#while these don't necessarily serve a HUGE purpose

[lets-try-some-writing]

Just wanted to let you know that your Pretender AU has given me a Smokescreen brain worm.

What is he? What is his purpose? Why is he so secretive and mysterious?

(you don't need to answer these questions)

I am going to answer them anyway because at this point, all of the AUs I am particularly fond of are going to be turned into fics eventually. No use beating around the bush here on Tumblr. Glad to see my Pretender AU has infested a mind other than my own!

Optimus, while devoted to his task, was no fool. With Megatron targeting him and his inner circle of active Pretenders, he needed a failsafe. His initial plan was to create a cache of Pretender larva which would, in time, develop on their own and either come to serve under him or one would naturally evolve to take on the role of Firstborn. Thousands of Insecticons were instructed to remain in stasis alongside the cache as a barrier. Then to be safe, he guarded them through careful artificial EM field generator which gave off the impression that his brood were one huge dweller and carefully never visited. That was Optimus Prime's failsafe.

However, without his knowledge, his creator began yet another experiment.

Optimus was the first, and his biggest folly was being put into the wrong mech. If his host had been ANYONE else, his life would have been all but safeguarded and he could have grown his brood in peace and even become an ally to Autobots and Decepticons alike given enough time. But Orion Pax was influential, and that meant that Optimus was, for all intents and purposes, a failure in Shockwave's optics. He was too well known and in such extreme circumstances that he could neither be studied or fulfill his function properly. With all that in mind, Shockwave attempted to create another Firstborn in order to have a backup.

Everything went according to plan. A new Pretender was made, and this time its biology was adjusted so that it would not require a host. Shockwave built its CNA so that it would have its monstrous form and a completely normal civilian appearance. Then, in order to keep Megatron from noticing his creation, Shockwave quietly placed his newest creation amongst the last generation of sparklings to emerge from the Well. It was then taken in and raised amongst soldiers and Shockwave returned to serving Megatron, content in the knowledge that his Pretenders, his failsafe to ensure the survival of their species, were going to fulfill their function one way or another.

But of course, biology tends to act of its own accord. Smokescreen instinctually knew from the moment he could think for himself that there was already an active Firstborn. And thus, instead of shifting and becoming one himself, he instead adjusted his very CNA over time. He served in the Elite Guard with the express purpose of getting to the only living Firstborn and was quick to take the opportunity to serve Alpha Trion if it meant access to relics that could be of use. He did not intend to be thrown into a pod and sent careening toward Earth, but it all worked out in his favor in the end.

(He did in fact try to eat the phase shifter to store it before Alpha Trion caught him.)

Smokescreen had the potential to be a Firstborn, but with Optimus very much alive and well, he changed to fulfill a less critical role. His entire functioning revolves around safeguarding the future. If he cannot create new life himself, he will protect the future of their kind, consequences be damned.

Backstory out of the way, Smokescreen is an Attendant. He is a one of a kind, but likely won't remain that way if the Pretenders are allowed to increase their ranks. His entire purpose is not necessarily to protect living Pretenders, or even attach himself to any of them. Rather, he developed to be a pragmatic and logical entity more focused on long term planning. He does not care a great deal about any other living Pretender because of the way he functions. If he knew about the cache, he would have been guarding it with his life until he sensed the death of the other Pretenders and knew it was time to wake his kin. But as he was unaware of it, he has settled for throwing his entire spark into taking care of Optimus now that he's on Earth.

Smokescreen does everything he can to keep Optimus relaxed and secure. A happy Patriarch is one who will produce more lava. More lava means more Pretenders. And of course, since Optimus is at war all the time, Smokescreen is able to satisfy his lingering desire to rear young via tending to Optimus's spawn. He is creepy even to other Pretenders. He is a little too obsessed with Optimus, or rather Optimus's spawning capability, for any Pretender to like him all that much. The only reason he is tolerated is because of how much calmer Optimus is around him. The Prime himself assumes that Smokescreen was an early hatcher from his failsafe cache, which is why he is unconcerned with Smokescreen's strange behavior and lack of true attachment to the group.

Smokescreen is well aware he is not well regarded by anyone save for Optimus, and so he has conjured up countless plans to take as many larva as possible and flee in the event things go up in flames. He's a schemer, and he is not willing to risk his life when the Pretenders are yet at risk. Their species comes before all else. Let Optimus fight, Smokescreen will secure their future.

[pkmnirlevents]

Info/Mobile Directory

Hello everyone and welcome to pkmnirlevents! Our goal is for this blog to serve as a central hub for people who are planning events or searching for events to participate in! We also plan to be an archive for starting resources and other material folks might find useful when running their blogs.

Our community has been rapidly growing, which while exciting can make it difficult to network and know what's going on. The introduction of stakes tags have been a huge help, though folks still may become discouraged if they struggle to find out about events before they're truly happening. A lot of planning goes into these things behind the scenes!

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Event tags are to follow the format of MonthYearStakes, meaning if for whatever reason we are having an issue with updating our tagging system on our various pages you can manually look up info about current, past, or future events if available!

Ex. June23HS would be our tag for High Stakes events in the month of June 2023

Stakes abbreviations*:

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*Subject to change as needed for organizational or clarification purposes

How to Submit an Event:

When submitting an event to us it's extremely important that you include a link to at least one blog involved with the event (preferably the "host") and the dates that the event will be taking place. We understand that sometimes these dates may move around, and if need be we are willing to adjust tags but it's important we know where to sort it to begin with.

Please also specify if your event will be High Stakes, Low Stakes, or No Stakes (you are free to clarify as much or as little as you want here as there are other types of tags our system doesn't include).

Finally, include a description of what your event is. You don't have to spoil major plot elements, but at least give people an idea of what they're getting into. The use of keywords may also help people manually searching through our blog!

We may eventually provide a template for event submissions to follow, depending on the general traffic this blog gets. As of right now we do not see that being necessary. However, if your event submission does not include at least these things we will not post it.

Remember that when it comes to crossover events communication with your RP partners is key! Be respectful and do not spring major plot elements on your fellow roleplayers. Try not to become discouraged and importantly have fun!

[nilboxes]

Nitimur in Vetitum Part 4 of Nemo Saltat Sobrius, Nisi Forte Insanit, an Aventio Series

Read at AO3

Rating info, tags and extensive notes ⬇ (mentions some leaks regarding planar orb)

I've always wanted, for the longest time, to be able to capture a film noir feel written fiction and while I don't necessarily feel like I did it here 100% I felt like I nailed down some of the atmosphere and the themes.

I fully went into writing this with the idea that Aventurine had a mini vacation while he's still preparing for the assignment, but he doesn't really strike me as the type to just truly lounge around when something as huge as the Penacony gig is looming over his head, so he actually had some kind of purpose there, not exactly minor but not major either.

The plot sort of got away from me and just wrote itself with Aventurine going through the motions of a date. This isn't their first sit-down together meal as I wrote in a 2nd part of the sickfic drabble in the drabble series (which I didn't cover because it'd just be sick Aven trying to eat and Ratio quietly watching over him) but this is a first proper one.

I always feel like Aven is a big eater when he does actually find time to eat, otherwise he's chowing down on some nutrient paste thing when he's on the go (an idea that always stuck with me ever since I read a tidbit of that Warhammer lore and it was kinda sad way to find sustenance honestly) I feel like Aven does try to eat good food as much as he can, obviously having grown up not being able to indulge in those things.

I REALLY love the scene where Aven is trying to protect Veritas from seeing the carnage. I feel like it'll only really appeal to me but whatever, but the idea of short king Aventurine being all domineering, cupping Veritas' face and leading him to face away and saying "look at me" is so AUGH I did well for myself here I come back and read this scene now and then

I also really like exploring Aventurine's conflicting ideas about whether or not he should keep Veritas close to him. I never once felt like he didn't feel as if he didn't deserve it, but he definitely felt like he was doing something wrong because he's inevitably going to hurt Veritas one way or another if he lets Veritas invest feelings in him when he throws his life around in gambles and doesn't really fully expect to come out of it. I suppose he feels irresponsible for that? But then Aventurine, for me, is nothing but greedy, I feel like that's the essence of his character, and it's more intriguing when there seems to be no real substance to that (no higher purpose, no true meaning) other than he is a hungry little thing and he will gamble for more because he wants more (probably a trauma response to be honest)

I think here I wrote Veritas in such a manner that he is always so clinically interested in Aventurine, but there's not a lot of emotional processing until he looks into Aventurine's sad, dull eyes and is somehow enchanted enough to wax poetics. I feel the awkwardness is a bit on brand for Ver, since he's so smooth and elegant when he's alone and not talking, but when he does the pomposity just doesn't mix too well, which I find cute.

On Aventurine's side, I could not resist adding in some early context about how he really, truly sees Veritas as his "savior" and I touched upon this again in another drabble, but the idea of the Scholar King was what got him through his early days in the IPC, and then serves as sort of an anchor and comfort during his personal trials when he became a Stoneheart was something I always liked to serve as the basis of why he approached Veritas as depicted in the light cone. I think he never really thought about where it would go though, hence when he got what he wanted he wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to keep it hence the attempt at driving Veritas away.

When I wrote this, the leaked description of the Sigonia planar ornament came, and I like to say the rain coming in to salvage Aventurine's attempts at self-sabotage is deliberate, but it was really a happy accident that I just quietly tied around his past.

The sex scene idek, that was really hard to write. I wrote like 1000 words on Veritas POV before I realized I was going about it the wrong way and switched to Aven's, did not make it any easier, but I at least thought the indescribable yearning was conveyed properly, so while it might not be the most coherent scene I think I'm pretty happy with it anyway.

Next up: a slightly less angsty fic, and a retrospection that probably deals with 2.1 events depending on how things go!

[proxy-pages]

are the gloves and boots part of your robot girl's body?

Nope! They're entirely removable along with her chest plate and floaties

I tend to draw her gloves inconsistently size wise but I always meant for them to appear slightly bigger than her actual hands

Best visual I can give is Matsuri from Suzune Magica

Just not as big lol

As for her boots, they are the same, it makes her appear slightly taller (just about 3 inches taller) and are slightly bigger than her actual feet/legs, but not by much

The best similarity I can give you is Uraraka's boots from MHA and Chell's boots from Portal 2

Although being a robot she doesn't really have to worry about fall damage

I don't really have an explanation for the chest plate and the floaties, while they do serve a purpose, we're added because her arms looked too bare

Also just for fun but while I wasn't necessarily a huge fan of this movie (I watched it maybe once or twice and didn't see the remake), but I noticed her design brings Robocop to mind, but that's coincidental

What isn't coincidental is my inspiration from Portal, specifically P-Body

Black and white coloring go brrrr

But yeah I don't purposely choose inspirations so perhaps these were all dormant in my mind :>

[okthatsgreat]

May I hear about some of the gone waters cast if that's alright? :3 second times the charm

YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh god ill ramble about my characters below because if i go off about EVERYBODYS characters we will be here for weeks gfhdkjgsfkhg but ill DO WHAT I CAN. this will be so long im so sorry

ramble will be under the read more :) 

OK SO for some quick context Danganronpa: Gone Waters is a SEQUEL roleplay to Danganronpa: Hope's Reprisal that the same group of people did a few months ago, gone waters JUST ended so now i can just ramble on endlessly about these characters without having to worry about spoiling anything to the people i am running this roleplay for ghfdkjghskfdjgh. gist of the narrative is a group of """volunteers""" were sent into the luxury virtual reality program to experience high class living for a week, all run by an artificial intelligence named andi that caters to their needs whenever. one day the emergency siren starts blaring, the emergency EXIT doesn't let them leave this simulated reality, and andi has suddenly been given new instructions to run a killing game for these participants. WACKY! 🤪

i had to create two characters who were primarily there for narrative reasons (considering i was running the rp fhdksgjf) so that's where billie and andi came in :) but i LOVED how they turned out jesussss the people im rping with had great characters and it was so easy and fun making these fucked up relationships with them N E WAYS

billie lane was created as this little sacrificial lamb that was always supposed to die first lol !! she's this mopey fifteen year old who is very awkward and feels like she doesn't necessarily fit in anywhere, which is only EXACERBATED by the fact she is talentless in this group of Ultimate Students who were supposedly selected because of their talent. she was created to be this adaptable character who latches on to trends and other people's personalities very quickly, and dare i say it she wasnt heading in the wrong direction when she died???? she got some bad advice definitely but the key advice i was using for her character were along the lines of "be completely honest" and "don't underestimate yourself" as well as being told who and who not to trust ghdfgdsf. the other rpers definitely were shaping her up to be a good kid :) who then of course got killed while trying to be helpful :(

chapter one was always intended to be a mimicry of hopes reprisals chapter one (because a huge theme in this rp is breaking the cycle basically), and practically all of chapter 1 was devised by a character named moira who lured two people there with the intent of making them kill each other, kickstarting the whole game! billies purpose was to give juuuuuuust enough information to certain characters and then dip lol. the reason she was there in the first place is because her father worked on the simulator, and she's basically been this little lab rat for YEARS. just constantly doing her dads bidding. so you can imagine how grouchy she fucking gets over how limited her options are ghfkgfsdgkgfds. shes a teenage loser raised in a catholic suburban household who isnt offered a lot of freedom and has undiagnosed mental illness and then she dies. and she was awesome. 2 me. she's just such a tragic character overall and it didnt help that the other people in the rp kept making me FUCKING SAD WHEN SHE DIED!!!!!!!!

andi v92.38B is the artificial intelligence running the place :) or trying to at least. there is frequent reference to her BEING the building, so when the building starts to fall apart she does, too. she's this inhuman thing that is serving as the catalyst of a memory recovery plot, which essentially means she's recovering old memories of the PREVIOUS killing game as this CURRENT killing game goes on. but, something that WASN'T planned, is the fact that she is gaining some sort of sentience throughout all of it, SOME sort of capacity to feel. and it isn't pleasant whatsoever. it's so ugly. the very first thing she learns how to feel is pain and hatred. she doesn't understand what any of it is or what is happening to her.

this virus that was introduced into the simulator is more or less killing andi in the process, and it immediately starts growing bitter and resentful towards the People who had brought this virus along. she doesn't understand why she is suddenly feeling this way, she doesn't think she is isnt capable of doing anything outside of her programming, and it all culminates in a cranky ai that refuses to admit it is anything less than inhuman which ultimately ends in it finally admitting it might be scared of dying, before getting wiped out entirely ! it has no choice but to follow rules and then die mad about it very unfortunately. it had some seriously interesting relationships with the other participants like there were so many of them who were so nice to it???????????? like genuinely sorry for her. it was so so much fun playing andi she was also pretty funny which ruled

cutting myself off now GHFDJKG also here's a really stupid and quick animatic i did a while ago too with the survivors + andi

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR THIS ASK I HOPE IT MADE EVEN AN OUNCE OF SENSE

[raspberryjellybrains]

Hello person I never talked to in my life I saw your tags and. Please infodump about the songs for headphones rather than speakers thing if you feel like it bc I really want to know

HI!! it has been a ridiculous amount of time since you sent this, so I am very sorry. however, disclaimer that I have no expertise in music, but I do have a basic knowledge of music theory and lots of exposure (which I'm sure sounds silly, but simply means that I have a trained ear, if not mind).

I have noticed that with music produced before common availability of more sophisticated in-ear listening devices such as IPods or smart phones paired with earbuds or headphones lacks a lot of subtle, atmospheric sounds that mark more contemporary music produced within the last 10-15 years. These atmospheric sounds are things as directly understood as a result of a more isolated listening experience such as bird chirping or rustling leaves or as subtle and musical in nature as a soft chanting refrain or droning tone. Both of these, while different in purpose and nature, serve to fill out the sound of the music where background noise would, allowing artists to fully control the sound experience in a way previously unavailable.

this change can also be considered with the more widespread availability and usage of digital music making; when you have access to a sound effect, you don't have to count on it being there or figure out how to make the instruments you do have make those noises. there have been arguments made for decades (literally since the invention of the synthesizer) as to where or not this counts as part of the artistry as a new facet of the medium to be experimented with and added or diminishes the ultimate purpose and goal of music production. when new phases of technology are created and shared, there is always a boom of exploration coincident with a boom of... laziness, for lack of a better word. those who aim to use this new technology as a crutch rather than a tool. then, as the tide turns on this new technology and all the magic is gone, there's a turn back towards acoustic sound, now with elements of the previous era infused. think heavier guitar of grunge and punk versus 50's rock and how that infusion occurred AFTER synth wave in the 1980's, where those sounds overlap and converge (and, for a more interesting dive into music's role in culture, what that shift signifies).

there's also the issue of volume and dynamics. listening to heavier music with earbuds tends to be kind of unpleasant because that's not how it's designed to be played! the point is that it is loud and disruptive to OTHERS so it is necessarily sort of difficult to enjoy beamed into your ears with the magic of technology. on the opposite end of the spectrum, bedroom pop gets a bad reputation for sucking, especially to play on aux because that's not how THAT genre is meant to be played. it's quiet and has lots of subtle elements that are really easily lost in background noise that genres like death metal are engineered to cover, meaning that elements which serve to unite and fill out more key elements of the song get lost and leave it feeling hollow. there's a philosophy difference there.

which brings me to hyperpop as a perfect example of this change (its an excellent example of a lot things happening in music, even if it's a bit passe now. to editorialize more than I already am, I think it's gonna be one of those things we point to 10 years down the line and see as a huge shift but that remains to be seen). hyperpop uses this technology to blend older approaches to music with more contemporary approaches to sound production, which creates something that feels simultaneously nostalgic and completely alien; it translates really REALLY poorly to speakers because it's that adaption of heavyfastloud to a more isolated listening environment and can't be taken out.

SO TO SUMMARIZE I have no real point I just think it's really neat to look at shifts in cultural understandings and uses of technology through music and I really like thinking about and discussing it! apologies if my tags made it sound like anything other than that. if you have any questions or opinions to add feel free!! I'd love to discuss this more :3

[the-eldritch-it-gay]

Hi there, I just read your rewriting the Qunari meta and it reminded me of a question I had in my head about them and I'd love to hear your opinion on it. Do you think calling the Qun, as it exists in canon, a religion is accurate? If not what could it be classified as? A culture? A belief system but not a religion? A governing system? A combination of some of these things? I'm not sure myself. Also thanks for all the stuff you've written about the games, it's really interesting and well thought out!

That's a tough question!

For one, I think there's a huge amount of overlap between religion, culture, belief system, and governing system. I mean, a culture is essentially the beliefs, values, symbols, language, and artifacts of a group of people. So the overlap between culture and beliefs should be apparent, and values and beliefs certainly play a role in how a group governs.

Secondly, something like religion is somewhat ambiguous in definition. While I think lots of people think of religion as simple as "worshiping a god or god or the supernatural" there's a lot more to it than that and tends to include a set of beliefs (not necessarily about, or just about a god/the divine) and practices. I personally like Encylopedia Britannica's definition of "human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence." So I definitely believe that there is an argument to be made for the Qun counting as a religion.

I think commonly I've seen the Qun thought of as a philosophy, which isn't wrong, the Qun certainly is a system of thought, but again philosophy I would argue is similarly connected to culture, religion, and governance.

Personally, I see it as a religion. I think people might not consider it one because its seen as lacking any sort of god or gods, but I don't have the same feeling. The Qun to me seems to have a lot of spiritual involvement. Koslun, the founder of the Qun, is often spoken about in a way that reminds me of how one might write about the word of god or a prophet and feels to be written in much the way one might write religious texts (I mean, the Tome of Koslun is in fact, a sacred text):

The Soul Canto

A traveler asked the Ashkaari: "What was your vision of our purpose?" The Great Ashkaari replied: "I will tell you a story. A vast granite statue stands on an island, holding back the sea. The heavens crown its brow. It sees to the edge of the world. The sea drowns its feet with every tide. The heavens turn overhead, light and dark. The tide rises to devour the earth, and falls back. The sun and the stars fall to the sea one by one in their turn, only to rise again. The tide rises, the tide falls, but the sea is changeless. Struggle is an illusion. There is nothing to struggle against. The deception flows deeper. The statue resists the ebb and flow of the sea, And is whittled away with each wave. It protests the setting sun, and its face is burned looking upon it. It does not know itself. Stubbornly, it resists wisdom and is transformed. If you love purpose, fall into the tide. Let it carry you. Do not fear the dark. The sun and the stars will return to guide you. You have seen the greatest kings build monuments to their glory Only to have them crumble and fade. How much greater is the world than their glory? The purpose of the world renews itself with each season. Each change only marks A part of the greater whole. The sea and the sky themselves: Nothing special. Only pieces.

This feels very much like a religious text, in my opinion.

And also, religion absolutely can influence if not outright be the basis of government and social rules. (Speaking from a personal note, as a Muslim, there's plenty of passages in the Quran talking about how to handle legal/social issues and instructions on how society should function.)

So I suppose, TL:DR, I see the Qun as a religion, which also serves as basis for Qunari culture and governance.

I hade some more rambling paragraphs just more about my feelings about how the Qunari are written, but I feel like I've made that clear already and I don't want to go off on a tangent lmao.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Any thoughts on Prince Harry's Spare?

Not completely done with it!

Immediate thoughts:

--Lol I feel really bad for his ghostwriter that so many translated-from-Spanish excerpts were leaked, because the prose is legit good.

--People are making a big deal out of a celebrity memoir oversharing when a) this is the point of a memoir and b) they don't have to engage with it if they don't want. And honestly? This is a pretty intimate memoir (more so than I initially expected) but it's nothing crazy on that front. I've read more revealing.

--If I'm being super real, I'm kind of reading to read it and then I'll fully process what it makes me think of him AFTER because I don't know how else to read a memoir, but.... I don't know, the picture he paints of himself is PRETTY MUCH how I expected him to be.

--He's obviously got a huge Oedipal Complex, but I think that he is aware of it and that also is literally ... impossible to avoid, and not necessarily a bad thing. Hard for a partner to put up with (and I hate to say this, but harder for a partner to put up with when the mother is alive and around to interfere in your relationship) but the thing is that if his account is to be believed, Meghan does remind him a lot of his mom. She seems to be a good match for him on that front, so it's like. Cool? It works? I don't know, it's wild to see people take things like the "I had a frostbitten dick and people told me to use Elizabeth Arden cream on it and that reminded me of how my mom used that on her lips" out of context going "OMG SO WEIRD" because he immediately says "OMG SO WEIRD" lol like... He knows this.... I don't know how normal you expected this man to be...

--I think he's a lot fairer to William and Charles than people give him credit for. Not fair! He's naturally an unreliable narrator. None of us can be fair to those we're very close to. You either protect them or rake them over the coals. I wouldn't say he totally rakes them over the coals. I think there are things he's withholding about them for both self-serving purposes, and protective purposes. But he clearly loves them (especially Charles) and knows they love him, but also deeply resents them because of things they can't help and things they can. It's very classic familial shit.

--The picture he paints of Prince Charles is of a classic distant father who cannot deal with expressing affection the way his kids desperately need him to, who prioritizes his own happiness over that of his children. Standard issue. He doesn't really connect the dots with how a lot of that is because Elizabeth and Philip were rotten parents themselves, but he skirts close to it.

--The picture he paints of William is of a guy who resents Harry because he has supposed freedoms William doesn't get, while Harry resents William for being pompous about being #1, favored by the family and the press, and distant as an older brother. The book really dismantles the perception (which I shared at one point) that they were super close. Like, they were and they weren't. They were trauma bonded over their mother's death (and I'll note that Harry NEVER takes away from how much William loves their mom, at least at the point I'm at, that is very clear) but they were raised in rivalry and it's clear that they are naturally *very* different guys.

--He really loved Kate as a sister. The affection he had for her shines through, though she isn't discussed a TON. It makes me wonder about his animosity towards William and what that could further be connected to.

--He's an army guy through and through. That is not just clear in the way he discusses the army, but the way he discusses life. If you've known the Average Army Guy (and I'm talking not the big time politically army guys, of which I.... have met relatively few, personally, but the guys who see it as a job and culture and family, who often have distant family lives and seek a purpose) Harry will be very familiar to you in just... the way he talks about EVERYTHING.

--I'm not gonna give my view on the way he discusses killing people in the army just yet, because.... I think that's a very complicated topic and I need to reread that part and really think about it. I will say, I think the uproar over it being "revealed" in this book is super! Fake! Because a) if you googled what Harry was doing in the army, where. he was doing it, it would be highly unlikely for him to not have been indirectly or directly killing people, and we've known that for years b) he literally said he killed people to a reporter years ago, so. That doesn't make the act any better or worse, or his view on it, but this is not bRAND NEW INFORMATION, and I can tell you that there is much more context on his thoughts in the memoir... Which is is why... if you care that much.... you should probably read more than a few sentences before giving an opinion lol.

--Whoever taught Harry about unconscious bias needs to dial that back because while that is a thing and it is a thing he and his family deal with, it is not the explanation behind *everything*. I believe that he wants to Do Better. I think he has a lot more work to do, and his discussions of race and his racism in this book are not fully formed. I believe that on some level he wants to take full responsibility, but on another level he is very afraid of doing so. And I get that. If he is out there like "damn, I was so racist", his family will absolutely use that against him. And I also think that Harry is still grappling with how people can both be racist and also be super against racism, tbh, and how to discuss that. I mean, most people don't know how to discuss it properly, to be real. I'm not surprised that a guy who is not even the top priority in a family where a fifth grade education is CRUSHIN' IT is not discussing this properly. But like. He still needs to work more if he wants to discuss it.

[hubspot2]

As we progress into 2022, you have probably heard the word athleisure thrown around here and there. But what exactly is this style of clothes and how is it different from casual wear? Well, apart from the fact that athleisure sounds a lot more impressive than casual wear, here we are with a few differences between athleisure wear and casual wear. So, let us have a look at how athleisure wear is different from casual clothes and how you can use athleisure wear for carrying out all your activities.

Casual wear vs. athleisure wear: The basic difference

Casual wear is basically a comfortable piece of clothing that is suitable for everyday wear. You can also use these clothes for a small party or a get-together. Athleisure wear is, however, comfortable clothing that is undersigned both for everyday wear and exercise. Such athleisure wear is perfect for walking and traveling. Athleisure is not sport-specific. You will be able to wear these clothes for different types of outdoor activities whether it is your gym session or your morning run or your yoga classes.

Athleisure wear is extremely lightweight and form-fitting. This will allow you to move really freely. The main aim of these clothes is to provide you with maximum functionality. These are the clothes that serve the purpose of an active life mixed with a casual social life. Athleisure wear was born out of a compromise. This kind of clothes lie at the intersection of casual wear and traditional sportswear and was meant for sports as well as leisure activities. These clothes were later used for other purposes as well.

How is athleisure different from casual wear in terms of functionality?

Athleisure is undoubtedly one of the most versatile types of clothing. Unlike casual wear that you don't generally wear for your outdoor activities, you will not have to change your clothes when you get out of the gym. You can wear the same clothes to the gym. This can save you from a lot of trouble. This is also quite time-saving. There are a lot of people who cannot visit the gym in their gym wear. They wear their casual clothes, visit the gym, change into their gym clothes and then again change back to their casual wear while leaving the gym. All this trouble can be avoided when you wear athleisure. Also, you don't necessarily have to love working out in order to wear athleisure.

It is an unspoken rule that anyone who wants to look fashionable and stylish can catch up on this trend and start getting athleisure for themselves. These clothes can also motivate you to start leading a healthy life and get involved in some kind of outdoor activity. Nowadays, influences and celebrities from all across the world wear athleisure to the gym and even to a party. This is not possible with casual wear. You may not be comfortable visiting a formal occasion in athleisure.

What kinds of clothes are included in athleisure wear?

An example could be yoga pants and tank tops. Tank tops are the go-to tops when going to the gym or morning walk. These tops can also be worn when you visit a cafe or go grocery shopping. They will make you look both stylish and comfortable. Yoga pants form a huge part of athleisure. These pants are a lot more comfortable than simple casual wear yet the style is not compromised. They all are also highly functional as you will look good in these pants in the gym as well as anywhere else. You can also wear these yoga pants with any type of shirt you want to choose also play a very important role in completing these strengths to get yourself a good pair of shoes as well.

Athleisure could be seen as an improvement of casual wear. It is meant for people who demand the need for everyday comfort especially for those who wish to squeeze workout sessions into their busy schedules. Athleisure also represents a change in fashion. It has become a very large trend and a lot of people are becoming a part of it. They are also popular among both men and women. It is especially important for you to get athleisure if you do not have a lot of time to change into your gym clothes before visiting the gym or before going for a walk.

You will be able to carry out all your exercises in your athleisure itself. You can also visit any formal occasion you want to in these clothes. This isn't possible with casual wear as you wish will not be able to move around flexibility in your casual clothes. You will also look really smart and stylish in athleisure. These days, the market is flooded with athleisure of all kinds. So, pick the perfect pieces of clothing for yourself and give yourself a stylish and sophisticated look.

So, upscale your wardrobe today itself and get yourself some trending pieces of athleisure wear as this trend is obviously here to stay and will gain more popularity with time.

[alkahero72]

My Honest Thoughts on AHS Asylum

It's shit, the whole thing is shit. First of all, too many subplots. way too many, the nazi, Kit and his girls, the aliens, Bloodyface, Judy, etc there's just so much and to be honest it gets really convoluted and jumbles up, Kit having 2 wives felt really pointless because what we were shown of his character up until that point he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to just bang another chick after his wife got sent to the fucking shadow realm. I also don't like Grace very much. I think she should have died when she was shown and shouldn't have randomly come back, i also have no fucking clue how she came back that string of scenes was sooo confusing i had no clue what was happening. When Kit came home to Alma he should have broken up with Grace, because why wouldn't he? Yeah i understand him letting her stay there as a friend but as a family with 3 parents? Nuh uh just feels pointless to me, in my honest opinion Grace didn't really need to be a character at all. Nazi guy, now i forgot his name cuz he's annoying as fuck but nothing came out of him being a nazi. It really didn't do anything to the plot??? It just confirmed that he was indeed the big bad when we kinda knew that already... Ok, Judy, I actually think this storyline is perfectly okay and it ties well with the main storyline of the story which is Lana and bloodyface so there isn't really anything to say about this one. No hate to Jessica Lange, she's a fantastic actor and this isn't necessarily in her control, but i feel that all her AHS character's, are the same character, they all sort of behave and act the same, excluding Constance. For one, they're all alcoholics/ used to be (Judy) and they all act extremely troubled, an old blonde woman with a dark and tragic past, this is most commonly reflected through Fiona. Now, the alien plot, again, it didn't turn into anything, there was no explanation of the events and it led to a dead end, i don't think aliens and an asylum were a good mix, because they never built upon it, it was shown as such an important plot at the beginning but then faded, and after everyone escaped Briarcliff it wasn't really brought up anymore. Onto bloodyface and Lana, while this is the main storyline there are many flaws. Lana having bloodyface's child was completely pointless, i think it was just an excuse to add more plot to the last few episodes, plus the SA scene of BF and Lana felt completely unwarranted, which ties into my next point, Shock Value. This season is just horror porn, it tries to show a lot of heavy topics such as the nazi's and the medical abuse of homosexuals. But it doesn't really do them well, the nazi subplot served no purpose and was just a huge nothing burger, along with the weird Anne Frank thing, all it did was reinforce doctor dude as a bad character, which we already knew. They are trying to shock the audience like "hey look at us our show is so dark and spooky and horror" when its just sensitive topics jumbled into one convoluted string of meaningless storylines. On a lighter note, i really enjoyed the Sister Mary Eunice plot, it tied in well with the Lana main plot with the further corruption of Briarcliff and i really think those two plots were the backbone of this season and worked well together. This brings me to my last point, the earlier seasons suffer from being too long. way. too. long. In Murder House, i just didn't know when it was gonna end, there were multiple scenes near the end of the season that i felt could have wrapped up into a nice conclusion, but it just kept going. The number and duration of episodes of season 1,2 and 4 are way longer than they needed to be. However Coven works perfectly well. I feel that Coven was an extreme improvement and i feel that the writers may have noticed the many flaws that came out of 1 and 2, but most prominently 2. Freak show is still kind of a dip down though, but it still is a vast improvement from 1 and 2. There is also just one last issue that i have to talk about, Lana. Her sudden switch-up at the end of the season really didn't make any sense to me.

[cloudbusiness1]

ServerHub

Over the years, organizations have seen an increase in the amount of data produced across various business functions due to the rapid adoption of digital technologies. With more data at their disposal, companies must find innovative ways to store, access, use and retrieve important information – anytime, anywhere.

To meet these growing data storage requirements, many are turning to storage servers as a data storage solution due to their cost advantages, scalability, efficiency and convenience. Stick around to learn what storage servers are, how they work, their benefits, and much more.

What is Storage Server?

A storage server, also known as a file server, is a type of server used to store, secure, and manage data and applications. This server is primarily created to store and access data over the Internet or a shared network.

Unlike a standard server, storage servers have multiple interfaces to access storage, storage spaces, and advanced data retrieval and management capabilities. However, they have fewer applications than regular servers. It functions as file, print, web and application database servers.

Because storage servers are designed for a specific purpose, they are configured differently. In other words, it serves as a central access point for storing and accessing data. Remote computers and local client nodes access the storage server through File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and a GUI control panel, or through programmed API access.

How a storage server works

Storage servers are divided into two, i.e. dedicated and non-dedicated servers. The main difference between the two is the type of data they store. For example, dedicated servers are designed specifically for file servers whose workstations are used to read and write databases and files. On the other hand, non-dedicated servers can store any data, from everyday files to application repositories.

Regardless of the type, the principle of operation of a storage server remains quite simple. This means that once the primary computing device is configured and published, other users on the network can access the device's available storage space. Users on the network access the storage server by mapping the drives on their devices, and their computer's operating system identifies the storage server as another drive.

With proper network configuration, it's easy to grant permission to all computers on the network to create, access, and run files directly from the storage server, while adding additional storage space to connected computers.

However, storage servers should not be confused with regular servers. The former comes with a huge storage capacity. Storage servers are also available either as a single unit or in two separate units, i.e. one box as dedicated data storage and the other as a server.

This means that they can store and access stored data over a shared network or over the Internet. We can conclude that the storage can be either a separate unit or a hardware component inside the computer that offers data storage services. By themselves, these devices do not necessarily have access to other devices on the network unless specifically configured.

Reseller Web Hosting Services

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[hold-him-down]

The First Time Leo Cried on Christmas

TW: legalized slavery setting, implied noncon, light use of bite guards, dehumanization, beating mention, starvation mention, clinic setting but not particularly graphic medical whump 

Notes: leo’s first christmas in the system, during his initial training period (just under 3 months into initial training) Can be skipped, is flashback scene, is nearly mindless/senseless suffering. I know I was like hey next up is a comfort prompt, and then now here we are with this (i kept that exact same note from the last time i posted. excellent work). i wrote it it exists now it’s everyone else’s problem, as usual.

Table of Contents

✥ The First Time Leo Cried on Christmas ✥

“I’ll be off for the next few days,” Handler Jason Lopez said, zipping his jeans as he caught his reflection in the steel cabinet. “Taking my fiancé to Haaaa-waa-iiiiii.” He sang the last part, then his expression immediately dropped. He smoothed out his hair and inhaled deeply. Only once he was satisfied did he turn his attention back to Leo. 

Leo sat curled on the side of the bed, his arms wrapped around himself, the bite guard still locked tightly between his teeth. He nodded, and a runaway tear leaked from those big, hopeless eyes. Jason thought they were all dried up by now. “Aw,” he said, an expression of pure, fake sympathy on his face. “You’ll be alright without me for a couple days.”

Jason ascended on him slowly, smiling as he unclasped the back of the gag. “When I get back, maybe we’ll give it a go without this.” His hand lingered there, holding him still. He leaned in and pressed his lips against Leo’s forehead. Anxiety rolled off of the worker in waves, but he didn’t resist. “I know you can do it,” he whispered.

Leo’s eyes snapped up, a silent plea. 

“In the meantime,” he said, as he stepped away, straightening his back, “I’ve left some notes for the other handlers.”

✥ ✥ ✥

That was three days ago. Leo hasn’t eaten since then, and hasn’t slept more than an hour without interruption. His stomach churns nonstop, empty, or, he supposes, not completely empty. He tries not to think about it.

The click of a lock startles him awake; he scrambles to sit, frantically brushing his hand down his face just to make sure they didn’t get the guard into his mouth while he slept.

It’s Handler Lopez who comes in.

“Merry Christmas, Kid,” the handler says by way of greeting, as the clock rolls over to midnight. He slides his thumb over Leo’s throat as Leo swallows; he fights to hold himself still. “Did you miss me?”  His stomach lurches and he tenses, closing his eyes.

“Y–Yes, sir.”

The handler smiles. “A woman from a charity dropped off cookies for all my boys this afternoon. If you can get through the next hour without directly disobeying me, I’ll bring you one before I leave.”

“Okay,” Leo whispers through clenched teeth, his tone is mostly empty, but there’s an edge of some unwelcome emotion behind it. His head is foggy; he’s dizzy already. He realizes his mistake as soon as he’s spoken.

He watches, jaw locked and eyes burning, as the handler’s expression darkens.

“Say that again.” The handler’s voice is low, his face just inches from Leo’s now.

Leo swallows. He hasn’t eaten in… his best guess is three days, but he isn’t sure. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come.

“It’s that fucking tone. Part of me thought we were past it. But the other part of me? I knew as soon as my fucking shift started, something told me, put Leo at the end of the day. You know what I said to myself? That little shit’s gonna be in rare form. And I was right, wasn’t I? What’s the matter, Leo? Didn’t enjoy my vacation?”

Something in his voice worms its way into Leo’s brain, and he’s smart enough to know he should be afraid. “I’m sor–”

The crack of knuckles across his jaw sends him back into the headboard, black dots momentarily distorting his vision.

The handler’s shift ends at two, but he doesn’t leave until six, and he leaves in the extra clothes the DLS keeps on site. 

✥ ✥ ✥

“I want him placed on administrative leave,” the new on-site doctor says to Kyle Langley, the senior trainer who seems to constantly bear the weight of the handler’s fuck-ups. The doctor can barely conceal the rage behind his eyes. He’s been here for maybe a month, and already thinks he’s a fucking saint for daring to pretend like this shit doesn’t happen weekly.

“That’s not really your call,” Kyle responds.

They watch Leo through two-way glass, fighting sleep as the painkillers kick in. He’s conscious, which is a win, apparently. He has been for the entire three hours that he’s been in the clinic. He was conscious as they dragged him through the halls, and he was conscious as the doctor fixed his shoulder, and he was conscious as his back was stitched up, as tubes and IVs and monitors were connected to his body, as scans were done and drugs were administered. To his credit, he kept himself still, for the most part. Kyle stayed by his side and held his free hand, the other restrained for the worst of it. Silent tears slid down his cheeks, but he was mostly quiet. It wasn’t until he was patched up, his heart rate back to a somewhat normal pace, and his breathing even and steady enough, that the doctor helped him roll to his side, covered him in a light blanket, and followed Kyle into the observation room.

Leo is curled up tightly now, red eyes staring blankly at the mirror, the bandage that covers the open wounds across his back is already reddening.

“No, it’s yours. Just like it’s your responsibility to control your fucking unit, Langley.” They watch him in silence. Every few seconds his eyes close heavily and stay shut just long enough for Kyle to think he’s finally slipped into sleep. Then he flinches, opens his eyes, gasps in a breath, and draws the blanket tighter to himself. “I want him out, or I promise you, I will report what happened here tonight.”

Kyle knows he’s bluffing, but he’s also not wrong to want Jason fired. Too many injuries, too much callousness. They’re already on thin ice, with the state reps fighting for additional legislature daily. It’s only a matter of time before real reform comes, and the only way to stay ahead of it is to avoid events that so fucking graphically endanger people’s lives.

“What the fuck happened in there?” It’s the doctor’s voice, all but whispered, that brings Kyle back to the present.

“Probably just pushed the wrong buttons.” Kyle leans closer to the glass. There’s a heat lamp somewhere above Leo’s body, a nurse sits silently in the corner, splitting his attention between Leo and the monitors surrounding him. Kyle looks over the report Lopez wrote. “Lopez wasn’t able to be very specific, we had to press him hard for any real details. He was reluctant to give us details about the why and the how much; we’ll probably have to review the security footage. The majority of the damage came from a baton, where he was struck ‘probably around a hundred or maybe two hundred times?’” They both watch Leo. His eyes are closed now, but a steady stream of tears still fall from under his eyelids. “What’s the outlook, doc?”

“He’ll be in the clinic for at least a few days, and even then, you’ll need to go easy on him for several weeks. I’ll write it all up, but I suggest, when you terminate Lopez, finding a handler who can utilize different methods. Blunt force is going to be off the table for a while.”

“I’ve got someone in mind. His caseload is pretty full, but he’s inquired about Leo a few times in passing. Excellent success rate, pristine record. I don’t think he’s ever had an incident on file. If you have time to talk with him before Leo discharges, I think he’ll appreciate it. He’ll want to formally introduce himself as quickly as possible, regardless, so once it’s all locked in, I’ll send him down here.”

“Otto?” The doctor raises his eyebrows, and Kyle nods. The handler has refused several promotions over his three-year tenure, and has something of a reputation for both being effective and being ‘humane.’ It’s dubious at best, but of the options he’s aware of, it’s the most logical. “Good. Not that it’s my business, but I think taking a different approach with him might do wonders.” The doctor notices a little bag in Kyle’s hand as he flips it over and over. There’s a cookie, with just one or two small bites taken out. “What’s the story with that?” He nods toward the bag.

“Hah.” Kyle lifts it, regarding the tree-shaped treat. “Fuck if I know, Lopez said to offer it to him if he does well for the rest of the day.”

The doctor shakes his head. “He’s going to be unconscious for the rest of the day, you can throw it away.” Kyle nods and drops it into the trash bin. They’re silent, watching Leo fight sleep, until, after several minutes, his body stills. “What the fuck are we doing here,” the doctor whispers.

Kyle doesn’t respond.

TAG LIST: @peachy-panic, @whump-cravings, @afabulousmrtake, @crystalquartzwhump, @maracujatangerine, @pumpkin-spice-whump, @distinctlywhumpthing, @thecyrulik, @highwaywhump, @batfacedliar-yetagain, @batfacedliar @finder-of-rings, @dont-touch-my-soup, @skyhawkwolf, @suspicious-whumping-egg, @also-finder-of-rings, @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump, @prodigal-zoe, @melancholy-in-the-morning, @urban-dark, @nicolepascaline

[tokoyamisstuff]

Chemistry Ch. 1 - Franken Stein / Reader

Summary: Your first days as a new teacher in Death Academy doesn't exactly go as planned. Warnings: Injury, Blood

[Masterlist]

"Is that the true reason you called me back here?"

Since Master Death had informed you that all Death Scythes were to immediately return to Death Academy, it hasn't even been a full week - and yet, for him to drop a bomb like this before you even had a chance to settle in your new role as teacher...

"No no, my dear! You got it all wrong!" Death answered, frantically waving his hands. "...well, that was not the only reason, at least."

You clenched your fists at this sentence, feeling used and deceived to have been summoned here to serve a completely different purpose.

Becoming the weapon of the infamous Franken Stein? What a farce.

"Correct me if I'm wrong" you spoke with the utmost respect, giving it your best to not let your true sentiment shimmer through, "but isn't the professor perfectly capable of fighting on his own?"

While you've never personally met Dr. Stein, his reputation certainly preceded him...

...and the rumors you heard were more than enough for you to never involve yourself with this person any further.

"As always, you're right!" He snapped with his fingers and you instantly crossed your arms in defense.

"However, there have been a lot of concerning incidents lately - like the appearance of the Demon Sword, for example." Sometimes, Death's constant unnaturally cheerful tone creeped you out - especially when he was talking about a serious matter.

"This is the reason I decided for some precautions, and in case of a Kishin incident Stein needs to be at his peek."

You faced the ground, lip trembling as you desperately tried to ignore Spirit's pitying glare on you.

Ultimatively, your objections were meaningless compared with Death's wits and foresight...

...so you bowed down in acceptance of your fate.

"If you think this is necessary, I comply. I'd never refuse an order from you, Master Death."

___

"As you already know, Stein the most capable meister to ever graduate this academy" you repeated Death's lecture to calm down your nerves. "So though I'd personally prefer it, you don't necessarily need to share a bond with him in order to work together."

Nonetheless, you should at least introduce yourself if not getting to know him. It's the least you can do, right?

What kept you from doing so however was the image you had already painted of him in your head.

After all, even though he is basically able to wield any weapon instantly, Stein has been without partner for many years now - and for a reason at that.

As irritating as that douchebag Spirit could be, he had no reason to lie about his past with your soon-to-be partner...

...and the stores he had to offer sure were hard to stomach. Same goes for all the other teachers you desperately asked for advice.

They all had a very solidified opinion about the professor: Basically, while they acknowledged his incredible talent, they simultaneously feared his huge potential for evil.

"That man has no love in him" Naigus words had become a mental echo those past days, just as she hoped when she had hammered that warning into your head. "Be careful - one day he'll definetly succumb to madness."

What exactly was Death expecting of you? Observe him and interfere if necessary? But then he wouldn't have given you the option to ignore Stein for as long as you didn't have to fight.

There had to be a superior motive to this insane forced partnership! And from the way it sounds, becoming the moral support of a narcissistic maniac didn't really sound like a job you'd willingly take.

Not that you had a say in that matter, or any other option at all. Overthinking it would only torture yourself...

...it was better to just wait and see.

"Good morning" you cheered as you entered the medical ward, reminding yourself that there's other things to take care of which need your attention. "Sorry to interrupt, but...shit."

That last word accidentally slipped out loud when you saw not Dr. Medusa, but Stein of all people occupying the computer of the examination room.

"Mhh? Oh." Judging from the tone of his voice, the man was just as pleased to meet as you were - though you weren't sure if it was because of you or just his renowned misanthropy in general.

Maybe it was just your own nerves, but the air suddenly felt too thick to breathe properly. You clearly felt his eyes scanning you behind those glasses that would censor his intensions.

After a while of strained silence, the doc seemed to have enough of you disrupting his work. "Come on in, I won't bite."

It was embarassing, pityful, stupid that you still won't move - and yet your body just didn't listen to your command, being frozen still in the doorframe.

You had no clue whether it was repulsion or sheer fear, but whatever it was you needed to pull it together.

There was no reason to become so flustered by a man you knew from probably way too exaggerated tales only - you were a Death Scythe, damnnit!

A kick of his against the table brought you down to earth again, making you flinch. The momentum it created was enough for his rolling chair to move in your direction, to closer examine the wound on your wrist that had already bled through it's makeshift bandage.

"That's not good" he stated matter-of-factly, a neutral expression decorating his face. "Want me to take a look?"

"...why not" you spoke between gritted teeth, trying to avoid his gaze. "Only if I'm not bothering you, that is."

"Don't worry, that's also part of my job here" Stein shrugged if off, taking one last pull on his cigarette before throwing it away as you hesistantly took place on one of the cots.

"Actually, I've wondered when you'd finally come here." That statement shouldn't let your blood run cold, yet it did. "Didn't think you'd go this far just to have an excuse to meet me, though. A simple 'hello' would've sufficed."

"Not funny" you cut him off harshly, but at the same time couldn't help but laugh as Stein fell over with his stool, facepalming the floor. He didn't seem like the clumsy type at all, so maybe he did it on purpose to help you relax?

Anyway, you concluded this man didn't mean any harm - at least not currently. And in case he tried something funny, you were still in the academy, basically surrounded by three-star-meisters that could come to your aid at any time.

"Looks nasty" he said quite unempathetic, roughly moving your injured arm to proper assess the damage. "But I've seen worse. Can you move your fingers for me?"

"As I expected" the doctor explained as he saw you fail to close your fist, watching in sadistic awe at the way your wound was twitching painfully. "One of the main tendons of your carpus is severed, along with some muscles and blood vessles."

No matter what medical terms he was throwing at you all professional, the fact that he was not even trying to hide his obvious joy for the injury of others like that was certainly unsettling...

...however, if he excels at his craft like everyone says, you'd try and stay calm.

"Nothing I can't fix. There won't be any long-term damage."

"That's good, I guess?" you chuckled awkwardly, still feeling a little unsafe as Stein slipped into sterile gloves and poured disinfectant on the cut.

"So, how did it happen?" That question sure caught you off guard, for it did not fit his profile at all. Someone this self-centered couldn't possibly care about such inferior details, but whatever...anything to distract yourself from the pain. "Stupid accident. One of my students doesn't know how to control their strenght yet. I hope they don't blame themselves..."

"Huh, is that so?" His tone was eccentric and laced with amusement, a predatory glint sparkling in his otherwise cold, dampened green eyes. "If you like to volunteer as a test subject for others, I should invite you over to my laboratory some time."

"I have no clue if that counts as harassment or threat, or both" you spat angrily, that throbbing pain in your wrist being the only thing keeping you from slapping that douche right now. "But you should read the fucking room. Right now, I am your patient. So act accordingly."

"Yeah, yeah" he dismissed your scold with that shiteating grin, happy to already know what buttons to press with you. "But outside this room you're my new partner, am I wrong? Can't be all that bad to get a little familiar with each other."

Sadly, you had no sassy remark to return to this. It was inevitable that you'd have to get along with each other eventually, so you should use this opportunity to your advantage.

While the disinfectant would do it's deed and eventually dry off, Stein used those few seconds to assess the soul of the person in front of him.

Not that he ever gave a crap about soulmates - and honestly, he doubted to have one himself. A person meant to be with him either has to be just as deranged as he was, or they'd deserve all of his pity...

...what was more interesting though were the standarts Death had used to pick out a weapon for Stein, and why he chose you of all people as a fitting candidate to bear with him.

Ah, he sees.

A kind and amicable soul like yours was the most resistant to corruption, opposite to his own. He had felt that calming aura of yours as soon as you first stepped foot into the room, how your soulwaves silenced the madness lingering inside of him.

Good choice one could very well live with. If it came to him, he'd also choose you as an ideal partner.

What involuntarily caught his attention however were the messy-written letters 'F.S.' - almost as if carved into your soul. They were glowing in a menacing crimson red, standing out from your otherwise bright soul. A reliable soul type, linked to a person with raw power, passion and great urge for self-expression...

...yet also defiance, danger and pain.

"Hey!" Noticing his stare, you hugged yourself even if your arms in front of your chest did nothing to hide what's behind. "Stop staring into my soul! That's impolite!"

"Sorry" he halfheartedly apologized, offering you a glass of water and a painkiller to go with it. "It's not poisoned" he added, almost as if insulted by your wary expression.

"The painkiller won't suffice, though. I probably have to anesthesize you, otherwise stitching it would hurt too much-"

"Nope! You just wanna dissect me, don't you?!" you blurted out without thinking first, and immediately felt guilt wash over you when you saw Stein's puzzled expression.

There was no use in asking questions he already knew the answer for. Spirit probably told you what things he was capable of doing if you're defensless in his presence, so it was no wonder you wouldn't trust him.

"Honestly, I didn't plan to ruin that perfect skin of yours today, or any day, but whatever." Ouch, now you felt like an asshole for accusing him just like that. You've met your partner for the first time today, and were already fucking up that badly... "That sounded nasty, you pervert. I-I mean, can't you just numb out my arm or something?"

"It was meant as a compliment, but that's none of my fortes." It wasn't as if he particulary enjoyed the suffering of others - this was just something that went together with the satisfaction of stilling his bizarre interests. "Do you think you can endure the sight? Then hold still."

"Wai-" Before you could even object, you felt Stein's palm on your arm, gentle sparks of electricity spreading through your nerves.

You felt him with every fibre of your being as his soulwaves wandered within your body: They were oddly stoic and unwavering, nothing like you imagined an unstable sociopath's core to be like.

But maybe that's what one's soul is like if they're devoid of any emotion...

...and still, it made you feel content in a weird, inexplicable way.

"Wha-what was that for?"

"Just see" he mumbled and just like that, all of the severed ends of your wrist were connected through glowing threads. "Like this, everything that belongs together stays close while I stitch them with actual sutures. It's easier this way."

"You can make this out of your soul wavelenghts?!" A sole nod was his answer, deeply concentrated as he began to work. "That's just- wow."

"Seriously?" the doc quirked his brow as the greatest vessle had been conjoined again, effectively stopping the bleeding. "Yeah, it's amazing! How does that even work?"

"You actually want me to explain it to you?" Stein sounded unbelieving, doubting whether you were mocking him. "That's not what I usually hear."

"What else do people tell you, then?"

"Shut up."

Now it was your turn to break out into mischievous laughter, even while trying to not move around too much. "That's hilarious, even better medicine than the pills!"

You wiped a tear of joy out of your face, along with several others you had shed due to the pain. "Well, you're kind of an asshole. So no wonder they don't want to give you the satisfaction."

"I have every right to boast, don't you think? After all, I'm a doctor, just-"

"Unlicensed?"

"Better" he harshly corrected yourself, and you could've sworn to hear slight annoyance in his tone.

Seems like he's not the only one able to annoy the hell out of the other...

"By the way" Stein wouldn't look up from the wound, rather tinkering on getting a perfect end result. "What do you really think about being my partner? We're alone in here, so we can talk freely."

"I- uh..." he sure was good at randomly catching you by surprise, that much was sure. "If Death thinks it's needed, then I have nothing to say."

"Really? How boring."

Albeit it may be the truth in some way, this comment hurt your pride nonetheless. "Oh, and what about you? Sitting here in the academy, helping out whenever someone calls you."

"I'm a pretty opportunistic person" he retorted absentmindedly, a truly indifferent tone in his voice. "And being here is entertaining."

That didn't really answer your question, but you had a feeling that prying would be fruitless as well...

"Trying to see my soul, huh?" You were peering quite obvious, squinted eyes widening at being caught. "Wait, I need to step aside a little...you're standing inside of it."

Oh, you just knew he enjoyed himself way too much right now...

...and still, you couldn't keep your mouth from staying agape, shocked by such an intensely powerful human soul.

That man sure was a monster - in more way than one.

The letters imprinted on his soul reminded you of your own handwriting, even being the same as your first- and lastname. Not that it'd matter, though - seriously, how many people in the world had the same initials as you?

Each letter shimmered in a pretty lime green - a healer's soul, known to be calming to other agitated souls. People with that kind of souls were known for their selfless characters, mainly being associated with love, balance and growth.

How unfitting for someone like him, you thought...

...but on the other hand, not all that absurd to have a Soulmate that's the complete opposite of him, able to put his mind at ease.

"Di-idn't we just talk about how no one wants to see you bragging?" you stuttered, trying to keep it together at such an intimidating wavelenght. "Please, continue. I wanna go home already."

"Only if I'm allowed to join you." The tall man winked as he bowed down in front of you again, eagerly giving the wound dressing it's final touch. "For training purposes, of course."

"The only reason I leave that uncommented is that I owe you one, do you hear me?"

"If you want to file for sexual harassment, promise to go after Spirit first."

Just a few minutes and several sassy verbal exchanges later, Stein was done. He clicked his tongue, a bloodied hand turning the massive screw that was quite literally loose in his head. Not very hygienic - but hey, you're even less of a doctor than he was, so who were you to judge?

"Here, good as new."

You took a quick look at his handiwork, pleased that you were able to move all of your fingers smoothly again, without even so much as a dull pain remaining. "If you let it heal well, it won't even leave a scar. Come every second day for a new bandage."

"Thank you so much, Stein!" you exclaimed happily, taking both of his hands out of a whim. "And- I think I need to apologize."

"What for?" Hell, that man either really doesn't care or is to dull for his own good. You rubbed the back of your neck, shyly admitting "I had a lot of prejudices which clouded my judgement. That wasn't fair towards you."

"You'll never know, maybe I'm just being nice to lure you in." Although his words could still made you shudder, after today he didn't seem all that menacing to you anymore.

"Sure thing, tough guy." Feeling bold, you poked his shoulder, just to gently stroke his forearm as you went past him. "Next time, we'll meet at better preconditions, and then you teach me the technique with the soul strings. Deal?"

"Alright. If you insist, how could I possibly decline my new partner's wish?"

[awerager]

Did you see Bones and All in Venice yesterday ? Thats so amazing, so happy for you ! l have so many questions.😊 You wrote you need a long time to get over it, l suppose you liked it a lot. Can you give more details , what were the things you liked about the movie or why did it affected you so much ? How is Timmy and Taylor's chemistry ? ls the horror&gore aspect too much to handle especially for people who don't like horror&blood or are they watchable ? How is Timmy's performance ?

I'm indeed one of the lucky ones to have been at the premiere! Not really sure if my brain is yet on par with giving very eloquent answers to you, but I'll try to do so without spoiling any of the plot.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT BONES AND ALL

Like many others, I was completely floored by the movie and it would take me a lifetime to list all the reasons why, but here's a few. Firstly, I'm a huge fan of Luca and was again amazed how he can pick a topic such as cannibalism and somehow make it about vulnerability, our need to belong and of course, ultimately, love. I haven't purposefully yet read the book (though will definitely do so now!), so I cannot tell how much and what comes from the original material, but he just has this magical power of portraying controversial characters (such as cannibals, or in case of CMBYN queer men in the 80s) in such a beautiful light you just relate to them. And no, before someone comes and asks if I now find eating other humans any less disturbing than before, absolutely not, but I love the thought that underneath everything, even such problematic behaviour, we're really all just humans trying to figure out our places in this world.

Secondly, this movie put me through a whole bunch of different feelings, and while I didn't experience as heart-shattering pure pain as whilst seeing CMBYN, if we want to keep up with that comparison (though maybe just because we weren't quite given the same extended amount of time to dwell in misery? While the ending of CMBYN was just sad, sad and more sad, here there was more emotional variety. Anyone who's seen the film, I'm curious of what you think about this! Write me 😘), it's that strong emotionality what I'm looking for in art. I'd also like to give a shout-out for the stunning cinematography. There were a few moments when I was just drooling after the flow of the camera (now thinking of the Lick It Up scene I've previously mentioned) or a specific framing.

TIMMY AND TAYLOR'S CHEMISTRY

To begin with, both of them were BRILLIANT (I guess that already answers your last question) and the relationship between their characters is both beautifully written and performed. They look genuinely comfortable around each other both on and off the screen. If we're talking specifically about their sexual chemistry, however, I wouldn't necessarily describe it heated like it was with Armie. You can sense some distance/passiveness during the kissing scenes particularly, but then again it's another coming-of-age story, so it was rather suiting as it was.

HORROR/GORE ASPECT

There are definitely a bunch of rather gruesome scenes and a lot of blood around, but in my opinion not to an exceeding amount. I think it's essential for us to feel uncomfortable at times to truly grasp the turmoil the characters are going through. I didn't feel any horror/gore elements were used only for their shock value – they always served a purpose and weren't e.g. prolonged for any more than what was needed. That being said, if only just seeing blood is a problem for someone, this movie is probably not for them (somewhat predictably, considering it is a cannibal movie).

[fangirlsmood]

Tomioka Giyuu x reader - inferiority complex

Summary : Noticing how Giyuu doesn't know his own worth, you try to remedy his inferiority complex.

Warnings : Spoilers about Giyuu’s past.

author notes : Seeing our little Giyuu blame and put himself down breaks my heart, it's time for someone to comfort him and tell him what an amazing person he is.

_ Tomioka-san ! 

Hearing your voice, Giyuu stopped in his walk and turned to you, nodding his head to greet you. You noticed that he was holding a bunch of papers, probably a mission report he had to return to Oyakata-sama.

_ You’re already back ! After filing your report, would you accept ...

_ No.

_ But...

You've been begging him for a while to train you. He had saved you a few months ago from a demon and since then you had only one wish: to become like him. You were infinitely grateful to him and you were so admiring. Not really knowing how to fight but wanting to be useful you had started to help at the Butturfly estate. However you wanted to do more, you wanted to save people before they could get hurt like Giyuu had done for you.

_ Ask another person.

_ Kocho-san is already taking care of Kanao, Rengoku of his little brother ... Everyone else is too busy to spend time with me. I want you to train me... please.

He looked you straight in the eye for a moment then sighed, unable to resist your perseverence :

_ Fine. I will train you but don't expect me to be a good teacher.

Since that day Giyuu trained you every time he return from a mission. You couldn't be happier. The training was difficult, tiring and sometimes painful but for you it was an honor. Even if he didn’t said it Giyuu was proud to see your progress. Besides, it was nice for him to have company. 

•••••••••••

One day, at the end of a hashira meeting, Rengoku came to approach him.

_ Tomioka ! We don't see much anymore (Y/n) at the Butterfly estate. I heard that you train her.

 He nodded, Rengoku let out one of his loud laughs :

_ It's surprising ! I had offered to train her but she had refused. Is she doing well?

_ She’s not bad.

It was surprising indeed. You told him that no one was available to train you and he learned it was a lie. Why had you been lying to him? He didn't understand what you could gain from it.

••••••••••

That night he found you serving dinner for both of you like you did almost every day since you had become his student. 

_ Welcome home ! How was the meeting ?

_ Good.

His gaze immediately made you uncomfortable. Usually he always gave you a warm look, while now he was looking at you coldly, as if he had difficulty recognizing you. He took a seat in front of you and began to eat. After a heavy silence which weighed on him as well as on you, he decided to speak :

_ Why did you lie to me ?

You did not remember having committed such an act against him. Seeing your confused stare he developed his point :

_ Rengoku told me he offered to train you. Why did you tell me that no one has time for you ?

You didn't think he would find out someday. Nothing in his attitude or his voice let show anger but you knew he was necessarily upset. Giyuu was a man of his word and honor, for him a lie was a lack of respect. You were terribly ashamed, however, you manage to stammer an explanation :

_ Oh ! It’s not what you think ! In fact it is but... I mean I didn’t really thought about it... Believe me it was far from my intentions to disrespect you, I would have never offended you on purpose ! I just... I just wanted to be trained by you.

_ Rengoku is a really good and strong man. You should have accepted his proposal. 

He marked a pause.

_ Go back to him, if you ask him I think his offer still stands.

Was Giyuu denying you? Did he no longer want you as a student? He got up and turned his back to you as if to end this discussion but you got up in turn, you wanted to stay by his side: 

_ I don’t want anyone else to train me ! 

_ It would be better for you.  He will be able to take care of you and make you evolve. 

Suddenly you realized what was going on. Giyuu thought Rengoku was a better hashira than him. Didn't he know how strong he was too? You stood in front of him so you could look him in the eye, so he would know you weren't lying :

_ You’re strong too. And you’re a good professor. 

_ You don’t know what you’re talking about. I am stronger than you that’s all. 

_ You’re a hashira ! You’re one of the strongest !

He lowered his head you saw in his eyes, him who was usually so impassive, a hint of sadness.

_ I don't deserve this title. I shouldn't be there.

_ What do you mean ? 

You noticed that his hands tightened on his haori.The words struggled out of his throat, as if part of him wanted to hold them back while another wanted to get them out :

_  Those who owned the two parts of this haorie should be there, they should be alive. Them, not me.

It was the first time Giyuu had talked about his past. You kept silent, you didn't want to rush him. You just wanted to understand him, reassure him, make him feel surrounded. 

_ (Y/n)... I know you admire me and it's nice to have someone so dedicated by my side but you don't know everything. You idealize me. I am not a strong. I am not a good person.

One of his hand clenched the red part of his haorie :

_ I wasn’t strong enough to protect my sister...

His other hand clenched on the other part :

_ I shouldn't have passed the Demon Slayer exam ... Sabito should have, he was much stronger, much better in everything, but he protected me and it cost him his life.

You were speechless. Knowing that Giyuu, who was so generous, strong and usually impassive, had suffered so much broke your heart. You wanted to cry for him but you knew it would only cause drama. You will cry another day, now you needed to cheer up your beloved master.

_ Rengoku will know how to protect you, you will be safe with him. 

••••••••••

The next morning Giyuu couldn't find you anywhere. He assumed you had chosen to join Rengoku. He was sure it was the best option and it suited him for the moment. He felt ridiculous for confiding in you last night, and was too embarrassed to see you again. Nevertheless he had become so used to your presence that he already missed you. Part of him regretted telling you to leave. 

Fortunately you came back little less than a month after your departure and with a surprise. You ran to him yelling a "tomioka-san" as a greeting before handing him a package. A little taken aback he examined it for a moment. Impatient you pressed him a little : 

_   It's a gift for you! Open it !

He followed your instructions and found a nice little bundle of papers taht were of different sizes and different colors. The writings and the ink used were also diverse. You started to explain nervously :

_ I wanted you to know how amazing you are, so I asked the hashira, your old master and a few of the people you saved to write down what they liked about you or what you had did good for them ... Oyakata-sama and Gyomei-san could’nt write but they dictated to me and I transcribed everything ... I didn't think it would take so long to contact everyone, sorry ... 

He had already started to read. Everyone had written something even Obanai, Sanemi and Shinobu had found a few nice things to say. Shinobu had recounted a mission accomplished with Giyuu and admitted that without him it would have been a failure while Obanai and Sanemi were content to write a single sentence where they said that Giyuu was not "that bad" and that "some of these techniques were quite impressive". Urokodaki gently reprimand him so that he would stop always blaming himself and telling him that he was proud of him. 

And finally there was your letter. It was the longest and as he read it he wanted to cry with joy. He wondered what he had done to deserve so much praise, he wanted to deny all these compliments but you had written a real reasoning full of examples to support your words that he was obliged to recognize his qualities. 

He felt his heart melt. it must have taken so much effort from you to collect all these little words, it was a real treasure that you had just offered him. You watched him silently in his reading which lasted a long time and since he didn't say anything you wondered if it was really a good idea :

_ Erm... Do you like it ? It's okay if you don't, but keep them anyway. That way you could always reread them when you needed to ... you know ... know how amazing you are.

A smile covered his face and you noticed that his eyes were bright like a child who discovers the world. His smile was so faint you might not have noticed though it was the sweetest you've ever seen. 

_ Thank you. It's the nicest thing anyone's done for me. It must have taken a lot of effort from you to convince Obanai, Sanemi and Kocho and put it all together.

_ You deserve all the effort in the world.

You gave him a huge smile and he believed you. He felt all the weight he had on his heart, all his guilt shut up in the face of all these kind words. For the first time Giyuu told himself not only that he was lucky to have you by his side but also that he deserved to be happy. Every time he read one of the letters he said to himself, although it was still hard for him not to doubt it, that he was worthy. More than feeling worthy, he felt loved.

••••••••••

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As we progress into 2022, you have probably heard the word athleisure thrown around here and there. But what exactly is this style of clothes and how is it different from casual wear? Well, apart from the fact that athleisure sounds a lot more impressive than casual wear, here we are with a few differences between athleisure wear and casual wear. So, let us have a look at how athleisure wear is different from casual clothes and how you can use athleisure wear for carrying out all your activities.

Casual wear vs. athleisure wear: The basic difference

Casual wear is basically a comfortable piece of clothing that is suitable for everyday wear. You can also use these clothes for a small party or a get-together. Athleisure wear is, however, comfortable clothing that is undersigned both for everyday wear and exercise. Such athleisure wear is perfect for walking and traveling. Athleisure is not sport-specific. You will be able to wear these clothes for different types of outdoor activities whether it is your gym session or your morning run or your yoga classes.

Athleisure wear is extremely lightweight and form-fitting. This will allow you to move really freely. The main aim of these clothes is to provide you with maximum functionality. These are the clothes that serve the purpose of an active life mixed with a casual social life. Athleisure wear was born out of a compromise. This kind of clothes lie at the intersection of casual wear and traditional sportswear and was meant for sports as well as leisure activities. These clothes were later used for other purposes as well.

How is athleisure different from casual wear in terms of functionality?

Athleisure is undoubtedly one of the most versatile types of clothing. Unlike casual wear that you don't generally wear for your outdoor activities, you will not have to change your clothes when you get out of the gym. You can wear the same clothes to the gym. This can save you from a lot of trouble. This is also quite time-saving. There are a lot of people who cannot visit the gym in their gym wear. They wear their casual clothes, visit the gym, change into their gym clothes and then again change back to their casual wear while leaving the gym. All this trouble can be avoided when you wear athleisure. Also, you don't necessarily have to love working out in order to wear athleisure.

It is an unspoken rule that anyone who wants to look fashionable and stylish can catch up on this trend and start getting athleisure for themselves. These clothes can also motivate you to start leading a healthy life and get involved in some kind of outdoor activity. Nowadays, influences and celebrities from all across the world wear athleisure to the gym and even to a party. This is not possible with casual wear. You may not be comfortable visiting a formal occasion in athleisure.

What kinds of clothes are included in athleisure wear?

An example could be yoga pants and tank tops. Tank tops are the go-to tops when going to the gym or morning walk. These tops can also be worn when you visit a cafe or go grocery shopping. They will make you look both stylish and comfortable. Yoga pants form a huge part of athleisure. These pants are a lot more comfortable than simple casual wear yet the style is not compromised. They all are also highly functional as you will look good in these pants in the gym as well as anywhere else. You can also wear these yoga pants with any type of shirt you want to choose also play a very important role in completing these strengths to get yourself a good pair of shoes as well.

Athleisure could be seen as an improvement of casual wear. It is meant for people who demand the need for everyday comfort especially for those who wish to squeeze workout sessions into their busy schedules. Athleisure also represents a change in fashion. It has become a very large trend and a lot of people are becoming a part of it. They are also popular among both men and women. It is especially important for you to get athleisure if you do not have a lot of time to change into your gym clothes before visiting the gym or before going for a walk.

You will be able to carry out all your exercises in your athleisure itself. You can also visit any formal occasion you want to in these clothes. This isn't possible with casual wear as you wish will not be able to move around flexibility in your casual clothes. You will also look really smart and stylish in athleisure. These days, the market is flooded with athleisure of all kinds. So, pick the perfect pieces of clothing for yourself and give yourself a stylish and sophisticated look.

So, upscale your wardrobe today itself and get yourself some trending pieces of athleisure wear as this trend is obviously here to stay and will gain more popularity with time.