#superimpose them onto any image

[teethlordd]

There are worms in my head

[eelnoise]

supplicate (nsfw!)

18+ MDNI!

Trafalgar Law x afab!reader cw: mild brat taming, teasing, edging, snarky law, piv sex, creampie an: this one kinda went overboard and was not meant to be this long. it was supposed to be two drabbles for both zoro and law but i kinda got carried away. i'll post them separately or whatever idk. tagging: @bby-deerling @themushroomofdeath @risenwrites @kaizokuniichan @strawheart-pirate

At this rate you were going to kill him.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair as his jeans tighten again. You’d been at it all day – touching and teasing him every chance you get. Running your fingers down his arm when you bring him coffee and lingering far longer than you usually do before departing with a small smirk across your lips, not-so-subtly unzipping your boiler suit just enough for him to get a glance of the soft flesh that lies beneath when you cross paths throughout the day’s work, and he doesn’t miss the sultry, half lidded gaze that seems to follow wherever he goes.

Must be some kind of cruel joke, he thinks. Something you and Ikkaku had conspired together to conjure just to drive him up the wall. Law wasn’t keen on any of the crew knowing of your shared… situation, though considering the fondness you have of your crewmate, he should’ve known it was inevitable. And usually, he pays it no mind – so long as he isn’t bothered by any unwelcome, irritating comments or jabs.

But today it eats at him, riles him until your very image is superimposed onto the backs of his eyelids. As much as it pains Law to admit – your stubborn attempt at teasing him had worked, and probably much more than you even knew. Of course, he could simply take care of the ever growing, insistent need for you right now – right here in his office, and without you. He considers it for a moment as he leans back in his chair. There's poetic irony in the thought, and he chuckles selfishly to himself imagining the look on your face when he doesn’t give what you think you’ve won.

Though why deny himself the sweetened privilege of correcting your impish behavior? You’ve earned it at this point, a victory certainly – though perhaps not quite the prize you seek. Law’s mind reels with possibility, bringing him to a point of distraction that leaves him unable to focus on his own tasks. He wants to teach you a lesson, wants to hear you beg, whine, writhe beneath him, pleading for release that he plans on withholding until your absolute limit. 

The way his cock throbs painfully against his thigh gives him an answer that he can’t ignore, and without a second – more rational – thought, utters a near-silent “Room. Shambles.” 

Suddenly it doesn’t matter where you were or what you were doing. And Law isn’t surprised when you appear before him looking smug and as expectant as ever. 

“Took you long enough,” You begin, the coy edge to your voice cutting through the silence that had been his prison for the past few hours. “Thought maybe-”

Law slides backwards away from his desk and cuts you off with a snap of his fingers – a sure signal for you to keep your mouth shut. “Strip, and make it quick.” The way you shiver from his words alone does not go unnoticed, lips twitching upward at just how easy it is to make you come apart from him.

Spurned onward by both his demeanor and his obvious predisposition, you hastily peel your layers off and leave them in a heap around your feet and step toward him. Law leans back and places his elbows on either arm of his chair. Seems like you’re going to have to work for it.

He only assists you with a slight raise of his hips when you move to free his cock from its confines and allows you to pull his jeans and underwear down as you see fit to do. Instinctively you lean down with means to wrap your lips around him, but Law grabs you by the forearm and clicks his teeth – twisting you around to settle into his lap. 

Law reaches down to the backs of your thighs, pulling you into a position that aligns himself near perfectly with you, and pressing your back to the edge of the wooden desk. You gasp when he glides his length along your slick folds, an excited half-mewl that lets him know that you’re exactly where he wants you to be. He delights in the sight of you trying in vain to roll your hips for any sort of friction, but his hold on you is too heavy and the attempts get you nowhere. “Law – come on!” 

At your frustrated plea, Law tilts his head forward to peer at you with a knowing smirk on his lips. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be talking,” He purrs smoothly, breathing hot upon your neck. “Let alone making demands.” 

He ruts his hips slowly – painfully – against you. Whines befall your lips as he lazily slides his cock up and down your pussy, making sure to press just a little harder against your clit. Law knows what makes you tick, having analyzed and researched each reaction to his ministries over the years at sea. He knows just how to make you cry out in limited bliss, how to inch you right to the precipice of paradise – only to whisk it away at the blink of an eye.

Why should you get away so easily?

Still tight within his grip, you’re at his will. Each stroke of him against your walls, feeling every throb of his cock within you leaves you a whiny, needy mess. The frustration turned ecstasy in your gaze cracks his guise further, though not enough to unmask him – yet.

He’d never admit it at a time like this, but the way you sound, the way you feel, the way your expressions twist and curve at his teasing – he needs you like a man needs food. And deciding that you’ve had your fill of his game is a good enough excuse to up the ante.

Law guides himself to your entrance, and using the abundance of slick that glistens along his flesh, eases you onto him. You hiss out a moan as he bottoms out, and a moment later he’s bouncing you up and down his cock, pace still unhurried and languid. 

It's agony, sweet and unsated passion that you’re not being given despite your best attempts goading both now and throughout the day. Your laments fall on deaf ears as Law continues his tortuous campaign, pulling you down onto him until your hips are flush together, letting the head of his cock twitch against the spongy spot that makes your eyes roll back in your head. You’re desperate, the need for him begins to outweigh your tolerance of his little game – so you do the one thing that you know will make him crumble.

You reach out for him, pressing a hand to his cheek to lead him into a tender kiss. Law’s eyes widen in surprise, but cannot help to fall into your trick. He closes them and leans into you, deepening the lip lock and groaning in satisfaction. You slip your tongue between his lips and the grip on you loosens enough to allow you to more freely grind on him. 

It takes Law a moment to come to his senses, too lost in kiss and affection to notice that you’d taken control. He breaks the gesture with a growl and a feral grin to match, and that's all the warning you get before he stands up from the chair and folds you backward onto the surface of the desk. Papers crease and books shift as he presses your thighs up to your chest, his cock drilling into your core as fast and as hard as he can give you.

“So fucking needy,” Law taunts, hovering his head just out of your reach. “Look at you. You’re desperate. Drooling for the thing only I can give you, isn’t that right?” He follows up the words with a smack to your thigh and a low chuckle. 

So much do you want to speak, though words fail you again and again. You’ve been reduced to nods and wails of pleasure, and Law is living for it.

He brings you to the edge so many times, and only a handful does he allow you to leap. Law’s stamina doesn’t give, and just when you think he’s close he stalls to a near stop – leaving you breathless and panting and giving you some respite before slamming his hips back into yours until the sound of skin against skin echo throughout his cabin once more. “Law, I can’t–” You wearily exclaim, tears pecking at your eyes beyond the hazy, fucked-out gaze you’re giving him. “It’s too much, I can’t…”

“Of course you can,” Law directs from above you. He clasps your jaw with one of his hands, lithe fingers grasping and forcing your face toward his. “You’ll take everything I have to give you since you’re being so good for me now, won’t you?”

The familiar tug from low in your belly pulls once more at his words, and in an instant you’re cumming again around his cock again. His name falls from your tongue like it's the only word in your vocabulary, and it sends his mind reeling. Law’s words eventually deceive him, and soon enough he’s digging his nails into your thigh and sighing into your neck as he fills you to the brim with his own cum.

The moment stalls, and for a moment Law looks at you, the hand nearest to your face coming to rest gently upon your cheek. You offer him a smile, and it makes his heart skip a beat. It always does. Law leans down to press a soft kiss to your forehead, and trailing an even softer one to your lips. It isn’t something he says often, what he’s saying to you now. The simple phrase is a whisper on his tongue, and made only for your ears – it's one you return just as quietly, though almost too eagerly.

After all, you do love him.

[the-badger-mole]

She knows

She knows

She knows

Zuko had thought his feelings for Katara were his secret. He'd never spoken to anyone about them, and he hadn't been treating her any differently since he'd figured himself out. His feelings were his burden alone, and he intended to keep it that way. Still, she knows ricocheted through his mind. His heart seemed to beat in time to words in his brain as he tried to process everything. The clamoring of the soldiers rushing up the stone stairs; the sound of the stolen air ship coming up behind him; the feel of Katara's lips on his.

Her fingers were clenched tight around the collar of his shirt. Zuko had just come to his senses enough to reach for her waist, intent on pulling her closer, when suddenly Katara shoved him backwards off of the ledge of the broken balcony. An airbender would've caught themselves and vaulted back onto the stone legdge. Zuko was no airbender, though. Their airbender was...someplace else. Zuko wasn't entirely sure of where. So when Zuko landed on the deck of the airship with a bone rattling thump, shock kept him there for the time it took him to refill his lungs. By the time he scrambled to his feet, the ship was already pulling away. Zuko had just enough time to see Katara turn from him to face his father's soldiers. She was outnumbered by at least a dozen, but she stood tall and firm, and even from behind, Zuko could see the determination in her stance. She would fight and die to make sure that he got away safely.

"No!" Zuko shouted. He threw himself at the railing, intent on getting back to her by any means necessary. He would leap from the deck and figure out the rest on his way back. Two sets of strong hands kept him from enacting his plan.

"Let me go!" he demanded pulling against the hold on him. "I'm not leaving her!"

"Zuko!" Sokka shouted. He and Suki pulled hard throwing him against the wall of the ship. "Stop!"

"Turn back!" Zuko half demanded, half pleaded. "We have to go back for her!" He was met with Sokka and Suki's twin grimaces.

"We can't," Suki said, grimly. "We have to get you to safety."

"I don't care about my safety!" Zuko insisted. "I can't leave her behind! Sokka, she's your sister! How can you just-oof!" Sokka's punch didn't hurt so much as it caught Zuko off guard.

"Don't you dare!" Sokka growled. He stood over Zuko, rage radiating from him almost tangibly. "Don't you dare imply I'm not just as worried about Katara as you are. If it wasn't for the fact that we need you to survive the war, I would've thrown you back to them to save her in a heartbeat. But the next best thing I can do is make sure my sister's sacrifice isn't in vain. That mean's getting you to safety and making sure you don't do anything stupid like trying to take on a whole troop of firebending soldiers.

A thousand arguments flew through Zuko's mind. They were superimposed over the image of Katara facing those same solders in his mind. Everything in him was demanding they turn around that instant and rescue Katara. His gambit for the throne was meaningless in comparison to Katara's safety. So what if she had willingly sacrificed herself? So what if he were summarily executed by his father, or even his sister? His own life meant nothing if Katara weren't in it.

Sokka was right, though. Zuko was loathe to admit it, but he was right. Katara knew what she was doing, even if Zuko was certain she didn't understand the full consequence. She'd saved his life. Again. Impotent and helpless as he felt watching her do it, she'd done it willingly. She'd done it strategically. His heart railed against it, but his mind knew why she'd done it. He had the best claim to the throne, after all. They'd talked about it to exhaustion. He'd told Katara all his worries, and she'd calmed them with her certainty that he was the Fire Lord his nation deserved. He'd never gotten the chance to tell her that he though she was the Fire Lady his nation needed, though they didn't deserve her by a long shot. He'd never told her that though he didn't deserve her, he needed her. Like he needed water.

She knew, though. She knew his weakness, and she'd used it. Zuko could still feel the pressure of her lips on his. Could still feel the way her hand tightened on his collar as she prepared to shove him away even while she was pulling him closer. She knew what she could do to him even in the midst of battle.

"They probably won't kill her," Suki said quietly. Both Sokka and Zuko looked up sharply.

"What?" Sokka gasped.

"They probably won't kill her," Suki repeated. "She's too valuable a prisoner. The daughter of the Southern Water Tribe chief? The... the friend of Prince Zuko? She's useful. If she surrenders, she will have a fighting chance." Suki's mouth was pressed into a thin, grim line. She was upset, too, Zuko realized. Maybe almost as upset as Sokka and Zuko were. Only almost, though. Zuko couldn't imagine his future without Katara in it, and Sokka had always been his sister's protector. As Zuko met Sokka's eye across the deck, he knew the Water Tribe warrior had made the same decision he had. If Katara was alive, neither would rest until she was safe again. The details of their rescue mission would have to wait until they could discuss them in private, but they would be going after her.

Part 2

[luveline]

for early eddie and roanie!! maybe eddie and roan sees you in your work get up for the first time and they’re just in awe and think you’re so pretty!

ty for requesting ♡ eddie and roan —eddie and his daughter meet you for dinner after work and find themselves surprised at your attire. fem!reader

"Dad, what–" Roan stammers, smart but young enough to struggle anymore, "what are we doing, um, here?" 

Eddie puts the car in park. "We're having dinner in a restaurant! How fun, right?" 

"Right. We're not going home?" 

Eddie gets out of the car and takes a breather. It's weird for them to go somewhere after daycare that isn't home or the grocery store, he can understand her confusion. He's nervous about it himself, and he could really do without more sweating. Right now is the only time you could see him for the next couple of days (a friend's birthday, a hair appointment, a work commitment you couldn't squeeze out of), so despite his bedraggled appearance and Roan's stained dress, he's here. 

Eddie opens Roan's door. "Well, Y/N's busy for a couple of days, but she still wanted to see us," he says, unclicking Roan's car seat. He lifts her out and sets her on the asphalt of the parking lot. "So we have to do it right now. She squeezed us in." 

"Oh…" 

Eddie crouches down in front of her to smoothe the hair from her face. Careful, he brushes kinks and coils behind her ears, hands dancing down to her shoulders, her arms. He dusts her off. "Let me get your cardigan from the trunk. It's cold, huh?" 

"Shivers!" she says. 

"No, not shivers!" Eddie guides her away from the door to close it. Roan takes his hand without being asked, following him to the trunk. "Here, babe, let's get this on and then we'll go inside. We should have a little bit of time before Y/N comes." You're cutting out of work early. 

Eddie worries you'll get a good look at him all grease-covered and clammy and turn straight back around, but this is exactly as he looked when you asked him out the first time, and despite being busy you were insistent on seeing him. Good signs. Plus, you've seen him dressed up, so maybe you could just superimpose that image of him onto his frizz. 

Eddie makes sure Roan is buttoned up warm before offering his arms. "Want me to carry you? I know you've had a long day, haven't you?" Roan wraps her arms around his neck and he stands, lifting her against his chest. She calms him down whenever he's nervous, resting her cheek on his. "Okie dokie, let's go inside."

"Kiss?" Roan asks. 

Eddie kisses her chubby cheek. "Kiss," he says, the wool of her cardie soft under his hand. 

He rushes into the restaurant to get her out of the cold, rubbing her back in a pointless mission to keep her as warm as possible. It's a small restaurant inside of an Inn, dark wood and carpeting lit by butter yellow sconces. It's nice but not fancy, a family place you chose without any input from him. He's always pleasantly surprised by how willing you are to have Roan join you —this wouldn't work if you weren't, but some people wouldn't be as accepting of it as you are. He thinks he's pretty lucky. 

Luckier still when he sees you already waiting at the little podium. You're distracted by something in your pocket, looking up at the sound of the door closing. "Hi, Munsons!" you say, big sweet smile on your face. 

"What are you wearing?" Roan asks. 

You give a startled laugh. "This is what I have to wear at my stupid job. Do I look silly?" 

"You look beautiful," Eddie says. 

He means it more than anything. He's used to seeing you in nice skirts with a little chain necklace on. And that's perfect, you always look like the sweetest thing god ever let near him, but this is a different kettle of fish completely. You look— 

"So pretty!" Roan says, clapping her hands together. 

You visibly fluster at the double compliments. "I have to wear this stuff to seem professional. I always feel like I'm playing dress up." 

"Are you kidding?" Eddie asks. "You always look great, this is… you look stellar. I mean." He shakes his head with feigned disapproval. "They let you walk around like that?"

You bring your hands to your cheeks.

"I'm kinda embarrassed, we look like a mess compared to you," Eddie says, shifting Roan in his arms sheepishly, his shoulders hiking. 

"What are you talking about? You guys look nice! And they know it's after working hours anyways, you don't have to be perfect. Just hungry. What do you want, princess? They have a buffet, does that sound nice? We can have unlimited mac and cheese." 

Roan's stomach gives a gurgle right on schedule. She nods emphatically. 

You nod back, the buzz of their compliments here to stay as you step up to the podium. "I have reservations for three, under L/N?" you sound infectiously pleased. 

Eddie dips his head down to Roan's ear. "Thank you for being so nice, babe. I think you made Y/N really happy." 

"Can I have clothes like that?" Roan asks. 

Eddie chuckles, picturing Roan in a button up shirt with a stiff collar and slacks, smart black kitten heels to match. "Maybe when you're older. I don't think you'd find it comfy enough." 

"It's actually not too bad," you say, as the three of you follow a hostess down a gentle gradient into the restaurant. 

Eddie shakes his head behind Roan's. You catch his plea, coughing suddenly. "I mean, the heels make my toes cry and I can't do any running or dancing in my pants, but you get used to it, Ro."

Roan lifts her lips to Eddie's ear. "I like dancing," she whispers. 

Eddie pats her back. "I know. Let's stick to comfy clothes for now, okay?" 

"Okie dokie. Why don't you wear stuff like that to work, dad?" 

"It's hard to explain." 

"You don't want to look nice?" 

Eddie sighs as you laugh behind your hand. "It's dirty work, bub, I don't know what to tell you." 

[mourningliliesmorningglories]

“Passed Alger Brook Road, I'm over the bridge.”

Remus never thought he’d be sitting on this train once more. In this moment, he’s 14 again. The hills roll by and if he closes his eyes, imagines just hard enough, he can still hear the clamouring and giggling that used to belong here. The train is empty, save for Remus, a special trip just for him. In the worst way, this is all too familiar. Like the trunk remembers the axe, Remus can’t help but feel he is gently travelling towards a terrible thing.

“A minute from home but I feel so far from it.”

Remus had lived in London for so long that the Welsh had been bleached out of his accent. Hope and Lyall were long gone, finally resting. And Remus was alone. Home had always been where his heart had lived. Never Wales though, never a place, always a person. Cariad. Cariad. Cariad. With every beat of his heart, Remus knows where home is. He thinks of James and Lily and Harry. He thinks of a home that once belonged to them.

“The death of my dog, the stretch of my skin.”

He thinks of a home that belongs to him, of a basement with a torn up mattress and a master bedroom with a leather jacket hanging on the back of the chair. Remus could never understand how people could one day lock a door and never open it again. Until he did. Slowly, the cottage grew to be too much, bore a weight so goddamn heavy that Remus shouldered it all. That house held the three people he loved, “love” his mind corrects him. He wonders whether in 11 years of solitude, that house too, would be reluctant to see him again.

“It's all washin' over me, I'm angry again.”

In a way, only Remus could understand why James and Lily had to die. Unfortunately, there is always a greater good. There is always someone, ‘something’ his mind hisses, greater than him. The rage is dormant now. The war is over. Remus knows loss incredibly well, walks hand in hand with her most days. Instinctively, he tightens his grip on his thigh. It serves as a reminder. You survived the war. You lost everyone you love. You are real. You are neither punished nor the punisher. Not anymore.

“The things that I lost here, the people I knew.”

Remus takes a walk along the length of the train. Nostalgia’s sake and all that. The open compartment doors rattle gently and the seats are vacant. For some reason, Remus half expected to run into a brick wall at King’s Cross. He doesn’t know how to exist in this space again, how to walk the halls of the castle without feeling like a ghost instead. Mostly, Remus doesn’t know how he could look into James’ faces and Lily’s eyes again, and see them on someone else.

“They got me surrounded for a mile or two.”

Logically, he knows “No.” is as good an answer as any. He made sure that there were no more favours, no more secrets. Remus knows that from 11, the castle cared for him. He also knows that care and respect go hand in hand. He has no debt to the castle but he does have duty to fulfil. For every man who obeys his duty, there is another who cannot. A prison cell briefly flashes in his mind, then a cupboard under stairs, then a set of silver handcuffs.

“The car's in reverse, I'm grippin' the wheel.”

The train shudders and stops. The sky is dark. Remus’ eyes are closed. He inhales deeply and lets muscle memory take over. His steps now echo down the empty train carriages. He is just as tall as the last time he stood here. This time, he leaves behind four giggling boys. He leaves behind the weight of a head in his lap. The image is superimposed into his eyelids. Remus hopes that everything that ever existed still exists in moments, even though we don’t get them back. The doors slide open and he steps onto the platform.

“I'm back between villages and everything's still.”

For the second time in his life, Remus John Lupin has the sudden and crashing realisation that he is totally and utterly alone.

[earthling-wolf]

Ni Translocality

Ni is a function that expands the registration of an object to include its temporal totality (Pi), which is the larger episode or theme to which it belongs. It then associates this episode to all historical instances of episodes that are isomorphic to it (N), transforming the definition of the object into a thematic story that is disconnected from any particular place or time. The object is then understood as something transcending the present, as something translocal, and not following a linear, chronological path from the past while still being temporal.

Metaphors & Visual Aphorisms

The Ni function compels the individual to live a slowly paced, hands-off life of observation and reflection on the information structures of the world. First, they are data synthesizers that formulate image-encoded schemas from unconsciously woven patterns in reality. The Ni user will be very graphic in their consciousness, thinking in visuals and representing the world through visual metaphors. These dynamic but geometric relationships are registered as essential to reality's functioning and are eventually superimposed onto other life domains in a proverbial form. "A tree's branches can only grow as far up as its roots go down," "flowing water never goes stale," or "every light casts a shadow" are examples of the graphical aphorisms that may develop from this information synthesizing process. For the Ni user, the world is not comprehended through words or axioms; it is through these visual relationships that words help convey to others. Due to the abundance of symmetry observed in life, these relations are often symmetrical --as embodied in concepts like the Taoist yin-yang symbol. An elaborate worldview is inescapably developed predicated on these abstracted relationships, aimed to give life predictability and continuity of narrative. The Ni user never sees the world straightforwardly, as reality is formed from representative structures --not rational absolutes. To the Ni user, knowledge is the net awareness gained by superimposing layers of these representations on reality and mapping its landscape as far and wide as possible.

The Mind & Panpsychism

Moreover, because they view reality as representation, the Ni user will constantly experience life as a perceptual sphere built from the interactions of mind and material. The world appears as a tapestry woven together by higher forces that underpin every object and substance – causing the objects to feel like the outer shells or totems of fundamental forces. Moreover, a sense will often exist – as explored in phenomenology – that consciousness is the essential thing. In some form or another, the Ni user will come to embody the philosophy that the psyche has a degree of priority over the material. One way to imagine this is to say the world constellates itself to the Ni user as being built equally of "psyche" and of matter. Still, every Ni user will synthesize this felt sense in slightly different ways, with some believing that consciousness is the prime constituent of reality and others feeling we are co-creators of reality by our active participation in how it appears to us and how we ascribe meaning to the contents within it, which can lead magnetically to a type of panpsychism, where the Ni user views the contents of the mind seriously as entities, forces, energies and contours as perceivable as literal objects are to other people. These psychological images and forces will not only be present but will also be persistent. To them, the psyche has a steady yet fluid shape, an image, and a terrain to be explored through vision and internal perception. Moreover, while other types may arrive at similar philosophies through rationality, for the Ni user, this sensation is not something deduced but simply uncovered, as it represents the default state of their experience. This proclivity naturally leads to an interest in meditation, eastern thought, and spirituality, which emphasizes these same psychic aspects and presents a philosophy of consciousness more natively aligned to their phenomenological experience.

Narrowness & Convergence

However, for all their openness towards surreal ideas about consciousness, the Ni user is not random or unstructured in their views. They are scarcely persuaded of most things and are instead highly cautious of ideas. The Ni user will have a keen eye for identifying the improbability of things and will not be prone to jump on board with things unless their inner imagery already maps out an inescapable trajectory in that direction. The Ni user is not an inciter or generator of novel things, nor is their specialty a spontaneous creativity. Instead, it is the holistic assimilation of trends over time and a convergence of perspectives along the most reinforced trendlines. They generally see only one or a few trajectories stemming from a given situation and are magnetically drawn to the likeliest interpretations. Thus, the ideas the Ni user arrives at are not things they create but things they discover to be already "the case," often sourcing from an inside-out evaluation of being but just as well from a panoramic evaluation of society. In this way, the Ni user is a sort of investigator or excavator of the primordial imagery in themselves and society. More than any other type, the Ni user receives a linear and direct feed of the imagery of the unconscious, and because of this convergence of focus, many Ni users across time continue to re-discover and re-articulate the same things as they unearth the same territory. As Ni users from all ages inquire into questions of being, their convergent intuition guides them to parallel answers and to convey those understandings in imagery --since image is the primary means by which that information is discovered and encoded. A canonical historical archive, therefore, has developed over time in the form of symbology, the encrypted patterns and representative structures that underpin reality, as collectively uncovered over time.

Symbology

In this sense, the Ni user may often find camaraderie in the symbology laid down by previous pioneers for its capacity to articulate that felt inner content. Strange as it may seem to others to believe or seriously consider such archaic and outdated emblems, the Ni user is drawn to these old images like the Si user is drawn to information encoded in the old earth. The Ni user may not wish to be a mystic and, when not fully individuated, may shrink away from this imagery for fear of academic reprimand. Still, they may feel that their awareness style drafts them inescapably into these ideas. They emerge out of themselves when any intense investigation is done or even when no investigation is done. The realm of alchemical symbolism, the Tarot, ayurvedic medicine, and Astrology may be studied intently for their capacity to superimpose a representation of life. Shapes also contain a powerful influence over them, and they may be drawn to sacred geometry and mandalas. Numerology may also be investigated. Over time, by studying these emblems to discover their true meanings, they are slowly transformed into the likeness of those who built them. As they unearth the contents of this domain, they often become affiliated with the taxonomies used by their predecessors to try to express this underworld. However, their dabbling in these ideas may earn them a reputation as a mystic and confuse family and friends who may not understand the significance of such concepts.

Archetypes & Stereotypes

These observations form a vast archive of typicalities as the Ni user matures into their worldview. Each pattern of life is epitomized in the psyche as a general rule or process, which leads quite inescapably to the formation of stereotypes at the local level and archetypes at the universal level --both of which are used to map reality by providing a sense of predictability. In the positive sense, this stereotyping tendency makes life an iconic series of interactions between previously indexed forces and entities. The Ni user will overlay their schema onto the world and see iterations of the same substances everywhere. From this vantage point, certain social or political interactions will appear to them as clockwork, a series of eventualities stemming from two or more colliding forces. The interactions in a neighborhood may be seen through the same light, as categories are applied to each class of person, and their collisions cause transformations through a sort of necessary chemistry. However, as often captured by the negative sense of the word stereotype, this can lead to errors in perception where a pattern or schema is superimposed over a situation too prematurely. A person is anticipated to be a given way due to the symbol they represent while turning out to be quite different. Moreover, at the archetypal level, the same simplification may occur where the Ni user reduces the global situation as something emergent from a conflict between the light and dark, the masculine and feminine, an interaction of four or five elements or some other schema which neglects certain subtleties and details, which may be infuriating to those who live with the Ni user as they may feel the Ni user is oversimplifying them, or worse that they are pigeonholing people into their categories --whether of culture, class, race or gender. Many may scoff at the Ni user for depending on what they feel are outdated prejudices and not seeing things at the individual level. However, the Ni user cannot ignore what larger pattern someone or something generally belongs to and will tend to incidentally synthesize life from that lens without any actual investment or commitment to any dogma or belief system.

Synchronicity & Parapsychology

Another effect often emerging from the Ni function is a belief in synchronicity. Because of how Ni registers life through a delicate tracking of "significance" --not by the rigidity of causal chains-- the Ni user will instinctively see the value in data associations that converge in theme and motif, even when the cause is unknown. As is often the case for both intuitive processes, the pattern is recognized first without needing to have the sensory points explicitly traced, and neither does the absence of a sequential explanation make the information alignments vanish. Moreover, when Ni is especially strong, seemingly disconnected layers of existence are woven together through an entangled point, compelling many Ni users to contend with the possible existence of the acausal. Certain events or datasets may be felt as crossing different planes of reality and inexorably related even when a surface examination would see no trace between them. They may be struck by compelling evidence for the existence of extra-sensory perception or remote viewing, which allows us to see through the eyes of others or predict their thoughts. For some, relationships may be intuited to exist between oneself and previous lives. Areas of the body may be associated with certain psychic energies through emotional tapping, chakras, iridology, or palmistry. Certain recurring numbers may be felt as omens of blessings or catastrophes. If these intimations persist, they can become highly suspicious and feel that certain events will shortly happen when a given number, detail, or sign suggests a strong karmic force is at play.

-Behaviors Under Stress

Conspiracy Theories

When the Ni user falls out of mental health, their suspicions degrade further into superstitions, death omens, and a persistent state of anxiety. Life becomes chaotic and unpredictable. The world will feel utterly uncertain to them, and they will be unable to see the cause of their suffering or that of society. As they struggle to intuit their situation through perceptual projection, the misfortunes they experience are not interpreted as localized occurrences but are instead epitomized as emerging from some extra-personal force looming over all things. They will start to perceive a woven network of intentions behind everything, pulling the strings of society at large. Here, we see the Ni user fabricate conspiracy theories: extraterrestrial hypotheses, occult government sects, the imminent rise of a new world order, and the like. A sense exists that something unseen is making all this happen, and for once, the Ni user loses their non-committal nature and becomes utterly fixated on certain interpretations of life, which will cause them great difficulty in their daily lives as the Ni user may be quickly ostracized from society for their bizarre premonitions. More than a few distressed Ni users throughout history have been branded as local lunatics, eventually growing morose and resentful for what they feel is the lack of foresight and idiocy of the common person.

Apocalyptic Visions

A different effect we often see in a distressed Ni user is a series of apocalyptic visions. They may experience nightmares, either when asleep or awake, vividly depicting scenes of war, destroyed buildings, massacres, and the end of civilization. Moreover, the Ni user may experience these sudden flashes with the same level of physicality with which they experience their waking life --making it difficult to discredit them as illusions. Here, we see an unconscious projection and intrusion of their polar sensory function into their mind, causing literal sensations to trigger their nervous system without an actual cause. The relationship between intuition and sensation is a two-way street, where one can seep into the other unbidden when excessive repression is at its breaking point --allowing their intuitions to unconsciously fabricate sensory experiences that are patterned after their thematic convergence. These unsettling images may cause them to feel that their visions are pending actualities. A memento mori will settle over them. Society is on the brink of collapse; everything is headed in the worst direction, and anything short of immediate correction will lead to an irreparable catastrophe.

[kinjedl]

If you're cool with it I wanted to ask you something about the rpf poll. Feel totally free to ignore this though if you don't want to answer.

You said it was fine in your eyes because people are essentially writing about the persona the celebrity creates, not about their intimate innermost self. But then what do you think of explicit/shippy rpf? Romance seems inherently like it is going to be intimate and someone writing it is presumably going to try and capture what they think the celebrity's true self is.

Again really not trying to start an argument! Just curious as to your thoughts. In general I think I somewhat agree with you. Rpf like the Goncharov thing is fine in my eyes its just a fake movie, something all the people "involved" make publically. But I find the porn (both written and drawn frankly) of celebrities kinda creepy personally.

Totally cool with it! No way to figure out how you feel about a topic without talking through it.

My take on explicit RPF is: It's pretty skeezy, but also I *get* it.

On the one hand, humans are going to make up fantasies about real people. That predates parasocial relationships, because it predates the internet, and also the written word. (source: Trust me, bro).

On the other hand, I mentioned in my response to the RPF poll that I thought that it could lead to inappropriately parasocial relationships, and I think that the more intimately you depict a real person in fiction - whether that takes the form of sexual intimacy or some other form of intimacy - the more you're going to tend towards developing a parasocial relationship with that person in a way that is probably not healthy.

I personally think that written porn featuring real people is pretty cringe, and that's saying something from someone who has published a work of erotic fiction. I have no problem with written porn at all, and am (obviously) actually quite in favor of it, but all of the characters in my works come from the inside of my own head. I invented them, and I'm not trying to overlay them onto my mental image of anyone else. I'm also extremely aware of the fact that these aren't real people, and I am not in any kind of relationship with them, because they don't exist.

If you write about real people, those are both much harder to keep in mind.

If you want to write something about Brennan Lee Mulligan and Aabria Iyengar getting into some kind of a DM v DM faceoff of games because you think that'd be neat to see, I don't really have an issue with that. Their DM personas may or may not be close to their real persons, but you aren't putting yourself in a position where you're actually trying to superimpose anything especially new over your mental model of them as people. You may or may not be any good at it, but trying to extrapolate how they behave as DMs to a new situation is fine, and might be a really good mental exercise to help you learn how to predict the behavior of others better.

If you want to write about one or the other (or both) of them getting intimate with a nameless self-insert, you're committing two sins. The first is that you have no real idea how either of them behaves in an intimate setting, so really you're just makin' shit up. The second is that you're doing it about a real person, and it's really hard to separate out the things that you invent about a real person from the things you've actually seen.

Parasocial relationships are already a real problem - both for the celebrities who are the distant party in them, and for the individuals who are actively participating in a relationship that is really only one way. Doing something to get more involved in that relationship isn't particularly healthy. Humans are social creatures, and parasociality is a poor substitute for real interaction, and the fact that we have increasingly structured society to force people to rely on it in place of genuine human connection is a big problem that will eventually need to get much more attention placed on it.

This has gotten super long, so I'll summarize and wrap up:

I don't think that inventing scenarios involving other people in a sexual situation is inherently a problem - people have been masturbating and thinking "man, it would be so sexy if <he/she/they/that> put their mouth on my genitals" for millennia uncounted and human society hasn't collapsed as a result.

I do think that it's a problem if you take that to an extreme, to the point where a part of your brain becomes convinced that the relationship you've developed in your head is actually real, whether it's in the context of parasocial celebrity relationships or any others. It's the kind of thing that led to the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan (for all the wrong reasons), and should absolutely be avoided.

It can be really hard to tell how far is too far, though, either from the inside or the outside, and it's probably mentally safer to just steer away from such a risky behavior unless you have a really solid grasp on your own social situation and mental health.

[x-v4mp3y3lin3r-x]

I would love it if more experienced alternative people would teach young ones what the iron cross is, how to identify it in comparison to other kinds of similar looking crosses, and the very complicated history of the iron cross in the U.S, instead of just telling them "iron cross bad" and then letting them make their own assumptions.

even the adl (hate symbols database) mentions that it's not a good lone identifier of nazis because it has been so heavily used for other things. bikers wear it, it's used in sports fashions, heavy metal subcultures, and in the 2000s it became really popular in emo spaces (adopted from bikers and metal)

"In the United States, however, the Iron Cross also became one of several Nazi-era symbols adopted by outlaw bikers, more to signify rebellion or to shock than for any white supremacist ideology. By the early 2000s, this other use of the Iron Cross had spread from bikers to skateboarders and many extreme sports enthusiasts and became part of the logo of several different companies producing equipment and clothing for this audience. Consequently, the use of the Iron Cross in a non-racist context has greatly proliferated in the United States, to the point that an Iron Cross in isolation (i.e., without a superimposed swastika or without other accompanying hate symbols) cannot be determined to be a hate symbol. Care must therefore be used to correctly interpret this symbol in whatever context in which it may be found."

nowadays it's very unlikely that the iron cross by itself is an indication that someone is a neo-nazi. a lot of neo-nazis modernly use THE nazi version of the iron cross with the swastika superimposed onto it, because the iron cross itself is not a strong enough dogwhistle. (I won't add any of the images here because I don't want them on my blog, but there's several examples on the adl's site that's linked above.)

Here's some images of various crosses, including one of the "schwarzkreuz" aka the black cross, a variation of the iron cross. Both were symbols of the German military before the nazis added the swastika and started using it for themselves. The German army still uses that symbol to this day. Also shown above is the Celtic cross or "sun cross" which the adl also specifies is not a good lone identifier of a neo-nazi.

I'm not saying that Jewish people shouldn't be suspicious, you should always err on the side of caution. But I don't think we're doing young people any favors by refusing to teach them how to discern actual neo-nazis. (Especially if the excuse is "well they should just know.") It's not enough to simply vaguely know about extremist symbols, if you intend to be able to identify them on the spot. You also have to be able to differentiate them from other similar symbols from the cultures/religions they were appropriated from, and be able to use context clues to identify if the person is actually an extremist.

[mariacallous]

April 10 was a very bad day in the life of celebrity gamer and YouTuber Atrioc (Brandon Ewing). Ewing was broadcasting one of his usual Twitch livestreams when his browser window was accidentally exposed to his audience. During those few moments, viewers were suddenly face-to-face with what appeared to be deepfake porn videos featuring female YouTubers and gamers QTCinderella and Pokimane—colleagues and, to my understanding, Ewing’s friends. Moments later, a quick-witted viewer uploaded a screenshot of the scene to Reddit, and thus the scandal was a fact. 

Deepfakes refer broadly to media doctored by AI, commonly to superimpose a person’s face onto that of, say, an actor in a movie or video clip. But sadly, as reported by Vice journalist Samantha Cole, its primary function has been to create porn starring female celebrities, and perhaps more alarmingly, to visualize sexual fantasies of friends or acquaintances. Given its increasing sophistication and availability, anyone with a picture of your face now can basically turn it into a porno. “We are all fucked,” as Cole concisely puts it. 

For most people, I believe, it is obvious that Ewing committed some kind of misconduct in consuming the fictive yet nonconsensual pornography of his friends. Indeed, the comments on Reddit, and the strong (justified) reactions from the women whose faces were used in the clips, testify to a deep sense of disgust. This is understandable, yet specifying exactly where the crime lies is a surprisingly difficult undertaking. In fact, the task of doing so brings to the fore a philosophical problem that forces us to reconsider not only porn, but the very nature of human imagination. I call it the pervert’s dilemma. 

On the one hand, one may argue that by consuming the material, Ewing was incentivizing its production and dissemination, which, in the end, may harm the reputation and well-being of his fellow female gamers. But I doubt that the verdict in the eyes of the public would have been much softer had he produced the videos by his own hand for personal pleasure. And few people see his failure to close the tab as the main problem. The crime, that is, appears to lie in the very consumption of the deepfakes, not the downstream effects of doing so. Consuming deepfakes is wrong, full stop, irrespective of whether the people “starring” in the clips, or anyone else, find out about it. 

At the same time, we are equally certain that sexual fantasies are morally neutral. Indeed, no one (except perhaps some hard-core Catholics) would have blamed Ewing for creating pornographic pictures of QTCinderella in his mind. But what is the difference, really? Both the fantasy and the deepfake are essentially virtual images produced by previous data input, only one exists in one’s head, the other on a screen. True, the latter can more easily be shared, but if the crime lies in the personal consumption, and not the external effects, this should be irrelevant. Hence the pervert’s dilemma: We think sexual fantasies are fine as long as they are only ever generated and contained in a person’s head, and abhorrent the moment they exist in the brain with the aid of somewhat realistic representation—yet we struggle to identify any morally relevant distinction to justify this assessment.

In the long run, it is likely that this will force us to reevaluate our moral attitudes to both deepfakes and sexual fantasies, at least insofar as we want to maintain consistency in our morality. There are two obvious ways in which this could go.

The first is that we simply begin to accept pornographic deepfakes as a normal way of fantasizing about sex, only that we outsource some of the work that used to happen in the brain to a machine. Considering the massive supply of (sometimes stunningly realistic) pornographic deepfakes and the ease with which they can be customized for one’s own preferences (how long before there is a DALL-E for porn?), this may be a plausible outcome. Knowing that people probably use your photos to create fictive porn may assume the same status as knowing that some people probably think of you (or look at your most recent Instagram selfie) when they masturbate—not a huge deal unless they tell it to your face. At the very least, we can imagine the production of deepfakes assuming the same status as drawing a highly realistic picture of one’s sexual fantasy—weird, but not morally abhorrent. 

The second, and arguably more interesting option, is that we begin to question the moral neutrality of sexual fantasies all together. Thinking about sex was, for a long time, considered deeply sinful in Christian Europe, and has continued to be a stigma for some. It was only after the Enlightenment that whatever goes on in a person’s mind became a “private matter” beyond moral evaluation. But this is definitely an exception, historically speaking. And to some extent, we still moralize over people’s fantasies. For instance, several ethicists (and many other people I reckon), hold that sexual fantasies involving children or brutal violence are morally objectionable. 

But deepfakes may give us reason to go even further, to question dirty thoughts as a general category. Since the advent of the internet, we’ve been forming a new attitude to the moral status of our personal data. Indeed, most Westerners today take it for granted that one should be in full control over information pertaining to one’s person. But wouldn’t this, strictly interpreted, also include data stored in other people’s heads? Wouldn’t it grant me a level of control over other people’s imagination?  The idea is not as wild as it first appears. Consider the Friends episode “The one with a chick and a duck,” in which Ross teases Rachel by picturing her naked against her will, claiming that it is one of the “uh, rights of the ex-boyfriend, huh?” Rachel repeatedly begs him to stop, but Ross merely responds by closing his eyes saying, “Wait, wait, now there’s 100 of you, and I’m the king.” The joke is portrayed as completely uncontroversial, with added audience laughter and all. But now, some two decades later, doesn’t it leave you with a rather bitter taste in your mouth? Indeed, in the age of information, the moral neutrality of the mind seems to be increasingly under siege. Perhaps, in another 20 years, the thought that I can do whatever I want to whomever I want in my head may strike people as morally disgusting too.

We are probably going to see some of both scenarios. There will be calls to moralize over people’s imagination. And people will probably react with less and less shock when learning about the deepfake phenomenon, even when it happens to themselves. Just compare the media coverage of deepfake porn today with that of two years ago. The (legitimate) moral panic that characterized the initial reports has almost completely vanished, despite the galloping technological development that has taken place in the meanwhile. Yet, we will probably not arrive at any moral consensus regarding deepfakes anytime soon. Indeed, it has taken us thousands of years to learn to live with human imagination, and the arrival of deepfakes puts most of those cultural protocols on their heads.

So, which of the options are preferable from the viewpoint of moral philosophy? There is no simple answer. This is in part because both options make sense, or at least have the potential to make sense (otherwise there wouldn’t be any dilemma to begin with). But it is also due to the very nature of moral judgements. Moral truths cannot be stated once and for all. On the contrary, we need to begin every day by asking them anew.

Think of it like this: We know how many electrons are in a hydrogen atom, and so we never need to ask that question again. Questions like “Who should we be?”, “What is a good human life?”, or “Can we blame people for their fantasies?”, on the other hand, are questions that need to be asked again and again by every generation. This is because moral philosophy is an activity that dies the moment we stop doing it. For our moral lifeworlds to make sense, we must consciously reevaluate them, because this activity is always dependent on the social, technological, and cultural contexts in which it takes place. So, the moment we arrive at a definitive answer to the question of which option is preferable from the standpoint of moral philosophy, moral philosophy ceases to be.

Where does all this put us in relation to Ewing, Pokimane, and QTCinderella? There is no doubt that the feelings of shame and humiliation expressed by the targets of the videos are real. And I personally do not find any reason to question the authenticity of the shame and regret expressed by Ewing. But our moral sensemaking of the situation is a different matter. And we should be open to the fact that, in 20 years, we may think very differently about these things. It all depends on how we continue to build and reevaluate our moral lifeworlds. A good first step is taking a step back and reconsidering what exactly it is we find objectionable about deepfakes. 

I think the best place to start is to assess the social context in which deepfakes are used, and compare this to the context around sexual fantasies. Today, it is clear that deepfakes, unlike sexual fantasies, are part of a systemic technological degrading of women that is highly gendered (almost all pornographic deepfakes involve women). And the moral implications of this system are larger than the sum of its parts (the individual acts of consumption). Fantasies, on the other hand, are not gendered—at least we have no reliable evidence of men engaging more with sexual imagination than women do—and while the content of individual fantasies may be misogynist, the category is not so in and of itself. The immoral aspect of Ewing’s actions therefore lies not primarily in the damage it caused to the individuals portrayed, but in the partaking of a technically-supported systemic degrading of women, a system that amounts to something more than the sum of its parts.

While this is the beginning of an answer, it is not the answer. How the technology is used and fitted into our social and cultural protocols will continue to change. What Ewing did wrong cannot be answered once and for all. For tomorrow, we will need to ask again. 

[alterboyx]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-garnier-apologises-after-girly-care-packages-sent-to-female-idf-soldiers-sparks-threats-to-boycott-company-9658876.html

The products were donated specifically from Garnier Israel, and the broader company has issued a statement saying they were not involved and do not get into political controversies.

Official statement from head of communications:

"Garnier USA is aware of recent activity in social media. It is very important to us that our fans know that Garnier worldwide promotes peace and harmony and has a strict policy of not getting involved in any conflict or political matter. Garnier was astonished to discover this in social media.

After investigation, the hand-out of about 500 products appeared to be part of a onetime local retailer initiative. Garnier disapproves of this initiative managed strictly at local level and is very sorry to have offended some of its fans."

This was given in response to the many cries for boycott. In response, some Israelis are now calling for boycott over them refusing to stand with them lmao.

Israel knows they are not winning the popular vote and are desperately scrambling to try to appear well-supported and still “the heroes”.

There is at least one other attempt to impose brand backing of the IDF with Ariel’s washing powder from Proctor and Gamble. The company’s logo was falsely superimposed on a video of civilians washing clothing for the soldiers. P & G has not made an official statement on the matter, but the video has been identified as edited to superimpose the brand name of.

The video is also labeled with “Stand With Us”, which just so happens to be the name of the pro-Israeli group Stamd With Us, who was the SAME GROUP THAT POSTED THE ORIGINAL CLAIM OF BEING BACKED BY GARNIER AND GIVING THEM A SHOUTOUT.

I think it is absolutely possible that a business might back off support after threats of a boycott even if they initially did intend to show support, but there may be a pattern forming here of the Stand With Is group trying to force association and apparent support from brands. All this while even the US is starting to hesitate in their support. They know the world has caught onto their bullshit, and they might be trying to force an image of support from brands as a capitalistic ally.

If you know more about the group or the situation, please add it!

Palestinians don’t have basic humanitarian supplies. No food or clean water and the Israeli army is given luxuries. 

Never buy Garnier. Filth.

[@selintifada]

[innertragedywerewolf]

Digital Makeovers Revealed: The Rise of Deepface and PTool in Creative Expression

In the realm of digital imagery, the boundaries of creativity are continually pushed, and the latest frontier is the fascinating world of face swapping. Have you ever wondered how seamlessly a friend's face can be superimposed onto another's in a photo? Enter Deepface technology and PTool, two powerhouses that are converting the way we participate with personalized media.

Let's take a moment to consider the process. Imagine you have a photograph with someone's face that you'd like to swap with another. It's not just about the technical feat; it's the artistic transformation that makes the experience thrilling. PTool, for instance, is a specialized software that allows users to replace faces with incredible precision. This is where the magic happens, where a simple click can transport you into an alternative reality where faces blend and swap like never before.

But what is it about Deepface that sets it apart in this digital renaissance? Deepface refers to the advanced algorithms designed to analyze and understand facial features with depth. It can detect the nuances of a person's face, capturing the smallest details that make us unique. This technology doesn't just change faces; it respects the integrity of each visage, ensuring the swaps are smooth and convincing.

Now, picture this: you're scrolling through social media, and you come across a picture-perfect moment you wish you were a part of. With PTool, you can become a part of that memory, swapping faces with one of the subjects in the photo. It's an innovative way to interact with digital content, blurring the lines between reality and virtual experiences.

The beauty of tools like PTool is their accessibility. They are not just for professionals. Anybody with a passion for digital art can control their power. Have you ever tried using such a tool? If not, consider the endless possibilities it opens up. From fun family swaps to creative projects, the applications are limited only by one's imagination.

However, with great power comes the need for responsibility. The use of face-swapping technology must be approached with caution. It's essential to ensure that any images used are allowed to be manipulated. This is where the NSFW mode in tools like PPnude AI Face Swap comes into play. It's a feature that reminds us to respect boundaries and privacy while indulging in creative expression.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. What makes Deepface and PTool truly revolutionary is their ability to democratize digital creativity. They allow us to play with identity and self-representation in a way that was once the stuff of science fiction. This democratization is not just a trend; it's a cultural change that enables users to craft their narratives in a digital space.

Consider the implications for social media engagement. We live in an era where personal branding is paramount, and the ability to present oneself in new contexts is invaluable. Deepface technology combined with tools like PTool offers users the chance to reinvent their online personas, to tell their stories in vivid, engaging ways that captivate their audience.

Finally, the convergence of Deepface technology and tools like PTool marks an exciting era in digital media. It's a playground for creativity, a canvas where we can redefine our digital identities. As we embrace these advancements, let's remember to use them wisely, respecting the boundaries of privacy and ethical use. The digital world is a space for innovation, and with the right tools, the limit is truly our imagination.

[advertflairr]

Experience the Future of Shopping with Virtual Try-On

The shopping experience has been revolutionized by advancements in technology, and one of the most exciting innovations is virtual try-on. This cutting-edge tool allows shoppers to visualize how products, such as clothing, accessories, and even cosmetics, will look on them before making a purchase. Virtual try-on technology provides a seamless and interactive way for customers to explore various styles, all from the comfort of their homes, making online shopping more personalized and engaging than ever before.

How Virtual Try-On Works

Virtual try-on uses augmented reality (AR) to superimpose digital versions of products onto real-time images or videos of the shopper. Through a smartphone, tablet, or computer, customers can activate the feature, select the item they want to try on, and see a live visual of how it fits or looks on them. This tool allows for quick adjustments, enabling users to experiment with different colors, sizes, and styles without physically handling the product.

The Benefits of Virtual Try-On for Shoppers

Convenience: Virtual try-on eliminates the need for physical store visits, allowing customers to experiment with different products from anywhere, at any time. This makes shopping quicker, easier, and more flexible, especially for those with busy schedules.

Confidence in Purchases: One of the main barriers to online shopping is uncertainty about how items will look in real life. Virtual try-on solves this issue by providing an accurate representation of how the product will appear on the shopper, reducing hesitation and increasing purchase confidence.

Reduced Returns: With virtual try-on, customers can make more informed decisions about fit, style, and appearance, leading to fewer returns due to dissatisfaction. This benefits both consumers and businesses by saving time and resources.

Personalization: Virtual try-on offers a customized shopping experience, allowing customers to tailor products to their individual preferences. Whether it’s selecting the right shade of lipstick or finding the perfect pair of shoes, this technology helps users discover products that truly suit their style.

Industries Embracing Virtual Try-On

While fashion and beauty brands were early adopters of virtual try-on technology, the tool has expanded across various industries. Eyewear companies, for instance, use virtual try-on to help customers find the ideal pair of glasses or sunglasses. Jewelry retailers are also embracing this technology, allowing customers to visualize how rings, necklaces, and other accessories will look on them before making a purchase. Even the home décor sector is utilizing virtual try-on for furniture and interior design elements, giving customers the chance to see how items fit within their space.

Conclusion

Virtual try-on is shaping the future of shopping by offering convenience, personalization, and a more immersive experience for consumers. As this technology continues to evolve, it’s becoming an essential tool for brands looking to enhance their online shopping platforms. At Advertflair, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge virtual try-on solutions that help businesses engage customers and offer a more dynamic, satisfying shopping experience.

[sloshed-cinema]

One from the Heart (1982)

I don’t think I’m even going to bother touching on the trash fire of the plot itself for this movie. Francis Ford Coppola clearly wanted to look at a bunch of tits while propping up some wet blanket of a man who doesn’t deserve shit. Hank is manipulative trash and will offend again and again. Justice for Ray!

No, far more “interesting” is just how comprehensively terrible all of the technical decisions are. Sure, the camera is really going for it, juxtaposing these two ordinary people’s lives against one another in a heightened sense using every practical trick in the book. Except Dracula does it so much better within Coppola’s oeuvre. The production design and general aesthetic of the film falls in the exact worst point between the Brechtian nightmare of Dogville and whatever the fuck Baz Luhrmann is smoking any time he makes a movie. This feels like a community theatre workshop for Moulin Rouge! transposed to the American city of sin. It simply reeks of intentional choices, silhouettes superimposed over one another, match cuts intricately designed and executed. From even the first images, this is a Freudian landscape where the Nevada mountains become a bunch of tits, and a one-night stand in the desert is replete with tightrope walks and singing cars. Artifice of itself isn’t bad, and is a core of excellent moviemaking. But this isn’t that. The Red Shoes’ ballet sequence is an absolute masterpiece, leaning into the aesthetic of the stage to crystallize all of the drama of that film and render it in a theatrical light. But when we look at the nothing characters of Frannie and Hank, one of them an underwritten empty vessel and the other a reprehensible sack of shit, when we see them put onto conspicuously vacant streets of their fake suburb, it’s just nothingness on top of nothingness on top of Vegas showmanship, haunted by relentless torch-song crooning that tortures the ear with its on-the-nose lyricism. In the lead-up to whatever will come of Megalopolis, it’s important to remember that Coppola can also make simply aggressively mediocre movies, too.

If only this had taken place in a post-9/11 world, then Hank wouldn’t be able to harass Frannie on the airplane boarding ramp.

THE RULES

SIP

Someone says 'Bora-Bora'.

Awkward singing begins.

NYC iconography in a scene.

BIG DRINK

Someone is in tighty whities

Nastassja Kinski balances on something.

Both of our central couple share a double-exposure or split frame.

[metaverseconsul]

The Future of Bling: Metaverse Jewelry Shopping

The digital realm continues to evolve, blurring the lines between our physical and virtual lives. One of the latest and most captivating trends is metaverse jewelry shopping. This innovative approach to purchasing and experiencing jewelry is reshaping the industry, offering immersive and interactive experiences unlike any other. Let's dive into the fascinating world of metaverse jewelry shopping and explore its potential.

A New Era: Metaverse Jewelry Shopping Development Services

The metaverse, a collective virtual shared space, is revolutionizing how we interact with various industries, including jewelry. Metaverse jewelry shopping development services are at the forefront of this change, creating platforms and tools that enable users to explore, try on, and purchase jewelry in a fully digital environment. These services are crucial in bridging the gap between traditional jewelry shopping and the futuristic metaverse experience.

What Are Metaverse Jewelry Shopping Development Services?

These services encompass the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platforms, digital storefronts, and interactive experiences tailored for the jewelry market. Developers and designers work together to create lifelike 3D models of jewelry, ensuring that every detail, from the sparkle of a diamond to the texture of a band, is accurately represented. Users can navigate virtual jewelry stores, interact with pieces in real-time, and even see how they look wearing them using AR technology.

The Role of Metaproalne in Metaverse Jewelry Shopping

Metaproalne, a concept that combines "meta" (beyond) and "proalne" (from the Latin 'pro', meaning "before" or "forward"), signifies the forward-thinking and progressive nature of metaverse jewelry shopping. This term embodies the essence of innovation that drives the development of these virtual shopping experiences. Metaproalne focuses on creating a seamless integration of virtual and physical realities, enhancing the user's shopping journey and offering unprecedented convenience and customization.

Immersive Experiences: How Metaverse Product Enhances Jewelry Shopping

A significant advantage of metaverse jewelry shopping is the ability to offer highly immersive experiences. The development of metaverse products specifically designed for jewelry shopping has opened up new possibilities for both consumers and retailers.

Virtual Try-Ons: A Game Changer

One of the standout features of metaverse jewelry shopping is the virtual try-on. Using AR technology, consumers can see how a piece of jewelry looks on them without physically trying it on. This technology uses a device's camera to superimpose a digital image of the jewelry onto the user, providing a realistic preview. This feature not only enhances the shopping experience but also reduces the need for physical inventory, benefiting both retailers and customers.

Personalized Shopping Experience

Metaverse products also allow for highly personalized shopping experiences. Users can customize their jewelry in real-time, changing elements such as gemstones, metals, and designs. This level of customization ensures that each piece is unique and tailored to the buyer's preferences. Additionally, the integration of AI can offer personalized recommendations based on the user's style and previous purchases, making the shopping experience more intuitive and enjoyable.

The Technology Behind Metaverse Jewelry Shopping

The successful implementation of metaverse jewelry shopping hinges on advanced technologies that create realistic and interactive experiences. Let's explore some of the key technologies driving this innovation.

Advanced 3D Modeling and Rendering

Creating lifelike 3D models of jewelry is essential for a convincing virtual shopping experience. Advanced 3D modeling and rendering techniques ensure that every detail of a jewelry piece is captured, from the shine of a gemstone to the intricate patterns of a band. These models are then integrated into the virtual environment, allowing users to interact with them as if they were real.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

VR and AR are the cornerstones of metaverse jewelry shopping. VR provides a fully immersive environment where users can explore virtual jewelry stores, attend virtual fashion shows, or even meet with jewelry designers. AR, on the other hand, overlays digital elements onto the real world, enabling features like virtual try-ons. Together, these technologies create a seamless and engaging shopping experience.

Blockchain and NFTs

Blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are also making their mark on metaverse jewelry shopping. Blockchain ensures the authenticity and provenance of digital jewelry pieces, while NFTs can represent unique digital assets, such as one-of-a-kind virtual jewelry designs. This integration adds a layer of security and exclusivity, attracting collectors and enthusiasts to the virtual marketplace.

Benefits and Challenges of Metaverse Jewelry Shopping

While the metaverse offers numerous benefits for jewelry shopping, it also presents certain challenges. Understanding these can help stakeholders navigate this emerging landscape effectively.

Benefits

Convenience: Shoppers can browse and purchase jewelry from the comfort of their homes, anytime and anywhere.

Immersive Experience: The interactive and engaging nature of the metaverse enhances the shopping experience, making it more enjoyable.

Customization: Users can personalize their jewelry in real-time, ensuring they get exactly what they want.

Sustainability: Reducing the need for physical inventory and transportation can lead to a lower carbon footprint.

Global Reach: Virtual stores can cater to a global audience, breaking down geographical barriers.

Challenges

Technical Limitations: High-quality VR and AR experiences require advanced hardware and software, which may not be accessible to all consumers.

Learning Curve: Some users may find it challenging to navigate and use virtual shopping platforms.

Security Concerns: Protecting user data and ensuring secure transactions in the virtual world is crucial.

Regulatory Issues: The metaverse operates in a relatively unregulated space, posing potential legal and ethical challenges.

Digital Divide: Not everyone has access to the technology required to participate in metaverse shopping, potentially excluding certain demographics.

The Future of Metaverse Jewelry Shopping

As technology continues to advance, the future of metaverse jewelry shopping looks promising. Several trends and developments are likely to shape this space in the coming years.

Integration with Social Media

Social media platforms are expected to play a significant role in the future of metaverse jewelry shopping. Integration with social media will enable users to share their virtual jewelry experiences, seek opinions from friends, and even make purchases directly through these platforms. This social aspect can enhance the overall shopping experience and drive engagement.

Virtual Jewelry Events

Virtual events, such as fashion shows and exhibitions, are likely to become more prevalent in the metaverse. These events can showcase new jewelry collections, provide interactive experiences, and allow users to interact with designers and other attendees. This trend can create a sense of community and excitement around virtual jewelry shopping.

AI and Machine Learning

The integration of AI and machine learning will continue to enhance the personalization and efficiency of metaverse jewelry shopping. AI can analyze user behavior and preferences to offer tailored recommendations, while machine learning can improve the accuracy and realism of virtual try-ons and other interactive features.

Enhanced Realism

As technology progresses, the realism of virtual jewelry experiences will improve. Advanced graphics, haptic feedback, and other innovations will make virtual jewelry indistinguishable from real pieces, further blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds.

Expansion of the Metaverse

The metaverse itself is expected to expand, encompassing more aspects of our daily lives. As this happens, metaverse jewelry shopping will become even more integrated into our routines, offering seamless and convenient access to luxury and fashion.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Jewelry Shopping

Metaverse jewelry shopping is more than just a trend; it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with and purchase luxury items. The development of metaverse jewelry shopping services, coupled with the innovative concept of Metaproalne, is driving this transformation. By leveraging advanced technologies such as 3D modeling, VR, AR, and blockchain, the metaverse offers an immersive, personalized, and convenient shopping experience.

As we look to the future, the possibilities for metaverse jewelry shopping are endless. From virtual try-ons to AI-driven recommendations and virtual events, the digital realm is set to redefine our relationship with jewelry. While challenges remain, the benefits and potential of this innovative approach are undeniable.

Embrace the future of bling, where the sparkle of a diamond meets the limitless potential of the digital universe. Metaverse jewelry shopping is here to stay, promising a world of beauty, convenience, and endless possibilities.

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Say Goodbye to Watermarks: Removing Shutterstock Watermarks

Introduction

Welcome to our guide on saying goodbye to watermarks on Shutterstock images! Watermarks are often a necessary evil, indicating that the image is protected and cannot be used without proper licensing. However, they can be distracting and diminish the visual appeal of the image. In this blog post, we'll explore the various methods to remove Shutterstock watermarks, allowing you to use your desired images without any obtrusive markings. Whether you're a blogger, designer, or content creator, this guide will help you unlock the full potential of Shutterstock's vast image library.

Understanding Shutterstock Watermarks

Before delving into the methods to remove Shutterstock watermarks, it's crucial to understand what they are and why they exist. Watermarks are semi-transparent logos or text superimposed onto an image to prevent unauthorized use or distribution. Shutterstock, one of the leading stock photo websites, employs watermarks as a security measure to protect their copyrighted images. Here are some key points to grasp about Shutterstock watermarks: - Identification: Shutterstock watermarks typically consist of the company's logo or the word "Shutterstock" overlaid on the image. - Placement: Watermarks are strategically placed to cover a significant portion of the image, making it difficult to use without proper licensing. - Transparency: Watermarks are usually semi-transparent, allowing the underlying image to remain visible but making it less usable for commercial purposes. - Copyright Protection: The primary purpose of Shutterstock watermarks is to deter unauthorized usage of images and protect the copyright of contributors. Shutterstock watermarks serve as a visual indicator that the image is only available for preview and cannot be legally used without purchasing a license. They act as a deterrent against unauthorized downloads and distribution, discouraging individuals from using the image without proper permission. It's important to note that attempting to remove watermarks from Shutterstock images without proper authorization is a violation of copyright law and the website's terms of service. However, there are legitimate ways to obtain Shutterstock images for use in your projects, which we'll explore in the following sections. Now that we have a clear understanding of what Shutterstock watermarks are and why they're used, let's explore the various methods available to remove them and access high-quality, watermark-free images for your creative endeavors.

Methods to Remove Shutterstock Watermarks

Removing watermarks from Shutterstock images requires careful consideration to avoid violating copyright laws. Here, we will discuss both legitimate and commonly used methods, ensuring you remain within legal boundaries while accessing high-quality images. 1. Purchasing a License The most straightforward and legal way to obtain a watermark-free image from Shutterstock is to purchase a license. Shutterstock offers various subscription plans and image packs to suit different needs and budgets. Plan Price Details On-Demand Packs Starting at $29 Flexible packs of 5 or 25 images. Annual Subscription Starting at $169/month Access to 350 images per month. Team Subscription Custom Pricing Solutions for businesses and teams. 2. Utilizing Free Trials and Promotions Shutterstock occasionally offers free trials or promotional deals that allow users to download a limited number of images without watermarks. Keep an eye out for these opportunities to access images legally without incurring costs. 3. AI-Powered Image Editing Tools There are advanced AI-powered tools available that claim to remove watermarks from images. However, using these tools can be legally and ethically questionable if done without proper licensing. Some popular tools include: - Inpaint: A user-friendly tool for removing unwanted elements from images. - PhotoStamp Remover: Designed specifically for eliminating watermarks and date stamps. - Adobe Photoshop: With its powerful content-aware fill feature, Photoshop can assist in removing watermarks, but requires significant skill. 4. Manual Editing Techniques If you have the necessary skills and prefer a hands-on approach, manual editing techniques can be highly effective. Here are some methods: - Using the Clone Stamp Tool: Available in software like Adobe Photoshop and GIMP, the Clone Stamp Tool allows you to copy pixels from one part of the image and apply them over the watermark. - Using the Healing Brush Tool: This tool helps blend the cloned area with the surrounding pixels to create a seamless look. - Using the Patch Tool: The Patch Tool lets you select the area around the watermark and replace it with a different part of the image, ensuring a natural look. Manual editing techniques require more time and expertise but can yield excellent results when done correctly. Always ensure you have the right to edit and use the image to avoid legal issues.

Using AI-Powered Image Editing Tools

AI-powered image editing tools have revolutionized the way we manipulate and enhance images, offering advanced features that make it easier to remove watermarks from photos. While using these tools for watermark removal should be done with caution to respect copyright laws, they can be incredibly effective when used appropriately. Here, we will explore some popular AI-powered tools and their capabilities. Popular AI-Powered Tools - Inpaint: This tool is designed for removing unwanted elements from photos, including watermarks. Inpaint uses intelligent algorithms to fill in the removed area with surrounding pixels, making the watermark disappearance appear seamless. - PhotoStamp Remover: Specifically targeted at removing stamps, watermarks, and other unwanted elements, PhotoStamp Remover is user-friendly and effective. It uses advanced algorithms to replace the watermark with texture from the surrounding area. - Adobe Photoshop: Photoshop’s powerful AI tools, such as the Content-Aware Fill, allow for sophisticated watermark removal. While it requires some skill, Photoshop can yield professional results when removing watermarks. - Remove.bg: Primarily known for removing backgrounds, Remove.bg uses AI to detect and eliminate watermarks and other elements with precision. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Inpaint Here is a simple guide on how to use Inpaint to remove watermarks: - Open the Image: Launch Inpaint and upload the image with the watermark. - Select the Watermark: Use the marker tool to highlight the watermark you want to remove. - Remove the Watermark: Click on the 'Erase' button to allow Inpaint to process and remove the watermark. - Save the Image: Once the watermark is removed, save the edited image to your device. Considerations and Best Practices When using AI-powered tools for watermark removal, keep the following considerations in mind: - Legal and Ethical Use: Ensure you have the right to edit and use the image. Unauthorized removal of watermarks can lead to legal issues. - Quality of Results: The effectiveness of watermark removal can vary depending on the complexity of the watermark and the tool used. Always review the final image for any artifacts or distortions. - Skill Level: Some tools, like Adobe Photoshop, require a higher skill level to use effectively. Beginners may need to spend time learning the software to achieve the best results.

Manual Removal Techniques

For those who prefer a hands-on approach or who have specific requirements that automated tools might not meet, manual removal techniques offer a viable alternative. These techniques require more skill and attention to detail but can yield high-quality results when done correctly. Below, we explore some popular manual methods for removing Shutterstock watermarks. 1. Using Adobe Photoshop Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool for manual image editing. Here’s how you can use it to remove watermarks: - Open the Image: Load the image with the watermark into Photoshop. - Select the Clone Stamp Tool: This tool allows you to copy pixels from one part of the image to another, effectively covering the watermark. - Adjust the Brush Size: Choose a brush size that suits the area you are working on. - Clone the Area: Alt-click (Option-click on Mac) to select the area you want to clone from, then click and drag over the watermark to cover it. - Blend and Smooth: Use the Healing Brush Tool to smooth out any inconsistencies and blend the cloned area with the surrounding pixels. - Save the Edited Image: Once satisfied with the result, save the image. 2. Using GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) GIMP is a free alternative to Photoshop that offers similar capabilities for manual watermark removal. Here’s a basic guide: - Open the Image: Import the image into GIMP. - Select the Clone Tool: Similar to Photoshop’s Clone Stamp Tool, GIMP’s Clone Tool allows you to cover the watermark. - Set the Source: Ctrl-click (Command-click on Mac) to set the source area for cloning. - Clone the Watermark: Click and drag over the watermark to replace it with pixels from the source area. - Use the Healing Tool: For better blending, use the Healing Tool to smooth out the cloned area. - Save the Edited Image: Once satisfied with the result, save the image.

Best Practices for Using Shutterstock Images

When using Shutterstock images, whether you have removed watermarks or purchased a license, it's important to adhere to certain best practices to ensure ethical and legal use. Following these guidelines not only protects you from potential legal issues but also respects the rights of the content creators who contribute to Shutterstock’s vast library. 1. Purchase the Appropriate License Always purchase the appropriate license for the images you intend to use. Shutterstock offers several licensing options: License Type Usage Rights Standard License Permits use in digital media, websites, social media, and printed materials up to 500,000 copies. Enhanced License Includes all Standard License rights plus unlimited copies, merchandise, and use in templates for resale. Editorial License Restricted to non-commercial use in news articles, blogs, and other editorial contexts. 2. Give Proper Attribution While not always required, giving credit to the photographer or Shutterstock can be a good practice, especially for editorial use. 3. Respect Copyright and Usage Terms Always adhere to the copyright and usage terms specified by Shutterstock. Avoid the following: - Unauthorized Distribution: Do not share or distribute images to others without proper licensing. - Commercial Use of Editorial Images: Editorial-licensed images are not for commercial use. They should only be used in news or educational contexts. - Misrepresentation: Do not use images in a misleading or defamatory context. 4. Optimize Image Use Ensure images are used to their full potential by following these optimization tips: - Resolution and Quality: Use high-resolution images for print and large formats to maintain quality. - Compression: Compress images for web use to enhance loading speeds without compromising quality.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about removing Shutterstock watermarks and using Shutterstock images: 1. Is it legal to remove watermarks from Shutterstock images? No, removing watermarks from Shutterstock images without purchasing a license is illegal and violates copyright laws. Watermarks are in place to protect the intellectual property of photographers and artists. To use an image legally, you must purchase the appropriate license from Shutterstock. 2. What are the consequences of using unlicensed images? Using unlicensed images can lead to several consequences, including: - Legal Action: Shutterstock and the original creators can take legal action against you, leading to fines and potential lawsuits. - Financial Penalties: You may be required to pay substantial amounts in damages and penalties for unauthorized use of copyrighted images. - Reputation Damage: Using unlicensed images can harm your reputation, especially if you are a business or a professional, as it shows a lack of respect for intellectual property laws. - Removal of Content: Platforms like websites and social media can remove your content if it is found to contain unlicensed images, affecting your online presence and reach. 3. Can I use watermarked images for personal projects? While it might be tempting to use watermarked images for personal projects, it is still not advisable. Even for personal use, you should respect copyright laws and obtain the proper license. This ensures that you are not violating any terms of use and are supporting the creators. 4. Are there free alternatives to Shutterstock images? Yes, there are several free alternatives to Shutterstock images, including: - Pexels: Offers a wide range of free stock photos with a permissive license. - Unsplash: Provides high-quality images that can be used for free, even for commercial purposes. - Pixabay: A large collection of free images and videos that can be used without attribution. These platforms provide excellent resources for personal and commercial projects without the need to worry about licensing fees. 5. How can I ensure proper usage of Shutterstock images? To ensure proper usage of Shutterstock images, follow these steps: - Purchase the Correct License: Make sure to buy the appropriate license for your intended use, whether it’s for personal, commercial, or editorial purposes. - Read the License Agreement: Understand the terms and conditions of the license to avoid any misuse. - Credit the Author: While not always required, giving credit to the original creator is a good practice and shows respect for their work. - Avoid Unauthorized Distribution: Do not share or distribute the images to others who do not have a license. By following these guidelines, you can use Shutterstock images responsibly and legally, while also supporting the creative community.

Conclusion

Removing watermarks from Shutterstock images should be approached with caution and a strong understanding of copyright laws. While there are tools and techniques available to remove watermarks, the most ethical and legal approach is to purchase the appropriate license for the images you wish to use. This not only supports the creators who contribute to the Shutterstock library but also ensures you have access to high-quality, watermark-free images without any legal complications. We have explored various methods, including purchasing licenses, utilizing AI-powered tools, and manual editing techniques. Each method has its own advantages and considerations. Additionally, adhering to best practices when using Shutterstock images, such as respecting copyright terms and giving proper attribution, will enhance your projects while maintaining legal integrity. By following these guidelines, you can confidently use Shutterstock images to enhance your content, whether for personal projects, professional work, or creative endeavors. Always remember that respecting the rights of content creators and adhering to licensing agreements is crucial in maintaining a fair and vibrant creative community. Read the full article

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Top 10 Ikea App Features You Must Consider: Quick Guide

The Ikea e-commerce app provides intuitive filters and categories to narrow down search results based on factors like price, style, or availability.

Once the desired product is found, the e-commerce app provides comprehensive details about the items, including descriptions, dimensions, materials, and customer reviews. With such detailed descriptions, users can quickly compare different options and make well-informed purchasing decisions. 

To use this feature on the Ikea e-commerce app, you simply need to select a piece of furniture from the app's catalog and use your smartphone's camera to scan the room you want to furnish. 

The app then superimposes the chosen furniture onto the live camera feed, creating a realistic and interactive augmented reality experience. You can move the furniture around, rotate it, and even change colors or finishes to find the perfect match for the desired space.

These personalized shopping lists on the Ikea e-commerce app help users stay organized and focused on their desired items. So, instead of relying on memory or jotting down notes, you can conveniently access lists within the Ikea app, ensuring that no items are forgotten or overlooked during your shopping trip.

This live tracking feature gives users peace of mind by keeping them informed of the status of their order and allowing them to track their delivery in real time. The e-commerce app notifies users instantly about any changes to their delivery status, delays, or other relevant updates, ensuring that they always stay informed about the progress of their orders.

In conclusion, this top 10 list of Ikea app features will act as a guidebook for you to improve your next furniture and home grooming shopping experience on the e-commerce app. 

The Ikea online store offers a comprehensive and seamless shopping experience within the app with an extensive catalog of products, detailed product descriptions, and high-quality images, which will help you to make well-informed purchasing decisions on the Ikea e-commerce app.