#dot dupont

[r0salli]

Dalmatrix Stimboard

[hazyaltcare]

A black and white moodboard for a faitive of Dalmatrix/Dot DuPont (Rawrdcore Records) with themes of haze, fog, and dissociation.

Mod Haze (🧨Tate & ☀️Sol)

[findingavoiceif]

Intro post:

Step into the shadows as an Elyn, a creature feared and hunted for your dark, mysterious origins. After narrowly escaping the brutal grasp of your former master, you find yourself in a world that views your kind—Elyndras—as beings of nightmare: demons with unsettling, untapped powers.

But in this land where terror and superstition reign, your journey is just beginning. Thrust into an unpredictable adventure of treachery, harrowing dangers, unexpected sorrows, and moments of tender love, your path twists in ways you never imagined.

Forge bonds with one of four unique companions, each with their own secrets, desires, and hidden wounds.

Tell me, creature of the night... Will you reclaim your power, your voice, your freedom?

Features:

Choose your name,gender and parts of your appearance.(Some of the mc's features are locked to fit their heritage)

Romance one of four companions or maybe...5?

Trigger warnings-

Finding A Voice is rated 16+ for violence,self-harm,hunting of an entire species,assault,language and fade-to black scenes.

Love interests:

Quill Riviera – The Charming Bard

Quill’s got that effortlessly cool vibe—shoulder-length auburn hair streaked with dark highlights, usually tied half up, half down like he didn’t try but somehow nailed the look. His light brown eyes glimmer with mischief, though his right eye is a little clouded from an old injury, and his full lips always seem to be curled into a teasing grin. Freckles dust his nose, and he’s got a small gap between his front teeth, giving his smile a touch of imperfection that just adds to his charm.

Underneath his confident exterior is something darker, though he keeps it hidden well behind sarcastic jokes and playful arrogance. His tan skin, slender hands, and lean frame are decorated with piercings—hoops and studs running up his pointy ears, an eyebrow piercing above his sharp, teasing gaze. You’ll catch a glimpse of a burn mark on his left hip if he ever lets his guard down. Despite the mystery and flirtation, Quill’s a bard at heart, working part-time at the inn, always ready to spin a story or play a song. But don’t let his facade fool you; there’s more beneath the surface.

Pierre Blanchet – The Cold Commander

Pierre cuts an intimidating figure—a tall, athletic knight with flawless bronze skin, dark red eyes that he’s always been self-conscious about, even though they burn with a fire few can match. His curly blonde hair is cut short and shaved at the sides, making him look every bit the battle-hardened warrior he is. A small mole beneath his nose and a permanent shadow of stubble give him a rough, no-nonsense appearance.

Despite his role as Knight Commander, Pierre’s introverted nature and quiet insecurity make him seem distant, even rude at times. He doesn’t let people in easily, but those who get past his defenses see the man beneath the armor—stubborn, loyal, and fighting his own inner battles. His large hands grip a sword with ease, but they fumble when it comes to opening up to others. If you can break through his walls, though, you’ll find a heart worth fighting for.

Celeste Dupont – The Witch of Warmth

Celeste is the type of person who draws people in with her warmth, even though her pale skin and sharp grey eyes might make her seem icy at first glance. She keeps her silky black hair tied up in a messy bun, and no matter how chaotic it looks, it only adds to her effortless elegance. Her lips are always painted a cherry red, and a small scar on her bottom lip hints at the fact that there’s more to her story.

As a baker and healer, she’s as likely to serve you a fresh loaf of bread as she is to patch you up after a tough battle. A rune tattoo graces her palm, a subtle sign of her Valdranna heritage—an immortal witch with powers as ancient as they are mysterious. With her hourglass figure, dark eyeliner, and a nose ring that looks like a simple dot, Celeste balances the mystical with the everyday. She’s your boss, your best friend, and maybe something more if you’re lucky enough to win her heart.

Ash Valdaryn – The Sickly Royal

Ash is the reason this whole adventure started, their deep violet skin standing out against the pale world around them. Their lavender hair, soft and wavy, falls just past their shoulders, and they dress in flowing, feminine clothing that complements their elegant, yet slightly fragile build. White eyes gaze out from beneath small, curling horns on their forehead, giving them an otherworldly look that is as captivating as it is delicate.

Ash’s health is failing, which is why the journey began in the first place—to find a cure for the illness that threatens to take them away. Despite their condition, they insisted on coming along, determined to be part of the adventure. They may look fragile, but there’s a quiet strength beneath the surface—a will to live, to fight, to hold on. And though they may be royalty, with all the expectations that come with it, Ash’s soft voice and gentle demeanor make them someone you’ll want to protect... even though they’d never ask for it.

[msweebyness]

THE THEATER KIDS!!!

@artzychic27 @imsparky2002 @nerd-chocolate

Back: Soo-Yeon, Dot, Margo, Brecken, Anais, Anthony, Candace

Middle: Staci, Parker, Evie, Eloise, Jesse

Front: Mona, Eri, Missy, Ayesha, Petra, Roxie, Aggie

Thanks to Artzy for this wonderful art of my babies!

Background: https://www.tumblr.com/msweebyness/728495392228048896/theater-kids-new-oc-class

[sploopyghost]

I couldn't remember if Dupont was a middle school or a high school but for this prompt it was a middle school

Line Divider

It was a new school year and with that new students came. Teachers prepared new lectures and lesson activities for their students. What they didn't plan for was a certain group of students that formally went to Dupont middle school, specifically a certain class

The kids were separated so they didn't think they were connected at first. But it later became apparent when one of the teachers was struggling to find out why one of their students was so far behind. Another teacher also stated that one of their students was behind too. With each teacher coming out and saying they had one or two students behind they began to connect the dots. At first they thought it was the school but other students from the same school were doing just fine. Digging further into the kids files they found that they were all in the same class, even the two trouble makers Chloe and Lila

It was clear something was going and it started with Bustier. They took their findings to the school board in hopes of making sense of this. When the board looked into it they found that Bustier was inflating her students grades and Damocules was letting kids of rich parents do whatever they wanted. Everything started making sense to them now. Chloe seemed shocked and appalled when she was punished and Lila was frustrated when she couldn't lie or fake cry her way out of a situation. Lila went even further by trying to get other students to cater to her and when it didn't work she would try and frame them for something leading them to give Lila detention. When that didn't work she skipped school saying that she would be out of the country, which lead to them attempting to call and email her mother because she missed so much school that like Chloe she was failing most of her classes. The board quickly took action and fired both of them and decided that her former class would need to retake the exam to see if they really passed or not

The class was confused about the situation and why they had to go to school on a weekend. Their parents had gotten an email about what was going on and how their grades were inflated and weren't accurate so they would have to retake their exam. They couldn't believe this, Mrs. Bustier would never do something like that. Sure, they struggled with their studies now but they were catching up. Regardless of what they thought they had to retake it, the exam would act like a placement test, seeing whether or not they would stay freshmen in high school or have to repeat eighth grade. They retook the exam and didn't think anything of it until they got their results back

When they got their results back they expected to get the same if not even better results than last time and were shocked when they were worse. The class decided to meet up to compare their results. Max the smartest out of all of them did well but not as well as he thought. Kim passed the first time with a pretty good score but this time he barely passed. It began to sink in that Mrs. Bustier really was altering their grades, and with the way they were struggling compared to their peers it was by a lot. The only one who wasn't affected was Adrien. He had been homeschooled his entire life, taught by the best and only joined during their last year in middle school. On the other side Chloe and Lila, who had been forced to go by her mother when she found out she had been lying to her, were finding out that they were going to repeat the eighth grade

When the dust settled everything went back to somewhat normal. The class were given extra help and even took it upon themselves to have group study sessions. Chloe and Lila were to repeat eighth grade and do some summer school. It was made clear to both Mr. Bourgeois and Mrs. Rossi that if they don't stop encouraging their bad behaviors and actually pay attention to them they will never learn and grow as people

[wisteriasymphony]

I feel like the Ladyblog being its own website is something that would gel extremely well with 2000's style MLB and the way the internet worked at that time. Imagine Alya having multiple domain names under her belt with self-run blogs or pages, and within the first week of Ladybug and Chat Noir's appearance she's already scrambling to get www.ladyblog.com as well. The site is by modern standards an eyesore but it's clearly a labor of love, and the directory on the left hand side is a column of hyperlinks over a polka-dotted background image. For a while, the site has to be spread around by word of mouth, maybe even starting out as a project for school before evolving into something well-known throughout the entirety of Collége François Dupont, then to the city at large. At one point Alya is even able to get a flash animation of a familiar yoyo spinning across the top bar of the website, and later on the website has a custom cursor in the shape of a green paw.

Anyway I'm going to try and make a visual mockup for this because I have to get it out of my brain somehow

[deepdeanvsweston]

Rebecca Martineau and Theodora Dupont, or Beanie and Dot <3

A love story in which Beanie gets to have a wlw summer in the French countryside because she deserves it

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

Marinette | Ladybug

(Wait for the end for the " * " facts)

CIVILIAN IDENTITY

Name: Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Age: 14 (in beginning of rewrite)

Date of Birth: July 9th

Gender: Transgender*

Nationality: French-Chinese-Italian

Languages Spoken: English and French

Occupation/School: A student of Collège Françoise Dupont and works part-time at her family's bakery/cafe

Hometown: London, England*

Physical Appearance

Height: 4'11

Build/Body Type: Lean and semi-athletic

Hair Color and Style: Shoulder-Long blue-black hair in multilabel lairs. Often has it up and out of her face.

Eye Color: Hazel*

Skin Tone: Fair

Distinguishing Features: Freckles on her face, arms, and legs

Typical Outfit/Style: Often dresses between cute simple dresses and skirts and baggy overalls, switches of cute tops and cozy sweaters

Personality/Character Traits: She's shy and sweet throughout the series. She was extremely shy and clumsy in the beginning but slowly gained confidence and self-love over time, growing a backbone to bullying and standing up for herself and others. Her kindness shows no bounds.

Background/History

Family: (Brief background on family members and relationships with them) Sabine Dupain-Cheng (Mother), Tom Dupain-Cheng (Father), Gina Bianchi (Grandmother), Roland Dupain (Grandfather), Mei Cheng (Distant-Grandmother), Yan Cheng (Distant Grandfather)

Friends: Alya (Best friend), Marc (Best friend), Rose (close friends), Alix (close friends), Juleka (very close friend*), Mylène (close friend), Adrian (close friend), Luka (very close friend*), Nathaniel (good friend), Ivan (good friend), Kim (slowly rebuilding friendship*), Max (good friend), Nino (good friend)

Hobbies and Interests: Drawing, fashion design, ballet*

Strengths: (Skills, talents, etc.) She's very good at art history and drawing

Weaknesses: (Fears, insecurities, things they struggle with) Had anxiety and struggle with insecurities of her image and her personality. She's constantly scared to be all alone again or be left behind, which sometimes leave her to accidentally push people away

Secrets: (What do they hide from others? Is there something they don’t want to reveal?) Her being Ladybug, her old school*, her romantic feelings

Biggest Goals/Dreams: To be a fashion designer and save Paris from Monarch

SUPERHERO IDENTITY

Hero Name: Ladybug

Miraculous Animal: Tikki the Ladybug Kwami

Costume/Appearance: A red and black pokka-dotted suit with elbow and knee pads of black, a maroon mesh mask to cover the lower half of her face, red goggles, reddish-pink holographic wings for emergency flight

Powers/Abilities: (What powers do they have while transformed? List and describe each ability) With the ladybug Miraculous, she has the power to create with her Luckycharm, she also has the ability to remove the negative effects of other Kwami's or their Miraculous' powers. Her minor powers include fast running, clinging to a surface, flight with her hologram wings, using "Ladybug Vision" in her goggles to figure out how to use her Luckycharms.

Weaknesses: She has to act fast with each Luckycharm to use the items given before she changes back, since she's only able to use it three times and each time takes a power percentage that makes it quicker to make her go back to her civilian form to recharge.

Hero Personality/Traits: She's very confident and braver than her civilian form, more fearless

Fighting Style/Skills: Acrobat

Relationships as a Superhero

Allies/Team Members: (Who do they fight alongside? Who do they trust?) Chat Noir (her main partner), other Miraculous users

Rivals/Enemies: Monarch (the main villain), Akumatized Victims (momentary villains)

Love Interest: People suspect she has romantic feelings for Chat Noir

MIRACULOUS POWER

Miraculous Artifact: Earrings

Kwami's Name: Tikki

Kwami's Personality: Tikki's a very kind, optimistic, and understanding and gets along well with Marinette

Miraculous Backstory: Marionette discovered Tikki's Miraculous when in her favorite place to calm down. With Tikki's help she manages the role of Ladybug perfectly well

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Character Arc: She learns to grow courage and be less insecure as time goes on, learns to stand up for herself more often and not be manipulated or hurt along the way. She slowly leaves the past behind as she grows throughout the series

Quirks or Interesting Facts: She chews on her pencils when she's think in thought, biting her nails when she's nervous, and sometimes tug on her hair when she's stressed or deeply distressed.

Special Skills or Talents (non-superhero): She's good at art and has a nice singing voice

Moral Code: Never will she want someone to be treated and alone the same way as she did, which sometimes crosses messily when her anxiety picks up in fear she'll be alone

Biggest Fear: Being alone, being hurt, failing everyone and herself.

Outfits:

Changes I Added:

I've debated wither to make her trans fem or Genderfluid since the only male ladybugs are red and after a LONG talk with my friends I've decided she would be mtf transgender in the rewrite. For those who would have a issue in this, don't worry it's not a main focus but there may be a episode based on her scared someone will expose her and make her isolated (you can probably guess who)

Tom moved to London with Sabine after he and his father went no-contact, and after Marinette was born they stayed until her early teens. He and Sabine wanted to open their dream bakery/cafe but were too broke to do it back then so they saved up, and took the first opportunity to buy a old cafe to fix up upon moving to Paris.

She knew Marc and Kim before school started, they attending a all-boys school in London but was bullied and isolated after she came out as trans. This left her with some issues with her mental health which helped her parents decide to move to Paris sooner. She was officially the new girl when she moved to Paris and struggles fitting in, which only made it harder due to Chloe's bullying, but managed to be close friends with Juleka and Luka and Nathaniel. She and Marc stayed friends though, and after the summer before the new school year started he decided to move in with his dad who was living in Paris for business to be closer to her. Kim moved sometime before Marinette did, and became more adapt at school than her with lots of friends

She was friends with Kim until she caught him picking on Juleka and found out he accidentally told Chloe about her gender identity.

She met Luka through Juleka and the trio had a good friendship. She met Nathaniel and had a good friendship, but she's still guarded outside of Juleka and Luka

I gave her hazel eyes since when you put red goggles over it in a overlay they look kind of violet-blue, and I always thought as Ladybug her identity can easily point out who she is (i.e. her hair and eye color) so I changed it. Her mask also disguise her voice but just slightly but enough to hide her identity

She did ballet in her old school (forced classes) which I based off Princess Tutu with a lead who's a graceful ballerina who's clumsy behind the guise of her hero form

[colesterstrudel]

Earlier today I was on twitter dot com minding my own business just scrolling and suddenly there was a post of jeff gordon….which was a jumpscare for many reasons but mostly bc this is an Earnhardt household and seeing the dupont devil in any capacity goes against my religion 💀

[whump-card]

Forged Divinity Chapter 10: Leannan Meets Jeanette

2302 words

CW: institutionalized slavery, religious themes, dubcon (not explicitly described), abuse, choking, Google Translate

Previous, Masterlist, Next

~~~

Amos 6:4-5

You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.

~~~

Leannan didn’t see Phineas much for the next two days. The Council – minus the elusive fourth member – dined together, and Leannan joined them, eating fine meals of fish and potatoes with tart berries and cream for dessert. But beyond that, Phineas was off doing God-knows-what.

James visited Leannan once more, but seemed to lose his nerve before he could do anything, escaping with a lame excuse about ‘business to attend to.’

Leannan explored the Council building a bit. It was full of rooms, all connected by hallways, floored with time-worn linoleum. Some of the lesser-used rooms had sagging ceiling tiles, or were filled with little desks and chairs, stacked on top of each other in three-dimensional mazes of metal and plastic.

He stopped exploring after receiving one too many leering remarks from the guards dotted around the building. They weren’t allowed to touch him, by the Council’s decree, but that didn’t stop them from cornering and ogling him when they got the chance.

The only guard who offered a shred of kindness was the Captain, DuPont. He broke up one such gathering, snapping at his subordinates to get back to their posts, before looking Leannan up and down appraisingly. Leannan returned the look; DuPont was a barrel-chested man with dark skin and hair and a shadow of a beard, authoritative and burly.

“You good?” DuPont asked.

Leannan nodded quickly. “Yes, sir, thank you.”

DuPont smiled at him oddly, then reached out and ruffled Leannan’s hair.

“You let me know if they bother you again.”

~~~

What Leannan didn’t find while he was exploring was the fourth Councilman. He was close to cracking and asking someone who they were – but then he met her.

It was evening, and Leannan was walking back to his room after a long outing to Donda Island’s market. He was provided a small allowance of bartering chips, and today he had spent it on perfumes and rouge. It had taken him all afternoon, as he had stopped to talk to every vendor and passer-by who would humor him. He now knew more about Donda Island and its holdings, its imports of textiles and its exports of berry wine and leather; the ever-shrinking fishing business, the struggling dairy farms, and peoples’ anxieties about the coming second summer, when unimaginable heat would descend upon them.

He’d also learned that their view of Phineas was less than favorable.

He was sorting through this information in his head, trying to come up with the best way to present his findings to Phineas, when a sound made him stop outside his bedroom door. Drifting from further down the hall was an unearthly humming. He recognized it immediately, and it sent a flutter through his stomach: an organ.

He’d always thought that ‘organ’ was an appropriate title; the one back in Iowa City had loomed like a great living creature, breathing and singing through what seemed like hundreds of throats and mouths. Leannan had always stared up at it in awe, hardly able to keep singing along himself.

He stood frozen for moment before quickly entering his room and leaving his purchases on the vanity, then returning to the hallway to follow the noise. It lead him along the corridor, one silent step in front of the next, until he determined the door it was emanating from. He was loathe to interrupt the music, but he had to know. He knocked.

The drone stopped, and a woman’s voice called from beyond.

“Come in!”

Leannan opened the door, and stepped into a room far finer than his. The bed was larger, and had a grand canopy of fringed damask, and there were a pair of armchairs and a teatable, in addition to a wardrobe. There was no vanity, but instead two – two! – full length mirrors in one corner. There was a distinct smell; some sort of pine resin smoldered in a dish on the teatable, filling the room with pungent smoke. The main point of interest, however, was a very thin and wan woman sitting in the bed, propped up by countless pillows. In her lap was a long, flat, black box, with a row of black and white keys, just like an organ. It had blinking lights, and wires ran out of it to some sort of contraption sitting in a fading sunbeam on the floor. Electronics, Leannan identified, though he didn’t know much about the stuff.

The woman was staring at him, the bags under her eyes doing little to weaken her icy, piercing gaze.

“You must be the holy concubine,” she intoned.

“Yes, madam,” he replied, offering a little bow.

“I’m Jeanette Faverolle. The missing Council member.” A hint of bitterness tinged her voice. “But you’re not here to listen to me complain. You came for the music, yes?”

“Yes, madam,” he echoed.

“Please,” she waved a hand, “Call me Jeanette.”

“Yes, Jeanette.”

“Sit. I will play for you.”

Leannan perched in one of the armchairs, and Jeanette set her fingers to the keys. Leannan couldn’t help but be a little disappointed; what had sounded so unmistakably like his long-lost home through the muffler of doors and walls sounded tinny and small coming directly out of the electronic keyboard. But it was still the sound of an organ, and it was still music, of a sort; Jeanette moved across the keys at random, slowly drawing out one chord before moving seamlessly to the next, building an eerie soundscape. Leannan closed his eyes and leaned forward, as if he could submerge himself in the noise.

Leannan wasn’t sure for how long he sat and listened, only that he had relaxed fully into the chair, sprawled in it most unbecomingly and completely at peace, when Jeanette quite suddenly lifted her hands from the keys and plunged the room into silence.

Leannan sat up quickly, straightening his shirt. Jeanette was staring him down. The evening light from the windows had faded into darkness, and the room was lit only by a single lantern at Jeanette’s bedside, which cast eerie shadows over her gaunt face.

“You belong to the Council as a whole, yes?” she asked.

“Yes, Jeanette.”

“Therefore I am entitled to a quarter of your time, yes?”

“Yes, Jeanette.”

She nodded brusquely. “Return to me tomorrow, after lunch.”

“Yes, Jeanette.”

“You are dismissed.”

“Yes, Jeanette.” Leannan stood, hesitated, then inclined his head to her. “Thank you.”

Her lips pursed, and her eyebrows pinched.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Leannan nodded again, and quietly left.

He walked slowly back down the hallway, dying of curiosity. What ailed the Councilwoman? Why was she never at any of the meetings or dinners? Why had Brochard and James never mentioned her?

His thoughts were cut short by Phineas, fast approaching. Leannan stopped walking and lifted a hand to wave, but Phineas reached him in a rush, catching his waist and fisting a hand in his hair.

“Hej, stranger,” they purred, and kissed him.

Leannan wondered why Phineas was suddenly so touchy after two days of ignoring him, but Phineas explained.

“I shot a deer,” they murmured, nipping at Leannan’s ear.

“Congratulations,” Leannan giggled.

“Come with me.” Phineas practically dragged Leannan to their room, and Leannan spent the next twenty minutes with his head between Phineas’ legs. Afterwards, Leannan crawled up to lie next to Phineas and tried to tell them about what he had learned at the market, but Phineas shoved him off the bed.

“Shoo!” they said unambiguously.

Leannan tried not to be disappointed. Maybe Phineas had more important things to do – but Leannan still felt that the information he’d gathered was valuable. Regardless, he left, returning to his own room – and bumped right into James, who was leaving it.

“My apologies, Master James!” Leannan said immediately.

“Leannan – I was looking for you, I…” James grabbed Leannan’s upper arm and pulled him further into the room, closing the door. He had a wild look in his eye that set Leannan on edge. “I was looking for you, just – hold still…”

James’ hands closed around Leannan’s throat and squeezed.

Leannan had no warning, no time to prepare, and was hit with a jolt of genuine fear. James was supposed to be timid, he was supposed to be all bark and no bite… and yet. Leannan grabbed the Councilman’s wrists and tried to speak, but James was already crushing his throat closed, and it hurt. Horrible little squeaks and croaks were all that could escape Leannan’s mouth. James’ jaw clenched and his eyes were crazed and his arms shook as he clutched Leannan’s neck as tightly as he could. Leannan felt his head growing hot with trapped blood, and knew his face was turning red. Ordinarily when being hurt unexpectedly he would take in air, calm himself, and breath through it, but that wasn’t possible now. His vision started to go gray and fuzzy, and he found himself struggling instinctually. His feet dug into the floor, his shoulders twisted, and his hands yanked on James’ arms. It all only made James grip him tighter, growling something threatening in French. Finally, a coherent thought made its way through Leannan’s adrenaline-soaked and oxygen-deprived brain and he forced his body to fall slack, and rolled his eyes up into his head as if he were passing out. At this, James cursed and threw him to the floor, where Leannan spasmed and sucked in a painful breath through his battered throat. He wheezed helplessly as James stood over him, panting.

“Fucking peasants!” James shouted, “Think they’re above it all! Think they’re better than me?” He lifted his foot back to kick Leannan, tapped it to the ground as he hesitated, then shot it home into Leannan’s gut with a shout of rage. Leannan couldn’t stop the ragged cry that was forced out of him, and he curled up into a ball.

James began to pace, rambling in French.

“Ils demandent toujours ce qu'ils ne peuvent pas avoir!” He punctuated his last word with a second kick, this time to Leannan’s shin. Leannan flinched and whimpered, still disoriented. He didn’t have a plan. He couldn’t handle this.

“Taxes this, taxes that, maybe if you worked a little harder!” James circled around and kicked Leannan in the back, just below his ribs. Tears sprang to Leannan’s eyes, and he urged them on, sobbing.

“Master James!” he wheezed, “Please...”

“Oh, what, are you going to ask for something you don’t deserve too?” He loomed over Leannan, chest heaving; but then he seemed to deflate a bit as he took in Leannan’s pitiful figure on the floor.

“I suppose you do deserve some thanks. That was very… refreshing.” James rolled his shoulders, and his hand drifted to his belt. “Very… helpful.” He contemplated the thought a moment longer before stepping over Leannan and walking to the door.

“I’ll send someone to check on you,” he said, almost sounding regretful, and left.

Leannan rolled slowly onto his back, allowing himself to cry for real. He hadn’t liked that. Not at all. He kept misjudging James, and getting caught off-guard. He lifted a hand and pressed probing fingers to his throat. He didn’t need to look in the mirror to know he wore a necklace of handprints. He sat up, tears rolling down his cheeks. He wanted to go back to Phineas – but he knew Phineas wouldn’t be interested in his whining.

He had to do his duty. He had to endure.

He brushed the tears off his face and forced on a smile, but it only lasted a few seconds before he sobbed again. He didn’t want to have to endure anymore.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered to God, “I’ll be okay in a minute, I swear, I’m sorry. I can do it, just give me a minute!”

He pulled up his knees and hugged them to his chest, hyperventilating slightly as he looked around. His room – the room that was supposed to be all his – didn’t feel safe anymore. He hadn’t even realized that he’d felt safe there in the first place until it was taken away. It felt wrong, now. It felt… It felt a way he couldn’t name. It felt bad, that was all he knew.

So he sat, and cried, and slowly calmed down. He was just starting to struggle to his feet, wincing as muscles flexed under new bruises, when someone knocked on the door. He wiped his hands across his face and straightened his clothes before going to answer it.

It was the pale, frizzy-haired woman, bearing a tray with a steaming earthenware mug on it.

“Yes?” Leannan said, then balked; his own voice shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did, coming out painfully hoarse and low.

“Councilman Faverolle sent you some honeyed tea, monsiuer,” the woman explained, her eyes running up and down Leannan’s figure. Not in the way people usually looked at him, though. Instead of lustful, she looked concerned; her eyes flitted particularly around his neck. She had a sharp, nervous gaze, like a small bird.

“Oh!” Leannan spoke through the pain, “How thoughtful of him!” He lifted the mug from the tray. “Thank you, madam…?”

She tucked the tray under her arm, tilting her head a little funny at being addressed with madam. “Just Maeve.”

“Thank you, Maeve,” Leannan rasped, smiling as best he could, “You should call me Leannan, then.”

She looked at him a moment longer, then nodded.

“You’re very welcome, Leannan. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Once she was gone, Leannan walked to his bed, nearly limping from the pain in his lower back. He set the tea down on his bedside table and stripped, dropping his clothes carelessly to the floor before crawling into bed. He took up the tea and hunched over it, enjoying the warmth despite the summer night.

He was being rewarded. He could endure.

~~~

Previous, Masterlist, Next

Taglist: @angst-after-dark, @sunshiline-writes, @flowersarefreetherapy, @thecyrulik

Let me know if you want on or off the taglist!

[theangellies]

Location: Faux Folie Status: Closed ( @levmovska )

The costume that Val had graced the club floor with is nothing short of opulent in the way only Valentine Dupont can be - at both times ridiculous and beautiful. Dark, femme, bohemian. They're doing a twirl with a hand gingerly making sure the large mushroom head doesn't fall off. "See I told ya, absolutely phantasmic." Turquoise dress that hangs low on a broad and flat chest, a robe of sorts that hovers on arms dotted in little tattoos. "Now tell me what the fuck ye're dressed as?" A hand reaches out already to feel the collar.

[eventiderpg]

It's been eighteen days since the start of the rebellion. Tensions are high across Panem. The question on all minds involve unity. Does Panem unify against the rebels and choose what everyone has always known? Or do the Districts align with District 13, effectively choosing to go against their own government? For the last seventy-five years, uprisings have occurred here and there. They got stomped out violently and quickly. In the last seventy-five years, the collective of Panem never caught wind of other places uprising. This is different. Feelings of fear and excitement intermingle. Some feel one or the other, others may feel both.

Today marks a night of significance and sadness. Citizens are either told to turn their televisions on at seven in the evening, or rounded up to their town square to watch the President. When the screen lights up on the dot, people witness Coriolanus Snow. His speech is as follows:

"Today marks a blemish on Panem's wonderful history. We are better together, stronger when we are hand in hand. There are threats that Panem has begun to face with the treacherous rebels. They blend in well amongst us all. You might not know it, but some may walk right alongside you. They do not care for the safety of our citizens. They do not care for your future or the future of your families. They do not care for the greater good. Selfishly, their only concern is themselves.

It pains me to see the good people of Panem fall into the snares of blanketed promises that the rebellion touts. The rebels offer petty promises that they cannot truly provide. The truth is Panem must remain united against those who betray us. As a citizen of our great nation, you must ask yourself if you are loyal to your people or not. Because if you do not stand with Panem, you effectively stand against freedom and peace.

It isn't difficult to fall for the blathering of the rebels. Even the strongest amongst us struggle. As of today, the government of Panem has arrested twenty of our past Hunger Games victors for treason. These twenty in one way or another have helped the rebels in their terrible cause. This cannot go unpunished, and treason will continue to be punished. For their crimes, these twenty victors will be executed. They will have all of Panem witness this so they go out in shame. Their actions will continue to be seen as unforgiven, long after Panem defeats the rebel forces.

To the rebels who are watching, let this be your final warning. Step away from your mission of chaos. It isn't too late. And to our good citizens of Panem watching, we stand with you. Your safety and peace is something we treasure. It is your God given right to not have to live in fear. You have our promise that the rebels will be stopped. Good night, Panem. Peacekeepers, you may begin the executions."

With our Mockingjay era plot drops, these will be similar to the Claudius and Caesar updates. You are absolutely welcome to write a self-para or actively do threads in relation to this plot drop! If you choose to roleplay this on the dash, please tag your threads with both #eventideevent04 as well as #eventidevp. This plot drop does not effectively pause time in the roleplay. It does however signify that we are getting close to week three in the rebellion.

Under the readmore is a list of the victors who have unfortunately met their end. Except for twelve, each District has at least one victor who has been executed. Please use the district plotting channels if you'd like to determine how far each of these victors were in the rebellion as well as any fun tidbits about them with your fellow muns. If you do, please feel free message that info to the admin team and then we can put it in the character announcements channel on discord! Happy roleplaying!

12th: Woof of District 8

15th: Beck Arno of District 4

16th: Lanre DuPont of District 3

19th: Ceres of District 2

22nd: Percy Waverly of District 4

25th: Omer of District 9

28th: Aletris Whyton of District 11

30th: Sapphire of District 1

35th: Mars Bentley of District 2

37th: Vesta Valor of District 2

40th: Murphy Rafferty of District 4

42nd: Lotus Dragamir of District 9

46th: Hermes Lightsmith of District 7

47th: Fawn Sheppard of District 10

49th: Alaric Tripp of District 5

52nd: Onyx Ripley of District 1

57th: Fleta of District 6

68th: Augustus Braun of District 1

72nd: Solana Kentshire of District 3

73rd: Calen Powers of District 2

[lonelyrollingstar]

Candy Corn: delicious in small quantities. I would eat way more if it wasn’t flavored, weirdly; I just like the texture, similar to Nik-L-Nip bottles (probably because they’re both edible wax).

Licorice: I love fruit licorice, especially the soft flavorful kind like Darrell Lea, which gets bonus points because the company refers to it as “eating licorice” as though it’s an alternative to inedible industrial licorice, which I guess is black licorice since it tastes like chemical runoff from a DuPont factory. The taste makes me physically ill Also, I think Twizzlers are really weird because they kind of don’t taste like anything, especially strawberry, and yet I am somehow compelled to get them when I go to movies, similar to other bad candy I like e.g. Dots, Jujubes, etc

Peanut butter and chocolate: when Moses originally climbed Mount Sinai and received the tablet from God it just said “PEANUT BUTTER + CHOCOLATE”. When he came off the mountain and saw his people worshipping a golden calf, he destroyed it and humanity lost this divine blessing until Reese decided to make his famous cups.

Mint + chocolate: depends on the balance and flavors but mint chocolate ice cream and Andes mints are incredible. Also, Shamrock Shakes with Oreos, and York Peppermint Patties. Maybe I should just say I universally like it.

Sour candy: I have won multiple bets in my life by eating 5+ Mega Warheads at the same time without so much as a wince. I’ve been able to eat a lemon like an apple since I was four. I was disappointed when I ate Toxic Smog Balls because they were so tame. I have, deliberately, consumed straight citric acid from a bottle. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but sour candy is my #1 go to.

candy discourse, reblog w/ your opinions on

• candy corn • licorice • peanut butter + chocolate • mint + chocolate • sour candies

[vijay34]

Natural Fiber Composites Market Size, Share, and Growth Outlook

Rising Demand for Sustainable Materials Drives Growth in Automotive, Construction, and Consumer Goods Sectors.

The Natural Fiber Composites MarketSize was valued at USD 7.13 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 18.98 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 11.50% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.

The Natural Fiber Composites (NFC) Market is witnessing significant growth due to rising environmental concerns, increasing demand for lightweight materials, and the global shift toward sustainable manufacturing practices. Natural fiber composites are reinforced materials made from plant-based fibers such as flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, and coir. These materials offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic composites, particularly in automotive, construction, aerospace, packaging, and consumer goods industries.

Key Players

A B Composites Pvt. Ltd. 

Amorim Cork Composites S.A. 

BASF SE 

Bcomp Ltd. 

DuPont 

Fibre Extrusion Technology Ltd. 

FlexForm Technologies 

Green Dot Bioplastics 

Green Dot Bioplastics Inc. 

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG 

JNC Corporation 

Lanxess AG 

Lingrove Inc. 

Owens Corning 

Plasthill Oy 

Polyvlies Franz Beyer GmbH 

Procotex 

Solvay S.A. 

TECNARO GMBH 

Trex Company, Inc. 

Future Scope & Emerging Trends

The future of the natural fiber composites market is being shaped by the increasing adoption in automotive interiors, where manufacturers seek lightweight yet strong materials to meet fuel efficiency and emission targets. Likewise, construction and packaging sectors are shifting toward bio-based materials to enhance sustainability. Technological advancements are enabling better bonding between natural fibers and polymer matrices, improving overall mechanical properties. 3D printing with bio-composites, use of recycled fibers, and hybrid composites are emerging trends. Government incentives for green materials and consumer preference for eco-friendly products are expected to further accelerate market expansion.

Key Points

Growing demand in automotive, construction, and packaging industries

Rising focus on sustainable and biodegradable materials

Improved processing techniques and compatibility with polymers

Expansion driven by regulatory policies promoting green materials

Increasing R&D in hybrid and recyclable natural composites

Conclusion

The Natural Fiber Composites Market is poised for strong growth as industries worldwide prioritize sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials. With innovation in processing technologies and increasing environmental awareness, NFCs are becoming a preferred choice for a variety of applications. Key players that invest in product development and scalability will likely lead this eco-conscious market transformation.

Related Reports:

Formic Acid Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Type (Grade 85%, Grade 94%, Grade 99%, Others), By Application (Agriculture, Leather & Textile, Rubber, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Others) by Region and Global Forecast for 2024-2032.

Choline Chloride Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Form (Liquid, Powder), By Application (Oil & Gas, Animal Feed, Human Nutrition, Personal Care, Pharmaceutical, Others) by Region and Global Forecast for 2024-2032.

Amaranth Oil Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Extraction (Supercritical Fluid CO2 Extraction Process, Cold Pressing Process, Organic Solvent (Hexane) Extraction Process, Others), By Application (Cosmetics & Personal Care, Food Supplements, Pharmaceuticals, Aroma, Others) by Region and Global Forecast for 2024-2032.

Contact Us:

Jagney Dave — Vice President of Client Engagement

Phone: +1–315 636 4242 (US) | +44- 20 3290 5010 (UK)

[msweebyness]

Miraculous Mother’s Day HC Special

Happy Mother's Day everybody! I hope all the awesome moms out there are having an amazing day! Enjoy these headcanons of things the Akuma and Theater kids like to do with their moms! (The ones who have good relationships anyway!) @imsparky2002 @booksrbetterthanpeople @nerdy-chocomallow

Marinette loves doing Tai Chi with Sabine in the mornings. It helps her get in a good headspace to start the day.

Alya enjoys cooking and testing out new recipes with Marlena. Cooking is her mother's passion and Alya likes being able to share that with her.

Nino actually enjoys crocheting with his mother, Margie. It's a relaxing activity they can enjoy together and he likes making gifts for his friends.

Sabrina likes going thrift-shopping with her mother, Tanya. They don't have too much in common, but they do share a love for more eclectic fashions.

Rose shares her mother Lily's love of flowers, and they love working on bouquets and arrangements together. They especially love making holiday arrangements for friends and neighbors.

Juleka and Anarka both love music, so it should come as no surprise that they like to compose music and play guitar together. Anarka's even helped write a few Kitty Section songs.

Claudie and Max enjoy playing video games together. Max got his love for gaming from his mother and she's every bit as good as him.

The same is true of Eloise and her mother, Roerva. She's the only one who can whoop both of her children in a round of gaming.

Kim's mom, Mai, is one of his favorite workout partners. She's one of the few people who can keep up with him on the treadmill.

Alix and her mother both have a love for watching professional wrestling, and are fans of several promotions. They go to live shows that come to France when they can.

Galina has a love for gardening, and Ivan will often come out to help his mother and grandmother. It's a relaxing activity for him.

Nathaniel really enjoys helping Aya (he calls her mom for a reason) out at the cafe. He takes any opportunity to spend time with her and he also gets along with the employees.

Jesse likes to watch movies and musicals with his mother, Imelda. They share a love for cinema and theater can spend hours talking about films and shows.

Dot and her mother Enid enjoy organizing the house together. They both highly value order and it gives them peace of mind to get everything in its place.

Ayesha's mother Megan loves to dance and is really good at it. Ayesha loves to dance with her in the kitchen to their favorite songs. It's a way for them both to cut loose.

Roxie actually gets their passion for martial arts from their mother, Rydel, who is a Muay Thai champion. As such, the two enjoy sparring together when they have time, to keep their skills sharp.

Anthony likes going to tea houses with his mother, Sylvie. He really just enjoys talking to her and it gives them both a relaxing environment.

Eri enjoys writing and performing little skits with her mother, Sasami. They both have a love for theater and dramatics, and they love to just go crazy with it.

Candace and her mother Sandra enjoy doing yoga together in the mornings. It keeps them both in shape and is a relaxing way to start the day.

Soo-Yeon enjoys playing one-on-one with his mother in their backyard basketball court. Mi Cha was a champion player in her high school and college years and she makes sure her son stays sharp.

Margo and her mother Dagny share their love for DIY projects, and can often be found working on crafts together. Dagny often guests on her daughter's DIY channel, and is a fan favorite.

Staci and her mother Yumei often go on bike rides around Paris together. They enjoy the scenery and it's a great way to keep in shape.

Parker and her mother Cissy, the DuPont school nurse, both enjoy going out for jogs together. They can talk about anything together and it's a good morning workout.

Brecken spends countless hours helping out Annie at the animal shelter, given their shared love of animals. He also likes to do some quilting with Rachel, and even made one as a gift for Mme. Winters.

Evie's mother Carolina actually shares her love for music, which is why she works in the industry. She loves to play guitar and Evie loves singing along with her mother.

Mona likes helping her mother Bindi put together the activities for her kindergarten class. Whether shopping for supplies or making demonstrations, the whole process is fun for them.

Leave your thoughts in the comments and reblogs! Happy Mother's Day!

[motorcyclegearpuzzle]

Sedici Sistema II Mips Helmet

April 28, 2025

This Sedici Sistema II Mips Helmet Review gives me a reason to dig into one of the most talked-about modular helmets this year. 

Sedici combines the proven Sistema II platform with the MIPS safety system, aiming to protect riders from rotational brain injuries. 

MIPS adds a new layer of defense to the already tough fiberglass and DuPont Kevlar shell, making this helmet stand out in a crowded field.

Everyday riders face a choice between advanced protection and real-world value. Sedici Sistema 2 Mips aims to bridge that gap, promising high-end features at a price that won’t break the bank. 

Is this the modular helmet that finally balances safety, comfort, and affordability for the modern rider?

Sedici 2 receives a ground-up redesign

The Sedici helmet is the new version of the outgoing Sedici helmet, which is on the table on my left-hand side. 

Now, what we did is a complete ground-up redesign of this that's been in the works for about three years, and a lot of the changes that we're discussing here have come directly from the feedback that we've received.

Sedici 2 targets touring riders

Now, this Sedici helmet is going to be a modular helmet inside Sidi's line, so this is going to be aimed at you touring riders out there who want the functionality of being able to open up that face shield when you get to a gas station or a rest stop. 

You don't have to take your helmet off, but you can still comfortably drink or have a conversation with the person that you're riding with.

Sedici 2 sets price point

Now, the price point is coming in right around the $200 mark. RevZilla does have a price match guarantee, so you are guaranteed to get the lowest price. 

What you're going to see here is a solid modular helmet, which is going to give you a ton of upgrades over the outgoing version. 

The outgoing version was a best-seller, but what you're going to see here are vast improvements made based on just real-world feedback of what it's like to ride in this helmet.

Sedici 2 uses fiberglass Kevlar shell

Now, if you're looking at this side by side, what hasn't changed is the fact that it's still going to be a fiberglass Kevlar shell. 

So, you have a fiberglass shell with the Kevlar reinforcement right at the top of it. The chin bar is going to be polycarbonate, but the shell itself is going to be the same.

Sedici 2 changes shell shape

That being said, what has changed is the actual shape. In the previous version, you had this spoiler on the back and a different vent system on the top. 

They've changed that to incorporate the spoiler into the design of the shell itself, and what this is going to do for you is cut down on wind noise, making the helmet quieter. 

The redesign of the vent is going to help cut down on wind noise, too, while also improving ventilation.

Sedici 2 offers two shell sizes

You can see that as they are sitting side by side, two shell sizes are available. You're going to have extra small up to medium in one shell size and then large up to 3XL in the second shell size. 

The helmet is going to be DOT-rated. You see, there is a drop-down sun visor in there.

The weight for this, when we threw it on the scale in the medium, came out three pounds, twelve ounces. 

So, a little bit on the heavier side, but when we're looking at a modular helmet, this is pretty much par for the course at three pounds, twelve ounces in a medium.

Sedici 2 improves internal fitment

Now, the biggest change that you're not going to be able to see on the camera is the internal fitment for this. They have drastically improved the internal fit compared to the previous version. 

It is now a true intermediate oval, a bit longer from front to back and a bit narrower on the sides of the head. It's going to work for the majority of riders out there in the American market.

Sedici 2 incorporates spoiler for balance

Now, looking at this helmet back to back with the old version, like I said, the first thing you're going to note is that while the helmet might have a similar profile, we did add the spoiler at the back of the Sedici sistema ii. So, that's going to help with just improved balance when you're running on the highway.

Sedici 2 integrates spoiler and improves ventilation

So, Sidi also incorporated everything into the design of the shell, so ventilation is improved. The vents themselves actuate smoother, they lock into position better, and they just help to improve ventilation.

Sedici 2 removes side pods

The other thing you'll note from just looking at it is those side pods, when they go on the side of this, are going to be gone. 

Some of the real complaints that we had from other riders were the fact that those side pods could sometimes become undone, you could lose them while you're riding, and they weren't really easy to use to actually change this.

Improves face shield mechanism

So, what has been incorporated here-I'm just going to go ahead and pull-so actually, let me show you what I'm doing here. 

We have the internal sun visor, which is down. It actuates over on the left-hand side, so if you push that forward, it goes back up. I'm just going to go ahead and raise that up because it's easier to kind of demonstrate this.

Now, the face shield compared to the previous version with that pod-100% easier and less clunky, and you don't have to worry about that pod falling off. 

Still, it's going to require two hands. So, you have this little red tab on the back. What you need to do is put your finger in there, pull the tab backward, and then pull the face shield out. 

To get it back in, you want to line it up. I'm going to pull that tab back, and then it slides right into place. You want to just open and close it a few times to make sure that it actually stays in, and then you're going to have a few different positions of detents.

Face shield detents

Now, the one thing you note here is that detents aren't super strong. If you're someone who likes to ride with that vent or the face shield in the mid position, if you're riding highway speeds, it's probably going to shut down closed on you. 

So, while there are some detents there, really, this is something that you're going to want to wear either in the completely open position or have that closed.

Sedici2 offers a city position.

Now, I will say that you do have the city position. So, as you're looking at this, you do have that one little position that does leave it cracked to help a little bit of airflow in the city position, or you can snap it down into place.

Thickens face shield and improves gasket

The face shield itself is much thicker in its design, and there's a full gasket seal around. That's a one-piece gasket seal for a better seal compared to the previous version, cutting down on wind noise and also just giving you a better closure all around. 

The face shield is going to be pin-lock-ready. The pinlock insert is not included with this; that's going to be available as an extra add-on item. But the face shield itself, the mechanism, is vastly improved over the previous version.

Upgrades ventilation

You're going to have a new vent up top, and then you're still going to have past events at the back-past event at the back of the top and then two past events at the rear.

Secure chin curtain

Opening this up, taking a look at the inside. So, we talked about this with some of the other new Sidi helmets, but really what you're going to see is a chin curtain that is more securely locked into place. 

This is actually the first time that I've seen this from a manufacturer. Sidi actually has a chin curtain that snaps in.

Chin curtain reduces wind noise

Now, the beauty of a chin curtain—you can see this is actually kind of hard to get out, which is what their design was focused on. But the beauty of a chin curtain is that it helps cut down on wind noise. 

The downside of a chin curtain in most situations is that it just falls in and out too easily. So, because this is a modular helmet, you're opening and closing that on a pretty regular basis. 

There are three snaps on either side, so if you want to leave this in place, you like the way that chin curtain comes down, fits over your chin, helps to cut down on wind noise, it's not going to be falling in and out while you're using the helmet. 

If you are someone who doesn't like a chin curtain, you can completely remove it. It just takes a little bit more effort to get that out of there, and it's really just those six snaps. 

Once it's out, you can use it without it. But again, one of the things I like about it, especially in this design, is it helps to cut down on wind noise.

Uses double D rings and metal mounting points

Taking a look at the inside, you're going to have double D rings designed for the closure for the chin curtain. You are going to have metal mounting points for the actual closing of the modular itself.

Improves cheek pads and comfort.

Pulling out the cheek pads, you'll notice a better contour, fit, and comfort. 

This goes back to what we talked about earlier-when they redesigned the internals for this, it's a better head shape, more comfortable all around, and you are going to have speaker cutouts in here.

Offers speaker cutouts and future comms system

Now, the one thing I want to note is that there is going to be a Parlare version of this Sedici sistema helmet, which includes a comm system built in, and there is going to be a carbon fiber version, but those are going to be additional add-ons later on. 

But right now, if you're looking at this and you already have a comm system you want to add, you can go ahead and do that. 

There are going to be speaker pockets in here. If you're someone who doesn't have a comm system already and you like the idea of getting a helmet that is all-inclusive, you would want to check out the Parlare version of this that will have that comm system already built in.

Offers easy cheek pad removal and cleaning

But again, cheek pads-easy in, easy out. You've got three snaps, and then it actually works its way into the shell itself. If you want to pull these out and clean them, you can easily do so.

Adds removable 5mm pads for fit customization

Taking the liner system out, now the one thing that Sidi did here that I really like is you are going to have, at the front of the liner and the sides of the liner, additional 5-millimeter pads. 

Now, those pads can be removed, so if you want to fine-tune the fit, you can actually take these pads and pull them out. 

They are going to be glued into place, but you can pull those off. So, what this allows you to do is you can fine-tune the fit. 

If you need more room at the front of your head, you can pull those off. If you need more room at the side of the head, you can pull those off. 

So, even though this is an intermediate oval fit, it helps to accommodate folks who have a slightly longer oval head or a slightly rounder head, and that's all going to be included in the inside portion of the top with us.

Sedici 2 liner feature usually seen in expensive helmets

Now, one thing to note when looking at this liner is a feature that's normally reserved for more expensive helmets. 

We've seen this from other manufacturers before, often reaching a much higher price point.

Ventilation channels need improvement

Now, my biggest nitpick with the design is that while you are going to have vents with this, I think they could have done a better job of improving the channels themselves. 

So, the channels for this aren't going to be nearly as deep or as vast as what we've seen from some other manufacturers, but Sidi is really taking a step in the right direction with the Sedici 2.

Sedici 2 impresses compared to the original

So, again, if you're looking at this side by side with the original version, and the original version was a best-selling helmet for a lot of riders, 

I think you're going to be very impressed with the changes that Sidi has made. Even being able to close that, everything is a little bit tighter. In general, it's just a much nicer helmet, considering the price point that you're playing at here.