#Utilize Key Prop

[gagande]

Purecode | Utilize Key Prop for List Items

When rendering lists of elements, it’s crucial to provide a unique key prop to each item. This helps React identify which items have changed, are added, or are removed, optimizing performance during updates.

[pcr-alice]

DPxDC - The Bat Key

there were a few posts going around a bit ago about Danny being Bruce's mentor in his early years, and they planted this idea in my head. i mixed in some cryptid danny for fun and to fit the halloween vibe. also on ao3

Batman grunted in pain as he hurried down the dark, townhouse-lined sidewalk. The cloudy night blocked the moonlight, and the lamps along the entire street were out, but they still moved between the shadows under the trees. The slash wound in his side was painful to the point that he had an arm around Robin’s shoulder to prop himself up. He scowled with each grunt. At least the blade hadn’t been spiked with venom. The same couldn’t be said for Red Robin’s wound. He was barely conscious, and Nightwing had to practically carry him. But they had finally made it here.

“Door.”

Nightwing hobbled up the few steps to the small porch and leaned against the wall to help hold some of Red Robin’s weight. Robin rushed to the door, already pulling a pick set from his utility belt. Batman managed to ascend the few steps himself, double checking the 13 to the side of the door.

“Wait.”

Robin scowled once again, but he complied. Batman pulled a small strip of metal from the lining of his utility belt. The tip was cut into a jagged, hooked pattern. He slipped it behind the bat symbol on his chest from underneath and twisted it a half spin. When he slid it back out, there was a house key attached to the end. Once free, he inserted it into the deadbolt and removed his hand. The temperature immediately dropped. Batman sighed in relief.

“What are –”

Robin’s question died before it was finished as the key began glowing green. It slowly rotated itself with the sound of grinding gears until a click echoed from behind the door.

“Oh great, I’m hallucinating” Red Robin wheezed out.

Batman turned the knob and pushed the door open.

“In.”

Robin entered first, crouched and alert. Nightwing followed, Red Robin draped over his shoulders. Batman took one more look around and spotted one of their assailants across the street, staring with their two glowing yellow eyes. He held the gaze for a silent few seconds, tension slowly leaving his body as they remained deathly still, then stepped inside and closed the door.

The large circular window high above the door lit the entryway with moonlight from the clear night sky. A staircase on the left led up into the dark, its railing marking out a small hallway balcony above. To their right was a small table, empty except for an unlit lamp. Past that on the same wall was an archway that led to a dark room pierced just enough by the moonlight for a large couch to be visible. The hallways straight ahead stretched into void.

“Couch.”

Once again, Robin entered first, disappearing into the shadows to scout the room. Nightwing lugged Red Robin into the room and laid him down on the couch to examine his wound. Batman followed and watched over the back of the couch.

“Bruce.”

Robin spun and threw a knife at the voice.

His senses had been honed to perfection since as long ago as he could remember. From the age of eight the only two members of the League who were capable of sneaking up on him were his blood relations. Now that he was out, Cain was alone on that list. Not even Batman could go unnoticed. Whatever this voice was, it managed to surprise him. But the League taught him to have no weaknesses, so even if his senses failed him, his reflexes could pick up the slack. The best tutors known to man had trained him with strict discipline, instilling perfect form and pinpoint accuracy that he could replicate from a dead sleep in pitch black darkness, all before he had even formed a single thought.

All together, this meant his blade was in the air before he could even parse what was said or what tone it was said with. When he realized that the voice had called Father by his civilian name in a calm greeting, he realized he made a mistake. But luckily, the voice wasn’t injured. Nor even startled.

“Danny.” Bruce greeted back.

This Danny had caught the knife by its handle well in front of his chest with what Robin evaluated to be his off-hand. Bright blue eyes pierced through the darkness straight to his position. They glowed in the darkness despite emitting no light, almost like a cat’s but without a source to reflect. If he had to guess, this unknown was a bit older than Red Robin. A bit taller, too. His deep black hair was unkempt, as if he had just been in a windstorm, sticking up at gravity-defying angles. He wore a dark robe made of fine material, not quite up to League wear standards, but too formal for a nightgown.

Robin cautiously stepped out of the darkness toward the others. Danny’s squinted eyes followed him, head angling slightly as it rotated to track his movement. Then they flicked away to look at Nightwing and squinted further. After a scant two seconds that stretched far too long, he raised his other hand to push his sleeve up, revealing a cheap plastic Batman-themed digital watch with a bright blue rubber strap.

“Been a while, hasn’t it?” He murmured.

He pushed his sleeve further to reveal another, different watch, analog and much more elegant with a black strap most likely made of leather. It looked like something Father would wear to a gala. His eyebrows raised as he looked at it.

“Late, too.”

Batman grunted. Danny dropped his arms to his side, grip loose on the knife. He dipped his head at Damain and looked at Batman.

“My son, Damian.”

Damian tensed at the revealed information.

“He’s sharper than you were.”

“Being raised in an assassin cult will do that to you.”

Damian tensed even more despite the relaxed familiarity, almost teasing tone, that Batman fell into. Danny hummed a deep note and nodded his head toward Nightwing.

“Dick?”

“Nightwing.”

“And the one bleeding all over my couch?”

“Red Robin. Tim. Also my son, not by blood.”

Danny hummed again and lazily tossed the knife into the air toward Robin (who easily caught it, of course) as he walked to the other side of the couch. His movement made no noise whatsoever. Nightwing stepped back cautiously, positioning himself to step between Danny and Red Robin at a moment’s notice.

“What kind of poison?”

“We don’t know.”

He sat down on the edge of the couch to look down at Red Robin but paused as he was leaning down. Instead, he pushed up his sleeve again, and the watches were gone. In their place was some sort of wrist computer that took up half his forearm. The screen was covered in undecipherable text and was surrounded by several buttons marked with hieroglyphics. Robin narrowed his eyes and gripped another knife behind his cape.

“If you throw another blade, I’m confiscating all of them.”

“Stand down, Robin.”

He scowled but let go of the knife. Danny looked to Batman.

“You seem to be getting a call, Bruce. You can take it in the entryway.”

Batman nodded and walked back out the archway, tapping his comm.

“Oracle. We’re safe for now. Red Robin is being treated for poison”

Robin and Nightwing watched him go, turning back after a brief second, only to flinch into defensive stances.

The entire room had changed. It was now lit by a blazing fireplace with a large coffee table between it and the couch where Danny and Red Robin were situated. The table was covered in supplies – glass bottles with colored liquid, mason jars filled with water and fruit and herbs, bowls of nuts, trays of fruit, plates of granola balls, and stacks of labeled first aid kits.

They each stole a look back to Batman, who kept speaking over his comm, not bothered in the slightest.

“I know you can’t. Have the others pull back.”

He flashed them the hand signal for safe.

“I’ll explain when we return. Hour at most.”

They focused back on Danny to see that he had a much larger first aid kit open on the floor next to him and was skimming his fingers across Red Robin’s forehead, brushing his hair away.

“Oh, this one’s cute,” Tim slurred, and he was Tim now, his mask resting on his chest.

Danny snorted and shifted Tim’s uniform away from the slice in his side. He wiped the blood away with some bandages and tilted his head in confusion. He lifted a bloody finger to stare at it. His eyes squinted and he brought the finger up to his nose, where he gave it a sniff. A low growl vibrated through the room, and Robin gripped his knife again. Danny tapped the bloody finger to his tongue, and Robin threw his knife. Or he would have, had Batman not caught his arm.

“Well?” Batman asked.

“It’s a good thing you brought him here,” Danny responded, voice deeper than even Batman’s, “No one should have access to this.”

He raised his other hand and a glowing green post-it note shimmered into existence in his palm. He flicked his wrist toward Nightwing, offering the note to him between two fingers. It was now covered in tiny writing, just as indecipherable as his wrist computer had been.

“Take this into the greenhouse,” he nodded to a door behind Nightwing that had almost certainly not been there before, “Give it to the Gardener; she’ll get you what you need.”

Nightwing hesitantly took the note and looked to Batman, who nodded to him and began walking to one of the chairs next to the couch. He stepped backwards to the door and cracked it open, giving them all one more glance before slipping inside and closing it gently behind him.

Batman slipped his cowl off and grabbed one of the bottled drinks, twisting the cap off and taking a large sip.

“I’ve tried countless times to replicate this flavor, all of them unsuccessful.”

“It’s made with long-extinct fruits, Bruce. I’d be impressed if you managed it.”

Bruce grunted as the door behind him opened and Nightwing stepped in, looking slightly shell-shocked, carrying two small jars and no post-it note.

“Took you long enough,” Danny scolded while gesturing him over.

He handed the jars over and sat down in the chair opposite Bruce, squinting in confusion at his lack of cowl and relaxed snacking. Robin slid into place next to him, still tense and on guard.

Danny unscrewed one of the jars and stuffed a roll of bandages inside before screwing the lid back on. He tossed it to Bruce without looking (who easily caught it, of course) and unscrewed the lid off the other jar.

“Help yourselves, by the way,” he vaguely gestured toward Robin and Nightwing with his head and pointed to the table with his elbow.

Bruce shook his jar and pulled some of the bandages out, sliding them underneath his suit around his wound. Danny scooped a finger’s worth of paste out of his jar and spread it over Red Robin’s wound. He screwed the cap back on and tossed the jar to Bruce just as the other one came flying back to him. They were both easily caught, of course.

Despite the initial hiss of pain, Red Robin’s whole body had been relaxing since the paste had been applied. His eyes slowly opened while Danny was cleaning his hands off and flicked around the room in a quick assessment.

“Who’s this?”

“Danny.” Bruce supplied.

Red Robin looked around the room slowly this time, taking in Bruce’s cowl-less head, the half-drunken jar of colored drink in front of him, the pile of nuts in his hand, Nightwing’s slightly traumatized face and awkward posture, Robin’s irritated scowl and distrustful glare, and he groaned loudly.

“Please tell me this isn’t another Selina situation. He’s like my age.”

“Bold of you to assume my age and gender.” Danny deadpanned.

Red Robin gaped back.

“I met Danny when I was first starting out as Batman.”

“When he was what, eight?” Dick blurted.

“Still with the assumptions,” Danny muttered to himself.

“We thank you for your assistance...Danny.”

Robin was stiff and formal and struggled through the Danny. But that didn’t stop Danny from giving him a slight smile. He looked down at Red Robin then up at Nightwing then finally back at Bruce.

“I like them,” he declared, grabbing a jar of water off the table.

Bruce grunted as Danny unscrewed the lid and handed it to Red Robin.

“Danny has not aged since we first met.”

“Not exactly, but whatever,” Danny mumbled as he tidied up the first aid kit.

Nightwing opened his mouth as if to speak but shook his head and kept quiet. Robin stepped forward to grab a banana off the table with a polite nod to Danny. Red Robin stared down at the jar in his hands. It was full of cold water with a thick slice of pineapple and sprig of mint. After a quick glance to Bruce, he took a sip that turned into a gulp that turned into him emptying the jar in one go and releasing a contented sigh afterwards.

“Do you know anything about the Court of Owls?” Bruce asked.

A tremor shook the house. Bruce tensed in reflex but didn’t leave his chair after a glance to Danny. Nightwing leapt to his feet. Robin slid backwards and drew a blade. Red Robin jolted up and winced through the half-eaten pineapple slice in his mouth. There was a tense silence for several seconds.

“Only that they are not welcome in Gotham,” Danny eventually replied.

After a few more seconds of silence, Danny flicked his eyes to the fireplace mantle as a small object tipped itself over. Nightwing shot his hand out and snatched it out of the air before it could hit the ground. He opened his fist and looked at a miniature gargoyle statue in confusion.

“I may have to become involved,” Danny nodded to Nightwing, who gently replaced the gargoyle on the mantle.

Bruce grunted. Danny tilted his head, staring into the middle distance.

“The occult shop on 4th and Finger between Asher’s Deli and Panadería Golosos,” he recited.

“There is no such shop.” Robin scowled.

“You are correct,” Danny turned to look at him, “And now that you know it’s there, you’ll be able to find it.”

“Emergencies?” Bruce asked.

“Entryway table, same rules.”

The exchange seemed to satisfy Bruce, who stood with a grunt and pulled his cowl back over his head. The others rose with him and followed him toward the entryway, each nodding a thank you to Danny as they went.

They stepped back into the moonlight of the entryway and saw the previously empty table now had four keys laid out on top of it, evenly spaced and covered in a thin layer of dust. When they looked back through the archway they came from, they saw a dark room back to its original form, no Danny to be seen anywhere.

Batman grabbed one of the keys and slipped it into a belt pouch. Robin followed his lead and took a key for himself.

“Father, were you ever going to inform us that you befriended a vampire?”

Batman grunted and cracked the door open to peer out.

“He’s not a vampire,” Red Robin scoffed, grabbing a key for himself.

“I don’t know, creepy house, magic shit, you should’ve seen the gardener,” Nightwing swiped the last key with a flourish.

“He tasted your blood, Drake.”

“He what!?”

“That was after you called him cute,” Nightwing teased.

Red Robin froze with his mouth open, eyes slowly widening.

“I was hoping I just imagined that.”

“Seriously Tim, he’s probably like 300 years old.”

“Tt, I believe Brown would call this robbing the cradle.”

Nightwing and Red Robin turned to look at Robin in silent surprise.

“Shall we leave?” He ignored their incredulous looks and followed Batman out the door.

They scrambled to not be the last out the door, finding themselves in an entirely different part of the city than they entered from.

[majokkid]

An Introduction to Creating and Enchanting Magical Tools

Most, if not all, magical paradigms refer to the use of tools for certain tasks and the world of magical heroes is no different! Whether it’s a pen or brooch for a transformation sequence or a key to unlocking arcane magics, we can find many examples of magical items in mahō shōjo media that can be utilized in your own practice.

Please note that this is a non-exhaustive and non-canonical discussion of the creation and use of magical tools. If you’d like a deeper dive into a particular canon, feel free to send me a message and I’ll see what I can do!

It may seem obvious but the first step in creating a magical tool is determining what its use is. This not only contextualizes the tool within your practice but it can also help determine what is necessary for your needs. Ask yourself questions like:

What is this tool’s function?

Is this tool physical or purely aetheric?

What materials should it be made of?

Should this tool remain on my person at all times? If so, how do I carry it? If not, how should it be stored?

When working with mahō shōjo influences it is especially tempting to purchase detailed, manufactured replicas of your favorite characters’ items and while you can certainly go out and find something along those lines, I always recommend taking the time and energy to make your own tools. I find items that I have created myself are more powerful and reliable. (I’ve noticed this particularly so for objects that can be used for divination, such as cards and pendulums.)

And you do not need to be an experienced prop maker to create a potent magical object! While I do stress the importance of doing the creating yourself, don’t ever be ashamed to ask for help or assistance! As long as you have given it careful consideration and genuine energy, you’ll find that something that may look simple to others can carry immense power when you wield it.

Note: I would say the only caveats to creating your own magical tools outright would be if you were gifted a magical item or if you divined characteristics of an item and are yet to piece together all of its properties. If you were gifted a magical tool, or you are repurposing something that you already own, try to get as much information as you can about its creation and what energies it is imbued with (including any emotional or psychic attachments); if there are things about it that you do not deem necessary or appropriate for your work, I highly recommend cleansing it magically before use and find ways to reroot it to your practice or avoid using it all together.

After you have finished your creation, I recommend enchanting it to further connect it to you and your practice. This can be done in any number of ways but I think it is always best to do something that makes sense in context; for example:

Consecrate the item with water, oils, incense, etc. that is imbued with the energies you want it to carry. Consider associations such as celestial or elemental correspondences, if they apply. Just make sure it makes sense to you!

Is your work in dedication to a certain entity? Consider opening communication with it and get its input on how you should store and charge your new tool. They might also have opinions on how you should use it and if there are any voces magicae, or magic words, you might invoke.

If this is an item you associate with dreams or the astral, sleep with the tool placed under your pillow, under your bed, or somewhere close at hand like a nightstand. You can also consider charging it under moonlight after each use.

If you have an altar dedicated to this part of your practice, place your new tool on it and consecrate it as you see fit. By enchanting and/or storing it the proximity of other items that you have already associated with your work, you can easily establish it as part of your canon.

This post is part of my Magi Praxis series. If you have any suggestions for future topics, or you have attempted anything I have shared and want you share your experiences, please send me a message! I am always happy to go back and provide further explanation as well. ☆

[katebishopshands]

Can you do Kate Bishop and reader getting back from a long day of missions and get all cozy together then take starts teasing and it leads to the bedroom. Thank you <3

Teehee I like this one :)

I made reader a magic user because I never see the dynamic in any Kate fics :))

I <3 in universe Kate so much

(Tags: thigh riding, tit groping, slight nipple play, strapping, strap ons, Kate and reader are quite literally the defintion of switches, Kate bishops strap is purple and sparkly bc I said so, showering together ( non sexual, it’s actually really cute))

･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆ ･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･

Call it what you want ✨

Kate Bishop/Reader

･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆ ･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･

Your whole body ached. You weren’t even sure how your feet were able to hold the weight of your body up as you stood waiting for Kate to open the door.

You’re sure the two of you looked ridiculous. Still in your hero suits, covered in cuts and bruises, probably smelling a little funky as well.

Thats one thing they don’t mention when you become anAvenger, it only looks glamorous when you’re receiving hero’s medals and keys to the city, attending charity events in gowns you could realistically never own. They don’t mention that you have to lug all your things back to your girlfriend’s dingy apartment and wait for her to unlock the door.

Kate’s fumbling with the keys, the gloves she wore to protect her fingers from her bow strings getting in the way. You give a slightly annoyed sigh as you gently take the keys from her hands being able to quickly find the correct key and unlock the door.

“Thanks!” Kate smiles at you. You returned her smile with a tired one of your own as you step through the door. You prop the door open for Kate with the arm closest, Kate hums appreciatively and ducks under your arm. You can’t help but snort at her a little as she gives you a kiss on the cheek while she passes you. She could’ve gone around you, but wanted to add a little flair and go underneath your arm. Sometimes what went on in her mind just flabbergasted you.

Lucky raises his head from his bed in the living room, giving you both a happy dog smile. You assume he can sense the fatigue coming off of the both of you because he stays put, resting his head back on his paws politely.

“Christ, that was rough” you say as you rub the back of your neck attempting to loosen some of the tight muscles there. Kate groans, dropping her bow and quiver. A few arrows skid across the kitchen floor, bow clattering on the checkered ground.

“Tell me about it, I don’t think I’ve even been nearly blown up that much in my whole life”

You look at your girlfriend’s form as she begins to unclip the utility belt that held all or trick arrowheads around her waist. She’s slightly covered in dust, it coats her usually pink cheeks in a fine layer. Parts of her suit are singed, a few scrapes cover her nose and chin. Somehow,despite everything, she still looks good.

Kate drops the utility belt on the floor next to her quiver and bow. She throws her head back, nose to the sky and gives a giant groan. You roll your eyes.

“I swear, if Sam would’ve just listened to my plan the whole thing would’ve gone way more smooth” she looks at you with watery blue eyes. You pout a little at her.

“Easy there Hawkeye,” you walk over to her, cradling her face in one of your hands. Kate leans her head into you and reciprocates your pout. “You’ll have your time, Sam can’t be the leader forever”

“I love him but he can be so stupid sometimes”

“Isn’t that how we feel about most bosses?”

“Touché” Kate shrugs and keeps her head in your hands. You roll your eyes at her and begin to trace her injuries with your other hand.

“We should get these cleaned up” you trace your thumb over a cut on her chin. She jumps and bit and winces.

“can’t you just cast a spell and make it better?” She bats her long lashes at you a couple times. Despite how many times you have told Kate, that’s not what you use magic for it can never get through her head.

“That’s now how it works Katie, and you know it” you smile at her, your hand drifting from her chin to hold her hand.

“But I hate the alcohol wipes” she pouts at you again. You actually almost feel bad for the archer. But you knew it was an act to get you to do some sort of magic for her. She was the most dramatic girl you’ve ever met.

You give her a kiss quickly.

“We need to shower.” Kate blurts. She’s rubbing your fingers with her thumb. It was your time to groan. She was right and you knew it, but the idea of taking off your suit sounded exhausting.

“Ugh but that takes so much effort”

“I’ll get out the fancy soap Laura gave me for my birthday last year”

Kate knows you can’t resist the temptation of the homemade lavender soap that Laura Barton had gifted her. Anytime Kate had showered with it and you had been around her, you were obsessed with it. Finding every excuse you could to press your nose into the crook of her neck to smell it on her warm skin.

“Sold” it was Kate’s turn to roll her eyes. She begins to drag you towards the small bathroom for the apartment. You’re dragging your feet, letting your socks glide across the smooth floor of her apartment. Kate giggles and pulls a little harder, pulling you into her.

Her back is against her bathroom door as she holds you against her. Her hands lay comfortably on your lower back as yours sit pressed against the front of her chest. You both say nothing, just looking at the other and smiling. After a day filled with almost dying, it was nice to just bask in each others presence.

Kate’s hands begin to wander downward, one hand giving a firm squeeze to your ass. You jump a little.

“Yknow we could…” she trails off, eyes glancing at your lips. Her other hand joins at your ass. You lightly hit her and scoff.

“Hey! You promised me fancy soap!” You pout at her. She throws her hands up in a surrender.

“Okay okay..I was just thinking..”

“Kate Bishop I am not banging you until you don’t have dried alien blood on you” Kate grimaces but fully surrenders as she opens the bathroom door. You follow her into the bathroom and begin to grab essentials for you both. A couple of clean towels, bathrobes for after.

While you’re doing that Kate fights with the shower temperature, it being too cold or too hot. Kate curses under her breath. You give her a look of pity before gently grabbing her hand and removing it from the faucet. You maintain eye contact with her as you use your magic to bring the water to the perfect temperature for you both. Her blue eye go soft and she smiles.

“You never cease to amaze me” she grabs your hand and pulls you into a kiss. A single kiss that turns into several small ones peppering your cheeks.

“I know I do, but the spell won’t last forever so let’s get in, yeah?” You pull the archers head away from your face, gently cradling her cheeks in your grime covered hands. She nods and begins to strip down. You help Kate out of her suit, being careful with it as you know how important it was to her. Kate returns the favor, carefully helping you out of your “wizard clothes” as you’ve so affectionately named them.

Kate massages your shoulders a little, placing a few kisses here and there as she helps you. You sigh in relief once everything is off. Feeling a million times lighter and less constricted.

“Fancy soap time?” she asks. You nod

“Fancy soap time” you confirm and step into her shower. Kate grabs a bar from the cabinet next to the sink. You can’t help but laugh a little at how pale her bare ass is. A couple freckles decorate across her lower back and her butt. It’s cute.

“Are you laughing at me?” Kate asks while standing up. You shake your head

“No” you lie.

“Whatever” she rolls her eyes and joins you in the shower.

You both take turns helping the other to wash up. Massaging over Kate’s sore back muscles with the soap. She leans her head back and sighs contented. You press a kiss to her shoulder as the warm water rains down on you both. It’s comforting to have help in the shower. Not trying to get in the others pants at the other moment. Just taking in the others presence, letting the warm water wash away the blood and grime from your assignment earlier.

You admire Kate’s muscles. Years of martial arts, gymnastics and archery had left her in fantastic shape. Sometimes it was confusing to you as to how you managed to pull her, but you would never have it any other way. Kate’s biceps flex as she squeezes some shampoo into her hands.

“Turn around, let me wash your hair” you oblige her and turn. Kate rakes her fingers through your hair, scrubbing at your scalp. You close your eyes as Kate works at your hair. Gently maneuvering you under the water to rinse the suds and then apply conditioner. You inhale the scent of her coconut shampoo mixing with the lavender from the soap. An odd combination but a combination that reeked of Kate.

Before you’d like it, Kate’s shutting the water off and exiting the shower. She wraps a towel around herself and then holds a large purple towel open for you to jump into. You let her wrap it around you before working with it to dry yourself off. Together you brush your teeth, wash your faces and take a comb through you hair in comfortable silence. That’s one thing you’ve always loved about being with Kate, is that she knows when to turn off her mouth when you really need to reset.

Once you’re both done kates sat in her bed tucked under the purple duvet. You’re shuffling through her vinyl collection, attempting to decide what to put on. You land on one of her well loved Taylor swift vinyls and put it on the turn table. The first few notes of the album begin to play and you turn to her.

You had left a pair of sweats at hers from sometime earlier when you had visited her, so you wore that and a sweatshirt of hers. It was some archery team sweatshirt from college, her last name “BISHOP” written in bold white letters across your back.

“Should we order something? Chinese….pizza?” Kate looks up from her phone, cocking an eyebrow at you.

“Ugh Kate you only want pizza because you live above a pizzeria” you hit her with a pillow as you sit down next to her. She laughs and shrugs.

“Okay okay, guilty, then what do you want?”

You spend a few minutes arguing over what you wanted to eat. Both of you hadn’t eaten since early that morning before your assignment. Eventually settling on something, you curled into Kate’s side. Both of you doing your own things on your phones. She fiddles with the ends of your damp hair absentmindedly.

You let your phone drop and sigh, staring at the wall. Kate ignores you and continues scrolling. Your fingers trace small circles on her stomach. She continues to ignore you. Another, louder sigh. Nothing.

You’re creeping your hands up her abdomen towards her sports bra clad chest. Your hand is sat on her boob, yet she’s still engrossed in scrolling.

You squeeze

Kate jumps in response. Looking away from her phone and down to you near her chest.

“The hell was that for?”

You bat your eyelashes a bit.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” you feign innocence and you give another squeeze to her tit.

“Oh you’re asking for it” Kate sits up fully, grabbing under your armpits as she manhandles you to sit on her lap. You protest a little, trying to shove her away. You both laugh a bit. Kate grabs at your sides , and you jolt in her lap. Trying to squirm away from her you shove her face away as she leans in to kiss you.

“You seemed so eager for my attention a few minutes ago, and now you’re all shy?” Her face is mere inches away from your face. You can feel her breath fan across your face. Your head towards the bottom of her bed, Kate on her knees straddling across you.

“You were paying attention to only your phone” you jut out your bottom lip at her, feeling extra bratty.

“And so were you!”

“Nuh uh!” You cross your arms and avoid looking at her. You’re hoping it pushes her to initiate something. It does.

Kate grabs at your sides again. Pushing her warm hands under your sweatshirt to touch your bare skin. You could’ve sworn her fingertips were burning holes through your skin. She started kissing your neck, working her way up to your jaw and then eventually up to your lips. Kate guides your head back to a front facing position as her hands slide up your torso, hands making their way to your bare tits. She starts to knead at the flesh as she works at your mouth.

You groan into her, arching your chest into her eager hands. Your hands tug at the roots of her hair, still a little damp from the shower you took earlier. She smells like everything you could want from her. Her coconut shampoo, the lavender soap you love so much. No longer smelling like the battle you were engaged in for most of the day. She was back to just Kate. Not Hawkeye. Your Kate.

Kate pulls away from you, but continues to grope at you. She pinches your right nipple between her pointer finger and thumb. You press your chest upwards again, a small whine falling from your mouth. You lift your head up, attempting to kiss Kate again. She pulls her head back, opting to stare down at you with a smug smile on her face. Her eyes flick up and down your face, from your lips to your eyes.

“Paybacks a bitch isn’t it?” Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she wedges a knee between your legs. You were so incredibly fucked.

Upon contact you moan. Her knee colliding so perfectly with your sensitive core. You hadn’t even realized how worked up you had gotten from just a little teasing.

“Katie..” you do your best plead with her. You HAD started this whole thing by being a brat, and now you were getting consequences for it. She quirks an eyebrow at you. Kate stops groping you, pulling her hands entirely from your shirt. Her gaze goes soft as she sits up fully, keeping her knee between your legs. You grind down on it.

Locking eyes with Kate you do it again, making a show out of the moan that escapes your mouth. Your hands run up your torso, dragging the gray sweatshirt up your body. Kates eyes trail your body as your body becomes more and more exposed. You watch her breath get hitch as the fabric gets pulled over your breasts, leaving your chest bare infront of her.

You continue to rile her up, groping at your tits and humping onto her knee. A slew of pornographic and almost obnoxious moans falling from your mouth. Kate continues to not touch you, clearly enjoying watching you get yourself off on her knee a little too much. You watched her chest heave up and down with every breath she took, blue eyes dilating with every moan that left your mouth.

If you were being completely honest, you were putting on a show for her. The thick sweatpants you had on were getting in your way, with only a small amount of actual friction getting to your aching clit. Despite Kate’s burning stare and your own ministrations at your tits it wasn’t enough. Holding Kate’s eyes, you let your hands slide back down your bod, thumbs hooking around the waistband of your sweats. Kate swallows impatiently. You knew she had to be soaking at this point.

The way she licked her lips, the way her fingers twitched. This was torture. Clearly she hadn’t have thought this plan through as much as she thought. If she wasn’t going to help you through it, you were going to do it yourself.

You slide your sweats down your legs, carefully removing them before sitting up fully so you were finally sat on Kate’s toned thigh.

Kate slips her bottom lip inbetween her teeth as she feels your heat on her. Nothing but a black thong separating you two. You reassume your previous motions. Dragging your hips back and forth across Kate’s thigh you sling your arms over her shoulders, pressing your bare chest into her own. You play with the long black locks that fall down her back as you ride her thigh. The friction of her sports bra on your peaked nipples add a spark of pleasure through you. Your nose presses against hers, just barely grazing it. You let open mouthed moans hit her face.

Kate stays strong, resisting the urge to touch you. A flex of her thigh bumps against your clit and you whine.

“Fuck this” Kate’s resolve finally breaks. She had tried to be strong, teach you a lesson for being a brat but she just couldn’t. Not when you’re moaning into her mouth.

She grabs your hips, fully taking control of your speed. You don’t protest. You let Kate dominate the pace, quickly accelerating the once dull feeling of an oncoming orgasm. Kate crashes her lips onto yours, effectively swallowing any sounds that could’ve escaped your mouth.

Your hands move from behind Kate’s back to underneath her bra. You knead at her boobs, pinching at her nipples. She jerks away with a whine. You keep at it while Kate guides you on her thigh. Your motions are limited under the constriction of her sports bra so you grab the bottom of it, beginning to pull it off of her body. Kate’s hands leave your hips for a moment as she raised them above her head.

You yank the sports bra off her body and over her head, throwing it out of sight and out of mind . Your bare chests rub against each other as you continue to rut against Kate. Almost to your orgasm. Kate whines into you every time one of her stiff nipples rubs against your own, her own hips bucking into yours uncontrollably.

A gentle bite to your lip and a flex of Kate’s toned thigh sends you over the edge. You’re finishing in your underwear. Kate moans a bit as she feels your warm release coat her thigh. You’re leaning into her, forehead resting on her shoulder as you catch your breath. Kate rubs at your back, letting her nails give you light scratches. You sit silently as you both calm down for a second.

“You’re such a brat” Kate gives a playful pinch to your butt. You roll your eyes as you sit up to look at her.

“Brat or not, you benefitted from it.”

Kate turns her lips downward a little and looks up to consider something. She shrugs.

“Well..I didn’t finish so..did I really?” She’s smug with it. Are you brave enough to accept her offer and put her in her place? She wants to push your buttons as payback.

“Fuck you” you say standing.

“That’s what I’m trying to get you to do!” Kate laughs as she lays down again. She rolls over to check her phone for what time the food will be there. Something else is on your mind though.

Accepting Kate’s challenge.

You crouch by her bedside table, opening the drawer. You look over to Kate’s back. She doesn’t stir. After a little digging you find what you want.

A clear purple glittery strap on stares at you from Kate’s drawer. It’s her prized possession. You didn’t even want to know how much she had spent on it.

Using your magic, you silently lift it from the drawer and put it on. Letting the harness adjust itself to your measurements with your magic as to not alert Kate. You clear your throat, asking for Kate’s attention once more. She rolls over, eyes going wide at the sight of you wearing her strap.

“Jesus Christ.” It’s almost like you could see her head go blank. She lays there, eyes wide.

“You said you didn’t get to finish? Well let’s finish” you grin as you straddle yourself over her. You lean down to kiss Kate. Your girlfriend eagerly reciprocates as she juts her chin out to deepen the kiss. You groan a little as Kate’s hands dig into your hair, pulling at the roots. You detach from her lips as you make your way down her neck, sucking and leaving little love bites on her neck and chest. It was times like this where you thanked whatever higher power that was out there that your girlfriend dressed decently conservatively or else you’d both never hear the end of it from the rest of the Avengers.

Kate throws her head back as you grab at her tits, pinching a nipple between your thumb and pointer finger.

“Cmon..” Kate pants impatiently.

“Oh and I’m the brat?” You say slightly annoyed, pulling off of her.

“Fuck you” she responds with the same attitude. Kate grabs at your head, trying to bring you down for another kiss. You dodge her. Giving her a taste of her own medicine from earlier.

“No Katie, I’m fucking you” you grin at her as you tug her own sweatpants and underwear down her pale thighs . You can see that she’s soaked.

Kate was often generous in letting you finish and not finishing herself. Today was not one of those days. You guide the strap through her folds, wetting it and making sure to bump her sore clit. Kate jumps in response.

“Come,” bump “on”. She’s so impatient. You decide to oblige her, sinking the strap on into her cunt.

“Shit!” Kate curses. “You could’ve at least given me some warning!” Her blue eyes are wide as her hands search for something to grab onto. You grab one of them, giving a kiss to it.

“You told me to come on, so I did” you state plainly, batting your eyes a few times at her. You give a few experimental thrusts just to watch Kate squirm under you. Some slow, some fast and short, some long. Every thrust of your hips has Kate writhing. She squeezes her eyes closed as she gets used to the feeling of the strap inside of her.

“I am so getting you back for this” Kate retorts. You thrust into her hard enough to make her tits bounce. She moans, loud.

“Bold words for someone who’s got my dick shoved inside of her” you could’ve sworn you felt her squeeze around the silicone cock at your hips. She groans.

You stop.

“God, just shut up and fuck me” she grins at you as she leans upwards, you meet her halfway. You kiss her as you begin a steady rhythm into her. Kate smiles onto the kiss, her hands anchoring themselves into your hair.

The harness rubs perfectly at your own clit. Mixed with the pleasant feeling of Kate’s hands in your own hair you can feel your own arousal seeping down your thighs again as you fuck into Kate.

Kate’s whining underneath you as you thrust in and out of her, one hand going down to play with her clit. She gasps once she feels your hand down there.

“Shit I’m close” she’s breathless, her voice barely above a whisper. And honestly you are too. You were still relatively sensitive from riding Kate earlier so the friction of the harness was working you at a steady pace. You keep at the solid pace, pinching Kate’s clit in an effort to get her to her peak.

“You got it, doing so good” you praise her. And that’s what does it. Kate gushes as she receives your praise. She’s finishing on the silicone cock with a whine of your name.

You give a few desperate thrusts in an attempt to finish yourselves once more. You’re whining with desperation , rhythm thrown out the window as you chase your high.

You’re finishing again with a final thrust. Pulling out of Kate as quick as possible to not overstimulate her and make her uncomfortable. You shed yourself of the strap and your soiled underwear, joining Kate as you lay down.

You kiss her neck gently,rubbing at her sides. She wraps her arms around you and plants a kiss to the top of your head.

“Thanks uh…for letting me finish.” You can’t see her face, but you can feel Kate’s smile pressed against your head. Despite smelling like sex, her skin still smells like the soap you love so much. You her a kiss under her jaw.

“Of course, I couldn’t have left you hanging.” You smile at her. You can hear the record player still spinning. You had no idea when the record had stopped playing. You lay with your girlfriend for a few moments. You trace lines from freckle to freckle on her stomach. Another kiss is pressed to her bare chest.

“Do you think we’ll have to fight more aliens tomorrow?” She asks, looking at the ceiling.

“God I fucking hope not, I need to sleep for at least a day to rest up from today alone” you groan. You really had no more patience for intergalactic threats.

A buzzer rings, jolting you and Kate from your comfortable silence. The buzzer for Kate’s front door. The food was here. Lucky barks at the buzzer and you can hear his feet tap against the flooring on the lower level.

You and your girlfriend give a moan of annoyance, having just got comfortable. You sit up holding your fist out to her.

“I win, you go get the food and if you win, I get the food…best two out of three?” You smile expectantly at Kate.

Kate laughs at you and holds out her fist, ready to kick your ass in rock paper scissors.

･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆ ･˳ . ⋆ .˳⁺⁎˚ ⋆･

Back to my roots with the little one off fics !!!

Kate deserves to get strapped every now and then, I stand by it

[book-of-forbidden-knowledge]

An Exhaustive Analysis of the Ninth Gate

(Update to this post.)

For those who don’t know, The Ninth Gate is a 1999 film by Roman Polanski starring Johnny Depp, based on a novel called The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It’s about a rare book collector and appraiser called Dean Corso who is hired to authenticate a mysterious grimoire called The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows. The client, Boris Balkan, is convinced that only one of the three surviving copies of the book is authentic, because his attempts to summon the Devil have been unsuccessful. Corso travels throughout Europe, comparing the cryptic woodcuts in the grimoire with those in the two other existing copies. But there’s a series of deaths and other unsettling events around the book, and he has a mysterious girl helping him. As you might expect, this is a spooky-Satanic-cult thriller, but it’s not your average spooky-Satanic-cult thriller.

Occultists love this film, because so much of real occultism consists of pouring over old books and trying to make sense of them, and also because The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows is the most realistic fictional grimoire. Almost everything about it feels extremely authentic — in particular, the set of nine woodcuts that are the key to the film’s mystery. They were drawn by Francisco Sole for the novel, but at first glance, I’d be fooled into thinking they were real seventeenth-century woodcuts. They also utilize plenty of real occult imagery, which gives the film a legitimately spiritual dimension. The woodcuts were so compelling, I immediately tried to figure them out for myself, just as Corso and Balkan do in the film. It’s hard to look at these spooky, arcane images and not go, “But what does it meaaaaan?”

From this point on, I’m going to assume you’ve seen the film. I’m going to try and avoid spoilers for the book, though.

I would argue that the real solution to the engravings is spiritual growth or enlightenment, which is the goal of most occultists. Boris Balkan sort of understands this, which is why he has so much disdain for Telfer and her edgy coven of Hollywood-Satanist cosplayers. Telfer and her coven use The Nine Gates as a prop — they aren’t actually interested in deciphering Lucifer’s secrets. But Balkan also fails, because he’s after power, not enlightenment. In that sense, both Balkan and Telfer misunderstand Lucifer. They believe him to be the kind of Lucifer that you usually see in these kinds of movies, when he is actually a spirit who brings spiritual knowledge to humanity, like the serpent in the garden. If we assume that the Girl is Lucifer (which she explicitly is in the book), then she is more benevolent an influence than anything else. (Hell, Corso doesn’t even suffer any “temptation” consequences from having sex with her!) Corso wins in the end because he puts in the effort, and the Girl judges him worthy. Lucifer’s own versions of the engravings seem to emphasize that s/he is genuinely invested in helping his/her followers towards enlightenment.

Early in the film, Balkan says that the engravings form “a kind of satanic riddle” that will summon the Devil if the engravings are assembled correctly. They’re numbered one through nine. At the end of the film, when Balkan assembles the engravings in the “proper” order, this is his interpretation of the riddle:

To travel in silence, by a long and circuitous route, to brave the arrows of misfortune, and fear neither noose nor fire, to play the greatest of all games and win, foregoing no expense, is to mock the vicissitudes of fate and gain at last the key that will unlock the Ninth Gate.

Well. I can say definitively — as both an occultist, and as a scholar who’s looked at a lot of weird occult pictures in old books — that this is incorrect. And not just because the whole sequence is rearranged.

Last time, I interpreted the engravings in the order of Balkan’s sequence, but this time, I’m going to interpret them in their numbered order, because I personally think that that’s correct. That’s why the numbers are there.

The first engraving shows a knight traveling towards a castle, with his finger to his lips. In the AT version of the engraving, the castle has four towers, while in LCF’s version, it has three. Balkan’s interpretation is “To travel in silence,” and the caption is “Silence is golden.” That caption immediately reminded me of the common occult maxim, “To Know, to Will, to Dare, to Keep Silent,” which is directly referenced in the book. In the book, the caption is different: “Only one who has battled according to the rules will prevail.” But these two captions mean essentially the same thing. The narrator says, “The rule is to know and to keep silent. Even if there is foul play, without the rule, there is no game.” The significance of this maxim is that one should not “cast pearls before swine,” share occult secrets with people who won’t understand or respect them. “Silence is golden” doesn’t have the same occult ring to it as “to know and to keep silent,” but it is a simpler, if pithy, version for the sake of the film.

This the only engraving in which there is no obvious tarot imagery. There are four Knights in tarot, one for each suit — wands, swords, cups, and pentacles. But this knight doesn’t have a symbol of any of the suits, or anything else that would connect him to the tarot knights. The important difference is in the castle towers — three in LCF’s, four in AT’s. In traditional numerology, three is a number symbolizing perfection and creation, as in the Holy Trinity, while four is the number of the solid and material, which is sometimes unlucky. (Source: Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts). Sets of three are especially common in fairy tales and mythology — three siblings, three tasks, three encounters, three magical objects, three questions, three trials or tests, repeating an action three times with the third time being different or conclusive, etc. Lucifer’s castle at the end of the film also has three sets of towers.

In the tarot, the threes also represent the completion of the first stage of a venture — the Three of Wands represents a successful enterprise, the Three of Cups represents celebration and fulfillment, and the Three of Pentacles represents recognition for your achievements. All of them have something to do with attainment except for the Three of Swords, which represents loss, heartbreak, betrayal, etc. The fours aren’t bad, representing stability and structure — the Four of Wands is joyful and peaceful, the Four of Swords takes time to rest and recoup, the Four of Cups is bored and listless, and the Four of Pentacles receives material abundance. All of them are a bit more grounded and material. Four has a spiritual dimension through the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, and has a lot of occult significance through the four elements, four directions, four alchemic properties, etc. Agrippa says that it “makes up all knowledge.” But I think in this instance, the most obvious interpretation of this engraving is that your destination will be either material gain (AT) or spiritual advancement (LCF).

The second engraving, eighth in Balkan’s sequence, shows an old man with a dog, holding two keys in his hand. In AT’s version, the keys are in his right hand, and in LCF’s, they are in his left hand. Balkan’s interpretation is “gain at last the key,” and the caption is “Open that which is closed.”

This is an obvious tarot image. This is clearly The Hermit with his lantern. IX The Hermit represents withdrawing into solitude for contemplation and meditation, to gain spiritual wisdom and awareness. He’s the archetypical guru on a mountain, and he holds the keys to enlightenment. Keys represent access to information, and the ability to pass between worlds. “Open that which is closed” is pretty straightforward — unlock the gates, receive spiritual insight.

LCF’s version has the keys in the left hand instead of the right. The Latin word for “left” is sinistram, and the word “sinister” has its current meaning because left was considered unlucky or Satanic. Left-handed people were discriminated against for this reason, until as late as the mid-20th century. In Western occultism, Satanism is especially associated with the “Left-Hand Path,” which is an iconoclastic approach to magic that emphasizes self-deification. LHPers tend to reject tradition and dogma in favor of individualism. I think that the Right-Hand- and Left-Hand Paths are a bit of a false dichotomy (you use both your hands, don’t you?), but anything Satanic is usually considered part of the Left-Hand Path by default.

Also, that Hebrew symbol next to the Hermit is the one for the number nine. In numerology, nine is a magical number, being three times three. It represents completeness, spiritual achievement, and initiation. So, that’s self-explanatory. In tarot, tens are the ultimate state of completion, so the nines are the penultimate step — the Nine of Wands gives you the strength and willpower to overcome obstacles, the Nine of Cups represents success and contentment, and the Nine of Pentacles represents celebrating an accomplishment. (Once again, the Swords are the outlier, representing fear and despair.) Nines in general are good, the perfection of three multiplied by itself. (The Hermit is also the ninth card of the Major Arcana, if you noticed.)

(All of the engravings actually have Hebrew letters on them, at the top left, but I haven’t actually studied gematria or the significance of the Hebrew alphabet in modern tarot that much. Hebrew isn’t super relevant to my own practice. So I’m going to skip over that.)

All nine engravings have a door somewhere in them, because they’re the nine gates that one must pass through in order to be initiated. The door is the most obvious in this engraving. In the first engraving, you (the Initiate) decided to walk the path. Now, you have to make the choice of whether you’re going to continue on it — take the keys, unlock the door. Shit gets real past this point.

The third engraving depicts a traveler walking towards a bridge. In the clouds above him, there’s a Cupid-like figure with an arrow pointing down at him. Balkan’s interpretation is “to brave the arrows of misfortune,” and the caption is “The lost word keeps the secret.” AT’s version is pictured here; in LCF’s version, there are two arrows, the other one pointing upwards in the quiver.

This traveller looks much more like the traditional Tarot depiction of 0 The Fool than the jester in the fourth engraving. He has his little bindle over his shoulder, and is setting off on an adventure. The Fool is happy-go-lucky and doesn’t notice the danger he might be walking into. According to TV Tropes, “The Fool” trope in media describes a person who, despite their naivete, manages to avoid harm through their luck and innocence. So, the traveler will probably not be hit by the arrow, the same way Corso avoids the collapsing scaffolding. However, in alchemy, Cupid’s arrow represents the universal solvent that reduces all matter to primordial prima materia, the necessary first step of the alchemical process. The essence of love in the arrows represents their higher spiritual nature, so maybe the traveller will have to be hit to continue onward. Corso is hardly an innocent person, but he does walk blindly into solving the Nine Gates mystery, and he wins because he’s not expecting to get anything out of it beyond understanding of it.

The two arrows in the LCF version seem to reinforce the idea of there being two possible outcomes. The arrow pointing up and the other one pointing down could also reference the famous occult maxim, “As above, so below,” adding another spiritual dimension to it. Balkan’s interpretation of the engraving reminded me a lot of a certain famous soliloquy: “To be or not to be, that is the question: / Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles / And by opposing end them.” In this scene, Hamlet is considering whether or not to take his own life. But when applied to this engraving, these lines seem to once again suggest the two possible outcomes — you can suffer and die, or move on towards your goal.

And then there’s the caption. “The lost word keeps the secret.” Well, it’s pretty obvious what that refers to — the ninth engraving, replaced with a forgery that changes the meaning of the entire thing. The missing engraving contains the secret. But that caption seems completely irrelevant to this engraving, except that the face of the archer doesn’t look remotely like a baby’s, as putti usually do —it looks like an old man’s, specifically, the Ceniza brothers’, who removed and replaced the missing engraving. That was a change made for the sake of the film; in the book version, the archer has a more traditionally angelic face. The book also provides a poem that is supposed to indicate the correct sequence of engravings, which ends with “And when the reflection in the mirror shows the way, / you will find the lost word / which brings light from darkness.” According to Baroness Ungern (Kessler in the film), “the lost word” is the Devil’s true name — the Satanic equivalent of the Tetragrammaton, which turns darkness into light. Finding such a secret necessitates taking some risks.

The fourth engraving, which is second in Balkan’s sequence, is of a jester standing at the entrance to a labyrinth. In LCF’s version the labyrinth’s exit is open, while in AT’s it is bricked up. Balkan interprets this as meaning “by long and circuitous route,” while the caption reads “Fate is not the same for all.” that seems fairly straightforward — Balkan and Corso have different fates. Corso is able to find his way out of the Labyrinth, but Balkan’s exit is bricked up. This is because he never properly experienced the journey the way Corso did, he just wanted the payoff and tried to take shortcuts.

The Labyrinth is a very old symbol, and it carries the dual symbolism of a death trap in which there is a Minotaur, and a path to spiritual enlightenment. It can represent the Underworld or the darkness of the subconscious mind, with the Minotaur being your Shadow. Either you are trapped in the Labyrinth and eaten by the monster, or you find your way back out into the light having gained some self-awareness. The jester is probably meant to represent The Fool again, the naive adventurer who travels over the threshold and into the realm of the subconscious and symbolic, i.e. the Labyrinth. You can be the Fool in the tarot sense, and set off on your spiritual journey, or you can be the fool in the traditional sense, and enter a death trap with no exit.

As for the dice in the foreground, this seems to reinforce the caption’s point about fate. But dice, like tarot cards, can be used as both a game and a divination tool — it is the assumption of the diviner that random chance is always meaningful. And indeed, the visible faces on each die add up to 6 — 666.

The fifth engraving, which is sixth in Balkan’s sequence, depicts a man counting coins while Death stands behind him with a pitchfork and hourglass. Balkan’s interpretation is “and win, foregoing no expense,” while the caption reads “In vain.”

Balkan is an idiot. Exactly like the man in the engraving, he is focused entirely on the money and power, and completely misses the literal shadow of Death standing behind him. How does one overlook the significance of that? There’s a big difference between “I won the game so now I get money” and “in vain”! Of course, this means that Balkan is too focused on material pursuits and misses that he is about to die. In AT’s version, the sand is at the top of the hourglass, while in LCF’s version, it is at the bottom — the man has run out of time. The expression “you can’t take it with you” comes to mind. Money and material goods don’t ultimately matter compared to spiritual growth. Fixation on them is ultimately pointless.

In tarot, XIII Death almost never represents physical death. Instead, it represents change, usually a change for the better. Death is about letting go of old things so that new things can come, stepping through a threshold into another life or state of being. This can be difficult or emotionally painful, but it is necessary and ultimately beneficial. If The Hanged Man is the chrysalis, then Death is the emerging butterfly (the Greek word psyche means both “soul” and “butterfly,” because butterflies represent the souls of the dead). Death is a required step towards enlightenment, and if you refuse to acknowledge this, it isn’t going to go well for you.

The checkerboard floor probably continues to reinforce the theme of duality. As for the pitchfork, maybe the reason Death has a peasant’s pitchfork instead of a scythe is because pitchforks are associated with Satan, or it could be a representation of peasants taking revenge on rich people. Or it could be a reference to American Gothic. I think it’s the first one.

The sixth engraving, fourth in Balkan’s sequence, depicts a man hanging upside-down by his ankle, and an arm with a flaming sword reaching out of a castle tower. Balkan’s interpretation of this is “and fear neither noose nor fire,” which proves he knows fuck all about tarot. No wonder he got the riddle wrong. This one is so blindingly obvious. The man isn’t hanging by his neck, he’s hanging by his foot. He’s the Hanged Man.

XII The Hanged Man is a strange and disturbing card at first glance, but it has become one of my favorites. The Hanged Man is almost never depicted hanging by his neck; he hangs by his foot, and has a serene expression, indicating that he wants to be there. He represents endurance of a period of tribulation, suffering, surrender, or introspection in order to obtain wisdom, enlightenment, self-awareness, and insight. Like the Hermit, he indicates a need to be passive in the service of introspection, but in a different sense: while the Hermit contemplates in solitude, the Hanged Man undergoes some kind of ordeal. He goes through a metamorphosis, just like the caterpillar that hangs upside-down in its chrysalis to become a butterfly. He’s a Christlike figure, evidenced by the halo around his head in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, and the fact that he willingly suffers for a higher purpose. He even wears the same colors as Jesus in Da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the RWS deck, although I’m not sure if that’s on purpose or not. The Hanged Man in the RWS deck hangs by the right foot, but in LCF’s version of the engraving, he hangs by the left foot, maybe reiterating the Left-Hand-Path association.

The caption to the engraving is “I am enriched by death,” which is a million times more meaningful than Balkan’s interpretation. If you’re an occultist, that line is probably self-explanatory. Pretty much everything mystical involves that theme of (symbolically) dying and being resurrected. The alchemical process has three stages — nigredo, which is death, albedo, which is the ascension of the soul, and rubedo, which is returning to life in a “purified” body as a more spiritual being. The Hero’s Journey follows this same pattern — the hero entering the Underworld or the Labyrinth and facing trials that allow them to spiritually ascend and achieve apotheosis (or something close to it). It’s everywhere in books, movies, and video games. It is the initiation ritual. Most occultists figuratively go through it in one way or another. And in tarot, XII The Hanged Man is at the rough midpoint of the Fool’s journey through the Major Arcana, and immediately followed by XIII Death. It is a difficult step, but a prerequisite for spiritual advancement. “I am enriched by death.” You cannot be reborn as a new and better version of yourself without first having died.

(It is sort of odd that this engraving comes after the one representing Death, though. In a tarot deck, it directly precedes Death.)

I don’t have much to say about the flaming sword. It could be foreshadowing Balkan’s death (more on that later), or it could represent the flaming sword of the angel of Eden (i.e. guarding spiritual knowledge, which Satan famously offered to humans). It could also be a symbol of burning away the old self, which relates to the Hanged Man image. It’s also held in the left hand.

The seventh engraving, fifth in Balkan’s sequence, is of a king and a peasant playing a chess game. Two dogs are fighting in the background, and the moon can be seen through the window. In AT’s version, the board is black, and in LCF’s, the board is white. Balkan interprets it as “to play the greatest of all games,” and the caption is “The disciple surpasses the master.”

The tarot symbolism that I see here is that of XVIII The Moon, which has dogs baying at it in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The Moon represents the subconscious, imagination, and dreams, but also nightmares, madness, and illusion. The illusion here is probably the missing engraving being replaced by the forgery. The themes of the subconscious are again reinforced. Underneath the Moon, a black dog and a white dog fight each other, almost seeming to create a yin/yang shape — this brings the dark and the light into balance, the same way the Moon spends equal times dark and bright as it goes through its phases. The game is chess, which is played with black and white pieces, and the board is either black or white. The game seems to be a draw, making the peasant and the king equals, just as the dogs are unable to defeat each other. So, this engraving is all about reconciling dualities.

There’s another layer to this. God is the “King of Kings,” so this could demonstrate a human becoming God’s equal. This is basically the goal of occultism — to become like God, in some form. Left-Hand Path’ers in particular seem to like the idea of becoming gods themselves, or even “surpassing” God. Since the book was created by Lucifer, this could tie in to Lucifer’s desire to become God’s equal that got him cast out of Heaven (but I’m not the biggest fan of that story, so I won’t go any further with that). To the occultist, man can participate in divinit, just as God can become a man — as above, so below. That’s also a form of reconciling the duality of human and divine.

The caption, “The disciple surpasses the master,” probably refers to this, but it could also refer to Corso surpassing Balkan and succeeding where Balkan failed. Any good teacher wants their students to have learned so well that they surpass them. God (or Lucifer) intends for his disciples to surpass him, but Balkan tries (and fails) to prevent Corso from surpassing him.

The eighth engraving, which is seventh in Balkan’s sequence, depicts a praying man about to be bludgeoned by a knight with a mace, with the Wheel of Fortune in the background. In LCF’s version, the knight with the mace has a halo. Balkan’s interpretation is “to mock the vicissitudes of fate” and the caption says “Virtue is defeated.”

This engraving is the most changed between its book and film version, so much so that it changes the meaning significantly. The figures in the engravings were altered for the film to make them look like the actors: this one depicts Balkan hitting Corso in the back of the head with a mace, which happens in the film. The halo around Balkan’s head in the LCF engraving makes very little sense, since Balkan obviously isn’t the hero here. Is this about villains defeating virtuous people? Corso isn’t exactly a virtuous person.

The book clarified this engraving for me. In the book, the engraving depicts a knight about to behead a lady:

Long story short, the book has a whole second plot revolving around a manuscript of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. The woman in this engraving is identified with Milady, one of the villains of The Three Musketeers. The knight has a halo in LCF’s version because his execution of her is righteous. He’s the protagonist whom we’re supposed to be rooting for, and she’s the villain whom we’re supposed to despise. As for the caption, virtue is defeated when the protagonists sacrifice their moral high ground in order to defeat the villains, which will inevitably require force, violence, or deception. All of that gets lost in the film’s version.

This is also an alchemical image of beheading, which represents dissolution, the “nigredo” or spiritual death. The praying person represents the matter of the Philosopher’s Stone, and the weapon represents “mercurial water,” the universal solvent that dissolves the matter into prima materia so it can be remade. This is the first major step in the alchemical process, which separates the soul from the body and paves the way for initiation and spiritual understanding. So, that reiterates the death/rebirth theme of the sixth engraving. In this context, the halo indicates that this stage is necessary for spiritual development.

The Wheel of Fortune in the background is a medieval motif that shows how the whims of fate are apparently random. Some get to be kings, others are serfs, and your fortunes can turn at any moment. Just when you think everything is great, someone hits you on the back of the head. In tarot, X The Wheel of Fortune means exactly what you would expect it to — a twist of fate, a change of fortune. Whether it’s for better or for worse depends on the context and the cards around it. Life is full of ups and downs, so enjoy what you’ve got while you have it, etc. Sometimes when it shows up, it can mean that you should trust in fate. Nothing about this card suggests mocking it.

And finally, we come to the ninth and final engraving. This depicts a woman who looks suspiciously like the Girl reading a book, ostensibly The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, and riding a dragon with seven goatlike heads. There is a castle in the background, and the castle is a real place. There are three versions of the engraving — this one, which is signed by AT and has the castle as-is, a forged LCF engraving that shows the castle in flames, and the real one. Balkan’s interpretation is “that will unlock the Ninth Gate,” and the caption is “Now I know that from Darkness comes Light.”

The woman is apparently an image of the “Whore of Babylon” from Revelations, who rides a seven-headed dragon. I’m not really sure what she’s supposed to represent, beyond being generally Satanic. Of course, Crowley recast her as a sex goddess; in Thelema, Babylon is the feminine version of the divine creative principle. The seven heads of her dragon are significant — seven is the number of secrets, mysteries, magic, introspection, and searching for inner truth, which have been running themes this whole time. Seven also signifies creation, completeness, and rest, since God created the world in seven days. In tarot, the sevens present a new challenge after the perfection of the sixes — the Seven of Wands brings new obstacles that require determination to overcome; the Seven of Cups represents imagination, dreams, and illusions, so back to The Moon again (and the illusion of the forgery); the Seven of Swords represents deception or a con artist (like the Ceniza twins, or maybe Balkan); and the Seven of Pentacles represents a threshold or a new opportunity, and reflecting on one’s achievements. That all aligns scarily well with the situation here.

The critical illusion is that the “LCF” engraving with the burning castle is a forgery. So, Balkan sets himself on fire for no reason other than egomania. This image is similar to XVI The Tower in Tarot:

The Tower is one of the scariest cards to get. If Death is a difficult but beneficial change, The Tower is a dramatic turn for the worse, complete destruction and devastation. It is struck by lightning and destroyed, going up in flames. I drew this card shortly before the pandemic hit. That was The Tower — destruction, upheaval, devastation, but with the promise of rebuilding. I also had to deal with a lot of emotional turmoil because of an unrelated thing that happened around the same time, and it shook me to my core. So, obviously the forged engraving leads to Balkan’s destruction.

The true ninth LCF engraving shows the sun shining from behind one of the castle’s towers:

Replacing The Tower with The Sun is a drastic difference. If The Tower is one of the worst cards to get, XIX The Sun is one of the best. The Sun is a good omen in every capacity. It represents everything that these engravings have been working towards — spiritual growth, fulfillment, success, enlightenment, revelation of secrets, good fortune, etc. It fits right in with Lucifer’s status as the Light Bringer, and it is the solution. (The true engraving is also very reminiscent of The Star, which directly follows The Tower, and represents hope and the light at the end of the tunnel.) The jagged rocks at the bottom of the castle in the other two versions are missing here, and the castle is more accessible, with a visible path. The woman gestures directly to it.

The rest of the scene is much more shadowed in the true version, which fits right in with the caption: “Now I know that from Darkness comes Light.” I, in my obsession with Shadow work, interpret this as confronting the dark parts of oneself and bringing them out into the light to become a whole person, and to grow spiritually. This goes back to the Labyrinth, needing to enter the dark Underworld or the realm of the subconscious in order to gain spiritual wisdom and finally achieve enlightenment. Everything in the engravings seems to point back to that — needing a period of introspection, reconciling of duality, obtaining safe passage through the various trials until you see The Sun, which is followed by Judgement (resurrection) and The World (fulfillment). The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows are like the seven gates of the Underworld that Inanna must pass through (and that eight-pointed star is a symbol of Inanna). Corso passes through the Ninth Gate, out of the Kingdom of Shadows and into the light.

Throughout all of this, the Devil acts as the facilitator of Corso’s initiation. As the Supreme Magus and the bearer of spiritual knowledge, she (he? it?) set this book out in to the world in the hopes that someone will complete the nine stages of their initiation and reach enlightenment. The power that Balkan seeks is like a side-effect of that enlightenment. When you achieve mastery, you do get power, but power was never the point. If you seek power first, you’re more likely to be led astray. Not that The Devil cares either way — I’m sure it’s all very amusing to her.

So now we’re left with one more piece of the riddle: the correct order of the engravings. This requires a bit more context from the book, which provides this poem as a clue to the correct sequence:

It is the animal with the tail in its mouth that encircles the labyrinth. where you will go through eight doors before the dragon which comes to the enigma of the word. Each door has two keys: one is air and the other matter, but both are the same thing. You will place matter on the serpent’s skin in the direction of the rising sun, and on its belly the seal of Saturn. You will break the seal nine times, And when the reflection in the mirror shows the way, you will find the lost word which brings light from darkness.

(This sounds so authentic, I went and checked to see if it was referencing a real alchemical text.)

Based on this, I’m guessing that the fourth engraving is supposed to be first: the Fool setting out on their journey through the Labyrinth, which is identified with the ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail. The ouroboros represents prima materia, the innate interconnectedness of everything, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Next, “the enigma of the word” references the caption of the third engraving, braving whatever danger to discover forbidden knowledge. The mention of two keys refers to the second engraving: the two keys themselves, of air and matter, refer to the alchemical states of “fixed” (material) and “volatile” (spiritual). They are “the same thing” because, in alchemy, matter must be converted between fixed and volatile states over and over and over again, until it reaches a perfect balance of the two, which is the Philosopher’s Stone. Beyond that, I’m kind of at a loss. There aren’t any other obvious references to the engravings in the rest of the poem, and the remaining lines are much harder to interpret. Here’s my best guess: The “serpent’s skin” reflects the scale pattern above the door in the seventh engraving, where the chess players are carefully placing pieces. The “seal of Saturn” probably refers to the seventh engraving, since Saturn is associated with death and frugality. Breaking the seal nine times might refer to the eighth engraving, of the beheading, and the reflection in the mirror might refer to the sixth engraving, since the Hanged Man is all about introspection. The final line about bringing light from darkness of course refers to the ninth engraving.

But I’m guessing at this point. It seems these engravings still have secrets to reveal to me! Hey, at least I know more about it than the book’s equivalent of Balkan, who takes the poem extremely literally. It goes about as well for him as it does for film!Balkan. Maybe I'm reading too deep into it, but it sure is fun!

[xxelliewxx]

Fire and Frost {Ellie x Reader} Chapter 5

Pairings: loser!(AFAB)Reader x hockey player!Ellie

Synopsis: When y/n is requested to tutor Ellie Williams in organic chemistry, she expects arrogance and attitude from the hockey player. However, she discovers a different aspect of Ellie’s tough exterior, revealed through humor and fleeting glances. This raises the question: why does Ellie go to great lengths to embarrass and harass y/n whenever they are in the presence of others?

Warnings: Mentions of depression, anxiety, sexual/physical assault, alcohol, violence, trauma (if I miss any let me know!)

w/c: 1.9k

an: this is my first time ever posting fanfic on Tumblr, so feedback is completely welcome! this is not proofread and is a work in progress.

Radon Fears

The weekend passed by in a haze of blurry hours and restless nights. You spent most of it lying low, nursing your injuries and letting the stitches Dina had carefully tended to do their work. The physical pain was a dull throb now, more of an uncomfortable reminder than a constant ache. But the emotional strain was harder to shake. 

You and Ellie would sometimes exchange messages, with her reaching out to check on your recovery and to confirm if Dina had indeed tended to your injuries as you had mentioned. Each message from her lit up your day, revealing a playful side of the captain that you rarely saw. You even shared silly doodles reminiscent of the ones you had sketched on your now-broken iPad, its shattered state lingering in your thoughts, a reminder to keep your guard up.

Sunday evenings were the designated time for your chemistry club's biweekly gatherings, the other being Wednesday nights. This past week had been filled with anticipation as you prepared for an exciting theme: forensic chemistry night! The weekend meetings always brought a lively energy that the weekday sessions, which were primarily dedicated to gearing up for the chemistry olympics organized by the American Chemical Society, simply couldn't match.

Ensuring that the tote brimming with props and supplies was all set, you grasped the hefty bin and stepped out of your apartment, securing the door with a firm click behind you. With the bin balanced in your grip, you juggled your keys, using the fob to unlock your car before sliding the tote into the back seat of your Jeep Cherokee.

The journey to the science building on campus was brief, allowing you to bask in a cozy silence, anticipation swirling inside you as you approached the meeting spot. Lavoisier Chemistry Hall, the venue for your gatherings, was the very lecture hall where Dr. M delivered her captivating lectures. Outside, your friend and assistant, Yara, stood eagerly, prepared to assist you in carrying all the props inside. 

With a grin spreading across your face, you shifted your car into park and leaped out in a burst of enthusiasm, flinging the door open and grabbing the tote with eager hands. "Did you bring everything?" you inquired, panting slightly from the heft of the bin and what it held inside.

Yara grinned, giving a playful nod, "Oh fuck yeah, I did!" You had asked her to bring along her trace evidence analysis kits, including her fingerprint development kit. A surge of exhilaration coursed through you as you dashed inside, with Yara trailing right behind, her enthusiasm shining just as brightly as yours. 

Dr. M was filled with anticipation as she awaited your entrance into the lecture hall, her face beaming with a bright smile that mirrored yours. As you and Yara got ready for the club members to arrive, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Today's meeting centered on utilizing the kits to uncover trace evidence scattered throughout the room, while you all delved into the fascinating chemistry that underpins trace evidence analysis. 

As the minutes passed, club members began to trickle in, their excitement palpable as you and Yara added the final touches to the setup. With a warm smile, Dr. M welcomed each person at the door, presenting them with a delicious chocolate chip cookie—a delightful tradition that had become a hallmark of these gatherings. The members looked on with curiosity at the setup you had created, eager to dive into the meeting. With a clap of your hands to announce the beginning, you exclaimed, "Welcome, everyone! I trust you had a wonderful weekend. Today’s meeting promises to be an exciting one. There has been a murder!"

All activity came to a halt, concern etched on their faces as they failed to grasp that you were merely joking. With a playful cough, you announced, "Hey everyone, no actual murder here—just go with the flow!" 

 As they caught on, the crowd erupted in exaggerated gasps, prompting you and Yara to burst into laughter. "Now, it's your turn to uncover any clues in this room that could stand up in court!" Yara declared, her enthusiasm bubbling over as the meeting aligned perfectly with her passion for forensics. 

As you prepared to speak once more, a gentle knock echoed from the door. You turned to Dr. M, who gestured for you to carry on. Taking a deep breath, you declared, "You have 35 minutes to gather all the evidence in this room. Feel free to collaborate as a team or tackle it solo." 

 Dr. M then beckoned you closer, her hand waving in your direction. A look of bewilderment crossed your face as you turned to Yara, silently requesting her to step in for you. As you approached Dr. M, your gaze shifted past her to spot Ellie, who stood there, beads of sweat cascading down her chin, a clear sign of her recent hockey practice. 

 Your throat felt dry as you took in her appearance: a black cap worn backwards, a snug dri-fit shirt that accentuated her toned abs adorned with the school's hockey logo, and joggers emblazoned with the Bauer name along the thigh. Fuck.

Her chest heaved rhythmically, another clear indication that she had just finished practice, and she offered you a shy wave. "Could I steal you for a sec?" you nodded, reluctantly pulling your gaze from her deep forest green eyes, warmth flooding your cheeks as you stepped out of the lecture hall. 

With a hint of tension, she rubbed the back of her neck with her right hand, her bicep taut and defined, while her left arm remained hidden behind her back. This little quirk of hers caught your attention, finding her anxious gestures adorable. "Is everything alright?" 

 Ellie averted her eyes, giving a slight shake of her head. "Yeah, no, everything's fine. I, um, swung by your place, but Dina said you’d be here." You nodded, observing as she shifted uncomfortable under your stare, her fingers nervously toying with the gift bag she had hidden behind her. As she extended it toward you, her eyes fell to the ground, fixated on her sneakers.

As you eagerly unwrapped the tissue paper from the bag, a pristine white box came into view. The familiar Apple script elegantly spelled out iPad on the side, and a wave of disbelief washed over you. It dawned on you with stunning clarity—Ellie had gone out of her way to replace the iPad she had broken. While you appreciated the gesture, it still left you in awe that she had done such a thing. 

Gazing up at her, it was hard to determine whether the rosy hue on her cheeks came from gliding over the ice all day or if she was simply feeling shy. "Listen, I messed up and I shouldn’t have wrecked your stuff. I genuinely regret it, and I hope this can help make up for it." 

Not knowing what to say, you leaped forward and enveloped her in a warm hug, inhaling the delightful fragrance of her cologne that lingered in the air. You found yourself captivated by the firmness of her muscles, sensing her initial tension before she melted into your hold, her arm finding its way around your waist. The sensation of her embrace sent a flurry of butterflies dancing in your stomach, a thrill you hadn't experienced in ages.

"Thank you, Ellie. This is so thoughtful." 

Ellie rolled her eyes at your words, stepping back and leaving you longing for the warmth of her hug. "Thoughtful? Y/N, I fucking broke it to begin with, of course I was going to replace it. Listen, don't make a big deal about this, I just wanted to apologize." 

A slight pang of disappointment washed over you as she dismissed your compliment, clearly attempting to distance herself. You nodded slowly, your gaze dropping to the bag clutched in your hand, unsure of how to respond to the awkwardness hanging in the air. Ellie tilted your chin upward, her gaze meeting yours as she released a gentle sigh. "Are we still on for tomorrow?"

She seemed to possess an uncanny ability to leave you utterly speechless, leaving you with no choice but to nod in response. You observed as her typically stoic demeanor melted away, replaced by a gentle smile that warmed the air between you. "Good," she said softly. Releasing her grip on your chin, the brunette tucked her hands into her pockets as if to resist the urge to reach out to you again. "You should probably head back to your meeting. I’ll catch you in the library, just like last time. Take care of that cut please." Without waiting for your response, Ellie turned on her heel and walked away, her figure gradually fading from view. You were fucked. 

The meeting whirled by in a haze, your thoughts tangled in a tapestry of greens and the anticipation of tomorrow's tutor session. Yara noticed your wandering focus and stepped in to steer the discussion, allowing you to drift deeper into your own reflections—a familiar dance between the two of you. You were grateful for her. 

After the meeting wrapped up, you loaded your car with the remnants of the evening's discussions, feeling a sense of satisfaction with how everything had unfolded. As you crossed the threshold of your home, thoughts of Ellie danced in your mind, and you found yourself biting your lip while you tucked the bin away in the closet. Dina snuggled close to Jesse on the couch, engrossed in a Marvel movie, while the inviting aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the air.

As you popped a few kernels into your mouth, you settled down next to the couple, attempting to grasp the unfolding plot of the film, using it as a diversion from the events of the night. "Did Ellie come find you." Dina pulled you back from your reverie, mentioning the very distraction you had been trying to steer clear of. 

With a reluctant grunt of affirmation, you brushed her off, feigning interest in the screen. "Do you forgive her?" Jesse chimed in, eager to join the discussion. You rolled your eyes and popped more popcorn into your mouth, stalling for time. "Well?"

With a heavy sigh, you pushed yourself off the couch. "Enough already, you two. I’m not in the mood to discuss this." Snatching the gift bag you had set on the counter earlier, you trudged to your room, the door slamming shut behind you in a fit of irritation. A thrill surged through you, igniting a spark of enthusiasm to resume journaling. So many thoughts had slipped away, lost in the void created by your absence of a writing tool. 

As you lifted the cover off the iPad, a slip of paper caught your eye, resting atop the sleek surface of the device. Curiosity sparked within you as you set the lid aside and reached for the paper. The front was blank, a canvas of emptiness waiting to be explored. Turning it over, you were greeted by a vibrant drawing of a cow with a sulky expression, accompanied by Ellie’s tidy handwriting that read, I made a mis-steak, I am sorry.

You burst into laughter at the sight, your heart brimming with admiration for the brunette's dedication not only to the iPad but also to her artwork. With a sense of purpose, you took the drawing and secured it to your cork board with a tack, ensuring it would be in clear sight every time you settled down at your desk to write or draw.

A wave of excitement washed over you at the thought of seeing her again the following day, a rush you desperately tried to contain. You kept telling yourself to stay grounded; your role was strictly that of a tutor, nothing more. Yet, you found yourself craving the brief moments of affection she provided, however rare they might be. Deep inside, you recognized the importance of maintaining some distance, but uncertainty gnawed at you—was it really possible to step back now?

Absolutely not, and that scared the fuck out of you.

[fearsmagazine]

POINT LOMA - Theater Review

SYNOPSIS: Drawing from actual occurrences experienced by the playwright, POINT LOMA centers on Chad, a hospice nurse who accepts a night shift position in a storied Point Loma residence near San Diego's military owned Liberty Station. Following a series of unsettling paranormal experiences, a paranormal podcast team arrives to investigate. They discover that the home has a gruesome and shocking history, rooted in the history of San Diego. Their investigation reveals a crucial revelation: the tales of these lingering spirits require their stories be told for the living to find closure and for the spirits themselves to attain peace.

REVIEW: Tim Mulligan’s supernatural dramedy, POINT LOMA, marks his return to the Chain Theater, under the direction of Ken Wolf, Artistic Director and co-founder of Manhattan Repertory Theatre. This follows last year's “Witchland”, also staged there by Mulligan and Wolf. Featuring returning actors Dave Silberger and Chelsea Clark, POINT LOMA is a lively and contemporary supernatural farce that encourages the audience to scream along.

(L-R) Actors Parker Jenkins as Chad & Jessica Luhmann as Anna, photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.

Mulligan skillfully incorporates his personal supernatural experiences into a narrative that showcases his deep understanding and enthusiasm for supernatural drama and comedy acumen. The story features a diverse array of characters, each grappling with their own reasons for enduring the persistent spectral entities seeking connection. In contrast to his earlier work, POINT LOMA adopts a lighter, character-driven approach, avoiding cliché and the inclusion of social subtext. Indeed, its themes and humor remain PG-13, broadening its appeal. The characters are generally amiable, and a sense of controlled chaos, akin to a Marx Brothers film, permeates the production. A surprising twist awaits, and true to genre conventions, the tale extends beyond the apparent conclusion. The dialogue is consistently playful and witty, perfectly suited to the plot's unfolding circumstances and a lyrical banter happens when the characters are engaged.

The production bursts with energetic and infectious staging and directing. Hank, playing a comatose patient, serves as a catalyst for a character until they are joined by another cast member. Classic theatrical magic animates much of the narrative as draws open and close, pictures fall off the wall, and cryptic messages appear on kitchen items. Skillfully choreographed sound design enhances the theatrical sleight of hand and performances. Transitions are filled with small scenes offstage or roaming ghost figures unnerving the audience with strange sounds and fleeting appearances before the lights come up again.

(L-R) Actors Jevon Nicholson as Rick & Michelle Park as Kim, photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.

The production and costume designs were excellent. For an off-Broadway show, the set was notably impressive. Its minimalist yet well-conceived design effectively immersed the audience in the story. Costuming was utilized subtly but effectively, with few changes, minor accessory additions or subtractions, and slight adjustments in certain scenes to enhance both the performances and narrative. A spirit trumpet, a thin metal cone meant to amplify voices of the dead, plays a key role. While it was the correct shape, the prop appeared to be constructed from something other than metal.

Ken Wolf's masterful direction shines in POINT LOMA, showcasing a magical interplay between the cast and stage effects. The ensemble scenes, rich with movement, sound effects, and engaging actions, embody the classic poetry of a staged comedy. The actors swiftly establish their characters, captivating the audience and holding their focus throughout the energetic 90-minute performance. The cast is excellent, delivering a compelling, relentless and memorable evening.

(L-R) Actors Jevon Nicholson as Rick, Michelle Park as Kim (on table), Ian Brady as Todd, Parker Jenkins as Chad & Matthew Hernandez as Carl (back to camera), photo courtesy of Chris Bentley.

Tim Mulligan’s POINT LOMA, directed by Ken Wolf, is a delightfully sensational supernatural farce. Evoking a blend of “Will & Grace” and “Ghost Hunters” where the ghosts finally show up, it guarantees an entertaining experience. However, I found myself slightly wishing the narrative had incorporated some social issues, with the same light touch as “Witchland.” Furthermore, unlike Mulligan’s previous “Witchland,” online searches yielded no connection to any darker undertones of the story. While information about the US military’s Liberty Station is readily available, I couldn't uncover any hidden secrets or documented supernatural occurrences.

I highly recommend exploring witchlandplay.com to learn about Richland, a small Eastern Washington town with dark secrets. You can also order a graphic novel there, inspired by the stage play of the same title and its sequel, "Snitchland." "Snitchland" is also based on a Mulligan play, and I'm eager for its staging here in New York, hopefully soon.

POINT LOMA begins previews at Chain Theatre, located at 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Fl. Between 8th and 9th Avenues, on Saturday. May 31st with shows at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 1st at 3PM. Opening night is Wednesday June 4th at 7PM. The regular performance schedule is Wednesday June 4th thru Friday June 6th at 7PM, Saturday June 7th at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 8th at 3PM, then Wednesday June 11th thru Friday June 13th at 7PM, Saturday June 14 at 3PM and 7PM and Sunday June 15th at 3PM. All tickets are $40. For tickets go to https://witchland.thundertix.com/events/238172.

Official Site: https://witchlandplay.com/point-loma/

Review By: Joseph B Mauceri

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S2 Ep 8

Starting this week, I’ll be finishing my TGCF S2 Reactions!

Now here we go!

Previously on TGCF…

-That’s a lot of Orcs

-Man, I’m surprised none of Qi Rong’s lackeys are noticing disguised!Xie Lian and Hua Cheng and are like, “What?  I don’t remember the boss hiring ghosts more eye catching than we are.”

-“Oh?  Would you like me to do that?”  That delivery was awesome and it got Xie Lian adorably flustered!

-They have fangs!

-XL, you stopped two guys in a sword fight in Ep 5 you’ll still come out on top

-That’s the only quality he respects

-They’re still blending in

-That’s a lot of humans

-Baby Guzi!!!

-A new disguise!!!

-He’s returned

-Xie Lian looks great as a mortal in disguise

-There’s like 20 of them

-I’m surprised another lackey is noticing disguised Xie Lian and San Lang at the end of line and says, “Hey, I don’t remember capturing those last two.  Shouldn’t we tie ‘em up with the other humans?” And then the other ghost just goes “Nah, our king we’ll be pleased with two more for his feast.”

-That creepy odd flute music

-Aw baby Guzi

-Whoever did this track, props

-He touched his hand!!!

-He’s writing hanzi!

-San Lang understood! 

-San Lang’s still savoring the touch!

-Now San Lang has a message too!

-In other words he just wrote, “Heads up”

-*Content Warning for Accidental and unintentional Cannibalism*

-Gross

-That ain’t meat jerky

-Thank you San Lang

-That music keeps getting creepier as they travel deeper

-His throne room

-Ugh that ain’t chili

-San Lang’s enraged!

-That Xie Lian statue

-Oh no that statue was beaten in the past!

-They took their anger out on a young man who tried to help

-And here he is!

-He knows him

-That green oni mask

-Thank you Hua Cheng and E Ming!

-Aand there’s a backup chorus

-I think ‘Murderize’ disappointed every English Major watching this Episode

-Thank you Pei Xiu!

-I think he just wanted to be left in peace

-My eyes widened as Qi Rong swore like a really bad sailor

-Gross Qi Rong, that’s disgusting this guy’s officially worse than Koh the face stealer

-Man, I don’t think we’ve heard Feng Xin swear a lot until the previous episode 

-San Lang’s controlling his anger

-I wouldn’t want to be massaged by ancient Chinese orcs

-Xuan Ji got mentioned

-It’s official, Qi Rong supports Women’s wrongs

-RIP Xiao Ying, Pengtou not so much

-Qi Rong roasted the heck outta almost every Heavenly Official shown so far in the series

-I think Hua Cheng’s already better than Qi Rong

-He’s trying to cause drama between the martial gods

-His legs are propped up on Stone!XL’s bowing head

-The Dragon floor relief

-‘Pei Fling’’s an accurate nickname

-That one orc selecting a new human: Eenie, meanie, meinie, That guy

-Oh no Baby Guzi!

-Nyoom! Gotta go fast! - Basically Hua Cheng

-Literally the lackey that focused on XL and HC: I told you we should’ve tied those two guys back with the others! (This quote was inspired by one of Catwoman’s Henchmen in a cold opening of an episode in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and that same henchman said, “I told you we should’ve taken his utility belt!”)

-He caught the statue!

-And the statue’s gently placed on the ground

-Doll!Qianqiu moved!

-They’ve got more cave trolls!

-His eyes glowed

-Gotta go fast again!

-His head’s in an iron grip!

-Dang, literally 0 seconds after Qi Rong asked for help and got faceplanted into the ground by Hua Cheng sent all of his armed lackeys fleeing into the cave.  Dude really has the dumbest henchmen in the series

-Guzi’s Dad’s last action of selflessness was protecting his own son

-XL saved Baby Guzi!

-You gotta love Bad Cop!Hua Cheng

-Parental Xie Lian!

-Dude if I were you I’d keep the kid with me at all times, not that I want to be a parent whatsoever

-Move over MCU Loki

-Qi Rong low key has the same pathetic energy as Prince John did in Disney’s Robin Hood

-“And then there’s me.  Smiling, as I end your damn life!” Preach Hua Cheng

-Right in front of his own statue

-There goes the Oni Mask

-Ugh purple lipstick and Xie Lian had better cosmetics in S1 EPs 1-3

8 down! 4 Eps left to go!

[valorxdrive]

❝ i don’t even know your name. ❞

"And that should do it!"

Watching as the waves of data that felt like more disperse seemed to be a signal to relax. Their enemies were swift on their feet, but thankfully, all utilizing abilities that he had more than enough to cross reference with the Heartless. The Kingdom Key would hold it's merry glow as always, comfortably settled upon its wielder's shoulders as a note to relax. At least relaxation was found in one way.

That certainly hadn't stopped Sora from propping up at the rightfully pointed question. Outside of the enemy Digimon, this would mean he could look like the next potential case to get risky! Pivoting upon his heels, it was impossible for him to not run a hand through his spiky hair, a touch of bashfulness snagging his mind. "Shoot! Here I thought I had got that slid over to ya during the action."

"The name's Sora! Heheh, as you can see, I'm not exactly a stranger to a good tussle or ten." Hopefully that would serve as a reassurance more than anything else. There's a timely pause once the exchange is finished, an idle glance being given to his surroundings. This particular realm felt different, by now, something within the depth of his being could begin to pluck at these distinctive shifts of a certain reality.

"And this doesn't happen to be any regular old world either, huh?"

@cybercxt

[yvetteheiser]

Yvette Heiser-Deliciously Dark:Exploring Food Photography in Night Settings

Food photography has become an art form in its own right, captivating audiences with vibrant colors and mouth-watering compositions. While daytime photography often takes center stage, there’s a unique charm in capturing culinary delights under the enchanting glow of night, as explored in Yvette Heiser Night Photography: Learning from the Past, Shooting Stunning Photos Today.

The Allure of Night Photography

Night photography offers a distinct atmosphere that can transform ordinary food into extraordinary visual experiences. The interplay of shadows and light creates a dramatic backdrop, enhancing textures and colors in ways that daylight cannot. The soft, diffused light from street lamps, candles, or fairy lights can add a magical quality to your food images, making them appear more inviting and intimate.

Preparing for the Shoot

Before diving into night food photography, preparation is key. Start by selecting your location wisely. Outdoor settings with ambient lighting, such as patios or gardens, can provide a beautiful backdrop. Alternatively, indoor settings with warm, soft lighting can create a cozy atmosphere. Consider using props like rustic wooden tables, elegant tableware, or textured fabrics to add depth to your composition.

Next, choose your dishes carefully. Foods that shine under low light, such as glossy sauces, vibrant fruits, or beautifully plated desserts, will stand out more effectively. Think about the colors and textures that will pop against the darker background. A luxurious chocolate cake or a bright fruit tart can make a striking impression when paired with subtle, dim lighting.

Lighting Techniques

Lighting is the cornerstone of successful night photography. While natural light is often preferred during the day, nighttime requires a different approach. Consider these impactful lighting techniques:

Use Artificial Light: Incorporate artificial light sources like LED panels, softboxes, or even your smartphone flashlight. Position these lights to create soft shadows and highlight the food's textures.

Experiment with Candlelight: For a romantic and warm ambiance, use candles as your primary light source. The dancing flames can cast stunning highlights and shadows, bringing a sense of warmth and intimacy to your photos.

Utilize Ambient Light: Look for existing light sources in your environment, such as street lamps or neon signs. These can add unique colors and textures to your photographs, enhancing the overall mood.

Play with Long Exposures: If you’re using a tripod, consider experimenting with long exposure times. This technique can capture more light and create a dreamy effect, especially with moving elements like steam rising from hot dishes.

Composition and Styling

Composition is crucial in food photography, especially at night. Use the rule of thirds to create balanced images, placing your main subject off-center for a more dynamic look. Use leading lines, like a fork or a glass, to direct the viewer's attention toward the food.

Styling your food is equally important. Garnishes like fresh herbs, edible flowers, or a drizzle of sauce can elevate your dish’s appearance. Consider using darker backgrounds or surfaces to make the food pop, and don’t shy away from adding elements like cutlery or napkins to create a more inviting scene.

Post-Processing Magic

After capturing your images, post-processing can elevate the final outcome. Use editing software to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation. Pay attention to the shadows and highlights to ensure the food looks appetizing. A slight vignette can also draw attention to the center of the image, making the dish the focal point.

Conclusion

Night food photography is a thrilling adventure that allows photographers to explore new creative avenues. By embracing the darkness and utilizing effective lighting techniques, composition, and post-processing, you can create stunning images that capture the essence of your culinary creations. As highlighted in Yvette Heiser – Why Food Photography Is So Important for Your Restaurant Business, capturing these moments beautifully can significantly enhance your restaurant's appeal. So, grab your camera, set the mood, and let the deliciously dark world of night food photography inspire you!

[lizardbytheriver]

It is kind-of amazing how Narratives work. Hillary Clinton was a historically unlikable candidate. That didn't campaign in key states. Thought she was owed the presidency. Utilized the "pied-piper strategy" to guarantee Trump was her opponent (because she thought he would be easy to defeat). And she was coming off of four years of Obama... where very little had occurred (which was detrimental to Democrats because Obama campaigned on hope & change). All these factors... are not the accepted narrative. The accepted narrative is that the "left" didn't vote for Clinton enough. And as such... it was their fault. Even though, statistically, the vast majority of Sanders supporters in 2016 did vote for Clinton. The lessons that were learned in 2016 was "brow-beat the left". Nothing else was learned. I still see progressives championing the "pied piper strategy". Despite that getting us Trump. But the narrative is that the lefties abandoned Clinton. Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders were propped up by Russia (because how else could someone not want to vote for Hillary?). And the DNC had nothing to learn about Hillary's loss, besides blaming constituents who if we had a regular political system would not be members/voters of their party.

[pbandjesse]

I was very worried about today. Between James leaving for Las Vegas and a field trip with over 100 4th graders. I was nervous. But it ended up being just a really lovely day. Like I'm exhausted. But it was a really good day.

I slept okay. I slept through my alarm. Which is fine. James laid with me and I just held their sweet face. And they stroked my cheek and I was mostly asleep but it was so sweet. When I finally was awake enough I realized it was 715. Oops. No rush really except traffic.

I would get dressed. Nothing special. I knew I was going to be outside most of the day doing the field trip and I didn't want to be cold so it was lots of layers.

James and me hugged a lot before I left. It was hard to say goodbye when we won't see each other until Monday. I was so distracted I forgot my work keys and had to go back but I got an extra kiss so that was worth it.

I did go to the correct car today. And the drive was not great. Literally sitting on 83 at a dead stop. But it was fine. It was whatever. I still beat everyone else by almost an hour.

When I got to camp I dropped off my things and grabbed the gator keys, and the Erie and Alaskan keys, and was off. Driving fast and whipping around.

I went to the Erie first. Collected my program box and drove to the feild to set up. I was sure that my eagle puppet was in the Yukon basement and I would use that as a prop. So I was very annoyed when I went all the way up there and went through multiple boxes and couldn't find it! Very annoying.

While I was up there I got to say hello to the spring break service workers who were staying up there. They were leaving today and they did such a nice job cleaning everything up there. And they were all very smiley and I thought that was so sweet. I'm sorry I didn't get to know them more! The week was just to busy! For everyone.

I would go to the art building next to see if I had any bird plushies. I had brought a duck and a bat from home. But for some reason I just don't really have bird plushies! I would find the Chicken purse that James's cousin gave me for Christmas. Perfect.

I tied name tags to each stuffed animal so we could use them as representation. And once everything was set up I went to warm up on the office.

I had my breakfast and played on my phone. People slowly started to come in. And when Elizabeth got there she printed the schedule and my location was different! Oops.

She said I could stay in the field but instead, since I had time, I would just go and move my set up.

I dragged it over to the trading post and that ended up being so much better because I could utilize the picnic tables for each group. I would pop over to the lodge and got the white board and a small table and I used them to set up the materials and have a score board for the game.

And then it was just time to wait.

The group was supposed to be there at 1010. They got there at 1030. This was not good. We had already had to chop an hour off of the end of the day because of their buses. So we had to then get everyone inside and we wouldnt even get our first program started until 1045. This was rough. But we would make it work.

I was really worried about how large the groups were but for real they were so good. And it was because the teachers were on it. They had such a good handle on their group and even when we were being loud and silly we were able to get control back and it made the day go really well. It helped that I'm pretty good at this program.

I would go over what a bird of pray is. What a predator is. What makes a bird of pray. And then introduced the 4 local birds. They all got really giggly about my stand in stuffies. Those stuffies for so many hugs today which was very sweet.

We had a huge game board with different categories and I would read out the features and they would place the stuffie for their group. And I think they really enjoyed this game. Lots of laughs and participating and I got to go over basically everything, even with the shortened program rotations.

This was the first time I did it this way. With a score board and the stuffed animal stand ins. And that just worked so well. Like if I do this program again this is the way I want to do it because it made it so much more fun for me because I wasn't getting confused. It was great.

Lunch would come and I went back to the office, after getting some information to Elizabeth and an updated timeline to the lead teacher, and had my taco and some snacks. It was a short lunch. But that was okay.

The afternoon was good too. The groups were a little more energetic and it was a little harder to refocus. And some of the parents were googling the answers to share with their kids?? Strange. But it was still fun. It also just went really quick. Because soon it was time for them to go.

I got to chat with some teachers as they were packing up and they said my program was one of their favorites because I had so many facts. And that made me feel really nice.

I volunteered to clean the bathrooms. So I jumped right into that. Collecting trash and wiping everything down. And once I was finished all of those I would help fold up all the chairs.

My wrist is really hurting again and I wasn't willing to push myself with carrying the chairs and tables and everyone was understanding. So I swept and wiped down tables and got the small signs folded for the tables.

It was a lot of work. We were getting set up for the wedding open house tomorrow. I'm not going to that one but I really hope it's a good time! I would drive the gator over to the Alaskans to check that they were all clean and collected the trash there. Then to the pool house to do the same. Before I went back to the office to drop off some stuff and get the trash from there too. I talked to Heather for a few minutes before I went back to the lodge.

I continued to help there for a bit. But once they ran out of stuff I could actually help with I drove me and Nick back to the pool house so he could collect some tables and I could clean the floor.

Once I was done that I was kind of to tired and hungry to do much else. But that was fine. It was almost the end of the day. I would get to meet one of the main people organizing the music festival and Heather talked me up about how I'm managing the venders this year and how I do markets and help with the farmers market and I am excited to really jump into that planning. I am excited for the music festival. I didn't get to be there last year for the first one because we were in our honeymoon! Which I wouldn't have traded for anything but I am excited that this year we will be in town.

I would check in with everyone before I left for the day. But there was nothing else for me to do. I decided that I wanted to go to the goodwill and see if the human size Polly pocket shoes were still there. I had been thinking about them since I was there last week.

So I headed right over there and found them right away. The tag was a bit messed up so I went to check with a worker if they could still sell them because goodwill is so weird about their tags. And when I went to ask her she accidentally hit herself in the face wit a hanger and we laughed together but I still checked to make sure she wasn't actually hurt. She also said that they would just scan something that was the same price. Thank you guys you're the best.

I actually had a really good haul. I got another fleece. This one is JCrew! And I really like the blue. And I got a coat rack for James that says James which I think is hilarious. I found some other things. Like a star rack. And a tag for Sweetp. And a Winnie the Pooh trash can. And it was just fun.

The silliest thing I got was a fish on a plate sculpture?? When I went to buy everything and older lady helped me when I dropped the one rack and then she was like. The fish!! And I was like I know right??? And would show her my fish knife painting and she loved it and told me about all her food themed art in her kitchen and it was just such a sweet moment. I love moments like that.

I went home after that. And was home by 5. I brought everything inside and got things put away. It was weird not having James there. I cuddled with Sweetp and checked on my aquatics. And after having a snack I would do the dishes and put things away. Fed everyone. Vacuumed. Just got myself settled.

I would have a nice evening. Just hanging out in the couch and watching videos. Chilling with sweetp. It was a little lonely but it was also just nice being home and taking care of myself.

I attempted to take a bath by filling a small bucket with hot sink water approximately 30 times. And it was very shallow but it was warm at least and I had a pretty nice bath in the end.

And now I am just hanging out. I had some ice cream. I'm texting with James. Who did some sports betting! And it staying in a flamingo themed hotel. They are a few hours behind but seem to be having fun. Even if Las Vegas is overstimulating. I'm glad they are having fun with friends and I cant wait to hear more about it.

Now though I think I'm going to go brush my teeth and start going to sleep. Tomorrow I have my second printmaking class of the week. This time with the national guard. And that's not even the end of my teaching this week because I'm going to sub at art with a heart on Sunday which I'm thrilled about. I miss my class and I'm still really bummed to not be their teacher every week. I hope they are excited to see me too.

I really hope tomorrow is fun. I hope you all have a great night and take care of yourselves. I love you all. Goodnight!

[strapstylehub]

Unlock Productivity: The Ultimate Guide to Apple Gadgets Topics - The Best iPhone Accessories for Productivity in 2023

Discover the top iPhone accessories for productivity in 2023. Elevate your Apple experience with our comprehensive guide on the best gadgets for enhanced efficiency. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of today, where efficiency is key, having the right tools can make all the difference. For Apple enthusiasts seeking to boost their productivity, we've curated the ultimate guide to the best iPhone accessories. From innovative chargers to smart peripherals, this article dives deep into Apple Gadgets Topics: The Best iPhone Accessories for Productivity.

Apple Gadgets Topics: The Best iPhone Accessories for Productivity

Charging Solutions for On-the-Go Warriors

Life doesn't wait, and neither should you. Boldly explore charging options that keep up with your dynamic lifestyle. From compact power banks to cutting-edge wireless chargers, find the perfect companion to keep your iPhone powered throughout the day. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

The Swift Charge: Wireless Chargers Explained

Experience the future of charging with Qi-enabled wireless chargers. Delve into the world of cable-free power and discover why it's a game-changer for productivity enthusiasts. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Amplify Your Productivity with Audio Accessories

In a world of virtual meetings and on-the-go work, superior audio accessories are non-negotiable. Tune into our recommendations for headphones, earbuds, and other audio gadgets that redefine the way you engage with your Apple devices. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Seamless Connectivity: AirPods Pro Unleashed

Uncover the magic of AirPods Pro and how they seamlessly integrate with your Apple ecosystem. Immerse yourself in crystal-clear audio and advanced noise cancellation for distraction-free productivity. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Transformative Tech: Cases and Stands

Your iPhone is not just a device; it's an essential tool. Explore a variety of cases and stands that go beyond protection, enhancing your iPhone's functionality.

Multifunctional Marvels: Stands for Enhanced Productivity

Discover the versatility of iPhone stands that prop up your device at the perfect angle. Leverage these stands for video calls, hands-free work, and an overall improved user experience. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Enhancing Efficiency with Peripherals

Unlock the full potential of your iPhone by integrating it with cutting-edge peripherals. From external keyboards to innovative styluses, find out how these accessories can elevate your productivity.

Typing Triumph: External Keyboards for iPhone

Say goodbye to limitations with external keyboards designed for iPhones. Improve your typing speed and efficiency, turning your iPhone into a portable workstation. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do wireless chargers work?

Wireless chargers utilize electromagnetic fields to transfer power from the charging pad to the device. Experience the freedom of cable-free charging with this revolutionary technology.

Are AirPods Pro worth the investment?

Absolutely! AirPods Pro offer superior audio quality, effective noise cancellation, and seamless integration with Apple devices. Elevate your audio experience with these premium earbuds.

Can I use any external keyboard with my iPhone?

While most external keyboards are compatible, it's advisable to check for iOS compatibility before making a purchase. Ensure a seamless connection for enhanced typing on your iPhone.

What makes a good iPhone stand?

A good iPhone stand should be stable, adjustable, and versatile. Look for features like multiple viewing angles and solid construction for the best user experience. Invest in a stand that suits your needs.

How long does it take to charge an iPhone with a wireless charger?

The charging time depends on the wireless charger's wattage and the iPhone model. On average, it takes about 2-3 hours for a full charge. Plan your charging routine for uninterrupted productivity.

Can AirPods Pro be used for calls?

Absolutely! AirPods Pro feature high-quality microphones and noise-canceling technology, making them ideal for crystal-clear calls. Stay connected without compromising on audio quality.

Conclusion

Elevate your Apple experience and supercharge your productivity with these top-notch iPhone accessories. Embrace innovation, enhance efficiency, and make the most of your Apple Gadgets Topics: The Best iPhone Accessories for Productivity. Shop now at WristWatchStraps.

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For inquiries and assistance, feel free to reach out to us through the provided links. Your journey to the perfect Apple Watch band starts with WristWatchStraps.co.

[spicebiter]

Okay so YEAH I watched A Serbian Film today because I saw someone say not to watch it and because I'm *guestures to all of me* I immediately watched it and fucked myself up. I'll say anything more about it under a cut because the last thing I want to do is make people read about this movie. If you don't already know I'm warning you now- Me, someone who sat through all the Human Centipede movies unbothered by much more than how shit the story of them was but still almost threw up twice while watching this movie- Don't Google it, don't look at a plot synopsis, don't for the love of God watch it unless you are soso certain you can deal with it.

First off I'm not going to beat around the bush and say I liked this movie, because I did not. I will say that despite my persisting nausea over this movie it was very good from a technical standpoint. While The Human Centipede series was an awful experience not really because the content was Nasty but rather because Tom Six is a fucking hack and the movies just generally sucked. In a very unfortunate turn for me this movie actually has some worth. Even without having read about it in advance the themes are clear, and it's acting, effects, and story are solidly made.

I say 'unfortunate turn' primarily because I am extreeeeeeemely sensitive to sound design and this movie had really, really intense sound design. Imho. There were three key points in this movie that made me persistently ill. For those that have seen the film, I'm sure you can guess what these points where because they were the most generally upsetting ones as far as I could tell. What set it apart for me was that the sound design matched horrifically well with the scenes depicted and put the scenes quickly into the realm of 'sickening'. I have strong suspicions that if I'd watched this one on mute I would've had a far easier time. A large part of what kept me OK through this one was being able to single out when effects were utilized, because even while being good for what it is I have to imagine it's difficult to get very convincing props of this ilk on a budget. Of course through clever editing this becomes a surprisingly unnoticeable facet up against the things this movie does very well.

Something else this film did that kind of took me off guard to recognize as a near 'plus' was its creativity. It is... Daring, in just how far it will take its depiction of depravity. For all of its surface ick The Human Centipede never came close to surprising me and despite at the time never having seen anything like it I still felt that it altogether came off as contrived and unimaginative. If you asked just about anyone to write a movie about sewing people ass to mouth, I have to imagine the majority would look similar to the finished product. Like yeah he actually went and made it but Tom Six certainly didn't clear any hurdles in the creativity department. Between the distinctly artistic way A Serbian Film is filmed and the intense lows it depicts it sticks as a movie that's actually saying something, not just talking at you.

For what it is... I wouldn't denounce this film completely. I will say that personally I'm not about getting points across in the fashion chosen here but I can't say that I don't see the merit of it. 'Disgust' is not a feeling that automatically makes me dismiss art in and of itself. While this isn't a film I could in good faith recommend to literally anyone that doesn't mean It's worthless.

[satoshi-mochida]

The Star Named EOS delayed to 2024, published by PLAYISM

Gematsu Source

PLAYISM will publish Silver Lining Studio-developed storytelling puzzle adventure game The Star Named EOS when it launches for PC via Steam in 2024, the company announced. The release is a delay from its previously planned 2023 release window. It will support English, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Korean, and Russian language options.

Get the details below.

About

“Follow the stars, you will find the place where the future and the past meet. A place we called home.” The Star Named EOS is a brand new storytelling puzzle adventure game by Silver Lining Studio that utilizes panorama technology to create beautiful environments and combines photography and puzzle solving for an immersive storytelling game experience. The story unfolds as you take photographs and solve puzzles, both elements interwoven in gameplay that encourages you to look closely at your beautiful surroundings. As the player, you’ll recreate scenes from your past memories and snap photographs of them, unraveling the mystery surrounding the protagonist’s family and finding a love that was long left unrealized.

The Story of a Star

Play as Dei, a young photographer following the footsteps of his missing mother. Often away from home traveling, Dei could only imagine his mother’s daring adventures through the photos and letters she sent to him as a child. After noticing something strange in one of the pictures she had left behind her, everything Dei had believed is challenged. Now, guided by a voice deep within him, it’s time that Dei sets out to find the truth of his mother’s disappearance and finally move on…

Key Features

Delve into this beautiful hand-drawn world, gather props, and interact with everything you can see.

Capture snapshots of the space around you with your own camera, and experience the immersion of photography.

Enjoy the panorama environments, created with exquisite graphics.

Complete an array of intermediate puzzles that will challenge you and bring you closer to uncovering the mysteries at the heart of the story.

Solve new challenges to recreate old photographs.

With full voice-acting, experience a heartwarming story of love, memory, and understanding.

Step back in time through the polaroids left to you, to uncover the long-lost truth.

Rediscover the beauty of the world through your camera lens and the stories that photos can tell, in an emotional and cinematic experience.

About the Developer

Silver Lining Studio is an independent studio that was formed from an in-house project team at Akatsuki Taiwan. Their previous game Behind the Frame gained critical acclaim worldwide and was praised for its unique hand-drawn art style and emotional story. As the name suggests, Silver Lining Studio’s motto is that “every cloud has a silver lining,” and the theme is prominent in their wonderful storytelling that is sure to leave an impression.

Word from the Developer

Hello everyone, we’re Silver Lining Studio, the developers of Behind the Frame, and now, The Star Named EOS! Our new game will have a wonderful and touching story. We’ve included many puzzle elements that all tie in to the story, and we’ve use what we learned from past projects to improve playability! We hope that players who like story-focused games will enjoy the game. Right now, we’re about 60% of the way to completion. PLAYISM has given us a lot of advice and support during development, and we’re really happy that we’re able to collaborate with each other like this! We’ll continue to work hard to make a game that players from all over the world can enjoy. The Star Named EOS is planned to be completed in the first half of 2024. Please look forward to it with us!

Playable Demo to be Shown at PAX West 2023

It’s been four whole years since PLAYISM last participated in PAX West, but this year we’ll be there at Seattle, from September 1 to 4! We’ll be showcasing the very first playable demo of The Star Named EOS at the PLAYISM booth, so please stop by the Seattle Convention Center to try it out!

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Publisher Announce Trailer

[hillsselfstorage1]

Unlocking Opportunities in Self Storage Ventures

The Rising Demand for Storage Solutions

In an era where space is a premium commodity, the need for additional room to store belongings has surged dramatically. Urban dwellers, small business owners, and families alike are seeking flexible solutions to manage their possessions. This growing demand has positioned self storage as a lucrative industry, offering individuals and businesses a practical way to declutter their lives. Whether it’s a homeowner needing to store seasonal items or a retailer requiring extra space for inventory, the appeal of accessible, secure storage units is undeniable. The versatility of these facilities makes them indispensable in today’s fast-paced world, where adaptability and convenience are paramount.

The appeal of self storage lies in its simplicity. Customers rent units of varying sizes, often on a month-to-month basis, allowing them to scale their storage needs as circumstances change. This flexibility is particularly attractive to those navigating life transitions, such as moving, downsizing, or renovating. Moreover, the industry’s growth is fueled by economic shifts, including the rise of e-commerce, which has increased the need for inventory management among small businesses. As people and companies accumulate more possessions, the demand for secure, accessible storage continues to climb, creating a robust market for entrepreneurs.

Why Business Self Storage is Thriving

For entrepreneurs and small enterprises, business self storage has emerged as a game-changer. Unlike traditional warehousing, which often requires long-term leases and significant overhead costs, storage units offer a cost-effective alternative. Retailers, contractors, and online sellers utilize these spaces to store inventory, equipment, or documents without committing to expensive commercial real estate. The ability to access storage units at any time, combined with features like climate control and enhanced security, makes them an ideal solution for businesses seeking operational efficiency.

The rise of the gig economy has further amplified the need for business self storage. Freelancers, artisans, and service providers often lack dedicated office spaces, relying on storage units to house tools, supplies, or products. For instance, a landscaper might store equipment during the off-season, while an event planner could keep decorations and props in a secure unit. This adaptability allows small businesses to remain agile, freeing up capital that would otherwise be tied to permanent facilities. As a result, the business self storage sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, attracting investors and entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on this trend.

Key Features of a Successful Storage Facility

Running a successful self storage operation requires careful attention to customer needs and operational excellence. Modern facilities go beyond offering mere space; they prioritize security, accessibility, and convenience. Surveillance cameras, gated access, and individual unit alarms are standard features that reassure customers about the safety of their belongings. Climate-controlled units are increasingly popular, protecting sensitive items like electronics, artwork, or documents from temperature fluctuations. These enhancements cater to both individual and business clients, ensuring their diverse needs are met.

Accessibility is another critical factor. Facilities located near urban centers or major highways attract more customers due to their convenience. Extended access hours or 24/7 availability further enhance appeal, accommodating busy schedules. Additionally, seamless online booking systems and transparent pricing build trust, making it easier for customers to choose a facility. For business self storage clients, features like loading docks or on-site office spaces can streamline operations, reinforcing the facility’s value proposition. By focusing on these elements, operators can differentiate their services in a competitive market.

The Investment Potential of Self Storage

The self storage industry presents a compelling opportunity for investors. Unlike other real estate ventures, storage facilities require relatively low maintenance and operational costs. Once built, these properties generate steady rental income with minimal staffing needs. The scalability of the business model allows operators to expand by adding units or acquiring additional properties. Moreover, the industry’s resilience during economic downturns makes it an attractive option for risk-averse investors. Even in challenging times, people and businesses continue to need storage, ensuring consistent demand.

For those considering entering the business self storage market, location and market research are critical. Analyzing population density, income levels, and local competition helps identify prime areas for development. Partnering with experienced contractors to design efficient, customer-focused facilities can further enhance profitability. While initial capital investment may be substantial, the long-term returns often outweigh the costs, especially in high-demand regions. With careful planning, a self storage venture can become a reliable source of passive income.

Challenges and Future Trends

Despite its promise, the self storage industry is not without challenges. Oversaturation in some markets can lead to price wars, squeezing profit margins. Operators must differentiate their offerings through superior customer service or unique features to stay competitive. Additionally, rising land and construction costs pose barriers for new entrants. However, technological advancements are helping address these issues. Automated systems for access control and billing reduce operational expenses, while smart marketing strategies attract a broader customer base.

Looking ahead, the industry is poised for continued evolution. The integration of technology, such as mobile apps for unit management, is enhancing customer experiences. Sustainability is also gaining traction, with eco-friendly designs and solar-powered facilities appealing to environmentally conscious consumers. As urbanization accelerates, the demand for both self storage and business self storage is expected to grow, driven by space constraints and changing lifestyles. Entrepreneurs who adapt to these trends will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic market.