#you have to buy an external one separately

[oifaaa]

Reaction to American (microwaved) tea?

Americans don't have the voltage for a good electric kettle so I get it for convenience also microwaving tea and coffee isn't actually uncommon where I'm from its just usually not microwaved to make it and more to heat it up if you forgot about it and it's went cold

[a2zillustration]

✨OOPS IT'S BLACK FRIDAY ✨

Everything in my store is half off until the end of the year (with the code at checkout)! I have prints! Stickers! Charms! Buttons! Lanyards! And a lot of those things are ALREADY ON SALE! HALF-OFF THE SALE PRICE!!

✨✨✨✨VISIT MY SHOP HERE!!!!!!!!✨✨✨✨

[wannabespacesmuggler]

L.H. | Scotty Doesn't Know

Masterlist | Buy me a coffee

Summary: Scott Summers made two things clear for Logan when he first arrived at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters: stay away from his girlfriend and don’t even look at his little sister. The former was easy.  The latter, though? That one’s a little harder for Logan.

Pairing: Logan Howlett x Summers!Reader

Warnings: canon typical violence

Word Count: 2.2K

Author’s Note: So, your boy has seen Deadpool and Wolverine too many times and is currently experiencing Hugh Jackman brain rot. Had to write something after listening to "Scotty Doesn't Know" by Lustra and then it just kinda just took on a life of it's own. Let me know if you guys want more Logan fics because I'm so obsessed with this man rn.

“Just doing maintenance, or are you going for a ride?”

Logan looks up from where he was working on his bike. He damn near almost bites through the cigar in his mouth when he spots you leaning against the garage door. He shouldn’t be surprised; despite his best efforts, Logan always seems to be accompanied by your presence -- both at the mansion and in the field. It’s not that he wants to ignore your existence. Scott Summers made two things clear for Logan when he first arrived at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters: stay away from his girlfriend and don’t even look at his little sister. Logan wanted to scoff at Scott’s warning: opposed to public belief, he’s not actually an animal. 

The former was easy -- Jean made it abundantly clear that she’s in love with Scott. The latter, though? That one’s a little harder for Logan -- especially when you’ve made it abundantly clear that you’re just as fascinated with him as he is with you. 

“Just working.”

You nod at his answer as he returns his attention to his bike, putting out his cigar in the process. His bluntness is unsurprising, but no matter how often Logan tries to blow you off, you still feel the harsh sting of disappointment. Logan Howlett is an enigma to you. A problem you just can’t seem to find the solution to. You’ve always gotten along with Logan and work well enough together that Charles often pairs the two of you up on missions. He protects you with his life in the field. He’s the first to offer you a helping hand when he notices you struggling. He consistently provides support after every mission that goes awry. It would be easy to consider him a friend; however, Logan has always kept you at a distance. He brushes you off whenever you ask if he wants to do something simple like share a drink or watch a movie. 

At first, you thought it was because he was afraid of you -- of your mutation. Just like your older brothers, you have the ability to manipulate energy. And just like your older brothers, you have difficulty controlling your powers without the help of external factors -- Alex had the suit, Scott has his glasses, and you have two siphons that you wear on either wrist. Without them, energy builds up in your body until it cannot be contained and then escapes through the only place it knows how -- your hands. The siphons help regulate the amount of energy coursing through your body, and most importantly, they give you the power to choose when and how to disperse it. 

During one of your missions, one of your siphons was destroyed. You and Logan were fighting for your lives against an anti-mutant militia after being separated from the rest of the X-men. The two of you were outnumbered and on your own since communication with the team had been cut off. Logan was willing to fight to the death against these soldiers, and you were prepared to back him up until the end. During the fight, Logan got pinned down by multiple assailants, and you watched helplessly as they attempted to decapitate your partner. You felt the familiar sensation of energy building throughout your body as you struggled against your own group of attackers. All hope seemed lost until one of the soldiers nailed you in the back of the head -- hard. The hit caused you to fall forward, and you braced yourself, using your hands to catch your falling body. As your hands connected with the ground, an energy field shot out of your hands. You prepared yourself for another blow, but it never comes. The chaos around you suddenly seemed to turn into an eerie silence. Finally, you look up and let out a shaky breath as you take in the carnage caused by your energy field. Everything around you was completely eviscerated -- everything except Logan.

Logan let out a low, pained groan, and you watched in horror as his body heals himself from the wounds you inflicted. You looked down at your hands in shock. It’s been ages since your powers were this volatile. Since you felt this out of control. At this moment, you noticed the state of your left siphon -- wholly shattered. No wonder you weren’t able to control your powers. 

The sound of your name eventually pulled your attention away from your hands. Looking up, you saw Logan cautiously approaching you. His concerned eyes scan your body for any injuries and once he seemed certain that you’re okay, he met your gaze.

“We need to get out of here.”

It wasn’t until the you were back on the jet with the rest of the team, that Logan approached you about what happened in the field. You were sitting away from the others at the back of the jet, studying your broken siphon. Suddenly, a pair of large hands cover yours, obscuring your siphon entirely. You look up and see Logan knelt in front of you. 

“You good?”

He didn’t move his hands from yours as he spoke and you relished in the contact. A dry laugh escaped your lips as you considered his question.

“I couldn’t control myself out there, Logan. Without my siphons, I’m just as dangerous as the enemy out there.”

Logan’s face softened at your words. He understands why you’re so panic-stricken right now -- knowing all too well how it feels to lose control.

“Hey. Look at me, sweetheart. I’m fine.”

You scoffed at his words. Of course he’s fine. He’s damn near indestructible, but you saw the aftermath of your outburst. Saw the devastation caused by your hands. Those same hands that Logan is now tightening his grip around -- grounding you back in reality.

“Seriously. You might think you were a liability out there, but you saved my life.”

You met his eyes again and are taken aback by the sincerity you found in them. 

“I could have killed you.” 

And there it is -- what’s actually eating you up inside. He’s aware of the fact that your powers could have killed any of your teammates -- including himself. But they didn’t. He’s here with you, unafraid, because even though you think your powers are something that should be feared, he just finds them remarkable.

“I know. Trust me, I know. But you didn’t.”

You nodded at his words, feeling a little more at ease. Your heart dropped as he removed his hands from yours, but instead of walking away, Logan took a seat next to you. He didn’t say another word, but he didn’t have to. His presence alone was enough to settle you down.

After that day, you thought maybe something changed between you and Logan. Although there was a newfound understanding and sureness with one another -- he still kept you at arm’s length. In all honesty, the whole situation confuses the shit out of you.

“Did I do something that upset you?”

Logan’s brow furrows at your question, and his eyes finally find yours again. He doesn’t drop the tool in his hand, but he’s shifted his body to face yours now.

“What?”

“Did I do something that upset you?”

Logan shakes his head as you repeat your question, looking at you incredulously. He doesn’t understand where this outburst is coming from.

“What are you talking about?”

Your brow furrows at the genuineness of his confusion. How could this man not know what you’re talking about?

“Do you like working with me?”

Logan blinks at your words. Now he’s completely lost. He sets down the tool in his hand and stands up, crossing both of his arms over his chest. 

“What’s this all about, sweetheart?”

You let out a frustrated sigh and run your hands through your hair. If only this man knew how infuriated he makes you. So, he won’t drink a beer with you at the end of the day, but he’ll throw around the name ‘sweetheart’ like it’s nothing? The man is simultaneously your favorite and least favorite person.

“I’m just trying to figure out what I did that pissed you off.”

Logan scoffs at the idea as if you’re the one being ridiculous here. And, to Logan, you are being ridiculous. The only thing that’s ever pissed him about you is completely out of your control -- if only you weren’t Scott’s little sister.

“I’m not pissed at you.”

You genuinely want to pull your own hair out right now.

“Are we friends?”

Friends. The word hurts Logan more than it should. Actually, it shouldn’t hurt at all. That’s what you both are, right? Just friends and partners in the field. Except you’ve never been just a friend or just a partner to Logan. Not really. But he can’t do anything about that. 

“Yeah, I guess.”

He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly, but his posture is still defensive. 

“Then why won’t you just drink a beer with me?”

Oh. Oh.

Logan supposes that his behavior is odd. Friends are expected to spend time together and well, the only time he spends with you is during training sessions or missions. Your whole relationship is grounded in the two of you working together, but somehow, it’s turned into something more intimate. The tender moments between missions and the tension during intense training sessions -- although Logan had attempted to make clear boundaries with you, the lines blurred at some point, and now Logan is left with the consequences.

“It’s complicated.”

He’s not wrong. He knows himself. His feelings for you were already complicated enough. If he were to close the distance he made between the two of you? Well, he may not actually be an animal, but he’s not sure if he could control himself. 

“Oh, is it?”

You’re frustrated. And you’re no longer leaning against the garage door. No, you’re standing just a few feet away from him now -- hands on your hips defiantly. Logan rolls his shoulders back, trying to stop himself from lashing out against you. You try to ignore how his muscles flex against the thin white tank top he’s wearing due to the movement. 

“Yeah, it is. I promised Scott…”

“This is seriously about my brother?”

“Well, yeah.”

You let out a dry laugh. This whole situation is absurd, but you should have known. Without Alex around, Scott feels the need to be the overprotective older brother. He’s warned you about Logan countless times since he first arrived at the mansion, but you never really listened to him. It always seemed ridiculous to you -- especially since the dangerous man he constantly warned you about was the same man he trusted to protect you during every mission. Of course, Scott also cautioned Logan to stay away from you.

“He may be my brother, but he doesn’t get to make my decisions for me, Logan.”

You take a step towards Logan and he watches you with an intensity that would make you uncomfortable if it were any other man. But this isn’t any other man. 

“And he doesn’t get to choose who I spend my time with.”

And in this moment, Logan knows that he’s fucked. You’re fiesty, and headstrong, and determined -- all attributes that he admires in you. If you’ve decided that he’s the person you want to spend your time with, then who is he to argue? 

“So what do you say -- wanna go for a ride?”

A wild grin spread across his face at your question. Little do you know that he’s thought about this exact moment more than he’ll ever care to admit. Throwing all caution to the wind, he grabs his leather jacket and climbs on his bike. You watch him with bated breath as you wait for his response. Instead of giving you an answer, Logan kicks the starter, causing the motorcycle to roar to life. A part of you is afraid that you misconstrued your relationship and that this is all going to end with Logan riding off on his own. But then Logan looks back at you, eyebrow raised playfully.

“You coming, sweetheart?” 

Without a second thought, you climb on the back of his bike. Logan revs the engine once before glancing back at you again. 

“You might want to hang on.”

You don’t need to be told twice. Your hands slide under his leather jacket and wrap around his waist. Logan tries to fight off the shiver that begs to travel down his spine as he feels the warmth of your hands against his abdomen through the thin cotton fabric. He wonders if you know what you do to him -- how hard it is for him to pull away when he’s in your presence. It’s like you're a magnet made just for him.

“When your brother finds out…”

The laugh that escapes your lips is like music to his ears. And as you press your body closer to his, he decides that even if he’s going to hell for this, at least he gets to experience the heaven of this moment right here.

“What Scotty doesn’t know, won’t kill him.”

Logan shakes his head before peeling out of the garage. God, the Summers family is going to be the death of him.

[dj-of-the-coven]

How to Burn Your Own CDs - a guide for Windows users

Are you--yes, you!--tired of paying money to stupid shit like spotify for your music? Do you hate the way that the music industry takes almost all the profit that bands make through streaming and leaves them with pennies? Have you ever wanted to fire up that old CD-Radio in the corner of your bedroom, only to be stopped because all you have on CD is Weezer's blue album and a copy of Kidz Bop 16 that you don't remember buying? Well this guide just might be for you!

Materials you'll need:

A computer. Can't do it without this one.

A CD drive. It can be internal or external, but you'll need one either way. You can find them at Office Depot for fairly cheap and I've heard that some Walmarts carry them.

A pack of CD-Rs. CD-Rs, or CD Recordables, come in packs of 20, 50, or 100. A proper 100-pack should cost you no more than $30, so unless there's some special shortage in your area, don't buy from anywhere selling them at a markup. CD blanks are literally 50c a piece.

CD cases. Sold wherever CD-Rs are, but you can also find these at thrift stores pretty easily.

A sharpie or some kind of permanent marker

Software you'll need:

Jdownloader. You can acquire mp3s through Bandcamp if you're dedicated to righteousness, but for everyone else, install jdownloader or some other kind of open-source download program. I will be proceeding as if you have jdownloader available.

Windows media player. This should open automatically when you insert a CD-R into your CD drive.

Fre:ac audio converter. This is only for the occasion that you encounter OPUS or mp4a files that cannot be interpreted by your CD player.

Note: If you're very determined not to download software onto your computer, you can use free youtube downloaders and audio converters, but these are subject to viruses and other issues such as download speed. I will be proceeding as if you have the programs I listed.

The process:

Decide what you want to burn--anything goes, but keep in mind the time limit on your CD-Rs. Most will record 90 minutes or less.

Open jdownloader, switch to the linkgrabber tab, then paste youtube links in any order until you have all the music you want. I'd personally recommend doing it song-by-song instead of a full album stream, because a massive file will require a lot of work to separate back into searchable tracks.

De-select all files except audio on the right-hand side options menu.

Make a folder inside the music folder of your laptop and label it with the name of your mix CD.

In the properties tab of each song on jdownloader, change the destination folder to the folder you've just created.

Hit "start all downloads".

Once finished, open each folder. If everything is an .mp3 or a .wav, skip the next 2 steps.

Open Fre:ac audio converter to convert all audio files that aren't .mp3 or .wav into .mp3 or .wav.

Drop the converted files next to the unconverted files in your folder. If you wish, you can delete the originals to make the folder easier to browse.

Put your blank CD-R into the CD drive. If external, plug in your CD drive first or the tray will refuse to open.

Windows media player will open automatically. On the right-hand side, you will see the tracklist of your CD-R (which should be blank). On the left, you will see the audio that your computer is able to find in the music folder. Put your selected tracks IN ORDER onto the tracklist.

Listen to the beginning and ending of each track to make sure there isn't a significant time gap. This also prevents accidentally burning a youtuber's stupid outro if you missed it before.

When satisfied, hit "start burn".

On an external drive, the CD tray will open upon completion. You can reinsert it to ensure that the burning went smoothly.

Once satisfied, remove the CD from your drive. With your sharpie or permanent marker, write the name of the album on the front, then store safely inside a CD case.

you did it👍

Ask me if you run into any issues.

Legal disclaimer: this guide is purely for educational purposes and I do not admit to or take responsibility for any piracy committed using the instructions given.

Illegal disclaimer: cops suck my dick

[thy-lovelylionheart]

Mike Wheeler: S4 Outfits & Identity Crisis Analysis

One of aspects of s4 I find the most interesting is Mike's costuming. We see him in 4 distinct outfits in this season (not counting the white t-shirt look since it's not a separate outfit), and they are all interesting in their own right. But ultimately, they all contrast each other and represent different aspects of Mike's internal conflict and identity crisis.

s4 is the season where Mike's internal conflict is externalized via his costume design. He’s trying to figure out who he is and – like for so many queer teens – it starts with his hair and his clothes. 

Shout-out to @glisten-inthedark because it was during a fantastic discussion that I drafted out a much shorter, much rougher version of this analysis!

*Disclaimer: While a lot of my analysis is formatted as statements – more out of habit from years of writing academic essays than anything – much of this is still speculation and subjective opinion. If you have a different perspective or disagree with my analysis, that's perfectly fine! This is just my interpretation.

1.

First up, my second favorite outfit: The Hellfire outfit.

If you put this Mike beside any of his s3 outfits, the difference is incredibly stark. s3 Mike has bright colors, neons spread throughout the palette, nearly all of them collared shirts. Yet the first outfit we see Mike wear in s3 is edgier: nearly all-black, featuring the word HELLFIRE loud and proud, the face of a tiefling or daemon, and weapons. This is also the first time we've seen Mike wear a graphic tee, which is more up Dustin's alley.

Not only this, but his hair is long enough to brush his shoulders, the longest we've ever seen it. Finn Wolfhard calls it "kind of the most metal Mike's hair has ever been."

So why is this so important? Let's talk about modeling for a second.

Dustin models himself after Steve in parts of s2. He listens to Steve's romantic advice and styles his hair like Steve's for the Snow Ball. For Dustin, Steve represents the masculine, heternormative ideal: the kind of guy who girls want to date, a "ladies man." When Dustin does find a girlfriend who loves him for him, he stops modeling after Steve in terms of outward appearance and returns to his own personal sense of style in s3. In fact, it's Dustin who ends up giving Steve romantic advice in s3, because their roles have flipped: Dustin is comfortable in who he is and his romantic prospects, whereas Steve is struggling. ("Instead of dating somebody because you think it's gonna make you cooler, why not date somebody you actually enjoy being around?"

Lucas wears a Karate Kid shirt in s3 bc Max thinks Ralph Macchio is attractive, so he wears clothes that reference him to appeal to her, his girlfriend, but he mixes it with his classic camo bandana because Lucas has a very strong sense of self that was only rocked in s4, when he tries to model after the basketball team, who are also representative of (1980's) socially acceptable masculinity and heteronormativity, for popularity's sake. But he ends up rejecting their blind conformity and regains his sense of self by the middle of the season.

And Mike…..models after Eddie. Eddie “forced conformity is what’s killin’ the kids” Munson. Not just in clothes, but in his more "metal" hairstyle. Eddie even makes a note about Mike’s wardrobe change during the cafeteria scene, saying he’s no longer wearing whatever his mom buys him at the GAP, which highlight this change for the audience.

This is significant because even though Dustin and Lucas are his fellow nerds, even though both Dustin and Lucas end up being chased down by Jason & Friends for their status as members of the Hellfire Club, even though they're labeled as outcasts and reject conformity in their own way –

– they still model themselves after classic heteronormative and socially acceptable representations of masculinity, while Mike is the only one who actively models himself after the school “freak" and vocal non-conformist.

Sure, Dustin wears the Hellfire shirt too, but Dustin is the graphic tee king of the show and he still wears an iconic baseball cap and overlays his graphic tee with a fun and funky button-up in s4. How he dresses in s4 is wholly consistent with his identity throughout the rest of the show. Whereas Mike's first outfit of the show contrasts heavily with all of his outfits from the previous seasons particularly s3.

And this is intentional. This is what Amy Parris, costume designer for Stranger Things says in this GQ interview about it:

Mike's Hellfire Outfit represents his growing internal resistance to and rejection of conformity and societal expectation.

2.

....which is exactly why the airport outfit gives the viewer such insane whiplash.

It is bright, gaudy, dorky, cartoonish and a completely different person than we were just shown. It's no version of Mike we've ever seen. Sure, we've seen him in shorts, and that surfer shirt is technically a button-up, but that hat? Those glasses? Flip-flops? It's so clearly an act that it's laughable.

Amy Parris, in the same GQ interview as before, goes as far to say, "We knew we'd wanted something that felt like an outfit maybe he would've bought at the airport before he got there."

This isn't Mike. This is Mike's attempt at conformity, post-meeting and modeling after Eddie. This is Mike feeling like who he is in Hawkins – the edgier Mike who models after the school "freak" – isn't the "right" version of himself to immediately present to El after months and months apart. Almost like he feels the need to wear something more similar to what he wore in s3, the shorts and the bright colors, to "ease into" the rest of his wardrobe, because when he's with El, he strives to present as "normal."

Finn Wolfhard says this about Mike in s4: "I think Mike's just trying to be as normal as possible and trying to keep on a normal path." Yet Mike says this in s4: "Have you ever considered that we don't want to be popular?"

If Mike isn't trying to be "normal" in Hawkins and is sitting at lunch with the school "freak," then in what ways he is trying to be "normal"? It's when he's with El in California, particularly their first day before everything goes to hell. Yet we see that "normal" = not himself.

Amy Parris notes in the GQ interview that they picked an orange (a rather yellow orange) button-up because it's the opposite of what Mike normally wears (blue tones).

The purple shirt is also an attempt for him to appeal toward El because purple, according to Mike, is one of her favorite colors. He is trying to appeal to El's taste/likes while wearing the literal opposite of what he normally does.

Mike's Airport Outfit represents his attempts to conform to heteronormativity and society's expectation of what a "good straight boyfriend" does, is, and looks like – and how unnatural and unlike himself this attempt is.

3.

This plaid look is my personal favorite Mike look in s5. This is one of the very few times we see Mike with an untucked shirt – possibly the first time we see him wearing a button-up/collared shirt and it's not tucked in. Untucked makes him look less preppy, taller, and more mature. It's a very flattering look and especially refreshing after the airport look.

But, I also have a lot to say about this symbolism of this particular outfit.

The rich blue is a standard Mike color, so it's the first outfit he wears in s4 that feels familiar to us. Additionally, the hint of yellow is commonly speckled throughout Mike's wardrobe. However, look at the pattern. It's plaid.

We all know by now that Mike is the king of stripes. Stripes and the color blue are the most consistent aspect of his wardrobe other than his calculator watch. But plaid?

There are only two instances in the entire show where Mike wears plaid. (I've triple-checked this, but if I still somehow overlooked anything, please let me know!) Here, in s4, and in his final scene in s1:

(top row is unedited, bottom row is brightened – no I couldn't get a flattering screenshot of the second image lol)

A blue plaid with (faint) yellow accents. Hm. How intriguingly familiar!

In s1, we see Mike experiencing conflicting emotions in his final scene. He is very happy that Will is back and that Will is having fun with his DND game. But he is also sad that Eleven is gone and experiencing survivor's guilt. His emotions are split between Will and El. This emotional turmoil is illustrated with the use of much busier pattern than Mike normally wears, but because that pattern is plaid, a pattern Will often wears, it aligns him with Will.

Why does plaid connect Mike to Will yet not El, even though El has worn plaid before? Because El has only worn plaid because of her circumstances, not her own personal style.

El first wears plaid when Hopper gives her his flannel in s1. This continues into s2 when she begins living with him. She's receiving either hand-me-downs from him or boy's clothes because he's having to hide the fact that he's sheltering a girl wanted by the government. If Hop were to start buying girl's clothing/more feminine clothing, that would be suspicious. When El goes on her shopping spree with Max in s3, after Max tells her to focus on what feels like her – "not Hopper, not Mike, you" – she picks bold, bright colors and abstract patterns, completely avoiding plaid. Then, in s4, El is living with the Byers and receiving their hand-me-downs and borrowing from their closets.

Amy Parris confirms this in the GQ interview, that what El wears in s2 is meant to feel mismatched, borrowed, and hand-me-down because she is trying to figure out who she is in Lenora.

She also says this:

It was intentional that when El wore plaid in s4, it was meant to remind the audience of Will and look as though she was wearing his clothes.

Which means Plaid = Will, not El.

So let's put this all together: Mike has worn plaid once before, when he was experiencing conflicting emotions torn between Will and El. Plaid is Will's pattern, not El's. Blue is Mike's color, and it's commonly known that yellow is Will's, which means that not only is Mike wearing Will's pattern, he's wearing a hint of Will's color. On a more minor note, the return of the black jeans and converse from his Hawkins/Hellfire outfit means that the facade had dropped and he's slipping back into what he's more comfortable in.

It's also notable that Mike wears a blue plaid shirt the very next day after Will wears a blue plaid shirt. (Also, Will's blue plaid shirt has more white, which suits his wardrobe more than black, whereas Mike's blue plaid shirt has more black, which suits Mike's.)

And this is the shirt Mike wears during his fight with Eleven, where she calls him out on never saying, "I love you," accuses him of thinking she's a monster, and he calls her ridiculous and tries to place the burden of their relationship issues on other people ("You can't let those mouthbreathers ruin you! Ruin us!")

Visually, the plaid tells us what's going on in Mike's head and heart.

Mike's Plaid Outfit represents his internal conflict between Will and El while simultaneously betraying where his true feelings lie: with Will.

4.

Last outfit! The outfit he spends nearly a full week wearing, the teal outfit.

Right off the bat, this color is one we've seen him wearing before in s3. However, as @hawkinsschoolcounselor points out in this brilliant post, the teal polo he wears in s3 looks nearly identical to one his father wears in the same season.

This has a few nuanced implications.

Firstly, in s3, it carries the visual implication that s3 Mike is currently on a path that could cause him to turn out like Ted. What does s3 Mike do? He neglects his friendships to spend time making out with his girlfriend, tries to reject his childhood hobbies and passions as childish (Ted disdainfully calls toys "hunks of plastic," in s2) and something he needs to grow out of, and, like Ted, makes a comment that could be interpreted as a homophobic slight – ("It's not my fault you don't like girls!" – a comment that I believe is a moment of projection for Mike due to internalized homophobia, not legitimate homophobia toward Will. In s3, Mike is trying to be "normal," "grown-up," socially acceptable and heteronormative.

Remember how I talked about modeling earlier? Yeah, s3 Mike models after Ted in mild aspects.

Yet the very next season, it's revealed that his rejection of his hobbies, passions, and games like DND was a complete farce. He returns to wholly embracing DND and, other than this teal color, stops dressing like Ted. He stops modeling after his father, much to Ted's disappointment: "Might as well call [Hellfire] the high school dropout club."

Secondly, because this teal color ties Mike to Ted, it's notable that this is the color that Mike wears when he tells Eleven he loves her.

(Now if you've read this far, my guess is you're a Byler fan and you've read 50 million analyses of the I love you speech, but if you haven't, the gist of the conclusion of those analyses is this: Mike felt pressured to say he loved El in order to save her and because he believed she commissioned the painting, but he tells provable lies during it that will be dismantled in s5.)

If teal is a color Mike wore during a season where he's modeling after Ted, a husband who the show makes very clear is lacking in passion to the point of his wife feeling unsatsified, a father emotionally distant from his two eldest children, and a man who is the epitome of heteronormativity and the typical mundane nuclear family man – this does not bode well for the success of Mike's romantic relationship with El, nor does it frame his romantic relationship with El in a healthy light.

Thirdly, there are several key differences between s4's teal shirt and s3's teal shirt.

Mike's s3 teal shirt is buttoned-up to the top button (in most of his scenes wearing this shirt) and is tucked into higher-waisted black shorts. It's solid-colored, neat, and preppy, and gives two hilariously contrasting impressions: the outfit of a little boy, and the outfit of a tween trying to dress like an adult.

In s4, however, Mike's outfit is partially unbuttoned, revealing a white tshirt beneath, with gives it a more sporty or even outdoorsy vibe. It's also not a solid color and has angular grey accents – particularly, triangular and diamond shaped accents.

This is what Amy Parris has to say about those grey accents, + what she says about how they purposefully added triangles to Robin's outfit as LGBTQ+ symbolism:

Because of this, it is not a stretch to speculate that the angular accents and, in particular, triangle design on Mike's breast pocket is a nod to his queercoding.

It's no coincidence that this is the shirt Mike wears during his bedroom talks with Will, the van scene with Will, his interrupted pizza parlor talk with El (that reads more like an impending apology and amicable breakup, not a confession – just mute the music look at his face during that scene, and El's), and his speech to El.

Most notably, it's the shirt he's wearing during this moment:

Look at Mike's face. Look at how conflicted he is. How guilty. This is the first time since Mike put on this teal shirt, the first time since he had his two separate bedroom talks with Will, the first time since "as a team," and "best friends," and the van scene & painting, that Mike has to deal with Will and Eleven at the same time.

Mike's Teal Outfit represents the tug-of-war between two contrasting concepts: his internal struggle with practicing comphet and heteronormativity (pursuing a romantic relationship with El and pretending to be straight), and his growing internal resistance to comphet/hetnorm and desire to embrace a truer, more alternative/noncomforming identity (his true romantic feelings for Will and accepting his queer identity).

Conclusion

I could honestly continue this post with analysis of the s5 outfits we've seen from Mike and what that means for his characterization/arc in the final season, but this post is long enough already. Perhaps when we get more content/trailers for s5, I might put out a speculative post in anticipation for it.

If you have a different perspective and want to share it, feel absolutely free! I'd love to hear other people's thoughts.

[thesensteawitch]

What's Happening In Your ❤️LOVE LIFE❤️?

Pick A Pile Reading

(Left To Right- Pile 1, Pile 2, Pile 3)

Hello, SENSTEA SOULS! 💌🙋🏻‍♀️

How Are You All?✨ I hope you're doing well. I am here with another pick a pile reading!

Before you take this reading I have a special note for you!

💌: You DESERVE to be loved. But don't think that it's something to look forward to in the future. You know why? Because right in this moment you're loved. And I am not saying this, your guides are. You are sitting in one of your blessings. And by any chance you feel stuck you must know that you're being protected from something beyond your control. I am saying this from my experience. Angel number 444 is for you. Love you, all!🤍

Now you can pick your pile intuitively and claim the channeled message below🫶🏻.

DM ME IN CASE YOU WANT TO BOOK A READING WITH ME.

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Pile 1

Tarot Cards: The World, The Empress, Knight of Wands, Two of Swords (rev), Nine of Wands (rev), and Heirophant.

When I started this pile, I was yawning and feeling sleepy. It felt like a lot of burden had been released. I can't help but sigh. So firstly, hats off to you, pile 1, for what your soul has gone through. What's happening next in your love is a reconciliation. So if you were not in a relationship, then this isn't your pile, but for those who were, I just want to start by saying that the most difficult part of a situation is over. The connection you were in was one hell of a ride! The first tarot card to come out was the world card with a couple dancing! You did it! You faced the challenges. It was a part of your destiny to go through this test. You're worthy of this love, and it's meant to stay and bring abundance into your life. Currently, you both are at an important turning point in your careers. A lot is going on in both of your lives. Or at least during this separation, you both have become more responsible, and there's been a change in your personalities. But know that it's all for the better. Also, this connection was over. Completely over! At least from one person's side. Something saved this connection. It seems this connection has been played in many lifetimes. And this is the time when healing happened in this connection through this separation. Someone broke the pattern. Now what's remained is love.

When I say this, you wouldn't believe it, but you were burning some ancestral karma together. The healing of this connection is coming through the lineage. You both may have chosen different paths, but you were following your intuition. I am proud of you for trusting your intuition no matter what, and that's what you're still being guided to do. Trust your intuition when it comes to this connection. I hear, “I won't give up on us even when the sky gets rough! Still looking up.” There are ancestors blessing this connection. The blocked communication will start flowing again. Just know that what happened was meant to happen this way.

Now, moving forward, I see happy times ahead. But there are some energies still working against you, but you guys have healed yourself to deal with anything gracefully. So, as I said, the most difficult part is over, but there can be other external factors, especially when it comes to finances and careers. But looking at your cards, I feel that the only way to keep this connection will be to be honest and vulnerable with each other. You guys will need to put your guard down, which I think you'll be willing to do. Because when you do, there's only love that will bloom.

Taking care of your finances is coming off strongly. Buy I also see a card saying that there can be plenty of material things coming ahead. So what I feel with this mixed energy is that you're in control of your love life now. If you both work well together, you can both create abundance in the material aspects of your life as well. Perhaps you both, or one of you, struggled with finances in the past. So the divine is saying to consider each other as a team, and you'll make this work.

You both coming together will heal each other on every level that's going to reflect on each other's work lives. You both glow differently when together. Plan your future together. I feel you both will be talking about important things like settling together and what you can do together to have a stable life. Passion will take a back seat. Only love will bloom. Any emotion that's not closer to divine love cannot be a part of this connection if you want it to work.

I would say, Life's about to give you another chance. Do it right this time. Don't let ego, jealousy, competition, anger, or irritation come in between. It took a lot of work, even by the divine forces, to get you where you are today. There was or is a major blockage in this connection that has lifted or is about to be lifted. You both deserve to be together. Animals and nature play an important role in this connection. Try to be more connected to the beautiful world around you. Butterflies, crows, deer, snakes, lizards, and every other animal are being channeled here. Your connection will take a different direction this time. You both are good enough and are on the right path. Just find a way to align each other in terms of careers. It's coming off very strongly. That can be a reason for not feeling aligned with each other. It is good to see that someone in this connection has also worked on their triggers. There is no need to rush, but don't hold back your love. So yeah, that's all, lovely humans! I hope you have a lovely connection with this person.✨🤍

(DM to book a personal reading with me💌)

Pile 2

Tarot Cards: Eight of Cups, The Devil, Page of Cups, Two of Wands, Ace of Swords, The Hanged Man

Okay, I hear the song "Lucky," where there's a mention of falling in love with your best friend. So I think you fell in love with a friend of yours, but you've recently walked away from this connection. The month of June is coming off strongly. So it might hold some importance in your life. It seems everything was crystal clear: this person was not only toxic to you but to themselves as well. Their actions revealed everything to you. You had a sudden revelation about this connection. The divine wants to confirm that you made the right decision and that you're on the right path. Starting fresh might have felt scary, or everything felt alien to you, but you're finally putting in the effort to make your life better.

I don't see anything romantic happening for you next. But I do see meeting up with friends and being surrounded by people who genuinely love and care for you. Which is a good thing, pile 2? This person could have a dark complexion or dark hair. This connection did bring some sort of disappointment, and you might have shed some tears for this person, but I see you focusing on your career now rather than reminiscing. It seems like the fog has lifted from your love life, and you see everything crystal clear. I only see success and happy times ahead for you in terms of your career and building new connections.

The universe is asking you to grow in your current situation and make the best use of what you have. Make bold moves in your life. You've got a lot to take care of to get your life back on track, so keep finding ways to make things better for yourself. Soon you'll be completely out of the grip of your past, and you will fly high with much discernment and a renewed sense of purpose. I hear, “Everything loves the things you do. From the way you talk to the way you walk.” You really did sell yourself short when it came to this person. You've got so much potential. You're worthy of love; remember that. Right now, it's time to focus on loving yourself, and that includes facing your fears. It was your lesson to not fall for the words but rather look at their actions.

Stay low-key and keep to yourself. Build yourself up in every way possible. The moment you're all ready to come out and show yourself to the world, there will be many admirers waiting for you! But don't rush yourself. Take your sweet time, my dear pile 2.

This person might try to fool you again by showing you a different picture in the future. So don't try to fall for that. And if this person even crosses you again, divine intervention will intervene, and you'll be hit with clarity again! Because it was 2:22 when the electricity came back and I could see clearly again. People easily get attracted to what you can do for them rather than who you are. So beware. Soon, when you'll reach a position, there will be people trying to get closer to you for their own benefit. Don't try to be everyone's friend. Not everyone loves you for who you are, but for what you do! What you're capable of You deserve someone who loves you with all their heart.

That's all, my dear, pile 2. May you heal and shine like a diamond soon! 💕 🪄

(DM to book a personal reading with me💌)

Pile 3

Tarot Cards: Nine of Wands, Queen of Wands, 2 of Cups, The Empress, Ace of Swords, King of Coins

There's some noise in your head whenever you think about your love life. There's a strong need for silence in your life. There's someone who loves you and is very vocal about it. This person does not deny their love for you. Whatever negative thoughts or feelings of being stuck are coming up in your mind, they need to be released. Nothing is working against you or this connection. Things are as they appear to be.

Don't try to find meaning in everything. You will be tempted to give in to your fears again and not accept the love that is about to enter your life. This person has eyes only for you. Don't take life too seriously. Allow yourself to be happy. Maybe there's a pattern you follow: whenever something doesn't go your way, you walk away. Or if any fear arises in your heart or you're triggered, you run away rather than talking things through with your person. This pattern is creating the problem. So heal that wound. If you persevere, your cards are saying you'll overcome these problems. There will be guaranteed success in your love life. Try resolving things rather than running away. This person is ready to talk about anything and everything with you. It seems to me that you're quite intelligent and spiritual as well. If you love spending time near trees, then do that often. Don't rob yourself of happiness. You know where your heart is. You're just afraid.

I am also sensing for some of you that there may have been a third party, and that person keeps coming into your head. You feel tied down, and you don't know what's happening to you. I hear the spirit saying, “It's not what you think it is.” I feel that you want to control everything. Sometimes it's necessary to surrender to the unknown. Not everything needs to be figured out. And if you need to figure out so much, you must know where you stand in someone's life. The person who is up for a talk deserves your love, not someone who can't give you any clarity. Try to be calm when you're triggered, and you'll make things work with this next person entering your life. This person will be able to pull you out of your fears and bring clarity to you.

The moment you release your fears regarding love, that moment is when you'll see everything clearly. Now I pulled some cards out to see what this fear was, and it was regarding the feeling of being tied down. Deep down, you want to marry, but at the same time, you're also afraid of marriage. I feel you know all of this deep down. You're that aware. You just don't know how to deal with this feeling of being stuck. You're afraid that the worst might happen in your love life because you've seen worse-case scenarios being played around you. You're afraid that society may not accept what you want out of connection because it doesn't fit with their standards, and that's the fear. The person who loves you triggers that wound of yours. They want to marry you, and they may come with their own rules and lives, which makes you scared. There are so many what-ifs in your mind. I feel you need to trust in the divine. You're such a beautiful soul. Who you are and what you do are even more beautiful. It's that one card that's showing that you're afraid that people will even accept who you are. I feel you have felt misunderstood a lot in your life.

But what I feel is that there are people who cherish you and see the best in you. They admire you. Just because some people don't see your value doesn't mean no one ever will. I feel these illusions have started to break in your psyche. You need to walk away from the broken pieces of the tower of fears you built in your subconscious. You're already purging. This wound comes from generations. You're healing it. Let the illusions shatter. Don't fight it. Don't try to make anything out of them. Let them go with grace. Let all of them flow into the abyss of pitch darkness, exactly where they belong. Let the light enter through the cracks in your broken heart.

And about love? It will find you again. It's here. It's near. You just need to accept it. Divine will take care of you. Nobody will have to compromise, and your love life will still bloom. That's all, my dear pile 3. I hope you have a lovely week ahead🫶🏻

(DM to book a personal reading with me💌)

[veenus777]

◜𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 & 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 & 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬◞

          ┊ ᝰ﹕For a long time, I’ve had this playlist about Jason that I created based on some specific universes and scenarios, and now I associate all of them with him and specific situations. Anyway, I decided to share a little about it with you.

          ┊ ᝰ﹕The following words were written by a woman with insomnia during an anxiety-filled and obsessive night about Jason Todd.

♧ Electric Love

This song makes me feel like I'm in a specific scenario where Jay and the reader are just riding a motorcycle on one of their outings through Gotham, without any specific destination. I imagine the sun setting and giving way to the city lights at night while they just speed off towards nowhere.

♤ Go To Hell

This one is a bit more specific to the Vigilante universe. It happens right after they meet again following Jay’s death and all the drama of Red Hood vs. Batman. Jason rejoins the team, but the reader has already moved on or at least tries to, despite Jason's constant presence by their side. So, after a successful mission, they decide to have a happy hour with some of the older team members like Babs, Dick, Luke, and Kate. The reader ends up meeting one of their flings while Jason ends up drinking too much. I feel this song is exactly what’s going through his head the whole time.

♧ End Game

First of all, I’d like to make it clear that this song is definitely the song for Jason and Vigilante. There simply isn’t a better definition of them than this. Okay, just imagine Jay alongside another vigilante with a turbulent past and questionable morals, who is equal to or worse than him in ruthlessness. They simply become the royalty of Gotham’s underworld. Criminals would shudder just hearing about them because they know how bad they were separately, but together, they are completely unbeatable.

♤ Adiós

This one is short and quite similar to Electric Love, but different at the same time. In this, Jason and the vigilante are riding a motorcycle through Gotham, the reader on the back while Red Hood pops a wheelie on the wet asphalt of rainy Gotham. That night, there was a small breakout in one of the smaller prisons, nothing as serious as Arkham but still dangerous. So, the whole team spreads out across the city looking for the criminals. The adrenaline is strong while shooting at criminals at high speed, and Jason’s hand on your thigh to congratulate you on a job well done.

♧ Love Me Harder

This one is extremely specific and also takes place in the Vigilante universe. Jay and the reader were sent on a mission to Tokyo, which wasn’t uncommon as they had to travel frequently. They end up staying in a cheap hotel that served as a great hideout for them. By this point, they are already a couple. In fact, I feel this is where things change for both of them in their relationship. The mission ends well and ahead of schedule, but they decide to stay and enjoy the beauty of Tokyo, going out at night, trying foods, or buying silly things at fairs, just being young and in love on a trip without any external worries.

♤ Harleys In Hawaii

This story happens when Jason, finally, after much insistence from the reader, decides to take a vacation. And nothing is better than a hotel in Hawaii, in which Bruce is one of the partners, far away from Gotham and vigilantism. So, the next two weeks are summarized by boat rides along the coast, diving, hiking, and romantic seaside encounters with a tanned Jason, with his sculpted and tattooed body under the Hawaiian sun.

♤ Dark Paradise

This story takes place in two scenarios at the same time, where the reader is a classical dancer. The reader is in their dance studio, rehearsing late at night to relax and relieve the weight of their feelings. "Dark Paradise" plays on the sound system while they spin and leap around the mirrored room, but their mind travels to the previous night, where another Wayne gala took place. All the pomp and candlelight created an ethereal atmosphere with Jason there. He hated balls but knew the reader would be present. So, there he was, in a well-tailored suit, his eyes fixed on the reader as they entered the ballroom, almost hypnotically. The rest of the night was filled with tension and small "accidental" touches everywhere.

♧ Valentine

This is a simple yet extremely cute story, where Jay takes the reader to a carnival that was passing through Gotham that weekend. And it is nothing but intoxicatingly cute. They go through all the rides, and Jay makes sure to win the biggest teddy bear at the shooting gallery. They eat junk food and laugh idiotically as they walk, with Jay’s strong arms around the reader’s shoulders. They end the night on the Ferris wheel, having a perfect view of Gotham's lights. When they head back home, their hands are full of prizes and photos taken in photo booths.

♤ Marry You

This story came about because of a one-shot I read here once and simply could never get out of my head (I really don’t remember the author’s name, but if you know, please leave the name of this heaven-sent angel in the comments). The scenario is basically this: Jay and the vigilante are on a mission in Vegas, and things almost get out of control, but it ends with a "if we survive, will you marry me?". And they do survive. They look for a chapel the next day, wearing simple clothes and nothing but each other and an Elvis-dressed officiant. For them, it is simply perfect. Everything happens with lots of smiles and loving gazes. Afterward, they just enjoy the Vegas gambling and casinos (let’s completely ignore the song lyrics, okay? Just feel the vibe).

.˚｡  💋 .˚｡ 💌

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

If I were writing the show, I would make it so only Adrien and Felix were sentis, and the peacock miraculous broke from Emilie misusing it to create them. She created two beings at one time, outside of the traditional way sentis are made, without an amok, so she and Amelie could get pregnant. It doesn't make sense to me that the two of them were pregnant and have amoks for their children, since all other sentis were fully formed, and it would explain how the miraculous broke, which canon fails to answer.

If you have to keep the senti BS, then I think that's a good way to do it. It still blows my mind that canon really said, "Emilie and Gabriel had no idea that using the broken peacock would hurt her! They were so oblivious that they even gave it to Colt to use a second time! (And some random third person since Kagami exists.)"

I don't believe that nonsense for a second because the miraculous aren't just inanimate magical objects that people wield based on external training. They're magical objects that connect you to a magical creature who trains and guides you and that magical creature should know this shit!

The idea that the kwamis wouldn't warn them about the danger of using a broken miraculous only works if Nooroo wasn't around because Duusu was kinda out of it, so I could possibly buy that he wasn't able to warn them. But that fix would imply that Nooroo and Duusu were found at separate times which is nonsense. Why would Gabriel think to go back and look for another miraculous months or even years later? How would he even learn that he'd missed one? He basically had to know that there were two of them right from the start and - if he knew that there were two of them - then why would he grab them one at a time? It's not like archaeological digs or getting to Tibet are simple tasks! And how did they even learn about the miraculous or know where to look? Why use the peacock to make a senti and not the butterfly to heal infertility? I need answers!

This shit is why I'm so annoyed by the play. If you're going to give us backstory that doesn't move the plot forward, then give us backstory that explains all of the plot holes that you keep introducing!!! Don't waste my time with your completely unbelievable humble origins story. I don't love the movie, but it gets full credit for ignoring that nonsense and making Gabriel come from a wealthy family, too.

Anyway, back to the senti stuff.

If you go with the idea that creating real life broke the peacock and also do a variant where the amok was just a womb so the kids are real humans, then that would allow the peacock breaking idea to work without the pesky free will issue. You could also have one of the boys be a real human and the other be a senti. Maybe Adrien is a senti because Emilie didn't want to ruin her figure and Felix is real because Colt didn't care or vise versa with Colt wanting his wife to stay hott and Emilie wanting to experience the magic of childbirth. (I still can't believe that Emilie and Amilie were actually pregnant. If you're going to make a magic baby, then why not skip the life-threatening, body-destroying part?)

I also fully agree that Kagami being a senti only makes sense if they were going to do some big conspiracy plot with all the rich families being involved. Her being a random third senti without some major plot to back it up raises so many questions such as: how did Tomoe get involved with the Agrestes? Why did they break off contact and then reestablish it years later? Was the arranged marriage thing always the plan? If so, then why were Adrien and Kagami raised on different continents? Why did free spirited Emilie agree to this after seeing how unhappy her sister's marriage was? Why didn't Gabriel just use the ring to order Adrien to fall in love with Kagami? Was Adrien supposed to be programmed to love Kagami, but Marinette was similar enough to kick off the programing, making him imprint on the wrong girl? Was Kagami similarly programmed and that's why she latched onto Felix out of nowhere?

Hopefully it's obvious that those final two questions are jokes, but at the same time, I don't think I'd be shocked if they were somehow canon. They make about as much sense as everything else involved with the senti plot.

[stellarwhisper]

Astrological Alchemy: Revealing the Various Impacts on Identity and Appearance

Being a Gemini rising, it's critical to keep lines of communication open and flexible in your friendships and to remain flexible in your online buying practices. For a smooth transition into the workforce, maintain good relations with older siblings, take care of your work obligations, and foster pleasant contacts with your supervisors. Your abilities to be adaptable and communicate well will come in handy when handling these aspects of your life.

Rolling a set of unique dice bearing symbols for planets, aspects, and zodiac signs is the process of reading astrological dice. Based on conventional astrological interpretations, each roll yields a combination. This is a basic how-to:

1. Know the Dice: The twelve zodiac signs, planets, and aspects such as conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition are usually represented by symbols on astrological dice.

2. Dice Rolling : Roll the dice, and record any symbols that come up face-up.

3. Interpretation: Use astrological concepts to interpret the combination of symbols. As an illustration:

Zodiac Signs: Indicate character attributes or impacted facets of life.

Planets: Showcase the forces or influences at work.

Aspects: Illustrate the connections between the planets, showing either harmony or tension.

4. Consider Context: Examine the reading's context as well as the relationships between the symbols. Take note of any recurring themes or trends.

5. Resources: For interpretations of certain combinations, consult astrology books or online resources.

6. Practice and Intuition: As with any divination tool, interpretation is greatly influenced by both of these factors. Have faith in your intuition and use experience to gradually hone your comprehension.

Keep in mind that astrological dice readings are a type of divination and that you should approach them with a fair amount of skepticism and an open mind.

Venus opposition Moon aspect in terms of relationships. This feature may make it difficult for partners to communicate and understand one another's love and care. Venus, a symbol of love and affection, might perceive walls or a sense of separation from the Moon, a symbol of feelings and care.

Venus can be dissatisfied when her expectations about how the Moon would show her love aren't fulfilled. But for the relationship to advance, Venus must acknowledge that everyone displays love in a distinctive way and that it is crucial to recognize and value the Moon's distinct manner of providing care.

However, by attempting to externalize their feelings and influence the dynamics of the relationship, the Moon also helps to close this distance. Venus is not the only one who must take care of the relationship; the Moon must also actively engage and express their emotions in order to establish a more harmonious bond

A Pluto-related dynamic in a synastry or composite chart, where the house placements of one individual interact with the Pluto of another. This feature frequently denotes a strong and passionate bond between the parties.

Pluto's influence can produce intense tension and attraction as well as a feeling of intimidation or terror, especially for the individual whose house it is affecting. Pluto's energy has the capacity to be profoundly psychologically transforming, which may result in a need for dominance or power struggles in relationships.

Pluto is influencing that person's home, so that person may feel like they are being used or manipulated by that person, particularly when it comes to their behavior or appearance. Pluto's influence, nevertheless, can also give individuals a sense of empowerment by enabling them to access their inner confidence and strength.

Honesty, open communication, and a readiness to confront power struggles or control concerns head-on are necessary for navigating this relationship. Both parties need to be prepared to face their own shadow selves and strive for a more harmonious and mutually empowering partnership. Navigating the nuances of Pluto's effect in relationships can also be aided by counseling or therapy.

In a synastry or composite chart, Pluto in another person's 9th House denotes a significant and transforming effect on the themes associated with the 9th House in that person's life. Higher education, philosophy, spirituality, travel, and beliefs are all connected to the 9th House.

The following are some possible dynamics:

1. Belief Transformation: The other person's views and worldview may undergo significant changes as a result of Pluto's visit. Their connections with you might lead to profound shifts in their philosophy or spirituality.

2. Power disputes in Matters of Faith or Philosophy: There could be disputes or power struggles pertaining to ideologies, philosophical stances, or beliefs. Through your discussions, the other person can feel pressured to question their preexisting worldview or face deeply held ideas.

3. intensive Learning and Growth: The 9th House themes might be associated with intensive learning opportunities and experiences brought forth by Pluto's influence. You might entice the other person to pursue serious intellectual or spiritual endeavors together.

4. Transformational Travel Experiences: The other person may undergo profoundly transformational travel experiences alongside you. They might come across intense encounters that alter their viewpoints and cause them to undergo substantial personal development.

5. Impact on Higher Education: Pluto's position in the other person's 9th House may have a profoundly transforming effect on their academic endeavors if they are seeking higher education. They might explore challenging or taboo themes, or they might experience significant shifts in their educational path.

All things considered, Pluto's position in the other person's 9th House suggests a profoundly influential and maybe revolutionary interpersonal dynamic, especially in the areas of spirituality, belief systems, education, and travel. For all parties concerned, this placement may result in significant personal development and evolution.

Sign of Aries! The first sign of the zodiac is recognized for its audacity, capacity for leadership, and spirit of innovation. People born in the sign of Aries are frequently gregarious, self-assured, and ready to try new things. They have an innate drive and competitive spirit, and they don't hesitate to throw themselves wholeheartedly into whatever they set their minds to. Their contagious zeal and excitement can encourage people around them to follow in their footsteps. Mars, the planet of anger and action, rules Aries, which feeds their impetuous and sometimes energetic personality. All things considered, Aries infuses any circumstance with a dash of energy and vitality.

The twelfth and last sign of the zodiac, Pisces, is characterized by empathy, intuition, and artistic ability. People born under this sign are frequently sensitive, empathic, and acutely aware of both their own and other people's feelings. Dreamers and visionaries, Pisceans have a strong spiritual connection and vivid imaginations.

The following are some essential characteristics of Pisces:

1. Empathetic and Compassionate: Pisceans prioritize the needs of others before their own, demonstrating a great sense of empathy and compassion. They provide support and understanding without passing judgment since they have a keen sense of the emotions of others around them.

2. Creative and Imaginative: Pisceans thrive in creative endeavors like music, art, writing, and dance because of their rich imagination and artistic flare. They are drawn to pursuits that let them communicate their deepest emotions and ideas.

3. Psychic and Intuitive: Pisceans are born with psychic sensitivity and intuition that help them navigate the ups and downs of life. They frequently possess a profound awareness of the invisible forces at work in the world and follow their intuition.

4. Adaptable and Flexible: Pisceans can easily adjust to changing conditions since they are flexible and go with the flow. They have faith that things will work out as they are supposed to and are not scared to relinquish control and go with the flow of life.

5. Idealistic and Romantic: Pisceans are hopeless romantics who cling to the idea that fairy tales can come true and that love can conquer all obstacles. They frequently look for deep relationships and soulful connections, and they have rose-colored glasses on.

6. Spiritually Inclined: Pisceans are drawn to mystical and esoteric matters and have a strong spiritual side. Yoga, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines that unite people with a higher force or the collective consciousness may provide them with comfort.

7. Sensitive and Vulnerable: Because of their increased susceptibility to emotions, Pisceans are more likely to experience mood swings and become quickly overwhelmed by life's harsh truths. They might withdraw into their own private realm as a defensive mechanism.

Overall, Pisces is a loving dreamer that adds depth and inspiration to the world around them because they embody the traits of empathy, creativity, and spirituality.

Instead than seeing your natal chart from the viewpoint of the Sun as in a regular natal chart, a persona chart lets you examine it from the perspective of a particular planet. You can learn more about how a specific planetary energy affects your personality, emotions, and life experiences by concentrating on that energy. Examples of these energies include the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto.

For instance, you could consult your Moon persona chart to examine your emotional terrain and innate responses. This chart would show you where the Moon is in your natal chart, together with its aspects and house placement, giving you information about your emotional requirements, nurturing temperament, and ingrained habits.

Similarly, you may look at your Mercury persona chart if you're curious in how you communicate and process information. Your Mercury placement, aspects, and house position would be shown on this chart, providing insight into your preferred methods of learning, manner of communication, and areas of intellectual interest.

From the perspective of a particular planet's energy, each persona chart provides a distinctive look at your astrological composition, enabling you to explore the subtleties of your personality and life path in greater detail.

That interpretation of Saturn's position in the 10th House is intriguing! In fact, Saturn in the 10th House frequently denotes an emphasis on ambition, a career, and authority people. While the conventional interpretation points to obstacles and setbacks in reaching professional success, your method presents a novel and empowering solution.

Those with Saturn in the 10th House can develop a sense of self-assurance and more easily draw opportunities and recognition by changing their perspective from one of struggle to one of faith and ease. those can overcome self-imposed obstacles and more successfully and efficiently accomplish their career goals if they think that everything is really simple and that those in positions of authority will appreciate their efforts.

This viewpoint is consistent with the idea of manifestation and the efficacy of positive thinking, according to which altering one's attitudes and beliefs can have an impact on the outside world. People with this placement can use the energy of Saturn in the 10th House to advance in their jobs and more easily accomplish their goals by developing an attitude of prosperity and success.

People with Neptune in the first house may look different from their parents or other close family members, with an airy and distinctive appearance. Boundaries can be blurred and an air of mystery or illusion around a person's identity and physical appearance while Neptune is in the 1st House.

Here are some possible ways that this placement could appear:

1. Unconventional Appearance: People with Neptune in the first house may have traits or qualities that, when compared to other members of their family, look unusual or unearthly. This could include distinguishing characteristics like their skin tone, hair, eyes, or facial features.

2. Difference in Appearance: As indicated, they might possess physical characteristics that set them apart from their parents or siblings. For example, a family of brunettes might inherit recessive characteristics like red hair and blue eyes. Their familial dynamic may make them feel "different" or stick out more as a result of this contrast in appearance.

3. Ambiguous Ethnicity: Neptune in the first house may give someone's look a sense of ambiguity or fluidity, making it challenging for others to identify their ethnicity or cultural heritage. They could frequently be mistaken for members of a different nation or ethnic group, which heightens the mystery surrounding their identity.

4. Chameleon-Like Quality: People in this placement might have an appearance that is similar to that of a chameleon, as though they can readily fit in or blend into many social or environmental contexts. Because of their versatility, it may be difficult for others to label or classify them just on the basis of looks.

All things considered, Neptune in the first house lends a feeling of magic and mystery to the person's physical presence, giving them a distinct and occasionally enigmatic look that makes them stand out from their relatives and friends.

[kpopsexstories]

Is there any chance for you to write a story where the NCT Dream members masturbate together? For the scenario, I let your imagination do the work. You always do an amazing job.

I would also like one with RIIZE. For the scenario, I would like the story to take place in the shower of their dorm. Since they told that they shower together sometimes to buy time, so they are not late for their schedule. I really enjoyed your TXT skinny dipping story.

I'm sorry to ask so much.

Oh my gosh, thank you for saying this! When I first published the TXT skinny dipping story and the TXT public shower masturbation story I didn't think anyone would enjoy them, because they were kind of long with no actual sex (well, the shower one does have gay sex). They also never got that many likes compared to other stories.

But they keep being mentioned by you guys which tells me there's a small but dedicated fan base for this kind of story, and that really inspires me because I really like writing them 😉

Let me reflect on the two ideas in your request:

NCT Dream masturbating together: I feel like I've done waaay to much NCT Dream recently, and with more already coming I don't feel like I'll prioritize this one anytime soon. I'm also not quite sure what the situation and setting would be.

There's actually a Quick Fix Gay story coming next week (January 23, 2025) about all of them jerking off together as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, but that's not a story I would compare to the TXT stories. It's short, more direct and just crazy and fun, without the fluff and build-up.

Maybe send me a separate request for just Dream with a short premise of where/in what situation this scenario would happen, like how you imagined the Riize suggestion? That might inspire me to write something sooner rather than later 😉

RIIZE masturbating together: Now this one I really like! I've featured Riize before but they're under-represented on the blog, mainly because they're not as popular as other groups. I want to do more with them and this idea is perfect!

Also thanks for providing the setting, that really helps. I can almost guarantee straight away that there will be a Riize shower masturbation story in the future, because this request stands out to me and is something I really want to do. Can't tell you when though.

New on Story Finder: 🗨️ Author Comments on Requests

On the subject of requests, I want to find a way to make it clearer to you what requests others have sent in and what the status of your requests are. The list is simply too long, and even stories I'm writing today are months away from being published, so it can't be easy to understand what is coming, what I'm working on at the moment, and which requests I choose to ignore for now despite including them on my "maybe in the future" list (sorry that I can't respond to everything immediately).

Unless you're new here you already know about my external website Story Finder and the requests page on there. At least with that page you know that I've seen your request and can get a vague idea of what is happening to it. But because the list is long it can be hard to find specific ones (though there is a search feature in case you haven't noticed).

One idea I had recently was to add an "Author Comment" section to some requests. I did this a few days ago. It's basically just me adding a comment with my thoughts on the request, and so far I've only skimmed through the list and commented on those I really do want to make something of (that doesn't mean a lack of a comment means I won't do anything with it ever).

I just know I'll suck at keeping the comments up to date though. I fear it's not a viable long-term solution to making the status of requests clearer to you. I might completely remake the page one day, adding sections and automating things better to make it less time consuming for me to manage.

Stay tuned for that, and if you're curious, check out the comments I just added before I remove them (which I might if they prove too much to maintain) ☺️

Oh, and one more thing: Never apologize for too many requests 😅 I love receiving every single one! You never know what sticks, and even though the list of unresponded requests has grown out of control and I'll never catch up, many up-coming stories are responses to requests – both new and old ones.

[briar--rising]

Long post about grief and mothers and probably other stuff, idk

Something that I've been trying to process lately is a certain almost loss of my mom. I mean, she's still around, she hasn't died, and I haven't and won't cut contact. But I don't need to cut external contact, because I've cut off our relationship internally, for the most part. And it's been devastating.

For all that our relationship was a toxic abusive enmeshed disaster, I still loved her desperately, and she was still my mom. But as I've been working on recovering I've needed to separate myself from her, become my own person with boundaries, and because of who she is I can't do that and still have a mother left. She can't act maternally towards me without subsuming me, and I can't let her do that anymore. So I can't have a mom. When we talk these days mostly she honestly feels like some random woman who is vaguely intellectually connected to the mom I had in the past. She doesn't feel like a mother at all anymore, not even in the bad ways really. There's just...nothing there. It's not safe for there to be anything there.

I used to hold out hope that sometime in the distant future we'd be able to have an honest conversation about my childhood and our relationship, that she'd be able to hear my perspective and recognize me as an individual and have a healthier relationship with me. And I finally realized that that dream is impossible. It will never happen. She refuses to go back to therapy, she has no desire for introspection, every time I try to raise something she gaslights me, she feels too unsafe to risk vulnerability. It's just not going to happen. You can't buy oranges at the hardware store. I need to be a person, and because of her issues she can't be a mother to a separate person. And I've finally accepted that.

And I am left with such tremendous grief. I read a sentence earlier about someone calling their mom when they were upset in the middle of the night and thought, "I can't do that. I haven't been able to do that in years, and I never will again. I can't trust her with the truth of myself, with my vulnerabilities, with my feelings. She feels like a distant cousin, someone I can make small talk with at family events, not someone who raised me, who knows me, who I can share myself with. She will never be able to learn about the person I am becoming, and I will change more and more from the version of me in her head, and she will not see it. When I feel small and lonely and sad and sick and want a mom to take care of me, there is no one I can call. That does not exist any longer. I don't know that it ever truly did, but I used to have a facsimile of it, and now and forever more I won't have even that."

It is devastating, to realize and start accepting that I don't have a mom, not truly. It is excruciating. I didn't realize, when I started to become my own person and separate from her, that I would lose her like this. I feel in some ways like I didn't know what I was getting into when I started making certain types of progress towards healing, like I didn't give informed consent. I think that's been the hardest part. I was blindsided by this loss, didn't even realize it was happening until it was basically irreversible. I'd like to think that if I had known I would have made the same decisions, that healing and becoming my own person is worth this grief. But I didn't know I was making that choice, certainly not on a conscious level. And now it's done, and I can never go back.

I've been talking about this in therapy, the fact that I can never fully return to the state of person-less-ness I spent my childhood in. Even if I let myself become completely subsumed in someone else again, I would have memories of once being my own person. It would be different than the complete lack of selfhood and subjectivity I had as a child. And of course that's a good thing, of course I don't want to be only an object never a subject. But I didn't know what I'd be giving up, by doing this. I feel betrayed by my own healing. It hurts. It really, really hurts.

[luxxuriantt]

♥♥♥ Life with your FS ♥♥♥ Choose the pic that calls out to you the most! pics are not mine

💜 Pile one- New York ASSMAN- ace of pentacles, two of cups, four of pentacles

Lmao the first thing i got was doing chores together and loving it. Having deep convos while you deep clean the bathroom or listening to music while cooking.

Love languages being acts of service and quality times

I see them coming from work and falling into your arms and vice versa, basically you will be each other safe space

Veryy good financial stability and planing, you'd be very responsible with your money and for some i see like planning separate founds for buying a new property/ retirement or college founds

I dont think that romance will ever die in this connection, i see it as finding times to spend time together even when life gets hectic and also going on dates/trying new things and just both of you trying to find the spark

They will be very attentive and protective over you, for some even a bit more then the average person

I see a lifestyle thats traditional, calm and slow, with a routine but somehow both of you finding pleasure in it.

I also think its gonna be a private relationship, whatever happens between you stays behind closed doors, the fights, the happy moments..

❤️️ Pile two- Lookin good, tastin great- queen of pentacles, six of sword, eight of wands

I think you will move with your FS, like living some place different from your/theirs parents country or moving places while married

I kept hearing tranquility, so i think your anxiety or fears will be soothed in this persons presence and vice versa

This is the couple that likes to explore things together and is always moving on evolving. I see you hiking together, taking random travel routes, and even doing spontaneous but mundane things like bar hopping lol and just getting out of your comfort zone

This pile is also the sexually curious and kinky. I wouldnt be surprised if someone who picks this pile is interested in an open relationship or wants to try swinging or other fetishes with their partner.

Tho i also see comforting each other, i saw back rubs and massages, so i think you both will be very caring

This whole pile feels like a breeze to me yet there is stability, like a teenage relationship that matures and becomes even more beautiful

I think either you or them might go on longer business trips or something work related, i see longing and missing

🖤 Pile three- Nachos big ass your ASS-five of wands, page of pentacles, nine of wands

This pile has a heavier energy and its not all sunshine and rainbow but i guess life is not always so bright. Take what resonates and remember all can be changed

For some this is an ex you will get back together with, for some others it can be that marriage will be rather turbulent and rocky. You might be on brakes and then get back together ( divorce is an option for some)

I also see working together and getting above things and finding happiness

There might be external factors interfering, like other people, from third party to parents and finances

I get a feeling of something hitting rock bottom and then starting over

Your relationship will stronger with time i feel too

Nonetheless your partner will try to be supportive in whatever happens

Thank you for your attention and patience <3 much love to you all!

[sohushygrayness]

Upgrading My Camera Gear

A few days before the end of the year, I used AI for perhaps the final time to suggest me some equipment to purchase along with what I already have for my camera set up. To recap:

I have a Canon EOS 2000D body and I have 3 lenses to go with it:

Canon 18-55mm

Canon 40mm

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Black Lens

Now, I'd asked ChatGPT to generate me a list of things that I could get to go with it and here's where I got confused. 

It's all about lighting

One of the suggestions was to buy an external flash. However, one look at Amazon these days is enough to stress you out with information overload. Amazon once upon a time had a great App design, but now I see so many sponsored products that it's a struggle to know what's genuine. Almost immediately I stumble upon the brand Godox which (Seems to be) is considered the industry best in this respect. 

Then I go browsing for reflectors. Again, the suggestion from a few threads I've read seem to suggest the Neewer 5 in 1 which works well for my needs and Amazon sell a stand that would hold the reflectors which I think is a great idea. 

Further Confusion

A friend of mine then suggests to me about soft boxes. They weren’t on my list (which is another reason why speaking to a person is better than speaking to an AI). If I’ve understood it, then he’s explained it well.

A soft box helps to project the line, e.g, if you use an external flash, then the soft box projects the light in the shape of the box. A reflector then reflects the light based on the colour of the reflector and plus the angle. 

Obvious Conclusion

What I take from all of this is that there will never be a single correct answer here. Instead, it’s about what I want to shoot and what I want to achieve.

Outside Sources

I look to YouTube to try and get the concepts explained to me. The first one I watch highlights how working with a softbox helps to create different light environments.

However, this soft box has the lights built into the device which makes me wonder: why am I buying an external flash?

Then, YouTube recommends this video which is helpful for a myriad of reasons. The main one being that both use refractors, but both handle soft-box lighting in 2 separate ways.

Late night shopping

I have a general rule of thumb. If I don’t understand why I don’t need something, I don’t buy it and that’s the case today. I understand why you would need reflectors but the situation with flash/soft boxes still eludes me. So, with that in mind, I spend a bit of time looking at lenses.

Here is where I think I understand. They have 2 lenses which I like:

Canon EF 50mm

Canon EF-S 10-18mm

One is better for portrait photography, whereas the other is a wide angle lens. 

Am I wasting time and effort here?

It occurs to me that whilst I’m spending a lot of time thinking about the means of getting better quality photos into the camera, I should also give some consideration to the editing process of photos.

I go back to a process map that I created a while ago to review my editing stages during my process.

Signs from the universe

On Thursday morning, I load up YouTube and get 3 videos recommended to me which seem to be what I’m looking for:

Immediately after watching this, I realise I’ve been focusing too much on what I don’t have, rather than what I do have. I then move onto the next video

Almost immediately, the creator talks about using a wide shot. This aligns nicely with my intuition. My gut feeling was telling me that I needed to get a wide lens, but I was umming and arring. I also like this second creator, mind you, I like them both. So, I subscribe. Lastly, I get so inspired watching this 3rd video that I pause half way through as my mind is made up.

While I’m walking, I have a ponder about cinematic story telling. You often hear about the 3 acts and this seems to be a general rule of thumb for these videos structures. When I have an idea for a cinematic video, I'll need to practice on writing and building a 3 act structure to tell the story.

While I’m out shopping, the 2nd hand store near me sells the 50mm but not a wide angle lens. Onwards to another shop.

Plot twist

Eventually, I reach the shop I need, but plot twist, they don’t have any lenses whatsoever in stock. Disappointing but it forces me to recalculate. I could use the 18-55 for establishing shots, the 40 for medium shots and then use the 50mm for a close up. So, I head back to the 2nd hand store to buy the 50mm lens.

A Pleasant Surprise

While I’m in the store, I see the 50mm but then I also see a Canon EF-S 10-22mm! Okay now we’re cooking with gas. I’m able to pick up the 50mm and the 10-22mm. 

But Wait, there’s more

I notice on the shelf that there is an external flash! Is it compatible with my camera? It is! So, after heading to the supermarket and buying food for the family, I head back to pick it up. I have never used an external flash before so this is a first for me. All that remains now is to test the quality and see what I think.

[doozie97]

If you have a 3DS or Wii U please donate a SpotPass dump to the archive project to help restoration efforts

Modded or Unmodded Devices welcome!

The SpotPass servers are residually open even after the April 8 online closure, so please join the discord and complete the partition dump if you can! All data does to the Internet Archive and by extension Pretendo.

It takes data built into your 3DS system data into the attached SD Card, so be sure to at minimum have room in the 4GB SD or micro SD that comes with any 3DS (or buy one for your Wii U as external storage is sold separately). If you follow instructions and all works well it should only take less than 15 minutes of your time but the discord has plenty of helpful people for advice.

If you buy a brand new SD card, be sure to also format the SD to Fat32 (this is great for micro SDs over 256GB so you can have plenty of game storage) and there are very easy tutorials online. Here’s one for Windows Devices:

[yandereunsolved]

I haven't played rdr before, but with the clips I've seen online and the like, wild west atmosphere it has, and think I would stand out like a sore thumb, because I look like a sickly Victorian, just with slightly more muscles cause of carrying props, and all of the men in rdr (from what I can tell) are all like buff, and I think the rdr men having to deal with both the homophobia (internal and external) and me looking like a stiff wind could blow me over would be a funny combo

-☀️ (do you know any good playthroughs of rdr I can watch? I would buy it myself but I definitely don't have the time to play it-)

You sound very attractive (/p), little sun emoji. :)

The yans would be lucky to obsess over you.

― YT channel: MKIceAndFire

― YT channel: RabidRetrospectGames

I prefer playthroughs with little commentary (most times), so if that's you're thing then you'll like their playthroughs of the RDR games.

It also depends which one you are talking about (?) Red Dead Revolver (separate universe), Red Dead Redemption 1, Undead Nightmare (RDR1 DLC), or Red Dead Redemption 2.

[whoiwanttoday]

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I never really know what to post for today because I know potentially it is a loaded day. At my core I am a failed existentialist and as such I believe that it is a day that holds no inherent meaning except the meaning we give it. Thus Valentine's Day and what it means is up to you. But I also know we're people and it's really hard to separate yourself from outside pressures and expectations and however much we might wish to infuse things only with our own meaning and however much happier that would make us we can't do it. Not really. Really Valentine's Day is a day since you were a kid you have been told about things. By friends, parents, billions of dollars in marketing. Everyone had a say and what it means might shift over time for you but there are external pressures as well as expectations on how you should feel. Really all these days we assign meaning to are sign posts and landmarks in your life and if things are going well they are a triumph but if things aren't they feel like a rebuke. I get that, so I won't tell you that today doesn't matter and it is whatever you make it. If you are sad or lonely or whatever negative thing you are feeling. I don't want to rob you of how you feel with false positivity that can be as toxic as negativity. I will tell you that I have felt it, too. I feel it too sometimes. I know what it's like to love someone who can't love you back. I know how it feels to be lonely. How it feels to feel like a failure. I know it hurts. I know sometimes the weight of it can feel crushing and you wonder how you'll ever dig yourself out of it and days like today feels like someone is just stacking weights on top of all that. I know how it feels and I am sorry if that is you. It is hard and what you are going through is hard and someone should say it. So I am. I will also tell you it's just one day. Not in the sense that it doesn't matter but there is a tomorrow and a tomorrow after that and eventually Valentine's Day will be in the rearview and then we have President's Day and St. Patrick's Day and Arbor Day and you know what? There are like zero expectations there. Embrace those as your holiday. What shit is someone going to give you about President's Day? You didn't buy a fucking mattress? Besides, romance is over rated. What do you get when you kiss a girl? Just enough germs to catch pneumonia. Anyway, speaking of girls here is Ariadna Majewska because she's really pretty. Apparently yesterday was her birthday as well, so I guess it's timely? Anyway, hope you all have a good day and enjoy these pictures. Or don't, it's your day, do what you want. Today I want to fuck Ariadna Majewska.