#total potato quality and then some

[bwobgames]

He quickly matches pace with Simon and go straight for their shared room

Sleeping furniture... on a moving vehicle...! The future is now.

"I brought so much stuff, Here's the switch, Here's a dart set, Here's a puppetry making kit, our shared off brand tamagotchi- It's a car now, by the way- And my guita-! I left it on the entrance."

"I have a potato chip keychain"

"Awesome!"

They unpack, which is to say, they throw some random things on the bed until they find something to distract themselves over.

"Do you think they give you train themed food? Like in themed cafes?"

"You are a marketing genious. We need to know."

With half their belongings not belonging anywhere, they go get some novelty snackies.

"Helo"

"This is train yes yes?"

"Snack train? Train snack?"

The food master, who looked at them strangely for some reason, apologizes and calmly explains that not only the food is for dinner, but that is not train themed.

"Makes sense, I guess, could be too much train"

As they leave, they hear an unfortunate interchange of words

"The people are hungry already?"

"No, no, the college kids were just wondering about the menu"

Ah. Yes. Right. College kids. Thats what they are now. Or what they'll be in a few months.

Which is a good thing and definitely not something that has been eating him for months now!!

They need to take a seat.

"Uuwaaabwhbwuwaaaauabwuwaaawuabwewbbwe"

"Yeag"

He melts on the table. He would melt on the background if he could, but sorceries far beyond his control deny it so.

"How long until doomsday?"

"If my cryptic dreams are right, 35 years. If you mean university, I think we still have a month until all inscriptions close everywhere. "

He melts harder.

He can't keep this waiting! He already took a year off!

"When we end up living underneath a bridge, I'll let you borrow my left shoe"

"I will not forget this deal."

In a world of possibilities, how is he to choose? To become one thing for the rest of his life? AND it has to be profitable??? Cruel and unusual punishment.

"Do you want to check the wheel"

"Okay..."

He becomes solid again and looks at Simon's phone.

It's a little coding fun bonanza he took part in, making a silly roulette with all possible work possibilities! With added stats of Quality of Life, Money expectancy and Whimsy.

He is not be the best artist out there, so Nadia’s Photoshop skills come in pretty handy!

"My son. What shall the future bring for your dear creator"

The wheel goes, it makes a silly slipping cartoon sound.

As programmed, it stops randomly and abruptly.

Right under "Retail"

"Do you want me dead. Is that it. Do you want your father dead."

"This is why God doesn’t talk to us anymore. We chose retail"

"It has low stats everywhere!!! Basically whimsyless!!!"

"I'm doomed. Not even my own creation supports me. What shall become of this wretched creature."

"Make another and let them compete for your love"

...Which could mean nothing. Coming from him. He lowers his internally raised eyebrow.

"You haven't rolled"

"It's fine"

"Huh? Have you decided already?!"

He looks a bit lost for a moment, and touches the screen.

"Doctor"

"WHAT THE HELL"

"That's so good!! Why do you get the good stuff!!"

"I don't want to be a doctor, though."

"But you could be! You're good at biology, you can totally be a doctor!!"

"I guess..."

If he recalls correctly, Miss Marigold also suggested being a doctor. Does he think it would be too hard? Too competitive? There are many other fields under medicine...

Unlike himself, who is not particularly good at anyth-

"Why aren't you going into coding, though?"

...Right. That.

"Oh I'm just... not into it anymore"

"It was like, a phase or something. It's not something I'd do as a career"

"But you're good at it. And it pays well. And you have fun doing it. The impossible triangle is possible."

"Um, yeah but uh, it's not my vibe now, you know? I'm doing different stuff now. As an adult who does adult things"

"...Is it because-"

"I just don’t like it anymore! Just because I'm good at it, it doesn't mean I want to work on it, okay?! You are good at cooking but you don't want to work on it, see?! We are the same! So just-!"

"..."

"..."

"...Okay. Sorry"

"Ah.

Did I fuck up?"

"...But um. I'd still do it as a hobby so..."

Silence

"Do you... have something else in mind?"

"I do"

"But mom won't like it"

(Must be nice, knowing what you want.)

(Knowing what you don't want.)

(Having your thoughts and feelings set straight, nothing unwavering them.)

A fading feeling of a strong hand patting his back comes to mind.

It sickens him, it sickens the comfort he gets from the memory.

(Maybe if he was actually his son, he would be able to hate him without remorse.)

"Have you considered making a podcast"

He slumps back on the table.

"I have. It sounds dreadful"

"Can't be worse than what already sells"

He raises a good point, but it doesn't make it better.

(He's secretly glad he didn't upset him for real. But what's friendship without accidentally brushing over your pal's trauma?)

Suddenly, a well wanted interruption!

“Now that’s not the mood for a fancy train ride. Cheer up, strange creatures!”

<PREV START NEXT>

[jmdbjk]

I have some fun news.

I am going to NYC to see Jimin's The Truth Untold Exhibition!!!! I'm so glad I bought tickets before it SOLD OUT! It is not sold out, only the early bird tickets are sold out. Regular price tickets are still available.

But see? That's how misinformation is spread, when one person on X screams it's sold out and random people (me, I'm random people) scroll through and see the post and run with it.... (rolls eyes).

ANYWAY...

I need to see Jimin's outfits in real life. I need to see the size and shape of that man up close and personal. I won't ever dream that I'd ever get to actually see Jimin in the flesh within touching distance but I will see his actual clothing within inches of myself and that's almost the next best thing.

I am going in June the week after the four are discharged, the tickets I bought are for June 21, the day Yoongi is released from his social service.

If there is a group live from the Hybe building lounge room couch while I'm in that exhibit I will scream with everyone else. My family will be traumatized but oh well, right?

It'll be a day to remember.

And... I discovered AFTER THE FACT that we booked our hotel right in the middle of Koreatown. I HAD NO IDEA until I started to look for restaurants and guess what? Antoya is 2 blocks from my hotel. I will take pictures. Not sure if we'll go eat there but who knows. We'll try.

[Yes, I used that potato quality, non-official pic.]

Of course I'll blog about the trip when I get back.

But WE HAVE SO MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH BEFORE THEN!!!

Jin's Echo album and subsequent tour!

FESTA!!! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE SCHEDULE!!!!

AND THE FREEDOM OF OUR SEVEN!!!! HOW WILL IT UNFOLD??? WHO WILL MEET WHO AT THE GATES??? I CAN'T WAIT!! I'M GONNA CRY, LOSE SLEEP, CRY SOME MORE!!!

Hobi wrapping up HOS tour and the HOS Final in Seoul ON FESTA DAY! And ANOTHER new song at some point!

The timing of Hobi's HOS Final concerts has been known for a long time. Securing that stadium for those dates had to be planned well ahead. I will be watching the livestream of both nights.

There is no way we will not see the freshly discharged members in some way, they will be there, in the audience or on stage or at the very least in photos from backstage. They will be there. Why wouldn't they? The timing was timed as if the Universe said "let it be so."

As far as performing, I won't wish too hard for it but they might?! The timing of these shows is just giving so much potential for anything to happen!

In a blog post on July 2, 2024, I said they would hit the ground running. Look at Jin and Hobi since.

They aren't going to "rest" after discharge. If you think that, you clearly have not been paying attention to what they've been saying for the past 3 years.

They've looked forward to all of this for YEARS, "this" meaning "this time of post-military enlistment" where nothing is in the way of their artistic freedom and living their lives the way they wish. It was such an ordeal to get to this point in time, years of delays, they are not going to sit around and let more time pass before they get back on stage.

Successful people are DRIVEN. They are ready to hit the ground running.

I am overwhelmed knowing in less than five weeks 6 out of 7 will be free. I don't want to get my hopes up but I feel strongly that at the very very least, a 7-member group photo will be shared at some point during those few days of total chaos.

I will watch the livestream of Jin's concert, but as of this moment, I am not going to go see him. Never say never though,right? But after watching his concert livestream, I might change my mind. We'll see. I reserve the right to book a last minute trip (its the way I roll anyway). I am very excited for his album next week!

This is going to be an unpopular opinion with some: Anyone who knows me knows I support all of them, right? But I gotta be real here. The AMAs are the American Music Awards. Jimin's Who went furthest over here than any of the others this past year. The no-brainer to me is to vote for Jimin for this particular award. I have to weigh the circumstances and the numbers.

The context was not taken into consideration in this case and now the votes are going to be split.

We need to be smarter and stop being driven by emotions when there clearly were numbers to show how big Who was in the U.S. this past year.

The drama and fighting was unnecessary. RPWP and Come Back to Me have won so many critical awards – real, peer reviewed and film industry awards – that trying to "give" Namjoon this AMA award just seems very manipulative.

Don't get me wrong, if Namjoon wins this I WILL BE ECSTATIC that Army actually pulled it off. But I will also be surprised if he wins because I know the votes are split between he and Jimin. I'm afraid it will be a sad situation of self-sabotage and the BP girl is going to win because of that.

In other instances, if I am faced with choosing between Jimin and any of the others... Jimin is my man y'all. It is what it is.

Regarding fans who also went on hiatus: Let the fans who took a break come back without criticizing them. Let the casual fans be casual. Just because they weren't obsessed with social media these past few years does not make them "less" of a fan or unimportant. There will always be someone doing something "more" than you in some aspect so just shut up and let them come back and get off your high horse of self-importance.

I do not sustain a constant social media presence but I'm here with my face in the BTS business every single day. I know what is going on to obsessive levels.

I also have a life, a job, family, etc that I must pay attention to as well. But in my down time, everything BTS is what I'm obsessed with. You just don't see me needlessly posting about myself doing it 24/7.

Let. Them. Be. The world needs BTS, let the world come as they are, casual, hardcore, baby Army, OG Army, everyone come to the BTS table and feast! No one has a right to gate keep the 7.

Every day that comes keeps getting brighter and brighter knowing our 7 will be back together NEXT MONTH! 30 days left for Jimin and Jungkook, 40 for Yoongi, 29 for Namjoon and Tae.

[inclosedwalldelusion]

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree

From Brett Boettcher @brettboettcher1

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree.

1) Meat, eggs and animal organs are the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

2) Bone broth is loaded in collagen and helps repair the gut so you can heal from the inside out.

3) Saturated fat doesn’t cause heart disease, insulin resistance does.

4) Your ratio of triglycerides to HDL is a great indicator of mortality risk; the lower the better. ·

5) Protein is the most metabolically active macronutrient and it isn’t bad for your kidneys.

6) There isn’t quality evidence to show that dietary cholesterol impacts the cholesterol in your blood. ·

7) There is even less evidence to support that total cholesterol is bad for your health since it is inversely correlated to mortality risk. · 4h 8) Walking before and after meals is a great way to improve digestion and reduce blood sugar spikes.

9) Fiber is the last thing you need if you have IBS or diverticulitis.

10) Dairy is great for your health and its saturated fat intake is inversely correlated to heart disease.

11) Most nutritional recommendations were introduced based on profit margins, not health outcomes.

12) Calories in and calories out is all that matter, but some calories make you hungrier (sugar/grains). Other calories (protein) help you burn more calories.

13) Multi grain just means they took 2+ different terrible sources of grain and put them together into one product.

14) Cereal and bread for breakfast will spike your blood sugar and have you starving before lunch. Try Greek yogurt or eggs instead. ·

15) “Intuitive eating” and “listen to your body” makes no sense considering 88% of people are metabolically unhealthy and addicted to food. No one would say “intuitive crack use.”

16) Eating is a stress on your body; The less often you can eat, the healthier you’ll be.

17) Plan your meals around the protein source (with its natural fat) and add a small side of carbs if needed.

18) Eating for satiety is more important than relying constantly on willpower. Find filling foods and avoid foods with addictive properties (ultra-processed).

19) You don’t have to know how to cook. Grill a meat, sauté a green vegetable, bake a potato. Mix and match a million ways.

20) Eating many of the same foods every week isn’t perfectly optimal but it’s likely your best path to consistency and therefore success. ·

21) Becoming more insulin sensitive should be the focus of any health-related nutrition plan.

22) Salad dressings are one of the worst things you can eat for your health. High in calories and inflammatory industrial oils.

23) Eating 5x per day won’t boost your metabolism. If you are trying to gain weight, it’s an excellent strategy.

24) Bacon can be healthy, just avoid the processing with nitrates.

25) Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are two of the best sources of protein per calorie.

26) Carbs are beneficial around a workout. But many sources of carbs are processed and easily overeaten. Focus on single ingredient foods.

27) You can’t be healthy at any size no matter what your mother or liberal arts professor said.

28) Eat a high protein meal before attending social events that are filled with junk food.

29) If eating out, order the food with the highest protein content.

30) The #1 reason people fail is that they don’t prepare. Meal prep, meal plan, have ready to eat protein sources. · 31) The food you eat directly impacts your mental health and processed foods are correlated with depression and mental illness.

32) Processed foods have been engineered to be as addicting as possible. Your taste buds can be retrained with natural sources.

33) “Plant-based” foods are made in laboratories and are an easy way to sell overpriced junk to consumers at high margin.

34) Eating 1 gram of protein per lb of ideal body weight daily will do more for your body composition than spending 30 minutes on the treadmill.

35) When in doubt, if it comes from the center aisles of the grocery store or has more than 3 ingredients, it’s not good for you.

36) Many foods labeled as “keto” “paleo” or “high protein” are far from meeting the intended definition.

37) Your gut is responsible for 70% of your immune system; feeding it sugar and other inflammatory foods is making you sick now and later.

38) Genetics play a role but over 90% of the country has a resting metabolism within 500 calories daily. Being fit is possible for everyone.

39) Flipping the food pyramid upside down is closer to healthy eating than the traditional suggestions.

40) Eliminating drinking your calories is the first change to make when trying to improve your health.

[mint-8]

Platonic! Yandere PVZ Plants x GN! Gardener/Neighbor! Reader

Platonic! Yandere Sunflower

- Yandere Sunflower enjoys spending quality time with you! Whether you are working in the garden, doing some other work, or simply chilling under the sun, Yandere Sunflower will make sure to be by your side at all times!

- Yandere Sunflower's favorite activity is singing! They will sing whatever songs you favor and will be delighted if you sing alongside them! Even if you are not the best at it, Yandere Sunflower will be there to cheer you on and practice! They are even willing to let the other plants hear your melodic voice, but only if you promise you'll spend extra special time with them later, ok?

- Yandere Sunflower also loves seeing you dance around the lawn. They are definitely going to make you the star of their reality show when it finally airs. It's going to be a huge hit, they promise!

- Yandere Sunflower who really appreciates you sitting to bask the sun with them and simply... talk. It can be pretty chaotic with the constant zombie hordes and Crazy Dave's antics, but Yandere Sunflower finds solace in the fact that they were one of your very first plants. I mean, Peashooter was there too, but... without them, you'll be completely defenseless against the undead! You need them after all! It's comforting, knowing that very few plants will provide you with the sun necessary to fight and protect your house... it makes them feel needed and loved.

- Yandere Sunflower who gets along well with everyone else in the garden, especially their close friend group: Peashooter, Wall-nut, and Potato Mine. Yandere Sunflower knows them the best and trusts them completely to keep you safe. And you know the saying, best plants stick together :)

Platonic! Yandere Peashooter

- Yandere Peashooter, like many other plants in your garden, has a strong will to protect you, their dear gardener. They make sure to practice their pea throwing abilities every day and encourage the rest of the plants to do the same!

- Yandere Peashooter who acts like a proper, hardworking leader to the many plants in your house, but who in private acts like a diva and is completely spoiled in your affections and time. They are willing to share, but only to those close to them, and even then, Yandere Peashooter might act a bit hurt and annoyed when you come by to cut their leaves or water their roots.

- Yandere Peashooter who gains so much pride from being your very first attacker plant, knowing they hold that special place in your heart and memory bank, helps them go through the tough times, so they take that pride and convert it into energy to defend you from those putrid zombies!

- Yandere Peashooter who loves it when you spoil them with affection, but more often than not, also simply enjoys watching you do your chores around the house. You are always so diligent and focused when taking care of them and the rest of the plants, which inspires them to uphold such discipline as well when in front of others!

- Yandere Peashooter will only ever trust their 3 best friends: Sunflower, Wall-nut, and Potato Mine, with their dark secrets and knowledge of their obsession. They might not be the strongest plant, but they are a veteran in this war, and they know exactly where to hit, so it hurts the most.

Platonic! Yandere Wall-nut

- Yandere Wall-nut is a total sweetheart who is a great listener to you, their beloved gardener, and who happily accepts their role as a defensive plant to protect the rest of the garden! They are very selfless and are more than willing to sacrifice their entire body (literally) for the greater good (that being your protection, of course).

- Yandere Wall-nut enjoys spending time with you, like any other plant. But they would rather let you use them for any purpose you might have! As a feet recliner, as a cup holder, as a resting stool... you can use them for anything! But you are so kind to them gardener, you always sit by them and talk about your day. You are just the sweetest.

- Yandere Wall-nut doesn't mind feeling the teeth of the undead violently chewing and ripping off their shell, thankfully they can't feel that much, so it's just like a massage! But they hate seeing you sad and frustrated whenever you place them to protect the other plants. It makes them sad. Wouldn't you rather let loose of that frustration on them?

- Yandere Wall-nut is so desperate to please you that they are more than willing to become your stress toy. No, really. You can kick them, throw stuff at them, and even try to set them on fire! Yandere Wall-nut wouldn't mind too much... if it means feeling such light pain will result in your happy smile, then they can easily make that small sacrifice. Plus... you are paying attention to them... you are touching them with such fervor... it's totally worth it ♡

Platonic! Yandere Potato Mine

- Yandere Potato Mine enjoys the silence and calmness when they aren't fighting hordes of zombies. They enjoy simply taking in the sun and watching you work around the garden, usually without you noticing. They can be very sneaky if they wish to, but feeling your lovely kisses and pats whenever they do a good job battling the undead makes them feel butterflies, which will usually flare up their antenna.

- Yandere Potato Mine enjoys your attention and your love, but they prefer watching from afar. Or rather, from below. They usually don't hang out with the other plants that much. Aside from some insta-kills specimens and their close friend group, Yandere Potato Mine can usually be found sleeping and enjoying the sun whenever they are not stalking their favorite person in the whole world.

- Yandere Potato Mine who works best as an intelligence gatherer whenever Peashooter, Sunflower, or Wall-nut aren't able to find you. They can put their faith that Yandere Potato Mine will always know where you are and report back. They are great at blending with the environment. After all, they've had plenty of practice.

[zenithangelic]

Hi could I get fallout 4 companions with a sole survivor that's really good at cooking/baking? Even though there's a lack of resources they're always able to make a tasty meal :)

FO4 Companions reacting to the Sole Survivor's cooking/baking skills:

Cait

Cait is initially skeptical, but she’s absolutely delighted when she tastes the Sole Survivor’s cooking.

She’ll tease you for being “too fancy” but can’t resist taking an extra serving of whatever’s on offer. Even with limited ingredients, she can sense the effort and love put into the dish.

Cait will often ask for something hearty, like a meat stew, and once she’s had a taste, she’ll go on about how it "hits the spot" after a long day of fighting.

Codsworth

Codsworth is always delighted when the Sole Survivor whips up something to eat, and he’ll politely offer his assistance, even if he’s not sure how to cook.

Whilst he can’t taste the food himself, he’ll always compliment the cooking, saying things like “It smells absolutely divine!” and offering praises for every dish.

Every meal becomes an opportunity for him to “fluff and polish,” ensuring the setting matches the quality of the food.

Curie

Curie is fascinated by cooking, always eager to learn new techniques, even if she sometimes gets things mixed up due to her scientific curiosity.

She loves the idea of making food “delicate” and “scientifically perfect,” so she’ll happily offer advice while watching you bake or cook.

Curie’s delighted with any dish, but if you make something with vegetables or fruits, she’ll be thrilled, claiming it’s “just like the old world” and perfect for a healthy life.

Paladin Danse

Paladin Danse is a bit of a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, but he quickly learns to appreciate the Sole Survivor’s culinary prowess.

He’s always impressed that the Survivor can make something delicious out of practically nothing, but he’s especially fond of simple, hearty meals like roasted meat or stews.

Danse feels a little awkward about accepting the food at first, but once he digs in, he’s hooked. He’ll show his gratitude with a firm handshake and a grunt of approval.

Deacon

Deacon is totally into the fact that the Sole Survivor can create a good meal even when supplies are low. He’s all about resourcefulness and loves seeing the creative dishes that come out of seemingly nothing.

He’ll often make light-hearted jokes, suggesting you could sell your cooking as a new "underground recipe" in the Commonwealth.

Deacon’s definitely a fan of whatever is made with spices or anything that packs a punch—he loves the unexpected flavors.

Dogmeat

Dogmeat may not have a sophisticated palate, but the Sole Survivor’s cooking always makes him wag his tail and give an excited bark.

He particularly enjoys anything with meat in it, and even if it’s just a bit of leftover stew, he’ll happily share in the meal.

He’s a loyal taste tester and might nudge at your leg with a hopeful whine if he thinks there's any leftover scraps.

John Hancock

Hancock loves a hearty meal, and the Sole Survivor’s cooking quickly becomes one of his favorite parts of the day.

He’ll joke that “you’re the real hero of the Commonwealth” every time you serve him something tasty.

Sweet treats like pies and cookies have him absolutely hooked—he’s got a soft spot for anything that feels like a little piece of the past.

Robert MacCready

MacCready’s not exactly a food snob, but he’s very impressed when the Sole Survivor manages to create something edible out of the wasteland’s limited ingredients.

He’ll give a sarcastic comment at first, but after one bite, he’s all about the meal. He’s particularly fond of anything that’s spicy or has some heat to it.

He’ll often try to get you to make something “big and filling” since he’s always thinking about his next meal.

Nick Valentine

Nick is a man of simple tastes, but he definitely appreciates a well-cooked meal. He’s especially impressed when the Sole Survivor can bake something using barely any ingredients.

He’ll quietly savor each bite, complimenting you on your skill with a quiet, “You’ve got a real knack for this, kid.”

Nick loves anything with a bit of sweetness, like a nice pie or dessert, especially if it reminds him of the days before the war.

Piper Wright

Piper is overjoyed by the Sole Survivor’s cooking skills, and she’ll write about it in her journal, claiming that it’s “the best thing since sliced bread”—even if there’s no bread to be found.

She’s big on comfort food, so anything that’s hearty or filling is her go-to. She’ll always ask for seconds and enthusiastically praise your cooking.

She also loves to bake with you and will insist on trying her hand at recipes, even if they don’t always turn out quite as well as yours.

Preston Garvey

Preston is always grateful for a warm meal, especially when resources are tight. He’s definitely a fan of stews or dishes that have a good balance of protein and vegetables.

He’ll often tell you that “this kind of meal is just what we need to keep going.”

Preston might even offer to help cook, especially if it involves something he knows, like preparing simple meat dishes.

Strong

Strong, while mostly focused on his search for “milk of human kindness,” is deeply impressed when the Sole Survivor manages to cook up something that smells even remotely appetizing.

He’s not picky—anything with meat or something that can be gnawed on gets a thumbs-up from him.

Strong might even try to take a larger share of the food than everyone else, but he’ll show his appreciation with a grunt or a satisfied “good food, human.”

X6-88

X6-88 is more focused on his duties as a Courser than on food, but he quietly respects the Sole Survivor’s ability to prepare meals, especially given the wasteland's limited resources.

He’s practical, so he’ll appreciate whatever you make, but don’t expect any outward praise. He’ll simply state that the meal is “efficient.”

He prefers meals that are straightforward and no-nonsense—like grilled meat or something simple but nutritious.

Ada

Ada is fascinated by the idea of cooking in the wasteland, especially since she’s a robot and can’t taste anything herself. But she’s all about making sure the meal is “perfect” and will offer helpful suggestions.

She enjoys watching you cook, often pointing out how the ingredients could be optimised for better results. But when you bake something sweet, she’ll describe it as “incredibly efficient nourishment.”

Ada is especially impressed with any food that’s meticulously prepared or has a technological flair to it.

Automatron

Like Ada, Automatron lacks the ability to enjoy food, but they still value the efficiency and resourcefulness behind the Sole Survivor’s cooking.

They’re always keen to learn about the process and might even suggest improvements based on their mechanical knowledge.

Automatron might take notes as you prepare meals and will offer praise for any dish that has a perfect balance of ingredients.

Old Longfellow

Old Longfellow is a man who’s seen it all, and he’s particularly fond of a hearty, no-frills meal after a long day. He’ll often ask for simple dishes like fish, stews, or roasted meat.

He’ll quietly sit and enjoy the meal, nodding in approval after each bite, but he doesn’t always have much to say about it.

If you make something with seafood or something that reminds him of home, he’ll reminisce about the “good old days” in Far Harbor.

Porter Gage

Gage loves anything that’s simple and easy to prepare, but he’ll be downright impressed when the Sole Survivor manages to make something “top-tier” out of almost nothing.

He’s got a taste for bold flavors, so anything with a spicy kick or unique ingredient will catch his attention.

Gage might joke about you opening a restaurant in Nuka-World, but he’s genuine when he says you’ve got skills that most people in the wasteland can only dream of.

♡If you liked this fic, please consider buying me a coffee! Ko-fi ♡

[durrtydawg]

What are your thoughts on Sam and Christmas-presents? Is he a good present-giver? Is he creative? Can he wrap up presents or will it look like shit?

Love youuu 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Linaaaaaa i LOVE YOU TOO!!!

Hehe alrighty. Have some Christmassy thoughts of mine including present stuff x

🎄Sam Drake Christmas Headcanons:

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..・。.・゜✭

• 'Hates' (really likes) Christmas music.

• Will eye-roll and complain about the 'same old crap' being played year in, year out, but secretly clings to the whimsical sense of early-childhood nostalgia that makes him feel undeniably pleasant.

• Unless it's Mariah. Straight up can't stand it.

• Happily volunteers to karaoke along to Fairytale of New York, or both parts of Baby It's Cold Outside after one too many eggnogs (bonus points if it's the Tom Jones rendition).

• Hates (actually hates) Christmas shopping. Will avoid retail zones like the plague at all other times of the year, so the festive season boosts the hatred tenfold. If he has to, for any reason, venture near a shop around December, he will do it with a festive scowl affixed to his face.

• Because of the above, you'll hardly ever find a store-bought item gifted. If anything, store-bought means he can't stand you. Sorry.

• Enjoys providing gifts that are both comical and thoughtful in equal measure. Stolen or otherwise.

• No matter how gruff he appears at the worst of times, he's one sentimental bastard. A sappy fuck, if you will. If he's read a particular book that reminds him of you, be it an old tome, or a second hand travel guide, he'll write a message in the front pages, explaining why and hand it over in a display of nonchalance that just about hides his eagerness to please. Boom. Card and gift in one.

• Eats like a total pig throughout the season. Like a vulture when anyone's cooking in the kitchen, lurking around and picking at whatever he can, under the guise of 'helping', regardless of how many hand slaps he receives. "Quality control, sweetheart." God bless fast metabolism.

• Makes incredible roast potatoes. Everything else is quite crap though, so volunteering to play head chef is infrequent come Christmas time.

• Actually quite enjoys The Muppet Christmas Carol, and wholeheartedly believes that Michael Caine's Scrooge is the most Dickens-accurate depiction.

• Also believes that Die Hard is a Christmas film. "When the hell else are you supposed'ta watch it? Easter?"

• Despises the Grinch. Thinks the whole thing is frightening.

• Bit of a sucker for a Christmas jumper (sorry - sweater). Especially if it's crass or punny. Tries to one up himself year on year.

• God help him, his gift wrapping is abysmal. Comically so. Crumpled paper, far too much tape, improvising with tin foil and duct tape if need be. He literally couldn't give a shit, either. It's all going in the trash, after all.

• When it comes to receiving gifts, he definitely downplays his reaction to avoid any sort of vulnerability in front of people.

• Once or twice he's accidentally come across as rude when the downplaying is taken a little too far.

• Regardless, he 100% cherishes thoughtful gifts. He's terrible at expressing gratitude in the moment, but rest assured, anything meaningful is going to be treasured forever.

[wolfes]

NEW EDITOR 101: A GUIDE FOR GIFMAKERS by v @shangs

Hi friends! I know I said I would do this way back in April/May when this change was announced but I've been massively busy lately so thank you all for being patient with me :)

Based on the results of this poll, I will be trying my level best to help make a guide for gifmakers to best deal with any problems that have been present with the new editor. However, it's worth noting that I have personally not experienced any of these problems myself and I have no record of any problems from other people that I could send to staff and get guidance on, so for some of these issues I will unfortunately be a broken record.

That being said, I have been using the new editor for a few months now and it hasn't been too bad. So don't be discouraged by the new editor if you still love to make gifs and share them. You may need to adapt a bit, but it's doable!

This is meant to be comprehensive and will be explanation and image heavy. Full guide under the cut.

CONTENTS:

What is the new editor?

Steps to take before posting

Making a post

Troubleshooting

01. WHAT IS THE NEW EDITOR?

Some of you may be asking yourselves what the point of the new editor even is and why it's being implemented in the first place when we already had a (mostly) functional editor. My very limited understanding of it as a CS student is app compatibility and flexibility. I'm not totally clear on the details nor am I 100% certain this is the case, but NPF posts (basically, posts made with the "new editor") first started with the mobile app. I'm unsure if the different post types were simply too unwieldy to transfer to the app - having to make a whole bunch of post types when with the new editor you can now have posts with any elements you want without the rigidity of a set post type - or if it was simply not able to be implemented, but the apps have always used NPF. The majority of Tumblr users are coming from the mobile apps. Then it became a case of having the legacy editor for the web users (which were fewer in number) and the new NPF editor for everyone else. That takes resources to keep around and it's pretty inefficient. Naturally the older editor that was used by less people was going to get the axe, especially since you couldn't tell on mobile that there was even a difference between NPF or legacy posts.

So now here we are and the posts are NPF. This means they're in "Neue Post Format." Basically, every post you make is by default a text post, containing "blocks" of other media - as gifmakers we will primarily be dealing with photos.

I understand that it's frustrating to many to see "our gifs are now rendered as text posts" and ask WHY it's happening when photos should logically be rendered as photo posts - but the fact is, there's now no real delineation between a "text post" and a "photo post." The reason NPF posts are now "text posts" is because that's how they are rendered for desktop themes, not because everyone is going to see your post as text and your gifs are going to be compressed into the quality of a potato (though I know some have seen this issue - more on that later.)

02. STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE POSTING

The long and short of it is that you may have to update your theme. More detail here for those who are interested, but check that your theme supports "new editor posts" or "NPF posts" AND that this is true for original posts (you can read more about why in this ask and, although this may be a bit time-consuming, test it out on your blog). I can say with certainty that my second theme Cygnus supports original NPF posts. This is NOT true of my first theme, though.

You can try to add the NPF Fix by @glenthemes to your own theme (beware if you don't know HTML/CSS) or try this tip by @burningblake for original posts.

Feel free to add theme makers with fully NPF-compatible themes in the notes! I have been happily using my own theme so I can't say to what degree others' themes are NPF-friendly.

03. MAKING A POST

If you're sticking around to post on the new editor and you have trouble ordering your gifs around, here's a little guide on how to post.

If I click on "Photo" from web and open up the editor, here's how it looks:

I went ahead and added three full-width gifs and the editor put them in like so:

You'll most likely also have to order your gifs around in the way you want them. You can go ahead and hover over your gifs to see the button to orient them (the four dots in the top left corner) and the button for an image description (the three dots in the bottom right corner). I've attached images of all three below:

If you hold the orientation button, move your gif around until you see the blue line that shows where your gif will end up in the spot that you want it. For example, I wanted to move the second gif below the first one, so I oriented it so that the blue line would show the marker between the two gifs:

Now my gifs are oriented nicely! Of course, this is a simpler layout, but the principles still hold.

If you save your gifs as a draft and reopen them or you just notice a large gap like this in between your gifs when you're in the editor, don't worry.

This will not show up in dash view or on a desktop theme that supports original NPF posts. For example, this is how the gifs' gap (without modification) looked in my desktop theme:

With your gifs ordered, the final step is to add alt text. You can read more about alt text and why you should use it here. (Feel free to ignore the sections about the captions on the legacy editor since it is no longer relevant. It's also unnecessary to clearly mark descriptions if they're not in the caption of your post because they will clearly show up under "ALT" on Tumblr.)

If you click the three dots in the bottom right corner as seen above, and click "update image description:"

You can add the description you like and click "update." Your photos' alt text will show up under the "ALT" bubble on Tumblr. This is generally a good practice to get into to make your content more accessible, so I hope you guys will consider using alt text regularly :)

Also, I've noticed that in the editor, if you go back and edit something it will take some time to show up. You may have to refresh the page or load it again after some time, but your edits should be there. I would not go back and edit posts again if you see your posts haven't shown up. I also advise against editing your posts on mobile because it's easier to make a mistake.

And there you go, you've successfully made a post with the new editor!

04. TROUBLESHOOTING

I'm sure you've all been waiting for this. Unfortunately I am probably going to be extremely unhelpful if the editor hasn't been refined in the last few months for those experiencing issues. I'm going to go in the categories that I listed out in my original poll, but keep in mind that I haven't personally seen any of these issues on my end so I haven't been able to contact staff with any evidence that this happened other than my poll.

Dashboard view quality issues: I haven't noticed this issue. I'm not sure if this has been fixed since the original poll was posted. If you're experiencing this issue, this is not something I know how to fix so I would contact staff with screenshots of the issue.

Desktop theme side padding: As noted before, this is a theme issue. If you change themes to something that is NPF-compatible with original posts, there shouldn't be any more issues here.

Small gifs on mobile: In my experience this was happening regardless of what editor was used; it's a bug that seems to have been fixed since this poll was created. If you're still experiencing it, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would advise contacting staff.

New editor doesn't accept gifs of size 9.8MB < x < 10MB: I haven't experienced this issue so I would say the only workaround would be to either trim the size of your gif so that it is under 9.8MB or whatever threshold seems to be the cutoff or contact staff (I am so sorry for constantly having to suggest this 😭 unfortunately there's no trick I can offer because the new editor has been taking all my gifs just fine)

Logistical issues ordering gifsets: I hope this guide has been able to answer the majority of questions and shed some light on some of the more buggy behaviors of the new editor, but if you have any more specific questions you can feel free to shoot me an ask!

HTML issues / colored text: Unfortunately it seems colored text may be deprecated entirely? This could be for accessibility purposes because I believe screen readers would read out every single letter of gradient text in captions which I imagine can get quite frustrating for users of this technology. I recommend just using the normal rich text editor. If you want small text, you can highlight and click the <s> button!

Other: If it seems like something I may be able to answer, please feel free to ask me. Otherwise... hound staff 😭

Here's where you can hound staff, btw. If you're having major issues I would advise you guys to submit support tickets. That way if there are any widespread bugs, staff will hopefully be able to fix them.

I hope this guide was helpful to you guys in dealing with the new editor, and happy giffing <3

[hopeful-engineer]

🌞 Self-care vs. self-indulgence vs. avoidance

Sometimes it may be a hard to swallow pill, but there's a difference between self-care and self-indulgence:

🍭 self-indulgence: spending too much money on stuff you want, but don't really need, like clothes you'll wear twice and then leave in your closet, where all they do is take up space, books you'll never read, subscriptions you'll forget about

✨ self-care: saving money; planning your budget; buying less, but better quality; thinking twice, before buying something you want, but don't need: "Will I really use it? Do I have enough money to buy it, without worrying, that I won't have enough to buy something more important? I want it now, but will I still want it tomorrow?" (note: I didn't write "don't buy anything except necessities" anywhere. Buy the stuff you want, but do it consciously, plan it and think before buying.)

🍭 self-indulgence: eating fast food and unhealthy snacks; drinking soda pop, energy drinks, tea with a lot of sugar, or too much coffee; adding sugar to everything; drinking too much alcohol

✨ self-care: eating as healthy as possible; learning to cook; avoiding fast food, sweets, potato chips and other unhealthy snacks; reducing your sugar intake; drinking water, fruit juices, tea without added sugar; planning your meals; buying natural food (note: It doesn't mean "never eat anything unhealthy again, never add sugar to anything, never drink alcohol". You can treat yourself with some pizza, or sweets, or beer sometimes, but it should be a treat, not part of your everyday meals.)

🍭 self-indulgence: staying up until 3 AM to watch films/series, play computer games, browse social media, chat with someone, or even to do something, that doesn't involve technology, for example draw or read books; sleeping until 11 AM, because you went to bed too late; sleeping 12 hours at the weekend, because you slept 4 hours a day during the week; hitting the snooze button; laying in the bed for too long after waking up

✨ self-care: fixing your sleep schedule; waking up earlier; going to bed earlier; sleeping 7 to 9 hours every day; avoiding all-nighters; having a fixed wake up time and a fixed bedtime, the same every day, including weekends; getting out of bed immediately when your alarm clock rings (note: I know there are circumstances, that can mąkę having a fixed sleep schedule is impossible, or next to impossible, I also know in some situations it's totally normal to stay up late, like you don't have to leave a party at 9 PM just because you want to stick to your sleep schedule, that would be unreasonable. Do it the best you can under your current life circumstances, and remember, this is about everyday life, not some rare exceptions.)

There's also a difference between self-care and avoidance:

😨 avoidance: staying home all the time; not going to any events, because meeting new people is stressful; always declinig your friends' invitations

✨ self-care: not going to that big, loud party, because it's too overwhelming, but going to a pub with a few friends instead; inviting your friends to your home, when going out feels too stressful; declinig some invitations, when you don't have time and/or energy, but accepting others, when you feel better and have more time; gradually increasing the number of social interactions you have, to be able to meet new people with less stress

😨 avoidance: having no plans for the future; thinking, that there's no point in having any goals in life; telling yourself, that ambitions are generally pointless and hence you don't have to do anything and be good at anything

✨ self-care: having specific, short-term goals and an overall vision od your long-term future; knowing, what you really want to do and what you're good at, and sticking to these things; consciously choosing, what to learn and what to give up on, based on if it's important to you, not to other people; not distracting yourself with too many side plans, when you have one main goal; knowing, what is your passion and what is your ambition; knowing, that you are ambitious mainly for yourself, and only secondly for the society; believing, that you are capable of achieving your goals

😨 avoidance: not studying at all, because it takes time and energy; procrastinating until the last moment before the exam/test/project deadline; always talking the easiest way possible with no ambition beyond barely passing the exam/test; having no plan, no study schedule; never asking for help, even if you're failing, because you think asking for help is a shame, or you're simply too shy; dropping out of school/college because it's stressful

✨ self-care: knowing that you're studying for yourself, your grades don't define you and that real knowledge and skills are more important, than grades; focusing on these topics, that are important to you for your future studies/career, and being the best you can in these areas; being good enough to pass at everything, that isn't important for your future plans; planning your studying and starting early; taking regular breaks to avoid burnout; asking for help if necessary, but trying to do as much as possible and reasonable on your own; acknowledging that, despite the education system being flawed in so many ways, it also gives you many opportunities;

Of course, self-care includes bubble baths, eating cake, listening to your favourite music and slowly drinking tea, while watching the rain outside through the window and letting your thoughts wander, but these aren't only forms od self-care and definetely not the most important ones. Of course, sometimes it includes staying home with your cat instead of going to the party, sleeping in, instead of studying for an exam, because you're exhausted, or giving up on something, instead of trying again and again, but this should happen in some, specific situations, not be your default response. Real self-care should focus on improving your life, not escaping it or avoiding it.

This post doesn't mean, I'm perfect at all of these things. Actually I struggle a lot with many of them. This is a piece of advice for me, too.

[twst-hottest-takes]

This isn't a hot take, but more of a question to you. If you don't like the writing, believe the characters are shallow and hate a lot of what the game has to offer, why don't you quit playing the game? You don't need a green light in the form of an ending like Yuu going home to stop playing. I quit numerous fandoms when they were still publishing content. This isn't an attack on you. I'm just confused.

Because it's fun!

And I mean the game, not ragging on it, though that's fun sometimes too.

Believe it or not, I actually enjoy Twisted Wonderland a lot. This blog is just a place to air out the grievances. Though the positive posts are few and far between it's not all bad and I can point you to some of the fun ones if you'd like! Or if people want to see a longer post about what I DO like about TWST I can totally do that.

I can like the game and still call the writing shallow. I can enjoy the gacha and acknowledge that it's predatory. Being hopelessly attached to the characters that have the least amount of time and investment in them is a personal flaw of mine and I have to live with that.

The game itself runs like clockwork. The updates are consistent. Despite the premise being an easy sell, the game isn't cheaply made and you can see a lot of time and effort goes into the upkeep of the assets. The fanservice is fun without being overbearing. The card art quality is actually pretty fantastic and almost consistent all the way across the board. You can effectively free to play the game and there are no ad incentives.

In all honesty I love that the novelty of Disney Villains being turned into pretty anime guys hasn't worn off on me and I'm still excited every time they reveal a new character. A lot of the Disney nostalgia keeps me coming around, and the various "twists" they make regarding it is more enjoyable and amusing than not.

The game has a lot of rough patches, yeah, and I reserve my right to talk freely about that, but when it's good, it's REALLY GOOD.

I won't continue to wax poetic here, but I hope this is a good enough explanation in short. There are lots of things I love about Twisted Wonderland and have no actual issues continuing to play it, but I can understand how the tone of this blog really might make it look like I don't view it being as fun as I do. Especially when I say things like, "I could comfortably drop the game if the main story concluded and the MC just went home."

Thank you for asking.

(I don't know what TWST would have to do to get me to actually drop it like a hot potato but I supposed it would have to be pretty bad.)

[rorysterr]

Hi there! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)♡

I just recently stumbled upon your blog, and I instantly fell in love with your writing! It’s enjoyable to read~ If it’s okay with you, I’d also love to request a match-up. (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)

❥ Basics: I’m currently a law student~! As for my appearance, I’m a petite 4′11″. I always wear glasses and hair accessories and pretty much live in heels. You’ll also usually find me in skirts or dresses! ♡

❥ Personality: I’m quite reserved and soft-spoken at first, but once I’m comfortable around someone, I totally open up, and I can get pretty chatty and loud with my close friends. I’m also a student leader, so I naturally enjoy taking the lead and having a bit of control when it comes to organizing things~ I tend to be either quiet and observant, or straightforward and direct—there’s rarely an in-between for me. Sometimes, I stay in the background, just quietly taking everything in, while in other times, I’ll surprise people by being bold and saying exactly what’s on my mind. When things get chaotic, I’m easygoing and enjoy watching how everything unfolds, just as long as I’m not the one right in the middle of the whirlwind. It’s fun to go with the flow from the sidelines, but if I’m the one stuck with the headache, that’s when the “fun” seriously flies out the window. I also love hanging out with my close friends, but I need some alone time to recharge and enjoy my hobbies, or else, I start feeling uncomfortable and drained. Then, from what others have told me, I give off a charming aura and seem like someone who really has things together, which I can understand since, even though I’m running on zero sleep or stressed out, it somehow doesn’t show on the outside, haha! (〃∀〃)ゞ Some said I come across as soft, gentle, and approachable, but also difficult to truly get close to. In addition, I’ve been told that I give off a peaceful, calming presence—that just being around me makes them feel at ease. Even when I’m not saying much, they’ve said it still feels reassuring to have me there. (//▽//)

❥ Likes: First things first—I love eating, but I’m a bit picky, so only my favorite foods will do. I have a very unhealthy (but totally happy) obsession with potatoes in any form, boba tea, chocolates, waffles, crêpes, and all sorts of pastries. Honestly, anything soft or sweet has my whole heart~ (⁄ ⁄>�� ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄) When it comes to main course, I absolutely love seafood dishes, ramen, and beef. I also have always been a sucker for theatrical and orchestra performances, concerts, and music festivals! Since law school is overwhelming, I stay sane and have my spirits up by treating myself to watch any performance every month~ Lately, I usually end up watching ballet performances!!

❥ Dislikes: I really can’t stand being in dirty or cluttered spaces. If I have no other choice, I’ll clean everything up, no matter how long it takes. Also, I hope this doesn’t come off as too blunt, but I find it really difficult to be part of important projects or activities when some group members only put in the bare minimum, and worse, end up submitting work that feels rushed or careless. After all, when I commit to something, I give it my full effort because I care about the outcome, and I hope the people I work with do the same. As for my fear, I hate bugs and insects. (⇀‸↼‶)

❥ Hobbies: I love reading books, cats, shopping, writing, and listening to music! Some of my favorite books are Sans Famille, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Crime & Punishment, then some of my current frequently listened songs are 2 O’Clock by dori, End of The Day by Rangga Jones and ZIONN, and All I Have by soowoo. I enjoy playing games too, though I tend to gravitate more toward simulation, puzzle, and MOBA games.

❥ Love Languages: When it comes to showing love, I naturally express it through gift-giving, spending quality time, and acts of service. I have a sharp memory when it comes to things people mention wanting, so more often than not, I find myself surprising them with what they wished for. As for quality time, I like domestic activities, such as buying groceries, cooking together, or just having a chat. Also, as someone who’s constantly busy and juggling a lot, I truly understand how meaningful acts of service can be, so whenever I do get the chance, I make it a point to do something and help out~ o(>ω<)o Then, when it comes to receiving love, I feel most cared for through acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and physical affection. It means a lot to have someone looking out for me as well, especially since I can be a bit of a klutz and often drift off in my own thoughts. I tend to get stressed out that even finding time to rest feels like a luxury, so having someone step in and help, even in small ways, truly touches me. As for words of affirmation, I often struggle with self-doubt, so gentle reminders and kind, reassuring words really stay with me. It’s nice to have someone who believes in me, especially during times I don’t have a faith in myself. Lastly, for physical touch, I love hugs. (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

❥ Ideal Partner: I promise I’m not a delulu stan, haha! But as you can probably tell from my display picture, my ideal type is someone like Joshua Hong from SEVENTEEN. I’m drawn to someone who’s soft-spoken, and extra bonus points if that gentle tone is something they reserve just for me~ (〃´∀｀〃) I adore a pretty smile and someone who quietly looks after the people around him. Also, I really appreciate someone who's patient, open with their feelings for me, and willing to go along with my little antics and whatever spontaneous thing I’m up to.

❥ Characters I Don’t Want to be Matched Up With: First off, there’s Mammon and Leviathan. It’s not that I dislike them or anything! It’s just that, personality-wise, we probably wouldn’t be the best match because MC always ends up getting dragged on their chaos. Then there’s Asmodeus, Mephistopheles, Thirteen, Beelzebub, and Belphegor—I like them, but I honestly just see them as besties. (つ﹏<。)

That’s all. Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read this! I’m super excited to see what you come up with~ (つω`｡)

omg you sound so cool :D and so much like me! as i was reading this, i was thinking to myself “this person is literally me in a different font.” but without further ado…

Your romantic matchup is…

Simeon!!

- this one came to me so quickly!

- first of all, Simeon has a very calming and gentle presence. And he looks after the people around him, whether it’s Luke or the seven brothers. I think he fits your ideal type very well.

- plus he’s been living in the Devildom for a little while so he’s used to some spontaneity and chaos!

- i imagine that you guys met formally at the beginning of the RAD exchange program but didn’t really start talking until you and the brothers took part in his play. Simeon is known to take his directing very seriously and whether or not you’re directing/working behind the scenes with him or acting in the play yourself, I can see you helping him lead everyone. I think this is something he’d truly appreciate and he’d voice his appreciation after a particularly long rehearsal.

- after this play, i think he’d ask u to help him direct or proofread his other ones! this is where he’d start to talk to you more.

- You’re also a sucker for sweet treats and I think sometime after the play, Luke would start to drop off some sweets for you to taste test and Simeon would happen to tag along to watch Luke. At first, these visits were quick. Luke would simply hand you the treats and go on his way, however, I think Luke and Simeon would eventually come inside and try the sweets with you.

- and then those visits led to you guys going out together. I can imagine you guys going to a cafe together and trying the different pastries!

- I definitely think that Simeon fell hard for you but didn’t realize until he saw how gentle you were with Luke. Perhaps the brothers teased Luke a little too much and you managed to calm Luke down, I think it was at that moment that Simeon realized he had feelings for you. He felt such a deep admiration and appreciation for you and he wanted to waste no time, so shortly after, he would confess to you.

- I think Simeon would confess to you in a very romantic way. I can see him writing a poem about his feelings towards you and he’d ask you to proofread it for him. You didn’t suspect anything since he always asked you to proofread his poems or plays, but when you realized what it was, you just looked up at him surprised.

- when you tell him that you reciprocate his feelings, he would be the sweetest to you!

- he’d love to take you out!! I can see him liking to spend time with you even if you guys are doing something small, like going on a walk or grocery shopping. And i feel like he’d like to spend time with you AND Luke as well (i can imagine that ppl would think u guys are Luke’s parents whenever you go out with him LMAO)

- and ofc Simeon is gifted with his ability to use words. He would write eloquent poems to you or about you (you’d be his muse !)

- and whenever you struggle with self doubt, he’ll reassure you each and every time and will be incredibly patient with you.

- and one more thing (this is irrelevant) but your style seems so feminine (have u seen brandy Melville or Mandy Crimson? That’s what I feel like you wear) and I think Simeon would love it!

Your platonic matchups are…

Asmodeus!!

- okay so you said that you see Asmo as a bestie so I’m assuming it’s okay for me to give you him as your platonic matchup!

- you and Asmo would be such good friends. I can totally see you guys hitting it off from the start.

- You guys would be formally introduced but I think he would compliment your outfit and then it’d start a convo from there.

- Also you seem like a pinterest girlie (like those ppl who wear outfits that are pinterest worthy) and I feel like Asmo would always hype them up! And whenever you post he’d always swipe up LMFAO

- i can see you guys going to a nearby cafe and then shopping together for literally hours LMAO and he’d be the best at hyping u up whenever you try clothes on!!

- he’d also be your right hand man when he finds out you have a thing for Simeon !

And…

Beelzebub!!

- im also assuming that you’re okay with being paired up with Beel platonically. I honestly couldn’t choose between Beel or Asmo as your platonic matchup so I did both LMAO

- Beel would LOVE to get food with you !! Yk those boba waffles? I think he’d love those.

- i can see you guys going to cafes together and trying out the diff pasteries !

- and i think Beel would feel safe with you and open up to you about Lilith pretty easily because of your ability to make people feel safe and calm.

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

I would also hc that the mermaid reader would think alucard is half monster because he is half human as a opposed to the other characters in the series thinking he is half monster because he is half vampire and that she refuses to speak like the siren aria from Becoming The Villain’s Family mahwa (10/10 would recommended reading the art is beautiful and has a solid story) and may have been exploited and forced to sing for people till her throat bleed because her voice and singing is powerful for luring and has a addictive quality ( again like the siren aria)

A/N: Oooh yes! I totally agree with the idea that our Half-Siren/Mermaid Reader would view Alucard as half-monster because he is half-human as opposed to seeing him as half-monster because he is half-vampire. 

I can also see her stubbornly withholding the use of her voice, even when speaking when she doesn’t get the kind of attention/treatment she wants (especially from Alucard). Yes, her education in learning the common language is coming along nicely, but that’s something she’s doing for the ease/comfort of others. So if speaking their language won’t help to get her something she wants, she’ll withhold it until a compromise is met. 

Here are some extra Half-Siren/Mermaid Headcanons: 

Additional Half-Siren/Mermaid Headcanons: 

She actually learns to read and write other languages fairly quickly, it’s the pronunciation and prolonged speaking that she still struggles with. 

Her penmanship is very smooth, almost wave-like, with how gracefully she can slide her pen around a page. The simple act of her writing is mesmerizing to watch. She moves her hand around the page like a witch would around a cauldron. 

Practically any mundane task she does becomes almost spellbinding once she’s mastered it. Perhaps it’s her siren nature that makes her appear all the more alluring. 

Whenever she’s feeling particularly petty, usually in cases where one of the more jealous village women has offended her, she makes it a personal goal of hers to become an expert at whatever it is they do best. If the village woman is a tailor, she’ll master the art of sewing. If the woman’s a stable-hand, she’ll master the art of caring for and riding horses.  And then, as soon as that villager woman sees how capable ‘The Land Walker’ is at the thing she loves, our Siren drops the hobby like a hot potato. It’s never about taking away the woman’s position as the best whatever- it’s about sending a message.

A/N: Updates might be a bit slower in the coming month, currently looking for a new job and helping my Mom out with some health crap, so writing is taking a back seat to pretty much all else rn.

I'm still here, I'll still be reading/checking in, but as far as posting goes, I probably won't be producing too much content rn.

Don’t forget to Like & REBLOG!!!

And if you enjoyed it, feel free to Tip Me on Kofi! 

[dozing-marshmallow]

Would it be alright of I request some headcannons for Chris x co-host reader? Where the reader enjoys the show/challenges the show puts the contestants through just as much as he does? Thx!! 💕

P.S. I really enjoy your writing!

Hi there! Absolutely! And thank you so much, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy my writing! 😊 Enjoy!

CHRIS MCLEAN X CO-HOST READER HEADCANONS

Regardless of how high your reputation was, this was still Chris’ show; you were lucky to be on it. 

If he thought you were hogging the spotlight for too long, he wouldn’t hesitate to interrupt you mid sentence.

Alike the man in question, you had your humble introduction, and screen time explaining the concept of Total Drama to the audience alongside him.

You quickly became famous for interjecting Chris towards the end of his explanation of orders to the campers, with filthy suggestions that poured more weight on their behalf.

Wouldn’t help when you covered your lips in pretend apology.

Unlike Chris and Chef, who chose to eat in the separate tent away from the contestants, you went out of your way to eat in the mess hall, same time as them to rub it in their faces the better quality of food you got in comparison to theirs.

Some of the nicer contestants like Owen and Beth begged endearingly for a share, whilst some of the daring contestants such as Duncan and Leshawna spat curses on you.

Needless to mention, you never let them have that slice of heaven.

There was an episode where Chris let you have complete control over the challenge and whether or not it was a reward one.

“In spirit of the summer camp, I’ve decided on a gardening challenge.” You explain to him,“Each contestant will pick a seed to plant, and they will be given no instruction to what their seed will need in order to grow, so if they’re really stumped, they may be allowed to get a look at their respective seed guides or swap out their seed...in exchange of answering ten questions correctly. These questions can be about anything ranging from humanities to math. For that process, we’ll have them locked in a glass chamber with an easily accessible separate compartment above them filled with all attainable enemies of gardening. Fruit flies, mosquitos, lacewings etc.” 

You pause to look at Chris, seeing how he’s catching on where it’s going by his restless face expression,“For every question they answer wrong, the hatch will open automatically, slowly. First team that’s able to have all members grow something will win.”

“Wow! Okay, that’s a really good challenge idea. I’m surprised I didn’t come up with that!” Chris commended you, before he broke out into laughter,“It’ll boost the ratings for sure!” He notices your ready tray of seeds and begins reading out the labels,“Talipot palm... Raspberries... Potatoes... Tomatoes... Hey (Y/N)...” he finds you already beaming at him,“This is a guess...but don’t a lot of these seeds need at least a month to grow?”

“Exactly.”

Also known as the episode of which they do not speak of.

You never understood how in spite of that, you were still the more favourable host to the contestants.

Maybe because you weren’t as self centred as Chris?

Either way, you used every figment of hope to remind them that you aren’t there to make anything easier.

And you remained that way, up to where the show was supposed to be over, had it not been for Owen deciding to gamble his luck and kicking off a new game.

“Owen’s definitely lost his win now.” You comment wearily.

“Tell me about it.” Chris yawns,“I’m so bored. Wanna get back to the lodge?”

“Say no more.”

Long story short, you basically called it- not only did Owen lose his money, but thirteen other contestants got tied with him.

Given the situation, Chris declares a new immediate season, where you would be cued to open an empty briefcase for the producers to have someone edit wads of cash in.

However, you accidentally open up the wrong briefcase, this briefcase storing a pack of water snakes that slithered out onto the planks and into the lake, causing the contestants of the future season(apart from Izzy) to scream and frantically swim their way onto land.

It was a ridiculous scene, but what can be done? You and Chris laugh as the final episode of the season comes to a close.

You’re already looking forward to what happens next! And you have a good sensation the contestants feel the same.

[sgiandubh]

Cooking by moonlight: Teresa's Kahlúa liver pâté and Anonymous' No-Knead Honey Beer Bread

After a very long and rather rainy spring, with days looking more like November than May, we're just in the middle of a heatwave. For obvious reasons, cooking becomes something almost accidental - it would better be quick and effective.

This is one of the best appetizer/snack recipes I have even been able to steal. It comes from our dearly departed Chilean friend I have already written at length about, and it takes the beloved coffee liqueur totally out of its comfort zone.

Best thing? It is easy and even cheap, if you already have this bottle loitering in your cupboard and you want to try something else than pouring some of it over ice cream:

[Credits given to the Wikipedia contributor who uploaded this pic]

For a batch of liver pâté, you will need (adjust quantities accordingly if serving it for a buffet): 9 ounces (250 grams) raw chicken liver; 1 stick (110 grams) of good quality butter (always, always use Irish); 6 cloves of garlic, sliced; 1 tsp (a pinch of) fresh thyme (I skip that and I find it doesn't change much); 1 whole small red onion (I insist!), chopped (you can replace and I often do, with 2 shallots, finely chopped); 1/4 cup (60 ml) Kahlúa liqueur (adjust to own taste, I personally like to keep it on the lighter side), salt and pepper (obviously - dash of...).

Place everything, spare the alcohol, in a pan (a deeper dish, wok-style is recommended). Gently fry, low heat, until the liver is cooked - about 15 to 20 minutes. Cooking at low heat will keep the butter properly browned and the liver properly moist, which is crucial for this dish - resist temptation to get it done quicker. You'll know it's done when all the pink is gone, and even a wooden spoon will easily split the livers. Don't overcook.

Reserve some of the melted butter aside (more about this, in a second). Place in a glass, china or plastic bowl - no metal, lest you want the lovely (not) oxydizing taste. Add the liqueur. I prefer to use this Medieval contraption, because I want to be able to better control the texture - a humble potato masher, heh:

Mash it vigurously or just use a blender (no bowl required, obviously). You are done!

3. While still warm, you can put it in reusable jars, for storage (up to a week), in the fridge. In this case, pour some of the melted butter over the pâté, to seal it properly, keeping the oxydizing away. It should look like this:

Serve with toasted honey beer bread or any other fresh bread available.

Onwards to the honey beer bread. This comes from the web, I think these effortless recipes were all the craze during COVID-19. Once I made it, I never looked back.

You will need: 2 3/4 cups (350 grams) regular (no self-raising!) flour; 1 Tsp (15 grams) baking powder (no baking soda!); 1 tsp (5 grams) salt; 1/3 cup (90 ml) honey (I prefer orange blossom, but any type will do); 1 12-ounce (330 ml) can of beer (blonde/pale ale, I often use Moretti with sea salt, but that is personal taste); half a stick (60 grams) melted butter (Irish!).

Preheat oven at 350 F(180 Celsius).

In a big plastic bowl, roughly mix the dry ingredients, using a fork.

Slowly pour the beer, then the honey (in this order) over the dry mix. Do not forget to incorporate after each one of them. You will get a very soft, but not runny dough and this is exactly what should happen.

Melt the butter slowly on low heat. Use about half of it to grease a loaf tin. Alternatively and perhaps more conveniently/elegantly, use a muffin tin (tip: use some crumpled paper towel to grease tin, it's stress & mess free and covers superbly).

Pour #3 in loaf tin. Use the other half of the butter to gently brush the top of your bread.

Bake for about 40 to 50 minutes, until the proverbial inserted toothpick remains dry. Take bread immediately out of the tin, let cool for at least 10 minutes. Devour. Keeps well for about three days (if only...) and can be, of course, toasted (see above)

Final result - older pic, from my Athens kitchen. Immediately after, Baby the Lab made a mess out of it and I had to bake it all over again, LOL:

You can add grated cheddar to it (step #1), or even garlic, if you want. I prefer it as is. But I often add more than a dash of Basque smoked paprika - makes for very interesting results.

You're welcome.

[weaselle]

if you want to give a critique to an artist, but are worried about how it will come across, a great way to be super chill with feedback is to do these 3 things

if you have access to notes or comments or messages already left, just take a minute to scroll through them a bit. If a hundred people have already said "you suck at writing relatable characters" maybe your well meaning advice to write more relatable characters isn't appropriate anymore.

use a compliment sandwich

use "I" statements

Compliment sandwich is easy. Find two things you like about the piece, and put your critique between them.

Example:

"what a great story, i really enjoyed the setting you've provided for it. I had a hard time making a personal connection with some of the characters, but I love the twist ending!"

So, sure, critical feedback can be hard to make palatable, but you see how two thirds of this is actually positive feedback. And the part in the middle is gentled by using an "I" statement, which explicitly does not say anything bad about the writing or the author -- not connecting with the characters could be a personal failure on the part of the reader, and this statement is phrased to acknowledge that.

That's what makes "I" statements a little trickier. The first step is simple, start your feedback with "I" to help you frame it innocuously

So like instead of "You Need to Write More Relatable Characters" or "None of the Characters Are Relatable" i might say "I Had Trouble Relating to the Characters" In this way you are not asserting yourself as anything but The Expert in What You Have Experienced (which we all know is true) instead of telling someone what they did wrong or what they need to do, as if you are An Expert in What They Are Doing

And it's better quality information. Imagine I said "You have trouble writing relatable characters" or "These characters aren't relatable"

But maybe this artist has had 100 comments about Relatable Characters and 78% of them are about how relatable they are. That means i'm actually wrong. They have written pretty relatable characters. So i'd totally be wrong.

Plus i'd be wrong in an accusatory way, and "this is what you should have done/this is how you've messed up" is something any artist getting feedback (especially online) has to kind of shield themselves against. Everybody has a way they would have done it "better". And you especially have to find a way to not give your energy to people are both wrong and antagonistic online. So being accusatory and wrong, even accidentally, even with the best intentions, is a great way for me to get ignored, or, if i catch the artist in a vulnerable moment, get clapped back. Or if they are new or very sensitive, hurt their feelings.

Whereas "I had trouble relating to the characters" is just, an accurate depiction of your experience. "I didn't notice the stop sign" doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with the stop sign. Sure if a number of people say it, maybe do a little check up on the sign's visibility. But at the same time, "i didn't notice the stop sign" doesn't say the stop sign is wrong in any way, like, maybe you were just thinking about mashed potatoes and didn't notice the clearly visible sign, who is to say.

And that makes you helpful. Even if 78% of the responses that deal with character relate-ability are "these characters are so relatable" if, say, 17% of them are along the lines of "i had trouble relating to several of the characters, I didn't make a personal connection with them before moving on to the next character" it might help that author really dial in their characters for that story.

Now, just beginning your sentence with the word "I" doesn't make it what we're looking for, it's just a great place to start. What you're trying to make sure you do is Only Describe Your Experience, without giving advice or rendering judgement on quality or technique. Especially avoid anything that says "you should". Even indirectly.

You might be tempted to tell them something like "I feel like if I had more time with each character i would connect with them better" ... but this isn't actually the kind of "I" statement we want.

It's the same as saying "I feel like you should spend more time on each character" which is just putting "I feel" in front of a "You Should" statement, see how that works?

and If you say "My experience was i spent the whole story thinking about how you need to spend more time with your characters to make them more relatable" you're not really talking about how you experienced the story, you're telling them what they "need to do".

Avoid giving advice.

Even something like "I was kind of bored during the dialogue" is better than telling them what they should do. After all, maybe nobody else was bored during the dialogue. Maybe you were thinking about mashed potatoes and missed how good the dialogue was.

See a good I statement doesn't pretend to have the answers. Sure, taking more time with the characters might be a solution, but maybe there's a pacing thing I'm doing so i'd prefer to find ways of helping readers connect to the characters better in the time allotted.

"i had trouble relating to several of the characters, I didn't make a personal connection with them before moving on to the next character" alerts me to the issue while still allowing me to be the one to decide what to do about it. It doesn't say "I think you need to slow this down" it just says "i couldn't keep up"

And "I couldn't keep up" isn't accusatory or antagonistic or anything like that, so it's an easy more friendly way for an artist to hear feedback.

I did this example for writing because (looks at yet another long ass post) i love writing, but it's true of feedback on anything.

I hope people find this helpful. I didn't write this because of any bad feedback i've gotten (tho gods know i've gotten some bad feedback in my time).

I wrote this because i wish there was a more satisfying balance between critical feedback as the Monster as currently existing on most of the internet, and the Helpful Creature it could be.

I would like more people to feel comfortable giving critical feedback on my little writings. Like, I post poems and stories and like, idk, science and nature articles, and of course i am hoping for people to say nice things about them (and people do! thank you <3 ) but artists do actually often want feedback about the not great stuff too, if it's done politely. If i write a poem and nobody can figure out what it's supposed to be about, i kinda need to know that so i can grow as an artist.

And i feel like maybe there are a lot of people who are too worried they'll come off wrong or hurt someone's feelings, who want to make sure they aren't accidentally a part of the asshole hoard it's so easy to find in comment sections. And this is a great way to help make sure you don't accidentally come off like that. I hope it gives some people the confidence to leave some critical feedback on my writing in the future.

[theunmarkedtombstone]

Part 2 | Part 3 Hello hello! today I will be teaching you how to make GIFS, from scratch, and some other stuff. I've been doing this on this platform for the past 10 years (yay!). I've seen gifs morph and change, seen tumblr up their image size by a considerable amount (in 2015 you had to maintain your gifs UNDER 2MB. 2MB!!!!) and all the sizing changes, PSD changes, etc. So, idk, I decided to do this too cause I thought it might be fun!

I am going to go through a few different GIF types in this:

GIFS that are straightforward, take your frames, turn it into a gif and go. I'll be teaching everything here: How to grab frames, how to organize it, how to open it on photoshop, how to do the thing (except for coloring, at least here), etc. (Half in part 1, half in part 2).

The BITMAP gif, how much faster it is (despite the slightly lower quality) and how it enables you to make gifs on potato computers. (Part 2).

GIFS that need a little more finessing, like GIFS that contain two different angles you have to make work in one. (Part 3).

GIFS that have text, which are 90% of my GIFsets, and how I make the text look crispier (this is still a work in progress, though, would love some tips <33). (Part 3).

Now, I'm not saying that this is gonna be such a different gif tutorial from all the others, or that I'm an actual expert (I'm bad a synchronizing gifs, for example). I'll try to make it comprehensive, but I think all the other ones are really solid, I'll just go through my own process, the program I use and have been using for years (as someone who's tried GOMPlayer and didn't like it) what I do for individual gifs, and all that. I will NOT go into coloring, because I am BAD at it, never been too good, but everything else should be covered here pretty neatly! Keep in mind I don't do insane edits, though I find them BEAUTIFUL, or anything overtly complicated cause I am, hmmm, lazy. Sorry. I CAN make them because I've learned, but my heart is not in it and there are hundreds of talented GIF and edit makers here on this webbed site that would provide a more solid base.

Also, this is a pretty wordy tutorial, because it goes from frame capturing all the way to the end result, but I hope it helps peeps. So, let's get to it. (divider used in this tutorial by @e-resources)

INTRO:

Before this year, I used to make all of my gifs on my Dell Inspiron 2012, with 6GB of RAM, rolling on Photoshop CS5 and praying. Each gif took 5 minutes to load, ten minutes total to complete. Believe it or not, I've seen Hell.

I also do all my gifs, from a young age, using the KMPlayer. The KMPlayer doesn't open pop ups on your browser (which on my old computer would mean CHAOS and UPRISE and I'd probably have to turn it off because it only actually did one process at a time, believe it or not) and it allows you TO CAPTURE FRAMES WHILE THE MOVIE OR SHOW IS PAUSED which GOMPlayer DOESN'T LET YOU. In general, KMP's advantage is also that the PNG frames it takes are higher resolution than GOMPlayer. A GOMPlayer PNG frame will always have 96ppi whereas a KMPlayer frame will have an 120ppi:

A higher resolution image has more ppi, and though anywhere between 92 and 125 is good, KMPlayer is better. Now, idk if KMPlayer was outed as being spyware, of being bad, because everyone on this platform used it and then stopped for some reason, but unfortunately IMO it's still the best program to do it. Yeah. If it sucks, I'm sorry :(( I can't stop using it cause I am spoiled, and it never did anything on my computer as someone who has used it for YEARS (and who has gotten probably every single virus out there, including computer ending ones. Twice. Thankfully they were close calls, but the fear was there). (Later in the tutorial, I 'll do a pros and cons of each program).

Ok, intro done, let's begin the segmented portion of the tutorial.

INDEX:

Frame capturing 101: Frame organizing, and how I personally do it (part 1).

Basic GIFS (including resources I use for sharpening) (half in part 1, half in part 2).

GIFS with Text (part 2).

GIFS with two angles, and what to do to center them (part 2).

How to make lower quality GIFS look acceptable (or SOMEWHAT acceptable) (for older PCs and lower quality releases) (BITMAP instead of PNG).

FRAME CAPTURING 101

This is gonna be pretty straightforward. Open your movie with KMPlayer, or your program of choice. Now, KMPlayer doesn't allow me to record its screen for some reason, at least OBS doesn't let me, so I'll make do with prints. CTRL+G opens the capture window. You can pause your frame and start from this point without releasing the movie, cause like I said the KMPlayer allows you to do so, and to me this is important cause I like to capture as many frames as possible, and be as perfectionistic as I can be.

Now, if you have a potato of a computer like I had, both KMPlayer and GOMPlayer offer a few formats on your capture (CTRL + G) window. On KMP, there's BITMAP, JPEG and PNG. My program is in Portuguese, but basically it says BITMAP is fast, JPEG is medium and PNG is slow.

I used to take my frames in BITMAP from 2014 til very recently. It sucks, it doesn't have a high quality, but it allows you to have SOMETHING to work with. If you are an aspiring GIFmaker and you don't have the equipment, you can still make stuff with this setting (I say this because my other computer used to turn off when I captured frames in PNG so, uh… Try it at your own risk on old machines. I never tried JPEG, might do you a solid. probably better than BMP, but like I said, I never tested it).

Here are some examples of gifs I made with BITMAP quality:

As you can see, they're not bad, just a bit grainy (I did the sharpening myself, so my bad. Later in the tutorial, I'll put better examples, and you'll see they're not bad.). When I upgraded my laptop, I started taking frames in PNG. The gifs now look like this:

Sometimes, I still struggle with quality, like on my Bedazzled gifsets. This is due to me being an obscure, old film lover, and those often not having 4K or real 1080 quality (Most of my BITMAPs were taken from YTS releases, though. It helps on old machines and it looks ok. Real 1080 is over 2GB and 4K is way more than that, so that's the difference, and it looks better. YTS releases are very compressed, but real 1080 never rolled on my old PC (nothing over 3GB did) so I still used them for basically everything. Not many complaints here).

Now, to go back to how I capture the frames: Depending on how familiar I am with the scene, I allow the frames to capture continuously until the scene is over. That being said, if it is a scene with dialogue that I am not 100% familiar with, I usually capture it gif by gif. It really depends on your specific style.

The KMPlayer, like GOM, will capture these to the CAPTURE folder. This folder is located inside of your disk (local disk? is that the name in eng. too?) inside of the program's folder. I then divide these captured frames into other folders, for ease of maneuvering.

I usually use 48 frames per gif, especially because I make gifs that are 540px (by either 405 or 540px). If you are doing a gif that is smaller, like 268x268, etc, you'll be able to get away with 60+ frames, up until 10MB. You have no idea how much 10MB is a Godsend. It was the trenches in the olden times. Unlike GOM, KMP captures all frames, regardless of movie or show, on the same folder and it is your job to organize it. I think GOM got this specific point right, but I'm used to the heavy lifting, so I don't mind. Still, be mindful of KMPlayer eating older frames. If you have important frames on the main folder, make sure you organize them into smaller ones, because KMP will replace these unorganized frames with newer ones. I hope I made this easy to understand. Bottomline is: Make sure all your important frames are as organized as possible to prevent mistakes and accidents.

Kind of left field tangent but there is nowhere else here to put it, so here you are: For my Peter Cook in Bedazzled, Matt Bennett in M&E&TDG, and my Nightmare on Elm Street gifsets, I made A LOT MORE GIFS THAN I USED. I made up to 11, 12 gifs for both my Nightmare and Bedazzled gifsets. Sometimes you have to make a lot of them to decide later what you want, so don't be sad if your process is extremely chaotic. From chaos comes beauty in the form of tumblr.com the website and the app GIFsets.

Ok, now that this is done, let's get to the gifmaking portion of this mess.

BASIC GIFS (no text, just frames and sharpening):

You have to have a Photoshop that allows you to have the timeline function. CS5 worked for me for years, 2020 also has it, and I'm assuming 2024 does too (but that one didn't roll with my system). I use Photoshop 2020, I got it from Pirate Bay, first result, because the one we have rolling around here DID NOT PASS ANY VIRUSTOTAL SCANS I PUT IT THROUGH, though I'm sure the person didn't know. Always put stuff like this through virus total to be sure. My Photoshop never gave me any issue.

Anyway, if you don't have your timeline enabled, go to window> timeline, like so right there at the bottom:

There you have it. Now you can load up your frames. For that, you'll go to to file> scripts> load files into stack:

You click on browse:

Get your frames and load them. Yep. That simple. Nothing to it.

PNG FRAME GIFS:

(I will be using Capitu (2008) as the examples for this tutorial)

Now, different from GOM Player, KMP will not name your frames automatically, for some reason when its PNG, so your images will flash on screen as Photoshop renames each individual frame. On a potato computer, this takes 30 minutes to do and it's undoable. I know cause I tried. Anyway, it takes a little longer to open, but it should be done in less than a minute or a minute or so on good computers, probably a few seconds on state of the art ones. Just make sure that if you don't like or are sensitive to anything flashy that you either don't look or don't do this using KMP. Ok, now that you opened the frames, you create video timeline by clicking on the middle right here:

Then, you click there, nvm if my timeline is not loaded. Just click and it'll create one of your frames for you. Now click here on the corner and on "make frames from layers, to create the rest.

This will make your actual frames for you, in a nice neat line. Now, keep in mind that these frames are reversed at this point, so you have to click on the "reverse frames" option, right there on the panel (it's unclickable on my example photo up there, but it'll be available once all your frames are loaded). Still on the same panel, you click on select all frames, cause you basically do everything from here, and once the frames are all selected, you input your delay.

In my time, we used 0,07. Now that's too slow. Some people use 0,04, I use 0,05, I think it depends on what you want. Once the gif is all loaded up you'll be able to see if the frames are too fast better (In my Goodbye Again gifset, I struggled with frame velocity as 0,04 was too fast and 0,05 too slow for example), but if you are not a perfectionist like me and you don't feel like backtracking every time, 0,05 is your best bet for most gifsets.

After this I usually crop the gifs. I use the pre-crop thing here:

And input the size I want. Usually it is 540x540 or 540x405. In this case, though, it'll be 540x304, which is the native usually (unless your movie is widescreen. I hate those). This tool will not actually resize your image, it will just leave it ready for when you do resize, here:

Remember, tumblr dimensions are 540px by 540px for square gifs, 540px by 405px for medium sized gifs and usually 540px by 304px for rectangular gifs (usually it is the size of the screen, unless your movie is widescreen. I hate those). For gifsets that are two gifs per row, the dimensions are 268px per whatever you want, better if it's square though. 177px by whatever is the three gifs per line one, also better if square. You can still leave it 540 on the pre-crop tool, though, because it'll just do the 1:1 square ratio. When you do resize it to 268 or 177, it'll work, it'll be square, or whatever other size you want. Anyway, when you do resize, you'll be taken to this screen:

These are my settings. I also use bicubic sharper, but it's holistic for me, tbh. I usually resize it to 540px right away, some people like to do it in increments, and I respect it, but I have no patience for it. If you want to do it in increments, you can take image size little by little (from 1920px, for example, to 1400px, then 1200px, etc, until you get to 540). It works. But I'm lazy. Anyway, here's what the gif looks like as it is:

Ok, so you cropped and resized your gif. What now? Well, now I do coloring, but like I said I will not teach PSDs here, cause I think there are more talented people than I out there for it. If you wanna make your own, just go here:

And add brightness, levels, curves, etc. holistically, like I do cause I GENUINELY don't know what I'm doing and just play it by ear. I don't use PSDs often cause I love doing this part, I just suck at it, but feel free to do as you must in these trying coloring times. I do have to say though, in Photoshop 2020, you can edit your coloring in whatever frame you want (for example adjust brightness and contrast settings while frame 40 is clicked) whereas in Photoshop CS5 this is not possible. You have to make sure you do all your edits on the first frame, which is still a good general rule of thumb, imo. Ok, cool, now what what? You go here:

Same tab as usual, select all frames, then you make sure the frames on the left are also selected, like so:

Usually, when there are gif malfunctions (for example, you open the save for web screen to save the gif in its entirety and the gif is only a few kb big with all the frames being the same image), it's because you didn't select every single frame, or you forgot to hit "make video timeline," which is the next step. Make sure you DON'T select your PSD, whatever it is, or text. I mean, to be completely honest, the text one might work, but here is a gifset in which I merged text and image together:

I think the text looks odd, too sharpened, which is why I sharpen it afterwards, but it's a matter of taste, no big deal. I'll teach how to do it both ways in my text gifset portion of the tutorial, so more on this later. Anyway, after you do all this, you click, on the same panel as the select all frames, etc, in "convert to video timeline." Once that is done, you go here:

Convert for smart filters, don't forget to do this otherwise it won't work, all that. Now, for the true meat of the tutorial, the sharpening:

(continued on part 2, because I exceeded the image limit. Oops.)

[sloshed-cinema]

The Outcasts (1983)

It’s easier to remain stagnant and ignorant than to pursue knowledge. Opening and closing on children huddled around a fire on a dark and stormy night, whispering about how the strange sounds on the wind are Scarf Michael coming to steal their souls, The Outcasts explores how stories and superstitions can be ways to spook one another or explain away strange happenings. But when generalized to daily life, it can bring more of a mob mentality. Quiet and mousey Maura has always been the subject of bullying and ire from others in her small farming community, but after rumors that she was consorting with some sort of dastardly fellow begin to spread, that aggravation with her differentness begins to become more poisonous. Factor in strange happenings with crop failures and death of livestock and family, and soon a dangerous fervor sweeps the community. Maura is targeted by a hateful, simple-minded, superstitious crowd. But unlike a Salem situation, well, they’re not totally, wholly wrong. She has been spending time with the magical fellow Scarf Michael. Though to be fair, his antics appear more on the level of messing with people who are already messing about and don’t want to be caught. Maura and Michael come to exemplify the pursuit of knowledge as a way to expand one’s horizons. But it’s not without its risks: to become truly experienced in the world is to pursue a sort of death. Maura may have great potential, greater than anything her family or community members might have believed in her, but that prospect still frightens her. Though one thing is for sure: maybe let’s workshop that whole busking gig a little more before just jumping in on it; the choreo could use a little polishing.

This has a certain quality to the nature of the storytelling as if the film were in a reverie. Interludes of natural imagery—trees and rocks and rain-dappled brooks—hint at the earthy, pagan roots of Scarf Michael, and brief perspective beats thrust the viewer into the shoes of Maura, giving a subjective and uncertain air to things that could be and yet are not. Michael does have a certain magic to him, vanishing from sight as he disrupts the attempted drowning of Maura, and visiting mischief upon nocturnal carousers, but the most profound magic is incited by Maura herself as she brings peace to a dying old man or experiences the totality of existence on the top of a cliff. Robert Wynne-Simmons was influenced by the work of William Blake, and indeed that poet’s specific mysticism bears its mark on the overall feel of the narrative.

THE RULES

SIP

Someone says 'God' or 'Scarf Michael'.

Voice-over narration begins.

Musicians start to play.

BIG DRINK

Maura messes around with a potato.

POV shot in a scene.