#utility knives not included

[c---crow]

glamour shot

[gingerswagfreckles]

I love when ur 90% of the way through the hell of applying and getting approved for an apartment and then you find out the landlord is intending to charge you literally $4000 of non-refundable "move-in fees" (??????) and also illegally charging you and all your roommates 2x your state's limit on application fees. Literally kill all landlords.

[brucewaynehater101]

Batfam Suicide Squad AU:

Villainous versions of all of the Bats are shoved into one universe together. Up until this point in the AU, they do not know each other well. They've maybe seen each other on the field (which probably ended in fights and held grudges), but they aren't family. They are practically strangers.

Amanda Waller just wants to kill them. However, somehow, there's a force that's even worse than these fuckers. She needs a team to take that down, even if the participants are unwilling.

Bruce Wayne:

A cunning villain who can naturally lead teams. He primarily works alone but has proven to be efficient with any person he has to work with. He can bring out their better attributes, but he's ruthless, wary, and an asshole. He has contingency plans to take down anyone and everyone

Dick Grayson:

Practically immortal half-Talon assassin for hire. His rumored mentors are other Talons, Deathstroke, Superman, and various Titans. His skills in combat are fierce, his abilities are enhanced by his state, and his early childhood acrobatics do wonders for his abilities to escape and fight. These pale in comparison to his natural charisma and ability to turn enemies into allies.

Barbara Gordon:

The best hacker on this side of the galaxy. While she mainly stays off of the field due to her being paralyzed from the waist down, she is a formidable opponent. A significant number of politicians worldwide owe her favors, heroes and villains work for her, she knows top secret information, employs a number of traps to protect herself, and understands the nuances in social structures.

Jason Todd:

A brutal enforcer who utilizes fear, power, and death in his territory to demand obedience to his rules. Extremely skilled in various weapons, hand-to-hand combat, bomb making, and demonstrations of force. His senses, healing speed, and reflexes are uniquely enhanced by his exposure to Lazarus Pits. Despite his persona of being quick to anger, he's a masterful tactian and manipulator.

Cass Cain:

The only candidate who does not kill. Her combat prowess exceeds all other candidates and is rarely defeated in battle. Her eerie silence, ability to read others far more accurately than even psychics, and her stealthiness lead her existence to being more of a feared rumor than a confirmed sighting.

Tim Drake:

While he can defeat a range of opponents in combat, his strength lie in the plots he enacts anonymously. He is skilled in plucking strings and dominoes to create the outcomes he desires. Other abilities include hacking, combat, stealth, disguises, and manipulation. For any battle he prepares for, he rarely loses. Only a small handful of his crimes can be proven to be caused by him.

Steph Brown:

She is skilled in deflection, disguises, social circumstances, combat, and observations. Brown utilizes a variety of personas to distract her victims and lead them astray. She's deadly, but hides this aspect well.

Duke Thomas:

A daring and charismatic leader of a meta rights movement. His group has committed various crimes in their pursuits. He is the only born meta of the group, extremely skilled in utilizing his powers, decisive in outcomes, skilled in combat, and ruthless to prejudice. He can be charming and is extremely emotionally intelligent, which is a skill he uses to subtly influence others.

Damian Al Ghul:

Due to his high kill count, special permission has been given to allow the sixteen year old to be entered into the program. He's exceptionally skilled in all weapon combat but primarily uses swords and knives. He's astute and can utilize his age as a finely tuned weapon to infiltrate, distract, or disappear. He has experience with leading, murder for hire, and complex missions.

Alfred Pennyworth:

A formidable marksman and retired serviceman for MI6. His skills with all styles of guns, acting abilities, unflappable manner, medic training, vehicle maneuverabilites, and sharp tongue aid him in any supportive role. Although he is unlikely to assist on field, he will provide necessary background aid.

Tim and Barbara, in this AU, have both grudges and respect for each other. Tim does not match Barbara's computer skills, but he's a far better foe to her than most. Usually, Tim has a policy to bow out when Barbara is involved or find a way to hide his involvement from her.

Bruce doesn't know Damian is his biological son. Damian hopes to keep him in the dark. Dick, due to his training with blood scents, is the first to know about their relationship. This only occurs after Bruce and Damian get injured on separate missions and Dick makes the connection.

Jason and Damian both have tried to kill Tim. Because Tim seemingly can't die to their attacks, the two have made a game out of trying to kill Tim whenever they see him. Jason and Damian do not know the other also does this. Jason refers to Tim as a "cockroach-like bastard."

One of the batkids jokingly refers to Bruce as "Dad" and Alfred as "Gramps" due to their older age. This catches on with the rest of the batkids until it becomes a regular and fond nickname for the older men.

Bruce had a plan to escape with the help of Kate. After seeing Damian (he doesn't know that's his son), Bruce decides he can't leave a kid. Then he becomes fond of the rest of the group and delays his escape plan again until he can escape with them.

Which of the Bats know each other from encounters in the field? Who holds grudges against each other? What led each Bat to become a villain?

As far as background shit, idk.

I might update with a criminal dossier for each bat later

(In case it wasn't clear, this is a batfam meet late forced found family AU)

@hisaribi helped me with this ^^

[serpentface]

Daily bloodletting materials

A selection of basic materials- a fig leaf, braided grass, two quality levels of bark paper, plant thorns, two bloodletting razors, and an oil lamp.

Bloodletting is an everyday occurrence used in prayer in the Wardi faith. This is understood as an offering of one’s living spirit to God as part of a wider cycle of death and rebirth that sustains the world, as well as sustaining God's connection, blessing, and protection to the individual and their kin. This is seen as a strict orthopraxic necessity and will typically be performed by all members of society.

For everyday prayers of laymen, orthopraxy focuses predominantly on the core mechanics of the offering rather than the exact materials used (material is of far greater significance in more specified rites, such as offerings to individual Faces of God or prayers with more specific purpose). 

The fundamental necessary materials are:

A tool to draw blood.

This can effectively be any sharp implement, but it is expected to be used exclusively for the purpose of bloodletting and to not be tainted by other uses. Most people will have at least one blade designated for this purpose. Specialized bloodletting knives are typically small, short blades kept very sharp. Thorns and plant spines likely had more specific ritual purpose in the early history of the faith, but this has largely been lost with these natural materials being instead a practical means of drawing blood in lieu of having a designated blade. Use of thorns in prayer is an acceptable practice, but heavily associated with poverty.

An object to hold the blood offering and be fed into flame.

Most traditionally, this is a braid of dried grass. This is a readily accessible material throughout the region, and some traditions maintain that this is the optimal material. The grass has significance in its material nature, being a prime signifier of the cycle of death and rebirth (the grasses die off in the height of the dry season and are reborn with the rain, anointing this material with blood reflects broader understandings of bloodshed and sustaining life and affecting seasonal change). Using grass braids is not expected orthopraxy by religious authorities, but is demanded by most hardline traditionalists. Dried leaves are a rarer material of choice, with this practice only being standard among the rural northeastern Wardi (and otherwise tending to be used pragmatically as a quick and easily accessible material that can perform the needed ritual functions). The fig leaf is most common throughout the region (as a highly valued crop), while the oak leaf has unique import the the folk traditions of some northeastern Wardi groups. The practice of using bark paper is a more historically recent development, initially adopted by the priesthoods (especially with its utility as a writing surface, which figures into more complex rites) and slowly disseminated into laymen. This material was historically inaccessible and reserved for rites and writing of official documents, but has become more widely available as it is extracted en-masse from the more wooded northeastern tributary regions.

A source of flame.

This flame source, if re-usable, is expected to be utilized only for prayers and offerings (using one's cooking hearth to light the flame is appropriate, offering into it is not (outside of specific rites)). Most households will have at least one oil lamp in their shrine used for this purpose. In lieu of this, any fire can do in a pinch (so long as it is not reused- lit at the start of the rites and extinguished at the end). Dry dung is the most common and accessible fuel source in the region, and the dung of cattle and khait (and no other animal) is considered ritually pure and appropriate for this task.

These daily offerings will usually occur at a shrine within the home. This shrine will consist of these core materials, as well as others used for additional rites- this will usually include object representations of each of the seven Faces of God (and often additional epithets) when one needs to pray to a specific Face. These are most traditionally carved/molded figurines and/or parts of animals. Of the highest value is parts of animals killed in right sacrifice, which have been transformed into the body of God at the moment of death and hold greater ritual power (one can perform binding oaths by laying hands upon them). Most shrines will ideally have at least eight offering bowls (one for each Face and one for general offerings and bloodletting). Animal sacrifice is only officially condoned to be performed by priests, and offerings by laymen are instead gifts of food, drink, incense, and precious materials.

Daily bloodletting rites occur at the end of the day, after one has bathed. The flame is lit at the start of the rite. One 'calls in' God to the flame with a sung invocation as they draw their blood. For daily offerings, this cut can be tiny- only a singular drop of blood is necessary. The blood is deposited on the flammable material with a second invocation, and given time to dry as the person performs their prayers. The core bloodletting rite is about maintaining a spiritual connection rather than receiving anything additional in return- if one is praying for something specific, other offerings are made at this time (generally food, grain, drink, as appropriate to the request). Upon completion of the prayers, a third invocation is sung and the blood offering is burnt in flames, with the ashes being allowed to fall into an offering bowl (these ashes are ritually purified and may be used in other rites). The extinguishing of the flame signals the end of the rite.

After this point, the blade must be cleansed on both physical and spiritual levels- wiped with water, vinegar, or a dry cloth, in tandem with the gesture against evil to dispel any minor impurities. If available, most families will have their offering materials blessed by a priest at least yearly to dispel any greater impurity. Physical and spiritual cleanliness is of great importance (and are not distinct concepts) within this worldview, and many curses or other forms of pollution will be ascribed to performing these rites while unclean.

[justherefortua]

finished the young blood book! Though it’s definitely YA rather than as mature, it gave me a lot of nostalgia for the post-S1 fics where people thought they were goin gto be ported to childhood, and I thought the little details and the way the characters were characterized was actually really good! I loved how many parallels there were to canon and the further elaboration on the day to day life of the Umbrella Academy (and Viktor)

I wouldn’t take the book as a 100% canon source, but here are some disconnected small details that I enjoyed: SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

- Twice trying to wrangle the hargreeves is referred to as “herding cats”, which is very accurate

- Grace custom sews their outfits and adjusts them for each member 🥺🥺🥺🥺 Luther gets a new one every time he grows, Diego has secret compartments for his knives, Ben has tentacle openings, Viktor’s looks a little too big on him

- I could definitely see how this Luther turns into S1 Luther but also he’s such a good guy. He just wants to help people and receive hugs

- Diego;;; my goodness. He loves his mom and also very much has a black and white view of justice. This is when he figures out he likes all black utility gear rather than the uniform

- Allison )::: allison )::: It’s so weird to see her feel out of place among other girls considering she grows up to be a famous actress but I think it was a good moment, as well as foreshadowing for her whole issues with the rumors

- Klaus is so vibrant here. He learned how to hotwire a car (They call Hargreeves’ car Hermes) at 12 from a ghost, regularly sneaks out of the house through the sewage system (the siblings refuse to do this) and is the life of the party

- Five was mentioned and acknowledged a couple times and every time it made me go ): The revelation that Ben had a daily check-in with Klaus asking about whether he could see Five or not and always believed Five was out there somewhere destroyed me. My crumbs ): oh ):

- Ben is my favorite character so I’m so glad he gets a POV here and an actual voice! He definitely has a good heart but also definitely doesn’t fall into the solely “shy and totally passive” stereotype <3 also im just happy for content of umbrella ben i miss him

- Viktor!!! He isn’t sure if Mom claps for his violin because of if he’s actually good or. He’s very lonely but the kids do include him a little bit which is lovely. Definitely some parallels to S1 canon. Also! Some Viktor trans moments where he ruminates on that for a little bit without knowing the actual cause, the mirror line has relevance here. I thought it was handled nicely but obviously I can’t speak on experiences that aren’t my own.

Other misc details:

- Ben gets calmer under high pressure situations and therefore becomes pretty good at pool despite never having played

- Klaus likes to jump from roofs for the fun of it and just thinks his body is extremely resilient to head trauma. Klaus. Klaus no. 😭

- Diego uses “Boy Scout” as a insult for Luther, who doesn’t mind because Boy Scouts are supposed to be dependable

- Diego has always been pretty good at dancing

- The Umbrella Academy never stick around to clean up after themselves on missions

- Ben and Viktor can fit together in the passenger seat

- Favorite meals: Ben likes PB+J and potato chips, Klaus likes bubblegum ice cream, Diego likes roast beef, Luther hamburger and fries, and a hot dog for Allison (though according to her it hasn’t been her fav food in years, and also she forgot Five’s favorite and Viktor’s favorite)

- Klaus listens to heavy metal (to drown out the ghosts), Allison likes pop music

- Viktor learned how to drive one year before this book, taught by Pogo. He has his license! Klaus knows how to drive too but he drives much more recklessly lol

- Allison once had a solo magazine cover and she can’t remember whether she rumored for it or not (foreshadowing)

- Ben has never told anyone that the tentacles hurt when they come out ())):) [BODY HORROR TW] They are also literally slithering under his ski, he can feel em with his organs, and the skin is tender where they come out

- Allison knows CPR. and uses it after one of the siblings has a near death experience 👍

[huhunder]

CW: knives & blades

Knifeum!

Objectum attraction(of any kind) to knives of any kind that are closely related. Including, but not limited to, common kitchen knives, scalpels, utility knives, razors, draw knives, chisels and mandoline graters. Feel free to use!

[iconuk01]

Pouches - Who's to blame (Not entirely serious)

Now, we remember that the king of the super pouches is Cable, and for good reason... Since his intro in 1990 he has tended to be more than slightly... pouch intensive

This isn't even a spoof cover, it's an accurate representation of his costume at the time.

But did he START the trend?

I think not.

Leaving aside Batman from the 1966 series, who had hefty pouches in his belt...

Though still not remotely large enough for some of the stuff he randomly produced from it, even if it DOES fold up... sort of.

But I digress....

I did consider the Silver Age bat villain Cluemaster

But those are specifically "plastic-glass pellets" containing assorted chemical weapons, like explosives, gas, acids and the like, so not sure they count.

It's been suggested that one of the first in the modern era to develop this was Longshot in 1986, when he did indeed have pouches on his belt, because artist Art Adams thought he needed practically-sized pouches to carry things in.

But even then are there MANY pouches? His bandolier was to store his throwing knives for easy access, so weren't pouches per se.

So technically, the first X-Men character to really lay into the pouches side of things isn't Cable, not by a long shot... it's this guy, slightly later in 1986

So Doug Ramsey was leading the field of poucher-y in the X-Verse side of things.

Just look at that vest and belt, LOADED and lined with pouches, and we never even find out what's in them... Though I think it would include pens, pencils, notepaper, some money, spare keys to the Xavier school, first-aid kit, lock picks (because he's always wanted to carry lockpicks), string (Everyone should carry string), breath mints and other things a relatively sensible teenager would want to be sure he was carrying if he had the room in his outfit and wasn't given to cargo shorts!

And yet, there are other contenders, so let's work backwards...

Also from 1986, Batman (again) from "The Dark Knight Returns" where even his BELT looks to be on a course of serious steroids!

And in 1983 we got this stylish new costume retconned into the history of the Golden Age Tarantula in All-Star Squadron who, up until this point, wore a purple and yellow spandex outfit that was, oncufsingly, identical to the Golden Age Sandman's spandex costume outfit.

Notice that he has rings of pouches on both boots, where he keeps things like spare cash in case he needs to hire a taxi and probably some spare ammo for his wirepoon gun.

But I think I've found patient zero as, from 1981's New Teen Titans #3. we have the inventor and technologist par excellence, the man who would be known (Eventually) as Mikron O'Geneus, though he would, perhaps thankfully, becomes better known by his codename:

GIZMO!

Look, even his LOGO has pouches!

In fairness, given his speciality is creating techno-widgets and devices out of other technology, him carrying dozens of gadgets and components makes a lot of sense, to the extent that he even manages to carry MORE weapons than Robin's utility belt (Which is TARDIS like in and of itself)!

So I think we have a winner!

Gizmo started the modern pouch trend!

If anyone can find earlier/other contenders, then please feel free to add them!

[theoutcastrogue]

Sami knives, early 20th century

Duodji is a traditional Sámi handicraft, and knives are a big part of it. Handles and sheaths are typically made of reindeer bone and antlers, carved and/or painted, while the blades are sometimes borrowed from the Scandinavian knife industry – Swedish Mora and Finnish puukko blades are common. Decoration is sometimes geometric and sometimes representational: there are reindeer, dogs, bears, sledges, lavvus, landscapes, and people.

Puukko, the Finnish word for "knife", is often used in English to describe these knives, but the same term is also used for a Finnish hunting/utility knife, which has similarities with but is decidedly not a Sami knife, so that's confusing. In Swedish they're called sameknivar (in plural, and samekniv in singular), i.e. Sami knives, and they are made all over Sámi territories in Scandinavia.

These examples are dated from 1901 to 1929, and are mostly from Sweden. They include the work of two of the most celebrated artists of that period, Jon Pålsson Fankki (1880-1861) and Nils Nilsson Skum (1872-1951).

[havinganormalone]

Independent Sex Toy Creators

Since Etsy is being a little bitch and banning sex toys, I wanted to make a reference list of independent sex toy creators. This is by no means exhaustive- literally thousands of sellers are getting screwed by this nonsensical puritanical bullshit- this is merely creators that caught my eye as people I might want to spend money on at a future date. I will be avoiding Etsy for even sfw purchases in the future, since this policy is out of hand and is going to disproportionately impact queer, trans creators. Because that is the way these things always work. Anyways, here's a list of artisans I don't want to lose.

Fantasticocks: Makes monster dildos, ftm strokers, eggs, and other goodies. I have bought from here, and am always in love with the pours- offers UV reactive stuff. Ohio based.

Odyssey Toys: They make some THICK boys. Firm grinders you can strap to things, inflatable knots, plugs. A lot of tentacles and a more old school swords and sorcery feel. UK based.

Chillow Fantasy: Makers of the Penis Fly Trap. Silly, memey sex toys. Michigan based.

Kreature Toys: They sale dildos that have a suction hole for fuck machines. Monster dildos. Michigan based.

Kinky Kreatures: Monster dildos. Sells knot sheaths and grinder gloves, as well as more standard toys. Australia based.

Frisk Toys: Ejaculating dildos. UK based.

Love Smiths: Monster toys, from dildos to butt plugs, with a wide variety of creative strokers. France based.

Okova: Sells tail plugs, including things like devil tails, horse tails, fox tails, etc. A very white variety, from whimsical to realistic, with good quality fur. Ukraine based.

Where is Willy: Specialist shop for FTM packers/strokers. Has strap on harnesses. Also has a line of binders in the works. Poland based.

TranZWear: Packers and stand to pee devices, medial grade materials, an emphasis more on utility than sex. Also sells binders, boxers for packing, and pumps. California based.

Xenocat Artifacts: Alien inspired toys, like double knotted dildos or tentacles. Also has furry explicit body pillows. Bought from them at a furry convention and the person in the pup hood working the booth was helpful and actually bothered to ask my pronouns, something that almost never happens to me (people assume I am she/her).

Primal Hardwere: Has sheaths, inflating dildos, and molds for gelatin eggs. More old school leather culture feel. US based. They made my favorite toy, a glow in the dark knotted sheath.

Tails of Fantasy: Tail plugs on a branch that is designed to have a more realistic placement than your typical tail plug. Also sells collars and ears. New York based.

Naughty Indulgence: Cheaper end sex toys and glass toys. Veteran owned.

BonBDSM: Silicone tail plugs, hoods, furred harnesses, medical fetish play. Thailand based.

FetFashions: Sells clothing that says things like Breed Me, Daddy, Slut, etc. The sort of thing etsy is trying to ban, so it's good to know a place that will do this.

These might be safe under the new TOS, as they are non-insertable BDSM gear, but at this point avoid shopping on Etsy whenever possible.

LeatherBond: Floggers, whips, restraints, all boasting made from real leather.

The Latex Store: Sells latex penis sheaths as well as some inflatable gags and other latex clothing.

Wruff Stuff: Animal hoods- of the puphood variety, but with a much wider selection, including pig, dragon, fox. Made of a neoprene material. I own one, it is more breathable than leather, and the design draws the eye. UK based.

Creative Kink: Paddles, canes, knives- both dull and sharpened. Pennsylvanian based.

Once again, this list is by no means exhaustive, and is mostly meant for my own personal reference. However, if you have a sex toy creator and you want to promote their stuff, feel free to drop a reference in the reblogs.

[akiragatr]

Anywho, I had jury duty yesterday for the first time and asked family members if they had any tips but they just shook their heads. HOWEVER, after having gone, I have some good tips for people who've never gone (this is US-centric, and things may very from state to state).

You might end up being dismissed without needing to be present for a trial, but be prepared to be there the full time listed.

The time listed on your summons is usually when the doors are OPENED to jurors, not the cutoff time. You might be waiting outside the door, so bundle up according to the weather.

Business casual is what is expected of you, but PLEASE wear your comfy shoes.

There's likely to be a lot of waiting, so bring something quiet to entertain yourself with. A book, headphones for your phone, etc.

There are items which are not allowed on the premises, which may include things like utility knives and phone cords. If you have any of those on you, you will have to go back to your car to stow them away and might have to stand in line again to get inside.

Bring a snack and/or bottle of water or a coffee with you. They'll have you break for lunch, but it's gonna be on you to pay for food.

If you have something that makes it difficult to attend jury duty, like college classes, small kids, or something like a disability, call them as soon as you get your summons to see if you can get either a postponement or dismissal. The sooner the better.

You get compensation for going to jury duty, but it is ridiculously small. Be aware of your financial position, and call them to see if you can get a dismissal if you are extremely tight on funds and can't afford to take time off work.

The first day of jury duty is probably not gonna include actually being present for trial. It's the screening process of selecting jury members. If you do not end up being dismissed, that is a whole separate amount of days that you will need to be present at court for a trial.

Best of luck, homies.

[psielapki]

 little   softie   note   :   let   me   preface   by   saying   this   might   be   an   uncomfortable   read,   not   at   all   spicy   &   smutty,   please   keep   that   in   mind   and   please,   please,   please   proceed   with   caution   !!   big   mwah   mwahs   to   all   who   decided   to   stay   and   check   this   not   -   so   -   little   study,   &   big   mwah   mwahs   to   those   who   didn't.   ♡

 fate   is   panromantic   and   asexual.   gender   and   sex   mean   nothing   to   her   in   terms   of   her   romantic   or   sexual   partner(s).   she   can   enter   polyamorous   relationships   and   be   rather   comfortable   in   them,   though   she   would   rather   identify   as   monogamy   -   leaning.   this   right   there   is   her   only   real   preference.

 fate   has   a   very   unhealthy   relationship   with   her   body   —   caused   both   by   trauma   and   an   (   even   more   )   unhealthy   coping   mechanisms,   as   the   faster   and   easier   accessible   the   better   (   and   thus,   occasional   self   harm   ).   aside   from   her   face   blindness,   because��  of   her   incredible   mind   &   unmatched   intellect,   she   feels   very   detached   from   her   physical   form,   caring   very   little   about   it.   though   if   it   can   be   used,   it   will.

 in   verses   in   which   fate   became   a   sexworker,   she's   disinterested   &   indifferent   to   intimacy,   treating   her   body   as   a   tool   and   weapon   —   utilized   to   gather   information,   obtain   money   and   gain   privileges.   at   first,   she   will   however   have   to   dull   her   mind   in   order   to   get   through   her   increasing   panic   caused   by   sexual   abuse   trauma,   thus   in   these   verses,   substance   abuse   and   her   line   of   work   go   hand   in   hand.  examples   of   such   verses   include   :   raccoon   city,   fantasy,   alice   in   borderland,   cyberpunk.

 in   verses   in   which   fate   has   not   became   a   sexworker,   she's   not   only   uninterested   but   also   afraid   of   any   intimate   acts.   staying   sober,   keeping   her   mind   sharp   at   all   times,   she's   having   a   hard   time   getting   through   any   sexual   situation   ;   suggestive   touches   will   make   her   spiral   into   panic   that   ends   with   extreme   aggression   or   extreme   fear   (   or,   worst   case   scenario,   both   ).   let   me   make   this   clear,   though   —   if   intimacy   is   something   her   loved   one   desires,   she   will   try   and   try   and   try   and   try   until   she   succeeds   (   which   may   cause   an   episode   of   short   -   term   hypersexuality,   which   later   turns   into   lack   of   any   sexual   needs   :   the   default   state   of   hers   ).  examples   of   such   verses   include   :   las   plagas,   naruto,   modern   warfare,   jujutsu   kaisen.

 no   matter   which   option   of   the   above   is   being   roleplayed,   the   fate   has   no   sexual   preferences   whatsoever.   she   can   top,   bottom,   dom,   sub,   play   any   role   that's   desired   (   that   applies   both   to   her   customers   &   her   partners   ).   she   can   also   indulge   in   all   sorts   of   kinks   —   be   it   sadism,   masochism,   bondage   (   in   which   she's   excellent,   by   the   way   ),   knives,   guns,   all   that.

 if   she   were   to   dig   deep,   deep   into   her   mind,   she   could   find   certain   scenarios   arousing   —   all   of   them   being   on   the   spectrum   of   extreme   life   or   death   situations   with   her   having   little   to   say   against   the   dangers   she   encounters.

 fate   doesn't   have   a   safe   word   and   refuses   to   set   one   as   she   believes   that   despite   eventual   mutual   trust   that   has   been   built   with   someone   who   might   ask   about   said   safe   word,   they   will   not   respect   it,   so   why   set   the   boundary   at   all.

[contest-winning-pest]

I'll try and ask next time, but I was understandably close-mouthed the last time we had a conversation.

The open-air market is... Interesting. I do, however, have a question:

[PHOTO ID: A fucking Alakazamite.]

Who left a Mega Stone in the market!?

[carvalhais]

Most of our passions and frustrations, personal bonds and enmities, responsibilities and addictions, are now concentrated into our digital screens, along with our mundane work and daily errands, our bill-paying and our income tax spreadsheets. It is not just that we have a device that is capable of doing several things we used to do and transformed these things into various instances of that device’s universal imposition of itself: utility has crossed over into compulsoriness. Our networked computers and mobile devices are not, or are no longer, analogous to Swiss army knives that include a few blades, scissors, a file, a small magnifying glass. That may have been the goal of some technologists as they sought ways to absorb the CD player, the book, the telephone, the camera, the daily calendar, the clock, etc., into a single universal device. But all this absorption has brought us to a transformation not just in the nature of our tool use, but in the contours of social reality. Justin E. H. Smith. 2022. The Internet is Not What You Think It Is: A History, A Philosophy, A Warning. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

[cutecuttlefish]

The sword of the day is the bolo.

The term “bolo” refers to a wide variety of short blades from the Philippines. As you can see from the picture, bolo blades displayed a wide variety of profiles, many more than are seen here, but all share a single, curved edge, well-suited for slashing. The word “Bolo” is a very general term, almost akin to the word “sword.” It is a symbol of several revolutionary groups in the country, including the Katipunan, who resisted Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. Apart from their use as weapons, like most Filipino blades, they served as general-purpose utility knives and agricultural tools, similar to a machete.

Thank you to @kathanglangit for helping me write this one! If anyone reading happens to know about weapons, especially African or Chinese weapons, please let me know!

[dailycharacteroption]

Juggler (Pathfinder Second Edition Archetype)

(art by Dmitri Burmak on Artstation, featured in Magic the Gathering)

There are plenty of characters and options for them in rpgs that are based around agility and dexterity, about demonstrating incredible reflexes and hand-eye coordination, from acrobats to finesse combatants, but it’s sometimes easy to forget one of the best demonstrations of hand-eye coordination that we have, and that is juggling.

Perhaps it’s because it’s considered a small-time trick (until you see someone VERY good at it), or that it’s “Circus Fare” (and therefore, low art), but the art of keeping multiple objects in the air, often more than one has hands, is an impressive feat on its own.

While it doesn’t happen often, there are characters across fiction that utilize juggling as part of their skill set, and often add in the related art of weapon throwing to the mix. After all, the motion of juggling can draw the eye and leave a foe open when one of those juggled knives suddenly is delivered to their vital points.

It should come as no surprise, then, that an archetype for juggling showed up in the Extinction Curse Adventure Path, which among it’s other themes (troglodyte invasion, dinosaur attacks, Aroden’s legacy of causing problems for others) is also circus-themed! It only makes sense that this archetype would be among those that let the heroes use their skills in both adventuring and on the stage.

It’s also worth noting that this is also an archetype that made the jump from First to Second Edition, where it started out as a bard archetype, but is now available to all sorts of classes.

The base dedication for this archetype grants skill at performance and also the ability to juggle, allowing them to effectively have more items “in hand” than they have hands to hold them as long as they maintain it, though naturally they can tire out eventually. Also, most of the feats for this archetype also increase the total items they can keep aloft.

Another feat allows them to maintain their juggle as a free action, freeing them up to utilize these items with more of their normal actions.

Many also learn to add more items to their juggle at once, allowing them to replenish as they lose items much faster.

They can even catch falling items or thrown weapons that would miss them and add them to their juggle as well.

With a high lob, some can toss a juggled thrown weapon at an arc that surprises foes and leaves them open to it.

Some master jugglers can even reflexively throw one of their juggled items at targets at close range, punishing them for leaving themselves open.

If you’re planning on doing a thrown weapon build, this archetype is extremely tempting, allowing you to have your arsenal of thrown weaponry at your disposal without having to spend as many actions to draw them. As such, this works very well with bomb-focused alchemists, rogues, bards, swashbucklers, and even magi, though I’m sure most any class that wants to play with throwing weapons might find it useful. Alternatively, if you’re not going for thrown weapons, juggling could also be used to have multiple potions or other magic items ready at the same time.

While some may consider a few archetypes that are introduced in certain APs, including Extinction Curse to be awfully specific and gimmicky (Lumberjack? Really?), this archetype makes perfect sense for the adventure it’s introduced in, is general enough to be used by any dexterous performer, and even pays nice homage to the original version!

On the note of roleplay, consider reading up on how performers use not just their acts, but their behavior to establish showmanship and keep eyes on them. How does the character act on stage, or off the stage?

The circus is in town, and one of the performers is a hobgoblin juggler and clown named Progg. What most don’t know is that he was once a sergeant in the army of the hobgoblin nation of Vekus, where he retired due to an injury. However, the local authorities recognize him from the war, and wonder if old habits die hard. They might not wait long enough to prove he is a spy before they make their move.

What should have been a routine performance has turned to murder when a knife-catching trick turns deadly. A minor cut from catching one of the knives she used in her performance rapidly turned into a deadly complication due to poison on the blade… poison sourced from the selection of poisonous spear frogs that the carnival keeps on display in their menagerie.

A street performance turns into a deadly ambush when the party is ambushed by a group of mercenaries that double as street performers, with juggled and thrown knives, illusions that turn into very real hostile magic, and the like. After the party survives the attack, they have to figure out exactly who ordered the hit on them and why.

[fantasticalbiology]

The Amazing Digital Battle Circus: The Combatants

Context: The Amazing Digital Battle Circus au

Caine: Welcome back to the Amazing Digital Battle Circus the greatest digital blood sport in the world. I think it be nice to recap who each of our combatants are. One thing about all our combatant is that their all able to recruit npcs to fight along side them

Pomni- Our up and coming star… Nope could not say that with a straight face. From what I’ve seen of the little jester she excel at running and pulling random objects out of her pockets. 

Notable fight: Ragatha vs Pomni

Npc allies: The alligator bandits of Gummigoo, Max and Chad

W: 0 L: 5 D: 1

Gangle the ribbon wrangler and possible champion- The closest thing the Amazing Digital Battle Circus has to a champion, the ribbon wrangler herself Gangle. When not fighting Gangle is a rather nice gal who doesn’t take kindly to bullies which is why she and Jax get along like a wooden house on fire and Jax is the wooden house. This kindness extent to her fighting style as she tries to end things quickly- unless its Jax then she make him suffer-with constricting or crushing attacks.

W: 50 L: 2 D: 29

Kinger the broken veteran king- One of the oldest combatants of the ADBC and is damaged because of it, Kinger is an absolute master strategist. Kinger is one the few combatants to utilize npc in rather clever ways, that the boys at C&A have to adapt in real time for. But don’t think that Kinger sits back and let npc do the talking because Kinger has a mean flurry of blows in his own right. But its sad to think he’s only dangerous half the time due to how crazy he is due to his “break” in sanity. 

W: 25 L: 10 D: 5

Ragatha the ragged ruffian- One of the more simple fighter, Ragatha is the third most dangerous combatant in the ADBC. Ragatha utilize her speed as well as knives, like a lot of them, some would say she has knives for days. She tops this speed and knives off with her signature Cloth cutter the comically large meat cleaver which she was rewarded with from the adventure Cooking Carnage 

Npc Ally: Not by Ragatha's choice princess Loolilalu

W:30 L: 20 D: 0

Jax The absolute heel- The eternal loser of the ADBC, takes up the role of an absolute heel. Utilizing short range teleportation through doors and the summoning of bugs (mostly centipedes), Jax is still a strong fighter when not fighting those above.

W:19 L:49 D:1

Zooble- What exactly do you want me to say about Zooble, that they can detach body parts to attack because that’s all they can do. Zooble is only here because they are the “dying” relative of someone working at C&A, nepotism I tell you straight nepotism.

W: Who cares L: Many D: IDK

Manny the Manaquin- A fellow of few words Manny is rather dangerous. So dangerous in fact everyone including Gangle and Kinger at his sanest forfeits if they see his name in the brackets.

The abstracted- A curious case of beyond madness, those who have lost themselves to abstraction are no more then feral beast (some more then others) with a similar drive for violence as your truly. The boys at C&A don’t know why abstraction happens. One thing that is for certain though when your put into a ring with one, it’s absolute digital blood bath.

The Hound, the circus beast- One of the abstracted who have completely lost themselves, the hound is an absolute beast. Even before their abstraction they were voracious, ready to attack with teeth and claws flying. Now that they are abstracted, its more of the same, but even more deadly

Kaufmo the killer clown comedian- As the host and commentaor of the ADBC I must stay neutral, but if I can say one thing about Kaumo, is was one the best before his abstraction. Kaufmo attacks with puns bringing them to life with every word. He’d toss fruit at you then literally punch you or he say “your a cut above the rest” then you’d end up in two. I  have to say of the combatants that entered the ADBC I miss Kaufmo the most, because now there is no humor in his fights only words that sound like puns but aren’t.

Queenie the brutal queen- The brutal queen of the arena, who knows no equal and the brawn to Kinger brains. In all the history of the ADBC Queenie has never lost a fight I mean she has tied with Kinger and Gangle a few times but never lost to anyone else. It is a shame that she abstracted, she put true beauty in strength

Slinks the deadly slitherer - Before the one side rivalry between Jax and Gangle, Slinks the worm was our ribbon wrangler greatest adversary, to much greater effect. What they lack in arms they made up for in speed and maneuverability. Now a day due to abstracting they use that speed to bowl you over with reckless abandon  

Big Eye the big guy- The most simple combatant to ever enter the ring, Big Eye was one of the more physically imposing. Of course physicality can only get you so far in the ADBC so Big Eye also had an eye laser. Nothing really changed with his abstraction