#toebox

[robealafrancaise]

Got my first pair of cowboy boots today, and let me tell you that was an Experience

We went to an actual "boot store" and it was very disheartening to realize that because of the way my feet are, it was going to be next to impossible for me to find a pair of boots that fit right. And they were nice boots, but there were just too many issues between the standard sizes and my feet

I had already known several potential issues going into this, so I wasn't completely blindsided. 1) I have wide fucking feet that are not very long 2) I have big calves so anything too tall and tight isn't gonna work 3) sometimes I have a hard time getting my heel to the bottom of boots that don't have a zipper bc it gets caught on the inside back of the boot

So why was I bothering to try to find a pair despite this? Squaredancing. Which meant I also needed said boots to not really have tread on them so I can slide. Honestly, I might have had more luck with that at this other store with more selection, but it was too far away for me to want to go on a Thursday afternoon.

But at the store I was at, I quickly realized that everything I thought was going to be a problem was in fact a problem. It didn't help that they didn't have wide shoes in stock, but I did find one in the boy's section that was wide enough. It was too long tho. Unfortunately, every single boot I tried on, whether or not it had other issues, came with the *new* issue of the top of the boot digging into the top of my foot. (You know, the part where the bottom of the boot connects to the ankle part... the sales associate said i might have a high arch or something)

So I left that store convinced that I was shit outta luck. I didn't care *too* much bc I figured I wasn't gonna pay potentially a bunch of money for a pair of shoes I didn't like/that didn't fit me, so I had kept my expectations low.

Then we were at the mall for other reasons, so my mom said we should look at the shoes in Belk's. Also very disappointing, but admittedly a long shot. We walked out of Belk's and saw T.J. Maxx, and I joked that we might as well look there while we were here.

AND GUESS WHAT

They're even leather... from T.J. Maxx of all the damn places...

they don't have the thing that presses on the top of my foot and also they have a wide opening so it doesn't rub on my calves 👍 no blisters for me!

[saiintvalentiine]

got my ass discombobulated at a halloween carnival last night bc I decided to wear my boots (I Like Being Tall) and now my feet HURT

[suispiria]

found shoes that look a lot like the lemaire flats of my dreams . We have signed up for email notifs when they’re in stock

[wetslug]

shoe shopping is always a fucking nightmare like ive never been so aware of my toes. im splaying my toes an unnatural amount and gaslighting myself into believing this is how i walk 24/7

[spaceoperetta]

overcorrected buying too-small shoes by buying too-large ones, welp

at least the local chain running store has a good return policy!

(using custom insoles is a neverending chicken-and-egg problem and I am tired of it and not entirely sure about them)

[hightaled]

actually i spent like 3 hours looking at shoes today. understanding my sneakerhead friend

[portraitoftheoddity]

Foot Care for Hiking - A Guide

Hiking is rough on your feet. Any activity where you spend a lot of time moving around upright is going to be, but between the added weight of a pack, the irregularity of the terrain, and the intensity of conditions in the outdoors with heat, cold, wet, etc., hiking for miles can leave your feet far more sore than walking an equal distance on a flat paved road. From getting blisters to bruising toenails to even cases of trench foot among thru-hikers, there’s a lot of problems that can arise. 

But if you’re out in the backcountry and your feet are blistered and miserable... you still need them to walk out. So it’s essential that you take care of them, so they can carry you and back safely! 

Here are some tips for foot care and maintenance for the new hiker:

BEFORE YOU PLAN TO HIKE

1 - Get Hiking Shoes That Fit Well. This is honestly the biggest thing. 

Proper hiking footwear with decent support and traction is really important, not just for comfortable feet, but also for overall safety. A lot of injuries among novice hikers stem from inappropriate footwear that leads to slipping and falling. Hiking boots, hiking shoes, or hiking sandals designed for cushioning your feet and gripping the terrain are worth investing in, since even an expensive shoe is cheaper than the doctor’s bill for a broken leg (ask me how I know!)

But the right type of shoe won’t matter if it doesn’t fit your foot. If your shoe is too tight, it’s going to pinch and rub against your foot uncomfortably and give you blisters. If your shoe is too big, your foot is going to slip around in it, rubbing against the shoe... and give you blisters. If your toes repeatedly ram into the end of the toebox of your shoe because of poor fit, this will result in achy toes, bruised toenails, and possibly even toenail loss on long-haul hikes. 

When you buy hiking footwear, try to do so in person. Different brands will have different fits, and you may find one in particular is better suited to the shape of your foot. For instance: I almost exclusively wear Keens because of the wide toe box, since I have narrow heels and wide toes on my weird-ass Daffy Duck feet. An associate may be able to guide you, especially if you’re in an outdoors-oriented store.

So once you have some shoes that fit comfortably and are hiking appropriate--

2 - Break Those Bad Boys In. 

Don’t immediately go on a long hike in a brand new pair of shoes you’ve never worn. Practice first wearing them around the house, running errands in them, going for walks in them, running up and down stairs in them, and letting them mold to your feet. Then try some longer walks or short hikes before setting out on a lengthy expedition. If you’re like me and wear specific insoles, wear them in your hiking boots while breaking them in. 

If you notice certain issues, like heel slippage or pressure on the top of your foot if you have high arches, try looking into different lacing techniques. This article has some suggestions, and there’s a lot more techniques out there. Experiment with what lacing technique is most comfortable for you!

PREPARING FOR YOUR HIKE

You have your boots and you’re planning to hike. Awesome! Here are some foot care steps that should be part of your hiking prep routine:

1 - Trim Your Nails. Long toenails can snag, and also can ram into the ends of your shoes, causing bruising, pain, and even ingrown toenails. Google “Hiker’s Toe” at your own risk. Keeping your toenails neatly trimmed is a good preventative step, and one I always take the night before a hike.

2 - If you’re prone to blistering, Tape Your Feet. I know that because of some weirdness in my stance and gait and the shape of my feet, there are spots where I am always prone to blistering on a hike. If you’re a brand new hiker, you might not be aware of any problem spots yet -- or you might be the lucky sort who doesn’t have any! -- but if you know you tend to get blisters on the backs of your heels, or anywhere else, get your tape out. 

I use Leukotape P, since it’s breathable and sticks well even when it gets damp from sweat, but plain old drug store brand cloth medical tape will do in a pinch. Tape up any problem areas preventatively before setting out -- the tape will provide a barrier between your skin and the area of your boot that’s rubbing against it, reducing the friction. It also secures that top layer of skin in place, reducing the shearing effect between upper and lower layers of skin that results in blister formation from repetitive rubbing. 

3 - Put on Good Socks. Your socks should be the right height for your shoe. If you have ankle-high boots, don’t wear low-cut socks; you want your socks to be a consistent barrier between your shoe and your skin. You also want socks that-- like your shoes -- fit. You don’t want them so snug that they’re digging into your calves and cutting off circulation, but they shouldn’t be loose and moving around in your boot either, and the heel cup should line up with your foot’s heel.

For sock material, merino wool is the go-to choice among hikers, though polyester and nylon also make appearances. Wool socks are great because wool stays warm even when it gets a bit damp, and wool socks can absorb a lot of moisture before they feel wet, and dry quickly. As a bonus, wool doesn’t hold on to stink as much as some other fabrics!

4 - Stock Your First Aid Kit. You should always hike with first aid supplies, and I always keep extra blister pads, blister dressings, and medical tape in mine...

ON THE TRAIL

So now you’ve finally hit the trail and you’re heading out into the wilderness -- but you still shouldn’t forget about your feet! Pay attention to any pain, pinching, rubbing, or other discomfort in your feet, and don’t hesitate to take a pause to fix problems as they come up. Got a pebble in your shoe? Don’t suck it up-- stop and take it out! 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to foot first aid, and smart hikers address small problems early on before they have a chance to become big problems and potentially incapacitate you out in the backcountry. So never be afraid or ashamed to stop if something is up with your feet -- you might feel like a pain in the ass if you’re calling a stop while hiking with a group, but I guarantee you, it’s way less trouble to stop for five minutes for someone to fix their shoe than it is to half-carry your friend with horrible blisters the last mile back to the parking lot.

KEEP YOUR FEET DRY

For hikes with a lot of water crossings, I usually pack extra socks in case I fall in and soak a foot. Wet socks and shoes can cause a whole host of problems for your feet, from blisters on a short hike  to trench foot in multi-day hikes in wet conditions. Wearing wool or quick-dry materials in your socks will help, but a spare pair if you get drenched is always helpful. If you get wet and need to change socks -- do it. If you need to take a break to dry out your feet -- do so. 

SPOT THE HOTSPOTS

If you’re hiking at an incline, such as going through hilly terrain or up a mountain, you may feel your shoes slipping and rubbing in new ways, causing chafing or pinching that didn’t happen when you were breaking your shoes in on flat ground. This is unfortunately pretty normal, as the angle of your foot and ankle are different when you’re going up a slope than on flat ground. Be very mindful of hotspots forming from this change in angle and stop to deal with them ASAP!

“Hotspots” are precursors to blisters. When you pause to take your shoe and sock off, you might see an angry red patch of skin, but no visible injury -- yet. At this point, you can still prevent a blister from forming. I mentioned earlier taping up with Leukotape, and I always keep a roll of medical tape in my pack, along with a knife I can cut it with. Blister pads (that essential thing to have in your hiking first aid kit!) are also great -- I’ve kept a bad hotspot from fully turning into a blister and rupturing by putting on a blister pad directly over the affected area, and then securing it in place by taping up the entire back of my foot before continuing. 

DEAL WITH BLISTERS SOONER THAN LATER

If you didn’t notice the warning signs until it’s too late and you’ve got blisters -- again, blister pads. Keep them as cushioned as possible to try to avoid rupturing them. If your feet are in a lot of pain and you’re still outbound, seriously consider turning around and heading back -- it’s only going to get worse, and you’ll be even further from help. There’s being tough, and then there’s being stupid. 

Again: try not to let your blisters rupture. A torn blister is an open wound and an easy vector for infection, plus they take longer than intact blisters to heal. If your blisters do tear, immediately get your first aid kit out and clean and bandage them. Don’t just slap a standard band-aid on them either -- use an actual blister dressing that seals it in on all sides to minimize infection risk. If your blisters are extremely fluid-filled and you can’t get your shoes back on and can’t hike out without draining it and have NO OTHER CHOICE... (this is anecdotal advice and NOT the advice of a medical professional)... sterilize the area and your tools with alcohol wipes, then make a small incision with a knife or pin from your repair kit (again, STERILIZE IT FIRST) at the EDGE of the blister to drain the fluid. Make the incision as small as you can while still allowing it to drain, don’t tear or remove the top of the blister, and then clean and bandage the area thoroughly. Check on your dressings periodically when you take breaks, and change them as needed. 

Side note: Do not apply medical tape directly on an unruptured blister. When you peel that tape off at the end of the day, there’s a good chance it will rip that blister right open and you will scream like a banshee and scare the dog.

TAKE REST BREAKS IF YOU NEED THEM

If you’ve been doing mile after mile and your feet are just sore, take a break, even if there isn’t a blister emergency. Sit down on a nice rock, take your shoes off, rub your feet, air out your socks, and enjoy the scenery. You’re out in nature -- enjoy it for a minute. I’ve stopped by an ice cold babbling mountain brook and let my feet soak for some nice chilling hydrotherapy and to listen to the running water, just because I could. Allow your body to rest a bit, and then continue onward.

AFTER YOUR HIKE / BETWEEN HIKES

You’ve successfully completed your hike and made it home! Now what?

Immediately:

Take off your hiking shoes, and undo the laces so they can air out. Those puppies are gonna be ripe, so maybe toss in some baking soda to soak up the stank. Hot, wet conditions inside hiking boots are a good place for bacteria and fungus to bloom, so don’t just stuff them in a dark and musty closet until they’re good and dry.

Carefully peel off any tape on your feet you’ve added, and tend to any blister dressings or injuries.

WASH YOUR FEET. I shower pretty much immediately after a hike, but always put extra attention into cleaning and scrubbing my feet -- again, don’t want bacteria or fungus. Afterwards, I often rub in some lotion.

After that: 

Take note of any issues you had, and think about how to deal with them in the future. If you got hot spots in certain places, write that down and tape those places up preemptively next time you hike. If your socks kept riding down in your boots, try different socks next time. If you forgot something in your first aid kit, or used up something that needs replacing, make sure you’re well stocked for your next hike.  

If your feet are sore after a hike, a nice hot soak can be very soothing. If they’re swollen, try icing them for 15-20 minutes and elevating them. If foot pain still persists after a couple of days and hasn’t improved, you may want to check in with your doctor as there could be a bigger problem such as tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, or a stress fracture.

You might find yourself developing calluses in certain places, and while calluses can have protective qualities as your feet’s homemade armor, letting them get too thick can also cause problems. I shave down my calluses periodically and try to keep them at the texture of “supple worn leather” and not “crunchy horn” to avoid cracking and blistering. 

--

Hiking can be a lot of fun, and it’s even more fun when your feet aren’t an absolute disaster zone. So get good shoes, be prepared to address any problems that come up, and listen to your feet. Take good care of them, and they’ll take you anywhere!

[love-and-deepspace-wiki]

Footwear: Meteor Sports (Part 1)

Alright, Xavier. Show me them kicks~

In Xavier's "Leisure" outfit (along with his "Good Health Is Always Young; Life Needs Sports" pullover 🤣), we see him sporting some white sneakers. So let's take a closer look at them!

Details:

These sneakers are primarily white but have tan accents across the toebox and grey accents near where the tongue of a shoe would be. They're also laceless, instead opting for two mesh straps that crisscross over the top of the foot.

We can see the word "Meteor" written on the toe of each shoe (left). But from the side profile, we can make out text that reads "Meteor Sports" beneath the logo/graphic (right)

Note: These two photos have been edited, increasing the sharpness for legibility purposes

The shoes feature black, textures soles

Personal Review and Speculations:

Overall, I think they look pretty comfortable! If this brand was a real thing, I could easily see myself snagging a pair for the gym or for leisure. A stylish, yet simple compliment to any casual outfit. And y'all. He keeps those boys CLEAN!

Theory 1: Xavier is secretly a sneaker head

Theory 2: Xavier really wants everyone to think/know he loves sports lol

[arseniccattails]

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: Transformers - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Jazz/Prowl (Transformers)

Characters: Jazz (Transformers), Ravage (Transformers), Prowl (Transformers)

Additional Tags: First Dates, Alternate Universe - Urban Fantasy, Familiars, (which Jazz does not have but Soundwave does), No Cybertronian Civil War, Jazz is a magical nuke but he's basically just hangin out

Summary:

Jazz has a date—only problem is, he has to step on toeboxes to get there.

( @autobotjazzweek )

[calling4glaives]

Kingsglaive Uniforms

As we approach Lore (less than a month away!), we thought we’d do some deep dives into topics involved with the Kingsglaive as a whole: uniforms, the HQ, etc. Hopefully it will be helpful with your writing!

While most of this information can be found in our Personnel Files for the canon named glaives, we thought it might be helpful to gather it up into one location.

Apologies for the lack of pictures. There's a lot to cover here. If you ever want to fact check us, feel free to ask for the proof of any claims we have here!

Common Features:

[[edited screenshot from @capsource]]

All the Kingsglaive uniforms seem to retain their basic form from when they were Royal Guards, what we call the “standard uniform”. The glaives in the movie seem to wear it as their default uniform when not in battle - during the briefing scene with Drautos and around the base. When Gladio, Ignis, Prompto, and Cor appear in Insomnia, this is the version they wear as well.

The jacket is longsleeved, with false short sleeves trimmed with a silver braid-like cuff over them, attached via some sort of yoke that goes underneath the shoulder loops and has cutouts at the ball of the shoulder to reveal the small kingsglaive badges there.. The yoke and short sleeves appear to be made out of a different material - a rougher leather in the game, and some sort of sparkly unknown in the movie. The large cuffs of the longer leather sleeves are ornately decorated in silver, with the rounded portion on the upper side and the more squared off bottom portion are both ornately embroidered, while the sides (where the thumb is) has a simple pattern of three angled lines. The collar stands straight up, but somewhat limply, as it is rather thin, and there are three silver blade-like decorations on either side of the throat, echoing those on the sides of the wrist cuffs.

The jacket fastens invisibly up the front, probably via hooks or loops on the back side, and has false buttons decorated with skulls on false lapels, connected by braids in horizontal lines that “connect” the pairs of buttons on each side. The center edges of the jacket curve away slightly starting at the waist, and the lower corners are rounded as the skirt portion ends just above the knee.

There are two pocket flaps on the jacket, one on each hip, but from the line of the uniform they may be false pockets. The glaives in the movie appear to have a more breathable mesh rather than straight leather on the side panels from waist to armpit, but that detail seems to be lacking in the game’s uniforms. 

The back of the uniform has a worked symmetrical pattern around a sword, with fourteen notches surrounding it. It leads down to the small of the back, where it is crossed by a t-shaped buttoned piece and transitions into material that better matches the jacket in a sort of tail.

[[Screenshot courtesy of @capsource]]

The glaives wear some combination of shirts underneath in various styles, though the uniforms in the game appear to all follow Nyx’s undershirt design of a silver vest that zips up the front over a black tee shirt with a sword-like design and a set of overlapping diagonal belts under the jacket as well.

The glaives wear black leather pants with decoration/reinforcement around the thighs and a decorative reinforced knee under their knee-high boots. The pants end just below the knee, at least on Nyx.

The boots have a reinforced tongue that serves as a kneepad (marked with an odd silver rectangle - a brand name?), and lace up the entire length of the shin. There does not appear to be a zipper on the standard boots (Nyx might have one on the inside) unless it is in the back where I haven’t been able to see, so these poor souls have to tighten these tall laces every time they get in or out. As if that weren’t enough, they have no less than four straps across the laces - two up top presumably to keep it tight to the calf, and two made out of metal at the ankle and toebox. Though the toes are not externally reinforced like the heels are, they are smooth enough they might be steel-toed. The soles are rubber with deep treads in a pattern of fifteen swords.

The glaives in the movie appear not to have their hoods or veils as part of their standard uniform, nor do the bros in the game, but they were part of the royal guard uniform. The hoods appear to have a snaking decorative seam that meanders down the center, perhaps to keep it in place, that splits at the back of the head, with branches that come down by their ears on either side. Sometimes they wear chinstraps, usually when using the veils, it seems. The veils themselves seem relatively unchanged from the Royal Guard days, and taper slightly toward the bottom rather than being strictly triangular or rectangular.

The distinctive silver masks of the glaive seem to have been worn by the captains of the Royal Guard, but not the rank and file.

The members of the glaive in the movie also wear a prominent badge featuring Bahamut and the Kingsglaive logo.

Next we will look at the battle uniforms, which fall into a few general types:

Uniform Type #1: Breastplate: ft. Libertus, Pelna

[[Screencap showing many glaives, including from the back, wearing the type #1 varient from @capsource; Pelna's promo image is from the wiki]]

This uniform is distinguished by the heavily sculpted breastplate worn on their front. It’s uncertain what the material is, but the straps holding it appear to be leather. The design of the breastplate itself seems to be abstracted but symmetrical, with a long blade down the center and wing-like designs along the top, so it could be a stylized Bahamut, surrounded by ribbons or flames. The leather straps pass under the arms and meet in a ring at the center back, which also connects to the quilted yoke-like piece across the shoulders. The shoulder straps for the breastplate attach to studded metallic strips that in turn attach directly to the yoke by the shoulderblades. While the main body of the yoke is quilted, it has harder leather around the edges, and segmented plates of the same material cover both shoulders symetrically.

The hoods attach under a ring of padding that encircles the neck with another leather strap at the front to let it open and close. This could function to keep the yoke from riding up or as further protection.

There are cuff-like pieces of stitched leather that reinforce each elbow and thigh/upper knee, each held up by yet another leather strap. The Kingsglaive badges are worn on each side on the upper arm, possibly connecting the shoulder guards to the elbow pads.

[[image from the wiki]]

Variations:

-Libertus wields a huge, axe-like blade that he wears on his back, so he has a modified harness to carry it

-he also has unique gloves with diamond-shaped plates, and claws or spikes on strips of leather hanging from the back of each shoulder piece

-Libertus’s uniform has brown leather straps

-Libertus also has the silver horizontal braids on the false lapels at the front of his uniform, as only Nyx and Luche also have

-Pelna, like a few other glaives we see, has green leather straps

-Pelna, like the other glaives in this uniform, also has a leather sword belt that attaches to the breastplate in front and the y-shaped leather straps in back

-Both seem to have the blade-like design down the front of their undershirts, but Libertus’s is short-sleeves with reinforced shoulders in greys and Pelna’s is a baseball cut with fancy cuffs in greens

Uniform Type #2: Square Spalders: ft. Axis, Tredd

[[Both images from the wiki]]

The distinguishing feature of this uniform type is the square, chained shoulder guard worn left shoulder. The badge seems to be worn on the same shoulder, and there is an almost archery-like padding underneath the shoulder guard, crossed by a ridged strap coming from his left shoulder which appears sewn into the padding. That could be how the shoulder guard itself attaches, but it’s clearly integral as it appears Axis’s hood attaches to the padded section and ridged strap directly.

They also wear the squared off double belt over the jacket, from which a scabbard can hang via chains.

Variations:

- Axis wears full gloves

- Tredd has a long oversleeve on the right with a small cutout at the shoulder and an odd leather version of the shoulder loops over it. He also has one of the segmented elbow braces on his right arm, and wears red gloves

- Both appear to wear the frog-closed black and silver shirts Luche does at Yamachang’s under their jackets

Uniform Type #3: Flame Spaulders: ft. Sonitus, Luche

[[Luche clone from @capsource, Sonitus's promo image is from the wiki]]

This uniform type is characterized by its own distinct spaulder: a curved piece with a flame-like pattern held in place by a wide, cross-body leather strap. Underneath it is a zippered dickie patterned with garlands, anchored by braided straps that go under each arm, and a very high folded-over collar to which the hoods are attached, possibly via the rivet-like silver pieces by the neck on either side. The Kingsglaive badge is worn on the right side. There is an articulated armor or brace worn on each elbow.

Underneath, both seem to wear the frog-closed two-tone shirt Luche wears at Yamachang’s.

Variations:

-Sonitus and a few soldiers like him wear the same square belts as in the previous type

-Luche and a few soldiers like him instead has a secondary strap that attaches to the wide one keeping the spaulders on

-Luche and those based on him also wear knives around their right thighs

-Luche and those based on him have a long tassel that hangs from their shoulders

-Luche also has the silver horizontal braids on the false lapels at the front of his uniform, as only Nyx and Libertus also have

Uniform Type #4: ft. Nyx.

[[image courtesy of the wiki]]

Nyx is the main character, and thus has a very unique uniform. There literally is no one else in his category. Aside from the obvious bits of fur, dangling claws, ribbons, oversleeve, leather capelet, and decorated silver mask, he appears to get a zipper down the inside of his boots so he can get into them easier, has a silver cuff around his right thigh that anchors his second kukri’s holster. His uniform also seems to be a leather-embellished combination of the type 1 and 3 designs: a folded-collar dickie strapped under the arm but made of a crocodile-like leather rather than the garland-pattern fabric and with two straps under the arm on each side, a symmetrical yoke reinforcing his shoulders with silver spikes on top, but smaller and without the shoulder protection of the type one yoke, replacing it with a rough leather shoulder-length cape on the right side and a furred sleeve on the left that is tucked under the short-sleeve yoke of the standard jacket, slipping out once the short sleeve ends and transitioning into a wooly rectangle. Although the purple ribbons that stream from his right shoulder themselves are unique, he wears them in a similar place to where Luche wears his tassels.

In and out of uniform Nyx wears a double chain that arcs from his shoulder to one of the buttons on his front, another feature unique to Nyx and one of the few “customizations” allowed on the standard uniform. He also has the silver horizontal braids on the false lapels at the front of his uniform, as only Luche and Libertus also have

Uniform Type #5: Mages: ft Crowe

[[image courtesy of the wiki]]

Though this unit doesn’t have an official designation, it seems convenient to call them “mages”. Notably, every one of these figures seem to be female, so we don't know if male mages would also wear this. There do appear to be female members of the royal guard and of the Kingsglaive in Insomnia at the end of the game who wear the standard uniform, so it doesn't seem to be a requirement that women wear the uniform we see the mages in. Though Drautos could have done things differently.

This uniform is different from the skin up: rather than the standard uniform, it starts with a sleeveless skintight leather bodysuit that zips down the front, which with the jacket over the top probably makes restroom breaks rather difficult. The boots go up over the knee and have more straps to keep it on the thigh, and each mage has a pointed cuff around their left leg just above the top of the boot. The jacket is also different, made out of a shinier material, stopping around the ribs, and possibly unable to close. It also has a scalloped standing collar that fans around the back of the neck, netting on the left shoulder cutout, a gemstone and chain necklace/fastener, and a red cape, though it shares the modeling of the lapels, cuffs, silver accents, buttons, and hood as well as the cloth veils (though Crowe’s is never seen) with the standard uniforms.

They wear diagonally-fastened belts much like Nyx’s as well, that support daggers at the small of their back. There are two long petal-like oversleeves, rather similar but not an exact match to Tredd’s or Nyx’s, though they are stiff enough to move with the arms even when they are raised and aren’t blown back by the storm.

 The capes are fastened asymmetrically and patterned with an eight-sided geometric tiling pattern, according to the models, and along with the red gloves represent the boldest and largest splash of color in any of the uniforms. The gloves appear to be elbow-length as well, implying a lot of padding on the arms.

Variation:

-Crowe’s gem may be unique, as it’s not visible on the other mages because of their veils or angle in the briefing room

-Crowe is never seen with a veil

Hope this helps your writing! And good luck!

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

What if they are actually Diana’s own shoes? 😵

They're not the same shoe. Meghan's on the left, Diana's on the right.

Meghan's shoes have a longer, pointier toebox; a thinner brown detailing around the sole and tongue; and is a lighter, more tan brown color.

Diana's shoes have a shorter toebox, a thicker brown detailing around the sole and tongue, and a darker more browner brown color.

[ceruleanmusings]

you had me at pie - mickames

@raging-violets @partiallypearl @witchofinterest @myloveforhergoeson

Mickey lifted a scoop of pale peach ice cream, turning it upside down at the last minute so the first taste on her tongue burst with flavor rather than drag along the dull swipe of metal.

It didn’t disappoint; the familiar punch of vanilla coating her tongue lit up her taste buds, lingering as it melted and sunk into the crevices. A few moments later the winter peach made its presence known, sharply cutting through the thick vanilla with its sweet flavor, tinged at the back with a hint of floral aftertaste.

It was heaven.

Her eyes slipped shut, lips curling upwards around the spoon in her mouth. A happy, bouncing hum sounded at the back of her throat and her shoulders wiggled partially in happiness and partially in time with the fizzy pop track playing over the speakers of Bianca’s, an artisan ice cream shop James found in Pasadena.

Opening her eyes and letting the sweet treat melt against her tongue, Mickey set her spoon back in the near-empty cup. She flexed her feet, allowing the toebox of her shoes to drag the barstool closer to the shiny wooden counter, no doubt adding another scuff to the royal blue leather. The shiny wood bit at her elbows when she learned forward, propping her chin up on her palms. Her eyes focused past the backwards chalky lettering painted on the windows to the streets outside, awash in spilled gold from the slow-setting sun.

Her eyes followed a few passersby flittering from one side of the window to the other: a family of four with a little girl bouncing along behind her parents and older brother, pigtails swinging; an older man and woman shuffling along, a weathered hand grasping his elbow; a woman with a pink lob rolling by on a bright red bike; two guys with muscles so large their arms swung wide, hinged at their broad shoulders; a man in a leather jacket, large, long flowing black skirt, dark complexion and a pop of orange lipstick.

And then there was James.

Her eyes drew to him as if on autopilot. It used to be against her own volition; the charisma and magnetism emanating from him had a hold on her she didn’t want to touch let alone acknowledge until recently. (Two and a half weeks ago to be exact). But now she couldn’t help herself.  Especially when he shifted from side to side of a tree across the street, pulling a branch down as held his extended arm this way and that, stretching his lips out in a strange exaggeration of duck lips meeting Blue Steel. He always knew how to make her laugh, even when he didn’t know she needed it. Especially when he didn’t know she needed it.

A gaggle of giggling girls came up to them, all hesitant and shy until he flashed a smile and nodded. Probably affirming their double checking if he was, indeed, James Diamond of Big Time Rush. Their shrieks and repeated mantras of “Oh my god, oh my god” pierced through the glass while they shifted from side to side, stuck between wanting to get up close and wanting to keep composure. Mickey knew the tread of that tightrope.

She propped her cheek up on her palm and watched as they switched off between holding glossy magazine pages out for him to sign and fumbling with their phones for pictures. His smile remained, his stance relaxed, and he looked every girl in the eye, causing them to bounce and shriek and flutter their hands, as if ready to take flight.

And she got it. She liked to think she kept her emotions reined in but that feeling, that look of awe on their faces, the admiration glowing like neon in their eyes, she knew it well. They bloomed in the spotlight he pointed towards them. She’d only just gotten used to the glow herself. It didn’t blind her as much as it used to.

Each one got their own turn, speaking with him about something she couldn’t hear. Maybe about their music, maybe about his hair, maybe about the weather. Either way they all stood with rapt attention, hanging onto every word, the rosy blush on their cheeks contrasting the stars in their eyes. And once they all got their pictures in and started shuffling off with waves and gushes of thanks and clutched phones, they were nearly undone all over again at his little two-finger wave and wink.

If she’d been sitting with any of her friends, she knew what they’d say: that he fed his ego and he’d be riding on the high of their attention for weeks. But, then again, they didn’t look at James the way she did. Or maybe he didn’t let them see what she now witnessed: the soft look in his eye, the triumphant pump to his hands, the satisfied smile gracing his lips as he watched them walk off.

God, he was beautiful.

She at the remaining bit of ice cream, gathered up their empty cartons, threw them out, and went to the counter to pay. The woman in the striped apron behind the counter flashed her a smile and informed her it’d already been taken care of. Of course, it was.

James locked eyes with her when the bell rang on her exit and butterflies erupted in her stomach with the spotlight turned on her. By the time she’d crossed the street and reached him, she basked in its glow and swore it’d be embedded in her skin forever.

“What?” he asked with a little laugh as she gazed up at him.

The words nearly leapt off her tongue until she snapped her lips together and held them back. She tumbled them through her mind, trying to find a filter, and came up empty. One eyebrow scrunched, just slightly. Would it be so wrong to just say what she thought? People always said honesty was the best policy, but would this be too far? They were barely a thing. Brand new and she didn’t want to rush it (no pun intended). But then, James never had a problem stating his thoughts and feelings, even before they were reciprocated. He’d always said what he felt, not caring about anything past the veracity behind his statements. People could take or leave it. And if he was brave enough to be forthcoming, why couldn’t she?

“You’re beautiful,” she stated, the words floating along her bated breath, heart thrumming.

James’ long lashes fluttered against his blink and his smile opened his face, allowing sunbeams to all but squeeze out between his teeth. “You are, too.”

“Thanks.” Heat crawled up her neck and settled in her cheeks and she fought the strong urge to rebuff his compliment. “But I meant with your fans.” She nudged his arm, and they walked down the street. “And, you too, but mostly them.”

“Oh, it’s not a big deal,” he said, waving his hand.

“It is to them.”

“I know. It’s just…well, I love doing this.” He didn’t need to say that, she knew in the way his eyes lit up, the way he left himself on the stage, the way his heady words struck her. “But I also know we wouldn’t be here without the fans. At the end of the day, it’s not about us, it’s about them. It’s about putting on a show for them and giving them a place to just—”

“Exist?”

He sighed, shoulders dropping. “Yeah.”

She nodded. “I get it.”

“I knew you would.” He bumped her arm and she bumped him back, stumbling into his side. The solid feel of the length of his arm against hers made her course correct and clear her throat. “Did you like Bianca’s?”

“Yes!” She nodded so hard she battered her swinging locks away from her face. “It’s amazing! I didn’t know they had so many flavors! Especially that habanero pepper one? I gotta try that next. Maybe I can make a series of it. Try a new flavor each time and review it.” She made a face. “Guess I’ll have to try the peach one again then, if I want good pictures to go with it.”

James pulled out his phone, swiped his thumb a few times, and held it out to her. “Would this help?”

Mickey stared at herself on the screen, frozen in time from a half hour before when she first tasted the peach ice cream. The hanging lightbulb lamps from above nearly lit a halo over her head, casting a golden glow on her skin which lit up her eyes like little fires glowing from within her, putting the freckles dotting her skin on display. “Actually, yeah, that’s perfect! Can you send this to me?” She’d nearly given the phone back when the screen shifted to another picture of her from a week before, happily eyeing a crazy decorated milkshake jar. “What’s…this?”

James’ large hand took over the screen, pulling the phone out her hand. “It’s nothing.”

“No wait, James, seriously.” She took the phone back and began swiping, pic after pic sliding to show her in the middle of eating a cookie, a soft pretzel, a brownie, a macaron, a pastry, and other treats in various flavors. She nearly collided with an older woman while she walked, quickly uttering an apology to her and then James when she pressed against his side. “Is this all me?”

“It’s nothing!” She shot him a look and he blew out a breath, running a hand though his hair. “Okay. It’s, um…every time we’ve eaten somewhere I…kind of take pictures of you.” He hastily added, “Not to be creepy!” and took his phone back, shoving it into his back pocket. “It’s just…you’re always so happy when you’re trying something different, and I think…it’s one of the times you’re really pretty so…”

Her eyebrows crinkled. “When I’m stuffing my face?”

“When you’re enjoying the moment.” His shoulders bounced in a shrug and he murmured, “I like to think it’s also ‘cause I’m there.”

It came out of her without needing to think about it. “It is.” Grins burst on their faces at the same time and when they bumped against each other again, she slipped her hand in his before the ricochet sent her too far away from him. The warmth of his skin against her palm sent her pulse skittering. “How about next time we go to that pie place? Pie Palette? We can get pie flights, where they give you slices of their top five flavors of the week.”

“You had me at pie.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s a date.”

[smoqueen]

Ben Toebox

[cyancherub]

idea: dildo shoes with pps just sticking straight up out of the toebox. and a a guy riding each shoe while i walk

[hockeyforlife]

hey man looking to get into hockey. Any gear recommendations? Brands n layers. Thx!

Hard to say. I've always preferred CCM. Bauer just seemed to be geared for thin-athletic. As a gymrat with more muscle mass I found CCM more comfortable. Of course that was then...now both brands carry 3 lines that are each a little unique from their other 2 lines of gear. Back when CCM Ribcore was Reebok, I tended to the now defunct CCM Crazy-Lite line.

You really have to go to a store and try stuff on and compare to find what's comfortable for you.

Right now my gear is a mixed bag.

I prefer Bauer's undershirt with neckguard. The neck guard is the thinnest while still being equally good protection, and their equipment grippers on the sleeves make more sense to me, but CCM was on sale when I was last buying, so CCM for me. I have 2. They are supposedly designed to not stink. Nah. If you regularly let it dry out before washing it, it'll start to smell nasty. Regular washing and it smells 'hockey fresh'.

I really loved the last CCM compression jock. The cup pocket sat perfect for me with barely ever a need to adjust. Now, it's an internal cup/jockstrap, the same as their loose shorts. Compression or loose is a preference, kind of like boxers or boxerbriefs. Cups vary in shape. Finding the one you're most comfortable with is a never-ending search. Once you find one you like, get a second and keep it in your bag. This way, if you forget your cup or jock you always have a backup packed, and when you wear through that badboy, you have a replamement you know you'll feel comfortable in.

I haven't found a Kevlar sock I like yet, so I use thin CCM and Bauer skate socks. When you get your skates, have a pair to try the skates on with. The thinner the sock, the more control your foot has over the skate. Some go barefoot. There's something about putting their feet into a cold, sometimes still-damp skate that turns their crank I guess. I can't. I played without socks only once. It was very uncomfortable. The next time I forgot my skate-socks I wore my no-show ankle socks to avoid the heebie-geebie feeling.

Now, for pants, I prefer the CCM Super Tacks girdle. Girdle vs. pants is a personal choice. I prefer the girdle. You give up some bulky padding for the sleekness of a girdle. I really liked my Warrior Covert girdle with the cup pocket built in. It was perhaps the best for a meaty 'hockey ass'. CCM and Bauer girdles both have fully adjustable waist and thighs, and you can lengthen or shorten both to a degree. Both are open crotch. CCM feels natural to me, Bauer is too tight on the ass, and through the crotch because of the construction of the thigh pads. CCM's protective pads just sit better on treetrunk thighs. If you go girdle, you need a girdle shell. The CCM one is pure crap. Lasts one season. I got a Mark Stone leftover Warrior girdle shell off an NHL surplus site after he got traded from Ottawa. They were brand new and less than half the price of regular ones. If you go pants, find a pair that fit snugly, that stay up on their own, but allow you full range of motion. Some people say to try them on over jeans. Eff that. Try them on over a base layer like you will be wearing them over when playing. I had a red pair once I got off an online ad that was a free throw-in with a pair of gloves and helmet I was buying. All new, $80 for $450 worth of gear, so you might want to consider places like Facebook Marketplace for deals on everything. They went with my team's colours that year, so they worked. After that year, they stood out and looked stupid with Philly Flyers jersey and socks. Black is best.

My shinpads are old. CCM Crazy-Lite. They are a wider fit, again for better protection over built calves.

My skates are still Reebok. Between countless pairs of skates and rollerblades, they are the only ones that cause no pain/discomfort. Skates can be narrow, wide, or a combination. Some are wide toebox and narrow ankle, and others are the opposite. Get someone to actually look at the shape of your foot. Also, skate sizes are stupid. They are 1.5-2 sizes smaller than shoes. If you go with your shoe size, they may feel okay, but they are too sloppy, and you lose a lot of power in your stride.

Shoulder pads can be very thin or very bulky. It's up to your preference. I still have my CCM Crazy-Lite shoulder pads. They're on the thinner side. I also have a bulkier shoulder pad. It's constructed stronger but I'm in a non-contact adult league. Bulky shoulders are not necessary for me so they collect dust. Both have a sternum/heart guard. I can't say it's useless. But, when some dumbass forward lost an edge crashing the net he shot along the ice like a torpedo into the boards. I jumped over the hotshot but his stick hauled me down akwardly. My elbow pad was squarely under my chest as the initial point of impact. For weeks the hospital wasn't buying my explanation and chalked my heart concerns to 'stress'. Finally taken seriously, tests revealed a decently bruised heart and a torn pleura. 14 weeks of a Myocardial Contusion later, I finally was able to play again. The guard either was useless or saved my life. 🤷‍♂️

My elbow pads are CCM Crazy-Lite. They're shorter on the forearm because I can't stand the feel of longer, bulkier ones. Again, no one's chucking elbows. There just to protect from the sting of a puck. Yes, playing defense, I have had a good bruise from where they don't cover when I waved my arm in front of a slapshot because I was dumb. Lesson learned, goalies like to get hit with frozen rubber, so leave it to them!

My gloves are CCM tacks. The price was right. Again, I prefer a shorter cuff, so I leave more forearm exposure. It's a tradeoff because I act autistic and constantly fix my jersey when its sleeves interfere with proper-length gloves. Gloves stink to the heavens. Wash your hands before you play. There are products that you can get to keep them a little fresher. My advice is to air those bad boys out as soon as you get home and use a hockey deodorizer. They'll still smell hockey heavenly, don't worry, they'll never be accused of smelling pleasant by family or friends. They will be hands-down the raunchiest gear you own.

My helmet is an out-of-date Reebok with a CCM cage. THE Reebok helmet is basically the CCM one under a different logo. Bauer and CCM fit differently. CCM fits my noggin better. I'd suggest getting used to a cage. Full face visors scratch and fog up. Half visors fog up, and in most leagues, signify the douche on the opposing team.

Hope this helps. Any more questions, ask away!

[hakkiest]

my work turned everyday and more boots are reaching a state of calamity they are so fucked up the reinforced toebox has been all but painted with super glue to keep reinforcinh it the double rubber soles are glued with a layer of glue 3 cm thick the stitching is full of loose ends that i used a lighter to seal shut and every day i wake up and put them on like an old and tender farmer encouraging his last remaining cow to get up and roam the fields im like come on girl.... jts not your time yet... but jt is her time. Jts past her time. Shes beyond life support she needs to be put down. Well she wont be