#state-level beauty contest

[townpostin]

Shatakshi Kiran Crowned Miss Universe Jharkhand 2024

Jamshedpur beauty to represent state in Miss Universe India competition Shatakshi Kiran from Jamshedpur wins the inaugural Miss Universe Jharkhand title at Patratu Lake Resort. JAMSHEDPUR – Shatakshi Kiran of Jamshedpur has been crowned Miss Universe Jharkhand at the finale held at Paryatan Vihar, Patratu Lake Resort. The two-day event marked the first state-level Miss Universe Jharkhand…

[vestaignis]

В Индии фестиваль верблюдов – одно из самых красивых и запоминающихся событий в стране. Проходит фестиваль в индийском городе Биканер в штате Раджастан. Биканер находится в пустыне Тар и знаменит тем, что именно в нем расположена единственная в Индии ферма верблюдов.

Изюминка этого праздника - оригинальный верблюжий карвинг. Карвинг по шерсти (так называется художественная стрижка верблюдов) - это искусство, которое требует не только высокого уровня профессионализма и определенных навыков, но и нескончаемого терпения. Верблюдов стригут особым образом, создавая на теле изысканные узоры. На создание такой оригинальной прически хозяину животного нужно около трех лет. Первые два года, пока шерсть верблюда отрастает, ее только подравнивают и подготавливают. А на третий год, когда шерсть вырастает нужной длины, перед началом фестиваля ее аккуратно выстригают в виде различных орнаментов на спине, боках и шее верблюда. Причем делается все это только вручную, с помощью обыкновенных ножниц.

Некоторые счастливые владельцы не останавливаются и на этом – они подкрашивают выборочно кончики волос в более темный цвет, чтобы рисунок выглядел эффектнее и рельефнее. Так получается настоящее произведение искусства, живой ковер с узорами удивительной красоты. Для конкурса красоты верблюдов также украшают различными красочными аксессуарами.

In India, the camel festival is one of the most beautiful and memorable events in the country. The festival is taking place in the Indian city of Bikaner in the state of Rajasthan. Bikaner is located in the Thar desert and is famous for the fact that it is the only camel farm in India.

The highlight of this holiday is the original camel carving. Wool carving (the so-called artistic camel shearing) is an art that requires not only a high level of professionalism and certain skills, but also endless patience. Camels are sheared in a special way, creating exquisite patterns on the body. It takes about three years for the owner of the animal to create such an original hairstyle. For the first two years, while the camel's hair grows, it is only trimmed and prepared. And in the third year, when the wool grows to the desired length, before the start of the festival it is carefully cut in the form of various ornaments on the camel's back, sides and neck. Moreover, all this is done only manually, using ordinary scissors.

Some happy owners do not stop there either – they selectively tint the ends of their hair in a darker color so that the pattern looks more spectacular and more relief. So it turns out to be a real work of art, a living carpet with patterns of amazing beauty. Camels are also decorated with various colorful accessories for the beauty contest.

Источник:/ekabu.ru/160021-verblyuzhiy-bodi-art-18-foto.html, /astv.ru/club/blog/utro/6jXTE7Xkd02AQEOfZY-8Fg, /multiurok.ru / blog/nieobychnyi-vid-iskusstva-vierbliuzhii-bodiart.html, //dzen.ru /a /YndBAXlNcTNWFXvW.

[whencyclopedia]

Empress Theodora

Theodora reigned as empress of the Byzantine Empire alongside her husband, Emperor Justinian I, from 527 CE until her death in 548 CE. Rising from a humble background and overcoming the prejudices of her somewhat disreputable early career as an actress, Theodora would marry Justinian (r. 527-565 CE) in 525 CE and they would rule together in a golden period of Byzantine history. Portrayed by contemporary writers as scheming, unprincipled, and immoral, the Empress, nevertheless, was also seen as a valuable support to the Emperor, and her direct involvement in state affairs made her one of the most powerful women ever seen in Byzantium.

Early Life

Theodora was born in c. 497 CE, the daughter of a bear-keeper called Akakios who worked for the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The 6th-century CE Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea states in his Secret History (Anekdota) that Theodora earned her living, like her mother before her, as an actress, which meant performing in the Hippodrome as an acrobat, dancer, and stripper. Theodora was said to have had one particularly lurid routine involving geese. By implication, considering the common association of the two professions at the time, she was also a courtesan. Procopius would have us believe an especially popular and lustful one, at that.

Procopius' Secret History, is, though, regarded by many as an outrageous gossip piece with a few facts thrown in for authenticity. The writer's attitude to both Justinian and Theodora is plainly that they were the worst thing ever to happen to the Byzantine Empire (in contrast to the official works he wrote under Justinian's patronage which are suitably laudatory of the emperor's achievements in war and architecture especially). Procopius also had it in for Antonina, the wife of Belisarius (Justinian's most talented general), and she is portrayed as constantly scheming with Theodora to create damaging palace intrigues. It is perhaps important to consider, too, that our knowledge of Theodora only comes from male authors and a woman performing any other role than the traditionally submissive one in Byzantine society was bound to be, at best, disapproved of and, at worst, outright demonised.

Before she married Justinian, the nephew of Emperor Justin (r. 518-527 CE), in 525 CE, Theodora left the sands of the Hippodrome to travel to North Africa as the mistress of a medium-level civil servant. After the relationship broke up, she made her way back home via Alexandria where she may have converted to Christianity.

The marriage between such a lowly figure as Theodora and a future emperor was an odd rags-to-riches one, but there was a tradition in the Byzantine court for emperors to marry the winners of beauty contests organised for that purpose. The entrants to such contests could come from lower classes and from far away provinces so such mismatches were not unheard of. The lowly status of Theodora was not ignored by everyone, and one particularly passionate opponent was Empress Lupicina Euphemia, indeed, her death seems to have removed the foremost obstacle to the marriage. Justin I even went so far as to amend the laws (senators, which Justinian was, could not marry actresses) in order to permit the marriage and to legitimise Theodora's illegitimate daughter. Procopius also claims there was an illegitimate son, too, but no other sources substantiate this.

The Empress, 20 years younger than her husband, is described by Procopius as being short but attractive, a stickler for court ceremony, and a lover of luxury. Theodora was crowned as empress in the same coronation ceremony as her husband on 1 April 527 CE. Justinian had insisted his wife be crowned as his equal and not as his consort. The pair also matched each other in intelligence, ambition, and energy, and with their lavish coronation in the Hagia Sophia, they seemed to herald a new era for the Byzantine Empire and its people.

Continue reading...

[sflow-er]

It's Eurovision week, and for the first time in over twenty years, I won't be watching or engaging.

As you probably know, the global BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement has called for a total Eurovision boycott due to the EBU's refusal to ban Israel.

The ESC has been a beloved part of my spring since I was little, and it's really fucking upsetting not getting to enjoy it this year - but that's just it. I know it won't make any difference whether one person chooses to watch or boycott, and that my watching it wouldn't even be registered as a view if I just watched the TV broadcast instead of the stream, but I can't imagine any set of circumstances in which I would enjoy it.

Back when the contest was held in Tel Aviv, I "bought myself a license to enjoy it" by donating to the UNRWA multiple times what I would've normally spent on voting, but no amount of donations would be enough to do that now. Not when every artist will be styled using the products of an Israeli beauty brand (Moroccanoil, a major ESC sponsor and likely a major player in why the EBU wouldn't even consider a ban), and when Israel itself has made its participation a political statement. The only reason their public broadcaster KAN agreed to change the lyrics of their entry, which originally referenced the Hamas attack and is still was called "October Rain" but has now been renamed "Hurricane", was this:

The president [of Israel] emphasised that at this time in particular, when those who hate us seek to push aside and boycott the state of Israel from every stage, Israel must sound its voice with pride and its head high and raise its flag in every world forum, especially this year. (The Guardian, 07 March)

Singer Eden Golan has also said that she believes her "participation is part of a very important mission for the country" and that she expects to begin her compulsory military service soon after the contest:

I still haven't enlisted in the army, and when I return from Eurovision, I'll report for my first call-up. In the first year as a returning resident, they don't call you, but that year passed and I was summoned – and my draft was postponed because of Eurovision. Doing army service is a mission, and I want to take the auditions to the military bands. (Israel Hayom, 22 April)

Yes, really. It's more likely she'll be some kind of PR ambassador for the Israeli army than be sent to Gaza with a gun, but still.

Many people are also upset about Palestinian flags being banned from the arena, and I'm not happy about it either, but I do think it's more or less understandable. The arena is a closed space, and any kind of altercation that might be sparked by those flags would be a big security risk. And at least if we are to believe executive supervisor Martin Österdahl, they haven't actually changed the rules; signs and flags with political messaging were always banned, and in this time, the Palestinian flag does send a powerful political message.

Then there's also the security risk associated with the event itself. Malmö is one of Sweden's most diverse cities, which also has both Jewish and Palestinian communities. According to a survey published on 4 May, 47% of city residents intend to avoid crowds during Eurovision. Mass protests and counter protests are expected. Events such as Quran-burnings by right-wing extremists are still allowed in the name of freedom of expression, even though the terror threat level in Sweden had to be raised to 4 out of the maximum 5 last year/this past winter due to precisely these kinds of provocations, and tensions will be running high. So even if the event itself manages to look as glitzy as always on TV, it will still be shadowed by what might be happening outside. Will there be unrest? Violence? How will the police respond?

There's no enjoyment to be found in any of that, no being "united by music" (the ESC slogan, which is a joke at this point). At least for me.

That being said, I do not judge you if you plan on watching. I understand that it's a huge annual tradition for many of us, and in these times, we need all the joy we can get. I also understand that it can feel like empty virtue signalling to boycott something when millions of others will tune in regardless - although it is good to keep in mind that this isn't some silly boycott started by social media activists on Xitter. It's a serious effort by the BDS movement.

I would challenge you to think about how you engage, though. If possible, watch it on TV instead of on stream, so your view won't be logged. (You could even consider waiting until the show gets posted on Youtube instead of giving views to the official stream, but I get that you probably want to see it live.) Try to abstain from hyping the contest or your fave entries on social media, and also from voting. Consider donating what you can afford to a charity that provides aid to Gaza instead (here's one list I found with a quick search).

And finally, spread awareness of the flip side. Don't be lulled into complacency by the claims of "Eurovision isn't political" when Israel itself has made it very clear it is - and do not make fun of people who want to sit the contest out this year or belittle their efforts.

[yuriisclumsy]

What if there was an AU for [Name] being one of the top ranked mages in twisted wonderland?

╰Description: [Name] is one of the top mage in Twisted Wonderland, right after Malleus Draconia.

Part 1 | Part 4 | Part 5 (You are here) | Part 6

 —May 24, 2024—

This is a continuation on the What if there was an AU for [Name] being one of the top ranked mages in twisted wonderland? 

After the dreadful day of the test results, the students in NRC are now begging Crowley to do something about [Name]'s rigorous lessons. Because Crowley was ever gracious–forced–he took it upon himself to make a meeting with [Name] and discuss lighter plans for her classes. 

To Crowley’s dismay, [Name] was quite adamant about her methods of teaching; and I quote: “What is the point of teaching such a hard skill to those that are uninterested in it?” 

In her defense, you need to have mastered the intermediate level of theory to learn her method of casting spells, it is only natural she puts pressure on that. And so, the once popular professor [Name], is now the feared witch of NRC. 

It is impressive how quickly people switch their feelings. 

… 

“What do you mean you won't change the syllabus?” 

“As I stated before, Mr. Crowly, I will not change my lesson plans because a few students are unable to pass my test.” 

“That's eighty percent of your students!” Crowly slammed his desk.  

“Your point is…?” 

This had been going on for an hour already. They had neither progressed nor reached an agreement. He was getting too much pressure as it is from the students, much less from the parents, and now one of his own staff is not listening to him? Oh, woe is upon him. 

“Professor [Name] let’s be reasonable here,” Crowly massages his face out of frustration, “you need to lower the difficulty of your lessons. If not, no one will want to take your class! Are you not seeing the problem?” 

“I stand to see the issue.” [Name] said not faced by what is happening. “If my students wish to not take my class anymore, then they should be allowed to leave.” 

Croly groaned at her obliviousness…that is what he thought anyway. He stood up to grab a stack of papers piling up near the office entrance. Letting them fall in front of [Name] they made a bang sound. 

“...what is this?” [Name] asked looking at the mountain in front of her. 

“These are all papers of complaint from both parents and students.” 

[Name] was still not interested in the dire situation. It is as if she didn’t care. Probably because she did not. 

Crowly dropped his elbow onto the desk and leaned in, he began to speak. “Professor [Name], if you continue at this pace, I have no other choice than to fire you.” He warned. 

“Then do it.” 

“No, you don’t have to worry, if you just change—wait what?” He was left speechless. He had threatened other professors like he threatened [Name]. But none had ever followed through with their ideals. Maybe he heard it wrong. “Do…what exactly?” 

“Fire me.” 

No, he heard correctly. 

“...Professor [Name]...you can’t be serious.” 

“Oh, but I am,” [name] stood up, “If you wish to fire me, you are more than welcome to.” 

“...” 

“If there are no further issues, I will take my leave.” Taking her belongings, she walked toward the door. She had classes to teach after all. 

“Wait a second! Please, at least think of lowering the complexity of the class!” 

[name] stopped as she opened the door of the office. “...” looking back at the desperation of the Headmage, she turned, “...I’ll think about it.” 

Having done everything in his power, Crowly lumberly sat down. He looked out to the last spot where [Name] had been in the doorway and sighed. He hoped she would consider what he said, if not, he would have to start looking for a replacement. 

… 

Classes continued as usual. The students hung around NRC as it was their lunch break. They talked about ordinary things; tournaments coming up, newly released movies, who would win in a beauty contest: Vil or Neigh; normal conversations.  

But a murmur had begun to spread. 

It is a rumor. Usually, rumors are few and far in-between in NRC, because the boys would lose interest in a day or two. Ah, but this is not a typical rumor. This rumor had to do with The Witch of NRC. Rumor had spread that she was going to be fired. This was shortly after the meeting [Name] had with Crowly.  

A student had seen her walk out of the headmaster's office and produced a happy conclusion. It did not help that in the following days [Name] had to take a few days off sick. 

Everyone started to celebrate. They would not have to deal with professor [Name] anymore! 

“Can you believe it? Professor [name] was fired!” 

“What? No way! I am glad she got fired. I won't have to worry about having her in the future anymore!” 

Most of the students cheered. Her method of teaching–although hard to follow–had taught them more about magic theory than any other class. Given this, they were grateful.  

So, hearing that their professor was fired, they decided to go to her personally and give her some farewell gifts. 

Although, one student was not pleased by any of this.  

I wonder what he’ll do…. 

(finished: 5/26/2024)

𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚜: @scarabiafriend, @sleep-ydragon, @d3sperate-enuf, @elaemae, @lucky-whispers, @kiwiimochi, @emmorphine, @azriel-sama, @amora-ledezma, @writerstrashbin, @marinahavik, @twstwondersforyou, @lunatheroyal, @ririsun, @dyedscarletletter, @kuureii, @otomega, @valacz29, @busy-dadzawa-fish, @sarah22447, @valacz29, @wondering-again, @lucid-stories. Re-blog or Comment if you want to get added into the Tag section for Twisted wonderland. Back to The Mind

Back to Master-List

[macabr3-barbi3]

I'd like to request a reader stumbling upon Alastor and a deer having a squeaking contest in the woods. I don't know why I need it but I need it because squeaking contest. Thank you

Hello! I hope this scratches the itch for you, it was super cute and fun to write ❤️🦌

You were perhaps a bit early for your meeting with Alastor, but you didn’t think he would mind as you eased open the door to his hotel room and let yourself in. You had been regularly spending time together for a few months now since you had started staying at the hotel, and normally you shared an evening cup of tea about an hour later than you currently were. 

Alastor wasn’t in his room when you stepped inside though, the fire going but no sign of the Radio Demon. You set the new tea you had brought along for the two of you to try on the table near his armchairs and wander further into the room.

He might be in his bayou dimension, you figure. It wasn’t like him to be outside the hotel at this time of the night, so unless he was down at the bar or something he had to be out in the swamp. You had been itching to take a closer look at the ecosystem anyway, so you hoped he wouldn’t mind if you took a look around.

Stepping over the threshold from bedroom to bayou, the difference was immediately noticeable- the atmosphere felt thicker, warmer, more tangible. You follow the path that’s been eroded into the earth through the trees, marveling at the world that Alastor has created here. It was beautiful, the stars shining through the canopy of trees above you, green-tinted moon casting a faint glow on the flora and little creatures you could see skittering about. Maybe he wouldn’t be too averse to having your tea out here sometimes- iced, since it was a bit hotter, but you didn’t think he would mind.

A faint squeaking noise draws your attention, feet halting as you try to pinpoint the direction it had come from. A moment of silence, and then you hear it again coming from your left. You slip your shoes off to muffle the sound of your feet in the grass and creep towards the sound.

You’ve found Alastor, at least- he’s bent at the waist and face to face with a baby deer, ears flattened against his head and his smile thin. Your eyebrows scrunch at the sight, and then the fawn makes the noise that you had followed; high pitched and cute, it makes you smile, grin widening when Alastor glares at the tiny creature and imitates the sound.

They go back and forth several times, the squeaking increasing in volume and length and Alastor getting progressively more frustrated. You hadn’t even known that he could make a noise like that, so sweet and soft and genuinely deerlike that it finally makes you giggle, the fawn taking off into the darkness of the woods and Alastor standing to his normal height, ears pointing skyward as his eyes narrow at the sight of you.

“What,” he inquires, “are you doing out here?” 

“What am I doing out here? You were in some kind of squeaking contest with a baby deer- so cute by the way-”

“My actions are none of your concern.” He turns his head away from you, but even in the dim lighting you can see the faint blush to his complexion.

“Come on, Al,” you tease lightly, not wanting to actually anger him. “You can tell me- did the fawn offer you its soul if you could out-adorable it? You were doing a great job from what I could see.”

“If you must know, it was a riveting argument about the state of my bayou- whatever level of ‘cuteness’ you apply to it is merely a byproduct of the conversation. Since you’ve scared the damned thing off, I shall have to resume the conversation another time.” His smile is tense, leaning into your personal space. “You will speak of this to no one,” he says, brushing his hands off on his suit jacket. “Know that it is only the faintest sliver of platonic affection keeping your afterlife uninterrupted.”

“Gotcha,” you agree. “Big scary Radio Demon? Not cute in the slightest; I have no evidence to the contrary if anyone asks. You have my word.” You place a hand over your heart in mock-seriousness, and know that you’ve won him over when he scoffs and his smile softens. “Now come on, I brought a new tea for us to try- back to society!” You’re already contemplating how to make him make that squeaking noise again; maybe if you asked nicely he would do it for you, or perhaps you’d have to startle him into it-

“It’s not even a mile back to the room, and this is hardly the wilderness,” he complains, but he follows you anyway, your nefarious plot unnoticed.

[hyacinthusmemorial]

Marsyas Verses Apollo

I was researching for my story Forgotten Age yesterday, and I specifically was looking into the story about Marsyas, the satyr who played the pipes and thought he was just as good as the god Apollo. I had a lot of feelings that I needed to unleash before I could go about my day--and I just want to preface that this is an analysis of Lucius Apuleius's Florida and not other sources regarding Marsyas.

Lucius Apuleius recounts that Marsyas played music in the days when "the art was but newly born and only just beginning to grow." He was playing the pipe in early times of civilization, before it was truly developed. He only knew how to play simple songs that were entertaining, but they were great compositions. Lucius Apuleius says aptly that nothing can be perfect in its conception, its new, it has basic elements that need to be developed. High musicians were bound by what they knew, and they knew about as much as shepherd and cowherds. But, Marsyas's father/instructor, Hyagnis, was already developing the art, and he learned how to separate the pipes into two, he learned how to play with two hands, one breath for two pipes.

Marsyas became famous for his pipe-playing Phrygia, which is to say for comparison he was a bango player from Tennessee, pretty skilled at his pipe, but ultimately, he knew how to play a simple tune with energy. The problem is not that Marsyas thought he was good, or even that he wanted to prove he was good. The problem was that he insulted Apollo when he challenged him.

The scene of their competition that Lucius Apuleius describes is so interesting--Marsyas in his boisterousness, Apollo in his cool silence. Marsyas is cocky, loud, speaking of his greatness in comparison to Apollo while Apollo is a god, he is quiet, observant, almost snake-like in his serenity as he watches his prey make his moves. Lucius Apuleius takes great care to illustrate the dichotomy between the two, even down to the physical level.

Marsyas is described as being with "a filthy beard" and "grim and shaggy face of a wild beast." In fact, Marsyas may have been a man, not a satyr, but he looks so much like a beast--they will call him half man and half goat. "His body was covered with hair and bristles." As Lucius Apuleius says, "Twas hideousness contending with beauty, a rude boor against a sage, a beast against a god."

Apollo is described by Marsyas himself:

In the first place...his hair is smoothed and plastered into tufts and curls that fall about his brow and hang before his face. His body is fair from head to foot, his limbs shine bright, his tongue gives oracles, and he is equally eloquent in prose or verse, propose which you will. What of his robes so fine in texture, so soft to the touch, aglow with purple? What of his lyre that flashes gold, gleams white with ivory, and shimmers with rainbow gems? What of his song, so cunning and so sweet? Nay, all these allurements suit with naught save luxury. To virtue they bring shame alone!

Marsyas denounces Apollo for being Apollo: beautiful, wise, calm. Marsyas despises his pretty clothes and his pretty lyre.

Marsyas then makes an exposé of himself to Apollo--he shows off his unkempt body and his unwashed state, and he says he is the model of perfection, not Apollo.

This imagery of a savage man trying to tell god what perfection is and how he might obtain it. The god needs no instruction. Apollo says nothing in this account, the Muses and Minerva (Athena) are amused and laugh at Marsyas--not because he possesses any humor but because it is so outrageous. His insults are comical in their depravity.

They have their contest, Apollo wins, and you can see his quiet rage in how he kills Marsyas. "When this boastful piper had been defeated in the contest and had been skinned as though he were a two-footed bear, they left him with his entrails torn and exposed to the air." They treated Marsyas like he was an animal because he acted like an animal. But, Apollo seems to regret this savage action--"Apollo he was ashamed of so inglorious a victory."

Apollo, it seems, regrets the whole situation because it drove him to the same depths that Marsyas sat in. It seems more of a story about Savagery verses Civilization than a story about Hubris in Lucius Apuleius's work. Yes, Hubris is a theme, but the dichotomy between Apollo and Marsyas cannot be ignored either. It is directly called out, and when Apollo sinks to the same depths as Marsyas, he is ashamed. It's not a glorious victory.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

HxH 402: King Shit

Okay...this is literally the densest chapter of HxH to date and that's saying a lot given this manga had a superpower based on compound interest. Which is a bitch to be fair. Tonight thought we have a huge lurch forward in the Succession Contest itself and let's start with the beginning. Which is where we picked up from last week. Kurapika has gotten Woble into a formal truce. King Nasubi has stated "sole survivor" is up to interpretation so it matters we now have an agreement that #3 wins if only #5/#14 are left standing.

Tsubeppa's fine with this because she more than anyone else wants Kurapika close, and I'd imagine is operating under the idea she won't have to worry about #3 making it to the end. The core theme this time is how they're all playing a very unassuming game. And there are a lot of parallels here like the coin beast mentioned above and Basho getting a great little moment later. Zhang Hei is in a weird position, from the looks of it and his own assumption his Nen Beast is weaker here but potentially great after winning. He curried a strong showing in our poll, but now let's move on to someone who only got one vote. Mine.

Kacho? Kacho? What the hell girl. I dig it. Batgirl over here. Y'all, this chapter broke hard in the direction I wanted to see this contest go. Everything. So let's recap. The twins tried to escape with Melody's help. In the process we saw freaky hands go crazy and Kacho died, revealing her Nen Beast in the best moment of the arc so far. Season of Two - First twin out resurrects to aid the other. Fugetsu's ability is a tunnel to anywhere she's been, but it does require Kacho to shut it. They and Melody are under investigation for the escape attempt...but the Justice Bureau officials have seemingly been on their side. That said, FuuFuu has been getting a little crazy.

That's all well and good, but why would I think that can beat things like the freakish Nen savant or the First Prince with the military edge?

This isn't a fistfight. It is a political battle for succession. Fugetsu is the one no one is worried about. The younger ones are unpredictable and their moms are the real threat. None of the others really even know Woble or Maryam. Fuu's in that sweet spot and seems like the type everyone at least kinda likes.

But the biggest thing is that Kakin has a mostly modern government outside of this. It's the bureaucrats, yet again Melody feels she should be suspicious but nothing Kaiser has said really warrants it. This is the choice that makes sense for someone in his position. And all this scene is laying out that basic theory; Fugetsu's power is the type of thing that allows so much leeway to play this game if you have people willing to get dirty for you.

If you mistrust Kaiser, I want you to consider why. Would you say, mistrust Gon deciding he likes Melody and Fugetsu and he'll fight the bad princes for them? Is it because Kaiser's a G-Man? Oh, see that's exactly why I trust him. If you've ever been around high-level bureaucrats you'll probably know what I mean. If they're good enough to rise to that rank they could have been a politician, military officer, something with more glory. He's just the type of guy who wouldn't balk at the Trolley Problem and is used to making real decisions of that magnitude regularly. Melody's music attracted a lot of people, she's a beautiful soul, someone maybe actually doesn't care about how she looks. King Fugetsu is the type who'd just play the nice figurehead and let the advisors run their own lanes.

And he's already paid huge divdends, just like that. Fugetsu easily waltzes right into most of the other Princes' rooms. No one suspects anything, it all seems above board, Kaiser knows exactly what to do.

But I think it's easy to miss what's important here. Melody and Kurapika both hint the letter truly is a bombshell that'll upend this whole Succession Contest. Once again, of course a bureaucrat of Kaiser's rank just casually has dirt on all of them. You can really see it here with Luzurus but they're all pretty good at playing coy. And Fuu just casually fleeced them all.

[fadedfrills699]

Pageant Politics from your fav radfem

Beauty Pageants have been the battleground for discourse regarding that of gender, power, and identity within the broader context of feminist movements, reflecting the societal obsession with female beauty which acts as the manifestation of patriarchal control over women’s bodies.

The origins themselves of beauty pageants and contests can be traced back to both the mediaeval period but also to that of ancient mythological traditions where female beauty was the focal point of cultural narratives, for instance contests as such were referenced in greek mythology; symbolising the roots of such idealisation and competition of beauty. However, the modern americentric beauty pageant which is relevant as a case study owed much of its development and early cultivation to P. T. Barnum who endeavoured to host a beauty pageant in 1854, although it was met with public disapproval it is said to have laid the groundwork for future pageant cultures. Barnum’s vision shifted the idea of the beauty contest from a mere cultural ideal and towards a commercialised spectacle.

This rise within mass media and popular culture is what gave rise to the emanation of Miss America in 1921 as it was originally brought about in order to extend Atlantic City’s tourist season. Evolving from a local promotional event and into a national spectacle, it became a symbol of American values surrounding beauty, femininity, and success. Leading to the commodification of female bodies and the reduction of them to objects of male desire through pageant cultures.

In somewhat ironic fashion, pageant culture shares a historical lineage with that of the women’s suffrage movement, wherein the suffragists of the early 20th century used pageantry as a means of political activism. And when the pageant, Miss America, was initially established in 1921 they used a sash which was their most recognisable and integral feature yet instead of bearing the political slogans that their predecessors fashioned, their sashes were adorned with the names of cities and states.

Naomi Wold sets forth the idea of a so-called “beauty myth” as a more modern means of control in the wake of the gains made by the second wave feminist movement. Her argument hinges on the basis that beauty is not universally or naturally standardised but a cultural construct designed to enforce and maintain gender hierarchies.

She introduces the notion of the “iron maiden” which describes the unattainable ideal of beauty which entraps women in relentless cycles of both self doubt but also regulation.

This is corroborated later by Bordo who analyses the body as a site of cultural inscription and aligns this with Wolf’s contention that female bodies are the vessels of patriarchal control. Bordo expands on this through her evaluation on how eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, and body modifications all reflect the pressures which discipline female bodies into conformity with patriarchal ideals.

One can look at this through Foucault’s concept of biopower, as Foucault explores the way in which power is not only filtered through and operated through institutions but also through the body and self-regulation. He proposes that modern forms of power and less overt and external but rest more on the subtle and internalised forms of discipline, a form a power which operates not through explicitly domination but through the shaping of the norm which leads individuals to regulate themselves to these prescribed norms. Therefore, beauty standards which are set forth by pageant culture operate as a form of biopower and on a collective level which has the ability to govern the behaviour and choices of women on mass decrees. Wolf’s propounded idea of the beauty myth not only oppresses women to an external degree but infiltrates their consciousness under the guise of personal choice or empowerment.

[robsheridan]

“Neon Demons: Genesis” Part II (continued from Part I here). Holoroid photographs from the Laboratories of the Seventh Spire of Hell, circa 1980s earth time, during Satan’s grand experiment to fuse human, demon, and machine.

The architect of the Neon Demons project was an old Fallen Angel known as Malachor, whose bitter rage at his former kingdom fueled a centuries-long obsession with finding a dimensional pathway between the realms of Hell and Heaven. He walked amongst mortals, studying their technologies and ensnaring the souls of brilliant scientists who would serve their eternity in Hell working on Malachor’s legacy: The Seventh Spire.

Although The Seventh Spire achieved heights of cosmic elevation far beyond any previous structure in Hell, it could only manage to graze the very outer spectrum of radiation from Heaven’s Light. Malachor felt he had failed, but Satan saw it as a different type of success, and assigned Malachor a new, even more impossible task: Bioengineer a new breed of demon, transfused with Heaven’s Light: the first demon with the power beauty, the ultimate manipulator of men.

The years (centuries? eons? Time in Hell does not flow so much as it squirms and stretches like the skin of a writhing worm) spent in the laboratory were a strange atmosphere, even for the underworld. The low levels of Heavenly radiation wore at the demons, depleting them gradually. Meanwhile, it nourished and uplifted the otherwise dead souls of the beautiful earth creatures whose bodies would become an essential ingredient of the Neon Demons. Even as their physical forms were dismantled and augmented, they moved through the halls of the Spire with a grace and lightness never before witnessed by Hell’s denizens. For most of the already tired demons, the presence of these glistening nymphs in this unholy realm of infernal misery made them uncomfortable and irritable. But a few demons, in their weakened state, let their guard down and allowed themselves some comfort in the beautiful mortals. But that is another story…

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NOTE: This alternate reality horror story is part of my NightmAIres narrative art series (visit that link for a lot more). NightmAIres are windows into other worlds and alternate histories, conceived/written by me and visualized with synthography and Photoshop.

If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon for frequent exclusive hi-res wallpaper packs, behind-the-scenes features, downloads, events, contests, and an awesome fan community. Direct fan support is what keeps me going as an independent creator, and it means the world to me.

[another-lost-mc]

obey me x pokemon crossover au: the three realms

headcanons | sfw | wc: 0.8k+

a/n: this is an evolving list of worldbuilding headcanons for obey me! with pokemon fused into it.

GENERAL INFO

Pokemon rely on sunlight or darkness to evolve rather than specific daytime or nighttime hours

Each realm has their own collection of common, rare, or exclusive Pokemon

Pokemon that are bonded to angels or demons have extended life spans due to a soul/life connection they share with their trainer

All three realms have their own varieties of herbs, stones, and berries that can be made into treats or used to empower Pokemon

The Devildom and Celestial Realm have offered these rare or exclusive Pokemon as gifts or gestures of goodwill in the past when attempting to negotiate truce/peace between them

Example: Diavolo gave Lucifer a Houndour puppy, a type of Pokemon not found in the Celestial Realm, as a gift the first time they met (it's now named Cerberus and has since evolved into Houndoom)

The Human Realm has its own Pokemon League with regional championships/gyms

Sometimes angels and demons visit the Human Realm just to watch the championship battles that take place

THE DEVILDOM

Since most of the Devildom is in a constant state of perpetual darkness (even if it fluctuates due to time of day/seasons/etc.), dark-type Pokemon thrive here

Access to the small amounts of sunlight in the Devildom (ex. at Diavolo's private beach) is limited to most demons and not reliable/not tested

Demons that want to find Pokemon that thrive in sunlight or evolve theirs using the sun have to travel to the Human World to do it (the angels obviously aren't gonna let them in just for that)

Common types of Pokemon in the Devildom include dark, ghost, fire, electric, steel and poison (found in/near the major metropolis areas)

Rare types of Pokemon in the Devildom include grass, water, ice, fighting, ground and dragon (found in very limited locations or under specific conditions)

The Devildom has its own realm-exclusive Pokemon and realm-specific evolutions

Some Pokemon are connected to certain sin attributes, and a demon with that sin can boost their Pokemon's strength in battle

There are some rare evolutions tied to the demon trainer having a complimentary sin and empowering their Pokemon with it

Human Realm Pokemon are common sights in the Devildom; demons are regularly summoned to the Human Realm for pacts or rituals so there's more access

Pokemon that are exclusive to the Celestial Realm are exceedingly rare in the Devildom, unless one of the fallen angels is willing to breed one of their own

The Devildom doesn't have a formal league or champion system, but Pokemon battling is a common way to settle disputes/avoid violence

Pokemon battling is a popular gambling sport and most large businesses/institutions have designated arenas for battles to take place

Contests and pageants to show off a Pokemon's strength and beauty are very popular and constantly trend on Devilgram and DevilTube

Boutiques like Majolish also sell their own brands of Pokemon beauty accessories

The Three Legged Crow conglomerate sponsors a lot of Pokemon research and preservation in the Human Realm

Portable Pokemon storage and other common features are built into the D.D.D. as part of KARASU OS

THE CELESTIAL REALM

Grass-types are very common and exceptionally strong here due to the constant presence of sunlight

Angels that have Pokemon that require nighttime to evolve have to visit the Human World to do it

The Celestial Realm is focused on studying the impacts of Pokemon on the world and on human souls

Part of raising young angels involves their mentor helping them choose their first Pokemon and learning to care for it

Battling Pokemon in the Celestial Realm is less common and only taught on a fundamental level (so angels can defend themselves if they encounter an aggressive Pokemon in the wild)

Angels that specialize as warriors tend to be the most battle-savvy trainers and fight alongside their Pokemon in special arenas

Common types of Pokemon in the Celestial Realm include grass, bug, flying, water, fairy and ground (found in/near the Celestial Halls where most of the angels reside)

Rare types of Pokemon in the Celestial Realm include ice, psychic, ghost, electric and rock (found in very limited locations or under specific conditions)

Pokemon that live in the wilderness tend to be calm and less hostile, but increased aggression is a sign that some sort of imbalance or disaster is present or imminent

THE HUMAN REALM

Witches, wizards and sorcerers can use Pokemon to enhance their magical abilities or rituals

Ex. having a strong bond with dark types can make rituals and spells more successful or easier to cast, while using fairy or grass types can make the power of prayer more potent

Parts of the Sorcerer's Society apprenticeship trials have tests that require and forbid the use of Pokemon

Swarms of Pokemon that are common in the Devildom or Celestial Realm appear near the place where demons or angels visit the realm

The human world has the most advanced Pokemon-related technology which is recreated by the Devildom and Celestial Realm

read more: obey me x pokemon au masterlist | obey me masterlist

[anashins]

hiiii can i request jaehyun x reader fanfic where they watch singles inferno together (korean dating show) :D thank youuu

Pairing: Jaehyun x reader

Genre: fluff, slightly suggestive at the end

Word Count: 1k

Summary: Jaehyun gets way too invested in a dating show he swears to have no interest in until you accidentally drop that you would choose a candidate from it as well.

A/N: Luckily, I watched the first episodes, I hope you like it 💕

“What are you watching?”

Jaehyun peeked into the living room, apparently just having woken up from an after work nap. His hair was sticking out to all sides and he had already changed into loungewear since he didn’t plan on going anywhere anymore today, yawning leisurely with closed eyes while awaiting your answer.

You chuckled silently. He always looked extremely handsome, but you found another level of beauty in the bare faced Jaehyun who was still a little sleepy and still a little groggy. In this state, he was unbelievably cute. 

“Singles Inferno,” you answered to him while your hand disappeared into a bag of chips. With crossed legs, you were sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over your lap. “You wanna watch with me?”

It was your favorite after work activity, just catching up with your favorite series and tv show, and since the new season of this dating format came out after the huge success of the former one, you surely had to watch it too, having been looking forward to it all day long.

Jaehyun frowned and then shook his head. “Nah, that’s nothing for me.”

“Okay.”

You shrugged it off and turned your attention back to the TV where the candidates were currently walking in one after another. Feeling the second hand embarrassment over the screen while they were sitting there, not speaking a word to one another but just staring into the abyss, you wanted to look away so badly.

“Can you pour me some chips into this bowl?” Jaehyun asked. “I’m gonna watch something else in the bedroom.”

“Sure.” You shared your chips with him while he stood next to you, alternating between pouring and watching the last contestant enter the screen.

“Is it always like that that they don’t speak a word to each other?” your boyfriend wanted to know incidentally. “Awkward.”

“They are not allowed to speak about their careers or tell each other how old they are, so the first meeting can be quite… hard to look at when you barely have a base for a conversation.”

“I see.”

“All done,” you then announced when you took the bag of chips back to you. “Have fun watching your show.”

“Thanks.” But Jaehyun didn’t go away immediately. Instead, he was focused on the TV now as well. “Did they build the team to explore the island themselves or were they set up?”

“I believe they were set up.”

“Mm-hmm.”

But instead of returning to the bedroom to watch his show now, you still perceived him from the corner of your peripheral vision. “I think that guy likes that girl and she’s interested in him too. I feel sorry for the other. He seems so lost.”

You felt the cushion sinking next to you, and as you shifted your head a little, you saw Jaehyun slowly seating himself on the couch. “Are you even seeing the TV?” you asked. “You should wear your glasses, they’re here under the table.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get going anyway.”

“Okay.” You already sensed where this was going and bit down a smile. It was always like this with Jaehyun, but since you didn’t want to scare him off, you suppressed another comment.

As you suspected, your boyfriend reached for his glasses shortly after to get a better view of the TV. The bowl with the chips had already found its way onto his lap, and he was taking a handful out of it to eat one after another.

“Why is every girl so interested in this Yoongjae?” Jaehyun then interrupted and shook his head. “They’re all sleeping on Hanbin. Look how he takes over the kitchen! They would be lost without him.”

“Right?” you supported his opinion, playing along since it was nice having his company. “I bet he’ll get many letters, he seems so nice.”

“Letters?” He looked at you with curious eyes.

“Yeah, at the end of the day, everyone can write letters to one person.”

“Ah, I see… Oh!” he then called out. “What is Soe doing?! Take initiative, girl!”

Now, you couldn’t hold back your laughter anymore, and Jaehyun joined. Somehow, while the contestants were still preparing dinner, the legs in his checkered pajama bottoms had found their way under your blanket which you now shared happily with him. He was gently stroking your thigh, totally invested in the show now.

It was that he often feigned indifference, but then got distracted and eventually totally invested in something he had seemed to have no interest in first. You knew him very well by now which was why you never started to persuade him about watching anything. Sometimes, you believed, he silently grew into a bigger fan of something than you.

“No way!” Jaehyun exclaimed at a certain scene. “My boy Hanbin got zero letters?! This show is rigged, I’m telling you!”

“Right?!” you backed him up. “I can’t with the girls already! Except for Nadine. If it were me, I would’ve chosen Hanbin from the start.”

It only dawned on you after that you probably shouldn’t have voiced this out loud when Jaehyun suddenly stopped stroking your thigh. Reluctantly, you turned aside to him, meeting his exhorting gaze with which he looked back at you over his glasses.

Simultaneously, Jaehyun raised a brow, but his gaze told an entire other story. “You would?”

“Only if you weren’t there,” you defended yourself, by now knowing that there was no turning back anymore. “And even if, I would always choose you over Hanbin and any other guy on this show!”

With a swift motion, Jaehyun took off his glasses, and even though he looked absolutely cute with them, the version of him when he had just taken them off was an absolute menace. You spoke from experience.

Shortly later, the glasses were laying on the surface of the table again and Jaehyun on top of you, your legs entangled in the blanket.

“Say it again,” he whispered into your ear, the tips of his fingers brushing over the side of your neck, awaiting your response.

And feeling your cheeky side today, you joked, “If it were me, I would’ve chosen Hanbin.”

“I’m gonna make you regret this.”

[wooshofficial]

Martyn makes his way back to Baxter after the end of the session, only for there to be ghosts at his house.

Not the good ghosts, either- he saw Jimmy and Lizzie chasing each other around the Secret Keeper earlier, and Mumbo hovering around Grian as he called time. No, these are the wrong ghosts.

Three people sit on Baxter, staring down at him with glances ranging from pity to mania. Martyn holds a staring contest with the three before someone speaks up:

“Oh man, the lone wolf makes it back home, everyone! How do you guys think he’s feeling right now?” The voice that pipes up comes from the ghost on the right. They’re not human—a mouse, maybe a rat?—and they’re wearing a maid dress, which isn’t the weirdest part of this whole situation.

“I don’t know,” says the left ghost, lounging on Baxter’s ear and jingling bells on their jester outfit with the movement, “probably…alone. Angry.”

Martyn scowls at the clown and rat, building his way up to be level with the ghosts. “Who the hell are you?! What are you doing at my house?”

He gets no direct response, because of course he doesn’t. Because of course the Watchers would try to drive him insane with ghosts commenting on his current mental state and him unable to give his two cents. Instead, the right ghost looks at the left, who has continued to spread out on Baxter and make some very annoying jingling sounds.

“Angry is a definite. Guilty, probably. Hating himself, absolutely.”

What? No. This is a death game, people are going to die. Martyn knows this. He doesn’t blame or hate himself, thank you very much! He opens his mouth to debate, but-

“Oh, be nice to him, Rat. He just lost his buddies!” The middle ghost finally speaks up, swinging her legs and staring directly at him. She’s got orange skin and what looks like an anchor strapped across her back, which Martyn is confused at- both the fact that it’s there and the fact that he knows what it is. “Remember how I felt up until what, two months ago? Because of you, might I add.”

“I told you Lux, I didn’t know he would get permakilled!”

“Still-“

“I apologized!”

“Would you please get back to talking about me while you’re sitting on my goddamn house?”Martyn says, still at eye level with the three frankly absurd ghosts arguing in front of him, once again to no response. Anchor ghost—Lux—leans over and slaps the right ghost—Rat—straight across the face, and this is where Martyn would stop paying attention to the nonsense, except Rat just pulled out a monstrous looking scythe; and Jester Ghost is scrambling across Baxter’s head to be at their side with a similar weapon in their hand, jingling the whole way there; and Martyn is now checking his wrist tattoo to make sure his between-session immunity is working so he doesn’t die from this.

“Rat!” Lux ghost shouts, looking over towards Martyn, pity still in their eyes, “you’re scaring him!”

“You slapped me!” They follow Lux’s gaze to double the amount of staring in Martyn’s general direction, and Jester Ghost follows suit, with a manic smile on top. Rat ghost puts the scythe away with a sigh. “We’re getting off track. Lone wolf over there is exactly what it says on the tin. Lux gets that feeling, and I don’t because I am basically god.”

Martyn chooses to ignore that. Lux ghost just rolls their eyes.

“But,” Rat says, and Martyn is now sure that these ghosts are simply choosing to ignore him because he’s suddenly locked in another stare off, “what I know-“

“We all know,” adds the clown-

“-is payback. Sweet, beautiful, over the top payback.”

Lux nods. “And he knows it too, doesn’t he?”

“Everyone on this server knows payback,” Martyn mutters, mostly to himself. “Even Scar knows payback. Damn good at it too.”

The jester makes a tsk sound towards him, and that’s when he knows that the ghosts are definitely pretending he’s not there, besides the whole all-three-of-them-are-staring-directly-at-him thing. “Ah-ah, but there’s a difference between how they do it and we do it. When they do it, it’s very…”

“Vanilla?” Lux ghost supplies.

“Boring?” Rat ghost drawls.

The jester ghost ponders a moment, that manic grin still on their painted face, before answering: “Simple. This server only knows simple payback. Us, on the other hand, we’re grand. Dramatic!”

Sure, like Martyn could be more dramatic than spawning three withers, or blowing himself up to kill someone else, or breaking a truce to go on a murder spree and win the game entirely. Like that’s even possible. Like the Watchers would allow that sort of thing on top of all the curses.

“So?” Martyn chides, about two seconds away from leaving and just moving bases entirely. “What do any of you have to do with this?!”

“So,” Rat says, and they have finally stopped ignoring him, “be like us, Martyn. Don’t just go to war, be the war.”

“Fight like nothing else matters.”

“And revel in the catharsis when it’s done.”

And then all three of them start laughing, filling the air with the sounds of bells and chaos and violence before disappearing in the blink of an eye. In their place, a single stick of TnT, with a note tied to it:

A pipe bomb for your troubles :)

Martyn throws it across the mesa, and promptly goes to sleep, deciding that even if lonely, he’s damn glad that he’s not whoever the hell those ghosts were.

[iamvegorott]

Magicians Don't Need Superheros Pt33

First: Link Prev: Link Next: Link

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Marvin chewed his cheek as he read over the texts again, having doubts about the newest plan for dealing with the Iplier. He wanted to spend more time studying chaos magic but Chase was getting antsy about the Ego running around without being watched over. Marvin was sure if the whole ‘red eyes incident’ didn’t happen, he wouldn’t be as worried about time. 

“I still don’t know how to feel about this,” Jackie muttered, chewing on his nails. “He’s, like, magic and stuff. Wouldn’t he notice a tracker on him?” 

“It’s a device made with nothing magical attached to it.” Marvin didn’t look away from his phone as he lowered Jackie’s arm to get him to stop chewing. “The only reason he’d try to find it is if he’s suspicious. I still don’t know how Mad made something so small.”

“Did you ever catch what Anti traded Mad for the tracker?” Jackie rocked between his feet, sticking his hands into his hoodie’s pockets to prevent himself from gnawing on them more. 

“Nope. But knowing them it’s either something to do with sugar and caffeine or fire.” 

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll agree to come with us? We won’t have to worry about the tracker at all if he does that.”

“Maybe.” Marvin sighed and put his phone away. “If we weren’t looking for this Iplier, I’d be enjoying this view more.” He commented as he looked out. 

They were standing on top of a fairly tall grass hill, the view Marvin spoke of was mostly of trees but the change in weather made them look beautiful with their hues of red, orange, and yellow. The sun was beginning to set and the sky was giving off matching shades. 

“Sunset really is a lovely time of day.” 

“It does look super pretty.” Jackie agreed. 

“Imagine having a picnic up here.” Marvin had a softness in his eyes. “Sitting on a blanket, a little basket of snacks, sipping champagne, and watching as the sun leaves and the stars begin to shine. Then a cold breeze would come in and you’d cuddle under another blanket to bathe in the moon’s light for as long as possible.” 

“That sounds nice.” Jackie found himself looking at Marvin and smiling. It really did. A date that didn’t end in disaster sounded like a miracle. Marvin also seemed to be very happy at the thought as well. “Maybe-”

“There he is.” Marvin had turned to listen to what Jackie was going to say, but he saw the Iplier making his way down the path over his shoulder. “Remember the plan?” 

“Yep!” Jackie popped his lips, forgetting what he was going to say and getting into hero mode. 

“Time to pretend I don’t want to kick him between the legs,” Marvin muttered to himself before taking a deep breath and walking with Jackie over to the Iplier.

“Oh, great. It’s you two again.” The Iplier scoffed with an eye roll. 

“We just want to help,” Jackie said.

“You can help by leaving me alone.” 

“Fun fact, that’s not going to be happening,” Marvin stated, going the very blunt route. “You’re part of this weird Ego thing. You’re an Iplier. The Manor is waiting for you. The sooner you follow us to said Manor, the sooner we’re out of your hair.” 

“You’re not funny.” The Iplier started walking again and huffed when Marvin and Jackie blocked him. “We are going to have another incident if you two do not move.” 

“Just come with us and all of the details will get filled in. You’re not going to last out here.” 

“Not going to last? Do you have any idea who I am?” The Iplier sounded beyond offended. 

“It doesn’t matter who we think you are or who you remember you were, it doesn’t affect where we are right now. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way and I am still learning.” Marvin could see out of the corner of his eye that Jackie had his hand prepped with the tracker, the curving of his palm giving it away. 

“Don’t put us on the same level.” The Iplier began walking again and this time it was only Marvin stopping him. 

“We’re not about to make this into a measuring contest. You can do that plenty with some of the other Ipliers. There’s one in particular I have in mind you’d have a fun time dealing with and I would love to watch that show.”

“Stop calling me an Iplier.” 

“The more you hear it, the easier it is to accept.” 

“Sure.” The Iplier was once again trying to leave, pushing Marvin’s shoulder to make him turn. Marvin grunted to himself in annoyance, wondering how in the world Jackie put up with him for so long. He grabbed the back of the Iplier’s jacket and yanked. “Enough!” The Iplier snapped and turned. Marvin got to see his face better and noticed the sharp spiral around his eye was beginning to glow. He was prepared to get hit with the same spell from before but Jackie slipped between them. 

“It gets like really scary out here on your own,” Jackie said, hands on the Iplier’s shoulders. 

“You should worry more about yourself.” The Iplier stated, putting both hands on Jackie’s chest. 

“Aw, man.” Jackie recognized the glowing on the hands and a moment later, he was launched backward. His body slammed into Marvin and sent both of them tumbling down the hill. Marvin had a creative line of curses as they went while Jackie just…yelled. 

Marvin landed at the bottom of the hill first on his back and half a breath later Jackie flopped on top of him. The crunching of the leaves was loud when it was right under one’s head and Marvin already felt a headache knocking at the front of his brain. Jackie had a feeling some leaves got under his hoodie with the sound and texture against his body. 

“You okay?” Jackie asked with a grunt, basically doing a pushup to move himself away from Marvin.

“Peachy,” Marvin grumbled. 

“I have some good news at least.” Jackie gave a weak smile. “I got the tracker on him.” 

“Good boy.” Marvin lightly chuckled, patting the top of Jackie’s head and not noticing the tint of pink on the other’s face as he started sitting up. “We should get back and fill the others in.”

“Y-Yeah. We-We-uh--We should.” Jackie stammered and scrambled to his feet. 

“I swear that Iplier has a personal vendetta against my hair,” Marvin sighed, pulling a leaf out of his bangs. 

“We can use it as an excuse to steal Henrik’s hair mask again,” Jackie suggested after clearing his throat and offering a hand to Marvin. 

“That sounds fun.” Marvin took the hand and stood up. “And we’re both covered in leaves.” He added as he plucked a leaf off Jackie’s sleeve. 

“You’re telling me.” Jackie held the bottom of his hoodie and shook it, some pieces of leaves falling out of it. 

“Better than red-eyes.”

“Much better.” 

[rockethorse]

Foundations for Families Challenge: Rebooted!

Inspired by an ask, this is a reboot of the Foundations for Families contest over at Mod The Sims 2 from 2012. I've reverse-engineered the original floorplans based on the surviving entry images, streamlined/loosened the rules, and hopefully this old contest will interest some players as a new challenge!

You can participate using any Sims game.

The challenge:

Pick one foundation blueprint below and assign it to one of the families below.

Place an empty lot and build a foundation that matches the blueprint exactly. You may use any lot size or type, position the foundation anywhere on the lot, and rotate the foundation however you like (but cannot mirror it).

Build something on the foundation according to the specifications of the family you picked.

You're done! Share with the tag #Foundations For Families Challenge or simply enjoy your handiwork!

The rules:

You can only use each blueprint and each family once; so at the end of the challenge you will have four different families with four different foundations.

You can have as many decorative floors/dormers as you want, but only the first one or two floors may be useable or accessible by Sims (after the foundation).

You can use any combo of the three basegame foundation types to build the blueprint, but stages can only be placed above existing foundations.

You can only build walls above foundation, and you cannot have flooring or roofs extend/"hang" over the edge of the foundation. This includes greenhouses, but excludes pool walls. Fencing, flooring, and awnings are allowed on the ground.

If you want to build a basement, go for it, but it must be contained entirely within the original foundation and cannot be visible from the outside. There may only be one level of basements.

The families (all credit to @w-sims):

The Barkworth Family - Mike and Meadow Barkworth both love the outdoors. They've always dreamed out having a beautiful log cabin home they can come back to after a long day of hiking and insect collecting. They would love for their house to be a traditional pine cabin, with a gorgeous fireplace in the living room. The bathroom(s) should be simple and in-keeping with the style of the house, and Meadow loves the idea of flowers, home-made quilts and decorations all throughout the house.

The Montenegro Family - Rain Montenegro is a struggling artist. Her house is filled with art projects in various states of completion, but she wants a studio in her house so she can escape the world and focus on her art. As for the rest of the house, simple, cheap furniture will do, as long as it's bright and colourful. Rain loves the colour green, but can't stand purple.

The Lewis Family - When Layton and Lucinda found out they were expecting it was the greatest day of their lives. When they found out they were having triplets? Not so much. Now their three daughters (athletic Lara, bookworm Leanne and musician Lorrie) are all teenagers, they are demanding their own rooms. Layton and Lucinda are happy to move, but want a large master bedroom and their own en-suite bathroom.

The Gravel Family - Tyler Gravel is a romantic, fitness fanatic and rising athlete. He wants his house to have a modern feel, and the wow factor that will impress all the ladies. A home-gym is a must, and a swimming pool outside would be his idea of perfection. Tyler also wants a guest bedroom for when his family fly in to town to watch his matches.

The blueprints:

Have fun and feel free to share your finished builds with #Foundations For Families Challenge!

[lomlhotchner]

❛ faking it! ❜ … aaron hotchner

↠ the heart wants what it wants masterlist

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༘♡ ⋆｡˚ SUMMARY : the mission is on, act like a rich loving couple, dig some information, catch the unsub. seem easy enough right?

༘♡ ⋆｡˚ WARNINGS : high tensions 😫 mutual pining, cursing, they’re shy okay, the plot doesn’t really make sense (i tried), english isn’t my first language!

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ HANA’S NOTES : here we goooo!!!!! thank you so much for yalls patience 😭😭 this is part two to for zipper but you don’t need to read the it to understand this! i am so sorry from the bottom of my heart if this doesnt make sense lmao i dont know what i was going for. hope yall enjoy 💗

“Remember the plan?”

You took a deep breath and nodded your head, “Yeah, go in there, bond with the rich, find the unsub, piss him off so that he’ll take the bait, and then lure him outside so that he can get his ass kicked.” you stated confidently.

Hotch raised his eyebrows at you, amused “When does the ass kicking happen?”

You shrugged your shoulders, a smirk playing on your lips, “Whenever I get the chance.”

He scoffed out a laugh, making you grin at the sound. You arrived at the elevator, sending the elevator operator a warm smile in greeting before stepping inside. He was an old man with grey hair, he had wrinkles and the most comforting smile on his face.

“Where are you two lovebirds headed?” he cheekily asked while looking at the both of you with a knowing look.

If only he knew.

Hotch smiled at Stan—the nametag says, “Dinner.”

Stan nodded his head and press the respected level before sending you a warm smile, "May I say you look stunning in that dress.”

You shyly laughed and lowered your head, but before you could thank him, Hotch’s deep voice cut you off, “Doesn’t she?” he spoke with the softest tone you have ever heard and when you look up at him, he was already looking down at you with the certain look in his eyes that anyone can decipher as fondness.

No, he’s just being in character. Don’t be delusional.

Hotch has been acting different with you since the undercover task began. Although the whole point of it was to make everything up and act, you can’t help but think that he was just showing a part of himself where no one has the privilege to know. In easier words, you think he wasn’t really acting.

So does that mean the almost kiss…. ?

Do you really want to go there?

You weren't sure.

You guys continue to stare at each other not noticing the operator’s grin. He has seen a handful of couples in this part of the job and he knows when he sees fools in love.

The elevator dinged, indicating you arrived at the respected floor. You guys broke from the little staring contest, your cheeks heating up. Sending Stan a smile before walking out of the elevator.

The venue was enchanting, to say the least. Bright elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Beautiful flower arrangements placed on the table. People in gorgeous dresses and suits and suddenly you felt underdressed compared to them. Because this isn’t actually your real lifestyle, but for them, this is just a normal Tuesday.

Hotch interrupted your thoughts by bend down so he was level with your ear, “I didn’t get the chance to say this earlier, but you look absolutely gorgeous.” he whispered before standing up to his full height.

You couldn’t even count how many times you were flustered tonight. Your body was all tingly with excitement as you looked up at him, “Thank you, honey. You don’t look too bad yourself.” you teased.

A smirk formed on his lips. You could see his Adams apple bob at how hard he swallowed and maybe it’s the lights, but you can vividly make out his rosy cheeks after your comment.

He subtly tries to hide his face in the crook of your neck, giving it a soft kiss for the extra effect. “Did you turn on your coms?” he mumbled.

Your eyes widen a little. right, you’re undercover. You move to your ear and click the device resulting in it turning on with a beep.

The audio cracks for a moment before JJ’s voice appeared, “Y/N? Hotch? Can you guys hear us?”

“Yeah, we can hear you JJ.”

“Okay, good. Any signs of the unsub?” she asked.

“No, not yet.” you answered, giving the place a once over for any suspicious acts.

“Nope.” Emily sounded through the coms. Followed by the other’s negative response of the unsub’s whereabouts.

“Alright, everyone be cautious. We know the unsub is unstable, keep an eye out for any weird behaviors.” Hotch ordered as he led you to the ballroom.

He took two champagne glasses and handed you one of them. You sent him a small as gratitude. Your hand was shaking slightly when you bought the glass to your lips.

Hotch took notice of that and rub his hand at the small of your back, “Relax.” he smiled.

You shyly nodded your head as you both moved to one of the tables. Taking a seat that Hotch has gracefully pulled out for you.

"You okay?" Hotch asked, sitting beside you.

"Yeah, kinda excited."

"Excited to catch a murderer?" he raised his eyebrows.

"That, but also this." you gestured to the ballroom you guys are in, "Everything is just so fancy, and pretty! I can't even remember the last time I actually got ready and wear a dress." you chuckled, not realizing that your hand has gravitated to the tip of Hotch's fingers, softly playing with it.

Hotch felt like he was going to melt at how adorable you are, plus the feeling of your hands on his skin? He's a goner. He has always known that you were a touchy person, having to see you hug or link your arms with the rest of the squad except him was not entirely unnoticeable. So when he gets the chance to have this pleasure, he isn’t sure what to do.

As you continued to talk about … —okay, he isn’t entirely paying attention— he has a small smile played on his lips. He just can't tear his eyes away from you. His eye move to your cheeks, your eyes, the flutter of your eyelashes. Have you always been this pretty?

"Hotch? Did you hear what I said?" you tap the inside of his palm, trying to get his attention back to whatever daydream he went.

Hotch could feel his cheeks at getting caught red handed, "Yeah, yeah, sorry just got distracted."

You almost laughed at the absurdity, "By what? Me? You play this part too good Hotch, cause I can almost believe you're in love with me." you eyes widen slightly at your word vomit, you instantly regretted what you said but Hotch surprised you by laughing along.

"Oh honey, you have no idea." he softly chuckled.

God, I hate how he can act so good.

Your eyes move to surveillance the room as a distraction and noticed something, "Okay, don't look right now but the table on our left have been staring at us for the past 5 minutes."

Hotch subtly nodded his head and glanced at the table. It was a group of men in suits staring at you guys.

You. Specifically.

Oh.

He clenched his jaw and protectively wrapped his arms around your waist. Your stomach fluttered at the sudden contact. "We should split up and dig more information. I'm going to those gentlemen, and you can scout out the ladies over there."

You cleared your throat, brushing off your bashfulness, "Yeah, that's- that's a good idea." you stood up and brush the wrinkles of your dress. "See you later, handsome." you boldly left a kiss on his cheek, softly patting his shoulder.

Hotch felt like he was in a daze as he stared at you walking away. His tongue poke his cheek, trying to fight back a smile from forming when you sneak a peek around your shoulder, send him a cheeky smile and a wink.

He composed himself before he trudged to the table, “Evening, gentleman.” he greeted, noticing how they all pretend that they weren’t staring at his date. Fake date. “How are you guys enjoying the event?”

Enjoy drooling at my date? he wanted to add.

On the other side of the room, you have to control yourself from getting overly sheepish at the compliments the girls are giving you guys.

Both of you guys.

You and Hotch. Together.

“How long have you guys been with each other?”

“You guys look so good together."

"The ring is beautiful."

"He's so fine, girl. You are so lucky,"

"Are you joking? He's lucky one. Look at her, she's gorgeous."

The compliments are making you blush, "Thank you, ladies." you smiled, glancing at Hotch absentmindedly.

They were right, he is fine.

You shook your head, remembering the real reason you are here. "So. do you guys know the host personally?"

The girl on your right, —Barbara you think, "Oh no, I just work for them. But this one," she nudged the girl beside her, "works as a personal assistant for the host's mom."

Your eyebrows rose at the new information, "Oh? The pay's probably good huh?"

She chuckled, "I don't want to say much but it is definitely better than working as an accountant. If you exclude the constant bickering between her and her son in law."

That peeked your interest, but before you can dig up more information, Barbara spoke, "Oh my god. Your husband is literally head over heels for you. He won't stop ogling you!"

All of you subconsciously turned your head at the direction she was looking at.

Your eyes meet Hotch's and low and behold, he was already looking at you. And at the sudden addition of eyes his own widened as he shy away from the attention.

The sight made you grin.

The girls giggled and moved their conversation to a different topic. But you can’t help yourself from taking a peak at Hotch again. You both made eye contact, sharing a flustered smile.

Okay. What the fuck’s that about.

Countless of thoughts running through your head. The interaction have caught Emily’s attention as you make eye contact with her. What was that? Her face wearing a shocked, questionable look, as she teasingly smirked.

You subtly shrugged your shoulders. I have no fucking clue.

If this is going on for the whole night, you dont know how much your heart can take.

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