#this is for really three people in particular

[chipthekeeper]

Today I had the displeasure of reading the words “we get it vel is sad and gay can we move on” and several other similarly ridiculous things on twitter a website not to be named, so I spent my whole 45 minute drive home just absolutely fuming with the need to defend my girl. Most of you know I've already done this in a broad sense before (defending her as a character and as half of a complicated relationship on her appreciation Friday), but let me focus in on what we’ve gotten from Vel so far in season two for now. Because yeah, it might not have been exactly what I was hoping to see, but it’s meaningful as hell and Faye is doing a fucking incredible job and deserves to be applauded for it.

Look. Even if all she was doing was being sad and gay, I would be here for that. You know this. Those are two of my most favorite qualities of her. But let’s not pretend that all she’s doing is “mourning her gay situationship” and forget why we’re seeing her in this arc in the first place. She’s Mon’s cousin and closest confidant, and she’s Chandrilan. Stuck between these two facts is a conflict for Vel. She HAS to be at this three-day-long heteronormative child wedding from hell because someone she loves needs her support, but she hates every second of it. She hates this place, these people, this culture, probably even the clothes on her back. She looks uncomfortable just about every second she’s on screen in this arc, ESPECIALLY in the third episode.

See?

Something you may or may not have noticed – even I didn’t really register it until I started thinking about all of this because watching three fucking episodes all in one night made them all blur together – but Vel DOESN’T ACTUALLY SAY A WORD IN THE THIRD EPISODE. She has no lines. Vel’s extreme stress and discomfort are conveyed only through Faye’s body language and facial expressions. To complain about this and cry about her only being “sad and gay” is a huge discredit to the performance and I simply won’t stand for it.

Like yes, she’s sad and gay but why can’t we take a second to think about what that means? Look at her circumstances, even leaving out the Cinta of it all for a second. This is a person who must have realized at a very young age that she was not only different but very likely going to either live a completely miserable life or be a disappointment to her very wealthy family and her society at large, and being back here in the middle of it all for an occasion like this hurts fucking deeply even if it’s a weird tradition and she wants no part in it. I can tell you this for a fact because I have fucking lived it. As a gay person, I have no desire whatsoever to take part in a traditional religious marriage or wedding ceremony like the one my sister had a couple years ago, but being at her wedding and the party that followed was overwhelming and painful because I spent so much time thinking something along the lines of “even if I had someone in my life to do this with, these same people – my family – would never celebrate my love this way.”

Now, is that what Vel’s thinking about as she stands next to the other unmarried women (i.e. teenage children) watching her niece’s first dance with her new husband? Perhaps not. But the way she breaks down after seeing Cinta sure looked an awful lot like how I looked sitting outside in the dark and the rain, drunk as I’ve ever been, while my sister’s reception carried on behind me.

And this, to me in particular, is what’s so great about Vel as a character – as a STAR WARS character – and why I will never ever complain about seeing her be “sad and gay.” For the first time ever in my favorite franchise, I get to see myself so clearly. She’s sad and gay, yes, but she’s also fiercely supportive of her family (the part she likes, anyway) – she takes Mon’s hand in support when she needs it, and she seems ready to snap at Kleya for even being around and creating the possibility of trouble at this function. She’s sad and gay, yes, but she’s on the front line of a fucking rebellion. Just because you don’t see it in this arc because that’s not where the story is focused doesn’t mean that’s not still true, and we’ll see that again come next week I’m sure.

I don’t really know how to wrap this up, but the point is if you’re tired of what’s happening with Vel in this show, you’re probably not paying enough attention. I want more of her and more for her to do as much as anybody (that’s a lie, I want it SO MUCH FUCKING MORE THAN ANYBODY, fucking try me), but there’s already a whole ocean of her character to explore with just what we have, if you only bother to stop and consider it.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

me thinking way too much about who goes to this event and how they interact with mrs. leech

I like how the event characters for Eternity Float are literally so… random 😭 For all other hometown events, there is a more rhyme or reason as to why those particular characters are visiting and why certain other characters aren’t. For example:

Scalding Sands’ Al'ab Nariya / A Firelit Sky: Over the Sands - Kalim invites Yuu, Grim, and the members of the Light Music Club, Lilia (wants to see how the Sands have changed) and Cater (eager to go for the pics). Kalim also encourages Lilia and Cater to bring others. Jamil was already heading home with Kalim to begin with, as his attendant. Lilia got sick the night before and could no longer come. His plus one, Malleus, was ended up showing up by himself, eager to broaden his horizons. Cater brought Trey, who was interested in seeing the unique confections and ingredients of the Sands.

Harveston's Kelkkarotu / Harveston Sledathon - Epel invites his friends Yuu and Grim, who loves to eat apples, to his hometown (famous for its apples) for a sledding race, even if neither of them participate. He doesn’t want to invite Vil or Rook in case he slips back into his accent at home. Epel challenges Sebek’s athleticism to get him to agree to come along for the best chances to win. Jade expresses an interest in Mt. Moln, where the Sledathon takes place. Finally, Idia wants to visit because Harveston is the setting for a sports anime he is really into, Sled Over Heels.

Sunset Savanna’s Tamashina-Mina / Cloudcalling on the Savanna - Leona initially invites Vil, Jack, and Lilia to compete in the Catch the Tail/Bead Brawl tournament. He wants NRC students on a team so they can win and he can avoid giving the Sunset Warrior lessons. These three are selected because Leona thinks they are the most physically suited for cinching the win. Other contenders, like Malleus and Rook, are people Leona says he does NOT want to ask for help. Grim wants to go too, but Leona refuses until Lilia says he won’t come if Yuu and Grim don’t.

The Queendom of Roses’ White Rabbit Fest / White Rabbit Fest - Yuu, Epel, Ortho, and Grim were already about to eat lunch together when Deuce joins them. He mentions going home for a festival and decides to invite these first years to go with him. Ortho is excited to go because this is the kind of thing “real boys” do. Epel has relatives in the area and has always wanted to go during White Rabbit Fest. Silver initially asks Deuce to pick up a clock for him to help him stay awake, but Deuce said Silver should come and pick up a clock for himself. Deuce intended on inviting Ace too, but he had basketball practice and couldn’t make it.

Shaftlands’ Tapis Rouge / Vil’s Red Carpet Cadets - Many characters, including Rook, Epel, Ruggie, Deuce, Floyd, Cater, Jade, and Lilia, want to go along with Vil to Maquillaville, each for their own reasons. Rook is a lover of the arts and wants to experience the film festival, Floyd/Deuce/Epel just wants to see someplace new, Ace wants to check out the fashion, Cater wants to take lots of pics, Azul wants to observe the famous brands with flagship stores there, Jade wants to check out the old mines nearby, Lilia and Jamil want the VIP experience. Vil originally wanted to take his Film Research Club members, but they are busy shooting this weekend due to bad weather during their original planned shooting date. Vil demands that everyone demonstrate why they alone should go; Azul conspires with Jamil and Ace to ensure that they are picked via a random draw/lottery. Azul suggests the idea, Jamil agrees with him (it would be shady if Octavinelle students like the twins agreed with Azul), and Ace uses his quick fingers to rig the draw; Vil knew of their trickery but let it slide since the technically did play up their strengths. Ace claims Yuu and Grim happened to get lucky and got picked at random.

Then you have Coral Sea’s Eternity Float… where Floyd just fucks off because he doesn’t feel like it anymore and Azul refuses to attend because of not wanting to see Georgina Leech 💀 So Jade literally goes all around NRC campus pulling whatever poor unfortunate soul he happens to come across for the event to fill in for Floyd, who was supposed to go. Azul even suggests to Jade that he drop by Ramshackle to collect Yuu and Grim just because we’d be the most likely to have tons of free time on their hands on such short notice. Like we’re told to be ready to leave with Jade in an HOUR’S time 💦 and of course Grim is easily convinced to go after the promise of partying and good food…

Chshdbwjehwiwn Jade lies to everyone by telling them they are each the “only one” he can depend on in his time of need… He even used a slightly different method to convince each person to come along:

Riddle refused at first because he was busy. But Jade “practically begged [him] to come”, whining that the wedding would be ruined without enough guests in attendance. AND JADE DID THIS IN FRONT OF RIDDLE WHILE HE WAS STUDYING???? So Riddle reluctantly agreed. When he tries to back out, Jade pressures him to stay by lamenting that the Heartslabyul dorm leader would not keep his word that he would attend.

Jade invited Malleus, who was eager to accept the invitation because attending ceremonies and weddings is considered noble in Briar Valley. Jade claimed that Malleus’s presence would “elevate the prestige” of this particular wedding, as Malleus is fae royalty. Malleus worries that he would be violating invitation etiquette since he was not personally invited by the bride and groom, but Jade manages to convince him by pointing out that if he declined now, rumors would spread, meaning Malleus might not be invited to future wedding functions. Wanting to avoid being misunderstood, Malleus relents. (Jade casually inviting Malleus to an event, while not canon to the main story, does make me call into question just how true the sentiment of “everyone is so scared of him/he’s so hard to approach that they forget him or never invite him to functions” holds 😅 because this is another contradictory moment and character to add to the ever-growing pile.)

Rook was told there would be a fun wedding that was short on guests. Jade described the bride and groom as “lonely and pitiful”, and in desperate need of additional company. If the Eternity Float is not lively, then the newlyweds will be very sad. Of all the characters, Rook probably needed the least convincing.

Jade outright admits he walked all over campus and talked to EVERYONE he came across. So literally anyone else (except those in Octavinelle) could have reasonably joined this event. Rook and Malleus I can see as having no plans (since they seem to just wander around and do their own thing) and being easy to convince, but then we also have busy-as-a-bee and stubborn Riddle represented in the ranks too. I honestly thought Riddle would be explained by Jade saying he intentionally reached out to his Class 2-E classmate or something. I really wonder why Rook and Riddle got represented again in a wedding event (even with the same rarities; Riddle is even more egregious because this is also his second beachy SR despite his personality being strict) instead of someone new.

What I will say is that even though it feels like Riddle, Malleus, and Rook’s shoes could have been filled by anyone (since Jade’s method of recruitment wasn’t particularly unique??), they did have interesting interactions with Georgina.

To begin with, Jade introduces us to his mother as his “close friends”. This description causes Riddle to look slightly put off, whereas Malleus is interested/amused and Rook happily agrees and says that he and Jade are besties 💀

When Rook introduces himself to Georgina, she says Rook is very “courteous”. She later goes on to describe Rook’s air as being “glamorous yet adventurous” like the Seagull for which Floyd has nicknamed him (although Rook’s outfit features black-tailed gulls, not seagulls). It’s interesting that Georgina automatically sees Rook’s good points. He typically comes off as overly friendly or too touchy, at least at NRC. Is she the type of person that’s good at reading others…?

Georgina recognizes Malleus as the heir to Briar Valley and says it is a great honor to meet him. This is interesting because in a precious event, A Firelit Sky, no one seemed to recognize Malleus thanks to his headscarf. Jamil’s younger sister Najma also did not seem to recognize him, even when Malleus was introduced by name. Georgina, as an adult woman, is more familiar with politics than the average tween. I wonder if there’s more to it than just that though? She seems to understand that Malleus is the type that won’t attack unless provoked (like the Sea Slug). If the theory about the Leeches being an organized crime family turns out to be true, then they would have a vested interest in how politics go and being in the good graces of a crown prince.

The most interesting interactions have to be between Georgina and Riddle though. She recognizes Riddle as Jade’s classmate and mentions that her son talks about him often. Riddle is shocked and demands to know what Jade has been saying about him. Jade responds with “nothing but the honest truth.” Georgina asks if Riddle dislikes goldfish, and he laments over his Floyd-given nickname, as it derives from the fact that he is small and red, but insists her that he still likes his outfit. She apologizes for her other son’s rudeness but then also reassures Riddle that goldfish have more qualities than just being small and red. Georgina says that goldfish raised in captivity are small, but those released into the wild flourish and have the potential to grow to be quite large. Riddle becomes excited at hearing about this potential for growth, but Jade just laughs. I assume it’s because those two are thinking about what Georgina said in terms of height, but allow me, if you will, to overanalyze for a moment.

I wonder if… Riddle’s reactions here are, in part, informed by his own experiences with his mother?? He seemed surprised that Jade told his mother about him, which could be attributed to Riddle just generally being suspicious of Jade or wondering what kinds of shady info Jade spilled. But could it not also be shock due to Georgina’s lack of anger or upset? Because thinking about it, the ONE time Riddle made friends and his mom learned about it, she blew up and forbade him from playing with Chenya and Trey again. Now Riddle is learning that… kids can tell their parents about their friends and those parents DON’T get mad about it or ban their kids from contacting their friends. In fact, Georgina even asks the NRC students to “Please continue taking care of/looking after my son for me.” She’s actually encouraging interaction, and I wonder if Riddle is genuinely having difficult processing this given his limited worldview and how he only has his own mother to go off of for what to expect of others.

I think it’s also really sweet that Georgina says sorry to Riddle on behalf of Floyd and reassures Riddle in a roundabout way that he may not be small forever. I do get the sense that she derives some enjoyment from Riddle’s embarrassment (since she does have that sus smile in this scene), but I also feel like she’s truly being motherly here as well. After all, why else would she be concerned that Riddle may dislike goldfish after she just picked out an outfit for him inspired by that motif?

There’s something more to what Georgina says to Riddle. She specifically makes note of goldfish in captivity being small, but goldfish set free being larger. Might this be a metaphor for how Riddle currently feels trapped, confined by his mother’s iron fist and feeling as though he cannot grow? And how he can only flourish once he has gained independence from her??? 👀

(bchsvwkskss Not related to Georgina’s interactions with The Boys but 💦 I love how she takes Grim seriously when he calls himself -sama/great and says his title is “impressive” 😭 AND HOW SHE CALLS HER OWN SON “JADE-SAN”.)

... Anyway, writing up this post made me realize that Ruggie and Floyd are the only characters in the main cast to have NEVER visited another place in a hometown event 💀 (If you count appearances in which the characters travel to a new place but do not technically get an event outfit, Kalim has gone to Silk City, Jack has gone to Sunrise City.)

Characters who have been to 1 hometown:

Riddle (Ultramarine City)

Trey (Silk City)

Cater (Silk City)

Ace (Maquillaville)

Deuce (Clock Town)

Leona (Sunrise City)

Jack (technically Sunrise City even if he did not get an outfit)

Azul (Maquillaville)

Rook (Ultramarine City)

Idia (Harveston)

Ortho (Clock Town)

Lilia (Sunrise City)

Silver (Clock Town)

Sebek (Harveston)

Characters who have been to 2 hometowns:

Jade (Harveston, Ultramarine City)

Kalim (technically Silk City even if he did not get an outfit, and Sunrise City)

Jamil (Silk City, Maquillaville)

Vil (Sunrise City, Maquillaville)

Epel (Harveston, Clock Town)

Malleus (Silk City, Ultramarine City)

[honeygrahambitch]

Will walked into the living room without saying a word and placed a bottle of limoncello on the table. He crossed his arms as he waited for a reaction from Hannibal.

"Welcome back. Anything interesting?" He asked as he lowered the book he was reading, looking at Will past the bottle that was evidently obvious.

"I brought limoncello. The best on the island. You are not avoiding it anymore," Will said, the accusation not making Hannibal have any reaction.

"I haven't been avoiding it."

"You like lemons. You like drinks that have a lot of flavor. You like alcohol. You like Italy. What's wrong with it?"

"It is indeed a special one," Hannibal agreed, the weak smile on his face annoying Will even more. "I just don't feel like having it."

"We've been living in Italy for six months. I consumed bottles of limoncello in front of you. You refuse me every single time. It won't kill you," Will insisted as he walked into the kitchen to get glasses.

"I think limoncello is wonderful. I really appreciate it. It's nothing personal, Will."

"Why are you being so enigmatic about it? You can tell me if it makes you sick or stuff like that. Remember when we learnt about my aperol aversion?"

"How could I forget? I loved that particular suit. What a fascinating night." Hannibal said thoughtfully. "It's nothing of that sort. Limoncello doesn't make me sick."

"Perfect. Then we are drinking together tonight. It will go well with the tiramisu you made this morning." He said as he poured the yellow content into the glasses, about two fingers in each.

Hannibal could already feel the sweet perfume in the air. A drink he really used to enjoy. Was it the time to share something with Will?

"There is something very particular about limoncello," he said as he stared at the contents of his glass, "I find it delightful. However, it turns out, I have never been able to build tolerance for it."

Will arched an eyebrow. "There's no way. You are alcohol-resistant. I have only seen you slightly tipsy when we finished three bottles of wine when we got this place."

"I'm surprised you have memories from that night. You blacked out, after all."

"Don't change the subject," Will said while changing the subject, "Limoncello gets you drunk?"

"Yes. And I am not used to the feeling. Especially because I am not really myself when I'm drunk."

As a response, Will pushed the glass towards Hannibal. "You got me curious now. It's a safe space, I am here. Knock yourself out."

"No." Hannibal refused. "I don't know what I am capable of when I have zero control of my prefrontal cortex."

"Well, you murder and cannibalize people when you are in control of your prefrontal cortex. It can't get any worse."

"It will. You won't like it. I am not funny."

"I have a feeling you'd be quite entertaining," Will argued. "I have seen so many sides of you during the last years. I don't hate any of them. And," Will pauses "this is natural, Hannibal. Everyone gets drunk now and then."

Hannibal looked at his glass then at Will, then again at his glass. He was being emotionally manipulated into making himself vulnerable. There was something savory about losing all control in front of Will. At the same time, there was something terrifying in showing Will that side of himself.

"I apologize for my future actions."

(To be continued)

[linearao3]

So, from a meta-textual standpoint I want to say that this is 100% the kind of ceremony theater people make up, in that it is needlessly elaborate and technically difficult to execute, with everybody needing to take a certain number of steps while ending up in a very certain and particular place. (In fact it reminds me very much of a story a theater prof of mine told about how he asked his friend, a theater director famous for her ritualistic performances, to write a ceremony for his marriage — it was beautiful, he said, and everyone was in the wrong place three line in despite multiple rehearsals.)

That said, it’s not implausible really at all given the context — almost nothing is expected, as performance, from the bride and groom, since most of the elaborate choreography is performed by the parents, and this makes sense for weddings generally (no one is less likely to be thinking clearly than the couple) and particularly for child-marriage done at the will of and for the benefit of the parents.

There are a couple very basic and, notably, sexist, ideas being evoked — the transfer of woman as property from one household to another as she crosses the threshold out of her mother’s realm, over a branched stick presumably meant to suggest spread legs, and then into the symbolic circle of her husband’s household, and the transfer from father to husband of the phallic knife which is used to symbolically remove her virginity.

But it also seems notable that there are a number of elements which suggest that the ceremony is meant to happen out of doors — the circle is drawn in grass, and the slightly slope seems like a stand-in for one of the many dramatic hills we see outdoors and which seem to have ritual significance. The glass sounds seem meant to imply wind. It gives the impression of something that once involved actually leaving the bride’s house and meeting the groom in a liminal space, but removed from all the contingency and unpredictability which comes with actual outside spaces.

The lines are spoken in Chandrillan, and I would be very curious to know if that’s a living language that, for example, the servants can speak but the aristocracy simply don’t bother to, like Russian aristocrats speaking primarily French, or if it’s more like having your TradCath wedding in Latin. Either way it’s clear that it’s not something they’re fluent in, and have only learned as a collection of sounds with an associated phrasal meaning rather than being meaningful on a word-by-word basis.

And finally, it becomes clear that there has been little to no audience to any of this. They’re ushered out to be introduced to their guests as a married couple. Their marriage is a deal made behind closed doors.

The obvious comparison for all this is to the religious ritual we saw in Season 1, the Eye of Aldhani, which was performed in a language the people involved knew well enough to use flexibly, which was done out of doors and in direct relationship to the natural world, and which was ecstatic and communal. And there is something a little bit Noble Savage lurking in the implicit comparison, to my eye — the colonized primitives, with their pure faith and elemental relationship to nature, vs. the cynical, empty motions of the wealthy galactic elite. What troubles this, intelligently, to my mind, is that the Chandrillan ceremony isn’t drained of meaning. Leida really is being given from father to husband. And she believes in the beauty and truth of it. Which is, I think, what makes her visible as also a victim of empire (horrible little monster though she is) — she has faith, and her faith is being exploited; she sees all the wealth around her as decoration and celebration for her moment of joyful meaning, but it’s that wealth which is actually the real meaning and motivating force of the wedding. She’s being married to conceal her mother’s financial activity and for literally no other reason, and her marriage is likely to be far, far worse than her mother’s ever was. She’s the lamb smiling at the shine on the knife.

Asylum

T, 1/1

Leida Mothma is a married woman. Her mother is a criminal in exile, her location unknown. Leida ought to be safe from her. But somehow, she's not.

[traincat]

Do you have any favorite Peter Parker character designs? Older and newer? And any one that you'd just personally prefer for him?

Yeah, I feel like I've definitely developed like, a preferred Face for Peter built over various designs throughout the years. (The caterpillar eyebrows are very important to me.) The thing is, I also think, allowing for the wide variety of artistic styles he's been drawn in over the years, up until recently Peter had a pretty consistent design overall.

I really like how both Romitas draw him, for example, but for different reasons. John Romita Sr has a very romantic take on characters in general, which you know, makes sense, he drew for romance comics. It's his art style that really moved Peter away from Ditko's spikier characterization into a more romantic, mature leading man.

(ASM #66) Don't love how often he has blue eyes in this period (I am solidly Team Brown Eyes when it comes to Peter) but I do appreciate the evolution of his design, and I think Romita Sr is so foundational in that. (I like Ditko's design for him, too, the OG and all, but I think considering the evolution of Peter's character, this kind of forward movement with his design makes a lot of sense.) You can kind of see what I consider the hallmarks of Peter's face emerging here -- the thicker eyebrows, the more pronounced jaw, the one roguish curl of hair over his forehead. There's a personality that's developing here, and I like seeing how it evolves, especially because I think John Romita Jr is an artist who really especially brings it home.

(ASM #121-122) And I love how Gil Kane then kind of sharpens that design, especially when Peter is emotionally distressed. The way the prominent brows draw in, the tenseness of his expression, even the way that one forehead curl gets increasingly disheveled -- it's so good.

(ASM #141, #143, #146) Love Ross Andru's face for him, too, and the range of emotion he brings. I think Peter's not really a complete character until he's suffered three losses -- Uncle Ben, George Stacy, and Gwen Stacy. (And I don't think George and Gwen specifically have to be George and Gwen in non-616 continuities, necessarily, but rather people who occupy the roles that George and Gwen represent.) So I like that his features become more defined at this point, and I do always think of Peter as someone who has prominent features. I don't like when he's bland-looking, because I think that plays into the notion of him as a "relatable" hero not because he has relatable problems (the reader relates to his circumstances) but because he's Just Like You (he relates to the reader's circumstances). Having stronger, more defined facial features, rather than just being any guy with brown hair, helps drive home that he is an individual character with his own personality and traits.

I especially love both Sal Buscema and John Romita Jr's takes on him.

(Spectacular Spider-Man #180) I especially like how Buscema draws Peter's build, especially in regards to both Harry and Norman here. Harry is spindly, delicate, and Norman is broader, but Peter has a very athletic build that fits him as Spider-Man. I like him on the lankier side, but still obviously a guy who spends a ton of time doing acrobatics.

(Spectacular Spider-Man #199) I also really like how he draws Peter's resting bitchface. I tend to lean towards Peter kind of having a permanent scowl unless he's with someone he loves or around kids. The lines that man is going to have by 40. It's very lucky everyone he's attracted to is the kind of person to have a twelve step skincare routine and enough mental fortitude to put him through at least three of those.

But when he does smile, I think JRjr in particular nails it.

(Peter Parker #78)

(ASM v2 #55)

(ASM v2 #50) And I know this is about Peter, but the dimples he draws on MJ are so cute. But yeah, for me, when I think about what Peter's face looks like, I mean, first off, I think -- "Ordinary. Saddest face I ever saw. (...) He wants me to be okay, and he's giving me this." Because I'm obsessed with that summary of him from Spectacular Spider-Man v2 #14.

Because I think he should, on first glance, be a little ordinary -- and ordinary doesn't mean plain here, necessarily. He looks at home walking down a busy city block.But he should be a person you could pass on the street without everyone's heads turning. You might remember him in an hour. You might not. I do think he should be handsome, but not in a movie star way. So I like him with those distinctive features that are maybe not thought of as the most conventionally handsome -- big bushy brows, hair that's got a wavier texture, line between his brows before he's even twenty-three. I always write him with a big nose, because I like the schnoz on him, and I have a tendency to describe it as crooked because let's face it, he's gotten hit in the face a lot. A face with character.

But honestly there's a lot of Spider-Man art I like, and I think up until the last kind of decade and a half, a solid majority of artists on his titles have drawn him in a way I like, even if I don't click with their style. (I don't personally vibe with Ramos' art, for example, but you can't deny in the early 2000s he was drawing some brows on him.) So I think for me the big things are strong features, athletic and lanky build, and that his personality comes out in his face and his body language.

(ASM #509 & #510)

[tozettastone]

People do have really strong and cohesive ideas about the gender connotations of alcoholic beverages.

I think overall it has to do with the degree of sweetness and complexity, rather than of particular varieties of drinks being involved. The sweeter and more complex, the more feminine. For example, a whiskey sour is perceived as more feminine than a whiskey and soda and both are girlier than whiskey and ice, even though all three of these contain only whiskey as the alcoholic component.

But it's also not JUST alcoholic beverages. If you look like a woman and you order a coffee, the person who delivers it to your table WILL assume your short black belongs to whichever man-passing person you're with. God forbid a man drink a cappuccino, I suppose.

There's a whole secret gendered hierarchy of beverage order.

Waiters and barmen seem to know it the way forgemasters know the heat of their metal. ┐⁠(⁠ ⁠˘⁠_⁠˘⁠)⁠┌

[solarbird]

Last night – Tuesday night – Gamers Nexus posted a three hour deep dive on how Trump’s tariff regime is completely fucking one segment of the computer industry: custom computers and components including gaming PCs.

I have now watched all of it.

IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME.

I never say that shit about a video this long but it is a documentary of goddamn note. I haven’t seen anything else close to this, showing not just numbers, but how those numbers compound – 145% isn’t a limit, some of the tariffs are additive on top of each other – and most of all how stupidly complicated they’ve made it.

Let’s say you’ve got a power supply. Let’s say it’s at 145% as a base unit, ’cause right now it probably is. That’s not the only tariff – that’s just one of them. Percentage aluminium by weight? You’ve got to figure that out, and you need to know where it came from, because that’s an additional tariff. Sometimes. Percentage steel by weight? Same question, same fluctuating situation.

How the fuck do you figure out where the aluminium legs on a resistor came from?

The transparency from Hyte in particular – it’s stunning. They’re just dumping pricing and strategy trade secrets in this video because they literally can’t do business in the US as things stood at time of shooting. They’ve cancelled all shipments to the US and once they’re out of stock already in country, they’re out of stock.

As they say, most people won’t really notice until shelves go empty.

And this is just one industry.

$600 for a PC case, anyone?

[holocene-sims]

next // previous

september 25, 2021 6:50 p.m. myshuno restaurant

[pigeon-butch]

I certainly have my own concerns about the treatment of moo deng but um. well i think some of you may just be racist

[good--merits-accumulated]

going through some old left-for-dead projects and just found this one where I was like. INTENT on dissecting jeff's brain on the operating table (i.e. google docs) but only from todd's weird skewed pov

[professor voice] it's about brothers as eternal combatants and it's about being so convinced of your own goodness you excuse your shitty actions. it's also about comparing yourself to a dog because you feel less fully formed than your brother. lol.

[thelingering]

*exasperated sigh lol* changeeeeee is hardddddd

[megumi-fm]

.

[sysig]

Without me, who am I (Patreon)

[drolta]

really do not agree with some of these takes from the vc fandom concerning the show only fanbase

[is-this-tf]

Okay I need to speak my truth: being into character TF for fandoms that rarely get attention from TF artists feels like this

[just-a-mod]

if it helps, Rowan said something kinda interesting about the islands at one point

I accidentally spoiled myself a bit about it oops but I suggest chatting with the characters if only because like you can get a bunch of interesting stuff, normal stuff but also something that also reminds me of Zelda (don’t worry I won’t spoil anything)

-🦑

though with a poor memory, i might have forgotten any interesting dialouge by now. im pretty hyperfixated on Waldo. but i do try to talk to most of the people on the island when i can remember to, it's just atouch hard to find them at times xD

i am dearly spoiled by games like Stardew valley and Palia where i can see the tokens of NPCs on the map

that being said, i do really like Rowan. out of every one in town, except for like...Ossono and Ofelia

but i've heard you can only get more lore by going on dates, and that just sorta grates. as a demi-sexual, i really just like focusing the one character;;;

but i'll do it for the lore, Waldo will understand, it's just platonic friend dates TwTb