#and the more familiar i am with the Vibes of a story the easier it is for me to enter the story and then figure out what actually happens

[dallonwrites]

did not write as much as i liked today but i made the playlist for the nanowrimo 2023 project that has a specific order to reflect the tones of the story and that's the closest i get to outlining before a draft so

[uva124]

PRESENTING THE REDESIGN OF THE GIRLBOSS QUEEN AMAYA 📢🗣🗣(I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE FINISHED THE DRAWINGS)

It should be noted that this is a redesign for the Wish Au character written by @ animación , who helped me with the ideas and references for Amaya's design,@ animación it is very fun to collaborate with you :D

Now I will start to explain how we came to make this design:

-At first I didn't have many ideas for their design (the truth is before I was concentrating more on Aster and Asha) so I decided to watch the Whis movie to get a better idea of ​​the aesthetic I wanted to look for them………yes, the movie is not that good, later I will talk about my opinion of the movie but in terms of design I was disappointed that out of so many possibilities for the design and costumes of royalty, Disney chose a neutral color palette with small details of blue color, I don't know, I feel like there were so many striking possibilities wasted for they desings.

-Well, continuing with the topic, the author of this Au Wish sent me references about what her vision was about the design of Amaya, which were mostly about the storyboards of the movie, I really liked the idea, since it gave me vibes of a threatening but elegant queen,she also sent me some concept art of Mother Gothel that I used as a reference for the structure of Amaya's face

This gave me the idea of ​​also using Sephora that belongs to the movie "The Prince of Egypt" as a reference for the aesthetic that I more or less wanted for the character.

so first I decided to practice the structure of the face to familiarize myself with the design :D (I clarify that I traced the structure of the drawings here because it was just a practice, I used none of these sketches in the final result)

After a while I started making my own sketches when I finally understood how to draw the face

(For the hairstyle, I was guided by the photos that the author sent me, I almost forgot to put that😅)

-I also decided that instead of putting a crown on Amaya, I put a kind of headband with a jewel, because in addition to being comfortable, practical and cute (something that greatly characterizes Amaya's style)

It is also a parallel to my Asha design which has a diamond-shaped tattoo on her forehead.

-Now talking about Amaya's dress, yes or yes I wanted to design a cape with a hood, although at first I thought about adding a neckline to the top part of the dress, an idea came to me which was to be inspired by the Greek mythology character Circe, since curiously she is also a sorceress, I mentioned this to the author and she mentioned that at first when trying to draw her she was inspired by the conceptual art of Megara, who is also Greek, so in the end she decided that maybe the queen comes from from a town in Greece (Also this could have something to do with her backstory 👀)

-At some point in the story we discover that Amaya keeps different potions inside her dress (I guess for emergencies, I don't know), that's why I decided that the dress has a small opening, because in addition to making it easier for you to walk, it would also help you. get your potions out in an easier way (her potions are attached to a belt that would be on her leg or waist I suppose).

-In the end I designed these 3 prototypes and sent them to the author to help me decide which one to choose or which to combine because the truth is I couldn't choose alone (I'm too indecisive).As I said, I was inspired by the character of Circe, so I looked for references of how the Greek goddesses dressed in ancient paintings, and if you look a little closer you can notice that I added the Leo symbol, since it represents the lion. , an animal that was associated with the Greek mythology character I mentioned

Another important detail is the moons on her dress, since it represents motherhood, an aspect that Amaya uses as a facade with her people, and speaking of space, the writer gave me the idea that Magnifico represents the sun since in her own words:

"I know the association with the sun and the moon fits their personalities really well. As the sun can be seen as bright, fun and warm like Magnifico presents himself, but it can also be a force of destruction that burns and is unpredictable. And the moon can be associated with Amaya for being a protective glow in the darkness like how she presents herself as a caring guide, but the moon also has a mysterious dark side we can never see.And the moon only shines to us because the sun is shining on it, so like… Amaya only shines because she’s next to Magnifico"

(Honestly, I'm always surprised by how much symbolism the writer can find for the characters, I only put it in because of what I mentioned before and because I thought it looked cute lol).

(I came up with the belt and most of the costume thanks to this circe painting)

-Don't think that I decided on the colors yellow and dark blue just because they go together well, nonono, this one also has a meaning :D , you see, while I was looking at some of Wish's concept art there were these discarded designs of Magnifico:

And doing a little google search I found this:

-That's why I chose these colors, blue is a color that represents the truth, something that Amaya and Magnifico want to pretend, but the color yellow represents what they truly are, liars.

-And finally (because this writing is taking me more than 2 hours) the roses that are in her dress and hair are natural, and without giving you too many spoilers about the rewrite, Amaya suddenly ages a little, and when this happens the roses also have a change as they wither

Final comments :D

wow, that was quite long ,wasn't it?, I'm more than happy with the result, I hope you like it too, @annymation and I've put a lot of effort into this design and history of Amaya :)

[tooaverageofagamer]

REVIEW: Inscryption – Daniel Mullins Games

Release Date: 19th October 2021 Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Genre: Indie Game, Card Battler, Rogue-Like, Card Game, Story Rich, Puzzle, Horror

Review Length: Short (~600 words)

Review Spoilers: Minor

---------------------------------

Gameplay

Inscryption is an Indie horror, rouge-like, card-battling game. If you want to draw similarities with card-battle games, think of Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokémon cards, but a more simplified version that still requires some strategies. But with all the ways you could possibly play, you’d be sure to find your own cheesed style. Personally, I am not the best at strategy-based games or card games, the hardest card-battle game I’ve played was Club Penguins Card-Jitsu back in the day, but I found Inscrytion to be fun and immersive, even if a little frustrating at the start.

The game is played in ‘Acts’. Act One would possibly bring the most frustration to an average gamer or someone who just isn’t familiar with strategy card games, and as I am both; I was frustrated at the beginning. But, once you’ve ‘failed’ a few times in the first Act and find yourself falling into the game challenge more and more, it can become fun, and you can start to pay attention to the details that the game you and the game will slowly become easier as you gain insight into the fights and bosses presented to you.

The game is filled with puzzles, most are not necessary to the game, but it may help you have better cards to play with or unlock more of the lore of the game.

Once you’ve completed the game for the first time, you unlock challenges that can make gameplay more difficult, if that’s your masochistic jazz.

Story

As to not give away too many details as this is a story-dependent game that should be unspoiled for the average gamer.

At the start, you’re unsure of who you are and just assume you’re playing a blank-slated husk character that represents yourself, which is later proven different. You’re placed in a darkness-encased environment with a strange character that introduces you to their card game in an almost Dungeons & Dragons Games Master manner. The attitude this darkness-encased character has is kept throughout this Act. Once you’re allowed to explore your environment a little, you’re allowed to really intake your enclosure and partake in the puzzles it presents you.

The story is well put together, enraptures, and lets the player piece the story themselves without it being spoon-fed to them. As the game continues into its further Acts, you feel an “Oh woah what” sensation as you start to piece the story together with the snippets you gain access to.

You can unlock more background lore details to the story of the game in the later Acts, but it isn’t necessary to fulfill your average gameplay experience but might be fun to unlock in further playthroughs or if you want to have in-game downtime to explore.

I love both major and minor characters that are introduced to you as you play. They all keep the story heavy-duty glued together nicely. The characters all mesh and conflict with each other well. It’s a joy to watch their interactions with each other and the player, especially once the twists and turns start.

Art Style/Music

Inscryption is beautifully put together. The art style throughout the game changes dramatically, but it does not cause any conflicts to the player's gameplay experience as the Acts progress. I personally LOVE most of the art styles that present themselves in this game.

The music in Inscryption is beautiful to listen to and even have their own little easter eggs if you listen to them closely enough. Act 1, I believe, has the best themes for it environment and bosses, but Act 2 also have great themes also. Some of the tunes might be a bit jarring to listen to at the beginning with their sharp tones and rumbling bases. But once you really get into the vibes and understanding of characters in the game, they’re amazing to engross yourself into the world of inscryption and uncover its story.

[minor spoilers from tune theme names below]

My top songs from the Inscryption OST would be:

1. The Trapper

2. The Scrybe of Magicks

3. The Four Scrybes

4. Deathcard Cabin

The whole of the Inscryption OST is available on Spotify.

Final Comments

I honestly enjoyed Inscryption, especially once I really started to understand and get into the gameplay and story. The story and art styles are the real cream of this crop and really bring the story together.

I highly recommend this game to an average gamer or if you want to try out a card-battling/rogue-like game for the first time.

Cheers,

The Average Gamer ---------------------------------

If you want to chat or get Spoiler-esque game insights, feel free to PM me!

[thecoramaria]

Hello! I was wondering if you could give some tips on how to make fanfic chapters longer. I see a lot readers tend to like chapters around the 4k word mark or even more, but it's a feat if I write a chapter longer than 2k. The content I write is still good (imo) but I want to do more and am stuck on what to add that would benefit the fic and not be pointless filler. Thanks 🩷💛

Hey, Nonny!

First I'd just like to say that chapter length preferences among readers depend a lot on things like the type of fanfic and the platform you post on. For example, short chapters and frequent updates tend to be the standard on Wattpad. They're also pretty typical of episodic and/or slice-of-life stories. Because they rely on pre-established stories or worlds that the characters are familiar with, you just don't need to use as many words to move the plot forward every chapter (and in the case of an episodic story, you don't need to move an overarching plot forward at all, but from your ask, I don't get the vibe that you're trying to write that kind of thing).

Point is, sometimes short chapters work better for the story you're trying to tell, and they can also serve to make your story more binge-worthy (since it's easier to justify reading one more chapter), but they could lessen the experience for people following update-to-update, particularly if you don't update often. It's like the difference between being given a single piece of chocolate vs a full bar, you know?

If you really are set on posting longer chapters and believe this will make your story better, then here are my tips:

Figure out why your chapters are short in the first place. Is it because you make each scene its own chapter? Is it because your pacing flies past? Is it because it's light on details, or doesn't get specific enough? (E.g. "He set a tasty breakfast before her. She dug in with gusto." vs "He set a plate of steaming sunny-side-up eggs and crackling bacon before her. One wiff of the smokey, savoury aromas, and she snatched up her fork, shovelling it in. The salty crunch. The burst of creamy yolk. It was heaven.")

Combine chapters. If two or three chapters tie together nicely because they're part of the same arc, or take place in the same location, picking up where the other left off, those are good candidates to combine. Also if a chapter has an ending that doesn't give the reader a good reason to keep reading, but the next scene adds a jolt of tension back into the plot, that's also a good candidate for combining scenes/chapters.

Ask yourself what you can add to enhance what you already have there. For example, if you have a plot twist planned, is there a way you can include more foreshadowing? Is there an opportunity to flesh out your characters more? (If we mostly see a character put on a strong front, it'll tug our hearts when we see them show some vulnerability.) Is there an aspect of your worldbuilding that could use some explanation or showing off? (For example, if your plot involves saving the world, it's definitely a good idea to get your readers attached to said world.) Are there more obstacles you could add to the story that might also serve the previous purposes? Do you have a lot of high-tension back-to-back scenes that could use some quiet breather scenes in-between?

When editing, I've adopted the philosophy of "Cut as much as possible without sacrificing anything that enhances the story" as well as "Concise and precise" which means "say The Most with as few words as possible. To me, this is the key to avoiding filler in my own work, and how I create long stories that don't drag. I think that as you make your chapters longer, these are the ideas you should keep in mind, as these will help you determine if you're lengthening your story will pointless filler or adding something with value.

If you still struggle to make that distinction though, maybe find a beta-reader or a buddy who doesn't mind being spoiled for your work. You can soundboard your ideas with them to get a second opinion, because sometimes that's what you really need when you feel like there's something "wrong" with your work but you can't quite put your finger on it.

[inverted-typo]

Hey man. So, I noticed a lot of people in the dc fandom kind of are kind of wary/nervous when saying they ship a character with two different other characters that are from different canons. Ex. DamiRae and DamiJon. Why do you think that is? I just think it’s weird because I watch a lot of anime and the fandom multiship everyone and people are just cool with it. I don’t know if it’s like a sensitive topic in the dc fandom or am I just noticing the small part of it? I’m just not familiar with it I guess lmao

You know that’s a great question. I feel like I exist in a very small niche space here, so I’m definitely not the person to have a strong analysis of it. And I’ve never actually been apart of the online fandom for DC until this year. So I’m not very versed outside of what I’m interested in (fandom space speaking). It’s always interesting how different fandoms have different vibes and etiquette! (Shout out to 2014-2016 AOT Jeanmarco fandom that shit hit DIFFERENT and was very special 😂)

But my running theory is there is just so much content—literally decades worth at this point, for these characters that they’re quite personal to people. There’s been a lot of time to develop them through different arcs and continuities. More so than with anime which typically keeps its story quite linear in terms of, there’s no “multiverse” to speak of—which may make it easier to play around with the characters in that way. Easier to separate canon from non-canon.

So perhaps a stronger bond and relationship exist with DC characters and seeing a ship that isn’t your jam might feel a bit intense? I don’t condone going after a ship you don’t like bc that’s quite silly, but I can get where that passion comes from! If people are nervous about expressing liking multiships, i wish that weren’t the case :( we’re here to have fun and enjoy fictional characters and their stories and possibilities! I don’t ever think it should be more than that.

I hope I articulated my thoughts well! Thank you for asking me such an intricate question!

[mejomonster]

Checked out Desire Catcher ep 1:

Thrilled the lead actors aren't as young as I expected

The main Luo guy looks so familiar to me, what have I seen him in before....

The other guy looks familiar too, but I think he looks like Khaotung from gmmtv and that's why

Luo Fei.... Luo fei.... Luo fei? You mean like Luo wenzhou and fei du????!!! I am aware the fei in fei du is费, and this one is fei 飞. But. Hear me out. Is this an original script? Maybe the script writer ships zhoudu. I can imagine, even if its not true. ToT

The setup, if at any point it turns magical/sci fi etc, reminds me of death note: being able to kill remotely and investigating that and all. And I do love some magic in an otherwise mundane reality story

Right now it's like that movie where ppl hear a trigger word then kill, except here they die

For some reason I heard some ppl saying this was gonna be bromance vibes? Well, I'll find out. I do think though that it will likely lend itself to such option (like Under the Skin perhaps? I haven't seen Under the Skin yet though)

I WILL say that... while there's the whole danmei not airing situation, and completely made shows not airing that were bl novel adaptations... mango TV is just the kind of bitch to drop an original script bl through the cracks. First, because they've written original script bl before (wasn't Killer and Healer an original script first before novelization?). Second, because it seems original scripts With bromance undertones is getting a much easier time airing right now: one example being League of Nobleman, another being Pledge of Allegiance. So any original script with Any level of gay stuff I imagine is having an easier time airing rn (also in mango tvs case right now? They're not high Press releases. There's a LOT of eyes on say Sha Po Langs drama than on this random one).

I like the vibe of this show. It's leaning darker/more realistic, feels like the kind of novels I read. Like Justice in the Dark, it has a dead animal early on and a murder scene early on. Not sure how many cdramas skew that direction in scary (or dark idk?) But this one clearly is going that route. Which I personally like (again giving me Under the Skin vibes).

ZHAO YUNLANS DAD IS IN THIS PLAYING A SHADY BITCH (GO FIGURE)

the old professor man almost... looks like he could also be Shen Weis old professor mentor from Guardian, but I don't remember that face as well... so this old professor guy could be from a number of dramas I've seen

Not to compare to Justice in the Dark cause I imagine it's totally unintentional, so it's just funny to me. But I Did Notice we have a Captain Luo, a girl cop whos on his team with That Haircut, and a guy cop who's a little less put together than Luo who talks to That Girl and you... you gotta admit visually they look a lot like Lang Qiao and Xiao Haiyang in casting and just character roles (initially) in the story. If I saw someone filling Tao Rans role I'd be really !!!. But no Tao ran like guy yet. However, our consultant? Ohoho... he's a criminal psychology consultant is he (like Fei Du), his professor helped get him in with the cops (like fei du you say?), he's a bit of a little shit (!!!fei du?!!), he's got slightly longer hair (was that a character design choice or just how the actor looked, either way very Fei Du). And I find it all just a Touch funny. ToT (also I miss Justice in the Dark). It's not Actually like Luo wenzhou/fei du though, as these two don't seem yo know each other and therefore Luo hasn't raised him for like 7 years. The dynamic is therefore Way Different.

I almost get a touch of Guardian or Torchwood vibes and I'm not even quite sure why, cause this first episode was Not campy at all or comedic. It's fairly like Beyond Evil type, murder mystery procedural and a bit heavy. But mm just like... design choices I think. Not the writing, not the directing or sound, just like the sets. The sets look way less bizarre than guardian don't get me wrong. But something about certain choices In them. The touch of bright colors at the first murder scene. The odd pink light. The glowing globe on the desk. The room of papers on the wall and a big crane light. The weird dining table on the roof with a big outer building sign in neon across the street. The focus on the Nokia phones, the Lolipop. Just like... lots of small detail decisions but they strike me as Not quite usual, enough to make it not seem like The Bad Kids (and those kind of realistic shows) in set design. Maybe... a bit like Tomb of the Sea? How tots was mostly realistic looking but there'd be a fucking stuffed animal in a kidnapping living room. Little details you notice enough to oddly remember.

All that said? I Like the set designs a LOT. It feels like Watching a murder mystery novel. It's similar to Justice in the Dark in NAILING the right atmosphere, a good coloring gradient for realism but also Slightly distorted/unknown, in sets that look done enough to feel lived in and like actual places, and with the kind of unique small details a Real place might have (like a fake office might just have office stuff, but THIS Xue guys office has some unique knick knacks so it feels more like an actual place thay could exist, etc).

I'll probably give it more eps. It was my kinda thing. Didn't absolutely capture me in ep 1 but honestly I saw just enough familiar faces that I was partly playing guessing games of where they were from in my mind and so it'll probably take me a few eps to settle and just click or not with it

I loved it's opening and ending though and... usually if I like those 90% chance I like the shows

[goldiesflag]

Writing things I found out by writing a lot 🥺

Correct me if I’m wrong 🤷‍♀️

1) Don’t put multiple strands of dialogue in one paragraph of text. It’s confusing. Start a new line when a new character speaks. Please.

2) When describing characters, try not to just describe them by hair or eye color. Use literally anything else: clothing, vibes, scars etc. This gives way more information about your character, regardless of if it’s fanfiction or not. Even if it is fanfiction and the reader is familiar with the character, the description of how they dress or their expressions can give away the impression you want your story to give the reader.

3) do not write with a word count in mind. Just write. That’s going to force you to add things you probably don’t need to add. Just write as you’d like, then go back to check the pacing and add/take away from there.

4) Write the simplest outline you can possibly make. Don’t put in too much details. Personally, I just write down whenever the setting changes. That usually gives me the idea of the things I want to happen. Ex:

1. House

2. Meadow

3. House

4. Tower of death

5) if you’re stuck on a scene, ignore it. Write another scene. Come back when you’ve came up with an idea for it. This may be tricky when you decide to write the scene you’re currently struggling with differently and that means you’d have to change the scene you’ve already written, but hey, practice :)

6) show personality and friendships through dialogue and action. It can get across more emotion when it’s shown this way instead of being described by the narrator. I’m going to cry more if someone dies after reading our narrator a lullaby, not after an infodump about how much they mean to the narrator.

7) last one cuz I’m sleepy. Change your font when you proof read. It makes it easier to catch mistakes you would’ve usually overlooked. 🕺🕺

If you think I’m wrong then maybe I am. I am mostly a fanfic writer with no beta reader. I learn by trial and error lmao.

[sweatyflytrap]

Tag Game!!

Tagged by the cutest loveliest @xiaoluclair 🩷

'rule(s)': either or!

hardcover or paperback? ( Used to love a pretty hardcover as a teen but we had character development. It's just so much easier to carry a paperback and the folds and so on just adds more character)

bookstore or library? (Honestly both are fun, i don't live near a good library anymore, miss just sitting and reading in one for hours 😭😭 my mom takes me to bookstores when I am very down and i just sit and stare at them for hours and then buy one)

bookmark or receipt? (I have so many bookmarks because people keep gifting them to me as i am their reader friend™ but always just end up using random shit like rubber bands, reciepts, clothing tags to keep track of the pages)

stand alone or series? (Can't stand series anymore💀if you can't tell a story in one book then u don't have a story, you just have ramblings of a very boring man)

nonfiction or fiction? (I do read alot of nonfiction but it's mostly for knowledge purposes and never all that fun for me. was reading about sugar and its horrors so i could have logical explanations in my head to control my sugar intake and not because i actually care about sugar and its horrors)

thriller or fantasy? (Love both in equal parts and can't seem to find good ones for either these days but that's probably also on me for being all burned out on reading)

under 300 pages or over 300 pages? (While i don't mind longer books, shorter are just less scary and also less of a commitment. Also have alot of choice words about popular authors with too much leeway and not enough editing being done to end up with longer books but that's whole another rant)

children’s or YA? (I am adding middle grade into children's and while i am fine with reading either, definitely more hesitant and sus of YA because it's more often than not just not it but also it's a huge genre and there are some good works and also alot of entertaining shit here and there)

friends to lovers or enemies to lovers? (BOTH? EITHER? idk they both have such different vibes of angst and fluff u can add and it's all delicious. The familiarity and fear in friends to lovers to the vulnerability and perception of the whole in enemies to lovers. Also shoutout to brocedes for truly making me appreciate the beauty of friends to lovers to bitterly divorced, sometimes i lie on my bed thinking having a mental breakdown about Greece and that picture of nico and lewis on the unicycle)

read in bed or read on the couch? (I read on my bed mostly and fall asleep and wake up and continue reading)

read at night or read in the morning? (Now i don't do this on purpose but i always always always end up in my 3am sleep addled hyper brain scrolling, find something that looks interesting and instead of waiting just download and start reading it and stay up till 12pm the next day reading and cry on gc and then sleep the entire day, it's an established pattern since i was a teen and i have accepted it for what it is)

keep pristine or markup? (I am the heathen who used to write with pen right in her novels in college, i give zero shits about keeping shit pristine and honestly find the insistence to do so in online circles very weird 😭)

cracked spine or dog ear? (something about a well loved book with a broken up spine and dog eared pages is so so so lovable but I do try to not crack the spines because idk how to patch shit up and i don't want my faves falling apart on me)

Tagging @skitskatdacat63, @fractalkiss, @geneticcatalyst, @toppingjeffsatur and @danielverstappen and whoever else would like to do this really

[thenopequeen]

okay I am going to go on the rant, although this might not be 100% what I said eairiler IRL because there are some things that are only able to be communicated via hand gesters and stutters.

Also I am aware I sound very Red String on Cork Board. I am open to taking criticism. um but gentle if possible.

So to start, let's look at the actual role given to Racer (I will be using either Race or Racer as it's a bit easier to type out and are the names used to refer to him in the broadway musical which is what I'm most familiar with.). Oh and when coming to anything specific I will be referring to the recorded 2017 version because that's the one I've got a link to so I can watch it while reading fanfics or drawing (/srs. i do do this)

Race is listed as a background/ensemble character in any source I can find (although I could be missing some). however, his actions/overall role in the story are more comparable to Crutchie, who is listed as a supporting character.

This is heavy evidence for placing him as a supporting character, however what makes it interesting is that Racer almost seems to be favored over the other background characters.

About 50% of his dialogue could be given to another character and it literally would not impact the plot much, unlike the other supporting characters, who are unthinkable to replace in anyway shape or form.

If we're continuing comparing Race to Crutchie, which I will because they share the most similarities role-wise, those two are the ones with the most prominent solo lines. Racer has several from multiple songs (King of New York, Carrying the Banner, and Once and For All include at least one solo line that could technically be given to literally anybody else), and Crutchie has a few solo lines and a song to himself. Actually if you remove the tap section, King of New York could be potentially read as the closest thing we get to a 'side' character having a song. Literally all the other songs are group focused when it comes to singing, or are done by main/supporting/antagonistic characters. Racer carries King of New York, setting a wonderful tone with the conversation just before the song starts, as well as his very over the top energy that is present through out the entire song. Okay I also have a soft spot for the song because it was the first song I ever did a tap dance too last year (nowhere near as impressive as the show but it was cool)

Racer also is in at least TWO scenes where he doesn't technically need to be there. First off, the one where it's easier to explain: the scene just before Once and For All, where the gang is at the printing press. Technically, Race doesn't need to be down there in the first place. While yes, it's probably so he knows the way to direct the others into the room, he doesn't need to be there in the moment. This is also never explained in literally anyway. he's just there. Technicality, he could follow the trail of unlocked doors or somebody could bring him in. While this is technically grasping at straws I will stand by this. The second is a really minor thing that you'll only notice if (like me) you've watched this musical enough that you can quote a good part of it.

So in the scene where Jack is teaching Davey and Les to sell papes that ends with them getting chased to the theater, if you look closely you'll see a familiar face

I have rewatched this scene several times to make sure it's Race. it is. Why is he there. Literally the only other people in this scene are the passbyers who buy a paper, Synder, and the trio. Why is Racer here. He just kinda vibes. I still want an explanation because EVERYBODY ELSE leaves the stage quickly. WHY IS HE THERE???

Now to quickly break into the more IRL universe, in the cast call of this production, which my brother watches so so often (he wants to do musical theater), Racer;s actor is NOT listed with the other newsies. Even Spot, who is listed as support/featured in most sources, is just grouped into the rest of the ensemble. Instead, Racer is grouped in with the Delancey brothers. I still don't understand this.

This is your reminder that Race is listed as ensemble by literally all sources I could be bothered to find.

On top of this, in both the movie and the show, he's one of the most named 'background' newsies. While I've only seen the movie a grand total of once (didn't like the music in the slightest), Racer is a character you see A LOT. Sometimes he's not really doing much, but he's there.

In the musical this is in part because there is so much personality packed into him, but still. Elmer and Albert also have a lot of personality and yet I still find that Racer feels like he has more screentime.

On top of this, Racer is present in literally ever scene with all the newsies. And ALWAYS as Racer.

Anyways this is a slightly unhinged rant. Also if you haven't figured it out Racer is my favorite character.

Yeah idk how that happened.

Anyways agree with your sister that Racer is a supporting character. at least in everything but casting.

The cynical part of me says it's so the producers can get away with paying the actor less. The deranged crossover nerd in me says he's a Watcher

[arobinwithoutbatman]

KNOWING YOUR PARTNER WELL CAN POTENTIALLY MAKE WRITING TOGETHER A LOT EASIER.

REPOST DO NOT REBLOG !!

NAME: Wic

PRONOUNS : She/her

PREFERENCE OF COMMUNICATION : Tumblr IMs while we're still getting to know each other. Might offer my discord after a while if the vibes are right

NAME OF MUSE(s) : Tim Drake, Gotham Knights specific. Alice (Fandomless OC), Ciara Hayes (DC OC), Fleur Green (Fandomless OC based on Strange Horticulture), Imogen Caldwell (Fandomless OC based on The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker), Lafcadio Boone (The Sexy Brutale), and several more waiting in the wings on my multimuse @personae-obscura

BEST EXPERIENCE : Building a unique story with people that steadily draws other people in and grows larger than you expected

RP PET PEEVES / DEALBREAKERS : Age, I'm sorry I'm not writing with anyone under 21. Length, in the sense that if I've given like 3 paragraphs and I only get 2 lines in response? That's annoying and gives me very little to work with. I tend to prefer that shorter length for in character shitposting, not serious threads.

MUSE PREFERENCES: Plenty of information to work with. What kind of person am I working with here? What's their deal? Why would our muses cross and how would they interact? I'm happy to work with canon muses, as long as I'm somewhat familiar with the fandom, and OCs and have several of them myself.

PLOTS OR MEMES : A good mix of both personally. I'm not the best at plotting something out beat by beat because it rarely ever successfully happens that way once oyu get down to writing. I work better with a framework whilst still having enough room to let the muse do whatever it's gonna do. Memes however can spark great conversations and even lead into threads.

LONG OR SHORT REPLIES : Whatever the thread calls for. I like a longer reply but it's not always necessary or achievable and I can adapt styles relatively easily.

BEST TIME TO WRITE : 9am to 9pm EST every day because my ass is currently unemployed and I've got nothing better to do. Outside of that timeframe? I'm either asleep or I've at least seen your reply and put it in my drafts to properly read and respond later.

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S) : Oh absolutely. I might not be able to recognise it right away but I can't actually write or connect with a character if I can't see a piece of myself in them. Which means I also tend to lose characters over time as I grow and change. Many muses that I once wrote I probably wouldn't be able to pick up again.

Tagged by: @rex-rp

Tagging: You, the bored person

[believe-in-the-unbelievable]

Long time no talk yall~! But I have questions I'm curious about for other's experiences, lol

Firstly, god, is it literally ONLY me?? I absolutely love consuming any and all media with gods or deities in it, especially if they're already familiar with me like Loki, or if they come to make me interested in them. And my experience with this has always been positive.

Loki did 100% use Marvel to introduce himself to me and get me kinda obsessed for a time with learning more about him, which made it a lot easier and a lot less scary than it still was for a while, when I finally did become aware of him and ready to interact with him years later.

He also enjoys sitting and watching or playing God of War with me, giggling about how accurate, or inaccurate, things are, geeking out about the twists and spins they put on the original stories, and so on, with me. I've never had an experience where I can recall him being insulted by an inaccurate portrayal of him. He's only ever laughed at it and poked fun at it. He makes himself LOOK like Marvel Loki sometimes, and has loved the show with me just as much as I have. He even joked that he chose Tom to play as him in this franchise specifically, and eluded to having an affect on how they wrote the character, since he's been enjoying the stories since the comics first came out.

I've also been absolutely obsessed with Hazbin and Helluvaboss since they've come out, too. I've followed along in their makings since Viv made the Kesha music animation video.

And I've felt instantly drawn to Stolas, Lucifer, and Asmodues as a result, though obviously I am a grown adult. I don't expect them to be exactly like a cartoon.

But my point is, the vibes I've always gotten is deities being both understanding, and patient over, if not even sometimes actually interested in and curious about, their fictional portrayals in things. Wether they're made out to be good, bad, or neutral. They already seem to know we're not *trying* to get it *right*, we're expressing creativity and they love that and want to see it.

Kind of like if a writer friend of yours wrote a book and said they based the villain off of you and you both had fun with it and made inside jokes about it. That kinda energy~.

But every time I see people post on here about new media with deities, they say they experience the complete opposite, and I'm like ????

So is it just me that has this experience, lol? I have had fucking slumber party nights where Loki and possibly others sometimes, just curl up and watch something or play a game/watch someone play a game with them in it, regardless of how they're portrayed, and it's always been a fun and chill time. Not one where anyone gets offended and pissed.

[densi-mber]

Tattoos and Sexy Pirates

A/N: Today’s prompt and story idea provided by @mashmaiden. As usual, I flipped the idea a little bit from the original. Set in the last couple of seasons.

***

Kensi sighed as she walked into the airport terminal, dragging her luggage behind her, a carryon bag hung over her right shoulder. After a month away for a series of specialized trainings, she was glad to be back home. Sure, she’d learned a lot, and more importantly, increased her job security, but hopefully this would be the last long trip for a while.

As much as Kensi appreciated the opportunity, she’d missed working with the team, missed the warmth and familiarity of LA, and most importantly, missed Deeks. They’d both been so busy most days that they only managed short calls, or texts if they were lucky.

Speaking of Deeks, he had arranged to pick her up today. Kensi glanced around the terminal, anticipation running through her as she searched for his familiar frame and blond hair.

Deeks saw her first, stepping forward, and Kensi barely recognized him. “Kensi, I’m so glad you’re back home,” he said, enveloping her in a tight hug. He picked her up, twirling her around a few times.

When he set her down Kensi could only gape for several seconds.

“Oh my god, baby, what did you do?!” she gasped, pressing her hands over her mouth. She walked around him in a slow circle, taking in his appearance in disbelief. Hair longer and pulled back with a hair band, an earring—she reached out to touch a flower within a skull on his forearm, but dropped her hand at the last moment.

She’d known he was feeling a little weird about his age the last couple years, but she didn’t think that it was this bad.

Deeks watched her with a raised eyebrow and a look of bemusement.

“Ok, I was expecting a little bit more of a warm welcome,” he drawled.

“Deeks, you got tattoos while I was gone. What am I supposed to say? I was only gone for a few weeks. If you were feeling this bad, you should have called me.” She inhaled deeply, realizing she was almost shouting when Deeks’ eyes widened. Then she caught sight of the tattoos again, which covered him from bicep to wrist. Something red peaked out from the collar of his t-shirt.

Oh god.

“Kens, what the hell are you talking about? I got called in on a joint undercover job the day after you left. Didn’t you get my text?”

“Yeah, you said you were going undercover, but I thought it was something simple. So this is…?”

“Oh babe, I’m sorry. Yeah, they’re just temporary,” he said, running his finger over a spider near his elbow. “I had to look the part of a longtime gang member.”

“So naturally you let your hair grow out, got fake tattoos, and a fake earring.”

He fingered the small hoop in his left ear and cleared his throat. “Uh, actually, this is real.”

Kensi’s mouth fell open, and he quickly rushed to explain.

“Listen, it had to be believable, and I figured just getting one piercing would be a lot easier than having to deal with one that could fall off at any moment. I’ve had that happen before, and believe me, it kind of ruins the vibe.”

“Ok, I can deal with an earring,” Kensi decided, pinching them bridge of her nose between her index finger and thumb. “I’m sorry I basically attacked you. That wasn’t the best greeting ever.”

“It’s ok. I probably should have warned you,” he said with a shrug. Then he grinned. “I surprised Sam too.”

“Now that I would have loved to see.” She kissed Deeks’ cheek, looping her arm through his, and they started making their way to the exit. “How was your undercover? Sounds like it was kind of dangerous.”

“Things got a little tricky. But I was spectacular as usual, and everything ran fairly smoothly.”

“Oh, I bet you were.”

He chuckled softly, drawing her closer. “What about you? How were your classes?” he asked.

“Pretty amazing. But also really long.” She paused, and added more softly. “I’m glad to be back.”

Deeks’ response was another, lingering kiss that probably tested the boundaries of propriety for their current location.

“So, what were you talking about me feeling bad before?”

Kensi flushed, suddenly feeling embarrassed about her massive leap.

“Oh, well you know, recently you’ve been a little down about your hair, and aging and—”

“You thought this was the result of a mid-life crisis,” Deeks surmised with a raised eyebrow.

“Not because I think you’re actually middle-aged,” she defended herself quickly. “But kind of.”

“Well rest assured, I am feeling very secure about myself right now, so you don’t have to worry about me doing anything crazy.”

“Good. Speaking of crazy, how long before these wear off?” Kensi poked a surprisingly accurate rendition of a dagger.

“Uh, about three weeks, give or take,” he answered. Kensi closed her eyes, holding back a groan. “We didn’t know how long I’d be under so we had to make sure they’d last a while.”

“Right. We’re going to need to buy you more long sleeve shirts,” Kensi said.

“Ok, but I think I might keep my hair this way for a while. And the earring.

I’ll be like a sexy pirate.”

Kensi inclined her head, considering.

“Oddly enough, I don’t completely hate that idea,” she decided.

[eccentricmya]

how are you so Normal about silm. Literally I am sitting here, so depressed I can’t eat, drawing Them again and again and you’re just like. Oh here I’ll vilify Maedhros. Now I’ll paint him in a nice light. Why don’t we discuss it over coffee. Like Maedhros isn’t some figure who’s emotionally and psychologically a part of your personal identity I don’t get it. How are you so cool about all this. The world is falling apart

(oh by the way I think your blog is great).

Oh thank you! 😊

You pose a great question. I was thinking just yesterday if I'm not passionate enough for the fandom lol. The answer is maybe that I've mellowed out over the years. Though I still get obsessed with new things from time to time and want to read and see everything related at once! Much like you are now, I suppose.

But why are you depressed? Because of how Silm is or is it related to your artistry? For both I would say, enjoy the process! I know it's easier to say, but truly, the best part of fandom and creation is the fun you have here away from real life. If you make yourself stressed because of it, then it stops being a comfort and becomes a burden instead- at which point, I find myself turning away from that fandom or abandoning the fic idea.

Tolkien though, is like home to me. It's nothing new or exciting like some attraction at a fair; it's the same characters, the same story, but it feels relaxing rather than boring because of the familiarity. And when you're relaxed, it is very much like sipping coffee!

Let me give you an example... in Uni, I used to chug my coffee so that I could have more of it. If I finish one cup, then I can have 3 more! And the amount of time I got to experience the taste of coffee back then was around half an hour. Nowadays, I drink just one cup, which I savour for half an hour. I'm still spending the same time on my coffee experience, but now it is in a much more healthier manner.

Fandom is like that. The characters and story we love is not going anywhere. You are not going anywhere. So take your time. Take a walk with your favourite characters, instead of running after them. Let your heart decide the path you walk, instead of sticking to the already paved road. I swear you'll enjoy the journey far more this way!

As for having a crisis over our favourite blorbos? I cried buckets when Thorin and Fili and Kili died. I was so distraught that I had to wait in the parking lot of the theatre before I could ride back. It is normal to have attachment with characters, no matter how fictional they may be. But I do not think a single character can define your personality. Rather, it is your personality that gives meaning to a character you love. We're too multifaceted for it to be otherwise.

The same goes for characters. They're complex too and can have a multitude of traits that we may or may not vibe with. This is why we can have vastly different views or headcanons about them. Fiction is the realm of possibilities, we should embrace them all! And if someone else's take conflicts with mine, I can just go "oh, they're in a different universe of the multiverse; we can co-exist."

Sorry it got so long, I may have rambled off-point... your ask made me contemplative hehe. Thank you once again! Have a nice day! And remember to eat please!

[rachelillustrates]

Bagginshield notes upon a reread of "The Hobbit"

(Or a relisten, rather, via the "An Unexpected Journey" podcast. And thusly, I have no page numbers noted for reference. These being mostly gathered for personal eventual fanart purposes, now with a moment of commentary at the end.)

~

"Upon my word - Gandalf spoke true, as usual. A pretty fine burglar you make, it seems, when the time comes." - Thorin to Bilbo, once he finally finds him in the dungeons of Mirkwood.

~

"Then...the Dwarves' good feeling toward the Hobbit grew stronger every day."

~

"And there is no knowing what a Dwarf will not dare and do for revenge, and the recovery of his own." - In Laketown.

~

"Now is the time for our esteemed Mister Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a Hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size - and if I may say so, possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance - now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company. Now is the time for him to earn his reward. This is a great moment..."

.....

...By now he was quite familiar with Thorin too, and he knew what he was driving at. "If you mean you think it my job to go into the secret passage first, oh Thorin Thrainson Oakenshield, may your beard grow ever longer!" he said crossly, "Say so at once and have done! I may refuse - I've gotten you out of two messes already which were hardly in the original bargain, so that I am, I think, already owed some reward. But... third time pays for all, as my father used to say. And somehow I don't think I shall refuse..."

.....

"....they would all have done their best to get him out of trouble, if he got into it, as they did in the case of the Trolls, at the beginning of their adventures, before they had any particular reasons for being grateful to him."

(all above in context of Bilbo's entering the mountain and confronting Smaug first.)

~

General note without quote - Thorin being the first to insist that they go after him, when he cries that his torch has gone out, crying for help, in the darkness of the hoard while Smaug is gone.

Also he does still put the mithril on Bilbo himself, like in the film.

Bilbo is the one that calls Thorin back to his sense from the first traces of gold sickness, reminding him that they haven't defeated Smaug yet and they still need to find a way out. Vibes of Sacred Marriage like many moments in the films.

~

"Oh dear me... more walking and more climbing without breakfast! I wonder how many breakfasts and other meals we have missed inside that nasty... timeless hole!" ....

"Come come," said Thorin laughing. His spirits had begun to rise again, and he rattled the precious stones in his pockets. "Don't call my palace a nasty hole. You wait until it has been cleaned and redecorated."  - On Thorin being cheered and amused by Bilbo's grumbling after they've gotten out of the mountain (after they've visited the hoard for the first time, too).

~

And just the fact that the deathbed apology happens at all.

~

So, having done this re-listen of the original tale, I'm struck by two things.

1 - Tolkien probably intended no romance at all between anyone in this book. Which is great from an aro/ace perspective (which I say with love and enthusiasm, as a demisexual myself). BUT nothing in the book would prevent Bagginshield from being possible.

2 - This version of the story feels very very much to me like the version Bilbo would tell - to others, and himself - after coming home and settling back into Bag End and embracing how he's grown... and accepting what happened. Like talking about it that way, leaving much of the details of his emotional connections with anyone (including Thorin) out of the telling, makes it easier to move on and keep living. Very much in the same line of having friendzoned himself at the end of "The Battle of the Five Armies," to create that distance and protect his broken heart.

(Which doesn't account for the lack of focus on the Dwarrow reclaiming Erebor as their homeland, since there is zero focus on or mention of that in the book at all, but in general I accept this headcanon as a patch between the book and the films - which I appreciate all the more now.)

So, there 🌱

~

More Bagginshield meta:

~ Thoughts on "An Unexpected Journey" - Thoughts on "The Desolation of Smaug" - Thoughts on "The Battle of Five Armies" - Thoughts on their vibe and why they resonate - Thoughts on Dwarven Ones and Hobbit soul-matches at their first meeting - at the mountain ~

[isaksbestpillow]

Tag 9 people you want to get to know better

The lovely @summersinpuglia tagged me in this and I'm gonna do it now before I forget!

Three Ships

I can't choose??? I've written and posted and read fic in multiple fandoms. I just posted a Jim/Wen coda the other day because their circumstances resonate with me. I was in a relationship once where I wanted to get out for quite a while yet when I finally found the words to say it we still continued to live together for several months because it was such a long ending and oh it was bad. So what resonates with me isn't always just the positives.

First Ship

Does this mean the first ship I sought out fic in? Because I've been at this for a long time haha. It was Harry/Ron but in my defence I was 14 and going through my first gay crush on a friend.

Last Song

It's Okay to be Afraid of the Universe by Hammock followed by Koti (home) by Ultramariini (it's a niche finnish language song). I'm vibing with that song right now because it fits the Jimwen fic I wrote/want to write so well haha. (the lyrics go suunnitelmia toiveunia piirrustuksia / odotuksia tulevaisuus täynnä toivoa / kuvitelmia meistä kahdesta talon katolla / joka puolella samanlaisia rakennuksia / nyt koti on muuttunut vankilaksi / plans pipe dreams drawings / expectations the future full of hope / illusions of the two of us on the rooftop / similar buildings all around us / now home has become a prison)

Last Movie

Supernova

Currently Reading

I'm in the middle of five books right now, I need a less chaotic reading routine.

Currently Watching

Moonlight Chicken This show is the moment!! Showstopping spectacular etc. It was made specifically for me. I'm so impressed by how much queer content on Gmmtv has improved just in the past couple of years!!! 2gether was the first bl of theirs that I saw when it was huge but now it can't even hold a candle to most of the stuff they put out. I honestly don't get some of the hate Gmmtv gets. Yeah they have flaws but it's strange to me that some people are still bringing up the same old fetishization and queerbaiting accusations when we had two bls directed by two different trans women just in the past year and half of their directors and managers and writers are gay like what on earth are you talking about at this point.

My School President I just started this because people on tumblr told me to! I'm enjoying it so far! Previous argument still stands, Gmmtv has come so far.

Never Let Me Go I need to catch up!! I'm always and episode or two behind because Nüng keeps annoying me lol. But it's okay!! The scenes are so pretty and I do like the story. I think I'd appreciate it more if I were more familiar with the old Thai shows it's paying homage to, right now some of the nostalgia element is lost on me.

The Warp Effect I'm taking a break because I've had so many transvaginal ultrasounds this year the obgyn content has become triggering to me lol. I hope to get back to it soon!!

Currently Consuming

I am drinking rooibos tea while waiting for the washing machine to finish so I can go to bed.

Currently Craving

What don't I crave, now that'd be easier to list haha. I'm having really bad pms, I want to eat everything while banging my head onto a wall. In other cravings, I'm looking forward to warmer weather. May is my favourite month where I live and I hope I'll have regained my hormonal cycle by then. That's what I crave the most honestly. Hormonal balance!!! I remain optimistic because my condition has improved a lot even though I still get this dull pain. A couple of weeks ago I had to take a valium to calm down and I cried on the phone with my dad so compared to that I'm doing so much better.

Tagging everyone!!

[aquadestinyswriting]

15 Questions, 15 Mutuals- Selene

Thanks to @writingamongther0ses and @mariahwritesstuff for the tags. This is the second one of these out of two. Placing the rest under a readmore because it's going to get long. Oh and I'm nicking the idea of an extra-planar interviewer from @blind-the-winds because that will help me warm up the writing muscles for later. I'm answering these as of current fiction.

This is an open tag for anyone that wants to take part, but I will be tagging the people I know will be interested in the following responses

Tags: @druidx, @blind-the-winds, @mariahwritesstuff, @odysseywritings

[The Wizard's Tower, Toreguarde. It's first thing in the morning and the sun is just coming through the windows of the tower's library. Selene is sitting at her desk, a mug of dwarven bloc coffee in hand. Sitting opposite her, halfway hiding where the sunrise hasn't quite reached is the Interviewer. Chrackle is sitting in the rafters above them, eyeing the shifting, amorphous figure warily.]

Interviewer: Good morning, I hope I'm not inconveniencing you by coming along this early?

Selene: Not at all. It's not often that an extra-planar being visits the city without having an agenda to blow it up or destroy it. It's quite refreshing, actually.

Interviewer: I am quite aware of the city's reputation. Your head of security was quite thorough in her interrogation. I'm surprised she was able to notice me.

Selene: What can I say, it helps to have a Plane Shifter on staff.

1. Are you named after anyone?

I honestly don't know. I suspect my mother had heard the name as some sort of reference and liked it enough to use it as my name. Sadly, I have no way to contact her to ask, if she's even still alive

2. When was the last time you cried?

*jokingly* when Orrock last reminded me what Ivan's bartab total was. On a more serious note though, it was just after we got the official paperwork regarding the adoption of Caitr and Bridget. It hadn't actually hit me until then that I was a mother.

3. Do you have kids?

As I said, I have two adopted daughters. Edwin brought them home one day and talked me into keeping them because they're half dwarves. It's a good thing my partner lived in Fangthane for as long as he did because the girls are going to grow up knowing about dwarven culture and not end up cut off from it.

4. Do you use sarcasm?

When it's required

Chrackle: She use it too much!

*glaring up at her familiar* They weren't asking you!

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Physically it's the appearance, I usually notice the way they're dressed first, before anything else.

Chrackle: *helpfully* only when she pay attention. Head in clouds a lot.

*ignoring the bird* Aside from that, if the person in question can use magic, it's a little easier to notice the magical "vibes" they give off. They often say a lot more than anything else

6. What's your eye color?

Green.

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

*once the concept of a movie is explained* Why not both? I've been an avid reader all my life and, as long as the execution is decent, I enjoy all sorts of stories. While I might prefer books, stories of both types are enjoyable no matter the medium.

8. Any special talents?

Given that anyone can learn how to use magic, I don't think there's really anything special about what I can do. That's not a bad thing, I highly encourage those that want to to learn magic.

9. Where were you born?

On a small charcoal burner's homestead somewhere near Embertown. All I remember is that it was way out in the middle of nowhere and that our closest neighbour, the Schreiber manorhouse, was about two or three miles away.

10. What are your hobbies?

I'm an academic first and foremost, so most of my hobbies are basically what I do as my job. I said before that I was an avid reader. I'm also in the process of learning conversational dwarven and I study Arcane theory on the side.

11. Have you any pets?

Not at the moment, Chrackle is probably the closest equivalent- *annoyed squawk from the rafters*- but I don't think familiars really count. Caitr has been bugging us for a cat recently though. Whether it's because she wants one to make a familiar later or just because she wants a pet... I'll need to wait and find out.

12. What sports do you play/have played?

I'm not really into any kind of physical exercise for fun. I'm a bit too awkward and clumsy. My oldest brother would try to include me when I was a child, but my older brother made actually enjoying it very difficult and my father.... well he had some very traditionalist views that I don't agree with.

13. How tall are you?

5 feet 5 inches, so around average height for a human woman.

14. Favorite subject in school?

As a person who loves learning in general, all the subjects were my favourite. Seems a bit trite, I know, but my mother was an excellent teacher and Yastromo figured out how to work around the way I learned pretty quickly.

15. Dream job?

It's always been to manage my own arcane library. I now have the time to dedicate solely to this place and not get constantly dragged away to appease the Council. It's a shame it took this long to get here, but I've learned a lot from my experiences, harrowing as many of them may have been.

Interviewer: Thank you for your time. I appreciate how candid you've been

Selene: *waves a hand* It's no trouble, it's been nice to have a conversation about my life that hasn't involved getting into the politics of Toreguarde or its history.

Interviewer: I can imagine. *shuffles papers* Anyway, I'd best be off, I'm sure there are plenty of people who want access to your library and I've probably kept them waiting long enough.

Chrackle: *landing on table, glaring at the Interviewer* What do with answers?

[The Interviewer does not reply, simply nodding to Selene and vanishing.]