#symbiology

[mykmartinez]

At The End of My Bed • Myk Martinez #? #art #symbiology #visitor #ET #👽#coffee #Wtf #MykMartinez https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAYO3agLKS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[2lim3rz]

IN THE EYES OF THE LION (VHA) (Lion El'Jonson x Reader) (WH40K)

As a gift to a friend (you know who you are) Enjoy! Hopefully I can write more! (Part 2 to Gulliman's fic should follow shortly)

You were a nobody amongst the privileged servants. Performing your duty as you always had. Cleaning where no one trusted servitors to. Polishing all the nooks and crannies their bulky metallic bodies couldn't. It wasn't too uncommon for one of your rank and file to be in the same room as one of the primarchs in the grand hall. Yet every time it took your breath away. One of you would stow away and whisper it over your meals. Describing in your meager words of the might. The beauty. The magnificence.

The one visiting your resident Primarch's fortress, Rogal Dorn you recall his gleaming golden figure, was one you hadn't seen before. His steps were somehow lighter and as you peaked around the corner, fighting your human need to scamper and hide, you saw his armor etched delicately with foreign symbiology. Another planet's cultural markings. On his chest in the sea of silvery-blue was a sword with wings. Held in one hand with respect towards his brother was a winged helmet.

Yet it was his face that stole your breath, as all the primarchs did but this one was somehow more intense, an impossibly handsome face passively greeted Rogal Dorn. Elegant blond locks crowned his head and the similarly colored beard didn't look as course as an average man's beard did. Indeed it somehow looked soft.

Though as he spot, no, barely was past the first words of introductions, you saw (hard to see as it was from your hunched ogling manner) the way his steeled face gave a strange twitch. His nostrils flaring and eyes giving the briefest flicker about before settling undeniably where you were.

"Lion?" Rogal Dorn's low voice echoed in the empty chamber hall. You felt a shiver down your spine. A human's predator instincts switching to prey animal overdrive. Your heart thudded. Your palms sweated. All the while the new primarch, Lion (a name so fitting your breath hitched in its nerve wracked fear), just stared and stared and stared.

"We have a spy." his voice was somehow higher than Dorn's and still perfectly masculine. Your skin shivered again so strangely as he idly pointed an armored hand towards you. As if you were somehow so beneath him. You were. A mere mite in the glory of the higher beings.

Rogal Dorn, though his back was against you now, gave a full turn to where his brother's hand was pointed. Looked at you. Little groveling you as you trembled and shook and stared and stared and stared back at the glowering Lion.

Familiarity flashed in those eyes. Amusement on his features. The snapping of his gauntleted hands made you shriek and fall backwards. You saw the minute twitches in the solidly armored Astartes performing ceremonial and true guards. The trusted few around the Lion had their hands twitch to weapons.

"Come here." the primarch's voice, though not harsh, left no room for patience. Though as you stood on trembling hands you only watched Lion's face give those soft twitches as though fighting a snarl. The metal of his helmet gave a protesting groan as you started walking forward.

Rogal Dorn, thank the Emperor you mentally would praise later, noticed the actions of the fellow Primarch. His head looked towards him impossibly quick. The Lion reminded you of a feline. All subtle tensing muscle.

You didn't know it then how out of character it was for the Lion to be so out of characterly ill-mannered. The heavy and fast way Rogal Dorn's hand all but slammed on the breastplate of the other primarch. Steel eyes glaring into the luminated green of the Lion's face face.

"You are dismissed. Leave." Rogal Dorn's angered voice struck you to your core. You turned and scampered away like a punished canid. Yet before you could abscond through servant's corridors, the Lion's smooth snarl of a voice pierced your heart. "You must be rid of that one, brother."

.

.

You recounted the tale to your fellow servants during evening mealtime. Holding your hands together during the moments they threatened to shake. The gasped and held your hands during your dismissal. They tutted their worries, hoping that you would not be fired. Surely, it was just a case of wrong moment and wrong times. Surely, surely, surely.

As sure as the winded runner that panted and breathed you were needed. Personally requested by the supervisor. Worried looks. Murmured rumors already beginning. You were a gossipy lot. The supervisor shouldn't have seen to you. You were just doing your job as scheduled.

You were given a parcel. A location (the loading docks) and a time of leaving. You were being sent off. Punished worst than you ever would have thought. Lashings were preferable to totally being sent away.

Fighting your tears, you made your way at the selected time to the docks. Fighting through the blurry world as you choked sobs and the overwhelming presence of more and more Astartes about you. You were so used to the presences of them and yet there was more than usual, different ones and-

You stopped at the dock you were told to go. Your meager belongings in your arms.

You stared, disbelieving. Waiting for you were stone faced or helmeted Astartes in that familiar silvery blue. Fear washed over you as you mutely followed them. Fear froze you completely from your woe was me sulking. Fear chewed and chewed and chewed. Was Rogal Dorn giving you over personally to the Lion for punishment? He was not like that. He was a kind, if not impersonal, master.

Stepping off with a nudge to your back from a ceramite encoated fist, you nearly fell to your knees as you looked up and up and up. The Lion stood in front of you. Your heart stuttered in your very chest. "Leave me be." Lion did not need to shout his orders. His men obeyed in silence. Slinking off like the predatory beasts in men's flesh that they were.

You were alone.

Watched by the Lion.

[bullrunpicnicker]

my roommates have gotten really into the foundation show and its the most "i cant believe bleebo blorpus would blow up the council of symbiology.... after all torq gave up to continue the flame?" ass show ive ever heard. "math jesus died three times and now hes a hologram" man thats great. is that good?

[trashlie]

ILY FP 207 and 208

I had meant to cover these episodes individually, but between the winter storm during the Christmas period and then going out of town to visit my parents, I have not had the time to get to either, and we’re rapidly approaching ep 209, so I figured it’s high time I get this out there! 

Honestly, these episodes have been so fun! As you guys already know, I enjoy the heavier episodes a lot, too - I’m a sucker for all the background information they feed us, I thrive in the little moments of angstiness, and I’m a fan of slow-moving character-driven story, but I really appreciate the tempo that’s going on with these episodes. If you’re someone who has been holding off on fast-passing because you didn’t know if the pay off would be good right now, I can assure you that these episodes are really shining! We’re getting a good balance of the comedy present earlier in the series as well as character relationship balances and details. I’m so excited about them, so let’s get to it! 

Where do I even begin? These episodes have been delivering us a lot to dig into, haven’t they? I think we’re seeing some repetitious themes and symbiology, too, starting with Nol and Shinae’s interrupted dance. There is something so sweet and warming about Shinae offering to replicate a moment Nol can no longer relive, trying to give him one moment of happiness. We know - and now so does she - that Nol has been living in unhappiness and darkness for so long. We’ve witnessed moments where he was willing to let it all go and let the dark claim him, but here he is. The fact that for that moment, he’s willing to reach out and accept Shinae’s offer is such a big deal, I think, because of his personal believe that he does not deserve little pleasures and shouldn’t seek it out.

And of course, life is not kind to Nol.

Or, rather, as the running theme goes, Kousuke has a way of getting in the way of what Nol wants and seeks out for himself. This is a continuous theme - every time Nol has found himself enjoying a moment, there is Kousuke. Every time Nol has wanted something for himself, there was Kousuke to stand in the way, manipulate a situation out of his hands. Though I still maintain that Nol would have made the decision on his own, it was still Kousuke who came between Nol and Shinae and pushed him to cease their friendship. Kousuke has a nasty tendency to always interrupt Nol when he dares to defy what he thinks is his dark fate. 

Actually, that isn’t the only theme. 

In general, we’ve seen Nol and Shinae trying to reach one and other across chasms a number of times - usually in the form of Nol reaching out to Shinae and denying himself an opportunity or else Shinae chasing after him. Nol reaching out to Shinae continued even into the recent episodes when they were talking in Minhyuk’s room and he reached out to her. I don’t know if this is meant to be a metaphor for Nol not able to accept that he wants to hold on to her or not - and if that is the case, what does it mean that this time he reached out but was denied the opportunity by someone else? On the one hand, I want to think that Nol’s willingness to open up and talk to Shinae, to tell her things he’d never dared say before - means he is embracing her friendship, but he has the opportunity to ghost out and disappear, so I’m not sure if I’m just being hopeful or not. 

At any rate, that brings us to the other theme. Do you guys remember that Very Infamous illustration of Kousuke, Shinae, and Nol lying on the floor, and all the many ways it’s been interpreted (and how romance is so often the basis). My current interpretation remains the same as it has for over a year now - that it represents dynamics and the way Shinae is involved with each brother, bridging a gap between them. That dynamic remains ever present: that Kousuke is the one often “distracting” Shinae from Nol. This isn’t limited just to trying to steal her attention, either - it’s the way Kousuke tries to manipulate their relationship from the outside, the way he tries to father her and eclipse things, it’s the way we see him always the one to interrupt and come between them. Kousuke also truly believes Nol is dangerous and that Shinae needs to keep her distance to keep herself safe. But we see - just like in the illustration - that Shinae is someone who is able to bring Nol comfort and help him find his peace. Though it could just be that he is planning to peace out anyway, we see Nol speaking much more freely with Shinae than he ever has before, which just ties back into that illustration. He’s far from achieving peace and being at ease, but that dynamic is ever present, isn’t it? 

So in the way that Shinae reaches out to Nol and his opportunity to accept her offer (of friendship, to be a team, to grant a moment of solace and relive a happier time) is once again denied, we see Kousuke reach out to Shinae to help her up. While I don’t think this is significant in any shipping dynamics kind of way, I do think it’s interesting that this is another time we’ve seen Kousuke reach out to Shinae, and juxtaposed against Nol, it does stand out. But again, I think it’s something more about the way that Kousuke is the one who always pushes after Shinae, that she rarely reaches out to him (and when she has, it back fired). Again, I think there’s something about the dynamics here, about the way Kousuke intervenes and the way his interactions with Shinae are so often instigated by himself. It’s something I’d like to revisit in time, I think. 

Whew, that’s a lot already! This is why I meant to do these as separate posts! 

These two episodes are also just riddled with Kousuke and Nol interactions - from downright childish bickering to Nol trying to open up about his hurt. Something we’ve always known but see really reiterated in these episodes is the way that Nol and Kousuke really bring out each others baser sides, an almost primitive, childish way of fighting. They quite literally bring out the worst in each other. Kousuke continues to rewrite the narrative to align with his own beliefs and ideas and Nol is not good at ignoring the bait and his hot headed reactionary side gets the best of him. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I understand why they are at each others’ throats, but like I said, they just really bring out the worst in each other, their ugliest sides. Nol trying to make a dig at Kousuke about how unlike Kousuke, HE at least craves contact but Shinae is so quick to call him out on the way he was trying to ghost everyone. In fact, when Nol says that bit, his eyes are closed - because he was doing the very thing he’s trying to use against Kousuke. 

Kousuke, too, is just as incendiary as Nol, not that he’d ever admit it, and half the time Nol doesn’t even need to push his buttons. Actually, I think these two episodes do a good job of showing Kousuke’s low emotional IQ and how incendiary he really is. It doesn’t take much to fire him up, and he’s so rude, too? I think that’s what really took me by surprise - I honestly thought surely Kousuke wouldn’t be the one to interrupt the dance because Kousuke thinks himself such a gentleman, such a pinnacle of etiquette and personality. Ironic, isn’t it, that he was the one to reject Shinae’s application citing that she’s too reactionary, hot headed, and he thought she wouldn’t be able to control her temper and handle customers, but he’s the asshole in someone else’s home insulting peoples’ singing, calling the house smelly, insinuating it’s gross, barging into other peoples’ rooms, blaming others for what he’s doing, grousing about their clothing, etc. etc. The list literally goes on and on. The whole of the story, Kousuke has tried to maintain that he’s a mature, well-mannered adult, but he’s spent this entire night acting like an asshole baby. That this comes on the coattails of his breakdown about the call with Rand does not miss me. In fact, it really stood out to me that Kousuke still insists that he’s getting into trouble even though Rand made it painfully clear that he’s not mad - but that doesn’t fit Kousuke’s narrative so he’s rewritten even that! 

Speaking of the way Nol and Kousuke devolve into their more childish sides - their bickering brings out a lot that gets REALLY glossed over and I think is worth examining. For instance, after Shinae calls Nol out on his ghosting, he retorts “Disappearing without saying goodbye is in my blood” which on its own is already intriguing and curious. Who else has done the disappearing - and what kind? I’ve already mused that maybe Nessa didn’t have a good relationship with Nana when Nol was young, since he didn’t seem to recognize her (or at least, because he thought it was plausible that someone could be paying her to play that role), but it’s just as possible that he met her when he was too young to remember. But still, that means they weren’t in touch at all until she came to live with Nol. Did Nessa pack up with her child and leave the country without saying goodbye to Nana? Does it have something to do with Rand leaving? Or is it about Nessa herself? 

“Maybe your mother wouldn’t have left you behind!” is such a nasty, low, low blow coming from Kousuke - ESPECIALLY because of his insistence that it’s because Nol wasn’t “good and obedient���, because he was “selfish”. Actually, no matter the situation, it’s the lowest of blows and Kousuke shows no repentance for what he said. He truly believes that people must be obedient and follow orders (and we see this when he describes Shinae as “malleable” yuck) and he BLAMES Nol for losing his mom because he’s not obedient enough? Because he’s selfish? (The irony that Kousuke seems to think the world revolves around him does NOT miss me.) 

The question obviously is: what does Kousuke mean? “Left you behind” is ambiguous enough. Did she leave? How could it be possible for her to leave and be untraceable - you think the Hiraharas don’t have access and connectsions to track a person down? How could Rand locate Nana, but Nessa is nowhere to be found? Nol and Nana speak in a way that makes it sound like Nessa is dead - so we’ve assumed all along that’s her fate. But someone dying isn’t “leaving people behind” - unless they do it of their own hand. If Nessa did kill herself, though, isn’t it an even lower blow for Kousuke to say that? He says he isn’t sure what happened to her - which means if she did commit suicide, the circumstances might be murky enough to not be sure what happened. I’ve also seen it contemplated that maybe something happened and Yui had Nessa locked away, but I’m not sure yet how possible that one is. I guess the whole thing just remains ???? because suppose she did die - whether or not by her own hand, there’d be a funeral. If she just disappeared, did no one try to find her? If she was locked away, I think Yui would be able to hide the evidence, but it also just seems almost too makjang. I’m not sure yet what I think! 

Kousuke’s obsession with obedience, though, brings me back to their argument. Nol tells Kousuke that he doesn’t think for himself, that he’d respect him a lot more if he had a backbone, which lead to Kousuke’s low blow. It’s not anything new to us, but I just think it really highlights the major difference in Nol and Kousuke. Kousuke was, from a young age, molded to emulate and take after Rand, to try to earn his affection via obedience and being a good little boy who tries to make him proud - despite Rand wanting Kousuke to follow his own dreams and to be his own person. Time after time, Kousuke was convinced that the only way to earn his father’s (apparently conditional) love is to do what he’s told and to try to become him. For Kousuke, love IS conditional. If you don’t earn it, you don’t get it. In his eyes, Nol didn’t earn his mother’s love and he was, in some way, abandoned. We already know his obsession with obedience runs so deep that he can’t handle being told otherwise - like Rand trying to convince him that he DOESN’T want him to babysit Nol he DOESN’T want him to be at his beck and call - but the way he equates it with familiar love is really problematic. He goes on to describe Shinae as malleable, which is so weird and uncomfortable and far, far from a compliment - except in Kousuke’s eyes, it’s what people should be. Again, ironic given that Kousuke yields to no one and refuses to adapt to anyone or anything else, despite expecting it from others. 

I’ve tried to show a lot of patience for Kousuke, because I understand he is a product of his environment and his neglect and lack of healthy parental relationships - or any relationships period - combined with Yui’s manipulation and molding left him no room to grow in a healthy way. He is perpetually stunted emotionally and frankly, even maturely, as evidenced by the way he acts in someone else’s house and bickers with Nol at every opportunity. He rewrites the narrative whenever possible, he’s constantly deflecting and shifting blame even when people are around to prove otherwise. But it’s hard to be patient when he’s acting this way, when he’s pointedly antagonizing Nol only to turn around to act like he’s never done anything. I’m not saying Nol is blameless, either - he’s no more able to ignore Kousuke than Kousuke can ignore him - but there’s a stark difference in Kousuke’s reality from actual reality. Something that really gets me is that Shinae is much younger than Kousuke but was able to reach the conclusion that her side of a story is not the full, absolute truth, that she is the protagonist of only her own life, might be the antagonist of someone else’s (Alyssa’s). She’s able to understand that what is true for her is not the total sum. But Kousuke can’t! Not only can he not accept blame, but in the same breath he goads Nol on, he insists he’s innocent. How can you crack a jab about “Are you going to break down and cry?” to someone who has literally been having a breakdown the ENTIRE duration of this story? For YEARS in their lives. 

That’s what kills me. Nol is finally opening up a little - perhaps not in the best way, but at least he’s doing it. While clearly what they need is many, many therapy sessions that Minhyuk cannot helm, at least Nol is trying to make Kousuke see what he refuses to. “Did you ever stop to think why I’d prefer to go by that name?” Kousuke lives in such a black and white world that he cannot (or maybe just he refuses?) to see that there are more ways to hurt a person than physically. It’s such a tense moment, too - Nol points out that Kousuke always assumes, he never even ASKS, he just makes up his own version and sticks to it. How could he have been the reason Nol resents his name, if he never hurt him? And that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? It’s not just that Kousuke rewrites narratives, it’s not simply his deflection - it’s the way he views hurt and abuse. Maybe if he acknowledged the many ways to hurt a person, he might have to acknowledge the ways HE’S been hurt that didn’t involve physical forms. Given that it’s Kousuke, he probably insists that it’s still not his fault - that if Nol wasn’t so weak or something, he wouldn’t be hurt by the way Kousuke treated him, that he was just trying to mold him into a more obedient, malleable person because apparently that is the only thing anyone should be. That just earlier he’d made a crack about “breaking down and cry”ing makes it seem all the more likely. 

And that’s the thing. At the end of the day, unless anything changes, this is who they are, this is what the relationship is. In the VERY SAME BREATH that he uses to insist he couldn’t possibly have done anything to Nol, he goes on to tell him he wanted nothing to do with him, likens him to an unwanted pest, says he did nothing to him. He did nothing, he made him feel like nothing. And while Kousuke as a child is given more leeway for not being able to handle his feelings and resentment over Nol’s existence (Rand’s affair/his betrayal/his hurt/the paranoia he was molded to carry like the heaviest baggage), adult Kousuke never changed. He doubled down on it, found every opportunity to dig at him, to hurt him in whatever way he could without ever laying a finger on him. He asks what did he do when just minutes ago he implied Nol’s mother left him behind for not being a good little boy! It’s just frustrating. It’s frustrating and vexing and it also hurts, as a reader, to see Nol bare this part of himself while he’s curled up, hunched over in a ball making himself as small as possible, hiding his face. There’s something so vulnerable in the face he makes when he looks up at Kousuke again - in the previous panels the shades fall sharp on his face, making him look almost scary, but he looks at Kousuke with no shadows, just something open. “Why?” Why, after you took everything, after you made him feel so small, like he was nothing, why did you also take his name? 

Nol is taking the opportunity to bring this up, and Kousuke still won’t accept it. Refuses to examine himself or his behavior. I mean, I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s not like he’d blink and go oh my god you’re right, I’ve been so mean. But also, I’m at the point where I don’t know what it will take to ever make peace between them. When Kousuke is so deep in denial, when he’s rewritten everything to fit his perfect story, when he deflects all responsibility, when he always pins everything back on Nol: what will ever make him face reality and face the truth? I know in life there are people who will always find a way to be a victim - and usually those people lose their friends and get exiled from others who finally catch on and grow weary of their games. But Kousuke isn’t so motivated by others - as long as he has his career and fortune, what does it matter what other people think about him? As long as he has his name, he wields respect. As long as he keeps playing his role, people will continue to hold him on a pedestal high above them. None of that matters. He put Shinae in etiquette courses without ever consulting her or trying to assist her, and he shows up to a party she and her friends are throwing, insulting everyone, acting like a spoiled baby brat. Just what, days ago? he was trying to earn her trust, trying to literally buy her trust with a plushie, insisting that she doesn’t know herself well enough, that she’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity she has to go to a foreign country all alone - and now he’s here in front of her and her friends and family, acting like this. This is the peak of who and what Kousuke is - so much of his refined personality is just as much an act as Yeonggi was. The only difference is that Nol at least acknowledges that and Kousuke will insist that everyone knows differently. 

It’s not all bad, though! We finally get to see Minhyuk meeting everyone and it is so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I love how he sees this situation and decides to take charge in the only way he knows how to - like a team captain lmao. I know there are people who think it’s weird that he’s butting in like this, but I think if Shinae had an issue, she would have said so already - in fact, I think she is happy he’s doing this. She’s right that the brothers can’t be in the same room as each other without fighting and though Minhyuk probably won’t be able to mend any of those burnt bridges, he’s still going to try to make peace because it’s his party and he’ll try if he wants to, damnit! 

I always thought Minhyuk and Nol meeting would not go over well - especially after the way Nol left things with Shinae. In fact, everything Minhyuk says to them is deserved. Kousuke is rude and hostile and when Minhyuk first shows up, Nol is also fighting like a child. There’s no good impressions to be seen here. But what I love about Minhyuk is that you can tell how much he and Shinae have rubbed off on each other, and the way he addresses everyone is so funny to me. He has no fear in the face of Kousuke wearing his mother’s clothes. How can you take him seriously when he’s throwing a hissy fit the way he is? And because Shine thinks and spoke so highly of Nol, he has a lot to prove, because there isn’t much of the boy she described to find here right now. It’s not that Shinae described a fake personality, either - while there were aspects of Yeonggi that were a front put on by Nol, Yeonggi is so believable because it still comes from him, because that’s still a part of him. But Nol is so enshrouded in anger and hurt that it’s hard to show that part of him, yet. I think Minhyuk may get a glimpse whenever Nol has his turn at the compliments. 

It’s such a funny choice for Minhyuk, to make everyone go around and say nice things about each other, but there’s also something wholesome about it - for the most part. I love how Dieter was so thoughtful about his responses - and getting to finally learn the moment that he fell for Shinae, when he started to see in her the good person she tried so hard to lock away. As one of the more observant characters of the series, Dieter being able to find in Shinae something she was too afraid to share is really sweet. I love the way he and Shinae both got so embarrassed when he looked at her, too. They’re sweet and cute and I love how fluffy things are with them, because that’s not something we get a lot from this series. The face she made as he talked about that moment, the way she and Minhyuk bickered about the “mushy talk” lol it’s just cute and fluffy! That said, it makes you think a little, what he said to Nol. That he’d be so good humored on even a rainy day. On the one hand - was that ever Nol, or just the act he put on for people? But deeper than that, he put on that act FOR people, to make THEM happy, to bring some kind of comfort and solace to them. Even if the disposition was faked, it was still a thing he did for Dieter, and it was clearly appreciated. But Dieter doesn’t really know much about Nol - the real Nol, why he entered their lives, why he was determined to leave them - and that’s also really sad. I hope he’ll get that opportunity. 

Minhyuk is so funny though lmao I am SO glad we get to see him playing off everyone else like this. He’s such a fun character and the way he plays off - and against - Shinae brings so much boisterous energy out. “Very fashion” lmaoooo. and Shinae copying him! “You. Strong. Like bear” PLEASE 

Actually, Shinae’s ability to singlehandedly disarm everyone without trying is SO funny. Poor Dieter probably nearly DIED as she called his hands sexy! Her discomfort is palpable, but absolutely enjoyable on my end. It’s also really funny to me that she associates both Nol and Kousuke with scents. In fact, Nol smelling like a bar of soap is such a running theme, now - she was able to smell Nol on his coat when Kousuke was wearing it at the formal even though she was drugged/inebriated; that moment when they shared earbuds at the Wacdonalds, and again now. Idk if there’s anything more to read into it - I guess if you try hard enough, you can. It’s just so funny to me that “something I admire about these people” and she’s blurting out how they smell lmaooooo. 

I’m so curious what Kousuke will manage to say about Nol - if he’s able to, if he can find even ONE little thing to say. After all, what he said for Minhyuk was pretty much a copout, and what he had to say for Shinae was... weird. It’s SO CLOSE to being a compliment, except it hinges entirely on her being “malleable” which is not a really positive word to use to describe someone. I think it says a lot about the way Kousuke sees her and what he expects from her. She is, to him, everything Nol has failed to be. He expects she will eventually be obedient, that he’ll be able to mold her into the ideal employee or something. If he wanted to speak of her adaptability, why not just say that? Call her adaptable. But adaptability is not the same as malleable, and the choice in wording is so uncomfortable. 

But more than what Kousuke will say, of course, I’m curious about what Nol will say. Unlike Kousuke, I don’t think handing out compliments is necessarily difficult for him, and we know that Shinae and Dieter are important people to him. I think it’s probably easier for him to talk about what he admires about them, because they were the people whose fake friendships became real, who started to matter. And frankly, I think he’ll be able to find something good in Minhyuk, because that’s Shinae’s best friend and she wouldn’t be close to someone who wasn’t good. I think Nol is better at telling the truth - especially being disarming. Dieter isn’t even fully up to speed on things, so I think Nol telling him something honest might even throw him off for a moment. I ALSO think, despite everything, Nol might find it easier to say something about Kousuke than the other way around. Probably.... 

These episodes are jampacked with little relationship dynamics: Nol and Kousuke; Shinae and Dieter; Shinae and Minhyuk. And Shinae and Nol. It’s so funny, how in the beginning of the story it was Nol watching and reading Shinae like a book, and now the tables have reversed and she’s the one. I mean, I guess it’s not different than how she became the one to chase, but it’s just satisfying to see those little ticks. It’s not difficult to read Nol’s body language. Not only is he trying to make himself small, bunched up in a ball and hiding his face, but gripping his hands so tightly with all of that pent up anger, that rage and hurt - but Shinae being able to just snap him out of it feels big. Just like at the beginning of 207 where Nol was about to accept her offer to dance, I think Shinae is, or is becoming, some kind of conduit of comfort for Nol. We’ve seen a number of times throughout the series where she’s affected him, left a lingering impression, and now that they are opening up to each other more, we’re seeing even more of it. Because of what she now knows - via Kousuke and Nol both - I think she finally has a better understanding of parts of Nol she found confusing before, and in that same way, she’s beginning to read him better. Like I said, his body language is pretty clear, but what matters more is not that she could see all that fury bunched up but that she was able to reach out and quell it, to interrupt that. We know that Nol is more hot-headed, and that kind of all consuming rage blows up, blinds you. It makes it so you can’t see or think clearly, makes it so easy to say or do something you’ll regret - and she snapped him out of that, coached him into relaxing just a little. 

They just. GOD! They continue to grow in a way that I can’t help but love. Shinae’s ability to get through to him, her relentless efforts to bridge their gap and hold on to their relationship, the unspoken understanding they now share between them. Both Shinae and Nol are scarred, wounded people. Like Nol does now, Shinae used to hide all those vulnerabilities. She tucked all her hurt and anger away, sealed it up and told herself it doesn’t matter anymore. But when she was beating on that bear suit, she felt it - tasted that kind of raw, furious hurt. Shinae understand that part of Nol, and we continue to see that she represents some place of comfort, a type of reprieve for him, should he choose to allow himself that. In a way, I think this ties back to the running theme of Nol reaching out to Shinae - time and time again, he denies himself what he wants, because he believes himself so undeserving. He believes himself such a monster that he isn’t allowed to crave the comfort of a friend, of unconditional compassion, of someone seeing his whole, raw self. Surely, once they see deep into his heart, once they learn his sins, they’ll cast him away. 

I just continue to really love their interactions and the way their dynamic has shifted. It’s not that Shinae was never such a caring person - we’ve seen it throughout her entire life. She’s got a very compassionate heart - it’s just that she hid it away to protect it. Shinae has defended people all along but Nol helped bring that to the forefront. And now she turns it on him. Now he is the one who needs comfort and a listening ear. And there we go, back to that illustration - the earbuds that Nol and Shinae share, the comfort and peace that she can offer him because Shinae is that conduit of comfort, because Shinae is the one who will listen, that he can open himself up to. 

I know it will be a long time before we get to see these dynamics play more - the night will eventually end, Nol will eventually go away, and we don’t know what will come of their relationship during those months. But man I look forward to getting to see Nol open up more. I look forward to getting to see that trust grow - and GOD please, I look forward to him finally getting to enjoy a reprieve from it all, to have even a MOMENT of unadulterated happiness and bliss because my god he needs it. I am DYING to see him just finally do what he WANTS for once, instead of denying himself it. I want to see him enjoy a moment of happiness, maybe a comforting memory, maybe something entirely new, where he doesn’t beat himself up or deny himself or refuse it. 

Nol and Shinae remain SUCH a good team - their relationship is so dynamic but the core of it remains the same. At the end of the day, they are helping each other, and I’m dying for more of that! 

[norts-trolls]

oh sorry! that's called tasseomancy right? how does it generally work, as in what kind of process do you use?

" There are different interpretations and symbiology for how one can go about this. Even fancy cups and plates to aid in it. I suppose one could say I am a faker in this regard. As I just have a knack to tap into past, future, or present predictions thanks to my voodoo. The Tea is just a way for one to get into the mood. After all who doesn't enjoy a good warm drink with a little magic to follow afterwards."

[artcalledwrap]

If I If I was running a govt Thank too Leeds My abracadabra dab me in sister I would choose Lock up and throw away the keys Maro Largo Marlboro smoking to cancers Stop Sold Steal Sell Sloop Soup In your non closed cold-ed coaled excellence heads If I I if Could be Igloo in for safety After heat comes cold We need more after 20 years old add adult more education Schooling not discounted until after 30 Make a more than Always 50/50 difference Sublimed adults detentions SAD Feel for MADD So JUST SAY NO That’s you Republicans Closed borders brought in Drugs to digest in other millionaire sources Governing Watches And Pitts show a face since train! Angelina Went you that woman of what country that never American made it! What’s the nationality Behind in Walls like white face EX Ex P Ex F President George watched Cloned better works eleven Took the whole ensemble To carry zit and it For more than Two Add one for Woman From hackers and Epstein-ers era’s errors Poor electronic messages Po e m If I could, porn poem people I would be coming It’s been a nice bit of hive High Space dude Wiping asses since 2016 Dried toilet paper After all just fall in dumb Moist towels for wiping asses is with the beginnings of cleanliness You paper dry Go for one month Stop You will smell your Ass Afterwards Not retarded But human and a hike I used those wet wipes In packaged dark Clean you ass man Just paper and water Simple on skin better You don’t think it up You though French And water up your arse It’s on the tissue Don’t cry Rumpt In deformed ears Not hearing No hearings! After shot! After thoughts! After me and you and the REST of ‘em Poor electronic messages In campaigning for Biden 2028 2028 2028 2028 2028 2028 2028 Twenty twenties ate Ohhhhhhh yeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh Lick the split You dirty…., ! * # %’s > Symbiological If I was a Dictionary My definition would not be missed Like A God defined T or not Trump had a bully attack He’s how old Brought from Vagina in money And just Saturday attacked His groping pussy His boyfriend Epstein And so on’s I didn’t queff! As in did you re due Horse wailing Blow by Tornadic atmospheric pressures TAP You tapped into that You now just did You craved more Then You moist You must show your votes In November Hemoglobin’s Really rally leave Blood out of it If I Could be in 2028 after Biden My ego saving Souls If Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiooioiiiiiiiiooooooooolove you

[poshgarmentsltd]

Implementing Barcode Systems in Manufacturing: Supercharge Your Operations

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, efficiency is king. Every second saved, every error prevented, translates to a healthier bottom line and happier customers. But how do you achieve this elusive state of operational nirvana? Enter the humble barcode: a seemingly simple technology with the power to revolutionize your manufacturing game.

Decoding the Benefits:

Barcodes are more than just those black and white stripes you see on groceries and clothing labels. In a manufacturing setting, they act as digital fingerprints, carrying a wealth of information about a product, from its raw materials to its final destination. Implementing a barcode system unlocks a treasure trove of benefits:

Reduced Errors: Manual data entry is a recipe for mistakes. Barcodes eliminate this human error by capturing information accurately and instantly through scanning.

Improved Inventory Management: Say goodbye to lost parts and misplaced materials. Barcodes track inventory in real-time, providing visibility into stock levels and optimizing ordering processes.

Enhanced Production Tracking: From raw materials entering the factory floor to finished products rolling off the assembly line, barcodes track each stage of production, pinpointing bottlenecks and streamlining workflows.

Boosted Efficiency: Every scan saves time and effort. Barcodes automate tasks, reduce manual processes, and keep your production line humming smoothly.

Elevated Quality Control: Barcodes can be linked to quality control checkpoints, ensuring every product meets your standards before reaching the customer.

Streamlined Data Collection: Forget tedious manual data collection. Barcodes capture data automatically, feeding valuable insights into your production systems.

Choosing the Right Code:

Not all barcodes are created equal. Selecting the right symbiology for your needs is crucial. Here's a quick breakdown of the most common types:

Linear Barcodes: The classic one-dimensional stripes, perfect for basic information like product codes. Think UPC codes on groceries.

2D Barcodes: These data-dense squares can hold significantly more information, ideal for complex tracking and serialization. Think QR codes on airline tickets.

Building Your Barcode Ecosystem:

Implementing a barcode system isn't just about slapping stickers on everything. It requires careful planning and integration:

Identify Needs: Analyze your manufacturing processes and pinpoint areas where barcodes can add the most value.

Select Hardware: Invest in barcode scanners that suit your environment and data needs. Consider handheld, fixed-mount, or even wearable options.

Choose Software: A robust barcode management software is essential. It should integrate seamlessly with your existing systems and provide real-time data analysis.

Label Everything: From raw materials to finished products, ensure every item carries its unique barcode.

Train Your Team: Educate your employees on the new system, ensuring proper scanning techniques and data interpretation.

Beyond the Basics:

Once you've mastered the barcode fundamentals, explore advanced applications:

Work-in-process tracking: Track components as they move through production stages, optimizing resource allocation.

Warehouse management: Automate picking and packing, reducing errors and speeding up order fulfillment.

Quality control integration: Link barcodes to inspection checkpoints for real-time quality monitoring.

Scanning the Future:

Barcode technology is constantly evolving. Stay ahead of the curve by exploring emerging trends like:

Near Field Communication (NFC): Embed chips in barcodes for even richer data interaction.

Blockchain integration: Securely track product provenance and build trust with customers.

Must Read Blog: Implementing Barcode Systems in Manufacturing

The Final Scan:

Implementing a barcode system in your manufacturing operation isn't just about technology; it's about a mindset shift. It's about embracing data, automation, and continuous improvement. By harnessing the power of barcodes, you can unlock a new level of efficiency, accuracy, and control, propelling your manufacturing operation towards a brighter future.

Remember, the key to successful barcode implementation lies in thorough planning, choosing the right tools, and empowering your team. So, take the first step, scan the possibilities, and watch your manufacturing magic unfold!

Bonus Tip: For deeper insights and practical guidance, consider attending industry events or consulting with barcode technology experts. They can tailor solutions specifically to your manufacturing needs and help you navigate the exciting world of barcode-driven efficiency.

[sebastiangrad604]

Week 8 In class

We did a lot of work on exploring our elements for class in week 8, we did two worksheets related to this which will have their own posts. This class cleared up a lot of my confusion with the direction of the assignment we are working on and I am grateful we have been given an outline of what is wanted for the report. One thing of note was the clarification that our 20 items is actually 20 elements. I had not realised this and so being able to include the non physical opens the door for a lot more interesting elements for my 20 I think. I will be going back and doing a brainstorm of what I really want to include in my 20 elements. I know for certain I want to include the trans flag or some other form of lgbtq+ symbiology.

[mykmartinez]

Outside My Window • Myk Martinez #? #art #symbiology #visitor #ET #👽#coffee #Wtf #MykMartinez https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn_oGByODhZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[laurent8salvation]

No one knows the origin of the Threat Actor behind this account except for the Threat Actor’s Private Key holder.

Yes, I went there.

🔑

With that being said, I say that to say this:

I need you to *Know* this, okay? 🔑 Know.

No one can assume or hop on the path that was meant for Me.

No one can assume or come in between the path that was meant for You.

What is meant to be will be, and one day, I pray I have the opportunity to show you the forms of validation I have. Soon. --------------------

Moreover,

There is no utterance of your identity to anyone in this Present World.

My Ancestors are aware, as they are the ones who helped to answer my call.

I asked for something specific to the Ether, but it wasn’t until I WROTE SOMETHING DOWN that things started to go haywire.

This was the world moving things around for me.

I had encounters that made me put two and two together and finally made me realize what was going on, both in my life and yours.

Even when I wasn’t sure, I didn’t scoff and write it off:

I did more research, as the true Manifesting Generator with a 3/5 Profile I am per Human Design. I watched and I read a lot. I am still doing so.

-----------------------------

More things began to happen, but one day…

I pray I have the opportunity to explain the full story to you, because it’s a STORY but I know you’ll enjoy it… you’ll be tickled more than anything, and I want to hear you laugh about it.

The important thing here to note is that I know what happens to me when I do not listen to my intuition.

(I learned my lesson, TRUST).

I know what happens when I DO actually listen to my intuition though, even when my brain wants to kick back — Great things happen, Every. Single. Time.

This time, I listened to my intuition, and I’m still sitting here on my balcony, in shock.

Part of me says it makes no sense, but the greater side of me knows with our Spirit and what is inside of us why we can communicate in the way that we do.

It’s part of the reason why I KNOW I have to pay attention. -------------------

(I appreciate you reading me break this down… and even so, this does not encompass this wild ride even in a microcosm… not even 😂😂😂😂😂). -------------------- In a recent reading, two cards were pulled. They were pulled again in another reading, with a completely different librarian. I know how and when to take heed of a sign, and multiple have been given to me. https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Tarot-The-Magician-and-the-High-Priestess-a-Dance-of-Duality-and-Symbiology

---------- Certain things I will tell you when I have the privilege to caress your hand and look you in the eyes and explain, but we already know The Truth. I know that love sometimes may seem or feel like folly to You, but You know I am not to be toyed with, and likewise with you. I appreciate You. I respect You. I honor You. Furthermore, They say for you to trust your intuition, and while I do, I recognize my flaws in this lifetime as the human I am. I sought Validation and Confirmation from You and You have provided it to Me. Thank You, immensely. ----------------------------- I know that you have sought Validation from me, but in a way that recognizes the need for time and to respect your need to rest. That is why I have taken time to meditate on my words before spewing them out like a crazed cannon. There is no race and there is no need to rush. I want the type of story where I can say that I took my time and manifested every single thing I wanted and more. We've done this before...in another lifetime. As I thought about if I was going in the right direction with this, I played the song I left for You and I looked up at the time: 4:44. Can't make this up. -------------------- Your spirit is special, and it encompasses the Beautiful Soul you have with Beauty, Grace, and Elegance. You deserve to be appreciated and cherished in the softest way that only a Water Soul would know how to do. I am deeply attracted to you in a plethora of ways. ----------- A better way to put it in my terms is that you are like the Ethereal feeling you feel when you're on vacation and you never want it to end... But -- I feel like I'm being told that I could have that feeling every day for the rest of my life if I honor myself, heal, and continue to strive towards the greatness that is already here and waiting for me to obtain it. Between those things, prayer, honoring my Ancestors, and enjoying the journey, I know that things will fall into place the way they are supposed to. We both still have to heal and grow, but I am told that a beautiful merger is possible. I am in no rush. I am more than pleased to just... even be aware of something that makes me feel so sweet inside. It's so intense and an adrenaline rush for me sometimes, but I love it. ------------ Speaking of love: "Love" by societal terms is rushed, and I am learning more and more daily that the truest of love is the kind that takes its time and it moves the way it needs to and how it needs to dependent only on the TWO entities involved. I believe in ultimate privacy. I know you do as well. All that matters to me is your words to me and my words to you. I can almost feel your eyebrows furrow and you make a face at me, but I'm serious. If we somehow were able to obtain each other's attention in just the way we have and expressed ourselves in the way we have... Then I think we're on the right path here. (We're doing something right, right?) 😂 I just want you to know that I appreciate you and your softness and that you make my day exceptionally sweet. Thank You ❤️‍🔥 ------------------- I didn't expect things to get this long, and I do feel a smidgen nervous, but I want you to cherish my words and have the validation you need to say what you need to say. Thanks for spending time with my words and hearing me out. Your time is valuable and I cherish the fact that you spent it reading some of my deepest thoughts. Checkmate, Beautiful. 🃏

[thereallucifer666]

Lucifer watched her face and all the emotions flicking through it. It was odd, her concern and worry and anger for him. He tried most times not to think about his back, push it to the far corners of his mind to fester away in quiet. Anyone who had in his bed were smart enough not to ask about his scars or accept his quick brushing off of them in favor of more indecent endeavors. He wasn't sure how to deal with Chloe looking...well, offended for him.

Lucifer was aware that people used him. He was an object of desire after all. Men and women alike could barely resist him, wanting to act out their deepest fantasies with him. And that was usually fine, because it made for a fun few hours at best. But when it was all over and he found himself waking up alone again, staring at the ceiling in that cold silence, his mind would wander. He would find himself wanting more than just meaningless moments between his sheets, knowing he'd never get it. He didn't exist as a person to people. He was an object of desire, or the devil, or their King, more status and symbiology than anything else.

"Well, I did tell her to," Lucifer clarified. He couldn't very well easily reach back and do it himself. And it would've been even more of a shoddy hack job if he had.

Lucifer tensed on instinct as he felt her hand creep towards his scars, but he mad no move to stop her, just keeping his eyes on her face, his expression a blank mask on non-emotion. "Sometimes, yes." He answered quietly.

Lucifer let out a small hum of thought. The Ripper was, without a doubt, genuinely evil. It was just a shame he wouldn't be able to oversee his torture when the time came, but he supposed his demons could handle it well enough. "Then all the more reason to be glad you accepted my job offer."

He couldn't imagine Chloe becoming a victim to some monster like that. He had heard rumors of the victims being "fallen women", and that's why the police weren't taking it seriously. Honestly, useless pile, the lot of them. Maybe when Chloe got her detective agency going, things would be different.

Chloe's touch was gentle against his chest, but he knew he'd be sore for a while until his healing abilities decided to kick in, whenever that might be. It seemed that Chloe's presence also seemed to slow that down as well, so he might need to spend a morning away from the house so the bruises could fade.

"Hm? What?" He asked, not immediately picking up on why her tone had suddenly changed. He moved when she prompted, exposing his mangled wing scars to her, standing out in a rosette hue against his otherwise tanned skin.

"Oh, no. Don't be silly. That's where I cut my wings off. Or rather, Maze did because I told her to," He said, smiling like it wasn't that big of an issue. "Though I suppose in a way, it's still my Father's fault. He's the one who gave me the damn things, anyway."

[infamisparrhesiastes]

#googmorning #instaworld got that #fresh #homebrew batch of #buch #symbiology #kombucha #ferments & #desserts cus we cant 4get about those #nondairy #gkutenfree #chocolate #peanutbutter #star #edibles & #sober #treats hiding on the shelf in the bak behind the buch!!! #yummy #foodporn #pirate #producers #homemade #unsanctioned #healthy #sustinence & since we #avoidtax every #opportunity available, wen u #support our #product u r helping defund global terrorism!!! https://www.instagram.com/p/BvhGDcThACv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=expvmutncir0

[giriduck]

How funny that the Zelda narrative team is teasing us with a ton of ageless pictographs, because it’s such a handy way of conveying information without any context to timeline. I am absolutely sure the teams working on the game are gleefully reading fan speculation and cackling at the community engagement. Rightly so. The hype is real.

Bunch of Tears of the Kingdom speculation under the cut.

Regarding the pictographs themselves, the art style between Breath of the Wild / Age of Calamity and Tears of the Kingdom are fairly distinct from each other, which implies different epochs and/or different cultures created them. Both have Mayan-like aesthetics, but BotW art is more painterly (it was on a tapestry, after all), whereas the artifacts chiseled in stone are more squared-off and angular. Also the unique writing system.

I keep going back and forth as to whether or not the Tears of the Kingdom pictographs in Trailer #3 are from a time long before the Attempted Calamity of 10k years ago, during an era of pre-Ancient Sheikah tech. That would explain the significant lack of technology in the art.

If that is the case, then when were these made? Is that red, menacing flood—seemingly controlling a horde of monsters—malice? Sure looks like it. So probably post-Ocarina of Time-era (or parallel) and Twilight Princess (or parallel) by large margins. Maybe this was the first time Ganon/Ganondorf started using malice-as-magic, long before the events of 10k year ago, when we know that he returned in that form of pure boar energy? Maybe the ancient warriors of that day sealed him away with their magical arm.

The first TotK trailer anchors the story to the discovery of Ganondorf’s dusty body in miserable stasis, presumably under Hyrule Castle, in structures that may pre-date the Ancient Sheikah astral observatory built down there. That might be where the heroes 10k years ago, “sealed Ganon’s power at the source,” according to Sheikah legends. That aligns to the hypotheses above.

Or, perhaps that mysterious group was actually still around 10k years ago, but something happened to them between Ganon’s sealing 10k years ago and now.

Which, if that was the case, begs the question: how and why was that history lost? Where did those folks disappear to? The sky islands? Perhaps because the King of Hyrule’s ban on technology post-Attempted Calamity drove them off? Are they a separate, older group that is almost like a third Sheikah faction? Hence the symbiology reminiscent of the Inverted Eye in the pictographs, and the Sheikah Eye on the new shield and some of interactables in the sky in Trailer #2?

After Ganon's defeat, the King of Hyrule of that era 10k years ago dismantled and buried advanced technology and sent the world back thousands of years in trade, life expectancy, etc., all while essentially destroying the Ancient Sheikah. He canonically waged war against them, imprisoned and/or killed those who opposed him.

So what were Link, Zelda, and the Champions of that era doing when all that was happening? Surely they would oppose all of this, right?

Is that what Zelda (if that’s her) is doing in that pictograph? Aligning to the leader of that mysterious sky faction? Was this all wiped from the history books because it was a dark time in the Royal Family’s history, not to be remembered?

Which makes one wonder whose tears for which kingdom. Hyrule of the present, sure. But given the ages-old Sheikah tear, maybe this dives more into their history, and the more tyrannical side of Zeldas’ (plural intended) family?

[syn0vial]

star wars fans: we're confused about boba fett's status as a mandalorian

boba fett, having been raised mandalorian but orphaned before he could take part in his verd'goten, clinging to the customs and symbiology of his father's culture while declining to take any vows, constantly having his right to wear his father's armor questioned by others and sufficiently cognizant of mandalorian tradition to know why he doesn't belong, and yet still having an identity deeply influenced by his mandalorian upbringing:

[tumblingxelian]

The Source/Essence

Yup, exactly!

Emotions

Regarding your question on whether Imago are weakened if they feel emotions that run counter to their self concept. I would say yes, at least to a degree.

Here's a comparison,

In the manga & anime Ranma 1/2, when someone is using a Chi attack their emotions are intensely important. The Shi Sho Hokodan relies on despair for power and weight, also when Ranma figures out how to use it & gets a confidence burst, the technique is suddenly pathetically weak. Similarly, Ranma tried twisting the technique by creating a version that relies on confidence and it was fairly effective.... Right up until Ryoga pulled out a more advanced & deadly Shi Shi Hokodan & Ranma's attack became super weak.

Imago are not quite this specific or extreme, but I do think that say, Reflekta losing confidence in herself would become more fragile, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Though it can also vary somewhat, we see that Eviustrator was primarily motivated by humiliations and anger at first, but obsessive 'love' for Marinette could drive him just as intensely. In part because they were connected. But if that coin flips to hate, he can stay as strong, because its replacing one emotional fuel with another, but not changing his core identity as an artist.

Basically, apathy is the biggest enemy of an Imago or Akuma. The more driven, or the more all consuming their emotions, then the stronger an Imago or Akuma tends to be. Everything has an upper limit on power of course, this is more just getting a sense for how they work.

Powers

Huh, good to know I've been using that word wrong since forever, I thought symbiology was just a different way of saying symbolism XD

Anyway, glad we agree, I think it makes sense given how most Akuma we see are heavily rooted in identity, self image and their powers relate to these traits symbolically for good and ill.

Darkblade was the best example given the flag, but stuff like Nathanial's weapons being art tools that he has to use before he can create things is another example. The fact Mylene conducted herself like a horror movie monster, even when basically an animal mentally speaking would be another example.

I agree, as we saw with Mylene, if she builds up to a proper horror movie scare & then doesn't get fear it hits her rather than the intended victim. If someone broke into Darkblade's sanctum and stole his flag, things would start crumbling and becoming very messy.

Oooh fun stuff thanks!

But yeah agree, Symbolism is a powerful thing.

Food

Thanks, glad this makes sense and also haha, yes, I love those mental images XD

Agreed on Imago having favourite foods, in some way I sort of view Akuma;/Imago as like, "The Kwami of a person" if that makes sense?

Like Plagg is the personification of destruction, while Style Queen is the personification of Audrey's conceptulization of Style Queen. They are weaker than Kwami, but also have more flexibility by starting as people first and coming closer to being concept or living symbols as they change, but at the expense of traditional identity & flexibility.

Also yes, big fan of the thematic food ideas!

Oh my gosh that is amazing, I love the idea of them just having mad beef with each other, that's so good XD

Imago Evolution & Hybridization

Looking at the Wikipedia it says Imago is the adult stage so not sure what you mean.

Mhm, it could be introspection, or maybe like a world rocking trauma, or the like. Its not an easy shift, again look at Star Train who didn't have any Hawk Moth adding fuel to the fire. But it is possible.

Yeah some of the names are so weird XD

Oooh interesting, I think I'd say water intoxication as it keeps with the heavy focus on the mind.

If multiple Imago try to make the same person a Pupae that person likely just ends up infested with some very discordant essences that would likely lead to an unstable Imago, self destruction, or death.

Nest:

I think that works well, like enough raw power can theoretically destroy anything, but yeah broadly speaking if you want to change, purify or wipe out a Nest, its best to damage its symbolic cohesion. So if Nathanial's Imago has an art studio, trash the artistic side of it, or remove the art tools and it will begin to decay.

Style Queen: I don't concern myself with the opinions of unexceptional creatures. King Darkblade: & what of me!? Style Queen: You are the lowest creature to ever walk on two legs. Maladiktator: Really!? Style Queen: I stand corrected.

But yeah probably not XD

Yeah, mind controlling Imago would be a big threat in this regard. Though I would add that given the already magical nature of Imago & the intensity of their emotions & obsessions, its likely a lot harder to take control of them than it is a regular person.

Rose's Imago would have an easy time with Juleka cos the love is already there but she'd make not headway with say, Style Queen, but could maybe turn Horrificator into a guard dog with time and so on.

For none mind controllers I'd say there isn't a magical way, they'd need to change someone the old fashioned why by interaction or trauma, or destroying and rebuilding them.

Its worth keeping in mind that most kind controllers are super weak, so this is kind of how they survive, while someone like Syren survives by drowning her foes and or beating them to death with her muscular arms.

Different ant breeds essentially, some are better at getting others to ight for them, others are better at fighting for themselves. Also I imagine trying to manage too many "big" personalities, IE other Imago, would be a huge burden in one way or another.

Like if Rose made several people fall in love with her, they'd all want to kill each other out of jealousy or her out of a sense of betrayal. So she'd need to choose her targets carefully.

Haha toxic Yuri, love it!

So, one of your questions regarding how Imago interact with each others territories got me thinking and be prepared for a lot of world building.

The Source/Essence

What, where or potentially even who this comes from is irrelevant on a story level. All we need to know is this is the stuff that Hawk Moth jams into his butterflies but that can operate without him once there. Essence is how you get Akuma, Imago, Infestation, Pupae and so on. It is in essence like the DNA of these beings.

Emotions

Akuma rely on people with intense emotions but can also be fought off by intense emotions. Such as Chloe's loyalty to Ladybug winning out over her frustration, sadness & anger at Ladybug.

We best see the Akuma's ties to emotions in Mylene because she not only became an Akuma in part due to her fear, but could feed on the fear of others to make herself stronger but stagnated or shrunk when not getting it.

Emotions are kind of like water for humans, or electricity for a machine. Too much in the wrong wattage or too little at all can damage or weaken the Akuma & by extension Imago. Bu its also from these things that they draw energy.

Powers

But while emotions may be where they get their energy, the actual means by which they translate that energy into magical power is via symbiology.

This is the thing that makes Imago & Akuma semi distinct from one another in the same way different species of ant re distinct from one another despite their shared evolutionary path.

This is best seen with Darkblade needing to knight his subjects, or hang his flag atop city hall, symbolic acts that give him power over something. Of course his transformation of Paris was backed up by the Butterfly so an Imago would be slower.

Food

Despite this, and rather like Kwami, the fact Imago have physical bodies does mean they need material supplements as well. As a result they do still eat but it doesn't fuel them as much as it does us.

Though ironically it may be why favorite foods matter to Kwami, as it brings about more intense emotions than bland food, so they gain an indirect boost from it, but that's neither here nor there.

Imago Evolution & Hybridization

Like Akuma, Imago are rooted in strong emotions, intense obsessions and the like. As a result changing is hard but not impossible and easier for some than others given the sources temperament.

Darkblade would have a very hard time changing, Chloe would have a fairly easy time changing and so on.

However, such evolutions are internal rather than external. I think that one Imago trying to mess with their counterparts territory, pupae or the Imago themself would be a mixed bag in some respects.

Off the cuff, an Imago cant be infested a second time. If one Imago tried that one another, then either the would be victims dies like they've been given too much water, gets an energy boost and kicks ass, or their attacker exhausts their own essence and collapses.

More than one Pupae hitting a person increases the changes of pure infestation and also may risk a degree of madness depending on how things go. This could result in hybrids depending on the process involved, like if its two Imago working together with a willing third.

Trying to changing a foes Nest is likely very circumstantial. Is the Imago still alive, present, concepting, resisting and so on.

I think that the results may vary too and if one simply wants to overwhelm an area they ne the other Imago gone, as in no longer supplying energy to it and to be in the nest.

Otherwise they eventually hit a sort of metaphorical wall where their symbiology clashes with the others and they kind of just sit there until someone gains an advantage.

Style Queen would be a huge pain in the ass for this, because even if she lacks a large territory her ability to turn stuff into glitter fucks up the symbiology of enemy territories.

If an Imago were to become like another Imago it'd not be through Infestation, it'd be through evolution, but like with how ants can coopt one another, so to can an Imago coopt another Imago. As opposed to culling or colluding.

Example

Say that both Juleka & Rose Imagotized, both in these states are a lot more demanding, egomaniacal and aggressive. But they do still have feelings for each other, but warped by their own obsessions.

Juleka thinks that Rose would be happier looking like her and they could be together in narcissistic love.

Rose thinks her lovely Juleka needs to calm down and stand at her side as a fellow queen, loved by all.

Given the powers at play, Reflekta loses any altercation, assuming there even is one and if placed under the Princess's perfume, enchanced thanks to pre-existing feelings of love, she'd stay at her side.

Slowly, her obsessions and identity would change on a core level and she'd evolve into a different Imago, though be it, how different is up for debate. Rose loves Juleka after all and wants her to be seen and adored.

Thus, it'd be more like, Reflekta becoming a fellow Queen, one who still has a pride and vanity but is as obsessed with Rose, their happy ending kingdom and romance as with herself if that makes sense.

The Source/Essence

Right, so this stuff aligns itself with each person who becomes an Akuma or Imago, granting them appropriate powers.

Emotions

I'm not sure if I quite understand here. So if an Imago feels emotions that run counter to their self-concept as an Imago, are they weakened by their dissonance?

Powers

I think you mean symbolism, not symbiology. Symbiology is apparently the study of symbiosis, which I guess is still somewhat relevant.

Anyway, I agree on the idea that certain actions with powerful symbolism or the employment of certain symbols can grant a boost to an Imago's powers.

But by the same token, if an enemy manages to destroy or capture said symbol, it could be quite detrimental to the Imago's powers. Or perhaps, forces.

Which brings to mind this video I recently watched about flags. An early segment brought up how flags have their origin as Standards, which were used to represent each side of a conflict. Typically when one of those was lost, so was the battle.

On a related note, I found this interesting wikipedia article about the Oriflamme, the banner of the apparent King of France. Very interesting.

But yeah, symbolism is a powerful thing.

Food

Yeah that makes sense. I actually was thinking about asking you about that. Wrote up a question in sticky notes.

Actually, on the same note of Kwami having favorite foods, I think the Imago may have a similar thing.

As in, eating something that fits thematically for the Imago may provide a minor power boost. Not a lot, but a boost is a boost.

Like, Darkblade would get a boost from eating whatever medieval era French nobles ate. Such as... *takes a moment to look at wikipedia* huh. Apparently pigeon was eaten as a dish of royalty in the middle ages.

...

Moving on.

Imago Evolution & Hybridization

Ironically enough, Imago are not the final stage of change.

So sufficient amounts of introspection can lead an Imago to experience a shift in abilities if they manage to sublimate their previous obsession into a different obsession.

On a semi-related note, sublimation doesn't make any sense for what to call the Rooster's ability.

Alternatively, the obsession could shift into something else, perhaps growing more or less specific.

Moving on, would you say the comparison of an attempted double infestation resulting in death via too much water to be based in drowning or water intoxication?

So if a person somehow ended up being turned into a Pupae by multiple Imago, they would likely end up as a sort of highly unstable Imago?

An nest is based around the symbols of the Imago that resides there. That makes sense. So the only way to remove a nest is to first drive out the Imago that resides there, before destroying whatever symbols were left behind. Something like that, anyway.

I feel like Style Queen isn't liked very much by most Imago.

Right, so certain Imago such as Princess Fragrance are capable of influencing other Imago to more closely align with them

Or is it possible for non-mind control based Imago to do something similar?

Example

Love wins!

So does toxic yuri!

[scarfacemarston]

I know this is going to sound controversial and bitchy but it’s my tumblr: but I don’t understand how some metas get so popular. I’m not amazing myself. FAR from it but I see things like  Red Dead Redemption :“OMG Arthur is an artist ! a really good one, look at his journal!” (The game literally shows you immediately this.)  If someone includes more and dives in , then that’s awesome, but if it’s left at that, then I don’t know how much of that is truly meta. I know I’m gatekeeping a bit, though.   Red Dead Redemption again: “Dutch treated Arthur poorly even though he was a father figure” (That’s one of the points of the game.) The type that annoys me the  most is something that is shown and answered in the cut scene. The literal cutscene is the subject of the “discovery”. Stating you noticed say. (I’m making this up) You saw that the Pinkertons came into camp in the early chapters and came in again at the end of the game - the same agency. That is NOT meta. That is a fact. Dutch tried to abandon Abigail in chapter 6. That is not Meta. That isn’t an observation. That is a fact. He bluntly says this. That is not meta.  Sadie and Charles were injured in the epilogue so John had to do xyz alone. That is not meta. That is a fact shown in the cut scene.  Marvel: or “Bucky has ptsd and has a lot of nightmares because of his time as the winter soldier. He carries a lot of guilt” (did you watch...any of the other captain America movies?) Did you know that Natasha was close to Clint’s family? Yes. It’s literally a big part of the movie. or Star Wars: “Leia is so much like her mother Padme because they’re both (insert extremely obvious reason like being strong willed, being political, etc)  (Did you watch the movies? That’s the point.) Luke’s love saved Darth Vader - literally says that.  Did anyone notice that Chewbacca wasn’t given a medal? Yes. That has been pointed out since 1977.  Interview with the Vampire: “Lestat treats Louis and Claudia horribly, but they still care for each other! (Literally the ENTIRE reason for 80% of the book. Literally Louis cannot be anymore blunt.)

I know not everyone picks up on the same things, but sometimes it is literally the easiest and low effort thing that is shoved in the player or viewer’s face. It’s been happening a lot on Reddit, too.  Like, it’s stuff like that where I truly wonder if it’s something they truly don’t know and are excited to share or are wanting easy likes. If someone is genuinely excited and didn’t notice something, that’s one thing and is different, but  I think it’s more the second.  Everyone wants to be valued and heard and have some attention /acknowledgement and people who say they don’t are likely the minority, so it’s understandable why some people do that, it’s just annoying to me.  I have heard a theory that since Literature classes are being cut in a lot of preschool through highschool (and it’s equivalent world wide) and colleges are actively trying to lessen general education requirements like history, writing and literature -s ome people truly may not be picking up on points that seem obvious because things like symbiology and tropes aren’t being taught.  If that’s the case, it’s quite sad and sadly another reason why the “Humanities” are needed.