#Using External Accessories

[inlovewithregencyera]

Regency Era Accessories Part 6: Charlotte Bonnets

Hi, Happy New Year! I made these bonnets back in April but have had issues but as of recently, I've fixed most of them. They're hat hairs, and I converted them from maya40 who was kind enough to send me some meshes she didn't release. I did change the mesh to make a few variants and changed textures aside from swatch 31 which was the original swatch.

You get 9 Charlotte Bonnet Hat Hairs for your married regency ladies of the upper crust. The plain version without roses or bows could work for the middle class and slightly below! These can even be worn by your old early Victorian widows who can't let the fashion of their youth go! Appropriate for the 1800s-1830s, but do as you please! There are 3 different types of bonnets, each with 3 different hairs. The hairs are just these ones, I believe I took the roses from this set? I'm not sure, I made these in April of 24'.

Found in the Hat category, 31 swatches, I think you need growing together for them to work, but I could be wrong because I did embed all external resources in s4s so it may vary.

These are all VERY HIGH POLY, ranging from 16k-28k. The ones with roses and bows have the most poly, so download them with caution. No, they can't be decimated more in blender without looking like a mess, I've tried.

KNOWN ISSUES: I unfortunately could not close the holes on the side of some versions of these, which is weird because I used the same base. The vertex paint is green in blender on all of the hats, so I'm unsure what went wrong, but I'll show you what I mean. It's not a noticeable issue. I also have upgraded to dx11 and batch fixed my cc, so if the texture looks weird for you in your game, you should update to dx11. I've already batch-fixed these with s4s. Don't forget to download the hair color file, it's needed or else you won't have any hair with your bonnets!

Here, you can see the small pieces of hair poking out from the bonnets. It's not that noticeable when playing your game.

Another thing, if you want these to look the same color in my game you need to get a lighting mod. This doesn't make your game lag, you need this if you don't want the bonnet to look a bluish gray color. I use bright base dark rooms. I also use gentle cas lighting, no this won't make your game lag either. It just helps with the weird blue color that EA naturally has for some reason. Without a lighting mod, the cap will look like this

As always LMK if you have any issues! (aside from the ones stated above)

Pictures of Charlotte Bonnets below ; )

Please read my TOU before downloading!

@alwaysfreecc

DOWNLOAD

[thatgentlewife]

How to Be More Feminine in Appearance & Speech

Femininity is a gift, and embracing it with grace and intention is a beautiful thing. If we want to cultivate a more feminine presence, we should focus on both our appearance and the way we speak.

• Appearance: Dressing in soft, elegant clothing, choosing modest yet beautiful outfits, and taking care of our skin, hair, and posture all contribute to a graceful presence. Soft colors, flowing fabrics, and delicate accessories can enhance our femininity without being extravagant.

• Speech: Harsh tones, loud voices, and slang words take away from the gentleness we are called to have. Speaking softly, choosing kind and refined words, and avoiding rough or crude expressions will help us reflect a more graceful, godly femininity.

True femininity isn’t just external—it’s a heart posture. It’s in the way we carry ourselves, the words we speak, and the love we show.

<3 thatgentlewife

[ad-caelestia]

potions vs charged waters

updated version

i most often see the word “potion” used as a blanket term for any liquid mixture that you enchant with magic, but it's a tiny bit deeper than that.

potions

a potion is broadly defined as a mixture of liquids with magical, healing, or poisonous properties [source] and is meant to be ingested - essentially, a potion is a liquid spell you're supposed to drink in order to feel the effects of said spell. in fact, the word "potion" is derived from the middle english pocioun, from anglo-french poisun, pocioun (drink, potion,) from Latin potion-, potio, from potare (to drink) [source].

you can essentially enchant any beverage to be a potion, and create your own potions using edible ingredients. wanna make a strawberry banana smoothie with the intent of having a super good day? bam, potion.

but, please keep in mind that even if something is edible, that doesn't mean it's safe. do your research and don't ingest harmful substances!

charged water

charged waters are infused with the energy of an external source - the moon, your favorite herbs and crystals, and elemental energy, for example. charged waters can be edible (potions) or inedible, which entirely depends on your intent. no really, i mean it. if you want to use this water strictly for spellwork, anointing items, adding to spell jars, etc., then you can add whatever the heck you want to it - crystals, oils, herbs, you name it.

but if you want to drink it or turn it into a potion of some sort, please for the love of the cosmos do NOT add a bunch of oils and trinkets and accessories to your DRINKING water.

essential oils are not for human consumption!!! and - you shouldn't be drinking something you just put a bunch of rocks in!!!!

tips

regardless of what you plan to do with your magically enchanted water, leaving it out at room temperature is a potential breeding ground for bacteria so plan to refrigerate it or store it in a cool, dark place and dispose of it within a couple of weeks.

final notes

anything you plan on drinking: use edible ingredients only, and store accordingly. do not add random nonsense to water you plan on drinking.

as always, do your own research and use your best judgement to discern what is safe and what is not.

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[otaku553]

What advice would you give to someone who's been drawing for a really long time, but is always frustrated and burned out?

This became quite long, so I'm going to go ahead and put it in a read more!

If you’re frustrated and burnt out, it can help to pinpoint why it is that you feel that way— for me it’s often that I’m unsatisfied with the level I’m drawing at and feel I can do better, or I know I’m getting stuck doing what I know and am comfortable doing but it doesn’t feel like enough. Other times it’s externally motivated, such as finding my pieces aren’t doing so well anymore on social media.

If you fall into the habit of drawing and don't want to stop, I find studies to be the most helpful. This can be anything, but I like to usually draw on photos and reality. I would specifically recommend realistic studies to people who do a lot of rendering and coloring, because it's a gateway into starting to observe reality around yourself and picking out how to draw what you perceive on a daily basis from just looking at the world.

Studies are, in essence, going back to how many of us learn how to draw: copying. I think this is a really good way to feel proud of your work again while also feeling a concrete sense that you're improving! Because when you copy something, it gives you the muscle memory to replicate it again when you need it, like a clothing fold or a specific perspective or pose, or the way light reflects off of something.

This is versatile too: you can focus on drawing any object, maybe isolated clothing folds or accessories, or drawing hands, or maybe doing quick figure drawings. You set the parameters for this yourself, and come up with something that helps you grow as an artist or feel good about your art as needed.

Another way to combat dissatisfaction with your art is to discover something new to love, such that the desire to see this thing drawn overcomes your dissatisfaction. Watch new things! Play new games, maybe draw a character you've never drawn before. The funniest and probably best advice I've seen before on consistently drawing is to become obsessed with one guy and draw them all the time for years. I do subscribe by this! My interests are in flux usually but you can often find individual characters that I take a liking to and keep on drawing until it becomes second nature. When it doesn't feel fun anymore, I find another one.

And that's where the third one comes in: sometimes you have to give yourself time to find a compelling reason to draw again, to fall in love with your own art again or fall in love with someone else's art and want to honor them with your own. It's difficult to draw when you're forcing yourself to draw and staring down a blank canvas, but it's a lot easier when you're in the middle of doing some work or something and the thought of a character or something makes you just want to put down everything if even just to scribble them on a post-it-note, right? Passion ebbs and flows and sometimes you just have to trust that it'll flow back to you in time, even if you can't predict it.

I hope this helps, and I hope you're able to find reasons to love drawing again. :)

[luvelydelilah]

Detailed Character Template

Feel free to edit to your liking. This is a more detailed and modern character sheet for casual or even fantasy roleplays and stories. You can even use this for just getting to know your character better! I recommend taking some time to fill this out and really thinking about some of these traits your character might have!

===================

  ‧˚꒰Demographics꒱༘⋆

===================

⭑Name: 

⭑Age:

⭑Sex:

⭑Gender:

⭑Ethnicity:

⭑Occupation:

⭑Socioeconomic Status:

⭑Education:

⭑Other:

=================

  ‧˚꒰Appearance꒱༘⋆

=================

⭑Eye Color:

⭑Skin Color:

⭑Hair Color:

⭑Height:

⭑Weight:

⭑Body Type:

⭑Fitness Level:

⭑Tattoos:

⭑Birthmarks:

⭑Distinguishing Features:

⭑Mobility Aids(?):

⭑Fashion Style:

⭑Accessories:

⭑Cleanliness/Grooming:

⭑Posture:

⭑Other:

=============

  ‧˚꒰History꒱༘⋆

=============

⭑Birth Date:

⭑Star Sign:

⭑Place of Birth:

⭑Previous Residences:

⭑Current Residence:

⭑Milestones:

⭑Criminal Record:

⭑Affiliations: 

⭑Accomplishments:

⭑Educational Background:

⭑Other:

============

  ‧˚꒰Traits꒱༘⋆

============

⭑Personality Type:

⭑Personality Traits:

⭑Introvert/Extrovert:

⭑Intelligence:

⭑Self-Esteem:

⭑Hobbies:

⭑Skills/Talents:

⭑Loves:

⭑Morals/Virtues:

⭑Phobias/Fears:

⭑Pet Peeves:

⭑Obsessed With:

⭑Routines:

⭑Bad Habits:

⭑Desires:

⭑Quirks:

⭑Flaws:

⭑Disabilities(?):

⭑Secrets:

⭑Regrets:

⭑Other:

====================

  ‧˚꒰Communication꒱༘⋆

====================

⭑Languages Known:

⭑Preferred Language:

⭑Accent:

⭑Mannerisms:

⭑Pitch:

⭑Laughter:

⭑Smile:

⭑Use of Gestures:

⭑Facial Expressions:

⭑Verbal Expression:

⭑Other:

=====================================

  ‧˚꒰Strengths, Weaknesses and Abilities꒱༘⋆

=====================================

⭑Physical Strengths:

⭑Physical Weaknesses:

⭑Intellectual Strengths:

⭑Intellectual Weaknesses:

⭑Interpersonal Strengths:

⭑Interpersonal Weaknesses:

⭑Physical Abilities:

⭑Magical Abilities:

⭑Physical Afflictions:

⭑Mental Afflictions:

⭑Other:

==================

  ‧˚꒰Relationships꒱༘⋆

==================

⭑Significant Other:

⭑Lover(s):

⭑Parents:

⭑Children:

⭑Grandparents:

⭑Grandchildren:

⭑Family:

⭑Pets:

⭑Best Friends:

⭑Friends:

⭑Rivals:

⭑Enemies:

⭑Colleagues:

⭑Mentors/Teachers:

⭑Idols/Role Models:

⭑Followers:

⭑Strangers:

⭑Social Media Presence:

⭑Other:

=====================

  ‧˚꒰Character Growth꒱༘⋆

=====================

⭑Character Archetype:

⭑Character Arc:

⭑Core Values:

⭑Internal Conflicts:

⭑External Conflicts:

⭑Goals:

⭑Motivations:

⭑Epiphanies:

⭑Significant Events:

⭑Other:

===================

[patchworkcuddlebug]

notes

DONT SUBMIT THIS. this is just where im gonna write down observations and hypothosises hypotheses about the artifact this isnt a formal report. keep this pages seperate from anything you submit to the class

i found it at a non-magical thrift shop. its a single ribbon that was in the toy section, but its too big for a stuffed animal, and it was on a shelf too high for kids to reach anyway. its a simple red colour and you can tell from the wear/bends in the fabric that its meant to be worn in a bow

its SO cursed. i could sense it as soon as i was through the door. something doesnt get that powerful accidentally, unless a witch older than the professors have been using it for over a century. i think it was intentionally enchanted and left for some human sucker

ill read up on class protocol and start experimenting tomorrow

day 1

i scheduled some time in a mannequin room. i double checked everything, the falsified humanity in the mannequin, lack of external contamination, everything seemed fine. after 3 hours of the bow on its wrist, and then its hair, i cant find any registerable enhancements or curses.

my current hypothesis is that there isnt any effect on the wearer. its a false positive enchantement, where all of its energy is going towards appearing powerful instead of actually doing anything

which is a relief cuz according to protocol i can wear it now ehehehe. i was really hoping its be benign because its a really cute ribbon? i was kinda distracted by the magic part but its really nice! it has a fun retro vibe, i love how the colour is just a little faded too. should i wear more ponytails?

day 2

started out by just wearing it on my wrist. i know it probably doesnt make too much of a difference as long as im wearing it at all, but i dunno if it really is cursed i at least dont want it to start by my brain

i dont think there were any effects? maybe its cuz i kept fiddling with it all day so it may have interrupted the connection? most cursed artifacts need a physical connection and if this is an accessory it could be designed for long-term contact. so i guess as long as i take it off every once in a while ill be fine? im still sticking with the false positive hypothesis, just being precautious

i guess i could just talk about my day in case there are symptoms in retrospect? i cant really think of anything negative though. i did a great job focusing in class and i feel like i was really productive. i made some good progress on my term paper and i took really solid notes

i guess i kinda zoned out between classes? it wasnt when i was talking with friends or anything just doing menial stuff like walking around. i wasnt daydreaming or anything it was just like my brain kinda shut off and my body moved on its own. i dont think thats a thing, im probably just on edge and noticing a habit for the first time. nothing to worry about

Day 3

alright. i wore it in my hair today. so far so good?

i experienced the following things that may be symptoms: minor stiffness in the muscles, a greater inclination to formality, and a strange feeling in the wrist (specifically the same one i wore the ribbon on yesterday). the feeling is hard to pin down, its a strange floaty stiffness underneath the skin. it isn't unpleasant, but the asymmetry isnt welcome.

i feel like this is definitely an effect of my wearing it closer to my head, like i suspected the other day. i dont think its enough to warrent taking it off yet. its a very nice ribbon.

Day 4.

I am turning into a doll.

I shouldn't have kept wearing it. I should've taken yesterday as a warning. Now I feel that emptiness spreading and it's spreading way too fast. There's also the... physical transformation.

My left wrist is starting to... it's hard to explain. I can feel the changes happening. There's still skin over my wrist joint but it feels like it's not natural. It's still literally human skin, but it feels as if there's a glove that's growing thinner by the hour. I think before the day is over it'll waste away completely as it slowly corrupts the rest of my hand.

The mental transformation is much more worrying. In the grand scheme of things my behaviour is mostly unchanged. I'm just more... aware of it now. Typically, I naturally slouch, and I've been made more self-aware of this habit to the extent that I need to manually initiate it rather than falling into it unconsciously. It's the same with whenever I notice my attention drifting during lectures, or notice that I'm walking too loosely, or speaking too casually. It may just be that heightened awareness is an aspect of dollhood, or... it's more noticable because it's out of place for a doll to act in such a way. Regardless, I do not feel forced to defy this inclinations yet.

I don't want to write the same way I did before. Looking at how I did before feels... wrong. Inappropriate. i can try and force something more casual but i have to force it, it feels like trying to speak a second language youve only. Excuse me. That you've only just started learning. I want to go back and fix that but I feel like it would undermine my point. It just doesn't feel right, there's something viscerally discomforting about doing that.

I'm very hesitant to reach out about this. Beyond a fear of social repercussion inherent to admitting that a witch is becoming a doll, I'm worried that there will be a serious academic punishment attached to being this callous with a cursed artifact. I'll need to find a student I can trust to reverse this.

Day Five.

Things are getting dire. This I can feel the changes getting harder to resist.

Physically, the transformation has already converted my entire left arm. My wrist, elbow, and most of its my left hand have been changed into a hollow plastic, only movable with exposed joints. This one exp I expected it to feel more harrowing, for the creeping conversion to feel more tangibly uncomfortable, but so far it is... pleasant. Being emptied out always seemed so unwelcome when the older witches described it, but it feels nice to not have the constant pulsing of blood or the strain of muscles. This one likes the noise it makes when it taps agains

I. Me. I do. Me me human person witch.

This is what I mean. It feels like I have to be vigilant to talk like a person, and a single moment's broken concentration is all it takes to give in and become complacent to dollhood.

I need to intentionally break my posture to slouch. This one c I cannot stop my footsteps from being dainty and gentle. During lectures when the professor asks for input from the class, it takes deliberate effort to avoid participation, because good dolls always do as they are told.

I didn't write that. I swear to the stars I didn't write that. It was thinking about what to write next and that thought just... naturally injected itself. Perhaps this one needs to. Perhaps I need to resort to desperate measures and remove the bow. But I... really don't want to. It makes this one look so pretty, like a good doll.

No, no, I'm not a good doll, I don't WANT to be a good doll. I feel like I'm going insane. My humanity is draining by the second and soon there's be nothing left but empty pliability and polite docility. That is a bad thing. I am not excited for that. This one needs to put more effort into finding a witch to break this curse. It wishes it could skip its lectures, but good dolls do as they're t

I. Am. Going to bed.

Day Six.

This one's friends have finally noticed. This one accidentally called one of them "miss" when answering a question, and then the entire secret quickly unravelled. This one needed to use a sweater to hide the transformation reaching its shoulders, and there's a distinctly inhuman texture to this one's face, so it was easy for them to unravel once I gave them reason to be suspicious.

They offered to be the ones to conduct the search for the cure, on the only condition that this one take care of some menial chores to help free time in their schedules. This one feels... a little conflicted. On one hand, it is excited to be closer to its humanity! It cannot wait to feel blood spill through its body, and escape that terrifying feeling of having its brain shut off so it feels nothing but a fluttering emptiness.

This one. Just said "Awawa". Out loud.

It does not want this to progress further. Yes, it feels... very nice to be a doll. But that enjoyment has to be the work of the curse. This one needs to return to its study, it cannot afford to fall behind in the academic arms race. Being a human means having expectations to fulfill, something dolls are too simple and too docile to understand.

This one. Did it. Again.

This is a vacation. Nothing more. It will indulge in its urges to be obedient when doing chores for its friends and then return to developing its magic talent to the greatest degree the curse will allow.

Day Five Hundred and Twelve.

This one was rather surprised to find its notes from before it became. They were tucked away in its closet, with other sentimental items such as certain childhood keepsakes and its government identification. This one figured it would be fun to return to journaling as a hobby.

As can likely be surmised, this one remains a doll. The search for a cure was fruitless and fizzled out naturally due to a lack of investment, both from this one and from Miss. Speaking of, Miss is one of its friends from university, although the word "friend" feels like a shallow means of explaining a doll's relationship with its witch. Its other friends still keep contact and meet up for tea, which this one greatly enjoys catering for.

It feels very silly looking back at this one's humanity, especially given the apprehension it felt towards becoming. In retrospect, the situation being forced upon this one was likely the only way it would have become without years of soul-searching introspection, so it is very thankful to have happened upon such a gift so long ago. Perhaps part of its enchantment was to find the right host?

Part of this one misses that ribbon. It was such a nice colour... but this one feels confident in the decision to return it to the same thrift store it was once found in. It feels excited for the next lucky doll to feel the same joys that this one did. The exhilaration of feeling your body become lighter and more rigid, the stillness slowly overtaking your mind with greater and greater intensity, and of course the pleasure of following one's purpose. Awawawa...

It is late, and good dolls need rest. This one is excited to spend tomorrow night writing about all the joys of serving Miss.

[writerandbaka]

The jackal and the witch AU ～ Tighnari and Cyno 💚💜

I have sketched out a reference sheet for witch Tighnari and jackal Cyno! Soon I'll draw those of other characters as well for future chapters! ฅ(◕ᴥ◕)ฅ

And as promised, here are my headcanons for this AU:

Magic is basically a component of every living being and manifests itself in different amounts and shapes in different individuals

Magic is invisible to humans. However, some humans are able to perceive it

Humans who know how to use their own magic and that of their surroundings, shaping it to their liking, are called "witches"

"Witch" is a generic word used for people of any gender without distinction (gentleman, ladies, non-binary specimen etc…)

Through spells, witches can shape magic to alter reality

There are mainly two types of spells: those that are free and uncontrolled, and those that are infused in potions

A free spell is easier because it applies directly to reality, which is thus modified at will. However, it’s more difficult to be controlled and managed if you don’t have good control over your magic

A spell infused in a potion is more controlled and specific than a free one. On the other hand, however, it's more difficult to achieve the desired effect this way

Generally, spells are temporary. That means that the magic that shapes and changes reality tends to resume its original form within a certain period of time, returning reality to its original state too

A permanent spell is consequently more complicated and difficult to accomplish. Permanently altering reality requires a good deal of magical power to force the magic of the environment to change shape forever

To perform a spell, the witch's magic influences the external magic, and weaving them together can have a different effect on reality

The witch's personal emotions are very important and act as a catalyst to manage and control magic itself. If one doesn’t have good control of their magic, when they use it, the environment magic can take over from the witch, taking command of the course of the spell and dragging the witch to its will

Spirits are creatures able to see magic, being themselves made of pure magic

Spirits come from the spirit realm, a realm separate from the earthly realm of Teyvat. They can descend to earth only when the veil between the two realms thins, during full moon nights

Spirits can take corporeal bodies only through a contract with a witch, thus becoming "familiars"

The form the familiars take depends on many factors, the character of the witch, their amount of magical power, etc. But they are always only animal forms

To enter into a contract, the witch and familiar set their own conditions (a wish, specific needs, etc.) and when these are approved or met by both parties, the contract is finally sealed

The contract between a witch and a familiar is also manifested by two small objects carried by both of them, which can be jewelry, accessories, etc.

Having a familiar is not mandatory for a witch. The spirit simply helps them control their magical power by giving them an extra dose of magic to draw on and helping them stabilize their own

The witch and the familiar share strong emotions and feelings through their bond

The witch and the familiar cannot be excessively physically distant from each other for long periods of time

The contract between a familiar and a witch binds them inextricably until the death of one of them, usually the witch. In some cases, spirits too can also die if their magic is absorbed or corrupted due to a curse

Curses are nothing more than enchantments or spells whose effects are usually negative for the creature they are aimed at

Curses may be the cause of the presence of exceptions to what has just been written so far 

The Akademiya is a witchcraft school, where students of any age can be admitted to learn to study magic

The council of Sages, or senior professors, are bigoted people who are in charge of school management, often bypassing the principal when the latter is not physically present

There is tension between the principal and the current council of Sages, for a variety of reasons

So, no visions for this AU, but each character still has different aptitudes for certain types of elemental magic rather than others

That’s all!!✨

I won't spoil anything more about the plot, but these are pretty much the things to keep in mind as the story progresses. All of them will be picked up as we go along at various points, so don't worry, I will specify everything again at the right time, so that you can appreciate the fic even without the need of this post (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Oh btw, If you haven't read it yet or if this sketch has made you curious about this AU, here is the first chapter of the Ao3 fic I am talking about! The next chapter will be posted on Monday and is already basically ready! Can't wait for you to read it!!!🪄🌱💕

[k1ddiecat]

Littling tips from experience

I don't know if anyone who follows me needs this but it's been a few years now that I've embraced my small side and I've been thinking of compiling a list of things I've learned from experience (I'm ND and have a hard time doing things without knowing why). Especially for those of us who don't have an external caregiver (EC)

-Look at references for inspiration on how you can dress to feel more childish. Find a style and then chase it slowly as budget permits.

>Clothes

-Accessories and add-ons go a long way. Sometimes it's better to focus on finding clothes that fit and are comfy even though theyre simple. Simple is very fixable later with things like patches and other clothing layers

-Mind the materials of clothes. Figure out what feels the best and what you want to avoid.

-Get a meaauring tape and make and keep a record of your measurements for online clothes ordering.

>Pacifiers and Teethers

-Pacifier wipes make it much easier to keep them clean and clean before use. Worth it if affordable.

-Have something to keep them in thats easy to access ESPECIALLY if you live with unsupportives. I use a mug that has some paper towel or pacifier wipes at the bottom. I keep it on my nightstand and toss my paci in there when Im done using it and any passers by wouldn't get close enough to notice whats inside the mug. For more stealth get a taller cup.

-Try not to bite or chew on your pacifier. This is hard for me as I'm a stim chewer and silicone is my favorite :V but they really arent that durable.

-Maybe this is basic but make sure the size is right for you or your mouth will tire faster. A lot of the common adult size ones from Etsy run big due to the goals of the seller. I use Pacifierfixx pretty exclusively for their modest but adult size nipples and small sheilds which interfere less with my breathing

- Overalls have front pockets which are awesome for tucking pacis in. Excellent for those that live with unsupportives for a quick hiding place.

-You can also very easily get away with taking a pacifier with you into the movie theater by the way. If it's not crowded no one will see you with the lights off in there. Bonus; bring a teddy to sit with you and hold during the show.

>Bedtime

-Invest time into compiling audio to help sleep. Playlists and CD's of lullabyes, soft music are worth putting together. Peaceful visuals too.

-Create bedtime riutals and bother to keep them. Link bedtime subconciously with these rituals and not only will it help you sleep, it will help you go into bedtime with a positive attitude. Still working on this one myself.

>Diapers

-Diaper materials vary. I used to be clothback only due to them being better for my environment (hot weather, not very well climate controlled living space, close quarters with unsupportive people) and because I didn't like the crinkly shiny texture of the plasticbacks I'd encountered thus far. Now (more climate controlled living space, less tight quarters but still with unsupportives) I kinda lean towards plastic because I've found ones whose texture I enjoy. Also the level of crinkle varies between not only brand but model of diaper. Research beforehand is helpful along with ordering samples if you've got the money and patience.

-Get a changing mat. If you're not incontinent it doesn't need to be a "proper" waterproof one but you should have something you can use. Reason: it catches remnants of oil, cream, or powder if using and, if you lack an EC to change you, it's good to have under your feet or your bum when you take the diaper off.

-Whoever is changing you should wash hands after using a cream,oil, or powder BEFORE attatching the tapes. Tapes are finnicky. They will often only work once.

-If you do mess up the tapes, regular clear packing tape will help you. If it's still not totally secure I'd reccomend adding breif type underwear on top to keep it in place, obviously training pants will be your easiest to clean in case of a leak second to nylon and cotton last.

-Invest in suitable wipes especially if using your diaper. These are sold at drugstores with names like disposable washcloth/ cloth towel/ etc. Flushable wipes are not actually septic safe in quantities greater than one at a time and on top of that will fall apart more easily.

-Dispose of worn diapers with double bagging. Special medical disposal bags like those from Northshore make a great first layer bag especially if using, if you can spring for it. Otherwise this is a great time to use plastic grocery bags. Once double bagged try to get them to a dumpster asap. If you plan on starting diapers at all while living with unsupportives figure out before you even buy them where and when you can safely get them to a dumpster/bin that gets emptied into the truck directly

>Kitchen and Bathroom

-Invest in Bottle soap. If there is only one thing from this guide that you spring for, make it this. I think non littles should get some too. Not only is it unparalleled for breaking up milk and other hard to clean drink substances, but the gentle formula makes it much better than dish soap at washing out of the cup/bottle/etc without leaving a soapy taste. It's like 5 dollars and can last you a while.

-Keep a container or have a dedicated spot to keep dirty dishes/ bottles/ anything you don't want to leave in the dishwasher where unsuportives can see it. A designated spot makes it essier to remember to clean and all together means that when you get around to cleaning one thing, you'll likely clean them all.

- If you don't already, having foods that can help you take meds are a good idea. Pre-packaged is convenient and therefore motivating.

-If you have a little extra change, children's medicine and hygene products are good to keep on hand. Feeling little often combines with a desire to avoid adult stuff/adult life. Being able to choose the kid version will encourage you to take better care of yourself. Sometimes the kid's version is less effective at treating adult bodies but if it gets you to use it, it's better than nothing and, during times when you need to use the grown up stuff bribing with yummy food and drink via the last tip is a good way to 'trick' yourself into it.

-Look into what kids around the world eat and maybe find some new recipes that make you feel small while keeping things interesting.

>Recreation

- Make it easier. Go for the big crayons. Go for the simple crafts. Try the accessible versions of things whether you think you need it or not.

-Make it harder. Practice an alphabet or a language you aren't fluent in. Learn a more advanced version of something that interested you as a kid. It may not seem to be very regressive to work hard but bio kids try their best generally speaking. Sometimes it's good to remember what it was like to be new at things.

-Interact with other littles. This is a big one. Many irl events for littles are completely sfw, not hookup or dating spaces, and almost every single person I've met through these spaces are in it primarily or exclusively as a lifestyle aka they are age regressors by a different name. The practice of being a sfw little predates the internet 'age regression' subculture by a long while. There are a lot more of us out there than you may realize.

-Moodboards are good but it's healthy to see people of all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds etc. embracing their inner child. Especially if you have body dysmorphia about having a grown up body. Intentionally expose yourself to photos of other littles making the best of the body they have.

[meraki-sunset]

Hi Meraki!

Can you draw Carapaces at different points in their lifespan? I wanna see babies, kids, and the elderly chess pieces.

Sure bro. here are some chess people and some headcanons i have

🧸👶BABIES!👶🧸

It's not confirmed if carapace can reproduce naturally or if they can only multiply using the ectobiology machines.

On sburb, the chess people are born as adults and with a specific purpose, with a barcode on their wrist to identify the, i guess, model. So there are no babies on Prospit or Derse.

The babies the players made in the post credits would be the first carapace children to exist.

I headcanon that they're born with a full set of teeth that fall eventually, like with any other child.

They're a little more squishy than an adult carapace but less than a human baby

i also though it'd be cool if sometimes they got black or white spots

(Also, even if chess people remember living for years before the arrival of the players, they effectively began to exist the moment the first player enters the game, those memories being an illusion, same as how, when you buy a game and turn it on, the NPCs might tell you about their childhood, when in reality, they were never kids in the real world, they were rendered as adults for the purpose of being there in the game. The same happens with the chess people)

🎈🎀KIDS🚀🪁

Like before, there are no carapace children in sburb, but I imagine they would be the quiet type of kids. Not necessarily shy, but not very talkative.

They would have a lot of energy and due to their physical endurance, they would play outside a lot, sometimes a little too rough with the human and troll kids

⚽⛱️TEENS🎮👗

I guess this is the period where they would become more vocal.

Also, I can see many of them using a lot of hats/accessories as a form of self-expression.

Suction-cup accessories would be their own version of hair clips and scrunchies

👠👓ADULTS💍🎓

They're the strongest, a lot of them have more pointy features than their teenage counterparts, some may retain the round face into adulthood, but they would still be sturdier than a teen. Their hands have now fully developed claws. They aren't strong enough to open a can, but they can hurt

EarthC adult carapace specifically would be more talkative than Sburb's carapace. Also, not having a predetermined role to fulfill, they would be more similar to humans. If you dropped one of them on one of the sburb moon, they would stand out a lot.

🌙SBURB CARAPACE🌙

Just some apreciation of the canon characters.

i love them to death

👨🏻‍🦳ELDER👩🏻‍🦳

Last but not least, the elderly carapace. Sburb carapace didn't seem able to age, or at least they did so very slowly, because their purpose was to live long enough to act as sort of guides to the players after being exiled.

I suppose they can grow old eventually, specially the ones born outside the game, as babies, they most likely have a shorter lifespan that their Prospit/Derse counterparts.

Probably you can tell they're old because of the damage to their external carapace, which isn't as hard as it used to and their posture, product of time taking a tool on them.

As for wrinkles, they're only visible in their faces, which are softer for facial expression, but they don't even get that many

(also, just so you know i cried drawing the chicken grampa carapace, he knows his wife loves birds so he bought her a chicken, that's not exactly the kind of bird she expected but loves it regarthless, the chicken's name is gertrude, the grampa loves gertrude, she's a chicken orb, a chorb if you will. they're all happy, i would die for chicken-grampa)

And that's all, that's how I imagine EarthC carapace work. They're not so different from the Sburb carapace, but they get to experience growing up and deciding what to do with their lives.

i really love the species and i want to explore them more in the casu epilogue

[moutheyes]

gelboys cinematography go brrr: episode 7 (final)

previously: episodes 1-2 | episode 3 | episode 4 | episode 5 | episode 6 part 1 | episode 6 part 2

well, folks, we made it, and so did the gelboys. I have so much I want to say about this show outside of the cinematography, which was fairly straightforward in the final episode, but as always there are plenty of cool details to point out.

in general, though, there were much fewer long takes in this episode compared to the more single-character–focus episodes, more use of cuts instead of pans/tilts to mark POV changes, and more tracking shots, all of which helped accelerate the action and pacing. part of it is because real space took center stage, which feels like a deliberate response to the end of episode 6; although the zoom summit was a real climax point, the show still required a resolution anchored in reality, with all four characters taking part. anyway, if the episode felt jam-packed to you, there were definite reasons for it rooted in the way it was shot and edited.

(if you want to feel absolutely mind-blasted, I recommend watching the zoom summit scene and the random dance confrontation scenes back to back. going from the static qualities of one to the frenetic execution of the other is a trip.)

backs to the camera

this show doesn't show us characters' backs that often (the most notable instance before this was baabin turning his back on fourmod in episode 5), so the frequency of these shots in this episode stood out to me.

each of these instances involved someone trying to hide away or deny their true desires, so it's not surprising that baabin was sorta the main culprit on this front. (fourmod definitely wasn't entirely off the hook, though.)

the optical illusion kiss

this made me feel so insane—baabin was positioned behind bua in the perspective of this scene but the framing was so exact in these shots that their lips were "touching" even before they started fooling around. [dragging my hands down my face]

stripping the walls of baabin's heart

the beauty of this show's visual motifs—nail art, stickers, and other accessories—is that they are extremely impermanent, so they provide an easy visual language for characters trying to effect change in their own lives, i.e. exert control over some external part of their self-expression, in lieu of mastering their own emotions. fourmod scraping the stickers off his guitar, for instance, or chipping his nails off whenever they remind him too strongly of chian—once before the busking performance, and again in episode 7 after his bout of paranoia outside chian's uni.

but baabin went to even more extremes as he desperately tried to cling onto the dregs of his feelings for fourmod. in episode 6 he hid his toenails under two pairs of socks, but that didn't work, and after rejecting bua a second time the task became even more overwhelming. so the sight of the ticket stub reminded him not only of his failed confession to fourmod the night of the blackpink concert but of his initial connection to bua—not only their shared fandom, but also the chain of events that led to this point. and because his entire room is a shrine to blackpink and lisa, it in turn became an inescapable reminder of his feelings for bua.

this scene wasn't just a redecoration—this was an attempt to strip himself of his own identity. at the end, we see him lying in a colorless, featureless room, framed off-kilter and deeply unhappy.

who has the upper hand?

this scene played with levels in a pretty direct way. fourmod, still trying valiantly to keep chian at bay, occupied the higher ground until giving in to chian's request to borrow money, descending to chian's level before retreating back up the stairs. but after chian managed to wheedle fourmod's number, he regained both the upper hand (so to speak) and high ground, leaving fourmod standing in place, physically and emotionally.

squaring the triangle

I was so excited to see these shots towards the end, because they were the only ones missing from our collection of triangles. :')

the other two configurations dominated the storyline, of course:

chian-fourmod-bua (many times, all iterations)

chian-baabin-fourmod (many times, all iterations)

in comparison, there's no romantic tension in the above frames, but there is a sense of of unfulfillment—in fourmod's gaze turned away from what he doesn't have, in chian's wry smile in the face of realized love, in the unfinished business that bua and baabin remind them both of.

miscellaneous cool shots

the pleasantly jarring transition from extreme landscape framing in real space to extreme portrait framing on a phone:

baabin approaching bua in real space, as shown through the phone screen:

the heart sticker on the mirror positioned perfectly on a heartbroken boy's face, and the maybe-not-so-subliminal messaging of "hey weirdos" as bua tried to change his features to what he thought baabin wanted:

another mirror moment here, it could have been another "baabin turns his back on the camera" shot as well but NO. WE SEE HOW YOU REALLY FEEL NOW.

this shot in particular filled me with terror, I think for a couple of reasons. first, cmiiw but we hadn't seen this exterior or this type of stark green neon lighting before. this show deliberately made every single setting feel familiar and lived-in, so to throw the audience something new this late, and to have baabin stand in front of it like he was about to enter the jaws of hell, was a strong artistic choice in a pivotal moment.

not cinematography but I have nowhere else to put it lol. just wanted to point out this bit of foreshadowing:

oh, fourmod, if only you knew. baabin's little shrug after, too—diabolical in its subtlety.

OK I WILL STOP HERE. I still have a lot—a scary lot, actually—to say about the sheer amount of cyclical callbacks in the final episode, but that has to be a separate post. but I gotta recover from a hectic weekend and also the emotional wreckage of this show. :')

[wtftarot]

PAC: The World

We've come full circle and it's about fuckin time, right? Time for the end. The World is harmony and the end of a cycle. She is that moment when you remember that you are the universe, you are One with everything and you feel it in your bones. It is recognizing your place as a human on this planet. The World is an ending, the inevitable conclusion but he is also the herald of a new beginning. What do they want to tell you? Let's fuck around and find out

As always this reading is for entertainment purposes ONLY and is not a substitute for professional advice in any capacity. Remember, use common sense and don't be a dumbass.

Four groups today, you can pick The Bird (eagle?), The Lion, The Person, or The Bull and head on to your reading.

The Bird/Eagle

The Nine of Cups and The Nine of Wands on the bottom of the deck.

This is fuckin gorgeous for y'all. The cycle that's ending for y'all is one where y'all had to fight tooth and nail for everything you wanted. I'm seeing the end of the Lord of the Rings, where the eagles fly Frodo and Sam out of Mordor after they destroy the Ring. I don't remember if Frodo actually says it, but I'm hearing him say "It's done". Y'all have been dealing with a rough ass cycle, huh? For it to show up as the One Ring? There may be one last battle of sorts? Like a boss battle. This is my nerd group (affectionate), I'm getting a lot of fantasy imagery. Think of it as one last challenge so you can truly close this cycle once and for all. For some of y'all, this cycle has been a long and very internal one. Something that's been weighing you down, that you're finally letting fall from your shoulders. What I'm seeing is that this 'boss battle" is a choice of sorts. You've been growing and figuring your way out of this cycle and all at once you're faced with a choice. This cycle has been more internal and you may have not seen much externally about it. It's like this choice embodies the cycle externally and you have a physical/material choice to make. Continue this cycle? Or Step forward with growth? And it will be that clear to you. Again with the imagery, I'm seeing a game screen with a choice. This path is unknown, keep going? Press X: Keep going. Press Y: Turn Around. Listen, I'm not much of a gamer like at all, so I don't know if that's a thing that happens in games? The last game I played was like three years ago?? So, the fact I keep getting gaming imagery means I'm really tapped into some of y'all's guides. Ok, the guide that's doing a lot of this is practically screaming in my ear to yell at y'all TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DREAMS. FOR FUCKS SAKE. If you're into gaming and have been playing a game that's set in the woods, that message goes double. Don't ask me, I just work here. Now the cycle y'all are stepping into? Fucking beautiful, ok? Y'all are gonna be getting a lot of shit you have been wishing and crossing your fingers for. I'm hearing/seeing "yes, those too" and imagery of a belt and other accessories? This group is loud and I love it. Yea, even the "little things" you've wanted that aren't high on the priority list will be coming your way soon. And y'all are going to be rightfully smug about it. I think some of the blessings coming your way were things that people around you have tried to dismiss or downplay or talk you out of, so yeah you can be a lil bit smug about it. You've earned it. The past lil bit for y'all has probably felt very stale and stagnant but now that it's closing, things are going to be moving and improving. It may jolt y'all a bit at first. Cause this energy is so fucking different from where you've been, that even just dipping your toes in it will be a shock. It will be a welcome shock though, refreshing. The way this will manifest will be different for all y'all, but one thing's for sure, y'all are gonna fuckin run with it. After that initial choice, falling into this new chapter will be the easiest thing in the world.

random ass vibes: video games, d&d, 999, leaning into a new clothing style, fish, moon cycles, someone have a moon tattoo? birthday cake, HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

The Lion

The Moon and The Tower on the bottom of the deck.

Ok, you need to take a break. Full stop. Even if it's just ten minutes of sitting in nothing and silence. Your brain needs a rest from everything. I feel like y'all need to be told that yes, this thing does need to end. The cycle you're in may have become your comfort zone and you feel safe repeating it cause you know what to expect. It does have to end though. Y'all may have some idea that this ending is coming but you don't know just how much things will change when it does. This may be about a belief about the world or yourself that's really holding you back. Once clarity comes, you won't fit in the same places, with the same groups you used to. I don't blame you for resisting this, it can be terrifying to start questioning belief systems or old worldviews. Some of y'all may be questioning the religion or politics you were brought up in. It could be an understanding of who you are vs who others want you to be. Y'all are feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused as to what all this means. Sweetie, that's okay. This IS confusing and overwhelming. It is hard and scary and can leave you feeling very vulnerable. Babe, you need to stop pushing yourselves to have all the answers already. This one takes time and it's okay to let it. That's probably why the message I got for y'all before I even pulled the cards was for y'all to take a break. Not only that, but you don't have to tell anyone about this. Yes, if you can find some safe support through these periods of life do it, but you don't owe anyone what you're going through. Y'all are putting soo much pressure on yourselves to know everything already, to have all the answers. To know every aspect of who you are and what you believe. Wanna know something terrifyingly liberating? You never will. You will never know every single aspect of yourself cause you're always growing and changing. Same with your beliefs, you're always learning new things about how the world works, so your beliefs will always be shifting, even slightly. This is all coming from The World card cause y'all, more than anything need to let yourselves just BE. Be in the moment, stop interrogating them as if all the answers will be found there. The answers you're seeking will come in time and letting yourself live. I know the world we live in pretty much demands you have everything figured out at all times but that's bullshit. It's okay to change your mind.

random ass vibes: small-town vibes, doves or white birds, 919, the goth kid at the family reunion, lightning, trees, dragons, red clothes. nature vs nurture.

The Person

The Sun and The Hermit Rx on the bottom of the deck

Y'all it's time to come out of hiding. You've been hiding your truth for a WHILE. lol I'm hearing that lil Sunday school song: "Don't hide your light under a bushel, NO!" ( I grew up in the bible-belt, don't judge). That's a song for little kids if y'all don't know it, you don't have to look it up. It's telling me though that y'all have been hiding your light, so to speak, since you were a little, little kid. Like four-ish years old. Now, I don't know y'all's situation, it may not be safe for y'all to be fully yourself, and cause it seems like y'all have been hiding your whole damn life that's probably the case. So, BE FUCKING SAFE, okay? Because you're at this reading though, there are probably some ways you're hiding yourself that you don't have to. It's like y'all have just been letting people decide who you are when you're around them? Y'all are wearing other's projections of you like masks. I'm hearing "too much". Ooh boy, y'all listen, this group feels like I'm talking to my younger self. I cannot tell y'all the number of times I was told I was "too much", too loud, too quiet, too stubborn, too whatever. Unless y'all are being too cruel, too bigoted or whatever, y'all have a place here okay? Y'all seem to have taken being told you're too X, or not Y enough to heart and have whittled yourself down piece by piece cause that's what the people around you want. Y'all are like the fucking sun and everyone is demanding you be a candle. I think it's people you care about telling you this too. And because you care about them, you want them to be happy and comfortable. So, of course, you can be a little smaller, whatever they need, right? Now though, you've been doing this so long, you've lost yourself a bit, haven't you? The World is telling you it's time to call those parts of yourself back. Dig up those parts of yourself that you've buried. You can start as small as you feel you need to. It may be hard and confusing at first but soon it will be as natural as breathing. If you're not even sure where to start or have forgotten those parts, ask your guides and the universe for help. Ask for signs and to be put in situations that bring out those buried parts of you. You may have outgrown some of them and that's okay. Just prepare yourself, it won't be easy. Ya know that tingling feeling when your leg has been asleep and it's waking up? I feel that even though my leg has been fine this whole time. So it will probably be uncomfortable too. You should probably expect some hard reactions from the people around you too, especially if they've only known you as the you you've pretended to be for them. But that home you've been looking for? Felt calling? That can only be built by you being your authentic self. Otherwise, it'll just be another place where you have to wear a mask to be welcome. I wish I could end this one on a lighter note for y'all. This isn't an easy one. Take some alone time and please, take care of yourself through this. Whether you realize it or not, you are working through something really difficult and need to go easy on yourself through this.

random ass vibes: Halloween, candy, ghosts, 11:11, turtles, alligators, Frankenstein's monster, Venus, halos or angels?

The Bull

The Page of Pentacles and the Eight of Swords with the Empress on the back of the deck.

Y'all have so much fuckin potential, okay? Y'all are doubting yourselves so fuckin hard and The Universe and your Guides are sick of it. We all know someone who's amazingly talented but is so fuckin hard on themselves about it, to the point where you just want to grab em by the shoulders and shake them screaming YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND TALENTED. That's how your guides are feeling about you, all the damn time. I'm serious. I was only taking One card and the bottom of the deck for each group but the Eight of Swords came out too for y'all. Y'all are stuck in your head, questioning your every goddamn move and wondering why you're exhausted and never seem to move forward. This reading's tone is much more direct, like fed up snap the fuck out of its energy. Not that your guides are fed up with you, just fed up with your self-doubting bullshit. I'm hearing "..but they'll think I'm x" So, you may feel like if you truly lean into your potential and fail, people will have shit to say. Sweetie, they will and they will if you succeed and they will if you never do jack-shit. One of the few guarantees in life is that people will talk shit no matter what you do. The only control you have is why they're talking shit. Would you rather them talk shit about you cause you went after what you want, win or lose? Or because you never went after what you wanted, which is exactly what they wanted. The cycle that needs to end for you is one you have to end. End the cycle of shitting on yourself just cause you may not be where you want to be. End the doubt of your own capabilities. You really have NO CLUE how fucking amazing your life will get the second you start questioning those shitty thoughts. Like just questioning them, not even fully disbelieving them yet. Just questioning them will do fuckin wonders for you. If you're a beginner let yourself BE a beginner. If you want to try something new but are afraid of being a beginner then say fuck it and fuck you to those thoughts and start anyway. Hell, you don't have to tell anyone you're starting at first. You have the potential to be a whole-ass fuckin meadow and are doubting and even criticizing yourself for having to start as a handful of seeds. This is you're pep talk, in case you haven't figured that out yet. One other thing, some of y'all may be fearing the work that'll come with believing yourself, that it'll be tiring and all that. It's gonna be the opposite, sweetie. I mean, yeah it'll be work. But it's gonna be energizing. Do you know how much energy you've been hemorrhaging by shoving down allllllll that potential constantly? All of that will be freed up in a second and spent on fun shit. I believe in ya, babe.

Random ass vibes: thrifting, rainbows, makeup, cinnamon, puppets, purple, birds, card games, heart tattoos.

[aloeaceae]

2000’s Barbie movie dolls, ranked based on their gimmick

Ah, the old Barbies—the ultimate nostalgia artifacts. What wouldn’t I have given, as my five-year-old self, to get my little hands on the Elina fairy or the singing Erika and Anneliese? What you might not have noticed in your childhood, however, is that every single animated movie doll from the 2000s and beyond had some kind of fun gimmick—be it light-up wings, battery-powered singing, or a gown that magically transforms into a cape. Let me walk you through every single one in this extremely biased ranking.

1. Barbie in the Nutcracker

The Sugarplum Princess doll is one of the most beloved animated movie dolls in the Barbie collecting community, and for good reason: she’s absolutely gorgeous (except for maybe her crown, which is more of a hairclip than an actual tiara). Her gimmick is her pink dance stand that twirls her, and with nine articulation points, she’s extremely poseable. I personally love this addition because of how unobtrusive it is—you can use it to pose her with Prince Eric for their perpetual dance (since any two dolls can go on it), or you can opt not to use it at all. Maybe it’s the collector in me speaking, but I love that the doll can be washed and customized without the fear of messing up an internal mechanism.

2. Barbie of Swan Lake

My dear, dear, precious Odette! Let me start by acknowledging how absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous this doll is. I could fawn over her for hours, but that’s not why we’re here, so let’s get to the point. Her “special thing” is her wings, which “pop up” and light up and can be removed from her body altogether. I love that they can be attached and detached at will, but from my experience, they tend to fall off due to the bulkiness of the attachment (though that’s just me being a nitpicky adult, I suppose).

3. Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia

The Fairytopia movie spawned so many dolls that I lost count—it practically became a franchise of its own. Out of the many Elina dolls, the Mermaidia version is my absolute favorite. Her wings are enormous and made of thin fabric, which you can "transform" into a mermaid tail by pointing them downward and covering them with the tail piece. That’s what I call ingenuity, Mattel! There are only so many things you can do with doll wings, but this was such a clever invention that didn’t compromise the doll’s appearance. My only gripe? I usually don’t like molded clothing, but since molded tops and mermaid/fairy characters go hand-in-hand at Mattel, I’ll let it slide. Besides, the doll is gorgeous.

4. The Barbie Diaries

Can I start by acknowledging the fact that “Real Life” is the best song ever made? And can I continue by stating that all four main dolls from this line are absolutely mugging? What exactly was the reason for giving this Barbie the Mackie face—just to outmog every other doll? Anyways… Among other accessories (which is very unexpected since movie Barbies usually only have one or two), this doll comes with a guitar and a butterfly-shaped stand that plays three songs. Again, I love that the gimmick is external—the music comes from the stand and not the doll’s body. As a collector, I never have to worry about damaging the doll with water, but imagine being a child: you take your favorite singing doll to the bath, and the next thing you know, your beloved Anneliese is permanently mute.

5. Barbie Presents: Thumbelina

Okay, hear me out! I know the Thumbelina doll is not technically a Barbie, but she’s the main character of a Barbie movie with a gimmick, and that’s what we’re discussing here. I will not be talking about the singular Barbie doll that was released—yes, she also has a gimmick, but she’s a side character, and the doll is ugly. Case closed. Now, back to Thumbelina. This little lady is overlooked by everyone; she’s not in high demand among collectors, and I don’t recall much hype around her release either. However, her wing gimmick is another instance of clever design. The doll is nestled inside a flower, her wings acting as petals, which “bloom” to reveal her. Adorable! Sensational! Never-seen-before! Conclusion: Stop sleeping on Thumbelina.

Oh, and a side note—don’t you think the doll looks a bit similar to Winx’s Enchantix forms?

6. Barbie and the Three Musketeers

Out of all the “gown transforms” dolls, this one is, in my opinion, the best. The dress transforms into an entirely different outfit—revealing a Musketeer uniform of a top and skirt underneath—which is fantastic. Bonus points for the fact that the top is not molded onto the doll (though the tights are), meaning the dress can be removed entirely. Even her tiara can be pushed down to turn into a mask. Very fun and imaginative, if you ask me.

7. Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Even though I don’t personally like this doll much, I have to give credit where it’s due—the spinning skirt gimmick is unique and hasn’t been repeated elsewhere on this list. I haven’t seen the doll in person, but from what I know, it lights up like a disco ball and spins at a high speed, which seems a bit excessive. Still, I can see how it would be fun for a child. The activation button is on Genevieve’s calf, which makes me suspect that the skirt isn’t removable, but I can’t confirm. Nine points of articulation for a ballerina doll is always a nice touch, though.

Okay, okay, there was another gimmick Genevieve doll that I have to mention. It’s not part of the ranking, but I’ll make sure to share my opinion. The Let’s Dance Genevieve doll is not as grandiose as the previous one, but it’s definitely the more entertaining kind. The doll has three settings: the performance mode makes the doll dance to music; the teaching mode makes the doll demonstrate dance moves along with using speech prompts; the dance-along mode makes the doll follow along with the girl’s dance. The doll comes with three bracelet controllers for the girl that are to be put on both arms and a leg. This is a great gimmick, and as a child, I’d be thoroughly entertained. I wish the doll itself was prettier. If I were to rank it—the atrocious outfit aside—I’d put it maybe above Thumbelina.

8. Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow

This Elina doll is—prepare yourself—a remote controller for a DVD game she comes with! What! That’s so silly and genius at the same time. It’s kind of one of those “one and done” gimmicks—so you finished the game, now what? There’s not much going on in terms of the outfit—attached wings, molded top and accessories, no shoes. As far as I can see, only the skirt can be taken off. Still, you have to admit—a doll-shaped controller is pretty sick. The doll can also be purchased as a stand-alone, without the DVD. I wonder if that version can still be used as a controller.

Now, let’s address the Elina in the room, another gimmick doll released for this movie—the Rainbow Lights doll. Yep. it’s what you think it is—the Odette wings, recolored. Uninspired, out-of-place, boring. Boo! 0/10. Next.

9. Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper.

Everyone’s favorite doppelgangers are in the middle of my list, but don’t forget! I’m ranking based on the gimmick! The dolls sing the “Just Like You” song and can sync into a duet if you have both Erika and Anneliese. I love the dolls, but if you couldn’t tell already, I’m not a big fan of on-the-nose gimmicks—plus, the song can’t be fully enjoyed unless you have both dolls. I’ll let it slide because two dolls singing a duet was innovative enough.

10. Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus

Even though this movie is my favorite, the dolls (and especially the packaging) are a bit underwhelming. The Annika doll has a “transforming” gown gimmick—except both dresses, mind you, look nearly identical. Her main feature is the light-up wand that comes with her. Personally, I love that they included it, because let’s be honest—we all wanted one. Still, the doll itself feels somewhat undercooked, like something is missing—especially compared to other animated movie dolls.

11. Barbie as Rapunzel

Don’t get me wrong, I love Rapunzel, and the doll is gorgeous. However, the gimmick of her hair “growing” by pulling a string in her head was poorly executed. Turn the doll around, and you’ll see two sections of hair at different lengths—atrocious. The idea was there, but the execution… not so much. That said, I can appreciate how fitting the gimmick is for the movie.

The Cut & Style Rapunzel doll released in 2008, in my opinion, is the superior version—even though her dress was dumbed down. Well, I suppose asking for a beautiful doll and a properly executed gimmick would be too much.

12. Barbie: Fairytopia

Oh, how I loved this Elina doll as a child. I never had her, but I remember so vividly when my friend—who was also named Elina—brought her doll to kindergarten, and I just stood there, marveling at it. Gimmick-wise, let’s not forget that we already had a doll with light-up wings.

13. Barbie & the Diamond Castle

Ah yes, the tale as old as time—two best friends so inseparable that they are together in every universe, singing about their deep connection… Anyway, Liana and Alexa are, of course, sold separately, but just like Erika and Anneliese, both are needed to complete the singing gimmick. In addition to that, their gowns “transform” into… slightly different-looking gowns? Pretty boring. But I suppose two gimmicks are better than one.

14. Barbie as the Island Princess

Rosella’s dress “transforms” when you lift the peacock feathers, and she also sings two songs. Meh—a bit underwhelming, if you ask me. Still, I think the doll is beautiful and unique, which keeps her from ranking lower. If I weren’t rating purely based on gimmicks, she’d be much, much higher.

15. Barbie Mariposa

Big wings, not much else to say. I guess they ran out of ideas.

16. Barbie in A Christmas Carol

No gimmick. How dare they.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

Phew! That concludes the list. I'm extremely interested to hear everyone else's opinions on those dolls!

[naomijoestar]

Hi, hope ur doing good, drinking water, staying healthy and fresh,😉🥰🩷🩷

if ur taking request then can I ask how the bucci gang would react to a stand user, whose not part of passione, who can turn clothing & accessories like;shirts, pants, skirts, belts, gloves, hats/headwear, hair accessories, ect. into weapons & tools, similar to panty & stocking. Like guns, smallarms, knives, swords, polearms, grenades. But rather than just underwear it's any clothing on her body. The only downside is that it dosen't turn any jewelry, eyewear, watches or shoes into weapons, for some odd reason. Bonus points if she can use hamon/ripple energy to make her attacks more effect, on both stand users & Non-stand users alike. Stand Name: One woman army.

Just a thought i had, I guess.😶😶‍🌫️ what do u think?

Masterlist here <3

Sorry for the long wait! I hope you enjoy!

Bucci gang react to stand user who can turn clothes into weapons

Bruno Bucciarati

Bruno would be cautiously intrigued at first. A Stand like one woman army screams utility and danger in equal measure—being able to whip out anything from a belt-turned-machete to a hat-turned-shotgun? Yeah, he’s clocking her as lethal before she even flexes.

Once he sees her fight, he’d instantly recognize her as someone who could be a huge asset or a massive threat. The Hamon detail especially would earn his respect; it’s an ancient and rare art, and seeing someone who mastered it while also wielding such a combat-heavy Stand? He’d probably offer her a place in Passione under his branch if she proves trustworthy.

Guido Mista

“Ohhh HELL no. SHE JUST PULLED A GRENADE OUT OF HER BRA.”

Mista would be both terrified and very impressed. He’d probably joke that he needs to be careful around her in case she pulls a bazooka out of her sleeve or something. But once the initial shock wears off, he’d start seeing the tactical potential: “Yo, imagine sneaking weapons into places where we’re supposed to be unarmed, she’s like walking black ops.”

The fact she can’t turn her shoes or jewelry into weapons would amuse him. Expect dumb comments like:

“Wait so earrings don’t work? What about toe rings? Asking for a friend.”

He’d probably flirt a little too, joking that she’s literally armed to the teeth.

Narancia Ghirga

Narancia would love her power. Like, unironically think she’s the coolest thing since sliced pizza. “Wait, wait—your scarf turns into a FLAMETHROWER? That’s SICK!!”

He’d immediately beg her to show him more weapon transformations. Probably gets ideas about asking her to make him some clothing-based gadgets, even if that’s not how her Stand works. He’d definitely ask to spar with her to “see who’s faster,” (and totally gets wrecked). “OK OK YOU WIN, DAMN! how are you so cool?!”

Leone Abbacchio

The human version of a slow, judgmental side-eye. He wouldn’t trust her at all at first. “A walking arsenal who can weaponize her own wardrobe? Sounds like a liability with a fashion budget.”

Abbacchio would scrutinize every word she says and quietly test her loyalty. However, once he sees her Stand’s precision and especially the Hamon (which he might vaguely recognize from past tales or from Bruno), he’d begrudgingly admit she’s effective. Still wouldn’t fully trust her, but he’d watch her back in a fight. “Hmph. Just don’t point that belt-gun at us.”

Pannacotta Fugo

Fugo would nerd out a bit over the physics of her Stand. He’d try to understand the mechanism—How does the Stand convert mass? Is it manifesting external weapons or reshaping existing fabric? The fact shoes and jewelry are excluded would bother him. “There’s clearly a limit, but I don’t get why that specific cutoff exists. It’s…illogical.”

The ripple energy would catch him off guard; he’s smart enough to know about Hamon, and if she can combine it with a Stand attack, he’d be extremely impressed (and slightly intimidated). Might warm up to her quicker than expected if she shows patience for his rants.

Giorno Giovanna

Giorno would be analyzing her from the second she transforms a glove into a grenade launcher. Once he sees she can turn nearly any part of her outfit into a deadly tool and reinforce it with Hamon? He’d realize how terrifyingly versatile she is—someone who could potentially counter both physical and Stand-based threats.

He’d approach her with genuine interest, perhaps even respect, but he’d still keep a mental ledger of how dangerous she could be if turned against them. If she shows a strong will and sense of justice he’d start watching closely, like a chess master keeping tabs on a queen that isn’t his.

If you enjoyed this make sure to check out my other posts, and if you’d like anything specific written for a jjba character/squad parts 1-9 you can request it if my requests are open!

[hwei-theories]

╰┈➤Why Jhin and Hwei conceal their eyes - symbolism

In the world of artistic expression, hiding or covering certain parts of ourselves can hold significant meaning. This is especially true for Hwei and Jhin, two captivating characters from League of Legends. Each of them conceals an eye—Hwei his left and Jhin his right—and these choices go beyond mere aesthetics. They reveal deep insights into their personalities, their struggles, and their unique philosophies about art and creation. By exploring why they choose to hide their eyes, we can uncover the complex emotions and motivations that drive them as artists.

Eyes are an important symbol in Hwei's character. You can read more about it here.

Hwei: Concealing Chaos

Hwei's decision to cover his left eye can be interpreted as a manifestation of his desire to shield the world from the chaotic intensity of his artistic vision. As a character who embodies the creative process, Hwei grapples with the duality of artistry—the beauty and the chaos that often coexist. By hiding his left eye, he may be indicating a fear of unleashing the destructive potential of his emotions and creativity.

The Struggle with Expression

Hwei's background suggests a tumultuous relationship with his art. He represents an artist who is acutely aware of the power his creations hold. The left eye, often associated with intuition and insight, may symbolize the chaotic and uncontrollable aspects of his artistry. By concealing it, Hwei acknowledges the darker facets of his creative process that he struggles to manage. This concealment can be seen as a protective measure, both for himself and for those around him. Remember how empathic he is?

In the context of artistic expression, Hwei's hidden eye indicates the emotional turmoil he faces while trying to balance traditional artistry with his unique, often intense style. This tension reflects a broader theme in the art world: the battle between the artist's internal chaos and the need for external acceptance. Hwei's journey is not just about creating art; it’s about navigating the complexities of his identity as an artist. His concealed eye symbolizes the parts of himself that he feels are too dark or misunderstood, representing a struggle to integrate these elements into his public persona. His masters never wanted him to unleash his full potential - because of its danger.

The Emotional Connection

Moreover, Hwei uses his art as a means of connecting with others, and his hidden eye suggests that there are aspects of his emotional landscape that remain inaccessible. He embodies the notion that art is a bridge between the artist and the audience, yet his concealment signifies a barrier that complicates this connection. By covering his left eye, Hwei may inadvertently distance himself from others, revealing the challenges of vulnerability inherent in the creative process.

His journey mirrors the experiences of many artists who grapple with their inner demons while striving to create work that resonates with others. Hwei's struggle to balance his intense emotions with his desire for connection reflects a universal truth about the artistic experience: the fear of being misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Jhin: The Pursuit of Perfection

In stark contrast, Jhin's choice to cover his right eye speaks to his obsession with precision and control. As a meticulous killer and artist, Jhin embodies the philosophy that artistry requires an unwavering commitment to perfection. His quote, "Symmetry is so boring," shows that he might have covered up his right eye so that he is not symmetrical.

The Role of Symmetry

Jhin’s mask, which obscures his right eye, serves as a tool rather than a mere accessory. It is designed to enhance the challenge and danger associated with his artistic pursuits. By blocking vision in his left eye and dampening it in his right, Jhin intentionally removes depth perception, creating a disorienting experience that forces him to rely on his other senses. This choice reflects his belief that true artistry is derived from overcoming obstacles and embracing discomfort.

The Drama of Creation

Furthermore, Jhin’s mask stifles his breathing, adding an element of theatricality and drama to his character.

Jhin’s obsession with symmetry and perfection extends beyond aesthetics; it shapes his entire worldview. By concealing his right eye, he suggests that he is willing to sacrifice clarity and comfort for the sake of achieving his artistic vision. This choice reinforces his belief that true beauty lies in the balance of chaos and control, a dance he orchestrates with every kill.

The Intersecting Journeys of Hwei and Jhin

While Hwei and Jhin operate within different artistic paradigms, their choices to conceal their eyes highlight a shared struggle with identity and expression. Both characters grapple with the complexities of their artistic visions, albeit from different angles. Hwei’s concealment reflects a fear of chaos and emotional intensity, while Jhin’s serves as a testament to his quest for perfection and control.

Artistic Duality

Their journeys illuminate a broader theme within the artistic realm: the tension between creation and destruction. Hwei’s left eye symbolizes the emotional chaos that can accompany artistic expression, while Jhin’s right eye represents the calculated precision required to achieve a vision of beauty in death. Together, they encapsulate the duality of artistry—the balance between vulnerability and control, chaos and order.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hwei and Jhin’s choices to cover their eyes are not mere aesthetic decisions; they are vital components of their identities as artists. Hwei’s left eye, hidden from view, symbolizes his struggle with the chaotic nature of his creativity, while Jhin’s right eye reflects his obsession with precision and control in his murderous artistry. Together, they illustrate the multifaceted nature of artistic expression, revealing the tensions that define the creative process. Their journeys remind us that the act of creation is often fraught with challenges, as artists seek to balance their inner chaos with the need for connection and acceptance. Through their concealments, Hwei and Jhin invite us to explore the depths of their artistic souls, encouraging a deeper understanding of the complexities of artistry and the human experience.

[blackr23]

240910

Rolling Stone

Bang Chan wears Fendi (Picture: Kosmas Pavlos

Bang Chan: The Leader Of The Pack

In the week leading up to the release of Stray Kids' first ever Rolling Stone UK cover, we're sharing our individual interviews with each member from within the magazine. First up, it's the leader of the pack: Bang Chan.

By Joseph Kocharian

After our group interview has finished and Seungmin is having his solo shots taken, Bang Chan appears in the studio, bucking the military precision of the day, and I sense he wants to talk. He’s come out in his casual clothes, derigged of his many Fendi layers, accessories and makeup, and we end up chatting away from the photography theatrics, about their BST Hyde Park gig.

When I suggest that Stray Kids could easily fill a stadium tour, he shakes his head and humbly says, “We’re not quite there yet.” He’s as driven as he is talented, so his response doesn’t surprise me at all. Throughout the day, his manner evokes how the cogs in his head are perpetually turning, making sure that the Stray Kids ship is on the right course.

His SKZ journey has been a long one. The road to band ‘leader’ began in 2010, when he passed an initial audition at the age of 13 and moved from Australia to South Korea to begin training. He was a trainee for seven years, watching his peers ‘graduate’, before he eventually debuted

“I miss a lot about Australia. I miss my family. The environment… the water, the food, my mates. I miss my dog, Berry.” He trails off at the thought of his beloved dog before saying wistfully, “When I first left… maybe because I was young, I didn’t really think that much of it. I was like, ‘Right, new journey — start a new life,’ and flew to Korea.

“But now that I think about it, I did sacrifice a lot. I do think a lot about ‘What if I didn’t leave? What would life be like back there?’ Those thoughts I do have a lot, but in the end, I think it was a great decision for me to leave my family.” He laughs in realisation, “It sounds weird when you say it like that.”

Hard graft and sacrifice have given Bang Chan determination that manifests in his devotion to the group.

“Last night, I had a random thought — you know those late-night thoughts? I was deep in them. I was thinking, ‘Would I be here without the guys? If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here, right?’ I was thinking that to myself because it has been six or seven years since we debuted. It might be because I am the leader of the group, but I just want to do so much for the Kids because they have done something so great for me. Stray Kids, everyone, our whole team, everyone who works with us are very, very precious to me.”

This level of affection for the band is always there, whether Bang Chan is making sure that the other members are doing what they’re supposed to on stage, on set or at an event, or protecting them from external forces. Sometimes it can seem that he is almost too selfless. Bang Chan has an exceptional singing voice and dance ability but spreads the roles fairly among the group. There are also, of course, myriad external pressures that as the leader of the group he has to cope with.

“It’s really, really pressured,” he says candidly. “Ever since the start, we have been climbing the steps one by one. Our name has reached a lot of people out there, [and] a lot of people recognise us and listen to our music. It’s really put the pressure on every move that we make and for future music as well.

“People have heard what we have done, but to make something better than that puts a lot of weight on my shoulders as we’re the ones producing the music. Not going to lie, it’s pressure, but in the end, we get motivated by the people who listen to us and gain strength from our stuff. We still want to do more for those people.”

From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to tell him that he doesn’t need to worry: he has already made it. “I have learnt that I am nothing without the Kids. It might sound cringey. I have also learnt that I should try to love myself a bit more,” he confides. “I have been trying, but it doesn’t work that well, but the Kids have been trying to persuade me to, [saying] ‘You’ve got to take care of yourself as well.’

“But it doesn’t work that well!” he says in an apologetic voice. Throughout it all, he knows he can rely on each of the members. “It’s funny, because I don’t necessarily have to find someone, or go up to them and say, ‘I’m having a hard time,’ or whatever. It’s not really that. Even if I am stressed, or I have a lot of thoughts, we just share each other’s energy. We just forget about all the hardships and boost the mood up for the day.

“One thing for sure is we have really tightened the bond that we have with each other; we are all the same blood. The fact [is that] the dream that we all have together hasn’t changed at all, so I think that itself is such a great weapon for us. It’s a very good advantage; it’s really nice to have.”

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but with Bang Chan at the helm, there is nothing to worry about. He’s not just the brains of Stray Kids, it’s clear that he is also the heart.