#one of which involves printing and making origami

[athetos]

2 eggs left in animal well and I’m stumped… I know most of the layer 3 and even 4 spoilers which let’s be real they’re actually impossible to solve on your own anyway. so I figured I may as well look these last couple eggs up but I can’t remember what ones I already got and there’s 64 of them… might honestly post a pic of my egg room on Reddit or in the discord and ask people to give me some idea of what rooms they are

[nyoomfruits]

osctober day twenty five

prompt: magic pairing: lando/oscar word count: 900w

Oscar’s got his magic pretty much under control now that he’s older. There were a few incidents, when he was a kid, that time he accidentally floated all the furniture in the classroom because he was so happy he got an A+ on a test, that time he made it rain inside for a whole day because his pet rabbit died. But it’s all good now. No more weird incidents. No more letting his emotions control his magic.

Until Lando Norris walks into the break room at work and Oscar’s magic promptly sets the microwave on fire.

“Uh,” Lando Norris says. “Is that normal?”

“No,” Oscar grits out through clenched teeth, desperately petting at the microwave with a tea towel to make it stop doing the fire thing. It’s magical fire, though, so it doesn’t really care much about the laws of nature. Or about embarrassing Oscar in front of his crush.

Lando started working for their Design department roughly eight months ago, right around the time Oscar and Lily had finally called it quits after months and months of pretending everything was still fine between them.

And so Oscar hadn’t paid attention much, at first. Too wrapped up in his own life problems. But then the pain of the break up faded into a dull ache and suddenly Lando was there, with his cute smile and his mesmerizing eyes and his half unbuttoned shirts and Oscar had fallen hook, line, sinker.

Which was fine. Not a problem at all. Oscar had crushes before. It’s fine.

But then his magic gets involved. And that’s when shit starts hitting the fan.

“Okay, no, fuck this,” Alex says, diving under his desk, as all the pens in the office fly up into the sky and start spelling out terms of endearment above Lando and Oscar’s head.

“Ah,” Oscar says.

“Uh,” Lando says, staring up, squinting to read what’s being spelled. “Honey cakes?”

Oscar frantically tries to get his heart rate back to a normal level. All Lando had done was ask him to borrow a pen, and then their hands had brushed when Oscar handed one to him. And now this.

“Sugarplum,” Lando says. “Well, at least they’re creative. Does this happen often?”

“NEVER,” Alex hollers from under the desk, just as Oscar says, “Oh, all the time. Average accounting bullshit, you know how it is.”

“Hm,” Lando says. “Cool. Maybe I should switch departments.”

“DON’T YOU DARE” Alex hollers. “It’s pretty boring, all things considered,” Oscar says.

“I mean, yeah, but you’re here, right? So can’t be that boring,” Lando says.

The pens explode in a cloud of rainbow colored heart shaped confetti. Alex’s scream can be heard three floors down.

--

“Hey,” Lando says, a few days later. “I think we should talk.”

Oscar winces. “Is this about the fridge?”

Lando raises an eyebrow. “No? What’s wrong with the fridge?”

The fridge is currently full of all of Lando’s favorite snacks. Every time someone puts their lunchbox in it just turns into a pouch of capri sun. They have yet to figure out a way to fix it. “Nothing, the fridge is fine.”

“Oookay,” Lando says, sitting down on Oscar’s desk. Behind him, a stack of quarterly reports Oscar had printed out earlier start folding themselves into heart shapes. “Anyway, not why I was here. I actually, uh. Wanted to ask you something?” He fidgets with his hands.

Oscar steels himself. This has to be about the magic thing. Lando’s had enough of all the insanity, wants him to stop. Wants him to never talk to him again. Oscar wonders if it would be expensive to move to Iceland. Or maybe he can just find a really big forest somewhere. Those exists, right? No one would ever have to see him again.

“Do you… Would you want to go out with me?” Lando asks, looking up genuinely nervous.

“What.” Oscar says. Behind Lando, the swarm of origami hearts freezes midair.

“Like, on a date?” He fidgets with his hands. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to! It’s just I would really like to and everyone keeps telling me to go for it, that it’s like, obvious or whatever, but. I don’t know. If you don’t want to. I know you just got out of a serious relationship and such.”

“That was months ago,” Oscar says. “I mean, Lily and me. That’s. That’s actually so not the point right now, I’m. You want to? Go on a date? With me?”

Lando smiles, even though it’s a little brittle, a little unsure. “I would, yeah.”

“Oh,” Oscar says, and then promptly leans forward to kiss Lando on the mouth.

It’s a bit inappropriate, maybe, but it’s not like there’s anyone actually currently in the office. It’s late, most of the lights are turned off, so it’s just Lando and Oscar and the hundreds of paper origami hearts that flutter around them like little butterflies as Oscar kisses Lando like a starving man.

And Lando responds in earnest, kisses him back just as urgently, like he’s been waiting for this moment, too. When they pull away, Oscar leans his forehead against Lando’s, lets out a disbelieving laugh. “I would love to go on a date with you.”

“Mint,” Lando says, beaming at him. And then, because he’s a little shit. “My sugarplum.”

[lactoseintolerentswag]

Rise Characterizations: The Foot Clan

Since I've posted on Cass, I figured it would be useful to post separately on the Foot Clan as a whole.

So the Foot Clan's obvious goal is the resurrect The Shredder.

They have paralleled origins to that of the Hamato Clan, the distinction of which caused by Karai splitting into her own clan.

One of the only mentioned laws of the Foot Clan is: you can only take control by succeeding where those have failed.

This leaves room to interpret that there could be a history of in-fighting or struggle for power within the Foot Clan.

Ranking:

To officially join the Foot Clan, a recruit must attempt an assigned solo mission, and return with success. The more missions a recruit/member go on, the more they are qualified to be raised to a higher ranking.

A foot marking on a face is implied to accompany a higher level of respect. Since Huginn and Muninn haven't raised their rank higher than the equivalent of a 2, we can assume that getting a foot print you must be a rank 3 or higher.

Members:

Foot Lt. offhandedly mentioned they get recruits online in "ninja chat rooms", so it seems they prioritize quantity over quality.

Then there are the origami warriors, who serve as canon fodder. We see the origami warriors as the earliest army of the Foot Clan, but this is ruined with the turtles' involvement. I wonder what determines the value between the origami warriors and the human members.

The Foot Clan is already kind of built on flimsy foundations. Foot Lt. and Foot Brute seem to be the only ones in the know of what's going on (being able to navigate through the Hidden City, use/locate mystic artifacts, and have some knowledge of the Hamato Clan), but even they don't really understand the Shredder's motivations. It makes me question how "human" or disconnected from their humanity they are, especially considering the flaming heads and purple skin.

There is some mentioned donors of the Foot Clan (such as Jocelyn's parents), but after the Shredder was detained in Seasons 2's opening, the members of the Foot Clan kind of jumped ship. This forced Cass to find purpose elsewhere, and Foot Lt. and Brute to retreat to the shadows. When the Shredder returns, it's just the three of them. This might have to do with where they recruit from.

In-fighting and changes between leadership through violence could also lead to muddled history and values. These people aren't bound together by one purpose, just broad destructive chaos.

Names and identities don't be appeared to be valued within the Foot Clan. For the majority of the show Cassandra is referred to as "Foot Recruit", and the only names we're offered with the two leaders are "Foot Lt. and "Foot Brute". This is could be read as a gag, but again Foot Clan history is completely open to interpretation.

Goals:

We've discussed their connection to Shredder's resurrection, but even beyond him what they're really aiming at it world domination and destruction. We see this reflected in Cass with her inherit fierceness, but also how she deals with the fallout of the Foot Clan by raising an army of brownie scouts to take over the world.

And then there's the inherit role of servitude that both Foot Lt. and Brute put themselves under. When Draxum dons the armor they "await" his orders (with the misunderstanding that the Shredder has risen), and when asked what they expect the Shredder to do they simply shrug and say "shred". They live to serve and destroy for a higher power beyond their understanding. A few lines that particularly stuck out to me in the movie was: "Tonight we liberate our masters from their dimensional prison. With this key we shall free them to lay waste to this world and enslave its people."

And finally I'd like to discuss their relationship with the Krang and the key.

Since the events of s2 the Foot Clan appears to have taken residence in an abandoned garden, whether it was the same in which the boys had broken into to smell the corpse flower remains unclear to My findings. Their numbers have grown again for an unknown reason, and they have been collecting parts of the dimensional gate and finally key.

I would also like to mention the inclusion of the boat and dock here. Especially since we were introduced to the Foot Clan through their paper thievery, and the boys had their first win against them on a similar boat that served as a paper hoard.

Moving back to the Krang, they have a similar fundamental misunderstanding of their place in relation to their masters, as they did with their master the shredder. It begs me to ask the question of when exactly and how did Lieutenant and Brute start giving attention to the Krang.

They were never mentioned before during the show, but in the movie Lieutenant does refer to them by name, "We shall follow the Krang as they lead the Foot Clan to glory!" So did this reach for a new master come from desperate research on the Shredder's origins, or was that the end goal when the Shredder was released? The oni that gave Shredder is shown to be a Krang before they were even confirmed, and the armor appears eerily similar to the armor that the three Krang don in the final sequence of the movie.

Then the source of empyrean (the source of mysticsm, yokai, mutants) is shown to come from a kraang corpse. There's so much of the Foot Clan tied to the Krang manipulating Oroku Saki, but a lot of their origins appear to be lost to history.

But again that leaves much to interpretation and wiggle room to poke at!!

[feathersandcranes]

Cranes and Undefeatable Hope

Remember when I said in the butterfly post that there would be more divine creatures celebrated through the arts? The crane cranks that idea to eleven.

The most popular type of origami project, at least in the West, is by and large the paper crane. Whether you’re introduced to it through the novel Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes which would’ve wrenched your heart out because you read it as a school child, or through entertainment media featuring either the tale of the 1,000 cranes in exchange for a wish or for memorials. Regardless, when you hear of origami the next thing you hear about is the paper crane. Now this craft is what began my entire hobby as I am also seeking a wish in exchange for folding 1,000 little fellas, and there may be a post about that and how fun the crafting journey has been, but for now let’s get into history.

The paper crane is a craft from the early 1600s and onward, the paper crane itself being shown in printed texts and illustrations for centuries. So, safe to say that not only has the practice of folding cranes out of paper been important for so long, but so too is the bird in question. Often depicted as particularly the red-crowned crane in other forms of media like paintings, the bird is a symbol for longevity, beauty, fortune, and healing. The longevity idea stems from the myth that cranes live for 1,000 years, hence the folding of 1,000 paper cranes to acquire either a wish or bestow an honorable memorial (really folding so many cranes is an act of honor and appreciation however it comes about, also a test of patience) which became popularized through the story of Sadako Sasaki. While incredibly moving, her story is not my primary focus, but there are resources to learn more about her, her family, and her tale which I’d encourage you to look through!

Cranes are regarded as messengers of the gods and mythical creatures; one noteworthy folktale is that of “The Grateful Crane” where a young man nursed an injured crane back to health only for it to later take the form of a beautiful woman who would become his wife for a time in exchange for his kindness. But herein lies an interesting idea that is shown in many tales of Japanese origin, that in showing kindness to the wilderness and its inhabitants, that same kindness will come back to you or at least reshape your world. Now, this is usually in the form of some young man being kind to a fox or crane or other beautiful creature who will later become their wife (this happens kinda often) but it’s this reciprocal connection to nature, a love that doesn’t involve inaction of humanity, where instead the two parties ‘human’ and ‘wild’ shape each other.

It recontextualizes this fun hobby of just folding little creatures out of paper into one that is an active celebration of the form that nature takes to interact with us, whether that form is a crane that graces us with love and longevity or a butterfly carrying the soul of a loved one in its wings or any other number of spirits made tangible through nature depicted through paper. It's the subtlety that origami gifts us, something so ironically flimsy in physical strength considering the emotional strength the art form has given through history and continues to give people now, that I believe makes it such a fantastic media of choice when looking at communicating environmental conscientiousness. Since environmental awareness as a whole is such a heavy topic for so many different personal, political, and emotional reasons to so many people, allowing said people to consider new ideas with a light and breathable art form like origami can do so much good in the reframing of how humanity views itself with respect to the wilderness. It doesn't add more heft and force to an already overwhelming idea, it instead gives a new scent to the breeze that flows through the space, it instead plasters itself to the side of the bulging thought-mass that is the current state of the climate like a pale sticky note, it's unobtrusive and more easily welcomed into the minds of people. That's how it worked for me. Through origami, I found myself honoring the real-life counterparts of the critters I was creating under my fingertips to show to my friends and decorate my tablespace without even realizing that the reverence had crept in. This deep seated and slowly growing respect had made itself nice and comfy in my mind palace like a spider, politely catching aphids and flies in the corner, coexisting in my head and keeping the place clean and far less overwhelming. I use this poetic language to further drive the fact that my perception of Human and Nature have been, irrevocably, tied together in a brand new way through this art form, giving me a new thread to tangle together and strengthen my personal idea of unity with the environment in my own way, one that motivates me to do right by it and all the cranes left in the world.

“It is not a pristine sanctuary where the last remnant of an untouched, endangered, but still transcendent nature can for at least a little while longer be encountered without the contaminating taint of civilization. Instead, it is a product of that civilization, and could hardly be contaminated by the very stuff of which it is made” (Cronon, 69).

Told you I’d mention this text again! Cronon just has the idea I want to nail home down cold, that not one force exerts their will over the other between humanity and wilderness, but that they press their respective gravities against each other and share the same shape. Our cities and machines endanger creatures further, but our ancient respect and love for these creatures inspires us to protect them, ensure that their love will stick around long enough to mold us, and our children, further. Just like what’s happening with the red-crowned crane right now, where this endangered bird native to East Asia has a notable population in Hokkaido where they don’t even fully migrate away from the land and are under constant observation for research purposes and the land with which they live is receiving constant donations to be maintained. Would there be so many eyes on the maintenance of this species if not for their cultural significance, the countless illustrations featuring their likeness, the many tales about their gifts in exchange for the kindness of humanity, or for their essentially being a mascot to the hobby of origami entirely? It’s not something I can say definitively, but I doubt all of that outward love is hurting that assumption.

[liootsgrad60453]

Object - Concepts

Omamori

An Omamori, a traditional Japanese amulet, influences me as a graphic designer and my creative process. It serves as a reminder of the symbolism and cultural significance of my background. It inspires unique design elements and concepts, adding depth and cultural richness to my work. It can also act as a little charm that infuses positive energy into me as an individual and designer.

2. Pressed Coins

Pressed coins are significant to me because they serve as tangible souvenirs and tokens of my memories. They capture a moment in time and can be collected as a fun and unique way to remember places visited or experiences had. Each pressed coin tells a story and holds sentimental value, making them special keepsakes that can be cherished for years to come. The process of pressing a coin creates a customised design, adding an element of personalisation to the experience.

Pressed coins can influence me as a designer by showcasing the power of small, unique details. The experience between the design and the user is very crucial in this product. They can inspire designers to incorporate custom elements, such as textures or patterns, into their work. Additionally, the storytelling aspect of pressed coins can encourage to creation of designs that evoke emotions and memories.

3. Sewing Machine

Reworked clothes can have a significant influence on me as an approach to sustainability. By repurposing and upcycling existing garments, designers can contribute to reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable industry. This mindset that I have of reusing and transforming materials inspires me as a designer to adopt sustainable practices in my work, such as using eco-friendly materials, minimising waste in the design process, and creating designs that promote sustainability and environmental awareness.

4. Editorials/ Catalogs

Editorial influencing graphic design is the process of using editorial content to inspire and guide the design of graphics. It involves incorporating elements such as typography, layout, and color schemes that are commonly found in editorial design to create visually appealing and impactful graphics. By drawing inspiration from editorial design principles, I am influence heavily to create designs that are engaging, informative, and visually compelling.

Magazines are a great source of inspiration for me in the graphic design field They showcase a wide range of design styles, typography, layouts, and visual storytelling techniques. By studying magazine designs, graphic designers can learn about composition, colour palettes, and how to effectively communicate information through visuals. It keeps up with current trends but also has a sense of timelessness as it is printed material that should hopefully last a long time. 

5. Origami

Origami is an art form that involves folding paper to create intricate and beautiful designs. It requires patience, precision, and creativity. The art of origami has a long history and is enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to relax, exercise your brain, and create something unique out of a simple sheet of paper. I believe that origami was one of the first forms of art that sparked my creativity from a young age. The millions of different patterns and graphics on the paper itself and the endless possibilities from creating packages to animals.

The crane is the first thing I learnt how to make and this is not only significant to me as the start of my design journey but is well known for the symbolism of peace and hope that it holds.

Sadako Sasaki Sadako Sasaki was a young girl who lived in Hiroshima, Japan. She was just two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II in 1945. While Sadako initially survived the explosion, she developed leukemia, which is believed to have been caused by the radiation from the bomb.

During her time in the hospital, Sadako heard about an old Japanese legend that said if you folded a thousand origami cranes, you would be granted a wish. This wish was often for healing or recovery from an illness. Despite her declining health, Sadako decided to fold a thousand paper cranes in the hope that it would cure her illness.

I am deeply inspired by the powerful impact of design and hope to be able to share work across the world.

6. Vinyl

Vinyls are a classic way to enjoy music. As a designer, I appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of both the music and the album design. Vinyls have become popular again in recent years, and many music enthusiasts still enjoy collecting and playing them. This goes to show that good design will last forever.

7. Lisa Reihana

Lisa Reihana's art is one of the greatest sources of inspiration for graphic designers, including myself. Her work often combines elements of storytelling, history, and cultural identity, which can spark new ideas and perspectives. Reihana's use of vibrant colors, intricate details, and innovative techniques enourage me to push the boundaries of my own creativity. By studying and appreciating Reihana's art, I have gained insights into visual storytelling, composition, and the power of cultural representation in design.

8. Dried Flowers

Dried flowers are a result that comes from the process of drying fresh flowers to create a long-lasting and beautiful product. My grandparents in Japan also started

20. Plastic Bags (something I don't like)

Plastic bags are an influence for graphic designers because they present a unique design challenge. Designers can explore ways to make something seemingly mundane, like a plastic bag, visually appealing and memorable. Plastic bags have become a symbol of environmental issues, so I have used them to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices through their designs.

[renegadepack]

Jacob teaching the pack to make little wooden charms?? Like them all having a boys (and Leah lmao) night and making little wooden figurines together? I just think it’d be cute,,

so i have very little knowledge of woodcarving myself, so these turned into craft night headcanons ft. woodcarving. hope that’s ok!!!

Sam insisted they did group bonding activities every so often. They knew each other from growing up on the reservation together, from school and family friends, but they didn’t hang out in a group before the transformation. After, they saw plenty of each other, but it wasn’t social. So Sam said they’d have more fun and work together better if they hung out more, so hang out they did. 

A couple attempts at game night didn’t work out (it got too competitive), and neither did movie nights (half were too loud and half just wanted to watch the movies - if they could ever agree on one). Jacob was the one who finally suggested craft nights. Most of them had a skill to share and it would be something fun to do while learning something new.

As it was Jacob’s idea, he went first, and he chose to teach wood carving. They all learned the basics at some point or another, but it had been awhile for most of them. He gathered up a handful of wood pieces and scraps and all the tools he had. They always had these events at Sam’s house as he had the biggest living room where they could all fit. Jacob carefully spread everything out on the table, where the rest of the group quickly joined. He spent the next few hours teaching them the basics and then some. By the end of the night, everyone had some form of simple carving done - from Sam’s little star to Paul’s more detailed treble clef.

Quil volunteered to go next - he wanted to teach everyone weaving. He had taught himself over the years, and was excited to share that skill with his friends. His yarn collection was quite extensive, so it was easier to meet at his house. Everyone chose their yarn and sat on the floor in his room, following along with his descriptions. They all made squares that Quil later sewed together to make a blanket, which they gave to Emily. Her birthday was coming up anyway.

Leah had recently picked up painting again. She didn’t really know how to teach that, nor did she particularly want to. Instead, she went to a few nearby craft stores, and picked up some cheap paints and a bunch of paint-by-number kits. They burned through them all in one night, choosing whichever colors they wanted to create their masterpieces and fighting over the best ones.

To help control his temper, Paul had taken up macrame. The work was simple and repetitive, which helped him refocus himself. So he showed it to everyone else. He borrowed some yarn from Quil, and brought some of his own. The basic knot was easy enough for him to teach, and after that everyone started making small bracelets for each other. Everyone left that night with a full wrist and slightly sore fingers.

Embry continuously argued that he didn’t have a creative bone in his body, but the others insisted he take a night and bring in a craft. He searched around and brought in a bunch of sheets of paper and instructions to make an origami wolf. They all struggled with the instructions, but a few hours later they all had something resembling a wolf - sort of. 

A tie-dye night was Seth’s choice. Everyone pitched in to buy the t-shirts and dye, and set up in the Uley backyard one sunny day. Seth had printed out pages and pages of patterns, and they all chose one to try. They sat out for a few days to dry and for the colors to set, and then they gathered again to rinse them out with a hose - which immediately turned into a water fight.

Jared had taken a couple of art classes online, and had learned a couple of different drawing games through them. One involved creating blind contour drawings, and he thought it would be fun to create portraits of each other that way. He gathered up all his old markers, found some poster board from past school projects, and instructed everyone what to do. They all had fun laughing at each other’s attempts, and spent the rest of the night decorating them. 

more fic // request fic

[elianthvia]

7 Reasons Why I Quit

(only for a little bit)

It has, alas, been another few weeks since I posted. I have an excuse for my unpunctuality: I've been spinning non-stop like a top. The conclusion of the last Zoomester and the start of summer are to blame. I have seven partners in crime.

Culprit 1: Puppetry Workshop

Towards the end of the year, DTI (Design Thinking Initiative), in collaboration with the Theatre Shop, hosted an in-person puppetry workshop where a small number of people could participate per covid protocols. In-person events were few and far between this semester, so of course I rushed to sign up. The workshop ran for about 2 hours on three consecutive Mondays. We met in the theatre shop inside Mendenhall Center for Performing Arts.  

The first day we made shadow puppets (and mine was a bee); the second day we made hand puppets (mine was a ... cyclop ghost king?); the third day we made marionette or string puppets (I attempted to make a teru teru bōzu, but everyone thought it a ghost). I had a lot of fun trying different fabrics, re-learning how to use a bandsaw, and magically joining things together with the help of a hot glue gun. (Side note: Polymer chemistry is the magician behind the scene, and I will be learning more about the science of hot glue guns in the polymer class I am taking next semester!) The workshop was surprisingly not as popular as I anticipated, maybe because people were busy as the semester came to a close. The good news is that DTI will be running the workshop again in the fall so more people will get to participate.

(Is she a ghost or teru teru bōzu?)

Culprit 2: Spring Piano Recital

I did not expect to attend a live concert this semester, but I was invited to the spring piano recital as a "special guest." It is a habit I developed while working as a concert crew at Sage, to sit outside the Sweeney Concert Hall and listen to the rehearsals after I finished setting up the stage. That day I was going to do homework outside the concert hall while waiting for my performing friend to finish. The piano instructor spotted me and asked me if I wanted to join. Disbelieving in my good luck, I accepted the invite. About ten students were scattered in the almost empty concert that felt sad and lonesome, but soon music filled the air. I thoroughly enjoyed every performance. Lots of Chopin were played, but my favorite one is Rhapsody in Blue which just entered the public domain this year. All pieces are about or more than a century old, which is not a surprise, but refreshingly, there is a piece by a female composer, Amy Beach, whose granduncle co-founded Bates College. You can find the full program here.

Culprit 3: End of Classes

The end of classes was epitomized by professor-resembling pixels on our computer screens bidding us goodbye. Usually professors would plan something fun for the last day of classes, virtually as well. 

I remember last semester my Multivariable Calculus professor changed his virtual background to a wall of donuts, explaining that during the pre-pandemic times he used to bring a box of donuts for students on the last day. This semester in Mathematical Methods for Physicists and Engineers, we explored the applications of Fourier Transform by looking at the velocity of a star and detecting the number of planets around it. Our last Circuit Theory lab was in person, where we got to listen to a song/piece of our own choice through the low pass filter and the high pass filter pictured below. The professor handed out prizes (cool items she accumulated in conferences) to students to reward them for their participation in the pre-class trivia games. I received a mini glow moon. In addition, our circuits professor left out end-of-class fun packs with origami papers and stickers outside her office. Our last Organic Chemistry lab was also in-person, where each lab group presented their experiments and findings (through a projector rather than Zoom screen share!) My presentation group decided to dress up for this special occasion after a long year of virtual school. Lastly, for Organic Chemistry, we played organic chemistry jeopardy in our last lecture.

With all the professors wishing you a happy summer, you start daydreaming about the sunny beach and breezy wind. Oh wait, you still have final exams to take. All in three days!

Culprit 4: Final Examinations

This semester we had a three-day final exam study period (or reading period) when professors are not allowed to assign any homework or set deadlines. Right after the reading period is our final exams. Smith is known for its flexibility when it comes to exams thanks to its Honor Code system. Many exams are self-scheduled. Some are open-notes, and some are untimed. In a normal year, students go to Seelye Hall to print out and take the exams when they feel prepared. 

For the classes I am taking this semester, I had three hours to take my Math Methods final, a whole day to take the Circuits Theory final, and the entire finals period to take my Organic Chemistry I final. Besides the exams, I had several other writing assignments to turn in. I was very fatigued at the end of the semester, so even though I only had three exams, I struggled to muster up mental energy to study. To make things worse, I got my second Pfizer shot during the reading period and had a pretty bad reaction. As a result, I asked the class dean to give me an extension on an exam, which was generously granted, and I was gratefully less overwhelmed.

Culprit 5: SmithCycle

The finals are now over, but my vacation didn't start yet. I am staying on campus for a few extra weeks to work for SmithCycle. SmithCycle is a program that collects, sorts and redistributes gently used dorm items students donate in the move-out process at the end of each school year. It gives purpose to items of reusable value and creates a more sustainable campus. In the past week, we have collected hundreds of bags (no exaggerations!) of items. Besides clothes, books, school and dorm supplies, some of the unexpected items include coffee makers, brand new water filters, and a monitor. One of my coworkers commented that first-years shouldn't have to shop clothes hangers again while they were going through three boxes of donated hangers.

The winter clothes we collected are going to the International Students and Scholars Office. They have an event called Winter Clothes Closet every fall where international students "shop" for free to help them get accustomed to the New England weather. School supplies will be moved into the Common Goods Resources Center which CEEDS hopes to launch in Fall 2021 (very exciting!). I cannot plug SmithCycle enough. If you are an incoming first-year, visit the Common Goods Resources center before you head to Target! 

I have always been interested in sustainability and renewable energy and want to get more involved. When I saw the SmithCycle worker position posted on Workday, I immediately applied. Every SmithCycle worker's job varies. I am mainly responsible for washing and drying the linens and blankets. When waiting for the washer and dryer, I help with unloading the van that circulates between houses to pick up bags of donations. I also help with sorting. Pictured below is the inside of Scott Gym where all the items are currently stored.

Culprit 7: Summer Housing

As college transitions into summer, students who are staying on campus for some part of the summer had to move out of their spring housing assignment into their summer housing. I moved from Chapin, the house in central campus, to Capen, which is on the periphery of Smith. I know Chapin and Capen sound alike, but they are very different houses location-wise and personality-wise! To make up for its distance to the academic buildings, Capen House has its own garden, Capen Garden. The garden a gorgeous place many current Smithies are missing out on. There is a mini fountain, hedges, a garden temple, a plant arch, and a bizarre owl statue. Look at the last picture of the garden in this blog, and you will agree with me that the Paradise Pond is overrated.  

Built in 1825 and acquired by Smith in 1921, Capen House is named after Bessie Capen, the second woman to be admitted to MIT. She taught chemistry at Smith College. Fun fact: Bessie Capen was once the associate principal of the Mary A. Burnham School for Girls, now Stoneleigh-Burham School; I went there for horseback riding lessons during my first year at Smith. Small world, right?

Case Closed

Thanks for reading this long-ish explanation. I hope my tardiness in delivering this post may be justified by the causes above. To compensate, I will write about my other summer plans and updates in the next few weeks. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, enjoy your summer!

[loyally-unfaithful]

—; even if i am fooling myself, my feelings are true . (4)

word count: 5.3k

pairing: origami cyclone | ivan karelin / gn!reader

genre: hurt/comfort

summary: even if he was lying to you by pretending to be your lover, he told himself it was worth it. it made you happy. it helped you. he’s helping you. this ruse is only done in good faith. 

if it were to make you smile, if it were to help you brighten up, then all his lies and deceptions could be forgiven, he rationalised.

a/n:  this chapter do be monologue city,,,

i have arthritis i would like a refund for my bones.

the hero knows he promised to see you again the next day, but it’s been a few days now since he has last seen you. you must be back at home by now. alone. were you okay? he can’t help but feel worried about you due to your limited mobility. guilt stings even more painfully now that he had calmed down. he has virtually subjected you to a prolonged radio silence after leaving abruptly.

and he still needed to tell you the truth...

the hero had put off meeting you again, because it meant seeing you again. it meant he had to tell you the truth. it meant he’d no longer be able to meet you.

he chastised himself. what was expecting? really, what did he expect to happen? he berated himself, guilt clawing at him. what was he doing, impersonating your lover? he felt ill. he should’ve stopped meeting you after that campaign ended. but for reasons that escaped him, he continued. was it selfishness? was it greed? what pushed him to continue? whatever had happened, it wasn’t supposed to. he was just supposed to check in on you, make sure you’re getting on well, and move on in his life. he was supposed to stay neutral, indifferent, objective. you were just any other stranger that he would help throughout his career as a hero. but you had been so lovely and so unassuming that he must’ve…? without realising it, he had gotten himself too involved and was now in too deep, allowing his shameful self to form feelings for your kind and beautiful self. trying to distance himself from you to no avail, he found himself uselessly fighting feelings that have sprouted without his permission. he was fighting a losing battle, and a war that wasn’t tilting into his favour. he had hoped that these stubborn feelings would disappear, hopefully sooner rather than later, but it seemed that they refused to leave him alone.

the blond let out a harsh sigh. he’s noticed he has been doing that a lot, much more that usual. when it went well it went wonderfully, sublime; when it went badly it went awfully, dreadful.

he can’t keep going like this.

it’s not fair for you.

it’s not fair for him.

he can’t lead you on, and he can’t continue to delude himself.

each step he took to your residence were heavier than the last. listlessly, he dragged his feet. it had rained last night, making this walk even more unpleasant and gloomy. concluding what was both the slowest and fastest walk he had ever had the displeasure of taking, he lifted his gaze off of the pavement to take in your house. it was superficially identical to the other houses in the neighbourhood, but then again, houses in this district of the bronze stage often looked the same. it was a modest one-storey house, which felt anything but modest. it looked oppressive, intimidating. it terrified him. what was in store for him within those walls terrifying him further.

knowing that simply anticipating would do him no good, ivan shook his head, trying to shake his nervousness away, to no avail. he tried willing his legs to move, to get closer to your house, with no success. fixed in place, immobilised by dread. he stood idle, head turned down, in front of your home for what felt like an eternity, surprised that you hadn’t noticed the stranger in front of your property first.

he sighed.

the pathetic puddle by his feet reflected an even more pathetic him.

he stared silently at kotetsu’s reflection under him: « you’ve gotta tell them. they deserve to know. ». with a disappointed sigh, he gazed back at the small pool who gazed back with his disappointing face. he, “kotetsu”, had told himself to tell you the truth. but did he have the courage to?

no longer able to bear taylor’s silent judgement, ivan lifted his head and slowly climbed up the front steps to your front door.

the puddle, murky as it always was, remained as unbothered as it had always been.

his finger hovered over the doorbell. did he have the courage to? he bit his lips hard enough to draw blood. could he meet your eyes? momentarily retracting his hand, he resisted submitting to his anxiety and willed himself to push the bell.

ivan could hear the ringing echoing inside your walls.

and then silence.

one beat.

two beat.

then another.

were you not home?

you always had very quiet steps, he told himself. everything is ok.

his knee jerk reaction to the prolonged silence was to take it as a sign that today wasn’t the day. a message from a power above telling him that he can postpone it for another day… whenever that other day was. his usual reaction would be to take this as an opportunity to throw in the towel and go home. but for you (and for himself), he’ll fight his impulse to cower away.

but still… this silence was slightly concerning.

had something happened to you?

the hero’s mind jumped through different conclusions to rationalise your lack of response.

maybe you went out…

maybe you weren’t awake…

what if you had hurt yourself and couldn’t get bac—

he reached out to ring the doorbell yet again, but stopped halfway as the door creaked open.

« how can i help y— taylor? » you had sounded as surprised to see him as he was to you.

oh. you were ok. he breathed out in relief. you were ok.

« please, come in, you offered, moving out of the way. sorry to make you wait, i wasn’t… i wasn’t expecting to see you… sorry about the mess… you mumbled. »

the hero gulped, fighting the fear that rose up within him from hearing the door click closed behind him. he can’t run away. no going back now: he had to tell you the truth. taking his mind off of his nerves, he decided to look around and observe the interior of your house. you said “mess” but the house is more or less in order, unless you were referring to the few stacks of books that littered your house. still... he struggled to call it a mess, as the odd misplaced books here and there didn’t even feel out place within your humble abode: it blended with the other decor into the stylish deep green walls and light brown tiles. the only thing he could qualify as being messy would be the light covering of dust that was slowly gathering on some of the furniture’s surface, along with the few papers and knickknacks strewn about, but they were out of the way enough that nothing ever seemed cluttered.

to his delight, the curios have all been of japanese origins, from the hand fans (« an ōgi! » he noted excitedly.) to the rough stacks of woodblock prints (« where did they get so many ukiyo-e prints? » he asked himself.). in fact, closer inspection would suggest that quite a few of the furnishings decorating your house were japanese in nature: the tapestry hung on your wall (he was sure those were called a tenugui.), the forgotten matcha tea set on the kitchen counter (« there was even a chasen?! »), and the japanese pottery and porcelain safely tucked into a glass cupboard (he wonders if he could get the opportunity to use the hagi ware chawan amongst the set.). he had to stop himself from literally beaming in excitement and dashing to ogle the wares. who would’ve known you’d have such a collection in your house? he needed to calm down, lest he attracted your suspicion, and swallowed his bubbling elation.

he followed your lead to wherever you were walking back to, inquisitively taking in his surroundings, distracting his mind from his previous anxieties.

« i, uh… no one’s been home since i went to the hospital. you walked back towards your open living room. and i’ve kinda been putting off cleaning. you laughed. – don’t worry about it… he assured you, still taking in this unknown territory. »

briefly, he let his attention back to you and to where you walked: to your open living room, which was connected to your kitchen. further to the side, he could see the stairs that led to your suspended bedroom. it seemed that this house had more or less the same make and architecture as tiger’s apartment, though with drastically different decor, he noted. though with more than less difficulty, you managed to get around your house just fine. despite your pronounced limp you continued at a regular, albeit slowed, pace. your gait was sometimes slowed by the fact that you sometimes had to hang on some of the fittings to maintain your balance and ivan had to fight the urge to rush over and help you walk.

you probably wouldn’t like for him to encroach on your newfound autonomy, he figured.

after finally reaching the living room, you had carefully sat yourself down on the floor in front of the coffee table. noticing the crafting papers and shavings surrounding where you sat, he thoughtlessly asked: « were you making something? no wonder you took a bit to respond. i’m sorry for interrupting you... – mhm, i’m just making menko cards. you elaborated as you carefully positioned your impaired leg. and it’s alright, you couldn’t have known. – menko cards? his interest was piqued. – yeah, just thought it would be fun, you shrugged. wanna help? – sure! he answered delightedly, failing to hide the eagerness in his voice. i mean, why not… you just laughed at his childlike enthusiasm. – i’d really appreciate it you could help me cut out the picture, you asked. »

he eased himself down next to you, trying his hardest not to appear bothered by your proximity. everything is ok. he’ll help you in this last activity. because it had interested him. because he wanted to treasure the last moments he got to spend with you. the very last. he doesn’t like the finality of that, but the truth had to be said. guilt stung like an open wound whenever he remembered that he was lying to you. he wouldn’t be mad if you condemned him for “exploiting” you. if he were to tell you the truth there was no way you’d forgive him, much less continue to seek out his affection. your resentment would be well deserved, even if the thought of being disliked by you hurt him.

his despair grew as he thought of the aftermath. it would leave him heartbroken, but what about you? you would’ve been deceived, not once but twice: by both he and your former lover. he really didn’t think this decision through, did he? this was a selfish and cruel scheme to begin with. just a misguided attempt to assist someone who didn’t even asked for his assistance. he doesn’t want to doubt your resilience, but surely, if he came clean you’d be deeply saddened and devastated again… he didn’t want to be the reason you felt lost again and returned to being miserable. he didn’t want to be the cause of your melancholy, the cause of a relapse. but that was exactly what he was going to cause you, wasn’t it? he was the cause of your grief and strife.

if this ended with him broken-hearted, he’d end up shattering whatever had remained of yours and leave you inconsolable.

this was a mistake. he’d caused you more pain than solace. this was a mistake. lies and sweet words aren’t what would have saved you. they weren’t what you needed. this was a mistake.

what would he even say? a “sorry” wouldn’t suffice. not even the sincerest apology would fix this. those words would only hurt you more.

he made his bed, now he had to lay in it. if only he never roped you into this.

spirit down again, he sighed and looked upon the table to tackle his newly appointed objective. a sharp contrast from the rest of your orderly home, the table was cluttered with random bits of paper and cardboard (both circular and rectangular, of various sizes), different crafting materials like scissors and box cutters, and hero related paraphernalia.

« people don’t usually make menko cards… he muttered. why not just buy the hero cards (‘my own are still collecting dust aren’t they…’)? he quizzed, flipping around a finished card of himself. despite his doubting tone, he carefully placed the work back down and got to cutting the few images off of few magazine pages. – that would be too easy. you shrugged. besides, i was planning to gift them to my niece. the bugger has bought everything i could find, and well… afford, in the shops. you admitted. – that makes sense… he replied, focusing on the task at hand. – the rascal loves all of this hero stuff but she absolutely loves sky high, you chuckled. it’s all she talks about. it’s like she lives and breathes the guy, said she wanted to be a hero and help people like he did. » you pretended to be annoyed, but he could hear the fondness in your voice. even though he’s supposed to start distancing himself from you, to start preparing himself for the upcoming heartbreak, he can’t help but continue to be endeared by you.

this was all so… incredibly mundane. everything just felt so incredibly ordinary. your interactions, the things you did together. it’s like it’s always been this way. the things you spoke about, and even the silence that you would share. there was always a certain comfort to be had together. it’s like this was normal, and he was the one you were always with. it’s like this was a routine. who knows, maybe in a different world, one where you two had met through different circumstances, maybe the two of you would’ve gotten together, he mused. but he had already ruined any chance of that he concluded. maybe had your lives gone a different way… maybe in another lifetime.

maybe this life wasn’t the one he was supposed to meet you in.

you sighed, straightening your back, before curling over your work once more: « sky high’s power is wind manipulation right? you pursed your lips. if i had that kind of power, i’d just spend most of my day flying to places. can you imagine? never having to put up with traffic? you rambled thoughtlessly. »

unbeknownst to you, ivan’s mind wandered back to a few years ago when he learnt that without the involvement of his custom made jetpacks sky high’s power could only allow him to float, and fought to stifle the laugh that crept up his throat. oblivious, you asked, sounding half-curious half-bored as you continued to abuse the material under your hands: « hey love, if you could have any next power in the world, what would you pick? »

ivan tilted his head towards you, and let his hand drop back down on the carpeted floor. change his ability for a different one? any kind at all? he took the time to ponder it, seriously considering the question. of course, he admired kotetsu’s and barnaby’s hundred power, but could he really utilise that correctly, what with the constraints? what about edward’s power? he had an actual chance to be a hero with his ability… or even lunatic and his fearsome control over his devastating blue flames. if he could use that for good? to help people? there were too many different abilities, each one more capable than the one he actually possessed.

« hmm… i guess… anything that’s useful; something that can be used to help others. he answered truthfully. i’m sorry, that must’ve been really vague. he laughed nervously. you shook your head with a smile. – that’s very noble of you, you praised as you continued working. truthfully, i envy your integrity. you confessed. – mm? why is that? what next power would you have chosen? he inquired. – oh, like if i had a second next power? you replied absentmindedly, focused on a particularly stubborn piece of cardboard which refused to cut. »

wait. did he hear that right?

« are… are you a next? » he asked, sounding something like perturbed.

« hmm? »

« is there something you’r… »

there wasn’t any need to elaborate: your face had said it all. like a criminal caught red-handed, your expression was the perfect picture of shock. he would even think you were scandalised. you pressed your lips into a thin line, eyebrows knitted in dismay.

« must’ve be a freudian slip… » you tried to laugh, neither of you amused. « it’s really nothing noteworthy or important— » you started on a lie, but grimaced slightly.

catching unto your tic, he pleaded, voice serious: « tell me the truth… please… »

you shifted in you seat uncomfortably, eyes dashing across your room looking at everything except his eyes. you were deeply aware of the eyes laser-focused on you, locked onto you to the point where you swore it could bore through you. you sighed and resigned yourself to telling him the truth. the entire truth, and nothing but the truth. it’s not like you could lie to his face: « before i tell you, do you promise not to leave before i finished explaining everything? you opened your mouth and closed them again. you’re free to hate me all you want, but please don’t… you turned away and bit your lips. »

he didn’t know what to anticipate. was your ability that alarming? he nodded, preparing himself for… whatever you were going to reveal to him.

« it’s honestly nothing incredible… you started. i couldn’t be a hero with it… i swear. it’s... you paused, as you tried to find the right words to divulge your ability. the right words to explain it clearly without making it into a fuss.

lie detection, you said, plainly, without much relish or fanfare. um... my ability only allows me to see through lies, or anything meant to deceive: lies, half-truths, manipulations, omission of detail… you hesitated. illusions.

i guess, neither of you ever noticed… they, um, taylor, didn’t know either… »

it’s shocking how easily this fabricated world crumbled.

you knew? what do you mean?? ivan had sat facing you, frozen in place. by fear, confusion, apprehension. he felt embarrassed, ashamed. were you just playing along to spare his feelings? he really should’ve told you earlier. look at where his inaction led him.

he should’ve been the one who came clean, instead of forcing you to tell the truth on his behalf.

« how long…? half wanting and not wanting to know the truth. he had a guess. if what you had said was true then... how long have you known? »

still not facing him, you cast your gaze downwards, clasping your hands together: « since the first time… when i saw you, i knew you weren’t the real taylor and just assumed it was you, origami. what with your involvement during the campaign and all... i’m guessing i’ve assumed correctly?

the hero sat motionless, but made no attempt to disprove your assumption. if what you had said about your ability was true, then there would be no point to lying.

at first i really… didn’t understand why you kept visiting me, as my former partner no less. i still don’t, for that matter… though i’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have good intentions. i knew it was you, so i was a bit standoffish and suspicious when we first met… i thought you wanted to take advantage of me while i was helpless to stroke your own ego, or conduct some sort of ploy to boost your own popularity. i’m... really sorry for assuming something like that about you… i’m not sure where i got that idea as you never seemed to be that kind of person... you had been so sincere when i asked why you kept visiting me and kept pretending… well not pretending, you seemed to have genuinely cared about me, that i guess i started to drop my guard and trusted you.

your eyes were tinged with a sadness and confusion that he wished to get rid of, but it was no longer his place. it never was his place. you shook your head.

i’m really sorry. i really truly am for not letting you know sooner instead of letting it go this far… at first i… i played along because i didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable or feel humiliated by revealing that i could see through your disguise, and i wanted to wait for you to come clean first. but i guess… somewhere along the lines you’ve become a part of my routine and i’ve become quite fond of spending my time with you. of you. you quickly added. i know that i was going through a vulnerable moment of my life, which may have made me too trusting, but i really mean it: i’m really happy that i met you that day. i know you were just playing your role and that nothing ever meant anything… and i’m aware that you could’ve just… up and left whenever you got tired of dealing with my crap. even though it’s all fake, i’ve really enjoyed the time we got to spent together and i’m really happy i got to be with you. i’m really happy for being able to get to know you as a person, origami. »

you tried to smile to convey your gratefulness, but it came out wrong. it wavered and was visibly bittersweet. as you said that, your voice held such remorsefulness that baffled him. it was his fault in the first place, trapping the both of you in a punishment of his own creation. he should be the one apologising to you, he should be the one begging you for forgiveness as he explained himself. he should be the one who told you the truth. you had every reason to feel disgusted by him and hate him, and yet, here you were putting yourself down for his sake.

you were slightly surprised when you heard him respond, his voice no longer bearing that confident tone and smooth accent that you had recognised to be taylor’s. instead it was the boyish voice you had come to know was origami cyclone’s. but this time, it was devoid of any energy and lacked the boisterous intonation that often accompanied his words: « no, i- i’m the one who should apologise: i should’ve been the one to tell you the truth… if anyone should feel angry or betrayed, it should be you… i was the one who decided to set this all up after all…

after facing you, it was his turn to look away, avoiding your gaze.

i didn’t mean let it go this far … lying to you to this extent and for this long… but of course, i allowed it to get out of hand… i’m sorry, i should’ve told you sooner, if i ever made you uncomfortable at any point during this whole mess i’m really sorry. i... it was stupid. you never reached out for help and i’m sure you would’ve gotten through this just fine by yourself. my intent was never to manipulate you for my own gain or to use you… i had wanted to help you, naively thinking that i could fix you… it was selfish of me to just force my way into your life and help you, even though you never asked for mine. it was foolish to think i could just… pull the wool over your eyes like that, and it was unfair to you.

the blond considered stopping there, allowing a tangible silence, even more oppressive than the tension, to invade the room. should he tell you? should he…? he tried his best to summon a renewed determination. it was high time that he was honest to you, he told himself. honest to you. honest to himself, as well.

i suppose it’s pointless to lie to you, so i’ll tell you the truth: i... i— the circumstances in which we met were less than ideal, and i wished that we could’ve gotten to know each other differently, but… during the course of… whatever it is we had, i had stupidly hoped that the closeness i felt between us wasn’t imagined, and that you felt the same affection for me as i did for you.

despite his fear, he dared himself to turn back to where you had sat, bracing himself for what your eyes held. will it be repulsion? hostility? regret? vilification? he was scared, but even so he faced them.

my appearance may have not been mine, but my actions were. you’re free to doubt the validity of my words, but… even though i was pretending to be someone else i- my feelings are true. »

finding himself surprised for the umpteenth time that day, you fully turned to face him. you didn’t seem to be reacting badly, but you weren’t reacting much at all. you simply sat there, stunned at his display of honesty. were you combing through his words to detect any possible lies? he figured he deserved that level of distrust, after doing nothing but lie to you. he knows he shouldn’t feel so relieved when he wasn’t even in the clear yet, but at least you weren’t reacting badly and he was infinitely grateful for your seemingly infinite graciousness.

finally, you seemed to have recovered your voice: « i believe you. »

three words. three simple words that managed to lift all the weight off of his shoulders. you believed him. he didn’t deserve your forgiveness, and yet you gave it to him freely.

« could i see… no, nevermind. you had retracted your hesitant request. i’ve already made you go through too much for my sake. i’m grateful for being able to see you, regardless of who you look like. »

he shook his head, relenting: « you deserve to know the truth. it’s the least i could do after everything i made you endure… » with a blue flash, “taylor” disappeared. in their place was a young man with a mop of unruly blond hair. he fidgeted nervously with his hands under the baggy purple varsity jacket he wore, which coupled with his hunched posture, made him look smaller than he probably was. his striking and alluring purple eyes seemed to be permanently locked into an expression of worry and refused to meet your eyes. « i’m sorry… i’m probably way off from what you expected... » he muttered, dejectedly.

not expecting any sort of positive reaction for his underwhelming appearance, he turned his amethyst eyes elsewhere. he waited for your reaction, anticipating the worst. always anticipating the worst.

in one swift motion, you reached out to embrace him tightly. his body tensed up, having been caught off guard by the sudden affectionate gesture. his hands dropped from their hovering around your form as his wide eyes ran wildly across the room before they returned to settle on you. confusion laced his voice as he softly called out your name. he didn't know what to do with his arms as you wrapped your arms around him ever so gently. should he return… your gesture? but his arms laid uselessly next to him, still too stunned by your response.

yet again, he felt that same tingly feeling where you held him. the warmth that you brought to him reawakened those butterflies, making him feel light and fuzzy. is this ok? is feeling like this ok? is liking you ok?

« stop saying stuff like that about yourself, origami… you keep underselling yourself. you’re incredible, you’re kind, and yet you’re humble. your voice was soft as you spoke. i wasn’t just waxing poetics when i praised you, not just lip service to appeal to you because i could see behind your trick. i meant it when i said i admired you. even before i met you, i’ve admired you. »

you pulled away, if only to place your hands on either side of his face and to lift his eyes, making him face you, properly face you, for the first time in a long time. he was taken aback by how gentle and soft your gaze was. who were those kind eyes for? surely not him. he didn’t deserve such honest adoration. there was no reason for admiration, contentment, or appreciation to have their eyes on him. and yet, those compassionate eyes continue to gaze back at him. your beautiful eyes continued to look back at his own dull eyes.

was this really ok after everything he put you through? was it really ok to derive so much comfort from your hold?

you hoped your continued eye contact conveyed your sincerity.

« origami, you’re one of the most selfless and brave person i’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and now i’ve come to learn that you’re handsome to boot. you never cease to amaze me in the best way possible, and im so so grateful that you’re still here ori— finally waking from his daze and regaining some semblance of control over his limbs, he moved his arm to return your hold and wrapped them closely around you. he allowed the warmth he felt to fully consume him and buried his face in the crook of your neck, trying to get as physically close to you as possible. – ivan. he whispered in your ear, almost afraid. – ivan…? you echoed. – … my name is ivan. – is that so? then... thank you, ivan. thank you so so much. thank you for being here for me. thank you for everything. »

he knows now with certainty that he adores the way his name sounded with your voice. he couldn’t see your face from the position you were in, but he could imagine your captivating smile. the same one he adored so much. your careful hands had traveled to his head, stroking his hair, playing with an errant lock, and he adores your touch.

the small kindling that you had lit turned into a newfound courage that consumed him like wildfire. this unwanted and foolish adoration he held for you had proven itself to be phoenix, renewing itself as heartfelt and profound.

if you had allowed it, then he’s sure it was ok to be like this. to like being with you.

he adored you. and he hopes you adored him in kind.

« i— »

as he was about to say something, his communicator beeped relentlessly and he has never hated that sound more in his life until now. taken slightly by surprise, you both let go of each other and looked confused at each other—though he was intimately aware of where you rested your hands when you let go of each other: one on his shoulder, the other one on his hip. the latter of which he thoughtlessly gripped with his free hand, keeping it in place, not willing to part from you quite yet. not willing to let go quite yet. he whipped his right hand up, fumbling between taking this call and apologising to you for having interrupted what had been a very pleasant moment, the unexpected call flustering him. up until now, it had never annoyed him quite to this extent. he grumbled something you didn’t quite catch. his gaze flicked back and forth, from you, to his communicator, back to you.

he needed to take this, he needed to be there for agnes’ briefing. it was time sensitive, but so was the thing he wanted to tell you. he was torn: he needed to tell you something. he needed to answer before his employer forcefully answered his call for him and intruded.

« i… »

the indecision was clear in his eyes, so instead you made the choice for him: « it’s alright, go. »

you let your hand trail up his jaw, and placed it there. his attention was immediately brought back to you and the pleasant buzzing that often followed your touch. you smiled as you felt his hand follow your own and moved to rest it atop yours.

« i’ll be cheering for you, love. »

a/n:  might fuck around and make a fluffy sequel who knows

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What we can produce applying origami depends entirely on the level of technique and knowledge you may have about the activity. Origami involves folding associated with paper which might look relatively easy but in authentic fact it can come to be quite involved in addition to complex. Not so many people are inclined for the problems related to advanced origami projects. All the same in case the interest is there, a private can study tips on how to do advanced origami. Many individuals are which means fascinated with the concept them to design their own personalized origami compositions. This could definitely require information regarding mathematics, along with creativeness and eyesight.

Make Paper Envelope without Glue

The very first origami mission a person might undertake, without even figuring out it is making a report airplane. As a way to create a perfect paper aircraft there must be precise folds over and creases built. The plane will have to be symmetrical which calls for the folds along with creases to be the exact same on both walls of the paper plane. This would likely be deemed basic origami. Various objects that can be built with basic origami comprise an easy pack, an envelope together with a square picture shape. These projects is possible with one published of paper getting a limited number of folds up.

As people establish their origami techniques they begin to search for a lot more awkward objects so that you can endeavor. These items may incorporate a number of piece of paper and probably do require more time together with concentration. Yet working with directions and diagrams there are many objects a person might produce including subjects like a six-pointed superstar, a flower, creatures and a good others. The more practice people gets doing origami projects, reading diagrams and understanding information, the better equipped they've been to take on heightened origami projects.

When persons become really mixed up in art of origami they attempt more demanding projects that require various sections. Skilled origamists will include projects just like elaborate ships, houses, people and toys involving concentration and additionally logical thinking. When ever people reach this approach level in origami, often they beginning design their own unique compositions. Individuals within this category may well be viewed as origami artists and have absolutely their work moved into in competitions in addition to showcased at paintings shows and around art galleries. It is incredible at just what can come to be created with origami.

Grasping the ability to origami will start with basic initiatives. Reading books with regard to origami novices is a really fantastic help. In the event that looking to read origami diagrams, there are representations to study. If surviving in a region where origami courses are showed it might help to sign on. The internet is a great tool for origami tips from the very simple to the advanced. Various fundamental origamists have got their own internet sites boasting their work along with sharing essential advice about the ability to origami. There are internet sites which use free origami manuals that can be downloaded together with printed for the personal use. The more somebody searches the web meant for details about origami, a lot more they will take in facts just how much there is to review about this fascinating adventure.

This origami envelope tutorial is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to make an easy, elegant origami envelope. This versatile envelope can be used for letters, cards, or money gifts. It's a great project for beginners, and you can make it any size you like. Follow the step-by-step instructions in this video to learn how to make your envelope. Make easy origami paper envelopes, just like the one you would buy from shop by following step by step easy instructions.

Material Used:

Origami paper scissor

Thank you for watching. I hope the video was helpful.

Awesome music from Artlist. If you like the music, you can use my referral link and get free two months bonus subscription.

[makenica1]

5 Ways 3D Printing Is Revolutionizing Biotechnology

3D printing online technology offers endless manufacturing possibilities using a variety if materials. Biotechnology is also being used. Researchers are developing new ways to make this technology work, which can lead to cost-savings and even better gadgets.

What is online 3D Printing services? It's also known as additive manufacturing. It involves the production and use of digital files to create three-dimensional objects. It does this through continuous layers of building on a product, until it's fully finished. The computer-aided designing file acts as the blueprint to the 3D printer. You can create incredible things with creativity and open-source designs.

There are 5 amazing products or ideas that 3D printing service in india has created in laboratory research.

1.Fix Broken Lab Equipment:

Equipment is susceptible to accidents, which can result in the destruction of a crucial piece. Sometimes, however, time just takes its toll. You don't need to spend hundreds to replace one small part if your 3D printer is available. Instead, your design can be drafted, printed, and glued to place.

2.Mount iPhone Microscope

Digital cameras can now be mounted to microscopes, but society is slowly moving beyond digital cameras. Anyone can now take great pictures from their smartphone. Even though you can take a cellphone photograph of an object in the microscope, patience is needed. Peter Combs (another PrintMyLab contestant) created a 3D Printed Mount for an iPhone 4 along with a dissecting microscopy. This example shows that 3D printing service in india is revolutionizing biotechnology. These mounts could be designed for any number microscopes or phones at an affordable cost, so every lab could have them.

3.Print Your Own Centrifuge

Yes. Printing your own centrifuge is cheaper than buying a commercially available benchtop model. Thanks to the open-source movement as well as the advanced method of 3D printers, this technology is now easily accessible to the masses. Chris Takahashi was another contestant in PrintMyLab and developed the "Fanfuge", a device that costs less than $10

4.Robotic Surgery

This doesn’t have a pleasant ring to it at any rate, which is exactly why 3D printed is solving the problem. Robotic assisted surgical procedures have been around for some time as a way of adapting our natural limitations. It is scary to think of cold, sharp, sterile machines performing any type of operation, even though there are doctors. Instead, "squishy" 3D-printed robots can comfort patients better during a crucial procedure. These robots may also be less expensive due to the manufacturing process.

5.Nanotechnology and 3D Printing

Although 3D printing online and nanotechnology are still in very early stages of development, this combination is opening up a world of possibilities. Examples of nanotechnology include DNA origami. The technology has already attracted considerable interest in the life-science industry. However, when combined, with the potential manufacturing capabilities of 3D printers, it could help to make medical treatments more accessible.

[in-markexports]

How Handmade Stationery Has Changed Our Daily Lives

Making paper by hand in India is a traditional art that has been passed down through the generations by craftsmen. Though these are now almost extinct, the traditional method of handmade papermaking is still found in various parts of India where the tribe had initially settled down. Handmade Paper is a beautiful example of recycled work. Apart from its uses and classy look, it is a total eco-friendly option with innumerable utilitarian uses. The advantages of using handmade craft paper are that it has greater tensile, bursting tearing, and double-fold strength compared to conventional paper. Here are the handmade stationary products used in our daily lives and mentioned below are different uses & benefits of handmade paper.

Handmade Notebooks are available in intricate designs and colours with various shapes and sizes and the different texturized element in it gives a very unique look. They are light and easy to carry making them popular. These captivating notebooks and the striking ethnic look on these paper notebooks are a delight to write on. The handmade journals with a refillable lock with handmade sketch papers and the traditional covers entice anyone to pick them up. Handmade craft paper is used for making cards. Whether a nice greeting has to be sent or a small gift card to be attached to a gracefully wrapped gift, the handcraft papers come really handy. Even gifts now come in paper gift boxes where the hassle or time to wrap a gift is to be avoided. When it comes to gifting, even the handmade paper boxes for chocolates and pastries in handmade boxes and pens and other stationery makes it exquisite. Come to think of it the range of handmade paper stationery consists of beautifully Handcrafted Pen Holders, Slip Pads, Complete homemade stationery Sets, Letterheads, Visiting Cards is just endless

Let us catch a glimpse of Handmade paper sheets that also has a rich texture, making them perfect for drawing, writing, binding into books, rubber stamping, and much more. When we look around we just find so many things and items which are just made of texture handmade paper sheets and make life really simple and quickly productive. We listed a few personal items above and now if we look at the office use, one can find extensive usage of handmade storage boxes for office stationery or in shops where jewellery is sold. The decorated paper cube box or the custom storage paper box to fit in your sheets required for printing are just everywhere around the corner. Imagining a world without them just seems impossible. Again on the personal front, we have the Origami Hexagonal Gift Box or boxes where watches are custom packed in these. There are these cubical DIY waste bins too made out of handmade paper with unique texture.

Handmade paper and its various application in everyday modern living such as handmade paper stationery have become upmarket and classy. Rich colours, beautiful textures, and its edges make it stand out differently. A loving and caring process is involved and the use of unique materials like coffee husk, corn husk, banana fiber, and cotton rags each of which has a particular characteristic while designing the hand crafted paper. Handmade printed paper sheets can be embellished with flower petals, jute, wool, grass, and straw which makes it more of an art. As human kind progresses, one can find more and more usage of such products and with a lot of innovation in making. The objective is to save our earth, decrease any wastage and provide a classic, exotic, and cost-friendly hand made stationery box, paper and products.

[pkmnsdarkqueen]

Headcannons: Specific things Karen does that drives members in the league insane-

Bruno:  To be honest it takes alot to actually upset him though there are some things. -Why must so many things be a competition? -How is she able to beat him in a pokemon battle about every time? He should have the advantage. -Sometimes when they watch sports she says the wrong thing on purpose just to tease him. Her favorite is screaming “goooooaaaaaallll!”, at about every sport. Sometimes she gets Will to join in.

Koga: He isn’t ever mad really just sometimes sighs or gives her a subtle que that she’s running on his nerves. Though he is the only one who can play the, ‘I’m just disappointed’, and yes it does hurt more which is why he reserves that. -When she stays out super late without telling anyone where she is. He doesn’t know details, but he knows she puts herself in dangerous situations. Both for her job, and her addiction to adrenaline. Would he prefer she’d stop going alone, yes, but more than anything he insists she’d at least tell them where she is.  -Not the biggest fan of her motorcycles truthfully. Yes they look cool, but have you seen how unsafe they can be? Also now Janine wants one, and he knows Karen is teaching her just can’t prove it yet.  -She will weasel her way out of chores. One way or another she’ll manage it, and someone has to keep her accountable.  -He does worry Agatha maybe a bad influence on her. I mean she wasn’t the best person when he knew her, but she also is an adult which means he has to respect her making her own decisions. -The fact that she sometimes startles him in the night. He’s a ninja, ninjas shouldn’t be able to be snuck up on! Most of the time she’s not trying either. (He doesn’t want to admit he’s getting old)

Will: All of the beef they have with each other is small things for the most part, or something they know is just how the person works. However ever couple months the two sort of explode at each other for a day or two over something stupid. They don’t talk to each other, complain to everyone around them, and then are fine with them both apologizing to each other. They really can’t bring themselves to be separated long.  -He too wishes Karen was better at texting where she was though shrugs it off knowing she can take care of herself. He has no idea how often she puts herself in danger though thinking she’s told him everything.  -She knows when he’s in her head, and has found ways to kick him out from light stuff to thinking of a song he hates or thinking about a horrible memory the both share. (if she REALLY doesn’t want him in there and he has seriously peeved her she thinks about times he hurt her in some way while staring directly at him in a cold stare)  -Sometimes it bothers him the gap in their battling skills. One way the Masked Man twisted them was that performance earned his grace, and he subtly driving a wedge between them both that they had to be the best. Even better than each other. So sometimes her success bugs him, but he’s aware of it making it easier for him to hit the brakes once he catches it.  -Ok yeah sometimes he says stuff to get a reaction from Karen, and he doesn’t mind the light punches/hits she gives cause he usually deserves it. Sometimes though she really hits hard though! 

Lance:  So many things she does drives him nuts. It’s better than when they first met, a thousand times better because she actually does respect him, finally. Still though she’s so good at finding his buttons, and pressing them in just the right order! He doesn’t understand how Koga can simply shrug off most of her antics, join in like Will does, or laugh with it like Bruno can. It helped when Karen admitted,”Look if I don’t like you, or want to get to know you then I won’t mess with you. I’ll be a dull ‘yes sir’ kind of person, and force smiles to make you shut up faster. I tease you because I’m trying to have fun. You’re free to do the same back to me, in fact it’s fun if you do.” -Yes she wears heels out and about, but at the league she is always kicking her shoes off as soon as she can. He then trips over them. Also she’ll go outside barefoot if it’s a short trip even in the rain bringing muddy foot prints back.   -She is creative in messing with people. Her current kick for Lance is getting mugs, putting them on the very edge of counters/tables, and then sending him a photo with something like,’This place has good tea.” Staring at that drives him nuts because IT COULD FALL SO EASILY! -She often forgets who’s a gym leader, champion, or other celebrities simply not seeing why they have to be treated differently than anyone else. Thing is it’s her JOB to know these people. -Trying to get her to do a PR stunt like an interview is like trying to drag a dog to the vet. He knows she doesn’t like alot of attention, but one discussion won’t kill you! -If she could stop criticize the cops and interpol on how to do their job he’d get less complaints, and if she could work with them for once maybe things would run smoother! Just saying! -WHY THE HECK DOES KAREN HAVE SOME WEAPON HIDDEN IN ALMOST EVERY ROOM! Like he gets she’s paranoid, and her past instilled that in her! But seriously he’d like to be able to move furniture without the fear of a freaking gun falling out from behind the couch! Or ya know, the umbrella that he grabs in the basket is ONLY an umbrella, and doesn’t have some hidden blade he didn’t know about. Also Koga stop encouraging her -_- -Sometimes she says things, that just shouldn’t be said aloud at certain places...examples: “I mean you may not be able to necessarily kill a person with a toothpick unless you got the physics just right, but stabbing it in someone’s eye is a good way to shut them down for a moment at least.” “This is food? I thought I ordered an entree, why is this so small? I mean you can afford the excessive design of this place, but not a full sized sandwhich?” “What I like to do for fun? Um....origami is nice, riding my bike, and wrestling with my houndoom. Baby girl actually drew blood last time.” *after getting in a ‘debate’ with someone who said something snarky about criminals turned sour.* “Oh I’ll tell you how I know your dick is so small! Two thirds of it is shoved in your personality!” “Do you ever see something, and think it really needs some spray paint on it?” “Ugh, see this is why I get annoyed with horror movies. They never get the dying sound right! People don’t scream much after being stabbed in the lung.” He has a list. -Sometimes she stays up ridiculous hours. Either can’t sleep, or like him working on something. He can’t be too upset being guilty of it too, and they have sort of bonded over staying up late together to work or watch something. Still when waking her up the next morning is impossible he gets annoyed.  -He is the ultimate worrier over other people. He knows she’s the best at handling crime in Johto, but she won’t tell anyone about her methods! Then she comes home scrapped up, or heavily wounded somedays casually saying,”Eh I’ve had worse”, while freaking limping through the door! They have numerous talks about her needing to be more safe, hardly anything changes.  -There’s the rare times someone labeled as a high level threat will go missing. He always asks if Karen knows about it, and gets a shrug as a response. He wants to know, but he also doesn’t.  -Other times he hears a convict was bailed out by a mysterious person. Then he’ll see them around though with an actual job. They also seem to be doing better. Again Karen says she knows nothing about it, but will keep an eye on the situation. He knows she knows something, and wants to step in though it seems to be working???? Should he get involved in whatever this is??? Karen stop making him question how to champion dang it! -It doesn’t really drive him as nuts as it did, but he does think therapy would be helpful. She’s so much better, yes, but he really thinks it’d be helpful. I mean maybe she wouldn’t have to take sleeping pills to fall asleep, could actually be herself more easily around people, and for the love of arceus stop saying certain things in the wrong enviroment. He thinks she just needs to find the right person, and be open to the idea. Whether the latter will ever happen he questions.

Everyone: -Sometimes she disappears to go “handle something”, as she puts it, without telling anyone anything before hand. Usually they’ll wake up in the morning, and there’s a note on the fridge saying,’had to go to __ for job. Be back ___” and that’s all they get. Sometimes its a whole different region! Unlike when first being in the league she’s being honest these days initially only doing it to annoy Lance. While it is rare anyone makes it to her chamber the pressure is on to make sure things stay that way.  -Trouble steals things from everyone, and there is practically no way to stop him unless you catch him in the act. They’ve all learned to keep needed things hidden. 

[protestbanners]

Plan of the Event

So here I will now select my best designs out of the ones I have made and how the event should go. 

I started this project with looking into different items I could print with and how I could use the sustainability brief. I thought we could mainly use objects found around us such as feathers, leaves, pencils and material as these are more environmentally friendly than rubber and using plastic bottles - which will go against our sea theme. I then thought of creating sea life animals to match our banner we made, with similar sustainability messages too, this will help teach the children about what the banner is about too. I thought of working with the 9 to 11 year old’s as I felt they would enjoy learning about sustainability more as they might have not learnt about it before. That and the ideas that I chose were all not too ‘protest’ like, they still had a lot of fun in the designs too. 

I started by thinking of ideas within marine life which I could focus my banner on. In the end I chose ‘Endangered species’ as I thought this way all the children would have their own favourite animal possibly involved which would encourage them to join in. I chose the animals - turtles, whales, sharks, jellyfish. tuna, octopus and dolphins. These animals are all very popular and well known yet all could face extinction if we don’t cut down our fossil fuel usage, plastic buying or over fishing habits. I also thought they are good for all genders as the girls may prefer the turtles and dolphins whereas the boys may prefer the sharks and the whales.

I thought of creating mini characters of each animal out of toilet rolls and origami (as shown in the images above). I was thinking that it would be good to make these bigger for the real thing. Its easy to make a roll of paper for the octopus and the shark. This way they could be like animal character banners with printed messages on the backs or the sides about sustainability. Furthermore this way also means that after the event the animals look just as good as display pieces in their room too. Each child could pick an animal, or pick 2 if they have time, and sit at an area where that animal will be made and then will be shown how to make it. This way it splits up the group and each of us could work at a separate table. 

For the printing, each paper before it will be folded, will be painted over with all kinds of printing objects. This is to create a textured piece of paper with all kinds of colour variations and patterns. For the printing objects we could include potato cut outs, felt material, rolling pins, leaves, feathers, bubblewrap, cotton buds (ones without plastic on), cut out toilet rolls and do hand prints too. Then we could leave them to dry or have a hair dryer to quicken it up before we then show them how to fold them into the character. Then add eyes and the messages in stamps, and then stick them onto a pole so they can be walked around with.

I also thought of including a fact sheet that they get to have about there chosen animal. Saying how you could help them and what charities support them. I thought this was a good way for them to remember what they had learnt and to maybe gain a new fascination with the animal they created.  

[vorthosjay]

Let’s Talk About Pride of the Kraul

I wasn’t sure I was going to talk about today’s story, Pride of the Kraul, by Alison Luhrs, but it turns out, it’s super important to understanding what’s happening back on Ravnica. AND I HAVE QUESTIONS.

Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest by Matthias Kollros

Sobeslav, assistant to Guildmaster Jarad, sat cushioned in the comfort of the Guildhall. His desk attached to that of Jarad vod Savo, who could usually be found wandering the maze outside, avoiding the gaze of the public. Liches were not the social type.

Jarad is a major character in the original Ravnica cycle. He helps overthrow the former leaders of the Golgari, and has a quarter-human son, Myc, who last we saw decided to live with his lich dad. The reason Jarad is a lich? He sacrificed his life for his son. Don’t you ever disrepect good dad Jarad. Oh, and that quarter-human piece? The boy’s grandfather was Agrus Kos’ partner before Feather.

He’s one of the few relatively major Ravnica cycle characters who hasn’t seen a card yet, along with Feather and Pivlic. He’d be perfect for an elf tribal commander, given his parentage would put him in White-Green-Black.

HINT HINT WIZARDS, HINT HINT. Print a Myc, plz.

The kraul are an insectoid race loyal to the Golgari of Ravnica. They declared allegiance only recently after centuries of living unguilded on the outskirts of the Undercity.

IN YOUR FACE @sarpadianempiresvol-viii​... although not really for long.

Gruul riots. Shuttering of communication between the Orzhov and the Azorius. It was for the best that the Golgari stayed below—unfortunate happenings were afoot now that the Guildpact could walk and talk and just up and leave.

Gosh, Jace. I wonder what would happen if the guilds suddenly became aware you just went off somewhere and were out of reach. If only someone could have warned you of the catastrophe brewing because of what you’re doing.

If only we had a story hook for Magic’s most popular plane to reappear for next year’s 25th Anniversary, perhaps following Dominaria.

Simple magic could be used to interpret location across these ecosystems of fungus and slime, and nearly all Golgari recognized the intent when gifted an unfamiliar mushroom.

This is a really cool world-building detail.

On the far end of the room, a massive carved slab loomed in front of the group of Golgari elves. Glittering quartz freckled the slab, and careful carvings framed the stone on two sides. Were this stone found Above, one would have mistaken it for part of an oligarch's manor, but here, below the surface, it spoke of a distant and forgotten past.

At the top of the slab, a single sentence, carved deep into the glistening black rock, lined the stonework.

This pretty much screams Orzhov. I wonder what the single sentence is. Perhaps it’s what Mazirek speaks later, the name of the Mausolem? Or is it something else. Something they won’t reveal until later because of it’s importance.

Vraska dropped a spoonful of sugar into her cup

VRASKA. Damn it, I should have known. Of course this is a re-introduction of Vraska, as she’s slated to appear in Ixalan.

Mazirek had first encountered the gorgon once several years ago while consulting the assassins of the Ochran. Mazirek had provided blessings and enchantments to those assassins who asked, and Vraska was the only one who engaged in conversation after. The two began meeting regularly afterward to discuss theology and politics, and their friendship had proven enriching through the years.

Vraska is to sipping tea and chatting, huh? More on that in a moment. We already known she’s corrupted a Boros agent named Javy way back in In the Shadows of Prahv. After her confrontation with Jace, it’s pretty clear she’s working to destroy the guildpact.

Vraska's chamber was cozy, above all else. It was a curiosity cabinet-turned-flat, with every inch of the walls covered in exquisite trinkets and objects beyond all familiarity. The colors and variety were always overwhelming for his compound eyes, but the effect wore off eventually. This was a welcoming place, a traveler's den. Above her kitchen was a dark violet banner. A clay pot with black waves painted along the rim sat on the bookcase. Dozens of little folded paper birds mingled with the ribbons that spanned her ceiling. The effect was calming and captivating; enjoying tea in Vraska's chamber was like sitting in the vaults of a museum. 

So Vraska’s home has some interesting knick-knacks. Here’s what we see:

A dark violet banner. This could be one of a couple things. The first, for anyone who immediately googled all the magic cards with ‘banner’ in the title, is this:

Sultai Banner by Daniel Ljunggren

Vraska having some involvement with the Sultai makes some sense, except that they haven’t existed for over a thousand years. Silumgar, however, also has Naga and has kept the purple color scheme.

Another possible, and probably far more likely option, is that this is the banner of the faction to which she belongs on Ixalan. ‘Rivals’ indicates factions, and I’ve already said I strongly suspect pirates. It could be her pirate banner.

A clay pot with black waves painted along the rim. This could be another hint to the pirate theme. I haven’t had time to comb through a whole bunch of old art yet, but I’m pretty sure something like this doesn’t already exist. If you find it, let me know ASAP. I’ve heard some theories for this already, but it’s either an Ixalan piece, or a reference to Theros (given she IS a gorgon).

Dozens of little folded paper birds mingled with ribbons that spanned her ceiling. This is interesting. If you described Vraska’s home to me, I would say Tamiyo, and put Vraska very far back on the list. This is obviously origami, and something she values.

Black Tea adds another interesting wrinkle. I’m not sure how common it is on Ravnica, but tea exists there. You know who sips tea like that?

The story-circle. In Tamiyo’s home. And this intellectual take on Vraska offers up a whole new avenue.

We know Vraska is on Ixalan. We know Ajani is going to Ixalan to recruit someone. I’ve speculated that maybe, because of the story-circle connection, it’s Narset or Sarkhan or even Ugin. But what if it isn’t.

We know Vraska has visited a place where Origami exists. We know she drinks black tea (although that might be a meaningless detail). We know Ajani is going to recruit people against Bolas... and the only other known planeswalker on Ixalan is Vraska. 

What if Ajani is going to recruit Vraska? Is she really any worse that Liliana? Or Chandra, for that matter?

Can you imagine the drama when Ajani brings Vraska to a meeting with Jace?

In front of them was a cavern so large they could not sense its walls, and placed like soldiers in formation across the grid of the mausoleum floor were hundreds of stone coffins. The ceiling was stately and ornate, gilded and painted to trick the eye into perceiving it as sky above. Everything about the space spoke of deep, ancient wealth and power. 

As he stepped into the mausoleum a current of magic vibrated over the stones. Mazirek sensed he had triggered an ancient spell, and watched with delight as every single coffin began to loosen itself.

Delicate hands draped with lace and beautiful rings removed the lids of their own coffins, and the undead began to rise of their own accord, just as Vraska had told him they would.

This is DEFINITELY an Orzhov Vault. Perhaps this is the Orzhov threat hinted at in Nissa’s vision from The Hand that Moves? Remember, a sigil that sounds an awful lot like the Orzhov symbol destroyed the tablet that sounded an awful lot like the tablet of the guilds.

Mazirek stood to his full height, staff sweeping in grand gesture over the rising army before him. "Behold, child: Umerilek, Mausoleum of the Erstwhile, the salvation of the kraul and the key to the creation of the Golgari empire."

I don’t believe this is something that has been referenced before. Mausoleum of the Erstwhile is an amusing name, because it sounds fancy but it really just means tomb of the former. Doesn’t tell us much, as we already know it’s old and hidden.

But the Golgari empire piece? It sounds like Ravnica 3 might be able a civil war within the guilds. We have plenty of fracture lines for it already. Perhaps we might even see a return to the open warfare for dominion over the plane that was ended by the original Guildpact.

[malte279]

Great Harvest on Sweet Apple Acres

Thanks and credit for the background of this image above the gras mat go to jrrhack   I like the Apple family a lot. When I made origamis of their most prominent members my first intention (which I may still realize at some point) was to create a scene resembling one from the song Apples to the core but I wasn't really happy with the way the origami wagon turned out which Big McIntosh would have pulled in that scene, so I went for an apple harvest scene instead. The origamis of Big Mac and Granny Smith both came with some additional challenges because of their collar respectively scarf and (in case of Big Mac) because of the differently colored hoofes. Big McIntosh also comes with a basic color that makes it impossible to print anything at all on it. So while in case of all the other characters eyes and cutie marks are still printed onto the paper squares I used to fold them (12x12cm in case of Big Mac, 9.5x9.5cm in case of AJ and Granny Smith, 6x6cm in case of Apple Bloom) Big Mac got his eyes and cutie mark printed to the same kind of adhesive labels which I used for the manes and tails of all characters. I imagine Applejack would be all "Yeehaw!" in this scene, celebrating a fine crop of apples and tossing her hat in celebration.

I have created quite a number of further images with different arrangement of the characters, other background elements and some involving an actual apple. To avoid bloating my account too much I created two collages of the other images which you can take a look at if you are interested:

Apple Family Collage01

Apple Family Collage02