#rich people and their NEED to display wealth

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

So this hairstyle:

I love it so much. I imagine some rich person being all like, "I don't have enough places to display my gold. What shall I do? Surfaces! I need surfaces!" And then some brilliant fashion designer was all, "What if we turned your hair into a surface?" And everyone agreed that it was the best thing ever.

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

50 Character Personality Traits + Meanings (For writers, worldbuilders, and artists) Part 1

Adventurous - Enjoys trying new experiences and exploring the unknown.

Ambitious - Driven to succeed and achieve their goals.

Analytical - Tends to think critically and examine things in-depth.

Artistic - Highly creative and expresses themselves through artistic mediums.

Assertive - Confident in expressing their thoughts and feelings.

Caring - Shows compassion and concern for the well-being of others.

Charismatic - Has a natural charm and appeal that draws people in.

Clever - Able to come up with creative solutions and make astute observations.

Compassionate - Displays empathy and a desire to help those in need.

Confident - Believes in their own abilities and is self-assured.

Conscientious - Reliable, responsible, and attentive to detail.

Curious - Eager to learn new things and explore the world around them.

Cynical - Tends to be skeptical and distrustful of others' motives.

Dependable - Can be counted on to follow through on their commitments.

Determined - Persistent in pursuing their goals and overcoming challenges.

Diplomatic - Skilled at navigating social situations and resolving conflicts.

Eccentric - Displays unconventional or unusual behaviors and interests.

Empathetic - Able to understand and share the feelings of others.

Ethical - Guided by a strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong.

Extraverted - Enjoys being around people and draws energy from social interactions.

Flexible - Adaptable to changes and open to trying new approaches.

Forgiving - Willing to let go of past hurts and give people second chances.

Friendly - Approachable and enjoys building positive relationships with others.

Grounded - Practical, down-to-earth, and focused on the present.

Hardworking - Diligent and dedicated in their efforts to achieve their goals.

Honest - Values truthfulness and integrity in their words and actions.

Idealistic - Driven by a vision of how the world should be and a desire to make a difference.

Imaginative - Possesses a rich inner world and creative problem-solving abilities.

Independent - Prefers to think and act for themselves without relying on others.

Indecisive - Struggles with making decisions and often second-guesses themselves.

Introverted - Finds energy and fulfillment in solitary activities and introspection.

Jealous - Experiences feelings of resentment or insecurity towards others.

Kind - Gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in their treatment of others.

Leaders - Able to inspire and guide others towards a common goal.

Logical - Approaches problems and decisions through a rational, analytical lens.

Materialistic - Highly values the acquisition of possessions and wealth.

Organized - Maintains order and efficiency in their personal and professional life.

Perfectionistic - Strives for flawlessness and can be overly critical of themselves and others.

Pessimistic - Tends to focus on the negative aspects of situations and expect the worst.

Resilient - Able to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes.

Risk-taker - Willing to take chances and step outside of their comfort zone.

Sarcastic - Uses irony and witty remarks to convey their thoughts and feelings.

Sensitive - Deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of themselves and others.

Stubborn - Unwilling to change their mind or compromise on their beliefs and opinions.

Suspicious - Inclined to doubt the motives and intentions of others.

Thoughtful - Considerate of the impact their words and actions have on others.

Timid - Shy, reserved, and hesitant to take risks or assert themselves.

Trustworthy - Reliable, honest, and worthy of confidence.

Unpredictable - Displays an element of surprise and spontaneity in their behavior.

Witty - Possesses a quick, clever, and humorous way of expressing themselves.

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

[batbabydamian]

The Boy Wonder #3 by Juni Ba rambling about how cool this series would be to read in a single sitting...it's all so connected!!

rambles for issue #1 and issue #2!

i don't have as much personal interpretation for this cover besides it being a solid piece of art in shapes and silhouette! ALSO. bi bg lighting lol. Damian's "X" posing of his cape and swords parallels with Tim's "X" chest straps + the Robin emblem in the center. Tim's closed Red Robin wings frames Robin's own outstretched cape wings; and on top of that, the shadows cast inside the wings nicely frames Damian's demon mask.

Joe and Merle's dynamic has been so fun, especially with the mutual enthusiasm over the storytelling 🥺 Joe also opens up about his circumstances that led him to this moment, which perfectly sets up the setting of this issue! Even his very first introduction becomes a relevant detail when a fancy rich couple drops a champagne glass, uncaring of the people literally below them, saying “some poor sap down there’ll appreciate it” when it bonks Joe’s head.

it all comes around!! and tbh this issue proves how much this series would slap to read in a single sitting (GET THE COLLECTED EDITION)

Going beyond first impressions seems to apply to the color palette in this series. From #1 in the first page of Gotham, we see the gold of upper society to the blue of the downtrodden → from issues #2 and #3, it’s the warm gold of inner Gotham to the cold blue of the rich. there’s a sense of community displayed among the poor - even part of Jason’s intro avenging Bill, a generous man mourned on panel by many. The rich gives off a sense of individualism, celebrating themselves and their excess.

With the change in scenery, this issue steps into the more civilian side of things through a spy theme - fancy suits and lil gadget intros! Going down the civilian route with Tim feels very fitting since it's what makes Tim's run as Robin so charming!

i love that Talia’s taught Damian to be conscious of the rich’s effects on society, especially in the following page of small panels zoning in on the details of wealth and overindulgence. but also LIL DAMIAN. HIS LIL ROUND EYES AND HANDS 🥺

Damian’s aware of the facts, and his disgust is clearer after having just been through lower Gotham and seeing firsthand the poverty directly caused by the wealthy (also not sure if that old lady is the same one from #1 with similar hair and clothes, but pls she can't a break…)

i mentioned Damian’s “inciting incident” for this journey to be the intro of a demon for Damian to prove his worth but i’m correcting the use of that term!! the intro of the demon is more the beginning of plot, whereas the actual inciting incident is beheading the thief!! it’s the main reason he’s in this situation where he felt the need to prove himself, and atone. Most notably is that the beheaded thief is a consistent character that quite literally haunts Damian every step of the way.

The statue of Batman’s head being popped off becomes a significant visual, because while Damian started this journey to prove something to Bruce, the only one that really seems to have (quite literal) eyes for Damian’s journey is the thief. Why does he make more of an appearance than the actual Bat? Even his statue’s head doesn’t make a figurative presence; whereas the only one looming over Damian is the thief. Guilt over killing him may be driving him just as much as his desire to be worthy. Alternatively, it could be that Damian needs to reexamine his motivations since the thief is really getting in Damian's face now.

Damian is proud to be a positive influence on Tim, but the moment is short-lived. It’s an ironic moment to me because Damian doesn't even know the impact he's had on Jason just in the previous issue!! 😭

Damian's so desperate to prove his worth, yet he's been making choices in every issue to help others!! Helping the old woman up in #1, being vulnerable with Jason in #2, and now sacrificing himself for Tim!

The Ra’s "Weakness" panel has been reoccurring since #1, but it's the first time Talia has been included. Being great figures in his life and mind, their silhouettes consume Damian's, similar to a few of Batman's appearances below. This latest disappointment was such a blow to Damian, that Talia (who he might have the most respect for) becomes an added voice in his head.

Final thoughts!!

Like Rok, does the thief actually have a connection to the al Ghuls or is this beard just in fashion at the moment.

Lex is clearly referencing one of the Underwell warehouses that Joe and Merle are presently, so wondering if whatever he and Tim discuss here will be affecting them later.

Ending with Talia’s cover for extra hype!! i’ll probably go back to this for the next ramble, but i’m already gearing myself up to wail about Talia just based on this cover. The Mary and Jesus imagery (more prominent with Damian’s lil crown as a “prince”) but most importantly Talia weathering the flames for Damian…her own shroud/shawl wrapped around Damian and burning… oh boy

[15-lizards]

ASOIAF modern AU class/wealth distinctions bc in the wise words of Mod Sam from the Inn at The Crossroads Discord: “i love modern aus where theyre like oh yeah the lannisters are filthy rich and here's the starks, piling into a minivan to go to public school. they would not fucking do that”

Lannisters: Private jets and COO/CEO/CFO positions at the family company and plain white tshirts that cost $5000. 1% of the 1%. They’re the Roys we already know this no need to elaborate.

Starks: they’re a rugged type of Minnesota/North Dakota/Wyoming wealth. Land rich. Own ranches and mining operations and oil drilling companies. Ppl think they’re normal bc they look like average farmers until they get a tour of their 300,000 acres and private mountain. Seem down to earth but grew up breeding ranch horses, don’t really understand what a car note is, and Nedcat paid for all the starklings college apartments. Also wear normal looking vests and ranching jeans and boots that cost absurd amounts

Tyrells: masters at the “quiet wealth” bullshit. Wayyyy older money compared to the Lannisters, and aren’t aggressive/scrappy like them bc of it. Literal aristocracy like lords or barons or some shit. Multiple residences, family tradition of politics, and loads of passive income. Maybe run a newspaper or two and own some global shipping companies bc of their merchant roots or whatever. Margaery was at one of those international debutante balls for the ubër-wealthy.

Tullys: Not as rich as the Tyrells or Lannisters but still nothing to scoff at. Not upper middle class but more like lower rungs of the upper class. Family tradition of sending all the kids to boarding school (that’s where Lysa got pregnant 🙂‍↕️) and they have some nice yachts and the like. Have one really nice permanent house on the river, a summer house upstate, and an apartment in the city. Normal enough to blend in with most people at their school. Also made their money thru shipping lanes.

Martells: Southern oil barons. Nymeria emigrated over and immediately discovered oil on her apparently shitty piece of land. Thousands of acres dedicated to drilling and cattle ranching. Awful for the environment but greenwash the fuck out of their business. Good at being a man of the ppl despite literally being in the one percent. Very publicly donate to progressive charities and causes to offset the backlash they get from pay the people who work for them slave wages. People stan them on Twitter because they’re hot and not like other billionaires.

Baratheons: slightly newer money but old enough to have no excuse to act the way they do. Loud annoying displays of wealth. Made their fortune mostly because they were good at being overly aggressive when it came to the stock market or sales or smthn idk what they do. Robert buys an egregious house in Florida where him and some other rich repulsive republicans do Labor Day weekend on their yachts with women they paid to be there. Absolutely terrible at saving their money (except Stannis and kinda Renly) and quite literally have to have their accounts frozen by their investment bankers. Actively going bankrupt.

Greyjoys: Not even rich anymore. Had a sizable shipping company at one point before they got poached bought out by the Lannisters. Also they engaged in too much tax fraud and embezzlement so now no one wants to touch them with a ten foot pole. Still live in their dilapidated cliffside house that’s literally ab to crumble into the sea. Theon got to live with the Starks bc once the Greyjoys got audited Ned felt bad.

Targaryens: REAL old money that stretches back like at least 500 years. Have had multiple income sources over the years and almost all of it is blood money of some kind and extracted through violence :) Giant ass portraits of their ancestors in their multiple residences, they all speak Valyrian at home, and they don’t even go to school it’s just private tutors. Obscene wealth that isn’t even fathomable to most people. Famously bred race horses and hunting dogs for a while until there was some familial infighting about ownership of the racetracks and stables and that collapsed. Got audited and investigated twenty years ago and Aerys just killed himself instead of going to jail.

[whencyclopedia]

According to UNESCO, an estimated three million shipwrecks are scattered in the oceans’ deep canyons, trenches, and coral reefs and remain undiscovered. These shipwrecks preserve historical information and provide clues about how people lived in the past. The term ‘underwater cultural heritage’ refers to traces of human existence and activity found on ancient sunken ships or retrieved cargo such as bronze statues and priceless artworks. The Spanish treasure galleon, Nuestra Señora de Atocha, is the world’s most valuable shipwreck, estimated to be worth over USD 400 million. It was part of the Tierra Firme fleet of 28 ships bound for Spain from Cuba in 1622 and carried the Spanish Empire's wealth onboard – creamy pearls from Venezuela, glittering Colombian emeralds, and over 40 tons of gold and silver. The Atocha sailed into a hurricane off the coast of Key West, Florida, and sank. Its riches were discovered in 1985 by famed treasure hunter Mel Fisher (1922-1998). Thanks to virtual exhibitions and tours, you do not need diving skills to explore the oceans’ underwater cultural heritage. You can take a panoramic tour of Henry VIII of England’s (r. 1509-1547) favourite ship, the carrack Mary Rose, which sank in the English Channel during the Battle of the Solent on 19 July 1545. Want to see a 2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck submerged in the central Mediterranean? The virtual museum ‘Underwater Malta’ has a 3D model of the ship and app on Google Play. Fascinated to know what the wealth of the Spanish Empire looked like? Take a tour of Mel Fisher’s virtual treasures and the Atocha. There are countless virtual maritime museum displays, but let us take a look at five shipwrecks with interesting stories to tell.

[phayz]

you are like a rot

i just dont get it i feel like im losing my fucking mind actual real human beings are being starved to death and facing a genocide and people are still raving about the met gala and eurovision and useless extravagances of the west the disconnect is sickening i feel like throwing up how many people have to die for the world to fucking care like at all

[chaosclimber]

shop assistant

Emily kept the smile firmly fixed in place as she watched the man in front of her vacillate. Engagement rings were always a long sales pitch, but at least this one seemed to know his partner’s taste. She only wished he would take her concerns about budget seriously–but then, that was fairly standard for the men she’d helped thus far. As if feeling her patient stare, the tall, pale goth glanced up from the displays and at her. 

God, his eyes were gorgeous. Whoever he was shopping for was a lucky girl. 

“You need not hover over me. I will be some time making this decision–it has to be exactly right.” 

Wow. Someone certainly talked like a period drama. Emily dialed her Customer Service Smile up another notch. “Alright, well, I won’t be far if you need me. Please, don’t hesitate to ask.” With that, she gracefully departed for the main sales counter, where Eric was wrapping up a sale with a perky blonde.

“Hey, Em, is your guy who I think he is?”

Emily rolled her eyes. Eric was constantly thinking people here were celebrities. It never actually panned out to be true, but it didn’t stop him from speculating. She honestly couldn't care less, though. As far as she was concerned, celebrities were just people. There was no need to make a fuss over them–and she wouldn’t, even if this turned out to be whoever Eric was thinking of. “Probably not, but tell me who you think it is anyway. I know it’ll eat at you if you don’t say it.”

“I think that’s one of the Aeturnus family. They’re like...Vanderbilt rich. Old money. Hell, I think if you go far enough back, they’ve got some royal blood from some European country or other…”

“Well, that would explain why he just waved me off when I asked about the budget.” She shrugged. She wasn’t sure she believed it, but there was something just a little off about Tall, Pale, and Gorgeous. And there always seemed to be something with that level of wealth. She would count herself lucky he still treated sales people with respect. She shrugged it off, gossipping with Eric about the tech store across the street–rumor had it the owner was trying to romance one of their employees and not being particularly subtle about it. The employee was into it, but literally everyone else around them was not. 

It was a half-hour later that the man approached her. “There is one which will do nicely with a bit of customization.” He must have seen her open her mouth to talk about the budget once more, because he held up a hand. “Money is no object, I promise.”

“Alright. Let’s see what we can do.” They walked back to the display case, and he pointed out one of the thicker wedding bands marketed towards men. The one he chose was lovely, with a deep red wood polished to a shine. The outside was rose gold–and that, it seemed, was the problem.

“The rose gold does not quite suit my partner’s taste. Perhaps white gold could be arranged.” It was a statement, not a question. 

“Of course. Are there any other alterations you’d like to make?”

“I…” The hesitation seemed…out of character. Whatever the request was, it was clearly the emotional heart of the matter. Emily silently vowed to see it through, no matter what. “...I would like  an engraving on the inside.”

“Of what?”

“I’ve written it out.” He pulled a folded paper out of his pocket. On it was a delicate script, in Latin. Amor Aeturnus Est. Love is eternal. 

“Would you prefer a regular cursive script, or shall we replicate your handwriting?”

There was a blink, the only outward sign of his surprise. “You can do that?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then, by all means, please.”

“Very well, Mr…” She prompted. Was she fishing for Eric’s sake? Maybe. But she would never hear the end of it if she didn’t at least ask the name. He smiled–only barely, but that was a contrast to his previously neutral expression. “Aeturnus…for now. We shall be hyphenating.”

The rest of the transaction ran smoothly. As soon as Mr. Aeturnus left, Eric all but bounced over to Emily’s station. “How did it go? What is he like?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “He’s normal, Eric. He’s just a guy, buying a ring for his partner.” Even as she spoke, there was a soft smile on her face. She hoped that Mr. Aeturnus’s partner liked the ring–there was a lot of heart that went into choosing it.

As if reading her thoughts, Eric kept on badgering her. “Was it a good ring? Please tell me he picked a good ring, I can’t stand it when rich people have no taste…”

“It will be once his customization is done.”

“Awesome~”

@domaystic All the prompt fills are cross posted to AO3

[attollogame]

ames my dearest, i have a question

i could've sworn you mentioned some kinda mods that enhance either ur physical or mental abilities

like i think i read abt hypatia getting a memory boost? sorry if i got that wrong i'm asking purely based off my memory

so anyway i was wondering if this is common in attollo or something only really available for rich people - is it comparable to plastic surgery for us?

is it frowned upon or seen as a display of wealth/strength? do people who get it keep it a secret (bc it's considered shameful to have to resort to mods to be strong/better) or is it super common (like working out to improve yourself) and do most citizens have some type of mods?

are they also physical (so cosmetic/plastic surgery) or is it mostly to boost skills like memory or speed?

sorry for the lengthy ask LMAOO have a good one

Don't apologize for lengthy asks I EAT this shit up fr

You're right!! Hypatia has had cybermodifications done (a lot, actually), as have a few other Generals (like Azizi). Markos has not, though, which is very hm.

It's definitely more for the... wealthy, which brings in some interesting issues of privilege that has been a hot topic in Attollo since cybermodifications really became "mainstream". It's essentially like a plastic surgery, but more technical, and a lot of the people who do these surgeries need excess certifications beyond what plastic surgeons need.

It isn't frowned upon by everyone, although it's definitely met backlash because it caused the issue of bias for employment. Employers are more likely to select someone with powered abilities fitting the job, then someone with a cybermod fitting the job, and then someone with neither; this, too, is a hot issue in Attollo that's been picked up in recent years. You won't find a lot of people with mods unless someone has paid for it, they have the money themselves to afford it, or they get black market mods from the Under City, which in itself is a high-risk venture.

Most mods are with purpose, like Hypatia's, or one's done to repair cataracts/non-congenital blindness. But some people get them just for the flair, like what Azizi did. Those are more for a show of wealth then anything else. So most people don't hide that they've had work done.

[cooknumber3]

Luffy and the sign of Taurus (Part 1)

Normally, when it comes to authors assigning zodiac signs, they tend to do it in a very surface-level way. Most of the time, it would actually be more accurate for the audience to analyze and assign the signs themselves.

I don’t know why I mentioned that because it’s not what we will be doing today. In part 1, let’s take a look at the correlation between Luffy and the decan of Taurus and see how well it translates. In part 2, I will focus more on the personality traits of Taurus and how they show in Luffy as a character.

First, since there’s no specific birth time for Luffy that would allow us to check his entire birth chart, we can find specificity in the decans, which divide each sign into three parts. Luffy was born on May 5th, making him the second decan of Taurus. When it comes to decans, I will be referring a lot to Austin Coppock’s book 36 Faces, which is an awesome read.

The second decan of Taurus is represented by a man holding a key, symbolizing success and achievement. Its Tarot card is the Six of Pentacles, which shows a rich man holding scales to distribute wealth fairly, symbolizing generosity and justice. This card also represents charity—giving to those in need. When this card appears for you, it suggests that you don’t really need to work hard; simply ask, and you shall receive what you want. This is such a fantastic reflection of Luffy liberating countries simply because people who gave him food or whom he likes ask him to.

This Tarot card also represents not just material wealth but also the wisdom of how success is achieved through a harmonious combination of passion and disciplined effort. This can be seen more in Luffy post-timeskip—not that he’s more disciplined exactly, but he no longer operates purely on idealism and heart. He has faced the reality of the new era, and to achieve his dream, he needs to be sharper and more discerning in his own way, which he actually does.

After facing the crushing reality that he wasn’t strong enough yet in Amazon Lily, he regroups, refocuses, and adapts. He grows stronger and sharper, but of course, this doesn’t change his core as a character. Simply put, he has now grown strong enough to be completely himself, more than he ever could before.

The first decan of Taurus is associated with fears of poverty and the need to work hard on the land. But in the second decan, the focus shifts to a different and much more powerful idea—it speaks of the rewards that come from practicing good virtues consistently over time. This applies to Luffy as well. After repeatedly doing right by people and himself, he gains a crew with the kind of bond that most envy, crewmates who are strong enough to stand on their own and protect him, an almost unprecedented reputation, and later even a pirate fleet of his own, whether he wants it or not.

This decan is linked to the time of year between the spring equinox and summer solstice, celebrated during festivals like Beltane or May Day. I find it very interesting that there’s a strong emphasis on the Sun and the Earth in this decan, since these festivals celebrate their union.

While earlier depictions openly displayed themes of fertility and sexual union, later images toned down these elements, focusing instead on more refined virtues like justice and success. Luffy has almost always succeeded in what he does, and his idea of “justice”—or more accurately, his idea of right and wrong and what it means to be a pirate—is world-defining. He’s so successful that the world has to rearrange itself around his own ideas.

This decan is also called a linga-yoni. The term "linga-yoni" is deeply rooted in the idea of complementary forces coming together to generate life and maintain cosmic harmony.

Now, let's relate this concept to Luffy:

Union of Opposing Forces: I think this is shown more clearly in what he does to others around him, with him uniting contrasting qualities in others.

He has the ability to work with others and win them over without necessarily making them his subordinates—look at Kid and Law, for example. They can work together and complement each other, even changing the trajectory of each other's lives, but they never stop being on the same level and having their own battles to conquer.

Within his own crew, the most incredible strength comes from the absolutely beautiful union of a volatile combination—his wings—Zoro and Sanji.

Creation and Renewal: Just as the linga-yoni represents creation, Luffy is often a catalyst for change and renewal. He challenges the status quo, liberates oppressed people, and brings about a new beginning.

Sometimes, when it comes to Tarot, I think another card that encapsulates him well is the Tower, a card that destroys only what doesn’t have a good foundation. Luffy only destroys things that no longer make him or his people happy.

Connection to the World: Luffy’s Gear 5, which draws on mythical and natural elements, symbolizes the culmination of this balance and his ultimate connection to the world around him; he can now affect the world on a physical level, making anything he touches turn to rubber.

In summary, Luffy in One Piece can be seen as a living embodiment of the linga-yoni, symbolizing the balance of opposing forces, the power of creation and renewal, and the importance of unity—working together, not alone—in achieving greatness.

[princess-of-the-corner]

honestly anything TA says about Chloé and her background and motives is just like, a display of shallow understanding on how society works. People don't care if the customer service workers (from waiters to doctors and any job that serves a customer, which is pretty much all of them) do their job for money or because they genuinely like said job so long as they get good service like they were promised. Privilege is part of a whole ass System and you can't say just *this one specific person* has privilege when literally a majority of the cast has white privilege, all of them are at least middle class, and Adrien, who is one of the main characters, and Felix and Gabriel, two other big names in the show, are upper class white males. the last two are people who get off scott free from all their crimes which is probably what would happen in real life because of said privileges. And even then, the money all the rich kids supposedly have? Not even theirs. They're all broke dependent children with Adrien being the only one with a job and even then where's that money going? Does Kagami get fencing prize money? Is it hers or is it her mother's? Also anyone can be abused and have trauma and mental illnesses and whatnot, and full stop. Doesn't matter what you have or don't have.

Yeah no exactly like.

If we pretend for a hot second that having wealth cancels out any other trauma, then it should cancel out at least every traumatic experience for Gabriel, Felix, Adrien and Kagami. Not to mention you have to ask where the line is drawn because a lot of the Miracuclass is pretty well-off even though they're not quite in the 'Scrooge McDuck Money' category. (seriously we have discussed the class's financial situations before and of those whose families we've seen the only one who /might/ not be some kind of rich is Mylene.)

But these things don't exist in a vacuum.

You can have all the money in the world and still have trauma from various things! Since we were just talking about a certain AU, let's gesture over to Batman who is famously very rich but also traumatized as fuck!

Someone wealthy can have fucked up events happen to them. They can have parents that abuse them. They can have partners that abuse them. They could be born with some chemical imbalance that makes them depressed despite the fact that they 'have no reason to be depressed' because fuck man that's what depression does!

And while wealth can help, as it has access to resources to help fix your problems, it doesn't solve things.

But yes! Chloé being a child has another layer to it! Because her wealth is not her own and she /can't/ use her money to fix her problems! Even if Chloé did realize 'hey I need therapy', she'd need to get her parents' permission and have them pay for it.

At the same time, she has no way to escape her situation. She is underage and needs a legal guardian of some sort. Her parents have enough money that she can't report them for child abuse and expect to be removed from their custody. She has no access to income of her own and/or skills to get income where she could petition to be emancipated from them.

And even when she /does/ become an adult, there's the question of what will happen. Because maybe they cut her off and leave her to flounder with no skills as soon as she turns 18. On the other hand, they could keep controlling her like a child because she has no skills thanks to their shitty upbringing and can't survive without them, so it's a game of 'you'll get money as long as you do exactly what I want'.

This stuff does similarly apply to Adrien, Felix and Kagami as well. They seem a bit more ready to function in the world, but even so they're still children at the whims of their parents and can only escape through their parents fucking dying.

[itchykneeson]

Saltburn is a film demonstrating the fears of the very wealthy and their beliefs surrounding middle and working class people.

To be working class is to be a charity case they can save, the rich are fascinated by their lifestyle and want to adopt areas of it to become more ‘down to earth’

To be middle class is to aspire to be wealthy, the higher class view them to have a desperate want to become upper class. They see middle class people as people who don’t want to be middle class, but as people wanting to be either of a much higher status, or an interesting charity case.

This is what Oliver represents in Saltburn, a middle class, intelligent but lonely boy who wants to be in with the wealthy and powerful crowd. He had two ways to go about it, fake money or fake poverty. And he chose false destitution. By doing this he created a faux reality of helplessness, purely to create interest behind his story and to fuel his fantasy.

By having Oliver take the lives, wealth and power from the Catton family, it displays (in an exaggerated sense) the fear the upper class people have of the middle class and what they think their ‘desperate need for extravagance’ will lead them to. This exhibits how uneducated the wealthy are in real world matters, excluding the academic intelligence they often gain through privatised education.

[scotianostra]

On October 2nd 1931 Sir Thomas Lipton, grocer, tea merchant died.

Say the name Lipton, and most people nowadays think of tea, although some of usthat are a certain age will recall the supermarkets. But behind that brand lies the extraordinary story of a rags-to-riches tycoon, self-publicist, philanthropist and sportsman who was honoured as "the world's best loser".

While his father worked in a succession of poorly paid jobs, young Tommy Lipton’s siblings all died in infancy, leaving him as the family’s only son.

Tommy had to leave school aged 13, because his parents needed an extra income to make ends meet. He also attended night school at the Gorbals Youth School. In 1864, he signed up as a cabin boy on a steamer running between Glasgow and Belfast and seems to have been taken with crew-members’ stories about the United States, so in 1865, Thomas used his savings to pay for a passage to New York spending the next five years there travelling across the country.

During this time he held many different jobs, including work at a tobacco plantation in Virginia; as an accountant at a rice plantation in South Carolina; as a door-to-door salesman in New Orleans; as a farmhand in New Jersey; and as a grocery assistant in New York.

Thomas returned to Glasgow in 1870. After spending some time helping his parents at their shop, he established one of his own, Lipton’s Market, at 101 Stobcross Street in the Anderston area of the city. This proved highly successful and Lipton went on to establish a chain of shops, first in Glasgow and then across Scotland, before expanding to cover the whole of the UK over the next ten years.

Meanwhile, the demand for tea was increasing among the middle classes and in 1888, by which time Lipton had 300 stores, he set out to bypass the traditional lines of supply for tea by investing directly in tea plantations. The Lipton Tea brand he established offered good quality for low prices and proved hugely popular, expanding the market for tea to all parts of society and establishing it as the national drink of choice.

Lipton was a big fan of promotional stunts. When his first 20,000 tea chests arrived in Glasgow he put on a party, complete with a brass band and bagpipe parade. In 1893 Sir Thomas Lipton officially established the Thomas J Lipton Company, a tea packaging company based in Hoboken, New Jersey . He felt that tea should be a drink for everyone, not just the wealthy , so he strived to make packaging and shipping less expensive.

Instead of arriving in crates, Sir Thomas packaged his loose tea in multiple weight options. The tea was also standardised, so Lipton customers knew exactly what to expect.

Thomas Lipton developed a passion for yachting, between 1899 and 1930 Lipton challenged the American holders of the America’s Cup through the Royal Ulster Yacht Club five times with yachts he named Shamrock through Shamrock V. He never won the cup, but he was awarded a special trophy as “the best of all losers”. This may sound double-edged, but one effect of his efforts to win the cup was to make his name well known across the United States, and his tea very popular there.

Although Lipton, through his yachting, became a friend of royalty, as a self-made man he still had difficulty breaking into some corners of the highly stratified British society of the day. He was, for example, only accepted as a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron shortly before his death.

Lipton died at his home in north London in 1931. He left most of his wealth to his native city of Glasgow. His yachting trophies are now on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Sir Thomas Lipton was buried alongside his parents and siblings in Glasgow’s Southern Necropolis.

Liptons continues today as part of the multinational Unilever brands, their teas and other beverages still bear his name and are a world known brand, not bad for a young lad born in a Glasgow Tenement to Irish immigrants.

[thedawningofthehour]

Making Fun of Rich People Round 2

This one's a little bit different. This house is in Arizona, listed for a clean 20 mil, eight bedrooms ten baths, 16,000 square feet. The outside is really nothing special, looks like every other southwestern wanna-be movie star mansion so let's

Kicking things off with a bang.

You know. I can't even say anything bad about this. Like, the other house, they were people who clearly had more money than taste and built their house as a shrine to their bank accounts. It was not meant to live in, but to prove their wealth. It was ridiculous and stupid and they deserved to be made fun of.

These people. These people know their house is ugly. They know that table was an obscene waste of money. They know that couch screams "my coke dealer was redecorating." They do not care. They love bringing people in and watching their expressions of horror. They rub their hands together gleefully as people try to think of a compliment that isn't too obviously pulled out of their ass.

I mean, come on. That green chandelier, they're absolutely trolling us.

And I'm going to be honest, this looks like a living room I'd actually feel comfortable hanging out in. I can see someone on that couch eating ice cream out of the carton at 3 AM. People sit on that rug and play board games on that table. These people furnished their house to live in, not to display.

I am still going to tease them about it, however.

I'm laughing with them, not at them.

Is it just the angle or does that bed seem super short?

I...don't even know what I'm looking at here. I think this is the closet?

No, okay, they have a whole mall outlet store in here. This is like that one scene in Princess Diaries 2 except Julie Andrews would politely show herself out.

Why the marble. Why do you need a sitting area in your closet.

I will admit, I'm disappointed that the owner of such an interesting house has this many black pumps. I get that they go with everything, but-that's the point. They're universal. You don't need over a dozen of them. I expected better shoes.

Nobody:

Rich People: "make the bathroom...ROUND."

fr, their insanity always seems to come out full-force in the bathroom. I legitimately think rich people might not poop or bathe, because it's always some crazy shit that would be incredibly uncomfortable or downright impossible to use.

Another thing I've noticed, rich people all seem to want bathroom doors that open to the outside. Why?!

Especially when this is the outside they're opening up to!

Seriously, what is the point of this?! You're buck naked and decide to go have a smoke next to some cactuses and your giant patio geode. That's all that's out here. Why. Why.

Actually, it looks like there's little paths, which...just makes this worse, honestly. Imagine you're taking a leisurely stroll through the cactus garden and you pass your parents' bathroom patio, getting a full view of your mom taking a bath through the floor-length windows.

"Yes, in our dining hall with the light fixture that looks like birthday sparklers and our collection of Totally Real cactuses."

I've seen designers rag on those unfinished wood tables before, and while I didn't really agree with them at the time I kind of do now. I think this would look cool as like, a side table or accent table, but on a dining table it's just kind of awkward.

This is the same room, they just kept panning out.

While I made fun of the other house for their grand piano, I have no doubt that someone in this family is a drug-fueled musician. This room looks mega-comfy to lay back and watch a movie in, and I love the sheep.

I'm just...in awe of the audacity.

They didn't even try to match. Didn't even pretend like they cared. And I'm not gonna lie, the red countertop is doing something for me.

"When we want the bugs to join us for dinner."

I can't stress this enough, they have multiple patio sets.

See, the last people didn't show off all their alcohol at their bar because they thought it looked more refined not to. These guys probably have art supplies tucked away in their bar just to keep you on your toes. (they don't need a bar, these are the kind of people who carry flasks around with them)

So like...objectively, this bathroom is hideous. It's way too much, the feather thing is ridiculous, that cabinet is ugly as sin.

But I kind of love it?

Just a reminder: this is in Arizona.

...I have nothing to say here.

WHAT IS UP WITH RICH PEOPLE AND THEIR UGLY BATHROOMS?!

Again with the doorway to the outside! And I see this a lot, but so many rich people bathrooms don't have storage spaces?! Like, look at those sinks. What.

More to my theory that rich people don't have any need for bathrooms.

This is the bedroom I wanted as a thirteen-year-old and just now realized I still do.

THE WALLPAPER IS EVEN BIRBS!

Like, I can't even make fun of this. I am just in awe. This entire house looks if sixth grade me had access to the Sims 3 Create-A-Style and the motherlode cheat, and I honestly love that for them. I hope these people find a new house to be extremely fucking cool in.

Leaving with these calming lemons in the backyard! Pay no attention to all the bathrooms that open up directly to the garden.

[train-fans-anonymous]

Im back with my AU & headcanon crap

So this is a random headcanon I have for Shockwave, one that I've had for a long time but just realized I have literally never mentioned to anyone before. It's not groundbreaking but ya know

So, in most versions of Shockwave he has his gun on his left arm and his only working hand is his right hand. I use Shockwaves IDW backstory in general, so keep that in mind.

I think Shockwave was originally left handed, and he still is even after the frame change. I know that he technically gets claws in the frame change, but that not my main point. I like to think that he was forced to use his non-dominant hand (servo) and is forced to not be able to use his preferred hand.

Maybe the planets government blacklists certain mechs from getting legally and medically approved replacements for the body parts that were changed by force. I don't know to much about the other emrapta victims but I think that if you were in good wealth or knew some people in high places you could get better quality parts.

I think the planets government would blacklist a lot of mechs from a lot of things, not very publicly and not to the lower high class to middle class. The high class are rarely blacklisted, and a lot of them do know in the back of their processor's but don't like to think about it. The people who are lower class or are 'less useful' to the common mech are commonly blacklisted from large frame upgrades or anything that could really help them, megatronus would not be able to get medically safe treatment or practical weaponry while in the pits

Well that was a lot of extra stuff other than my single headcanon I went into this with.

Oh ya sidenote: I'm better at answering questions rather than explaining stuff, so if you want or feeling compelled feel free to ask any questions (related or not) and I can do my thing for it :P

OOOOHHH okay okay love an invitation for questions but let’s start dissecting this, because I heart your worldbuilding

Blacklisting or restrictions on empurata victims

Ooh boy. Okay the implications. It’s sorta like empurata is a permanent shame or black mark on a person’s life. You’re made a breathing, walking example of what happens when you step out of line. And no doctor is going to undo this without it costing a pretty, you don’t even need a special identifier on any legal paper that identifies that it shouldn’t be undone: because you are the identifier. It’s a big risk to try and get it replaced, and I’d imagine most doctors would take one look at you and decide it’s not worth it, whatever you did to have this happen, if they get involved then whoever changed your frame could do the same to them, the risk is too high. ”if you were in good wealth or knew some people in high places you could get better quality parts.” For rich noble folks, it’s probably easier to have the contacts/connections who’d be willing to do this. But even so, empurata is a BIG thing, who knows maybe their entire reputation is ruined. It’s not a simple operation to simply have undone, and it’s really interesting to notice you only mentioned upgrading parts. Do you think any (probably viewed as insane) noblemechs would display their empurata as like a “message”? or propaganda, trying to express their views. Are they shunned by their former friends and followers and do they continue to have the opportunity of luxury AFTER empurata?

Left Handed Shockwave

👀👀

Do you think he experiences phantom pains from his hands like cramping? Or maybe sometimes he’s reach over and knocks something down because he still sometimes “feels” his hand? Is this a point of distress for him? (I know he is portrayed often as emotionless and working based solely on logic, but I like to believe even so he still experiences SOME form of emotion, even if he and everyone else insists otherwise)

More Blacklisting

Even if they were somehow to find someone willing to undergo a large surgery do you think it’d be safe? would there be people who take advantage of this and charge low with high interest rates to trap someone into servitude? (best word I can find 😔 you know what I mean)

Interesting to see that high class mechs would turn a blind eye to this… do you think it is because they wouldn’t want to lose their luxuries? are they afraid of living knowing that if they speak up they can be silenced? or do they simply not care about what’s lower than them?

On the topic of illegal/unsafe modifications. It reminds me a /lot/ of KO’s Japanese toy bios. Where he was a weapons engineer that mentioned any weapons he gave to other were unsafe and to be untrusted. I’d love to hear more about unsafe medical practices, because this is really interesting. They don’t have to give low caste mechs a good surgery, because they aren’t worth much. Additionally,

The idea that a mech’s life is worth nothing if they are lower class, because they contribute nothing to the high class society. They are disposable, replaceable in life. They mean nothing to society. 😭😭

I had a lot of fun with these idea :) thank you for sharing and sorry for taking a. While

[hel-phoenyx]

The Fucked Up(tm) dynamics of the van Heel Family being like :

Starting with a huge ass generational trauma probably originated from their nobility roots, pushing every member to act a certain way so they're worthy of their name, wealth, and legacy

Having on top the grandparents living in an other age, borderline monarchists, still making use of today's world because they were part of the generation that created it, consider themselves on top of the food chain and teaches their children to act like apex predators

The first child, raised to inherit, trust fund baby at its finest, married the woman he wanted but cheats on her on a daily basis, knows nothing except to take advantage of others, would die in three days if put in the place of one of the people he frowns upon, traditionalist af, believes in the male "sex" supremacy

And the you get Adelheid, second child and worse, a woman, profundly dissatisfied with her position, raised to have children and birth other heirs preferentially male to continue the legacy but inhabited with a lust for power visceral enough for her to manage to take the first place

Place that she snatched from her big brother without him even noticing before it was too late and Adelheid wad head of the family and ready to create her own legacy whatever it takes, using every mean in her reach, money, brain, husband, to climb to the top and stay here

Husband who is in her shadow but nobody notices it because he acts like he isn't, like he's the ruthless one in the family, still raised in another rich environment with traditional values but a deep, deep knowledge that his wife is more intelligent than he ever will be

People, when they see the van Heels, could imagine Damian being neglectful, or the abusive one of the couple, and in a way he is, wanting his children to accomplish the mission his wife has set up from them, he went to extrems, like cutting communication for Elvira or stopping Mareva from pursuing her first career of choice, actress

But the worst of the two is Adelheid because she manages to gaslight everyone into thinking she's good, a good mother for her children, someone who loves them and only wants the best from them

And in a way doesn't she ?

She acts like a loving mother. She is a loving mother. She bought her children books and toys and gifts when they asked, she tells them she loves them, she is proud of their achievements, she pays for everything they need

But the achievements she praises are the one that will help her, the words of love only are used when they fit in the image she has of them, the toys she buys them are one she considers worthy, she pays for everything she thinks they need

Her love is conditional, her love is manipulative, and she displays it like it's how a mother should act, because what mother doesn't want the best of her children ?

The three siblings are all fucked up in the head, but both Elvira and Mareva hold their father mainly responsible (up until a certain point), and Emerens is the only one who sees through Adelheid's charade, because of what happened when he was at his lowest

He knows that her love is conditional, her words poison coated in honey, and her smiles a manipulation tactic

And when you can see through that, you can see through everything

Is it a surprise he ends up like her ?

[alicole-sideblog]

Quasi-religious devotion in Lancelot/Guinevere

In The Knight of the Cart, Lancelot is tracking Queen Guinevere, who's been abducted. At one point he finds a place where the abducting party had made camp and Guinevere had left behind her ivory comb with a few strands of hair in the tines.

Never will the eye of man see anything receive such honour as when he begins to adore these tresses. A hundred thousand times he raises them to his eyes and mouth, to his forehead and face: he manifests his joy in every way, considering himself rich and happy now. He lays them in his bosom near his heart, between the shirt and the flesh. He would not exchange them for a cartload of emeralds and carbuncles, nor does he think that any sore or illness can afflict him now; he holds in contempt essence of pearl, treacle, and the cure for pleurisy; even for St. Martin and St. James he has no need; for he has such confidence in this hair that he requires no other aid. But what was this hair like? If I tell the truth about it, you will think I am a mad teller of lies. When the mart is full at the yearly fair of St. Denis, and when the goods are most abundantly displayed, even then the knight would not take all this wealth, unless he had found these tresses too.

So this is weird and melodramatic, but — given Lancelot's other melodramatic antics throughout the story — I didn't think much of it upon first reading. I just took it in stride. Yeah, the boy does stuff like that.

But I was actually missing something important there. The part where he, seemingly at random, ascribes magical healing powers to the hair? Yeah, that's not actually random.

Holy relics are also thought to have magic healing powers. In Catholicism, relics are basically body parts of dead saints. So like a cathedral might hold a saint's knuckle bone or something, and people might make pilgrimages to come see it.

Within its original cultural context, this passage would be understood as Lancelot viewing Guinevere's hair like a holy relic. Which would make Guinevere herself a saint, or some other holy personage.