#refining e waste

[ukmrgold]

22ct Gold Foils - 22k refined into 24k 999.9

[cutieeva]

God Of The Chisel

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐣𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐮 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧 Female Reader

Warnings : Manipulation. Detail Sex. Rape.

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒

❛ 見る人 目の ❜

Sculpture. Molding soul into a form, where art meets emotions. That's the definition for (Y/N), the reason of her learning it, the motivation of her creating such art because she can release her emotions through it yet what happens if she has to create the most beautiful sculpture in the entire world, a sculpture who fell for his own sculpturor.

"So, (Y/N) senpai what sculpture are you going to do this time ?" Itadori Yūji asked clearly excited for his senior's new otherworldly addition to arrive.

"I have no idea this time". She answered, a deep sigh slip her lips as her (E/C) eyes continue to stare at the thin poster of competition.

"Why though ? You are a genius in our major or should I say in Cutieeva university". Kugisaki Nobara replied, chewing the thin end of her paintbrush. "Right Megu-chan ?" The said boy, Fushiguro Megumi nod senselessly busy creating his own carving.

"Look, the competition has clearly said the participators has to sculpture the most beautiful creation the world has yet to seen out of their perspective imaginations and the winner would only be who's sculpture is most well loved by the audience not even judges or critics !!" (Y/N) explained re-reading the poster. "If my art didn't seem beautiful enough to normal eyes than it will be pure humiliation ! Not only for me but for other participators too ! Because it indirectly suggest that us all elite students of art isn't yet good enough to be approved by daily to daily audience only capable to approve to the mediocre judges who stuck by rules and that we are worthlessly wasting money". She expressed her further worries.

"Oh ! I didn't knew it was that deep". Yuji glib laughed.

"Shut up !" Nobora nudged the boy seeing (Y/N) dug fingers on her scale as if she desire to rip hair from the roots.

"(Y/N)-san do not worry. Art is a way to release your emotions not for others to ridicule". Getō Suguru smiled, walking into the art studio earning all four student's attention. "No pressure should be felt or else the art won't be as nearly beautiful as it could be if you do it like you did in the past".

"But Suguru sensei I can't stand the humiliation of losing in front of others so bluntly". Shamefully she down her head.

"Then mold it". (Y/N) tilted her head.

"What do you mean ?" Geto smiled wider.

"Mold your frustration, anger, disappointed, fear on the clay. Use your vivid imagination of horrors and your version of beauty on the sculpture. Use this gift of sculpting to release your emotions so you can at least create something because without creating how can you refine it in the first place ?" The art teacher thoroughly described his most talented student who nod feeling a bit light yet uncertain.

"Also those monkeys are called monkeys for a reason if they don't understand your brilliant art". He added causing Yuji to chuckle.

"They are humans as you, sensei". Megumi mutter loud enough for each to hear.

"Also Fushiguro-San not forget I will be there to inspect your sculpture".

"I know".

"I am reminding it. Just in case". Geto merely smiled at the black head boy glaring at him making other three laugh.

"Ha ! Thank you Suguru sensei and megumi-Chan ! I will do my best". She raised her closed fist in the air.

"Thank us too !" Yuji yelled.

"Thank you Yuji-chan and nobara-chan too". She added giggling at their childish antics finding a new spirit to work with even though in the back of her mind she wonder what will be the result of her emotions molding the clay will be.

In a quiet, isolated white room (Y/N)'s fingers wrapped around the cool, damp clay, she felt an surge of creative energy coursing through her veins. With unwavering focus, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the depths of her imagination. In the darkness, a vision began to take shape— the most breathtakingly beautiful form her mind could conjure. With each gentle touch, the clay yielded to her will, as if alive and responding to her every thought. Her hands moved deftly, sculpting the body, hands, arms, and every delicate detail, just as she envisioned. Time stood still as she became one with the creative process, lost in the pool of her imagination.

Hours passed, or perhaps only moments – (Y/N) was oblivious to the world around her. Her entire being was consumed by the artistic expression unfolding beneath her fingers. Finally, she opened her eyes, and her gaze fell upon the emerging masterpiece. Almost half of the body had taken form, and she gasped in wonder, grasping the clay as if to ensure it was real. A soft smile spread across her face as she realized that whatever she was creating was going to be breathtakingly beautiful – a true reflection of the vision that had possessed her. The clay seemed to pulse with a life of its own, as if infused with the essence of her imagination. (Y/N)'s heart swelled with excitement, knowing that she was crafting something extraordinary, a testament to the transformative power of art.

As the day succumbed to the allure of twilight, (Y/N) remained entranced, her fingers moving with a life of their own. The setting sun cast a warm orange glow upon her workspace, but she didn't notice. The stars began to twinkle like diamonds in the night sky, and the moon rose high, bathing the world in a soft, ethereal light. Yet, she continued to create, oblivious to the passage of time. Hours melted away, and the night deepened, however (Y/N)'s focus never wavered. Her body seemed to forget its needs ��� hunger, fatigue, and thirst became distant memories. Her sole purpose was to bring forth the masterpiece unfolding before her. The clay appeared to respond to her every touch, as if a divine force had taken residence within her.

With each delicate stroke, the sculpture evolved, gaining refinement and nuance. (Y/N)'s hands moved with a precision that bordered on reverence, as if she were channeling the essence of the divine. The air around her seemed to vibrate with creative energy, and the clay itself appeared to pulse with an otherworldly life. In this state of flow, (Y/N) became one with her art, transcending mortality. Her soul merged with the sculpture, infusing it with a spark of the divine. The boundaries between creator and creation blurred, and she became the deity, shaping the clay with an omnipotent touch. Time lost all meaning as she worked tirelessly, sleepless and unrelenting, driven by an insatiable passion to bring forth perfection.

As the next day dawned, her fingers moved with a newfound sense of purpose, her fingers deftly shaping the final details of her masterpiece. The sculpture stood before her, a magnificent form born from her unwavering dedication. Yet, one crucial element remained— the face, the window to the soul, where expression and emotion would breathe life into her creation. Thus, she was about to move to add details when the sun's warm, golden light danced across her art, her (E/C) eyes gaze locked onto her creation, and she felt the weight of reality settle upon her. The world around her snapped into focus, and she beheld her masterpiece in awe.

Transfixed, she reached out a trembling hand to touch the sculpture, as if to ensure it was truly real. However her body finally acknowledged its limits, her legs buckled, and she sank to the ground, exhausted. A soft cry escaped her lips as she left a voice message "Nobara... food... water..." she whispered, voice barely audible.

Despite her physical collapse, an overwhelming sense of joy and pride swelled within her chest, threatening to burst forth. Tears of happiness pricked at the corners of her eyes as she gazed upon her creation, now radiant in the warm sunlight. The sculpture seemed to pulse with a life of its own, as if infused with the essence of her being. (Y/N)'s heart overflowed with a sense of accomplishment, knowing she had poured her very soul into this masterpiece that is yet to be finished.

Moments later Nobara approached Y/N with a gentle smile, carrying a tray laden with food and water, the aroma of nourishment wafted through the air, enticing Y/N's senses. Nobara's eyes sparkled with warmth as she helped Y/N sit up, cradling her head as she offered a refreshing sip of water.

Meanwhile, Yuji's excitement burst forth like a pent-up torrent, his words tumbling out in an effusive stream: "Wow, (Y/N) senpai this is... this is... incredible! The detail, the emotion, the sheer beauty of it! It's like nothing I've ever seen before!" His gaze darted between his senior and the sculpture, his eyes aglow with wonder.

Geto, beaming with pride, nodded his head in approval, his smile stretching from ear to ear. "(Y/N)-san, my student, you have truly outdone yourself. I've never seen such imagination, such skill, such... life breathed into a creation. You've surpassed even my expectations!"

Megumi, usually a silent observer, stood transfixed, his dark blue eyes fixed upon the sculpture as if mesmerized. His gaze seemed to hold a deep reverence, as if the artwork had awakened a part of him long dormant. For once, his quiet nature was not a result of reserve, but rather, utter captivation.

(Y/N) sipped the water and nibbled on the food, her strength slowly returning, she smiled weakly, basking in the praise and admiration of her friends and teacher. The warmth of their words enveloped her, filling her with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

"I know. This year's grand prize will also be rewarded to our university, won by none other than you, (Y/N) !" Geto's eyes shone with warm and paternal pride. His smile radiated deep satisfaction like his heart had been poured into the sculpture. Unspoken awe. Golden pride.

(Y/N) blush from all the showers of compliment yet she remained a little doubtful as the expression of the face is yet to be crafted dwelling whether the window of the model's will ruin her almost masterpiece.

"Hopefully I can create his expression. I still do not know how or what to shape his expression, hair". Nobora chuckle, sitting near her.

"Do not worry ! We all believe in you. Do your best !" She raised her fist in the air, trying to cheer her friend which she succeed because (Y/N)'s tension dissolved, chewing the food.

"But ! Do not forget to take food because forget award you can't even move your hands if this is how it goes on". Megumi calmly advised.

"Right ! (Y/N) senpai ! Please rest your body". Yuji cheerfully agreed, still captivated by the art with his eyes.

"Thank you. I will". And she did heed to their advise taking full three hours break while laying on her bed with jumble of confusion, thoughts tangled in a web of uncertainty inside her mind. She stared blankly at the clay, her fingers poised in mid-air, as if waiting for the familiar spark of inspiration to strike.

However it didn't come.

For the first time, her natural gift seemed to be faltering. She felt like a novice again, fumbling in the dark, unsure of how to mold his expression. The ease with which she usually shaped clay into breathtaking works of art had deserted her. Her eyes, once closed in confident intuition, now snapped open in frustration. Reaching for a sketchbook, (Y/N) began to scribble down ideas, trying to coax her elusive creativity back to the surface. The pencil scratched across the paper, a staccato rhythm that echoed her racing thoughts. She was forced to confront the possibility that her imagination, once a boundless ocean, might have limits after all.

This unfamiliar struggle was like reminiscing her beginning stage again, rediscovering the basics of her craft. The discomfort was palpable, like trying to relearn a forgotten language. Fingers moved hesitantly, as if seeking permission to create, her mind clouded by self-doubt. The sketchbook became a lifeline, a tangible connection to her artistic voice, which seemed to be whispering in a language she could no longer understand.

"I think I should sleep". Trying for hours with no avails she shut her notebook harshly, closing her eyes to drift into the land of dream in hopes of re-freshing her mind and back to her usual gifted self.

(Y/N) unusually found herself standing in a familiar sun-drenched studio, surrounded by half-finished sculptures and scattered tools. Her late mother stood before a work-in-progress, chisel in hand and for odd reasons she approached, curiosity etched on her face, and asked "Mother, what are you doing?"

"I am creating a sculpture, sweet one. I'm bringing this clay to life." A smile curve upon her frown look

(Y/N)'s gaze wandered to a nearby model, posed with elegance, yet lacking an upper torso. "Mother, why is she like that?" she asked, her voice tinged with innocence.

"Oh, my child, I couldn't complete her". Her mother burst into laughter

"Then will it always be like this?" Her younger self tilted her head.

Her mother's expression turned gentle, "No, my dear. Creating art means being patient. When I feel stuck, I pause, enjoy life, and give time for creativity to return to me. It's like a river, flowing and ebbing. I must learn to wait for the tide to come back."

And suddenly the image turn distant and faded into burl letting (Y/N) open her eyes with tears gliding her sides and reality welcome her, a world without her mother.

The memory of her mother's words lingering like a whispered secret with other bitter memories of her coffin flood too spreading a bittersweet taste on her lips. "Mother you never left me. Did you ?" Smiling to her herself she understood the truth : patience was the key. She needed to wait, to let her imagination recharge, and trust that the muse would return to her when the time was right rather than forcing the art to flow.

From the moment on she let go the weight that had been pressing upon her by abandoning the almost-finished sculpture, leaving it to stand silently, a testament to her temporary surrender.

With a newfound sense of freedom, she wandered into the garden, her fingers trailing across the soft petals of blooming flowers. The gentle rustle of leaves and sweet songs of birds enveloped her, calming her mind. Next, she found herself lounging on her bed, surrounded by pillows, lost in the world of games on her console. The vibrant colors and soothing music transported her to a realm where worries didn't exist.

As the day wore on, (Y/N) continued to indulge in the joy of doing nothing. She lazily flipped through the pages of a book, savoring the feel of the paper between her fingers. The words blurred together, but she didn't care – she was too busy basking in the serenity of the moment. Time lost all meaning as she drifted from one leisurely activity to the next. The competition, the sculpture, and her doubts all faded into the background, replaced by a sense of tranquility and release.

Until the creativity flowed back to her motivating her emotions to meet her clay giving birth to the sculpture's expression she always think is the true definition. With renewed inspiration, (Y/N) approached her sculpture, her hands moving with deliberate purpose. She carefully crafted the expression, etching a window to the soul onto the cold, clay body. The eyes, once blank, now sparkled with a deep, inner light, as if the very essence of life had been breathed into them.

The subtle curve of his lips, the gentle tilt of the head, all conspired to reveal the depths of the subject's being. The clay, once mere material, had transformed into a vessel for the human experience and the sculptor stepped back, her gaze swept across the masterpiece, drinking in the nuances of her creation. The world, with all its complexities and emotions, seemed to emanate from this single, silent form.

With a final, gentle touch, she completed the sculpture, infusing it with a sense of vulnerability and strength. The cold body now pulsed with a quiet, inner radiance, as if the very soul of the subject had been laid bare for all to see. In this moment, (Y/N) knew she had created something extraordinary—a window to the human experience, crafted with precision, passion, and patience. The world would soon behold her masterpiece and she was ready to be crowned as the winner of all, surrounded by claps of people.

"But what the name of this model will be ?" Deep in thought she grab her notebook looking at her male utter beautiful sculpture posed in the very same pose she choose before a name pop in her mind and she bestow the name sought to capture the harmony of opposing forces that her sculpture embodied. "Gojo" represented the balance of the five elements or more like five attributes of the human body such as head, body, arm, torse while "Satoru" symbolized the enlightenment and comprehend of his unworldly creation.

"Good". Smiling, she name her creation, granted him an identity, a sense of self that transcended the mere clay and stone even creating a inexplicable connection to herself with the art. "Is this how mother felt granting her pieces names ?" A chuckle escape her lips remembering how the old woman usually call her pieces her children along her own breathing child, (Y/N).

The competition host's voice boomed, "Welcome to the Grand People's Award Choice! Today, you will decide which sculpture reigns supreme!" The crowd murmured in excitement as they began their journey through the exhibition hall.

Sculptures of varying shapes, sizes, and materials dotted the landscape, each one unique and breathtaking in its own right. The host deliberately omitted the artists' names, allowing the art to speak for itself. Amidst the sea of onlookers, the creators themselves blended in, anonymous and eager.

(Y/N) fidgeted, her mind racing with doubts despite her teacher's encouraging words and her friends' reassurances and the crowd flowed around her, something remarkable happened. People would pause, glance at her sculpture, the Gojo Sataru, and then stop dead in their tracks. They couldn't help but be drawn back to the majestic male form, as if an otherworldly deity had been captured in clay.

Whispers spread like wildfire: "This one...this one is something special." Strangers would nod in agreement, their eyes locked on the sculpture's serene face. Even those who attempted to move on to other pieces found themselves inexplicably returning, transfixed by the beauty before them.

As the hours ticked by, a sense of certainty settled over the crowd. It was as if the winner had already been chosen, not by the judges, but by the people themselves. (Y/N)'s anxiety began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious optimism. She crossed her fingers, hoping against hope that the next hours would fly by, bringing the voting to a close and confirming what the crowd had already decided in their hearts.

The countdown clock struck its final moment, and the host's face ignited with a triumphant smile. "The moment of truth has arrived!" he declared, his voice electric with excitement. "The votes are in, and the winner of this Supreme competition will be revealed!"

(Y/N) held her breath, her heart racing like a wild stallion. Her friends offered reassuring pats on the shoulder, but she was too entranced by the host's dramatic pause to notice.

The room hung in suspended animation, the only sound the soft hum of bated breath. And then, a sly smile crept onto the host's lips, like a whispered secret. He parted his lips, and (Y/N)'s heart skipped a beat.

"(L/N) (Y/N) from Cutieeva University... Congratulations! You are the champion!" he announced, his voice thundering through the hall like a victorious fanfare.

Pandemonium erupted as (Y/N) stood frozen, her eyes wide with wonder. Her friends screamed with joy, hugging her tightly as tears of elation streamed down her face. The host approached her, a congratulatory envelope in hand, and (Y/N) felt like she was soaring on the wings of triumph, her dream finally within grasp. She still can't believe out of all the brilliant universities around the globe did her sculpture won, granting her the award. (Y/N) felt like she was living in a dream, where time blurred and moments merged into a kaleidoscope of emotions. One instant, she was standing frozen, her heart racing with excitement; the next, she was beside the host, basking in the glory of her triumph.

The award felt heavy in her hands, a tangible symbol of her achievement. Thunderous applause enveloped her, a deafening roar that threatened to consume her. She opened her mouth to speak the speech, but her words were lost in the chaos, barely audible even to herself.

Before she knew it, she was swept away by a tide of well-wishers —friends, classmates, teachers, and even her principal — all beaming with pride, cheering her as the pride of their school. The celebration was a whirlwind, a colorful blur of laughter, tears, and congratulations.

And then, suddenly, she found herself alone, sitting on her bed, surrounded by the quiet of the night. The moon cast an ethereal glow, illuminating her room with an otherworldly light. She breathed in deeply, the stillness a balm to her frazzled nerves and she gazed out the window, a slow smile spread across her face. It had happened. She had won. The realization dawned on her, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Mother ! I have achieved what I wanted". She said gazing fondly at the frame of her mother, settling the golden award beside it. Everything is perfect and will be. Right ? Because little did she know, this moment of triumph was only the beginning of a dark and twisted journey.

From that moment on, (Y/N)'s sculpture became a global sensation, drawing thousands of tourists to the university gallery. At first, she was ecstatic, basking in the glory of her creation's viral fame. She had won awards before, yet never had her work resonated with so many people worldwide. With pride, she showcased her masterpiece to art enthusiasts, critics, and curious onlookers. She reveled in their admiration, laughing and joking about being a "deity" who had created such a stunning work. However as time passed, a creeping sense of unease began to shadow her joy.

The whispers started innocently enough of

"How handsome he is!"

"I wish he was real!"

"Oh god, why couldn't I meet such a man?"

"Why the god didn't create such wonderful man ?"

"Hopefully he come to life".

"If I could then I would sacrifice my everything to see this man alive".

"Ah ! Why can't he come alive".

Hoever soon, the comments took on a life of their own, echoing in her mind like a mantra. She began to feel like she was losing control, as if her own creation had taken on a persona of its own. The praise, once music to her ears, now felt like a dark omen. She started to wonder if she had unleashed something sinister into the world. The constant attention, the endless scrutiny, and the obsessive admiration began to suffocate her. The deity joke wasn't funny anymore. It felt like a haunting prophecy.

A desolate realm of darkness she could see along the suffocating void that crushed her beneath its oppressive weight. The air was heavy with the stench of malevolent presence, and she sense of eyes upon her, boring into her very soul. In mist of that a voce came, first the voice was a distant whisper, a faint rustling of dry leaves that seemed to carry on the wind however it grew louder, more urgent, until turning a maddening chant that echoed through her mind. A single, raspy voice, repeating a phrase that seemed to draw closer with each iteration, its words indistinguishable but its sinister intent clear.

The voice was a cold breeze on the back of her neck. (Y/N) tried to flee, but her legs were leaden, her body trapped in a living nightmare. And then, the voice whispered a single, chilling phrase, its tone a masterful blend of malice and seduction "Gojo Sataru."

The name exploded in her mind like a firework of terror, shattering the fragile remnants of her sanity. (Y/N) jolted awake, her eyes wide with horror, her lips frozen in a silent scream. Sweat dripped from her brow like blood from a wound, her heart racing with a fear that threatened to consume her whole. For a moment, she lay there, paralyzed with terror, the darkness of her dream still clinging to her like a shroud. Then, she sat up with a gasp, her eyes scanning the room frantically, as if searching for an escape from the terror that still lingered in her mind, waiting to pounce.

"What is going on ?" (Y/N) ask feeling alike an mad woman slowly descending into madness. In fear she didn't closed her eyes for moment, staring blankly at the ceiling or sometimes sketching a new art mindlessly to distract her disturbed mind.

In no time sun made it's presence known, offering bit of warmth to all and each even to (Y/N) who felt comfort to the golden rays before her ringtone took her attention. Answering the phone she greeted. "Good morning, Geto sensei".

"Good morning, (Y/N)-San, but could you please come to the university gallery ?" Hearing this a frown knitted her brows and she check her wrist watch. 5:00 am.

"So early if I may ask ?"

"Actually". He paused as if unsure what to speak "Please it's urgent". Understanding the hastily tone she agreed, doing a brief wash and clothes change she went to the location asked and oh dear, (Y/N) wasn't expecting the overwhelming amount of crowd standing outside her art gallery. Spotting her teacher she stood nearby.

"Sir, what's going on ?" Her (E/C) eyes dart from the crowd to her teacher.

"Well". Sheepishly the teacher tilted his head. "They came to see your sculpture". Earning a loud grasp from her.

"T-They ? You mean all ?" She stutter.

"All". Geto smiled nervously as if he finding his own words strange.

"So early in the morning and so many ?" Geto nod again.

"What in the world..." (Y/N) tailed off unable to comprehend the situation of what's going on, yes, she admits herself this particular art is special, a living masterpiece basically yet the amount of spotlight seems unnecessary, uncomfortable and— her thoughts went back to the nightmare she woke up— and strange.

"So, (Y/N) please guide the people. I have no choice but to let them in, you know". His smile strained and the girl knew there was not much say she has so she nod wordlessly standing in front of the glass door, a wall between the people and her. The glass door slid open with a soft whoosh, unleashing a torrent of humanity into the gallery. Hundreds of people poured in, their faces alight with excitement, smiles, and eagerness. The air was electric with anticipation, a palpable sense of wonder that was almost tangible.

(Y/N) stood at the forefront, a forced smile plastered on her face as she greeted the throngs of visitors. She waved her hand graciously, guiding them towards her sculpture, the centerpiece of the exhibition. Her eyes darted back and forth, her mind racing with a growing sense of unease and she stood before her creation, a strange, unsettling feeling washed over her. She couldn't bring herself to look at her own creation, her gaze skittering away like a frightened animal. The sculpture, once her pride and joy, now seemed to loom over her, its presence oppressive and menacing.

(Y/N)'s smile faltered, her lips trembling ever so slightly. She felt like a puppeteer whose strings had been cut, her control over the situation slipping away. The crowd's excitement and admiration only added to her growing sense of discomfort, their eagerness to behold her creation now feeling like a suffocating weight. With a Herculean effort, (Y/N) raised her eyes, her gaze finally meeting the sculpture's serene, enigmatic face. Rather of pride, she felt a shiver run down her spine, as if she was staring into the abyss itself despite his face turned to the other side.

"Miss (L/N), with what thought you created this masterpiece ?" A young woman asked within the mist of people.

"Masterpiece ?" (Y/N) mutter under her breath tasting a bitterness. "Well, it came naturally". She replied smiling and staring at the woman's eyes.

"Amazing !" One of them compliment.

"Then Miss (L/N), had you thought the model will be this viral ?" A young man this time asked.

"Never". She answered holding her tremble.

"Then, what motivate you to create such man ? Is he a real man or a part of your imagination ?" Another asked who's face (Y/N) unable to see.

"As the rules of competition. All of the participators had to bring their imagination out into the clay so did I". Calm her voice and confident her (E/C) eyes.

"So Miss (L/N) how long did it take to make you ?"

"Miss (L/N) were you always inspired to make someone of it ?"

"Miss (L/N) are you aware of the name we call you ? The deity ?"

"Miss (L/N), any hint of inspiration in process of making him ?"

One after another the questions jumped from one man to another to another that (Y/N) lips didn't had the time to even open eventually the cacophony of voices and laughter merging into a distant, muffled din. The room began to spin, and she felt herself becoming detached, as if floating above the chaos. The excitement and admiration of the crowd now seemed like a distant hum, a buzzing in her ears that threatened to consume her. With a sense of morbid curiosity, (Y/N) dared to glance at her sculpture, the root of all the chaos. Her heart raced and from the tail of her eyes locking onto its serene, enigmatic face.

And then, she saw it. Or thought she saw it. His eyes, once mere clay and stone, seemed to flicker with life. They moved, ever so slightly, as if connecting with hers. The room froze, time standing still as (Y/N)'s heart sank like a stone.

She felt a chill run down her spine, her mind reeling in horror. It was impossible, yet she swore she saw it. The eyes, once lifeless, now seemed to hold a spark of consciousness, a glimmer of awareness that was not of this world.

(Y/N)'s breath caught in her throat, her voice trapped in a silent scream. She stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on the sculpture, her mind racing with the implications. The crowd's din returned, but she didn't hear it. She was lost in the abyss of her own terror, staring into the eyes of her creation, which now seemed to stare back.

"Miss (L/N) ?"

"Miss (L/N) ?"

"(Y/N) senpai ?" Snap ! (Y/N) looked at the familiar call of her best friend Yuji running towards her, holding her hand worried. "Are you alright ?" His voice ringed yet her care is about the sculpture, about the man !

Slowly she turn her head, finger point to his face only to blink twice and find the lifeless eyes as it belonged unlike the glimpse of terror she saw.

Confusion.

Betrayed.

Madness.

Alone.

Did no one saw that ? Did even she saw that ? But it's liveless right ? It's a mold of clay, a non-living thing yet why ? How ? What is going on ? (Y/N) mind spin threatening to burst any moment.

"Yuji, I-I am not okay". Her words stutter and she lean on his strength.

"Understood". Yuji sprang into action, bellowing at the crowd to part and make way unlike (Y/N) who couldn't process the commotion, her mind reeling like a maelstrom. She felt her grip on reality begin to slip, her thoughts spiraling into a vortex of doubt and terror. Was she truly seeing things, or was her own sanity unraveling? The world around her became a blur, as if she was trapped in a never-ending nightmare. Yuji's voice grew distant, a fading echo as (Y/N)'s consciousness teetered on the edge of collapse.

"High blood pressure, high stress level and sleep deprivation". Ieiri Shōko said, with a sigh looking at the chat. "It's a dangerous combination, (Y/N)-san that's why rest your body". Before glaring at her teacher Geto. "And you ! who even gave you the permission to be a teacher huh ? If you can't act like one ?" Her raspy voice and judgmental eyes send daggers in his way.

"I am sorry, (Y/N)-San, I didn't know I was creating pressure for you". Guilty written over his face as he ease his frown.

Megumi commented "Well, you as a teacher should know yourself". Right away avert his gaze to not meet his glare.

"It's alright. My fault. I should have voiced out my problem but I really think I need rest". Indeed (Y/N) felt the need to relax after seeing the movement never will she ever recover the horror her heart felt.

Nothingness. No hint of light, nothing at all. A silent void of nullity only suddenly, two glints of light materialized, like sapphires bursting forth from the shadows. The brightest blue she had ever seen, piercing and vivid, locked onto her. Eyes, hidden until now, stared directly into her soul. A whisper, a murmur, a voice she couldn't decipher, grew in intensity, swelling to a deafening crescendo. The words remained elusive, but the urgency was unmistakable. She strained to comprehend, her heart racing, until the sound shattered the darkness, jolting her awake with a silent scream, as if her own soul was being torn from her throat, leaving her gasping in terror, her breaths coming in ragged, desperate gulps, like a dying thing clawing its way back from the abyss.

"What was that ? I never saw those eyes—" She pause recalling the vivid eyes. "I didn't or did I ?" Oddly enough her mind went to her own sculpture. "His eyes, his lifeless eyes". Repeating the thought in her mind, She threw off the covers and got out of bed, her bare feet making barely a sound on the cold floor.

"It can't be". She hoped. "It shouldn't be, it must not be". Like a protection mantra she chanted it sprinting to the exhibition where her once masterpiece to nightmare stand on and she somehow unlock the door and run to stand in front of her model, Gojo Sataru in the darkness she was begin to spiral and to her denial the moon cast an eerie glow through the window, illuminating the sculpture's face. (Y/N) felt a shiver run down her spine as her (E/C) eyes bore into its eyes and saw nothing. No color, no sparkle, just emptiness like it should be. "Ha ! I knew it. It was another my imagination working too much". With a scoff she breath properly ignoring her intitution of feeling not being alone in this room so she walk away quietly yet quickly escaping from the burning empty eyes of the sculptures.

The night wore on, a sleepless vigil, as her fingers held the pencil scratched across the paper, trying to capture the haunting blue eyes that lingered in her mind. The memory of their piercing gaze refused to fade, fueling her creativity as she sketched into the wee hours. Just as the first light of dawn crept in, her friend arrived, bearing the missed class lessons and a gentle smile.

"Here, I am giving you all you need". Nobara pat her head, able to point out dark circles in her friend's eyes.

"Thank you a lot". Gratitude mingled with exhaustion and her hands accepted the offering, placing it in the wooden desk where her eyes caught the shining golden award she forget to keep somewhere else due to the chaos happening.

"By the way (Y/N) I also wanted you to know today your sculpture would be the model for beginner students to learn how to create the perfect body, arms and you know basics". Her hands move with the notion earning a smile over (Y/N)'s lips.

"Understood". She didn't, she didn't understood the meaning behind seeing the same art so many times anymore. Why can't people move on, go, see some other new, fresh and normal art unlike her strange, hauntingly beautiful one. That's when the curiosity to see the art awaken, for unknown reason she desperately wants to see or perhaps it was the promise of safety in numbers she asked to go along with her.

(Y/N) strolled hand in hand with Nobara towards the exhibition, the warm light danced across her skin, a comforting sensation she savored. "Let's go in". Reached the glass door Nobara said touch the doorhandle and about to open breaking the space between them when her (E/C) eyes dare peek through her lashes to the glass exterior and her her serenity, sanity shattered because for a fleeting instant, the hands of the stone seemed to twitch, fingers trembling, arms stiffening, like a macabre puppet springing to life. The horror of her nightmare resurfaced, threatening to consume her. Madness lurked, its dark tendrils creeping closer.

Averting her gaze, she felt her grip on reality falter once again. With shaking hands and a voice barely above a whisper, she stammered "I am sorry...I suddenly feel sick. I need to rest".

Without awaiting Nobara's response, she turned and fled, leaving the girl worried and tense, her eyes wide with concern as she called out however (Y/N) was already gone, vanished into the crowd, pursued by the demons of her own mind.

"This is happening again. It moved right in front of my eyes, in front of Nabora and others too !" Claps her palm to her mouth she tightly close her eyes, sitting on her bed and without a second thought opened the wooden drawer taking few pills of sleeping pills and drank in rapid speed.

"I need a dreamless sleep, I need a dreamless sleep". Repeating she lay on the cold fabric of bed and close her eyes.

Darkness enveloped her sight, a suffocating shroud that obscured all else And then, like specters emerging from the void, a pair of pale hands materialized before her. They glowed with an ethereal light, as if the darkness itself had taken on a life of its own. The hands, unmistakably male, reached out with an unsettling gentleness, his fingers tracing the contours of her body. (Y/N) felt a shiver run down her spine as the hands caressed her, his touch leaving her skin crawling with unease. She tried to recoil yet the palm tightly held her waist in it's root however she tried to move again that's when a low, velvety voice unfolded like a dark flower, its laughter echoing through the shadows like a predator's taunt along the blue eyes snapped open, blazing with an otherworldly intensity. Those cerulean orbs incinerated her defenses, laying bare her soul like a ravaged landscape despite clothes attached to her body.

"How cute you are trying to run away ?" His sinister voice carried like wind coming from behind to front or from nothing to assume.

Slowly his hands caress her visible neck, lacing with curiosity and desire. Tracing the curve of her side to the front from her chin to pausing at the collarbone unleashing a chill that seeped into her bones. Disgust and fear entwined, a toxic embrace that left her paralyzed, her heart a wild animal racing against her ribs and almost as if he could smell the fear those gleaming eyes smile into crescent moon and frosty fingers unbutton her night shirt one by one swelling tears in her eyes.

"No. Please. No. Please". She preyed to each and every god she knew the existence of, hoping to be saved by the creation she created by her own hands. Spared by the humiliation she might face by the monster and—Snap ! Her eyes jolt open to a world that is too bright, too loud. The screeching alarm pierced her eardrums, a forgotten relic of a previous night's routine. As she struggled to sit up, the harsh light overhead stabbed at her eyes, making her squint and shield her face with a groggy hand.

Tear drops silently land on her lap, soaking the fabric with her sorrows she experienced and unconsciously her hand went to her chest making her breath hitched because the two first buttons of her shirt is separated leaving her to wonder the line between her reality and nightmare erasing. "What is happening ? Why is this happening ?" Fingers dug inside her hair to the roots, only helpless questions is jumbled on her mind with unanswered and those question will remain more unanswered when increasingly she unmistakenly gets glimpse of the model and her blood run cold witnessing the torso seemed to twist, ever so slightly, like a snake slithering through grass and that very same night she is laying on her bed, inside her nothing of dream joined by the pair of hands, alive eyes, cold hard torse crawling above her warmth of skin exporling her body as if she belonged to him, violently the privacy (Y/N) wants to keep and when she teetered on the brink of death. The alarm clock screamed, shattering the spell, saving her at the same time lingering the terror.

The next time she didn't gave the chance her eyes could to see her sculpture anywhere from her phone, to her poster, she even avoiding going out frighten by the fact to see him coming alive however fate speaks otherwise accidentally letting her eyes meet the flicker of the monster named Gojo Sataru and finally along his legs twitched, its entire body began to stir, like a creature awakening from a centuries-long slumber. (Y/N) watched in pure horror, her mind reeling, as the once-inanimate object now moved with a sinister purpose. Feeling her own life force ebbing away, as if the sculpture's newfound vitality was draining her very existence and known echoed in her mind "This is the end. I'm staring death in the face."

Desperate to escape the terror from going to sleep, (Y/N) tried to distract herself. Fingers grabbed her sketchbook, but her pencils trembled in her hand, unable to capture the beauty of art amidst such evil however eyes moved to watched entertainment shows only to feel the laughter and music seemed hollow, a cruel mockery of her fear. Even old videos of her parents, once a source of comfort, now seemed distant, unable to shield her from the encroaching darkness waiting to pounch.

No matter what she did, her eyelids grew heavy, threatening to surrender to sleep despite the knowledge that if she succumbed to sleep, the sculpture would claim her. So she fought, hard and limit past her strength. She'd rather die awake, than let the darkness consume her.

Despite her valiant efforts, (Y/N)'s eyelids finally betrayed her, succumbing to the relentless pull of exhaustion and the last thing she saw was her mother smiling face holding her younger self's hand in the video.

This time when she faced the void of nothingness, she has complex layers of emotions piling one after another. Fear of what might bound to happen, confusion of why or how's this situation is even occurring to her so many times, regret of creating a monster she mistakenly did and little calm of at least knowing what's about to come in front yet she wasn't ready to face the tide like all ship captains are no matter how much they nagivate above the ocean, they fear bear fear and the darkness coalesced, swirling around itself like a vortex of ink, deepening into an abyssal void. It churned and eddied, alike creating a pathway for the entity that lurked beyond the shadows. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with anticipation, as the darkness parted like a curtain, revealing a glimpse of what lay beyond. Slowly, the entity began to take form, its presence unfolding, no longer just fragments of limbs or eyes, but its entire self, a being of unutterable horror, emerged from the shadows. The darkness swirled around it, a mad dance of tendrils, as if worshiping the monstrosity that now stood before (Y/N).

Gojo Saturu, her sculpture moving in flesh and form of an living human. A vision of devastating beauty that the viewers oh so desired. His lips in a perpetual smirk while his sapphire eyes look straight into his creator's soul.

"Hello, my creator". He mockingly greet, voice smooth flowing to (Y/N)'s ears. "Nice to meet ya". He giggle at the end as his own comment was funny. "I was oh so waiting to meet. Took so long". His long legs march forward to (Y/N) who is frozen, breathing hard to have her creation talk to her.

His face lean forward inching almost few inches apart to where her (E/C) could see his unblemished and smooth skin like she curved out of her fingers, well she bestowed him everything but flaw, a mistake on her part and a power to his. Deliberately his slender pale finger tips touch her cheek—her imperfect skin. She fully embraced to shiver by his coldness yet it was oddly warm causing her eyes wide filling questions in them.

He wordlessly smiled further, cupping her entire face on his both palm like one would to their deity. Thumps ever so slightly stroke her skin. "You must be dying to know the truth ? How I created ? Breath to live ?" His eyes flicker to hers. She choose to not say.

"Well, it's cause you, all because of you and those humans. Their hopes, admiration, wishes and your believe of me springing to live manifest into a unseen force, a force of blending your believes turning and fueling my life from mere stones. The moment you believed my eyes moved, my eyes spring into live, you believed my hands twitch it gave me life and slowly little by little you were all along bringing me life. My creator, my love. My eve of life". Stretching his lips ear to ear he close their distance, enveloping her lips.

Astonishing her and letting her limbs finally protest against the unwanted touch yet his hands larger, faster, stronger that held her both wrist in one palm, focusing solely on devouring her lips and wrapping tongue above one another, swirling like the taste of saliva and sucking breath out of her leaving her utterly surrender and vulnerable. (Y/N) suffocated by the soul draining kiss she kicked his any part only for him to remain unyielding and finally when he deem to be satisfied he seprated their lips with a glistening string of saliva linked and heavy breathing followed.

"Is this how it feels to need air ?" A husky laugh bubble out of his throat. "Then it's addicting". The sly smile stayed as he branded her skin with tender kisses, tracing a path of desire. The soft curve of her cheek, the tantalizing corner of her lips, the delicate slope of her chin, the whisper-soft lids of her eyes, and the gentle expanse of her forehead like marking her his.

"Stop. Stop all of this madness. Why are you doing this ? If you want to kill me then kill me already why torture me ?" Desperate her breath brush aganist his skin, fearful written on her eyes.

"Aww, there is a misunderstanding between us love, a grave one". He dramatically chuckle. "Why would I want to kill my own creator when you are the reason I even form an shape ? And torture ? Is this torture when I am soaking you in love. This is my passion for you. My burning desire for you". Yearning his brightest shade of eyes hold and rather of feeling moved all she felt was forced.

"But I do not want". Tears prickly down her eyes, watering her vision. "I really do not want this". She threw her head back, moving as her physical self can.

"It's okay. You do love me because if you don't then you wouldn't have created me so love me. Like you are suppose to. Bear the consequences of your actions, darling". Shushing her lips with his finger, he gently kiss the vulnerable curve of her neck and descend in downwards ignoring all of her pleads, protest and fight. Eventually his lips brush against her collarbone and ever so gently he suck the skin purple and red moving to the valley of her chest.

His free hand cup the breast through her dress ignited an fire and blood rush to his pants. Tearing her shirt scattering her buttons he came to face with her lovely bra, the only shield protecting against being bare yet he with ease snatch that away. Laying her upper body to feast by those eyes.

"Hmm" A groan slip past his lips from merely stare at those breast and the outline of her body with the way her blush expression, tears streaming, hands tied by his palm, hair spread beneath her was a divine sight than himself. Oh how he recall watching her from his stone form and yearn to touch those skin which he is now relishing.

Shamelessly his large palm cup her breast earning a sweet whimper and dive to taste if it's sweet as her lips and he was beyond ecstatic, twisting the bud as he please and sucking whole even biting with his canines enjoying the melody of her sobbing and her warmth skin. Before jumping to the another untouched one claiming his like it belonged and butterflies kisses on the entire breasts.

To lacing his tongue on her center of skin, tailing down and stopping at her stomach pecking each imperfect and perfect spots covering her whole. How couldn't he ? If he was served with a human like her, (Y/N) who is in his eyes the prettiest girl to even laid eyes on.

While she is on other end of hell, despising the kisses like an lava drops, burning with a fiery hatred that left her scarred. Every touch was a toxic assault, poisoning her senses and corroding her soul. His lips were venomous serpents, injecting deadly venom into her veins with each caress. His hands are acid, dripping with malice as they crawled across her skin. She couldn't and didn't felt a loving sense from him let alone love he was confessing about. Nightmare his life is.

And he knew about. Knew perfectly of her hatred, pain and still choose to love her because she does love him. She just doesn't know herself or he will make her. That's why he is mastering the very skill to pleasure her in ways a woman could be by ripping her only thread of cloth wrapped around her hip and fully nude her.

Viewing her lay bare, all nude couldn't conceal the heart crafting on Gojo's eyes and the madness smile heating his pale skin. Swiftly he dug his head in between of her legs, inside the clit his cum will enter. Well, for later because now his mouth was engulfed inside, tongue forcefully rip inside to taste the creamy fluids his love made of making her grasp and thrash around more harder than she could.

Even squirming underneath him only to prove fruitless while he continue to taste her juices, eating as if it's a delicacy itself, swallowing down and circling his tongue inside her tight walls, loving every bit of it however his patience comes to end making him pull out his flesh with dripping saliva and ran his fingers past his hair.

"P-Please. Please spare me. Please..." Her voices somewhere blended with her sobbed sorrows and her grasp when he impatiently without preparation unbuckle his restrictions, pulling out his shaft and pierce straight inside her walls.

Arching her back and cry out a scream she felt utter hopeless and pain coursing through her limbs. "It hurts ! I-it hurts". Dragging her air she wail. "It hurts please Gojo. It hurts". pricked at his name Gojo shush her more, whispering sweet nothings like an lover not a rapist he is and claim her lips once more. Even stealing her right to speak.

Heartlessly he slam his throbbing shaft again and again, groaning within the kiss and savouring the feeling. "Ah ! Is this what feels to have sex ? Because if it is then I would do it again and again". Tilting his head, Gojo separated his lips and eventually his hips came to stuttering as he cum inside without a care of world unlike (Y/N) who's heart rattled under her ribcage.

"No ! No ! No ! No ! No ! You monster ! What did you do ?" In disbelief she kicked her tireless legs and dug her nails on his soft skin. Anger filling her mind. "I can be pregnant !" She cried out.

"Really ?" Honestly he asked, laughing. "Then I should do it properly". With that the horrors repeated with his hips penetrate her clit deeper.

Her lips parted echoing her scream along her eyes snap open. Her body jolt up from her bed and gasping for air as if she'd been underwater for too long. Her chest heaved, and her eyes frantically scanned the familiar surroundings of her room. Her clothes clung to her damp skin, a testament to the terror she had endured. "Wai—I am wearing my clothes. Does that mean ?" As reality set in, a wave of relief washed over her—it was just a nightmare, a twisted episode of her own madness, nothing more. Smiling to herself she craved the comfort of her friends so with a sense of urgency, she rushed to their room, catching a glimpse of them at the exhibition hall. She burst in, smiling wider and navigated through the crowd. Her eyes locked onto Nabora, and she grasped her best friend's hand like a lifeline.

"Good morning (Y/N)". Cheerfully she greeted.

"Good morning to you too". She breathed. "I had a nightmare". Her voice confessed. "Believe me or not the worst one".

"What do you mean". Concern fill the girl's face and (Y/N)'s lips about to elaborate when a pair of hands— disgustingly familiar and unsettling— wrapped around her shoulders from behind. A low, husky voice whispered in her ear.

"A nightmare huh ?" Gojo's words dripped with an unsettling intimacy, his tone implying secrets shared and terrors unspoken washing cold bucket of water over her head.

How ?

What ?

Impossible ?

"Right ! Gojo senpai, help your girlfriend ! She is in need of your help". Nobara spoke in an familiar tone to which he replied "of course".

"B-Boyfriend ?" Her words stutter.

"Oh ! Sorry not boyfriend. Fiancé !" She facepalmed herself laughing. Alone. Not with (Y/N) who's questions and terrors trapped in the vice of his embrace.

Leaning closely Gojo tucked her shirt a little making her aware of the intimacy marks she was blind to miss and whispered the bitter truth. "I have become the god of the chisel".

FIN

[french-unknown]

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝔼𝕋𝔼ℝℕ𝕀𝕋𝕐 𝕆𝔽 𝔹𝕃𝕆𝕆𝔻

ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝔸ℂ𝕋𝔼ℝ: trafalgar law ℂ/𝕎: hurt/comfort (sickness), established relationship 𝕎/ℂ: 3.1k + 𝕊𝕌𝕄𝕄𝔸ℝ𝕐: What could be worse than a doctor condemned to watch his lover waste away from a fatal illness? Perhaps a vampire witnessing his companion's failure to access eternity at his side. Law has never had a chance in life.

| m a s t e r l i s t |

𝕃𝔸𝕎

You were comfortably lying down on your bed, your back against your soft blankets, while Law's body was lying on top of yours. His head was nestled comfortably in the crook of your neck and you felt his hair, free from his usual hat, tickling your neck as well as your jaw.

In your happy state, you laughed lightly at the situation while gently tugging on a handful of hair that came your way.

Above you, you felt his soft growl against your touching chests before he buried his head even further against you. The grip he also had on your hips tightened and you felt the coolness of his icy hands pierce the thin fabric that covered you. A shiver went up your spine. However, far from being disturbed by the rapprochement, your blissful smile widens and you resume your caresses on his scalp. His messy hair was soft under your fingers.

Your brain was foggy but the pleasure you got from it felt good.

Suddenly, Law shifted against you.

Still in the clouds, you didn't quite understand why your lover released himself from your neck before getting up on his elbows. Your faces came face-to-face. You looked at him in awe as his fangs slowly retracted and he wiped away the few drops of blood that had rolled down the corner of his mouth. You surrounded his chiseled jaw in your hands to brought him closer to you until he was lying on you again and you placed a loving kiss on his lips.

He stayed there briefly, temporarily enjoying the contact, but he rose again.

You saw him looking at you with his eyebrows furrowed.

“Your blood tastes weird.” He announced with annoyance.

You laughed discreetly.

“You never told me this one.” You answered him with a smile.“New catchphrase?”

But Law didn't share your good humor.

“Of course. I was torn between «your blood tastes weird» and «you make weird noises when you chew» so I hope you're flattered.” He muttered.

“I think I prefer the one about my chewing.” You laught again but, when he moved further away, you complained, “Come on, it's nothing. Come back to me.”

You then tried to wrap your arms around his neck to pull him back onto you but he pulled away. You let out a sound of sadness as he propped himself up on his elbows before sitting on his knees around your thighs.

“Law!” You moan.

The loss of contact caused a cold draft to pass over your neck and make you shiver. You missed his warm, heavy body on yours.

Yet your grumpy lover leaned to the side to retrieve his sword and repositioned himself on you with his weapon.

“Room, scan!” He declared in the darkness of your room.

The room lit up in blue and, among the idyllic setting that this formed, you emerged even brighter. Indeed, your body glowed with the same bluish hue while your veins stood out a blood red. They sparkled in your body like an infinite tree that multiplied and became more and more refined as it approached your extremities. And, in the middle of it all, your arteries were pulsing bright red.

The light eventually faded, leaving only you and Law in near darkness.

You still made out his indecipherable face in the darkness so, still peaceful, you held out your arms for him to come back and settle between them. But he didn't move.

“Law.” You called to him in vain with necessity.

Your body was gradually cooling down and you just wanted to savor your post-meal moment with your lover. But he didn't move except to lower his emotionless eyes from your eyes to your heart. Then he brought them back up to your eyes.

"You will die." He blurted out without the slightest tact.

You laughed in disbelief this time.

“Stop saying stupid things.” You replied before you were finally able to grab his hands in yours.

You laced your fingers together then roughly pulled him towards you until he collapsed onto your chest. His frame, wider and taller than yours, suddenly crushed you - sending a pain signal to your brain - but you didn't pay attention because you were too happy to have your man back. You were too happy to have him against you again while he also tangled your fingers with his and rested his head under your chin.

You gently kissed the top of his hair.

"You're tired." You resumed calmly. “Sleep, we'll see about it tomorrow.”

And you let yourself be carried peacefully into the arms of Morpheus as soon as the last word left your lips.

When you woke up the next morning, the bed was empty.

You stretch your foot out of your mountain of blankets before building up the courage to get out from between your sheets. Law was already long gone if you stuck to his neatly folded side of the bed. You groaned. Your mind was no longer as fuzzy as it was last night—one of the happy effects of having your blood drawn by him—but it was nevertheless still clouded by the mists of lingering sleep.

You then went into the corridor in search of your grumpy lover.

Even though he was his usual grumpy self, you didn't doubt for a second your ability to make him cuddle you.

You passed a few members of the crew along the way who greeted you happily and, at the end of the way, you finally arrived at the captain's office. You knocked on the door before entering without waiting for his signal.

You found him sitting in his chair behind his desk. He was bent forward with his elbows on the surface while his open hands supported his lowered head. You hesitated for a second before he heard you enter. However, he slowly raised his head to gaze into yours with his steely eyes. From where you stood, you could see the grayish dark circles that stained the underside of his eyes.

"What?" He asked dryly.

You cringed at his tone.

“Wow!” You exclaimed, clearly unsettled. “Bad night, sleeping beauty?”

He growled in response.

“Well, I might as well leave if I piss you off.” You replied, annoyed by his behavior.

"Wait." He hurriedly stopped you while you had your hand on the handle.

Behind you, you heard the crunch of his chair against the floor followed by the sound of his footsteps going around his desk. When he stopped moving, you turned back to him with a suspicious glance.

He was simply standing behind you with his arms limply at his sides. His gaze was slightly shifty, unlike usual, as well as you could see in the nervous movements of his fingers that he wasn't comfortable. Finally, he took a deep breath before shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He raised his steely eyes to yours.

“Do you remember about last night?” He asked sharply.

You turned toward him and leaned your back against the door.

"Yes." You replied still annoyed by the start of the conversation. "It makes me high. It doesn't make me so stupid that I forget my evening."

You saw a nervous twitch pass his lips but he did nothing.

"There is a problem with your body." He continued without getting angry despite the fact that he seemed to be seething inside. His nervous movements resumed discreetly. "Your blood isn't like usual and you lit up like a lantern when I scanned you."

You stared at him in silence. You felt accused by his remark. Defensively, you crossed your arms over your chest without even realizing it.

“You must have made a mistake.” You explained.

“I never make a mistake.” He immediately retorted, almost growling.

“And yet you were wrong.” You affirmed.

The air began to crackle with tension around you. Far from avoiding your gaze now, his eyes were firmly planted on yours as he seemed to probe your mind. His face was completely expressionless, if we forget the irritated grin that twisted his lips. His parasitic movements had also completely ceased, leaving behind only his impassive frame which towered over you coldly.

Faced with the situation, which was getting worse, you decided to calm things down.

“Look,” You started, trying to take a softer tone. "you clearly look like a zombie now and you must not have slept all night given your dark circles. There must be a little mess, okay? I'm not sick. I didn't have temperature. I don't hurt anywhere."

You noticed his shoulders unwind and drop as you spoke.

Slowly, you moved from the door before slowly getting closer to him. You approached him as you would with a wild animal. Once in front of him, you raised your hand which you delicately placed against his cold cheek. With the tip of your thumb, you tenderly caressed his cheekbone. You still noticed that, although he didn't lean into the contact, the muscles in his jaw relaxed against your palm.

"I'm fine, Law." You finish smiling.

Then, to your complete astonishment, his hands rested on your hips over the fabric of your t-shirt and pulled you against him. Caught in his embrace, you felt him bend forward to rest his forehead against your shoulder. His cold breath hit your collarbone and made you shiver.

However, you raised your arms and wrapped them around his neck to bring him even closer to you. You placed a kiss against his temple at the same time.

"I'm fine, Law." You repeated it to reassure him. "Everything's fine."

From that day on, your relationship with him changed.

Whereas before you both had been quite laid-back and independent, you soon noticed that he appeared in your field of vision a lot more. You had always been this quiet couple who did their activities separately before meeting in the evening to discuss them. But now, he was always in the corner of the room.

You found it quite endearing at first: he was worried about you, unlike some times when he could be quite insensitive.

After so many years living on Earth as a vampire, he had a perception of time quite different from yours which meant that he didn't place as much value on the time spent together. He valued the quality of your time together over its quantity. And it was indeed very pretty on paper but that unfortunately meant that days or even weeks could go by without him giving any sign of life. He would simply show up at the end of the day to naturally ask for some time together—or even just to feed on you—before going back to his studies or his occupations.

It weighed heavily on you at the start of your relationship. You had sometimes wondered if he just saw you as a pleasant way to pass the time or as a simple blood bag. But you knew now that he loved you, after he finally grumpily admitted it after years of dating.

Yet, while you could have sacrificed your entire family at the beginning of your relationship for him to give you this much attention, now it annoyed you.

You saw the doubt in his eyes and it irritated you. He watched you like a babysitter watching over a baby he had to take care of. Or out of fear that you would escape if he looked away for even a second. Except you weren't a child. You were an adult and you would have liked to get this fact into his vampire head.

Besides, he probably must have told the rest of the crew about his paranoid doubts because you also had the impression that they were taking turns keeping an eye on you. When Law was locked in his library or office, they would mysteriously appear one by one at your side.

Bepo asked you to come take a nap with him because he couldn't sleep on his own.

Shachi and Penguin asked you to decide which one of them won after their prank competitions.

Ikkaku asked you to be her partner for a card game since no one else was free to play with her.

The more time passed, the more their attention suffocated you.

Their fear was increased tenfold when, while you were eating dinner together in the Polar Tang refectory, you tried in vain to contain a cough. You had the impression since you woke up that morning that a weight was pressing on your chest while a cat seemed to have taken up residence in your throat. You barely suppressed a groan of annoyance at having coughed at the worst possible time. All the crew's horrified eyes were pointed at you.

“It’s okay,” You tried to justify yourself, laughing. “the water went down the wrong pipe!”

But no one laughs with you.

You heard Law's chair creak precipitously against the floor in the silence of the room and then you felt the icy grip of his fingers between yours. You were immediately lifted from your own chair and he carried you with him down the halls to your room. You tried in vain to explain during the ride but, despite your efforts, he didn't listen.

As soon as your bedroom door closed, he picked you up and threw you onto the bed. He then sat on your lap in a parody of his last meal and pinned you against the mattress to retrieve his sword.

“Come on, Law!” You moan, dissatisfied, for him to stop his cinema.

“Room, scan!” He still whispered seriously above you.

The same shade of blue seeped into your room. Your eyes, however, remained fixed on your lover's and you waited for the moment of realization where they would relax. When he finally saw that you had nothing.

You were okay.

But you looked and all you saw was his eyes widening as a glint that you recognized as fear lit up in his eyes. His mouth opened blissfully in shock, revealing his white teeth with retracted canines that you knew were sharp. His grip loosened around your wrists and he leaned back, stunned, as if he had just been punched in the face.

Faced with this reaction, you felt fear begin to tickle unpleasantly in your stomach. You got up like this, worried, in order to reassure him but the vision you had froze you.

In the mirror that decorated your room behind your lover, you saw your reflections.

The blue light of his Room contrasted harshly with the bright red that spread across your body where all your veins should undoubtedly be. You saw them going in all directions in the smallest corners of your body while giving it a slight reddish tint by proxy. And what mortified you the most was the enormous center of neon red light pulsing from your lungs. They were so clearly visible in the mirror that you had no trouble recognizing the lobes and structures you had seen so many times in Law's scientific journals.

It wasn't possible, you were fine!

You certainly had a little cough a few minutes ago but it was perfectly normal. You lived in a damp and sometimes a little cold submarine that was submerged for more than half the year. You didn't see much sun so your immune system wasn't always at its highest potential. You had caught a cold, that was all.

You turned your confused face towards Law's who was still looking at you in amazement.

"It's just a cold." You tried to soothe him.

"It's not a cold." He countered by recomposing himself. "It's more than that. It's in your blood and it got into your lungs. I don't know what it is, I've read every book I have and I still don't know what it is."

You sighed as you tried to approach him but he moved away from your touch as if you had burned him. Inside, you felt the rejection like a slap in the face.

"It's nothing." You started again anyway. "I just have a little virus or something. I'll be better in a few days."

He glared at you.

"It's not nothing!" He growled now, clearly. "Do you think my Devil Fruit helps me spot birds in the sky? It spots illnesses. Serious illnesses!"

You were going to growl at him for not speaking to you that way, but he cut you off.

"If it's on my scan, it's dangerous. And it's everywhere in your body. In your blood, in your lungs. It's killing you!"

The poorly concealed despair you detected in his tone made you calm down. Even though he was currently annoying you prodigiously, you knew that he really wouldn't get angry in vain. It must have really worried him for him to lose his usual sarcasm and get to this point.

You took a few seconds of silence to let down your irritation.

“Okay,” you continued after calming down. "I understand it could make you panic. It's true that your scan detects anomalies that could be worrying. But it could just be a false alarm, right?"

You saw him take a deep breath.

"Is there anything I could do to reassure you? To prove to you that I'm okay." You asked to appease him.

“Let me replace your lungs.” He announced seriously.

You stood staring at him in disbelief.

"No?" You started in shock. "No! You're not going to replace my lungs for a few doubts!"

"Honestly, it's either this or I turn you into a vampire like me." He explained with a semblance of calm. "It won't change anything for you if I do it with my Ope Ope No Mi. I don't know what molecule is screwing up your body so I can't take it out like that. But I can swap your lungs and try antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to weaken the thing in your blood.”

"No!" You defended yourself, offended.

“Please,” he continued. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. It's really the only thing that could reassure me. Please."

He looked at you with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

A heavy silence ruled around you.

“I’m ready to beg you on my knees if necessary.”

You stayed still, shocked by the offer.

“Do you promise nothing will happen to me and that you won’t make a fuss about it again?” You asked him, perplexed.

"I promise."" He affirmed.

You swallowed nervously.

Alright then." You accepted.

[seaadc]

migraine. | morax

ANGST, NO COMFORT, READER MENTIONED WEARING A “dress”, ADEPTUS READER, MORAX X GUIZHONG, ZHONGLI X READER, CHILDE X READER, FT. TEUCER, FEM!READER

(inspired by the song “Migraine” by Moonstar88.)

link of the song is at the end of the work.

summary: morax, the god of contracts and guizhong, the god of dust. they look perfect being with eachother— but how about you? have you ever crossed his mind atleast once?

inspired by: 🚽’s post (don’t ask why a toilet)

“Is my existence still present to you?”

Morax who was inlove with guizhong and [Name] being inlove with Morax, though it's just a one sided love.

Unrequited, if i may say.

Guizhong and Morax laughing around wholeheartedly in a field of glaze lilies while [Name] just stared, envious 'nd jealous that Guizhong's getting the attention and love of Morax.

though who is [Name] to intrude such a lovely couple?

She stands up, brushing away the nonexistent dirt in her dress. “I’ll get going now, I don’t wanna intrude in this… outing.” You speak up.

Morax turns away from Guizhong and focuses on you. “You’re not intruding on anything, [Name]. You are our friend, What are you trying to imply.” And with that, he smiles softly.

You smile back, faintly. You don’t answer his question and turn on your heel and start walking off.

You haven’t gotten far yet, but you hear their laughing resume.

Even without you, They’re contented. Morax is contented.

Moons later, [Name] has a new life and was wandering the streets of Liyue Harbor to be greeted with a newly refined person, Zhongli.

Zhongli who gets shocked since he thought [Name] was already dead and that he lost Guizhong and [Name].

"[name]? Is that really...you?" He murmurs, tears prickling under his eyelids.

You widen your eyes, averting your gaze away from him as you bit your bottom lip.

Zhongli wasted no milisecond and walked over at you, he wanted to hug you so tight that you can’t even escape from his grasp—

There you are again, running away from your problems but just before you could– He was there. Zhongli was there.

He held your wrist tightly, pulling you to his chest and wrapping his arms around your shoulders. "I.. I thought I lost you.. Guizhong's gone and I..."

Just as you were about to love him once more, you can't.

You knew him all too well, Guizhong would always be his first priority and his concern.

But you?

...

"[Name]!" You flinched, hearing a child-like voice behind you as you pulled away from Zhongli's grasp, much to his dismay.

Brown hair and blue eyes peeked from the corner of your eyes, the little boy was jumping up and down.

You widened your eyes, shifting your full attention to the boy.

"Teucer?!" You shrieked, crouching 'nd hugging the boy close to your heart.

The heart that once was filled with love and cherish for Morax, now replaced with morose.

Teucer giggled, hugging you back tighter. "What are you doing here all alone-" You got cut off when a pair of blue eyes crouched down before you.

His gaze meeting your very own orbs, both of you having eye contact with eachother.

"Childe?" Zhongli speaks, his deep voice echoing in your ear which makes you flinch. You almost forgot about him, almost.

Childe ignores Zhongli, except he smiles at you. "Of course my sweet dear brother isn't alone, when he's there, it means- "Big brother Childe misses you [Name]!"

You turn your head towards the child(e), a faint blush appearing in your cheeks as Childe sighed and smirked impishly. "There you got your answer." "CHILDE!"

Zhongli watched this scene unfold carefully, your cheeks coated with a red tint as Childe laughed at your reaction.

He found your reaction cute, however.. what is this he feels? Could it be because you looked wholesome, Teucer looks all so supportive–

oh.

I think he knows. (taylor swift reference)

Jealousy.

For the next few days, Childe had invited him to hang out with both of you. You agreed, though you didn't talk to him much.

Zhongli was the first to strike a conversation for both of you, to which you replied with short replies like "Yes." "Oh, okay." "Hm? No."

He finds them okay, but something's missing. Probably because you used to be energetic with your replies.

You still are! well, not to him that is.

Childe laughs softly, flinching when [Name] had nudged the side of his waist. "Shut up! I'm this close to burying you alive!" You shriek, blushing intensely since Childe had been teasing you for the past few minutes.

Zhongli watches from behind, feeling left out as his eyes were left half lidded, what is happening to him?

That is when he realizes, the girl who he cherishes, was not Guizhong.

But you, and only you.

Though it's too late, however.

He belonged to you, but you didn't belong to him.

A part of him wishes that you never met Childe, a part of him wishes you stayed loyal to him and kept loving him even though he had treated your heart like a piece of plastic that he threw in a bonfire.

And there’s this selfish side of him, wanting to claim you and make you his once more.

But you aren't. The space inside your heart that was, before, filled with love for him.

It was not Zhongli she loves, it was Morax.

That was before.

The after, is Childe.

He looks at both of you, seeing how happy you both were. Deja vu.

Should he still have hope in you? or is he left with nothing but not being able to touch you?

A yarn of your dress falls of, Zhongli looks at it and picks it up without you nor Childe noticing.

He clenches his fists, not aggressively.

The yarn. that was the most closest thing he could touch that belonged to you.

He feels like throwing up, His insides are being eaten.

His knees are hurting, Is there a need to kneel?

Can you count on him to fill that empty heart of yours with his name.. again?

He can only reach up to this point, dreaming that you'll be his.

made by @seaadc and @seaadc only! ©

I HAD TO REDO THIS 2 TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULDNT SAVE BROOROROR (10/31/23)

smth special since today is the last day of angstober 💛

link to the song: 💽 ⇦ click !

I FORGOT TO POST THIS ON THE 31ST OF OCTOBERRR😭😭 so yh this is pretty late.. :(

[ask-the-praetors]

To the praetors:

What is the weakest creature you've ever compleated? A cat? An opossum? A bug? Something weaker?

Even the smallest and weakest are destined to find unity under Phyrexia: insects, mites, the very viruses that drift through the air. Every grain of sand on the Facade, after all, belongs to us. So it is with the many worlds of the Multiverse and their numberless inhabitants. -E

Our Engine's scientific work requires precise attention to detail. Only fools overlook the impacts which the smallest of minutiae may exert. My subpraetor Avaricta, in particular, follows my illuminated manuscripts in the refinement of phyresis. Small piercing units overwhelm and prime even the largest of biomatter sources for inclusion in the Great Synthesis. Yet smaller still, we master and adapt the nanomachines in glistening oil to our every perceptible need--the finest unit of Phyrexian life lies within the Progress Engine's grasp. -J

Many would call the goblins and scamps of my Furnace weak. I need not waste breath arguing with that. Their fire speaks for itself. -U

I DO NOT COMPLEAT WEAK CREATURES. THEY ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE GRAND EVOLUTION. THEY ARE CULLED. IF WE WERE WRONG TO JUDGE THEM WEAK, THEY WOULD SHOW US BY RESISTING THE CULLING. -V

Weakness... contemptible. Not to be confused, as these idiots often do, with smallness. It's the subtle things that win wars, after all, not the tallest porcelain oaf with the loudest voice. (She giggles.) What was that? Anyway. In choosing my own subjects, I am judicious. Dragon engine or necrosquito, all have their uses. I suffer no weak links. To what end? You'll just have to see~ -S

[learning-russian0]

3️⃣9️⃣ Russian Expressions for Discussion and Debate 💬

Here’s a comprehensive list of Russian phrases for discussions, arguments, and debates. Perfect for refining your fluency, impressing your friends, or diving into deep conversations! 🗣✨

🗨️ Main Expressions

Why? Зачем? [za-chem]

Let's step back a little bit. Давайте оставим эту тему. [da-vai-te a-sta-vim e-tu te-mu]

Let's see. Давай разберёмся. [da-vai raz-be-ryom-sya]

Of what you speak? О чём ты говоришь? [a chyom ty ga-vo-rish?

Where are you going with this? К чему ты клонишь? [k che-mu ty klo-nish]

Your question is not relevant to the subject. Ваш вопрос не относится к теме. [vash va-pros ne ot-no-sit-sya k te-me]

That proves nothing. Это ничего не доказывает. [e-ta ni-che-vo ne do-ka-zy-va-et]

That's pretty good, but… Это всё очень хорошо, но… [e-ta vsyo o-chen' ha-ra-sho, no…]

Well, what is it? Ну и что же это? [nu i chto zhe e-ta?

Believe you me! Можешь мне поверить! [mo-zhesh mnye pa-ve-rit']

💡 Practical Phrases

So what about it? И что из этого? [i chto iz e-ta-va]

I don't know. Понятия не имею. [pa-nyat-ya ne i-me-yu]

I'd like to know. Хотел бы я знать. [ho-tyel by ya znat']

I don't care. Меня не волнует. [me-nya ne vol-nu-et]

It doesn't matter. Это не важно. [e-ta ne vazh-na]

I don't care. Мне без разницы. [mnye bez raz-ni-tsy]

That's up to you. Решай сам. [re-shai sam]

It's none of your business! Не твое дело! [ne tva-yo dye-la]

Mind your own business. Занимайся своим делом. [za-ni-mai-sya svo-im dye-lom]

I don't know. Не знаю. [ne zna-yu]

❗ Emotional Reactions

This is inappropriate. Это неуместно. [e-ta ne-u-mes-tna]

This is a waste of time. Это трата времени. [e-ta tra-ta vre-me-ni]

It's a lie. Это ложь. [e-ta lozh]

It doesn't make sense. Это не имеет смысла. [e-ta ne i-me-yet smys-la]

It's the first time I've heard. Первый раз слышу. [pyer-vyy raz sly-shu]

That's enough about that. Довольно об этом. [da-vol-na ab e-tam]

I'm serious! Я серьёзн��! [ya se-r'yoz-na!]

📖 More Advanced Phrases

I disagree. Я не согласен/согласна. [ya ne sa-gla-sen/sa-gla-sna]

Let's look at it from another perspective. Давайте посмотрим на это с другой стороны. [da-vai-te pos-mo-trim na e-ta s dru-goj sto-ra-nyi]

This is a controversial question. Это спорный вопрос. [e-ta spor-nyy va-pros]

I need to think this over. Мне нужно обдумать это. [mnye nu-zhnah ab-du-mat' e-ta]

Let me explain my point of view. Позвольте мне объяснить свою точку зрения. [poz-vol-te mnye ob-yas-nit' svo-yoo toch-ku zre-ni-ya]

It's not so straightforward here. Тут всё не так однозначно. [tut vsyo ne tak od-no-znach-na]

What do you propose to solve this? А как вы предполагаете решить это? [a kak vy pred-pa-la-gai-ye te re-shit' e-ta]

Let’s get back to the point. Давайте вернёмся к сути. [da-vai-te ver-nyom-sya k su-ti]

It seems to me you're missing the point. Мне кажется, вы упускаете суть. [mnye ka-zhets-ya, vy up-pus-ka-yet-ye su-t]

That’s not entirely true. Это не совсем так. [e-ta ne sov-sem tak]

We're forgetting an important detail. Мы забываем о важной детали. [my za-by-va-yem o vazh-noj de-ta-li]

What if we look at it differently? А если посмотреть на это иначе? [a yesly pos-mo-tret' na e-ta i-na-che]

✨ Save this list to refer back to during debates, study sessions, or casual conversations! Let me know which ones are your favorite or if you’d like more content like this. 😊

📨 Subscribe: Russian Microlearning ->>

[solarpunkbusiness]

A new type of composite material is 10 times more efficient at extracting gold from electronic waste than previous adsorbents. Developed by researchers in Singapore, the UK and China, the environmentally-friendly composite is made from graphene oxide and a natural biopolymer called chitosan, and it filters the gold without an external power source, making it an attractive alternative to older, more energy-intensive techniques.

Getting better at extracting gold from electronic waste, or e-waste, is desirable for two reasons. As well as reducing the volume of e-waste, it would lessen our reliance on mining and refining new gold, which involves environmentally hazardous materials such as activated carbon and cyanides. Electronic waste management is a relatively new field, however, and existing techniques like electrolysis are time-consuming and require a lot of energy.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Mother Jones:

The world generates more than 68 million tons of e-waste every year, according to the UN, enough to fill a convoy of trucks stretching right around the equator. By 2030, the total is projected to reach 75 million tons.

Only 22 percent of that e-waste is collected and recycled, the UN estimates. The rest is dumped, burned, or forgotten—particularly in rich countries, where most people have no convenient way to get rid of their old Samsung Galaxy phones, Xbox controllers, and myriad other gadgets. Indeed, every year, humanity is wasting more than $60 billion worth of so-called critical metals—the ones we need not only for electronics, but also for the hardware of renewable energy, from electric vehicle (EV) batteries to wind turbines.

Millions of Americans, like me, spend their workdays on pursuits that lack any physical manifestation beyond the occasional hard-copy book or memo or report. It’s easy to forget that all these livelihoods rely on machines. And that those machines rely on metals torn from the Earth.

Consider your smartphone. Depending on the model, it can contain up to two-thirds of the elements in the periodic table, including dozens of metals. Some are familiar, like the gold and tin in its circuitry and the nickel in its microphone. Others less so: Tiny flecks of indium make the screen sensitive to the touch of a finger. Europium enhances the colors. Neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium are used to build the tiny mechanism that makes your phone vibrate.

Your phone’s battery contains cobalt, lithium, and nickel. Ditto the ones that power your rechargeable drill, Roomba, and electric toothbrush—not to mention our latest modes of transportation, ranging from plug-in scooters and e-bikes to EVs. A Tesla Model S has as much lithium as up to 10,000 smartphones.

The millions of electric cars and trucks hitting the planet’s roads every year don’t spew pollutants directly, but they’ve got a monstrous appetite for electricity, nearly two-thirds of which still comes from burning fossil fuels—about one-third from coal. Harvesting more of our energy from sunlight and wind, as crucial as that is, entails its own Faustian bargain. Capturing, transmitting, storing, and using that cleaner power requires vast numbers of new machines: wind turbines, solar panels, switching stations, power lines, and batteries large and small.

You see where this is going. Our clean energy future, this global drive to save humanity from the ever-worsening ravages of global warming, depends on critical metals. And we’ll be needing more.

In all of human history, we have extracted some 700 million tons of copper from the Earth. To meet our clean energy goals, we’ll have to mine as much again in 20-odd years. By 2050, the International Energy Agency estimates, global demand for cobalt for EVs alone will soar to five times what it was in 2022. Demand for nickel will be 10 times higher. Lithium, 15 times. “The prospect of a rapid increase in demand for critical minerals—well above anything seen previously in most cases—raises huge questions about the availability and reliability of supply,” the agency warns.

Metals are natural products, but the Earth does not relinquish them willingly. Mining conglomerates rip up forests and grasslands and deserts, blasting apart the underlying rock and soil and hauling out the remains. The ore is processed, smelted, and refined using gargantuan, energy-guzzling, pollution-spewing machines and oceans of chemicals. “Mining done wrong can leave centuries of harm,” says Aimee Boulanger, head of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, which works with companies to develop more sustainable extraction practices.

The harm is staggering. Metal mining is America’s leading toxic polluter. It has sullied the watersheds of almost half of the rivers in the American West. Chemical leaks and mining runoff foul air and water. The mines also generate mountains of hazardous waste, stored behind dams that have a terrifying tendency to fail. Torrents of poisonous sludge pouring through collapsed tailings dams have contaminated waterways in Brazil, Canada, and elsewhere and killed hundreds of people—in addition to the hundreds, possibly thousands, of miners who die in workplace accidents each year.

To get what they’re after, mining companies devour natural resources on an epic scale. They dig up some 250 tons of ore and waste rock to get just 1 ton of nickel. For copper, the ratio is double that. Just to obtain the metals inside your 4.5-ounce iPhone, 75 pounds of ore had to be pulled up, crushed, and smelted, releasing up to 100 pounds of carbon dioxide. Mining firms also suck up massive quantities of water and deploy fleets of drill rigs, trucks, diggers, and other heavy machinery that collectively belch out up to 7 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Metal recycling is a completely different proposition from recycling the paper and glass we toss into our home bins for pickup. It turns out that retrieving valuable raw materials sustainably from electronic products—toasters, iPhones, power cables—is a fiendishly complex endeavor, requiring many steps carried out in many places. Manufacturing those products required a multistep international supply chain. Recycling them requires a reverse supply chain almost as complicated.

Part of the problem is that our devices typically contain only a small amount of any given metal. In developing countries, though, there are lots of people willing to put in the time and effort required to recover that little bit of value—an estimated tens of thousands of e-waste scavengers in Nigeria alone. Some go door to door with pushcarts, offering to take or even buy unwanted electronics. Others, like Anwar, work the secondhand markets, buying bits of broken gear from small businesses or rescuing them from the trash. Many scavengers earn less than the international poverty wage of about $2.15 per day.

[yaminerua]

I’m offering pen-and-paper sketches in exchange for proof of donation to Palestinian gfm campaigns and/or donations to reliable organisations that will provide aid, esims etc.

The more we can help nudge up these urgent campaigns to help people the better!!

For more examples of my pen-and-paper sketches check out my #nerua doodles tag

Here’s how it works:

🔴 Make a donation (whatever you can offer, any amount however big or small is better than nothing at all!!) to a Palestinian family’s campaign, or one of the many reliable organisations providing aid, e-sims etc.

A quick non-exhaustive list of useful links you can use to donate:

Operation Olive Branch - Spreadsheet of many, many gfm campaigns tracking how much is needed.

This Tumblr Masterpost - Lists a good number of fundraisers, some of which are close to completion, and others which need much more boosting

GazaFunds - If it’s overwhelming trying to choose who to donate to, this page generates a random campaign each time for you

GazaEsims - Buy an esim to keep Palestinians connected in Gaza. Be sure to send the QR code screenshot to their provided email address and don’t activate the esim yourself!

CareForGaza - A non-profit charity providing aid to Gaza. Donate to their PayPal

UNRWA - Donate directly to UNRWA to support their operations in Gaza

Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund - Donate directly to PCRF to support the children in Gaza

Gaza Municipality - Donate to help improve water, waste management and sewage treatment conditions in Gaza

(other Palestinian family gfm links I’ve come across will be added under a cut at the bottom of this post, please check them out too and feel free to add any others you have seen to reblogs of this post!)

🟢 Take a screenshot of the receipt/proof of donation you receive once you’ve completed payment to prove that you have paid your chosen amount

⚪️ Message me your screenshot proof of your completed donation/payment to whichever campaign/organisation you chose along with what character(s) you would like a sketch of (be sure to let me know the fandom in case it’s not one I’m familiar with. You can drop a reference image along with your donation screenshot to be sure!)

⚫️ I’ll draw up the sketch for you as soon as I can to thank you for donating!

All donations of any size will receive a drawing, but be advised smaller donations will be quicker and less detailed/refined than larger donations.

Donations below $20 will receive a bust or waist shot. Donations $20 and over will be full body

Up to 3 characters available per sketch at any amount

I’ll draw for most fandoms, but here are a few I’m pretty familiar with: Red Dwarf, BBC Ghosts, Good Omens, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, YuGiOh, Pokemon, Tokyo Mew Mew, Cardcaptor Sakura (any CLAMP work tbh), Mob Psycho 100, Osomatsu-san, Naruto

I’ll also draw OCs if you send good references for them!

My usual commission/request limitations apply: No gore, NSFW etc

Bear in mind these function like character requests and aren’t as specific as full commissions, though I will try to honour general requests for what you would like from your sketch!

🚨🚨 Do NOT send ME your money!! Send it directly to the campaigns/organisations!! 🚨🚨

Please share and donate whatever you can if you are able to. And as always keep boycotting, protesting and talking about Palestine 🇵🇸

And remember to add your daily clicks too!

Some more gfm links below the cut ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[vodoriga-art]

I'm going to be asking a lot of artists I follow this question, but how did you develop your style? It SEEMS like most people find their style and stick with it forever, just making improvements and iterations. I tend to work in a lot of different styles because I enjoy doing that, though I know there are things I gravitate towards as well. But I wonder what your journey was and how you got feedback and improved while staying true to what you enjoyed?

Interesting question!

I never really think about style when making a piece, I don’t worry about making it match the rest of my portfolio, it’s just that the things that make up my style are things that come most naturally to me when I don’t think about it.

✦ TL;DR: My style is a combination of: the different mediums I use (including tablet and PS brushes), the fact I’m scatterbrained and unlikely to finish if I take too long, the aesthetics I like seeing, what feels good physically (movements that feel good to make with my arm and hand), and rhythms that feel innate and come naturally. I really believe that the things that make up your, or anyone else's style, are already within them, they just need to be brought out into view through making art.

Longer thorough answer with images below 👇

✦ I’d say that I “developed” my style by doing what feels comfortable - the shapes of my lines are I think influenced by the fact I’m “lazy” and don’t like erasing, which isn’t a problem in digital, but I used to do a lot of traditional art in ink, and not to mention etchings where I definitely can’t erase without wasting a bunch of time.

✦ My line art looks the way it does because it’s basically a cleaned up sketch, because I don’t have the patience to do both, or line art that was done without a prior sketch, just trying to make lines as good as I can on the first go knowing that any parts that end up feeling off will be painted over later. The brushes I've been using for years also play a role here.

✦ The way I paint digitally, as in colors are not often blended, and often the transitions between colors are made up of blobs of color or even something resembling hatching, stems from:

1. When I started art college, I realized I was waaaay slower than everybody else when it comes to painting, and in order to finish a full body real size portrait in time there was no way I could do it with blended shadows and realism (in high school I worked mostly in pencil, going for as much realism as possible because that's what was expected). So I started constructing planes from these blobs, only going into more detail if time allowed. The goal was to make something that can pass as finished in as little time as possible and then refine it later if possible. Sadly I don’t have much college work to scan as an example (some fruits are below). Quickly this became not just a way to finish a painting in time, but a part of what made my painting mine. I started doing it in charcoal, and in digital even when there was no time limit.

2. Digitally I used to paint with a brush with didn't always match the color on the palette, and the very slight color difference in each stroke or blob was interesting and something I started doing intentionally, and in traditional acrylic painting as well.

3. Long story short, the way I work in one medium influences the way I work in others. So it feels that choice of mediums (digital, acrylic, tempera, charcoal) leads to a style that can be reproduced in all these different mediums.

4. If I had any photos of my (unbaked, unglazed) clay works from sculpting class you could even recognize my style there as well. So we can assume that clay sculpting also influenced my 2D art as well.

Some examples of the non blended colors in different mediums (digital, acrylic, acr., tempera, digital):

✦ Obviously the things I find visually attractive and interesting - shiny or glossy surfaces, interesting pointy shapes, subtle differences in tone, dramatic lighting - will be things I reproduce and emphasize in my art consciously or subconsciously, and those will make a style across different mediums.

✦ A mostly consistent color palette is a part of style as well. I gravitate towards the colors I find pretty - grays, browns, reds, gold, pink, and shades of off-white.

✦ As for feedback, I didn't get a whole lot of it from my art profs (which is one of the reasons I dropped out), but one thing is they encouraged my choice of color palette and gloomy mood, and my messy process. My friends say the most recognizable thing about my art and what they call my signature is the little sparkle shapes I love to use. Not that other artists don’t use sparkles but when I put mine on at the end it feels like one really conscious choice that I make that makes the finished piece feel really mine ✨

✦ Another thing people noted about my art are the solid black areas I sometimes use as pure black cel shading, sometimes as kinda random blobs - I feel like line art needs to have a certain “weight” to look good, but as my lines are mostly the same weight, and often very light and sketchy, I add the black areas to compensate for that lack of weight across the piece. In my head this genuinely feels like weight, and if a piece feels too light in my head/hands, I add weight via flat black areas. I don’t know if that makes sense but it does to me and leads to a style. In pieces without lines it adds weight that's missing because of a lack of contrast or details elsewhere.

✦ And last but not least: The artists I admire and who are an inspiration have and continue to influence my style on a conscious or subconscious level. Either in regards to coloring, composition, shapes, or whatever. Leyendecker and Schaeffer are two pretty obvious ones I think. Mike Mignola and Chris Bourassa (the artist of Darkest Dunegon) also include flat black shadows and planes in their art.

All these things I feel like aren't going anywhere even as I improve, nor do they impede improvement or would hold me back if I decided to completely switch mediums or themes. They are so at the core of my craft(s) I don't think I could change or ditch them without great effort and even then it would be hard to stick to something else.

Basically I guess do what feels good and don't overthink, chances are even when you think you switch between wildly different styles there's something tying them together. At the same time, if there's an element that you really like, nothing wrong with consciously incorporating into your style(s), like I do with sparkles.

[de4rv1rus]

Azariah (Juliet) Silver Lore (Yume! Fortnite Montague X Self-Insert)

Story of Events

Character Type: Yume!! Self-Insert World Location: Ariokos Word Count: 2457 Playlist, Lore/Background Info & Art refs Under Cut!

Azariah was born into nothing. The alleys of Ariokos were her home, the cold streets her cradle. But she never saw herself as a victim, only as someone waiting for her moment.

Her Parents were survivors, a couple who knew how to endure. they taught her that the world didn’t hand out second chances, that power belonged to those bold enough to take it. And so, from a young age, Azariah learned to take.

She grew up watching the rich waste fortunes while the poor starved just outside their gates. She resented them, hated them, not for their wealth itself, but for their indifference. They could have made a difference. They chose not to.

So she chose to steal from them.

She started as a thief, silent, careful, precise. Not a pickpocket, but a ghost slipping through locked doors, vanishing before her marks even realized they had been robbed. Every stolen coin, every lifted artifact, every mission, it all went back to the people.

But that wasn’t enough.

Azariah didn’t just want to steal; she wanted to build. That’s when PROJECT: Skull was born.

She had always been fascinated with bones, growing up around tons of roadkill. It piqued her interest the way they lasted long after flesh decayed, the way they told stories even after death. So she built her organization around them. The name, the symbolism. PROJECT: Skull became an intricate network of people, all bound by a single purpose: take from the rich, give to the poor, and help our people.

Montague

Years had passed, and Azariah had become more than just a legend, she was a whisper of a threat they couldn’t quite prove existed. nobody knew that it was her. But this time, she was planning to go after something bigger than money.

The Society was hosting a party, an event so exclusive that only the wealthiest, most powerful individuals in Ariokos would be in attendance. It was the perfect opportunity.Her target? A diamond medallion, a priceless artifact belonging to none other than the elusive leader of The Society, Montague. It wasn’t just about wealth. It was about sending a message.

If The Society didn’t know her name, they would know her work.

As Azariah moved through the main floor of grand glacier, her black and silver dress flowing effortlessly with every step, she kept her expression composed, her movements deliberate. The chandeliers overhead bathed the room in a golden glow, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and champagne. She had spent the evening making small talk, weaving through groups of rich folk, piecing together information that might lead her to Montague. But it was Montague who found her first.

From across the room, she felt the weight of someone's gaze before she even saw them. When she finally met his eyes, cool, assessing, intrigued, she realized this would be a much more delicate game than she had anticipated.

Montague approached with the confidence of a man who had never been denied anything in his life. Dressed perfectly, his presence commanded the attention of anyone around him without effort. When he reached her, he lowered his head slightly, his lips curling into an appreciative smile.

"Mon cher," he murmured, his voice smooth, refined. "Forgive me, but I could not allow such beauty to remain unaccompanied. I fear the stars themselves may grow jealous."

Azariah was momentarily taken aback, not by his words, but by the fact that he had sought her out. She had intended to find him, to weave her way into his trust, but he had just made it easier for her.

She let out a soft, knowing laugh, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I imagine the stars are quite used to competition in a room like this," she replied smoothly, allowing just the right amount of amusement to color her tone.

Montague's eyes darkened with intrigue. "Ah, but none so effortlessly radiant," he countered, offering his hand. "May I have the honor of your company?"

Azariah hesitated for only a fraction of a second before placing her hand lightly in his. She knew she had to play this game carefully. She was not merely a thief tonight, but a woman of mystery, someone Montague had wanted to know.

As they spoke, he asked about her life, his questions poised and strategic, yet wrapped in flirtation. Azariah responded just as skillfully, offering glimpses of a fabricated life, one that was close enough to the truth to be believable, yet far enough from her reality to keep her safe.

She flirted back, allowing herself to enjoy this game, her lips curving into subtle smiles, her eyes glinting with unspoken secrets.

Montague was a man used to control, to power. But as the conversation unfolded, Azariah realized something thrilling, he was just as captivated by her as she intended him to be, he was serious about everything he was saying. As the evening unfolded, Azariah found herself standing beside him near the grand staircase, the glittering chandeliers casting a golden glow over the room. The air buzzed with the chatter of the wealthy, but in this moment, it felt as though they were the only two in the room.

Montague held a glass of champagne in one hand, though he seemed far more interested in her than the drink. “Tell me,” he mused, his voice smooth as silk, “what brings you here tonight? A woman like you?”

Azariah let a small smirk tug at the corner of her lips. “Perhaps I simply enjoy a night of luxury,” she said, her tone playful yet unreadable.

Montague’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. “No, I don’t believe that. You observe too much, ask too many questions. You are here for something… or someone.” He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly as if attempting to decipher her.

Azariah took a slow breath, ensuring she remained poised. “And if I was?”

His gaze lingered, sharp and assessing. “Then I would have to wonder what you seek to gain,” he said. He studied her for a moment longer before adding, “You want to know things that only members of our Society are privy to. But I cannot share such secrets unless, of course…” His voice dipped slightly, invitingly. “You were to join us.”

Azariah met his eyes without hesitation, though inside, her mind raced. She could not, would not, accept such an offer. But revealing her true reasons for refusing would be a mistake. Instead, she gave a soft, almost regretful chuckle. “I’m afraid that’s not a path I can take.”

For the first time, Montague’s smooth confidence wavered, if only slightly. A hint of disappointment flickered in his expression, though he masked it well. “A shame,” he murmured, swirling the champagne in his glass absentmindedly. “But I suppose not all things are meant to be.”

The night continued, guests beginning to trickle out, signaling the party’s approaching end. Just as Azariah prepared to make her exit, Montague turned to her once more.

“Tomorrow night,” he said suddenly, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. “May I see you again?”

Azariah blinked, caught off guard by the fact he wanted to see her again. Let alone how soon. Of all the outcomes she had considered, this was not one of them. She had expected the conversation to end here, perhaps with lingering intrigue, but nothing more. And yet, here he was, asking for another evening together.

She hesitated, calculating her next move. Another meeting meant another opportunity. Another chance to gain his trust, to get closer to the medallion.

With a small, deliberate smile, she lifted her head. “I suppose one more evening wouldn’t hurt.” Montague’s lips curled into a pleased smile, his gaze lingering on her as if committing the moment to memory as he took her hand and placed a kiss on its back. As Azariah walked away, the weight of his eyes still on her, she knew one thing for certain, this was far from over. Several months had passed by. Azariah and Montague met again and again, their chemistry undeniable, the air thick with an unspoken understanding. They continued their conversations, every time venturing into deeper, more personal territory. At this point Azariah had called the mission off. She told her alliance that she no longer had interest in stealing that medallion, but she knew the real reason. Hell she had even forgotten that he was a part of the society for a moment.

Montague, ever the charmer,  this time they spoke of their pasts, how he had grown up in the streets, not far from where Azariah’s own story began. “You would've never guessed I had it tough,” he said, his tone laced with a mix of humor and sadness.

Azariah’s gaze softened. She had always suspected there was more to him than the polished  persona he wore. They shared a brief, quiet moment of recognition. It was the unspoken bond of two people who understood hardship, who had clawed their way out of nothing.

“I was a thief,” Montague continued, his voice quieter now so that only she could hear, “before I became what I am today. A different kind of thief, perhaps… but I’ve always taken what I wanted.”

Azariah felt her chest tighten as she looked at him, a mix of admiration and disbelief twisting within her. He wasn’t just some richie rich goodie two shoes, he had survived the same alleyways she had. He was a thief too, hiding in plain sight.

Her heart began to race. She didn’t know why it shocked her to learn this, but it did. Maybe because she hadn’t expected him to be so much like her.

The conversation lingered in the air between them, the tension mounting as they leaned closer to one another. His hand brushed against hers, and without thinking, he asked, “May I kiss you?”

Azariah’s breath caught. She looked into his eyes, their depth pulling her in. “You may,” she whispered, her heart beating faster with anticipation.

As their lips met, it was as though time itself slowed down. The kiss was gentle at first, a tender exploration, but as Azariah’s pulse quickened, it deepened, the heat between them undeniable. But just as quickly, Montague pulled away, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her stomach flip. ¨ Listen, i should probably tell you this.¨ He said as he sighed “I know what you are,” he said softly, his voice steady but filled with a strange sort of reverence. “And I know what you’ve been doing. Stealing from us.”

Azariah’s heart dropped into her stomach. She instinctively recoiled away from him, her hand reaching for her silver revolver. She pointed it at him, this was it, her time was up, she was a goner. her fingers trembled, but her gaze was fierce. “You knew?? Then why'd y-” speechless, her voice barely above a whisper.

Montague didn’t flinch. He stood there, calm and composed, his eyes never leaving hers. 

Azariah’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse hammering in her ears. The gun shook slightly in her hand as her emotions threatened to break through her carefully maintained composure. Her heart ached. She had felt something for him, something she hadn’t expected. The realization that he had known all along, that he could have just killed her from the start, it hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Her grip on the revolver tightened, but her chest felt tight with fury, betrayal, and confusion. “You knew this whole time!?!?” she repeated again louder this time, her voice trembling.

Montague took a small step toward her, his expression softening. “I never meant to hurt you and I'm not leading you on,” he said gently, his French accent thick with sincerity. “I just wanted to be around you, you were the most beautiful thing i've ever seen and when i first saw you i just, i just knew.”

Azariah’s emotions surged, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She felt stupid for letting herself care for him, for allowing herself to be drawn in by the man she had thought was her equal. But now, here he was, offering her something she couldn’t quite understand, and it frustrated her beyond measure.

Montague’s voice lowered, his words carefully measured. “Put the gun down, Azariah. Let me help you. We can make this work and nobody has to know. I could even fund your organization, make it stronger, more powerful. We can work together. We can be together.”

Azariah’s chest tightened with anger and sorrow. How could she even consider this offer after everything? She couldn’t deny the ache in her heart, the turmoil that had risen in her chest, but she couldn’t let it control her. Her breath ragged, she slowly lowered the revolver, her heart pounding in her ears.

Montague stepped closer, his presence all-consuming. He reached up, gently cupping her face in one of his hands, lifting her chin so their eyes locked. “You're beautiful,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you.”

Azariah felt her heart race, a mix of conflicting emotions crashing through her. She had never expected this, never expected to fall for him, let alone this far. She didn’t know whether to trust him, hate him, or let herself fall further. But in that moment, with his hands on her face, she couldn’t deny the connection between them, the pull that neither of them could seem to escape. ¨I hate you¨ she replied Montague didn’t react, didn’t flinch. He only stared at her, his mismatched eyes unreadable. Azariah’s breath was uneven, her heart pounding so hard it ached. The words lingered between them.Before either of them could even think, before she could stop herself, her lips were on his again, longer this time than before. Her pulse was wild in her veins, but for the second time that evening, she allowed herself to close her eyes, savoring the warmth of his touch.

It had been a few weeks since that night. She took that offer, her organization and his. Both him and her. In secret of course. she still went to see him. It was like he said, nobody had to know. She just had to pretend she still hated him. Or maybe she did? Facts and other info 1. Azrariah has no clue about what Skip (oc) did to Kores (oc) parents and many others. If she was ever to find out she would have him hung in the streets at a minimum. 2. Azraria and Montague are dating by the end if that wasn't clear Montariah (Azariah x Montague) Playlist Link

[yettofindaname]

This is a quick reflection on the state of animated shows, centered on arcane - spoilers for S2.

So when me and my gf finished Arcane S02E06, we saw Isha sacrificing herself to save her new found family, and the scene is cut throughout by scenes of her and Jinx having cool and loving moments, and really grounds how much the two matter to each other - and like everything arcane, is astoundingly rendered in a beautiful painterly style, that brings the child-like wonder of Isha's POV even harder on the viewer - 10/10 no notes.

But when the episode was over, I got this feeling: "Why didn't we viewers got to see these scenes on the show itself? Why see this only as a 'emotional gut punch'?" and sure, it's masterful storytelling, it's chekhovian in a 'no wasting screentime' way, but also - it would be nice to have some more Isha&Jinx goofing around. Actually it would be cooler to have more goofing around by everyone, imo.

And so my mind went to ATLA: a show that in my mind gave everyone plenty of time to goof around, there was at least one goofer-arounder per episode, if memory serves. So now a quick napkin math:

average ATLA episode length minus opening and credits ≈ 19 minutes, give or take

total ep number ≈ 61 episodes

avatar cast per season ≈ 7.5 (main cast + iroh and zuko + rotating background chars [eg suki, azula])

Giving an Average Character Development Time (ACDT, just made it up) by (ep length*ep total count)/cast we get an Avatar ACDT of 154 minutes/character.

Now lets do arcane:

arcane runtime minus opening and credits ≈ 658 minutes (total episode length sum [739] - 18*1.5 minute opening per ep - 18*3 minutes credits per ep)

arcane cast per season ≈ 9.5 (jinx, ekko, vi, cait, jayce, victor, mel, silco/vander/ambessa [counting as one, as they don't overlap much] + 1.5 rotating background chars [eg Heimerdinger, Singed, Isha])

Arcane's ACDT is ≈ 70 minutes/character- this is less than half the time ATLA spends with it's characters.

Anyway, i think the conclusion for all this math overview is not to bash on arcane, but more of a reflection of the 'evolutionary pressures' of animated shows along the way: Netflix these days seems unable to greenlight 90% of second seasons for their in-house shows, and the in-house shows themselves are - being unkind - stunted, with an allowance of 8 or 9 episodes.

And as a consumer, this sucks! I want my animations to be longer, the characters to have time to goof around! But as in nature, life finds a way. It is rare, but some shows survive those shitty restrictions, and some even begin to thrive, adapted to their environment. Arcane is one of those rare shows who made it alive.

This runtime restriction is a huge shot in the foot for netflix, long term. The current runtime + low chances of renewal for second seasons makes the potential audience not care for the show in general and the cast of the show specifically. You can't have 'the next ATLA' if you don't give the show it's time under the sun. Arcane breaks this barrier because of the amazing quality and refinement, but the pre-existing fanbase of the largest e-sport game in the world should not be understated, specially in a world were success is given by social media engagement and whatnot. Next iterations of the formula must be worldwide loved IPs, or they will crash and burn on netflix's ecosystem.

[byneddiedingo]

Neptune Frost (Anisia Uzeyman, Saul Williams, 2021)

Cast: Cheryl Isheija, Elvis Ngabo, Bertrand Ninteretse, Elane Umuhire, Dorcy Rugamba, Rebecca Uwamahoro, Trésor Niyongabo, Eric Ngangare, Natacha Muziramakenga, Cécile Kayirebwa, Diogène Ntarindwa. Screenplay: Saul Williams. Cinematography: Anisia Uzeyman. Production design: Cedric Mizero, Antoine Nshimiyimana. Film editing: Anisha Achyara. Music: Saul Williams. Costume design: Cedric Mizero.

Neptune Frost is ... well, what is it? An American-Rwandan anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist queer sci-fi musical about the confluence of the autochthonic and technology? If you go looking for more descriptives, you'll encounter concepts like "cyberpunk" and "Afrofuturist" that seem appropriate but also insufficient to characterize the film. And don't expect any spoilers here; I couldn't go into particulars on the plot if you forced me to. It starts in a coltan mine: That's the ore from which the stuff that helps run our computers and cell phones and whatnot is refined. It's a "conflict mineral": Wars, trade and otherwise, are fought over it. And then the story moves, through the peregrinations of our protagonists, Neptune, played by both Cheryl Isheija and Elvis Ngabo (the character is intersex), and Matalusa (Bertrand Ninteretse, aka Kaya Free), to an e-waste dump that becomes a hacker community that takes over the world's computers. Confused? Just go with it: This is an extraordinary movie, both in the watching and in the backstory of how it was made. There is poetry and wit here that needs more than one viewing to assimilate. For example, the name Matalusa is a Joycean pun: "martyr and loser," and by the end of the film it becomes Matalusa King -- Martin Luther King. There is music and color here -- a special nod to Cedric Mizero's costume design. So maybe it's not a film for everyone, but I am dazzled and baffled by it. 

[travelingue]

Naples (6): Elevation

The story so far: on the morning of our last full day in Naples we found the genteel part.  And we began to suspect that the nicest bits were on the hills, looking down on the grimy centre.

As we boarded a bus climbing up to Capodimonte, home to Naples' main art museum, I flashed Lesley's phone at the driver who waved us through before I could conjure up both e-passes.

This relaxed attitude provoked the ire of a woman sitting at the front.

Throughout our 20-minute journey she harangued the driver while glaring at us.  You didn't need to understand Italian to get her drift: fare dodgers were an insult to regular users and bleeding the transit system dry.

The driver occasionally responded with sighs of impotent sympathy: "Lo so, lo so..." ��All the while, people were getting on and off freely.  For all we knew, the only fare-paying passengers on board were that bitching woman and us.

As we alighted at the top of the hill, she said in English: "For the return, make sure you buy a ticket at that shop over there."

The gardens of Capodimonte Palace confirmed our hypothesis about the correlation between elevation and refinement in this city.

The museum cafeteria was located in the grand courtyard. Sparse attendance, swift service, tasty food: our lunch experience had everything the Museo archeologico had failed to provide a day earlier.

The gallery itself is fabulous.

The women in various states of rapture (such as Titian's Magdalene and Botticelli's Madonna below, left and centre) are so over the top that an atheist may wonder if the artist is taking the piss.

I am certain, however, about the pout of scepticism Raphael put on God's face as He crowns His son (above right).

We were looking forward to admiring The Flagellation of Christ by Caravaggio – painted as he passed through Naples while running away from murder charges.  I asked the staff where I could see it. 

"At the Louvre," the man said.  "It's on loan until December." "Are you telling me," I thundered, "that I flew across Europe to see a painting that has been shipped to my native city?" "Le mie scuse signore."

I quickly checked the Louvre's website.  In "a dialogue between the masterpieces of the two museums", the French were getting their hand on not just on Capodimonte's Caravaggio, but also dozens of pieces by Michelangelo, Titian, etc.

Dialogue?  I call that a plunder of Napoleonic proportions which, from my point of view, was no less invidious for being temporary.

"Lo so, lo so," The man sighed in impotent sympathy.

Our afternoon to the museum, however, was far from wasted.  Among the marvels on display was the piece at the top of this post: Scuole diverse ("Different Schools", 1890) by one Augusto Moriani.

Another underrated local genius, Achille d'Orsi, crafted this 1877 sculpture of two men asleep on a park bench.  I find the title, Il Parassiti, refreshingly brutal.  Nowadays it might be marketed as "Helpless victims of neoliberalism".

On our final evening we decided to explore another hill.  We made our way to the funicolare we had spotted that morning.

The ride itself was disappointing: you can't see anything as the carriage rattles through tunnels.

Once we got to the top, though, the Vomero district bore out my altitude theory of desirability.

We wandered through opulent streets. A few tasteful streamers overhead quietly honoured the Napoli football club, which had just won the Serie A - nothing like the garish bunting and images of Saint Maradona that were ubiquitous downtown.

From the medieval fortress of Sant'Elmo you had a clear view of Mount Vesuvius.

We knew there must have been at least one area in Naples where people hung out, a place where you could dine on something else than good pizza and drink wine. We were happy to have found Vomero on our final night.

We returned to our hotel by metro. The escalator at Duomo station was down. We had memorised a complex succession of lifts that got you to the surface.

During the day, you had to dart from one to the next ahead of other passengers.  At 10 pm, there was little competition.

But the final lift was "not in exercise", and we reached the empty street via the stairs.

Previous entries on Naples:

1. Ryanair 2. Neapolis or Nablus? 3. Daylight robbery 4. Sybaritic afternoon 5. The benefits of being bombed

[seriously-mike]

So You Want To Use AI-Generated Images Commercially?

Fuck off. And keep fucking off until you're out of my sight. Not because of any moral issues, but because whatever the marketing goons tried to sell you, they're ripping you off and bullshitting you with a straight face.

First, the generators, despite being merely large-scale statistical models, have no concept of consistency. The level of human interference into generation process to keep everything consistent between images is large enough at the general level to have you hire an actual artist who will do it by hand instead. At specific level, it's outright hopeless.

I saw a good example in a Facebook reel today. Some goth chick fed the frames from a five-second video of her getting up and walking towards the camera into an image generator with what I assume is the same prompt and the result was a jittery mess with details being drawn completely differently every frame, even despite the Image-To-Image process trying to stick to the original concept at least a little bit.

Another one was a guy trying to have the generator draw the portraits of four public personalities: Ralph Baer, Shigeru Miyamoto, Andrzej Sapkowski and a fourth guy I forgot. Not just every one was in a different style, but Miyamoto's likeness went off the rails like an absolute motherfuck. It added some twenty years on top of his current age and made him barely recognizable, if that.

Second, time spent on refining the prompts, yanking the lever and binning failed attempts is time wasted. Particularly to those even dumber than you who have no idea how the entire shitshow works, but demand Results (With A Capital R) in less time than required to load the model and run a render with enough steps to get something barely convincing. Look, even I don't exactly know how it works beyond mathemagics and fairy dust.

Third, 3/4s of what you read about image generators online is complete horseshit. That includes positive and negative prompts. If you know how the original datasets were built (read: a web crawled bot scraped images and their alt texts off Google Images and made them into a database), it becomes obvious. A lot of folks bang terms like "4k photoshopped trending on artstation" into positive prompts like fucking apes, thinking it will yield results - it won't. Particularly thanks to the nature of alt-text, which is widely used by screen readers for visually impaired people, so it needs to be short, sensible and to the point. And negative prompts are magical thinking as well. Realize this: when the datasets were built, they did not include any of the typical AI-generated fuckups like distorted torsos, too many limbs etcetera. This becomes obvious when you get the thing you explicitly asked the generator to avoid over and over again. And finally, you need to remember that StableDiffusion asking you to set the image dimensions as multiplies of 64 is there for a Reason. The Reason being, 64 by 64 pixels is the smallest area the model can render, and even then it's often a part of a larger element described in general terms.

Fourth, online generators themselves are a scam, more or less. Some defend themselves by having their own, custom-built datasets, like Leonardo AI - these guys dared to build a Stable Diffusion 2.1 datasets when everyone else sticks to 1.5 version. Others, like mage.space, are bullshitting you - when I went through the list of the generators they want you to pay ten bucks a month for, I found nothing but stuff available for free on HuggingFace and CivitAI, based on SD1.5. Half of them I already had downloaded. Not to mention, online generators usually don't have the fancy plugins you can use with your local machine install (I do know that LeonardoAI lets you use ControlNets, and that shit is next-level even despite the general wonkiness described above). That, of course, is true for StableDiffusion, but Dall-E is just as shit and Midjourney might do a couple of things better, but it still wipes out in a good few areas.

Image generators are good only for memes, shitposts and Tijuana bibles. And you'd need a special kind of schmuck to pay for any of those.

[mahashankh]

PRODUCT DESIGN IN 2023-24

Product design in 2023-24: Introduction Product design is the process of creating new products or improving existing ones. It is a multidisciplinary field that combines art, science, and technology to develop products that meet the needs and desires of consumers while also being functional, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective to manufacture. Effective product design is crucial for the success of a product, as it can influence consumer behavior, brand image, and profitability. In this article, we will explore the different aspects of product design, including the design process, design principles, and design thinking. The Design Process The product design process is a systematic approach to creating new products or improving existing ones. It involves a series of steps that include research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and production. The design process can be divided into six stages: - Research: The first stage of the design process is research. This involves understanding the market, target customers, and competition. Research can help designers identify opportunities and challenges, as well as gather insights that can inform the design of the product. Some common research methods include surveys, focus groups, and market analysis. - Ideation: The second stage of the design process is ideation. This involves generating ideas and concepts for the product. Designers often use brainstorming and sketching to generate ideas. They then select the most promising ideas and develop them further through computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling, which allows them to visualize the product in detail and make necessary modifications. - Prototyping: The third stage of the design process is prototyping. This involves creating a prototype or a series of prototypes, which are tested and refined through user feedback and further iterations. Prototyping can help designers identify and address any issues or flaws in the product and ensure that it meets the needs of the target audience. - Testing: The fourth stage of the design process is testing. This involves testing the product with actual users to gather feedback and identify any usability issues. Testing can help designers refine the product and ensure that it meets the needs of the target audience. - Production: The fifth stage of the design process is production. This involves preparing the product for production, which involves selecting materials, creating manufacturing specifications, and ensuring that the product can be produced at scale while maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness. - Launch: The final stage of the design process is launch. This involves launching the product and promoting it to the target audience. Launch can involve various marketing strategies, such as advertising, public relations, and social media. Design Principles Design principles are a set of guidelines that designers use to create effective products. There are several design principles that designers use, including: - Functionality: Products should be functional and meet the needs of the user. This means that the product should be easy to use, efficient, and reliable. - Aesthetics: Products should be aesthetically pleasing and visually appealing. This means that the product should be visually attractive and have a cohesive design. - Usability: Products should be easy to use and intuitive. This means that the product should be easy to understand and use, and should not require a lot of training or instruction. - Accessibility: Products should be accessible to a wide range of users. This means that the product should be designed to accommodate users with different abilities and needs. - Sustainability: Products should be sustainable and environmentally friendly. This means that the product should be designed with sustainability in mind, such as using eco-friendly materials and reducing waste. Design Thinking Design thinking is a problem-solving approach that involves empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing. It is a human-centered approach that emphasizes understanding the needs and desires of the user. Design thinking is often used in product design to create products that meet the needs.

Future of product design trend

Product design in 2023-24 is likely to continue to evolve in response to changing technology, societal trends, and environmental concerns. Some of the key trends and developments that are likely to shape product design in the coming years include: - Sustainable design: More and more consumers are becoming aware of the impact of their purchases on the environment, and as a result, sustainable design is likely to become even more important in the years ahead. Designers will increasingly focus on creating products that are made from environmentally friendly materials, that can be easily recycled or repurposed, and that minimize waste. - User-centric design: In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on user-centric design, which involves designing products that are tailored to the needs and preferences of individual users. In the years ahead, designers will continue to focus on creating products that are intuitive, easy to use, and provide a personalized experience for each user. - Augmented reality: Augmented reality technology is likely to play an increasingly important role in product design in the coming years. Designers will be able to use AR technology to create immersive, interactive product experiences that allow consumers to visualize products in their own homes before making a purchase. - Voice and gesture controls: As voice and gesture control technology continues to improve, it is likely that designers will increasingly incorporate these features into their products. This will allow users to interact with products in new and innovative ways, without the need for physical buttons or touchscreens. - Artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence is already being used in product design in a variety of ways, from predictive analytics to virtual product testing. In the coming years, designers will continue to explore the potential of AI to help them create more efficient, effective, and user-friendly products. Overall, the future of product design in 2023-24 looks to be exciting and dynamic, as designers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with technology and materials, while also keeping the needs and desires of consumers in mind.

TOP PRODUCT DESIGN EXPORTER COUNTRIES

Here are the top product design exporter countries in the world: - China - China is the world's largest exporter of products, including product designs, with an estimated value of $2.5 trillion in 2020. - United States - The US is the second-largest exporter of products and also has a thriving product design industry. The US exported approximately $1.4 trillion in products in 2020. - Germany - Germany is a major exporter of high-quality industrial products, including product designs, with an estimated export value of $1.2 trillion in 2020. - Japan - Japan is a leading exporter of electronic and automotive products, including product designs, with an estimated export value of $698 billion in 2020. - South Korea - South Korea is a major exporter of electronic and automotive products, and also has a growing product design industry. The country exported approximately $542 billion in products in 2020. - Netherlands - The Netherlands is a major exporter of high-tech and innovative products, including product designs, with an estimated export value of $523 billion in 2020. - France - France has a diverse product design industry, ranging from luxury goods to industrial products, and exported an estimated $487 billion in products in 2020. Italy - Italy is known for its design excellence, particularly in the fashion and luxury goods industry. The country exported approximately $456 billion in products in 2020. - United Kingdom - The UK is a major exporter of aerospace, defense, and industrial products, including product designs, with an estimated export value of $422 billion in 2020. - Belgium - Belgium has a strong product design industry and is a major exporter of high-tech products. The country exported approximately $404 billion in products in 2020. These rankings may vary from year to year based on various factors such as economic conditions, global trade policies, and market demand.

PRODUCT DESIGN IMPORTER COUNTRIES

Product design is an essential aspect of the manufacturing industry, and many countries rely on importing products designed by other nations. The top product design importer countries are: - United States: The United States is one of the largest importers of products designed in other countries, with a focus on technology, fashion, and home goods. - Germany: Germany is known for its high standards in product design, and the country is a major importer of industrial and mechanical products. - Japan: Japan is a leader in innovative product design, and the country is a significant importer of electronic and automotive products. - United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is a major importer of fashion and home goods products designed by other nations. - France: France is renowned for its fashion and luxury product design, and the country is a significant importer of these types of products. - Canada: Canada is a major importer of technology products designed by other nations, with a focus on software and hardware products. - Australia: Australia is a significant importer of consumer electronics and automotive products designed by other nations. - Netherlands: The Netherlands is a major importer of industrial and mechanical products designed by other nations. - Italy: Italy is known for its high-quality fashion and luxury products, and the country is a significant importer of these types of products. - South Korea: South Korea is a leader in technological innovation and is a significant importer of electronic and software products designed by other nations.

TOP 25 PRODUCT DESIGN COMPANIES IN WORLD

The top 25 product design and manufacturing companies in the world: - Apple - Apple is a technology company that designs and manufactures a range of consumer electronics and software products, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. - Samsung - Samsung is a multinational conglomerate that produces a range of electronic products, including smartphones, televisions, and home appliances. - Google - Google is a technology company that specializes in internet-related products and services, such as search engines, online advertising, and software. - Amazon - Amazon is a multinational technology company that is primarily known for its e-commerce platform, but also produces consumer electronics and offers cloud computing services. - Microsoft - Microsoft is a technology company that produces a range of software and hardware products, including the Windows operating system, Surface tablets, and Xbox gaming consoles. - Sony - Sony is a multinational conglomerate that produces a range of electronic products, including televisions, audio equipment, and gaming consoles. - LG - LG is a multinational electronics company that produces a range of products, including smartphones, televisions, and home appliances. - Huawei - Huawei is a multinational technology company that produces a range of consumer electronics and telecommunications equipment. - Tesla - Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company that designs and manufactures electric cars, energy storage systems, and solar products. - IBM - IBM is a multinational technology company that produces a range of software and hardware products, including the Watson AI platform and mainframe computers. - HP Inc. - HP Inc. is a multinational technology company that produces a range of personal computers, printers, and related products. - Dell Technologies - Dell is a technology company that produces a range of personal computers, servers, and related products. - Intel - Intel is a technology company that produces a range of microprocessors and related products for the computer industry. - Cisco - Cisco is a multinational technology company that produces networking equipment and related products for the telecommunications industry. - GE - GE is a multinational conglomerate that produces a range of products, including aircraft engines, power generation equipment, and medical equipment. - 3M - 3M is a multinational technology company that produces a range of products, including adhesives, abrasives, and films. - Siemens - Siemens is a multinational conglomerate that produces a range of products, including power generation equipment, medical equipment, and industrial automation systems. - Boeing - Boeing is an American aerospace company that designs and manufactures commercial and military aircraft, satellites, and related products. - Airbus - Airbus is a European aerospace company that designs and manufactures commercial aircraft, military transport planes, and related products. - Lockheed Martin - Lockheed Martin is an American aerospace and defense company that designs and manufactures military aircraft, missiles, and related products. - General Motors - General Motors is an American multinational automotive company that designs and manufactures a range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. - Ford - Ford is an American multinational automotive company that designs and manufactures a range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. - Toyota - Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive company that designs and manufactures a range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. - Honda - Honda is a Japanese multinational automotive company that designs and manufactures a range of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and power equipment - BMW - BMW is a German multinational automotive company that designs and manufactures a range of vehicles, including cars and motorcycles.

TOP DIGITAL PRODUCT DESIGN COMPANIES

20 top digital product design companies: - IDEO: IDEO is a global design firm that specializes in product design, user research, and user experience (UX) design. They have worked with companies like Apple, Procter & Gamble, and Airbnb. - Frog Design: Frog Design is a global design firm that specializes in product design, user research, and UX design. They have worked with companies like Microsoft, GE, and Disney. - Pentagram: Pentagram is a design firm with offices in London, New York, San Francisco, and Berlin. They specialize in branding, product design, and UX design. They have worked with companies like Verizon, Citibank, and Mastercard. - Fjord: Fjord is a global design and innovation consultancy that specializes in product design, UX design, and service design. They have worked with companies like Google, Samsung, and BMW. - ustwo: ustwo is a digital product studio that specializes in product design, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like Google, Nike, and Ford. - Huge: Huge is a digital agency that specializes in product design, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like IKEA, PepsiCo, and Google. - R/GA: R/GA is a global digital agency that specializes in product design, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like Nike, Verizon, and Samsung. - Smart Design: Smart Design is a design and innovation consultancy that specializes in product design, UX design, and branding. They have worked with companies like Ford, PepsiCo, and HP. - AKQA: AKQA is a digital agency that specializes in product design, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like Nike, Airbnb, and Google. - Fantasy: Fantasy is a human-centered product design agency that specializes in UX design, UI design, and development. They have worked with companies like Google, Uber, and Airbnb. - Instrument: Instrument is a digital agency that specializes in product design, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like Nike, Starbucks, and Google. - Work & Co: Work & Co is a digital product design and development agency that specializes in UX design, UI design, and development. They have worked with companies like Apple, Google, and Lyft. - Red Antler: Red Antler is a branding and product design agency that specializes in branding, UX design, and development. They have worked with companies like Casper, Allbirds, and Brandless. Read the full article