#rich/poor dynamics

[snowdrop-yoongi]

my favorite thing about baek hyun-woo's portrayal is that he isn't even a loser. he's an incredibly cool and competent lawyer who also happens to act like a loser

[thelaurenshippen]

okay, but, like, THAT'S how you do a villain story. in the FIRST scene, you watch him shoot a man in cold blood. the show tells you right away "this man is not a good man".

but then it gets you to sympathize - look at how much the world has stepped on him. look at how terrible the whole of gotham is. and even when he kills more people, does more terrible things, you still root for him. because it's fun to watch someone be terrible to terrible people. you root for sofia too, because if anyone deserves revenge its her, but you're rooting for both of them somehow.

and then the show tells you "when he was a boy he killed his brothers". but even still, you want to see what he'll do. the show is called the penguin, you want to see the penguin rise. when he lets his mother's finger almost get cut off, you pity him. he's a sad, broken thing. how could he be anything but bad? but he loves, so there must be something else there.

but then. but THEN

the show always told you: "this is the devil". but you thought, maybe the devil can make hell a little more bearable for some people. the devil is so often nuanced, sympathetic, complex. maybe he's like that.

you're wrong. there's nothing good within him and YOU rooted for him to succeed. you wanted to watch the destruction. and now you have to live with the consequences of thinking, even for a second, that he could be redeemed.

[aventurineswife]

Can I make a fic request about Aventurine with poor artist reader whos struggling bc people around them don't seem to appreciate art? Thank you! Teehee (*￣∇￣*)

Betting on Beauty

Summary: In a city that thrives on wealth and certainty, you face rejection at every turn, your work deemed too niche for a society that undervalues beauty. Enter Aventurine, a charming IPC strategist who views life as a gamble and sees potential in your raw, unpolished talent.

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Struggling Artist!Reader, Slow Burn, Emotional Support, Fluff and Angst, Found Family Dynamics, Gambling Metaphors, Wholesome Moments, Rich x Poor Dynamics, Self-Discovery, Emotional Healing, Happy Ending.

Warnings: Brief mentions of financial struggles and rejection, Subtle hints at Aventurine’s emotional scars and past trauma, Themes of societal indifference to art and creativity.

A/N: I shouldn't have lazed around during art classes 😔

You sat hunched over your easel, fingers smudged with charcoal and hope dwindling like the light of the evening sun. The gallery that had promised to showcase your work had politely declined, claiming your pieces were "too niche for the market." You stared at your half-finished canvas, the jagged lines reflecting not only the city skyline but the weight of rejection you felt.

“Another round lost...” you muttered to yourself.

A sudden voice startled you. “You’ve got quite the hand there.”

You turned, startled, to find a man leaning casually against the frame of the alley where you’d set up shop. He was dazzling, with hair catching the last rays of sunlight and eyes so striking they seemed almost unreal— calculating slits. His attire was immaculate, almost theatrical, with gold-accented details and an enigmatic aura that made you feel both intrigued and wary.

“Do you often talk to strangers in alleys?” you asked, attempting to mask your nerves.

“Only the ones who intrigue me,” he replied smoothly, stepping closer. “And you, my dear, are a walking contradiction. A struggling artist in a city that doesn’t deserve art. A dreamer surrounded by gamblers who only wager on certainties.”

You blinked at him, unsure whether to laugh or roll your eyes. “Let me guess, you’re one of those gamblers.”

He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “In some ways, yes. But I also appreciate a good gamble on the underdog.” He gestured to your canvas. “What’s the story here?”

You hesitated, unsure whether to share your frustration or simply dismiss him. But something in his gaze—sharp, yet oddly understanding—compelled you to answer. “It’s... the city. The way it crushes beauty underfoot and turns everything into transactions. It’s not finished, though.”

“Ah, but unfinished art often holds the most promise,” he said, tilting his head to examine the piece. “It’s raw. Honest. And honesty, my friend, is a rarity worth investing in.”

You scoffed. “Investing? Is that your way of saying you’ll buy it out of pity?”

“Pity?” He placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. “I don’t pity anyone. I simply recognize potential when I see it.”

His words left you both flattered and suspicious. “And what’s in it for you?”

“Let’s just say I enjoy watching gambles pay off.” He extended a hand. “Aventurine, Senior Manager of the IPC Strategic Investment Department, at your humble service.”

You hesitated before shaking his hand. “I’m... just [Name].”

“Well, just [Name],” he said with a grin, “how about I commission a piece? Something that captures your spirit—your resilience.”

You stared at him, searching for a catch. “You’d actually pay for my work?”

“Of course. But I’ll add a twist—call it a friendly wager. I’ll display it in one of my circles, and if it garners attention, I’ll double your fee.”

Your skepticism wavered under his confidence. “And if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll have an exquisite piece of art for my personal collection. Either way, I win.”

Over the following weeks, Aventurine became a constant presence in your life. He would visit your makeshift studio, offering sharp critiques and surprising insights about color theory and composition. You soon discovered that beneath his flamboyant exterior was a man who understood nuance and appreciated beauty in all its forms.

One evening, as you worked on his commission—a vibrant, surreal piece inspired by your feelings of being overlooked—he sat nearby, watching with an intensity that unnerved you.

“Why do you care so much?” you asked, pausing mid-stroke. “You’re not exactly the type to struggle for recognition.”

He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Let’s just say I know what it’s like to play in a rigged game. To have something to prove, even when the odds are stacked against you.”

His words struck a chord, and for the first time, you saw a crack in his carefully constructed facade.

The night of the unveiling arrived. Aventurine had arranged for your piece to be displayed at an exclusive event attended by some of the wealthiest and most influential figures in the city. You felt out of place among the opulence, but Aventurine’s steady presence at your side was oddly reassuring.

When the curtain dropped, revealing your work, a hush fell over the room. The vivid colors and raw emotion seemed to captivate the crowd. Whispers turned into applause, and before you knew it, people were approaching with offers to buy the piece—or commission new ones.

Aventurine leaned down to whisper in your ear, “Looks like our gamble paid off.”

You turned to him, tears brimming in your eyes. “Thank you. For believing in me.”

He smiled, this time genuine and warm. “Always bet on beauty, my dear. It’s the only thing that truly lasts.”

As the evening wore on, you realized that Aventurine wasn’t just a patron or a gambler. He was someone who saw value where others didn’t—someone who, like you, understood the fragility and power of a dream.

And in that moment, you knew you’d found not just a supporter, but a kindred spirit.

[thedevilscarnival]

shout out to daan fear and hunger for being a (textually) male character whom is narratively a woman. orange really hit it out of the park with that one

[muchcelebrated]

PSA: If you loved My Lady Jane you should watch The Artful Dodger! It has immaculate romance and banter and angst and the two leads (Thomas Brodie Sangster and Maia Mitchell) have great chemistry!

It’s got great writing and is a part period drama, part medical drama, part romance, and has heist elements! I also really can’t overstate how great the romance is!

[cellsshapedlikestars]

should not have reposted this fic. it turns out i like it (and my plan for it) way more than i remembered and i cannot - i simply cannot - start writing another wip right now

[tenwhiteandalusians]

so no one was going to tell me if i got literally one episode further tenax drops that he’s the one who saved scorpus from his mom’s pimp AND that he’s intimately familiar with scorpus’ dick when he was younger. guys. guys.

[seleneprince]

The 70's Slytherin gang, aka Snape's gang dynamics portrayed in memes (fem Snape au!):

(They're the parents of the group, even after graduating and having their own son. They never get a break)

(It's all platonic, people. Those are her babies, her sons. She showed them genuine kindness once and their mommy issues reacted accordingly. She has come to accept it. Rosier...well, he's there)

(Dorcas and Wilkers are wlw and mlm solidarity. They're rich gay disasters and I love them)

(I headcanon Evan Rosier is one of the tallest in the group and Pandora is a short baby. She loves messing with him like any good cousin does and he lets her most of the time because he's secretly a softie)

(The gang helping Snape to rearrange the furniture when they first visit her house, after her parents' death. She soon learns why you shouldn't let rich kids do manual labour by themselves)

And last but not least

(Barty runs away from home in his fifth year and moves next to Snape's house. He lets her know in a very Barty fashion)

[doopn00p]

I realized something…

[eaglesnick]

“You know you’re priced right when your customers complain—but buy anyway.” — John Harrison

Dynamic pricing is not new but it has not been widespread up until recently.

We all know about train fares being more expensive during peak times and parents know that holidays cost more during school breaks than at any other time of the year. Airline tickets are subject to dynamic pricing and there was a trend towards off-peak electricity tariffs at one time. This summer we saw tickets for Oasis concerts subject to dynamic pricing, resulting in massive spikes in the cost of a ticket.

Dynamic pricing is when a company changes their pricing to match demand and supply. Hence train journeys are more expensive during the rush hour than in the middle of the day when demand is lower. Holidays are more expensive during school breaks because demand is higher from families with children.

Few of us like this traditional method of dynamic pricing but we have accepted it as part of our way of life. The old fashioned dynamic pricing model was fairly unsophisticated and based on the time of day in the case of rail and airline tickets and specific weeks and months of the year in the case of holidays.

This is no longer the case. Artificial Intelligence allows companies to literally change prices in line with changes in demand every second if they so want. Some of the companies using AI to set prices are Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Tesco, Ocado and Sky. Amazon is said to reset prices every ten minutes.

The days of “fixed pricing" are fast disappearing. Long gone are the days when a company added up all of its production costs to work out the cost per unit and then added a little bit more in order to make a profit. This was basically what is known as the objective or labour theory of value. This has been supplanted by the "subjective theory of value" (STV).

According to the subjective theory of value a products worth (price) is not determined by how much it costs to produce but by how much people are willing to pay for that good at any given moment. At its worst this means that ALL goods and services should be sold for maximum monetary return regardless of the cost of production. No wonder supporters of neo-liberal economics favour STV.

At one level this doesn’t really matter. Oasis concert tickets may have doubled in original price due to dynamic pricing but not being able to afford a concert ticket is not a matter of life or death. It is however, symptomatic of a growing social problem.

The assumption of neo-liberal economists and their support of STV pricing is that individual choice is paramount in all economic transactions. For the neo-liberal societal values do not exist, there is only individual choice. Mrs Thatcher, the woman who championed neo-liberal economics in the UK, famously said: “There’s no such thing as society”. Many Tory's still believe this to be true but they are demonstratively mistaken.

During Covid we all stood at our doors every Thursday night clapping and banging pots to applaud the bravery of our dedicated health professionals. Yes, we did this as individuals but also as a society. When the England football team were progressing through the stages of the European cup we watched each game as individuals but also as a nation. The same is true of the recent Olympic and Paralympic games.

Ironically, some of our most ardent neo-liberal Tory MP’s have been recently admonishing us for not being proud of our English identity. Robert Jenrick, a contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party said yesterday that English identity had “started to fray” due to mass immigration and public institutions “dismissing our history”.

Sorry, the neo-liberals cannot have it both ways. Either there is an entity called English society, with its own history and set of values, or we are just individuals all acting according to our own individual needs. The fact that latter view is obviously mistaken does not deter the advocates of dynamic pricing. For them the goal is maximisation of profit regardless of social cost.

A thousand reasons why dynamic pricing is good for the consumer will be rolled out as more and more companies adopt this system of pricing, but the bottom line will always be making more profit. And in a system where pricing is determined by what price the individual is willing to pay rather than the actual cost of production, in the end it is only the rich who benefit.

South West Water has recently introduced the cruder form of dynamic pricing to their customers. They will be charging more for water use in summer than in winter. Consumers were given no choice about this and they have yet to be told what the charges will be. This “trial" will last for 2 years.

This is the spin:

“These pioneering trials are designed to make sure that water bills are fairer and more reflective of individual consumption patterns and are part of our wider commitment to making customer-first decisions in everything we do.” (CornwallLive:19/09/24)

Note the emphasis on “individual consumption". To my mind water is a public good, a societal necessity. As such I want to see pricing evened out over the whole community. Under dynamic pricing  the rich can consume as much water as they like because they can afford to pay, while the poorer members of society will have to suddenly become use conscious. While the rich fill their swimming pools and have the lawn sprinklers on day and night, the poor will have to think twice about how often the toilet is flushed, how often the washing machine is used and can they afford to shower everyday. The poor pensioner will be calculating whether or not they have enough money to water their beloved garden.

Ok, my pensioner being unable to afford to water the garden is a hypothetical scenario. The cost of music venue tickets isn’t, neither are the prices you pay for an Uber, a holiday let from Airbnb, the food you buy from Tesco or Ocado. Even the price of a pint is now affected by dynamic pricing.

“A campaign group representing pubgoers has criticised the move by Stonegate, Britain’s largest pub company, to raise the price of pints during its busiest trading hours in some of its venues by 20p..."  Financial Times: 12/09/24)

If the price of a British pint of beer is now subject to dynamic pricing then nothing is sacred!

More seriously, when the market economy becomes the market society, when those in power promote the value of maximising profit for the few at the expense of the happiness and well being of the many, then, as a society, we lose all sense of humanity, morality and common decency.

There has been much theoretical discussion of late about the threat of Artificial Intelligence to humanity. I would argue that maybe we should be more concerned about those  humans using AI to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us.

[walrus150915]

Made this image a few months ago and I feel like this is still very accurate to how I feel about "Beta Ambrosius was so much better!! We were robbed" take😬

(I'm speaking about the design/LOOKS specifically, not the character - campy Ambrosius from the novel is one of my favorite things abt the novel itself)

[plumbogs]

so glad there's another appreciator of beau x alex (beaulex?) (their names are impossible to combine) i was genuinely shocked when i didn't see more content 4 them 😭

also the fact you wrote a 60+ chapter fanfic for them YOU ATE IT UP

aaaaa yes they're a cute pairing and they live in my mind like rodents. I was also surprised that more people don't pair them together because they're gay and in the same geographic region (and are both dorks.)

they're just little guys... i had to spread awareness (and projection)

[wyndlerunner]

“Look, it’s not even a proper dinner.”

“Not proper?” I stared at the immaculate place settings, the candles. He even had a white tablecloth.

“Sure,” he said. “See, there’s only three courses, and we don’t even have separate dessert spoons.”

“Oh, Jorgen,” I said, my facade melting. “Please don’t tell me you read the rules on serving a meal.”

“Of course not,” he said. “It was part of my tutoring. I’ve known the proper setup for a formal meal since I was seven.”

(Defiant, pg 103)

Perhaps we give too much attention to Sanderson’s arranged marriages when this is the … fourth (?) example of the poor girl, rich boy dynamic in a sanderson book? (Fifth if you count Siri as being significantly poorer than Susebron)

[the-poor-miranha-quotes]

ok I know not everyone will understand but I think spideytorch has the same dynamics as them

[vampire-mina]

in me there are two wolves, one is a creloise shipper, one is a theloise shipper & they are making out

[hawkogurl]

*clawing at the fucking walls foaming at the mouth* RAIMI HARRY WASNT A PLAYBOY AND HE WAS BARELY SUAVE YOURE JUST EXPERIENCING A JAMES FRANCO INDUCED MANDELA EFFECT