#utility knives not included

[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 ^^

[sitting-1n-silence]

Goetic spirit pots/vessels

Before diving in I wanna mention the work of Rufus Opus that I encountered researching for this post. I think he does a better job explaining this concept and it's origins than I could. He also provides a method of making your own, which isn't something I'm going to be getting into much.

Some of his blog and youtube posts explaining goetic spirit pots:

"Working with spirit pots"

"More on spirit pots"

Goetic spirit pots

Spirit pots, witch bottles, and Brass vessels

I will be speaking from my own perspective having encountered the idea of spirit pots from a magical tradition I was invited to explore, with inspiration from the work of Jake Stratton-Kent's work with the Grimorium Verum (who has some of his pots now on display at the Museum of Witchcraft. One can be seen above. 1,2,3), with a focus on the rite I found in the Book of Oberon.

This idea has it's roots in ATRs, and has spread into the wider ceremonial magic community. As some ATRs utilize grimoire magic, spirits, and seals. These different branches of magic mixing lead to the creation of this way of working goetic spirits through a permanent brass vessel. As shown by grimoire magicians like Jake Stratton-Kent, Rufus Opus, and Aaron Leitch. To paraphrase someone I met who practices from a tradition where they make true spirit pots, "Anyone can make a pot and put a spirit in it. It just wouldn't be a traditional (insert tradition) spirit pot."

[Note: I also wanna give a word of caution to anyone looking to research these spirit vessels further. As traditional spirit pots can be beautiful and gruesome. Containing animal parts, blood, bones, blades of various kinds, and more. These images can be jarring to some, so go into any research you do knowing you might encounter these things.]

What is a goetic spirit pot/vessel:

So to quote Rufus "They Aren't Really "Spirit Pots"." These are spirits put in pots. And these pots are very comfortable spirit houses, or highly potent talismans. That is intended to be permanent or long lasting. So these spirit houses are made by including materia that aligns with the spirit you will hopefully be calling into the vessel. The vessel of choice should also be something that can seal, and if possible able to be marked with the desired spirit's seal.

Once a spirit is put into a pot, it becomes significantly more present in your life, as you are making them a permanent house here in your home. You can more easily access this spirit without grand rituals, and they can access you. There becomes less of a need for elaborate rites, as when someone has a spirit in a pot, they might just approach the vessel and speak to it when they're in need and give small offerings. Similar to the way someone might work with an enlivened statue.

What Goes into a spirit pot/vessel:

Its common to find dirt, herbs, stones, bones, and other objects in these pots (I've seen cards, knives, flowers, chains, matches, dice, and more). Oil, fat, and blood are also sometimes used. As well as the spirit's seal. It is also sometimes suggested to write out the purpose of the spirit you're calling and including that in the vessel.

I find that including blessed solomonic talismans is another potent option as well. Either using the whole charm, or by burning the talisman to ash and including that in the vessel. Putting in things like anti-witchcraft charms and such has also proven to be useful in a spirit pot for me. Once given to this spirit these worked objects becomes apart of them.

It's suggested to put grave dirt down first, then dirts that aligning with the realm the spirits operate in, and dirt from your local community or crossroads. Then a rock/stone over top. Followed by your other materia.

Making sure to awaken the spirit of each thing as you put it into the vessel, and having paid proper respects when gathering these things. As well as doing divination to make sure the spirit wants every object you intend you put in, this should be a clear Yes/No type of divination. This process of gathering materials during the proper planetary days and hours can take time, and it should. This is not a process to rush.

Making and Working a spirit pot:

The initial act of creation should be a grand one. Involving a full goetic rite. Rufus Opus gives a good praxis for this in the above videos. It's highly recommended to go through the act of casting a circle or hallowing your ritual space. I also suggest using a ritual knife during the rite, and wearing all white if possible (or another form of ceremonial garb).

When calling and approaching the spirit come with respect, respect for yourself as a magician and respect for the spirit giving you their time. This will run counter to some other traditional approached to goetic magic, but this will bring you the best results. When making the vessel for the fairy queen in the Book of Oberon you see this difference in tone when compared to other operations in the text.

When the vessel has been assembled it becomes time to ask the spirit to enter the pot. Offer the spirit gifts of liquor, fire, and favorable incense, and inform it you will continue to provide these things if the spirit enters the vessel and works for you. Unless you receive some horrific sign telling you "no" then assume the spirit has gone inside. Give the spirit an initial task to prove it's here in the vessel, then give it 2 weeks to work before returning the vessel. Let it rest and do it's task, and only call the spirit back to you if you're certain something went wrong in how the spirit was sent out. If the spirit is called back, it's task clarified, and it still doesn't work than you're vessel may be empty. Though if you just keep providing offerings eventually a spirit will call it home. Also, consider a form of passive divination to look for signs of spirit as well.

Working a pot might be different than working a typical talisman or goetic spirit seal too. Within Oberon there are a few taboos you're supposed to observe, such as not asking the spirit it's name or whether it's a woman or fairy. To work with this fairy you're also supposed to anoint your eyes with an oil special to her. So the spirit being bound might have specific expectations for how they are to be worked properly. Divination or knowing a skilled diviner is helpful in this when a text isn't clear on how to best work with a spirit.

Some pots might need to be continually fed to work their best, this should be done sparingly. Small offerings of candles, incense, and liquor are okay to give when putting the spirit to work. Save food offerings, animal offerings, ect.. for special occasions or when the spirit has done a lot of unpaid work for you. A fat spirit is a slow spirit, so keep them fed but not satiated.

Thoughts on the nature of goetic spirits in this context:

My personal experiences with working spirits this way has lead me to believe that these spirits inhabit the world around us and beyond us. Goetic spirits frequently being spirits of place or necromantic spirits called into these names. Rufus Opus will frequently refer to them as "nature spirits" and I've seen other goetic magicians call them "elemental" or "directional" spirits. Showing an alignment with place/location.

I compare this process of calling spirits by goetic titles to pinning a mask to a shadow. Spirits are happy to be known and receive offerings, and if someone is calling spirits under a certain name local spirits would be happy to fill that role. To no harm to the practitioner, in fact to their benefit. And maybe through this work the spirit will becomes more like the goetic name they're operating under.

As the way I and some see it is, if we both have a house for say Bune then my housed "Bune" may or may not be the same as your housed "Bune." My experience with Bune will be shaped by my environment, what I'm able to provide for him, what his house is made from, and more factors. Especially when you're using local dirt in a spirit house like this, this will impact the way Bune comes through to you through this vessel. Your Bune might come to you in the form of a teacher or wise parental figure, mine might come in a more devilish necromantic form. Both are "Bune", maybe different facets of one grand Bune, or maybe they're different more local spirits who both operate well through Bune's domain and name. Some food for thought before you go housing a goetic spirit.

[eddieisashifter]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓'𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐆? — MY SIX OF CROWS REALITY

after making one of these for my marauders reality (see here!) I've been inspired to make another! this one is a bit different though, because it's more of a utility belt than a bag. but, hey, it's got bags on it so that counts, right? as before, inspired by this post by @chaaistained and this one by @hrrtshape and, most recently, this one by @macknshift!! (y'all's stuff is always beautiful by the way mwah mwah)

this belt bag is a frankenstein creation of a couple things. It originally started as just the big pouch, but then I realized I needed more storage and added a second pouch. then I kept accidently breaking the glass vials I was having wylan make for me and it got everything soaked in poison, which isn't ideal. so I made the little holster for them!

first pocket—left side is the outer pocket and right is the main pocket

OUTER POCKET

𓅂 various makeup products stolen from various sources. two lip balms one from kerch and the other from shu han. both expensive. mascara I stole from poppy that I use occasionally, also doubles as eyeliner. also nina's lipstick that I hold onto for her because she asked me to.

𓅂 a flip out mirror that once was my mothers. one of the few trinkets I have left from my time in ravka

𓅂 a cigarette case that was once kaz's. he said he didn't want it anymore, I think he just wanted me to have something of his to hold onto.

𓅂 gears from wylan's workshop that I kept "accidently" pocketing. they were shiny.

MAIN POCKET

𓅂 my sketchbook. my pride and joy. my precious. it has a place for not only paper, but also slots for all my main pens and pencils all in one place.

𓅂 my other pride and joy. I love this things to death. I first took them to try and I have never regreted it. makes the most beautiful landscape paintings of the view of ketterdam outside kaz's office's window

𓅂 various notes and cards including—a card from a winning hand against jesper, a piece of poetry torn from my sketchbook and slightly crumpled (far too sappy to be consumed without cringing), a postcard from ravka. it might be from my family, I didn't care to check, but didn't have the heart to throw it away. a strength tarot card from nina's deck that she gave me after a reading and a death card from mine that I took out—I'm done with change in my future.

second pocket & weapons

SECOND POCKET

𓅂 a pouch full of kruge coin. there's probably also some bills shoved in there, but the coin just makes a lovely sound.

𓅂 a flask full of the whiskey from kaz's office. no other tastes the same as his.

𓅂 various stolen keys. not sure where they all unlock, but they are very pretty. once again, they were shiny, leave me alone.

𓅂 an ace lighter that someone left at the crow club. too bad, so sad, it's mine now.

𓅂 old dice that are so worn down that you can't make out the numbers very well. I keep them around for the noises.(this is a pattern of mine)

𓅂 my lucky deck of cards, blessed by kaz's sneaky ass magician hands by making my ace of spades disappear. I still havent gotten it back. the deck's still pretty lucky though.

𓅂 a pocketwatch that also used to belong to kaz. he has like three, I doubt he'd miss this one.

𓅂 a few bullets from jesper's gun, also good luck charms, blessed by jesper's unnaturally straight aim (aka fabrikated)

𓅂 a couple lockpicking tools because you never know when you might need them

WEAPONS—some are stored in my belt, others on my person, every single one felt important to include

𓅂 my beloved garrote wire. inej has her saint knives, jesper has his guns, and I have this. I love this one, though it isn't always practical to use, that's where the others come in. however, if I have a choice, this is what I'm reaching for. stored around the edge of my belt, the ends coming together to make a buckle.

𓅂 the only not-weapon here: a lucky dice keychain that jesper gave me. a little ironic, considering his own bad luck at the tables, however they haven't seemed to give me any bad energy yet. clipped onto the loop on my belt.

𓅂 three feather knives that are my treasures. my garrote is always my first choice, however these babies are just as reliable. my first knives when I came to ketterdam, they've never one done me wrong. usually stashed in my boots.

𓅂 a flip out knife that I brought over from ravka with me. I don't remember where it came from, but something tells me it was once important to someone. and now, it's important to me. usually in my inner pocket.

𓅂 my last feather knife that inej gave me from her collection. she said it was her way of protecting me, by giving me one of her saints. sankta margaretha, I think she said was this knife's name. patron saint of thieves and lost children, I believe. fitting. however, I'm not exactly one to believe in the power of the saints. the gesture means more to me though than the name.

[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.

[snowfires]

If your Killer, Horror, Dust, and Cross, fought who would win? Like who’s the strongest among them?

Any one of them theoretically would have a chance of winning, especially if you tossed them into a room and just said “fight”. Battles are tapestries woven of moves and countermoves; a single action taken by one of the boys could unravel any chance of them winning, but the correct sequence of events could assure their victory.

Each of them do have their strengths and weaknesses, though, which make some outcomes more likely than others.

Killer could arguably be labelled the strongest. Give him a knife and he has the highest possible ATK out of the four, and his magical attacks are nothing to underestimate either. He is also the most versatile of the bunch. Typically, he prefers close-range combat with his knives, overwhelming opponents by shortcutting around them and slowly wearing them down. Battles are ridiculously fun for him; at times, he gets so lost in them he forgets everything else, including to utilize his other magical attacks. This may create a short opening to catch him off guard, but it also makes wearing Killer down a nonstarter.

When Killer does add his blasters and bone attacks, bolstered by his high LV and excess of magic, it becomes obvious why Nightmare refers to him as his General. 

Anyone fighting him can only hope he forgets to use them and slips up; otherwise, things won’t end well for them. Throw him into a room with the other three, and he’s most likely to win.

Dust has a high ATK, purely based on his magic. He has a larger reservoir of magic to work with than Killer, and far more control, able to use more simultaneously and send them further. For that reason, he typically acts as the long-range fighter of the group, watching from the sidelines of the battle or a high vantage point and meticulously cutting down enemies. When the enemies he’s facing are weaker, he enters the thick of the battle, but he rarely gets too close unless it’s to land a killing blow. His DEF is simply too low to risk it with stronger enemies.

The exception is when he’s having a LV rush—his judgement is impaired, replaced by an overwhelming desire to kill. In those times, Dust is far more likely to put his own life at risk.

Dust would have a fair chance of winning, provided he can catch Killer off guard or stay far enough away to overwhelm him.

Horror has the lowest ATK in the team; however, his short-range attacks with his axe are heavy. He may not kill them, but he can incapacitate most enemies, whether by breaking something critical or knocking them out, opening up the opportunity to finish them if needed; though nowadays, he often avoids combat. Between Killer, Dust, and Cross, that area is solidly covered. He much prefers supply runs and diplomacy missions—and Nightmare appreciates he won’t run his mouth or instigate fights on said missions. Still, Horror does engage in combat more than the average person and keeps up with his training.

He is less likely to be able to win against Killer or Dust due to his low levels of magic placing him at a disadvantage; though, if he got lucky and could land a hit on them, he’d be able to knock them down long enough to win (not that he would ever raise his axe against Dust). 

It’s a similar situation with Cross, though Cross is far newer to the team. Horror had already swapped to doing fewer combat-based missions by the time Cross joined, so Cross doesn’t know all of his strategies or typical moves; therefore, his chance of catching Cross off guard and hitting him is significantly higher.

Cross is the youngest of the bunch. His LV isn’t as high as Killer and Dust, nor does he have the insane number of experiences the MTT have had in combat. However, he is the only one with formal training in both combat and strategy. If the MTT’s attacks are wild and undisciplined, Cross’ are elegant and precise, amplified by his keen eye for predicting and dodging attacks. 

While in his day-to-day life he struggles with anxiety, he finds a certain clarity of mind on the field. Perhaps it’s just the familiarity of it—a reminder of happy times in Xtale, training with the royal guard.

Without even shortcutting, he can seamlessly avoid blow after blow, moving so naturally it’s like he’s dancing. He slips in quick cuts with his twin daggers and blows with his blasters that, while not as powerful as Killer and Dust’s, are less haphazardly used, landing precisely where he wants them to at the most optimal time to maximize impact.

Unfortunately, that same discipline would make him predictable to the MTT. He may mix things up against the Stars, but they’re his family—they’ve watched him in near every battle, and Killer is often the one encouraging any updates to his combat style. It’s not impossible—especially if he could get in close to Dust or stay out of Horror’s range; however, it’s unlikely he’d beat Killer one-on-one.

[justhereformyblorbos]

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 👍

[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!

[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.

[pandorasagents]

[ bai jingting, homosexual, male + he/him, dimensional sealing/summoning ] li mei is a lawful good agent of pandora selected for their mastery in weapons and underwent the top-secret mutation process. to the rest of the world, the thirty year old originally from seattle is deceased or missing. however, in atlantis, they are now known as glyph of wrath after developing the ability to store and summon items in glyphs. the agent has been with pandora for three years and is trusted for being nurturing & patient, but once reprimanded for being quiet & protective.

✨ CHARACTER INTRO TEMPLATE ✨

🔹 Name: Li Mei 🔹 Alias/Nickname(s): Glyph 🔹 Age: 30 🔹 Faceclaim: Bai Jingting

⚔ Weapons & Combat Style: A master of both modern and traditional weaponry, Li Mei is a fluid and precise combatant who seamlessly blends close-quarters combat with long-range marksmanship. His arsenal includes firearms, throwing knives, explosive tags, collapsible spears, kunai, tonfas, elegant blades, and more that are all stored within summoning scrolls or sealed directly onto glyphs tattooed on his hands. He keeps multiple of the small scrolls on his person so he never seems to run out, and makes sure to color code them so he doesn't confuse weapons with other supplies. He is adaptable and efficient, prioritizing utility and control over brute strength, striking swiftly before sealing his tools away swiftly.

🌿 Abilities & Skills: Li Mei’s primary power revolves around glyph-based summoning and sealing. He can store weapons and tools inside the scrolls or summon them instantly from two glyphs tattooed on his palms. This allows for fast-paced transitions between weapon types mid-fight, giving him versatility in any scenario. However, this does mean that he normally has to plan in advance for what he thinks he will need.

Expertise:

Athletics

Close Combat Mastery

Marksmanship

Proficient:

Sleight of Hand – Quick and flawless in deploying, switching, and concealing weapons mid-fight using scrolls and chakra.

Stealth & Infiltration — Soft-footed, quiet, and rarely seen when he doesn’t want to be. He approaches like a whisper.

Perception — Always alert, he notices small shifts, hidden glyphs, enemy movements, or disguised traps.

Acrobatics & Evasion – Agile and nimble, he uses his light frame and mobility to dodge and reposition in midair.

Tactical Foresight – Can plan and execute ambushes or combos with pre-arranged weapons and seal placements and does a pretty good job at predicting enemy movements.

Substandard:

Vehicular Operations

Hacking & Cyberwarfare

🧐 Personality: Quiet and observant, Li Mei is a stabilizing presence on any team. He has a calm, nurturing demeanor and often takes on a protective, older-brother role among his peers. Though he rarely raises his voice, his silences carry weight. He is patient to a fault, but when pushed to action, becomes unrelenting in battle — precise, graceful, and focused. Li Mei prefers to lead by example rather than command, and while he may seem distant at times, his loyalty and care run deep.

💀 Backstory:

Born in Seattle, Washington, Li Mei was the only child of Chinese immigrants who valued discipline, precision, and artistry in all forms. His father, a master calligrapher, spent his days bent over parchment, shaping each character with reverence and clarity. His mother, once a linguist and cryptologist with the intelligence community, left the field to raise her son in a quieter life—though her passion for symbology and hidden language systems never left her. In their modest home lined with scrolls, books, and ink stones, Li was taught early that language was not merely communication — it was power. A single word could calm a storm. A single stroke could reveal the soul.

As a child, Li was taught to sit still before he could run. Patience before ambition. Observation before action. His parents trained him not only in culture, but in discipline of the mind and body — tai chi in the mornings with his father, linguistic puzzles and memory games with his mother at night. He grew up quiet, watchful, and deeply attuned to the emotional undercurrents in a room. He was a boy built on quiet strength and stillness.

That stillness shattered on a cold winter night when he was sixteen.

A violent home invasion tore through their family. Masked intruders searching for something. Perhaps money, perhaps secrets. Regardless they left no time for negotiation. His father tried to defend them and was shot. His mother was dragged away as she reached for one of her own blades. Li, bleeding and terrified, reacted on pure instinct. He grabbed a bag, one of his mothers emergency kits, and booked it.

By the time the authorities arrived, the intruders were already gone. His parents didn’t survive. But Li did. And for once in Li's life? The calm that his parents had instilled in him gave way to a desire for revenge. The bag that he took from his mother had quite a bit of money in it and a few mementos that she cherished from her family. Namely scrolls that had been passed down.

Li disappeared after that.

For years, he lived off the grid, wandering from city to city, country to country. Using the money, he honed his power in silence, building a personal code of justice drawn from his parents’ teachings and the ruins of his grief. Reports would surface across the world of a masked vigilante dismantling trafficking rings, black market auctions, and criminal cells. Making sure to protect those that couldn't do so themselves.

He became a myth with no name, a ghost with the hands of an artist and the eyes of a weapon.

P.A.N.D.O.R.A. found him seven years later.

They didn’t try to coax him with promises of family or redemption. They simply presented a truth: the world was bigger than the shadows he’d been chasing, and his skills could turn tides, not just battles. They weren’t offering him a place to belong.

They were offering him a war.

He said yes.

[deatheless]

some info on mina's thg verse that i should have written up months ago but better late than never

born and raised in district 5. on the more well-off side (her parents are higher up in the hierarchy in one of the major hydroelectricity plants as specialized engineers) and is therefore still in school. knew she'd end up following her parents' footsteps in some way so tried her best to focus in class. still interested in music as a hobby, but doesn't have a lot of free time for it, even if it holds a place in her heart. received a guitar as a gift from her parents on her 12th birthday, as a consolation for it being her first year eligible.

reaped when she’s 18. didn't have any tesserae, it was just bad luck :(

pretty convinced she's not going to make it from the start, but tries her best not to make it too obvious to her family and friends when saying goodbye, even though it's kind of unspoken

scores a 5 in the individual assessment. doesn't officially ally with anyone, but is friendly with a few of the non-career districts during training.

her arena is a kind of sparse forest surrounded by a more rocky/mountain area with a lot of caves and cliffs. lots of sharp, pointed rocks and sudden drops throughout, even in the more green areas.

during the game, survives mostly through doing a lot of climbing and running, primarily utilizing her stamina and stealth, and spends a lot of time hiding in the various caves.

she also takes to throwing knives (and anything heavy and sharp that’ll work when she doesn’t have them on her, including some of the rocks themselves) during training, and uses them to incapacite tributes with non fatal hits to shoulders, arms, or legs so she can get away. aside from her winning kill, ends up killing two other people directly: the girl from district 2, and more notably a young boy from district 7 that tries to attack her in desperation. though she tries to calm him down first, eventually her only way to escape alive is to kill him first, as much as she tries not to.

final two is her and the district 1 boy, and he, along with the district 2 girl, ambushes her while she's setting up camp for the night in a cave next to a cliff ringed by some sharp rocks. while she manages to dodge him for a while (and unintentionally kills the district 2 girl when she hits her in the neck instead of the shoulder, having intended only to try to slow her down), he eventually gets a good hit on her, slashing her across the chest with a machete and sending her to the ground on her back, hitting her head against a blunt rock in the process and blacking out for a couple seconds.

despite the cannons not yet going off, he assumes she's done for and it's just a matter of time until she's bled out, and lets his guard down in a moment of arrogance and relief to pre-celebrate his win. this gives her the opportunity once she regains consciousness to, thanks to the adrenaline of realizing she's not actually dead but very soon might be if she doesn't do something about it, muster all the energy she has to kick his legs out from under him and trip him backwards onto the rocks at the cliff's edge, which impale him through. she's declared the winner immediately.

it's commonly thought that she planned this and played dead, but she didn't. she really did think she was about to die, and really did black out, and it took a second when she regained consciousness to realize she really was still alive, and the rest was just pure instinct kicking in. it's only once she woozily manages to prop herself up on her elbows once she hears him fall and hears the cannon that she even starts to register through the blood loss what just happened at all, and she's horrified by it.

while she was well liked enough before the games (not because anyone really thought she could win but because she's pretty and sweet and charismatic enough to charm people) the capitol goes crazy for her when she comes back as victor because wow what a twist!!!! the theatricality of it all!!! what a fakeout!!!! what great tv!!! they love their pretty little ghost girl!!!

goes on to mentor future tributes, and is prostituted by the capitol. initially resists both of these things, but quickly folds after it's implied her parents will be in danger if she doesn't comply.

singing ends up becoming her victor talent — despite her love for it she always feels a little sick doing it for the capitol, but she couldn't think of anything else. she considered guitar, but she never picked up on it the way she wanted to, and it wouldn't have been impressive enough for the capitol audience. usually is given songs to sing by aspiring capitol songwriters, and isn't allowed to sing anything she's written herself, even though she has quite a few journals worth. she wouldn't want to, anyway.

extremely minor/vague sotr spoilers next half of this sentence but her chest scar is treated fairly similarly to haymitch's due to its direct connection to the excitement of how she won. while normally the capitol doctors would heal her up entirely during her post-win rehab, they leave the scar instead, since they know people would want to see it, and they do. it's brought up at her interviews, and is a source of interest for a decent chunk of her capitol patrons. it's not really the same scar, though — that one was entirely healed. the dainty pink scar that cuts diagonally across her chest is purely aesthetic. just enough to give the people who want to see it what they want.

this can be altered depending on plotting but i am envisioning that she is part of the rebel alliance and is reaped into the quarter quell. is one of the victors that gets captured by the capitol and is rescued to d13 with the rest of them eventually.

[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).

[thoughtlessarse]

The EU wants every member state to develop a 72-hour survival kit for citizens to face any new crisis that might emerge as part of its Preparedness Union Strategy which also calls for more stockpiling of essential supplies and for improved civilian-military cooperation. The strategy unveiled on Wednesday by the European Commission includes a list of 30 concrete actions it says EU member states need to take to boost their preparedness against potential future crises ranging from natural disasters and industrial accidents to attacks by malicious actors in the cyber or military domains. "In the EU we must think different, because the threats are different, we must think bigger because the threats are bigger too," Hadja Lahbib, the Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, told reporters. Roxana Mînzatu, the Commission for preparedness, speaking alongside her, added that the bloc is "not starting from scratch". "The COVID pandemic has shown that the added value of acting together in solidarity in coordination, in the European Union framework is absolutely crucial, This is what makes us more efficient, makes us stronger," she said. One of the key areas identified is the need to enhance population preparedness with the Commission urging member states to ensure citizens have an emergency kit that allows them to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours in the event they are cut off from essential supplies. Several member states already have such guidelines with varying timeframes. France, for instance, calls for a 72-hour survival kit that includes food, water, medicines, a portable radio, a flashlight, spare batteries, chargers, cash, copies of important documents including medical prescriptions, spare keys, warm clothes and basic tools such as utility knives. The Commission's plan aims to harmonise guidelines across the 27 member states in order to make sure that "everyone, at different levels have, to put it this way, a manual of what to do when the sirens go off," said a senior EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The level of preparedness across the Union, across different member states is very different. Preparedness is definitely understood in different ways across member states," the same official added.

continue reading

[trigunautismzone]

notes on razlo's 3rd arm

》 as with anything on this blog, this is shrimply my opinion / hc — more power to ya if you think differently, but this is just what i personally think 《

cw: conceptual musculature, anatomical study, things like that (just to be safe)

some general notes to start: a lot of the motion required by the 3rd arm only utilizes the muscles of the back, along with the deltoid (and the lats + 'little lats' but i consider those to be part of the back muscle group). i had jotted down the known angles and positions wed been shown in trimax but those didnt make the crop so...🤷‍♂️

my personal takes:

it would work best and be the most straightforward approach to blend the organic muscle structure with the...well, "organic" additions. to do so, they would need a little extra wiggle room to properly connect things at the proper depth. leaving it along the surface as just an addition would probably give away a 'weak spot'—knowing how things have to be connected in order for something like that to Work means knowing where to hit thatll hurt like a BITCH and potentially stun / incapacitate razlo in the midst of things.

(of course, when it gets blasted off by ww, its pretty obvious that it hurts like a bitch anyways. but cmon a blasted magazine jammed in your back is Gonna Hurt)

now, i did say "organic" above—lets dig a little deeper into my hc sandbox, shall we?? there are a couple ways things could go: solely mechanical (lost tech could do Many Things...), the cadaver approach (i mean...), or the "failed experiment" approach (depends on how much you wanna blend canons between stamp and max on that one).

solely mechanical: the eye probably has a lot of access to tech that others may not have thanks to conrad (ew). given the weapons they produce, it wouldnt be far fetched!! i prefer a blend of mechanical and organic myself, but the opportunities are endless.

cadaver: they would likely have...quite a few bodies in different states, given the inherent level of violence it takes to become an assassin. finding someone who has the same bloodtype, similar levels of The Juice Blend (serum), things that would make the transplant Compatible—either that would be Real Easy or Real Hard. again, depends on the stance taken here. going off just bloodtype? easy. serum? harder. much harder, given it Seems there arent many who have the same autoregen that lr has. i could be wrong but wws reaction to it makes me Think.

experimental: mixing some of stamps ideas as far as "building" or "creating" new plants (i think ep 10 or 11??) in tanks makes for an interesting theory, i must say. fusing organic tissues from "failed" plants would be good for a more "natural" approach, potentially even allowing for a higher likelihood of their body accepting the transplant. this would also lead to...interesting conversations in the postcanon klr department. potentially knives blows a fucking gasket part two.

anyways, back to the topic at hand: the diagram

including thin plating under the layer of muscle, however you want to approach it, leads to an easier slide over more "stiff" anatomical areas—the spine, scapular zones, etc.

the muscle could overlap the existing "base" musculature, allowing lr to keep the regular function to their Actual Arms, but it would lead to a more thin, stretched connection to the 3rd arm. yet another reason to kind of "nestle" the port and humeral extension between their shoulders, while still allowing for the surface muscle to expand and contract to properly move it. the humeral extension leans more into cadaver territory, given that it would be easiest to apply a prothesis approach based on an "available information" bias.

the blood / vein and nervous connections allow for more tactile sense in the arm—how tight to grip a weapon without misfiring would require that!! as well as having a general idea of Where it is and What Position its resting in. from what i can tell, having the palm rotated outward and keeping it curled seems to be the natural resting position, but i could be wrong. it could also rest palm in and just...down. could also depend on the situation, whether hes holding a punisher, etc.

at the "core" or base of the arm, there would likely be...somewhat of a mirrored delt situation necessary in order to pull the arm up, rotate it, etc. along with a mirrored scapula and "spine" of the scapula!! just to have a good, solid base. the addition of an extra clavicle down and back would also help form a good "starting point" for the muscle to build off of, along with providing extra connected muscle that may be necessary for motion.

of course i am no medical expert and i could be very wrong on all of this. dont care though. these are my thoughts. My Sandbox.

[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.

[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!?