#Interactive Video Wall Market

[dbmr-blog-news]

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-interactive-video-wall-market

[thetejasamale]

The growing trend of touch-based devices to boost the Interactive Video Wall market growth...

[priteshwemarketresearch]

Interactive Video Walls: Shaping the Future of Digital Interaction

Interactive Video Wall Market was valued at USD 6,612.76 Million in 2022 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period. An Interactive Video Wall is a dynamic display technology that combines multiple screens or displays to create a large, immersive, and interactive visual experience. These video walls are commonly used in various settings, including commercial spaces, public installations, control rooms, educational institutions, and entertainment venues.. Forecast market information, SWOT analysis, Interactive Video Wall market scenario, and feasibility study are important aspects in this report.

Get a sample copy of this report: https://wemarketresearch.com/sample-request/interactive-video-wall-market/1284

Companies Covered: Interactive Video Wall Market:

Pro Display

Eyevis

Delta Electronics, Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Barco

LG Electronics Inc.

NEC Display Solutions

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

These companies have the potential to drive market growth through various strategies. They can focus on offering innovative and high-performance products, taking advantage of advancements in technology. Additionally, expanding their distribution channels to target new customers would be beneficial. Strategic partnerships and collaborations can also be pursued to strengthen market presence and enhance competitiveness.

Global Interactive Video Wall Market Segmentation:

By Display

LCD

LED

Others

By End-user

Retail

Corporate

Transportation

Healthcare

Hospitality

Museum

Others

By Geography

 North America

US.

Canada

Mexico

Europe

UK.

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Asia-Pacific

Japan

China

India

Australia

South Korea

ASEAN

Rest of APAC

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Rest of South America

MEA

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Egypt

Rest of MEA

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the top performing regions of the Interactive Video Wall markets?

What factors will influence demand and supply trends across each markets during the forecast period?

Which country / region has more opportunities for Interactive Video Wall Market?

Who are the key competitors of market Players?

Global Interactive video wall Market Dynamics:

Rise in the Usage Across Transportation:

Touch screen technology makes it easier and faster for consumers to use digital devices like tablets and cell phones. The industry is expected to develop even faster as the number of devices with touch sensors continues to rise and gains popularity among consumers.

Rise in the Demand for Digital Content and Information:

The need for relevant digital content and information among passengers has grown, leading    to interactive announcements displayed on video walls. This has underwritten significantly to the growth of the worldwide interactive video wall market.

Interactive Video Wall Market Regional Insights:

The report provides a comprehensive examination of the factors driving growth, constraints, future prospects, and competitive landscape across all regions. The market is segmented by region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, the report identifies the top countries in each region and provides market forecasts for each one.

Key objectives of this research are:

To explore Global Interactive Video Wall Market size by respective indicators.

To scrutinize the sum and estimation of the Global Interactive Video Wall Market, Based on key aspects.

To offer an account of the competitive landscape and investigate their development plans.

To examine the Global Interactive Video Wall Market for growth possibilities, and strategic growth.

To review the Global Interactive Video Wall Market size (volume and worth) from the organization, key market regions, items and applications, and statistical data.

To generate competitive learnings and factors analysis, SWOT examination, and business improvement plans for the future.

To scrutinize the range of available and novel organic business growth strategies.

Directly Purchase a Copy of this Interactive Video Wall Market research report at: https://wemarketresearch.com/purchase/interactive-video-wall-market/1284?license=single

The research includes historical data from 2018 to 2023 and forecasts until 2033, making the report valuable to industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and stakeholders in clearly presented tables Together, we are looking for documents that are easily accessible graph.

Finally, the Interactive Video Wall Market report is the believable source for gaining the Market research that will exponentially accelerate your business. The report provides locales, economic conditions, item values, benefits, limits, creations, supplies, requests, market development rates, numbers, etc. Interactive Video Wall industry report additionally presents a new task SWOT exam, speculation attainability investigation, and venture return investigation.

About We Market Research:

WE MARKET RESEARCH is an established market analytics and research firm with a domain experience sprawling across different industries. We have been working on multi-county market studies right from our inception. Over the time, from our existence, we have gained laurels for our deep rooted market studies and insightful analysis of different markets.

Our strategic market analysis and capability to comprehend deep cultural, conceptual and social aspects of various tangled markets has helped us make a mark for ourselves in the industry. WE MARKET RESEARCH is a frontrunner in helping numerous companies; both regional and international to successfully achieve their business goals based on our in-depth market analysis. Moreover, we are also capable of devising market strategies that ensure guaranteed customer bases for our clients.

Contact Us:

Mr. Robbin Joseph

Corporate Sales, USA

We Market Research

USA: +1-724-618-3925

Websites: https://wemarketresearch.com/

Email: sales@wemarketresearch.com

[clintblandy]

Unlock a world of possibilities with Interactive LED Walls! Imagine the creativity and energy you can bring to any space – from office lobbies and conference rooms to sensory rooms, retail spaces and beyond. With their unlimited potential for dynamic visuals, interactive LED walls engage users in vibrant displays of color, message, or video and stellar sound quality, that captivate even the most tech-savvy audiences.

[chisoftware]

Online event "Onteractive Video: the Future and Now"

Here comes a new episode of CHI Talks, a project aiming to shed some light on the digital marketing used in the IT industry. This time, we are going to focus our attention on video content.

The upcoming episode “Interactive Video: The Future and Now” goes live on March 8.

91% of consumers expect more video content from the brands they are interested in, and interactive videos can put promotion activities on a whole new level. Our talk is just about that. Together, we’ll figure out what interactive videos are and what impact they may have on modern markets and marketing efforts.

The meeting’s agenda includes the following:

What is interactive video?

What are the potential audiences of such videos?

Benefits for brands and customers;

The current state of the interactive video market;

What the future holds for interactive videos.

Our guest is John Paul Tointon, CEO of Cloud Moves TV and an early pioneer of interactive video with 10 years of experience in commercial video production. Cloud Moves TV focuses on interactive video experiences to help businesses increase engagement, retention, and conversion metrics. The company’s clients include Dell Technologies, Atos, Heidelberg, other brand leaders, as well as high-growth startups.

Our webinar is a live event for you to get answers to your questions throughout the meeting. Join us for free on LinkedIn on March 8 at 4 pm GMT. Register via the link.

* CHI Talks is a series of free webinars for the international audience interested in digital marketing and the IT industry. Our goal is to highlight the role of marketing and MarTech in software success.

[cordeliawhohung]

the prowl - single dad! Price x teacher! stripper! Reader (fem) taglist

[6] parent-teacher conference

As it turns out, everyone wants to fuck school teachers. 

At least, that’s what Tinder would have you believe based on the depraved messages and unabashed debauchery sent your way. There’s something about you working with children that seems to get every man within a ten mile radius chubbed up and sending pure filth directly to your phone. It buzzes like you’re at work. Buzzes while you’re asleep. Either they’re very oddly religious about wanting a traditional wife who’s good with kids, or it’s something much worse. Some have been extremely brave about expressing wanting to play out a teacher and student porn scenario with you. Their ideas and thoughts make you shiver. 

You block and move on. 

Chrys was right about one thing though — it at least takes your mind off of John. When you’re not working at the school or the club, you spend your free time weeding through every single man within the city of London. Even if nothing comes of most of your interactions with them, you do find it fun. Sleuthing through profiles, seeing funny comments or weird ones that make you cringe. It passes the time. Allows you to do something that doesn’t expend too much energy: a commodity that’s in low supply for you these days. 

Things become different when you actually manage to score a date out of it. 

His name is Cameron, and he seemed nice enough online. Didn’t immediately express his wishes to bend you over or get upset at you for not messaging first. From what you can gather of him, he’s a curious nerd. One that didn’t trip any sort of blaring alarm in your head. True to his photos, you recognize him instantly at the tea shop he suggested meeting at. Freshly shaved skin reveals a tender jawline that mirrors his lanky form, and he offers you a lopsided smile as he waves you over to the table he’s perched himself at. 

Grinning, you stride up to the table with a grin. Your dress swishes around your legs as you saunter through air thick with caffeine and coffee. Your greeting is awkward, as is his. First dates, meeting strangers — none of it is exactly easy, yet you brush it off as you take the seat across from him. 

Cameron is cute until he opens his mouth. Online, he came off polite. A sweet man around your age who was capable of holding a good conversation. Now, you sit with your hands around an empty cup while his tea grows cold, tongue too busy dancing in his mouth to take a break and enjoy his drink. He speaks of things that you are too stupid to understand; at least, that’s what his tone attempts to convince you. Day trading, American stock markets, entrepreneurship — brags about the income he makes without having to lift a finger. Some tirade meant to impress you, when it couldn’t be any more off putting. 

There’s very little to be believed in his story, considering every article of clothing he wears is nothing but knock-off brands, but there are parts of it that still sting. Even if he made the same amount of money that you do, you’re having to work ten times harder. Wrangling students, shaking your ass on a stage — it’s impossible for him to know your woes, and still, it’s nothing but salt in the wound.

You’re too polite for your own good. Smiling and nodding along with him. Hardly able to get any words out of your mouth. You begin to wonder if he went on this date in search of a partner, or just to force you to watch him as he strokes his own ego. 

It’s a breath of fresh air when he leaves. Says he has some meeting to go to. Online, of course, but he’s got to look presentable for the video call. There’s a promise of a second date — one you don’t intend on keeping — and you’re left alone with an empty cup and fried brain as the tea shop continues to bustle around you. How lucky those walls are to not feel your pain. 

This wasn’t how you wanted to spend your early release Friday; and you still have to work at the club tonight if you want to make rent for the month. Speaking to a man who would hardly allow you get two words in is exhausting in more ways than one. Smiling and nodding along as if his rambling isn’t going straight through your lethargic mind. As a teacher, active listening has always been your strong suit — you’re just beginning to wonder when you won’t have to work and perform when around others. 

A caffeine high hits you full force. Jittery fingers, a racing heart; you ask the barista for a cup of water before taking your own leave. Maybe you can attempt to flush the rush out of your system before you have to get ready for work a second time today. Head down and mind in the clouds, you book it to the exit as you attempt to outline the rest of your evening. 

But you should know by now that things never go the way you plan them. 

Plastic clatters to the pavement as your dainty water cup sloshes all over the cream colored dress shirt in front of you. It soaks into the cotton, darkening the fabric as it spreads like capillaries transporting blood. You gasp, hands flying up to your mouth to hold back a curse as your ankles receive some of its mist. Of course you hardly made it out of the damn building before ruining something. 

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,” you spew out. “I didn’t see you, here let me-” 

Your voice falters when your eyes finally focus on the face of this stranger whose day you’ve ruined. 

Fuck. 

“Mr. Price, I’m so, so sorry.” 

He’s grimacing. Fresh, algid water has his pecks tensing — you try not to take note of his hardened nipples peeking through the fabric — but still, he chuckles. It’s horace; strained as he keeps wild emotions in check from an unwelcome surprise. Had your cup been any larger, it would have soaked his trousers. As you’re mentally cursing yourself, John finally manages a smile. 

“Just John is fine, Miss Lolly,” he reminds you. 

Guilt eats you alive — burrows little holes until your very core is exposed like a worm infested apple. You follow him inside the shop, gathering as many napkins and towels as the staff will allow before helping to pat him dry. Apologies flow from your mouth on a caffeine driven anxiety attack, and it doesn’t stop until his shirt is half dry. 

“Out of all the things you could have poured on me, I do appreciate that it was only water,” John humors. 

It’s enough to get a laugh out of you. Strained, and still embarrassed, but you’re both able to relax after the trepidation quells and wanes. To make it up to him, you offer to pay for his lunch, something he quickly declines in favor of asking you to stay with him for the meal instead. Explains he wanted to get out of the office for lunch, but he hates sitting in public places alone. Makes his skin itch ‘being around so many strangers.’ 

But aren’t you a stranger, too? A woman he hardly knows? Just the teacher of his child? 

Despite the alarm bells ringing in your mind, you stupidly agree. 

Nothing wrong with an impromptu student-teacher conference. 

John retrieves a fresh water cup for you as he gets his food and tea, and you accept it with the promise that you won’t pour it on him this time. He’s chosen a small, intimate table shoved in the furthest corner of the shop where wary, blue eyes flitter between you and the entrance. Still, despite his odd — and rather endearing — anxiety in crowded places, he gives you more attention than Cameron could ever care to give. 

Mouth full of food, John lets you do most of the talking. It’s easy. Natural. Something already practiced and performed before. Except this time, you’re not nestled against his side. Not bathing in his scent with his arm around your shoulders, holding you close. Not half naked, cuddled up together on a couch. No, this time you get to see every little expression. Every slight simper that pulls at his lips as you speak, or the way his eyes glue to the features of your face as you giggle. 

This time, you get to speak as Miss Lolly. 

Each question you attempt to throw John’s way is met with careful sidestepping or ambiguous answers, but you’re able to pull some things free from his mouth. He works as a team lead for some company across the street, and this shop is his favorite place to get lunch. On the weekends, he’ll take Amelia here sometimes. She gets hot chocolate in the winter, and a strawberry smoothie in the warmer months. If weather permits, they’ll go to the park at the end of the block. She begs him to spin her on the mary-go-round, or push her on the swings. He speaks of Amelia like she’s his whole world. The fabric of his reality. The glue that holds him together. 

“How is Amelia enjoying her early release day?” you ask, prompting him further. Your water cup is drained; fully in your system. It’s done nothing to quell your caffeinated nerves. John’s presence alone is too electrifying — it makes the dithery cells rattle in the back of your brain. 

“Oh, she loves it,” John chuckles as he wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Loves any day she gets to spend with Grandma Diana.” 

Grinning, you lean forward, chin resting on your hand. “Sounds like it. If I remember correctly, it seemed like last time they went to the pool together.” 

“They did. She was jumpin’ off the kiddy diving board and everything,” John nods wistfully. 

“Awe, brave girl. That’s so sweet of her. Your mother, I mean. Taking her out to do things like that.” 

A silence heavily laced with nothing but the gauche twisting of your stomach stretches between you and John. His expression doesn’t change. Neither do his movements, nor his eyes, but the air is heavy. Too thick for you to properly draw between your teeth. 

“Diana is Amelia’s maternal grandmother,” he corrects. “She helps watch her on the days I’m at work or to take her out on weekend excursions. She’s been a great help since Amelia’s mother… well, left…” 

John leans back in his chair, hips sliding along the wooden seat. While the sight of him like that would usually make your mouth water, with shoulders spread wide as thick fingers tap against the table, you find your throat closing in on itself. 

“I’m… I’m so sorry,” you whisper. You feel like a broken record. 

He offers you a tight lipped smile as he shakes his head. “Don’t be. I’ve been meaning to mention this to you for some time, really. Not my own issues, but rather Amelia’s. She’s getting rather self conscious about it, especially at school. She was fine with it being just her and I for a long time, but with the way kids at school talk about their families… She thinks she’s missing out on something. Not having a mum.” 

John’s laugh is breathy as he looks away from you. He stares a hole in the center of the table like his gaze alone will ignite a fire in the cellulose of the wood. “You’re the best teacher she’s ever had. Going the extra mile for her the way you do. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I hate to ask more of you, but it would mean a lot to me if you could keep an eye on her.” 

“Of course.” Your reply is quick. Bursts free from your lips as a half formed idea. “Of course, I’d do anything.” 

His smile is as quiet as his gratitude, and you find yourself breathless as he looks back up at you. Those blue eyes bore into you, peeling back all your layers — skin and tendon and bone until you’re nothing but the important parts. The vital ones. Arteries, heart, and brain; his gaze sears you until it heats up the words struggling in your throat. 

“You’re a kind man, Mr. Price.” You swallow the regret already festering in your stomach before you continue. “A good father.” 

John’s titter is quickly smothered by a hum as he smooths down the thick facial hair that lines his mouth. “I try to be.”

By the time his lunch is over, John’s shirt has completely dried and your nerves have quelled from the raging tempest they had been after your failed date with Cameron. You’ve already forgotten all about him and his blabbering in favor of focusing on the man in front of you. His presence demands attention as he cuts through the shop, weaving through the dying afternoon rush as you trot along behind him. He holds the exit open for you with a smile, forearms flexing through the thin fabric of his shirt, and you try not to gawk as you cross the threshold. 

With autumn around the corner, the wind carries a quiet, icy chill with it that tugs at the fabric of your clothes and the strands of your hair. Closing your eyes, you breathe in the change. The whispering smell of freshly decaying leaves still holding on to their homes. The withering branches that send them off before they’re ready. Before their work is finished. Like a bird kicking their children from the nest. Wings flapping around flippantly before crashing on the pavement that haunts the roots of the tree they grew up on. The season of change — one that means more work. 

“Careful, darling.” 

Warmth seeps into your waist as you’re firmly tugged to the side. Your feet stumble, arms coming up to rest on the chest at your side, and suddenly you’re overwhelmed with that sillage again. That spice and warmth that haunts the drawer in your desk — the same scent that clings to John like it’s known no other master. He corrals you away from the doorway like a dog herding livestock, hand still firmly on your waist as the couple attempting to enter the building can now do so without you in their way. They offer you polite smiles, glancing between you and John with a glint in their eye that you’re not sure you like. 

“Let’s not have you run into anyone else today,” John humors. 

All you can do is sputter thank yous and apologies as he releases you. Embarrassment burns a hole through your stomach to the point you’re certain the pit will be transparent soon enough. He tilts his head to the side as you laugh uneasily. Like he’s reading you. Watching that hole form right before his very eyes. If he reached out, he could move through you, hand punching right through your stomach, and there would be no blood to show for it. 

Right when you think he’s got you figured out — can see the small specks of glitter that can never wash free from your skin — he hums. Blue eyes look out across the street at the building demanding his return, before looking back at you with a nod. 

“See you Monday, Miss Lolly.” 

That John Price; always keeping you on your toes. 

“See you Monday, John.”

[idiaa-shroxd]

THE PREFECT’S CAT CAFE ꒱ ❝ dormleaders. ❞

SUMMARY: after an off-handed comment made by Idia, you find yourself taking what he said into genuine consideration. instead of just bringing some cats into your guest room though, why not find a way to have both cats and profits while being comfy?

warnings; gn!reader x dormleaders. long post. the keep reading line may repeat a bit of text, but please continue reading if it does. inspired by this video. by interacting with this post you agree you’ve read through my navigation and i hold no responsibility for the content you view. part i. part ii. part iii.

PROLOGUE.

“Are you really sure about this, Henchman?” Grim asks, crossing his arms as he huffs, jealousy laced in his voice. He was used to your occasional strange idea, but he considered something to be sincerely wrong with you at the moment if you thought bringing other stray cats into his territory were a smart idea, not to mention the way you were cuddling them and scratching their bellies. Where did you even find this many cats? Did you make a deal with Azul?

Puffing your cheek slightly, you ignore your cat’s comment while putting the collar on the last one. “Do you want to have fancy tuna?” You reply, fixing the collar’s bow as you smile at your hard work. “You’re not believing in me, Grim. This is an untapped market potential, in case you forgot we have a whole dorm here at school dedicated to gamers and introverts practically. And you know what they like? Cats and silence!” You tell him as you look at your array of cats.

You’d found yourself surprised that Professor Trein actually entertained your question if he knew where to find cats on sage island, even more so when Crowley eventually relented to letting you keep a few cats in exchange for not bringing up the fact you’ve been through how many overblots against him for awhile. This was a chance you could not lose. “There’s cat cafe’s in my world with relatively simple rules and a quiet atmosphere. We simply need to make it a reality, and lucky for us we have a magical furniture tool and an investor.” You say, getting up from the chair and walking toward your little notebook to check off another item off the list.

“You have an investor?” He asked, not quite believing you as he raised a brow. Hearing his disbelief you chuckle a little, pointing your pen at a corner of the room to which he jumps in surprise, letting out a shock ‘nyagh!’ “Idia has been here for the past two hours, ever since I told him what I was going to do. I don’t know how or why he has money, but he has it and that’s enough for me.” You say, Grim still surprised he hadn’t notice Idia once in well over two hours. He still wasn’t convinced on your plan, but if it got him tuna and money, your plan surely can’t be that bad?

HEARTSLABYUL. riddle rosehearts.

RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS.

“Are there any rules I need to follow while I’m here?” Riddle asks, a little antsy as it were his first time in a room with so many cats before. It were against the queen’s rules to bring cats to a formal affair, but this wasn’t too formal, it were a cafe. And you did get explicit permission from the headmage so indulging in you just a tiny bit wouldn’t hurt, right? With a laugh, you point in the direction of one of the walls with the rules on display next to a signed plaque from the headmaster giving his approval to your whims.

“The rules are really simple. No forcing or disturbing the cats, do not go around picking them up, do not let them have your drinks, and refrain from running around and making too much noise. Outside drinks, food, and shoes are not permitted for sanitary reasons. You can only feed the cats treats sold by the prefect or in the gacha machines, and you have to log in which cat you’ve fed to ensure one cat doesn’t get particularly overweight.” You read off the board the rundown as he nodded, determined to follow the rules. As he stepped inside your now transformed guest room, his eyes sparkled as one of the cats immediately begun purring at him. Perhaps a cat cafe truly wasn’t too bad a place.

Riddle was really weary of your little project when you first told him about it. He really stopped lecturing you after you explained you had all the proper permission and even an investor. He had no idea who on campus would help you with this, but after hearing it were Idia he thought that maybe you were actually a bit more serious than he realized about your cat cafe plans. He takes awhile to convince to actually come, but after maybe seeing a picture you text him of the kitties with the caption, “I want Riddle to play with me!” he concedes ever so slightly into your demands.

His eyes light up in genuine happiness as little cats meow at his feet. His only other real experience with cats was Grim as his mother would not let him near them, but now he understands what the appeal to cats is about. They’re all so soft and he may use an occasional toy, but he also gets to hear their affection purrs as they nudge him nearly making him forget why he was so angry just ten minutes prior when he was collaring a student again. He isn’t a regular since he’s busy, but whenever you happen to ask he tries to make time, only because you’ve asked him to or his dorm members ask him to visit, not because he’s succumbed to being a cat person, he says, lying through his teeth.

His favorite cat is a Queendom of Roses (British) shorthair with pure dark grey fur and orange-yellow eyes. He wasn’t too sure how to act around the cats but this one plopped it’s chubby body onto his lap while nipping at his hand demanding to be pet while meowing right to his face and Riddle could not say no to that face. The cat is not as furry as the others and he quite prefers that, less hair to clean off of his clothes. He thought he would of preferred a less demanding cat, but Sesame is very calming and distracting for his anger. He at some point also noticed cat collar’s slightly changing and asked you about it.. and you found a gift from him, more specifically Sesame received a gift. His previous yellow collar replaced with a higher quality rose-red collar with white outlines of rose petals engravings. Now instead of a silent bell he had a rose attached to the front of the collar, and at the back of the collar was a bow designed to resemble leaf petals.

Absolutely plays favorites, he’s still a bit weary for long haired cats to approach him but won’t tell them to go away, and he always feels guilty if he pets a cat that is not Sesame. He would be willing to buy cat popsicles and cat treats on occasion but tries not to overly them as he knows you’re trying to not get them to be overweight and stay within a healthy range. He’s also able to get some work done when he visits, though not too often as his cat takes up most of his time and does not like him to share his attention with his paperwork, deliberately plopping down onto the paper if he deems he has not received enough attention. You could probably get away with asking him a single stupid question while he is relaxed. Only one, so use that question wisely.

Overall is a good guest since he keeps quiet to himself and his cat, and if he’s talking he’s really quiet about it since he respects your rules. He follows every single one to heart, not only that but also makes sure other guests are taking it to heart as well.

SAVANACLAW. leona kingscholar.

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR.

“Shut up, herbivore.” The beastmen hissed as you tried to hide your overly smug expression. “I haven’t even said anything yet, Kingscholar.” You tease as he opens one of his eyes and snarls at you in a nonthreatening manner, one hand running through his hair as the other runs his fingers through the fur of the sleeping cat on his chest, unable to stop you from taking pictures without disturbing said cat.

“Aren’t you two adorable?” You can’t help but snicker as you snap another photo of the annoyed beastman. You were definitely going to post this on your magicam story when you were free. Distracted by your phone, you fail to notice his ears twitching ever so slightly as he looks away from you, his face just a little bit darker in color than before as he shuts his eyes, going back to sleep.

Leona had no interest in being friendly with a bunch of strays you brought in from who knows where. He actually laughed in your face the first time you offered him some coupon to your cat cafe, he had no interest being near rowdy students. That was until he had the most annoying day alive, a conversation twice with Malleus in a single hour and he used you as his stress relief, nearly knocking you onto the floor as he plopped onto you after following you into your cat cafe.

No one else was there as you hadn’t opened, and he understood the appeal. The room wasn’t overcool with regulated temperatures perfect for a cat, with dim lighting and soft music. You even had different parts of your cafe for different guests as you place him onto one of the longer sofas, finally getting him off of you as you poor him a drink and listen to his complaint. At some point he had a group of cats just laying on him and purring against him and snuggling and he’s fallen asleep, not waking up until you inform him you’re closing for the night, and not to move too abruptly with the cat still sleeping on his chest.

His favorite cat had claimed him during their first fateful encounter, being a persian breed. The cat is very fluffy with creamy white fur and golden eyes, enjoying swaying her tail against Leona’s nose and kneading at his chest, arms, feet, wherever she gets her paws on. She does not enjoy being disturbed but does enjoy the occasional pet and spends most of her time just napping with Leona and pawing at him. He claims the cat is noisy every once in awhile but he can be seen petting her with one hand as the other shields his eyes as he lays down, letting her purr against him. He flat out told you he was replacing her stupid black collar with a new one, a brown silk collar that’s just a tad bit loose, with a few golden engravings and a beautiful bow on the back in a lighter brown and golden moons. Nebula also gets cat popsicles every once in awhile that he gets Ruggie to buy from you.

He is used to a bunch of different cats crawling over him as they seem to naturally approach him, and he’s very smug about that to Malleus, but he does have his favorite. Nebula is his number one cat and he will pick her up even though you have a no disturbing the cats rule and he will place her beside him as he has a drink as he lays down in his unofficial spot while she climbs atop him and goes to take a nap. He’s not jealous but he just does not allow other people to touch his cat is all. Whenever you come over to bring him a drink he’s trying to pull you down and shamelessly puts an arm around you as you ignore his clinginess and return back to your cats and cafe. May use a cat toy on occasion but not when you are watching because you get a stupid grin and ask him if he feels like pawing at the toy and he tries not to leave you on a street corner.

Overall a horrible guest but a decent guest. He definitely does not follow every rule and acts grumpy but he’s very quiet except the occasional snore. He will also take a very long time to leave because you need to scratch his ears because he’s not “fully awake”. But in terms of cat parenting he’s a pretty good guest.

OCTAVINELLE. azul ashengrotto.

AZUL ASHENGROTTO.

“So… do you still want to complain?” You ask, raising a brow as you stare at the bespectacled boy with a smug grin. He swore that there was zero charm to a cat cafe and that you stole his business from him just two weeks ago, but now he had a cup of coffee between his fingers sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, a purring cat on his lap with documents on the table spread out as he worked. Azul’s face flustered a slight tint of red as he let out a small cough much to your and the twin’s amusement.

“That was the past, prefect. We found a way to make this arrangement mutual benefitting now, no need to bring up old problems.” He tries to sound professional as you snicker. Two weeks ago was not really a distant past, but you did work thing out. “Whenever you want a refill just let me know, I’ll leave you guys alone for now, I’ve got more to do.” You say, deciding not to tease the octomer further as you retreat back into the kitchen, leaving him to be teased by his two ‘friends’.

Azul had stormed into your establishment one day with a single goal in mind, to figure out how you had stolen his business. He came perplexed, how were you allowed cats on campus? Where did you get the money for renovation? Who was your supplier? Most importantly why did everyone favor the prefect’s cat cafe over the Monstro Lounge with quality service and quality food?

He had sat you down trying to be scary but you ended up putting him. You had offered him a proposal of a collaboration. If anyone orders a special item off the Monstro Lounge menu that day before coming into your cafe they’d be eligible to receive a little something from your cafe for free such as a cat popsicle or an extra thirty minutes added onto their time. He was weary at first but people came to the Monstro Lounge as though they were giving away free money as they came in groups. You both benefitted from this as you did not want food near your kitties that weren’t for them as that posed health and safety issues. He doesn’t know how but he also finds himself on occasion coming to your cafe during breaks as it was surprisingly calming despite his absolute hatred for these innocent cats when he originally entered.

His favorite cat is a Queendom of Roses (British) longhair with dark orange-esque fur with a fluffy white front and light blue eyes. He has no clue as to how but somehow this cat became his favorite as he purred against Azul’s shoes, nudging at him before eventually crawling into his lap. The cat makes little disturbance as Azul works, the purring soothing the octomer as he finishes up, occasionally finding his sleeves being tugged at when Butterscotch declares he’s been working enough by demanding pats. Butterscotch has also found himself on the end of receiving a lot of cat popsicles recently, and a collar upgrade. His collar went from a plain leathery texture to some high quality collar blue collar with tentacle engravings, and a sea patterned bowtie at the front of the collar, the center being a pretty shell.

He entertains other cats but keeps an eye out for his favorite, always reserving his lap space just for him. He mainly spends his time at the cafe after a large rush or when he has time off to work in the silence with his cat instead of the silence of his office. He actually finds himself working a lot faster in your cafe than all alone and he gets free refills on his coffee, so technically he is profiting than if he used his own supply, he justifies to himself. When he finishes work he may on occasion be found talking to you attempting to flirt poorly as you remain oblivious as he has no interest in manga or gaming. May occasionally be found brushing his favorite kitty’s fur and telling him he is going to become fat like he once was then still feeding him the treat regardless because he is very polite.

Overall is a very good guest as long as he has his kitty. Gets a bit antsy if he has to spend his time without his favorite as though he had been replaced but does not cause a scene or whine. Please make sure before you close he gets to squish his cat’s paw and knows he has not been replaced with a different cat dad.

SCARABIA. kalim al-asim.

KALIM AL-ASIM.

“Aha, prefect! Could I have another cat treat, please?” Kalim pleaded with you as you shake your head, doing your best at giving the puppy eyed dorm leader a firm no. He already had two today, that was enough. “But look at Taffy, she’s starving!” He says as you raise a brow, staring at the cat that was getting plumper by the day.

“Kalim, I love you like my actual child but no more. She’s even eating the other cat’s leftovers now at lunch time.” You scold the boy as he apologizes and pleads he will stop after maybe just one more treat as you sigh, putting your foot down and eyeing Jamil pleadingly who only pretends he can’t see you as he plays with his cat. “I’ll even pay four times the amount!” He said, pouting as you shook your head, ready to dive into the same discussion you’ve had with him the past three days.

Two hours, that is how long it took for Kalim to hear about your business venture and ask, beg, you to let him see. Apparently Idia had told Ortho who told the board game club members and word got around to Cater and Cater told him and Lilia and now he was bouncing off the walls in excitement with Jamil in tow. He was already prepared to meet the kitties and Jamil said it was okay so could you please go now? When he hears that there’s rules to follow he listens intently and follows them as best as he can remember, but he’s just so excited about the cats and trying your drinks! Also looking at the interior and more. Wait you also have gaming pcs and manga? He has to check those out too! His hyperactiveness could not be contained and you were a little concerned for the cats.

You were right to assume Kalim could not be contained for more than two seconds as he pspspspss at all of the kitties, toy in both hands as he was already playing with them, cats crawling on his lap and nudging at him, biting at him playfully and surrounding him as he held a cat popsicle out towards them, talking your’s and Jamil’s ears off about how fluffy and wonderful of a place this is. He had to tell every single person in his dorm about it, and his family, and people from other dorms as well, this was the greatest place on campus so far! Do you also need help buying the cat food or anything? He’d be willing to be another investor in a heartbeat but Jamil talks him out of it, partially. His favorite thing is official a cat in his lap as he drinks your own tea brew that he gifted you from his country… which may cost more than your entire life.

His favorite cat is a maine coon with black fur and green eyes. This cat has the world’s finest at her fingertips if she just meows. Kalim knows it’s wrong to pick favorites but he can’t deny that she is his favorite when she headbutts his chin and meows at him for minutes at a time even if he’s petting her. She’s extremely fluffy and starting to become pudgier but he doesn’t mind that as he gets her more treats. Her pink collar has long since been discarded as she now has a full wardrobe, but her collar is now the finest white silk and handmade embroidery with real gemstones and solid gold for the silent bell. Even the bow on the back of the collar is large and beautiful, she’s worth more than the students that actually visit the cafe and you hope you aren’t robbed.

Kalim does play favorites but also doesn’t. Things are very clear he has a favorite cat but he will play with any and every cat that approaches him. He respects your do not disturb the cat rule, really, but he just really wants to pet every single kitty. He always says he wants to try one of the pcs but ends up forgetting as he works on his homework failing to pay attention while petting Taffy and giving her kisses and then eventually falling asleep because he’s all tired out. He has read a few of the mangas but he reads it to Taffy specifically and Jamil has to remind him to be quiet for your other guests. He may have also asked his family to visit your cafe so you may be visited by one of the world’s richest couple in the future when the campus opens for outside guests.

Overall a great guest for the cats but a nightmare for you as he looks like a sad puppy when you refuse to let him buy treats. Also occasionally forgets and makes a loud noise when he enters and sees his favorite cat, and he can be a little distracting because he can’t sit still for too long at times.

POMEFIORE. vil schoenheit.

VIL SCHOENHEIT.

“When in Twisted Wonderland did this happen..?” You mutter to yourself as you brewed another cup of tea for Vil using the brand he specifically gave you for himself when he visited. He was adamantly refusing to even set foot in your guest room after hearing what you had done, but now Rook was taking a photo of him elegantly sitting down in one of your lounge chairs with a cat on his lap, purring loudly looking at the camera as though she understood how to pose and was a natural born model.

You bring the tea over to his table as he thanks you, lifting the cup and saucer elegantly as Rook takes a photo, already singing praises on how great it would look on his magicam as Vil looks confidently smug. You couldn’t believe this all happened just because Rook had said something about Neige and how cute it would be for a boy like him to be surrounded by cats. “Thank you for your patronage.” You say with a small smile on your lips, amused. Well at least a happy Vil is free promotion for your business on campus.

Vil was happy for you, really, but he was not going to visit the cat cafe even if you pleaded by his feet and rose someone from beyond this mortal realm to drag him in. That was until he heard Rook talking to you and Epel about how Neige would surely be so beautiful surrounded with cats and you agreeing and throwing in a comment about how it would make him seem more likeable and relatable. He knew Rook was a Neige fanboy but he couldn’t have you converting into one too, are you forgetting he’s the fairest of them all, and the only celebrity you should praise like that? If it is relatability you truly desire he can spare one afternoon at your cat cafe since he needs to check up on the place his dorm members have been spending their time at recently to ensure it is up to Pomefiore standard.

He originally looked as though he was going to fight one of the cats with how he was trying to mentally tell the long haired cats to stay away from him. He was so intimidating to even the cats that none were willing to approach him but one, a very snooty girl that begun pawing at his ankles, jumping up into his lap and kneading him as she claimed her seat. He found her demeanor pleasantly charming as she wasn’t that furry and she was good enough, he thought. He managed to get some high quality photos that did trend on magicam for the rare domestic sight of the Vil Schoenheit and a cat. It was surprisingly soothing for him and he did eventually come back where the cat once again claimed him as her’s.

His favorite cat is a siamese with cream white fur and black siamese patterns and bright blue eyes. She’s rather thin and does not shed fur all over his lap like some of the other cats. He makes sure to keep her fur shiny as he brushes her down and uses some toys on her. He refrains from often buying treats as she doesn’t seem fond of them and he doesn’t want her to be too overfed, a model should keep a strict diet. Her collar was replaced without even informing you, the old white one did not fit his or apparently her standard so he simply had to replace it for her. It was a pretty fancy dark blue color with golden engravings in the pattern of pomefiore’s insignias, a purely custom design, with a pretty bow in front, with a silent bell. It’s hard to believe she was ever a stray at one point.

He does not entertain most of the other cats beyond looking at them as he pets Iris. He knows his cat is a complete snob and will likely not entertain other guests, perched up high in her cat tree bed until he comes along so he would never cheat on her with being another cat’s dad. He has full faith that he is the only one that she will ever go to so he does try to stop by every once in awhile to make sure she’s getting the attention and grooming that is needed for a cat of her standard. He’s not into your gaming pcs or your manga corners, but does appreciate you do have school textbooks to borrow and a quiet study nook so that he can elegantly pet Iris with a cup of fine tea while doing his assignments as Rook fawns over them.

Overall a very good guest as long as you leave him alone. Follows your rules, does not talk loudly or much, and goes above and beyond with taking care of your cat that you begin to think it’s actually his cat he’s just letting you keep. You’re a little concerned he may just tell you he’s taking your cat with him once you graduate, but he is a rather good cat dad, at least!

IGNIHYDE. idia shroud.

IDIA SHROUD.

“I-di-a” You coo, bending down and whispering in the ear of the man currently on the floor, two cats surrounding him as he feeds them cat treats. The blue haired boy physically jolts upwards letting out a small whimper of utter shock of being spoken to as you chuckle. “Are you having fun?” You ask as he blushes, looking away from you as he turns his attention back to the cat pawing at his pant leg. “Ehehe, this is even better than watching the series finale to an anime live.” He whispers as one of the orange kitties crawls into his arms, headbutting him.

“You flatter me, glad to know you think so highly of my hard work. Ahem, our hard work.” You say as you pick up the other kitty, fixing their collar as you lightly run your fingers through the cat’s fur. Giving the cat a kiss to his nose and boop, you set him back down as you notice Idia staring at you only to blush insanely red as he looked away quickly from being caught. “Thank you for your hard work… prefect.” He quickly whispers much to your amusement.

Idia has become the number one patron. From the second class ends to the time you close for the evening Idia is right there petting the kitties. He’d actually volunteered to work for free, not as a waiter or anything but as a sort of cat playmate. He’d make sure the cats are satisfied and not bored and no one can touch him or look at him, but you said no, he needs to share the cats.

He’s the reason your wifi is amazing despite your run down dorm, and he makes sure absolutely everything regarding technology is perfect. It took him a bit to understand what you want and why that was necessary beyond you just saying cat cafes in your world have these things, but he understands what bliss is now. Anytime some machine seems even remotely broken he fixes it at a record pace.

His favorite cat had claimed him awhile back. A pure white ragamuffin that is extremely fluffy. The cat is extremely docile and she’d claim her spot in his lap, purring as he’d read manga or play on one of the cafe pcs, occasionally nibbling his finger when he squirms too much from gamer rage. Her original collar was a nice shade of orange, but he not so subtly changed it into one he got. A pretty light baby blue shade with small jewel engravings, a little silent bell at the front with a pretty bow on the back with golden stripes. You are partially convinced he genuinely does believe Ivory is his firstborn child.

He does play with other cats but has a favorite. He always pays for one cat popsicle a day at minimum to feed the cats and pays for other cat treats whenever he can because he is weak. He also is rigged at crane games so he can easily snack through the day never leaving the cafe. There are occasions you tell him stop feeding human snacks to the cat, they will get chubby. He ends up looking super offended on behalf of the kitties you dare said any one of them are chubby. When he’s not pampering the cats you can find him gaming in one of the pcs, grinding through an event. At moments like these do not approach him and leave him alone so he can forget he is actually in public and not his bedroom.

Overall a very respectful guest. He’s quiet, makes sure to respect the boundaries of the cats and the rules you’d set up, and does not cause any scenes. The only issue is getting him to leave may be a little difficult as he tries to give one more kiss… Or that he tries to come on your days off just to keep the little babies company. there’s also the occasion every so often that you can feel his gaze on you, only for you to catch him as he hides his face, the tips of his hair turning pink as he watches you work.

DIASOMNIA. malleus draconia.

MALLEUS DRACONIA.

“Child of man, could I please have one of those.. cat ice creams I believe they’re called?” Tsunotarou asked, eyes sparkling ever so slightly in childlike wonder as you let out a charming laugh, handing him a popsicle that was specifically made for cats to eat. He had always been fond on ice cream but now he had the ability to share it with someone else he liked, the cat that had claimed him a few weeks ago.

“Just one though, we don’t want to feed them too much now.” You say but know it will fall on deaf ears as you didn’t wish to ruin his fun. You didn’t think he had experience with cats before so you were pleasantly surprised one of your cats had practically claimed him, but it all worked out. “Worry not child of man, I won’t give him too many treats. Though I’m sure if I too were eating your cooking right now I wouldn’t be able to stop myself either.” Flustered by his comment, you leave him to play with the cat as you retreat behind the counter, he really was dangerous for reasons different than rumors.

He heard about your business venture from Lilia and was ready to pay a visit not caring if he scared off your guests but halted in his tracks when he heard you telling Sebek you were going to invite him. His mind tells him he has won the lottery and he retreats to fix his outfit waiting in the lounge for an hour until you reach Diasomnia’s doorsteps to speak with him. He is not listening as you greet him with a hug and tell him you’d like for him to come to Ramshackle for a surprise. Something about you also not opening the cafe today so it’d just be you and him so he’d be comfy, there’s really no reason to try and continue speaking he’s been charmed for over an hour, prefect.

He practically vibrates from sheer joy as he’s frozen, then rapidly shaking, then beaming as a cat waltzes up to him as though he owns the prince. He basically blue screens momentarily as the cat with such soft fur and pure innocent eyes meows up at him, pawing at his feet to be picked up. He picks up the cat as you watch curiously, finally figuring out he wasn’t listening to you at all as he stares at the cat’s eyes and then your’s. “Our child is beautiful.” He says as you raise a brow, shrugging it off as you tell him you’d brew him a black coffee and to sit wherever he would like. He instead chooses to sit at the counter bar, watching you and the cat that’s on his lap nipping at his fingers and demanding his attention as well. For the first time in awhile he feels as though something doesn’t fear him other than you.

His favorite cat is a ragdoll cat with white fur and black splotches and deep blue eyes. He claims this cat is your child and you have no idea what he’s thinking of but he seems happy as he shamelessly pulls out a cat toy and plays with him. Also slightly insults the cat by calling him brave or stupid as though a cat can comprehend what he means while mewling at him. Also asks you if he can also have a custom collar after Lilia tells him about his cat, and after you allow him to replace the old red collar he’s excited. Black is the color of royalty in the briar valley and Oatmeal has the privilege of wearing it on his new collar. A pretty black collar with green wings beside a silent bell that may be made of actual gold, along with a little dragon hood-cape and short plush horns you got him so your boys match.

Very possessive of Oatmeal. He will applaud other cats if they dare approach him but everyone knows he has a bias. He practically has been claimed by his cat and no one else is brave enough to go near his cat and no cat is brave enough to approach him, they are a perfect match. He has tried to take your cat back to Diasomnia but you have to remind him that the cat stays with you, he needs a proper schedule, friends, and he needs to stop being fed so many treats. He’s also incredibly smug about it and will come to the cafe on your off days as he talks to you petting Oatmeal and glaring at Leona on the opposite couch who’s busy petting Nebula but refrains from getting physical or suffer your wrath. You’d kicked both men out for an entire weekend.

Overall a good guest personally, but his reputation may cause some people to be scared of visiting. Regardless, he’s very polite to you and treats his cat very good, making sure to give him treats and enough exercise with a toy. May also overpay for coffee and start fights with Leona when you aren’t even open yet. In fact, how on earth did the two of them even get into your cafe? You literally just woke up and they’re spitting insults at one another.

EPILOGUE.

“Fnaygh! I guess I really am a business genius, Henchman.” Grim said as he dug into a can of fancy tuna, one that you had bought without having to worry about your budget for once. You expected success from Ignihyde students, but it seemed like your little business venture went above and beyond with students from all different dorms trying to be booking ahead of time and trying to visit your cat cafe.

“Right right, you’re the genius, Grim.” You laugh in response to your friend as you finished checking on the other cats, finishing up for the evening. In terms of profit, almost every single day you were fully packed with as much people you’d allow in at once, and you had to temporarily increase the charging rates. Despite the increase people still begun to visit, who knew the school filled with villainous kids would be so excited to pet some cats? Especially your regulars, they adored these cats enough they got the cats gift, not you, but the cat.

It was tough work to manage the guest room cafe all by yourself though, you had to admit to yourself. Perhaps you should take up Ace’s offer and idea at hiring some part time employees, your first year friends had already offered, so maybe you’d start training them for help?

a bit of a long post but i have had this thought for awhile ever since reading Idia’s guest room lines? So I figured I would just turn my headcanon into an actual written work. I have more ideas though for a separate post, but I am unsure if I’ll post it, but I do need to share my thought’s of Floyd’s favorite cat being a sphynx cat named prune that is very vocal and has a cozy ugly little sweater that Floyd likes to bathe with you.

©idiaa-shroxd. do not plagiarize, repost, translate, or use my works to train ai.

[placeholder-mcd]

(Obligatory "I sound like I'm speaking objectively from authority but this is just my opinion and it's okay for you to like media I dislike for whatever reasons you may have")

Okay so like. while "the minecraft move trailer is so bad that it makes minecraft story mode look good in comparison" is both true and funny, can we please not start pretending that story mode is a well-crafted piece of media. as someone who has played through it multiple times (first when it originally came out and I was 12 and thought it was awesome, then later as an interactive Netflix experience with friends for so-bad-it's-good reasons) I feel pretty qualified to say it blows

Like, yes. There are so many things that MCSM got right that the movie apparently got wrong. But, like, they're all extremely common-sense things to get right -- like having the whole thing be animated, and maintaining a visual style that feels consistent with minecraft, and spending time with individual aspects of the minecraft experience that have their own communities (like redstone contraptions). that sense seems a little less common now that the movie trailer exists, but still, these are all bare minimum expectations of a piece of narrative-driven media set in Minecraft.

MCSM still completely fails, however, to have any compelling characters (RIP Reuben you were just as annoying as everyone else) or non-grating dialogue. The universe they depict isn't even well thought out! Like, okay, example:

Right off the bat, they make a big decision about how they're going to handle MCSM: they are not telling a story about people playing Minecraft the video game, but are instead depicting a universe where Minecraft is inhabited by a civilization of NPCs that have identical abilities to a player (aside from like, pausing the game or changing settings or what have you). This, in itself, is not a bad decision, but it puts the writers in a position where they need to conceptualize what is effectively a Minecraft AU. You're not playing survival mode or creative mode, you're playing Story mode. In this AU, humans exist in the minecraft world and have for a long time (centuries, at least?), they've built cities, they have language, etc. Imagine you're Jesse. Imagine you've grown up inside of Minecraft. Everyone is playing on hardcore, there is no respawning, and you live in a world filled with strange and dangerous creatures that seem hell-bent on killing you. Why the Fuck does anyone go out at night. Why isn't literally everyone combat-trained. Why is Jesse acting like he's never seen a Creeper before. Why is Petra the only member of the main party who knows how to craft a pickaxe.

At the build competition, the party is surprised that the reigning building team has a beacon. But nobody takes a second to actually investigate what that means. Did their team intentionally spawn and defeat a Wither? Doesn't that make them more badass and legendary than the order of the stone? Is there a black market for nether stars? (I think Petra is probably the one who gave them the beacon since she also trades Ivan a Wither skull. But like. Why isn't literally anyone else just going and doing what Petra does. Why aren't they impressed)

Ivan having access to a Command Block is also insane. Like, it has potential to be an extremely cool choice -- did Ivan find a way to break the fourth wall? Did he find an exploit in Minecrafts code that allowed him to obtain this? The command block has the power to just generate resources out of thin air. Ivan could actually use it to become a god and give himself creative mode. But okay, we can assume that the command block is just... Different, in the AU. Fine. It's a computing center / power core for the Wither Storm. Sure

But, like. I, even as an 11 year old, knew everything there was to know about minecraft when I played story mode (and, unlike the Movie, MCSM was actually attempting to appeal to the existing fanbase), so watching these characters who have lived for DECADES within the Minecraft universe just. Be helpless and completely clueless as to how the universe works? It makes me hate like all of them. I don't care about Jesse or Gabriel and if I actually had the freedom to perform the basic actions I could perform in Minecraft -- mining, building, and crafting -- I could use my game knowledge to pretty swiftly end the entire conflict at like any point in the story. And I'm not very good at video games. But I would expect a character who's been LIVING IN THE MINECRAFT WORLD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THEY'D BE BETTER AT MINECRAFT THAN ANY OF US.

The whole thing is a contrived and buggy mess that feels like it was written by a Hollywood CEO who watched someone play the game for 30 minutes, looked up some basic information like how to beat the game and whether there's any in-game lore, and then riffed on that until a script outline was finished. The programmers, visual artists, and composers clearly did a ton of work to make MCSM feel like minecraft. And they did a good job -- clearly, a much better job than the Movie is going to do. But that doesn't change the fact that the Story -- the focal element advertised in the title -- completely misses the fucking mark and centers around a group of characters who are largely incompetent and stupid in an unfunny and uninteresting way. MCSM was a shitty cashgrab by telltale games and I am not apologizing to it.

[rwrbmovie]

Prime Experience, Prime Video’s annual Emmy FYC activation, is back for its 2024 edition. Held at a new venue, NYA West, across the street from last year’s location, the event will let invited members of the Television Academy and Hollywood guilds get closer to some of Prime Video’s top series, movies and specials through in-world installations, interactive exhibits, show-inspired menus and panels.

Opening April 24 with an “Inspiration & Innovation” panel event featuring showrunners from across the slate, Prime Experience will runs through May 20 with a lineup of 12 screenings, panels, and additional special events.

Featured FYC panels will include Expats, Fallout, I’m a Virgo, Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Red, White & Royal Blue, The Wheel of Time, Amazon Music Live with Garth Brooks, Jim Gaffigan: Dark Pale, Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional, Tig Notaro: Hello Again and For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign.

Recreated in the space are the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout, the Hong Kong night market of Expats, the New York City brownstone of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Gen V’s Godolkin University campus. Each interactive installation provides a glimpse into the show’s production design, cinematography, visual effects, casting, music, and hair & makeup.

Additional Prime Experience exhibits include life-sized manuscript pages from contenders in writing and other categories like Red, White & Royal Blue and I’m A Virgo; in hair & makeup, with a wall of portraits from programs like Wheel of Time, The Greatest Love Story Never Told and This Is Me…Now; and in sound and music, with a pair of listening booths with comedy clips from Jim Gaffigan: Dark Pale, Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional, and Tig Notaro: Hello Again.

[tgmsunmontue]

You need to learn how to fall 3/10

Hangster (and IceMav) - Bradley is too tall to be a naval aviator and instead becomes a sky diver, specialising in spin recovery. He is a civilian contractor to the Airforce and Navy to teach pilots how to survive parachute spins from ejections. A more in-depth version of this post.

PROLOGUE 2003-2006

2007-2010 – The middle years

                He ends up with another part-time job, fortunately using his human performance part of his degree and working as a personal trainer, mostly early mornings. Jumping out of planes is expensive. He moves out of the house him and Mav usually live in, but months later ends up moving in with Ice when he’s diagnosed with cancer. They don’t sugar coat things, not now that he’s an adult. He has to listen to them talk about wills and property and investments and assets; wants to stick his head in the sand and just chant la-la-la until it all goes away. He doesn’t want to consider his life without them both in it. Hard enough to think he’s already lost his actual parents, he can’t lose them too.

                He sits through it though, signs forms he reads carefully because both Ice and Mav frown and look disappointed the first time he signed without even looking. They get similar forms for him, given his current career and he’s pretty sure Mav has to excuse himself to go and throw up when he says he doesn’t want to be kept on life support indefinitely if he has a bad fall. Ice just nods and accepts his decision with quiet equanimity and he wonders if it’s because he is facing his own mortality. He starts a YouTube channel, figures out how to take effective video and then edit it properly. Loads them up without commentary; originally it’s for those he’s taken up for tandem jumps, but then it’s for other instructors around the country, and then a couple of them move overseas. His channel has a small but dedicated following.

                One of the silver linings of Ice’s cancer diagnosis is the fact he seems to no longer give any fucks about what people might say about his relationship with Mav. Don’t ask, don’t tell is still in effect but it’s also definitely very firmly in the don’t tell realm as far as Bradley can figure out. Everyone who they interact with seems to simply know that they’re together, and have been for as long as everyone remembers. Definitely for as long as he remembers. No one wants to tell and he guesses that Ice is high enough up that there’s probably blind-eyes all over the place.

                Then Ice insists on Mav moving in, which he promptly leaves the house for, not wanting to hang around for listening to the argument or hearing the makeup sex that will surely follow. So they put the house on the market, then he’s given the money and told he can finally buy the plane he wants which he delays a little and carefully shops around, listening to the advice of his old instructors and also Ice and Mav. All his gifts for years are centered around either skydiving or filming and editing software. It doesn’t escape his notice that Mav’s gifts tend towards the safer indoor aspects, while Ice tends toward the safety needs. They’re both supportive in their own ways.

                Living together, all of them, properly for the first time, results in the sudden influx of photos that pop up, every flat surface has frames with photos and Ice starts taking more photos. All of their lives are visually documented on the walls and bookshelves, although Bradley notes the front room Ice uses as a study and work room remains very formal and devoid of any personal touches. Other than formal portraits, like his graduation photo. Regardless of what room he’s in he feels like he is at home.

…             …             …

                His nightmare becomes a reality, although not in full. The call he got was from Bradley, starting off with I’m alive but I’m on the way to the hospital. He’d then passed the phone over to someone else. Apparently he’d taken a bad landing after being forced to use his second backup shute. He’d been too close to the ground so had hit it hard. His hands are shaking as he walks down the hospital corridor, the only thing that has him not vomiting is the fact that Bradley is the one who called him. That Bradley was alive; maybe not alive and well, but alive enough to call him.

                “Bad fall,” Mav mutters. “Like he’s tripped over the front step and grazed his hands…”

                He pushes the door open to Bradley’s room. He’s pale, face covered in bandages, one arm in a cast and both legs in braces, but not as he’d imagined a broken spine and him being in something like full-traction it’s a little bit of a relief.

                “He’s damned lucky.”

                “Doesn’t look lucky.”

                “He had his legs tucked up, hit the ground and rolled. Like it was as natural as breathing. He dislocated his shoulder but continued with the momentum… most people I know would have hit the ground feet-first despite years of training and the shock would have caused spiral fractures. They’ve braced his ankles as a matter of precaution because the x-rays showed no damage, which is a miracle but also isn’t surprising considering he walked into the hospital. We don’t usually say that you can be a natural at skydiving, but this kid is definitely a natural.”

                Mav sighs.

                Of course he is.

…             …             …

                “If the cancer didn’t get me, then I’m sure jumping out of a plane isn’t going to kill me either.”

                “Fighting words. It’s a good thing I’m taller than you. When we come into land you’re going to lift your legs.”

                He listens as Bradley takes him through everything, despite the fact that he knows it all, having listened to it so often he’s pretty sure he could repeat it back, learning it alongside Bradley and quizzing him on it. He can follow Bradley’s instructions, he’s in the Navy. When he’s strapped to Bradley, waved the all-clear he feels a little frisson of abject terror but it’s too late, he’s falling toward to the ground and then his fear fades away and he lets out a whoop of joy, hears Bradley’s amused laughter before it’s whipped away by the rushing air. They hit the ground and it’s gentler than he thought it would be.

                “Woo! What a rush!”

                “Yeah? You like it?”

                “It reminds me of my first launch off a carrier. Damn. Yeah. I get it now. Love you kid,” he says, knocking his own helmet against Bradley’s, the words aren’t ones he says often, but feels the need to say them more often now. Doesn’t want Bradley to ever doubt how he feels. Mav either for that matter…

                “Love you too.”

…             …             …

                “You were both up there, together.”

                He should have known it would give Mav another nightmare and he curls himself around him, makes gentle shushing noises under his breath, glad now that he doesn’t have to try and do this over the phone.

                “Do you trust him?”

                “Of course I do!”

                “Then know that skydiving, especially tandem skydiving is safer than driving to and from the hangar. Car accidents are far more common and hurt far more people than skydiving does. You’ve seen him with his gear. Hell, we check it. He’s damned good at what he does. He’s meant to be up in the air just as much as you are…”

                Mav lets out a little hiccupping breath and Tom knows he’s got something that’ll definitely take his mind of everything else.

                “You know, there’s something else I want to check off on my bucket list…” Tom says, and he’s not going to move, but his otherwise grand plans aren’t getting a look in right now. This feels right.

                “What?”

                “Pete Mitchell, will you marry me?”

…             …             …

                Ice and Mav leave plans on the table one night. An extension to the house, with a shared internal door but his own front door; effectively making two houses. A large bedroom, another room for an office with a desk, extension to the garage so he can store his gear, enough room to roll out his chutes and carry out checks. It’s very clearly an invitation to never move out, but also to live independently and he finds the sticky notes they use to communicate when they’re too busy to actually stop and talk. Simply draws a heart and writes love it in the center.

                He doesn’t bother looking at moving out of home again.

2011-2015 - The later years (NEXT PART)

[the-bramble--patch]

I’ve been seeing a few posts on minimalism going around, one being @bisquitt’s post on sustainability and minimalism—how the two terms shouldn’t be conflated, and how real sustainability is about anti-capitalism in the forms of reuse, repair, and community interdependence. Another is @allstrangeandwonderful’s post on how Minimalism is an aesthetic based around coping in the "corporate hellscape" we live in—contemporary designers gravitate towards neutral colors as a respite from the warlike corporate use of color to catch the attention of a consumer (See Mina Le's video on this concept also. She offers up a few possible reasons for this trend towards "greige" interiors, one being the inundation from advertising we experience in our everyday lives).

I wanted to talk about these concepts and tie in some other things I’ve been seeing around.

Imo, minimalism is anti-consumerist, but not anti-capitalist. The lifestyle and aesthetic is intended to address the systemic problem of living in a consumerist society on an individual level. Instead of ending the capitalist system that thrusts consumerism on us all, it suggests that minimalists create a safe space away from consumerism. It is not interested in changing the system, only the individual. What really drove this home for me was watching The Financial Diet on YouTube interview The Minimalists, the guys who kicked off the trend. She keeps trying to ask them about the underlying issues Minimalism acts as a band-aid for, and they keep dodging her questions.

The lifestyle choices bisquitt offers up as sustainable are typically lumped under the umbrella of Solarpunk: “fixing shit around your house. thrifting. patching clothes and handing them down. a community garden. potluck dinner parties. farmer’s markets. a barter system among friends and neighbors. kindness. love among community members.“ These things do not conform to the minimalist aesthetic tenets of order, function, and simplicity. They are often vibrant, mismatched, and chaotic, messy even (see my post on solarpunk aesthetics here). This is because solarpunk aims to solve the same issues minimalism does, but on a societal level. Solarpunk is working towards a utopian future of degrowth, where the forces that Minimalism is in opposition to will no longer exist. This allows for everyday people to reclaim vibrancy from corporations. That busyness is only desirable in a world where capitalism isn't such a burden. Solarpunk advocates for simplicity in all but design, instead of the other way around.

Another thing is the separation between meaning and function present in Minimalism. Minimalism is often associated with deriving pleasure from experiences, not things. The physical space is deprioritized (I know the movement is about changing the physical space, but the idea is that the physical space just makes your life more efficient) for a kind of zen outlook about mind over matter. Solarpunk is much more holistic in its recognition that inner peace comes from a play between the external and internal worlds—from connection and respect for people, things, and resources. Instead of removing meaning and beauty from a space to prioritize the mind, Solarpunk instills it, to elicit interaction with the world instead of a retreat from it. Thus, Solarpunk rolls meaning and function into one: a visibly mended shirt is both functional (the hole is gone), and meaningful (it says much more about the politics of the wearer than one mended invisibly). Another example is the bottle walls commonly used in Earthships: Making the bottles visible is beautiful, and it communicates that the builder is interested in using sustainable material.

In short, minimalism is individualist while Solarpunk is collectivist, and the aesthetics of each reflect that. Retreating from a broken society will not fix said society. Sustainability needs to be solved on a societal level, so minimalism as a solution to overconsumption just isn't gonna cut it.

[sprnklersplashes]

I can't find the original post and am probably misremembering some of its meaning but I found a post about RTD companions vs Moffat companions and how "relatable" they are and it got me thinking again about that one post about how its more important that characters are resonant rather than relatable. This is a mindset I think could go a long way in how DW fandom perceives and compares companions.

To illustrate my point, let's talk about Rose and Amy.

Rose is consistently praised for being, above most things, relatable. Because she Has A Job and A Family and Went To School and hey, we have jobs and families and go to school, so we can relate to that, right? In a sense, Rose could be us. Now, I'm not going to sit and claim none of this praise is warranted, I think one of the biggest strengths of RTD's era is how it melded the sci-fi wonders of the show with companion's families who feel like characters from a completely different genre, a soap or a sitcom. To quote full-fat videos, Davies achieved a perfect balance between the domestic and the fantastical. However, I also think its worth noting that, after Moffat started leaning more into the fantastical elements of the show, there was a bigger cry from the fandom of "Rose has family, family makes character relatable" which served to erase a lot of the complexities of the Moffat-era companions.

Take Amy for example. Amy was constantly accused of being 'unrelatable', the biggest crime a character can commit apparently because she was "too special" and "we don't know about her family". Ergo, we don't know about her. And yes, you can tell a lot about a character through their family life, RTD did it beautifully, it's not the only way we can learn about a character. We learn about them through how they interact with the world they are in and through their arc.

You can claim Amy isn't relatable, in that she isn't The Everyman like Rose, because she was The Girl Who Waited and grew up with a crack in her wall and we can't relate to that. But... Amy also spends the entire first season running away from adulthood, its her reason for leaving with the Doctor in the first place. Essentially, series five, hell you could argue the entire Pond run, is her coming-of-age story where she finally grows up and accepts that she's an adult now. And that, my friends, is resonant. Only speaking for myself, I find this resonates with me even more at 25 than at 12. Amy's lack of a stable job was criticised again for not being 'relatable', but holy hell does it resonate as a confused millennial in the job market trying to find who I am that Amy spends seasons 6 and 7 constantly switching careers because she can't settle on one that feels like her.

I've made this post longer than it needs to be but my point in a nutshell is that although Amy, Clara and Bill were criticised for not being relatable because they didn't have things like schools and jobs and families, I'd argue they were never meant to be relatable. They were meant to be resonant; you were meant to connect with them, not their circumstances.

[skaruresonic]

Would the writing for shadow's game have been better if all of it was written with a singular route in mind instead of branching out in multiple paths that each have seperate endings?

It's hard for me to say, honestly. I think the issue is complicated by the confluence of ShTH being a video game, an interactive medium, and the idea that Shadow's agency supersedes even our own.

On the one hand, it kind of sucks that for as much as ShTH was marketed as "What will you choose? Good or evil? You decide!", ultimately your choices end up not mattering.

While some video games certainly do make it a point to emphasize your powerlessness (ex. Sephiroth forcing Cloud to raise his sword against Aerith in FF7) or otherwise force you to forfeit agency for thematic purposes (ex. the ending of Shadow of the Colossus), for a game that was aggressively marketed as "your choices will determine Shadow's fate," it feels like a disappointment, if not false advertising, for him to turn around and be like "nah, actually."

On the other hand... that "nah, actually" is kind of the entire point, tbh. Shadow slakes off all other parties' attempts at manipulation in order to forge his own path. That group may very well include us, the invisible puppetmasters dwelling behind the fourth wall.

I keep going back and forth on this because... While ShTH's status as a video game can't be overlooked, its story has already been pulled off in a linear fashion. Which begs questions of how integral the branching paths system was to the game to begin with.

If the game's entire gimmick hinges on your choices, then that design conceit probably should be constructed in such a way that you feel the impact of those choices; there should be SOME sort of feedback or lasting consequence. Yet I wouldn't be sure how to do so in a way that gels with the idea that Shadow's agency matters most, because that inherently means you'd have to negate the player's agency.

All that being said, maybe Battle renders that argument moot? Battle pretty much pulled off the same core ideas as ShTH in a much more linear fashion and managed to do it more gracefully than ShTH, without making the player feel they've wasted their time.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

(CNN) — Jack Latham was on a mission to photograph farms in Vietnam — not the country’s sprawling plantations or rice terraces but its “click farms.”

Last year, the British photographer spent a month in the capital Hanoi documenting some of the shadowy enterprises that help clients artificially boost online traffic and social media engagement in the hope of manipulating algorithms and user perceptions.

The resulting images, which feature in his new book “Beggar’s Honey,” provide rare insight into the workshops that hire low-paid workers to cultivate likes, comments and shares for businesses and individuals globally.

“When most people are on social media, they want nothing but attention — they’re begging for it,” Latham said in a phone interview, explaining his book’s title.

“With social media, our attention is a product for advertisers and marketers.”

In the 2000s, the growing popularity of social media sites — including Facebook and Twitter, now called X — created a new market for well-curated digital profiles, with companies and brands vying to maximize visibility and influence.

Though it is unclear when click farms began proliferating, tech experts warned about “virtual gang masters” operating them from low-income countries as early as 2007.

In the following decades, click farms exploded in number — particularly in Asia, where they can be found across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond.

Regulations have often failed to keep pace: While some countries, like China, have attempted to crack down on operations (the China Advertising Association banned the use of click farms for commercial gain in 2020), they continue to flourish around the continent, especially in places where low labor and electricity costs make it affordable to power hundreds of devices simultaneously.

‘Like Silicon Valley startups’

Latham’s project took him to five click farms in Vietnam.

(The click farmers he hoped to photograph in Hong Kong “got cold feet,” he said, and pandemic-related travel restrictions dashed his plans to document the practice in mainland China).

On the outskirts of Hanoi, Latham visited workshops operating from residential properties and hotels.

Some had a traditional setup with hundreds of manually operated phones, while others used a newer, compact method called “box farming” — a phrase used by the click farmers Latham visited — where several phones, without screens and batteries, are wired together and linked to a computer interface.

Latham said one of the click farms he visited was a family-run business, though the others appeared more like a tech companies.

Most workers were in their 20s and 30s, he added.

“They all looked like Silicon Valley startups,” he said. “There was a tremendous amount of hardware … whole walls of phones.”

Some of Latham’s photos depict — albeit anonymously — workers tasked with harvesting clicks.

In one image, a man is seen stationed amid a sea of gadgets in what appears to be a lonely and monotonous task.

“It only takes one person to control large amounts of phones,” Latham said. “One person can very quickly (do the work of) 10,000. It’s both solitary and crowded.”

At the farms Lathan visited, individuals were usually in charge of a particular social media platforms.

For instance, one “farmer” would be responsible for mass posting and commenting on Facebook accounts, or setting up YouTube platforms where they post and watch videos on loop.

The photographer added that TikTok is now the most popular platform at the click farms he visited.

The click farmers Latham spoke to mostly advertised their services online for less than one cent per click, view or interaction.

And despite the fraudulent nature of their tasks, they seemed to treat it like just another job, the photographer said.

‘There was an understanding they were just providing a service,” he added. “There wasn’t a shadiness. What they’re offering is shortcuts.”

Deceptive perception

Across its 134 pages, “Beggar’s Honey” includes a collection of abstract photographs — some seductive, others contemplative — depicting videos that appeared on Latham’s TikTok feed.

He included them in the book to represent the kind of content he saw being boosted by click farms.

But many of his photos focus on the hardware used to manipulate social media —webs of wires, phones and computers.

“A lot of my work is about conspiracies,” Latham said. ” Trying to ‘document the machines used to spread disinformation’ is the tagline of the project. The bigger picture is often the thing we don’t see.”

Click farms around the world are also used to amplify political messages and spread disinformation during elections.

In 2016, Cambodia’s then-prime minister Hun Sen was accused of buying Facebook friends and likes, which according to the BBC he denied, while shadowy operations in North Macedonia were found to have spread pro-Donald Trump posts and articles during that year’s US presidential election.

While researching, Latham said he found that algorithms — a topic of his previous book, “Latent Bloom” — often recommended videos that he said got increasingly “extreme” with each click.

“If you only digest a diet of that, it’s a matter of time you become diabetically conspiratorial,” he said.

“The spreading of disinformation is the worst thing. It happens in your pocket, not newspapers, and it’s terrifying that it’s tailored to your kind of neurosis.”

Hoping to raise awareness of the phenomenon and its dangers, Latham is planning to exhibit his own home version of a click farm — a small box with several phones attached to a computer interface — at the 2024 Images Vevey Festival in Switzerland.

He bought the gadget in Vietnam for the equivalent of about $1,000 and has occasionally experimented with it on his social media accounts.

On Instagram, Latham’s photos usually attract anywhere from a few dozen to couple hundred likes.

But when he deployed his personal click farm to announce his latest book, the post generated more than 6,600 likes.

The photographer wants people to realize that there’s more to what they see on social media — and that metrics aren’t a measurement of authenticity.

“When people are better equipped with knowledge of how things work, they can make more informed decisions,” he said.

“Beggar’s Honey,” co-published by Here Press and Images Vevey, is available now.

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls: Season 2, Episode 17, "Dead Uncles and Vegetables", Part 3

Part 1 Part 2 All Episodes

Please, sir, there is nothing I wish to see more than Miss Patty drunk with power.

How big was it again, Babette?

Nothing brings me greater pleasure than when Luke and Jess exchange silent glances like “Can you believe this corny shit?” The meeting is being held to discuss the feud between Taylor and the Hippie with the farmers market. This seems like a personal dispute that could have been an email.

At the meeting Taylor Karens harder than he's ever Karen'd before.

Why don't you mind your god damn beeswax, Rory-No-Job-Gilmore. This is getting old and frankly kinda weird. I’m really raring for one of those delicious scenes where Jess or Dean takes her down a peg.

After the meeting adjourns, The Convention of the Male Karens + a wildly out of place Kirk meet outside in order to remind Luke what a piece of shit his uncle was and that they’re not going to his funeral. Taylor sure sounds confident that the people of Stars Hollow won’t also spit on his grave and sing a happy song when he croaks. Frankly I don't even think there will be a grave. I've always envisioned Taylor being stuffed into a sack and tossed over his beloved bridge to become swan food along with Shane, who Jess slaughtered after the Dance Marathon.

There isn’t enough rock throwing in this show. In my gritty unrated Gilmore Girls reboot titled The Hollow, more people will throw rocks at Taylor Doose.

I paused just so I could enjoy a few moments of anticipation before she reveals what the exciting Early 2000's internet application is.

Golly! I miss this early 2000's optimism about a Future with Internet.

It's streaming in right now, but sorry Lorelai, she can't send you any pictures of Prague. Corporate tech overlords have deecreed that picture taking is forbidden and must be blocked with a blacked out screen of death. No Prague for you.

Omg.

Out of Context Gilmore Girls.

Sookie: Your mom is getting me 50% off of everything. Lorelai: Yes, but 50% off of loads of money is still loads of money. You don't have that much to spend. Pretty rich coming from “Miss orders take out and diner food 3 times a day."

But when is it ever the WRONG time for you to meddle in people's business? It's a 24/7/365 job for you. And your daughter is quickly on her way to being crowned the next Little Miss Meddler. Sookie understandably has some questions about why Jackson would go to Lorelai Gilmore for wedding planning concerns. Sookie also realizes she can't afford the grandiose wedding that Emily got her into and tries to run damage control. Lorelai tells Sookie that her mother brainwashed her. That's rich coming from Miss "Brainwashed By Dean Forrester".

DIS BITCH IS LEAVING WORK AGAIN! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

She’s leaving work to help Diner Guy look at coffins!!! Get HR on the phone!

That's what he said.

Scott Patterson without a hat is...mildly off putting.

Is this what you wanted Rory? Are you happy now? Baby is miserable! But you got your damn coffee servant, now start tipping him! I made a video clip of this delightful interaction so please check it out. Milo's "No's" are so acidic they could strip paint off the wall. He needs to win in an Emmy for his No's. They are so good. You can watch my Jess Says No compliation here.

Jess Mariano: Toils in the coffee mines every day and night before and after school for sub minimum wage and eventually, on top of working a second job, minds his business, dutifully pours your coffee, no chit chat, all business. No one tips him. Lorelai Gilmore: Does a mediocre job taking orders for 1 hour and gets a 4 star Yelp review because she's Quirky. Lorelai to me, TWWGG: What's a Yelp? Me: Nevermind.

Rory, I mean this in the kindest, gentlest way possible, because I know you are a sensitive soul... Fuck all the way off. Fuck you and also your boyfriend and your mother (okay, she's not that bad in this episode). The "Get back to work" routine wasn't cute the first time when he was trying to enjoy a few precious moments to himself before school, but now he's literally working. He's like a foot away from you. Let the boy go upstairs and jerk off, sheesh. What a weird z-plot.

Rory works a job for two days and becomes drunk with power.

I really hope that when Lorelai goes back to work, Michel has some choice French curse words for her after leaving him in a lurch to cover her shift 3 times in a week for Diner Guy.

Hey look Rory, a job opening! You gonna apply or what?

This was really sweet.

So many things are throwing off the balance of the Gilly Girls Universe lately. Rory gets a job and becomes a control freak. Rory pays for her food. Lorelai dispenses reasonable advice. Lorelai's meddling is at a minimum. Lorelai is uncharacteristically pleasant. Dean is nowhere to be found (is that why Lorelai is so tolerable?) Scott Patterson without a hat.

[karaloza]

Legend of Zelda Theme Park - Zora's Domain (UPDATED)

Zora’s Domain is in the southwest corner of the park, corresponding to the Triforce of Wisdom. It is a peaceful area, with many fountains and open waterways crossed by footbridges, and structures designed with sweeping curved lines, or else taking the form of water-sculpted caves. The outer edge of the area borders an artificial lake that also serves as the boundary for that side of the theme park. Music for the area consists of not just the literal Zora’s Domain theme, but the themes for other water-based settings and Zora characters.

Attractions

Spirit Train (Sea Station): One of the stations for the Spirit Train (see the Castle Town writeup) can be found here.

Whirlpool Rapids: In this cousin to the Tilt-a-Whirl found at many carnivals, guests board little “boats” on a rotating platform. In addition to the usual rising and falling and spinning motion of such rides, lateral movement is possible via a “rudder” in the boat that tilts part of the platform so that the seat slides along it. And guests will want that control, because the ride is ringed with hostile River Zora, Lizalfos, and other aquatic monsters spitting water at everyone who passes by!

Zora Water Wonderland: For a different sort of look at the Zoras in their natural habitat, guests enter a cave lined with genuine aquarium tanks containing live fish and other creatures (many of them the inspiration for the fictitious species featured in the game franchise), which slopes down and eventually opens up into a glass-walled tunnel at the bottom of a saltwater lagoon. More live animals can be found here, along with Zoras in the form of both animatronics and occasionally costumed performers (trained divers). This means that yes, the theme park is a certified aquarium.

OCTAROCALYPSE!!!: Despite this being a theme park based on video games, not many of the attractions have video game-style interactive elements. This is simply because if visiting the Zelda park is too much like playing a Zelda game, a large portion of the potential market will be content to save their money and just stay home and play the games. But it didn't seem right not to allow guests any opportunities for in-person monster-slaying, so here's something that hopefully is elaborate enough to transcend its vague video gaminess. It begins similarly to the Goro-Gondolas, as guests board boats that cruise at a leisurely pace past scenes of Zoras at work and play. However, it soon becomes evident that all is not well when the boat enters new scenes where Octoroks are menacing the innocent fish-folk! This is where the guests come in—each seat in the boat is equipped with a water cannon, and scoring a direct hit on an Octorok takes it down (the mechanical figure tips over or sinks or otherwise indicates defeat). Unlike most theme park shooting games, there is no scoring system; the rewards are intrinsic as the rescued Zoras turn and wave to the boat or otherwise show gratitude. In later scenes, the Octoroks are bigger and require more hits, maybe even simultaneous hits (teamwork!) to take out. In the final stage of the ride, the boat climbs a tall lift and enters a dark, stormy cavern, in which a huge Octorok is rising out of a whirlpool! Trident-wielding Zora warriors are attempting to hold it at bay, while the boat makes nearly a complete circle around it as if caught in the whirlpool. You can't actually take this one down, but if each of the flailing tentacles is hit at least once, that will (implicitly) weaken it enough that the Zoras can finish it off after the guests escape...down a steep drop into a final splash pool!

Zora King's Throne Room: A spot for guests to meet and take photos with Zora characters such as Princess Ruto (Ocarina of Time), Lulu (Majora's Mask), Mipha (Breath of the Wild), and Sidon (also Breath of the Wild). While they wait, they can get a few shots of the (huge) king himself, there on his high ledge (a visual taken pretty much directly from Ocarina of Time, although Breath of the Wild codifies that Zora kings are gargantuan). He blinks and shifts, and occasionally raises one spindly arm to make a proclamation in the Zora tongue.

Shops

6. Great Bay Goods: Named for the beachfront area in Majora's Mask, this shop offers souvenir beachwear and accessories, water toys, driftwood and seashell artwork, and various ocean and fish-themed knickknacks.

7. Lovely Scales: A music shop for every Hero who ever picked up a time-traveling Ocarina, Goddess Harp, Full Moon Cello, or simple recorder. Most of the instruments for sale are simple—bamboo flutes, handheld percussion instruments (think maracas, sistrums, castanets, etc.), and of course ocarinas, but higher-end instruments are available and can be examined upon request by adults or children with adult supervision. There is also a stock of sheet music—some from the LoZ games, some songbooks for learning specific instruments, some just for fun/popularity—and a small rack of game soundtracks and tie-in albums on CD (a dying format, but it's not dead yet). A large video screen on one wall plays video clips from LoZ orchestral concerts, and the many legendary instruments from the game franchise can be seen in their own display cases.

8. Clear as Crystal: A small shop specializing in glass and lead-free crystal sculptures, figurines, and other art pieces, mostly with LoZ or aquatic motifs. An on-site glassblower creates unique small pieces while guests watch.

9. Healing Waters: Hot or cool, there’s nothing as soothing as a good bath, especially when enhanced with specialty bath salts and herbal soaps. This store offers a huge variety of both, and the salts can even be custom-blended with a selection of aromatherapy ingredients.

Eateries

10. Rockin' Rolls: A counter-service sushi restaurant with a surf rock atmosphere, including a music loop of LoZ tunes remixed for surf guitar and similar styles. You can grab a set of pre-packaged rolls for convenience or wait while a trained sushi chef makes your meal to order. Patio seating overlooks the aforementioned artificial lake, and the interior décor features references to the Indi-Go-Go's (the Zora band from Majora's Mask).

Miscellaneous

Along the exterior of Lovely Scales, just where the inverted corner of the building facade is (marked with an asterisk), there is a fenced-off pond with a handful of brightly colored frogs sitting on logs and lily pads in the water, and matching colored pressure pads in the ground nearby. This is Don Gero’s Frog Chorus, an interactive mini-attraction. Hop from one pad to another or collaborate with friends to make the frogs sing!