#000. Without those exceptions

[nikid-aze]

TOKYO ON EDGE. ˒˒ ﹙ niki! ﹚

╰┈⪼ moving to Japan wasn’t really on your plan through the year, but with your specialty being Japanese you had no choice but to accept. arriving in the middle of the year you found it strangely easy enough to integrate into your well-known class but over the days everything seemed to become boring and everything looked the same, the only thing that seemed to interest you was discovering the streets of Japan and the cultural differences with your native country. but, what you hadn't imagined was coming face to face with a car race, where one of the participants was one of your classmates, Nishimura Niki.

pairing ‎⸝⸝⸝ street racer!niki x student!reader 𓄷 iηcℓudᥱs 𓈓 older brother!jay, best friend!sunoo, best friend!haerin, bully!woonhak and heeseung.

genre﹙💬﹚⸝⸝⸝ serie, street racing au, enemies to lovers, kind of bully!niki, slow burn.

warnings ‎⸝⸝⸝ harsh talking, mention of violence and bullying, mention of drinking and smoking, cursing, mention of mental health, niki’s really dumb sometimes.

taglist ‎⸝⸝⸝ @r1kification @cherryrikis @moonpri @who-tf-soddhi @heeswif3y comment to be added to the taglist !!

rain’s note ‎⸝⸝⸝ i wanna scream so bad because I love the prologue so much I really hope you would like this story as much as I do

all feedback and reblogs are welcome! ♡

MASTERLIST | NEXT >>

000. boys like him get all the girls, except one.

guys like Nishimura niki thrive on danger, beautiful, intelligent beings drunk on adrenaline and always in the spotlight when trouble is on the front line.

those who have a reputation established by rumors and stories told across the school grounds, established by behavior worthy of the high school bad boy. the rumors stuck to their skin and all the bad choices followed him like their shadows.

guys like Nishimura riki had their populations following them no matter where their feet landed, for good or bad reasons.

those who noticed every girl pointing at them in the corridors of the establishment, who heard the whispers said about them no matter what room they set foot in. The hateful looks of the other boys falling on them while their girlfriends were fangirling over them.

guys like Nishimura Niki were known for their troublemaking behavior, who were fearless and who did not hesitate to use the strength of their hands to resolve any conflict.

those who had no shame in ending up with scratched, bloody hands at the end of a fight if that required it and who would be proud to see their opponents unable to get up without the help of someone.

guys like Nishimura Niki were the very definition of bad boys, who had no shame in behaving rashly around a teacher and ended up in the principal's office.

those who had no shame in taking responsibility for their faults before anyone with greater authority. just as they had no shame in disrespecting authority when the moment required it.

guys like Nishimura Niki were the type who came to class with bandages on their arms and hands after boxing practice.

those who spend their time in gyms, hitting punching bags for hours and venting all the hatred they felt.

guys like Nishimura Niki abandoned their boring student lives for late-night escapades and unconscious decisions to find themselves in the heart of pure danger, who loved the sound of cars through the empty streets of the night.

those who spent their nights behind the wheel of cars, adrenaline coursing through their veins as their feet mashed the gas pedal and the engine roared through the streets of Japan, seeking that freedom.

guys like Nishimura niki were the boys who were way too popular with the girls, who made every girl who saw them scream and who enraged the boys who weren't as popular.

those who spent their time rejecting girls who confessed to them no matter how they said it, who broke many hearts a day simply because they were in no way interested in love.

guys like Nishimura Niki didn't care about love and have no interest in it.

those who had no time to think about love, who simply did not prefer to have this waste of time.

guys like Nishimura who had no interest in shy, good girls, with only good grades and who had this cute and innocent look.

who didn't like girls like that. . . well normally they weren’t supposed to.

since your arrival in Japan and in this high school you had always hated boys like Nishimura Niki. No, you hated Nishimura Niki. Since you unfortunately met him in the corridors you had felt this feeling of disgust.

his name being whispered in every corridor, his first name which absolutely did not leave the lips of each of the girls you met no matter the day. you had always despised this name since you met him and you had never understood the interest that all his girls had for him.

every day he would walk into the classroom and while all the girls would whisper and be in complete awe of his good looks and demeanor, you would find yourself spitting out his every flaw while your best friend listened to you every time.

your eyes rolled in annoyance almost automatically when he was close to you. even when he wasn't close to you. he was so popular that you heard about him no matter where you were and it had the potential to drive you absolutely crazy.

the worst of all being that, despite all your efforts Niki did everything to make your life complicated, entering into challenges with you regarding exam grades, annoying you with just a simple sentence and this way he had of destroying the plans you made for every event, simply because he was popular and had no problem placing himself above you, despite your best efforts.

his behavior making you scream no matter what he did, making you on edge when you just wanted to spend some quiet time in the library.

oh you really hated Nishimura niki.

[huxhsz]

— weightless paradise

transmigrated non-mc!reader x caleb

prev ch: 27 - farewell┆series masterlist ┆next ch: 29 - uncharted waters

This isn’t how the game was supposed to go. You're not supposed to be here. You're an anomaly. But if you’re already here, then… can’t you just enjoy it for now? Just for a little while? Before the main story begins? Before everything inevitably falls into place? ...Right?

cross-posted on ao3! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

CH. 028 — LIFE

The problem with being alone is that there’s nothing to distract you from your thoughts.

You’ve been at Auris University for three weeks now, and the adjustment has been… fine, you guess. The campus is huge, and the professors are serious, but it’s not like you didn’t expect that. You’ve managed to settle into a rhythm, go to classes, make a few friends (though the friendships feel a little shallow, still), and not think too much about the emptiness that lingers in the spaces where Caleb and Eden used to be.

When you’re alone in your dorm room, that’s when it hits the hardest.

The room is quiet except for the soft scratching of your pen on the paper. You lean back in your chair, the weight of your thoughts pressing against your mind, almost too much to handle at times. It's been years—ten, to be exact—but still, the memories of Love and Deepspace cling to you. The tiniest details, the smallest fragments, have stuck in your mind like pieces of a puzzle. You never expected to remember so much, especially since your body was only eight when you arrived here.

Now that you’re away from Caleb and Eden, there’s an odd sense of freedom that comes with being able to write it all down. You no longer have to hide your thoughts, no longer have to worry about them accidentally finding your journal or noticing the way you focus on things that don’t make sense. For years, you kept everything locked inside—afraid that anything you wrote might reveal something about your memories, something that wasn’t supposed to be known. But now, in the quiet privacy of your dorm room, you can finally record the strange fragments that haunt your thoughts without the weight of their watchful eyes. No one’s here to ask questions, no one’s here to pull you back into their world of uncertainty. It feels both like a relief and a betrayal to do this openly. But you know you need to. After all, there’s so much you don’t understand, and the only way to make sense of it is to get it all out.

You pause for a moment, your pen hovering over the paper, and try to sort through your confusion.

How do I remember everything so vividly?

You tilt your head, staring at the page. There’s a disconnect, like some part of you knows things that don’t make sense. Things that shouldn’t be in your head at all. But they are.

You take a deep breath and begin writing, the words flowing without much thought:

Caleb = Subject 002: Destroyer. Evol: Gravity Manipulation.

Codename "Destroyer" wasn't mentioned in the game. That's strange.

Eden/MC = Subject 001: Unicorn. Evol: Resonance. Anhaunsen class.

Memory resets after death.

Me = Subject 000: Omniscient. Evol: Chronosight (past/present/future).

Not mentioned in the game at all.

Josephine:

Part of the Unicorn Team at Gaia Research Center.

Served as a researcher and team leader.

The Chronorift Catastrophe

Happened in 2034

It tore apart everything. Earth wasn’t ready, but it was the Deepspace Tunnel that changed everything.

The catastrophe happened 14 years before the main story.

 

Wanderers

The creatures that came through the Deepspace Tunnel.

Gaia Research Center (GRC)

GRC was where everything began. The experiments, the powers, the tests.

It’s all so broken now, destroyed after the Chronorift Catastrophe. But I know it’s connected to Ever—there’s something dark in the core of that place.

It was a place of science, but not just for research. It was a testing ground for powers, for those who were called “subjects,” like us. But why didn’t the game say anything about that?

GRC researcher defects: Josephine

She left. Took everything with her. But why? Maybe she thought we were ready for something more. Or maybe it was just survival.

Love interests:

Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, Caleb, and an unknown LI.

...

You stop for a moment, rereading what you’ve written. Your head hurts a little, like all these details are pushing against your brain, fighting for space. How do you know all of this? How can you remember so much from the game when it feels like a lifetime ago?

It doesn’t make sense.

The game was supposed to be a distraction, an escape. But this? This feels different. You can see the pieces of the game—Love and Deepspace—as if it’s unfolding right in front of you. Every piece of dialogue, every card you collected, every anecdote you read—it’s all there, clear as day.

But then there’s the codename “Destroyer.” You frown. That was never mentioned in the game. You know it was real, but why is it absent from the world the game showed you?

You rub your temples, trying to make sense of it all. Maybe you’re just overthinking it. Maybe it’s the Chronosight—your power—that’s making everything feel too real. Or maybe… you don’t really know what’s going on anymore.

Your grip on the pen tightens.

You’ve always assumed that whatever brought you here—the thing that let you wake up in the Gaia Research Center as Subject 000—was some kind of divine intervention. A god’s twisted gift.

But if that’s true…

Why would a god give you knowledge of a story that was never finished?

You lean back against your chair, arms folded. Outside, the ocean stretches toward the horizon, the water shimmering in shades of blue and silver.

Maybe it wasn’t a god.

Maybe you weren’t supposed to remember any of this at all.

But you do.

And you don’t know why.

Auris is beautiful, in an unsettling kind of way.

The campus overlooks the ocean, the research buildings built from glass and white steel. Holographic banners flicker along the pathways, displaying university announcements and research breakthroughs.

You take the long way to class most days, walking past the observation deck where the water crashes against the cliffs below. The breeze smells like salt and something sharp beneath it—something that makes your skin prickle.

You wonder if you’re imagining it.

Auris wasn’t in the game.

That’s the thing that bothers you most. Auris—this city—this university—it didn’t exist in Love and Deepspace.

The game only ever mentioned Linkon City and Skyhaven. You had entire playthroughs memorized; you’ve read every single piece of text, of dialogue. Auris was never mentioned.

And yet, it’s here.

You lean against the railing of the observation deck, watching the sun slip beneath the horizon. Somewhere beyond that edge of light and water lies the Deepspace Tunnel. The same tunnel that tore open the sky when you were younger. The same tunnel that sent the Wanderers pouring through the rift and destroyed half of Linkon City.

Wind tugs at your hair. Your hand curls loosely around the silver bracelet on your wrist. The apple charm catches the light.

Your phone buzzes.

You glance down.

Caleb how’s class? :D

A slow smile tugs at the corner of your mouth.

You type back,

You boring. u’d hate it.

Caleb bet I’d be better at it than you. XD

You shut up.

Caleb miss me yet?

You press your thumb to the charm on your bracelet. The metal is cool beneath your skin.

You type back,

You not really.

The reply comes immediately.

Caleb liar.

You close your phone and breathe out slowly.

Caleb is in Skyhaven. Eden is in Linkon City. You’re in Auris.

Three separate points on the map. Three different paths.

You turn back toward campus. The glass windows of the research building reflect the darkening sky.

Maybe you’re not in the story anymore.

Maybe you’re in something else entirely.

[catboybiologist]

So I'm realizing that I basically have one outfit that I just make minor alterations/swaps with. I wanna keep tabs on where I got this stuff, and since I'm an attention whore, I might as well make a post out of it. With a few exceptions, everything has been stuff I've nabbed when it's on sale online or I see in a thrift store within the past couple of months.

Here's a dump of pics, some new, some old, to give you an idea of what I wear basically every day:

I really like this fit. It's professional without being stodgy, showy on the figure without being inappropriate, casual without being sloppy. I'm def "dressing up" by grad student standards, esp compared to what I used to be like as a guy, but I'm okay with that.

Now, let's steal her look!!!

Bra:

https://www.calvinklein.us/en/underwear/women/bras/perfectly-fit-lightly-lined-full-coverage-bra/52013837-643.html

Underwear:

Shirts:

Khakis:

Alternate khakis:

https://www.calvinklein.us/en/cotton-stretch-straight-fit-chino-pants/198294081239.html

Cardigan:

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E472074-000/00?colorDisplayCode=30&sizeDisplayCode=004

Flannel:

https://www.rei.com/product/192987/rei-co-op-wallace-lake-flannel-shirt-mens

Glasses:

Shoes:

Note that the shoes are absolutely the most expensive part of my outfit, but I have 0 regrets. I do NOT fuck around with shoes. I'm a hiker with messed up feet, I need to keep those babies working. And so far, these have been amazingly supportive on my messed up arches and ankles, I've used them in hikes even, and they support my ankle well. They also look really nice, far cuntier than hiking boots, so y'know. That's nice too.

There are two additional things I'll mention here that I know aren't easily accessible. I have pride colored hiking socks that I wear a lot which were given to me by the trailQTs. My belt was also something I got years ago from a leather worker at an art show.

Anyways. Idk if my assessment of this actually holds up, but I figured I'd record this all somewhere.

[random-vore-blog]

A Nightmare And A Solution

He woke up with a start, sweat forming on his arms and head. His eyes shook from shock and fear from the images that had played in his head. The blood, the two deaths of the two people he loved and couldn't save-! It was too much...

He hadn't gotten a lot of sleep for the past month or two. Only 2 hours of sleep, if not 3 when he was lucky. Still, that didn't cut the fact that he was holding his knees with his arms close to his chest. He wanted to cry, he really did want to let the tears flow for a bit.

But he couldn't! He couldn't let the tears roll down his cheeks. He thought of it as a weakness! A weakness that was not allowed as a Hashira. Well- that was what he had told himself over the few years he was a Hashira. It did not help that he felt guilty for not being able to save the two people he loved most.

The promise he made with Sabito and his sister to always be by each other's side...

He sighed shakily and got up, calming down and ready to get his head off of that nightmare with training. Yes, he trained at ungodly hours whenever he had a nightmare which was constant between 4 to 5 times a week. If he was lucky, that was. Sometimes, he'll have nightmares 7 times a week and sometimes once or maybe never. But that was a rare chance, 0 percent, a 1 in a 1 000 chance to happen, so rare and only happened twice this year.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. He had to keep things under control. He had to stay calm, he had to keep himself calm and collected. It was the Hashira meeting the next morning. He wasn't going to attend this one, he'll write an excuse for Master Kagaya and give his reason for why he could not attend the meeting.

" ... I guess I'll train."

He sighed, running his hand through his hair and gripped it tightly. He was a bit frustrated and at a loss of what to do. All he could do was send his crow, Kanzaburo, with the message of why he won't attend the meeting. But his crow was so old that he couldn't send it as frequently anymore as he could when the crow was younger.

This was all too frustrating for him, but he pushed through it and called his crow. The beautiful bird looked so fragile from old age, but was incredibly determined and had no problem helping him.

" Tell Master Kagaya I shall not attend the meeting due to my current state."

The crow left without any problem, flying through the few hours of nighttime that was left. He wasn't going to go back to sleep that easily. It was difficult when the images from the nightmare plagued him. The blood, the lifeless eyes... it all but did any good to his mentality. He shook his head.

It was probably around 3 o'clock in the morning. The meeting started at around 8 o'clock. There was only 5 hours left before the meeting. He didn't know at what time he got done with the mission, but it was definitely somewhere between 12 and 2 in the morning. He was uncertain. What he was NOT uncerain about, however, was that he was going to train to keep his mind focused.

To keep his mind focused on something other than that nightmare of a dream.

He shook his head and got up. The heat from his futon was replaced with cold air. He shivered. Why had it to be the one time in winter for a meeting? He ignored that question. There was no need to focus on that right now.

He walked to his changing room and changed into his uniform. All except for one thing. He took a moment to stare at his Haori that was held in front of him, however.

The memories of what the Haori held...

He frowned and put it on, pushing back the memories and images to the back of his mind to the best of his ability. It worked almost all the time. Almost. He could brush it off sometimes when remembering those days.

But it was hard to do so when you had constant replays of their deaths every single night.

Their painfully taunting words in his dreams were always replaying in his head. The faces of betrayal and anger from the ones he loved so much- it hurt him. It cut him deep to know that it was his fault... that he was the one to blame for both of their deaths.

It was better to wait for a replacement than to end things right here and there.

It was a waste of time to think of it, he thought. But it was also not... not very easy to not think of. Why was he the one to live instead of his sister and best friend? Why didn't he die instead of them? Why was he alive? Thoughts like that ran through the air like a wildfire.

He shook his head to refocus. He couldn't think like that now and won't think like that while focusing on training. He left the changing room and exited his estate. He loved the smell of the fresh air as he walked to his training grounds.

He couldn't attend the meeting, but hopefully Shinaguzawa will tell him? Or not, if he ever found out that he wasn't getting proper sleep again. The chances of Shinaguzawa cuddling him tonight are slim- unless he asks the Master to excuse him tonight.

" ..."

He frowned before calming down. All he had to do was train. That was it. Nothing more, nothing less.

-x-

" WHAT?!"

Sanemi yelled, causing Giyu's crow to feel a bit uncomfortable. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last. He had forced the crow to tell him what it had told the master. Apparently, it wasn't what he wanted to hear.

" Ngh-! That idiot!"

His canines sharpened unnoticeably. He was NOT happy with the news he received from the crow. He clenched his teeth together, veins about ready to pop. He had enough of Tomioka Giyu. This was the last straw! He was pissed off more than normal.

" That idiot seriously thinks that he is better than everyone?! Thinking he is special enough to skip a meeting?! Disgraceful!"

Sanemi hissed with venom. He was gong to kill him.

" Go away!"

He shooed the crow, eyes a bit larger than normal. Unnoticeable but still a bit larger. An actual person with anger issues and temper problems.

" Aniki?"

" WHAT?!"

He snapped at Genya, bearing his teeth out of anger and frustrtion. Genya flinched, averting his eyes to look down. He was sweating. He was nervous. He forced himself to calm down. Just for Genya, just for one day...

" What?"

He asked, annoyance and frustration still noticeable in his voice.

" Um- uh... it's about the water pillar-"

Sanemi was in front of him, eyes wide and with a glint of something foreign to Genya.

" W.H.A.T?"

" He... um- he... well-"

" Spit it out, Genya."

He was an inch away from grabbing Genya, one tick away from hurting him. What did Genya know about Tomioka that he didn't? Perhaps where he lived?

" ... He... hasn't been... um- acting like normal?"

He glared. What? What does Genya mean by that?

" What do you mean by that?"

Genya sweated a lot.

" I haven't seen him eat anything-"

He slammd his hand right next to Genya, teeth visible and glare deepening. He was one for not caring, but when someone didn't eat? That's the only thing that triggered him.

" For how long?"

Genya looked bit shocked from the sudden action, but swallowed hard.

" Um... four days, I think- I don't know..."

He growled. So Tomioka hasn't been eating for that long? What was he trying to prove? That he was better than everyone else?! He retracted his hand and turned around, about to leave.

" And..."

He stopped when Genya spoke again. He was listening.

" And I heard Miss Kocho talk about him... about him not taking medication for sleep?"

He froze up. What? Did the Water Pillar really struggle with sleeping? Impossible. He always looked awake and aware. He turned to look at Genya.

" What else do you know?"

He was fiddling with is hands... Sanemi noticed it. He knew exactly what that meant.

" Genya. What else do you know?"

" ..."

He turned to face him.

" Genya-"

" He trains until he collapses!"

What was so wrong with training until you couldn't anymore? Sanemi made a confused expression. Genya just looked about ready to c- WAIT! Genya was ready to shed tears?!

" He keeps on training despite being told to rest! I don't think he is okay!"

" ... He is just acting better than us."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes and looked away from his brother.

" I..."

Genya swallowed thickly.

" I don't think... he thinks that he is better than us..."

Sanemi looked back at Genya, saliva dripped from his teeth. He was hungry... not that kind of hungry but more like he was hungry to protect someone.

" I saw him being carried by Rengoku-san once to the Butterfly Estate... and he did look really pale... And Kocho-chan... she had to make sure he didn't leave her care for a week..."

Sanemi wiped the saliva away with his free hand, staying quiet as he thought for a few minutes.

" Where is he?"

" I don't know... maybe at his estate?"

" ..."

He stood there in silence, absorbing the information that was thrown at him. Training despite being told to rest? He frowned. Maybe he had judged Tomioka too soon and not look at the possible clues.

" Where is he?"

" I don't know... maybe at his estate?"

" And where is that?"

" I- I don't know..."

Genya looked disappointed in himself for not being able to tell him where Giyu's estate was. Maybe he thought that he was useless... Sanemi, however, thought of it as useful information. Now he felt... guilty for judging Giyu too soon.

He could follow the crow. The bird was already slow as is, and it was going back to Tomioka's estate anyway! Without a word, he quickly disappeared from how fast he was, leaving Genya behind and speechless.

-x-

" I overdid it again, didn't I?"

Giyu asked himself, laying down and unable to move, body too tired to do so. Maybe it was a terrible idea to train instead of trying to ask Master for a mission. It took out all the energy he had left right from him.

" Again?!"

His eyes widened and he turned his head to see... Sanemi?! What was he doing- No. How did he find the estate?! How- Wh- WHY- HUH?!

" What the fuck do you mean "again", Tomioka?!"

" ..."

He calmed down, thoughts and words collected.

" Nothing."

" Fuck Tomioka! Stop acting like you are better than us! That attitude is making me fucking furious!"

" Then why not leave me alone in peace?"

A pause, the dreaded silence was like a weighted blanket. Heavy and insufferable for the two Hashiras.

" And how, dare I may ask, did you find my estate?"

" It's easy when your crow is slow as fuck."

Wait- why was Sanemi not screaming at him? Or insulting him? And why did he answer his question?! This was weird, very weird. He wasn't used to someone acting weirdly towards him...

" You can leave if you came here to tell me about the meeting. I am not going."

" I am not here to talk about that."

He looked at Sanemi with an unnoticeable shocked expression. And why was everything playing out weirdly? Why did he feel a sudden shift of emotion from Sanemi? So many questions, yet so little answers.

" I am here because I heard you fucking train until you basically pass out or collapse."

Was he worried or something? He never shows concern... And where did he hear that?! Was it Kocho? Rengoku? Who told Shinazugawa? Why not tell Mitsuri or the Kamado siblings?!

" And when was the last time you fucking ate something?!"

" Where did you-"

" That is NOT important right now! Answer my question: When was the last time you fucking ate something?!"

" Why do you need to know? It is not your business-"

" It is my fucking business when one of the fucking pillars are being ignorant towards their fucking health!"

Silence... Sanemi sighed and approached him, crouching down to look at Giyu properly, as if examining his current state while he couldn't move.

" Answer the question."

" ..."

" DAMNIT TOMIOKA! JUST ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION!"

Sanemi was, at this point, seething with anger through his teeth. The emotion was accompanied with concern. A two in one combination that was never seen on Sanemi's face by anyone. If he told him, would Sanemi leave him alone? Probably. He didn't care about him. He was just trying to get to him.

" 6 days ago now."

Sanemi's expression darkened. He was fuming with anger, body shaking as he contained the anger that burned in his heart.

" You can lea-"

He grabbed Giyu by the back of his Haori as of he was some kitten as he stood back up. Giyu's limbs were limp and he didn't seem to have the strength to move or struggle. Why was the day against him today?

" Shin-"

" I do not care what you have to say now, but I am NOT letting you starve."

Sanemi dragged him to his estate, opening the doors to see the space was bland and had almost to no decorations. He blankly looked at the space. It was so dull and brought zero comfort unlike the other estates.

" Your estate is as dull as you, if not duller."

He looked at Giyu with a glare.

" No wonder you are better off with not socializing."

He sneered, but stepped inside, Giyu still dragged by him. He probably was so weak now that he couldn't move from both starving and exhausting himself. Sanemi was going to have a word with him after he fed and took care of him.

" Had I known you were this dumb to ignore your health, I would have made sure to tell Kocho about your habits."

" Not like you would if you knew. Why do you care about my health all of a sudden?"

" None of your business. Your attitude is beginning to make me think you don't want to be friends with us for a reason, and I don't know what."

" ..."

He was right, wasn't he? Giyu didn't want to be friends with anyone for a reason, but what was the reason? That was the main question.

" ... You are lucky I am being rather nice today, otherwise I would have insulted you."

" Not like it is uncommon."

" You are testing my fucking patience, Tomioka."

He dragged Giyu to a corner and sat him there, staring at him. Giyu did the same, although weakened from training to the point of exhaustion and starving himself. Sanemi scoffed.

" You look pathetic."

" Not like this is the first time you said it."

He was going to pull all his hair out if Giyu did not stop being snarky with his comments. Sanemi was going to make sure he knew his place and how he was a lot stronger than him.

He just needed to feed Giyu, his prey.

" You are going to eat, or I'll have to go to extreme measures to make sure you do get something in your system."

" Like what? Punching me to death?"

He was strangely talkative... It was weird and not something Sanemi was used to. But how Giyu asked how he would use extreme measures to get something in his empty stomach was a bit... worrisome, to say the least. Punch him to death? That was a bit too far fetched and extremely gruesome.

" I'd rather keep you alive than get scolded for killing a pillar."

Sanemi stood up, hands on his hips as he stared down at the Water Pillar. The beautiful blue eyes staring at him with weird emotions he, himself, could not identify.

" I would rather not get nagged at by the other bastards rather than not do something to keep you in good shape and health."

" You are strangely caring and soft."

" I am not soft and caring. You are asking for a death wish if you continue this cycle of starving yourself and training beyond exhaustion."

Sanemi closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was going to kill him someday. Not really, but just talk some sense into him.

" And I know fucking Kocho will have my head if I had ignored the vital piece of information given to me about your state."

" Still doesn't explain your change in demeanor."

" No need for my demeanor to be explained."

" Th- ?!"

A piece of Ohagi was stuffed into his mouth, which was unexpected and caused him to look at Sanemi with wide eyes. The white haired male glared at him, as if sending a message to his mind.

" Eat. Or I'll shove this down your throat myself."

Giyu was confused, finding it oddly comforting that someone cared about his wellbeing... but why did he feel safe around Shinazugawa? He wasn't a predator, right? He hasn't found his given predator yet, so why did he feel safe around him?

But he did not dwell on it any longer, biting into the soft sweet. He did not like sweets in general, but this Ohagi was not too sweet at all. It had a nice balance of being sweet and not sweet. A nice combination he found himself enjoying.

He swallowed and looked at Sanemi, whom held the other half of Ohagi in front of his mouth. Was he seriously being babied by Shinazugawa? He felt humiliated and ashamed.

" Do not ask where it came from, but know that I always have food on me."

" I-"

The other half of Ohagi was stuffed in his mouth and he couldn't help but enjoy the sweet. It was good, and he wondered who made this. Was it from a store, perhaps? He should ask Shinazugawa where he got it after he swallowed.

" Who made this?"

He asked after finishing his food- well, Sanemi's food.

" Don't know."

Was everything getting bigger, or was it just him? And did Sanemi always have sharp canines? Giyu pieced everything together and panicked. His voice disappeared as his panic settled in.

" But I do know that I will have to take care of you, fucker. You are lucky I am your boyfriend, or I wouldn't have done this for your own good."

" I- you are-"

" Stop panicking. I won't hurt you."

His voice and expression softened. He gave a small smile that must have been meant to reassure him. It sure as hell did little to reassure him. It scared him more.

" Ignore everything I said, okay? I was only pretending on my part so that whoever was nearby would think I hate you. You know I love you, right?"

Giyu couldn't speak... He couldn't believe that Sanemi was a predator, his boyfriend... He should have known that his boyfriend was his predator, but how did he not notice?! How did he miss the signals that flared in his mind?! Is that why he always felt so safe around Shinazugawa?

He was gently scooped up in one hand, the other hand pinching the back of his Haori and held him above Sanemi's face. He wasn't- was he? Giyu felt powerless and weak as he stared below him. He was dangling over the face of Shinazugawa...

" You'll feel much better after the powernap, I promise."

Sanemi opened his mouth slowly, strands of saliva connected from top to bottom jaw, the pointed canines white and reflected any light that filtered through the house.

The dark abyss, known as the throat, stared back at him. The pink walls pulsing with life and greed, the tongue, although just a muscle, dangled over the sharp canines with drool slipping down to the floor. He couldn't move...

Giyu was lowered, body frozen and unresponsive. His body was tense as the maw got closer and closer. He felt himself start to shiver, the realization slowly hitting him in the back of the head.

Saliva coated his feet after Shinazugawa closed his lips gently around Giyu's ankles, tongue pulled back into the cavern from where it came from and the purple eyes staring at him with a softness unlike anything he had seen from him... The difference in temperature was the first thing that he noticed and felt. It was cold outside but warm inside the cavern made up of flesh, saliva and keratin.

He was slowly pulled into the cavern bit by bit, the lips cushioning the hard surface of teeth he thought could cut him in half. But Sanemi was so careful and gentle that it was unbelievably shocking. It was as if he had done this before, seeing as he was being extremely careful and did this with experience he had no idea Sanemi haf.

When his head wad all that was left, the lips parted and the tongue escorted him inside. A soft click was heard behind him as he was fully inside and on the powerful muscle. Although powerful, the muscle was gentle when it sensed him ontop of it.

Sanemi was being careful and gentle... very gentle. He made sure to not move him around in his maw like some toy- no. He was keeping Giyu perfectly still and let the saliva drip from the roof onto him. There were a few occasions where the muscle gently shifted him into a puddle of saliva, but nothing too extreme.

He felt... at ease. But he kept his guard up, despite the feeling of being safe. Safe as in safe from anything. It didn't matter what it was that could pose as a threat to him, he felt safe. He was thoroughly soaked in saliva, the warm air made him a bit drowsy...

Sanemi felt Giyu's body relax, humming softly as if satisfied that he was relaxing. He tilted his head gently, allowing gravity to carefully bring Giyu closer to his throat. He was hoping it would go smoothly, seeing as Giyu was his destined prey.

And it did go smoothly. He could feel Giyu slip in his throat and make small movements. The small squirming in his throat felt satisfying, if not nice. He gave a quick but gentle swallow, pulling Giyu further in his throat. An unnoticeable bulge formed in his throat as Giyu began to slide down the tunnel with ease, due to the thick layer of saliva that coated him.

Sanemi swallowed again, feeling the small form of Giyu slide down his throat and instinctively used a hand to trace the lump right where Giyu was destined to go to: His stomach. Sanemi shivered at the sensation of a small morsel being gently deposited in the depths of his body, protected by layers of fat and flesh.

He tilted his head to look at his middle, carefully getting up while his right hand remained on his stomach. He grew a bit worried from Giyu's lack of movement and began questioning whether he turned off his digestive system or not. Fear began to creep up his spine until he felt movement. Weak, but still felt by the walls of flesh from the organ his boyfriend rested in. He felt relief flood through his being.

" Giyu?"

" Hm?"

Fuck- he sounded tired. That hum was almost too quiet to hear, but he managed to make out the noise. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, finally at ease.

" Nevermind. You rest up while I attend the meeting. I'll explain to you wh-"

He stopped himself when he felt the small form relax and could barely make out the sound of soft breathing. He felt a smile grow on his face but quickly replaced it with his usual expression. He had to head to the Headquarters now if he wanted to arrive 15 minutes early.

" Fuck- I forgot about the damn meeting."

He breathed out and began to make his way to the Headquarters, all while he was comforted with the knowledge of Giyu resting without having to deal with that constant nightmare of his he told Sanemi about.

-x-

" Ara~ ara~ Tomioka is late."

" Shinobu, please calm down. There might be a reason for his sudden absence on the day of a meeting!"

" This is unflashy of him."

Sanemi heard all of the commotion and conversations that happened around him. All while he knew exactly where Giyu was and why he was abscent on the day of the meeting.

" He thinks he is better than us."

Iguro spoke, pointing at nothing in particular.

" He isn't here because of his selfish nature, thinking he is better than us."

" Obanai~ That is a bit rude, don't you agree?"

" I agree with Obanai."

" There was no need to voice your beliefs, Shinazugawa."

He rolled his eyes at Kocho's words to prove a point, making it as believable as possible. He didn't need a sea of Hashiras swarm around him like bees to ask what's wrong. He would much rather have Giyu do that than them.

" His ' I am different.' attitude is pissing me off."

" Please refrain yourself from swearing."

Gyomei's voice bellowed as he spoke, eyes narrowed slightly.

" There is no need to speak so lowly of our fellow comrade. He is a Pillar like us and we will treat him with respect too."

" The Master is here."

Everyone bowed respectfully, not daring to lift their head until the Master himself said so. Sanemi was grateful that he was the one to be able to take care of Giyu, even if it is in the most odd ways of doing so.

...

He didn't pay much attention to the meeting, but paid attention to the weight resting in his stomach. The small Giyu that slept soundly inside the organ that could kill, but refused to. He'll let him rest however long he wanted to... He deserved it after not eating for 6 days and sleeping problems.

Now he had to get Genya to sleep once he was back home. And knowing his brother, it would also require the same special treatment Giyu was getting.

What a lovely way to begin and end his day.

[peri-berrypawductions]

THE EMOTION SHADOW GOOBERS!!!

is there something specifically that provokes them, like an event or problem or important life.. thing?

can people see each other's shadow guys?

is there a set distance someone's goober can get away from them until the shadow can't move any farther?

what if...Miriam's was named...Hedgehog...

HEAR ME OUT THOUGH!!!

she's grumpy and prickly and is willing to stab anyone who tries to come near her

it's a shadow...like shadow the hedgehog...

the spiky hair

suggestions/cool things that popped into my head i thought were worth mentioning:

they (must? can? have a higher chance to?) appear during certain rituals or events, whether personal or worldwide (maybe they all appeared to some degree when the Earthsong was sung, for example. due to some weird magic thing)

when Miriam and Kiwi go to Gramma Saphy for help, she's just like "Oh, those? No clue!" and Miriam's like "What." and Kiwi's face does that thing it does when they're disappointed after being super eager or excited but don't want to show it--you know the one

they appear more or less depending on how extroverted or introverted their person is

there are lots of fables and folklore about the shadow people things, which are regarded mostly as nothing but tall tales like sasquatch and the abominable snowman

alternatively, they're known about by most and are kiiiinda similar to qin

i like to imagine that Harmony visited Kiwi a lot as a little kid to play together! maybe Harmony still visits when Kiwi's feelin lonely

to expand on that, maybe some people's shadows come to help as emotional support when they're stuck in a rut or just pretty sad

assuming the shadows grow with their person, they probably visit a lot when they're both young as the shadows probably get bored in their own...dimension...place

there's all my brain slop for now, make of it what you will!!! you definitely don't have to use any of these if you don't want to by the way, i just wanted to share since i lovelove this concept :]

:000!!!!

You and I. We’re friends now. We’re getting soft taco’s later

OKAY!!! I get to info dump and expand on these sillies YIPPEEYIPPEEE!!!

1: For the first one, I just recently figured that out thanks to reading your comment further and getting ideas! So, for one of these little goobers to be provoked without them simply just wanting to visit on their own, you have to have been through and/or are going through a tough time in your life! The reason why Kiwi’s appeared (Harmony) is because of how stressful the end of the world thing was for them in particular, and is the reason why Miriam’s appears later on as well, as she also dealt with that stress! These shadow goobers are a sort of reaction to that where they come out to either try and give comfort to the individual (even if they don’t need it at the time, It can be in the form of company, Direct comfort, or just if you need a friend at that time) or if the individual is having trouble showcasing their feelings their shadow creature will do it for them! Kiwi’s and Miriam’s take on the role of “keeping them company” more than showing their true emotions (except for sometimes cause you know kiwi has a tendency of not sharing their bad feelings so that others can be happy.. 👁️👁️) however they do still take on the other role from time to time! Let’s say.. Something someone did REALLY upset Kiwi and made them sad, but they just didn’t say anything. Well, their shadow creature (if it’s near) will gain tears in their eyes and a sad expression, possibly crying if it really upset kiwi that much. This showcases that, even if kiwi THEMSELF said it was fine and didn’t affect them, it actually did. A LOT. That went a bit off track-

(TLDR) in short, yes, if the individual is going through something or went through something recently one will appear to try and help with that (more likely for them to appear), however sometimes (if the individual is just feeling lonely or sad) a shadow creature will appear to keep them company! (Depends on how social the person themself is)

2: Yes they can! That’s how Kiwi showed Miriam Harmony for the first time! However, if the shadow creature wants they CAN hide as that persons shadow if they don’t want to be seen. This is often done out of fear or if they’re asked/told to!

3: Hmm.. Sort of! The shadow can go as far as it wants, however most tend not to as they prefer to stay near their mortal counterpart. There’s no repercussions if they were to, however! This is mainly because depending on the person some critters tend to lose attention and wander off, however they always know where their host is and can go back to them whenever they please! No effects for the individual, either! They still feel everything they’re feeling as this shadow creature is just kinda a replica of their emotions, not their emotions themselves.

4: ooooo.. I love that suggestion omg.. IM GONNA HAVE TO SPIN A WHEEL ALL THE SUGGESTIONS I GOT ARE ALL SO PERFECT 😭

Ok so for names we’ve got: Fury, Spell, Charm, Hex, and Hedgehog! I’ll spin a wheel sometime and see what it lands on, they’re ALL too perfect!

And for your suggestions!

Ooooo!!! I like the idea!!! That’s also sorta what I was going for!! I’d say any big events in life that affected you specifically they have a higher chance to appear for, however it’s not definite and there’s a chance you won’t even SEE them. Depending on the kind of person (cough cough Miriam) some of these critters like to simply watch from afar until they quite literally have to interfere! And for the earthsong/wandersong, I like to think all of them awoke from the noise for juuust a second, some immediately being frightened and hiding again, some just staying for a second to enjoy it before going to hide again, some staying out a little longer but hiding from their counterpart, or some even deciding to come out for longer than that just to spectate! I like to think some were already awake from the stress of the world ending and were roaming around their current world or watching over their host to try and help calm them down, while also staying hidden as most don’t like crowds and being seen. (An exception to this is Harmony, as, for some reason, they’re a lot more sociable and actually come out of hiding when kiwi is showing them to others like Miriam!)

Oh yeah that’s absolutely canon

That’s canon too, actually! I had it written early on that depending on how sociable the person is it affects how their creature acts! Example being: Since kiwi is so extroverted and friendly, Harmony is also very friendly and a lot more sociable, not feeling the need to hide from people kiwi knows and easily making friends with others of their kind! Meanwhile since Miriam is more introverted and kept to herself, her creature comes out a lot less frequently and when it does it either watches from afar (hence why Miriam hasn’t seen it earlier on ((or if she has can’t remember))) or doesn’t interact with many others. However, since Miriam and Kiwi are already friends, naturally their shadows already care about each other as friends, even if they’ve only just met! They act like they’ve known each other for as long as their mortal counterparts have!

Yup! Indeed canon! Or, well.. in a way! You see, some people don’t believe these things exist, as if you were to try to take a picture they’d only appear as a normal shadow on camera, and often only kids see them. Some people who HAVE seen them believe they exist and just.. don’t know much about them, while others who haven’t disregard them as nothing more than people’s imagination or fairytales. Some people have even tried to spin the story that these shadows steal your emotions and leave you as a lifeless husk until you ultimately die of starvation, but it’s very obviously not true (even if it’s not as well known and is mostly a campfire tale that has slowly grown apart from the shadows themselves) and upsets the shadows deeply. Some take offense, some are so upset they cry, some just ignore it. All in all these critters are a source of good and are only trying to help! They’re not something to be feared :(

Read above for your answer to this one!

OH!! I LOVE that!!! It makes a lot of sense! I imagine Kiwi in their youth was pretty lonely, growing up in Chismest and all, and so their shadow critter would come out to play with them a lot and get them through tough times they went through! However, each time it was almost caught by Kiwi’s mom it’d hide again so she couldn’t see, and when Kiwi brought them up she’d simply think it was an imaginary friend. So, that’s what Kiwi thought they were, all until meeting Harmony again a little after the world was saved and only later learning they were the same critter from before! I also have an idea for Miriam’s, that in her youth hers simply watched from afar and would help in ways that didn’t let her be seen by Miriam, instead making things better for her in its own ways, not wanting to show how much it cared (which stems from Miriam herself!)!

That’s canon!! The main reason they appear, actually! When feeling upset it’s higher chance these little critters could appear or help you in some way! They only want to help you feel better, and it turn it makes THEM feel better, too!

Indeed they do!!! Some shadows prefer their sleeping state more, some prefer to simply watch as the persons shadow, and some prefer to interact with the person a lot! It’s more often that a shadow appears a lot in a persons childhood, as that’s when their emotions are at an all time high, and these critters would rather see you happy than sad. While they do grow with you, they are slightly more mature than the persons age in terms of knowledge, as in they know how to help and have more critical thinking skills than you would as a kid! They do, however, get pretty bored when young, which is another reason they come out a lot at that time! After about the age of ten they don’t show up much (if at all) anymore, or at least not to your knowledge!

And that’s it for all your things!!! Oh my gosh I LOVE all the ideas and stuff you gave me, thank you so much for the question!!! I love these goobers even MORE now 😭

Here’s a few more little facts about em!

They’re mainly affected by the persons mental state! If someone’s doing really awful mentally (even if they aren’t showing it) their critter will too!!! This is seen in the lil scenario critter I made of my Loop Miriam AU! In this little AU of an AU, Miriam’s shadow critter thing comes out since she’s going through so much and is doing so awful because of how awful Miriam is currently doing, constantly paranoid as a default state instead of a normal “•-•”, yells a bunch, shakes a lot, stuff like that. Just a little showcase of since they’re your emotions they’ll reflect what you’re feeling!

Most like really dark, relaxing areas, though depending on the persons preferences this could change!

All critters can communicate with each other! Not by talking, but by some kind of telepathy! They can’t do this with their host, though. Best they can do is write and read, however most just draw pictures instead because they prefer others interpret what they’re trying to say and figure it out on their own! Harmony often draws pictures, and Miriam’s critter often writes (when she HAS to communicate. She prefers to just.. stay silent and mainly ignore people).

Remember how I said “mortal counterpart”? These things are immortal! Once their person dies they’re either left as a shadow roaming around (if the death was unfair) (also where some of those stories of them being dangerous came from) until given closure (in which they do the next thing) or reincarnate into someone else’s shadow with no real memory of the previous person, but all the experience! However, the personalities gotta align so they don’t change much!

Also! The song chosen for this is what inspired them!

And that’s really it!!! Yet again, thanks for the ask!!! (Please if you have any more ideas or stories or ANYTHING tell me I WANNA HEAR AND YOU’RE SUPER COOL‼️)

[rangi-fr]

idk i try to share the lore i created.. it's open to create OCs in it enjoy

OC: Fa

• BASES: WHAT IS ORA?

The story takes place in a place called Ora (aura, pun intended...), a place where the deceased meet after their death. Ora is like a purgatory, the souls are "waiting" for their fate.

Life seems normal there, the souls have a home and a job. Nevertheless, every five years, they go to court to have a judgment that will determine their future.

The souls who are there lose their memory in order to avoid being influenced by their previous life. Thus, they can have a new life (without resentment, for example). They get a new identity (new name).

‎

‎

• WAKE UP IN ORA

The souls keep the same physique overall, they still have modifications depending on the case: the ears may become pointed, a tail or halo appears and scars may remain as well as disappear though. The place where they wake up remains in the same style of decoration as during their lives.

Note: if it is a system (multiple person), each of the alters will have their own body.

By the way, they can arrive in Ora either in a studio, or in an apartment, or in a house, either alone or in collocation. It will always be in the city though, the time to go to school and learn about life in Ora. There is a possibility to move afterwards (whether in the city or in the country).

For example, Calix and Felix (my OCs) have been sharing an apartment since they woke up here.

Important! When the souls wake up in Ora, they get:

- a working cell phone (it's like an ID card, it's 100% free);

- a bank account with 10 000 bleks in it to start with (souls have to work to earn money);

- a place to live (equipped and furnished, just pay the bills and rent);

- their clothes that they had while they were alive;

- a public transportation card (free for the first 3 months, after that you have to pay 20 blecks).

And newcomers arrive the first of the month after they die! For example, Fa died in February, he joined Ora on March 1.

‎

‎

• LIVE WORLD

Aka the earth. Mortals (those who have not yet "gone") live their lives there without knowing the existence of Ora, so souls are invisible to the eyes of the living, whether humans or animals (except for souls that have reincarnated into animals).

In this place, souls can interact with objects, lights, dreams and nature, however they must be discreet and hide the existence of Ora. Souls can also fly/float unlike in Ora.

There are associations to get paid if the soul wants to specialize in an area (for example, if a soul wants to specialize in dreams, they declare it in the appropriate association and get paid by taking the title of "dreamer soul").

‎

‎

• GOOD PERCENTAGE

Souls have a percentage of good deeds that are based on their previous life. This percentage helps to determine their physical attributes in Ora so to have an idea of what type of person the soul was during their lifetime.

This percentage can go up as well as down depending on the actions of the soul; if it decides to live without doing harm, its percentage will go up, if conversely, it does harm, its percentage will see itself go down.

This percentage determines the soul's future. The soul can access its percentage in the court offices at any time.

Ora's Discord server: https://discord.gg/rHfk4kKhhr

[madamlaydebug]

So what is this 144,000? Who are they? I don’t actually think there’s a single answer to this but I do believe I’ve found one of them. Since the Bible, and the book of the Unveiling especially, speaks in symbol and allegory it’s only fair to say there are many possibilities to it’s real meaning. I’d say that the orthodox “understanding” of the book is the one that’s most incorrect. We’ll get into more of that later.

So let’s get to it. Most folks have heard of Chakras. If you haven’t, I strongly encourage you to do some homework. They’re basically where the universal life force energy plugs into your body. Whirling vortices of energy at specific vibrations are channeled into your vital systems via these nerve centers. When there’s a blockage, disease manifests. It’s really fascinating stuff. Anyway, these energy centers are represented by different stages of the lotus flower, which is itself a symbol of purity of the body. Here are the chakras and their corresponding lotus blossoms:

Making reference to the 144000 sealed men whose speaks in the Revelation (Apocalypse), this number is that of the election, 12, carried to its paroxysm: 12 x 12 x 1000, where 1000 is a coefficient of the immensity. In others words, this number indicates that all the elects, without exception, are kept under the protection of God.

Bible

Number of sealed or elected of all the tribes of Israel, marked of the seal of God. (Rv 7,1)

General

The 144000 petals of the main chakra or coronal (located to the summit of the cranium) represent the 144000 rays of light originated from all the seven chakras, or centers of energy of the body, deployed and balanced, or again the 144000 vibrations of the divine Creation which travel in the cosmos and that are source of life.

In the Gospel of Barnabe, chapter 17, it is written: "144000 prophets that God sent to the world, have spoken obscurely; but after me will come the splendor of all prophets and saint; he will illuminate the darkness of whole what have told the prophets, because it is the messenger of God". Some have seen in this passage an allusion to Muhammad, "The Seal of prophets" (Koran XXX, 40).

When we add the number of petals of the five inferior psychic centers, we obtain a total of 48 petals. By adding 96 petals of the frontal center (the place of the third eye where the small number must receive its divine mark), we obtain the number 144, symbol of the perfect and expressed spiritual work, that is to say of the marriage between the soul and the personality. If now we multiply 144 by the thousand petals of the coronal center, we obtain 144000, the number of the elects, who will be all these that will have waked up in them the seven stars or spiritual and psychic centers.

John Phaure advances two mathematics divisions which, according to him, are very revealing. As numbers he uses the 144000 servants of God "marked to the front", the number of the Beast, 666 and 216, a fundamental cyclic and cabalistic number (tenth of the one Era: 2160 / 10) that he interprets as one of figures of the Christ:

144 000 / 216 = 666 with a rest of 144

144 000 / 666 = 216 with a rest of 144

These results express according to him that the 144000 "marked" as servants of God before the advent the Antichrist are here the object of the eschatologic combat between the Christ and his Adversary. From this combat leaves "the rest": 144, those who will be the Elects of the celestial Jerusalem". He points out moreover than 666 + 144 = 810, numerical value of the Greek word Parakletos, the Paraclete. Thus the Holy Spirit espressed at the end of time "will be the 'glorificater' of the Creation".

By using the pyramidal inch, the external volume of the tomb of the Room of the King in the Great Pyramid gives 144000 cubic inches. The pyramidal inch measures 25.303 mm. By using this unit of measure, the pyramid would have a height of 5800 inches and a volume of 160 billion cubic inches, giving all numbers without decimal.

The external recovery of the Great Pyramid would be made of 144000 stones.

Occurrence

The number 144000 is used 3 times in the Bible.

-Thank you Paul

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Could you expand on what you said in a post about libraries about the big 5 publishers screwing over libraries in terms of digital lending rights?? I’ve not heard of that at *all* and im generally pretty caught up on publisher news, so I think theres a pretty big library-shaped hole in my sources lol

All righty, a couple disclaimers here. One, this is from a Canadian library perspective, so idk how well it applies to the US. Two, I don't work in the collections department at my library, so I'm basing this off what I remember from class years ago

(also clarifying that I'll be referring to ebooks and audiobooks collectively as digital books just to make it easier)

But in short, the Big Five publishers only very reluctantly put up with libraries having physical books, and one of the reasons they do that is because only one person can have a physical book at a time. Digital books, though? Why, if a library has a copy of one of those, hundreds of people could read it at a time! That's profits they're losing! How terrible!

But, well, selling to libraries is still a sale, so the companies sell to them but restrict it as much as possible. One, libraries pay much more for digital books than your average consumer. I don't have the exact number, but it's significantly higher. Two, unlike a physical book, which a library can have rebound if it's popular but hard to find, and which could conceivably last years if it's hardcover or paperback binding, digital books have severe limits on them. Maybe the library can only buy one "copy" of a digital book - i.e., only one patron can use it at a time. That digital copy artificially expires after 20 loans or 2 years, whichever comes first. Got a waitlist of 50 people waiting to read the latest Alexander McCall Smith book? Too bad! 30 of them are gonna have to go without! Do you have a moderately popular book by Danielle Steel, which gets borrowed every couple of months? Sorry! You've had it for two years, so it's gone now! Better buy a new copy!

Now, this is the case on digital platforms like Libby/Overdrive. Each digital book acts the same as a physical book, except that most of them go away after a certain amount of time. Certain public domain books might be a one-time buy for libraries, but for the most part, every loan, every week that goes by is chipping away at a digital book's life. Certain digital platforms - Hoopla, for example - have what's called "simultaneous use" policies - maybe you only have one ebook copy of a book by Agatha Christie, but every library patron can read it at once. The trade-off for this is that my library has to pay a certain amount for every person currently reading or listening to a book on Hoopla. We have a daily budget that can't be exceeded. Every week we field calls from people who, one afternoon, wanted to open up Hoopla, but were told they couldn't take out any books - because too many of my library's 40 000 active patrons had also decided to enjoy a book that day. And not every publisher even allows simultaneous use licenses, or they don't allow it on all of their titles

A final reminder to this very long post: please do not boycott Libby or Hoopla over this, I beg of you. Your libraries are pouring a lot of money into them because they're being used. Instead, put pressure on the big five publishers to make their digital books accessible, and vote in your municipal elections to get libraries more funding so we have more budget to put into those items. An easy way to increase your library's funding is just to spend a bit of time a week in there. Hang out with your friend for a few hours, just walk in and look at the shelves, or sit there and use their free wifi to play games on your phone. Digital books are here to stay, and libraries are important for getting those books into people's hands

[k-niji25]

Self Aware Path To Nowhere idea(s)

Or my attempt to do some world-building

I would like to imagine that not everyone gains self-awareness and that only the sinners that the chief successful capture (pull in gacha) would be able to know that their world is fake and, most importantly, know about you.

But there are some exceptions, Suspect R and Parma

Before we go into details, here are the definitions of Black Ring and Honkai Eruption

Black Ring:

[ Black Rings cause Mania to spread widely and unpredictably, turning into Corruptors any human beings near or inside them. It's extremely dangerous to get trapped inside a Black Ring, because Mania contamination inside is highly concentrated and can turn a human being into a Corruptor almost instantly ]

- Path To Nowhere Wiki

Honkai Eruption:

[ The Houkai releases a kind of energy that has never been seen in the past technology, it's called "Houkai Energy", an energy that can be used in infinite methods, including in the creation of technology such as robots, ships, super-weapons and vehicles. The efficiency of Houkai can far exceed any energy available in the world, but if a living being is exposed to this kind of energy they will become zombies or Houkai monsters. ]

- Birth of a Herrscher

While the first Black Ring, the Primary Black Ring, appeared without fusing with any sinner, after the second black ring, a powerful (S-class) sinner would always go manic (Hamel, Zoya)

[ The appearance of a secondary Black Ring—that is, any Black Ring that comes after the BR-000, is accompanied by a powerful Sinner going manic. The Sinner is said to be Ground Zero for that particular Black Ring, and seems capable of CONTROLLING it.]

- Path To Nowhere Wiki

Which is kind of similar to a herrscher, a powerful being that accompanied every eruption and controlled the energy.

[ A Herrscher (German: lord, ruler) is a human that has merged with Houkai energy and has given into the will of the Houkai to destroy the current era of human civilization. They are exceptionally powerful, and wield otherworldly abilities - in such that S-Rank Valkyrja rarely stand a chance of winning a fight against one. Since a human body is needed to host them, they are proved to be as strong as normal human if there is no special factor and can be killed if their physical form is destroyed or if their gems are extracted / destroyed from their bodies. ]

- Herrscher Wiki

So with every honkai eruption, we would get closer to the final herrscher (the god that controls the energy that literally controls the world).

I like to think that in Self-Aware Path To Nowhere AU, the Parma creates those black rings in order to summon you, the god that technically controls the world (the game)

While suspect R is an interesting case as we don't really know anything about her but whatever

Suspect R stopped the program that recovered the chief and made the chief lose the memories, or is that all she did? Create trouble and stop the program only?

What if she also did that so that you, the god, could have a good vessel? After all, a person with no memories or background would be the best person to become, as you can act however you want and people won't suspect it

There are probably many plot holes, but my brain isn't working right now. That's all I have.

[thestateofardadreaming]

I remember how many we were when we demonstrated against the invasion Iraq. All around the world people were massively demonstrating. I was thinking to myself: we are making history. Our goverment will listen to us.

It didn't make a difference. In fact, even the UN couldn't stop this invasion.

300 000 people died so far (in 2023) from the aftermath of this invasion. (Detailed Source)

We later found out, there were no weapons of mass destruction (the pretext for this war). A whole nation was destroyed for oil and lies. How many decades if not centuries will it take for it to return to its former state?

And most people forgot that this was the reason behind this violent invasion. So many deaths for a lie?

Since then, I don't believe mass media unless they really do have proofs or some real reporters (like the late Robert Fisk) were actually there to report it. Reading about how most of the press got their information in recent conflicts and how many footage were made up (now with AI images it's even more uncanny)... I just shrug when I read the news (except from sources who have proven to serve truth). And I refrain from looking at images. At best, it's to preserve my heart and maintain the dignity of the dead; at worst, I would rather not be emotionally manipulated by fake images.

What about Afghanistan? Nobody wants to think about them because the word taliban dehumanizes them. They took the brunt of the rage resulting from 9/11. They had nothing to do with it. I have no idea how this nation is still standing. Forgotten, bereft of their own money (sanctions which affect the people more than the governement) and yet still standing.

Why am I writing this? Maybe I should have kept this for my diary... but this is why I am not as vocal as I would have been 20 years ago on horrors like the genocide happening in Gaza. Yet i cannot be completely quiet.

I do what I can through donation, prayer and speaking rather than screaming in the void (posting online). Condemning without falling into hate fueled rage.

Rage and hate will not solve anything... instead it will feed this never ending cycle of violence. It's a luxury and duty we have; We who are not directly affected by this genocidal violence. ( I have no right to lecture the people of palestine who are suffering in a way I cannot describe. Please do not misunderstand the purpose of this post.)

We must condemn what is happening, we must move our goverment to oppose this violation of human rights. We must calmy educate those who have no idea about the historical roots of this occupation. We must do what we can to help the opressed people of Palestine.

But I refuse to fall into the trap of hate.

Hate never solves anything.

Most people will scroll pass that. I just wanted to share where I stand on the issue and how it makes me feel and think.

[jorvikzelda]

I've figured out the XP numbers.

Zelda Bowsmith is currently at 79 790 XP, 210 XP from level 21, without ever having collected any XP from events.

I have completed almost every quest up until and including Storm over Devil's Gap, except for the last stretch of Soul Riding. I have 17 days left and as such only the final quest where you get the Rune Runner remains. This quest gives 500 XP.

I have completed a few things that were released after Storm over Devil's Gap:

Luis' Working Equitation race, released on the 28th of June, for 20 XP

The Classic Beach Race, released on the 26th of July, for 20 XP

Luis' showjumping race, released on the 16th of August, for 20 XP

The short Fort Maria quest released on the 16th of August for 150 XP

These total to 210 XP.

Thus, had I done everything up until and including Storm over Devil's Gap but nothing after...

79 790 - 210 for the races and Fort Maria = 79 580 then 79 580 + 500 for Soul Riding

...I would be at 80 080 XP.

There you have it, folks: it became possible to reach level 21 entirely without participating in events on the 16th of May, 2023. This time I'm completely sure I'm right, because I've counted all the XP myself and am not relying on assumptions.

NOW. The question that was really haunting me today.

CAN YOU GET FURTHER??

The quests I have not yet done are the following:

The final Soul Riding quest (as previously stated), for 500 XP

Alex's Part Time Job, released on the 23rd of August, for 1800 XP

Fripp's Agents, released on the 30th of August, for a minimum of 4100 XP (you can get more even without cheats or exploits, but I will be purposefully doing only enough daily quests to clear the reputation blocker and no more - I think this account is more interesting if it collects the minimum amount of XP possible)

Mario's Stargazing, released on the 27th of September, for 155 XP

The race with foxes, released on the 4th of October, for 40 XP

The Hollow Woods intro quests + quests unlocked in the paths of Whimsy and Runeology up until and including level 3 of those skill trees, released on the 22nd of November, for 3675 XP

These total to 10 270 XP.

I am currently at 79 790 XP. Another 10 270 XP will get me to 90 060 XP. Level 22 begins at 90 000 XP.

Folks. I hate to say this. I really do.

On the 22nd of November, 2023, it became possible to reach level 22 without ever collecting any XP from events.

[felinesassosaurus]

If I may add a few:

It is 10, 000% worth the effort to deliberately and purposefully learn healthy communication habits and tactics

Especially with regards to correction/discipline, de-escalation, conflict resolution, how to argue or debate without being hurtful, and how to identify other people's communication styles and best interact with them

Seriously this will benefit you and those around you for the rest of your life

Don't ask for a ladder from people who are in the same pit as you (having a companion through the ladder climbing process can be awesome but you gotta climb up even if they don't)

Baby wipes

Get properly first aid certified regularly and always have clearly marked and stocked first aid kits in unchanging easy access places. Make sure you can open the kits easily with your off hand.

My favorite places are the kitchen above or below the sink (not the bathroom bc what if someone is in there), the glove compartment or center console in the car (not the trunk, it needs to be somewhere the driver can get to from their seat) your workspace (this includes your work office, home office, workshop ect) and your personal bag. Tailor the specifics as appropriate, as in the one you have on you needs to be light, small and portable whereas the one in your garage with the power tools should have tons of gauze and ideally something you can use for a tourniquet

Tampons were originally designed to plug bullet holes, but are also great to plug any small entry or exit wound. Include these in your first aid kit, the cheap ones will do just fine.

If you have a pet or small kids, learn the appropriate first aid for them too

If you have a GPS, favorite the emergency centers around you for people and pets

Practice getting on the floor and back up again without assistance from people, walls or furniture regularly. Most people don't realize they can't get back up from a fall until it's too late.

In the same vein, practice picking stuff up off the floor by kneeling, squatting and bending at the hip. Most falls are the result of loosing balance while doing this.

What kind of movement do you just never do? Start doing it.

Unless a trusted Dr says otherwise, most vitamin supplements - especially multi vitamins - are a waste of money

Good, supportive shoes and insoles are never a waste of money

Toothpaste is toothpaste is toothpaste they're literally all the same except sensitivity/kids which is slightly different but honestly not enough to matter to most people just buy the one that's on sale and tastes the nicest

Also keep markers in your first aid kits! A black sharpie for light skin and a silver one for dark skin so it's obvious and easy to read. Especially in with the tampons and the kit next to the circular saw. If you've gotten seriously injured, shot or assaulted write the time the injury happened on yourself near the injury, and if you've had to apply a tourniquet write that time too. This info can be the difference between keeping a limb/life and loosing it by helping Drs gauge potential blood loss, nerve damage, and tissue death. If you got hurt on purpose by someone then having the exact time recorded may help your case.

I turn 30 next month so here’s what I learned in my 20s:

—don’t work for startups, they’re always one ‘innovative idea’ away adding ‘sell your kidneys on the black market’ to your job description.

—keeping a collection of basic OTC medicine on you will save your life one day. I recommend Advil, Imodium, and TUMS.

—those little single-use glasses cleaning wipes are 1000% worth the money

—overly self-depreciating jokes just make people uncomfortable, wean yourself off of them

—you can buy dehydrated mini marshmallows in bulk online and they’re a godsend for hot cocoa

—people don’t care if you have fidget toys on your desk they just want to play with them

—try to go to bed BEFORE the existential ennui kicks in

[literaturereviewhelp]

The Photographer – Henri Cartier-Bresson Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the most famous photographers. He is of French origin and is considered to be the father of photography. Street photography, also known as real life reportage, is attributed to him because he assisted in their development (Picture1). He was born and brought up in France. Since he came from a wealthy family, he was able to get support from them to develop the interest he had in photography. Contrary to his father’s expectation that he would take over the running of their family business, Bresson opted to venture into photography, a move that disappointed his father. Bresson received his education at the University of Cambridge. He took a course in English, which enabled him to speak an additional language. He also studied art and literature. His interest in photography was inspired by Martin Munkacsi, who was a photographer from Hungary. He was particularly impressed by the photo of some African boys, which was taken while they were naked and in the process of running towards the lake. He was amazed that such an event would be captured in a photograph better than the numerous descriptions of such events in custom research papers and resolved to immediately venture into photography (Picture 2). He took this newfound interest seriously and worked on it passionately. While others opted to express themselves in different ways, such as recording areas of their interests in custom essays, he chose to use photographs, which he claimed could communicate better than any other means. Picture 1 – An example of real-life reportage by Bresson. Picture 2 – One of Bresson’s famous photographs called Behind the Gare St. Lazare. The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation This foundation was started to be a constant reminder of his contribution to photography and preserve his legacy (Picture 1). This foundation also honors some photographers with the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award to help them continue with their work. The award is a 30 000 Euros cash prize, given after every two years since 2003. The award helps the photographer to complete their project, which would have been impossible without being helped financially. The award is given to a photographer who has done significant work in his career in photography. The photographer has to be talented and not so old in the career (Picture 2). Receiving the award is not the end of the photographer’s contact with the foundation because; the winning photographer is expected to showcase their work at the HCB Foundation offices in Paris. This is supposed to happen after 18 months after receipt of the prize. Groupe Wendel is one of the major contributors to this award. The award targets those photographers who have adopted the documentary style in their work. To be eligible for the competition, the photographers must be nominated by an institution, for example, a museum. A custom essay could be written about the winners of this prize, most of who have been males, except the 2011 award that was given to Vanessa Winship, an English Photographer who is a lady. This could be a wake-up call to the ladies to take photojournalism seriously, just like they would do when writing a custom research paper. Picture 1 – One of Bresson’s photographs preserved at the Museum of Modern Art. Picture 2 – One of the Photos in Winship’s ‘sweet nothing.’ Vanessa Winship, the 2011 award winne Read the full article

[euroimplant]

Why Summer Is the Best Time to Get Dental Implants Near the Beach

1. Favorable climate for recovery

The warm and sunny summer weather in Barcelona is ideal for postoperative recovery. During the summer months, mild temperatures allow for moderate outdoor activities, helping maintain a positive mood during the healing process. Additionally, sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, essential for strengthening bones and promoting osseointegration of the implant.

2. Greater availability of time

Summer is typically a vacation period for many people, meaning they have more free time to dedicate to treatment. Dental implants require several visits to the dentist, as well as an initial recovery period. By choosing this season, patients can schedule their treatment without worrying about taking time off work or interrupting their daily routines.

3. Opportunity to enjoy Barcelona

Barcelona is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers a unique experience for those who decide to visit. During the summer, the city is full of cultural events, festivals, and outdoor activities. Getting implants during this time allows you to combine treatment with an unforgettable tourist experience. After each dentist visit, patients can explore the beaches, enjoy local cuisine, or visit iconic places like the Sagrada Familia or Park Güell.

4. Personalized attention in specialized clinics

Dental clinics in Barcelona are equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by highly trained professionals. During the summer, many clinics offer flexible hours and personalized attention to meet the needs of international patients. This ensures that each person receives treatment tailored to their specific needs, guaranteeing optimal results.

5. Economic benefits

Traveling to Spain for dental implants can be more economical than doing so in other European countries or outside Europe. Clinics in Barcelona offer high-quality treatments at competitive prices, making summer an ideal time to take advantage of these offers. Additionally, many establishments include complete packages covering accommodation, transfers, and additional services, maximizing the value of the investment.

6. Recovery near the sea

Proximity to the sea is another significant advantage of getting implants on the Spanish coast. Access to quiet beaches and natural environments allows patients to relax during their recovery. Walking barefoot on the sand or simply enjoying the sea breeze can reduce stress and accelerate the healing process.

7. Support from a multilingual team

Dental clinics in Barcelona are accustomed to serving international patients. Most professionals speak multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Dutch, facilitating communication and ensuring patients feel comfortable and well-informed at all times.

8. Advanced technology and quality materials

Spain is renowned for its excellence in dentistry, and Barcelona is no exception. Clinics use state-of-the-art technology, such as 3D tomography and computer-assisted design systems, to ensure precision and success in every procedure. Additionally, the materials used, such as biocompatible titanium, meet the highest international standards.

9. Close postoperative follow-up

Getting implants in summer allows patients to receive close and continuous follow-up from the dental team. This is crucial for detecting possible complications early and ensuring a successful recovery. Follow-up consultations can also be combined with tourist activities, optimizing the stay in the city.

10. Improved self-esteem before autumn

Finally, summer is a perfect time to improve the appearance of your smile before the autumn season begins. With renewed confidence thanks to new implants, patients can return to their daily activities feeling better about themselves and prepared to face new challenges.

[razzofficial]

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For people who are new to vaping or seeking to simplify their routine, this Raz Disposable Vape gives an handy manner to enjoy first-rate flavors without the need for extra add-ons. The Frozen Banana Raz Frozen Edition is ideal for all people who values comfort and flavor in identical degree.

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The Frozen Banana Raz Vape Frozen Edition is a top class choice for all and sundry searching for a refreshing and flavorful vaping enjoy. With up to twenty-five,000 puffs, a completely unique banana and ice taste profile, and a layout that prioritizes ease of use, this Raz Disposable Vape is designed to fulfill the desires of modern vapers. Embrace the frosty, fruity goodness and make the Frozen Banana Raz Frozen Edition a staple on your vaping ordinary.

Explore the total variety of Raz Vape flavors and find out why the Frozen Banana Raz Frozen Edition is a pinnacle select for disposable vape fanatics. Whether you are new to vaping or a pro pro, this disposable vape gives a fulfilling enjoy that’s each handy and delicious.

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[acedestinaire]

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What sets ATS Destinaire apart from other residential projects is its dedication to providing a balanced lifestyle. The project is equipped with extensive green spaces, offering a peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The carefully curated landscaping, jogging tracks, and recreational areas make it perfect for those who enjoy outdoor living.

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