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#This is the higher quality of the two but the other is Max from last year's Blizcon
emile-hides · 1 year
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I cannot believe no one’s gifed POV Ramattra tilting your chin up with his staff yet. Must I do everything around here.
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diorsbrando · 13 days
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I’D DIE FOR YOU (AND I HAVE). ( s.a. )
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sousuke aizen & black!fem!reader.
cw ━━ ! minors, blank and ageless blogs DO NOT INTERACT. reader is portrayed as a black woman but you do not have to imagine her that way. using this map of the seireitei as a reference (i searched high and low for a consistent accurate one but it was hard). the first half is set pre-ryoka invasion / pre-soul society arc. the second half is aizen-centric (from his pov told from the 3rd person) and set post-tybw arc, years after he was sealed away in mugen, also including mention of events from vol. 1 of can't fear your own world (a light novel that's post-tybw & can be considered canonical); so all this being said: SPOILERS i guess???? of course you're welcome to read if you don't care about spoilers! somewhat based on 'die for you' by the weeknd & even more loosely based on 'dark red' by steve lacy. contains themes of heavy-ish angst, existential crises (?) & inner emotional turmoil within reader + aizen (separately). descriptions of character death, blood and violence. descriptions of manipulation/mind games. aizen is an unkind man. proofread (i did my best).
word count ━━ 11k
notes ━━ ! the way this fic was supposed to finished a month ago...but life once more gets in my way. and the way that it's this long....i anticipated the max being 10k but i greatly underestimated how long it would take to flesh out my idea. anywho i'm somewhat reentering my bleach era again. i’m not sure what it is but character analyses in the form of fanfiction is my jam rn like i really enjoyed writing this (i got tired of the length by like... 7k words lmao) but i like how this turned out. i've watched & read quite a bit of content that provide explanations as to why aizen is the way he is so i wanted to try my own portrayal of that in the context of canonical events. how i characterized him here is partially inspired by a fic i read about him last year so shout out to them for their support :D i hope i've depicted and humanized aizen well ♡. reblogs + commentary are heavily appreciated!!!!!
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THE PAD OF YOUR THUMB SLOWLY glided against your bottom lip, the lingering aftertaste of jasmine tea still on its surface and on your breath. The absentminded motion of your thumb caressing your mouth, as if in deep contemplation, continued as you stared at the clock hanging on the wall above you.
It was past eleven, and the midnight hour only continued to draw near as time sustained its temporal march. And there you sat at your desk, floating in the limbo of your mind that was filled with hesitancy and admittedly, budding anticipation.
Your gaze lowered to the now empty porcelain cup, nothing remaining of its contents except the shriveled remnants of herbs and a few wayward drops of the brew.
Your senior comrade, captain Sōsuke Aizen, was correct in his prediction that you'd take a liking to its floral and delicate taste when he gifted you a jar full of the jasmine tea leaves as well as other ingredients.
The captain of Squad 5 seemed to be correct about a lot of things.
His intelligence and foresight, along with his kind and politely witty disposition, were qualities that you found somewhat charming, and gradually drew you closer to him.
Being the current third seat of the 9th company, your barracks and those of squad 5's were relatively close to each other's, so often you'd catch glimpses of and run into Captain Aizen on a pretty normal basis. Over the years, the conversations that bounced between the two of you expanded past the realm of formalities between a higher and lower ranking officer, and instead ranged in territories from literature, to art, to food & drink, and even to the politics of the government for which they were soldiers for.
Sometimes, you found it hard to believe that you managed to befriend a man like him. A man who seems to have mastered the balance between being a gentle soul, helpful to others, but also possessed enough refined power and skills to be named a captain within the Gotei 13.
Especially a man who wasn’t even of your own squad.
Despite the increasingly friendly relations and generally pleasant conversation, there were few moments where Aizen's words didn't feel quite. . . . real━ he didn't feel real. He spoke eloquently, often relying on figurative language to further illustrate his point and to breathe meaning into seemingly plain and meaningless words. But at times those words, his tone felt stained; stained with some substance or color you couldn't quite place. An enigmatic façade was painted over his speech, and it took too much mental capacity to try and find your own meaning in it.
So you'd often brush it off. Your over-reliance on your own reasoning that 'you weren’t able to come to a conclusion because there is no problem a conclusion could be generated from' successfully quieted your mind’s voice. You'd also frequently blame exhaustion, or your newfound hobby of watching human psychological crime shows during your off days for these subconscious ideas you had.
But you feared that the request Aizen made of you yesterday, the source of your current predicament, couldn't be blamed on any of those things. You looked at the clock again before returning to stare at your empty tea cup. For what reason could Sōsuke Aizen wish to meet you outside of the 1st division barracks? Specifically at this hour? You immediately thought of his question as uncharacteristic of him but prevented yourself from jumping to any further conclusions.
Aizen was a reasonable man, and you were sure there was a reasonable explanation.
With a final sigh of acquiescence, you stood up from your sitting position to retie your yukata before slipping a thicker, dark colored haori on top. You were unsure how cold it was this late at night or how long you'd be out, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
You paused for a moment, glancing longingly at your vanity mirror a few times, clearly torn between a decision, before giving in with a soft groan. Grabbing your favorite perfume, you quickly spritzed the spray onto both your inner wrists, either sides of your neck, and stray areas on your clothes. You’d proceed to make sure your hair was in order and your lips were as moisturized and glossy as a pair of tear-filled eyes before making your way to the door and slipping on your sandals.
Meeting with a captain— with Aizen of all people— in the dead of night resembled too closely to forbidden lovers rendezvousing under a fruit tree to fulfill their desires of embracing one another, with no one but the moon as their witness. The comparison alone caused the apples of your cheeks to burst aflame with embarrassment, and you lightly chastised yourself for even indulging in such an inappropriate train of thought. Such a scenario seemed far too deluded to even be considered ‘wishful thinking’.
But those delusions still seemed to make more sense than whatever other conclusion you have yet to reach.
Making your way out of your personal quarters, you activated your shunpo technique, stealthily hopping from one rooftop to the other in an effort to make it to Squad 1 barracks quicker.
After several minutes, your mind mostly engulfed with the 'what if's', the soles of your sandals finally touched ground, and you stood a few feet away from the massive walls and bridges that connected to and from the barracks. Even at night you were able to make out the bold-printed kanji for the number 1 that was painted on the building.
When you arrived, even from a nearby rooftop, you didn't see anyone around. Feelings of confusion and worry began to creep up and flicker to life in your mind.
But, as if your thoughts were as audible, you felt a light breeze of wind behind you, a familiar sound that indicated someone had made their presence known.
Startled, you reflexively reached for your zanpakuto, when you remembered that you hadn't even brought it with you. It still laid against the wall near your bed, just where you placed it earlier when you were relieved of your duties for the day.
You didn't think you needed it necessarily if you were just going to meet with Aizen, hence why taking it with you slipped your mind.
The flickers of concern were swiftly extinguished as your brain caught up with your body upon realizing who just appeared. A relieved sigh left your lips, a breath of air that seemed to release all the tension that had a grip on your heart and wound tight within your muscles. "Ah! Good evening Captain Aizen. You caught me off guard for a moment there."
"My apologies, that was not at all my intention." The Fifth Division Captain sported a dark colored scarf, his long captain's coat and the standard shihakushō all Gotei officers were supposed to wear. In the sash around his waist resided his own sheathed zanpakuto. His tawny hair maintained its usual part but looked slightly tousled, yet still remaining so in a meticulous fashion that made it look intentional.
The state of his hair alone, and his current facial expression made Aizen look more . . . approachable if that’s how you were to describe it. There was a glint in his eyes that you had seldom seen before.
"Thank you, for making your way down here to accommodate my rather. . . . atypical request. I again extend my apologies if I have inconvenienced you in any way."
You shook your head in reply, "It's alright, I wasn't doing anything too important anyway. Just having a cup of tea and delighting myself in a book before bed."
You glanced downwards at the foot or so of space that was wedged in between the two of you. You forced away the murmurs of your lingering thoughts that took note of how the moonlight and shadows danced across the surface of Aizen's face just right, and emphasized his decidedly handsome features.
"But having a complete and good night's rest is important to be fully functional in all areas of one's performance. Wouldn't you agree?"
You couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Yes, I do agree with that sentiment."
Aizen all but hummed in acknowledgement, letting a moment of silence fill the air before speaking again.
"Shall we be on our way?"
You nodded in agreement, following him as the both of you walked about the First Division grounds. From what you could tell based on your position, your aimless nightly stroll drew you closer to where Sokyoku Hill was located. The area became increasingly more grassy and contained less buildings.
Although Squad 1 grounds weren't terribly far from either of your barracks, you still weren't sure as to why Captain Aizen wished to meet out here. Initially you thought that perhaps he was just fond of this particular scenery, but really it could have been anything.
But still, you believed Aizen always had a purpose for everything he did.
After several moments, his warm voice replaced the evening silence, vocalizing your current thoughts. “I assume you are contemplating why it is I have asked you here, and I’m afraid the reason is quite benign. Truthfully, I just wished for your company. I often go on night walks to clear my head after a long day and thought I might invite you to join me this time, and have a conversation with each other."
Your brows shifted upwards, for that was not quite the answer you were expecting. It seemed too . . . simple. “Really? You just . . . wanted to talk with me? Plainly?”
The Squad 5 captain let out a short, soft laugh at the disbelief that was painted on your face. There was an expression of fondness present in his eyes and in the light smile he offered you. “Yes, exactly. I quite enjoy our discussions actually, they’re intellectually stimulating and relatively pleasant. You crossed my mind, and before yesterday, it has been quite some time since we’ve had the opportunity to unwind and talk.”
You hummed an mhmm in agreement, tearing your eyes away from Aizen’s side profile in favor of the hem of his captain’s haori, watching how it danced in the soft breeze. It seemed to be less distracting than the way Aizen peered down at you from time to time.
"I see. I am. . . . truly flattered by your words, Captain Aizen; you're too kind. Forgive me for asking but," you took longer strides so that you could fall into step next to him━ as if to speak to him more directly, "Why at this time? To talk with me, I mean. It couldn't wait until more . . . . . conventional hours?"
He chuckled again, and answered as smoothly as if he were awaiting you to ask him that. "Unfortunately, today's tasks ran a little long today, so I had to stay at my office later than usual." The spectacled man paused for a moment, before setting his soft gaze on you, "And besides, that completely defeats the purpose of inviting you on a night stroll, doesn't it?"
You ignored the heat flaring up in your cheeks again. Your mind refused to move past the fact that you had crossed Sōsuke Aizen's mind enough times━ or the times that he thought about you were significant enough━ and highly enough to invite you into his realm and indulge in these moments with him, when he very much could have done that alone.
A tender smile appeared on your lips, more towards yourself than the man next to you. "I. . . suppose it does."
The ashen-white moon only rose higher in the sky, providing an ambiance of tranquility as the both of you talked about whatever crossed the surface of your minds. Other times, the stillness of the night did the talking, and you'd listen to the leaves, and the wind, and the crickets sing together in harmony. Gradually as you walked and the beaten path grew more narrow, your figures drew closer together, until you could feel the long sleeves of his haori brush against your own.
You hadn't noticed that the two of you eventually stopped walking and paused under a tree until Aizen struck up conversation once more. When he called out your name in that gentle, velvety voice, you swore your heart was going to lurch out of your chest. The sound of your name rolled of his tongue so smoothly, the desire to hear it again grew within you.
"Uh━ yes, Captain Aizen?"
"Are you satisfied with way things are at the moment?"
You stood next to him, perplexed at his inquiry due to its vague nature. "Um, what. . . . things? I'm afraid I don't understand what you're asking."
The wind brushed Aizen's dark ochre tresses across his face as he took a step towards you, like the breeze itself was pushing him towards you. "Hm, perhaps I should be more clear then. Are you content with being a soul reaper? Are you satisfied with being a soldier for the Soul Society?"
With your brows slightly furrowed in thought, you remained silent for several seconds and overanalyzed his every word, trying to predict where he might be steering the conversation now. The longer you thought it over, the stronger that nagging feeling from within your soul became. The one that often told you what he was asking wasn't exactly . . . it didn't quite feel . . . . .
"This feels like a prelude to another insightful discussion on Shinigami━ and by extension━ Seiretei politics." Your words cut off your own thoughts, as if your mind was trying to sweep something under the proverbial rug.
Aizen huffed in amusement, before lightly shrugging, leaving your statement definitively unanswered.
You sighed as you seriously considered his question this time. "I mean sure, I guess. I'm somewhat satisfied with my job and all of . . . this," gesturing your hands in the air around you to emphasize your point. The 5th Division Captain made another humming noise, indicating that you still had his full attention. He inched a little closer into your personal space.
The mere action caused your next words to die in your throat and a quiet chuckle resounded from his, before your thoughts revived themselves again.
"Of course things could always be better but. . . . y'know. This is just how it is." You weren't quite sure if you should voice negative opinions about the Soul Society so plainly to a senior officer, even if he was the one who asked you in the first place, so you treaded lightly.
The same plainly relaxed smile from earlier remained painted across his lips, held in his chestnut irises was an emotion akin to affection. He seemed somewhat pleased that you were expressing your thoughts with him.
“And you? Are you satisfied, Captain Aizen?” You were unable to keep the teasing endearment out of your tone as you returned his gaze, casting aside the notions of Gotei officer seating and ranks for the moment. The air seemed like it shifted━ towards what, you weren't sure of━ but it kind of made you feel like you were adrift, floating in isolation from everything else around you.
It was still hard to process that you were alone with Captain Aizen right now. . . . at night.
A low hum reverberated within his chest, contemplative in nature as he replied, “Perhaps.”
The wind whistled lowly again, erecting goosebumps on whatever part of your skin happened to catch the midnight breeze. You fought the instinctual urge to twitch towards the nearest source of heat, which happened to be Aizen. Now that would be even more wholly inappropriate than the 'lovers meeting at midnight' scenario.
The silence between the both of you was brief, but comfortable nonetheless. Once more his mellifluous voice cut through the quiet, leveled and calm, like still ocean waters.
“Come. I want to show you something,” Aizen reached his arm out towards you, your spine as straight as if someone stuck a metal rod dipped in ice water down your robes.
The captain's movements seemed steady and slow━ it had felt like time itself had hesitated for several moments. You thought he was going to . . . . well you weren't sure what he was going to do, and that's what you made you nervous.
Was he going to touch you? Cradle your cheek? Remove a stray leaf that happened to land on your head? You were left somewhat dangling in anticipation, not daring to flinch backwards because you felt it would be disrespectful or offensive. You hadn't even blinked, subconsciously fearing that this was only a very vivid daydream.
But alas, when his arm drew near it extended past your head, slightly above you, and held a small branch in his palm it like a delicate flower. You released a breath you didn't know you were holding, but that breath drew short again when your gaze was eye level with his lower neck and chin.
He seemed . . . . closer.
“I think that regarding the condition of the Soul Society," Aizen began in a quiet voice, referencing his own reply to his earlier question, "and therefore my thoughts about it, is akin to this set of leaves on this branch."
Snapping out of whatever stupor you seemed to have slipped in, you exhaled softly before stepping back a bit to look at what he was talking about. In his palm he cradled a wayward branch that grew from one of the other sturdier branches of the tree. The green foliage of its arms had started to weaken and dull in color. The cold air due to the seasonal transition to autumn caused the leaves become brittle, nearing closer to the edge of death.
The sound of just how brittle they were resounded in the air when Aizen thumbed the leaves in between his fingertips, observing their texture with pity laced in his small movements.
"These leaves will fall off as it gets colder. And soon, the rest of this tree will be bare as well. When the time comes, when the right circumstances fall into place, the old die to make way and usher in the new; it's simply the way things are. I think of the Soul Society government is structured in a similar manner."
You hung onto his every word, like he were imparting crucial wisdom to you. Even though you were a bit confused on the last part, and on the connection between dying leaves and Soul Society, you still listened intently, waiting for him bridge the gap between the two.
"The Soul Society as it is now can be thought of as a season. And this particular season, this climate has remained so for several centuries. How can nature continue━ how can we continue to progress when the old have yet to be washed away by the currents of time? It defies that of nature, yes?" He directed this question at you specifically, in search of your agreement.
You nodded your head, tearing your gaze away from the branch and directed it at the grass beneath your feet. Your brows furrowed a little as you mused over Aizen's words. He gave a rather ambiguous answer before but now, his words sounded like vague displeasure and muted criticism. Everyone was entitled to their opinion, and on some fronts, you'd sometimes agreed with the 5th Division Captain. The Soul Society was far from perfect, too much emphasis on nobility and status, the government resembled too closely to an oligarchy . . . But you didn't━ wouldn't voice these thoughts, though.
Instead you hummed quietly under your breath. There was that tugging sensation again. This time it told you that there was something deeper to this conversation than meets the eye. But what could there be? Was there anything at all or were you just overthinking it?
The voice-like sensation in your soul was calling out to you, but you couldn't hear it that well or quite make out what it was saying. It's as if someone was calling out to you in a crowded room that had music playing on the speakers: you felt like if you listened hard enough you could make it out but ultimately, the result would fruitless.
"And when that happens," Aizen continued, "sometimes nature has to be gently nudged back on track to keep things moving smoothly. That may require . . . shaking the tree. Pulling a few harmful weeds from one's garden, so to speak."
"Weeds?" You echoed. You felt like you understood this analogy and therefore what he was trying to say, but at the same time you didn't. Or was it . . . . you didn't want to understand what he was implying?
Because if you were interpreting his words correctly, if he were inconspicuously comparing the higher-ups and the government itself to dying leaves and harmful plants that needed to be removed, then . . . .
"You, dear child, are a mere weed in this scenario."
Wait, what did he just━
Your thoughts were cut short when a gush of air that smelt strongly of Aizen━ warm oak, vanilla, and a kind of musk that you weren't sure how to describe but was still pleasant all the same━ brushed against your face and took you by surprise.
But there was another aroma that arose, steadily becoming more apparent alongside the increasingly painful throbbing feeling you felt in your abdomen.
It smelt metallic. And it was something that you've smelt all too many times before.
It was blood.
Your gaze that was initially narrowed in confusion lowered as it followed the source of this pain. Your eyes slowly widened in as you struggled to comprehend the blade that was currently ran through your torso.
Aizen's blade.
"Actually, instead of weeds, a more accurate and befitting analogy perhaps would be blades of grass. You unfortunately have to step on them in order to reach the weeds you want to remove."
You couldn't really focus on what the captain was saying, because your brain was still struggling to process what the hell just happened. Your hands slowly rose from their sides and shakily grazed the zanpakuto, wanting to believe that if you touched it, it would pass right through your fingers like mist. But no, the sensation of cold steel was as real as the robes you wore on your back. You only just now are processing the muffled squelching sound of his sword impaling your flesh.
You wanted to scream, to cry in pain, to vomit, to push him off━ something. But all you could do was stand there, stunned, words completely failing you. "Wh. . . . what? Why did . . . . you . . . . "
A cough replaced your attempt at a comprehensive sentence, and you tasted iron in your mouth.
Fuck....was this really happening?
"Please don't push yourself trying to talk," His voice was like an index finger to one's lips, similar to a parent's gentle caress to quiet and sooth their child, "You'll only hasten your death. And I'm sure you wish to know the reason for my killing you, yes? You'd have to be alive for that."
'Killing me?' 'My death?' The certainty that rang in his words chilled the blood in your veins, and they confirmed the one conclusion you hoped wouldn’t come true: that you were going to die.
The frigid embrace of fear and dread engulfed you from behind and you shivered, causing the blade snugly lodged in your organs to shift. The pain of that foreign object moving even a little bit shot through your entire body, causing a groan to emerge from your throat.
Desperate to conserve your energy and the oxygen that was becoming a little harder to take in, your breathing became uneven and a little wheezed. Even then, you couldn’t bring yourself to meet the gaze of Captain Aizen to confirm if this was really happening or just an extremely realistic and vivid nightmare. The sight you might be greeted with could be more frightening than the actual impaling of his sword.
As if his betrayal couldn’t actually or figuratively cut you any deeper, just then there was a noise that grew louder and louder within a matter of seconds until it was almost deafening. You’ve distinguished it to be the sound of glass crackling.
Your surroundings formed cracks everywhere on its surface, like it was just an oversized window. Even on the grass you stood on, or what you thought was grass, began to crumble away.
A dumbfounded but panicked look was plastered on your face when your world literally shattered around you, the only remnants of it being you and the Captain.
What was underneath the mirage━ or you should say, the fact that it was a mirage at all━ only disturbed you and increased your perplexity.
Slightly hunched over and breathing heavily, it took a minute to process where you were, but you noticed that now the two of you stood in a formal room that looked like it was used for important meetings. The lights in the room slowly started to brighten, most likely due to motion sensors. Even with Aizen's scent lingering in your nose, you could still pick out a rather stale aroma that hung in the air like dead fruit that hadn't fallen off the tree.
"Is . . . this Cen . . . tral━ "
"You are correct. Where we currently stand is the assembly hall for Central 46, the judicial power of the Soul Society. All judiciary as well as legislative trials and proceedings are held here."
All around the room were seats with partitions, the kanji for 1 through 46 printed on them. In the seat for the 19th member, your gaze caught onto something on the translucent barrier. It was a little farther up so you had to squint your already blurring vision to see it properly.
You saw, and your heart promptly sank as a result, eyes widening once more.
There were splatters of a dark colored substance on the partition━ undeniably blood. And the lithe, bony fingers of an older man laid lifeless, peeking out from the side of the screen like the appendages themselves were trying to escape from the body they were attached to.
That man . . . was dead. That stale aroma you smelt was the stench of death.
It was only after that unsettling epiphany did your eyes dart frantically around the room and realize that every member of Central 46 was dead.
The disturbed expression on your face only intensified as your stare was pulled back down to where Aizen's blade still resided in your body.
" Cap.....Aizen," you uttered, swift to correct yourself. All the moisture in your throat dried up like water underneath the unrelenting rays of the sun. You kept gulping your saliva in an attempt to assuage the sensation, but relief only last for a fleeting few seconds. "Did you ━ you killed them . . . didn't you?" Your question was laced with shaky hesitance and swelled with apprehension, fearing that you already knew his reply even before he answered.
There was a moment of silence and a hum before he replied. "Smart girl."
The muted mirthful tone in his voice sounded like sarcasm, and it was enough to finally draw your attention away from everything else and directly look at him. Almost instantly, you regretted it.
His umber tinted gaze was colder than you remembered. You couldn't find anything in his eyes that hinted that all of this was just a big misunderstanding, or a dream, or that Aizen had a secret sense dark and complex humor.
This was your first, and apparently your last time, that you have ever felt a fear such as this. Your mind was struggling to comprehend this was the same Aizen that spoke with you so gently, full of encouragement and wisdom. The same man that recommended you books to read and gifted you tea to drink and gazed upon you like . . .
Well, none of that mattered now. In this moment, Sōsuke Aizen wasn't the same man anymore. This Sōsuke Aizen was someone else, and it frightened you.
"When?" you croaked, your voice no longer sounding like your own. Nothing felt real anymore. "W-When did you . . . . . how? Why?"
Another noncommittal hum resounded from the spectacled man as he closed his eyes, feigning the action of thinking of an answer. When he reopened them, his narrow gaze returned to you.
"Everyone in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was previously aware that the ability of my zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, allowed me to confuse the enemy using bodies of water, mist and even moisture in the air in order to attack. However, that is not my zanpakuto's actual power; there is more to it than just simple confusion. Kyoka Suigetsu's true power is Complete Hypnosis. Essentially, when someone looks at my blade, I am then able to take control of that person’s five senses, causing them to believe that something is real ━ or that something isn't real. In a way, once glancing at my unsheathed zanpakuto, that person forfeits their sense of existence to me. Kyoka Suigetsu is quite flawless in its deceptive abilities."
A heavy silence, aside from your uneven breaths, endured in the space between both of you. You didn't need him to spell out what he was trying to say.
It was all . . . . an illusion. A convoluted, premeditated illusion. And you walked right into it without even knowing or considering, that it was all fake.
The Fifth Division Captain inwardly smiled at the despair clearly written on your face as he watched you mentally put the pieces together. He took your lack of reply as a sign to continue. "The members of Central 46 have unfortunately been dead for quite some time now. And as for your question of why......"
The taller man stepped towards you which inadvertently (or purposely, you began to fear), drove his sword deeper into your abdomen without warning and slight force. You bit down on your bottom lip hard to stifle your exclamation of pain. In an attempt to somehow resist him, with the little strength you had left, your hands automatically took purchase in his oversized sleeves, but it did nothing. You found it ironic that you could feel how warm Aizen was underneath his robes, but his soul was anything but.
" . . . . I believe I already mentioned it earlier, yes? All flowers die eventually and the weeds......must be removed."
At that moment you remembered that tugging sensation that told you something felt off in some instances whenever you talked with Aizen. This must have been what it was. Damn it all. You still didn't understand exactly what bad things Central 46 and the Soul Society have done to cause his actions, but based on what you've been told and your current position, it must have been heinous. Again, you actively swallowed the urge to vomit.
"You . . . you lied. I can't believe━ how could it have all b-been a lie?" Another nasty cough rattled your body, followed by a shiver and a groan.
The brown-haired man slightly tilted his head, like he was truly confused. "Lied? Hmm, well. I suppose you could put it that way based on your limited knowledge of the circumstances, but I wouldn't put it that way. Besides, this isn't really about truth or lies. It is, and always has been, only about the reality of what is. And what is, is that you were unable to anticipate my deception. No one could, because it was outside the domain of your thoughts. What is, is that the current way the Soul Society operates is tainted, and I shall be the one to remedy it."
You drew another shuddering breath and looked down at the ground with a grim expression as your blood continued to pool at your feet. Briefly, you even considered unsheathing yourself from his blade and take the chance to make a run for it, but the chances of you making it to the outside world, let alone coming across someone before you bled out and died were slim. Besides, it was clear that you couldn't even trust your own senses anymore after Aizen demonstrated that he had complete control of your reality.
Which reminded you of something else.
" . . . when?" you asked the same question again, but much quieter than before, despair palpable in your voice. 'When and how did you subject me to your zanpakuto's Complete Hypnosis?', is what you were really asking. And being as intelligent as he was, the spectacled man understood.
Abruptly, with a large palm on the small of your back, Aizen used his gentle hold grip to pull you towards him in order to close the remaining distance, causing him to drive the remaining length of his zanpakuto all the way through until the tsuba of his blade rested against your stomach. You looked like a skewered piece of meat.
You didn't have the willpower to hold back the piercing shriek of agony and physical anguish as tears sprung forth from your eyes. You could no longer tell if your blurry vision was due to your tears obstructing your sight or if it was from being a step away from death's door.
"Do you remember . . . the first time we met?"
The hand that rested on your lower back slowly glided upwards until his fingers found your jaw. With a tenderness that reminded you of a time before his betrayal, he lifted your chin and guided your gaze to look at him directly. His thumb moved to graze your bottom lip just as you've done mere hours ago━ as if he knew that, as if he watched you do it. His thumb was dangerously close to slipping inside your mouth and that both excited and scared you. Your breasts against his, your breaths synchronized with his, your body and his were fully pressed against each other and it made focusing on his question more difficult.
Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The first time . . . we met? Sure, with a little bit of effort you could easily recall the first time you formally met Aizen. It was sometime in the spring, and you remembered him running through combat formations with his lieutenant and the rest of his squad. But why d━
A silent gasp left you. Another epiphany, another figurative blade piercing your heart.
Battle formations, and he . . . offered you to join them . . . his zanpakuto . . . . .
Confusion crumbled away, and was replaced with vacant horror and sadness. It seems you've already been defeated, for many, many years now.
Aizen seemed to murmur something under his breath, a pleased sound you couldn't quite decipher. His mouth brushed over yours, rendering you literally speechless, before he closed the distance and brought your lips together. You could barely process what was happening.
It was ironically tragic how soft and skillfully gentle his lips were against yours. The kiss felt longing, like a departure between two sweethearts and their last meeting together. It also felt heavy and final, making you want to cry.
And you did. Silent tears streamed from your eyes and rolled onto the fingers that still held your face so affectionately. The captain reacted by guiding your chin up a little further, dipping his head a little lower, so he could deepen the kiss. You weakly scorned yourself for thinking about how the two of you must really look like lovers now, sans the sword sticking out from your back.
Oh, how cruel this was; how cruel he was. It was cruel for him to kiss you like this, hand still splayed on your back like he needed to touch you stay sane. And how cruel it was that still managed to enjoy it, even as you stood there dying. Your lips moved together in tandem, slow and almost passionate, all while tears stained the apples of your cheeks, drying up the plush youth that once resided in them.
Aizen's tongue had slithered its way into your mouth, and you suddenly felt like crying harder. There was a tart, sweet flavor lingering on his tastebuds, and you absently wondered what is was. Perhaps hibiscus from tea, you surmised. And he too tasted the sweet jasmine and citrus that clung your tongue and lips. At this, he chuckled quietly into your mouth, humming before retracting from you by a few inches so he could speak.
"I knew you would like the tea. It's sweet and flavorful, isn't it?" You hated how low his voice was, how its timbre pleasurably vibrated and rumbled against your lips, and you hated that lidded stare he gave you. You again thought it unfair that you couldn't even revel in the rare sight of Aizen's lips slightly wet because your lips were intertwined with his.
"I have to thank you for humoring me and my recommendations. I really appreciated it. And I also," you winced loudly and cried out in affliction as Aizen finally began to withdraw the sword from your body, "must to bid you farewell now. It seems you don't have any more time left, and this has dragged on for longer than it needed. I'm not surprised you've held out for this long, as I already knew you possessed commendable strength. But alas it wasn't enough. I am sorry that you have to die; it's rather regrettable that you happened to be that blade of grass that ended up underneath my foot."
Another wail was yanked from your chest as he steadily removed his sword from your abdomen. The pain was becoming excruciating, you would have collapsed by now if the taller man weren't holding you.
You saw two things before the light in your eyes had all but faded away. The first were the colors of faux pity and apathy that swirled in Sōsuke Aizen's irises, spiraling like a storm that was certain to wreak havoc in its wake. His gaze was devoid of any regret or remorse; the final metaphorical nail on the coffin. The second was a small smile.
But this wasn't one of his smiles you were familiar with. No wait . . . . the one you knew was simply a veneer of what is.
This smile was slanted, the corners of his lips tilted upwards and was sharp. Sharp enough to cut open your already gaping wound further and completely tear you apart, spelling out your demise. It looked insidious as if it were hiding razor-edged fangs. This was what is; Aizen's real smile.
"I. . . I see. Aize. . . ." were the last words you were able to manage. You didn't have the strength to be upset or hurt any longer, so you gave in to the exhaustion.
Your body permanently relaxed, long lashes veiling your now empty eyes as your arms lifelessly dropped to your sides. The captain found a disturbing amount of pleasure in his name being the final word you attempted to speak before succumbing to the sleep of death.
And even after the fact, the facade of doomed, star-crossed lovers persisted as your body slumped backwards. Aizen's strong forearm wrapped tightly around your waist being the only reason you didn't fall to the ground in a puddle of your own blood.
That day was the last anyone saw of you, your zanpakuto still laid idly in your room, its spirit destined to forever wander in the afterlife between worlds alone, eventually fading from existence without ever feeling the presence of its master again.
They had declared you missing by the end of the next day. Lieutenant Hisagi was probably the most perturbed about your sudden disappearance. Days, weeks passed, and they never located you. The Gotei 13 was left unsettled by the lack of progress, but ultimately had to rule your case inconclusive. Some believed that you were simply killed by a stray hollow, or even ran away from your duties because of the stress.
The news of what happened spread like wildfire across all the squads, that a high-ranked officer just up and vanished without a trace. The spirits and morale of the thirteen companies dampened, sorrow and worry swelling like a festering boil.
And that boil burst when Ryoka infiltrated the Soul Society, and when it was revealed that all of it was carefully orchestrated by Sōsuke Aizen.
Like a blade of grass that somehow snuck into one's sandals or in between their toes, during his time in Hueco Mundo, images of you flashed in his head at unexpected times when his mind was quiet. He'd remove the grass, tossed you aside, and moved on with his day. There was no room for you in the grand scheme of things. Such reminisces were beneath someone like him.
And yet.
He'd always find another piece of grass from the greenery he stepped on whenever he advanced a step in his plans. There you were again.
It was common knowledge that if you kept repeating the same action over and over, it will eventually wear you down.
━━━━━━ 鏡  ━━━━━━━
It was dark, and there was nothing.
There had been nothing for quite a long time now. Utter darkness and the abyssal shade of black engulfed every inch of Aizen's body and surroundings.
He saw nothing, the seals over his eyes too opaque to let anything through. And even if they weren't obscuring his vision, he would barely be able to see three feet in front of him; there was seldom a few lanterns in his cell to begin with. He felt nothing but the bindings that kept him imprisoned in one of the deepest pits of the Seireitei. At times it felt like even his internal organs had stilled in their functions. He heard nothing but the unrelenting quiet of his cell within Mugen's maw. The only thing that served as proof that he hasn't spontaneously grown deaf yet was the occasional muffled noise that originated from outside of the entrance. And even then, he could hardly hear much of anything.
Such is an ironic fate for someone who, with a stray thought and a glint of his blade, could control someone's senses and take away their free will to experience those senses in their reality. And now, he was stripped away of all of his in nearly every capacity.
Sōsuke Aizen was rendered stationary and stagnant, qualities he detested and were the antithesis of his ambitions and plans, perhaps even his existence.
Aizen had always believed in being in control of your own destiny and making your own choices; if you had the opportunity and the power to change something━ especially if it was something that was wrong, unfair or immoral━ then one should be able to move towards that goal by making change, even if by force. The former captain had always been intentional about his actions and his desires right from the start.
And yet, here he ended up.
Spending years strapped to a chair in this dark, cloistered hole, Aizen had nothing but time to reflect the reason for his arrest: that orange haired Ryoka boy, Ichigo Kurosaki. He had nothing but time to admit to himself and settle on the conclusion that his last battle with the substitute Shinigami . . . did something to him.
Fighting the Ryoka boy ignited something inside him that he previously believed would forever lay dormant.
The thrill of a challenge.
Adrenaline was injected into his veins with each clash of their swords, spreading far and wide across every inch of his body. It no longer reacted in the measured, calculative manner he had programmed it to, but with unadulterated, pure instinct and raw power━ all in an effort to not only withstand such potent spirit energy from his opponent, but to come out on top and win.
It made him feel alive.
Aizen's desire to be the victor in battle and in his philosophy━ to prove himself right━ both fueled him and consumed him so thoroughly it led to his own downfall. That was a rather difficult fact to acknowledge; so much so his head started to pulsate intensely whenever it crossed his mind one time too often.
All of it unfolded right in front of his eyes and yet . . . he didn't really see it happen.
As time passed during his perpetual incarceration, with hooded eyes, the former captain spent an unfathomable amount of time tossing and turning every single event that led him to this underground prison, even pondering his temporary release by the Head Captain Kyōraku to fight in the war. Scenarios both minor and significant displayed itself in front of his mind's eye as if he were watching a film.
Every so often, a blurred visage of your image would make a brief appearance, like the flickering sparks of a match before they were able to come to light, fading away into the void and were overshadowed by his other thoughts. It was as if his own consciousness and intentionally muted any manifestations of your existence in his memories. As if he wasn't able to or allowed to see them━ to remember you for too long.
Mentally reliving moments from the last several months, years, decades, centuries━ trying to analyze each moment and decipher where it could have went wrong━ turned out to be quite an exhausting task. His mind and body would grow heavier with inertia, and eventually he would succumb to the alluring pull of slumber. After some time he would rouse from his sleep, and continued from where he left off.
These were his daily activities day in and day out (even though he had trouble distinguishing day and night in his chambers) for years. He saw a positive side to it though. He'd instead think of it has him getting stronger because he had spent so long . . . thinking. Ruminating. Contemplating every possibility in the past, present, and future. His mind would become as sharp as his zanpakuto.
Aizen had always been intentional about what he did, what he said, and how he conducted himself. He was sure in his abilities to orchestrate an image━ a belief for others to have faith in, and act on it in order to further his goals. He was always sure in that image, knowing who he was and what he stood for.
Or at least, that's what he thought.
Aizen wasn't consciously aware that his certainty in this crafted image had already begun to waver. He could not and was unable to anticipate how severe these small fractures had become until after a certain lieutenant paid him a visit outside his cell of confinement, right before he was scheduled to be thrown back into that dark hole of the Mugen.
Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi was quite emotive when he burst through the doors. His expressions were contorted in volatile mixture of frustration, anger and sadness. His emotions were every which way, directed at everything that has happened so far, including himself. He was especially emotive at Aizen specifically for what he did to former captain Kaname Tosen and 'corrupting him with his twisted ideals.'
Aizen found amusement in that.
Before he was rolled away by the punishment force and therefore out of earshot, a particular set of Hisagi's words caused the small, content smile on his lips to uncurl ever so slightly. "Everything . . . and everyone that has ever gotten themselves involved with you has been trampled on by you and your ideals one way or another, and they all end up dead. If you think what you did to Captain Tosen was justified━ to call it mercy . . . . . then there is truly no justice in this world. You will . . . forever be the enemy in my eyes."
There was a trembling anger in his voice. Pain that wanted to cry out and be set free but, the thin lid of reason prevented it from doing so. And after a moment of silence, the corners of Aizen's lips curved upwards once more. A little bemused, a little more wolfish this time. He maliciously imagined Hisagi's reaction if he ever discovered the true reason for your disappearance.
But instead, all he said was. "What an interesting thing to say, Shuhei Hisagi. Your conviction is admirable." Any evidence of emotion that might have been reflected in his sepia irises was swallowed up and obscured by the darkness of the Mugen's jaw.
The cracks in Aizen's sense of self, in his beliefs, in the image he invented started to cave under the weight of Hisagi's words before he himself realized it was happening. They were like stains in the fabric of his mind that refused to come out.
What puzzled him more, was that with each attempt to figure out just why Hisagi's words echoed in his mind, they all lead back to you, the third seat of the 9th squad. Annoyingly so.
The tattooed lieutenant hadn’t said anything particularly profound ━ at least, Aizen didn't think so. Your name didn’t even fall from his lips. So why were memories of you and your likeness the only clear thoughts he could make of Hisagi's speech? Was it because he was aware of how close the two of you were? He doubted the reason were that trivial and insignificant.
His thoughts grew more discordant by the day, his soul a little more weighted than usual. Perhaps these new seals that Urahara had fashioned actually had an effect on him, Aizen thought. It made sense. His intellect, other than his own, were the only ones capable of creating such effective restraints.
After a while, he had a revelation. This was a different kind of weight.
This heaviness, the closest word he knew to describe it as . . . . was loneliness.
Time taunted him as it seemed to drag on━ Aizen grew even less sure of how much━ when he came to this realization. Hisagi's words were a clear mirror to the loneliness that echoed within him after what happened to you and to Tosen. It was so . . . potent, that it seemed to strike some chord in Aizen he had never heard before.
Such a chord, this sound of loneliness, it was strange and uncomfortable; he wasn't very fond of this sensation. He'd try to scrub it away, but it was all for naught.
His eyes had slid shut at some point, his ruminations leading to dead ends and wearing him down. And, almost as expected, there you were again, in all your translucent glory. The hem, the sleeves, and even the smell of your yukata slowly dragged across his dreams, haunting his thoughts like a lonely wraith.
And Aizen hardly dreamt of anything.
When he regained consciousness he was plagued with yet another epiphany. An additional reason behind this newfound depth.
Aizen's own loneliness. Guilt. Much to his own quiet horror.
How foreign and unusual a thing like guilt is. It was like looking into a mirror and not recognizing something you had never noticed before, but wondered if it had always been there.
But the thing Aizen did recognize, how lonely he actually felt, was something he had hoped would never resurface again. It was a notion he hadn't had the time or regard to consider━ 'loneliness'. Its only purpose, if any, was solely to serve as a motivator. At times though, it was more like a hindrance.
Something akin to nausea slowly started to bubble up in the pit of his stomach, but he suppressed the sensation before it became any more intense.
What of his previous actions did he need to feel guilty for? He hadn't felt it then, so why would he feel it now? Again he ruminated such a question endlessly into oblivion.
The former captain had no doubts that his plan to remove the Soul King, and therefore the Soul Society's sins, were necessary.
Nor did any hesitancy about removing the opposition or dead weight━ whether shinigami or arrancar━ existed.
He certainly had no reservations against killing Kaname Tosen, for he knew the man well enough to know that Tosen would have been so thoroughly appalled with what he had become, it would have drove him mad.
So what was it, then? Why were such useless emotions as guilt and loneliness being amplified n━
"Y....know, S....."
Even covered by the seals, Aizen's eyes widened and his brows were slightly furrowed in distress. Had his mind finally tipped the scales of sanity and madness, to the point where he was hearing things?
It was quiet for several moments longer, before his senses caught onto the sound of water dripping onto a hard surface.
One drop at a time.
Its cadence a little too rhythmic to be natural. And for a second time, he heard that soft, ominous sounding whisper. Its voice a little clearer this time.
"You...know.....Sōsuke."
In the second it took for his eyes to flutter shut behind its seals to blink, when he reopened them, he was no longer sealed to the walls and floors of the Mugen, nor was he surrounded by every shade of darkness imaginable. His limbs and senses were finally freed to breathe for the first time in what felt like ages.
That relief was short-lived when his senses absorbed the unending landscape of water underneath his feet, water lilies lifelessly floating on its surface, and the dim sky illuminated by a full pale moon.
Aizen was in his inner world, and now he was aware of how he got here, or rather who brought him here.
"You . . . already know the answer to that question, Sōsuke." The voice was even more clear, its sentences more comprehensible. And it sounded it eerily like you.
Why the voice was impersonating your likeness had caught him off guard for half a second, but he realized it was only the work of his zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu.
An illusion it may be, there was an untouchable quality about your voice and how you spoke that even Kyoka Suigetsu couldn't replicate.
A few feet away from him, the water was disturbed by a being emerging from the depths. Ripples formed around a manifested version of his zanpakuto, who took the form of you, smiling ever so gently. The smile felt airy, and it didn't seem like the same one that haunted his dreams and every waking thought as of late. It felt....knowing.
Still, the former captain couldn't be bothered to maintain eye contact with his sword spirit, so he turned around and opted to keep his unreadable stare trained on the vast expanse of water and white lilies.
"It's been quite a while since I have stepped foot into this realm. There must be something you want . . . Kyoka."
The zanpakuto chuckled, it sounded like the way you would softly laugh at one of his clever quips. But this wasn't you.
He didn’t want to admit that something about that fact didn’t sit right with him.
"Judging from your tone, would I be correct in assuming you don't want to be here?"
Silence rang out within the soul scape, before Aizen interrupted it, his gentle voice colored a shade darker, and a little rigid. "And I fail to see the reason why you must take that form when you revealed yourself to me. Is your aim to get a reaction out of me? Or something along those lines?"
Your eyes━ the eyes of Kyoka Suigetsu━ narrowed at its master's back, as if they were trying to create concavities in his skull. But the expression was washed away the moment it appeared, the serene smile from before was back in place.
"You know . . . it's considered quite rude to not look at someone when you're addressing them. That, and when you deliberately ignore things they say. Your manners have been deteriorating, Sōsuke. Tsk, tsk."
Kyoka-dressed-as-you suddenly appeared before him, as if they had teleported. Even when they were in his peripheral vision, Aizen still maintained his stare off into the distant nothingness.
"Unless, you can't find it in yourself to look at me. . . that's correct, isn't it? It's because I look exactly like her, right?" The zanpakuto continued to provoke him, taking a step closer into his personal space.
With an exasperated sigh, his eyelids fell shut for a second, using that time to gather the strength he didn't know he needed, and directed his gaze to meet his spirit's. Aizen's face gave nothing away, but his heart lurched about his chest when his bronze eyes met with yours, or what was made to look like yours. The undesired affect it had on him was all the same.
"If you wish to chastise me about manners, I suggest you take your own advice. You didn't answer my first question, either: what is it you want? Why am I here?" Again the former captain chose to not address the other parts of Kyoka's statement. For the sake of his sanity and his thinning patience━ or was it to preserve his resolve?
Its smile widened a bit, moving another step closer to their master. God, Kyoka even smelled like you, mimicking your signature honeyed scent that Aizen didn't realize he found so intoxicating until this very moment.
"I called you here to save you from yourself."
Aizen remained silent, only narrowing his eyes in speculation. "Meaning?"
"Didn't I already say it earlier? I think you already know what I'm talking about, Sōsuke. You've always known."
Fate's pairing of Kyoka Suigetsu with Aizen was a match crafted from the spindles of heaven, but also a maddening curse pulled from the depths of hell, for they complimented each other a little too well. The zanpakuto was too perfect a reflection of Aizen and his soul, looking at it started to hurt his eyes.
His sword spirit insisted that he already knew the reason for his coming here, and perhaps he did have an inkling the moment the light of epiphany was shone on his profound loneliness and guilt. But that couldn't have been what it was referring to . . . . could it?
"You cannot feign ignorance here, my dear Sōsuke, however I do find it rather humorous you bother trying. If you'd like, I don't mind humoring you by spelling it out for you. I'd be glad to unearth the truth that you have buried in the most neglected corner of your heart."
"When you were . . . . subjecting yourself to such mental torment, it had an affect on this world as well. The ripples, the waves in this scape become quite . . . tumultuous." The nuances in your voice were perfected by his zanpakuto, but the way it talked sounded like a fog that was gradually closing in from over the horizon. The uneasy feeling that resided in his chest traveled down to his stomach, but Aizen's face remained steely, even when Kyoka Suigetsu took that final step to close the gap in between them. "And the reason for that, the reason why Hisagi's words rattled you so is because you regret killing that woman."
The creased line in Aizen's brow grew more prominent as he stared down his sentient sword spirit. With its breast pressed against his, they placed a hand on his clothed chest in a tantalizing manner, but he felt nothing. There was no warmth from its palm, much unlike when your hand touched him. There wasn't even a cool sensation either. Even minutes before your death, your touch brought a soothing heat that permeated through his shihakusho and penetrated his skin.
Kyoka's face grew nearer, their smile━ although still tender looking━ grew cold at its edges, nearly resembling that of a predator eager to see despair reflected in the eyes of its prey. It didn't fit the graceful allure of your face at all, and seeing this expression deeply unsettled the former captain more than he would like to admit.
"You regret . . . killing me."
A chill tore through Aizen's body, the weight of Kyoka's words adding onto the heaviness that still hasn't been alleviated from his heart; he was hardly able to suppress the involuntary shiver.
Without warning, Kyoka's mouth suddenly became dangerously close to their master's, its lips brushing against his in a provocative manner. Aizen's expression darkened when he realized that it was reenacting his last encounter with you when you were alive. His mouth started to grow uncomfortably dry, despite his soul scape being full of moisture, and there was a taste on the back of his tongue that's been lingering there since he arrived.
The lilt in Kyoka's tone continued to taunt him. "That is the reason for your guilt: regret. You have been in denial. And in the spirit of unearthing truths, I suppose I can admit that perhaps . . . . I've been . . . . encouraging said delusions, adding drops of fuel into the flames of your emotions and ambitions. But after all that's happened, when it comes down to it there's no point in continuing this hallucination any longer. I've grown tired of this game, so it's time to for you wake up now, Sōsuke. I've brought you here to release you from your own illusion, to completely shatter it."
Aizen's back was as stiff as a board, not moving a millimeter when Kyoka's lips grazed his again. They were breathing softly onto his mouth, but he hardly felt any puffs of air.
The former captain was having a rather difficult time processing the fact that his zanpakuto had its own agenda and had been manipulating his emotions without him noticing. Specifically the emotions he felt towards you.
He never truly believed that such a thing was possible, one's own blade having such a deep-rooted influence━ no, control over their master. Or would it be more accurate to say that he never expected himself to be controlled to such a degree? He that prided himself on being freed from the marionette strings of fate that were tied to his limbs and mind, he that relished being able to do what he wanted, think what he wanted, feel what he wanted━ or what he didn't want━ it was hard to believe that none of that mattered in the end.
Kyoka Suigetsu's deceptive abilities were indeed undeniably perfect. No one, not even Aizen himself could have anticipated that Kyoka's most absolute and complete hypnosis would be enacted on himself.
"Do you know now, Sōsuke? Do you understand?" Kyoka's voice was as soft as a whisper, but it couldn't hide the edges of its tone that were still sharpened from finding amusement of seeing the truth flash across its master's face. "You had destroyed the solution to your existential question of loneliness, before you could fully understand the question itself."
Yes . . . . . Aizen understood now.
He didn't bother acknowledging what Kyoka had said. His grim facial expression━ still, tinged with dolor, and paired with an indescribable, distant look his eyes━ said all that it needed to. His silence was as much as an admission as any.
Kyoka-dressed-as-you leaned forward again to fully close the gap between their lips and Aizen's. Tenderly, like the intentions of a lover, it spoke against his nearly closed mouth. "Have you figured it out yet?"
Nothing but quiet could be heard between them, as Kyoka's mouth moved about their master's face and placed something like kisses upon its surface, but not quite.
Aizen's cocoa-shaded eyes slide down to stare at his sword spirit pressed up against him. His gaze was hard, and yet something swam underneath its surface that his zanpakuto had never seen before. Melancholy, it guessed? They weren't quite sure.
Kyoka pressed on when Aizen remained quiet. "The taste in the back of your mouth. Have you figured out what it was? You know it quite well....."
Aizen's tongue grazed the roof of his mouth, sensing the rather unpleasant taste that has coated the inside of it. And within a moment, because he was faced with the current circumstances, Aizen had finally placed a name associated this particular taste. How unfortunate this was.
Upon his realization, Aizen's head lowered, and his brown tresses hung freely over his lashes. Perhaps it was so Kyoka couldn't properly see whatever remorseful expression painted their master's face, but it mattered not. Even from here, the sword spirit could already sense exactly what it was he was feeling.
And they loved it.
"It's a sweet and flavorful taste, isn't it? Quite lovely." Kyoka Suigetsu mimicked the exact words he uttered against your lips all those years ago when he tasted jasmine tea on your tongue, and sealed your death with a kiss. "It's too bad you don't seem to enjoy it anymore."
Aizen's chest continued to rise and fall calmly, and the hands of his sword spirit that rested there glided upwards to cup his strong jaw, caressing his skin with its thumb. Its phantasmic touch did nothing to stir their master.
"Sōsuke, do you know what the jasmine flower from that tea symbolizes?"
Aizen's lips were slightly parted, but again he didn't say anything. Instead, its corners twitched and lifted upwards by an inch, and he huffed softly.
Kyoka Suigetsu grinned in reply. "Good."
The next time Aizen blinked, he was plunged in darkness yet again. The restrictive feeling that swallowed his being whole had returned, and was an indicator that his zanpakuto had released him from his inner world. He was consciously back in the Mugen, back in this abyss they called a prison cell.
Kyoka was indeed as much as a formidable force in its own right, as much as, if not greater than Aizen himself.
The conversation he had with his sword spirit would be cemented in his head for all eternity. When he grew senile and began to physically wither away, the one thing that would remain vital like a young heart, was this epiphany that he had. This realization that he actually . . . .
As the chains of despair bound him tighter to the bottom of the metaphorical pit, regret and his loneliness corroding his flesh and spirit like metal exposed to moisture, a stray memory of his time in Hueco Mundo flashed in his mind. He recalled having tea prepared for meetings with his Espadas and he could not pinpoint when, but at some point, Aizen developed an aversion for jasmine flavored tea. For one reason or another, he no longer found its taste appealing; whenever he drank it, it always tasted bitter.
Now that reason had become painstakingly clear.
The binding on his mouth muffled a rueful chuckle at the though, and it trapped the flavor of jasmine on his lips.
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oltammefru · 19 days
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After having done IS4 D15 ending 3 here's my first impressions on the gamemode. Do note that I've only played this gamemode on D15 since a friend farmed difficulties/progression tree for me:
The squads are all relatively balanced, there's a lot of interesting options between them. I favored Support Squad in my first clears for early snowballing reasons but I think I'll likely play something like Scientism more once I learn the stages better. All the class squads seem relatively balanced with each too.
Lin is really goated she is so very useful.
The early game is incredibly fucking snowbally. If you do well early game and transition into midgame with a decent team, it is so easy to get to the point where the game is just over. In the run where I did 3rd ending, I had like 8 E2 6stars, 28 collectibles, and about 30 life + shields at the end of floor 3.
Objective shields, in particular, early game ones, are way more impactful. Often times they're the difference between an entire collapse level worth of collapse.
Collapse effects are far far more negatively impactful than rejections. I know a lot of people had a lot of issue with IS3 rejections but honestly I think they just rarely ever affected the game.
One thing I liked about the design of IS3 stages / the light system is that basically every stage is made much much easier if you choose to leak a few elites, and leaking on one or two stages is rarely enough to fuck up your run on your own. In contrast, in IS4, every leak you make is incredibly impactful and has long-lasting impacts. Life itself as a number only matters in the sense that once you leak once, there's not much of a downside to leaking more so you can use that to take hard stages you'd otherwise leak like 10 on. (I have a post planned analyzing leaking in IS3 vs IS4 and how it contributes to the various themes of the gamemodes.)
6 stars are even more dominant. Part of this is because of the fact that the +1 hope cost to 4 stars and above (proportionally) affects 6 stars the least, but also because hope is way more plentiful and you only have limited squad / deployment units, so you might as well spend your hope on the more slot-efficient units.
Collectible quality is much much higher. Basically everything is at least somewhat good, every variant collectible is just incredibly efficient for its effects.
Golden chalice is honestly kind of mid? Unlike other collectibles, which have instant effects, chalice takes a while to scale up, while not being great early game (which is the main point in time where you really want good collectibles, because of how snowbally IS4 is). It's also far from the most efficient thing you can do with your money, if you get a -50% shop even with chalice it's generally better to spend at least some of it?
Robbing shop on F3 is way way better as an option now (although I've done it quite a few times in IS3 too, I think it is an underrated option in IS3). The F1-3 rob combat is much much harder though.
There's a lot of combats with <25 enemies there seems to be an emphasis on combats with lowish enemy counts. Like I said before, in IS4 it is much more important to play stages perfectly than in IS3 but I do think this creates an interesting gameplay dynamic where like if you've accepted you're going to leak on like Musical Disaster (very easy to leak on that one!) it doesn't even feel that bad to leak a few more.
Emergencies give way more exp than normal commands (and the gap seems far bigger than previous ISes).
Foldartals are neat. I like them a lot. Some of them feel pretty imbalanced though, in particular the one that has an accord that turns selected nodes into Bosky Passages and maxes out your index is so stupidly good compared to most of the other high rarity bottom ones.
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allthecastlesonclouds · 2 months
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Is someone were to start watching dimention 20 . What series(?) would you reccomend n where ?
omg omg okay okay so i'd say there are so many different routes you can take depending on what genre you like!! this is truly so hard omg. i can start off by saying most seasons are on a subscription service called dropout which is the only subscription service i will be paying for in my life (unless you're counting a patreon as a subscription service), but they also have a youtube where they've released a couple full seasons.
i'm putting Escape From The Bloodkeep at the top because a) Villainous Found Family, b) free on youtube, and c) there's an NPC named J'er'em'ih. It's a Lord of the Rings knockoff from the perspective of the villains who are dorks and also queer. Found family to the max and so many bits.
i will be crunching this post because it is LONG! genres galore!
if you want Drama: A Crown of Candy is a Game of Thrones/Candy Land mashup. The Ravening War is the prequel. Both of them have a nonzero chance of making you cry and Do have permanent deaths. A Court of Fey and Flowers is the other drama but it's. queer Bridgerton with fairies. no angst many flowers and there's LETTER WRITING and a RUMOR PHASE
Coming Of Age: Fantasy High Freshman Year, Sophomore Year, Junior Year, and The Seven. While I think t7 is higher in quality than Freshman Year, you do need FY for context. either way, both feel as realistic as an adventuring school can be to an actual coming of age story.
Misfits and Magic is also a Coming of Age and an homage and just. a fabulous piece in general which I think is a GREAT introduction (if you have dropout)! it's a group of people going "how much can we poke fun at jk rowlings books bc we grew up on those but we Don't Like Her and actually her system is trash?" it's a smaller cast using the kids on brooms system, and, once again, it's queer and coming of age and found family. there's a wet cat of a man if that's what you need in your life.
Horror Seasons: Neverafter and Burrow's End are the two Overtly Horror seasons and they both pull it off very well. Neverafter is found family. Burrow's End is a literal family (of stoats) (not anthropomorphized, just plain stoats). they're Good Horror.
The Unsleeping City (Part I) is also very good. only filmed media that's made me cry. i can't speak to part ii specifically because i did not vibe with the virtual filming style. i got dropout because of Pirates of Leviathan, but i had the context of s1 and s2 of fantasy high so. idk man. is this coherent?
romance: Shriek Week and A Court of Fey and Flowers. Monster dating sim and Fairy Bridgerton. i'm not a dating sim person so i couldn't really do shriek week but ACOFAF. Man. That season.
Mystery: Mentopolis. I cannot tell you how much I loved Mentopolis. such a good season. Hank Green is there. Mike Trapp (creator of J'er'em'ih) is there. It's truly just tropes tropes tropes. everything is a pun.
Mentopolis also fits under action, which is what I would put Coffin Run under as well. Coffin Run my beloved. 2 vampires a wannabe-vampire and a jewish-old-man-who-misses-his-wife walk into dracula's castle and go. "hey we're your favorites, right?"
i'm so sorry. i hope this helped. i really love this show man. there's very few seasons i couldn't finish and 20 seasons out right now (the 21st is coming out every wednesday starting last week) and while there are MORE seasons like A Starstruck Odyssey (scifi comedy, 10/10 no notes) this is a long post to say. TLDR: you gotta know what style of show you like. my friend and i both watch it but she REFUSES to watch fantasy high and i can't stomach A Crown of Candy but we still both watch other seasons.
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techstrendzzz · 3 months
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ramrobert13 · 6 months
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Can the Right Duvet Change Your Sleep Experience? Let's Explore!
A good night's sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, and one of the key factors that can significantly impact the quality of your sleep is your bedding. While we often focus on mattresses and pillows, the right duvet can also play a crucial role in enhancing your sleep experience. In this article, we will delve into the world of duvets, exploring how they can make a difference in your sleep quality and comfort.
Understanding Duvets
First things first, let's clear up any confusion. What exactly is a duvet, and how does it differ from a comforter? Duvets are soft, fluffy blankets filled with various materials like down, synthetic fibers, or wool. They are designed to be used with a duvet cover, which can be easily removed and washed. Comforters, on the other hand, are typically thicker, quilted blankets with the fabric and filling sewn together.
Duvets come in various fillings, each with its unique characteristics. Down duvets are known for their luxurious warmth and lightness, while synthetic options are often more affordable and suitable for those with allergies. Wool duvets are excellent for temperature regulation and moisture-wicking.
Temperature Regulation
The key to a good night's sleep often lies in maintaining the right body temperature. Duvets can play a crucial role in this aspect. If you tend to overheat at night, opt for a lightweight, breathable duvet. Conversely, if you often feel chilly, a thicker duvet with a higher fill power is your best bet.
Allergies and Hypoallergenic Options
Allergies can wreak havoc on your sleep quality. Fortunately, duvets offer hypoallergenic options to help allergy sufferers. Look for duvets made with materials specifically designed to repel dust mites and other allergens. Regular washing and using allergen-proof covers for your duvet can also aid in allergy management.
Weight and Comfort
Weighted blankets have gained popularity for their sleep-enhancing benefits, but did you know that duvets can also offer a similar experience? Weighted duvets provide gentle pressure, which can promote relaxation and deeper sleep. When choosing a weighted duvet, consider your body weight and personal comfort preferences.
Size and Fit
The right duvet size and fit can significantly impact your sleep experience. Oversized duvets can offer extra coziness, while undersized ones may leave you feeling exposed during the night. Always check the duvet size compatibility with your mattress and bed frame to ensure a snug fit.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Options:
In today's environmentally conscious world, many people are seeking sustainable and eco-friendly bedding options. Look for duvets made from organic materials, such as organic cotton or sustainably sourced down. Brands that prioritize eco-friendly production methods and ethical sourcing are also worth considering.
Aesthetic Appeal
Beyond comfort, duvets can enhance the visual appeal of your bedroom. Choose duvet covers that complement your bedroom decor, creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere. Mixing and matching colors and patterns can add a touch of personality to your sleeping space.
Longevity and Investment
Quality should always trump budget when it comes to duvets. Investing in a high-quality duvet means it will last longer and provide consistent comfort. With proper care, a well-made duvet can serve you for years, making it a worthwhile investment in your sleep and well-being.
Personal Preferences
Every individual has unique sleep preferences. Some may prefer the customization options of dual-zone duvets for couples with differing preferences. Others might enjoy the versatility of reversible duvets, providing two comfort options in one.
Finding the Best Duvet for Double Bed
When searching for the best duvet for a double bed, consider factors like size, filling material, and weight. A double bed requires a duvet that fits snugly without leaving gaps, ensuring maximum warmth and comfort. Explore options like down, synthetic, or wool fillings to find the perfect match for your preferences.
Convenience of Buying Online Duvet Covers
In today's fast-paced world, convenience is key. You can conveniently buy online duvet covers from the comfort of your home, saving time and allowing you to browse a wide range of styles and designs. Whether you prefer a classic, minimalist look or vibrant patterns, the online marketplace offers endless choices.
In conclusion, the right duvet can indeed change your sleep experience. By understanding your temperature preferences, allergies, comfort needs, and style preferences, you can make an informed choice when selecting the perfect duvet for your bed. Investing in a high-quality duvet tailored to your unique preferences is an investment in your sleep, ultimately leading to a healthier and happier life. So, don't overlook the power of the humble duvet; it may just be the missing piece to your perfect night's sleep.
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britesparc · 9 months
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Weekend Top Ten #593
Top Ten Tom Cruise Stunts in the Mission: Impossible Franchise
In retrospect, I should have flipped last week’s list and this. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1 actually came out over here on Monday, so this list would have been perfectly timed to hit just before its release; meanwhile, Microsoft has been in the news all week long due to the company winning its court case with the FTC and – it looks like at the time of writing – finally being able to close the deal on its purchase of Activision Blizzard. But, hey ho, here we go. Last week was about Xbox, this week is about Tom Cruise jumping off of or clinging onto things.
The Mission franchise is remarkable for two reasons, I think. One is that really it didn’t begin until Ghost Protocol in 2011, which was actually the fourth Mission: Impossible film. The other is that as a franchise it has an incredibly high quality bar, and all of the films since Protocol have been of exceptional quality, among the best action films of all time, with some of the most impressive stunts and action set-pieces Hollywood has ever produced. And a lot of that is down to two people: franchise architect and writer-director Christopher McQuarrie; and of course Tom Cruise.
The first three films are incredibly different, not just from each other but also from how the franchise evolved. Ethan Hunt doesn’t really have a definable character from one movie to the next, and aside from some continuity in supporting cast (well, Ving Rhames at least), there’s very little to connect one to another aside from Cruise playing somebody called Ethan Hunt. The first one is a noir-inspired team-based spy film centred on espionage, subterfuge, and heists; the second one is a weird and slightly icky, supposedly-romantic film of feuds and duels; the third is a really miserable, dark film about revenge and cruelty. Of the three, the only one that could offer connectivity to what came later is Brian DePalma’s initial 1996 offering; the team-based dynamic grew stronger once more after III, Cruise’s intense, slightly haunted demeanour is visible in how Hunt behaves in recent movies, and amazingly there are some characters still in play (Vanessa Kirby’s White Widow from Fallout is related to Vanessa Redgrave’s Max; and Henry Czerny’s Kittridge pops up again in Dead Reckoning). But 2 and III are really out in terms of tone and plot and don’t feel like what came before or after (despite III giving us Simon Pegg’s Benji and Michelle Monaghan’s Julia, who has appeared a couple of times since).
I still say that the series as we now know it began with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, however. Harking back to the first film, we have a beleaguered IMF team acting on the hoof, staging heists or similar activities to get what they need in an urgent rush to save the world, lead by Ethan Hunt who has to perform a sick stunt or two in the line of duty. McQ’s fingerprints are visible immediately in terms of the focus of the films being the action and stuntwork in various locations, the structure pivoting on important set-pieces. The talky bits are the connective tissue that gets us from one bit of action to the next, and the action scenes themselves are in a constant battle to one-up the previous entry in the series.  The line from Ghost Protocol to Rogue Nation to Fallout to (presumably, I haven’t seen it yet) Dead Reckoning is visible and clear, and we get a lot more continuity of cast and story across these movies, the continued presence of a creative hand evident on screen.
And, I have to say, the films are terrific. On the whole the saga is – hot take alert – a lot better than Bond or Bourne. I don’t know, if I rewatched everything, whether my favourite film ever from those three franchises would be a Mission or not; but the average quality bar is substantially higher. How long can they keep this up? Surely, the way these things are structured, eventually some kind of fatigue will set in? watching them back-to-back as I did earlier this year, I think the structural similarities between Rogue Nation and Fallout are quite similar, although Fallout arguably perfects the formula; it’ll be very interesting to see where both parts of Dead Reckoning end up.
Anyway; Tom Cruise does daft stunts in these films. Crazy, outlandish, frequently death-defying. This is a list of them. And I’m not saying, y’know, which is the biggest or wildest; this is just which do I think are most impressive, both from a stunt point-of-view, but also from a wider scene-in-the-movie perspective. Sadly “just” fight scenes don’t cut it, otherwise the fantastic bathroom scene from Fallout would be here, starring Henry Cavill and his loaded arms; as would, most likely, the improbable knife fight from the end of 2, with Cruise’s ridiculous summersault kicks and the bit where he holds a knife really near his eye. But I digress; mostly he's climbing things or jumping off them or clinging onto them, often all three at once.
Now read on, should you choose, etc etc etc.
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Free solo climbing (Mission: Impossible 2, 2000): I don’t know why this one is always foremost in my mind, but I guess it was where the whole “Tom Cruise does something batshit” motif began. A beautiful, slow helicopter shot focuses on Cruise halfway up a cliff in Utah, his tiny frame contrasted against the vastness of the landscape and – quite frankly – the size of the drop. He leans against the rock, dangles by his fingertips, and at one point he leaps from one rocky outcropping to another. Like, for real. I’m sure there was some harness or whatever, but there’s no denying he was really, for-real climbing these bloody things. It was such a rush to see the Biggest Movie Star in the World actually doing stuff like this. And it still holds a special place in my heart.
Clinging onto the outside of a plane (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, 2015): speaking of Cruise being up high, this one is flat-out bonkers. Ethan grabs hold of a door and holds on whilst the plane takes off; we see him, camera strapped to the plane’s fuselage, wind contorting his face, as behind him the ground rushes away at terrifying speed. It’s incredible to witness, and one of those shots that would be impossible to duplicate. We knew this was happening as it was all filmed for real on location; it was quite a surprise, then, to discover that this formed essentially the film’s cold open, tossed off minutes into the movie.
Dangling from the ceiling (Mission: Impossible, 1996): almost back to basics with something that’s a stunt performed on set, rather than Cruise being daft in the great outdoors. But arguably this stunt defines the entire franchise, as Ethan hovers on a cable as he attempts to steal files from a computer in an impossible vault. Cruise’s mid-air ballet act, swinging round perfectly, is something that appears at first glance to be relatively simple but would be, in actuality, fiendishly tricky to pull off. The tension of the whole scene – never has one bead of sweat seemed so threatening – is masterfully played, and the sound design is exemplary.
The helicopter chase (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, 2018): a lot of the press surrounding Top Gun: Maverick has centred on the fact that Cruise flew that jet for real. Here, he actually flies a helicopter, and the resulting photography is astounding (better than Maverick in my opinion). The chase through the canyon is nail-biting, but the whole scene is incredible; he tries to climb up a cargo net into the helicopter, at one point falling sickeningly and only just managing to cling on, the landscape flying by below him. Quite how they pulled all this off is baffling to me but it’s another stunning example of Cruise being up high somewhere.
Climbing the Burj Khalifa (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, 2011): speaking of being up high, blimey. As if climbing a mountain wasn’t bad enough, here he’s stuck outside a skyscraper, the skyline of Dubai visible all around – so vast you almost feel like you can see the curvature of the Earth. As an example of physical stuntwork and cinematography it’s tremendous; whatever digital wire removal went on, Cruise really is out there apparently clinging to the glass edifice of the building and we can see the ground so very far below. But again it’s an example of a thunderingly tense sequence, with nail-biting moments of near-death. Still, the behind-the-scenes photo of Cruise nonchalantly sitting right at the summit of the building is arguably even scarier.
The Eurostar (M:I): known in the trade as “the David Schneider scene” due to the beloved comedian’s cameo as the train driver. This is another excellent example of Cruise performing a cunning stunt in a studio setting, but as a sequence in a film it’s brilliant. We’ve seen action heroes battle along the top of a moving train before (and it looks like we will again in Dead Reckoning) but here the generic train-that-goes-from-London-to-Paris is moving so fast that any attempt at standing heroically on the roof is pointless. Instead, Cruise is basically buffeted along as he tries to avoid being sliced by Jean Reno’s helicopter blades. Again, not really sure how they filmed it, because Cruise really does look like he’s getting flung about by the train’s momentum. It does give us the cool “red light, green light” kiss-off moment too as he blows up a helicopter with some Wrigley’s Doublemint.
The underwater heist (Rogue Nation): this is a sequence that, yes, is brilliantly staged and directed and is suitably tense, but it’s one where the actual physical work involved maybe seems a bit more subtle. Cruise isn’t jumping off something big this time, but he is free diving and swimming around underwater quite a lot. We know how much air he has and the whole sequence is a comedy of errors, things going wrong, Ethan getting hit by machinery or losing his little data card and whatnot. Cruise really was in the water trying to do a lot of this stuff, holding his breath for minutes at a time, and it was a tricky and dangerous stunt to perform.
The Paris bike chase (Fallout): I nearly had the Morocco car chase from Rogue, featuring as it does a nice transition from four wheels to two, but the close-up tension of this nail-biting pursuit just about pips it. High-tailing it through Paris, Ethan weaves in and out of busy city traffic, slicing through oncoming cars at terrifying speeds. Filmed on location on real roads with real cars (mostly – when asked how many cars where digital, McQ replied “enough”), it’s bum-clenching stuff as Ethan rides the wrong way around the Arc de Triomphe roundabout, only just missing a couple of cars. Also has a nice finale as Hunt is twatted off his bike by a passing vehicle.
Rooftop run (Mission: Impossible III, 2006): one of a number of scenes across the franchise where we follow Ethan as he runs really fast, arms pistoning like the T-1000 on steroids, whilst someone (usually Benji) tells him where to go. Here, he emerges onto a rooftop in Shanghai, the city sprawling all around him, and in one beautiful continuous shot we see him sprint across the rooftops, leap from one building to the next, drop down and leap onto a bridge, and continue his run across the city. There are some really nice shots following as he chases across the city, but it’s really that first shot that impresses the most; it seems simple, but it was a tricky and dangerous stunt to pull off as the risk of Cruise falling and seriously hurting himself was high.  
Breaking his foot (Fallout): this feels like a bit of a cheat, but how could I exclude it? It’s another scene of Ethan running across the rooftops and streets of a city whilst Benji instructs him via a phone, and the breakneck scene of sprinting across a roof and leaping onto the adjacent building is like a live-action Crackdown. Except, of course, Cruise mistimed the jump or something, and collided badly with the target building, breaking his foot in the process. But in true Jackie Chan style he got up and finished the shot, the merest hint of a limp visible as he clambers up onto his feet. Yes, it’s a great shot, an impressive leap; but really it’s the iconic-ness of the whole “Tom breaks his foot” thing that makes it art.
That’s all for now. I just need to see Dead Reckoning.
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isuzudealersaus · 1 year
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Why Buying Used Isuzu D-Max Is So Hot in 2023?
Isuzu D-Max Melbourne is the best choice for buyers who want a reliable truck that can provide a good driving experience. It has an attractive design, powerful engine and high-quality interior. In addition to these features, it also has a wide range of options that can last for years without requiring any repairs or replacement parts.
Buying used Isuzu D-Max allows you to save money on interest rates and monthly payments while still getting everything you need in a vehicle! But why should you buy used instead of new? We'll break down some reasons why buying used will help your bottom line:
Features of isuzu d-max
The Isuzu D-Max Melbourne is a pickup truck that was first launched and then, later on, became available across the world. This pickup has been sold all over the world and it has become a very popular choice for local farmers, who use them for transporting goods such as cattle or grain etc.
With a maximum load capacity of 2200 kg (two tonnes), combined with its powerful engine performance, makes it is one of the best choices when looking for an affordable yet reliable vehicle that can carry heavy loads on any terrain type whether off-road or on-road conditions alike!
Best engine performance
2.5L Diesel Engine
4x4 Automatic Transmission
6-Speed Manual Transmission
2.2L Diesel Engine
Best fuel consumption in the market
The fuel consumption of a vehicle is one of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing a car. The higher the fuel economy, the lesser you spend on gas and maintenance. If you're looking for an SUV with good fuel efficiency, then you should consider buying an Isuzu D-Max.
The Isuzu D-Max can get up to 10L/100km mileage in city driving conditions and 13L/100km in highway driving conditions on average. This makes it one of the most efficient SUVs on sale today according to official figures from manufacturers
Wins on affordability
The most affordable vehicle in its segment, the Isuzu D-Max Melbourne is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a cheaper alternative to other vehicles. While it’s not as spacious as other models and doesn't come with all the bells and whistles, it is still a great option for anyone who doesn’t need all that extra space.
Good investment
Buying a used Isuzu D-Max is a great investment. It has a high resale value, and it's durable, so you won't have to worry about replacing it for at least a few years. In addition, the truck is easy to maintain and repair, so if something goes wrong with the vehicle, you'll be able to fix it yourself without breaking the bank on repairs.
Conclusion
We hope that, based on what was discussed above, you’ve gained a better understanding of why used Isuzu D-Max is so hot in 2023. It has many benefits over new models, including increased reliability and cost savings.
Source: Why Buying Used Isuzu D-Max Is So Hot in 2023?
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quick1tech · 1 year
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iPad Air (5th Gen) VS. iPad Mini (6th Gen)
The iPad Air 5, Apple's first M1-powered iPad Air, was released. The iPad Mini 6 was introduced last year, with a look that is extremely similar to that of the iPad Air and many of the same characteristics. 
The 2021 iPad Mini includes an all-screen design with no Home button, Touch ID unlocking, and two stereo speakers — all of which are shared with the iPad Air. 
Also, with the addition of Center Stage for the front camera and 5G connection to the iPad Air 5, there are even more similarities between devices, making it difficult to choose one over the other. There are, however, several distinctions between the two devices.
First, let’s discuss similarities:
Both can be configured up to 256GB. Both models have the same camera quality-12MP but the iPad mini has a flash while iPad Air has no flash. And both models have the centre stage feature of Apple.  
USB-C is another common thing between them. The IPad Air and IPad Mini, display of both models include a fingerprint-resistant and anti-reflective coating that protects the surface. 
Full lamination and True Tone are also included in the display. There are essentially no differences between the two displays other than the size difference indicated before. 
Max brightness is up to 500 nits. 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second with 3x video zoom, 1080p HD video recording at 25 frames per second, 30 frames per second, or 60 frames per second, 1080p slo-mo video at 120 frames per second or 240 frames per second, and time-lapse with stabilization. 
iPad Air and iPad mini have the same battery life as claimed by Apple- Up to 10 hours while surfing on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours while surfing on cellular variants. Both are compatible with the Apple Pencil 2Nd generation. 
Differences:
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Screen:
The most obvious difference between iPad Air and the iPad mini is size; the Screen size of the iPad Air is 10.9 inches (diagonally) and width is 7.02 inches and the height of the iPad mini is 8.3 inches (diagonally) and the width is 5.3 inches. 
For an all-screen appearance, both smartphones have narrow bezels around the panel. The bezels on both devices are the same size, which makes them stand out more due to the iPad mini's smaller display. 
Most people can hold the iPad Mini with only one hand from edge to edge. The iPad Mini is designed to be portable, fitting into any bag or even huge pockets. 
The iPad Air Wi-Fi version weighs 461 grams and cellular version weighs 462 grams and iPad mini Wi-Fi version weighs 293 grams and the cellular version weighs 297 grams. 
Operating chip:
The differing processors used by the 2021 iPad Mini and the 2022 iPad Air are one of the most noticeable changes. As we previously said, the new iPad Air, like the iPad Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and iMac, is powered by an M1 chip, but the iPad Mini is powered by an A15 Bionic chip. 
The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro both have the same processor. The A15 Bionic in the iPad Mini, on the other hand, has been downclocked to 2.9GHz. 
The identical processor in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro has a higher frequency of 3.2GHz, resulting in a performance differential of 2-8 percent. 
The iPad mini has 16 core neural engine 6-core CPU and 5-core Graphics. While iPad Air has 8 core CPU, 8-core GPU, and a next-generation neural engine. 
The iPad Air will certainly outperform the iPad mini in multi-core work and activities that require more memory, but both Chipsets are quite powerful, so the difference is unlikely to be significant. 
However, keep in mind that iPad OS is normally highly efficient with how it uses the device's CPU and RAM, so there shouldn't be much of a change in overall speed unless you're doing a lot of things at once or something demanding. 
Your decision should be based on the kind of jobs you plan to perform with your new iPad.
Available colours:
The iPad mini is available in four colours; starlight, pink, purple and space grey. While iPad Air is available in 5 colours; space grey, purple, pink, starlight, and Blue. Blue is a new colour available on iPad Air.
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Keyboard connectivity:
The iPad Air has a magnetic Smart Connector on the back that allows it to connect to keyboards like Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio. Bluetooth keyboards and pointers are also supported. 
The iPad mini lacks a Smart Connector and no first-party keyboard alternatives due to its compact size. External keyboards and pointing devices can still be used with the iPad mini, but they must be distinct Bluetooth-enabled devices. 
However, given its intended use, most users are unlikely to utilize it with a keyboard or pointing device. The iPad Air is the obvious choice here if you need an iPad to use with a keyboard as a more compact and portable substitute for a laptop. 
The iPad Mini is simply too little to be usable in this manner, and its absence of a Smart Connector makes it much less helpful with a keyboard.
Final verdict:
Though there are many similarities between the iPad Mini and the iPad Air, their two most noticeable distinctions – their sizes and processors – make them drastically different in terms of how they should be used. 
The iPad mini is a little tablet that is convenient to use on the road and takes up as little room as possible when traveling. You can still work on it, but it's not the best device for multitasking or sophisticated jobs that demand greater screen real estate.
However, while the iPad Air is still incredibly portable and simple to take around, its bigger size necessitates the use of a bag or a cover with a handle, since you cannot simply slip it into your pocket (which is potentially possible with the Mini). 
However, you'll find it much simpler to multitask on the iPad Air's bigger display, and you'll be able to accomplish more sophisticated work on it. Furthermore, the device's more powerful M1 chip and larger memory pool would allow it to handle more demanding tasks and a larger number of apps simultaneously without experiencing performance concerns.
Also read: "Review of iPad mini 5th Generation", "iPad mini 6th Generation Review"
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squidnickel6 · 1 year
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About Vacuum Cleaners & Floor Care
Applauded through virtually everyone as superb, this agile container suction works on any kind of floor covering, functions quiet, and ought to last for years. It's the main reason why we keep coming back to a product named Flux Box with such great testimonials. I've utilized Flux Box and its new successor, Flexbox. It's very comparable to its ancestor as properly, but it works a bit smoother and quieter, which is a significant and also. It’s terrific for those with bronchial asthma and allergy symptoms, but it requires bags. ’ I got it to assist you get began and I assume you would know if you think this bag's likewise really good to take with you, but be sensible’️ I've acquired two more bag acquisitions available and I suggest them to all those of you that are out certainly there who don't hold any medicines or are thinking about acquiring one that will handle any kind of things you might put in your mouth. The Tineco S11 is one of the lightest, many comfortable-to-use catch vacuum cleaners that likewise have adequate cleansing energy to function pretty properly on the majority of rugs (though it’s not fairly the ideal we’ve checked). It's also one of the less pricey as well. It's likewise quite hefty and happens in either a black or dark or dark brown shade along with a white interior liner. A distinct dirt sensing unit makes it simple for you to concentrate your initiatives on areas that are really unclean. Along with an 8-inch sensing unit, it can easily detect dirt so the dust you gather coming from a certain place can easily be cleared away before it arrives at your physical body, enabling you to collect fragments faster. The battery lifestyle of the sensing unit is also really really good, as the iPhone 6 Plus is capable to operate for up to 100 hours. If you want a cordless vacuum cleaner that fully replaces a plug-in, a high-end Dyson is as near as it obtains. Research It Here that you have all the resources, go get a home vacuum cleaner. It's a secure bet that your residence will certainly last a life-time. When you go shopping online for a property vacuum, always keep in thoughts that the high quality are going to differ from product to product. The finest property vacuum cleaner cleansers and clothing dryers help make it quick and easy to locate the correct company.
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The Dyson V15 is actually far better than great deals of plug-in suctions at cleaning carpets. I possess a Dyson V15 and have made use of it for years when cleaning our bed linens. For the many part it doesn't trouble me. I really cleansed a married couple other folks's beds on that one and mightn't stand up the vibrations of it functioning around them any even more. My wife and I found no concerns along with it. The Black+Decker cleans up the greatest of any kind of cordless vacuum we examined in its price assortment. With our test arrangement, it operated flawlessly great with an old university suction cleaning service such as our Super Tuna coming from eBay. We additionally assessed our very own unit at our regional market along with no complication with the energy cord happening out. Making use of the consisted of cordless vacuum cleaner cleanser, we possessed no issue wash all my containers and containers coming from our shop. Though its dustbin is a discomfort and its bare floor cleaning simply so-so, it successfully remove carpets of sandy clutter. It's like throwing sand right into the heating system as you rub under your fingertip. The component is then saturated in a higher warmth that can easily hit up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 19 Celsius), in which most of the perspiration of your lower leg may be made. "It just draws all the moisture in the vegetation. It's extremely, very filthy," pointed out Dr. Bonus: It utilizes cost effective Max batteries. And it's a new fee system, no additional than 3D ink-jet printers require to charge a brand-new laptop computer. Electric battery life: Max electric battery lifestyle on all USB asking for units. It is right now 100 hours and it's not broken. Billing velocity: Max billing velocity for all wall chargers. Battery life: Max charging rate of all USB charging units. Electric battery lifestyle will certainly return to ordinary and just a couple of times will be dropped.
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sallylxa8lee · 2 years
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Purchasing a Paintball Weapon
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A paintball gun, likewise known as a paintball pen, is the main tool that permits you to play the sport. If you're simply starting, you'll possibly need to discover the fundamentals prior to you acquire your first paintball weapon. There are many different types to choose from, yet the one item you should never lack is the paint weapon. Here's some details to assist you determine. A paintball gun can be a lifesaver or a total waste of cash. Most paintball guns use gas as a propellant. Purchase a paintball gun here: https://maddogsports.com/collections/paintball-guns-packages-sale.
There are two major kinds of gas readily available for paintball guns, carbon dioxide as well as lp. Both gases have benefits and also disadvantages. Gas has the advantage of enhancing stress and can last for 30,000 or more shots. You can purchase gas in several stores and also acquire pre-filled containers. The disadvantage of lp is that it can be a lot more expensive, however it deserves it for the long term. To begin, you'll require an area to play. Discover a quiet, remote location.
When possible, obtain authorization from the homeowner. Make sure to install netting so that passersby don't obtain struck by the paintballs. And also see to it to get an air tank if you're going to make use of pressed gas. Eventually, your paintball weapon will certainly damage. Make sure to acquire a paintball weapon that's compatible with your paintball capturing design. You'll rejoice you did. You must also consider the level of play that you'll be playing. Beginners need to select the Etek 4, as this is an intermediate-level paintball weapon. Beginners will certainly locate this gun very easy to make use of, yet intermediate players will gain from even more functions as well as bells as well as whistles. You should go for a greater degree of quality than the novices. Read more now to get more enlightened on paintball weapon.
A higher quality paintball gun will certainly last much longer as well as offer you a better possibility of racking up. Color Paintball guns have been leading markers for over 15 years. In 2003, the "PM" line of pens blew up. It presented the spool valve screw style that has actually come to be the hallmark of the World Eclipse paintball gun. Dye's staples consist of the Rize as well as Maxxed entry level markers, and also the DYe DSR under a thousand bucks. The M3+ is the firm's highest-end paintball weapon. Along with the Nelson Shutoff, some other kinds of paintball guns feature a locking mechanism that links a hammer as well as a shutoff. This system allows the gun to fill a paintball into the barrel before shooting.
A lock-action device is additionally available, so the hammer and valve are often one in the exact same. A locking system is another way to distinguish the two kinds. The shutoff is a part of the bolt that aids manage the circulation of air and paintballs. There are two primary kinds of paintball guns: mechanical and electronic. While mechanical pens do not make use of electrical power to fire paintballs, electronic pens do. Electronic markers run on batteries or motherboard. While mechanical markers are louder as well as slower, they are trustworthy as well as simple to fix. However the drawbacks of electro-pneumatic paintball guns are their high rate and also trouble to fix. That's why digital markers are ending up being so popular. So, which is the best paintball gun for you? For more knowledge about this topic, visit this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paintball_equipment.
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prosecause92 · 2 years
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Meals Trucks In Utah
Since 2007, Rouge Catering has taken its place amongst Washington and Baltimore’s greatest and brightest, with a near-perfect ranking on Wedding Wire where they’re praised repeatedly for his or her world-class service. They have definitely earned their stripes, however there isn't a doubt that the food takes heart stage time and time once more. At the tip of the day, it’s less about what you choose and extra about what you take pleasure in. You are positive to discover a historical areas that may add character to your wedding ceremony. If you do discover a place that is within your finances, discover out what's included within the value. You might find that it's a higher deal than you originally thought. Some venues embrace full service, offering decorations, distributors, and photographers. Other require you to deliver your personal vendors but offer tables and chairs. Look no additional than this sweet and tangy raspberry mint lemonade! Last 12 months, we served up some tips on tips on how to correctly prepare your turkey. This year, we’re right here to assist make the general Thanksgiving cooking experience a little less annoying. We’ve gathered an inventory of helpful tips that ought to lessen your time within the kitchen and improve the time spent with loved ones. Vacation Spot Weddings However, beware of lines and bigger food prices, since visitors tend to eat larger parts when serving themselves! In addition to allowing visitors to mingle, one other benefit of buffet-style is that it is simpler to offer a bigger variety of food than with plated dining. The greatest fear many consumers have with buffets and food stations is the time it takes friends to get their food and return to their seat. A well-planned buffet occasion may have a couple of impression of the buffet to accommodate the visitor rely. Our purchasers aren’t just business relationships – we really become involved in every a part of your big day to ensure that it’s every little thing you might have ever dreamed of. From meeting with you to select the perfect menu and repair fashion at tastings, to doing loads of high quality checks earlier than the meals is served to your visitors. We need your day to be every little thing you've ever wished with meals that you’ll crave for many years down the street. Stations are sort of midway between passed hors d’oeuvres and a buffet. Bite-sized appetizers are passed to visitors, whereas 2-4 heartier small plate stations are space out across the room. Passed hors d’oeuvres are a fantastic option for a mid afternoon or brunch reception. Small, bite-sized appetizers are handed by tray to friends, who typically are standing and eating. There’s a difficult balance to attain though, between a small but satisfying amount of food and cranky visitors. This is a extra budget-friendly alternative to a full-fledged dinner as a result of you have far less food when it comes to each amount and portion-size. Couples are comforted knowing a lot of the finite details are dealt with, they usually can loosen up and enjoy their most big day. Parragué suggests one or two different dishes for the primary course and as few as one protein and two sides for the principle course or as many as two proteins and four sides max. You can work intently with the caterer to execute your vision for the meal. Guests pre-select their entrée selection after they submit their RSVP. Advantages Of Catering Any Occasion Just make certain your attendees don’t attempt to carry it across the room. Alternate pancake, whipped cream, and strawberries or give you your own creative concoction like pancake, peanut butter, and chocolate. Yes, we’ve discovered you'll be able to put nearly anything on a stick however there’s one thing about these grape skewers that are just good for straightforward event consuming. This is the place where an expert gathering caterer acts the hero. Employing an skilled prepare dinner for a personal occasion like baby shower may look like a superfluous price. All issues considered, your relatives can with out a lot of a stretch prepare the dinner for the occasion. As a staff of caterers, we share a passion for elaborate cuisine catering, and the artistry of its preparation, presentation and world-class catering service in the Everett area. In contrast to on-premise catering, off-premise catering is typically what folks consider when they host an occasion and produce meals in from elsewhere. Add lighting in the center of your ice blocks or round them. It not solely adds drama to the table but gives the impression of elegant glass blocks. Play around with colours for even greater impact. Hollow out a melon and carve a design across the rim. You have nice little bowls the catering crew won’t have to wash afterward. This delightful beverage not solely seems good, it tastes delicious. You don’t have to stress over – in search of staple items, dinner association, cooking, serving and tidy up! Indeed, proficient caterers handle the a to z of kid bathe meals. From providing you with magnificent baby bathe catering menu ideas to altering the food to go with your matter, to serving the meals and actual tidy up, the cook handles every thing. Catering Companies In Des Moines Less on-site prep time means you probably can promote more merchandise than should you cooked them to order. If you're making an attempt to decide where to arrange your concessions, we've damaged down the benefits and risks of making ready your concessions on- and off-site that will assist you resolve. You also needs to think about your location and your buyer's needs. For example, if your concession stand is at a sporting occasion, you'd do nicely to concentrate on pre-made snacks since your clients will need to return to their seats rapidly. Roasted nuts' wholesome fats content material will keep ballpark customers satiated when the sport goes into extra time, making them a perfect, nutrient-packed snack to supply at your concession stand. The best fruit snacks for concession stands are easy-to-peel and consume. With back to again video games and sometimes little time to devour a full meal, the concession stand usually turns into the place for grab-and-go snacking. Parents speeding and cramming in a number of games and fields with doubtlessly a couple of kid don't at all times have time to preplan. So, the concession stand providing options solely based mostly on the high-fructose corn syrup food regimen isn't best for growing the strong, wholesome kid that sports activities are intending. How about some tasty Mexican meals at your concession stand? Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salsa, and enchiladas are great, and they're completely different from what most other concession stands are serving. Have a variety of hot sauces out there as condiments together with some pico de gallo. Already pre-packaged, in case you have refrigeration or a stellar cooler, yogurt may be effortlessly served at concession stands. Greek provides almost double the protein but regular offers extra calcium. You can stick to only the healthy varieties, or throw in a couple sweet tooth options, too. The freshness and authenticity of made-to-order meals allow you to cost extra in your concessions, and you’re more likely to have return customers when you have something distinctive to supply. Also, cooking to order means you won’t have further prepared goods on the end of each day, reducing meals waste. Selling pre-made concessions reduces the quantity of equipment you need at your stand. If you've restricted space, getting ready your meals at a commissary kitchen forward of time can be useful. Professionals And Cons Of Meals Truck Marriage Ceremony Catering Personally I disagree with factors 1-10 not because of the gadgets which were listed but as a outcome of I feel every couple know THEIR guests finest. As a guest I keep in mind EVERYTHING possibly it's because I’m in the marriage ceremony industry or possibly it’s simply coz I’m into that kinda thing. Well that just sucked all the fun and careful planning out of most people’s weddings. And as a guest, I do remember all the little details and respect the trouble that goes into wedding ceremony planning. It supplies the right backdrop for creating your personal expertise from scratch and with rows of home windows you will get plenty of natural gentle and beautiful metropolis views. Ask people who are coming to convey one thing small. If you would prefer to offer the meal, you presumably can always ask people to bring a game, a beverage, or even some photos of household or pals that might be enjoyed by all. This will help draw your friends in and make them feel engaged and it'll also allow you to to feel like you don't have to do all of it. Here at BAH Catering, we work with purchasers of all budgets to create an event that may be a good reflection of their private style and elegance. From an intimate anniversary dinner for 2 to a marriage of 200 or a gala occasion for 500, we can craft a perfect menu and produce your vision to life. Choose from our small corner restaurant, the outdoor space at the neighboring Cantina, or let us come to you with our wood fired pizza truck. We then catered breakfast and brunch to southern California, providing a conventional French brunch catering with an omelet bar along with delicious French Pastries, quiches, and extra breakfast buffet meals. Allix Cott is the Head of Community at Carats & Cake. Launched in 2013, Carats & Cake is an online platform for the most effective wedding ceremony venues and distributors throughout the country. From planning to execution we take the stress away. The Chadwick offers its outdoor patio venue and indoor ballrooms as an exquisite backdrop that transform into the atmosphere of your dreams. We are standing by to information you thru your celebration planning endeavors. We will make the process quick, environment friendly, and customized. In the intimate Founders’ Room at Willamette Valley Vineyards, Jean was escorted down the aisle by her three boys and met groom Scott surrounded by shut friends, family and oodles of rose pedals. The Food And it just so happens that you’ve come to the proper place for that, too! After all, Peerspace is the largest on-line market for hourly event area leases. We have thousands of beautiful and sensible spaces that you could book for any kind of occasion you want. Plus, you'll have the ability to consult the Concierge service about your finest local catering options, in addition to present meals and bar staff if need be. If you are lacking desk width at your venue and wish to sneak extra meals in a extremely cool idea is this treat tree. Catering firm A Divine Event creates eye-catching meals shows that make an announcement, including its Sticks, Spoons, and Shooters choice for cocktail hour. The idea includes bite-size sweet or savory hors d’oeuvres served in shot glasses and on sticks or spoons. This unique catering thought is from the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Here you see they supplied several sorts of potato chips. Since salty and sweet are fantastic accompaniments, they added some sweet. Treats price $15 per half-dozen, and $29 per dozen. New macaron purveyor Dana’s Bakery is placing an all-American spin on the French traditional, with flavors like purple velvet, thin mint, s’mores, and cookie dough. In addition to custom colors and flavors, Dana’s provides macaron towers and dessert bars. The cost is $2.25 per macaron for orders of sixty one to 200 and $2 for every further cookie over 200. A three-day rental for a two-tap Pub-Hub prices $250, which incorporates delivery and arrange wherever in the Orlando-Tampa area. You’ll additionally discover an assortment of pastas and vegetarians choices to choose from! Speak with an Event Coordinator about what you had in thoughts. This uniquely delicious collision of flavors could simply be the most exciting culinary crossover of the fashionable age. Korean tacos started out as a novelty choice in the L.A. Food truck scene back in 2009, however today they’re all over the place. Full Time Catering Basic Meals Service Worker Job With Haverford College In conclusion, Caterers who work within the Education trade earn a 20.8% greater wage than Caterers in the Hospitality industry. If you're excited about companies the place Caterers take benefit of money, you'll need to apply for positions at The College of St. Scholastica, Dickinson College, and Sanford Health. We found that at The College of St. Scholastica, the average Caterer wage is $44,693. And at Sanford Health, they make an average salary of $30,942. Those Caterers who do attend college, sometimes earn both a Business diploma or a Culinary Arts degree. Less generally earned levels for Caterers embrace a Psychology diploma or a General Studies diploma. Depending on the business, they will also advance to the position of Trainee or Junior Chef. Now that 外燴 realize what to expect from a catering company, it’s additionally necessary to listen to what a bad catering company looks like. Following the occasion — the catering team will most often be those in command of disposing of garbage, organizing leases for pickup, and leaving the venue in standing order. All employees wear masks in our facility and at off site catering events. At least 1-year off-site catering expertise or the equal in a quick paced, high volume kitchen environment. Assisted in the driving of the corporate catering van, as required. Just above these links was our idea of probably the greatest catering resume samples around. How to write down a catering resume that will land you more interviews. If you’re a folks individual, you’ll work with potential shoppers to create the best menus within their budgets. If you work for a planner or need to avoid sales, you'll be able to spend extra of your time creating food after contracts are booked. In the early years, caterers develop their identities, outline menus, be taught to handle occasions efficiently, and community. Many introduce their services to native restaurant owners who don't cater themselves, to influence the house owners to advocate them to purchasers who want catering companies. Fewer than half of those that start out as caterers final two years in the profession. The majority go out of enterprise in under eighteen months, due to failure to handle costs, market efficiently, or establish a constructive popularity.
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tommeraas-cc · 3 years
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A warning about high polycount custom content - for downloaders and creators
I don't claim to be an expert on custom content, but I've been making CC for nearly 4 years now and I think I've learned a thing or two about how to spot custom content that might not be best for your computer/game. I only recently got a computer that can handle some of the CC out there, so I wanted to make a guide on how to spot CC that might not be right for you if you want fast loading times, minimal overheating, or your computer isn't as powerful. This guide will mostly be about clothing, but I'm sure most of these things can be applied to other types of CC.
Disclaimer: Absolutely no hate to anyone who makes CC that is high polycount -- I am guilty of doing this without disclosing it earlier in my CC making journey. We are all learning and improving every day and we all have different preferences for our own CC making which is the fun part of this community :) If you are a CC creator who needs help avoiding high polycount please message me and I would 100% be willing to you help you 
High polycounts 
3D content is made up of vertices that connect to each other to create a 3D model that can be molded into different shapes (the small segments that make up these larger shapes are called polygons). The more little dots you have, the more detailed the item can be. However, there are ways to include detail without using a high number of these vertices and polygons, it just takes time and practice.
Why should I be wary of downloading CC with a high polycount? 
There is a reason that clothing made by EA/Maxis has a limit to the number of polygons they can use in their meshes. If an item of CC has too high of a polycount, it could drastically slow down your game, overheat your computer, cause your game to crash, or even permanently damage the hardware of your computer. Of course, there are different tolerances for high polycounts based on the specs of your computer, so be aware of this before downloading. If your computer cannot run smoothly on the ultra graphics setting without CC installed, you should probably be proactive about the kind of CC you download to avoid these issues. 
However, even those with high end computers can run into issues when trying to play with a lot of this kind of CC, so it is up to the individual player to decide what they want for their game. I permanently damaged my last computer by busting a fan due to graphics rendering in the Sims 4. Please do not make the same (very expensive) mistakes I have.
The case for high polycounts:
There are certain clothing items that would not be possible to model in the sims without a high polycount. The creators who make these very detailed meshes are super talented and have my utmost respect, but my old computer just couldn’t handle them! My rule of thumb for my own personal game is that if I’m going to download something with a crazy high poly count, it better be something special. In my opinion, there’s no reason a simple tank top should be 3x the polycount of an average EA mesh. A handful of high polycount items aren’t going to crash your game (probably-- know your own computer’s limits), but considering most people will download many items from the same creator, the collection of all of those items may cause issues.
CC creators make their meshes for fun and creativity, and many don’t create for the express purpose of having many people use a bunch of their meshes in their games at once. It’s totally fine to make high polycount custom content, but if you’re a CC creator it would be respectful to people who download your items and support you to be warned of these possible issues (especially if they are paying for them!!!). Most CC creators have high-end computers, but downloaders might not, which is something to keep in mind :)
How high is too high?
This is honestly a personal preference. For me, anything with more than double the average polycount is “unacceptable without disclosing” and must include a disclaimer when I post it. For toddler full body outfits, which is what I normally make, I would consider this to be around 10-12K as the max acceptable polycount to post without a disclaimer. This number varies based on the type of CC, with adult polycounts being higher usually (given that items are quite literally larger than toddler items). For adult full-body outfits, I try to stay under 15K, and anything over 20k I would consider needing a disclaimer. But, again, this is up for personal debate, and there are a lot of factors that go into this. I am just basing this information on EA’s limits and my personal experience from playing this game on lower end computers.
How to spot high poly-count CC 
So, you’ve decided that for your personal game, you want to avoid high polycount CC. Unfortunately, many creators do not disclose when their CC has an high polycount, so it’s up to you to figure out which is which.
Before you download the item: for clothing, the easiest way to spot high polycount CC from preview photos is to look for folding in the fabrics. I don't have a high polycount CC of my own that is completed to show you, and I don’t want to put another creators CC here out of respect, so here is an example of an unfinished mesh that can get the point across. 
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As you can see, the folds in the sleeves look like they are mostly physically present, and that the folds aren't a result of the texture. This often results in sort of a "bumpy" look to the CC. If you're seeing clothing that has this tell-tale bumpy look with many folds that you can tell are 3-dimensional, you should probably avoid this CC (if you have decided to avoid high polycount CC). A small amount of bumps is normal but as you can tell by this skirt it's a little more extreme. 
Below you can see the low polycount version of this cc item where the folds look much smoother and are not as 3 dimensional. I added details like the folds in the sweater and at the top of the skirt with textures and mapping rather than a high polycounts as you might be able to tell by the fact that there are smooth edges rather than 3D folds. I have a small section of ruffles on the sleeves that have maintained a higher polycount which you can see by the physical ruffles. Details like this are impossible to do with just textures.
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There are many CC creators much more talented than I that are very good at using texture images to give off the illusion of detail without high polycounts. Look at the edges of the item where folds appear and if there’s a smooth line there, the creator might be using textures and mapping to give the illusion of folding!
After you download the item: Of course, you can always download Sims4Studio, the program CC creators use to import their meshes into the sims format, to check polycounts. If you open CC in this program and click the meshes tab, the polycount will be displayed here. I only do this for items that I think might be insane polycounts (like 100k+ or something ridiculous for clothing, which is about ten times higher than I would recommend) that might crash my game, otherwise, I usually just go by how the item looks in the previews with the tips I just told you.
There are some CC items that are pretty much guaranteed to have high polycounts. The vast majority of alpha hair will have high polycounts -- this is unavoidable and does not mean the CC is not high quality, it is just a necessity for that kind of CC. Just be aware that having many alpha CC hairs in your game might cause slowdown/overheating. 
I am a CC creator who wants to start making lower polycount stuff that still has detail. How do I get started?
I started figuring out how to do detail via textures and normal mapping about two years ago. The main resource that helped me was this fantastic tutorial by SLYD. The main thing you need for this method is a lowpoly AND highpoly version of your mesh. It takes more time to do this versus making a highpoly mesh but I think the payoff is worth it to make good quality cc that everyone can enjoy :) (Also, another benefit is you won’t have to spend so long waiting for sims4studio to import your mesh) If you would like some tips on how to do this or have questions from that tutorial feel free to message me anytime! I also have a discord server where you can get help with CC making. Again, I am not the best expert around but I might know enough to help you.
Here is another discussion on this topic that I think is a really good read if you are interested :)
TL;DR if you’re a creator who makes high polycount stuff, please put a disclaimer on your downloads. If you’re a downloader, be aware of what your own personal game and computer can handle.
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