#and i'll try to figure out like a cost solving thing

[submariini]

Oh God, the cassettes are so cool!!! Please tell me you're selling them?!?! I love cassettes, and a Käärijä one would be so cool! 🍹🥳🤗

thank you !! so far im *thinking* of doing an interest check after i do the ones i got right now. (as my main issue would be getting the money to cover initial costs lmao)

#ed.txt #anonymous #rn i have 5 CCC mixtape ones and all 5 are spoken for basically #but yeah if all goes well !! i might ask around if more ppl want one #and i'll try to figure out like a cost solving thing #(bc i shipped UK to UK for this batch and picked them up during the EU tour) #(but i'd have to ship UK to EU and thats Expensive via that site + VAT in belgium sucks) #(i would def attempt to just. get enough ppl to order Fancy covers tho rather than the DIY im doing rn lmao) #käärijä

[korkorali]

I think the worst bit for me about all Those Sorts (you know the type) of fics is that they always take Della extremely out of character in order to make her the 'antagonist.'

And that sucks because it's just not necessary! It's the worst because you can have Della & Louie angst where Della's the 'antagonist,' and it's in-character.

You just have to have Louie be wrong in the end (kind of).

The reason why Della and Louie clash in Timephoon and Glomtales! isn't because Della 'disapproves of scheming in entirety' or something, it's because she's done the same goddamn thing as him.

(And side note- Timephoon is honestly an amazing piece of storytelling, because it allows us to see Della's thought process for taking the Spear of Selene by showing us Louie doing pretty much the same thing.)

She's been through it all before, and she knows how it ends.

And that fucking terrifies her! The idea that one of her kids is making the same mistakes as her, could go through the same thing as she did, and she's the only one who can see it, is terrifying.

The way to start out a story like this is simple; have an adventure go wrong. Not in a deadly way, not in a way that's caused by Louie (at least, not that anyone but him notices), not in a way that costs anyone their life- but in a way that causes them to lose the treasure. The adventure is a failure, and they have to come back empty handed, like New Gods on the Block.

Maybe some people get hurt, maybe it's vaguely Louie's fault (and even then- it'd be better if it wasn't even his fault, it's just his brain connecting patterns where there aren't any), but the most important part is that they don't get the treasure, and it's like- one of those ones that can only be found once every hundred years or something.

Louie feels responsible (I mean all of the kids do, but as it'd be a Louie story he'd be the one focused on) and upset that they want to all that trouble and don't have anything to show for it, so he tries to figure out some way to go on the adventure again.

Turns out, after a bit of research, there is a way to get to the treasure again! Louie brings it to Scrooge's attention excitedly- but Scrooge turns it down. Says it's too dangerous, that they're not doing it, end of story.

...Not end of story- everyone's still obviously miserable. So Louie decides that 'okay, if it's 'too dangerous,' then I'll just go in secret. It'll be fine, Scrooge is just overreacting.'

So he starts trying to put a plan into place to get the treasure in secret- but Della, somehow, seems to know what he's doing (hint: it's because she knows what she'd do if she was in Louie's shoes). And is consistently getting in his way.

And there you go- a perfect setup to have Della consistently and purposefully stepping on Louie's toes, getting in his way, trying to stop him from doing things, and it's even in-character! It'd probably start out with the two acting like everything's perfectly hunky-dory, even though both of them know that the other knows that they know that the other knows why they did this one thing.

As plans get deeper, it'd escalate to Della trying to actively call Louie out, but he always manages to just barely weasel his way out of it, and eventually commence his plan.

It obviously goes wrong. But Della's there to help. And finally she'd actually explain why the fuck she's been something of a thorn in his side for the past few weeks, why it seems like she knows what he's thinking: because she does.

Because she's been through the same thing.

Because she fucked up, and left her stranded on the moon for ten years, and she does not want that for her kid. (And of course everything could've been solved if she'd just sat down and talked to Louie about that at the onset, but it's Della- she only likes to bring up the moon when it's funny. She would've thought 'nah it's fine, I can handle this, I don't need to bare my soul, I shouldn't burden anyone with that' without realizing that oh yeah, no, that's the exact same thought process she doesn't want Louie to think)

And of course they'd argue, because it'd be a high-stress situation and neither of them would have the composure to pretend that everything's alright and they haven't been sniping at each other for the past week or so, and eventually it'd finally come up; eventually, they'd finally bring up that they thought the exact same thing when Louie did this, when Louie took the Timetub, when Della took the Spear.

'...And if anything goes wrong, at least I'm the only one who'll get hurt.' (Because you cannot tell me that that was not the last thought running through both of their heads when they took the timetub/Spear of Selene, you cannot convince me that they didn't think they were doing right by their families in that moment, that they hadn't done their due diligence and minimized risk down to one person.)

And Louie wouldn't understand, because he did the right thing. He minimized risk, he made sure nobody else would get hurt. But that's wrong- because if he got hurt, then Della (Donald, Scrooge, their family, her kids) would get hurt too. That they could fly into a vacuum all they wanted, but at the end of the day, they still didn't exist in one.

Eventually, they'd get out of there and abandon the mission again. Maybe they'd succeed, but probably not. But that's not important- what'd be important is that they were both safe and alive and okay.

There- a Della & Louie thing, extremely angsty, well Della as the 'antagonist,' and it's all in-character. Easy.

#ducktales #dt17 #della duck #louie duck #the 'adventure that can only be done every hundred years with one extremely dangerous exception' can obviously be interchanged with a lot #all that's really necessary is that louie has a plan that he thinks is good for everyone #(and in order to make it good for everyone he does his best to make sure that he's the only one who'd get affected by it should it go wrong #and Della gets underfoot and messes with everything consistently and frustratingly without explaining anything for the longest time #(because she's terrible about actually opening up about the fact that yeah no she's fucked up) #(and she doesn't want to force that onto her kids or acknowledge it at all- at least if it's not a joke) #because she knows exactly what he's doing because it's what she'd do #and she knows what happened the last time she pulled that sort of stunt

[wowowwild]

"Maya, what are you- Franziska?"

"Franziska?"

"Miles Edgeworth!"

"Nick!"

"Miss Fey?"

"Phoenix Wright!"

"Alright, I think we've established who all is here, thanks.”

FranMaya has been secretly dating and WrightWorth is... They'll figure it out.

“Hey, uhh, so you’re going to be busy tonight, right?” “With the case? Yeah. Edgeworth is going to come over to help me, though,” He replied absentmindedly. “Oooh, Edgeworth? I’m almost sad I’ll have to miss it, but it’s probably good for you two to have some privacy.” “M-Maya! We’re not like that, and you know it. And where are you going?” “Unlike you, Nick, I don’t kiss and tell.” “You’re not even going on a date, are you? I bet you’re just going to convince Gumshoe to share what little noodles he subsists on.” “Hey, it’s your boyfriend who keeps cutting his salary, and if he wants to share noodles with me, then that’s his choice.” “You’re a leech.” “But you love me!” “Yeah, yeah. Now let me focus on this. If I can’t figure out where this case went wrong, my case will be ruined!” “Good luck with your nerd shit.”

This pleased Maya greatly.

MF: We’re on.

FvK: Are you certain?

MF: Absolutely. He is going to be soooo distracted he won't even notice. He also came to the conclusion that I'd be hanging out with Gumshoe which helps as long as they don't talk to each other.

FvK: He'd be hard pressed to speak with Scruffy on special noodle night. He will be eating microwave noodles that cost exactly $1.38 more and watching an old monster movie.

MF: He'll be hard pressed alright. It's also v cute that you know that.

FvK: It is not cute, it is impossible not to know when he so foolishly announces every single move he makes to the nearest set of ears. I do not, however, understand your first statement.

MF: I'll explain it later. See you tonight "at precisely 5:35 PM".

FvK: You shall.

Now the only thing left was to wait.

-

Maya was being ridiculous. Edgeworth was not his boyfriend. He totally could be if he wanted, but he clearly didn't want to. If Master of Logic Miles Edgeworth couldn't connect these dots, the world was doomed, therefore he totally knew and wasn't about that. Which was fine. He was still Phoenix's best friend and he wouldn't give that up for anything. But right now he had to focus on the case because once Edgeworth was there it was a 50/50 chance he wouldn't be able to think at all. If only he could figure out what was missing…

"Wright, honestly, you're going to make your back even worse leaning over like that." "Edgeworth! Uh, hey. I was just trying to figure out how this case is related to my current one, but I can't seem to get the pieces to fit." "You're hopeless." Edgeworth picked up the file and moved to the couch. "What are these notes? You think it was the same culprit?" Phoenix flopped down next to him. "Not the same, but related. I think this murder happened because that one wasn't properly solved." "I see… Assuming you're correct, do you think the victim in this case was the perpetrator in that one?" "Could be. I don't want to make too many assumptions up front and miss something." "Actually thinking things through for once? I'm impressed."

That smug grin sent butterflies to his stomach. What was he saying? Come on Phoenix, you can't lose it all yet!

"I always think things through, you just aren't privy to my grand plan." "Privy? I see that thesaurus I got you is going to good use." "Ugh," Phoenix grinned and playfully shoved him. "Now, Wright, if you continue your violent streak, you'll be the one who needs defending." "Would you defend me?" "I would tell Franziska to prosecute you and wait for the paperwork." "Aw, gee, Edgeworth, I didn't know you felt that way." Phoenix laughed. "Ahem, yes, well, I think right here needs more clarification, don't you?" Edgeworth turned so that Phoenix couldn’t see his face.

Right, too much, Phoenix. Keep it friendly but not too friendly. Edgeworth is doing you a courtesy by not calling you out.

"Yeah, I can't figure out what they were trying to hide." "Well let's think about what someone could gain and then follow to who that someone was."

They talked it over, pulled up more information, and plowed through any remaining questions fairly quickly.

“Wow, I’m feeling better about the case already.” “Aren’t you forgetting something vital?” “Hmm? Like what?” “Evidence, perhaps?” “Aw, you know me. I’ll scrounge up what I can and everything will fall into place when I get the culprit on the stand.” “Unless the culprit is the first witness, you’re going to have to actually put in some work to get them there.” “Sure, but I’ll find a way. And I do have some evidence, thanks. Making this case fit in was the last piece I needed. My client will be walking free soon enough.” “Don’t get too cocky now, Wright. You have an impressive record, I will admit, but feeling overconfident can make you miss even the most obvious of details.” “Trust me, I’m not overconfident. But if I went around lamenting how hard I’m going to fail, that wouldn’t exactly set me up for success either.” “I suppose not. What did you find, anyhow?” “You’re not going to believe what I found in the victim’s trash.” “The trash?!” “Not all of us have detectives on their side, you know. We’re lucky I was allowed to root around in there.” “I suppose…” “Now let me show you my case.”

-

Franziska von Karma was perfectly punctual as she was in all things. At exactly 5:35 PM she slipped through the door of Phoenix Wright’s foolish office and silently made her way to the back room Maya would be in. It was quiet with no sign of Phoenix Wright, but Maya had not said he had stepped out so she remained cautious.

Ever so quietly Franziska knocked on the door she knew Maya was behind. It opened softly revealing her date for the evening. This of course brought a smile to both of their faces. It was then that voices were heard coming from the kitchen area. Phoenix Wright had a guest. This must be why Maya said he would be distracted. As they moved to sneak out, however, they moved closer to the source and she began to feel that the second voice was very familiar…

She stopped in plain view of the kitchen, but their backs were turned to her. What in the world was her foolish brother doing there at this hour? Helping the foolish attorney with a foolish case? They had both taken off their suit jackets and rolled up their sleeves. How utterly foolish her brother was to be at this man’s beck and call but still refuse to announce his feelings.

Maya couldn’t help herself, Fran’s face seeing Edgeworth there was too much. A snicker or two made it out, catching Nick’s attention.

"Maya, what are you- Franziska?" "Franziska?" Edgeworth whipped his head around. "Miles Edgeworth!" "Nick!" Maya whined a bit at being caught. "Miss Fey?" "Phoenix Wright!" "Alright, I think we've established who all is here, thanks," Phoenix noted. “Miles Edgeworth, what are you doing here?!” “I could ask the same of you, Franziska.” He stood and took an awkward posture, suddenly unsure of himself. “I- well- I asked first!” “Wait, Maya, I thought you were hanging out with Gumshoe.” “Actually I said I don’t kiss and tell and you assumed some things I let you believe.”

Phoenix looked to Edgeworth incredulously.

“That is a strange thing to assume from the context.” “Well I didn’t think she had an actual date!” “What can I say, Fran and I just have it more together than you.” She gave each of them a meaningful look. “And what about you, little brother? Have you finally announced your feelings or are you foolishly clinging to your safe deniability?” “Come on, Fran, we’re gonna be late if we try to start that conversation now. Let them sort it out.” “Hmph. Our reservation has saved you this time, little brother. Let us away.” Franziska pivoted and offered her arm to Maya. “Away we shall.” Maya took her invitation with glee.

-

Miles Edgeworth regretted a lot of things in his life. Preserving his friendship with Phoenix Wright rather than admitting to romantic feelings was not one of them. Or so he told himself.

“Did you know they were dating?” “Hmm? No, I was not aware. Though that would explain where she disappears to whenever she’s here.”

Hopefully Wright wouldn’t ask for clarification as to what she was talking about.

“So, uh, you have feelings for someone?”

He jinxed it.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about. She seems to have gotten an idea into her head and you know as well as I, there is no dissuading her.” “Edgeworth… You don’t have to hide it from me. You know I’ll support you no matter what. I think it’s great you found somebody you like! You should go for it!”

If he was so supportive, then why did he sound so upset?

“It’s really neither here nor there. He’s not interested.” “Oh… I’m sorry. That really sucks.”

And yet he sounded more happy at that than his previous statement. Maybe he was nervous at the thought of being left behind? Larry only seemed to pop back up when he had been dumped, though Miles hoped Phoenix knew him better than that. Nothing would ever be more important to him than the bond they shared, even if years down the line someone else captured his heart. Which was unlikely, for the record.

“It’s really nothing to dwell on.” “I suppose. But just so you know, I think you’re a great guy, and you deserve someone who can give you everything you want. This guy is a total loser for not seeing that.”

Oh, the irony.

“For what it’s worth, I’m kind of in the same boat, so if you want to talk about it…” “Really?” He tried to hold back his shock a fraction of a second too late. Phoenix looked confused and responded slowly, as if he was piecing something together before he revealed who the true murderer was. “Yeah, actually. It’s uh, my guy’s not interested either. Which is totally fine! I love being friends with him, it just, uh, kind of sucks. But it’s fine! And I wouldn’t trade our friendship for anything.” “Your ‘guy’ is a ‘total loser’ as well, then.” “Ah, you think?” Phoenix chuckled. “I do. You are the best man I know, with more passion, determination, and heart than seems possible. Anyone who spends even a moment with you can see that.” “Oh… Say, Edgeworth…” “Yes, Wright?” “Uh, I mean… This is awkward. I’m just now getting the feeling that I might have been wrong about something.” “About your case.” Phoenix looked confused, as if he had entirely forgotten why Miles had come over in the first place. “No, not the case. Just an assumption I had made.” “You should know better to assume. Weren’t you just saying that earlier?” “In my defense, a significant amount of evidence pointed towards my assumption being correct, but I had failed to consider one unlikely option.” “Is that so? What conclusion have you come to now, then?”

It was bound to be profound and earth shattering, as all of Phoenix’s revelations tended to be.

“Am I your guy?” “W-what?!”

Damn that man and his brilliant mind. Miles should have kept his mouth shut.

“I am, aren’t I?”

Why did Phoenix seem so… excited?

“Please tell me if I’m right or not… Well, I’m always Wright, but-” “Yes, you are correct,” Miles cut him off to avoid hearing that joke for the millionth time. “Ok, so then I have a big question, what made you think I wasn’t interested?” “… What?” “I mean, I’m just wondering. Since you’re my guy, too.” “I’m- You- What?!” “Yeah, This whole time I thought you could tell so I figured you weren’t interested, but clearly I was wrong. About multiple things. But so were you, so you can’t make fun of me.”

That was a little bit too much. Though it did explain what Miles had picked up on earlier with Phoenix’s words not matching his emotions. And the more he thought about it, much of Miss Fey’s teasing could have been implying Phoenix had romantic feelings for him. And it wasn’t like that was all Miles had struggled to piece together when it came to Phoenix. Retroactively, this explained a lot.

“Wright.” “Edgeworth?” “You’re telling me… You’re telling me you have romantic feelings for me?” “Uh, yeah. A lot of feelings in general, but romantic ones are in there. And you?” “Yes. I also have those kinds of feelings for you.” “Great! … That feels like it was too easy. Like something dramatic should have happened. Do you think one of us is about to die?” Miles gave him an incredulous look. “What are you blathering on about?” Phoenix paused before breaking out into laughter. “Well I’m glad nothing’s changed!” “I wouldn’t say nothing,” Miles mumbled. “Oh, right. Can I kiss you?” “What?!” Miles felt a heart attack coming on. Maybe Wright had been… right. “Too soon, huh? That’s ok. I can wait.” “That reminds me, how long exactly have you felt this way?” “Oh, uh, haha…” Wright trailed off. “That’s actually kind of embarrassing. Um, you know how we knew each other for like, 4 months back then?” “Wright… You can’t be serious.” “I mean, that was just a silly childhood crush, but it was a really formative time for me. And when I saw you again in the paper… Crush renewed. Becoming a lawyer was probably 50% because of you and 50% to save you, so… yeah… And you?” “I’m… I’m afraid I can’t say quite the same, though I can’t deny those 4 months were formative for me as well. It wasn’t so immediate when I saw you again, either. It crept up on me… and then you did save me. And I couldn’t deny it any longer. Feelings for you had started to grow.” “Oh wow. So we’ve been kind of silly waiting around this whole time. No wonder Maya and Franziska are so annoyed with us all the time.” “Mm. That would be a fairly sound hypothesis. I think I would like to answer your question, now.” Miles could feel himself blush as he turned away, not quite confident to say what he wanted while looking Phoenix in the eye. “Huh? What question?” Idiot. “You can kiss me. Phoenix.” “O-oh. Ok! Yeah!”

-

Maya had a fantastic evening with her lovely girlfriend whom she adored. They had accidentally stayed at the restaurant until closing time, talking and laughing, trying to get as much time with each other as possible. She had figured Nick would be in bed by the time she got back since he was practically geriatric, but she was surprised to see the lights still on, and-

“Hey, isn’t that…” “My fool brother’s car?” “… How safe do you think it is to go up there?” “… You know my hotel room has a hot tub-” “Sold.”

#ace attorney #ace's fic #maya fey #franziska von karma #franmaya #narumitsu #wrightworth #phoenix wright #miles edgeworth #two fics posted in one night? legend behavior tbh #i tried some coding stuff on the ao3 page if you would like to look and give an opinion.

[aotopmha]

There has been a bunch of talk about FF14's 'normal' difficulty content these past few days and on my part, I think I could take or leave any potential difficulty/friction increases.

As a new player of about 3ish months, I'm having a blast of just trying to perfect the dungeons despite them having a very rigid structure.

This conversation is super interesting to think about from the perspective of players with varying playtime, too, I think.

To me as someone who has been playing for just a few months (nearing the Shadowbringers base game ending MSQ-wise) and been doing roulettes almost daily because I enjoy running the dungeons, obviously they still feel fresh and fun.

I'm still also getting used to the rotations of any of the jobs I've picked up and still building muscle memory, so to me the game feels just the right kind of "easy" at this difficulty. None of the normal difficulty content has been super hard, but I feel I still have to use my brain, so I'm not feeling any of the criticisms about the gameplay becoming mindless.

But on another side to this are those who have played for a much longer time and have become really familiar with their jobs, seen the dungeon/job structure stay the same through several of the latest expansions or even just stepped into harder content like extremes, savages and ultimates, and gained a different perspective on the game as a result.

No matter how good something is, if it is the same for a long time, people will get tired of it and if the fail states of a game are at some point too easily bypassed, a game can become a mindless hallway.

As I said, I'm not at this point with this game, but I can see how people would get there.

But I'm also not struggling to the point where I would find a little tougher dungeons off-putting or too much.

Same for having tougher rotations with stronger fail states.

As long as it feels good, I'll play it.

What I am worried about is the game going too far in the other direction, where the difficulty would be too much, specifically a possible situation where something feels unfair and frustrating to complete, rather than satisfying to complete because I think a bunch of the difficulty of the older dungeons comes from poor telegraphing, rather than fair and satisfying challenge.

An example here to me would also be the Ivalice alliance raids: they have really cool encounters for sure, but also a bunch of mechanics that have really unintuitive telegraphing.

I didn't fail the math boss because it is basic math, I failed it because I had no idea where to even look to solve the mechanic.

Why should I face the sniper with the hole in the shield and not the shield itself?

Stuff like that isn't a challenge you can figure out, it's an artificial obstacle you have to push yourself through until you find the solution.

I think Dzamael Darkhold is a really neat idea for boss management/positioning for tanks, but the "challenge" of sitting in the magitek circles is more annoying than any kind of challenge.

Copperbell Mines (Hard) also has some maybe neat ideas of using stuff within the environment, but also end up just being annoying, like the golem boss.

But if they mean stuff like the second boss of Bardam's Mettle, which is a neat pure mechanic fight or the beginning section of Hell's Kier and how that uses the fodder enemies, I'm all for it!

I welcome keeping things unique and fresh: mixing up the structure of dungeons, doing something more unique with regular mobs, punishing failing mechanics harder and making failing your rotation cost more.

In fact, if there is one element of criticism in terms of the game's difficulty I absolutely agree with, it's the idea that there is no ladder between the easy and hard content. If you want to try the hard content you either consult sources outside of the game or jump in without zero preparation by the game. That's why I've been hesitant to try: I like easing in to harder content via a possible ladder and work through that step by step.

My current plan, for example, is to reach endgame (lvl 90) and from there start with the easier extremes and work up to the tougher content if I enjoy the process.

But the game doesn't really prepare you for the tougher content in any form on its own as far as I've looked up. It just exists.

A version of the Hall of the Novice, like Hall of the Expert for extreme and savage content would be really cool I think and I think the current Hall of the Novice should not only be made mandatory, but be updated with a couple more concepts as you run through the MSQ, too, to just give you just a sense of how the more difficult content feels, which then would eventually lead to the harder 'expert' version to be unlocked.

(This also doesn't mean they should give everything away, only create a sort of mini extreme/savage level difficulty test before you let people do the content.)

I feel the easier mandatory tutorial would help a bunch with learning the game, especially help with reducing the amount of players who don't understand the basics of their jobs, while the presence of an expert hall would serve as at least some indication of what you're in for in harder content.

But to loop back to the start, my tl; dr is that I'm having fun with what we have now, but it's easy enough where I feel I wouldn't struggle too much if they raised the base difficulty, but more importantly, increased the friction or made the struggle itself more substantial, provided they did this is in a satisfying, rather than frustrating manner.

It's a balance that strikes me as fairly difficult to achieve, but if they do, I think they'll make something truly amazing out of it for players who enjoy easy and hard content alike.

In general, they are promising a lot of content with Dawntrail, but to me the most important element here is that all of that content would be actually good.

Quantity =/= quality, so, from the MSQ to the new exploratory zone to the new deep dungeon and even the graphics update, I'm just hoping everything they give us in the new expansion is good.

#Final Fantasy XIV #Final Fantasy 14 #FFXIV #FF14 #FF #Endwalker #Dawntrail

[kurisus]

Chapter 105-2 thoughts

What a roller coaster. Let's get into it.

So as I figured, Father's monsters zombie-fy people they touch. But rather than zombies per se, they become ayakashi that can't be cured with a bit of water, so the gods are faced with the dilemma of having to cut the blight out to save the rest--a nice parallel to the early times of the series, except in this case they're talking about having to kill people. Kill some to save the bigger picture, or try to find a cure/a way out in time?

The way Arahabaki reverted to his former violent nature, and how Take, Ebisu, Kofuku, and Tenjin decided to go along with it at the cost of blighting their shinki seems to me a way to highlight heaven's corruption. We know their ways suck, and here we're seeing that even the characters we love are not immune to their corrupt ways. Remember, heaven's modus operandi is strike first, ask questions later, so they're just solving things the way they know how, even if we don't think of them as necessarily being "part of" heaven.

Hopefully Hiyori or someone else will come up with a cure before the gods start doing...you know, exactly what Father wants them to do, but before I move on, I do have a concern about this chapter.

What was so dangerous about that island, after all???

Think about it--Ebisu said it's so dangerous that he died there in the past. But all that was waiting for them there was a decrepit old man and a bunch of non-aggressive ghosts. I kept speculating a booby trap, but now they've left and are safely back with the other gods? This kind of threw me for a loop, I'll admit. That place had bad vibes written all over it so it's a bit weird that nothing really happened. They simply got what they came for and left.

Anyway now let's talk about what I really wanted to talk about--Nora's character arc concluding. I loved her calling out Father's half-baked dimension as being...well, fundamentally worthless. Followed by her instinctive response of loving him, and the little Hiyori in her head that asks, "Do you really?"

Finally, finally, Nora admits she's scared of him, the same way Yato is scared of him, and turns on him. I'm so happy. I've been waiting for this day for years.

I also really liked her revelation that she had been playing her part in their made-up family. She didn't want to let her beliefs go partly because it was something she never got to have in life--a family.

Yato wants to go home and see the sun, not to die. I'm gripping the edge of my seat so hard. The eventual Yatori/trio reunion is going to break me open. When it happens, don't text. I will be in shambles. That might happen at the end of 106, since I'd assume the last chapter, 107, would be an epilogue of sorts. We'll see.

WHERE IS HIYORI

The finish line is truly in sight now, and all that's left is to defeat Father once and for all, reveal his true name, save the infected people, and get the main trio back together again. No one else except trash dad had better die :^)

I'm also really curious whether the series will be open-ended or not. As in, if it will end with Hiyori's ties being cut or her willingly parting ways with the gods--a definitive ending of their story. Or if it will end with the knowledge she'll have to leave them someday, but she wants to stick around for now. I'm personally rooting for the second just because the alternative makes me too sad, but we'll see. Hiyori getting and being tied up in the affairs of the gods has been, you know, the backbone of the series, so it would definitely make sense to put a clear ending on it. Even if it makes girls cry. It's me. I'm girls.

#Noragami #Noragami spoilers #Noragami manga #prepare my coffin slash therapy bill now I'm gonna be decimated on the spot #live update

[medicinemane]

I get very tired of dealing with people who are so busy being "practical" that they're just totally prescriptive

I tend to be, I think, a fairly pragmatic person. Like most years I spend about... maybe $50 on myself for the whole year (this year is going to be a bit higher, but there's also specific utility to what I'm spending it on). I tend to not bother buying myself snacks, cause I know I'm mostly hungry, and if I'm hungry real food is a better deal (I sadly tend to fail to get ahold of the real food either)

My point is that I tend to be very goal oriented (not in a ladder climbing way, in a I set goals and then work towards them kinda way), I tend to be very focused on what will push my situations into being sustainable, I tend to look for high efficiency, low cost, long term solutions

I was... I was talking to that friend I'll say is Dr Jekyll and Mr Dumbass (I was more trying to talk to my dad, but they were both there). It was definitely Mr Dumbass today

For one thing, he was already saying a bunch of really fucking dumb shit where... it's so stupid I'm not even going to repeat it, where it's like the answer for why we don't do that is because it's obviously a moronically stupid idea on top of being immoral, and also totally ineffective you dipshit

So I already wasn't in the mood for him

Then, while talking about visiting my grandma, I mention how in order to start cooking I need sharp knives, none of my knives are sharp (cause my mom's a fool and dulls them all), and how it would really help if I could just take a knife from my grandma since she doesn't cook anymore and just... keep it as my personal knife that I keep sharp

(I can't do this, cause my grandma is... bug fuck crazy, and legit believes that if you gift someone a knife they'll kill people with it which like... where do you even get that idea, like she has literally said before that she'd give money to buy a knife but wouldn't give one as a gift... what?)

Anyway, Mr Dumbass starts going on about how I can just buy a new knife, and it's like no... in your quest for objective practicality you've lost all pragmatism

I don't need to buy a new knife, I need to learn to sharpen knives which... which I just have a bit of a block on cause I've had trouble figuring out how to sharpen stuff so far (I've come to suspect that which of the hard and soft stones you use first and second isn't intuitive and I've been trying to hone with the sharpening stone and sharpen with the honing stone)

Like... to get mean for just a slight moment, shut your fool mouth, you've got more money than I've ever even touched, and while you were poor at one point when you were younger you've clearly forgot, and not everyone can just buy stuff

Also you're saying a bunch of dumb shit tonight with such confidence and it's pissed me off

He's capable of being a very very smart and compassionate person, and then other times he's a damn fool, and far too often he... he talks about practicality without actually understanding how to be practical

Being practical requires working in the confines of reality

...I don't know, I don't think I have all the words I need to explain what I'm saying, but the point is he's annoyed me and people who act like him annoy me where it's like... nothing matters in the end other than if you actually solve something

You can talk all day about what someone "should do", but what matters is what they will do

So it gets frustrating talking with my family with him cause he has all this ideas where it's like... that functionally won't work, and like some of his great ideas are how I can just wait for my grandma to die and get the knife then and it's like... yeah... but I need a knife now dummy, and I have knives, and which is more useful?

Dropping a pretty penny on a new knife, or finishing learning a skill I really fucking need badly and that makes it so I can sharpen things for next to free forever?

...I'm just tired of having to do everything myself and getting no help, that's all. How about you shut your fucking mouth, stop trying to offer advice that's worse than my plans I'm already slowly turning the gears on making happen, and just let me bitch about my idiot relatives?

Laughing at this fool antics when he chooses to do that, legitimately is more helpful than any attempts to help

#last two paragraphs are things that sadly a lot of people could learn #sometimes you need to shut your mouth and just listen #and this is why I have my no advice without action policy #if the rolls were reversed; I'm not willing to suggest someone buy a knife unless I'm willing to pay for it #most I'll ever do is something like say 'Just wondering if this is something you've already tried' #like know someone who go hacked here; and I just asked if they're running two factor authentication now cause if not it might help #like that's the outside amount of advice I'm willing to offer without action #because it acknowledges that they may have already thought of it; and it more just tries to float an option than it does suggest shit #honestly... I think I'd be less annoyed if it was like 'what about buying a new knife?; rather than 'you should buy a new knife' #advice in the form of a question makes for a dialogue rather than dictation #lets the other person just explain why something won't work if they've already considered it #like in this case... money; way rather just sharpen shit and get to spend money on food instead of a knife #like... this is the crux of what I complain about with my grandma; that groceries are my number one desire with money #are you my grandma? suggesting that I just flippantly spend money once it becomes something you'd want to spend it on? #...and the answer honestly is that yeah that's usually how people are #they can laugh off wasting money on shitty over priced clothes; but when it's what they like spending on that's what everyone should do #...maybe I fail at it; but I try not to do that #try to just be a back up to people and support them in whatever matters to them #and once again; only offer advice when I'm actually willing to do something like drop the money on getting them the thing I think they need #eh... I don't want to share the other dumb shit he was saying cause... dear god #edgy stoned dipshit talk; you know? #framed as actionable policy #good guy; helped me move shit up (I mostly needed a driver) but... utter fucking ass too much of the time #there's reasons we're not closer

[minuy600]

Atari 2600 Chronicles 1980 #1 - Adventure

Let's do a quick switcheroo here. Although Space Invaders seems to have a confirmed release date and Adventure does not, both appear to be from March 1980 and I actually had the chance to play the one earlier in the alphabet on my shiny new Atari 2600+! So do forgive my slight skewing of the chronology here.

Believe me, this system feels like magic in breathing new lives into these old as shit games. Yeah, playing them in a big meaty compilation is still nice and probably controls better in some cases, but nothing beats slamming in a cart, then using the original joystick and levers. You can really feel yourself fit into the mind of someone playing this system in the early 1980s.

As for the game itself? I have conflicting feelings. On one hand, it's a revolution. The ability to reset the game after being 'eaten' by a dragon/duck/abomination and for the progress to be retained after that is incredibly welcomed. I enjoy the puzzle solving aspect of it, very much too. Took me a good half hour to get the route of the full game figured out, and I can't deny and say I wanted more of it.

Then there's also the first BIG easter egg in gaming, the Warren Robinett credit that you get if you poke your head around in the Black Castle and find the tiny gray dot, essentially the final dungeon of the adventure. If you combine that with the randomized mode that comes included with the cart, you could get quite a lot of mileage out of speedrunning this one or challenging yourself via, for example, not using the sword or trying to go deathless.

That is a big *if* however. If you don't make up your own things to do, the randomized mode is all you have. And that one gets old dramatically fast. The bat-stealing-objects-mechanic is the prime example of a headache to me, but the worst part has to be continually going back into the painfully flickering zones this game contains. Whenever you get unlucky with the object spawns, get ready for your eyes to get gauged out!

I liked but didn't love Adventure. For everything it does right, there's another thing that makes it a hard sell. Good thing you can essentially sneeze this game up nowadays.

The Verdict

Graphics (3): Agh, yikes. I will compliment how well the game manages to articulate the extremely simple visuals via it's manual and worth of mouth. What happens on the screen however is crummy to the highest degree. Nothing more primitive than playing as a shape, using an arrow as a sword, while a derpy-looking bath toy hunts you down. The game world is hardly imaginative, the most sucked in I got was the feeling of actually being inside the castles in the first 3 seconds after entering. And i'll insist, the dark zones get so crowded sometimes that the screen flashes heavily and the game slows down! No offense to the legacy of the title, but the level of compensation to fit it on the cart was absolutely too much this time around.

Sound (6): The sounds that are there? Pretty fun. The sounds that aren't? Too plentiful to count. Most of the time, you're walking through silence. Only when there's action on the screen, like say, fighting a dragon, you get graced with some wackiness. Wouldn't have hurt to have a quiet walking noise in there, or even an attempt at music. Unfortunate that it gets bogged down like that, I cherish what was included.

Fun Factor (7): There's some fun left in the tank of this one. I played it largely blind other than knowing that there was that one easter egg of yore and having some bits and pieces of Youtube videos etched in my mind. The way the light exploration clicked in my head was worthwhile as all hell for someone who rarely plays 'complex' titles. Found myself happily surprised whenever I would see a new object or figured out a fast route to one of the castles, refreshing to have that element in there in such an early game.

Comes at a cost though. Once you're near the end game, and the bat has swapped around all your objects, it's exceptionally frustrating to have to go find them over and over again. The dragons start getting increasingly agressive too- the chalice seems to pull in the red one in particular. Pushing the reset button over and then get the enemy stuck in a place where it will kill ya nearly instant is still something I don't like 43 years later in a game like Minecraft. It gets worse in the randomized mode, once got all 3 dragons in the same place (a dark area, no less). Became so unplayable after that I quit then and there.

Yeah, mixed feelings!

Longevity (7): Enjoyment may vary. Either you wanna keep playing this after one finish in the second mode... or ya don't. I see myself popping this one on once or twice in the future. Having a randomized mode, flawed as it is, is very novel. In the 80s, this would've been like a 9/10 for that reason and the discovery of the easter egg some time later. Say it with me now, 'it's good compilation fodder'.

In Conclusion

#retro gaming #minuy600 #review #sona #atari 2600 #atari #1980 #adventure

[arunikanaya]

First 10 days of January

It was challenging. It consisted of boredom, worries, and a little bit of conflict.

1.) I was faced between two hard choices. Both of them are equally challenging.

The problem is: What I want with what my parents want are different. It is tough because this disagreement triggers my past trauma. It makes me feel as if I was not trusted by my parents and I did not receive support in anything that I do.

But on the other hand,

I am not financially independent at the moment. I cannot even afford my own living.

After a thoughtful consideration, I choose not to take it. Hopefully it'll lessen the friction between us because not only there are some things that make me think it's not a right offer for me, but this is also a toleration that I make to accommodate their want because they are important to me.

It feels like a waste of opportunity, but I made a very thorough consideration, and I asked a lot of questions to my friends who have done this kind of internship work. And for the first time, I prayed istikharah for guidance. I feel satisfied with the choice that guided by Allah for me to make. Alhamdulillah.

Take home points :

When you're still need someone to live, don't demand anything and just accept what they give to you.

Talk to your parents gently and it's on you to manage your emotions and your tone. Don't talk when you're not ready or when someone is in a bad mood.

Sometimes (most of the times), someone you wish could give you support cannot provide that, then don't expect it from them. As I know, some people are made for a certain function. I must be at peace with that fact. Be okay with their absence in a certain area of life.

You owe your parents enough. I'm going to be quite and make no scene and try to survive on my own.

2.) I'm indeed an unfunctional adult (even though I claim myself as a late phase teenager) and I cannot even solve my own problems (yet).

Maybe this is the milestone of life where I cannot run away from my life and my problems when the stakes are high.

Let me tell you first about me and how my psychology state so far.

My trauma/stress response : Freeze

Assessing it makes it easier to handle it. If you don't what's needed to be fixed, you'll never figured out how to. It took a lot of time to finally come to this conclusion. And to be honest, not being able to handle it when it comes really hinder a lot of stuff in my life. I lose a lot of people, chances, trust, etc. But I'm alright though, that was needed in order to have a better understanding of myself, like now.

Knowing that, a new question arises : what are you gonna do with that fact? I'll try to handle it. Here are how :

Breath exercise -> I just found on an IG account (he's a neuroscientist btw) that breathing work works.

Grounding technique

Write it down and give a time to feel what I feel (with moderation)

Getting into the 'Flow mode'

Start to think about solutions and ACTUALLY DOING IT.

My very.. immature defense mechanism : Acting out, Fantasizing, Passive Aggressive.

It's time to fix it. It's my problem. (Now playing: Anti-hero - Taylor Swift)

by adopting some mature defense mechanism:

Humor -> laugh it off and smile! Life is a little silly game. Life is too short to be frowning all the time!

Altruism -> help people to help yourself.

Anticipation -> proper preparation prevents poor performance.

Identification -> act and show up as your higher self.

Sublimation -> doing something else/being in the flow

Supression -> it is what it is. let go and move forward~

3.) The key to every problem, every success in my life: Just do it, pray for it, don't make Allah mad, trust Him at all costs.

That's all.

[notesofarichlycolorednight]

negative rant due to it being 2am under the cut

like i know that hearing abt how celebrities were in their 30s or 40s, or even older before they started doing what they're currently doing is supposed to be inspirational but like them becoming ultra famous is such a astronomically rare thing how am i supposed to relate to that yknow

like i know the moral i'm supposed to take away from it is that i have all a lot of time to figure out where i want to go and what i want to do in my life

but what it doesn't account for is the limitations set on me that i can't control

how do i figure out what i want to do with my life if i have to juggle student loans? living from paycheck to paycheck?

how can i decide to pursue a phd in comparative literature when a phd in most sciences will help me make more money to pay off my student loans

how do i justify starting to a phd in either when with it comes with a massive pay cut? my student loans are frozen, but i have to help my mom pay off the extra loans she took out to help me get thru college and my master's program.

get a phd in comparative literature down the line? you mean when i pay off my student loans 25 years from now? there's nothing wrong with getting a phd when you're older, but the issue i face is i want to at least feel satisfied in my job, which i currently don't. and i can't just quit my job to pursue something that won't help me financially and may, in fact, hurt me more financially later on

i can't emotionally or mentally justify putting off paying my student loans to pursue what i want to pursue bc the thought of paying off my student loans into my 60s makes me want to [redacted]

my mom is going to retire soon and instead of doing what everyone should get to do when they retire, she's going to be stuck paying off loans. and i hate that the best i can do is help her pay them off in increments bc i don't make enough

i hate that my decisions are governed by the student loans looming over my head like a guillotine. it's very difficult to balance finding a job that i enjoy and that fulfills me with making enough money that i have even a chance at paying off my student loans by the time i'm fucking 50. so that i can at least help make my mom's retirement just a tiny bit relaxing for her, even if she can't do what she had hoped to during retirement.

but i'm stagnating and my brain feels like it's on fire. and i need to do something about it. but there are so many things to consider that i can't control. and i feel like i'm caught in an ouroboros nightmare bc it seems like no matter what i do, i end up eating my own tail anyway

i can do what might get me some monetary gains, enough to make paying off student loans not feel like carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, and possibly be miserable during my phd program bc i may enjoy science but finding a project in science that sparks joy feels next to impossible

or i can pursue what i think i would enjoy more, but it most likely would not get me a pay raise and would end up having me pay student loans into my 60s, possibly longer bc of how predatory they are.

either way i'm miserable, and while that sounds like it would make the decision easier, that misery can very easily lead into [redacted] (which tbh i know i should see a therapist abt but that takes time, which costs money)

i know you can't solve your life at 2am, and i'm not trying to. but this has been weighing on me since the beginning of this yr and it has only grown worse. i feel like i'm running out of time and options.

i want to keep moving forward. i can feel myself stagnating. but every way forward feels like a trap that will only sink me deeper into stagnation, just in a different way. but if i don't move, i'll go crazy.

#chirp.txt #negative #we're not doing well in this chili's tonight lads

[bell-arina271]

Day 0 [Restart] of Building Elsa's Ice Palace

As you can already guess, consistency is not my strong suit. I went back and forth a lot on what I could do, then work threw me for a loop and I kept losing sleep. Anyway-

Over the last few months I've realized I can't get the property short notice- mostly because even if I were to get a second job, lenders would need proof that I was at that job for 2 years. That figures :/

So I can't get the land to build a to-scale Ice Palace any time soon. I'll have to think long term, and then just hope that I'll find an ideal lot/location when the time is right.

But I CAN afford a fixer upper that I can update, make a home-friendly Elsa-inspired theme and rent it out. It's not an ideal solution and a lot of work, but I need at least one stream of income, and honestly at this point getting a house now before they get even MORE expensive is probably best.

(Before anyone gets jealous: I've been living with my mother the past ten years and now make 18/hr and can ONLY afford a fixer upper. Or a tiny house. I just got lucky that I HAPPENED to find a house that was only halfway renovated that will work for my plans. Also, relatively low cost of living in my area.)

Things you should know about me before subscribing to this blog:

I am a singer/performer that's been out of practice, and I'm a dramatic theater kid. Comes with the territory.

I don't actually love the Frozen movies, but I have madly loved Elsa and her arc and all her aesthetics for about 10 years (and have no idea when I'll stop).

I love cats and ultimately want to rescue lions/big cats/other possible exotic animals that will be ultimately abandoned/abused in the pet trade.

I have a weird sense of humor.

I struggled with severe mental health issues the past few years and am still struggling to come out of it. I will be open and frank with my struggles, but will try to remember to tag everything accordingly.

I fully believe in the spiritual realms. Psychics, spirits, angels, demons, and the like. I won't actually talk about them often unless it's relevant to a struggle I'm dealing with.

I am a Christian and struggle with my faith, and do believe in a Hell, but I don't believe that lgbtq+ folks are specifically doomed for Hell. I may not answer questions about my faith, I just want to let you know ahead of time when I mention church and prayer and whatnot, since it is a part of my life.

I love anime.

I am a feminist that wants to solve men's issues too. I fully believe the patriarchy hurts men too.

I am a white passing, half Hispanic woman from my father's side. If I make comments about racial issues, that's where I'm coming from.

I'll add other things in the future as I go, but those are the main ones. I hope the rest of you will enjoy this journey with me as much as I imagine I will.

#elsa #frozen #frozen 2 #ice palace #religion #mental problems

[doggiedyke]

I need help but where do I even go? My problems can't be solved by a fucking therapist, I need things to stop getting more expensive. Feeding my family used to cost $10 back when I made $8.50 an hour and it was shitty then but now I make $15 and feeding my family costs $20. I'm making nominally more money but everything has gotten so much more expensive that I'm farther away than I used to be. Used to be that I made money once a year on a tax return but now that I make numerically more money I don't even get much from that anymore. I need a new car and a new phone but a down payment on a car is about 3 times more money than I have to my name. I haven't made any money in months, I'm living paycheck to paycheck and bills are stacking up around me while I just try to feed myself. I don't spend frivolous money either, I don't have expensive hobbies or big impulses. I just can't help but feel like something's got to give and how could something so big, so systemic as the profit incentive be the thing that gives? The structure of everything would have to change to make life livable, the need for cars, the price of food, the structure of work. I don't know how anyone is expected to survive under these conditions. I know in my heart that they don't expect us to survive under these conditions, but what do I do about that? How can I change these circumstances for the better when every single thing that can possibly be commodified is? I keep fighting and fighting and fighting for the people I love but in the 6 years I've been on my own I feel like I haven't made any meaningful progress. I keep saying that I'll figure it out, that it'll end up okay, but how could that possibly be true when it just keeps getting harder and harder to exist? How do I work more when I'm getting less and less sleep because I'm so stressed out over bills? How do I get to a better place when just living in this place costs more than I can make?

[eloquent-and-opinionated]

Overturning Roe v Wade

This is something I had never thought I would never be writing. I am honestly still stunned. As a woman in America, I never thought I would ever feel so absolutely enraged at our policymakers.

The facts are reduced to this: Dead bodies in America now have more Bodily Autonomy than pregnant women.

Yes, you read that right, dead bodies are now more free than the millions of beautiful, bold, breathing women in this nation.

If that doesn't make you feel sick to your stomach, you need to reevaluate what you find truly valuable. Because if we allow this, we are saying as a nation that we find clumps of cells more valuable than the lives of adult women.

And you cannot pretend that this decision won't kill women.

Now, buckle up, because this is going to get long.

They say it's about babies, but if it were then why do we have so many hungry children in America? Why isn't there free universal healthcare or childcare? These are things that actually protect the lives of babies and children, but our policymakers say that those things are too expensive.

They say it's about 'taking responsibility'. But why do we still fight against comprehensive, science-backed, universal sexual education? Why isn't there free, universally available, birth control? Free condoms are too scandalous but homeless, hungry babies aren't?

My first pregnancy was unplanned, when I was still struggling to figure out college. I was fortunate and had my families support to fall back on, so keeping the pregnancy was viable for me. I am thankful every day that I was able to have my daughter. She's grown into a bright, powerful young woman. But if I hadn't had my family to fall back on, I could never have afforded to have her. Not even to pay for the pregnancy while insured- nevermind the cost of formula, clothing, furniture, etc. after her birth. I would have been lucky to come up with the money to have had an abortion! Many women do not have the privileges that I had/have. I cannot imagine being forced into that position. What kind of life could I have created for her? I would have had to rely on public assistance programs- which is often something these same so called 'pro-lifers' also try to make cutbacks on. "Get a job!" they exclaim. As if it were that easy.

Raising a child successfully requires a lot more than just a job, as any mother, or father, (any parent really) can attest to. Childrearing is a huge emotional labor that is put on parents who are expected to be grateful for it at all times! But let's be very real here: Every single parent will, at times, feel like they cannot do it any longer. They will cry, break down and get so, so angry. They may even have moments of regret that they even embarked on the journey of parenthood. And most of the parents that feel these things will have had their children on purpose and can (most days) afford to support those children. Now imagine being FORCED to become a parent. Imagine how much harder that emotional labor becomes when you didn't even get to choose it. Or when you can't afford it.

Birth control fails. Condoms break. Pills interact and cancel out each other. 99.999999% effective still isn't no chance at all. Birth control often costs money, which may mean someone can't afford it. An unplanned pregnancy is not necessarily an irresponsible act.

Then there's ignorance. America doesn't have a universal, comprehensive sexual education system. So, naturally, there are some people who honestly just do not understand how pregnancy even happens. Talk to some ER or Planned Parent Clinic staff about some stories, I'll bet they have at least one unbelievable tale about how two teenagers thought pregnancy happens or doesn't happen.

Adoption is a great option. For some. But it doesn't solve all the problems that come with an unplanned or dangerous pregnancy.

Some pregnancies endanger the life of the mother. Actually, all pregnancy technically does that, but there are some cases in which the choice is for the mother to die or to terminate the pregnancy. Full stop. No other options.

Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the embryo implants itself in one of the fallopian tubes (this is sometimes also called a 'tubal pregnancy'). As the embryo grows it inevitably bursts the tube, causing internal bleeding and other complications which almost invariably lead to the death of the mother unless there is surgical intervention- that is an abortion.

There are also pregnancies which result in an embryo that cannot have any meaningful life outside the womb. One example is called Anencephaly. As I understand it, this covers various developmental problems in the brain and skull. Most commonly, it means the fetus has developed without a large portion of the brain. Obviously, we need our brains in order to function. Most textbooks will say that Anecephaly is not compatible with life, as most infants born with it die within hours or days of birth. Abortion is offered as an option in these cases to spare the parents the pain and trauma of carrying such children to term. Now, can you imagine being forced to carry a child to term that you know will die within hours of being born?

There are far too many medical conditions to discuss them all so I'll move on to the financial burden.

America has a for-profit healthcare system. Inevitably that means American's pay a premium for medical care, pregnancy and birth included. The average price of having a baby through vaginal delivery is between $5,000 to $11,000 in most states (according to a quick google search). Now, as a married adult with a family, I do not have 8,000 USD sitting around to drop on an unexpected pregnancy. And that is just average medical costs for the delivery itself! Pregnant women visit the doctor and have blood and urine tests frequently throughout a pregnancy. Then, if they plan to keep the child after birth, they have to buy diapers, clothing, baby furniture. They have to pay for vaccines and child health screenings. And if they do not or cannot breastfeed, FORMULA!

A 33oz can of non-brand sensitive formula costs about 19.99, plus tax. Some babies need specialty formula, which is more expensive. An infant on only formula can eat as much as 32 ounces of formula in a day. For diapers, it is estimated that in the first year a child uses about 2,000 in the first year alone. Diapers vary pretty greatly in price depending on size and brand, but for my family it's about 26 dollars for around 120 diapers right now. That amounts to about $430 in diapers in the first year. Clothing also is highly variable in price, but in the first few years of life clothing is bought frequently. Children grow. Fast. That means a lot of money spent on clothing, even if you thrift it! Our carseat cost over 300 dollars. The crib was another 200. Bassinet was 100. Bouncy chair about $70. Changing table/dresser combo was around 200. Tummy time mat was probably 40ish. It goes on and on. Children are expensive.

Now, finally, there is the tole even a healthy pregnancy can take on a woman's body. While pregnant there are whole hosts of symptoms and possible complications. Nausea, food aversion, weight gain, vomiting, cravings, emotional changes, dizziness, lightening crotch, braxon-hicks contractions, etc. Then there's gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and hyperemesis gravidarum- just to name a few more common complications.

Labor isn't easy either. My mother was in labor for 32+ hours with my sister. I got lucky with my daughter, it happened quickly, but I still tore. Believe me when I say that stitches down there are not fun. I also lost a ton of blood, they considered giving me a transfusion. For my son, I was induced. The contractions were a lot more intense with the induction, and less effective. Still had it fairly easy with only 10 hours of labor. Tore again. More stitches. Ouch.

You bleed for a long time afterwards too (sometimes you can spot for as long as six weeks afterwards!!). It's draining all on its own and now you are also expected to care for a tiny human that eats every two hours! Your body is never quite the same again either. Even archeologists can tell if a female skeleton has given birth by looking at the hip/pelvis bones.

And yet, women's bodies are capable of this miracle. No matter what your faith or creed, there is a unique mystery the process that we can't deny. Perhaps that is why we get hung up on this idea that we are saving babies by banning abortion....but are we really?

Because those babies have costs too. And sometimes that cost is a woman's life. A fully grown, actual human woman's life. Not a clump of cells that has the potential to be a human. I've had two pregnancies, and have two healthy children, because I made the choice to keep them. I love my children, and I'm deeply grateful that they were both born healthy and safely. But given the choice between a pregnancy and my own life, I would choose to live.

Knowing what I know about the wonder and fear of parenthood, I would never feel like I could make this choice for anyone, ever. If we can trust women to bring life into the world, can't we trust them to know when not to as well?

And really, that's all this requires. You have to understand that you do not have the right to make life altering choices for another adult human being. Even if they make choices that you would not necessarily make.

Love to all my sisters out there, both with and without children. I respect and honor your right to choose.

#scotus #roe versus wade #news #politics

[dogloveri23]

Law pt.2

Pairing: Artem x reader, Artem x Rosa, Marius x reader

Warning: Angst as always, not proof read

A/n: Hi *puts on sunglasses* so you all enjoyed the first part so I decided it’s time for part two. 

Written by @dogloveri23

It had been weeks since the banquet, yet he never noticed your disappearance, he never noticed you went radio silent, either  that or he didn't care enough to talk to you . This was a very sad situation. It was very clear to you that your love wasn't reciprocated but it hurt too much! This reflected in your writing as your coworkers could tell that your writing was taking a very heartbreaking turn even worse than it had before. You were is talented writer so you made it work either way, some would say your writing improved since that day, but at what cost? Your smiles seemed forced, you had bags under your eyes and no amount of ice cream Alice bought was helping.

You sat at your desk at the firm deciding to go in today even though it was not necessary.  Most writers has to show up twice a week for story reviews and progression. "Ahh Y/n, you're here, you're feeling better I hope?" Your boss, Faline asked. This earned a simple nod and a small smile from you. "Well, I've tried to work around you, but Mr. Marius von Hagen requested to see you" Faline said scratching her head. "I tried to get him to not bother trying to discuss with you but to no avail" Faline said. You held a look of confusion on your face causing Faline to sigh. "The pax group showed up a few weeks and wanted to look through stories. Mr. Von Hagen said that he'd been looking for a good read but he didn't want to go to a bookstore. We eventually landed on the topic of manuscripts, he said he wanted to have a look at stories in progress. He read a few lines of each, but when he got to yours, he became emerged and since it isn't finished, he doesn't know what happens next. Now he wants to meet you" Faline said. "Does he know I'm here?" You say ready to pack your things and come in another day. "So your the Miss. Y/n? You're were at the banquet, you were under one of our business partners?" The Devil himself, Marius said. "Yes, I suppose I am, if you don't mind, I'll be leaving now" You say as you got ready to leave. "Before that I'd like to have a word with you ....alone" Marius said before escorting you to the meeting room.

"You're a friend of Artem? Or are you a little more than that?" Marius asked as he took a seat an gestured for you to have one as well. "I used to think I was but not, not so much" You say as you take your seat. "You liked him?" Marius said. "Wasn't hard to figure out, I'm sure you put two and two together" You said. "Don't you mean two and one?" He asked only to be met with deadly silence. "Sorry... The two of them are together at the moment, How are you holding up? I haven't seen you since middle school" Marius asked. Marius was a longtime friend of yours but as always certain bonds break over time. "I don't know, honestly" You say before sighing and looking out the window. "I need your help" Marius said. "My help?" You asked confused. "There's an organisation I'd like you to join" He said. "It's called Nxx, most of the details are in this file, you can go through it" He said as he handed you the file. Upon going through it, you realise they mostly solve cases. But how exactly did this concern you, you were a writer, what did creative writing have to do with the law anyway? Marius could tell what you were thinking because the opened his mouth to speak. " You have always been a talented writer and problem solver, even as kids, you always came from an angle that no one would ever think about. Even when reading your story the other day, you lead the audience to believe one thing when the truth had been clear as day right from the beginning. You've always been good with misdirection. I thought you would be a detective or a lawyer one day...." He says causing you to flinch a little. "I have a teacher who's really good at analytic stuff, I'll fill you in on that later. You don't have to join right away but, at least help us with the case at our headquarters" Marius said. "Fine, But you could have at least caught up with me at lunch" You say as you get up from your seat earning a laugh from Marius.

A few days later, you stood outside of Nxx headquarters, waiting for Marius to meet you outside. "Y/n?" A voice asked making you look up from your phone. "What do you want Artem?" You asked before returning your attention to your phone. "Uh.. this is Rosa my..." He started to say but was cut off by you saying "I don't really care". This left him with his mouth wide. Rosa was about to come up with an argument but you took some steps away from them but not too far from the building. Artem was speechless for the first time in a while. Were you mad at him? What did he do? He hadn't seen you in a while and now this? Come to think of it, why hadn't he spoken to you? That must be why you're mad! But that doesn't give you the right to talk to Rosa like that not when she was his world! At least he thought. He approached you in an attempt to confront you but you had no intention of speaking to him or hearing him out. Marius walked out of the building in that exact moment gaining everyone's attention. "You're here Y/n, follow me" He said as he waved at you saving you from the situation. You left the both of them behind without a word, after all he left you first.

#tears of themis artem #artem x reader #artem wing #tot artem #tears of themis marius #marius von hagen #Marius x reader #artem x rosa #tears of themis vyn #tears of themis luke #tears of themis imagines #tears of themis #luke pearce #luke x rosa

[queen-of-my-goofball-army]

"Basil and I we were a close team. We had many cases together, but I'll always look back on that first with the most fondness, my introduction to Basil of Baker Street, the great mouse detective." (Great Mouse Detective Dr Dawson.)

Throughout a good chunk of my childhood, I watched a lot of underrated classics as most people have found through looking at these different movies that I find comfort in. Other than my favorite Disney movie, Beauty And The Beast, my other favorite Disney movies are all underrated. In the late 80's and early 90's Disney was having a new "dark age." Nothing seemed to be working because they just weren't making the same animated films that Walt had made. In my opinion, the first return to form was a movie that came in 1986.

Three years before Little Mermaid was initially released, The Great Mouse Detective, originally titled Basil Of Baker Street. Disney rarely does detective stories, but this movie is such a good one. It's one that changed everything for the company. The Great Mouse Detective follows a young girl Olivia. Her dad gets nabbed by the amazing villain (more about him in a bit). This causes her to go to the Great Mouse Detective aka Basil Of Baker Street. Basil himself isn't the best with children at first but quickly decides the right thing to do is to help her find her father.

The plot of the movie is simple because it's only about an hour and twenty minutes long. What makes this movie so incredible to me is the hero and the villain. The hero, Basil of Baker street is intelligent, a bit socially awkward, but he has a good heart and the determination to do the right thing no matter the cost of his own wellbeing. The villain on the other hand, is Professor Ratigan, is cunning, just as intelligent, and one of Disney's most diabolical villains. Of course the voice acting for both of them is absolutely incredible. Barry Ingham is absolutely incredible as Basil. I think that he's one of the most talented Disney voice actors out there for his amazing performance. To me he is what makes this movie so good. I could watch Basil just do anything and it's something that I never get tired of. From his moments of muttering to himself while he's trying to figure something out, to the little added characteristics that I never fail to get tired of. That doesn't mean that the voice of Ratigan isn't amazing either! Vincent Price is one of my favorite villain performances other than Keith David for Dr Facilier. The way that he voices Ratigan with this smoothness and this sense of humor that is extremely snarky. His constant drawl of speaking is something that brings a whole other level to this villain. His cunning and his intelligence comes from that voice. Also he has one of my favorite villain songs World's Greatest Criminal Mind.

The relationships in this movie is another strong point. I especially love the bond that Basil forms with Olivia almost acting like her uncle. One of my favorite running jokes is that even though he knows her last name by the end he still butchers it just for the sake of making her laugh. Their relationship is something that is just so heartwarming and extremely adorable. Also the bond between Dawson and Basil is another strong point in the film! I love that while they are so different and yet so similar at the same time.

Great Mouse Detective is something that I love rewatching all of the time. It's something that never fails to make me grin from ear to ear. I could watch Basil solve the case for hours on end, the villain is one of Disney's best, the relationships are unique, dynamic and strong, and all of the characters are uniquely well developed.

#great mouse detective #basil of baker street #comfort movies #favorite movies #disney

[fluidfox123]

Follow up rambles from this amazing post about Raph's plurality you should totally read if you want to. I would also like to thank the Constellation System (@december-rains) for giving me feedback on my grammar usage that I kinda messed up on and helping me with figuring out some information I couldn't decide on! You guys should totally check lune out!

Also, once again, please don’t screenshot/repost this post without my permission. I know it’s “only headcanons” but I would rather you ask before doing so. Also you can reblog since that’s not reposting.

Updated info:

Origin: Traumagenic and Protogenic (Mixed Origin System)

Savage is also Trauma-Locked (see the last post for the rest of his roles/identities, linked above)

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Headcanons:

- Red is reckless and hard-headed. He's usually the one who does dangerous stunts for fun and gets angry the quickest. Even though he's pretty blunt as well, the guy is still pretty hard set in getting the rest of the system and turtle brothers through difficult times. An example of this is when Raph's brothers continued to eat poison despite it being, well, poison and fought with Raph over babying them or them learning to actually solve things by themselves. Red wasn't trying to say that they shouldn't ask for help in any sort of way, but he wanted nothing more than Leo, Donnie, and Mikey to learn how to do things without depending on Raph so much or just continuing to be irresponsible. It's unbelievable for Red that they won't even go out on missions a lot of the time despite them all collectively agreeing to be heroes. - Red is a foodie and has more than once ate so much food that their body suffered major stomach aches and gotten really sick. Mind scolds him each and every time. - Raph watches spy/action movies frequently ever since Red introduced them to him when he was younger. Sometimes rolling around and pretending to point a gun everywhere when on missions/patrols. All his brothers tease him for it. - Red and Raph sometimes co-front whether intentional or not. This causes them to be unsure of who is fronting or/and blur together. This often happens when Red decides to be involved with Raph's brothers without Raph leaving or because the body is in danger and he needs to quickly move them out of the way, only taking enough control to only move the body and protect it. Only on rare occasions do they co-front for long periods of time, especially since it is still fragile for them, and if it's focused on too much one will be forced back. - Red's voice is a lot rougher and a bit deeper than Raph's, despite the two being harder to discern from one another compared to everyone else in the system. - Mind practically lives in their inner world and it's rare for him to ever front unless it's to take care of the body, comfort someone who is fronting (usually by co-fronting and for example comfortingly rubbing the bodies arm), they've been forced to front (Red and Raph have been forced away/other reasons), or because they were positively triggered by something in the outside world that causes them to front (Like the strong smell of cinnamon or song Mind may love). - Mind is a very calm person, everything about them is practically soothing. They usually are the one everyone goes to for advice and comfort because it's something they radiate constantly. They're pretty peaceful but could practically kill you with their stare of disapproval when something bugs them. They're not very blunt, liking to think things through and adjust to the person they're around and talking to, making sure that they say what they know will get through to them or that Mind's presence isn't bothersome. Plus, they're practically the Mom friend but actually takes care of you like a soft-spoken mother. His ideas may not be the best but he tries his best to help everyone in the system and helps Raph with the people on the outside when he's having trouble. - Mind has a thing for bubbles. He loves the way they pop, make little soapy rainbows, and how much of a mess it makes after you've blown a whole bottle. In the outside world, Mind will practically jump to the front to blow some bubbles if offered. In the Inner World Mind's Station has bubbles floating around it constantly. - Mind might not be the best singer when it comes to anything fast or really upbeat, but slow and lullaby-like songs are his thing for sure. Mind has distinct memories of Splinter singing to the turtles when they were younger and learned it to help Raph and Savage when they're scared, upset, or unable to sleep. Mikey once asked if he and Splinter could do a lullaby duet. They said they would, but they haven't yet. Everyone wants nothing more than to hear it so they're all waiting for the day that two of the best lullaby singers put on a show. - Mind's blue eyes glow dimly,

making them a bit otherworldly than everyone else. His voice is pretty feminine, quiet, slow, and soft. He speaks the most formally out of everyone besides Donnie. - Mind likes to braid their mask tails from time to time. Red always compliments the look when he sees it. - Mind keeps track of everything within the inner world by using a very large computer. Using files and keywords in a search system to organize and find information easily. - Savage is someone who hates fronting. Practically avoids it at any cost and the only time he does front is when he's forced to, and it's always forced. He's emotional, most of the time non-verbal, and the most untrusting of everyone else out of everyone in the system. He hates the world outside just as much as he does the Inner world if not more and he wants nothing but for the outside world to never exist in the first place. - Savage is 6 years old, the youngest out of the system. - Savage is pretty silent and only speaks when he's distressed or so angry that he's on a warpath. He might be seen as the stereotype for the "evil alter" for systems, but he's not. He's far from it, in fact, and never intended to reinforce something so hurtful. He's simply a little kid who's forced to front when Raph's left alone for too long, and the pain and loneliness of being the worst feeling in the world. Even if he is the only one who can take it. But, despite his loathing for existence, he's a sweet kid. He loves strange animals, rock candy, and climbing things. He has fluffy pillows and likes the piece of brown cloth always wrapped around him, it comforts him and it's his own personal little blankly for wherever he goes. - Mind is the one who takes care of Savage, constantly giving him first aid for his climbing accidents, bathing him after he's dirty from his cuts, and playing in the sand/dirt in the Inner World. Mind is the only one Savage somewhat trusts out of the whole 2 worlds, and the only one he can even think to feel safe with. - Savage loves animal crackers. - The little Snapping turtle has neon bandaids constantly littering his skin other than bandages and bruises. He has no pupils and has gotten the nickname white eyes for that reason, it being the only nickname he'll allow people to call him other than his name. - Savage is the one out of everyone in the system that looks closest to a dinosaur. - He likes hanging from branches with his tail and digging pointless holes with his claws. - It's canon that Raph has a peanut allergy (Mascot Melee), but I feel like he's also allergic to Pineapple. - Mind pitched the idea when the body was a pre-teen to wear bracelets so everyone on the outside knew who was there, even if Red and Raph are the ones always present. Red wears a red thread bracelet similar to this:

Mind wears a blue, white, and turquoise bracelet that looks similar to this:

Raph usually doesn't wear one, but when he isn't fronting for an unusual amount of time, anyone else being the host would wear a bracelet to show Raph is co-fronting/co-conscious with them. The bracelet being a pink, yellow, and white mini rubber band bracelet Mikey made for him when he told him about Mind's idea:

And, even though Savage doesn't front, Mind made sure to include him by having a neon lime green triple rope bracelet:

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That should be it for now! That's mostly the information for their system other than their Inner World, but I haven't really made anything for that yet, so I guess I'll make a third post for that eventually! Thank you for getting to this point! It really means a lot! Asks are open if ya'll wanna send one in about any of this!

#rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt #tmnt 2018 #rottmnt raph #headcanon #tw mentions of injury #plural raph #fox speaks

[ren-c-leyn]

Happy sts, Ren! How are Forgotten gods going? Any updates, news, new favourite scenes you have written recently? @writingonesdreams

Hey, dreams! A happy sts to you as well ^^

Life's been busy the last few days, so I don't have a massive progress report for you. Still, I'll give you what I have and you can decide it it's impressive enough for you :)

According to my writing document, Forgotten Gods is currently 214 pages and 85,201 words long. I'm currently working on chapter 30. Keep in mind, I'm on a short writing break so it's about to get longer soon. By my estimates, I have less than 5 chapters to go. I may be able to finish off these last plot points and wrap up the book in 2, but I'm not going to swear to it. 5 or less is my firm estimate. 2 is my optimistic estimate.

These last few chapters have been longer than most in Forgotten Gods, but I feel like that's fitting since the last few chapters have been some of the longest days the trio have ever been forced to drag themselves through.

As far as new favorite scenes, I do have a few good ones, the problem is is trying to figure out how to describe it without being too spoiler, you know? I'm at the big climax where all of the foreshadowing and mini mysteries make sense and weave together into this big event. There's not really much I can gush about in this part without throwing all of the mystery part of it out the window.

So, here's what I think I can safely talk about without much of an issue?

Silver's kind of stepping into this weird role of leader. She's not trying to be, she doesn't want to be, but the gang have been put into this position where Reuven and Kitan don't have the skill sets needed to deal with this nonsense, and Silver is so confident in her half-baked plan that they go along with it, praying she knows what she's doing because they are playing with some dangerous, dangerous stuff and failure will mean a lot more than just death.

There's not many of the new scenes that I don't love. There's a lot of action, a lot of angst, and a lot of realizations being made about just what's at stake and what the cost of it all is going to be. Reuven already isn't happy, but he's not getting in the way. Kitan's still rolling with it because he understands Silver and Corona wouldn't just roll with this if there was another way.

I've had to add a small plot point to pull some of my background threads to the forefront to make some of the puzzle pieces click, but I can safely bundle that into the next chapter and the other major plot beat I had before the fun ending. It won't be a big change, just a small exposition scene and a big WTF moment for Silver. I'm looking forward to it. ^^

So, yeah. There's my report for ya. I hope that's enough, I wish I could give you more, but as I said, I'm at the big climax where things get real and mysteries get solved.

Thanks for dropping by. I hope you have a lovely day/evening. ^^

#storyteller saturday #sts #Forgotten Gods