Hawaiian stories with European fairy lore. Others say that, because "manahune" is Tahitian for "commoner", that the original menehunes were an ethnic minority that was disenfranchised and displaced following Tahitian immigration to Hawaii. I was unable to find a scholarly or semi-scholarly reference to the idea that menehune use arrows, Cupid style, to make people fall in love, but it's commonly reported on Hawaiian tourism websites. Plus, it gives them a unique ability.]

Menehune CR 4 CN Fey This little humanoid is stout and heavily muscled, with red hair and a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.

Menehune are especially human-like fey who live on tropical islands. They are expert craftsmen and builders, and their monuments and achievements crop up overnight. Literally—menehune are strangely perfectionist, and if a construction job takes them more than a single night, they will abandon it. Fortunately, they work with supernatural speed, and a team of menehune can create roads, aquifers or ramparts in a matter of hours. Menehune dislike being interrupted or observed in this work. Menehune sleep during the day and work at night, typically in hollow trees, caves or other places that are comfortably dark. They are omnivorous, and feed on a diet of fruit, tubers and fish. Bananas are a particular favorite. Menehune are afraid of owls.

Few menehune relish a fight, but their incredible strength makes them relatively skilled combatants.  If interlopers attempt to spy on their work, the menehune will usually flee, although they may fire magical charming arrows as they go. These arrows do not charm the struck creature to the menehune, but instead cause brief, rapturous love towards the first compatible person the victim sees. If the menehune are pursued, or if their constructions are damaged, they may well respond with lethal force.

A menehune stands between two and three feet tall. Most have brown skin and red hair. They may be mistaken for especially burly halflings, especially at a distance.

Menehune         CR 4 XP 1,200 CN Small fey Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.,low-light vision, Perception +7 Defense AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural) hp 45 (7d6+21) Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +5 DR 5/cold iron; SR 15 Weakness light blindness Offense Speed 20 ft. Melee heavy mace +8 (1d6+6) Ranged masterwork composite shortbow +8 (1d4+4/x3) Special Attacks arrow of love Spell-like Abilities—CL 4th, concentration +6 Constant—ant haul, pass without trace At will—invisibility 3/day—charm animal (DC 13), charm person (DC 13) Statistics Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 15 Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 19 Feats Dodge, Endurance, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack Skills Acrobatics +9 (+3 when jumping), Bluff +9,Climb +10,Craft (stonemasonry) +11, Diplomacy +9, Knowledge (engineering) +4, Knowledge (nature) +7, Perception +7, Stealth +13, Survival +7, Swim +10; Racial Modifiers +4 Craft (all) Languages Common, Sylvan SQ expert labor Ecology Environment warm forests and mountains Organization solitary, pair, gang (3-8) or crew (9-24) Treasure standard (Small heavy mace, Small masterwork composite shortbow (+4 pull), 20 arrows, other treasure) Special Abilities Arrow of Love (Su) Three times per day, a menehune can infuse an arrow with charming magic as a swift action. A creature struck by this arrow takes no damage and must succeed on a DC 20 Perception check to realize they’ve been shot at all. A creature struck by this arrow must succeed a DC 15 Will save or fall in love with the first acceptable creature it sees (of a species and gender to which it would ordinarily be attracted to). This functions as an elixir of love, except that it can affect humanoids, fey, native outsiders and animals. This is a charm effect, and the save DC is Charisma based. Expert Labor (Su) A menehune can do as much work in a half hour as a human laborer can accomplish in a day.

[animehouse-moe]

Ousama Ranking Season 2 Episode 5: The Law of The Underworld | A White Horse In Love | The Gentle Soldier, Hokuro

So I heard you wanted to put filler in your anime? Well, Ousama Ranking is effectively the gold standard for filler. Sorry, I don't make the rules. I just know something's good when I see it. Contextualizing previous events, exploring characters in more detail and where they find their starts and how they wormed their way into the story, and just plain dumb fun. This new season/OVA of Ousama Ranking does it all and then some, putting to shame entire series.

First thing's first though, this episode is more like two parts plus an interlude, if that makes sense. It's a piece about Ouken and the Underworld, followed by a brief break with Despa's horse Hakuo, and then followed about with Hokuro's story.

Let's go in order though, at least, meaning we'll start with the story of Ouken. This one was rather surprising, I wouldn't say it's simple but is has a strong beat to how the story's approached, and I'd say I definitely like it. Risking your life to find an answer to a curse is a brave thing to do, and I think they framed it well enough. It doesn't come off too preachy or out of touch with the core of Ousama Ranking, but stretches it just enough to get something different yet believable out of it.

In terms of what I didn't expect from this story, was that we find out just how Despa comes into contact with the people that he uses to test Bojji. A really interesting little detail that just serves to help flesh out that side of things, taking the opportunity to explain details and provide exposition on things they might not have otherwise been able to. Just feels like the perfect example of good filler in that regard, as it's telling its own story while weaving pieces of the main story into it.

Past that, I don't really think there's much else to say about this part of the episode. Well done, very well animated and storyboard, and enjoyable to watch. Though not as enjoyable as the Hakuo interlude.

This part was just pure comedy, and I loved every second of it. That's all there is to it, funny humor that gives viewers a break during the episode and runs with the freedom that filler/OVA gives teams.

And last but not least, Hokuro. Man, I really really liked this one. It's a great little story to show just how much Hokuro likes Bojji, and the impact he made on his life at a low point. It's incredibly endearing and heartwarming, and goes really far to show just how dedicated Hokuro is to Bojji.

Whether it's through learning sign language so he can talk with him, or becoming a soldier just so he can work in the same castle that Bojji lives in, or even putting his life on the line for the little prince when nobody else would. His character shows so much dedication and passion that Bojji was able to bring him.

And, of course, WIT goes all out for the episode once more. Creative and full of life and style, and the environment art continues to be absolutely stunning. Really, I'm going to run out of praise before this season ends. There's just too much good about each episode, so I've exhausted my vocabulary explaining them, and well, they're not massively important or big story developments, so there's not a world of stuff to talk about with them. Just an outstanding continuation for Ousama Ranking all around.

[selfshippinglover]

~Cannibal Town and Rosie HCs~

~Yeeah Cannibal town is EASILY my favorite location overall though! Between the gorgeous aesthetics, the peaceful(in Hell's standards anyway) people, and the general casual nature of like, stepping out onto the street and seeing the bloodbath that no one is really blinking and eye at since it's just their typical Sunday. Like, really enjoy the casual bloodlust of it all! XD Also, it looks like everyone there is living in really good living conditions tbh! like, they've all got whole ass houses and all the essentials! This may be the only ring living pretty but hey! There's someone living good at least XD Plus, it's a place where Alastor is bound to pop up sometimes! :DDD

~She has balls, parties, bashes, and the like year round! I think she'd prefer to keep it to the town and like, the Pride ring but also she'd invite the other Overlords as a necessity...and for some juicy gossip hopefully lol

~Because she cares so much for her people she's prone to overworking herself at times. case in point, the big as parties. She also insists on giving her subjects only the best which feeds into that! I like to think she has an assistant and they often have to remind her to take a step back and take care of herself. As well as offer assistance and low-key poke others to help where Rosie can't see sometimes.

~Rosie IS the Overlord with the most patience and care in all the rings to me tbh. Like, everyone else sees it more as a job or a way to keep themselves safe and in power. They don't see the other residents as anything more than a means to end. The one exception miiiight be Carmilla? Need more of her to feel more sure tbh

~It hasn't been shown but I firmly believe that Cannibal Town has lots of shops in it! A hat shop like the one in Howl's Moving Castle, older style barbershops, beautiful and bountiful dress shops, and the like! I like to think they're all run by Cannibal Town residents and it's like, a lot if not all of them are home run so all funds go straight back to the town! :D

~Following that, they like to have tourists! It's an excuse to get dressed up, throw a shindig, annnd go all out! Though, Rosie is quick to kick out others that won't use their manners =-='

~Cannibal Town looks like the most walkable city we've seen also tbh? Like, you don't have to go far to find the local veggie place or cozy little coffee shop, groceries anything you need is all right there and easy to get to! I think it'd be cool that if the place has public transportation it's more like railroads or trolleys! :DDD

~OOO Them having a yearly like, pagent would also be soooo cool!

~They grow the best greenery in all the rings hands DOWN! Someone for sure runs a flower shop and can name every flower species and describe their symbolism off the top of their head <333

~No one is sure how but Rosie just KNOWS ALL THE GOSSIP IN TOWN SHE JUST DOES. You have questions about a new arrival or a demon that's bee there for eons? She's your gal! <333

~Rosie is the town matchmaker and is happy to take people out of town up on thing in that ilk if they ask! Just uh, make sure she isn't busy with other things first, yeah? She's quite the busy lady! Special shout out to if you're a friend you get gossip and matchmaking completely free cause she lives for the drama lkfdhlhg

~I get the feeling that Cannibal Town doesn't have dealings or good transports from other rings unless it's absolutely necessary, she's partnering with an Overlord, (could be short or long term) and/or it's part of playing nice with other Overlords to keep peace in her town. The town is so self-sufficient it isn't really needed. Could see carmilla's weapons being an exception to this when it coems to Extermiantion day thou

~Rosie would get along well with Zestiel! Like Alastor, he's another person that values good manners, is clearly quite intelligent, speaks very eloquently,(i could SO see them writing letters to one another and/or poetry <3) and sure looks like he knows ho to dance! :D I think they'd have a great time! Pluuuus, she can get gossip from before she died and from other rings~ Only wins here!

~Speaking of dancing, Rosie really emnjoys dancing! It's a general passtime of hers, something she enjoys doing with friends, lovers, anyone she has a bond with! I think she'd be really happy to teach others too! It's a great way to bond, is a requirement at most of her parties, and is super fun! She likes to lead the town's children in dances at the balls and such <3 They're jsut so cute she could eat them up!

~Heehee Rosie is a dad pun ENJOYER as well as plenty about killing and eating! She's sooo funny and trades puns with Alastor often! Like to think Alastor is one of the few people thta can keep her on her feet in that way, actually!

~Rosie is generally for the people but also needs a bit more money than the townspeople for negotiations and construction around town. On a related note, I think thye like to keep their building as long as possible! Whether it's beacuse they're legitmately from that time period or designed to look like that, Rosie and the townsfolk care a lot about the work that goes into it so they keep em around as long as they aren't a health risk

~Rosie gives off the energy that she came from a rich family that had important duties or perhaps diplomatic roles which is why she's so good at being a leader and was quick to make a place settled under her roots.

~This is small but you'll see more personal or little touches outside in Cannibal town like suncatchers and birdfeeders. Things thta are decorative but in fun shapes

~I'm a big believer in the head canon that you can freely drift between Rings in hell, It's just you are "born" or sent to the one that is closest related to your personal sin and you have to start from there. Like, the satrting point in a videogame!

~I FORGOT! THE MAN EATING PLANTS! Those are a common sight around Cannibal Town! I like to think they end up as centerpieces and/or door guards a lot of the time :3

~Rosie LOVES musicals! She prefers to go see them live and in person ofc. It was normal for the time she's from and she feels more connected to the art that way but also she isn't willing to let Vox or any of his tech into her town >:( not only does Alastor hate the guys guts but all the Vees seems to speak with an amount of disregard and/or disdain for the past. Which rubs her the wrong way

~To be clear, that doesn't mean she wouldn't potentially befriend or even date Vox, she cares about her friends opinions but she's very much the type to make her own decisions in friends UvU,, Alastor both respects this and is annoyed by it at times XD

~I know Rosie would never allow Vee tech in her town but OUGH SHE NEEDS TO SEE SWEENY TODD SHE WOULD LOOVE ITT

[asianpopfan]

I have a theory that sometimes Music Show’s MC stylists work with company stylists of the MC.

For example Wonyoung had such great outfits while MCing at Music Bank with Sunghoon and Chaemin. I am aware that she is a brand ambassador for Miu Miu, iOiO and Fred Jewelry and Sue Comma Bonne and I have noticed a little bit of Miu Miu and Fred on her outfit while MCing , but rarely. Anyway, she could get sponsored without being the ambassador for the brand so I imagine all brands gifting Music Bank their clothes in hope that the stylists choose them for her outfits.

The vast majority of brands wore by Music Show MCs are small and relatively unknown or “C-B grade”. Including her outfits.

She never “shadowed” her MC partners either. They were always coordinated and well dressed. So her presence was positively extended on them too. I assume it is just normal that they got clothes for both, a viewer is going to look at both even if they come for mainly Wonyoung. I am talking about special MCs too by the way. I am aware that Sunghoon might also have been managed by personal company stylists too and being a popular idol, he probably had his fair share of gifted clothes with the thought of him in mind. But Wonyoung has more influence and her style was relevant event during MiniYoungz.

Overall, just the whole styling and ideas were far better when she was a MC. So I do think that the stylist themselves is different or someone on the styling team left.

Akong and Eunchaemin also dress well. And I suppose that there is always the thought of how they want the dynamic to present itself to the viewer. For example Eunchaemin is a Brother-Little sister who teases him, dynamic ; Jangkku and MiniYoungz were more equal teasers friends but (not quite close) and she was always the “more mature one” plus subtle charming from the men. Akong were the visibly shy introvert ones, probably (very calm and stable) childhood friends dynamic.

I wish I could talk of previous pairings but I started following consistently at mid Jangkku, plus it’s too old: The fashion and standards have changed a bit.

Eunchaemin outfits simply aren’t as good as Wonyoung & Co (various Partners) and so weren’t Akong although they had a “classic” and simplistic but lovely / quiet vibrant look. I watch other music shows too or at least I keep up with the outfits and wins(and some stages I am interested in watching) and even K-pop’s “The Show” has better outfits with their small budget. Not extraordinary but good enough even if not too creative.

I haven’t noticed similar occurrence in the other music shows, but at the same time Wonyoung has a specific public image (High class - gorgeous -THAT and IT girl - from chaebol family - reserved - calm but confident overall image. In fashion she wears feminine and juvenile but not “childish” clothing such as MiuMiu, the colors pink, white, black, royal blue sometimes, white once again because people believe that Wonyoungnism is all pink but white is the main ingredient, it feels clean and she wears it with pearls and shiny white gold/gemstones). Anyway, as I was saying, actually Sunghoon has a public image of a kind too, I am unsure if he or Belift decided it, surely the latter encourages it (Just like how Hybe has been pushing the idols’ former sports into their choreographies and public image = Kazuha from Lesserafim and him) as they call him an “ice prince” and figure skating is considered a “rich vibes” , dreamlike, dainty, sophisticated, high class, serious sport; so Sunghoon usually dresses a little bit more classy than his group members (even if he is still within current trends). So just because they didn’t fully stick to it on every outfit and concept, it doesn’t mean that they did not attempt to incorporate it here and there. Also. Wonyoung might not do Aegyo as much as when she was in Izone , but she did pull some (non aggressive ones) out as an MC. Their companies might have tried to at least influence a bit their MC imagine without owning it.

[lalapineblanche]

so I don’t know if anyone has suggested this before, but i have a pet theory that the ones above from sixth of the dusk are either people who are bonded to honorspren (or highspren) or people descended from skybreakers or windrunners. the second one is more likely considering that Brandon has said in a WoB that it would be difficult to take spren off-world due to connection issues with their investiture, but it may still be possible.

according to the timeline we have right now, 6th takes place at least ~2500 years after era 1 stormlight. this means that if spren/human relations continue as they are now, rosharan society will change significantly due to increased spren influence. highspren and honorspren, in particular are likely to exert influence on general rosharan society due to their strict codes of behavior. they’ll obviously require the people that they bond with to be honorable & just in their everyday lives, but having radiants from their orders in positions of power will probably mean that they’ll push their knights to enact changes in line with their belief systems.

even on a smaller scale, if knights radiant continue to exist in a more public manner, it isn’t hard to believe that smaller societies will be built up around them (considering that knights can delegate pages and all, it’s easy to imagine that eventually the orders will have a larger system of non-bonded people following them around and assisting/cohabitating with them).

so if in 2500+ years roshar advances technologically to the level of space travel (very probable, not only due to the artifabrians and scholars already making huge leaps on roshar but also due to scadrian influences among others), it’s probable that people traveling off-world will be from a more ethically-limited society. thus, the ones above not wanting to trade with a society until it’s advanced enough easily fits in with highspren & honorspren’s particular ethical codes - we know that they don’t necessarily care about the moral of actions take place as much as they care about actions not breaking their codes of conduct. the northern trading company’s underhanded way of ‘helpfully’ introducing technology to people on first of the sun is exactly the sort of thing a highspren would do in order to justify being able to trade with ‘less advanced’ people.

plus, the technology that is used by the ones above fits pretty well with general rosharan tech styles, even if it’s likely that space travel tech will be somewhat standardized across the Cosmere at this point in time.

also, we have a WoB stating that sixth has tried herdazian food and hates it. might scadrians(or others) have picked up some recipes while visiting roshar and taken them off-world? maybe, but if rosharans are the ones above it makes more sense for herdazian food to make it to first of the sun.

there’s also something to be said about their interest in aviars, but I’m tired and I can’t make that connection right now

[jackmanhuge]

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[australbricksblogs]

How Brick Companies Are Transforming Construction

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If you want to learn how a brick manufacturing company plays a major role in shaping any construction project, read the full article below!

Ways Brick Companies Can Contribute To Any Project In recent decades, brick companies have embraced versatility to cater to modern audiences and their unique needs. Thanks to adopting this thinking, they are no longer limited to providing ‘simple’ bricks. That said, here are ways that the brick industry contributes to various projects and goals!

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Some bricks aren’t made of typical clay or stone. In fact, they consist of eco-friendly materials, including glass. Modern companies offer extensive warranties of up to 100 years on their products. This benefit reflects their confidence in their durability and performance under Australian conditions.

Extra Construction Materials On The Sides Brick suppliers today offer more than just bricks. In fact, they have different construction products which makes them appealing to a broader audience. Much like their main items, these products also come in different aesthetics and materials. Your top local brick company may offer the following:

Feature Stone: These stones are often used for visual display, making them favourable for accent walls, facades, or landscaping elements. Thanks to their asymmetrical design and arrangement, they boast a more natural appearance.

Pavers: If bricks are to walls, then pavers are to floors. These versatile products are generally used for outdoor placements, including driveways and walkways. Like their brick counterparts, they vary in shape and appearance.

Mortar: These products are binding agents that hold bricks together. They come in different quality levels to achieve specific performance results and longevity.

Terracotta Cladding: Made from fired clay, terracotta panels are lightweight yet durable and offer excellent thermal insulation properties. They can be used in various architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary.

Advanced Brick Systems To stand out further from their historical counterparts, brick manufacturers today provide unique services to address various architectural needs. These stand-out features include:

Thin Brick Thin bricks offer a traditional look with less weight. It makes the installation and cost savings easier for load-sensitive applications. These items can be applied to a variety of interior and exterior surfaces. Their light nature allows builders to explore different creative solutions without affecting their structure’s durability and aesthetics.

Panel Bricks Panel bricks are designed for quick installation. This method streamlines the construction process, allowing for faster project completion while maintaining high-quality standards. Panel systems also minimise waste and labour costs, making them an attractive option for modern construction projects.

Thin Tech Plus The Thin Tech Plus system utilises thin brick veneers, which are secured by hooks. This eliminates the need for adhesive. Their steel panel also provides a rust prevention barrier, ensuring longevity. Moreover, the lightweight design reduces the need for extensive footings and lintels which leads to lower construction costs.

Tru Brix The Tru Brix system offers customers easy installation of face bricks. They use a snap-in ZAM-rail design that holds the bricks in place. This system is especially beneficial for residential use, providing visual appeal and practical advantages.

Digital Solutions in Brick Manufacturing Modern brick suppliers adopt technological advancements to further enhance their efficiency and precision. As construction demands evolve, brick manufacturers leverage innovations, such as iVisualise, to create detailed representations of your dream building.

Enhance Your Home’s Overall Features with Austral Bricks Combining innovative materials, product range, and advanced manufacturing techniques allows brick companies to thrive. By selecting sustainable brick options, professionals can significantly enhance the environmental performance of their projects.

At Austral Bricks, you will find a wide variety of bricks and construction products. Not only that, you will also have access to outstanding services that enhance your construction experience. For more information, visit our website today!

Frequently Asked Questions Below are some of the most commonly enquired questions by customers when it comes to brick companies as a whole:

What is a brick company? A brick company is a business that specialises in the production or outsourcing of brick products. These companies generally offer bricks and other related products made from unique materials.

What are brick companies commonly known as? These companies are formally known as “brickworks” due to their primary focus on producing large quantities of bricks. They are often located on sites with clay bedrock.

[onlytibki]

One Piece characters as PJO-style demigods

Qualifiers: no PJO storyline. This is half from a reincarnation-type concept I'm playing with but I won't go into details for that; the other half is being figured out as I write this.

Jimbe - merman. Why mess with a classic? He's a graduate of Camp Fishblood, maybe a legacy of the royal family (son/grandson of Triton or something) somewhere along the line.

Brook - clear-sighted mortal (legacy of Apollo?), favored by Aurora since he greeted every sunrise with music. got her permission and support to pull an Orpheus and play with his old band one last time. unfortunately, while Aurora's blessing let him survive walking through Hades, it didn't prevent him from withering (see her husband, Eos). yo-ho-ho. walking talking afro skeleton. Mist has to pull double-time hiding all that from mortals.

(alternative - he died with his old band but successfully Orpheus'd himself out to go find the Laboon equivalent. unfortunately, he had to return alone.)

Franky - one of two: (1) son of Hespaestus. (2) cyborg cyclops. oh maybe both!! Hephaestus had a kiddo with one of his cyclops workers and we were all graced with this blue haired one-eyed insane fireproof disability mechanic

Robin - Athena, naturally. Researcher, strategist, dedicates her life to knowledge. Mortal parent is a professor. Unfortunately, in one of those twists of irony--she can't weave/create/build to save her life.

Chopper - no listen he's literally still a deer. Was being hunted by Artemis but when she got hurt (as hunters sometimes do) he turned around and brought her healing herbs and both Artemis and Apollo blessed him and turned him into a satyr, sorta. Boom: walking talking doctor deer son.

Nami - clear-sighted mortal. made fast friends with local water nymphs as a kid. main character energy so strong they had to let her into camp.

Sanji - Legacy of Eros/Aphrodite on his mom's side. Judge steps into the Roman Emperors' shoes here, so Sanji gets the same kinda trauma Meg McCaffrey does, plus abusive siblings for flavor. Zeff is a former combat vet and cannot see through the Mist but can spot a traumatized kiddo in need from 50 yards out

(alternative - Zeff's a fucking redeemed Laistrygonian, a la Tyson but with 2 eyes. Tried the cannibalism thing. 0/10 would not recommend. Spotted a traumatized kiddo and went "is anyone gonna adopt that?" and didn't wait for an answer. Restaurant serves demigods and monsters both with a standard 'no fights inside' rule.)

Usopp - satyr. he met Chopper first, and later led Sanji and Nami to camp.

Zoro - Mars. Yes he's the only Roman. This poor man got so lost after dying that he ended up in the neighboring pantheon. In the story concept, he bests everyone in New Rome and then goes on "a little walk" to find the rest of the crew and ends up having to cross the entire country following the rising sun because of course that's where Luffy would be

Luffy - I know I said I wouldn't get into details but Luffy's always so goddamn hard to fit into other canons so he ended up central to the storyline. Luffy's reincarnation is as a sun-god, but without any believers he's asleep. As the crew comes together he wakes up more and more, and when they're all standing in one place, he finally wakes up entirely.

on a metaphysical level, he grabs their hand and yanks them to join him in the next adventure - returning to the OP world (years into the future), apotheosized into a new pantheon:

Luffy - sun/freedom/victory; Zoro - night sky/masculinity/ambition; Nami - day sky/femininity/skill; Usopp - plants/artists (especially storytellers)/bravery; Chopper - animals/childhood/medicine; Robin - life/knowledge-keepers/history; Franky - fire/builders/progress; Brook - death/musicians/love; Jimbe - water/guardians/community.

[raeesa-brand-store]

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[dankusner]

The Return of the Flip-Flop

Summer’s most standard sandal is getting a fashion-forward upgrade.

This week, Havaianas, the Brazilian brand that’s made $20 rubber flip-flops for over 60 years, is rolling out a collaboration with Italian luxury label Dolce & Gabbana.

The collection features four classic Havaianas’ flip-flops done in classically D&G maximalist prints, including leopard, zebra and bright, illustrated florals.

At $138, they’re priced over six times higher than a standard pair of Havaianas, and will be sold at luxury retailers like Selfridges and Galeries Lafayette, as well as on both brands’ direct-to-consumer websites.

It’s all part of Havaianas’ plan to harness this current moment, where its flagship shoe is on the upswing.

The brand, which saw its first-quarter profits increase nearly 9 percent and sales go up 3 percent from 2023 to 2024, is focussing on getting in front of consumers.

D&G is its third collaboration this year, following team-ups with fellow Brazilian-born label Farm Rio in March and lifestyle label Maison Kitsuné in April.

Last fall, it rolled out a new brand campaign, and this summer, it will further lean into out-of-home advertising and in-store display to maximise its busiest season.

“Being part of people’s lives again is a must for us,” said Maria Fernanda Albuquerque, vice president of global marketing at Havaianas’ parent company Alpargatas SA. “Flip-flops are super on trend, so we need to ride this wave.”

It’s a good time for the sandal seller to align itself with a luxury label (even if it’s one with a controversial past).

The luxury market can’t seem to get enough flip-flops.

Major brands, including Chanel, Loewe, Prada, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Tory Burch and Louis Vuitton, are all selling pairs, plus fashion favourites like Jil Sander, Toteme and Khaite.

Nostalgia is, of course, a driving factor.

(Even the Millennial favourite squishy “Floaties” flip-flops are back;

a made-for-2024 version is available at Free People and Amazon.)

But the flip-flop’s coming resurgence is proof that even in the age of TikTok micro-fads,

the standard playbook for driving trends is alive and well:

It’s trickled through the upper echelons of the fashion industry,

and now is poised to break through to the masses.

Sales haven’t yet seen an uptick, according to market research company Circana, but it’s still early on in the trends’ lifespan.

Nikolas Minoglou, co-founder and CEO of footwear seller Ancient Greek Sandals, said the brand didn’t see much wholesale interest nine months ago, which he attributed to caution around an unproven trend.

On its DTC channels, however, its seen flip-flop sales increase threefold this year.

Minoglou added that he believes the increase could have been four or five as much if the company had the stock.

(Ancient Greek Sandals is currently producing more of its flip-flop styles to meet demand.)

This wave of flip-flops and thong sandals are better suited to a dinner out than a day at the pool.

The Row kicked it off with the debut of its Ginza sandal — a $990 flip-flop with a leather or suede upper and a one-inch platform — in 2019;

by the Spring 2024 season, elevated takes on the flip-flop were appearing on the runway at Chanel, Staud, Ferragamo, Proenza Schouler and more.

Now, Madewell and Gap are selling more thong-inspired sandals, as well as direct-to-consumer players like Rothy’s (which is owned by the same parent company as Havaianas) and Reformation.

“I used to only wear flip flops home from pedicures, it wasn’t something that I’d walk around in all day,” said Rachel Cohen Smolyar, a content creator and a former buyer for Bergdorf Goodman. “But obviously when big brands like The Row are pushing a shoe, people are going to buy them.”

Fashion’s Take on Flip-Flops

In some ways, today’s flip-flops are different from the ones that came before; in others, they’re eerily familiar.

Styles that were aughts staples, like Havaianas, are making their way back into the fashion conversation, as are platform flip-flops, which saw searches increase 255 percent this spring, according to analytics platform Trendalytics.

But there’s also more unique twists, from versions that extend to wrap around the wearers’ ankle (think Miu Miu’s popular Riviere cord and leather sandals) to more dressed-up styles with a kitten heel — Trendalytics found that searches for kitten heel flip flops increased 700 percent in April.

J.Crew, Loft, Mango and even Old Navy, synonymous with rubber flip-flops, have introduced leather (or faux) versions, many unmistakably inspired by The Row’s Ginza or its City or Beach styles.

Havaianas, too, has introduced a more stylish square-toed version of its rubber flip-flop, plus a number of new silhouettes inspired by the thong shape or introducing design details like chains and buckles to the rubber silhouette.

Giving a utilitarian sandal a fashion upgrade is a playbook that’s worked in the past.

Look at Birkenstock, which has collaborated with the likes of Jil Sander and Rick Owens, and seen its stock rise by over 60 percent since its October 2023 IPO.

Likewise, these updates will help consumers consider flip-flops for a different setting, beyond the pool.

“What the industry is really struggling with lately is consumers pulling back on their buying, newness and innovation becomes more important.” said Beth Goldstein, executive director and footwear industry analyst at

Circana. “It’s not necessarily recreating the wheel but evolving it. So people are like, ‘I had this but now it’s something new that I don’t have in my closet, so I’m going to go for it.’”

Behind the Rise of the Flip-Flop

The flip-flop’s current prevalence is also a reminder that despite how much TikTok dominates the conversation, with its rapid-fire, hyper-specific trends like “mob wife” and “coastal grandmother,” it’s still possible for the old rules of trends to apply, particularly when thinking about the rise of an overall product category.

“Nowadays sometimes we see trends on TikTok, in the masses first,” said Kendall Becker, director of trend and editorial strategy for analytics platform Trendalytics. “This was hands down sparked by runways and luxury.”

Goldstein attributes the lack of a sales bump so far to the fact that seasonal footwear generally is softer than more year-round styles like loafers and sneakers.

According to Becker, it may be because people may be seeking out specific shoes, like The Row’s Ginza.

There’s reason to believe that shift will begin this summer.

According to Trendalytics, searches for thong sandals were up 12 percent in May; as temperatures rise, more people will reevaluate their sandal collection.

The options are certainly available, and as influencers further embrace the style, consumers are likely to follow.

“For some reason the flip flops make you look cooler, like wearing an evening dress and flip flops,” said Christina Martini, the co-founder and designer of Ancient Greek Sandals. “We’ve seen that a lot lately, that creates an appetite for it.”

Dear Miss Manners: Even though compression socks are uncomfortable, I wear them when flying to prevent medical issues. Putting them on at home before I leave for the airport adds at least three hours of discomfort. What is the least objectionable or rude way to put them on to reduce the amount of time I have to wear them? While seated at the terminal, partially shielded by my carry-on bag? After I’ve been seated on the airplane?

Gentle Reader:

The idea here is to avoid exposing your bare feet near anyone’s face. Sweet they may be, but strangers tend to believe otherwise.

Therefore, the terminal is a better choice.

But if you plan to wear thin socks under the others, Miss Manners will allow you a bit more time in comfort.

Or a lot more, if your plane is late.

[fidgettee]

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