#Best generalization you'll get!

[astrxlfinale]

What are your thoughts on those of the genius society?

Caelus takes a moment to contemplate that.

Ironic. He knows.

For is it not those who follow that very wheelhouse devoted to the concept? The Erudition finds itself being simplistic in execution to Caelus. It's only the variations that truly exemplify the outright wild routes their minds can take. Those following the cosmic, high divine metals of Nous always had an undeniable weariness settled within their eyes. No amount of drive, apathy or measures of life experience could change that.

In fact, many could say that weariness was a requirement. It leads the Trailblazer to gently scoff as he scratches at the side of his wild, silver hair. "People who know how to crank the world itself up to 11. And I ain't talking about some metaphor, I just mean that literally." Each and every case has reflected as much to him. It's through the mold of their hands and imagination that he's faced sheer hell, conflicts of the past, conspiracy theories on mortal and divine scales.

..Funniest part? It's likely true.

"Not just people in the Genius Society themselves, any folks who got a card of Erudition in their stacks. I think they're literally the biggest cases of people looking for closure that you'll ever find." For the embers of ambition, the drive for a goal, continuing, there was never contentment in letting an answer contently be out of sight.

That said more than enough to him.

[starflungwaddledee]

some rather strong first impressions were made.

required reading for the magical "voice" headcanon and another for starstruck's signature in particular. asked by @trainerbob23 !

[aioliravioli-69]

This one was a long time coming (a.k.a. since I found out about 'Duolingo on ice') so I started looking into it and I found this!

This pose

This pose specifically was MADE for Buddy!!

I couldn't resist

Buddy being a dramatic bastard

[eggsistential-basket]

thinking about the person i could have been if i tried a little harder to find my own way

[binksbrew]

[hooked-on-elvis]

"It was his fans who defined the word 'devotion' and it was Elvis who was propagating the faith."

— Alfred Wertheimer about Elvis interactions with his fans in the 50s.

June 30, 1956: Elvis and Barbara Gray (Elvis' date that day and the girl immortalized in a photograph with him in what would be known as one of Elvis' most iconic and sexy portraits by Alfred Wertheimer, shoot that same day, a portrait known today as 'The Kiss'). On the first picture they were at Jefferson's hotel restaurant, and in the second picture they were with Elvis' cousin, Junior Smith, inside a cab on their way to the Mosque Theatre in Richmond, VA, where Elvis would perform in a few moments. Alfred Wertheimer's recollections of this moment:

"The cab drove up Main Street, drifting through the still heat until it landed at the rear of the Mosque Theatre. I had expected Elvis to march directly up the backstage ramp, — it was only twenty minutes to show time, — but, instead, he laid back and held court with the few young ladies who had gathered, all primly dressed in their Sunday best and ready with their Brownie cameras. For someone who was moving up pretty fast he never seemed to be in a rush. He always had time for the fans. The blond in the black chemise (Barbara Grey, Elvis' date) and Junior stepped aside. "Elvis, can my girlfriend take a picture of you and me?" asked one of the young ladies. "Sure, honey." "Elvis, are you going to sing 'Heartbreak Hotel?'" "Maybe. Are you gonna watch me tomorrow night on television?" "Oh, yes." Elvis was not a celebrity who had some vague love of the people or a star who, with a wave of hands, would acknowledge some generalized gratitude for all who had made this possible. He was specific, giving his attention to each, as the Pope gives a personal audience. It was his fans who defined the word "devotion" and it was Elvis who was propagating the faith. He may not have known what he had but it was clear they knew he had it. I was still trying to find out what "it" was.

Excerpt from "Elvis '56: In The Beginning" by Alfred Wertheimer

Fans backstage at the Mosque Theatre, Richmond, Virginia - Some with their Brownie Kodak cameras, as mentioned by Mr. Wertheimer. June 30, 1956. © Alfred Wertheimer.

Elvis onstage at the Mosque Theatre, Richmond, Virginia on June 30, 1956. Photo by © Alfred Wertheimer.

[contractbound]

On Hearing People's Wishes...

Last summer, @wayward-aeon asked me to give my perspective on people praying to the Adep/ti (more specifically the Yak/shas), as well as elaborate on this in-game line:

Whether yours or Li/yue's, I hear all cries for help, all prayers for peace, and all the wishes carried by the lanterns.

Below the cut is my answer to that, taken from informal private messages and edited into more of a personal essay.

August 2023 ; 711 words

—

What I said to Aether while making my promise to come when he called is true — I do hear everyone's wishes and calls for help. As far back in my canon as I can remember, I'd always been sensitive/attuned to the desires and needs of the people of Li/yue. I remember making a silent oath to answer what I could.

Regarding which calls I answer, I mostly pay attention to the wishes that actually fell under my jurisdiction, like providing protection. It was very easy to do that when Li/yue was still young, and the people back then were primarily concerned with survival. They usually didn't ask for pointless things like wealth and status. Really...what am I supposed to do about requests like that?

I suppose Aether could be considered a special exception to an extent. While he doesn't permanently reside in Li/yue, I personally made a promise to him to come when called, and I respond to his wishes even when they have nothing to do with my actual purpose/job. In my noemata, when he'd call my name, I'd hear it come through in my head — like a telepathic connection, but not purely. It also partially feels like I just have unnaturally good ears.

It feels the same with others who pray to the Adep/ti. I'm particularly sensitive to it during Lan/tern Rite. I think if I held someones Xi/ao Lantern in my hands, I could tell you the individual wish attached to it (but I wouldn't tell a soul, because that's bad luck). While I can't personally fulfill every person in Li/yue's every desire (especially because so many of them nowadays are outside of my jurisdiction and skill set), I still hold them close to my heart.

As for what is within my jurisdiction...there have been many occasions out in the wild where someone would scream for help after running into monsters, and I'd come to their rescue. No matter how far away I was.

On the topic of people praying to the Yak/shas in specific, I was aware of it. Spiritual practices dedicated to us such as prayer and leaving offerings were much more widespread in ancient times. We were much more revered and known back then because our abilities were a lot more needed (and of course, because we were much more numerous). In the "current-day" Tey/vat, barely anyone prays to the Yak/shas at all, and many others don't even know about us. However, that's a tangent for another time.

My connection to Aether and to the people of Li/yue that allows me to hear their wishes is of unknown origin at this point in time. I wonder if there was something innate in me that allowed me to feel this way, or if it was purely a skill picked up and developed over time after establishing my contract with Mo/rax. My current hunch is that it's a mix of both.

Before the contract, I'd have little to no reason to listen to people's desires, but I also feel like its just part of my nature to be attuned to others, even if I behave otherwise. This impression comes from memories I have of when I was still young. Before I entered any god's servitude, and I was just left to my own devices, I would spend my days entering and exploring people's dreams. Someone's dreams, especially on Tey/vat, are their memories, their love, their essence, their desire.

At that time in my life, my most prominent trait other than naive was curious. I wanted to understand people, and entering their dreams was like looking into their souls. It was a very effective way for me to sate this curiosity. Over the centuries, I got more and more intimately familiar with dreams and their nature. Even as I was devouring them, my understanding grew.

I wouldn't be surprised if being so tuned in to the desires of the people I swore to protect was largely a result of my "upbringing", for lack of a better term. I know firsthand how potent yet fragile dreams are, and that knowledge motivates me to protect them.

...If I could give back what I've stolen, and make a few come true, that would be all the better.

[bluejaybytes]

IT IS DONE. I 100%'D SIDE ORDER IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY. Cleared the tower with all palettes, bought all hacks, bought all items from Cipher, got the Low Hacks Eight badge, got all Jelleton entries, and got all chips entries as well as maxing out the chips that max out at ten and NOT five. My fastest clear is 17 minutes with DJ Octavio's palette, and highest score is Marina's palette with 83k points. My favorite palette and palette with the most clears is Frye's palette with 6 clears, and my least favorite palette is Big Man's palette with only a single clear, tied with Eight and Murch's palette for the spot of least clears, and my first clear was with Sheldon's palette.

Genuinely I could not be happier with Side Order. The only critiques I have are minor and not hugely impactful on how I feel about the DLC as a whole. Easily worth the money and despite the fact I've now done every conceivable thing the game has to offer in terms of completion, I absolutely expect to continue playing and having fun with it for a while further

[tastytofusoup]

People talk about an easier difficulty setting for Elden Ring, and like, they're not wrong, choices in game settings so you can play the way you want to are always good.

However, an easy mode does already exist, and it is called playing as a mage, with the Moonveil Katana.

[primordialchoice]

Her chronic boredom makes her act out in surprising ways. Sometimes, she matches your energy, or may even exhibit sagely wisdom to impress and create trust. Other times, she just might decide to throw a chair at you just to see what would happen.

She's kind of like a cat. Sometimes she sleeps on the table. Other times she swats things off it to fact check Newton.

[stevishabitat]

😭😭😭

the thing is that childhood doesn't just end when you turn 18 or when you turn 21. it's going to end dozens of times over. your childhood pet will die. actors you loved in movies you watched as a kid will die. your grandparents will die, and then your parents will die. it's going to end dozens and dozens of times and all you can do is let it. all you can do is stand in the middle of the grocery store and stare at freezers full of microwave pizza because you've suddenly been seized by the memory of what it felt like to have a pizza party on the last day of school before summer break. which is another ending in and of itself

[bestnoncannonship]

With JoAnne Fabrics going out of business I feel it is my duty as a cosplayer, historical costumer, and general sewing gremlin to help teach y'all how not to be reliant on evil overpriced mediocre big box stores for fabric and cosplay supply, cause if I catch y'all going into Homophobia Lobby to get cosplay fabrics imma have to start throwing hands. And frankly you guys all deserve better.

- Find a neighborhood full of brown people. Probably a slightly poorer neighborhod. I know, I know, but they will have small independent fabric stores. Selection in each may vary. Hispanic and Caribbean areas will give you prints that EAT. Muslim areas will give you fabrics with amazing drapery. Indian and Southeast Asian areas will give you beading that would make the House of Worth wet with envy. (Try to avoid oldwhitelady quilting stores unless you are a knitter or are specifically trying to cosplay Kirsten Larson.) (Also ask while you're there for lunch/dinner spot recommendations. Your fabric store guy usually has a buddy with a joint nextdoor with the best *insert relevant ethnic food here* you'll ever put in your mouth.)

- DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF SAID STORE. This I cannot stress enough. Abdul, my fabric guy, can and will get me whatever I want cause he knows me, knows I bring in other young people, and knows I will be back every month for more. Indie fabric stores tend to have older clients. They are anxious to see faces under 60. Just chat with whoever is in there about the kind of stuff you want and need and they will help you. This also frequently leads to discounts. I have not paid listed price for fabric in years and just walked out of Abdul's with 7~ yards of gorgeous teal satin for 10 bucks. Not a yard. Total.

- Do not be afraid of mess. The best shit comes from stores that look like a hurricane went through them. Don't try to understand the organization. (One day, 4 years into your relationship with the store, suddenly the fabric gods will reveal the knowledge to you.) Again, talk to whoever is in there about your project. They'll help.

- Give up on one stop shopping. Get your crafting supplies elsewhere. Like a small independent hardware store. There's usually an old guy in there that reminds you of an uncle who will also help you.

-Worbla and whatever other Cosplay Specific Material you're using is a fatphobic material straight from Satan's hot taint, you do not need it, and any old hardware/tractor supply dad will help you find better, more durable armor/weapon/detailing material. Don't snub your nose at paper mache and plaster of paris. Venetian Mask makers have been using it for years. Balsa wood is also your friend. Hardware store Uncles will teach you to work with both.

- Elderly people are your bffs. If you see an old person TALK TO THEM. They know how to do all kinds of shit. I know there's a hesitation around old people because of the political climate and a fear that they may be homo/trans/whatever-phobic, but hey....minds are changed by making friends. My elderly Muslim fabric supplier is an Our Flag Means Death fan because of me gushing about the teal I needed for Stede Bonnet. He wishes me happy pride now. He put bolt of rainbow in the window in June and kept it up all summer. And he'd never had a thought about queers before me.

- Don't feel limited to Craft and Fabric stores. Hardware stores are cool. They stock outdoor fabrics and umbrella and furniture covers that are very durable....my first cosplay was made out of patio furniture covers. Also upholstery stores and upholsterers have velvets and damasks and faux leather and real leather and all sorts of rich textures. Most of them will part with a few yards pretty cheap. Second hand sheets and bedspreads and curtains also make some really cool garments. A significant amount of my ren fair garb started as household goods.

- If you are forced to order fabric online, please for the love of all that is holy DO NOT BUY FROM MOOD or any other famous store. You're paying for their branding and their place on certain reality shows I will not mention. Indie is always cheaper for the quality and usually not abusing their workers.

- If the fabric/hobby/hardware/upholstery/etc store you develop a relationship with is inconveniently far from you, see if said owner is willing to take your order via phone and send it to you. You'd be surprised how accommodating people in the crafting and sewing world can be.

It all really comes down to having to form a community. I know finding multiple small stores is a lot less convenient than Joannes. But forming a relationship with a local supplier will, in the long run, yield you much better results AND put money and good back into a community near you.

(And if you're in the NYC area DM me and I'll put you in contact with Abdul. He's the absolute best and I'd do anything to help him and his business grow!!!)

[pervasiveextermination]

>([[E-

[gibbearish]

idk looks pretty clearly posted to me, kinda seems like you just. didnt read the rules and then broke them lmao

Today's sponsored post is to inform everyone that Reddit's r/Art community is run by pigs with no lives. At best, I was mildly annoying initially. They just slung mud. If this is what a community touts as its “best,” it's trash.

[sleepymccoy]

Also please tell me where you're from, cos I hear on Tumblr that this phrase is Aussie but I'm Aussie and it doesn't sound fucking Aussie to me. Do foreigners know this? This just seems like a normal fucking sentence.

[dravidious]

You're more amazing than pits

Had a neat idea for a sacrifice effect, also Trauma Center cards