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yourtoradorasextendedwarranty · 1 year ago

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Sheer Entitlement

Look. I've been called "Boomer", "Coomer" and every other stupid freaking word in the book. However, I'm no boomer, and frankly speaking I think the term "Coomer" is stupid as hell. But I need to discuss this and I know it will not be well received by some people.

Todays generations are royally entitled. And when it comes to Gen Z and Gen A I kind of don't blame them. Because while yes it's f*cked, the reason is because of Gen Y and Gen X. Though not fully.

What we are living through right now is the normalization of Communist ideology. Or rather, the propaganda that leads TO Communism. Which is, "The government should be in charge of everything, and give us everything because EVERYTHING literally is a human right". Except it's not. Your rights stop the moment it requires another persons labor to bring about. What do I mean by this? Scarcity is still a real world issue. And the only reason we have the stores of food we have is due to the labor of SEVERAL different sectors of industry.

The transportation industry. The machining industry. The farming industry, and so on. How do those industries thrive? Due to every other industry that makes it worth their time to do what they do. The local residents that make the water treatment systems work. The people to work on the grid. The people that make the petrol that makes all of that stuff work in general. Our countries require work and industry to survive. If no one works these jobs, there is nothing left. And lest people be FORCED to work these jobs, which under socialism and communism they WOULD be, everything we know and everything we have would crumble.

Frankly speaking, I can't blame the modern generations. We've allowed ourselves to be infiltrated by Commies and Socialists. What's more, it's often people who are well off, like Hasan Piker and his ilk. They complain about "Capitalism" while misrepresenting what it actually is. Every single time, blaming Capitalism for the problems not caused by the system in place, but my the government instead. Which fun fact if the government is the one causing the issue, why EXACTLY do you want more government control when THEY are the ones causing the issues? Then again, I already know why. Many of you assholes have expressed why. And the conversation goes as such:

"We want to turn the system on it's head"

"You realize you view the system as pyramid right? If you turn it on it's head said pyramid will shatter and crumble into a pile "Resembling" a pyramid"

"God your stupid. That's the point. We don't care about the bottom of the system. And people like you that try to view us in good faith are great for us. Of course we want the system to collapse by flipping it on its head. WE want to be on the top. F*ck everyone else."

^Those are the people you support. A system that want to look like this:

This is they system they want. The only grip they have is that not only are they not the ones at the very top, they also don't want mobility for others. They are selfish, greedy, and you prop them up believing "It's for the greater good". And "Oh well it's great to make EVERY THING a "Human Right". Healthcare is not a human right. Food is not a human right. Housing is not a human right. Because all of those things require the labor of others. If you are so pissed off about not having food, grow your own. Buy seeds at Walmart or Lowes. Get in home plants or just get pots to plant stuff in. Put it in the window or hang it outside.

And I've said this before but most people sadly become disillusioned by their friends and family or by social media. Often actually by social media more than not. Basically, a "Victim" of our own success. The better we make things the less effort has to be put into having a decent life. We live vastly better than even Royalty from decades ago. We have indoor plumbing and toilets. We have large refrigerators and freezers. We have strawberries year round. And other foods that would otherwise only exist seasonally. Our great grandparents probably worked 12-16 hr days. Between working on a farm or ranch. Potentially having a day job. Coming home to make repairs without fancy ass tools. Without Amazon. Having to wait for professionals to come out and fix something that could take days or longer. Maybe weeks.

We have it SO GREAT and honestly that might not be a good thing at all. People don't have to try anymore. You can literally make money now a days selling pictures of your f*cking feet. There are people that play games online and attempt to entertain people that make a KILLING. Things are so f*cking easy now. Does that mean it's easy for everyone? No. Does that mean that things are not difficult in their own way? No. But to pretend that the people that preceded us had it easier? They really didn't.

Which leads me to now. I honestly can't stand what we are seeing from people today. Everything is "oppressor" this and "Oppressed" that. It's "woe is me things are so hard". Yeah kindly tell that to some of your parents that worked 2 jobs just so you could turn in to an entitled socialist. And that's what most of the people today are. Even if they don't know it. "Every thing should be free". No. Everything should not be free. People deserve to see the fruits of their own labor. Not to be pressured into giving up what they have for other people who don't WANT to work.

Which leads me to my last point. Stop demanding stuff of free. Start teaching your kids the meaning of work. And it's worth. But more than that, start taking them off social media, and teach them the things you know. Teach them how to cook. Teach them how to clean, teach them how to build things. Teach them how to file taxes. Teach them the things they need to know to be prepared for life in the future. And also. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, educate your kids on why government interference in the market on BELHALF of multinational corporations is NOT capitalism. It's Corporatism. And when you just fork more and more power to the government you get the picture I posted above.

We need to start sanding down entitled behavior. People need to learn the value of work. They need to realize that. More over, they need to not replace religion in their lives with cult like belief in failed political ideologies. So many of us really have no idea how good we have it. And some of us that do want to see our country crumble because, "We've had it too good for too long". Yeah, I'm actually mostly fine with that. Because if let things crumble, how many people die in that process? Too many. How many people die if we BOW to climate alarmism? Too many. How many people die if we adopt Communism or Socialism? Too many.

And lastly. Teach your kids common sense. And teach them to stop chasing clout. Why? Look at what's going on now. Look at the "Rage" supporting that Palestinian people. Meanwhile the Uighur Muslims are being raped daily, sterilized, beaten, forced into reeducation, and forced to do labor for things coming out of China. NOT! A! F*CKING! PEEP from these same people. Because it's about hate (for a certain group of people) and it's about clout. If nothing else? Teach your kids to be consistent and teach them critical thinking. We really need to offset the current issues we are having today. BADLY. Anyways. I'm done ranting about this. It's already too long.

#discourse

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jaredr-k · 2 years ago

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Commissions Open!

Hello! Starting today I’ll be offering commissions for character illustrations.

There will be 3 slots open at a time for people to contact me and order a commission. I'll notify with status updates regularly when spots are open and filled.

Specs and pricing:

Headshot: $35 per character

Full body: $60 per character Color/render options:

Flat Black & White/No Color: Free

All hues are black and white

Flat color: $15

Basic cel-shaded style; flat layer of color with basic shading on top.

“Painterly”:$45

More detailed shading and material rendering.

Backgrounds: $15 starting fee; further charges based on complexity.

And now for the less exciting part, Terms of Service:

All commissions will be negotiated between artist and client.

Payments will be made at the beginning of production once the direction of the piece has been negotiated

Listed prices are estimated based on the time each piece will take. Should the client wish for extra, unlisted features, additional fees will be negotiated.

In the process of production, clients can request to see sketches and WIPs to ensure the final product will be to their liking.

In the event that the commission is canceled, whether due to personal emergencies or the client changing their mind, a full refund will be issued.

The client has the freedom to post the finished piece on their social media accounts. Though I do not wish for others selling the piece with no due royalties.

I can refuse client requests if I feel the it poses a safety or ideological concern (I.e. hate symbols, art designed for mocking real people, disturbing/triggering imagery)

Will Draw:

Original and licensed characters

Humans and humanoids

Animals

Antrho

Handheld and small props

Blood

Romantic art

Mild nudity

Will Not Draw:

Porn/Fetish art

Hate symbols

Real-life celebrities

Gore/intense violence

NSFW fan art

For any further clarifications, feel free to contact me at any of the links below:

[email protected]

@jaredr_k on Instagram

@The_JRockMan on Twitter

And of course you can always DM me here on Tumblr

#commissions #commissions open #art commission #open commissions #artists on tumblr #art

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onpitchperformingarts · 2 months ago

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The Price of Applause: More Than Just Lights, Camera, Action!

When people think of community theatre, they often imagine the excitement of live performances, the camaraderie among cast members, and the joy of seeing neighbors on stage. What they don’t often see is the intricate web of costs involved in bringing a show to life. As much as we thrive on the passion and volunteer efforts that make community theatre a reality, the financial side of things plays a crucial role in every production. Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at where the money goes in community theatre.

1. The Building and Utilities

It all starts with the building. Whether it's a modest performance space or a more elaborate theatre, rent or mortgage payments must be covered. And just like any business, theatres incur monthly utility bills—electricity, water, heating, and cooling. Running rehearsals, tech days, and performances requires keeping the lights on, often for many hours a day. Plus, there's the need for Wi-Fi, phone systems, and insurance—ensuring that both the building and its occupants are protected.

2. Staffing

While many involved in community theatre donate their time, some staff positions must be paid. This includes technical directors, lighting and sound designers, stage managers, and box office staff. In some cases, directors, choreographers, and music directors receive stipends for their time and expertise. On top of that, janitorial services are essential to keep the space clean and comfortable, especially during a run of performances. House managers and ushers are also often compensated for managing audience experience and safety.

3. Costumes, Props, and Set Design

One of the more visible expenses for any production is the creation of the world on stage. Costumes, props, and sets require extensive materials and craftsmanship. Even in a community theatre setting, audiences expect high-quality visuals. Depending on the era or fantastical nature of the show, costume designers need to source fabrics, wigs, shoes, and accessories. For set design, lumber, paint, lighting rigs, and special effects all contribute to creating the right atmosphere for a show. And don’t forget about props—everything from swords and teapots to fake money and books.

4. Royalties, Music, and Scripts

One of the lesser-known but significant expenses for theatres is the cost of licensing a show. Every play or musical is owned by a rights holder, and theatres must pay royalties to legally perform a show. These fees vary greatly depending on the show’s popularity and the size of the audience, but they can easily range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Additionally, scripts and musical scores need to be purchased or rented for every cast and crew member. For musicals, the rights to use the musical scores and orchestrations are an additional cost.

5. Marketing and Promotions

The success of any theatre production depends on butts in seats, and getting the word out requires more than just word of mouth. Flyers, posters, social media campaigns, email blasts, and occasionally paid advertising (whether digital or print) all contribute to the marketing budget. Some theatres may hire a marketing director or outsource to a professional service, adding to the overall cost.

6. House Management

During performances, a whole new set of costs comes into play. Ushers need to manage audience flow, concessions might need to be stocked, and someone must oversee ticketing. Box office software or staff often come with their own expenses. Additionally, security and safety personnel are essential, ensuring that audiences and performers alike are safe and the space is compliant with local regulations.

7. Insurance and Rights

Theatre productions involve moving parts—literally. Sets, heavy equipment, and packed houses mean insurance is a must. Liability insurance ensures that in case of accidents or property damage, the theatre is protected. There may also be insurance policies covering costumes and sets, ensuring that expensive items are covered in case of theft, loss, or damage.

8. Janitorial and Maintenance Costs

Though not glamorous, keeping the theatre clean and operational is crucial. Between shows, janitors clean bathrooms, sweep floors, and ensure that every space is tidy for the next set of audience members. Additionally, regular maintenance of the theatre—repairing HVAC systems, plumbing, and the stage itself—adds to the running costs.

9. Rehearsal Space and Technical Needs

Rehearsals often occur for months before a show opens. In many cases, theatres don’t own rehearsal spaces and need to rent them. Even if the theatre space is used, the time required for rehearsals still ties up resources like lighting, sound, and air conditioning, adding to the utility bill. Tech rehearsals—when lighting, sound, and sets are fine-tuned—use even more resources, with all elements of the show running simultaneously.

10. Miscellaneous Costs

From feeding the cast and crew during long rehearsals to providing transportation for large sets, there are always unexpected costs. This can include last-minute purchases of missing costume pieces or tools to fix broken set elements. Every production has a contingency budget for those unpredictable moments.

Final Thoughts

While community theatre is driven by passion and love for the arts, it’s important to recognize the extensive financial commitment that goes into every production. Ticket sales often cover only a portion of these expenses, which is why donations, sponsorships, and grants are critical to keeping community theatre alive and thriving. It’s a labor of love, and while the spotlight may be on the actors, every single person and resource behind the scenes plays a part in making magic happen.

Next time you attend a community theatre show, know that your ticket isn’t just paying for a seat—it’s supporting an entire ecosystem dedicated to bringing art and joy to the community.

#theatrematters #oppa!#theatre #education #design #community theatre #producing theatre

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vintagecarrental · 3 months ago

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Vintage Car on Rent in Jaipur: Experience Royalty on Wheels

Jaipur, the Pink City, is a mesmerizing destination known for its rich heritage, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. From majestic palaces to grand forts, the city offers a glimpse into the regal lifestyle of the bygone era. One way to enhance your visit to Jaipur is by renting a vintage car. At Vintage Car Rental Jaipur, we specialize in offering a unique and royal experience to all our guests. If you’ve ever dreamt of traveling back in time and cruising through the streets of Jaipur like royalty, renting a vintage car is the way to go.

Why Rent a Vintage Car in Jaipur?

Jaipur is steeped in history, and every corner of the city is infused with stories of the past. Renting a vintage car in Jaipur allows you to blend into that history, creating an immersive experience. Whether you are visiting Jaipur for a wedding, a special event, or a simple vacation, choosing a vintage car to explore the city adds a touch of elegance and charm to your journey.

At Vintage Car Rental Jaipur, we offer a wide selection of classic cars that have been meticulously maintained and restored to their former glory. Imagine arriving at the Amer Fort in a beautifully polished vintage car or exploring the winding streets of the Old City while sitting in the plush seats of a car from the 1940s or 1950s. These cars allow you to experience Jaipur as the maharajas once did—luxuriously and in style.

When to Rent a Vintage Car?

There are many occasions when renting a vintage car in Jaipur can enhance your experience:

Weddings: Jaipur is a popular wedding destination, known for its palatial venues and romantic settings. Arriving in a vintage car adds a touch of timeless elegance to your wedding day. It not only makes for an impressive entrance but also offers stunning photo opportunities.

Photo Shoots: Speaking of photo opportunities, vintage cars make for amazing props in photo shoots. Whether it's for a pre-wedding shoot, a fashion shoot, or just for fun, renting a vintage car can elevate the aesthetics of your pictures.

Special Events: Whether you’re hosting an anniversary celebration, birthday party, or a corporate event, adding a vintage car into the mix brings a touch of luxury and sophistication to your event.

Tours: Even if you’re simply exploring Jaipur for the first time, taking a tour of the city in a vintage car can transform an ordinary day into something extraordinary. The grandeur of the car paired with the city’s stunning architecture creates an unforgettable experience.

What Types of Vintage Cars Are Available?

At Vintage Car Rental Jaipur, we pride ourselves on our collection of classic cars that include various models from different eras. Our fleet features:

Rolls Royce: Known for its elegance and superior craftsmanship, a Rolls Royce will make you feel like royalty as you glide through Jaipur’s streets.

Bentley: This British classic is perfect for those who enjoy a balance of luxury and performance.

Buick: With its smooth lines and graceful design, a Buick offers a timeless appeal.

Chevrolet: A symbol of American automotive excellence, Chevrolet vintage cars offer a blend of style and history.

Each car is maintained to the highest standards, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride throughout your journey. Our chauffeurs are experienced, well-dressed, and professional, ensuring that your time with us is memorable from start to finish.

Benefits of Renting a Vintage Car in Jaipur

Unique Experience: Renting a vintage car allows you to experience Jaipur in a way that few others can. It’s not just a car; it’s a journey back in time.

Comfort and Luxury: These cars are not only visually stunning but also provide high levels of comfort, perfect for long rides across the city.

Photo-Worthy Moments: The aesthetic appeal of these cars makes for incredible pictures, perfect for personal memories or social media.

Booking a Vintage Car on Rent in Jaipur

Booking a vintage car with Vintage Car Rental Jaipur is simple and straightforward. Whether you're looking for a specific car or need recommendations based on your event or tour plans, our friendly team is here to assist you. We’ll guide you through our fleet options, help you choose the perfect vehicle, and make sure everything is in place for your special day.

Conclusion

If you’re visiting Jaipur and want to enhance your experience with a touch of history and elegance, consider renting a vintage car from Vintage Car Rental Jaipur. It’s more than just a ride; it’s an opportunity to step into the shoes of the royal families who once ruled this magnificent city. Whether it’s for a wedding, a special event, or simply exploring the city in style, our vintage cars offer an experience that is unforgettable.

Make your Jaipur journey royal, elegant, and timeless with Vintage Car Rental Jaipur. Let us help you create lasting memories as you cruise through the streets of the Pink City in a car that’s as grand as the city itself!

#vintage car in jaipur #vintage car for events #vintage car rental rajasthan #vintage car hire jaipur #vintage car hire rajasthan #vintage car hire in jaipur #vintage car for wedding #hire vintage car in jaipur #vintage car on rent in jaipur price #vintage car hire for wedding

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sigigeigewifi · 5 months ago

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Food franchises under 10 lakhs in India

ZORKO Franchise: Igniting the Spark of Success in Foodpreneurs

Franchiseavsdelhi

3 min read

May 15, 2024

ZORKO Pvt. Ltd., is a dynamic and innovative startup recognized by the Indian government, driven by a passion for food and a desire to make a difference. At ZORKO, they are dedicated to providing quality goods and services in the food industry, including food manufacturing, HoReCa supply, food preparation, and quick-service restaurant businesses. Their team is committed to upholding ethics, trust, and quality in everything .

AREA REQUIRED (SQ.FT)

150 – 1000

BRAND OUTLETS

150-200

INVESTMENT

8-20 lakh

More About Zorko

Story of Zorko :

ZORKO emerged during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with a clear and simple concept: to provide the best quality products at the best prices, ensuring maximum customer satisfaction. Their innovative approach to the market has led to overnight success, and then they found out that people from all over India were interested about their franchise and other information related to them. Thus due to the overwhelming demand, they developed a unique franchise model designed to address the challenges and obstacles they have faced on their journey to success.

About ZORKO Franchise Model:

Their franchise model was designed with one goal in mind: to empower aspiring food entrepreneurs across India. Only having a minimum requirement of just 100–125 square feet of commercial space, preferably located in high people traffic areas, their franchise offers an affordable and easy way to enter the food business market. .

Franchise Cost:

For an initial investment of just Rs. 3,99,000 (plus taxes), franchisees receive a comprehensive package that includes raw materials, marketing materials, franchise start-up kit, kitchen accessories, billing software, brand value, and ongoing support from ZORKO Pvt. Ltd.

Freedom to Customise:

With approximately Rs. 4 lakh allotted for interior and exterior setup, franchisees have the creative freedom to design their outlet according to their preferences and budget. Whether it’s the main board, counter furniture, kitchen equipment, or seating furniture, franchisees are encouraged to be innovative and resourceful.

Why Should You Choose ZORKO?

Chef-less Model: The easy-to-operate model eliminates the need for a chef, reducing operational complexity. Zero Wastage: With efficient raw materials and no gas cooking, they ensure minimal wastage, maximising profits. Quick ROI: Experience a return on investment in just 12–14 months, one of the quickest in the industry. Affordability: With low investment and setup costs, this franchise is accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs across India. Brand Visibility: Get a lot of benefits from the established brand recognition of Zorko with over 165 outlets across 46+ cities and 10+ states. Transparency: They have 100% transparency, with no hidden fees, royalties, or profit-sharing.

What’s Included in a ZORKO Franchise?

Brand value of 165+ outlets and highly recognized brand of IndiaNo royalty, no profit sharing Raw materials, non-frozen, and branded packaging material (approx. 400 kg) Lifetime free POS (billing & management software) with training and menu integration 50+ required kitchen accessories Rs. 50,000 budget for digital marketing campaign, food bloggers/influencers marketing Startup franchise kit including t-shirts, props, caps, etc. Food photo frames, ready-designed CDR files of pamphlets, vinyls, menus, standees, etc. Year-round graphic designs, creatives, and festive posts for social media & marketing Ready menu and photos for Zomato/Swiggy Chef-less model with 50–60% gross profit margin

Why ZORKO is Different:

Lower initial investment (Rs. 3,99,000 + taxes)

Faster growth rate with 165+ outlets in less than 2 yearsZero royalty, only make profitsFirst-time non-frozen raw materials includedFree digital/influencer marketingComprehensive staff trainingInterior & furniture setupFull creative freedom for menu customization and outlet design

Return on Investment (ROI):

With ZORKO, you can expect a quick return on your investment, typically within 12–14 months, because of their efficient operations, low wastage, and high-profit margins.

Join Us Today:

Join the ZORKO family today and turn your dream of being the owner of a successful food business into reality. Contact us today to be a proud ZORKO franchise owner and write your own story of success..If you are interested in investing in the ZORKO franchise, you can contact Franchise AVS through their official website www.franchiseavs.com, or email [email protected]. You can also reach them by phone at 9205434226

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1eos · 4 years ago

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What's your theory on why black ppl (predominantly black girls) continue to stan kpop groups ? I remember i had a phase that correlated with my lowest points lol but I cannot understand continuing to listen to and promote groups that are constantly anti black? How does it not get ruined after that ? You reminded me of them got7 twins and them youtube twins and it genuinely made me so sad . I wonder why so many ppl accept behaviour from Asian musicians that they never would for other non blacks

i lowkey hate it when y’all ask questions like this bc 1. what genre of music doesnt hate black women specifically? 2. why is everyone acting like kpop fans are the only ppl defending racism? why is kpop this big bad everyone keeps centering the discussion on? nd 3. why is it that black ppl aren’t ever allowed to have fun--even if its flawed nd why are we always supposed to be focusing on the burden of racism 24/7?

to expound:

first of all imma say it again: there is no industry in the world that doesn’t demean black women nd use them as a prop.

american pop is full of blackfishers but would u ask a black ariana stan why she’s still loving her? the rnb scene is full of so much misogynoir its ridiculous nd its not just the men go check summer walker’s tw for proof of that. modern american music was BUILT on shitting on black women like u can find so many stories abt motown stealing songs from folks nd not paying them royalties but are u asking black folks why they aren’t denouncing ALL of music?

secondly the way kpop fans defend racism isn't even new. chr*s brown got bitches defending him. there are folks out there right now blaming megan for getting shot by t*ry lanez. dr*ke used to get accused of being a predator every couple of months nd ppl (black women included) STILL was stanning him 😭😭😭😭😭

these are patterns of behavior that is deeper than just koreacoons it’s engrained into the very fiber of society. the first pattern is that black women should protect men nd defend them at any cost. AND the behavior of parasocial relationships nd protecting celebrities bc we feel that when THEY’RE attacked WE’RE being attacked

kpop fans are just doing the same thing in a different ocean with a group of mostly men that aren’t black. i won’t deny that the fact that these kpop boys aren’t black can play into the equation on a deeper level bc there is a subset of fans that may have been othered by their black peers for having different hobbies nd subsequently turn to alternate hobbies.

like when i was in high school the alt black girls were into white rock bands. nd just like then ppl now try to other themselves from blackness by using kpop but still its nothing new just a new model race of nonblacks to fawn over. which is mega creepy nd should be called out but fetishists be the most popular folks on social media.

nd my last point is.......kpop is fun nd provides an abundance of content with comebacks weekly nd constant fanwars nd arguments and drama. kpop is also trendy nd promotes u to be connected to these groups for the long term. like are black ppl supposed to be magically immune to the appeal of kpop? just bc of racism that they’ll experience somewhere else?

nonblacks get to enjoyed flawed media but we can’t? do u know how many white gays r on here saying twilight is gay culture nd no one coming for them or asking them why they're reading that when the book straight up spread negative misinformation abt a real life native tribe nd promotes very strange nd unhealthy relationship tropes?

why is the conversation ALWAYS centered on how black ppl can lower themselves to enjoy a certain kind of media when nonblacks can mindlessly consume nd defend racism nd no one is asking them why they’re giffing cultural appropriation or ignoring the voices of their black ‘friends’ nd still spamming mamamoo gifs on the dash? ofc black ppl need to have self love but a lot pressure is put on us to engage in this mythical media purity nd no one else which i have a problem with. like we do deserve to fucking have fun

tl; dr: all industries are racist nd no matter who u ‘stan’ u will encounter racism. black ppl are defending misogynists nd racists even outside of kpop. black kpop fans see kpop as an alt hobby nd this can be in a normal way or a fetishy way. nd a lot of black ppl just want to have fun nd jump into the endless content of kpop and its unfair that only black ppl get questioned endlessly on what they like

#y'all are acting like kpop is this big bad that no black person can ever like #where is this energy for our 'allies'#or for the black men that stay giving money to their misogynist rappers?#asks #long post #Anonymous #ok to reblog

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alwayshaveneverholdd · 3 years ago

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hiiii can i get a TXT & Ateez compatibility pls?🌷

I’m an INFP saggitarius she/her who is an introvert/shy and my social anxiety really shows but once you get to know me, i can get really annoying & vibrant if you will. Observant, a good listener and very clingy at times.

My style is more towards soft girl and I love to accessorise. I absolutely love the colour pink, it’s basically my life. I choose fits that make me feel confident & comfortable and they’re pretty preppy too.

I’m a lil child-like (especially the things I like such as like having a mini happy dance when excited) & also one who’s obsessed with the fantasy world & i love the idea of royalty (specifically princesses, harry potter & narnia etc.) I enjoy posing on social media and also enjoy being the one capturing the photos. (but i wish to have someone take them for me one day🥲) I’m pretty adventurous as long as there is someone with me to go through the “challenges” together with & i can get very impulsive in my decisions.

Honestly, I try to fit in most of the time cos then it’s less awkward for me to talk to others but sometimes there’s those random bursts of energy that makes me feel more self-confident which makes me feel proud of myself. Oh, and I absolutely love sweets!! Some things I do in my free time include playing the guitar, piano, singing, dancing & listening to music.

// so sorry if it’s too long… i didn’t exactly know what to write🥺 can’t wait to read them💗\\

WOOHOO I was waiting for a TXT one lol

TXT: Beomgyu

I think Beomgyu would SO enjoy someone who gets excited like he does over random stuff and can just have a good time and be loud together.

Y'all could have the most fun and strange conversations about fantasies worlds and he would ask questions like "what if Narnia is filled with demons trying to trick the children and they actually are all living in a dream after being devoured" and then you could debate and stuff uwuwu

As @neo-wonderland once famously said, "In another life, Beomgyu could be Stalin. But like. Make it hot and less murdery."

Beomgyu is a master of small manipulations and pranks to make life more interesting. As a certified Pisces Bitch he will always use his Satan-given talent in manipulation to try and get his way. Props if you don't fall for it, but expect a pouty nimrod for a few hours.

He's the kind of boyfriend that would tease you, take it too far, and then spend the rest of the day making up for it with fun adventures and lots of affection.

YEEEEEHOOOOO if you're impulsive then lmfao get ready to MOVE TO MOROCCO AND BUY A TWO DOGS AND PARAKEET 4 MONTHS INTO THE RELATIONSHIP. Beomgyu's sag mars and aries venus says "let's jump into any situation as much as possible". So yeah perhaps you'll be chased down the streets for shoplifting and then catch a plane to France, get married, and honeymoon in the local jail for wearing fake staches and trying to sell knock-off gucci bags on the street. (This is an exaggeration, but I think you get my point lol you guys would have lots of fun doing random shit together).

This could be a double-edged sword, because while It may be fun to be with someone who likes adventures, you guys might end up in situations that you didn't completely think through. This is where I would hope you have some earth placements, and maybe y'all could rely on Beomgyu's One (1) earth placement, Taurus Saturn, to reign in the fun and add some groundedness. Or hell if you want a totally spontaneous relationship then fuck earth placements, power to you.

Beomgyu would be the type of boyfriend to protest your trying to fit in. He would encourage you to be the weirdest you can be, and in this encouragement, would deliberately embarrass you in public by doing things like shoving his arms into his pant legs and frolicking around.

And about the fashion and social media, Beomgyu would LOVE. Love. love helping you pick out outfits, styling each other, or just admiring your cute pink wardrobe. He would hang upside down in a tree if it meant getting The Right Angle for your social media posts lol. And then he'd want you to take a pic of him flexing on the tree. Okay Gyu.

Basically a very fun relationship!

ATEEZ: Yunho

That entire pink soft girl aesthetic is so up Yunho's alley. Not to mention he would very much enjoy learning new things about you as you slowly open up to him. He would be very sweet and would only take you outside your comfort zone if you wanted.

Yunho loves to laugh and make others laugh, so when you've got that burst of energy going he's right there with you. Yunho can match your pace at whatever level. He would enjoy dancing around with you and just having a good time being goofballs.

Another thing: Mr. Taurus Venus here would really enjoy trying out new dessert places with you, or ordering in some sweet things for a night on the couch watching something that will probably end in you guys falling asleep cuddling uwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuuwuwu

Yunho would humor your interest in fantasies, mostly asking you to explain the complexities of a fantasy world. He would gift you fantasy books he knows you haven't read, and take you to places like Everland where you can enjoy the fantastical nature of it!

HIGHKEY a boyfriend that would want to get all dressed up in traditional royal attire and hire a photographer to take pictures of you two. We all know he's a rich boy and a lot of that money would be spent on you! He would take you shopping to buy you clothes lol and be excited to see you try stuff on.

Super wholesome.

#pinkheadflowers #ateez compatibility #txt compatibility #ateez #tomorrow by together #tomorrow x together #choi beomgyu #beomgyu #yunho #jeong yunho #ateez jeong yunho

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green-eyed-whumpster · 4 years ago

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Mutual Appreciation Post

I’m just chillin on my fave social media platform and realised that there’s a very good chance that these people don’t realise how much I love their presence on my dash and in my notifications, so I wanted to have a go at maybe doing my own tag-game thing where I just admit my adoration to these online companions.

@just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi - The follower who feels like a celebrity and I get super excited every time they interact with my work or approve of my writing, also their OCs are just *MWAH* and they can write really angsty whump that I struggle with. Also they are incredibly supportive and feel like a parent reminding me to go easy on myself which I appreciate very much.

@much-ado-about-whumping - My very first Whumblr friend, who didn’t mind listening to my random drabbles and take interest in my work in exchange for my interest in theirs. Also my longest social media friend ever, super kind, and even though they don’t update often, their writing was inspiration for my OCs and I’m so grateful that they let me use it. They’re very funny and their mice are adorable.

@sky-or-something-idfk - The sweetest little character that supports everything I do and makes me feel so much better whenever I feel like I’ve let you guys down, they’re absolutely the most super, beautiful supporter I could have ever hoped to have.

@whump-me-all-night-long - Absolutely amazing whump prompts. Just....so good.

@whump-me-all-night-long - They write the most incredible drabbles ever and I just...fuck! A recent one with corrosive/scarring liquids being painted on a whumpee was flipping inspired! I love how unique, and angsty, and well-written they all are! (Also props to the anon that suggested it, I get whumperflies every time I remember it)

@abitefullofeverything - They have created the most beautiful characters, and a riveting plot, and I always get excited when I see that they’ve updated Damien and Sully’s story.

@tears-and-lilies - New friend but best friend. Has written the most unique whump I’ve ever come across, and it also has medieval and royalty whump, which I’m a sucker for. They read through 58 chapters of Rowan in the space of about a week and it’s super flattering. Also being told that I was someone’s inspiration actually made me so happy I began crying while watching Avengers: Age of Ultron through Disney+ with my friends on Discord.

@whatgoeswhumpinthenight - Super talented whump-writer, and the only one I’ve come across with a story and OCs that are drastically diverse from Western characters and stories. I love medieval whump but learning about ancient China while also getting my daily dose of fictional abuse is a whole other thing, and it’s amazing!

You guys all mean so much to me and it’s amazing to be able to interact with you, to be surrounded by so many talented and creative people is so frickin cool!!! Your presence in my life is appreciated far more than I could ever articulate and far more than you could ever know!!

<3 :)

#mutuals #affection #not whump #appreciation post

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witchcraft-in-wonderland · 4 years ago

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Snakes and Scandals (Pt.1)

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Virgil Blanche hated a lot of things, that was a given. He was, after all, an extremely poor twenty-two year old man living in the slums of a high-end empire city. Every day he would sit through nearly ten hours of abuse from costumers who were raised to think they were better than everyone else, and even the ones who weren't born rich were corrupted very quickly.

"Excuse me? Is this still eligible for a return? I tried at another store and they rejected me but I only bought it a few days ago," Virgil merely sighed at the hat and scarf clad man in front of him.

"If you bought it less than two months ago its eligible for return, if someone told you it wasn't you can file a complaint," Virgil never spoke very clearly, but he appreciated the man at least pretending to understand what he was saying.

"Thank you," it was at this point Virgil seemed to register that the man was speaking with a slight russian accent.

"Have a nice day," Virgil said in a monotone voice.

The day continued as all days working in customer service usually did, of course, had Virgil checked his calendar, maybe he would've realized that it was National Frame a Retailer For Flirting With You day. He didn't have much time to react, whoever the girl who'd used him as a cheating scapegoat was, she was very quiet, and her boyfriend was very fast.

"You tryna make her look dumb? Huh? Is that what you want?" Virgil tried to protest but ended up with a faceful of knuckles instead.

He should've known it wouldn't end well for him, at least he wasnt dead, but now he had a bloody face and was sitting in the managers office, waiting to hear his fate.

"So you punched him?" Virgil's boss was very stereotypical, blonde, bob-cut, light brown eyes, and Virgil knew she hated him. She always acted excited about his new piercings or tattoos, and of course she congratulated him when she found out he'd finally managed to afford top surgery after saving up since age fourteen. But he could tell it was all fake. He wasn't social enough for customer service, after all.

"In self defense, only after he broke my nose," Virgil responded. His manager pursed her lips together, glaring slightly from behind her glasses.

"And you are aware they intended to sue, yes?" Virgil gritted his teeth,of course they were, after all, why attack a store employee if you didn't want to sue them, or, at least, if you didn't want free starbucks every time you showed up.

"No, I wasn't, because they attacked me first," Virgil said calmly.

"I'm sorry Virgil but I'm going to have to fire you," there was no hiding the look of pure glee on the managers face as she delivered the news.

Virgil merely set his name tag on the table and left, all the while clutching his face. It burned, badly, some people needed to go to the gym less.

"You alright dude?" Virgil moved his hand to look at the man in front of him. Tall, skinny, with a mustache on his face and a white streak in his hair. The man had a worried look on his face, though his eyes conveyed a vague crazed look.

"Yeah, sure," Virgil said. He was about to walk away when the taller man grabbed his arm.

"Come with me, I'll help clean you up," Virgil was honestly to tired to argue, so instead he merely followed.

"Roman! I think I found you a new model! A little bruised up but I think he'll be ok soon enough!" Virgil had stopped listening after 'model'.

"Wait wait wait wait wait- I am definitely not a model-" Virgil tried to shrink in on himself.

"Well of course you arent yet! Oh Remus you life saver look at him! He's brilliant!" A boy who looked similar to the one with the mustache rushed out from behind a pillar, planting a kiss on the receptionists cheek as he ran.

Remus smiled, "I'll go get some ice packs and bandages, you two can talk," he said, running off.

"Roman Prince-Duke, head of Rome Fashion Company," Roman said, holding a hand out.

"Virgil Blanche, head of confused and worried emotions company," Virgil said, Roman let out a laugh.

"So what happened? If you're comfortable sharing that is," Roman said, gesturing to Virgil's face.

"Girl got her boyfriend to attack me at work for the sake of coupons," Virgil said, shrugging.

"Oh dear. . ." Roman said, his face falling slightly.

A few minutes later Virgil was sitting on a bench with ice pressed against his face and Roman listening intently as the receptionist told him what he should do.

"Gods Lolo you're so cute when you're being smart," Roman said, smiling and leaning his elbow on his knee, head pressed against his hand. The receptionist's face flushed with color.

Virgil honestly wasn't sure how calling him a model wasn't a joke, yet here he was sitting in the lobby waiting for Roman.

"Alright Virgil! Let's get you ready for your first shoot shall we?" Roman brought Virgil up by the hand, spinning him slightly before guiding him to another room.

"Lucky for you we have plenty of outfits in your size," Roman said.

"Mention my height and the fabric scissors might find their way up your nose," Virgil growled. Being 4'8 never exactly helped his case, he didn't normally get aggressive easily but it was a bit touchy for him.

"Oh dont worry, I learned my lesson with Lo on our first date," Roman said.

An hour or so later Virgil was dressed in a purple sleeveless top with black lace along the neckline, a black corset, ruffled black skirts, and black boots with heels. It felt, nice, and Virgil wasnt sure why. Normally he hated the way he looked in everything, but for once in his life he felt like royalty.

"Remy! I've got a new model for you!" Roman said as they entered another room with all manner of different sets and cameras set up.

A man with a leather jacket and sunglasses popped out from behind one, jaw dropping slightly "Roman you SAINT! Where'd you find him?!" Remy said, circling Virgil and looking him up and down.

"That credit goes to Remus, speaking of which, I've got business to attend to, you boys have fun," Roman said, turning on his heel to leave, the nearly floor length skirt of his outfit sweeping behind him.

"Alright babes you look like you're about to pass out right now so let's take a little break m'kay?" Remy walked with Virgil to a room that seemed primarily composed of bean bags.

They sat there for a while, Remy asking him questions and telling him his own stories. Before suddenly he got up and held a hand out for him. Virgil took it and allowed himself to be lead to a set covered in giant mushrooms and flowers. Remy spent a few minutes posting him, bringing out a few props for him to prop his arms on.

"Now just relax and give me a smile, you look like you're good at subtle, let's try some of those first," said Remy from behind the camera.

Virgil started out the shoot wishing it would be over already, but by the end he couldnt seem to stop looking at his own reflection in the camera lens.

"Oh Jan's going to lose it when he sees these!" Roman said, looking through the pictures from his phone.

"Who's Jan?-" Virgil said, tilting his head slightly.

"Oh you probably know him as Dimitri, he's a rival of mine," Roman handed Virgil a magazine, one scan of the front cover and Virgil recognized the man from a week ago, he was wearing the same hat and scarf as before. He read the caption above it. "Dimitri Gabriel to release new line inspired by endangered reptile species, all proceeds to go to preservation funding, no real scales used," he handed the article back to Roman.

"I've seen that guy, he was returning something the day I got fired," Virgil said.

"Oh even better! He'll recognize you!" Said Roman.

"Wait where are these even going?" Virgil said.

"My stylegram, you dont seem like the type who likes runways, so Remus and I have decided you'll be a social media model," Roman said.

"Well- guess I better make my own account then," Virgil said, pulling out his own phone.

It was only a few minutes before the comments flooded in, he recognized Janus' face, though his handle still conveyed his name as Dimitri. His face flushed red at the compliments. He wasn't quite sure what it was, but the feeling that Janus was impressed by his looks gave him an intense sensation of joy.

----------------------------------------------

Tag List:

@nerosdayinhell

@official-lucifers-child

@meowthefluffy

@spooky-scary-virgil

@misunderstoodshadowling

@youtuberswithalex

#snakes and scandals au #romantic anxceit #anxceit #mosleep #romantic mosleep #intrumile #romantic intrumile #imagimile #romantic imagimile #romantic logince #logince #violence tw #tw violence #violence mention #violence #tw blood #blood tw #blood

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squirrelylife · 4 years ago

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Taylor Swift: An Essay

“There’s just something about her I don’t like” I used to say. Is it perhaps that I perceived something negative from her that I couldn’t put words to or is it simply that I was influenced by the media? After watching the documentary about Free Britney, I kept thinking about how the media can manipulate our beliefs by spinning dishonest stories or exaggerated stories about famous people. And through this analysis, I kept thinking about Taylor Swift. So, I thought I would try to figure out what it was I didn’t like about her.

I started by searching for a documentary on her. Lucky for me, since “Miss Americana” exists.

So I went in with an open mind, and what do you know. That documentary is so eye-opening.

Things I learned from the documentary:

Taylor is a songwriting genius.

She’s so thoughtful. I think she’s an introvert because she doesn’t speak just to speak. She speaks to make her point and no further.

The media scrutiny she faces is no joke. I imagine having a healthy personal life must be difficult.

Personally, I’m an introvert and just the thought of so much media scrutiny gives me chills. I give props to her, to have every day scrutiny and still be willing to face the media. She must love her craft and her fans so much.

Songwriting

Then, I decided to listen to her albums.

She writes all of her songs. It only takes a quick google search to see her discography and see that the majority of them are written solely by her or with only one other person. Additionally, she wrote an entire album by herself. That’s crazy! Do you know the magnitude of that? Let’s compare her to one of the other youngest biggest universal singer/songwriters in the world. Adele. If you look at Adele’s discography, you see she has 3 albums. The first one was mostly only written by her, the other two were co-written with a few people. (I chose Adele because that’s one of the artists I know most of) Now, search for another artist in mainstream media, and I can almost guarantee on average 5 people worked in just one song.

If you turn the radio on specially on a pop station, you’ll find a lot of catchy songs, but they are usually without substance or narrative. You’ll find something extra in a Taylor song though, she’s a master at it. Even if the song is catchy you’ll find yourself singing about a story that you relate so much to, until the moment where you realize you’re actually singing about things Taylor has experienced. Now, let me make some assumptions that seem to be the norm. Pop mainstream songs follow a theme close with the singer but more often than not the artist only comes up with a theme and maybe a couple of lines to the song and the artist gets an entire team to give life to the vibe that they want. Now, that doesn’t happen with Taylor. She comes to the studio with lyrics in mind, and bounces off ideas with her producer/s but at the end of the day even if she co-writes the song, the majority of the song building comes from her. Do you have any idea how profitable Taylor Swift must be based solely on the fact that she’s a songwriting genius? And she is a genius, because she always comes back with hits. The only other person that I can think of that’s like this is Adele. But not even Adele reinvents herself every time she releases an album.

Media Scrutiny

The media always controls the narrative. If the media hates you, then people in general will hate you. People take so little to form an opinion on someone especially if the media is talking about that someone. Every decision a famous person makes is always scrutinized, and even more if that person is a woman.

Business Savvy

She’s a smart businesswoman. I don’t know about you (😉), but that just won me over. She could have a typical singer career just singing hits, doing some tours, and just living on royalties for the rest of her life. BUT NO! She goes way further than that. She treats the Taylor Swift brand like a business. I studied business in college and let me tell you, I always admire companies that exude their brand, such as Apple. I don’t need to explain to you what Apple sells, you already know. Think about it, why is it that there are always people buying their newest Iphone even though they have no need for a new one? Because Apple creates a sense of anticipation, that makes people feel the need to get their new product. Swift does that, but she goes a step further. She creates a personal connection with her fans, something no company has ever been able to do. If you go through her social media pages you can see she looks at memes fans make, and she laughs along. And also drops easter eggs, so fans are always on the lookout. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another artist do that, every release of an album is a whole careful orchestrated series of things that build the anticipation. That’s why she holds those huge records like fastest selling album in a decade, most weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart, 24 hour streaming record on Spotify, and many others.

Throughout all my deep dive into the world of Taylor Swift as a brand, the only thing that I found to be missing or at least did not see, was the presence of people of color in her board. If we go back to her sitting with her team in the “Miss Americana” documentary, we see young and older females and males but we don’t see a single person of color. That’s a demographic that’s still part of her fanbase. A new perspective in the room can also potentially strengthen the Taylor Swift brand as a whole, not to mention potentially make it more profitable.

Additionally, I’d like to give props to her parents since one of them is a former stockbrocker and the other a former marketing executive, I have no doubt that Taylor learned a business thing or two from them.

In Conclusion

Taylor Swift, indeed is the music industry. And many people are still sleeping on her, because they are still being influenced by the media. Hey @taylorswift, I’m not asleep anymore, my mind is alive 😂

#taylornation #taylor swift #essay

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barbitone · 5 years ago

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Is there a berencel au you’d love to write but haven’t yet? And if there is, what might it be about 😊 I love hearing all your berencel au ideas!

Lol the sex tape one, probably. I’ve mentioned it here before, but in a little bit more detail the AU goes like this:

Modern Royalty AU- Berenger is a high ranking official in Auguste’s court, and he’s investigating a possible coup. Ancel is a stripper (because of course he is) working at a high-end club where dissidents are hanging out and Berenger hires him for a private dance except actually he just wants info and Ancel is of course willing to tell him whatever he wants to know, for a price ;)

But after that’s all done, Berenger offers him a job working for him as... a secretary? Personal assistant? Like, everyone thinks Ancel’s just eyecandy but of course he is clever and sneaky and super helpful politically. Eventually they get together, keeping everything very hush-hush because it’s not super cool to be dating an employee and Berenger is just a private person anyway.

But basically that ^ is all background, and the actual story is about how they make a sex tape and it inevitably gets out. At which point Berenger very stoically ignores its existence and everyone (except Auguste and Laurent, but neither of them is going to TALK about it because AWKARD) assumes that it must have been some look-alike parody porn video. Because there’s just NO WAY that King Auguste’s most boring advisor would ever do THAT.

I started writing it, but wasn’t feeling it too much so I didn’t get very far. But here’s the begining of that one :)

“Fuck,” Ancel whispered vehemently.

As far as things to wake up to, that wasn’t Berenger’s favorite. He opened his eyes to see the room was still dark- it was before dawn. Ancel was sitting up in bed, his face illuminated by the screen of his phone. He was scrolling furiously. Berenger felt a hint of unease.

“Ancel?” he asked.

Ancel flinched and looked over at him, wide-eyed with fear.

Berenger swallowed, truly worried as he propped himself up on his elbow. “What is it?”

“It’s-” Ancel broke off, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “It’s bad. It’s really, really bad. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, you have to understand-”

“Ancel,” Berenger said, sitting up and putting his hand on Ancel’s back. “It’s alright, just tell me what happened.”

“The video,” Ancel said, looking back down at his phone screen. “It’s all over the internet.”

“What video?”

“The video we made. For my birthday. The-” Ancel waved his hand vaguely. “The sex tape.”

“The-” Berenger paused. He could see Ancel’s phone screen, the rapidly moving conversation on twitter, the hashtag #vapeengate.

“Vapeen?” Berenger asked numbly.

“Like Varenne,” Ancel said, dropping his phone to the sheets and his face in his hands. “But penis. Oh my god.”

Berenger picked up the phone, scrolling through the social media feed. There were screenshots from the video. Screenshots of him sucking Ancel’s cock, fucking him. Ancel was wearing lacy black lingerie and a lace mask, but Berenger had declined Ancel’s attempts to dress him up that night so he was nude in the video, his face exposed.

“How did this happen?” he asked mildly. He paused on a particularly good screenshot of Ancel riding him, his head thrown back in pleasure.

#ask #anon #anon ask #berencel #berencel au #captive prince #berencel sex tape au

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moonlightreal · 4 years ago

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Fate episode 4

Welcome back to Fate Elemental Academy! Or should I call it Fate: The Elemental Academy Saga? Fate: Tales From Elemental Academy? I kinda wish I had an actual following now, we could push changing the name all over the fandom. Fate’s a bad Winx show but it’s not a bad show.

When we left our cast Beatrix just murderized a dude, Terra was suffering, Musa was finding love, Stella was mysterious, Bloom was destiny-ridden and Aisha was getting bored with it all! What will happen now?

Also, is Rosalind evil? I assumed she was the “she” who got rid of all the Burned Ones and thus was a hero, but she’s got some serious resting evil face.

Episode 4 opens with a gorgeous shadowy shot of Alfea in the twilight of day twelve-ish I assume. In Dowling’s still badly lit office the adults are investigating Callan! Whose real name was Callum, I think, but he’s dead and so won’t mind what I call him. But Dowling says he hasn’t been seen “for days” so we’ll jump to it being day twentyish. They’ve searched Callan’s room and found “metal-amalgam” which seems to be mercury, which someone would use to try to get past the trap on the door to the undercroft. Harvey charmingly starts a lecture on its properties before realizing Silva and Dowling want to get on with the infordumping. Dowling says Callan wouldn’t have known about the mercury, it’s “archaic fairy knowledge” and he’s not a fairy.

But couldn’t anyone study the lore even if they don’t have powers? Dane was doing potions/chemistry in the greenhouse with Terra and he’s not a fairy. There’s usually some magic stuff that muggles can do just by having an enchanted thingamabob. Fate, your worldbuilding leaves much to be desired.

Silva guesses Callan had help. And Harvey’s made magical fingerprint mist! He’s got a pitcher on a stick and smoke is coming out to track the magic used in the room! Does that make Harvey a fairy?

The smoke outlines Callan’s vanished form, where he was sitting paralyzed before Beatrix zapped him.

Dowling: “At least we know where he went.”

Silva: “And that there’s a murderer in our school.”

The murderer herself is looking at her phone, scrolling through Bloom’s social media selfies. Bloom’s online name is bloomerang04 which is a dumb online name. Of course the fact that we pick our online name at age 15 or thereabouts means most of us have dumb ones. Riven asks B what she’s obsessing over and Beatrix says, “Your fault for spreading it around that she’s a changeling. She’s now the most interesting person at school.”

WHAT is it about changelings?!

Riven says everyone will move on in a few days and asks Beatrix if this is “one of those movies where you dye your hair and take her life...” and Beatrix looks… hmm.

Do I smell Plot or am I imagining it? But then Riven decides to claim Beatrix’s attention in smoochy ways and I’m pretty sure they’re Doing The Sex.

Opening!

In the cafeteria, people stare at Bloom as she gets her breakfast!

Aisha has taken over Callan’s job to snoop on what he knew! Bloom “suggested” she do it. Or more like, begged. And thought Aisha is such a suckup she’d do it just to get brownie points with the headmistress.

The vibe of this scene is like nails on a blackboard. Bloom, you are awful people. And Bloom wants to eat breakfast in here to avoid the stares because she’s a changeling.

Musa comes in cheerful, “Bloom still pretending she’s not upset by the gossip?”

Bloom: ‘still pretending you’re not dating your roommate’s brother?”

And Terra comes in right in time to almost hear that. Bloom, you are awful people. But Terra’s got her own gossip: Stella’s mom is coming! Stella is “dreading being outshined by her mom” and Terra is kinda loving it. For which I can’t entirely blame her since Stella is also awful people even if my suspicions are right and there are circumstances that made her that way.

Bloom tries to be non-awful and says the girls don’t have to come eat breakfast with her “like I’m some kind of loser-mess. I’m fine.” Friendship music plays. The girls smile. Then Bloom heads off to finish her “poison paper” before the assembly. Musa says, “For the record, she’s not fine.”

In the arched walkway above the cafeteria Riven, Dane and Beatrix and talking about changelings! B: ‘Changelings were a way for pissed-off fairies to get revenge on the first world. Swap a fairy for a First world baby and wait for it to wreak havoc. Changelings are bad news. That’s why we stay on their good side.”

One of the boys had asked about “is that true about changelings?” presumable Dane, since Riven knew enough to spread the truth around. So not everybody knew all this.

FINALLY! Thank you, show. And, this is neat! Those would have to be some very pissed-off fairies to sacrifice their own baby, what’d the first worlders do to them I wonder! Though it still doesn’t explain why Bloom should be “bad news” any more than any other fairy. Does growing up in the human world make for more powerful fairies? I mean, that IS the lore, human food, human milk, human soul… but did the writers of Fate know that? I’m not trusting the writers of Fate to know much of anything at this point, even if they did get all those Yeats episode titles.

But we get interrupted by teen drama, Dane sees Terra down below and goes to see her. Sigh.

But then to muddy the waters, riven says Dane “believed all that changeling bullshit you just fed him!” but B says it “isn’t all bullshit, changelings can be dangerous. You did everybody a favor.’ warning them about Bloom, I assume she means.

Show, I hate you now. WHY are changelings dangerous? What was true and what wasn’t? Bloom’s changeling nature is the central bleeping worldbuilding of this story and we get dragged around?

Next I see black SUVs, tell me it’s Silva and his army people coming to do cool competent stuff so I can like this show again!

Nope, it’s Stella’s mom. Stella and Sky are waiting to greet her, Sky says it’s only half a day and Stella says, “Half a day of everyone adoring her like she’s literally the sun.” Sky says, ‘She is the queen of light.” which is an awesome title. She’s here to do an assembly about Burned Ones… what, like those PSA assemblies we had about the dangers of drugs? Hahahaha! That kind of PSA might be more apt, I’m pretty sure there’s more drugs at this school than there are Burned Ones.

But Stella is terrified, I think, behind her Stellaishness. Says her mom is really here to “check on my progress.” Sky suggests getting the rest of the girls to be a buffer but Stella says, ‘I don’t need them. I have you.” But Sky can’t stay physically, he leaves Stella to meet her mom alone

Stella is wearing a long coat of pale pink with gold and diamond star barrettes in her hair. I would love it if at the end of Stella’s character arc when she grows past whatever it is that’s squeezing the life out of her, she’ll switch to bright bold colors and teenage rather than middle-age fashion to celebrate her freedom. At the moment it makes sense that she dresses rather dumpy and too-mature, she’s dressing under pressure.

The black cars, they’re not all SUVs, pull up. there’s a flag, faded blue above, red below split by a diagonal line with some kind of crest in the middle. Solarian flag? No yellow, no sun or moon.

Stella’s mom looks noting like Queen Luna, she looks like a middle aged lady with brown hair, her hairdo and clothing juuuuust like Stella’s! In season 8 the real Stella designed a dress after her mother’s gown out of love, but I think this Stella dresses like her mother because of pressure. Also there’s nothing queenly about the queen. She’s wearing a business skirt and jacket, big chunky necklace, no crown. Political royalty not magical royalty. She gives Stella a kiss on the cheek and says, ‘You look stunning.” and Stella grins.

In the greenhouse Harvey, Terra and Sam hang out. Where’s their mom? Harvey wears a wedding ring but no mom in sight. Harvey is working on a special project, filling a vial with something. Terra asks if she can help but Harvey says he’s got this.

Dane comes to see Terra. Both her family members give Dane a serious Look. Heh.

Terra: “Whilst I appreciate that it is the historical perspective of the patriarchy to save women from upsetting situations, I’ve got this.”

Props to Terra’s actress for delivering that in a not at all groan-y way. Every time this show tries to be woke it is groanworthy and awful and they should just not, but every time the actors pull it off.

So Dane says “You didn’t answer my texts… you’ve been really great to me...” and Terra shuts him down! “Yeah I have. I’m a good person, Dane. I think you are too, but I’m not really sure I care to find out. Anymore.” and leaves him with “A word of advice. Be careful who you trust.”

Sam: ‘Still kinda want to punch him.” Heh.

Harvey gets a text and takes his project off to meet the queen. When he’s gone Terra immediately goes to his workstation to check out what he’s up to.

The queens party goes to Callan’s office, which is now Aisha’s office. Aisha greets the queen, whose name is actually Luna! And she knows Aisha’s name, but does not need any help. The adults go into Dowling’s office to talk.

Aisha accidentally knocks some papers off the desk then, grumpy at this spying job she’s taken on and isn’t having any luck with, slams a filing cabinet door. And finds something. A mechanical ring the size of a jewelry ring, stuck in between two parts of the filing cabinet. Aisha thinks it’s part of the cabinet, but then it begins to whir and she hears voices. It’s the receiver for a bug! Callan bugged Dowling’s office and now Aisha can listen in on the adults!

Only she… hides the receiver back under the cabinet?

The only thing she overheard was the fact that Callan is dead. Seems that Dowling’s telling everyone he left for a family emergency. Aisha tells Bloom this and Bloom is even more keen to get at those old records, from before Dowling became headmistress. Maybe they’re in the east wing, and everyone’s going to be at this mandatory assembly so now would be the perfect time!

Aisha says it’s a bad idea. Bloom says it’s a better idea than getting stared at by everybody and “I can’t just sit and listen to people make stuff up about me.”

WHAT are they making up?! I wanna hear these rumors!

Anyway Aisha is finally convinced to cover for Bloom, say she was too sick to come to the assembly. But for reasons of Plot Beatrix was right above them on the upper walkway so she knows where Bloom’s off to.

Gorgeous outdoor shot of the castle. Pardon me while I look it up… it’s a stately home! You can go there, they have a farmers market and everything! Ok, mark that down on my travel list between my Lost Crown tour of Polperro and my Higurashi tour of the real Hinamizawa…

Whilst I dream of seagulls and cicadas, Bloom is back in the dark east wing past a keep-out looking for clues. Sky catches her!

Beatrix is outside looking for Bloom. Riven catches her. She says, ‘mandatory assembly’s a mandatory ditch.” they pass a keep-out sign on some big doors as rain begins to fall.

Mysterious big doors in the school! Another Winx Club sort of thing here at Elemental Academy.

In the cafeteria benches have been put in for the assembly, Lots of students chat and the adults talk together. Outside the arched windows we see bright blue sky. Are the windows enchanted? That’d explain why I never know if it’s day or night around here!

Queen Luna walks in her heels on a sort of stage in front of the windows. She holds up her hand and snaps her fingers and the light in the room goes purple and the sunlight streaming in from outside dims as if dusk has fallen outside.

Stella, wearing a brighter pink coat and double star pin, sits in the very front between two of her mother’s bodyguards. The pin could be just because of Stella’s name, but in Winx Solaria does have two suns. I like this pin, for Escape to Witch Mountain reasons, so I looked it up. Stella’s pin is gold but the silver version is… oh dear… three dollars on amazon! Methinks this show spent its whole budget on the Irish castle!

Terra and Aisha admire the queen. “Massively powerful fairy, zero ego, boss goals. Bet it drives Stella crazy?” Stella glances back. She can hear them.

Musa and Sam are knee-nudging each other, it’s pretty cute. They text with phones on laps, sam asking if Musa’s into all the sneaking around hiding their relationship from Terra. He asks, ‘is it a kink?’ and Musa texts back, ‘Meet me after the assembly, you’ll find out.” Tell me you two aren’t dumb enough to start Doing The Sex in the same suite Terra lives in too! Maybe they’re just gonna hang out and make out.

Hilariously Queen Luna is saying, ‘I’m here to treat you like the adults you are” as these two plot that most teenage of plots, meeting up to have a good time! Luna says she’s here to talk about the Burned Ones, it’s been years since one was sighted…

Terra nudges Musa. “What’s Stella going through right now? She’s miserable, right?” Terra has noticed what I’ve been suspecting! Poor Musa, distracted from flirting with the cute guy, sighs a little and says a polite, ‘Please wait.’

She turns her powers to read Stella’s emotions… but there’s interference. Dowling is walking by and she’s using her mind powers as well! Musa says, ‘This assembly isn’t just about the Burned Ones. Something else is up.” Harvey is standing in the audience and Dowling takes a position among the students also

Queen Luna is talking about, “...for decades, families and villages suddenly torn apart by one of these monsters that left our world in chaos...”

The teachers are here to scan for Callan’s killer, I assume. Since it’s a mandatory assembly every student will be present… except for Bloom and Beatrix, who ditched! Gee, I hope Beatrix doesn’t try to pin it on Bloom! But how could she when Dowling can read minds?

Back with Bloom and Sky, Bloom says she was born in 2004—the year Winx Club was first broadcast, seventeen years ago! Our beloved show, may it survive to see eighteen. Bloom’s idea is to look for pregnant teen fairies in the class photos, and she has oddly specific details to look for: baggy clothes, girls holding books in front of bellies.

There’s some conversation about how Bloom is tired of being whispered about and wants to yell at people they’re all assholes, and Sky agrees that most people are but you have to find the good ones.

Then he finds a picture of adults. His dad is in it, along with Rosalind, Dowling, Silva and Harvey. Bloom says, “you look like him” although we don’t really get a good look Andreas at the photo. Sky mimicks Silva’s accent, “And act like him, and maybe one day if I work hard enough I can be half the warrior he was.” Heh. Bloom also giggles at the accent.

Sky also said, ‘his commander was a woman” presumably Rosalind. So Rosalind was a leader of soldiers. Was she a fairy or a specialist?

Bloom asks if it’s weird that everyone knows his dad better than he did, and Sky says ‘Alfea’s been my home my entire life” so I guess he grew up here with Silva being much more father than mentor. Wonder what happened to Sky’s mom. They’re having a nice moment and here come Riven and Beatrix to join the party!

Back in the assembly, Musa scans the adults. Dowling and Silva are on edge, and Harvey is really scared. Terra says her dad was making something with the crystals from the vessel, so he was putting crystals in a little vial. A magic tracking device. Now Dowling’s got it.

Queen Luna is saying, ‘conflict is now on the horizon! We are tracking at least five Burned Ones throughout Solaria. The threat is serious. And growing.”

Back in the vaults B says, “people who think history is rubbish are rubbish. Don’t be rubbish” Ah Beatrix, there’s the like 10% of your personality that I like! Then she reverts to the other 90% and suggests Bloom and Sky were down here to have The Sex. Riven says nah, Sky’s not that interesting. Bloom, who heard all that, says ‘But we were alone and that was pleasant.” Heh.

They find a locked door. Sky says he can ask Silva what’s behind it but bloom wants to get through now.

Riven: ‘The more you say no the more she wants it. Give in.”

Beatrix: “Do we need to have a talk about consent?”

The more this show throws woke verbiage into random conversations the less woke it looks. 9_9

Bloom sensibly: “Why are you guys down here, again?”

Anyway Beatrix says she’s on Bloom’s side, which I do not believe for a minute. Bloom says no thanks, don’t need help from someone who posted a nasty video about terra, Beatrix says she was an innocent bystander which I do not believe for a minute, and says Bloom should be mad at riven for starting the Changeling rumors. Bloom and Sky look at Riven.

Riven: “Not exactly the way I thought you’d screw me today, B.”

Sky if it’s true, Riven flees to escape a lecture from “Saint Sky” and Sky goes after him to deliver the lecture.

And he does, out in the rain. Riven says he really likes Beatrix, that B is the only one who likes him the way he is. That Sky thinks he’s better than riven. And that Sky should maybe not be talking about bad life choices while he’s chasing Bloom while still having Stella. Sky says that’s not what’s really going on and Riven says that’s what everyone else sees, including Stella. And Riven says, ‘that’s probably why she told me Bloom was a changeling in the first place.” And he walks off, leaving Sky in the rain with the knowledge that Stella is mean-girling Bloom. Unsurprisingly.

Sky of Elemental Academy is having just as much trouble here as his animated counterpart keeps having with Diaspro!

Back inside the girls haven’t figured out what the adults are after. Terra finds it hard to believe they have “some big ulterior motive.” and Musa says, “people have more stuff going on than you’d think, especially parents.” Heh. Then she takes off for a snog session with Sam! Sam says he’s like to make their relationship public, but Musa likes the secrecy. If everyone found out, she’d have to feel everyone’s reaction, ‘good bad, positive or negative.” Sam says she has to feel it bu does she have to care? And says being an empath seems to suck, which it sure does seem to!

Would “everybody” even care that they were dating? I mean Terra would but at a school full of teenagers dating how many people would care?

I read a book… Burning Glass, about an empath so powerful that when a starving mob approached she let them in the gates because she forgot she wasn’t one of them, caught up in the mob’s need to get in to where the food was. She didn’t just feel people’s emotions, she acted on them because she couldn’t tell which of the things she was feeling were coming in from outside. I keep thinking the writers are trying to imagine Musa like that and failing completely.

Over in the east wing Beatrix guessed that it was Rosalind who left bloom in the human world and Bloom realized that Beatrix lied the night of the party about not knowing who Rosalind was. B says Rosalind was “a fierce bitch.” I’m still feeling this great big hole where someone should say “Rosalind destroyed the Burned Ones in the war with her great magic.” or something and nobody says it. Bloom knows Rosalind was headmistress before Dowling and is dead, we viewers know Rosalind is not dead, did something important with the Burned Ones, and has an evil face. I dunno, like the changeling thing it feels like there are these weird blanks in what the show is giving us.

Beatrix suggests Bloom light the locked door on fire as a way to get it open. She knows Bloom’s powerful enough. Bloom says power is not the problem, lighting the whole school on fire is the problem. Then sky texts and Bloom lies and says she’s not down here anymore which will definitely be back to bite her later. She suggests she could “fry” the hinges off the door, but Beatrix has already picked the lock.

With a machine custom made for picking locks, not with bobby pins.

On the other side of the door they find… a war room. A round sand pit that, when B enchants it, the sand lifts up to create a miniature of the school. Beatrix calls it, “A place where dangerous, shady-ass people decide who lives and who dies.”

Dowling is giving Stella a magic lesson. She creates an arc of colored light between her hands, mimicking the chains on her brooch.

Queen Luna is not impressed. A little mini rainbow is not much of a display of power. Luna and Dowling proceed to ignore Stella and talk over her head. Luna sent Stella back to be “fixed”--the same word Stella used about bloom after she taught Bloom the way of the Sith—after the “incident with Ricki.” Dowling says rehabilitating magic is a process and it takes time. Luna: “would you like me to recite the list of threats we’re facing while you take time?”

Me! I would! 1)Burned Ones 2)??? And how much can one fairy do about them?

Stella tries to interrupt and Luna says, “Do not speak when I’m speaking. Solaria is the strongest realm in the Otherworld, she is its heir, an extension of that strength.” Stella protests that it’s working, she is getting stronger, and her mother just snaps at her not to speak again.

Stella says she blinded a Burned One and Dowling has her back, praising her for how skillfully she did it.

Queen Luna makes a full illusion, disappearing the room and leaving Stella in a VR forest. With wind-howling sound effects, not sure how light did that! Stella is terrified.

Queen Luna: ‘when you control light you control what people see. And despite what anyone says matters in this world, appearance is everything. You know that better than anyone, Farah. Especially given my efforts to help you maintain them.”

Dowling just says they’ve both done a great deal to preserve Solaria’s reputation. Hmm! That’s interesting! And she lets Stella go.

Outside the office, Aisha is working at her desk. She asks Stella if she’s ok and Stella says of course she is, but Aisha’s using the listening device again! She overhears Queen Luna basically threatening to have Dowling removed as headmistress!

Outside in the still cloudy day, Sky is taking his mood out on a punching bag. He gets a text from Stella saying, “She’s a monster.” before Sky can go give her some much deserved sympathy Silva walks past demanding an update. On what?

In the greenhouse Harvey is worried. His magic bottle, which is very pretty, didn’t work. Terra comes to ask if everything’s ok and he yells at her, then apologizes. Terra turns to go then turns back and asks, ‘if there was something going on you would tell us wouldn’t you?” and Harvey lies and says of course he would.

Aaaaaaaand now I’m looking up potion bottles on amazon wondering if this prop is also something I can have. Not obviously.

Terra, Musa and Aisha are talking about it in the suite. Aisha is sure the grownups are doing what they think is best. Terra would rather just be told there’s a secret rather than be lied to. But they do work it out. The crystals read magic, there’s a dead person, the adults were looking for someone who kills by magic but didn’t find them.

Then Sky bursts in looking for Bloom. The girls ask if Silva told him what’s up, but Sky is out of the loop.

Terra: “Dowling’s assistant died, the faculty think a fairy did it. They held the assembly to find out which fairy, but they didn’t because he or she wasn’t there, so now we don’t believe or trust literally anyone.”

Sky: “Shit.”

Sky, smart cookie that he is, realizes immediately that it’s Beatrix.

The murderess and Bloom are reading scrolls in the war room—in the DARK, everything’s shadowy how are they even reading?

In 2004 Rosalind was “leading the crusade against the Burned Ones” Beatrix says so finally there’s that laid out.

Bloom was born December 12 2004, just like the real Bloom. Beatrix seems oddly interested in that fact. I’m beginning to have a suspicion.

Bloom’s phone is blowing up with messages but she’s busy reading. Beatrix stealth zaps bloom’s phone to break it so she doesn’t get Sky’s warning call.

Rosalind was in a place called Aster Dell. This also seems to interest Beatrix, who suggests they just go there right now. She knows where it is, it’s not far. Bloom has a rush of common sense to the head and hesitates to leave school with someone she barely knows but Beatrix points out that they’ve already broken into a secret war room and maybe now is not the time to stop before they get somewhere. Not completely without a point there, so Bloom agrees.

Sky finds Riven and demands the whereabouts of “The unstable sex addict who’s been leading you around by your dick.” Pfft! Also, not very understanding after Riven admitted he really does like Beatrix and feels accepted by her. But Riven doesn’t know, anyway.

Stella bursts in, “I sent you twenty texts and you’re here looking for Bloom?” And Riven gets to say, ‘Have fun with that!” as he escapes. Sky blames Stella for starting the changeling thing, Stella says, “I didn’t want to hurt her.” which is not true.

Sky: “You say you don’t want to be like your mother but all I see is someone who treats others exactly the same way that Luna treats you.” And he says he’s done with this.

Harsh but true.

Beatrix stole a car. Bloom is very impressed! Heh.

The other three girls have had a rush of common sense to the head and gone to Dowling to tell her about Beatrix. Dowling’s first response is to ask why Bloom was down there but Terra pulls out their deductions and says “can we please drop the bullshit?” and when her father tries to stop her she calls him out for putting them in danger by not telling them! Go Terra! Silva comes in to tell them someone knocked out one of the queen’s guards and stole an SUV.

Beatrix must be extremely badass to take out a bodyguard! we’re only in episode 4 but I don’t think she’s planning on coming back to school after this.

Black SUV drives on a dirt road between trees. I do love how there seem to be no other buildings and no paved roads in the Otherworld. I guess I’ll take what worldbuilding I can get.

Bloom and Beatrix have arrived at an absolutely stunning location, a cliff over the sea. Bloom wonders if this is the right place. Isn’t Aster Dell supposed to be a town? Then she realizes there are skulls at her feet among the heather.

But no time to ponder it, Beatrix is getting lightningy! She throws lightning—shorting out an invisible barrier concealing ruins. Aster dell was a peaceful town until it was attacked by Burned Ones and “a military unit from Alfea” decided to go all scorched earth on the place and killed everybody. Queen Luna set up the illusion to hide the ruins. “Leader of our realm tried to cover up a war crime.’

Beatrix says this is where she was from, and where her family died. Two days before Bloom’s birthday. This is where Bloom is from. Rosalind rescued Beatrix too, and gave her a memory of the Alfea adults destroying the town. Rosalind was the only one of the adults with a conscience about killing innocent people.

Bloom protests, the adults are lying but they aren’t monsters. I’m skeptical too, because us viewers know that Beatrix is Beatrix and has said all sorts of things.

On the drive back Bloom asks Beatrix if she’s a changeling too, but no. Rosalind left B with “a close friend” and Bloom in another world. Bloom asks why Dowling would recruit her as a student after killing her family and Beatrix says she doesn’t think Dowling realizes yet what Bloom is, and Bloom shouldn’t tell her.

Bloom: “Which is exactly what you’d say if you were making this up. To keep us from comparing notes.” go Bloom! Beatrix asks what she has to gain from making up a story about murderous teachers, and the two of them can work together to find out more. Rosalind is alive and imprisoned at Alfea, and Beatrix came to break her out.

...for “him”? Mysterious “him” not mentioned yet. And where does the return of the Burned Ones fit in? Hmm. I admit my main reason for not believing Beatrix’s story is that it’s Beatrix telling it.

Also in these sorts of stories the birth parents are never dead.

But no time to ponder it, the teachers are here! They stop the car, Dowling slaps some magical cuffs on Beatrix and Silva and Harvey grab Bloom. They deliver her back to Alfea into a group hug from her suitemates.

The girls were worried that Bloom was off with a murderer but they heard that from the adults who Bloom just heard are liars and murderers themselves. We know the adults are telling the truth about Callan but Bloom doesn’t. Sky is there, also worried that she’d been kidnapped by Beatrix—but Silva calls him away. Paranoia intensifies.

As they head for bed Terra rants about her dad lying to her and acting like it was for her own good. Terra ends with, ‘you don’t lie to people. Not if they matter.’

And Musa feels guilty and spills the beans about her and Sam! It’s been weeks! Terra bursts into giggles and hugs Musa and says Sam looks just like their dad and he went bald early.

Looking down from the walk they see the queen’s guards rolling Stella’s suitcases towards the door. The one thing the two Stella’s have in common apparently is their love of lots of luggage! Yep, Stella’s been moved out.

Stella is in the car. Back home her mother will teach her.

Stella: “You could’ve let me say goodbye to my friends.”

Luna: ‘”They’re not your friends, Stella.”

Which, evil mum kinda right. Apart from taking out a Burned One together, every interaction between Stella and the others has been nasty and catty and mostly Stella’s been avoiding them whenever possible. They aren’t friends. They might be later, but they sure aren’t yet.

Beatrix has been thrown in a cell.

Silva locks the door—with Sky there watching, and I’m sure Silva’s trust in Sky will come back to bite him later.

Then interesting conversation. Silva asked Sky to keep an eye on Bloom, and now he wants Sky to get all the details of what just happened out of bloom and report back. Silva actually says the “a soldier’s job is to take orders” and “your loyalty is to me, no one else.” which, I like you Silva but that is the wrongest tack you could take right now! Silva is very scared and it’s making him make bad choices.

Bloom has gone to Dowling’s office to ask what she did to Beatrix. The cuffs were “runic limiters” which prevent a fairy from using magic. Bloom says ‘They were barbaric” and “You tore her skin open.” which I guess the cuffs did kinda burrow into her skin.

Dowling is just worried if Bloom’s ok and then asks what they talked about. Bloom says it was just a joyride, she and Beatrix talked about clothes and boys. Bloom leaves.

Dowling immediately phones up Bloom’s parents on Earth and says Bloom’s been having a bit of trouble and would they please report to her if Bloom says anything weird.

Sheesh. Could these otherwise smart, capable adults who have years of experience with teenagers be handling this any worse?

Well that was… something. Terra is badass. Stella’s mom is exactly like I expected her to be. Beatrix spilled a lot of important Plot and I’m sure some of it was true and some of it wasn’t.

Next time on Elemental Academy! Will the girls rescue Stella from evil mum? Will Bloom bust Beatrix out of the dungeon? Will Sky be forced to choose between his father figure and his crush? Will Bloom’s parents accidentally betray her? And what’s Riven gonna do now that his smoking and boinking buddy is under arrest? Half the cast is being set up to make some really dumb life choices! Tune in next time!

#fate the winx saga

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dippedanddripped · 4 years ago

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It has been a prolonged period of retail carnage: storied names declaring bankruptcy, mass market brands closing thousands of stores, tens of thousands of shop employees furloughed or laid off, garment workers in dire straits. More ominous still are the predictions that we will never shop the same way again.

For Jamie Salter and David Simon, however, it has been a time of great opportunity.

Mr. Salter is the founder and chief executive of the Authentic Brands Group, a company known for buying the intellectual property of famous brands at discount prices and then striking licensing deals with other companies that want to stick those well-known names on their products. Mr. Simon is the chief executive of the Simon Property Group, the largest mall operator in the United States with more than 100 properties. Together, they are reshaping the American retail landscape.

Last week, they closed a deal to buy the bankrupt Brooks Brothers, the 202-year-old American fashion brand and retailer, for $325 million. Last month, they acquired Lucky Brand denim, and in February, they bought Forever 21.

Together, the acquisitions will bring the global revenue generated by the company’s brands — a sprawling mix that includes Sports Illustrated and rights tied to Marilyn Monroe’s likeness — to $15 billion annually. And Mr. Salter is hunting for more.

“Look, if the world ends, which I don’t think it’s going to, then there’s no doubt about it, I’m not so smart,” Mr. Salter, a 57-year-old Toronto native, said in a phone interview. “But I don’t believe the world’s going to end.”

“Last year, we said within five years, we want to be at $20 billion,” he added, referring to the overall revenue generated from brands owned or jointly owned by Authentic Brands. “Another two to three deals could get us there.”

Many of the acquisitions are being made through a joint venture with Mr. Simon called SPARC, for Simon Properties Authentic Retail Concepts. Its roots go back to 2016, but it was created in its present form in January as a vehicle that turned out to be almost perfectly positioned to take advantage of the current state of the industry.

By teaming up, Mr. Simon, a press-averse Indianapolis real estate scion who declined to comment for this article, gets assurance that bankrupt chains and other tenants will remain in his shopping centers, while Mr. Salter gets a friendly landlord for his brands at a time when rent costs are crushing retailers, plus the chance to earn money by licensing the well-known names. Together, they own and operate 1,500 stores through their deals, which sometimes include Brookfield Properties, another mall giant.

The purchase of Brooks Brothers, where layoff notices have already started going out, has put a spotlight on this arrangement — and invited new scrutiny. Supporters say SPARC is saving the businesses it’s buying. Critics say it’s simply exploiting their traumas for fast profits in ways that cheapen the brands’ legacies. They say the SPARC strategy treats brands and stores less like hothouses of creativity that need careful tending, and more like chess pieces to be moved around for maximum, if momentary, gain.

That suspicion has been hard to shake for Mr. Salter. Authentic Brands’ purchase of the Sports Illustrated brand last year is viewed as a prime example of the company’s bottom-line approach to licensing. It sold the rights to operate the magazine and website to another company, which gutted the staff, while simultaneously putting the Sports Illustrated name on protein powder, CBD cream and swimsuits. And Authentic Brands’ purchase of Barneys New York’s intellectual property last year was fiercely contested by a group of investors who waged a “Save Barneys” social media campaign to avert liquidations and the licensing of the name, painting Mr. Salter as a villain who sought to dismantle a cultural institution.

“It’s not a long-term quality play,” said one retail executive who asked not to be identified because the executive had been approached about the Brooks Brothers deal. “It’s not about a love of the brand or the goods. It’s predatory and opportunistic.”

Understanding Authentic Brands’ business is crucial to understanding the tides of retail today.

The company, founded by Mr. Salter in 2010, bets on famous names in fashion and entertainment, often buying their intellectual property with the aim of striking licensing deals with those who want to use the brand names internationally or on new products. Authentic Brands tends to earn an estimated 4 to 6 percent in royalties through this model.

“History,” was one of the answers Mr. Salter gave when asked what he looks for in a brand. “Does it have good archives we can bring back, because the world repeats itself all the time. The longer the history, the better.” The potential to cut costs was another.

For years, Mr. Salter led a division of Hilco, a financial firm, as it snapped up the intellectual property of bankrupt retailers like Sharper Image. While the retailer’s stores closed, Hilco was involved with deals that put Sharper Image’s name on products like garment steamers that were cheaper than wares at the original retailer and then sold in chains like Bed Bath & Beyond.

At Authentic Brands, Mr. Salter pulled off an early coup by acquiring the exclusive rights tied to Marilyn Monroe, whose likeness drew the interest of everyone from Dolce & Gabbana to Walmart. His stable of 50 brands now includes Juicy Couture, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali and Frederick’s of Hollywood.

The Juicy acquisition in 2013, where Mr. Salter bought the brand but couldn’t secure its locations, made him realize the value of physical stores. Losing the stores, he said, hurt Juicy. “I can tell you unequivocally it’s easier to build brands with a retail footprint — touch, feel, try on,” he said.

Though Authentic Brands does not own the types of luxury retailers and labels as European conglomerates like Kering and LVMH, Mr. Salter said that LVMH served as “inspiration” and that they shared “similar ambitions.” He thinks of his company, where his four sons are also among the 200 employees (his eldest, Corey, is chief operating officer) as a family enterprise despite a roster of investors including BlackRock, Leonard Green & Partners and General Atlantic. The biggest individual investor after Mr. Salter, whose family owns about 20 percent, is Shaquille O’Neal, whose brand is managed by the Authentic Brands. Mr. Salter said that he has considered an initial public offering of stock but that the company has plenty of money and he doesn’t want to exit.

“Other people do want in,” he said. But, he added, “It’s a lot easier when you have two guys, and if there’s a problem, you pick up the phone and work it out in 10 minutes.”

Simon Property also holds about 7 percent after an investment in January, when it also increased its interest in SPARC to 50 percent, according to filings.

Four years ago, Mr. Salter said, “David came to me and said, ‘Why do you always close the stores when you buy the company?’” Mr. Salter replied that he was too nervous to operate the stores, worrying that the leases could become too expensive. Mr. Simon proposed teaming up with Brookfield to buy Aéropostale, which led to the formation of a venture called Aero OpCo. Mr. Salter owned 20 percent, and Brookfield and Simon the rest. (Brookfield, which is not part of SPARC, declined to comment.)

The mall operators wanted their tenants to stay and ideally resume making money. They were also interested in Mr. Salter’s marketing prowess and his brands, which they figured could eventually turn into stores at their malls.

“At the beginning, Simon just wanted ‘get my rent,’” Mr. Salter said. “But we started turning profits very quickly, and it started to be about building a business.”

Each side benefits. Mr. Salter’s brands have “variable rent” contracts with Mr. Simon’s malls, meaning their rent goes up and down with their sales and, in a lucrative arrangement, most don’t have minimums. Mr. Simon also receives a percentage of royalties from sales associated with the brand names. In January, Mr. Salter bought out Brookfield’s interest and the venture was renamed SPARC.

“Covid is a good lesson for all of us because thank God we had percentage rent,” Mr. Salter said. “We furloughed whatever number we had to furlough in Forever 21, and you’re only paying rent on a percentage of sales. It hurts a lot less.”

Still, some analysts say it isn’t good to see mall operators buying their own tenants out of bankruptcy at this pace.

There may be few options. As long as large retailers or hedge funds are unwilling to buy bankrupt chains like J.C. Penney, which could ultimately liquidate, “mall owners are the only viable acquirers,” analysts at Coresight Research, an advisory and research firm, wrote in a recent note. The firm estimated that 20,000 to 25,000 U.S. retail stores would close this year, and at least 50 percent are mall-based.

“Acquiring retailers raises questions about mall owners’ long-term viability,” they wrote. “Mall owners cannot buy every anchor retailer in their malls, and often they will have to let stores fail instead of propping them up,” the analysts wrote.

Mr. Simon bristled on a recent earnings call at the notion that he was buying retailers for rent. “We believe in the brand and we think we can make money,” he said. He compared critics of the venture to those who told Amazon to remain in the book business.

Still, rent is no small concern. In filings, Forever 21, a top tenant at Brookfield and Simon malls in the year before its bankruptcy, said the aggregate occupancy cost for its stores was $450 million annually. Lucky listed $66 million in rent and occupancy costs last year. Brooks Brothers said its 187 store leases and other corporate property leases cost about $86 million a year. On top of that, there are co-tenancy agreements, which can allow other tenants to break leases or demand rent reductions based on vacancy rates or the exit of certain retailers.

“I do believe that the strategy by Simon and Brookfield is to protect their co-tenancy in a lot of cases, but I think it’s a Band-Aid,” said Jackie Levy, chief business officer of Caruso, the real estate firm that owns California open-air shopping centers like the Grove. “It might solve the immediate issue of keeping some of their smaller retailers or shops in the malls, but long-term, those leases are going to expire at some point and there’s going to be a flight to quality.”

For his part, Mr. Salter sees opportunities to meld the brands that go beyond reducing corporate staff and sharing e-commerce capabilities. He can imagine, for example, Brooks Brothers teaming up with Spyder to make performance outerwear, and with Volcom for swim trunks. Saks Fifth Avenue still plans to introduce Barneys New York shops within its New York flagship and Connecticut stores.

“If I could buy anything, I’d buy Reebok,” he said. “Hanna Barbera. I like the Flintstones, Yogi Bear. Got big ideas for Yogi Bear. I love the Jetsons. They should be the delivery system for Amazon. Just call the Jetsons, they’ll deliver it to you in two seconds!”

Though Mr. Salter said he wasn’t joining a bid by Simon and Brookfield for J.C. Penney, he can envision pursuing a similar chain in the future.

“There’s no doubt about it that Jamie Salter’s dream is to have an A.B.G. department store,” Mr. Salter said. “And as David Simon says, maybe one day you’ll have your own mall.”

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