#Various Types of Printing Processes

[cryptic-forge]

FAQ

there are a few questions i keep getting in asks & comments & reblogs, so i'm making a list.

what is the base doll in [post]?

i mostly post my own sculpts -> there is no base doll. if i use any doll parts i did not make from scratch, they will be named in the post.

is the doll in [post] for sale?

i don't sell my first prints. sometimes i make additional versions later & post them on my ko-fi. my print files are not for sale.

do you take commissions?

check the commission post. it will state whether commissions are open. if not, i probably don't know when they will be back; i do this only as much as my scrambled brain allows.

what do you use for sculpting/printing?

blender for sculpting, elegoo neptune 3 pro and various pla filaments for printing. mostly 0.1mm layer height, sometimes 0.2mm when i need to print a huge piece.

how do you post-process your prints?/various questions about sanding & smoothness

i go over the edges with a craft knife to remove any raggedness. i usually print on a raft to save my nerves, and that makes the downward edge of the print quite ugly. i don't do any post-processing beyond the knifework, because pla doesn't sand well and also because i don't want to. my dolls aren't resin-smooth, and for me they don't have to be.

how do you paint your dolls?

multiple layers of regular craft acrylics + varnish on top. sometimes i may use chalk pastels, but mainly everything is done with acrylics. i use makeup brushes to get delicate gradients.

can i use your designs in my dnd game?

yes. they're free to use for personal, private games, as long as you mention the source of the design at the table & credit and tag me if you post any art that uses them. you can toss me a coin on ko-fi if you feel like it, but this is in no way mandatory.

if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. i feel like i type like i'm pissed off at the world, but i actually enjoy interacting with people on tumblr.

[copperbadge]

Amateur Translation Programs

So I had a lot of imaginative and informative responses to my post about looking for an amateur translation program -- something where I could load in a foreign language and it would insert a box where I could add a translation every-other-line. The idea was that this way I could practice translation with more advanced texts, and texts I chose, and thus move away from Duolingo, which at this point is good for drilling and daily practice but not for more advanced learning.

I didn't find precisely what was needed but I did get some inspiration for further explanation, and I also learned that adding the term "glossing" (thank you @thewalrus-said) into my searches helped a great deal in terms of weeding out programs that were either "Let this AI translate for you" or just endless promotional links for Babbel and Duolingo and such. I thought I'd collect up the suggestions and post them here; at the end I'm including my best swing at designing what I wanted, and why it doesn't work yet.

Suggestion one, from many people, was various ways to generate a page that is simply fixed Italian text with space underneath each line to add in a translation. This is pretty simple as a process and there are sites that will do it for you, such as this one that @ame-kage suggested. However, most of these don't allow for movement in the Italian text, and many produce a PDF which you would need to print out in order to write on unless you're willing to open it in Acrobat (and deal with Acrobat). A good solution for some but not what I'm looking for purely because I'm trying to make this super frictionless so that (knowing myself as I do) I will actually do it.

I did find this version interesting, suggested by @drivemetogeek: Have one word doc saved as your "template" doc and set the line spacing as 2.0 or higher. Select your text from source and paste it into the template doc as text-only. Ctrl a, ctrl c to select all and copy, then open a new document and "paste special" as picture. Right click and set the "wrap text" as behind text. Now you have a document where you can, basically, type over the existing text because it's the background of the page. This seems like the most frictionless version, because you could set up a bunch of them ahead of time. If you wanted to move between desktop and mobile, however, you'd need to ensure that the pasted image was fairly narrow so that you don't have to sideways-scroll.

Relatedly, people suggested generating a document that is simply the Italian text with empty space beneath it for typing in of the translation. This can be done either semi-automated, using a macro or a language like Python, or find-and-replace on, say, the stops at the ends of sentences. It basically outputs the same as above but with a more digitally accessible format, without any more effort than above. If you were to do this in Google Sheets you could also fix the column width so that it didn't do anything weird when you opened it on your phone. But it is still very friction-y, and does not allow for easy shifting of the Italian as needed. There's high probability of the translation breaking weirdly across the page. Still a top option in terms of simplicity and access.

@smokeandholograms suggested another variation illustrated here where essentially you're converting the text to a series of tables, with each paragraph a row, and an empty cell next to it for the translation. I might play around more with this one eventually, since I think I could possibly make it a three-column and put the Italian in one, the translation in the next, and the auto-translate to let me know where I might be slipping in the third. (Not that I trust auto-translate but comparing a hand translation to an auto translation can be useful in terms of working out when I've messed up the way a tense or mood is read. I tend to read indirect verbs as automatically imperative because I'm a weirdo.)

@wynjara linked to an add-in for Word specifically designed for translators, known as TransTools; this appears to employ a macro to do the same thing, though it does have a format where you can place the translation next to each sentence directly rather than in a separate cell. The full suite of tools is only $45 which is reasonable for my budget, but for what I need I think I could also just create the macro.

Using LaTeX as a tool specially designed for glossing was an option on offer, but I don't know enough about LaTeX to figure out the pros of this one, which is in itself the major con -- there's a learning curve that I think varies widely by person but for me is unfortunately a wall. It came out of a discussion on Reddit about trying to find something like what I want; also in that discussion is a link to a code generator that allows you to…do something…to the initial language, but it's not entirely clear to me (I'm sure it's clear to people who understand coding) what you would then do with it that would allow it to be output in the way I'm hoping for. Like, I could turn a paragraph of text into HTML, I understand that far, but any Italian I find is already on a website.

Moving more into apps that might work, Redditors on the LaTeX discussion suggested SIL Fieldworks, which is a professional language tech tool. Fieldworks isn't a program I'd previously encountered but much as with the ones I had, it looks like the learning curve is fairly steep and it is definitely overkill generally for what I need, though it might also harbor within it the thing I want. It is free, so I may download and play around with it.

@brightwanderer suggested using note-taking or "whiteboard" apps such as Freeform or Nebo; these are generally a kind of "infinite canvas" in which you can drop objects, text boxes, or handwriting. I don't know that Freeform would be measurably different to just using Word and a macro, since I'd still have to input/format all the text and then be stuck with the same "fixed text" setup -- and it's also iOS only -- but for some folks it might be more helpful. Nebo is a similar infinite-canvas with unfortunately the same issues, though on the plus it's available for Android, which is where most of my mobile property resides.

@bloodbright suggested that I was looking for a CAT tool, a professional translation tool mainly used by translators working in the field. This was a concept I'd encountered, but I hadn't found a good starting place. They suggested Smartcat and OmegaT. Smartcat bills itself as an AI translation platform and is HARD pushing the "don't translate it yourself, hire a translator or let AI do it" angle, so it's difficult to tell what it offers in terms of actual tools for translators, and it's also cagey about pricing, so I can't really evaluate it. OmegaT is free and gives off big "some weirdo homebrewed this in their basement" vibe (which I am here for) but I also recognized it from screengrabs that were the reason I veered away from professional-grade software: it looked too complex. Realistically, the major downside of OmegaT is that I don't think I can put it on my phone. One thing I did find interesting is that once you translate a portion of the text, the original language goes away, though I assume you can turn that off if needed. I do kind of like that because it means my distractable brain is looking at Less Stuff.

So where did I end up?

Well, it looked like I was going to have to try a homebrew myself. I had the idea of trying some of the initial suggestions but in reverse -- designing a document where every other line was a single-cell table fixed to the page. You could paste in the Italian, which would wrap around the cells, and then enter the English in the cells.

You can fix a table in place in Google Docs -- you click on the table, then under Table > Style select Wrap Text, Both Sides, and Fix On Page. Getting the whole page set up is a little labor intensive but once you did that, you could just save it as a template and make a duplicate of it each time. And this actually works….on desktop.

Unfortunately, if you open it in the mobile Docs app, the app can't handle the fixed tables and automatically moves them all to after the text that's been pasted in. I tried redesigning it so that it's a table within a table -- one for the Italian, then within that a series of them for the English -- but when you nest a table in Google Docs, it doesn't let you fix the second table in place. And you are also still dealing with the wrap issue, although you can resize the page and add a large right-hand margin as a kludge of a fix for that.

You can build this same kind of document in Word, so I tried building one in Word and then uploading it to Drive, but when you open the Word file in Docs (or in Microsoft Word for Android), it still strips the fixed positioning -- there's just some functionality missing from both apps that doesn't allow them to handle fixed-position tables.

So, the design is sound, just not the final execution. If I could program an app, I could probably remedy the issues with it -- it's simply a series of text boxes nested inside one another with different formatting. I would imagine that's relatively basic to set up, although given that neither Docs nor Word can handle fixed tables in mobile, perhaps I've stumbled on a much bigger problem that everyone is ignoring because nobody actually needs or wants fixed tables in mobile. :D

Experimentation is ongoing, anyway. I might simply have to resign myself to the fact that my translation study is going to have to be in front of a computer, which might be for the best anyway when I inevitably want to compare my translation to an auto-translate to see where I might have read something wrong.

[my-deer-friend]

Play along: Amrev codebreaker!

While browsing through some primary materials reading up about John Laurens’ mission to France as special minister to the court of Versailles, I came across a letter that he wrote to the president of the Continental Congress on 9 April 1781 that included a coded message using a numerical cipher. 

I took a shot at deciphering it – here’s the process I followed, and you can play along too!

1. The first step, of course, was to determine which specific encryption was being used. After a bit of digging, I came across the immensely useful United States diplomatic codes and ciphers, 1775-1938 by Ralph E Weber. He explains that the cipher in question was “prepared on separate encode and decode sheets, the latter contained 660 printed numbers, with usually 600 words, syllables, and letters of the alphabet scattered randomly throughout the sheet.” So, for example, the word “congress” is “143”, the syllable “el” is “593” and the letter “r” is “215”. This cipher was an updated and improved version of the one used by Benjamin Tallmadge, and Weber explains that Laurens was the first one to use it. Weber also handily provides the decode table in an appendix. 

2. The second step was to design an efficient way to decode the hundreds of numbers Laurens used in his letter, and the obvious answer was my good friend the spreadsheet. I transferred the table from the book to Google Sheets, which was mildly tedious but hugely time-saving later on.

3. Now the fun part! I typed out the numbers from Laurens’ letter, and then used a simple LOOKUP formula to match the number to the decoded text.

The cipher also includes two nuances - an underscore beneath the word means a plural, and an overscore denotes adding an “e” - so I marked these in the cells with pink and green highlights respectively.

4. The final step was correcting a few errors in my table, refining the decoding (some numbers have various iterations to save space, such as 103 which can be any one of “ec/eck/ek” depending on which syllable is needed), and extracting the final text. 

It all reads very smoothly, with the singular exception of “ght-f-t”, which is the way Laurens rendered the word “gift”. The obvious explanation for this mangle is that he mis-wrote 340 (ght) instead of 170 (gi).

That’s definitely 340, 304, 196 which decodes as “ght-f-t”.

While it seems like a strange error to make, bear in mind that the encoding sheet (the one Laurens was using to change plaintext into numbers) would have been listed in alphabetical order to make finding the numbers easier (while the person at the other end has the sheet in numerical order, to reverse the process just as easily). And when we sort alphabetically, we can see that 340 and 170 are right next to each other:

A simple slip to make for someone writing coded letters late at night in low candlelight.

If you want to play along:

Here’s the code/decode spreadsheet. 

And here is the transcribed text (underlines for plurals, asterisk for added “e”). I've given the solution under the cut!

I have employed the most unremitting efforts to obtain a prompt and favorable decision relative to the object of my mission_ 381, 304, 543, 437, 366, 377, 276, 75, 75, 226, 269, 385, 426, 377, 17, 465, 197, 481, 428, 593, 381, 355, 153, 278*, 428, 333, 70, 18, 405, 184, 226, 291, 197, 376, 524, 330, 446, 362, 449, 143 The Count de Vergennes communicated to me yesterday his most Christian Majesty's determination to guarantee 381, 59, 594, 18, 9, 205, 330, 497, 254, 401, 376, 503, 306, 503, 467, 428, 226, 236, 330, 278*, 245, 205, 506, 99, 376, 381, 381, 256, 184, 90, 340, 304, 196 ...and the value of the military effects which may be furnished from the Royal Arsenal, 418, 330, 497, 428, 197, 380, 377, 196, 376, 45, 278, 245, 205 I shall use my utmost endeavours to procure an immediate 467, 208, 491, 18, 278*, 9, 205, 45, 278, 42, 381, 230, 215, 355, 18, 237, 330, 497*, 215, 167, 290, 377, 376, 341, 278, 182, 302, 75, 376, 59, 594, and shall renew my solicitations for the 357, 34, 197, 18, 203, 291, 491, 481, 484, 34, 325, 89, 113, 392, 197, 269, 336, 458, 278*, 97, 18, 245, 205 may not be 126, 21, 215, 497, 376, 341, 296, 75, 477, 226, 103, 196, 481, 278*, 483, 215, 553, 75*, 18, 238, 377, 59, 374, 478, the providing this article I fear will be attended with great difficulties and delays as all the 476, 490, 481, 36, 228, 351, 392, 226, 197, 18, 237, are remote from the sea, and there are no 441, 420, 50, 563, 503, 197, 18, 377, 59, 278, suitable to our purposes. The cargo of the Marquis de la Fayette will I hope arrive safe under the convoy of the Alliance_ 481, 341, 78, 465, 75, 426, 408, 596, 115, 76, 376, 174, 196*, 291, 103, 197, 75, 75, 184, 226, 197, 281, 5, 171, 278*, 428, 593, 381, 355, 492, 194, 236, 376, 45, 574, 408, 504, 366, 381, 506, 197, 197, 193, 213, 75, 197, 199, 291, 377, 197 The Marquis de Castries has engaged to make immediate arrangements for the safe transportation of the pecuniary and the other succours destined for the United States_ 481, 350, 215, 167, 450, 196, 376, 34, 381, 75, 473, 376, 76*, 458, 278*, 72, 208, 449, 577, 114, 89, 405, 486, 497, 197, 113, 126, 34, 361, 376, 269, 278*, 277, 291, 104, 381, 113, 278*, 401, 230, 408, 550, 552, 342, 291

Have fun!

I have employed the most unremitting efforts to obtain a prompt and favorable decision relative to the object of my mission_ after many discussions, difficulties and delays with the details of which it is needless to trouble congress.

The Count de Vergennes communicated to me yesterday his most Christian Majesty's determination to guarantee a loan of ten millions to be opened in Holland in addition to the six millions granted as a gracious gift.

...and the value of the military effects which may be furnished from the Royal Arsenal are to be deducted from the six million.

I shall use my utmost endeavours to procure an immediate advance of the ten millions from the treasury of France to be replaced by the proposed loan,

and shall renew my solicitations for the supplies of the ordinance and military stores on credit that the present of six millions may not be absorbed by thousands objects and the purchase of necessary clothing

the providing this article I fear will be attended with great difficulties and delays as all the wool and manufactories of France are remote from the sea, and there are no

public magazines of cloth suitable to our purposes.

The cargo of the Marquis de la Fayette will I hope arrive safe under the convoy of the Alliance_ and by satisfying our immediate necessities prevent the delays above-mentioned from having any disagreeable consequences

The Marquis de Castries has engaged to make immediate arrangements for the safe transportation of the pecuniary and the other succours destined for the United States_ and has repeatedly assured me that the naval superiority which will be established on the American coast the ensuing campaign

[tmbgareok]

Hey Flans :), was just reading Wikipedia on the debut and it says that you 'pasted up' the art on the cover.

How much of the cover did Rodney do Vs you? Or was it just a case of Rodney doing the individual elements on the cover and you combined them?

JF: oh I realize my terminology is so archaic, it might be confusing. First to be clear--Rodney Alan Greenblat created ALL the artwork including the handwriting on the first album cover. It was a work of his imagination and he deserves full credit.

To explain "paste up" Before computers, a paste up artist (which was my job for a number of years) was one of the lower level folks in an art dept. at a newspaper, magazine or book publisher. You created the mechanical, which was a board with black and white art (either type or xeroxes of art sized the board), with all the typographic information as well as art instructions usually in blue pencil so it wouldn't get reproduced--and that, along with the original color illustration or photography, was photographed to be folded in as a layer in the photo-offset printing process.

The type was output by a dedicated machine--a very early computer essentially--and there were also photostatic machines, nicknamed stat machines that would put moire dots on artwork (those patterns of dots you see in newspapers) along with resize things or marry various visual elements together into one stable piece of art.

All these tasks would require a magazine to have a staff of a dozen or so people to put out a monthly edition. When computers came in, it was one or two folks finishing the same amount of work.

[goetiae]

In the Green Witch arc, Sebastian presents a rather interesting book to Sieglinde when she requests to have something to read. The book is called The Family Physician, and it is in fact replicating a real medicinal work of the Victorian era.

The Family Physician: A Manual Of Domestic Medicine was published in London, England, by Cassell & Company in the year 1883. It is one of many books of this kind as at the time family manuals of medicine were becoming more and more popular. Of course, books were still rather expensive to print and were majorly available to the rich. As many were living in estates outside of the city centers and some traveled abroad, physicians were not always readily available. With that, more and more rich Victorians would rather have a book of medicinal remedies at home to "replace" a visit from a doctor.

The book Sebastian is showing in the arc is one of the later editions by the physicians of the London hospitals. The special edition Family Physician featured in the manga consists of four volumes and includes a diverse list of treatments for many types of illnesses.

Now, Yana does include two supposed remedies used in that book but only one of them is found on the pages: opium tincture. Laudanum was prescribed for various illnesses. As for the bacon, it is a real medical practice of the Victorian era but one recorded in The Successful Housekeeper (1888), not in this manual.

Sebastian has previously stated that he would get familiar with the medicinal treatment options of the time to assist Ciel with his health problems. We can safely assume that this handbook manual is used by him rather often to help young Lord during his various instances of sickness.

This book consists of multiple categories of illnesses that would take a long time to cover fully, but here are those that Ciel canonically either goes through or is likely to go through due to his known chronic condition (asthma):

Night Terrors

Asthma

Cold

Cough

Fever

The sort of treatment that Sebastian would put Ciel through, were he to truly follow the book, is bizarre.

Do not follow these instructions. They are highly outdated and do not follow any medical requirements. Herbs, plants, and chemicals mentioned in this post are highly toxic and should not be ingested or inhaled.

Night Terrors

Night terrors are recognized by Victorians as recurrent and relatively safe, as they are "rarely precursors of fits or epilepsy", though they may be hard to handle, especially in younger children.

In case that a Victorian child was suffering from nightmares, or night terrors as they equated the two, physicians recommended rhubarb and soda also known as Gregory's powder. Combined with a light and digestible meal, this mixture, which is currently regarded as a laxative, was to ensure that the sleep of the child is undisturbed through the night.

Asthma

During the Victorian era, asthma was not recognized as an obstructive disease of lungs, but rather as a neurological condition. Physicians of the time were seemingly very well-aware that asthma was a difficult and longterm condition even if they did not precisely understand its nature; sometimes referring to it as psychosomatic.

Within the treatments that Ciel would have realistically gotten were he, as a Victorian child, to have the kind of asthma attacks that he has had in the manga are:

I. Tobacco, which was believed to relieve paroxysms - sudden asthma attacks. The book Sebastian has provided us with says that tobacco would be especially beneficial for non-smokers who have not established tolerance to cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Even though individuals who used this method would grow "pallid" and "damp with prespiration" after the process, their asthma attack would be "prevented". It is possible to assume that with the repeated, consistent smoking pattern Victorian asthmatics tried to balance out their breathing rhythm.

II. Lobelia inflata, also known as puke weed, is another type of tobacco recommended for asthma, though this time it is to be consumed by ingestion in a form of a tincture mixed with water. It was believed that this tobacco helped with asthma "related to indigestion". The book does state that its authors are unsure whether the plant is very effective as some patients have fallen sick after the use; which is no surprise to the modern reader as lobelia inflata has been discovered to be a toxic plant.

III. Stramonium, also known as thorn-apple, is a kind of medicine recommended by the Victorian physicians when smoking tobacco was not enough. The leaves of the plant, which is highly toxic due to multiple alkaloids within it, would be crushed and smoked. Smoking stramonium before sleep for prophylactic reasons or at the beginning of an asthma attack was generally considered an effective treatment that worked "like magic".

IV. Cigares de Joy, "anti-asthma" cigarettes created by a Frenchman, are highly regarded by the authors of the book. Like many other medicinal treatments of the Victorian era, they were, of course, bad for your health as they contained stramonium and arsenic.

V. Coffee is probably the only non-toxic method of treating asthma that Victorian doctors suggest. However, even with coffee one can't hope to have much satisfaction from the treatment: it is to be given very hot, black (pure cafe noir), without any milk, and on an empty stomach in small quantities. Bigger dosages are advised against while taking coffee with a meal is cosidered to be a cause of asthma attacks.

VI. Nitre-papers are, practically, papers with potassium nitrate. The papers were meant to be burned so the fumes fill the room. The chemical compound of nitre-papers is an irritant and causes damage to the lungs, though Victorian doctors describe multiple cases of children and adults alike "peacefully" falling asleep around ten minutes into the paper burning. The latter is probably no surprise as potassium nitrate fumes have an adverse effect on the human body, causing nausea and dizziness.

VII. Nitrite of amyl is one more nitric chemical compound that is recommended by the Victorian doctors to inhale in order to treat asthma. Now, this chemical is highly toxic in all forms and especially so in direct inhalation and ingestion; it can cause blindness, brain damage, lung scarring, and death.

VIII. Chloroform is yet another questionable way of managing asthma in the Victorian era. While the authors of the book can be given credit for mentioning that overdoing chloroform is never the aim, and even provide a story of a man who died doing so, they do still praise the method greatly. According to the manual, chloroform is to be applied in a few drops on a handkerchief one can press to the nose and inhale through. It is rather clear here that Victorians truly did see asthma as a disturbance within the nervous system and provided methods of sedating the patient.

IX. Ipecacuanha, an imported plant native to Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, and Colombia, is a remedy that the authors seem rather perplexed about. They do recommend it as an effective method of asthma treatment but they do not specify how it is to be applied. We are left wondering how exactly Victorians used this plant. Ipecacuanha, or ipecac as it is known within the medical field now, is highly toxic in all its forms and is especially dangerous to ingest. Brain damage and organ failure are only some side effects of ignoring safety precautions.

X. Potassium iodide is a medication recommended for ingesting directly in the amount of two tablespoons three times a day. Praised for postponing or even fully stopping asthma attacks, this medicinal treatment was highly regarded by the Victorian doctors. It is worth mentioning that potassium iodide has adverse side effects and is an allergen for many people. However, it is a recognized medical supplement that should be taken only, if ever, upon doctor's prescription.

Cold

Victorians recognized that cold was a rather complicated condition as it could either be a simple cold of a precursor to other, more serious, diseases: bronchitis, pneumonia, quinsy, consumption (tuberculosis), pleurisy, rheumatism, neuralgia, and more.

Doctors seemed to believe that the main cause of a common cold was dampness rather than anything else: a damp bed, a damp seat, a damp house or room, a damp robe, and more. Bathing for a prolonged amount of time was discouraged as it "caused colds".

The physiological nature of a cold was that it was seen as an inflammation of a mucuous membrane within the air-passages.

Victorians recommended that one who has caught a cold should stay quiet and not talk much, not eat too much food though drink plenty of water. The most jarring thing is, they recommend - within the book in Sebastian's possession - that colds are to be immediately treated with an aconite tincture. Needless to say, aconite is toxic in all forms and causes nausea and dizziness, vomiting, heart and lung problems, as well as death.

Out of safery reasons, we will abstain from providing any sort of recipes here. Aside from aconite, or when aconite was simply not enough, Victorian doctors suggest the following remedies:

Camphor

Phosphorus

Belladonna

Bryony

Nux vomica

Ipecacuanha

Bismuth

Arsenic

All of these ingredients are highly toxic and their effect on the human body greatly varies. Regardless, these should not be taken in absolutely any form.

Cough

Victorians recognize multiple varieties of a cough and state that there's no universal panacea for all of them. Still, they do recommend a few home remedies that are mixtures made of rather unusual components.

One suggests mixing a Paregoric elixir, which is a highly toxic substance containing deadly hydrogen cyanide, with oxymel, cascarilla, and chloric ether. Another proposes a method to treat dry cough: mixing morphia, hydrogen cyanide, and chloric ether together before ingestion.

Other cold treatments include:

Aconite [☠]

Alum [☠]

Asafoetida [!]

Belladonna [☠]

Chamomile oil

Chloroform [☠]

Coltsfoot [!]

Drosera

Gelsemium [!]

Ipecacuanha [☠]

Nitric acid [☠]

Sulphur [!]

Tartar emetic [☠]

☠ - toxic, deadly! - unsafe, may cause health problems for some people

Fever

The last condition that we can see Ciel canonically go through is a fever, which he seems to catch during the events of the Book of Circus arc. Now, treatment of a simple fever in Victorian times was rather unique as the doctors suggested using aconite or belladonna tincture to reduce the fever.

If it happened so that a patient's fever has not gone down after a long while, arsenic mixture is used. If nothing else helped and the fever is accompanied by shooting pain, highly toxic bryony is applied.

Thankfully, during the cases of remittent fever lasting for many days none of these mixtures were applied. Instead, the patient would be given ice to suck, cold water to drink, or some lemonade. Vomiting was to be calmed down with application of chloroform or ipecacuanha. Quinine, which has many dangerous side effects, would also be given. The most the patient would get aside from such dangerous medicine is nutritious meals and a lot of water.

Overall, it seems like using The Family Physician for treatment of many conditions that boys like Ciel would go through in real life Britain would cause more disadvantages than benefits for the patient. Over-reliance on toxic stimulants and deadly chemical substances could not possibly be good for anyone whose health was compromised.

Edits of the manga pages are made by us. Please, do not use them.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

An unprecedented feat: Printing 3D photonic crystals that completely block light

Photonic crystals are materials with repeating internal structures that interact with light in unique ways. We can find natural examples in opals and the vibrant colored shells of some insects. Even though these crystals are made of transparent materials, they exhibit a "photonic bandgap" that blocks light at certain wavelengths and directions. A special type of this effect is a "complete photonic bandgap," which blocks light from all directions. This complete bandgap allows for precise control of light, opening up possibilities for advancements in telecommunications, sensing, and quantum technologies. As a result, scientists have been working on different methods to create these advanced photonic crystals. While 1D and 2D photonic crystals have been used in various applications, unlocking the secret to producing 3D photonic crystals with a complete photonic bandgap in the visible range has been fraught with challenges due to the need to achieve nanoscale precise control of all three dimensions in the fabrication process.

Read more.

[autism-autobot]

Flower of a Poisonous Seed Part 31

Part 30:

"So now you are in the process of registering Wukong as a resident in your home?"

"Yes Father, that is what I'm doing."

"So when do you plan on taking him to get a Celestial ID Card?"

"..."

"...?"

"I don't wanna go to the Vehicle Management Department!!!"

"Still have to do it."

"Ugh."

~~~

Li Jing was driving with all of the required documents in the seat next to him. Red Son, Wukong, and Nezha were in the back seat with Wukong in the middle.

All three of them needed to get new IDs for various reasons. Nezha's needed to be renewed, Red Son needed one because he was now an acknowledged celestial prince, and Wukong was starting to make his residence in the Celestial Realm permanent.

SWK: Wait, so these guys won't take regular mortal ID cards and vice-versa?

RS: Yep, it's annoying, but immortals tend to live longer and have different laws and requirements for identification.

Nezha: Celestial IDs expire every few centuries or so.

RS: In the mortal realm, it depends on your age. Sometimes demons will get ones specifically designed for their life spans, but that is still quite rare.

SWK: Oh, okay.

Jing: Do you not do the same in the kingdom you used to rule?

SWK: No, everyone was just kinda... there. Y'know? Like, it never really mattered so much that we need identification documents or any documents really.

RS: Don't you still rule Flower Fruit Mountain, Uncle?

SWK: It's... complicated.

SWK: I technically retired decades ago, but they haven't said anything about choosing a new ruler, and I only trained MK to replace me in combat scenarios, not political.

SWK: The monkeys can choose a new ruler whenever they want. They always could! They just never felt a need to replace me.

SWK: Historically speaking, the monkeys have done just fine without a monarch. It's more of a 'this is who we trust to help us with our problems and guide us through hard times' type of job. They know how to do that on their own just fine without me.

SWK: So... I'm kind of still The King. It's mostly just a neat, empty title nowadays.

RS: Oh. I see.

~~~

Wukong was informed of the long wait but not how noisy everything was. Luckily, Nezha brought his noise-cancelling headphones for him.

Getting the information down and the picture taken was a breeze, but Wukong wasn't a fan of the long lines and how long it took to print the IDs.

Li Jing helped speed up the process of confirming Wukong's status as Nezha's "roommate" as he called him. Something told them it would take longer to explain their actual relationship status.

Red Son brought snacks and entertainment for them to enjoy while they waited.

Wukong munched on strawberry pocky sticks while he watched the celestial cousins kick Jing's butt in Mario Kart. It was highly entertaining.

~~~

SWK: I didn't think that would take five hours. I know you guys said it takes a long time, but wow. Just wow.

RS: Can we go out to eat now?

Jing: Absolutely. I'm starving.

Nezha: I've been meaning to show you two to this one restaurant Wukong and I enjoy!

SWK: It's really good. You guys ought to try the food there.

RS: Sounds like a plan!

Nezha: Dibs on driving!

SWK: Shotgun! I call shotgun!

Part 32:

Masterpost

@weaverpop @istopaskingmemate @ainnur @swkbiggestdefender @starrclown @fruit-fight

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞🪞

90 for 🪞:

---

That’s sort of fair. It’s hard to decide who you want to be when you finally get a choice. Buck knows that better than anyone. He can see why she might be overwhelmed. 

Then, they’re walking by a rack of clothes right across from the boy’s section and Dove stops short. Buck staggers to halt and looks at her.

“What’s wrong?” He asks. 

“Look,” she says, pointing.

Buck follows the gesture to a mannequin little boy wearing a tee shirt that is, without a doubt, perfect for Dove. It’s a soft, gray-green type color, decorated with cartoon print alligators. 

“Oh, well,” Buck says, grinning. “That was made for you.”

Dove scrunches her mouth to the side. 

“Is it for boys?”

“It’s for whoever is wearing it,” Buck replies. “And if you want it, I think we should buy it.”

Dove smiles at him. “Yes, please.”

And once again, Buck feels like he’s done something right.

▪️▪️▪️

By the time they meet Carla for dinner, Buck thinks they’re towing a good clothing haul in the back of the Jeep. After the alligator shirt, Dove seemed a bit more ready to give her stylistic opinions. By the time they left the store, on top of that original shirt, they’d purchased two more sweaters from the boys section with various animal themes, and a corduroy skirt that she loved the feeling of under her fingers. Dove had a wide grin the whole walk to the car. Buck calls the outing a win. 

Meeting Carla goes just as well. She’s so friendly and warm that she disarms Dove’s shyness right away. Maybe Dove’s pre-established good mood and the promise of dessert also help. 

“So Carla is going to hang out with you while I’m fighting fires. That okay with you?” Buck asks, while Dove colors on her paper kid’s menu.

“Okay,” Dove shrugs. “That’s good.”

Carla chuckles. “We’re going to get along great, aren’t we Dove?”

“Yes!” Dove decides. 

Buck feels relieved. It’s all going well. She’s happy. She’s more secure than she was. He starts to feel confident that he’s not doing a bad job.

iv.

That confidence of course fizzles out at the first sign of disruption. Of course it does. 

To be fair, for over a week after Buck returns to work and Dove starts school, things are good. Gerrard makes limited jokes about Buck going on maternity leave. Buck and Eddie act pretty much normal as long as Buck doesn’t talk about spending time together outside of work. Which is a bummer. A major, anxiety-producing bummer. But Buck is still trying for patience. 

Dove is doing well in school, too. Turns out, unlike what he was warned, her reading is actually pretty on par with where it should be. It’s her confidence that’s the issue. She reads great with him. Well, for a six year-old. It’s the environment that’s the issue. He thinks that’s something they can work on. But she likes school. She already has a friend.

So things are going well. Until Buck finds himself in a pickle. 

It’s day two of his first four-off since he returned to work. And, sort of excitingly, he has an appointment with a lawyer. A lawyer who specializes in adoptions, in fact. It’s the first appointment to get the process rolling. He knows it’s quick. He’s been advised he can take more time with it if he wants. He doesn’t want. The thing is, he’s all in. He’s committed. He knows exactly what he wants. He took this little girl in, he’s gotten her to open up. There’s no way he’s turning back. He can’t do that to her. Besides, even if he’s faced challenges, he hasn’t encountered anything that has made him doubt her. Just the opposite, actually. 

The truth is, the more Buck learns about Dove, the more he likes her. The more he’s sure he wants her to be his kid. Not just that he wants a kid or wants to help in an unfortunate circumstance. He wants this kid to be his kid. This kid, with her fascination with reptiles, her surprisingly strong opinion on apple juice being better than anything else, and what he has learned is a complete and utter obsession with the Disney Tarzan cartoon. Like, he’s never listened to so much Phil Collins in his life. Dove, who is polite and gentle, but curious. He doesn’t want to imagine having to give her back. And it hasn’t even been two months. He’s going to adopt her as soon as he can and give her the security that she has somewhere forever. That is the foremost priority in his life right now. 

The morning of his appointment, Dove wears her alligator shirt, and Buck tries to braid her hair. Per her request. This would not have been his suggestion. 

[firestorm-shiba]

Today is the grand (re)opening of my ko-fi paleo-themed* art shop, and just in time for the holidays!!

Link to shop here!

I previously had some issues processing the payments to my account, but it's been resolved now and I can at long last fully open. I have a few more products I need to list on there, but for now we have qianzhousaurs sinensis keychains, watercolour originals of various species, and a sticker sheet featuring ceratosaurus, dryosaurus, and an allosaurus skull!

Upcoming throughout the month: Baby styracosaurus pins, mini stickers (irritator and rajasaurus), more art originals, and potentially prints if I find a local printer service.

Feel free to let me know in the comments or reblogs any species you'd like to see in my shop in the future, or maybe specific types of product. I'm very open to suggestions :)

*paleo themed at the moment, if I'm successful with the shop there will likely be bug and other critter themed products in the future :)

[punderdome]

The Fine Print: Chapter 8

Summary: Tav seeks out a set of Infernal translations from the Archivist.

[AO3]

Rating: 18+, Minors DNI

Chapter 8: The Archivist

Tav woke alone in the Archduke’s chambers.  She was stiff and slightly sore but knew what she had to do.  Raphael enjoyed it when she spoke Infernal to him.  How much?  What could she convince him to do using the Devil’s tongue?  What would the devil's tongue do if she spoke the Devil's tongue?

First, she needed a competent translator that wasn’t her husband or his incubus.  Since she had negotiated for the ability to speak to the staff, the Archivist was her best bet for a translator, but he had never even looked at her before.  There was no way he was going to translate filthy lines unless she managed to gain some rapport with him.

Tav visited the archives after breakfast.

The Archivist was pouring over a tome and making notes on the side about a pair of gauntlets sitting on his desk.  They hummed with Weave and required a thorough characterization.

“Good morning,” Tav greeted warmly.  For the first time, the Archivist looked up at her and caught her gaze.  He seemed displeased by the interruption but completely unwilling to express it to the Master’s wife.

“How may I assist you, my Lady?” he asked patiently.

“What is your name?  I’m Tav - Tavara,” she corrected, unsure if he would ever consider using her name or if titles were all she was going to be given.

“Kilzire Ozvius, Master Archivist of the House of Hope,” he returned the gesture.  “Now, what can I help you with, Lady Tav?”

“I am trying to learn proper Devilish Infernal, can you help me with a few translations?”  Tav held out the Infernal copy of the book on Asmodeus that he loaned to her a few days prior.  The Tiefling considered her question for a brief moment before he nodded.  He gestured for her to show him the passages she was struggling with.

“I have been struggling with this passage that describes Asmodeus’s true serpentine form.  I initially read this as ‘wounds dripping of acid black blood’ but the Common tongue version says ‘a series of never-healing wounds that exude blood blackened by sin and torment.’  Can you help me understand the difference?”  Tav requested.

He took a second to understand her request before going through the section rune by rune.  “I see,” there was a look of slight hesitation in his eyes.  “So you’ve never studied Devilish Infernal before?”

Tav swallowed.  “No.  My lack of study is what led me here.”  Kilzire had a look in his eye that twinged with embarrassment, though whether it was from her husband’s view on Tiefling Infernal or some sort of forbidden knowledge of how she actually became the Archduchess, she couldn’t say.

He pointed out the runes that described the blood of Asmodeus.  “This word means never-healing wound in Infernal, but in Tiefling Infernal it means just wound.”  He gave her a different word in Infernal to indicate that the wound could be healed, then added a suffix to indicate that the wound was in the process of being healed.

“May I have some parchment and a quill, I would like to take notes.”  She wrote down the new terminology along with other examples of various types of wounds that may or may not be healable, in the process of being healed, mostly healed, failed to be healed, festering, fouled, necrotic, infected, and filled with devilish black pus.  He went through and explained the subtle differences between them, often with only a single letter difference or a change in inflection or tone marked by the slight changes in angle of the letters.

“In spoken Infernal, your original reading would be sufficient to communicate most of your ideas, but written down or in a contract, the translation provided would be the correct way to interpret the writing.”  Kilzire walked out from behind his desk and into the stacks.  He returned with a relatively thin book bound in brown leather.

“Wound Treatments for the Front Line of the Blood War?” Tav asked as she read the title on the cover.

“Should you wish to practice your new knowledge,” Kilzire explained briefly.

Tav realized how much of his time she had used, and she only asked for clarification on a single word.  “Thank you, Kilzire.”  She collected the two books and her notes and returned to her room.

She lay the books on her table.  She had an eternity to learn to properly read the works in front of her.  It was the only way she was going to be able to correct her mistakes.

That evening, Tav was summoned to dinner with her husband in the dining hall.  

The table was set with entirely too much food for the two of them to eat but nowhere nearly as lavish as the feasts for their first days of marriage.  She stood alone in the dining hall to wait for Raphael.  He came from behind her, probably having relocated from his study.

“Dear husband, how was your day?” Tav started the pleasantries.  She took an offered elbow, and they sat together at the dining table.

“Quite challenging, I’m afraid,” Raphael responded, starting to serve himself a large portion of some sort of dark meat that dripped black juices as he cut into it.  Tav declined to serve herself from that platter.

“With contracts?” Tav probed.  She took a buttery roll from the breadbasket and noticed an unappetizing yet familiar meat stew lurking behind it.  A platter of whole roasted fish on the table seemed like a safe choice.

“I was repairing the Orb of Karsus,” as he spoke of the artifact, Tav could sense his frustration as his knife cut deeper and more firmly into the flesh in front of him.

“I see, I’m sure it will be done soon enough,” Tav offered politely.  “Whenever it is ready, I’m curious to see it.”

Raphael chuckled slightly.  “How did it feel when it was within you?” he asked, taking a sip of wine.

Tav cocked her head slightly, startled by his question.  “I didn’t know that it was there, but for me I guess it felt more like an ache.”  She brushed her fingertips over the scales on her sternum.  “Like my stomach was upset because I consumed too much whiskey or that sensation when you poke at a bruise.”

“Such an adept description,  I felt a similar sensation upon testing it.  I shall have it complete soon, and then I will show you its dark beauty.”

When they finished eating, Tav took Raphael’s offered elbow and they strolled through the corridors together.  Tav pulled him gently towards the balcony that they had fucked on the day prior.  He chuckled and raised an eyebrow.

“Again?” Raphael teased.

“I didn’t really get to look at the horizon last time, as I was preoccupied,” Tav teased back.  She smirked at his radiating smugness.  She paused and gave a short chuckle.  “And yes, that position did feel very good,” she added, trying to play coy.  “Perhaps we should do that again,” she suggested with a smile.  The growl in Raphael’s chest was almost imperceptible.

Tav gazed over the reddish horizon at the low, inhospitable rocky mountains.  The land was jagged and barren, it was hard to believe that this was the site of so much conquering and conflict.  This was the place her dear husband wanted to claim.  This was the place she would eternally call home.

Raphael offered her a hand to lead her back to their chambers.  Tav was lost in thought as they headed back to his bedchamber for the evening.  They walked together in silence, her hand wrapped around his arm at the elbow.

She was starting to observe how Raphael took her contact.  The Infernal flirting was hot and exciting.  Direct requests were met with more challenges and demands.  When he fingered her it was an ‘indulgence.’

When they entered his bedchamber, Raphael wasted no time undressing her as soon as the latch clicked shut.

“Why don’t we take our time?” Tav suggested as Raphael slid her smallclothes down her thighs.  “We can relax and savor it.”  Her suggestion gave him a slight pause.  Now that she was bare, he lowered his mouth to hers and started to kiss her softly and slowly.

Tav took her time exploring him over his clothes.  She was hoping that he would find the experience enjoyable enough to reciprocate.

“Come,” Tav bade him, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the bed.  She motioned for him to lay down, but he stayed standing.  Alright, standing it would be.

Tav circled around to his back.  She let her hands roam softly over the Infernal ridges hidden by his doublet.  She gently ran her hands through the hair at the back of his neck.  She stroked the skin of his wings gently, feeling the softness of the greater membrane and gently contrasting it to the firm leathery skin that covered the bones and muscles beneath.  She wrapped her arms around him from behind and felt a deep, contented hum emanate from his chest.

Raphael sighed slowly, as Tav started undressing him.  She undid every button on his doublet slowly, and removed it from his body.  She unlaced his undershirt, tracing over his chest with her hands lightly, trying to tease him, and a quick tension in his breath indicated it was working.  He pulled the undershirt off over his head and discarded it.

Tav rested her cheek against his chest as she started to trace the hem of the waistband of his pants with her fingertips, eliciting a breathy growl from her devilish husband.  She unlaced his pants and slid them off, leaving both of them bare.

She met her husband’s gaze.  He was eager and hungry, with an erection to support that assessment.  Her hands gripped his shaft and gave a few eager pumps, and deep groans emanated from his Infernal chest.

Tav took his hands and placed them over her breasts, encouraging him to touch.  She grabbed one of his hands and moved it to her ass, encouraging him to squeeze.  She moved the hand that was groping her ass between her legs, encouraging him to stroke.  She moaned into the sensation of Raphael pleasuring her.

Within the next ten seconds, Raphael had decided foreplay was done, and Tav was deposited on the bed for the evening’s activities.

***

Tav visited the archive the next morning.  She was prepared with the first test of what Kilzare was willing to translate for her, and it was prudent to start with something benign.  The Archivist was in the process of cataloging old tomes.

“Good morning, Kilzare,” she greeted warmly.

“Good morning, Lady Tav.  Did you need something?  More reading materials perhaps?”

“You know well enough that I am trying to learn Devilish Infernal, can you help me with a phrase?”

“Why of course, I speak all forms fluently,” he asserted gently with a smile.

“Can you teach me to say ‘I want you to kiss me all night’?” Tav requested.

He laughed and gave a bright smile.  “For the Master of the House, I presume.  I’m sure he will respond well to your gesture of romance.”  He spoke the words in Devilish Infernal, and Tav took detailed notes, documenting the word differences between the translation she anticipated and the one she was presented with.  “Should you require additional reading materials or inspiration, that section contains poetry and there is a section in the back for romantic classics of both Faerun and the Nine Hells of Baator.”  Tav smiled at him sweetly.

She pointed out a section of his translation.  “And this word, how does it mean ‘all night?’” she asked for clarification repeating the confusing part of the sentence.

“Without the suffix, it means ‘at nighttime’ but with the suffix it means ‘for all nighttime.'  As you can gather, that doesn’t get much use here in Avernus.”  Tav laughed, nodding at the clarification.

“Thank you, Kilzare.”

Tav smiled to herself as she walked the corridors of the House of Hope. The Archivist had been willing to translate romantic lines, so there was a chance he might be willing to assist her with a more carnal set of translations.   Still, this evening would be a small test on how willing Raphael was willing to follow verbal instructions or requests before he lost patience and claimed his pleasure.

***

The test of Raphael’s patience and interest had not gone well.  Tav whispered in Raphael’s ear, “I want to kiss you all night,” in a voice as seductive as she could make the harsh language sound.  He grinned and was highly amenable to a passionate make out session on the settee, for a while at least.

His control over himself for quite some time, and he even managed some light groping while keeping his composure.  Before long, he had dumped her on the bed and was quickly unlacing her corset.  His mouth was still on hers, locked in a deep kiss and a low groan emanating from his throat.  Then, they fucked.  Twice.

Raphael lay wrapped around her, running his claws through her curls.  “My love,” he whispered in her ear before they fell asleep.

The next morning, Raphael had left to finalize contracts in his study, leaving Tav free for the day to visit the archive at her leisure.  Maybe a more seductive statement would lead to a better outcome.

Tav walked into the archive, and saw Kilzire taking copious notes on a scroll over something he had been reading.  He gave a slight smile as she approached.

“Good morning, Lady Tav, how may I assist you?”

“I need a Devilish Infernal translation of something.  Can you help me smooth out the language?”

“Why yes, of course.  Whatever do you need?”

“I need you to teach me to say ‘I want you to trace my entire body with your tongue, ” Tav explained.

Any warmth that had been in his guise or his voice immediately vanished.  “You must be joking.”  

“Not in the slightest.”

“You realize that there is an entire section dedicated to erotica right over there! ” He pointed wildly at a back corner.  She would have to investigate it later.

She steadied her emotions.  “Will you help me or not?”

“Yes,” he bit back, rubbing his temples in an act of self soothing.  He gave her the correct translation and slumped over his desk.

“Thank you,” Tav said quietly as she left the archive.  Kilzare irritably waved her away with the back of his hand.

After dinner that evening, Raphael eagerly took her back to their bedroom to continue celebrating their honeymoon.

Tav whispered the Infernal line to Raphael telling him how she wanted him to trace her entire body with his tongue, and he immediately leapt at the opportunity.  He was attentive and eager, holding, kneading, stroking and licking.  They both gave warm moans of arousal as he traced each of her nipples slowly.  He just couldn’t make it any lower than that.   As soon as his tongue finished tracing both breasts, it was time for sex.  He just couldn’t wait any longer and was eager to be pleasured.

Tav finished herself off that night while Raphael was asleep, curled tightly around her.

She would have to think of other things much filthier to compel her husband to follow her instructions in his bedchamber.

***

After a tenday of honeymoon beddings, the appropriate number of nara root tea doses, and Kilzare’s flustered breakdowns, Tav sat frustrated at her vanity in her room, preparing to meet her Lord husband for dinner.  

He wanted her every day, and usually twice.  He had never once given her an orgasm.  The times she was close to coming when they fucked, he finished too quickly for her to reach that peak.  He didn’t like it when she touched herself, and he always swatted her fingers away from her clit when she stroked herself.  It was like he was jealous that her hands could give her pleasure without him being involved.

She couldn’t just ask Raphael to eat her out.  Everything with him was a negotiation.  If she asked him to pleasure her with his mouth, he definitely would demand she did the same to him in return.   He wouldn’t even finger her to orgasm, and there was no chance she was going to suck his cock if he wouldn’t put in the minimum amount of effort when they fucked.

Tav wasn’t sure the Infernal seduction phrases were working on her husband.  They seemed to only make him more eager to discontinue foreplay and move straight into fucking.

There was a knock at her door.  “My Lady, the Master of the House has requested you join him for dinner,” a maid relayed through the door.

“Very well,” Tav responded through the closed door.  She donned a red dress and the silver bracelet Raphael gifted her as a wedding gift.  He had enjoyed fucking her several times while she was wearing only the bracelet.

Raphael stood waiting in the dining hall.  “My beloved,” he greeted her magnanimously, grinning ear to ear.

Tav smiled nervously.  “You seem delighted, husband.  Are contracts going well?”

Raphael didn’t answer, he pulled back a chair and motioned her to sit.  Tav sat down and allowed him to indulge her.  He took his place by her side.

“I have mended the Orb of Karsus, and this merits a celebration.”  He poured two goblets of wine and passed one to her.

“Well, now you are in possession of the full Regalia of Karsus.  So much power at your fingertips,” Tav complimented.  Powerful fingertips that couldn’t be bothered to bring her to orgasm.

“It is indeed, my love,” Raphael grinned.  “The godlike power of the Regalia will enable me to take over the nine Hells.”  He grabbed portions of the meat dishes nearest to him.  Raphael cut into the toughest cuts with glee.

Tav served herself vegetables and a dish she was confident was beef.  “I have full confidence in your abilities,” she offered up in conversation.

“When I have spent more time exploring the power of the Regalia, I would love for you to see a demonstration.”

“I look forward to it, husband.”  Tav took a slow sip of her wine.  If Raphael had the Regalia already, maybe the Hells would leave her alone.  She was clearly not a threat.   There was light conversation as they finished their meals.

“I have a gift for you, my beautiful wife,” Raphael moved behind her.  He snapped and an object appeared in his hands that Tav couldn’t see.  He extended something around her neck and she immediately recognized the coldness of jewelry.  “I asked for five pendant rubies this time instead of one.”  He idly grasped her hand that bore the ruby bracelet from his wedding gift.  He turned her wrist over several times.  “One gemstone wasn’t enough.”

Tav brought a hand up to her throat, feeling the coldness of the silver.  “Thank you, dear husband.”   

Raphael extended a hand.  “Shall we go to bed?” he asked with a grin.  Tav sighed and took it.

***

Tav was pretty sure her plan wasn’t going to work, but at present she had no better ideas.  Maybe she could have a reliable way of making him come quickly when she just wasn’t excited about her husband’s affections.

Tav entered the archive, and Kilzare gave an audible groan.

“I don’t want to hear it, my Lady Tav,” he protested.

“Raphael needs to hear it, Kilzare.”

“Hells, what do you want me to translate now?” he demanded, the look on his face indicating that he was eager to get back to his work and to put the very concept of his boss having active nether regions out of his mind.

“ ‘Give me your fingers, so I can show you just how much I desire you,’ ” Tav answered in an absurdly straightforward fashion.  

Kilzire stared at her.  His mouth tightened in a deep frown.

“I studied at the top universities to be competent enough to serve an Archduke of the Hells.  Now, here I am, doing this,” he lamented. 

“Think about it,” Tav started with her prepared argument,  “has Raphael hurt you or threatened to hurt you since we started our honeymoon?  Who has he flayed?”

His eyes hit the rafters and he swallowed slowly in a deep show of indignity.  “No one, Lady Tav.”

“Do you want to keep it that way?” Tav inquired.

Kilzare took a deep sigh before translating the sexually charged statement for her. He gave her the phrase in Devilish Infernal, and Tav took detailed notes about each word choice he made.  There were only a few small adjustments from the initial translation that she had fabricated earlier.  “Can I just translate them in bulk?” he asked with a twinge of disgust.

Tav sighed, trying to respect his boundaries but also trying not to betray the real reason that she needed the phrase list updated daily.  “Not really,” she grimaced.

Tav’s assessment of her husband’s reaction to infernal seduction turned out to be correct.  He was never going to do what she asked, and it made him too excited to last long.   Tav utilized the second half of the effects many times, much to her displeasure.

***

One night, Tav woke to cambion claws gently tracing her naked curves and a very hard erection pressed into her lower back.

“Raphael?” she asked, still slightly sleepy.  He hummed a throaty acknowledgement into her ear.  They were spooning, with Raphael draped around her and caressing her with his free hand.  The one laying beneath her grasped her stomach.

“There you are, my dearest.  I was just admiring you.”  His fingers traced circles around her nipples, making them hard.  Tav sucked in a breath of anticipation.

Raphael traced his forked tongue down the back of her neck.  His tail had crept all the way up her thigh and squeezed gently in a subconscious rhythm.  He left kisses down her back and shoulder.

Tav moved to try to roll under him, but his tail and the arm stroking her wouldn’t let her move.  “Naughty, eager Little Mouse,” Raphael whispered in her ear.  “I want you just like this.  A slow, languid bit of pleasure for us to enjoy.”

Though he held her facing away from him, she reached back around him to grab his ass and run her hands over the ridges on his hip bone.  He raised his hand to trace a claw over her jawbone, and Tav lifted her top thigh, so his legs could entwine with hers.  He shifted her so that the arm that rested under her was able to assist in soft caresses.  Tav brought her hand to her clit and pressed in firm, slow circles.  She let out a soft, breathless moan.

His free hand grabbed his hardness and pushed it between her legs, waiting to enter her.  Tav quickly tested how wet she was.

“Not yet, I’m not wet enough,” she breathed before going back to touch herself.  Raphael continued to kiss her back and shoulders, though they became staccatoed instead of soft with an undercurrent of frustration.  As Tav let out another soft groan of pleasure, Raphael replaced her hand with his and took her place pleasuring her.  She could feel his restlessness pulse through his tail and his erection between her legs.

Tav pressed two fingers into her entrance and scissored and thrust them in a rhythm she liked.  The moan she let out was no longer soft or breathless.  Raphael grabbed her hand and removed her fingers.  He brought her slick fingers to his mouth and licked them clean.

“Now?” Raphael asked softly with an air of tension in his voice.

“This feels so good, finish me,” Tav moaned as Raphael continued to stroke her.

He stopped stroking her and ran his hand over her breasts.  “Such a greedy, greedy Little Mouse,” he growled in response.  Her husband thrust deeply into her.  He was slow and languid as he moved with a consistent rhythm.

Tav angled her hips properly for Raphael’s movements, and he began to take his pleasure in earnest.  He held her tightly within his arms, one hand gripping her hips while the other wrapped around her torso with his hand gripping between her shoulder and collarbone.  She enjoyed the joining and the pleasurable way his ridges dragged within her, but this angle refused her friction where she wanted it.

Tav reached between her legs to stroke her clit.  Her breathy moans met Raphael’s.  After a few more thrusts, Raphael grabbed the hand stroking her clit and removed it.  He replaced her fingers with his own.

“I am your pleasure, my Little Mouse,” he growled into her ear.  He gave a few more thrusts before coming inside her.  “My beloved,” he purred in her ear.  He held her tightly and fell asleep again still inside her.

It had been two tendays of their honeymoon trying to get Raphael to do anything to please her.  The Infernal flirting and seduction had only served to wind him up more.  He didn’t actually listen to anything she asked for or consider anything she wanted.  It was so much simpler for him to buy her things and fuck her rather than to try to build some sort of actual relationship.  S he really was just an object to him, exactly what Haarlep had told her.  She was his new sex toy.  That was all she was ever going to be.  Forever.

Tav closed her eyes tightly as the cambion lay wrapped around her and softened inside her.  Sleep was not going to come easily.  She had a new plan, and she had to begin tomorrow.

She was going to find the divorce loophole for her contract.

[torque-witch]

Soft-launching my new Ko-fi store and page!

Support Death's Head Divination on Ko-fi! ❤️ - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.

It's only stickers and prints so far, but I do want to use it as a space to re-grow my art business while I'm still working on art shows during the year. I'll also be working on blogs, witchy/pagan book reviews, art processes and memberships.

I really want to get off of Etsy ultimately because

They support AI art

It's all drop-shipping or copied listings (fake)

They are banning real artists daily

They bring in zero traffic these days

People really don't trust Etsy anymore as a service

So if you want to follow along, please visit my site! I will also be re-adding slots for commissions of various types like statues, digital art and runes. I will also add Tarot readings back into the roster.

The goal is to not need to Doordash, especially as my health has been a bit precarious over the last few years. I want the majority of my energy for art shows, which have really been going well throughout 2024.

Other than that, please feel free to chime in about what you would like to see from me in the future!

[manic-maniac-man]

HUgE Jan 2011

FLYMYJEAN (pt.2 finale)

Denim always reflects the wearer’s style. Whether you want to look tough and manly or elegant, get the best denim to define your style!

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

This season's theme is old black and white photography

The irregular grey melange created by pleating represents this abstract image. ¥49,350 Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo

BALMAIN Homme

The classic biker pants have a refined, elegant design that is more sophisticated than their original hard look. They are perfect for a sophisticated outfit.

¥147,000 (Edition Omotesando Hills store)

DIESEL BLACK GOLD

We spent a lot of time and effort on hand-crafted techniques such as stone washing, scratching, and applation to create a more realistic texture.

¥40,950 (Diesel Japan)

THOM BROWNE

The first denim collection from Thom Browne. Check out the tricolor tab on the back yoke and the tag on the left leg, which are typical of Thom Browne. ¥36,750 (Steady Study)

GARETH PUGH

A bold design made from denim patchwork. The stoic nature of the design omits pockets and functionality.

It's very clean and original. ¥72,450 (International Gallery Beams)

HYSTERIC GLAMOUR

The torn parts of the denim are remade by patching them with sweatshirts featuring original prints. The design combines hard and pop styles for a playful feel.

¥48,300 (Hysteric Glamour)

kolor

The vintage processing gives it a realistic look that feels just right. The versatile straight silhouette can be casually rolled up for a (kolor)-like look. ¥32,550 (MORERIDE)

Old Joe

The item is made of four different fabrics and has been patchwork repaired in three stages. The natural fading and dirtiness of the hand-made finish makes it hard to believe it is brand new. ¥57,750 (Blackflag)

LAD MUSICIAN

Made from indigo denim dyed in a deep color using natural indigo from India. The unique cut 3D shape gives it a slim fit yet comfortable feel.

¥21,000 (LAD MUSICIAN DAIKANYAMA)

Waste(twice)

The fabric was processed based on vintage items actually worn by workers, in pursuit of realism. Don't miss the single-needle stitching, a feature of the early 1900s. ¥37,800 (JAM)

UNDERCOVERISM

The three-dimensional cut allows smooth knee movement even with a tight fit. The darts that look like slits are a distinctive detail for this season.

¥42,000 (UNDERCOVERISM)

Levi's® Left handed Jean by Takahiro Kuraishi

Based on a left-handed design, this season the pockets have been redesigned to make them easier for right-handed people to use as well.

¥19,950 (Levi Strauss Japan)

SASQUATCHfabrix. Chilling

The corduroy switching at the knees is the highlight.

The same material is used to create a jacket with elbow panels, so you can wear it as a set.

¥24,150 (Nepenthes Tokyo)

MIHARAYASUHIRO

Corduroy, leather, and more

Repairs were made using various fabrics used in this collection.

Several types of dirt have also been added to give it a richer look.

¥56,700 (Miharayasuhiro Tokyo)

A.P.C.

It features a natural texture that has been worn for many years. The repair stitching that matches the fading of the denim, the ink stains on the pockets, and other fine details are also attractive. ¥29,400 (A.P.C. Customer Service)

Levi's®× WACKO MARIA

A dream collaboration with Levi's® has come true. The silhouette is an original (Wacko Maria) design, with a special edition patch with "GUILTYPARTIES" engraved on it. ¥33,600 (Blackflag)

N.HOOLYWOOD

Bush pants in collaboration with <Lee>. The flared silhouette is reminiscent of the 70s hippie movement, and the retro faded color is also nice. ¥28,350 (Mister Hollywood)

ATTACHMENT

The classic slim straight style features curved lines that follow the shape of your foot. The exquisite cushioning that is created naturally when worn is the secret to its longevity.

¥26,250 (ATTACHMENT Daikanyama main store)

[blogdays]

Fastdtftransfer - Devasa+ (2)

Create dtf design is a printing method that involves printing a design onto a piece of PET film using specialized equipment. This method offers a cost-effective way to create high-quality and durable graphics and labels. Unlike other printing methods like DTG (Direct-to-Garment), DTF requires the use of a film, a powder, a curing oven, and a heat press to complete the printing process. DTF transfers are versatile and can be used on various types of fabrics and garments, allowing for flexibility in design placement. With the ability to customize and personalize designs, DTF printing offers endless possibilities for creating unique and professional apparel. It is important to understand the process and benefits of DTF printing when considering custom uniforms design. Custom uniforms play a crucial role in branding and establishing a company's identity. They serve as a visual representation of a brand's personality and can incorporate unique design your own tshirt, design elements such as colors, patterns, and logos. By incorporating brand elements into custom uniforms, companies can create a strong brand identity and promote their business effectively. Custom uniforms also provide free advertising, as they showcase the company's colors and logo, making an immediate impact on customers. Establishing a brand identity takes time and effort, and custom uniforms can be a powerful tool in achieving this goal. Therefore, it is essential to consider custom uniform design as part of the overall branding strategy. When designing Dtf guidelines, there are several guidelines to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to ensure that the design captures the brand's identity and message. The design should align with the company's values and target audience, while also being visually appealing and professional. Secondly, the design should be versatile and suitable for various types of garments and fabrics. This allows for flexibility in creating uniforms for different purposes and environments. Additionally, attention should be given to the placement of the logo and other design elements to ensure visibility and impact. Lastly, it is crucial to work with experts who have experience in DTF design and printing to ensure the best results. Their expertise can help guide the design process and ensure that the final product meets the brand's expectations and requirements. By following these guidelines, businesses can create unique and professional DTF custom uniforms that effectively represent their brand and enhance their overall image. Dtf printing in USA,Dtf printing in Canada our website can help you to have information about the issues.

[bmv1]

Custom Prints: How to Choose Printers That Align with Your Architectural Needs

In the architecture industry, the quality of printed materials significantly impacts the presentation and execution of projects. Various printing technologies are available to meet these needs. How can architects ensure they choose the right printer that aligns perfectly with their requirements? This challenge is crucial for maintaining high standards in architectural work.

This guide will help you steer the options available, highlighting the critical factors to consider. Selecting the ideal printer for architectural uses involves understanding the different types of plotters and their capabilities. Each type offers distinctive benefits depending on the specific needs of your projects.

Understanding Plotter Printers

They are indispensable in architecture because they can handle large-format prints essential for detailed architectural drawings and blueprints. These produce crisp, high-resolution images on large paper sizes, crucial for detailed work. When choosing a plotter, it’s essential to consider the types available:

Pen plotters use pens to draw on paper. They are great for high precision but generally slower than their modern counterparts.

The Inkjet plotter’s spray ink allows for a broader range of colours and faster output. They are suited for both high-quality presentations and standard drafts.

Laser Printers for Fast Outputs

Laser printers might be the way to go for architects needing quicker print jobs for client meetings or internal reviews. These are not typically used for large format prints but are excellent for smaller, high-volume tasks where speed is critical. They deliver fast and reliable outputs, although with a slight compromise on the fine detail that plotters can achieve.

Key Features to Consider

Resolution and Quality

The resolution of a printer dictates the clarity and detail of the printed document. High-resolution printers are essential in architecture because they ensure that every line and detail of the sketches and plans is visible and clear. Generally, a higher DPI (dots per inch) rating indicates better resolution.

Speed and Efficiency

Time is often a constraint in project deliveries, making a printer’s speed another vital consideration. However, the choice should carefully balance speed and quality, as some fast printers may sacrifice detail for quicker output. Evaluate its speed in the context of typical project sizes and deadlines.

Media Handling

Architectural printing often requires different media types, ranging from thick card stocks to glossy-finish papers for high-quality presentations. Ensure the printer can handle the diversity of media you use in your practice. Check for the maximum and minimum paper sizes and whether the printer supports roll-fed or sheet-fed options.

Cost Considerations

Initial Investment vs. Long-Term Costs

Printers come with varying price tags; often, higher-priced models offer greater versatility and quality. However, the ongoing operating costs, such as ink or toner, maintenance, and paper, must be considered. A cheaper one can lead to higher long-term expenses due to inefficient ink usage or frequent maintenance needs.

Ink or Toner Expenses

Depending on the type, the ink or toner cost can significantly affect the overall cost of ownership. Plotters typically use ink, which can be pricey, especially if it is inefficient. On the other hand, toner used in laser printers might be less expensive per page, especially for high-volume printing.

Connectivity and Software Integration

Ease of Use and Compatibility

A printer’s compatibility with existing architectural software is crucial in today’s digital-focused workflow. Seamlessly integrating with software like AutoCAD, Revit, or other design tools can streamline the printing process, reducing errors and saving time.

Network Connectivity

Consider printers with built-in network capabilities that allow multiple users to access it across the office network. Wireless printing and cloud capabilities are additional features that enhance flexibility, enabling you to print from various devices or even remotely.

Environmental Impact

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

With an improving focus on sustainability in architecture, the environmental impact of your office equipment should be noticed. Look for printers with energy-saving features and those that meet environmental standards like ENERGY STAR. Additionally, consider the ones that offer features like automatic duplex printing to save on paper.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right printer involves weighing various factors, from print quality and speed to cost and environmental impact. By understanding the specific demands of your architectural projects and how different printers meet those needs, you can select a printer that fits your budget and enhances your firm’s productivity and output quality. The right one becomes invaluable in bringing architectural visions to life, ensuring every print reflects the precision and detail your projects deserve.

By considering the detailed needs of your practice—including the different types of plotters available—you can choose a printer that not only meets but enhances your professional output. A well-chosen one will serve as a reliable tool that supports your creative process, ensures high standards are maintained, and ultimately contributes to the satisfaction of your clients. Invest wisely, and your chosen printer will prove integral to the precision and efficiency of your architectural endeavours.

[cyclesprefectpress]

[video description: process recording of letterpress-printing Thank You cards in a Chandler & Price clamshell action press, which opens and closes on a hinge. Every time the press opens a printed card is removed by hand and replaced with an unprinted one. When it closes the relief type contacts the card, pressing ink and form into the surface. the Thank You is printed in large, bold wood type in various faces, in two colorways. One is lavender, teal, and yellow; the other is pink, acid green, and yellow. the capital T and Y are decorated with a second color, printed from handset type intended for borders. the decoration is printed only in the area of the letter forms by printing the relief type through a frisket, cut in the shape of the letters, which protects the card from contact with the ink outside of the desired edges. end description.]

Partners in Print lets me play with the CMYK space :))) the edible secondaries. Wasabi & Lavender :))) also PiP is a very a cool organization teaching remote letterpress internationally, doing in-person printing events in the Seattle area, and hosting things like free online discussion spaces for shop talk :)))

anyway is anybody else haunted by that old post about how CMYK is the true palette and art classes lied to them about primary colors. i'm haunted. it hovers over me some days when i mix ink.

[lingshanhermit]

Lingshan Hermit: What is the True Nature of the World

When we talk about venturing forth together, we're not discussing events on a distant alien world. Fundamentally, we're talking about not opposing the truth, about not attempting to make an enemy of relative reality. The content described in our collective journey forward is not religious fantasy; it is actually Buddha showing us the true nature of the relative world. This nearly encompasses all correct recognition of the relative world, from biological types to the notion of "self," to the laws governing the universe, to the various predicaments we face and how to seek benefits and avoid harms. Aside from the enlightened ones, we all live in this relative world, in a world framed by size, beauty, ugliness, length, and the distinctions between self and others. Therefore, whether we practice or not, this information is very valuable to us.

Yet because we humans do not like facing reality—in fact, we fear it, and we prefer self-deception—over the years, we have developed a complete set of perfect self-deceptive thought processes and ways of living. This makes us incredibly unfamiliar with the truth. Whether in Eastern or Western societies, everyone is trying hard to forget the fact that we could die at any moment. We fill our lives with music, gourmet food, and various novelties to help us forget reality. Thus, today, an obvious fact like "you will die" needs to be deliberately reminded to be remembered. These issues we must confront are like unwelcome, shabby guests at a feast; everyone wants to avoid them. And most of our education and propaganda are leading you away from reality. We believe in judges and the legal system, in advertisements for teeth-whitening toothpaste, in individualism, private property, and free markets, in hair removers, domestic robots, and elite education. We believe these things will bring us joy or happiness. We believe in the entire Western value system, in organizations like the World Food Programme, the CDC, and NASA, and we also believe in the value of the dollar, forgetting that it's just printed paper. When someone believes that graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School, entering a clinic as a doctor, and earning millions a year will make their life incredibly successful, they are actually opposing the laws of the relative world, opposing the unrepairable nature of the world. Because all the pain and trouble that life should have will still inevitably come. Over the last hundred-plus years, the billions of people on our planet have been shaped to believe that this is the only path to happiness. But tragically, the things they strive so hard to find never actually existed. That is to say, you can never find these things. It is impossible to achieve happiness in this way. It's like you can't fish for whales in a washbasin, can't light a torch underwater, or keep your two cats from fighting forever. If you're smart enough and have watched enough movies and TV shows, you'll realize that all these American dramas and movies are telling you about the absurdity of American values. The theories they deeply believe in have never brought them happiness, only a busy, chaotic, and meaningless life. They must tirelessly plug one leak after another, and as soon as they plug one, another two start leaking. In the end, they lost a lot for the sake of gaining a lot, lost their freedom in pursuit of freedom, and some even lost their lives. This is the life experiment conducted by everyone from Walter White to Nucky Thompson to Michael Corleone to the ordinary American to verify American values. This is also what we have been discussing in our journey forward about the true nature of our world. But most people are not smart enough, so they will not draw such conclusions.

Written by Lingshan Hermit on April 6, 2025. First published on April 6, 2025.

Copyright Notice：All copyrights of Ling Shan Hermit's articles in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, English, and other languages belong to the natural person who owns "Ling Shan Hermit". Please respect copyright. Publishers, media, or individuals (including but not limited to internet media, websites, personal spaces, Weibo, WeChat public accounts, print media) must obtain authorization from Ling Shan Hermit before use. No modifications to the articles are allowed (including: author's name, title, main text content, and punctuation marks). We reserve all legal rights.

灵山居士：什么是世界真实的样子

当我们说起共同外前行，我们不是在说一个遥远外星世界所发生的事。基本上，我们是在说不要和真实对抗，是在说不要试图和相对实相为敌。共同外前行所描述的内容并非是宗教臆想，它其实是佛陀在向我们展示相对世界真实的样子，它几乎囊括了所有对相对世界的正确认知，囊括了从生物类型到“自我”认知到宇宙运行规则到我们所会面临的各种困境以及如何趋利避害等各方面的信息。除了证悟者，我们都活在这个相对的世界里，活在这个被大小美丑长短自他所框定的世界里，所以无论我们修行与否，这些信息对我们来说都非常有价值。

但是因为我们人类并不喜欢直面真实——事实上，我们是恐惧真实，我们喜欢自欺——所以这么多年我们已经发展出一整套完美的自欺思维方式和生活方式。这让我们对真相感到无比陌生。无论在东方社会还是西方社会，大家都在努力忘掉自己随时会死掉这个事实。我们用音乐美食和各种新鲜事物来填塞自己，以便让自己能忘掉真实。所以到了今天，像“你会死掉”这样显而易见的事实反而需要被刻意提醒才能被记起。这些我们必须要面对的问题就像是宴会上不受欢迎的寒酸宾客，每个人都想要避开它们。而我们所受的大多数教育和宣传，也都在带你偏离实相。我们会相信法官和法律体系，相信能让牙齿变白的牙膏广告，相信个人主义、私有财产和自由市场，相信脱毛器、家用机器人和精英教育，我们相信这些东西能带给我们快乐或是幸福。我们相信整个西方的价值体系，相信世界粮食计划署、CDC和NASA，我们同样相信美元的价值，却忘了它只是印刷出来的纸。当一个人相信如果自己能从约翰霍普金斯医学院毕业成功进入一家诊所当上医生，每年赚个几百万，自己的人生就会爽到起飞，他其实就是在对抗相对世界的规律、对抗世界无法被修复的本质。因为人生所有那些应有的痛苦和麻烦并不会因此而消遁，它们全都会如约而至。最近一百多年，我们都是被这么教育，我们星球上的数十亿人都被塑造得相信这是唯一幸福之途。但是悲剧的是，他们倾尽全力所要寻找的东西，其实从未存在过。也就是说，你永远不可能找到这些东西。永远不可能通过这种方式获致幸福。这就像是你不可能在洗脸池里钓到鲸鱼、不可能在水中点燃火把、也不可能让你的两只猫永远不打架。如果你足够聪明，又看了足够多的电影美剧，你会发现所有的美剧和美国电影都在告诉你美国价值观的荒谬。他们所深信的那套理论从未带给过他们幸福，只带给他们一个忙碌混乱而又毫无意义的人生，他们必须疲于奔命地去堵一个又一个漏水的洞，当他们堵上了一个，另外两个马上又开始漏了。最终，他们为了得到很多东西而失去了很多东西，为了得到自由而丧失了自由，有的人最后连命都没了。这就是从沃尔特.怀特到努基.汤普森到迈克.柯里昂再到普通美国人为了验证美式价值观所做的人生实验。这也是共同外前行一直在讲述的我们的世界真实的样子。但是大多数人都不够聪明，所以他们不会从中收获这样的结论。

灵山居士写于2025年4月6日，首发于2025年4月6月。