#Coin change problem C

[11cupids-tarot11]

A letter from your future self.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

1 -> 3

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Love y'all!

- Cupid 𖥔 ࣪ ᥫ᭡ꗃ⋆࣪.

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

Pile 1- The star, Two of wands, The devil.

"I think it's time you and I have a talk, I know you know who I'm talking to, yeah I'm talking to myself, but it's not just you and me here, what about little us? Past us? The most important form of ourselves? You haven't been listening to all of us, why? Why do you ignore the child in you who screams to be listened to, to be understood, who just wants to heal like the rest of you. I promise you it's not silly at all to be in tuned with your inner child, I promise you no one's going to hurt you or make you want to hide away again, they can't control your emotions. They only want you to feel so powerless against them, like you're helplessly chained to them, but you have the power to break the chain and run free again, wild. You deserve to follow your dreams, do whatever you want, whatever it is that's been bugging you like a fly in your ear, a project that's always on the back of your mind, the one that just wouldn't go away since you were a child, you can do it, I know you can because I'm already here as proof, but I can't spoil too much. Be creative, shine brightly and never let anyone dim that light. I love you with all my might! ;)

- Me"

Don't forget the poll below!

⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

Pile 2- The devil in reverse, Three of wands, Justice.

"Hi buttercup! I hope all is well these days, I've been thinking about you so much these days, well let me explain, I've been thinking about how hard we've worked, how far we've come and what we had to do to be here. I know, it's a lot. I'll often look back a lot and think about how unfair things were, how many people were never on your side, how many battles you've had to win on your own and how many you've had to lose. I'll never forget the day we decided we had had enough of our problems, our addictions, the toxicity and just did something about it, we cut that toxic person off, quit that stupid job or finally changed that damn schedule of yours and did something better for your health. Whatever it was we did it <3 and it paid off so much, I'm so happy we did because it led us to better days, so much abundance, everything we've always deserved. We got the justice we've always been searching for in such a cruel world and I'm so proud of us for doing that baby girl! We never gave up, no matter how much we wanted to, how much we wanted to go back to that same place because it was comfortable and we just got so blind sided we never knew we could do so much more if we just put our mind to it! Go us! Go me! Go you!

Love- The version of yourself you were always meant to be 🩷"

Don't forget the poll below! Love you!

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖.

Pile 3- Six of coins, Ace of wands in reverse, Two of coins in reverse.

"Psst! Remember that project you weren't so sure about? You know the one, well I have a message for you! If you get started with it now I bet you a million bucks you could never guess where you'll be ten years from now. You remember that big house you've always wanted? All of the wealth you've always wanted to share and give back to others? We finally can! We did it! It was always important to give back to the ones we love, to be able to support and live comfortably and we finally did it. Just try not to get too big headed, okay? Remember who you are, where you come from and why you started this in the first place. Don't forget about your loved ones, the ones who supported you through thick and thin. I know your schedule might be busier, just don't forget to find that balance. We're at a very important time in our lives right now, I understand this, but remember to take a break from that damn schedule of yours. Take time for us, okay? I want you to call off as soon as you see a single sign of distress and go to the spa, I promise you're going to need it! ;) "

-Big boss lady (this pile was channeling feminine energy, someone who's in charge of their own business and gives orders to others. Very important business woman vibes here.)

Don't forget to do the poll at the bottom! Love you!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[yanfeiimain]

"Sure, I'll play along" - Aventurine x Reader

c/w: not nsfw, suggestive at most! Aventurine saving you from your ex. strong language used.

words: 1.3k

a/n: I was literally playing, farming character exp and his voice line made my brain go boom. I'm still working on flip a coin tho so this isnt necesarily perfect >.< Possible part 2 with smut??

You were sitting at the casino's bar, nervously playing around with your glass. you look around carefully, checking if he followed you. There were no faces you knew. You let out a shaky breath. The bartender shoots you a glance but you pay her no mind.

As someone sits down next to you, you jump and get ready to leave. "Just leave me alone asshole. I don't-" you say, wanting to escape as fast as possible.

"There's no need to be so mean." a young man says, giving a male bartender a note. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to! I thought you were someone else…" you excuse yourself. You look at the man next to you, admiring his features. He has pretty blonde hair and captivating eyes. Your gaze lingers. And he notices.

"It's okay, don't worry." He says, smirking. "You got problems?" 

You sit back down, sighing, "Well, kinda, but what's it to you?" You continue nipping on your drink, not too sure of what to think of him. 

"Oh, nothing really, you just piqued my interest, dear," he says, "I mean, you just tried to cuss me out..." He fakes a hurt expression, swiftly changing back to his charming grin. 

He makes you smile a little, and you finally give in. "You want me to tell you about it, huh..." You take the final sip of your drink and put the glass back down. 

"Mhh, I bet it's interesting," he smirks, something glinting in his eyes. "Oh no, it's rather sad, honestly. Would you tell me your name first, though?" you ask, tilting your head slightly. You notice his fancy outfit, taking note of his extraordinary taste.

"Aventurine, pleasure to meet you..." - "y/n." - "Dearest y/n." 

They way Aventurine said your name made it sound oddly special. He certainly had a silver tounge. You feel your cheeks heat up, smiling a little wider, "Likewise, Aventurine." 

"Alright, y/n, tell me your story," he says and orders two more drinks for you both. You breathe and start telling him about your ex-fiance and how he treated you at the end of your relationship. He manipulated you and made you feel horrible. He used you as his personal servant, and every time you both went out, he belittled you and made you feel small. After a lot of thinking and gathering courage, you finally called off the engagement and left him. 

"And that's why you're so paranoid, I understand." He says, looking into your eyes. It makes you blush and feel slightly exposed. "Yeah... He's been following me, well, stalking me. Trying to get me to go back to him." Aventurine gently puts his gloved hand onto yours, and you admire his rings.

After a moment, you decided to break the silence, "Ah, but enough about me. What brings you here?" 

Aventurine hums, smiling once again, "Interested are we? But there's no special reason. I'm just here to gamble and I bet I'll win something good tonight."  He says it so nonchalantly like it's his daily life. It made sense, this is a casino after all. And there is this glint in his eyes again as he looks at you, clearly interested.

You both continue talking and order a few more drinks. The bartender watches you and probably has been listening in on your conversations but you, as well as Aventurine, pay it no mind. As the night progresses, you relax. 

However, just as you got comfortable, the alcohol playing its part, a tall figure enters the casino. You only noticed as he joins you and Aventurine at the bar, ignoring the latter. "Shit, that's him" you whisper, slightly nervous.

"Aventurine, could you help me out if he tries anything?" you feel insecure, basically asking a stranger to help you with your creepy ex. "Sure, I'll play along." Aventurine smiles. It was softer this time.

"Hey there, sweetheart, enjoying your night?" The guy on your right, your ex, says playfully, yet his face tells a different tale. He is annoyed, no, absolutely pissed off. "Oh, for the love of god, leave." you scowl. 

"Why should I? C'mon, I'm giving you one last chance to go back home with me, no consequences." he offers, but you know his disingenuous tone too well. "No way. Forget it. We are over." you deny him.

Looking to Aventurine for help, you blurt out, "And I'm already with someone who doesn't treat me like shit!" Proving your statement, Aventurine wraps his arm around you, his fingers grab your waist possessively. "Yes, that's right." 

"And who are you, peacock?" Your ex asks, looking at Aventurine with disgust, yet amusement.  "Aventurine, her lover," the blonde lies with ease, his face adorned with the usual smirk he wore so often that night.

"You whore, already sleeping around again? Have you forgotten who owns you?" he spits, insulting you like usual. The bartender starts to giggle. "Relax dude, they only just met. There's no way he would ever be with a gal like her." Aventurine shoots her a deathly glare and your ex laughs. 

"Oh my god, you are an embarresment. Get your lying ass out of here and come with me. And you, Aventurine, you should leave your dirty claws off of someone else's property." your ex scoffs.

"Ahaha... lovely but we're not playing pretend, are we?" Aventurine laughs and promptly pulls you onto his lap. You feel your stomach twist and heat creeps onto your cheeks. You now sit on his lap, facing him. You feel his soft breath on your neck as he pulls you to his chest.

"Right, darling?" You could feel his heartbeat quicken and Aventurine felt yours. "Of course not," you manage to breathe out. He lifts your chin with his gloved hand, you can feel the cold rings on your skin. They send shivers down your spine. 

Aventurine pulls you into a heated kiss, his soft lips moving against yours and you gasp in surprise, not expecting him to go so far. You melt into the kiss, completely giving in to the blonde. 

Your ex simply stares at you, his mouth slightly agape.  "Tch, that doesn't prove anything." Pretending it doesn't faze him, he rolls his eyes, the bartender scoffs as well and leaves.

You break the kiss, gasping for air. Aventurine smirks complacently and gently tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. "Whatever you say, friend." 

"Fine, have her. Just know that she is a filthy and unfaithful brat." With that, he turns around. "And this isn't over yet."

You let out a sigh of relief. He is finally gone. "What an asshole..." Aventurine mutters, making you realize what just happened.

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry! I asked for your help but you didn't have to go this far. I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable. I apologize! How could I ever thank you..." you ramble but Aventurine just cups your face and gives you a second, soft kiss. 

"No need to apologize, y/n. To be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed this night. It was certainly a nice surprise." He gently rubbed your cheek with his thumb, reassuring you. "As for how to thank me... There's no need." 

Your eyes widened, "Ah well, I'm glad you felt that way. But... Are you sure? You want nothing in return?" He shook his head, resting his other hand back on your waist. "Although, there is something you could do for me. If you want, that is." 

He grins mischievously. To be honest, he finds you alluring and wants to know get to know you. 

"Sure, what is it?" you ask, genuinely interested. "Spend the night with me."

[vulpixisananimal]

[A:4 C:66.6]

(Siffrin) {Mal Du Pays} <Null> |Asterion| +Rosmarinus+ =Socks= [Loop] [(Saffron)] 

“Fucking mother of Stars.” (Alex bumps you with their shoulder) “Mr. Mindfreak’s here.”

“Stars. Really?” (You look up from the food stall you’re perusing. Food shopping, it never, ever stops. It’s yourself, Mirabelle, and Groundskeepers; Alex was in the hot seat today, practically taking over as host until Ramos was. . . Alex pointed in a direction. Great!) 

[Avast! All hands to battle stations!]

(Very funny, Loop. Alex shakes her head) “Just our luck, why is he here?”

“Who’s here?” (Mirabelle walked up to the both of you, having finished a hunt for good bread.)

“Perci.” [You grumble. He was looking over a collection of fruits now.] “Any sign of his partner in crime?”

“Not that I can see.” (Alex crosses their arms.) “I think I’ll go talk to him.”

“M-maybe we should, just, leave him be. If he’s not. . .” 

“Right, better idea.” (Alex breathes in, and out. They hold up a finger in a ‘wait a moment’ way. A few seconds later, you see Perci jolt in surprise and drop an apple he was holding.)

(He picks up the apple and locks eyes with the three of you. After a second, he takes a few coins and places it at the stall. He tosses the apple in the air, then starts walking towards you. You feel the hairs on your neck stand on end.)

(He stops a few feet away, looking between the three of you. After a few tense seconds, he tosses the apple to Mirabelle.) “Saviors”

(Mira catches the apple, and looks up at him.) “. . . Perci.”

“. . .” (He looks suspiciously between you all.) “I hope you are all doing. . . Well?”

“Oh we’re just going great, Perci!” [I’m taking over, you clap your hands together.] “My only complaint is the headache standing in front of me! Why are you here, historian?”

“Shopping, what else?” [He scoffs.] “What, were you imagining me in some evil lair cackling to myself plotting your downfall?”

“A little.” [Alex says with a smirk.] “It was more imagining me putting a fist through your skull. Stars, I might as well do that now!”

“Alex!” [Perci lets out an over dramatic gasp.] “Please! There’s innocent people around! What kind of monster would start a fight in the middle of a public market! Really, I expected better of you! For shame.”

“Motherf-” [Alex tenses up, but you couldn’t help but laugh. She glares at you.] “Traitor.”

“Sorry Alex~ That was funny.” [You lean your head on a hand.] “But you have a point, I’m a time looper, Perci, why shouldn’t I just take the day to beat you until you're dead.”

“L-loop!!” [Mirabelle frowns.] “I don’t like him but that’s a-a, a bit, much-”

“Is it?” [You snap back.] “After all he’s done? No! It's perfectly justified!”

“He buried me in my own blinding subconscious.” [Alex glances back.] “I have a score to settle.”

[Mirabelle opens her mouth, but thinks, then closes it. She looks away.] “I. . . W-well. . .”

“It’s alright, Lady Mirabelle.” [Perci bows.] “The feeling’s mutual.”

“Mutual?!?” [You snap back around to glare at Perci.] “How. In the UNIVERSE. Is that a MUTUAL FEELING!!”

“Do you have any idea how close Merlon and I are?!?” [He responds in a contained, but bitter, whisper.] “We are this close to finding a way to bring her home back, your home back! And we just need to figure out a few little things and it’ll be ready! We could have figured this out so much sooner if you just let me have a LOOK!” 

“And that’s somehow my fault?!?”

“Yes!!” [He pulls at his hair and shakes his head.] “It’s simple! Just a moment! I won’t change anything, just look! I don’t want to fight you all, it’s just you’ve all been so. . . So frustrating to work with!!”

“That’s. . .” [You pause, then look away.] “That’s not my problem.”

[. . . Could it, be that easy? You knew a lot about wish craft, yes, but enough to bring the island back? Is that even possible anymore? Stars, you might ha- [Thoughts to yourself, idiot.] You wince, that was Alex’s wonderful chime of a voice in your head. Thanks for the reminder~]

“You need to work on your sales pitch, Perci.” (Alex huffed.) “We know you’re planning something, what’s up your sleeve, I wonder?”

“Me? Planning? Never.” (He chuckled.) “No no, I’m just a bonded man looking to make something nice for my beloved~”

“Sure, and I've been elected to be the next Shining Flare.” (Eyeroll.) “Let me guess, you’re the one causing those nightmares. Aren’t you?”

(He blinks.) “. . . Nightmares?”

[. . .]

(Loop?)

[No. You glare at Perci.] “Don’t play dumb, Percival. There’s a little pandemic of night terrors in our little family and it smells strongly of mints!”

“Odile, Isabeau, Pétronille.” (Mirabelle holds her hands to her chest.) “They’ve all had terrible encounters with, w-with just the worst things!!”

“Sadness.” (Alex. Alex? Maybe-Alex squints at him.) “They’re being plagued by sadness and we’ve had our hands full trying to deal with it. So, what did you do?”

(Perci looks at you all, then to the side, chin resting in his hand. It’s almost like you could feel the gears turning in his head- w-wait can he hear your thoughts?!? You glance up at not-Alex.)

(They glance down at you, <Hand.> O-oh! Altiare! You hold out your hand and they take it, they take Mirabelles hand too. <I’m not that good, but good enough to keep his head from wandering.>)

((W-woah, this is, a-a strange feeling!) Mirabelle blinks, oh! Those are, her thoughts! (Can you-) <PLEASE just talk, this is hard enough as is.>)

(Perci was staring so hard at a point in the ground you’d expect to see sparks of craft shoot from his ears! He closed his eyes, and drummed his fingers on his chin. Eventually, he remembered the three of you existed, and looked up.) “. . . You have the wrong man, saviors.”

“And what makes you say that.” [You put your free hand on your hip.] 

“Mind craft can draw out one's inner sadness, yes, but it’s not my mind craft.” [He put his hands behind his back.] “Because I wouldn’t need to do that to myself. And I would never in a thousand years do that to Merlon.” [Those last words come out sour.]

[You’re looking at him as intensely as you could. Trying to discern if this was true, or not.]

“. . . You’re telling the truth.” [Well there we go then! Altiare sighs and shakes his head.] “I don’t think you could lie about hurting Merlon, right? Just the very thought would have you running home for cuddles and kisses.”

“A-ah! W-well-” [Perci coughed into his arm.] “R-regardless, yes. I’ve tried it before, actually, lying about hurting them to get information. It’s one of the few times someone saw through one of my lies.”

“Aww, you couldn’t even think about hurting them?” (Mirabelle giggles.) “Oh why do the bad guys have to be so crabbing cute this time!!”

“I dunno, Asterion’s kinda cute.” (Altiare smirks.) “But never mind that. The sadness, what does it mean?”

“. . . Well.” (Perci sighs.) “Everyone has an inner sadness. The worse your mental state is, the stronger it gets. At the extremes it can manifest in your mind and taunt you. But that’s only for true extremes, and from what I know, your companions shouldn’t be at that point.”

“Y-yeah, it’d, it’d be pretty obvious if they were.” (You look away.) “Very, very obvious.”

(Mirabelle gives you a kind look, then turns back to Percival.) “A-and. . . Refoulement has been acting strange as well.”

“Refoulement? Your sadness?” (The historian asks, Mira nods.) “I see, my tamed sadness has been the same.”

“You keep throwing that term around, tamed sadness, you called Mal one, even!” [You cover your mouth with a hand.] “Don’t tell me we tamed that thing like some cat.”

[Perci laughs at that.] “Hah! No, not quite. Mal du Pays, Refoulement, and my own sadness, Saudade, are all tamed in the sense that they are. . . Accepted. The only all encompassing definition I can think of is that they can wander our minds without causing pain and suffering. Tell me, does Refoulement usually whisper insecurities to you, lady Mirabelle?”

“N-no, no not really.”

“And does Mal Du Pays taunt you with your own mistakes, Siffrin? And company?”

(You huff and look away.) “N-no, usually, no.”

“And what about you, Altiare? Does it plague you wit-”

(Altiare cuts him off.) “I don’t have one.” 

(Perci blinks, then bursts into laughter.) “Yes you do.”

“And what makes you so sure.” (They squint.)

“If you hadn’t accepted your sadness, you wouldn’t know mind craft.” (Perci held up an open hand.) “That’s what I was helping Madame Odile with, anyways. I thought she would have the will to face it, I was wrong~”

“Don’t talk so casually about that!!” (Mirabelle exclaims, stepping forward.) “W-what if she got hurt!!”

“She’d die.” <He said, too matter-of-factly.> “Or she’d suffer ego death. Or, and what I was most interested in seeing, was that she would turn into a sadness.”

“You’re sick.” <You shove Siffrin and Loop out of front and hold tighter to Altiare’s hand.> “A sick, twisted, disgusting little thing who deserves every damn thing coming for him.”

“Good to see you too~” <He waves a hand, and turns.> “Now if that’s all, I must be off. Can’t keep the bonded waiting, after all~”

“By all means.” <You huff.> “Please, don’t rush yourself.”

“. . . Goodbye, Percival.” <Mirabelle mumbles.>

“Make sure to step on some cracks for me.” <Altiare makes a rude gesture.> “I heard it’s good luck.”

“Oh I’m sure.” <He takes a step away, then pauses.> “. . . . Are you going to continue using mind craft?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” <Altiare retorts.>

“. . . In that case, find some small thing to distract yourself. The mind can wander easily to others thoughts, and that helps. And develop a grounding technique, feeling lost after diving into a mind is sometimes fine, and other times beyond terrible.” <There’s a pause as he thinks.> “. . . And be careful with your hands. If you use mind craft as much as I do, they’ll soon become very, very sensitive.”

“. . . Thanks?” <The Card Counter looks between you and Mira.> “Why are you telling me this?”

“We may be enemies, Altiare.” <He glances back.> “But that is no excuse not to be kind.”

[happy-ambivert]

Actorgenic - is a system… a. …which one of origins can form due to creating new prsonality, "being" and non-existing person, impersonating, faking identityy+more b. …who faked having "different personalities" "different identtities", not really same as faking being a system! This can be caused by havingn o knowledge what is a system termin are c. …failed tulpamancy which turned into traumagenic system due to specific reasons d. …system who likes wrong terms like "personalities", "alter-ego" instead of alter, headmates. Probably its host which arent respecting their headmates e. etc simmiliar to this above

Actorgenic systems does not have amnesia(only emotional) or have but specific types of it and simmiliar to median system, fakegenic system or impostergenic system by description and meaning, not same experience and origins Oftenly these systems can have currently fronting headmate confused who are they, thinking they are host or main fronter and etc Or host, who is mimic, actor, chameleon or etc role and likes to pretending being other alter and others situaitons which can leadto situation where fornetr is confused who are they and they believes they are THIS alter Or others situations, thats can confuse the system Hosts of these systems dont mind their alters being called one of their personalities athought their headmates would mind, sometimes they are really believes that they are one of their headmates or confused who are fronting right now actorgenic can be traumagenic or endogenic system or both and can also be shortly described plural singlet, not same as median system! They have really chaotic relationships between host/main fronter and headmates and more problems

termin coined by me, flag by me i cant find anything that can describe one of my system origins or multiple possible origins for us, this is probably my personal experience btw some definitions are simmiliar to describe us but can not fully describe us, i just made it easier to portray and just add simmiliar definitions and its still can confuse some can fall under many definitions

colors and term name meaning the first concept is og and it whats first became in my head but then after designing i realised it almost looks like existing flag of gender identity the second i tried to remake, prbly nothing rly changed but i cant really judge this colros is what i associate actors with idk i also have red stripes version the symbol is a moon phases ik its bad prbly at first i wanetd to do mask, but i couldnt find idea for "face" and it would show wrong the symbol, then decided to do without "face" and it looked like shield. i also wanetd to make as "time" and then i made moon+mask version, still not what i wnated symbolize And it wast eh reason why moon phases, the moon symbolise "same, but different" and moon phases are really connected with most of cultures, the new moon and half moon, for example, are same for earth, but not for people beliefs, "same for myself, different for others" its dont really related to real actors and theatre, also dont related to actors(as role for some systems alters)

while writing this i got many problems with having any style and decided to dont tell our whole experience at all :f

btw it happened long time ago and im SURE its one of my reason why my system is formed im traumagenic nondisrodered system also , i have traumas which i dont rememebr(parenst told me)+some traumas i remember

[gods-favorite-autistic]

Fantasy High Incorrect Quotes

Fig: I can explain.

Sandra Lynn: Can you?

Fig: If you give me thirty seconds to think of a lie.

~

Kristen: A theif.

Adaine: Thief?

Kristen: Theif.

Adaine: I before E, except after C.

Kristen: Thceif.

Adaine: No

~

Somebody: How many kids do you have?

Jawbone: Biologically, emotionally, or legally?

~

Riz: Ok, maybe playing ‘whose family is most dysfunctional’ wasn’t the best idea we’ve had. Fabian's been crying in the bathroom for an hour. We can’t get him out...

~

Kristen: Change is inedible.

Gorgug: Don't you mean inevitable?

Kristen, spitting out coins: No, I did not

~

Riz: I think I'm having a mid-life crisis.

Sklonda: You're like 15 years old

Riz: I MIGHT DIE AT 30!

~

Fig: If there's going to be a big dramatic scene, wait until I get back.

Fabian: Of course. I can't flip this table by myself.

~

Jawbone: You often use humor to deflect trauma

Kristen: Thank you

Jawbone: I didn't say that was a good thing

Kristen: What I'm hearing is, you think I'm funny

~

Fig giving bardic: I've already sent good vibes your way… they’re coming. There’s nothing you can do to stop them.

Gorgug: This is the most threatening way I’ve ever been cheered up.

~

Riz: Please, I'm begging you go to Kristen.

Fabian: I'm sorry is this OUR stab wound? Stay out of it.

~

Kipperlily: Okay. I get it. We’ve had a really hard time lately, we’re stressed out, seven people died-

Ivy: Twelve, actually.

Kipperlily: Not the point. Look, they're dead now and really whose fault is that?

Oisin: Yours!

Kipperlily: That's right: no one's.

~

Fabian: Okay, truth or dare?

Riz: Truth

Fabian: How many hours have you slept this week?

Riz:

Riz: ...Dare

Fabian: Go to bed.

Riz: I don’t like this game.

~

Gorgug: Why are you on the floor?

Fig: I'm depressed.

Fig: Also I was stabbed, can you get Kristen, please.

~

Store Worker: Would a Mr. Jawbone please come to the front desk?

Jawbone, arriving at the desk: Hello, is there a problem?

Store Worker: *points to Fig and Kristen*

Store Worker: I believe they belong to you?

Fig and Kristen, simultaneously: We got lost :(

Jawbone: I didn’t even bring you guys here with me-

~

Riz: Here’s a fun Christmas idea. We hang mistletoe, but instead of kissing, you have to FIGHT whoever else is under it.

Sklonda: Riz no.

Adaine: Mistlefoe.

Sklonda: Please stop encouraging him.

~

Adaine: Hey Kristen,

Kristen: Yes?

Adaine: Can a person breathe inside a washing machine while it’s on?

Kristen:

Kristen: Where’s Aelwyn?

~

Fabian: I’m kind of crushing on someone, but I’m worried about telling you who it is, because you’re not going to like it

Adaine: Just rip the bandage off.

Fabian: It’s Aelwyn.

Adaine: Put the bandage back on.

~

Riz: I love you guys, you're the best thing that's happened to me.

Fabian: We're the best thing that's ever happened to you?

Riz: Yes!

Kristen: I'm starting to feel a little sorry for you.

~

Jawbone: I trust the Bad Kids.

Sandra Lynn: You think they know what they're doing?

Jawbone: I wouldn't go that far.

~

Fig: If Kristen and I were drowning, who would you save?

Adaine: You two can’t swim?

Kristen: It’s a hypothetical question, Adaine! who would you save?

Adaine: my time and effort.

~

Fig: Come on, I wasn’t that drunk last night.

Gorgug: You were flirting with Ayda.

Fig: So what? She’s my girlfriend.

Gorgug: You asked her if she was single.

Fig:

Gorgug: And then you cried when they said they weren't.

~

Fig: What if I press the brake and gas at the same time?

Kristen: The car takes a screenshot.

Gorgug, fixing the Hangvan: For the last time, get the fuck out.

~

Cop: You’re receiving a ticket for having three people on one motorcycle.

Fabian: Shit.

Riz: Wait, three?

Cop: Yeah?

Fig: OH MY GOD KRISTEN FELL OFF!!!

~

Fig: You lying, cheating, piece of shit!

Kristen: Oh yeah? You’re the idiot who thinks you can get away with everything you do. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

Fig: I’m leaving you, and I’M TAKING ADAINE WITH ME

Gorgug, picking up the monopoly board: I think we’re gonna stop playing now.

~

Riz: *Gently taps table*

Adaine: *Taps back*

Kristen: What are they doing?

Fabian: Morse code.

Riz: *Aggressively taps table*

Adaine: *Slams hands down* YOU TAKE THAT BACK-

~

Gorgug: Riz isn’t answering his phone

Fabian: I’ll call

Gorgug: Adaine and I have both tried six times each, what makes you thi-

Riz: Hello?

~

Adaine: Good responses for being stabbed with a knife?

Fabian: Rude.

Fig: That’s fair.

Kristen: Not again.

Riz: Are you going to want this back?

~

Adaine: Poison is a magic transmutation potion that turns people into corpses.

Fig: This knife is actually a magic wand.

Kristen: Meet me in the Denny’s parking lot for a wizard duel.

Riz: *cocks gun* Magic missile.

Sandra Lynn: What the fuck is wrong with you people.

~

Adaine: You really put aside everything and came all this way for me? How did you even get here so fast?

Fabian: Several traffic violations.

Kristen: Three counts of resisting arrest.

Riz: Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks.

Fig: Also, that’s not our car.

~

Adaine: Are we really going to let Fabian keep Riz?

Fig: We kept Kristen.

~

Fabian, walking into his house: Hello, people who do not live here.

Kristen: Hey.

Adaine: Hi.

Gorgug: Hello.

Fig: Hey!

Fabian: I gave you the key to my place for emergencies only!

Riz: We were out of Doritos.

[pliablehead]

Heyo, what do you consider the top 5 must-watch EE interviews???

I AM SORRY I TOOK SO LONG TO ANSWER THIS and I think it's because I really don't have a proper answer!! So much of my deep dive into EE was done in one long hyperfixation spiral back when I was first getting fangirl-level into them, a good 6 or 7 years ago, and so I'm running into the problem of most of the interview content I've consumed all sort of homogenizing into one sort of blur of Lore that I've internalized and I am not doing a great job at separating out into its individual components! So, that said, the following list is probably not in line with what I'd actually ultimately believe to be the best, most crucial ones--it's just the ones my brain can call to mind at the moment. lol. BUT HERE ARE SOME:

serious/insightful: • Jon and Alex for Tape Notes podcast. (so not a must-watch so much as a much-listen, but there are a few individual clips from this on youtube in video form as well I believe.) RDF is my favorite EE album and I thought this was a hugely interesting look into their writing process and also had a bunch of cool personal stuff in it! Plus, I think it's a very good look at who the band are, like, "now" -- there's a lot of great content around from MA up through GTH, but by the time they were on album 4 and all like, 30+, and especially once covid hit and sort of changed the trajectory of like.. bands, in general, I feel like it's just been a different animal re: regular interviews etc. • this 2013 3-parter with Jonathan. It's been ages since I watched it but I remembered it almost immediately, and for some reason I'm remembering it as an oddly vulnerable Jon moment. just talking about things. (more good band lore! etc.)

funny/meme-y: • Mike and Jez at Isle of Wight. Unlike many others, I could not possibly count how many times I have rewatched this, and it is funny every time. The interviewer is a buffoon asking totally clueless questions and Jez is having absolutely none of it, he's just chomping his chewing gum the entire time, Mike's doing his best, it destroys me. • Mike and Jez look at memes. Less interview-y and more just #content but whoever edited this video did a TOP NOTCH JOB and it's one I often show to not-in-this-fanbase friends that can still be a fun look at the band and a good laff. • This very sweet one with Alex and Mike being interviewed by a literal child. Contains the infamous "Jeremy, and yes," which is one of my most quoted EE-related sentences ever • this Man Alive track-by-track, also audio only.. the BITS that Jon and Alex are doing. truly incredible stuff

just lads having a nice time :) : • the CAPSLOCK ON talkback - lots of pleasant band and lyric insight, and a great Jez cheese moment at the end • this livestream dot com session is some performing but some Q&Aing, so not really an interview proper, but the energy in the room is delightful alskdghj

other noteworthy bodies of work: • anything with Andy Backhouse. I'll be the first to admit that Andy can grate my nerves sometimes, he often feels annoyingly a little too simp-y or something, but the other side of that coin is that as a huge fan of the band he actually does always ask them questions that are like, Real, he Gets them, so it's guaranteed to be a notch up from just random music journos who are engaging with them on a more surface industry level. Nothing is more frustrating than watching an EE interview where the interviewer just so blatantly doesn't "get" EE's whole deal and doesn't know how to interface. Andy never has that problem ! • any episode of Chips of Chorlton that features them (I think Jon's been on twice and Jeremy once). Dutch Uncles are their friends and hearing them all shoot the shit in an extremely comfortable environment is suuuuch a pleasant and wholly different experience than when the lads are being Professional Music Band guys, even when the latter still consists of them doing fairly goofy things

A VERY LONGWINDED AND NOT ESPECIALLY COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER ?? !!!!! Ultimately I think I was the wrong man for the job. @hellkitepriest has way more of an archivist's nature sort of just intrinsically than I do, he can probably do a better and less ridiculous job akjdshglak

[jeannereames]

What should we make of Alexander I and Perdiccas II both having long 40+ years long reigns, only for all of their successors having substantially shorter ones? And, if you are in the mood, who do you think was the better ruler between the two?

Alexander I and Perdikkas II

First, I thought I’d mention one of the cool things to come out of the recent ATG conference is a plan to produce an edited collection: Alexander I and the Making of Macedon. It’ll be a while, but if I can get us a publisher, I’ve got the contributors.

Also of note, Sabine Müller and Johannes Heinrichs are producing a monograph on Alexander I in English. She has a great one on Perdikkas but it’s in German, so I was very happy to hear this.

Finally, I've got a number of racked-up Asks. This answer will answer about three of them. I'll link it to the other questions. :-)

To the questions: it’s really hard to compare Alexander I and Perdikkas II simply because they were dealing with very different circumstances. Alexander I had Persian assistance holding the throne, while Perdikkas was tossed off his throne at least once.

The biggest difficulty is a source problem. ALL our info about these guys (outside archaeology) comes from Greeks, who were chiefly interested in them only when they intersected with the southern Greek world. There’s a fair bit about Alex I’s internal politicking that we just don’t know. What we call “Lower Macedon” probably only goes back a couple generations, despite the mythical king list. We find a MARKED change in burial practices c. 570 BCE, which is before Persians were mucking around up there. This suggests a change—or more likely consolidation—in the lowland Macedonian ruling elite, both west and a bit east of the Axios River.

If Alexander I took over c. 500-495 (coin above), and his father Amyntas (about whom we know nothing but a name) ruled for 20/30-ish years before, then Alexander’ grandfather (Alketas) or great-grandfather (Airopos) would have consolidated the area around Aigai. Yet ALL names before Amyntas I are essentially fictional. Certainly the “founder’s” name changed across time. It’s Perdikkas when we first hear of it in Herodotos, but may have shifted to Archelaos later (see Euripides’s play of that name). Later yet (under Philip), it seems to have become Karanos. If Bill Greenwalt’s theories are right. This is not a real person in any historical sense.

The problem with dating Alexander I is that we neither know for sure when he took the throne nor when he died. It was convenient for Alexander to blame his father for any concessions to the Persians, but he—not Amyntas—married his sister Gygaia to a Persian (Bubares, son of Magabazus and distantly royal).* More likely he was already on the throne in the 490s but may have been quite young. He seems to have used the Persian presence to further consolidate the (new) Macedonian kingdom—against Paionians and others—adding territory as far away as Amphipolis, at least temporarily, and thus, getting hold of both silver and gold mines to mint coins. The Echedoros River also held gold. All the gold in pre-Alexander Macedonia was pacer mining (panning), not from the gold mines of Mt. Pangaion. Yet gold, while present in the rivers, only became important in graves in Macedonia c. 570…it’s part of that startling shift in burials that we see.

We also don’t know exactly when Alexander I died and Perdikkas took over. He was still king at the end of the Persian Wars in 479/78, but dead by 450. His death may have been closer to 460, or even earlier. So his reign was probably more like 30-35 years. Perdikkas perhaps reigned longest of all—one reason he’s exceptional. I wonder if the Peloponnesian War itself may have contributed to his success: for all he had his challengers, if Macedon wanted to survive as an independent political entity, they needed to rally around him.

Yet he faced his share of opposition from other Argeads as well as the very powerful Upper Macedonian kingdoms of Lynkestis (Lynkis) and Elimeia, not to mention predatory Illyrians. That’s why Perdikkas sought an alliance with Brasidas of Sparta, but apparently couldn’t even control his own troops enough to keep them from deserting when facing Illyrians. That earned Brasidas’s wrath. As a result, Perdikkas (coin below) had to make nice with Athens.

That’s just one example of Perdikkas’s deal-making during the war. He had quite a job of diplomatic shuffling—no doubt learned from Daddy Alexander. Neither had a kingdom anywhere near strong enough to fend off Persia, or Athens and Sparta later. The fact Perdikkas didn’t end up a client king to either Sparta or Athens is a testament to his diplomatic skill.

Perdikkas’s eldest son Archelaos wasn’t the “illegitimate” son of a slave but of a lesser wife, which is why the younger (unnamed) son initially inherited. Archelaos quickly did away with him (plus an uncle and cousin), then proceeded to continue the modernizing work of his father and grandfather. Until he got run through in a hunting “accident.” After that, the kingdom dissolved into a mess.

The problem of a fast turn-over of rule owed to their inheritance system: any Argead had a claim on the throne. Kings also practiced royal polygamy, although two wives (at most three) seems to have been typical until Philip II. In some ways, it worked well, as it produced multiple heirs from which a strong king could emerge (by surviving).

That was also its problem: no clear method of succession, even if the sons of higher-status mothers apparently had a leg-up. Perdikkas himself was not Alexander’s eldest son. He had two older brothers and two younger ones. Yet either his mother was the most prominent or he showed the most promise (or both). Despite Archelaos’s age and apparent ability, he was initially passed over, although Plato (who tells the story) means to paint Archelaos poorly. That doesn’t mean he didn’t kill competing Argeads to take the throne. So had his father, and probably grandfather too (we just don’t hear about it).

Yet Archelaos’s unexpected death led to a continuing crisis until Amyntas III, Phil’s dad, took and kept the throne. He came from a collateral Argead line descended from Alexander I’s youngest son. The other lines killed each other off. For all Amyntas wasn’t a terribly prepossessing king, he managed not to die. But he, too, was run off his throne at least once, maybe twice. When he did die, it was in his bed of old age—not a common thing for Macedonian kings. His reign was the first tolerably long one after Archelaos, over 20 years.

By the time Philip came to the throne, there weren’t many Argeads left thanks to the catch-as-catch-can method of succession: Philip’s two older brothers were dead and all three of his half-brothers. It was down to just him and his brother Perdikkas III’s infant son: Amyntas.

This is the inevitable problem when lacking a clear succession. Yet a clear succession can create its own problems with incompetent heirs, who don’t always recognize they’re incompetent. The free-for-all gave a better shot at a strong king—ostensibly why it developed—but it also meant the kingdom ran out of “spares” after a couple generations. They went from more Argeads than you could shake a stick at following Alexander I’s death, down to just three at Philip’s death, and two at Alexander’s death** in a matter of 5-6 generations. Within those 5-6 generations, 12-14 kings reigned! And we have no idea how many brothers/cousins/uncles Alexander I had, and perhaps killed, before he became king. We hear only about the one sister.

Stability was not a hallmark of the Argead dynasty.

——

* The story of Alexander killing Persian emissaries is much later fictional propaganda. Didn’t happen.

* Alexander’s son Herakles by Barsine might count as a third, but the army doesn’t seem to have considered him viable for whatever reason.

[itslouisan]

My interpretation on space beth x beth

Disclaimer: yeah I hate the incest and fucking clone part so much, but I do have my own interpretation and point of view to TRY to make it less ehhh weird, but yeah it's just MY views

Okay so we see how problematic Beth is in a way, I mean she's clearly a mom that plays favorites between her children to extremes, neglects Morty a bit, is a bit overbearing and controlling, functional alcoholic, and so on, some of Beth's traits are justifiable in my opinion since y'know, neglect and unfilling life since she's clearly unhappy with her current life situation (romantically and I dare say professionally), though some parts of her just scream narcissism and a sociopath who refuses to seek real help or accept she's wrong. Like when Rick points out in the froopy land ep how fucked up she was, yes he wasn't THERE to see Beth being so fucked up since he isn't HER biological father in a way but a version of him, but clearly as he takes items out of the box we can see Beth was always this way, EVEN WHEN BOTH PARENTS WERE AROUND and even asking items that could be harmful to her own parents, and yeah her Rick was in the fault for enabling in it but it's also on her for asking those items in the first place, but the important part is that even when C-137 proves his point, Beth switches the blame to HIM, refusing any accountability or taking in her faults or even the clear dangerous tendencies she has, a narcissistic trait is exactly that, refusing to accept you're wrong and shifting the blame to another person to avoid actually saying you did something wrong and apologizing putting yourself down the pedestal and the "untouchable" and ego you have, we also have that scene of her choosing Summer over Morty WITH NO HESITATION, the countless scenes of her avoiding any issues AND her buries it with wine, but most important, Prime Beth, the Beth that is the mother of our Morty, saying how she was happy that C-137 but HER OWN SON was gone, which is just... fucked up clearly no version of Beth can SHOW the love to both her kids or family in a healthy way due to her issues, she's basically seeing Morty as an extension of Jerry and her own failures and problems but maybe also of her Rick mistake in abandoning her with THIS, which takes me to the line she has when asking C-137 abt what choice she has and that "she's out of excuses to not be what she is" which leads to the events of the creation of space Beth, so what could space Beth symbolize? I see it as what Beth wanted to be, her ideal self, not tied to anything, but also, someone who is achieving her "true potential and purpose" by saving the galaxy, maybe proving HERSELF and everyone else wrong who thought her carrier and life choice, cause now she's alone, strong, independent, and doing something big enough for her ego, but different from C-137 who put in those shoes felt empty in reality and full of grief for his real family and moved by the need of revenge, Space Beth seems like an absent mom, she talks SO MUCH on how Rick left her, but she would've done the same to her kids, and I dare to say she only comes by BECAUSE OF HERSELF AKA THE OTHER BETH.

So the moment these two meet OBVIOUSLY they'll be attracted to each other, it's a narcissist's dream come true, but also, I like to think Space Beth is something Beth (in earth sense, the family Beth) needed to truly evolve and perhaps, MAYBE change as a person now she can see the other side of this coin, the moment Beth and Space Beth get together is only Beth accepting what she could've have been, what she is, and how she feels about herself, but also AFTER THAT her relation with the family sees to improve slightly, showing that once she came with the amends of the "what ifs" she can start evolving, it's not only about loving a clone of yourself or idealizing the ideal version of yourself, the one you wanted to achieve so bad, it's about that ideal self, maybe, they'd want you as you're as much as you wanted them, maybe what you consider ideal, would've want what you are and have, so they being together is just that

Anyway thanks for listening to my ramble, I don't even know if it made sense jwj

[exterminatepestcontrol]

How To Tell If It's A Rat Or A Mouse

Rat vs Mouse: Complete Identification Guide for Irish Homeowners

Correctly identifying whether you're dealing with rats or mice is crucial for effective pest control in Irish homes. While both rodents can cause significant problems, they require different treatment approaches, prevention strategies, and urgency levels. At Exterminate Pest Control (exterminate.ie), we help homeowners across Ireland accurately identify their rodent problems and implement targeted solutions for lasting control.

Misidentifying your rodent problem can lead to ineffective treatments, wasted money, and continued infestations. Understanding the key differences between rats and mice empowers you to take appropriate action and communicate effectively with pest control professionals when needed.

Physical Characteristics: Key Identification Features

The most reliable way to distinguish between rats and mice is through their physical characteristics. These differences are consistent across species and age groups, making visual identification straightforward once you know what to look for.

Size Comparison

Rats:

Body length: 20-25cm (excluding tail)

Tail length: 15-20cm (shorter than body)

Total length: 35-45cm

Weight: 200-500 grams

About the size of a large smartphone when including the tail

Mice:

Body length: 7-10cm (excluding tail)

Tail length: 8-12cm (longer than body)

Total length: 15-22cm

Weight: 12-30 grams

About the size of a large coin when including the tail

Head and Facial Features

Rat Head Characteristics:

Blunt, wide snout with a robust appearance

Small ears relative to head size

Small, beady eyes

Thick neck connecting to a heavy-set body

Overall head appears proportionally smaller compared to body

Mouse Head Characteristics:

Pointed, triangular snout

Large, prominent ears relative to head size

Large, protruding eyes

Delicate facial features

Head appears proportionally larger compared to body size

Tail Differences

The tail is often the most distinguishing feature between rats and mice:

Rat Tails:

Thick and scaly with sparse, coarse hair

Clearly visible scale rings around the circumference

Shorter than the body length

Thick at the base, tapering gradually

Often leaves visible drag marks when moving

Mouse Tails:

Thin and covered in fine, dense hair

Smooth appearance without visible scales

Longer than the body length

Uniform thickness throughout

Rarely leaves visible drag marks

Body Shape and Build

Rats:

Robust, heavy-set body structure

Thick, muscular neck and shoulders

Broad chest and back

Sturdy legs designed for ground movement

Overall bulky appearance

Mice:

Slender, delicate body structure

Narrow neck and shoulders

Streamlined build

Thin legs adapted for climbing

Overall petite, graceful appearance

Behavioral Differences in Irish Homes

Understanding behavioral patterns helps confirm identification and guides treatment strategies.

Movement and Activity Patterns

Rat Behavior:

Cautious and neophobic - Highly suspicious of new objects in their environment

Established routes - Follow the same paths repeatedly, creating visible runways

Ground-level preference - Primarily travel along walls and baseboards

Nocturnal activity - Most active during nighttime hours

Social structure - Live in organized colonies with clear hierarchies

Territorial behavior - Aggressively defend feeding and nesting areas

Mouse Behavior:

Curious and explorative - Quickly investigate new objects and areas

Erratic movement - Don't follow consistent pathways

Excellent climbers - Easily scale vertical surfaces and navigate upper areas

Flexible activity - Active during both day and night

Family groups - Live in smaller, less structured social units

Highly adaptable - Quickly adjust to environmental changes

Feeding Habits and Food Preferences

Rat Feeding Patterns:

Prefer protein-rich foods: meat, fish, eggs, pet food

Consume 15-30 grams of food daily

Require regular water access (30ml daily)

Cache food in secure, hidden locations

Test new foods cautiously (bait shyness)

Feed primarily at night in 2-3 substantial meals

Can survive 3-4 days without water

Mouse Feeding Patterns:

Prefer carbohydrate-rich foods: grains, cereals, sweets, chocolate

Consume only 2-3 grams of food daily

Can survive on moisture from food alone

Nibble frequently throughout day and night

Readily accept and try new foods

Feed in 15-20 small meals per day

Rarely need separate water sources

Evidence Analysis: Reading the Signs

Physical evidence often provides the first indication of rodent presence. Learning to interpret these signs accurately is crucial for proper identification.

Droppings Identification

Droppings are often the most abundant and reliable evidence for species identification:

Rat Droppings:

Size: 12-18mm long, 6mm wide

Shape: Blunt ends, sausage-shaped with rounded corners

Color: Dark brown to black when fresh, gray when old

Quantity: 25-50 pellets per day per rat

Location: Scattered along regular travel routes

Consistency: Firm and well-formed

Mouse Droppings:

Size: 3-8mm long, 1-2mm wide

Shape: Pointed ends, rice-shaped or spindle-shaped

Color: Dark brown to black when fresh, gray when old

Quantity: 50-80 pellets per day per mouse

Location: Concentrated near food sources and nesting areas

Consistency: Smaller and more crumbly than rat droppings

Gnaw Marks and Damage Patterns

The size and characteristics of gnaw marks provide clear species identification:

Rat Gnaw Marks:

Width: 4-6mm wide tooth marks

Appearance: Rough, splintered edges

Depth: Deep gouges in wood and plastic

Entry holes: 6-9cm diameter holes for access

Materials: Can gnaw through wood, plastic, soft metals, concrete

Location: Primarily at ground level, along baseboards

Mouse Gnaw Marks:

Width: 1-2mm wide tooth marks

Appearance: Clean, precise edges

Depth: Shallow scratches and nibbles

Entry holes: 2-3cm diameter holes (size of a large coin)

Materials: Limited to softer materials, food packaging

Location: Various heights, concentrated near food sources

Tracks and Footprints

When conditions allow, tracks provide definitive identification:

Rat Tracks:

Front foot: 2cm long with 4 visible toes

Hind foot: 2.5cm long with 5 visible toes

Stride length: 15-20cm between steps

Tail drag: Visible continuous line between footprints

Pressure: Deep impressions due to body weight

Mouse Tracks:

Front foot: 6mm long with 4 visible toes

Hind foot: 9mm long with 5 visible toes

Stride length: 3-4cm between steps

Tail drag: Usually no visible tail marks

Pressure: Light impressions, easily disturbed

Grease Marks and Rub Marks

Both species leave grease marks from their fur, but the characteristics differ:

Rat Grease Marks:

Location: Along baseboards and lower walls

Appearance: Dark, wide smears at body height (15-20cm)

Consistency: Heavy, obvious marks due to larger body size

Pattern: Continuous marks along established routes

Mouse Grease Marks:

Location: Various heights, including vertical surfaces

Appearance: Light smears at body height (5-8cm)

Consistency: Faint marks, often difficult to see

Pattern: Sporadic marks due to erratic movement patterns

Common Species Found in Ireland

Understanding which species are common in Irish homes helps narrow identification possibilities.

Rat Species in Ireland

Brown Rat (Norway Rat) - Rattus norvegicus

Most common rat species in Ireland

Grayish-brown fur with lighter underside

Excellent swimmers and burrowers

Prefer ground-level and basement areas

Live in burrows near building foundations

Active year-round in heated buildings

Black Rat (Roof Rat) - Rattus rattus

Less common in Ireland, mainly in port cities

Dark black or brown fur

Excellent climbers, prefer upper areas

More common in older buildings with access to rooflines

Generally smaller than brown rats

More sensitive to cold temperatures

Mouse Species in Ireland

House Mouse - Mus musculus

Most common indoor mouse species

Gray to brown fur with lighter belly

Lives exclusively indoors in Irish climate

Builds nests in hidden, protected areas

Breeds year-round in heated buildings

Highly dependent on human environments

Wood Mouse (Field Mouse) - Apodemus sylvaticus

Occasional indoor visitor, primarily outdoor species

Golden-brown fur with distinctive white belly

Larger than house mice (up to 12cm body length)

Enters homes seasonally seeking food or shelter

More common in rural areas

Generally returns outdoors when weather improves

Health Risks: Species-Specific Concerns

The health risks associated with rats and mice differ in severity and type, making proper identification crucial for risk assessment.

Rat-Associated Health Risks

Rats pose more serious health risks due to their size, aggression, and disease-carrying potential:

Disease Transmission:

Leptospirosis: Serious bacterial infection transmitted through rat urine

Salmonella: Food poisoning from contaminated surfaces and food

Rat-bite fever: Bacterial infection from direct contact or bites

Hantavirus: Rare but potentially fatal respiratory infection

Typhus: Transmitted by rat fleas

Additional Health Concerns:

Parasites including fleas, mites, and ticks

Severe allergic reactions from dander and droppings

Asthma triggers, particularly in children

Risk of bites when cornered (rats can be aggressive)

Mouse-Associated Health Risks

While generally less severe, mice still pose significant health concerns:

Disease Transmission:

Salmonella: Contamination of food and preparation surfaces

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: Viral infection affecting the nervous system

Rickettsialpox: Transmitted by mouse mites

Additional Health Concerns:

Rapid food contamination due to frequent feeding

Allergenic proteins in urine and dander

Asthma and respiratory irritation

Lower risk of direct bites (mice typically flee when discovered)

Treatment Implications: Why Identification Matters

Proper species identification directly impacts treatment success, cost, and timeline.

Rat Control Requirements

Treatment Characteristics:

Requires larger bait stations and heavy-duty traps

Protein-based baits more effective than grain-based

Longer treatment timeline due to neophobic behavior

Professional treatment often necessary for effective control

Focus on outdoor harborage elimination

Extensive structural exclusion work required

Exclusion Specifications:

Seal all openings 12mm (½ inch) or larger

Use heavy-gauge materials (sheet metal, concrete, steel wool)

Focus on ground-level entry points

Address drainage and moisture issues

Professional-grade materials often required

Mouse Control Requirements

Treatment Characteristics:

Smaller bait stations and standard snap traps sufficient

Carbohydrate-based baits generally more attractive

Faster results due to curious nature

DIY methods often successful for small infestations

Indoor nest elimination takes priority

Fine-detail exclusion work essential

Exclusion Specifications:

Seal all openings 6mm (¼ inch) or larger

Use fine mesh, caulk, and steel wool

Address multiple levels including upper areas

Focus on entry points near food sources

Detailed work around utilities and fixtures

Professional vs DIY Treatment Decisions

Understanding when to attempt DIY control versus calling professionals depends largely on species identification.

When Professional Help is Essential

Rat Infestations Always Require Professional Treatment:

Greater health risks demand immediate, effective action

Neophobic behavior makes DIY baiting largely ineffective

Structural damage assessment and repair needs

Safety concerns with handling larger, potentially aggressive rodents

Long-term exclusion work requires professional expertise

Mouse Infestations May Allow DIY Attempts Initially:

Lower immediate health risks allow time for DIY trials

Curious nature makes them easier to trap

Smaller scale damage and exclusion needs

Safety risks are manageable for homeowners

Cost-effective for small, localized infestations

When to Escalate Mouse Control to Professionals

Contact Exterminate Pest Control for mouse problems when:

DIY efforts show no results after 1-2 weeks

Infestation appears large or widespread

Multiple family members show allergic reactions

Structural modifications are needed for exclusion

Recurring infestations despite repeated DIY efforts

Call 0852635994 or visit exterminate.ie for professional assessment and treatment of any rodent infestation.

Seasonal Identification Considerations in Ireland

Ireland's climate affects rodent behavior and identification opportunities throughout the year.

Spring Identification (March-May)

Increased activity as temperatures rise

More frequent sightings during daylight hours

Fresh droppings and damage become apparent

Best time for track identification in garden areas

Optimal conditions for professional inspections

Summer Identification (June-August)

Peak breeding season increases population evidence

More outdoor activity may reveal entry points

Easier identification of outdoor harborage areas

Optimal weather for comprehensive exclusion work

Higher food availability may reduce indoor activity

Autumn Identification (September-November)

Increased indoor movement seeking winter shelter

More frequent homeowner encounters

Peak time for new infestations to establish

Critical period for exclusion before winter

Harvest activities may drive field mice indoors

Winter Identification (December-February)

Rodents concentrate in heated areas

Evidence becomes more concentrated and obvious

Easier tracking in snow and frost conditions

Reduced outdoor food sources increase indoor activity

Optimal time for intensive treatment programs

Cost Implications of Proper Identification

Accurate species identification significantly impacts treatment costs and long-term expenses.

Rat Control Costs

Higher initial investment due to:

Professional treatment requirements

Larger-scale exclusion work

Potential structural damage repairs

Extended treatment timelines (4-8 weeks)

Ongoing monitoring and maintenance needs

Long-term savings from:

Preventing extensive property damage

Avoiding serious health consequences

Professional exclusion lasting many years

Reduced risk of re-infestation

Mouse Control Costs

Lower initial costs through:

Effective DIY options for small infestations

Smaller-scale exclusion requirements

Faster treatment timelines (1-3 weeks)

Less expensive materials and equipment

Potential for increased costs if:

DIY efforts fail and professional help becomes necessary

Rapid reproduction leads to larger infestations

Multiple treatment cycles become necessary

Inadequate exclusion allows re-infestation

Emergency Identification Guidelines

Some situations require immediate species identification and rapid response.

Immediate Professional Contact Required

Call Exterminate Pest Control at 0852635994 immediately if:

Large droppings (15mm+) indicate rat presence

Aggressive behavior observed (rats may attack when cornered)

Structural damage suggests rat gnawing activity

Multiple large entry holes discovered

Signs of large colony establishment

Urgent but Less Critical Situations

Schedule professional consultation within 24-48 hours for:

Confirmed mouse presence with rapid reproduction signs

Extensive food contamination

Family members showing allergic reactions

Failed DIY control attempts

Multiple species evidence in same property

Frequently Asked Questions About Rat and Mouse Identification

Can rats and mice live in the same area together?

Rats and mice rarely coexist in the same immediate area due to competitive pressure. Rats are dominant and typically drive mice away from prime territory. However, they may occupy different areas of the same property - mice in upper levels while rats establish territories in basements or ground-level areas.

How can I tell if it's a young rat or an adult mouse?

Young rats have proportionally larger heads and feet compared to their bodies, while adult mice maintain consistent proportions throughout their lives. The tail thickness remains the most reliable indicator - even juvenile rats have noticeably thicker, scalier tails than fully mature mice.

Do rats and mice make different sounds?

Yes, the sounds are distinctly different. Rats produce louder, more audible sounds including chattering, teeth grinding, and heavy scratching noises. Their movement creates noticeable bumping and scurrying sounds. Mice make high-pitched squeaking and light scratching sounds that are often barely audible to humans.

Which is more dangerous to my family - rats or mice?

Rats generally pose greater immediate health risks due to their size, potential aggression, and capacity to carry more dangerous diseases like leptospirosis. They also cause significantly more structural damage. However, mice reproduce much faster and can contaminate food sources more rapidly due to their frequent feeding habits.

How quickly can I expect to identify which rodent I have?

With proper evidence collection and observation, identification can often be made within 24-48 hours. Focus on collecting droppings, photographing gnaw marks, and noting track sizes. If you observe the actual rodent, identification should be immediate using the size and physical characteristics described in this guide.

Are there any animals commonly mistaken for rats or mice in Ireland?

Shrews and voles are sometimes confused with mice due to their small size, but they have distinctly pointed snouts and different behavioral patterns. Young squirrels might occasionally be mistaken for rats, but they have characteristic bushy tails and very different body proportions. Bank voles are sometimes confused with mice but have shorter tails and different habitat preferences.

Should I attempt to handle or examine suspected rodent droppings myself?

Always wear disposable gloves and a dust mask when examining or cleaning rodent droppings. Spray the area with disinfectant before cleaning to prevent airborne particles. For large accumulations of droppings or if you're uncertain about safety protocols, contact Exterminate Pest Control for safe identification and cleanup services.

How urgent is treatment once I've identified rats versus mice?

Both species require prompt action, but rat infestations demand more immediate response due to greater health risks and damage potential. Rats pose serious health threats and can cause significant structural damage quickly. Mice reproduce extremely rapidly, so early intervention prevents population explosions that become much more difficult and expensive to control.

Conclusion

Accurate identification of rats versus mice is the foundation of effective rodent control in Irish homes. While both species present challenges, understanding their distinct characteristics, behaviors, and risks enables homeowners to make informed decisions about treatment approaches and urgency levels.

The key differences in size, physical features, behavioral patterns, and evidence types provide clear indicators for proper species identification. Remember that rats require immediate professional intervention due to greater health risks and treatment complexity, while small mouse infestations may initially be manageable through DIY methods.

However, regardless of species, persistent or large-scale rodent problems benefit from professional expertise. The experienced team at Exterminate Pest Control understands the unique challenges of rodent control in Irish homes and can provide accurate identification, effective treatment, and long-term prevention strategies.

Don't let uncertainty about species identification delay appropriate treatment action. Whether you're dealing with rats or mice, prompt professional assessment ensures the most effective, safe, and economical resolution to your rodent problem.

For expert rodent identification and comprehensive control solutions throughout Ireland, contact Exterminate Pest Control today at 0852635994 or visit exterminate.ie. Our experienced technicians provide fast, accurate identification and tailored treatment plans that deliver lasting results for Irish homeowners.

[askyuuandco]

Twst Incorrect Quotes 12

Jack: you were looking for hate. Wait a go =>=

Ruggie: Shut up punk! Instead of being mister funny man why don't you try being Mister help a brother go jump a anotha brother and get his chain back! Man I gotta find a way to get it before Leona finds out >:'(

Jack: Ruggie let the chain go. If Leona wants it back he can handle it =-=

Ruggie: then he'll think I'm a punk and kick me out the crew >:(

Jack: It's just rocks and metal it's only worth what your willing to give up for it. Is it worth getting hurt again? /=-=/

Ruggie: yeah!

Jack: going to jail? =-=

Ruggie: yep!

Jack: getting killed? =-=

Ruggie: Yes sir!

Jack: kissing a man >w>

Ruggie: yeah yeah! *realization* WAIT NO! O////O

Jack: woaahhhhh. I mean kissing a man. I mean if it feels natural and that's what your into I mean- >u>

Ruggie: No that don't count! That's a do over! I didn't know you were going to say that! >///A///<'///

Jack: guess you really want that chain back. >w>

Ruggie: NO! THE ANSWER IS NO!!! D:<

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crewel: OH! I hate Head Master! Yuu go change your clothes and mow the lawn >:(

Yuu: why do I always have to cut the grass =-=

Human Grim: Achoo! Achoo! I can not stop sneezing! Achoo!

Crewel: Grim's got allergies >:( *walks away*

Human Grim: *smug face as Crewel leaves* >:D

Yuu: *death glare* >:(

Human Grim: you just mad cause you didn't think of it first

Yuu: *kicks Grim in the face*

Human Grim: OW! *falls on the floor*

Yuu: *leaves to get dressed*

Human Grim: That ain't hurt punk ;-;

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Floyd: *puts coins on the table* That's all I got >:/

Yuu: Lemonade is a dollar :(

Floyd: THAT'S ALL I GOT! MAKE IT WORK I'M THRISTY!

Yuu: Lemonade is a dollar >:(

Floyd: I AIN'T GOT NO DOLLAR! IT'S HOT AS HELL OUT HERE MAN JUST HOOK ME UP! ALL THE MONEY SPENT UP ON THIS PLACE! THIS SOME OLD BULL**** D:<

Yuu: LEMONADE IS A DOLLAR!!! D:<

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sebek: Alright how much is the gum

Sam: 4 madol

Sebek: for gum!?!? >m>

Sam: Go somewhere else

Sebek: fine *pays the money* >:(

Sam: *gives him gum* Bathroom code is 6648-2610-35549

Sebek: c-could you say that again!? >m>

Sam: gotta buy another pack of gum. UvU

Sebek: uggghhh... >:( *pays again*

Sam: 6648-2610-3554

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lilia: He's in the bath room >XD

Malleus: Yuu come out of the bathroom >:/ *bangs on the door*

Yuu: um no! >:(

Malleus: Young lady!

Yuu: NoOOOOOOOO

Malleus: Come out of the bathroom right now! D:<

Yuu: you can't make me man!

Malleus: Yuu come out of the bathroom right now this is your father speaking and you will respect me in my house!

Yuu: *slams the door in his face* GO! D:<

Malleus: *blasts a fire ball through the door* YOU HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH THE DOOR! *realization that he hit his bestie* Oh I'm sorry baby I didn't mean it! oh no! ;A;

Lilia: *laughing his butt off* >XD

Silver: that is the best example of a teenage girl complaint ever

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yuu: *comes back from vacation* :D *sees chaos* ....D:> ...

Ace: *is on fire*

Malleus, Grim, & Deuce: *having panic attacks*

Crowley: *is dead*

Lilia: :P *waves hi too them*

Yuu: yeeeaaahhhh....This is a tommorrow problem O_O'/// *backs away from them slowly*

[alchemicaldesignquery]

Overwatch: The Mercy "Problem"

Disclaimer:

Yes, those are air quotes.

No there isn't an actual Problem with Mercy, as much as there is a problem with elements of her Kit that are used as a path to complaining about her in general/being a weird gremlin about players who enjoy her.

"...Sometimes we try out a build b/c it's the best version for the greatest good.

And sometimes we try out a build b/c Mount Olympus needs to fucking fall..."

~3AM Game Design thoughts~

There are very obvious problems embedded in many of Overwatch's cast, but few are as egregious as Mercy's.

Damage Boost is a problem.

Resurrection is a problem.

and those are alongside the smaller inconsistencies that make her Kit Cohesion/Cycling, that much less <insert term here> (responsive, interactive, dynamic; take your pick).

There's arguments to be made for why none of these have been addressed, despite well-known Mercy mains and advocates banging their heads against the wall for anyone to hear:

Changing as popular a hero as Mercy would damage her reputation and gameplay within the community

Removing core elements of her kit would make her harder for new Support players to pick up (she is one of three introductory heroes)

Her kit doesn't need changes because she is only relevant alongside a more 'problematic' Damage Hero.

There's probably other legitimate concerns with any sort of rework, but these are the three I see the most value in (and argubly, the three that can be used across both playing as/against party lines).

These can be addressed within the design, especially around the two major mechanical problems in Damage Boost and Resurrection.

Helping Me, Helping You...?

'Punishing =/= Rewarding'

Mercy's design is meant to encompass a dual-sided nature; help others, while helping yourself. A lot of her kit reflects this, but a lot of it also, doesn't have any connection between the two:

Damage Boost / Blue Beam relies on whoever she is Boosting to be hitting their shots, inflicting damage to gain the benefit, and (hopefully) secure kills.

A Good Mercy might never be enough if the DPS on her team aren't performing. Worse yet, it will often come back on the Mercy player, because the feedback for what she is doing isn't exactly obvious.

A flat damage buff that has very few qualifiers (stay within a certain range and hold a button on a target), doesn't provide much in the way of information for the Mercy or the person being Boosted.

On the other side, a Mercy who is attached to another hero who is hitting their shots? With no qualifiers?

Nightmare fuel.

Resurrection is even worse at translating between the Mercy and the Teammate she is using it on; an ability that provides no direct value or benefit to Mercy herself, that also acts as an excuse for Teammates to position poorly and not learn from their mistakes-

-all the while blaming the Mercy if she doesn't bomb into the same poor position that might have caused the eliminated Teammate, to try and go for the Rez.

The ability also acts as a hard interruption of a normally fluid movement cycle, putting her not only in a paused state for a brief window, but also lighting her up like a golden target for enemies to shoot.

Add in the long cooldown and, it is not hard to see this ability failing as often (if not more) as it succeeds.

On the other side of the coin, a Rez that does manage to succeed, brings back a hero that was accurately and successfully eliminated, with spent resources executed to do so, at full health-- effectively resetting the effort the enemy put into eliminating that target. It can feel cheap, even cheating, especially around heroes who are already difficult to nail down or punish and who Mercy expectantly tends to 'pocket' often (Pharahs, Ashes, Widows, Genjis, Junkrats, etc.).

There are a few other points of contention within the kit that do not have as much issue within the game and could be reasonably balanced:

Healing Output can't really scale in a match and will often fall away before heavier burst/AoE potential

Guardian Angel's structure depends very heavily on teammate positioning, even with super-jump/glide.

Overall, a skeleton of a hero that could use new life, to help new players adapt and not feel stuck in a permanent pocket playstyle, while giving veterans a chance to express the character to a stronger maximum.

Helping You, Helping Me

So what can be done?

There are a lot of builds that could go toward shifting what's been laid out above, but targeting the core issues would take some finesse and specificity, to ensure the Mercy player is being rewarded for participating, while also significantly downplaying the dependency on her teammates to even access that reward.

There's also a need to avoid simply eliminating the 'pocket' playstyle that is foundational to the character.

Every hero should be able to access multiple playstyles to better represent the variety of players that want to interact with that hero. More playstyles = more players playing the hero and the game.

I'm not about to go speaking for the community or even suggesting that there is a One True Build that could be implemented (even if I have my own theory on what direction to go in), but in directly tackling the above issues, there are some markers that we can follow to establish a stronger presence.

Allowing Mercy's Blue Beam to accumulate extra healing whenever her attached ally takes damage, would go a long way to expanding her healing output while attaching it to the execution of the kit.

At the same time, replacing the stark and lopsided nature of Damage Boost with a Movement Speed bonus, ramping Immunization against Status Effects, or even a Damage Transference to Mercy from the attached Ally (with appropriate Dmg reduction for the Mercy off this affect so she can absorb more), would go a long way to establishing much better decision-making and execution on the Mercy's part while eliminating a lot of the unclear measuring in her kit currently.

Resurrection, in all honesty, just needs to be replaced. It is too poorly designed to function well and the result is both unkind to enemies who work hard to secure that kill, and too kind to allies who will use it as an excuse to play poorly, knowing their is a 1UP waiting for them in the meantime.

Replace Resurrection, with something new; a summoned field that produces a small amount of healing + some additional effect (Immunization or Silencing on Status Effects, Anti-CC, Neutralizing Field for enemy placement effects like Immortality Field, Biotic Field, Inspire, etc.).

Additionally, allow Mercy to designate a spot on the map while her Staff is in hand (bound to reload) to summon a yellow life orb for Guardian Angel purposes. This gives her significantly more control over her own positioning and movement, without having to rely solely on the (often poor) positioning of her teammates.

These are, by no means, sure things or guaranteed to make the hero functional. They are builds that would need significant testing and structural adjustments, both numbers-wise and in application to ensure fair play.

But hopefully they serve as examples for what can be done about the hero, to not only move her into a more comfortable state, both as someone to play, but also?

As a Hero that doesn't deserve any of the vitriol and weird behavior often associated to her and, by extension, a lot of the players that like playing her.

[trollblivion-ooc]

coleop cherie cogito 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

heso! hello! hi! what a tall order!/pos super excited..

1. What memory would your OC rather just forget?

cherie: “» Ałł ðf Tħem.” honestly, he’d rather forget the time he mauled his beloved boyfriend in front of their lusii

coleop: wants to forget the time where he spent days wondering if cherie was okay out in the barrenlands (this was pre-cherie moving in)

cogito: wants to forget the time he was a stickbug

2. What's something about your OC that people wouldn't expect just from looking at them?

cherie: he likes seashells (shiny blue ones are his favorite)

coleop: loves pecan pie. like concerningly so.

cogito: can work a palmhusk (phone) no problem.. just slaps his legs on the keys until it registers

3. What is your OC's fatal flaw? Are they aware of this flaw?

cherie: fatal flaw is that hes such a fucking dickhead to everyone, he is aware of it and likes picking fights (would say his paranoia but that isnt really a flaw)

coleop: forgiving to a fault, hes weirdly religious about his Ether thing, but it causes him to just blatantly forgive people (specifically ones close to him), he is kind of aware? but not enough to stop

cogito: wont stop eating week old cracker crumbs off of the counter, very aware, will not stop

4. When scared, does your OC fight, flee, freeze or fawn?

cherie: fights like a rabid animal (as seen by how he gets so terrified that he mauls), its so sudden that he cant exactly flee or anything else. he just mauls.

coleop: erm, no survival skills in this one honestly. possibly freeze

cogito: flee i think! when he had control of coleop he was dead set on running away, scared

5. How far is your OC willing to go to get what they want?

cherie: to the end of time. if he wants it? he is GETTING it, he will tear and maul and curse and kick. ipad baby.

coleop: not far, if he doesnt need it then he doesnt mind that bad

cogito: <>_<> cogito will steal bodies if he needs one, dont test him

6. How easily could your OC be convinced to do something that goes against their moral compass?

cherie: Not very easily. if at all. hes doing what he wants when he wants

coleop: middle ground, it depends on the situation

cogito: very easily, just give him an animal cracker

7. What's one way your OC has changed since you first came up with them?

cherie: hes not as LOUD anymore… he used to yell constantly, but hes partially subdued, especially after the Mauling

coleop: erm, independent

cogito: nothing much, hes a manipulative goofy bug

8. Would your OC ostensibly be able to get away with murder?

cherie: … i think hes too messy with murder to get away with it

coleop: would not murder, cant, or wont.

cogito: yes.

9. Do you have a specific lyric or quote which you associate with your OC?

cherie: “oh and you swear to god… the fuckers out to get you” - The Bug Collector by Haley Heynderickx

that entire song in general.. his paranoia, and the ironicality of it being about bugs when Coleop is the bug guy.

coleop: “Coin operated boy. sitting on the shelf. He is just a toy but I turn him on and he comes to life.” - Coin-Operated Boy (the dresden dolls)

cogito: “I don't wanna be the owner of your fantasy. I just wanna be a part of your family” - anything (Adrianne Lenker)

10. What's an AU that would be interesting to explore with your OC?

cherie: vampire!AU :)

coleop: Zombie!AU :))

cogito: human!AU (or in this case: Troll!AU), itd be interesting to see cogito as a troll, he would either be very old or very young..

11. What is your OC's weapon of choice? Have they ever actually used it?

cherie: uhmm.. he is ChainsawKind. so chainsaws, specifically duo-wield one handed chainsaws. also yes, hes used them

coleop: beetle shaped multi-tool

cogito: biting. and yes.

12. Is your OC self-destructive? In what ways?

cherie: absolutely. hes so fucking self destructive. he breaks off his horns and eats them (auto-osteophagia) its not exactly his fault but still, breaking bones constantly to eat them. also he bashes his head into the wall a lot. headache hivemind

coleop: a little bit? he scratches at his skin sometimes, when hes having bad Bug Days

cogito: nah.

13. If you met your OC, would the two of you get along?

cherie: no. id be actually terrified. hiding in a corner, looking away from this bombastic animal

coleop: maybe? i dont want to talk to him though.

cogito: …. no (id think it looks cool but GOD i dont wanna be possessed by a bug)

14. How does your OC want to be seen by other characters?

cherie: as really cool and uncaring, a cool gamer who is awesome and cool

coleop: sometimes like a bug (horrified), but then he REALLY wants to be seen as a troll, his humanity is DYING inside his mind sometimes, grappling

cogito: as a fellow troll

15. Does your OC have a faceclaim? If so, who?

cherie: no

coleop: no

cogito: 🪲 Hercules Beetle?

16. What is your OC's pain tolerance like?

cherie: very high, he still feels it and sometimes he wants to curl up if he so much as gets a cut but when it comes to his horns he is used to it

coleop: …. his nerves are kind of super damaged in a love of places so his pain tolerance is fairly high

cogito: no pain tolerance :( he is a little guy.. one step and he is history

17. What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

cherie: The Mauling

coleop: The Mauling

cogito: The Mauling

18. Is your OC more cold and detached or up close and personal?

cherie: VERY up close and personal, he is IN people’s business

coleop: pretty neutral, but if he gets going about his interests he will be very in-your-space

cogito: so up close that hes in peoples skin

19. How does your OC behave when enraged?

cherie: horrifying. maul, maim, yell, kick. cries too.

coleop: tenses up and just growls to himself, raising his hands and walking off all stompy and pissed off. also hes a crier.

cogito: oh he gets super pissed,and since hes so small hes closer to hell so you KNOW hes horrible. ramming his beetle head into peoples shoes like that one turtle

20. Does your OC have a tendency to get jealous? If so, how does this manifest?

cherie: hmm.. not much.. maybe a little? he doesnt care i think

coleop: little bit, stares. he stares. just big eyes, horrifying.

cogito: VERY JEALOUS ALL OF THE TIME, he wants to be a troll so bad, manifests as stealing bodies

21. Does your OC have any illnesses or disorders? How do they handle it?

cherie: scoliosis, auto-osteophagia (horn eating (his own), unlabeled paranoia thing, EXTREME anxiety disorder that manifests as explosive behavior.

doesnt handle it, leans into it

coleop: dermotillomania (not constant, comes and goes), trichotillomania, amnesia (only for The Mauling..), anxiety (bro is traumatized honestly)

tries to handle first two by wearing wooly gloves

cogito: is a bug. i dont know. maybe Pica, he might eat things that arent food (he is a bug)

22. What character alignment would you consider your OC to be?

cherie: what does that mean

coleop: N/A

cogito: N/A

23. What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

cherie: hard to process self-love, hard to express Love in general

coleop: hard to process hate, hard to express sadness

cogito: hard to process empathy, hard to express as well

24. What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they'd made those decisions?

cherie: wouldve died without coleops shelter

coleop: couldve lived a normal bug-collecting life with no trauma if not for cogito

cogito: burrowing in the soil.

25. What is your favorite thing about your OC?

cherie: abrasive, so-himself, not afraid to be himself

coleop: the white streak in his hair.

cogito: he wants so harshly to just be

thank yew so much for reading!

[grimmmviewing]

S1E13: “Three Coins in a Fuchsbau”—C+ (Watched 3/12/24)

“Damn, I know this place. Bought my second engagement ring from this guy.” – Hank (just in case we ever forgot he’s been married multiple times)

While the title of this episode has some heist-y, Coen-brothers-film-like energy, most of what we get here is much more lore/series plot related. It’s not that this stuff isn’t also interesting—or that there aren’t some fun standalone moments in the mix—but just that this is a less whimsical or charming episode than the title suggests and that feels serious in ways that even previous episodes with darker subject matter didn’t.

I haven’t really talked performances too much in these reviews, but Titus Welliver as Farley Kolt does a great job handling some of the more critical elements of this episode’s plot. He has a lot of information that he needs to convey with gravitas—about the seductive ancient coins at the heart of the story and about Nick’s background, which is closely tied to the pursuit of the coins. Welliver manages to make it all feel important and believable while coming across as someone with a lot of confidence and secrets. He really sells this character who’s meant to dance on a knife’s edge between trustworthy and untrustworthy. Among the other details, we learn a smidge more about the power Grimms wield (resistance to the coins), which is nice, given that so far it’s been kind of a question mark, apart from seeing Wesen as they are and maybe some nebulous sense of extra strength.

Using the coins to explain historical events like the disasters that befell Roman emperors is a fun, ultimately harmless bit of fantastical worldbuilding, but the reveal that Adolf Hitler was A) in possession of the coins and B) a Wesen creates… complications. It’s a lot harder to accept this bit of history being dressed up with Grimm fantasy than the stuff about Rome, in part because it just feels closer/more modern and also because it offers what amounts to an excuse for Hitler’s actions: He was under the influence of the coins, which makes him not entirely responsible.

Making Hitler a literal monster further undermines the reality—that he was a man (a human), aided and abetted by still other men, who did horrible things. “Evil” is perpetrated by humans, and the way in which Hitler has already been as good as mythologized as some sort of unique case is part of why more contemporary instances of authoritarian or genocidal behavior aren’t taken seriously, I think (I’ve heard other people say in the past). We’ve been conditioned to see that sort of evil as something titanic and aberrant to the point that it could only ever be recognizable as what it is, but it starts somewhere, sown from perfectly unremarkable human actions, and by the time it’s in full flower, that’s when the problem has gone on too long.

I think 2012 was a different time, though, when white nationalism and conspiracies were still seen as fringe elements of American culture—the former being powerless and the latter maybe just fun(ny) and not to be taken seriously. Over time, of course, the climate has changed. White nationalism is on the rise, and both it and conspiratorial thinking feel more mainstream and dangerous than they have in my lifetime. I never thought I’d see anti-vax sentiment be such a widely-held conviction, for example, but here we are! Obviously, Grimm is, at most, being kind of problematic here. I don’t want to oversell it as some sort of affront in and of itself. It’s just a lot harder to indulge in the “what ifs” these days. When I first started this project, I was actually shocked at the reminder of how long Grimm had run. It was only six years, but between 2011 and 2017, it feels like so much changed about the American political and cultural landscape. It started during the Obama years and ended under Trump, what feels like a titanic shift in what constituted our “normal.”

Leaving aside any real-world discomfort, though, I still think the full Hitler reveal on the old film at the end of the episode feels like too much. It’s meant to be this ominous image—perhaps a look at where Renard could have ended up if they didn’t get the coins away from him, or even just a generally chilling thing. Instead, it feels a bit too goofy. Leaving it as a brief mention from Kolt probably would have worked better. I think the far more emotionally impactful moments come before this: Nick with the dying Soledad Marquesa (more on that below), Nick seeing just how rattled and desperate Renard is when he finds out he’s lost the coins, and Nick confronting Kolt one last time to take the coins back into a Grimm’s protection. This sequence of character- and coin-related moments was perfectly strong enough to end the episode on.

Back to Marquesa: Nick grabs the mortally wounded man—this individual he’s only just learned was responsible for the deaths of his parents—and demands more information, but Marquesa doesn’t even seem to be aware of who Nick is or what he’s suggesting about the way their lives have intersected before. Instead, he just pleads with Nick to let him hold the coins one last time as he dies. It’s emotionally impactful for how it denies Nick information about his past and for how it shows the power the coins hold. (It’s also narratively convenient for delaying further reveals for the time being.)

Marie coming back into story via Kolt, this heavy focus on Nick’s parents—“Three Coins in a Fuchsbau” doesn’t feel like a continuation of the previous episode like I thought it might (given that Nick and Juliette seem fine here), but it is a very direct continuation of the earliest episodes of the season. What does feel like an extension of “Last Grimm Standing” is Renard’s story, where his mysterious leadership status plays into the allure of the coins. I kind of love that he is so affected by them given that he’s been characterized so far as this secretive, powerful, calm mastermind sort of figure. His dream of power after he takes the coins home is very striking and a very BIG visual for the show—He advances through his darkened apartment as we hear the roars of a crowd, and when he looks out onto the city streets below we see them completely filled with people waving flags, all loyal to him. The scale is surprising.

The medical examiner Dr. Harper also gets a surprising little plot of her own too. She’s the first one on the team to be attracted to the coins after finding them in the old shop owner’s stomach, and her somewhat more subtly “off” behavior is foreshadowing for the more extreme stuff from Hank and Renard. She also gets targeted and interrogated by Marquesa, giving her a more active role than usual. It’s always nice to see the other character do their own thing away from Nick.

[rvnthcworld]

✧.* { DANIEL GILLIES & HE/HIM & CISMALE & 27/1000 } is that ( ELIJAH MIKAELSON ) hanging around town ? I heard they’re MARRIED TO ( KATHERINE PIERCE ). Rumors say they can be pretty UNPREDICTABLE. how typical for a ORIGINAL VAMPIRE. i guess they must rely on their NOBLE side shining through. Last I heard they were BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD.

B A S I C S

Name: Elijah Mikaelson

Age: 27/1086+

Species: Original Vampire

Affiliation: His family

Sexuality: Heterosexual

A B O U T

You can find his early life/canon here.

When Elijah died, he died accepting the fact that he wouldn't be granted peace.

However, Elijah was surprised to find that initially - he wasn't granted peace and that was because he wasn't at peace with himself. When he died, he found himself in limbo. Elijah had a lot to work through and forgive himself for.

(This may change if/when we get a Landon as to not god-mod!) He was surprised to find that Landon had taken on the role as the ferryman and it was Landon who was helping people cross over. At first, Elijah wasn't too sure how he felt about working through his problems with Landon - knowing that Landon was just a kid, and someone his niece was involved with. But eventually, he set aside his pride and worked with Landon to get through everything.

Eventually, Elijah was given that coin to cross over and he had found peace.

Peace was something indescribable. It was warm, and comforting, and fuzzy and golden. And just like that - Elijah was ripped from peace, taking his very first breath earth side in the middle of all the chaos of Mystic Falls.

He didn't come back with everything figured out just like that. He was very confused with everything, feeling as if he was a "new vampire" all over again. Everything was loud, everything smelled strongly, he was starving but fighting the impulse.

It was only the fact that he remembered Mystic Falls is home to his niece, and the town was in chaos and buildings were falling apart that he found focus. His family once again, became his anchor.

Elijah had gone immediately to the Salvatore boarding school to look for his niece to make sure she was okay admist all the chaos.

Once everything settled down and people began to piece their lives back together, it was then that Elijah had reconnected with Katherine. (Not going to go super deep into their dynamic as we don't have a Katherine yet, and I don't want to god-mod anything).

Over the next thirty or so years, he and Katherine got married and started a family of their own.

Elijah still puts his family above everything else - but his priorities have shifted. He puts his family (Katherine and their kids) above everyone else at all times.

(With approval from the main) Since they couldn't leave town, Elijah became the Mayor of Mystic Falls.

[enneamage]

wow we read tommy really differently. i don't think he was genuinely worried he'd upset anyone at all. his actions never seem to go along with that, take the money issue tubbo bought up for example. if he wanted to make things okay he would have paid up the first, second, third time it came up in an argument but he never has

to me it's all manipulation. i don't think he's evil but a lot of people grow up using emotional manipulation as a fucked up coping mechanism for the shame. the shame of being called out and not being in control of how others are reacting. it's a form of immaturity and selfishness that is present in us all to a certain degree as children, he probably needs to grow out of it because being a celebrity so young has stunted him and kept some of his brattish entitled elements

he needs to feel powerful and in control and tubbo took that away from him so he took the control back in a way that "works" but is a bit toxic. the way he always spins situations around so that he's the one that needs to be apologised to is masterful and nothing ever changes in his behaviour to indicate he is genuinely ever sorry for the other person's feelings. it's very much about him and his own rsd and wanting to be placated that he's a "good person" therefore doesn't have to take responsibility for whatever he's done

I think we’re looking at two sides of the same coin. Up front I’ll say he twists things as well—I took this event in isolation because he was clearly freaking out but he wasn’t turning that energy into self-righteous anger in a serious way (this time.) I haven’t been following the debt thing so I’m not sure what the context or tone of that overall conversation is, but I can touch on the rest. It was the ‘cleanest’ example of him trying to people-please I’ve seen from him even if he did it in a dumbass way.

When Tommy is acting with The Audacity I can see why it would be hard to believe he’s afraid of anything but a big part of how I read Tommy is that he spends half the time moving towards things that freak him out so he can handle them, like a pre-conscious thing. It doesn’t make him humble when he’s ‘in a mood’, it just makes him act out. In the case of the fear of abandonment he gets up on peoples cases and bargains and pokes and gets in their business to try and prevent it because they can’t withdraw if he’s in their face.

I might be using a lot of woobie-words so I want to be clear that when I talk about how he freaks out easy I’m not implying that it should translate to other people being more sympathetic to him. He’s just a very interesting bug in a jar that has a lot going on and I want to try and explain why he acts up the way he does because it has an internal ‘logic’ that floats outside external ‘justice.’  

I agree that he needs to get out of his ego and be less afraid of being ‘the bad guy’ because ironically I think it would make him act like less of a jerk. Being more mindful instead of taking things/his own moral character for granted seems like a slow arc he’s on right now and it sucks to see the demons win, I just have to sit back and hope that “I think funny, I do funny, I am sanctified in this” youtuber brain doesn’t turn out to be terminal, even though it honestly might be. His need to turn things around to keep his sense of self safe really is a big problem (rip c!Tommy) but lately there’s been a bit of a tone shift from genuine self-righteousness to self-deprecating (still manipulative as you say, still a grab at sympathy/way to subvert shame) so the needle is moving… a bit. A tiny, tiny bit.

It's kind of a higher level conversation to talk about how fawning/begging/acts of desperation can be manipulative. It’s still relevant, just not what I would want to lead with as an introduction to a fawn response since there’s a lot of weight around the topic and I want to be able to link back to the post if it comes up for other people in the future (Wilbur does it, so does Q, probably a few others I can’t think of right now.)

It’s true—he freaks out, takes things and spins them around because he doesn’t like being out of control. It’s a bit of the fear of vulnerability that his ‘brother’ has, and it can come out just as shady when he lies down under someone else’s shoe and then scolds them for stepping on him. The other day it seemed like he was burning up from embarrassment / shame and using a bit of that, but he was mainly taking the fawny self-deprecating route because why is he talking about his dick being small again good lord—

[waters-and-the-wilde]

okay so one of the fun and neat things about going on T and shifting into boy mode is. i'm hot now??

it's not that i've changed that much or was dealing with negative self-image stuff, like i was already the prettiest boy you've ever seen before i got on T. back in girl(?) mode i dodged the worst of the usual body image issues due to a confluence of factors, such as

a.) enough early messaging to the effect of 'hey trying to make girls be attractive all the time is kinda fucked up' and me going 'yeah! that is fucked up! fuck being pretty'

b.) just. extraordinary amounts of asexuality. and with that came the primary incentive to go 'oh fuck i don't want to be attractive. dear god get that away from me. engage the Somebody Else's Problem Fields to maximum capacity!!'

c.) 'but also hey i've got great hair and look dashing in a waistcoat, i just do it for me you know? i'm like if a vain creature spent a lot of time scrabbling about in a tree hollow'

like i felt like i looked fine as a girl(?) and i didn't want to deal with the social baggage of being pretty (TM) or hot (TM) and clearly all that took so much effort anyway so it was super easy to just. not. although I liked wearing fancy costumes so in a lot of ways it's easier to look back on like. girl formalwear moments and be like 'oh yeah. that's drag. i was in drag.' without getting hit with the dysphoria stick. and the moments i felt really good about myself, like, 'flirt with myself in the mirror' moments were. boy drag. but i wasn't going to call myself hot. (also probably an autism thing, bc The Neurotypicals and the CisHetAlloNormies love to take the things you say literally and contort them to fit their assumptions so i couldn't risk them conflating 'hot' with 'sexually available'.) i was 'allowed' to be hot when i was dressed as jack harkness but under all other circumstances i didn't want that and wasn't willing to risk being thought of in those terms. never mind nipping it in the bud i was gonna salt the earth first.

which, maybe was a little overkill, i've got a bit of a tendency there but tbh i'm incredibly grateful for how much that kept the background society noise from getting the worst of its hooks into me. like the rampant asexuality and baby's first genderqueer shenanigans did me so many favors for maintaining a neutral-to-positive outlook on my relationship with my body. especially when it came to keeping prospective attention at bay so any time someone actually tried to ask me out it was just like. reaction gif of those girls with the red cups at the party. how did you get past security.

didn't hurt that i didn't want to hang in the kind of environments that made a big deal about appearances slash recognized it's rude to be a dick about peoples' appearances, but also there was probably a certain amount of baseline white/able-bodied/skinny privilege that i wasn't really aware of at the time, and lately i've been suspecting that contributes to other people trying to reinforce their idea of my place in 'the girl club'. something something same coin as those standards that also exclude and deny cis women for not measuring up.

recent years it's been weird because it sort of hasn't mattered how obvious i think the transmasc cues are, how much i look in the mirror and go '!!! hell yeah look at that handsome little guy!' because it just wouldn't translate. there was just a lot of 'yes fine i know i know i kNoW what people see when they look at me. it is still weird to me but i have to maKe Allowances for our soCiAL coNText riGht?? just because i got sick of being low-effort nonbinary and decided I wanted a turn at the blue hair and pronouns thing doesn't mean that other people aren't stuck in their assumptions. yes i know who i am but i have to wear a little sign and point it out to people and most of the time they don't notice or remember and if i'm lucky they'll wring their hands and get all conCerNed about having oFfEnded me instead of telling me they don't think they should have to make the effort of trying.' and don't get me wrong i love meeting cishetnormies who are cool and onboard and supportive or just baseline chill about it, but there are a lot of them where there's this definite undercurrent of knowing they're just humoring you and it itches like a shirt with the bad textures.

anyway it's not as if i didn't know i built in a bunch of defensiveness around knowing I was being perceived female and trying to control for the implications of that. (it's been a perennial topic of household conversation bc sibling and sibling-in-crime are a bit more settled into their own flavors of genderqueer especially in terms of dealing with other peoples' perceptions and i've still been grappling with a lot of 'i need to look GAY i need to look QUEER i need to look LIKE A BOY I need to look COMPLETELY UNAVAILABLE. do NOT perceive me. ENGAGE 'SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM FIELD' to MAXIMUM CAPACITY. i am JUST SOME GUY. FUCK i dress like a 12-YEAR-OLD and people think i'm in HIGH SCHOOL but they STILL DON'T THINK I'M A BOY' 'buddy hey do you think maybe you're overthinking the way people perceive you and trying to accommodate for that instead of being yourself' 'I KNOW BUT HEY'

i think starting to working in a much more public retail job kind of threw it into sharp relief because before I wasn't doing that on purpose, i just got so used my Whole Deal just sort of automatically flying under the radar. and suddenly every day i'm having to deal with other peoples' assumptions. and every day i'm still kicking and yowling and biting because all i'm getting is other people trying to shove me into a box. they see a girl-shaped person and it doesn't matter about the collared button-down shirt and what's usually a boy's name on the apron, lol what's a pronoun button, she's young and skinny and cute and white and that's what the quirky young ladies do these days because androgyny is trendy right??

(do not get me started on how women are not allowed to age and how trans guys get infantilized and how i keep getting clocked as much younger than i am, what does a guy have to do to get treated like a goddamn grown-up ah fuck i gotta show up with healthy boundaries and self-respect probably because i'm not about to stop dressing like a twelve year old because i am fighting for my life to retain my youthful whimsy on this godforsaken bitch of an earth)

and then. not much changes but I change. six weeks on T and i'm like ugh nothing's happening it's fine it's fine it's gonna be gradual it's gonna take its own time. and then two weeks later, holy shit. the goddamn second i unlocked the slightest bit of facial hair and boom. 'not my fault you think i'm a girl. skill issue. oh shit i look GOOD'

they (the charming and helpful transmascs who make youtube videos) said T won't just up and fix your confidence issues, and yeah okay they're right because something something gotta find that in yourself or whatever, but also. they were right when they said it doesn't not fix your confidence issues.

now. sometimes it's even more fucking jarring when it's easier for me to forget that it still doesn't always translate. last week some middle-aged guy tried to ask me out while i was at work (it was a short and not ill-mannered interaction but pretty obviously 'area man has interacted with a Young Lady for five minutes and decided to go for it' way) and it was like. The FUCK? now?? like. sir. babygirl. you are not only barking up the wrong tree you are not even in a forest right now. this is in fact. a lumber department. 'you look lovely' my ass i am the grubbiest little dweeb you have ever seen and these aprons flatter nobody, not even me. who the fuck do you think you're trying to kid. also i'm a boy. no sparing your feelings no laughing it off no 'easy mistake to make' i hope you feel super awkward about this. not my fault you tried to pick up a grown-ass man with a mustache. i don't care if you were polite about it you're old enough to be my dad and this is my workplace. i am once again asking how the fuck did you get past security.

(work-life gender is totally a thing too. at work i am 'actually a boy but thanks', i'm they/he and uh him actually when people use 'her', i am just some guy, fuck you i am a grown-ass man stop telling me how to do my job boomer. and then i get to go home and be a creature and a weird little man (nonbinary) and i'm suddenly more comfortable in a bunch of the girl(?) shirts i had stopped wearing and i'm looking forward to approaching more of a queer guy flavor of femininity on my own time)

it's weird too in that materially very little has changed, like it's been all of four months, i sound like i'm getting over a cold and my face can do a new party trick. it's all still mine, it's just that maybe it feels a little bit more mine now.

anyway the point of all this was that. i couldn't be hot because i couldn't act like i was hot because i couldn't envision a version of events where people didn't make this my problem. and suddenly I'm Just Hot Now. because I Am. like it's just a fact now it's an immutable law of the universe. all those posts about 'i'm transgenedner and sexy' and i was like 'love that for you, couldn't be me tho' and now i'm transgedener and sexy. am I going to do anything about it?? god no. i'm gonna make this everybody else's problem.

(be funny if i had a slut era in an asexual way but one thing at a time perhaps)