#double-edged vs single-edged

[petermorwood]

I have a sword question, if I may. Or more of a sword confusion Im seeking clarification on.

In my mind a fantasy european standard sword (that obviously doesnt really exist, but like, when a knight or someone in a story has an unspecified sword), I always imaged a straight blade with a triangular tip, both edges sharp cutting edges.

Then at some point I learned about eg scimitars that have a cutting edge and a ...blunt edge?

I was looking at your recent addition to the post about the Turkish sword, where you distinguish between an inner cutting edge on a sword v an outer cutting edge.

And then Im thinking of those enormous zweihander types that are all about momentum and do those even need a particularly sharp edge? They seem in dnd parlance to be a bludgeoning weapon not for slashing.

And while Im asking, like. Rapiers are very stabby weapons, do they have sharp edges at all or judt a sharp point?

I guess my overall question culminates something like "what parts of swords are designed for what damage and why? Is there anything all swords have other than blade and handle like can they all be used for stabbing or do some have very blunt points etc? Is it a big deal for a sword to be double-edged, does that necessitate specific training? Whats up with different sword blades?"

I realise thats a pretty enormous question that might be unreasonable to ask. Im happy with whstever response you are or arent willing to give. Hope you have a good day :)

Sharp edge / blunt edge is the setup on any kitchen or table knife you've ever encountered, and being able to put a hand on the blunt "edge" - usually called the back of the blade - not only helps when mincing herbs or garlic, but also features in some techniques of swordplay.

Other techniques employed non-blade parts of the weapon, using the pommel like a mace and the crossguard like a pick-axe.

*****

Whether swords should be straight or curved, single- or double-edged, was an argument which continued as recently as the early 1900s.

The last swords issued to cavalry for combat use (modern parade swords don't count) were both remarkably similar designs, straight-bladed for thrusting, adopted by the UK in 1908...

...and the US in 1913.

There was, of course, strong opposition from those who insisted cavalry swords should be sabres curve-bladed for cutting instead.

Equally of course, both sides failed to notice - or ignored, since a certain kind of cavalry officer was only bright as regards boots, buckles and buttons - the uncomfortable fact that machine-guns and repeating rifles had made the whole ta-ran-ta-rah "cut them down with your swords, men!" cavalry charge an exercise in futility.

*****

D&D, unless they've considerably upped their accuracy game, isn't much of a reference for weapon realism.

"Enormous Zweihanders" and other big swords such as the Montante were a lot lighter and more nimble than they'd seem from reading an encumbrance chart.

They had their own techniques to take best advantage of length, leverage and momentum and were indeed sharp. Given a choice between a sharp combat weapon and a blunt one, sharp makes far more sense.

In addition, a sharp blade is lighter than a blunt one simply through having less metal. It may only be a few grams of difference, but it IS a difference.

That's also the reason behind a fuller, the groove(s) along a blade.

They're not "blood gutters", tough and cool though that may sound, but a way to reduce a sword's weight while preventing its blade from getting excessively flexible.

Finally...

The re-enactor is wearing half-armour, but these big swords were also meant for use against unarmoured opponents. Bodyguards often carried them (they looked impressive) and those sweeping strokes could block an entire street while The Boss got away.

That's when an ability to cut rather than merely bludgeon makes all the difference. Determined assassins might try to rush a blunt sword, but a sharp one would give anyone second thoughts...

*****

Double-edged swords versus single-edged ones seem to vary depending on cultural preference - also on period of history and intended function.

Bronze Age European swords had straight or leaf-shaped blades with double edges...

...while Ancient Egypt had the curved, single-edged khopesh, a shape which also turned up in Ancient Assyria (this one's in the Metropolitan Museum, New York USA).

It's listed as a "sickle sword", an incorrect term which I wish would go away because sickles are sharp on the inside of the curve while swords like this - their grip-shape shows how they're meant to be held and swung - are sharp on the outside.

And just when "the Ancient Middle East used curved single-edge swords" looks like a handy generalisation, along come straight swords, one from Ancient Egypt...

...another from Luristan, now part of modern Iran.

This next one comes from Ancient Iberia (Spain), right at the other side of the Mediterranean. Evidence of trading links? Your guess is as good as mine.

Iberia went on to use the falcata, a short single-edged forward-curved sword.

Those extra bits round the blade are scabbard metalwork; the wood and leather scabbard is long gone. This repro shows how they would have looked when in place.

Iberia also used a straight double-edged sword which so impressed the Romans that they adopted it, refined it and used it for several centuries. Here's one of the several Roman versions of that gladius Hispaniensis (Spanish sword), double-edged, mostly meant for stabbing but capable of very effective cuts as well.

Here's my repro of a similar sword, the elegant "Mainz" pattern with its long point and waisted blade. Very pretty, and pretty wicked.

*****

"Curved single-edged swords are Eastern, straight double-edged swords are Western", is another generalisation that won't work.

Here are Eastern straight swords...

...and Western curved ones.

*****

Viking swords were all double-edged...

...except when they weren't.

*****

Many rapiers could cut. Smallswords, which came later, couldn't.

Earlier rapiers with broader blades cut better than later ones with narrow blades, but IIRC even the later Italian and Spanish rapier styles include cuts directed at the opponent's face and sword-arm.

I have a notion that the modern thing about cutting with rapiers is based (like back-carry) on seeing it done in movies. IMO - more about it here - that's actually more a modern stage-combat safety thing than a period real-combat move. A fumbled cut is bruising and unpleasant even with a "safe" prop sword, but a fumbled thrust into the eye-socket or throat with that same "safe" sword can be fatal.

Even those early rapiers wouldn't sever a head or limb - a finger maybe, hence the elaborate hand-protection of swept and cup hilts - but blood from a forehead wound running into the eyes was, and in boxing still is, an efficient way to finish a fight by ensuring the opponent can't continue. One of the duels in "The Duellists" ends this way.

This example is a bit optimistic, IMO...

...but a longsword (double-edged)...

...or a messer (single-edged)...

...was quite capable of disarming an opponent in a very literal way.

*****

Some swords had minimal points, being intended mostly for cutting. One example of this is the Indian khanda broadsword. The second example is also very clearly single-edged.

Another cut-only sword without a point (but with double edges) is the Richtschwert (justice sword)...

...though this was a single-function (and hopefully single-cut) tool rather than weapon, neither balanced for nor intended for combat.

Hope this has helped answer the questions!

[the-most-humble-blog]

<div style="white-space:pre-wrap"> <meta flex-status="undead monster gains"> <script>ARCHIVE_TAG="SATURDAY_MUSCLE_TRUTH_011::SKELETOR_REDEMPTION_FILE" EFFECT: childhood rewritten, villainous inspiration spike, trap respect enforcement </script>

🛐 HE-MAN TRIED TO TRICK US: SKELETOR WAS SWOLE AS F☰☰K TOO

---

Let’s talk about the biggest muscle-based misinformation campaign of your childhood—right up there with Santa Claus and “milk builds strong bones.”

They told us He-Man was the only alpha.

Sword. Glow-up. Tan. Blond Jesus in a fur Speedo.

But meanwhile, Skeletor was out here yoked beyond belief, cackling through war crimes while casually bench-pressing trauma in a hood held up by pure trap density.

��� SKELETOR’S SWOLE ANATOMY: FACTS THEY HID FROM YOU

📏 Shoulders for days That man could shoulder-press Castle Grayskull without flinching.

💪 Biceps of Doom His staff had a full-on ram skull on it. That’s not plastic. That’s plate-loaded evil.

🧼 Abs for Eternity You could do your laundry on that torso. Not a single soft edge. Just pure bone-deep hypertrophy.

🟣 THE DOUBLE STANDARD: HE-MAN vs. THE GRIND

He-Man had a magic sword that gave him gains on command. Transformation cheat code activated.

Skeletor? No shortcuts. No enchantments. Just rage-fueled compound lifts and villainous macros.

He stayed cut year-round. No off-season. No excuses. Just delts, drama, and diabolical volume training.

🧠 THE REAL GYM INSPIRATION: SKELETOR

🦴 No skin? No problem. You try deadlifting with exposed jawbone and no rotator cuffs.

🛑 No fans. No pity. No quit. He didn’t need a support circle. He had haters, and that was enough.

🎯 Consistency > Catchphrase He lost every episode but never once skipped leg day.

He-Man had magic. Skeletor had mind-muscle connection and pain tolerance from hell.

📢 THE REAL LESSON HE-MAN HID FROM YOU

"You don’t need a magic sword to be powerful. You just need to lift. Daily. Even while plotting universal domination."

Skeletor was proof:

You don’t have to win to be legendary

You don’t need applause to be aesthetic

You don’t need fans to build delts that make minions cower

And sometimes? Being the bad guy just means you train alone harder.

---

👊 STOP SLEEPING ON SKELETOR

---

They painted him as a joke. A clown. A screeching skeleton in purple briefs.

But real ones know:

That wasn’t a villain. That was a walking masterclass in perseverance, hypertrophy, and trap worship.

He didn’t flinch. He didn’t shrink. He kept showing up—jacked, angry, fabulous.

That’s not evil. That’s discipline in its rawest, baddest form.

---

🔁 Reblog if you respect the traps that ate Skeletor’s hood 🦴 Save this for the next gym bro who forgets the power of villain arc aesthetics 📸 Share it with someone who thought He-Man was the only one with “The Power” 💀 Bookmark if your childhood just got corrected by hypertrophy and humor 🧠 Follow for more childhood myth destruction and psychosexual cartoon analysis

</div> <!-- END TRANSMISSION [AUTO-FLEX IN: 00:07:77] -->,

[mohntilyet]

I want you to know you’ve indoctrinated both my friend and I into your path of thinking when it comes to Illario and the Envy demon.

I raise you this, since Illario isn’t even a mage before the Ossuary, consider the fact that Zara convinces Illario into also harboring Envy (like Spite, since Lucanis says he just ate something and he was stuck with Spite after that. Like she tells Illario he needs that dawg in him to become first talon, a double edged knife there (you aren’t good enough on your own you need that dawg in you aahhhh)). That would add a level onto why he kills her, Lucanis taking a crack at Illario and asking if he’s is good enough (I would’ve crashed out too tbh), and the lines in at the party with a romanced Rook (since that man also doesn’t have a healthy love life)

Envy is also twisted form of admiration/generosity/contentment, like how Spite was a spirit of determination, and the freak out Lucanis would have over his little brother’s admiration for him (an admiration he would NEVER admit to his big brothers face) becoming so twisted (by the same person!) that it’s also destroying him from the inside out.

Also Spite and Envy shenanigans would’ve been so fucking funny

YEAH!!!!!! i have been rotating this around in my mind and had the idea of that admiration v. envy thing for illario, especially if we're thinking about wigmaker's job where they cover for each others weaknesses. like a week ago i googled what the corresponding virtue for envy was and it was kindness and i was like yeahhhhh illario does not have that. we're going to have to go with something else. and i was thinking of admiration so this ask kind of made me cheer <3 thank god i am making some sense and someone else agrees because at any point i'm checking myself going 'actually would he do that'

i think they both have some level of 'i wish i could do that like them' but illario's is negatively tinged because their fuck ass grandma is right there saying all that too . like regardless of how great i think my brother is, there is no fucking way his accomplishments don't start looking twisted and unfair if my only parental figure obviously likes him more than me

i also like the idea of in some world where illario is less of a traitor and didn't set lucanis up (i have a rewrite powerpoint going on for my friends. so this part makes perfect sense to me but maybe not as much to you. i'm so sorry), and they both get kidnapped and possessed, spite-envy are the ones with serious beef vs. their unwitting hosts, who would actually prefer not to kill each other.

this messy au i have assumes a very fraught house dellamorte, trying to defend treviso while the crows splinter and follow either son. caterina refuses to let lucanis give up power and names him first talon, while illario has consolidated power in the year lucanis was gone and has several other loyal houses pledging to him instead. spite and envy exacerbate this situation, spite refusing to give up power + envy coveting it. this hypothetical plotline ends with uniting the crows under a single first talon (welcome back bhelen v harrowmont), and reaching an agreement with the others to work together. crow-on-crow violence you cannot be solved but you CAN reach a momentary tense agreement to protect antiva and the world <3

[cedarxwing]

My favorite details in Castle Lecter's set design

1. The Lecter family crest pays homage to the Hannibal book cover.

It references Milan's biscione, a snake devouring a man, which appears on the coat of arms of the Visconti and Sforza families (from which Hannibal is descended on his mother's side).

SIDE NOTE: One of Hannibal's favorite pastimes as the curator of the Palazzo Vecchio was reading about his ancestors:

Funnily enough, the Visconti-Sforza commissioned their own tarot decks in the 15th century, so Hannibal might've been studying those in the Palazzo library around the time he designed his Vitruvian Man tableau. Here's the original Visconti di Modrone Three of Swords vs an artist's reproduction:

2. Pheasant & Raven imagery

The Chiyoh/Abigail parallels are strong, but Chiyoh's symbolic prey animal is a pheasant instead of a deer! She uses pheasant quills as decoration for her dinner with Will, and there are some taxidermied pheasants in the hunting lodge we didn't get to see:

But my favorite detail is how she uses a pheasant bone to kill the Caged Man! Even a prey animal has sharp edges.

Meanwhile, ravens represent Hannibal's imposing presence haunting the estate. We see them on the Lecter family crest and taxidermied by the fireplace.

Doubled birds of prey motif... a nod to how Will is joining Hannibal as a predator?

All the hawk paintings could also just be referencing this single line in Hannibal Rising:

SIDE NOTE: Over in Florence, Hannibal is keeping in the bird theme with a feathered arm ham wing and a nest of green bean asps for his dinner with Sogliatto:

3. A Shrine for Mischa?

There's a deleted scene in the script where Will spots a Shinto shrine while snooping:

A small version of this shrine appears above the fireplace. It includes a pair of birds of paradise, the same flower Chiyoh leaves on Mischa's grave:

If you've read the books, Mischa's presence is also palpable in the deer heads watching over their dinner (not that we got to see them lol):

4. The way the painting above the fireplace is cut off makes it look like an oni glaring at them! Creepy!

Or maybe it's meant to look like Enma, the Buddhist King of Hell, who is depicted in the painting on the ceiling in the original production design (The Fever of Tairo no Kiyomori by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1883):

It's actually this Rorschach of a landscape based on Old Plum by Kano Sansetsu (1646):

5. Japanese family crests (mon) on the curtains

The Secondo scene uses the weeping wisteria family crest (sagari fuji mon):

The name Murasaki means wisteria, so I assume this crest represents her. It's doubly fitting, since in real life, this is the Fujiwara crest, and Lady Murasaki's namesake (Murasaki Shikibu, author of the Tale of Genji) was a Fujiwara.

The original production design uses a princess tree family crest (kiri mon). Not sure if there was any symbolism to that choice, but they didn't go with it in the end.

[ittydoor]

Pilot pit girl scenes vs s3 e10 pit girl scenes

I made this post on reddit, grave mistake, reddit sucks ass. So to my home I return with joy in hope for discussion.

In pilot pit girls feast we see 8 ppl. In this feast everyone is there except Akiliah and Nat. So, where are robin, Travis, and Lottie during the pilot feast?

ik they're present, they're all seen in this eps feast when Misty brings the food (minus Lottie), Gen and Travis are sat next to each other on a log slightly behind the one the others are sitting on and Robin is next to Melissa. Travis also leads the walkout, Lottie is seen sitting next to Hannah in the morning. so the silly implication is Gen moved and they're offscreen lmao.

Or what is more likely; Shaunas view of the feast is the pilot one, her reality like Travis says and why we get the flashes. It also goes with the fact her monologue during it is about how she forgot everything, despite her stating at the feast never to forget this.

I'm thinking there is half truth to her realization about the fact they had fun doing what they did. Lottie takes joy in understanding herself and being heard, Misty takes joy in being helpful, but they also all literally have fun in most of their hunts. Like doomcoming especially, and the choice to continue this animalistic energy hunting Nat howling, calling, yes to communicate like we see in this episode w/ out letting it be known who you are, but certainly more as a fear tactic in Nats hunt.

I think the point is there was enjoyment in all of them to let go and be celebrated rather than punished, and certainly to different degrees, i'm not saying they all loveeed cannibalism. For example, they feel guilty the morning after eating Jackie but every single one of them enthusiastically eats her bc in that moment it's the only thing they can. But they're not choking through it, Jackie feels like a finally! moment. They feel good, for the first time their stomachs are full, and in that moment they all ignore rationale and allow themselves to take pleasure. They would not have picked her to the bone unless a part of them was happy, and i'm not even blaming them they're legit starving and shes the only food. The only reason a part of them was enjoying it was because they were so desperate for sustenance (in the case of the more sane, I extend my wing to nat). If you don't agree, they have a group hallucination of which they are joyful asf.

Its kind of a double edged sword since Shauna believes they've been pushing it all down to get away from the fact they enjoyed what they did, but i think a lot of them enjoyed it so they didn't face the real horror of what they were doing. That's basically what the personification of the wilderness is and Lottie's beliefs she converts others to. It is them and It is their ability to ignore the dark shit and enjoy it so they don't have to truly think of themselves as awful. But It is also the inherent fact that they are liking it. you cant have nothing w out a thing!

Anyway, so there is truth to what Shauna said, but there is also the fact that Shauna is not remembering correctly. While they eat Mari, it flashes between that and the pilot footage of them eating her where they're more aggressive and animalistic, vs the colored cuts everyone's slower, sad or solemn.

I think what were supposed to be reading from all this is that Shauna has wanted everyone to face the fact that they did horrible shit instead of acting like its fine all season, she accepted this is how they have to be and cannot pretend to be ok, and she enjoys it bc she doesn't see a point in not if this is how she must be. Since they all went nuts for her gfs corpse, shes quite pissed they act like they're not crazy anymore, she thinks they must love it just as much as her, how else do they follow Lottie so blindly and make such an idealized story during the solstice? So she pushes toward a lot of their descent, and spearheads the hunt. And Shauna recounts the feast as the girls being vigorous and enjoying their cannibalism just as much as they did with Jackie. I think its worth noting that a part of her also probably associates them with her same feelings so she doesn't have to be alone in it, like Melissa's monologue. What she doesn't understand is they were mourning a friend and biding time for a plan to come to fruition, for Mari's death to mean something.

Its a great juxtaposition that she is expressing the fact they had fun during a scene where the girls are more themselves and ashamed then they've been in a whillle. And also that shes realizing this when Misty and Tai are realizing that she influenced a lot of the downfall. It sets up s4 in a rly interesting way where they're both right and wrong on opposite sides and need to learn from each other. That they enjoyed the power and the dark shit, fed into it at points, and that Shauna instigated violence when they just wanted normalcy, when they coped by trying to forget.

I'm not sure if the pilot feast is supposed to be how Shauna remembers it or views it, or both.. I think bc she was tricked and the hunt was a ruse it makes sense she'd see it more ritualistically, and vigor in their eating not realizing the feast was never the point, but also all of her monologue is about remembering. I'm thinking it's both! So yes that is my analysis, I really hope you liked it ty for reading all the way through!!

tldr pilot pit girl scenes are Shaunas view of the feast, she believes they're all enjoying it just as much as her, the girls found enjoyment in their darkness as a way to not face how awful they truly were being, they did not enjoy Mari feast however

[titanic17031998]

a few things I noticed watching a lot of the Logan focused marvel movies

as in: x men, x 2, x men origins: wolverine; and Deadpool & wolverine.

also, if any of these are common knowledge/or otherwise well known, I apologise.

#1: Logan does his own hair

in x men I noticed that in the scene just after Logan wakes up after being treated by jean for the first time he is lacking his iconic cat-ears.

compare:

Without ears

Vs.

With ears

difference is subtle but there.

now, this implies one of two things: that Hugh Jackman's stylists forgot OR that in canon wolverine does his own ears, one of these possibilities is far more enticing than the other. the image of Logan doing his hair in the morning, teasing it into the perfect cat-ear shape is too adorable to ignore.

#2: the difference in stance between Logan and Victor in Origins

this one is a little more out there, but in origins Victor operates and fights in a more animalistic nature than Logan, taking lower stances, wider openings, bigger swings/actions, all of these create a more primal/animalistic effect in his fights

(picture is a bit shit, but I digress)

see the erratic movements, very indicative of how an animal would move in a similar circumstance

Contrast this with Logan's running like just a lil guy

the difference is night and day.

and this all plays into the movies extended metaphor on humanity and beastie-ness and the use of each mode of thought, which I found really cool

#3: wolverine is a wolverine

so this literally came to me as I was writing this post, to look at the Wikipedia for wolverine, and well it all tracks.

"The wolverine has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself."

(Wikipedia, ND)

sound familiar? Tangentially, many non-English names for wolverine literally mean glutton (German Vielfraß, literally devours much) (Wikipedia, ND) however in English and many northern Germanic languages the name probably means something closer to little wolf (Wikipedia, ND) and in old Norse the name was Jarfr, which now lives on in the regular Icelandic name Jarfi, Jarfr being the name of a kickass metal song that I love.

Wolverine is literally, and by connotation with is spirit animal five foot four and full of rage.

(tangent brought to you exclusive by Wikipedia)

#4: wolverine smokes so he doesn't have to smell everyone else

this is probably the most headcanony observation(?) on this list, in that the only evidence I have is vibes and Logan's cigar addiction.

the thought is, Logan has super smell, cigars are smelly, he smells the cigars so he doesn't have to smell literally everything else.

#5: bonus round!! Deadpool time!

more focused on Wayde in origins now,

#6: fox hated Ryan Reynolds so much they sewed his mouth shut as Deadpool,

not much substantive here, but I was availed to the fact that the directors of Origins hated Reynolds being fun, so it would make sense that they would literally cover his mouth as Deadpool so that he would shut the fuck up

#7: Deadpool's Katanas are the wrong way in Origins

notice how the blades curve towards Wayde, and that the cutting edge is on the inside, this is counter productive to the aim of a curved single edged sword, which is to have the curvature of the blade aid in slashing power, this is counter productive against the thought behind having a curved blade in the first place (also the double katanas out of the knuckles is a separately stupid idea, because 1) holding a sword gives you a lot more finesse than if it were just sticking out of your hand, due to being able to manipulate your wrist vs not, and if they work the same as Logan's claws, then whenever they are retracted Wayde would have two walk around with his arms completely straight, like a scarecrow

anywho, rant(?), discussion(?), compendium(!) over all of those movies are Australian man/10 and i will fight anyone who disagrees

[bigasswritingmagnet]

Blood Will Out Ch 30: Vrin vs Consorts (or, Vole!!!)

<Prev | AO3 | Next>

“Aaronev truly believed you, you know,” Vrin said. Her voice was cold and smooth, polished ice dripping with disdain. There was a saber in the scabbard at her hip, but she did not draw it. “Even when you ran, he tried to convince me that this was somehow a plan, that you intended to act as a double agent, perhaps to open the gates when we arrived, or sabotage the defences from within.“

She stepped forward. Tarvek stepped back. He reached out a hand to pull Gil back with him, and grasped empty air. Tarvek didn’t dare look away from Vrin to see where he'd gone. 

Gil wouldn’t run, he told himself, firmly. Even if it wasn’t for me, he’d never run from a fight. And, and even if I’m the one in danger, things are different now, they aren’t back to normal but we’re okay. I know we’re okay.

“It wasn’t until our agents told us they had intercepted your message to Mechanicsburg that he was convinced. Even now, if it was he who found you first, I believe you could have spun some lie to convince him to let you live.” Her lip curled and she spoke in mocking tones. “Oh, he had such faith in his son.”

“If that’s supposed to make me feel bad,” Tarvek said, “it isn’t going to work. Even if I believed you, which I don’t , I’d have to care about my father’s good opinion to be sad I’d lost it.”

Vrin drew up sharply, briefly indignant. Her already pale lips paled tighter as they pressed together, twisting into an irritable frown. 

“A shame you did not inherit your father’s loyalty. Perhaps the Goddess could have taught you to love her, as she taught your father.” Vrin drew her sword and Tarvek took another step back. “But you are unworthy. I will take care of you , and then I shall take the Holy Child back to Sturmhalten, where she will fulfill her great purpose. Our Goddess will walk again.”

Vrin moved with lightning speed. Her saber crashed against the crossed blades – jagged-edged and wicked-looking – that Gil held in both hands.

“The Heterodynes have some really fascinating trophies,” he said with a smirk, nodding his head back. A little further up the hallway, a suit of armor lay sprawled on its front. Its head was so flattened it was almost two-dimensional, and now its torso had been disconnected from its lower half and one arm was attached only by wires. 

It had two empty scabbards on its back, and was attempting to drag itself down the hallway by the fingertips of its single functional arm

With a strength that shocked Vrin and Tarvek both, Gil twisted his swords and wrenched the saber straight out of her hand. He even managed to keep it trapped long enough to toss it behind him to land at Tarvek’s feet. Tarvek scooped it up and swung hard, knocking aside the spear a second Geisterdame was about to drive into Gil’s unprotected back.

“You still talk too much,” Tarvek grumbled. “This isn’t a Heterodyne Boys story.”

“I knew you had her,” Gil said confidently. This startled Tarvek badly enough that he almost failed to parry the Geisterdame’s next swing. “Uh oh.”

“Do I want to know?” Tarvek asked.

“Two more, behind Vrin.”

“Yes indeed,” she said, pleased.

“That won’t be enough,” Gil said. “We won’t let you touch Agatha.”

Vrin snorted.

“Two children and a wounded Jӓger against four of the Goddess’ chosen? This will be laughable.”

“Vole, shut the door!” Tarvek yelled. Vole reached out into the open space, grabbed the doorknob, and jerked the door closed with a bang. All four Geisterdamen raced for him. Tarvek grabbed Gil and dragged him back when he tried to stop the one Tarvek had been fighting from passing.

“What are you doing?” Gil demanded.

“We wish to enter!” Tarvek bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Instantly, the two statues shuddered, eyes and lanterns brightening to a blazing light that dazzled the Geisterdamen, who backed away.

“You must—” the left statue began, and stopped. Both statues looked around carefully. Seeing no sign of Agatha, they relaxed. “You must choose.”

“One must die.”

“So one may enter.”

“Them!” Tarvek shouted, pointing at the Geisterdamen.

The statues were massive, three times the size of an average woman – and the women they were modelled after had not been small in any sense of the word. Though the statues would have been filled with gears and wires, rather than solid metal, the weight of them was still palpable. Just looking at them, you knew the ground would shake with every step they took.

Which was why it was all the more surprising that they moved faster than the Geisterdamen did. Tarvek didn’t even see the first blow – one moment, a Geisterdame had been standing there, the next, the statue’s axe was buried in the floor, having bisected the woman.

Lengthwise.

Tarvek’s stomach rolled, but it was almost worth it for the look on Lady Vrin’s face.

“You dare!” she howled.

The next closest Geisterdame tried to run, but Vole sunk his claws into her mane of white hair and yanked hard, dragging her to the floor. She screamed and threw up her hands, which did absolutely nothing to protect her.

Vrin and the final Geisterdame managed to dodge the next blows, although Tarvek was sure he saw a few clipped strands of hair fluttering to the ground. While Vrin lashed out at the statues, the final Geisterdame simply tried to run. Gil and Tarvek jumped to block her exit.

They worked in tandem, and it was so… easy . As easy as it had been on Castle Wulfenbach, standing up to the bullies that did not consider Tarvek’s title wide enough to shelter Gil, as well. They each trusted the other to be where he was needed. No hesitation. No uncertainty. One would block the Geisterdame’s blow, the other would swing at her, forcing her to move back. 

Her blows grew more frenzied as she began to panic, but that only made it easier. Gil and Tarvek saw the nearest statue draw her axe back over her shoulder. Without even needing to look at each other, they both dropped to the ground and latched onto the Geisterdame’s ankles, pinning her in place. She began to turn to look over her shoulder at her impending doom, but didn’t even make it halfway.

Her head landed with a wet thud on the ground between Gil and Tarvek.

“ Eukh ,” Tarvek said, letting go of the Geisterdame to wriggle sideways away from the head.

“Don’t be such a baby,” Gil said, just as the Geisterdame’s headless corpse tipped over and landed on top of him. He let out a shriek and thrashed his way free. Tarvek started to laugh, despite himself, although it was edged with more than a little hysteria.

Vrin, meanwhile, backed slowly away from the statues, her sword upraised. Vole grinned wickedly. 

“Hyu is in Castle Heterodyne now, lady!”

“The cost has been paid,” the statues intoned, and went still again.

“What!” Gil exclaimed. “But there’s still one more!”

“…only three of us,” Tarvek groaned.

“I hate dis place,” Vole growled and lunged for Vrin with his good hand. Vrin slipped by like a gust of smoke and slammed her fist into the bandage on Vole’s shoulder. He let out an animal roar of pain, but stayed upright.

He lashed out with his injured arm, catching Vrin off guard and sending her flying. It cost him, though – he stumbled back, ashen-faced, a flower of red blooming on the bandage. Vrin’s foot caught him in the stomach, knocking him onto his back. He rolled just as her sword came down, twisted and lunged, catching her around the waist and driving her backwards into the wall.

With only one arm, however, Vole could not pin her. Vrin landed two more blows on his injured shoulder – and this time it sent him to his knees. She darted out of range, motions as smooth as a dancer’s, and readied herself for his next move.

It didn’t come. Vole tried to stand, and dropped back down again. As Gil and Tarvek began to advance, swords once more in hand, Vrin stepped backwards, until her foot knocked against something that clattered, metal on stone. She looked down.

Both Gil and Tarvek froze – and Vrin saw it in their eyes. She swung down and scooped up Agatha’s gun.

“What little trinket is this?” she asked, examining it. “Is this the work of the Holy Child?” 

Vole tried to stand and fell again. This time he had to catch himself on his hands, and he landed hard. He cried out and grabbed his shoulder, barely stopping himself from falling sideways. Blood oozed from between his fingers and dripped down his sleeve in ink-blossom strands, stark against the dirty white fabric. 

“So unlike her mother’s work,” Vrin mused, turning the gun this way and that, not sparing Vole a glance. “Too much of her father’s blood, I suspect.”

“No,” Vole said. “Her poppa vuz veak. He vuz an insult to de family name. She is stronger den he ever vuz.” 

A look of surprise briefly crossed Vrin’s face, then realization – and contempt. 

“I know you,” she said. “The once-Jӓger.” Her lip curled in disgust. “The oath-breaker. Yes, the Goddess told Milvistle of the tale, once. How weak the Jägertroth must be.” She tipped her head to one side. “And yet even as you insult the one you were made for, you fight for his child. Would you not rather work with us? Remove the last of this line you so despise?” 

Vole forced himself to his feet, his injured arm hanging limp and useless at his side. He bared his teeth in his own sneer of contempt. 

“Hy dun fight for his child. Hy fight for my Heterodyne. Und Hy vill die before Hy let you take her.” 

Vrin shrugged and pointed the gun at him.

“If you insist,” she said calmly, and pulled the trigger.

[bandom-agere]

more pete.

Noise canceling headphones are kind of a double edged-sword– they are super good for sensory overload and usually calm him down, but if he’s regressed and scared he Does Not Like not being able to hear if there’s footsteps around him. so he’ll just. sit there and be unable to keep them on for more than a minute, but then nearly immediately whine and put them back on. little guy :(

patrick has to remind him that icicles have a bunch of sleeping germs in them and aren’t food

patrick has to remind him that bathtime is not a team sport, and just like donnie can’t go in the bath, pete Absolutely Cannot go into the washing machine

patrick has to remind him of a lot of things, ranging from often tiring to reiterate to honestly very cute. no, skeletons won’t start spawning if we turn the light off. yes, you do still have to eat dinner, we’ve done this every single day for forever. no, rainboots are for outside, not for the shower, but that’s good extrapolating i guess. also please stop testing ‘what will happen if i pour apple juice into cereal’. what will happen is a mess with cereal. 

‘why will you eat actual grass but not tomatoes.’

pete likes drawing stuff (he’s not the best at drawing but that doesn't matter!) to give to patrick, ‘cause he loves him, and he wants patrick to have things that show pete loves him, and drawings are things he can always do when he's little

i know you mentioned something close to this in your recent fic but i havent been able to stop thinking of this for a *while*. little pete having to wake up and deal with the consequences of adult pete’s life sometimes. If he’s hungover and wakes up small he won’t even begin to understand why he drank so much in the first place. the first time he asks patrick why there’s scars on him, patrick completely blanks… he doesn’t want to tell this tiny kid that he felt so bad when grown-up that he hurt himself. 

also: mikey having texture sensitivities (HATES bugs on him (just my hc, maybe you think different?)) vs little!gerard’s interest in bugs and wanting to gift them to his loved ones… well. that. does not mesh so well. but they try!

PLS I LOVE THESE SEND MORE 😓😓😓

[bearterritory]

Cal Topples No. 25 UCLA 4-2

LOS ANGELES – The California men's tennis team posted its biggest win of the dual-match season in a 4-2 victory over 25th-ranked UCLA on Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Fourth-ranked Carl Emil Overbeck clinched the win with a three-setter at court-one singles to keep the Golden Bears unbeaten at 5-0.

The Bruins have now lost 3 of their last 4 contests against the Bears.

In a taut first half of Saturday's contest, the teams split the first two doubles matches. Cal's 84th-ranked Alex Chang and Mikey Wright fell to Spencer Johnson and Emon van Loben Sels 6-4 on court one and then the Bears' 30th-ranked Theo Dean and Carl Emil Overbeck defeated the Bruins' Alexander Hoogmartens and Aadarsh Tripathi 6-3 on court two, leaving court three to decide the doubles point. The last court went to a tiebreaker with Derrick Chen and Timofey Stepanov edging Gianluca Ballotta and Giacomo Revelli 7-6(4) to give Cal a 1-0 lead.   The host opened singles with two wins to take a 2-1 lead over the Bears – before Cal rebounded when 110th-ranked Stepanov won 6-4, 6-4 over 93rd-ranked Revelli 6-4, 6-4 to tie matters 2-2. Cal freshman Bernardo Munk Mesa posted another straight-set win – 7-6(5), 6-4 over Ballotta – to lift the Bears to a 3-2 advantage.   Overbeck, a senior ranked fourth, rallied from dropping the first set on court one to best 50th-ranked Rudy Quan 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 and hand Cal the victory.   "No matter if the Bears were on the courts or on the bench, or if they were playing great, everyone contributed their heart and soul to the match," said Kris Kwinta, Cal's Peter Wright Director of Men's Tennis. "It was a true Bear performance in a fun collegiate match and fun collegiate atmosphere. To see the seniors coming through in tough moments in hostile territory, it was good to see. The guys stayed positive, upbeat and were aggressive in the right moments. Being greedy and resourceful even when you're not playing your best – that's what tennis is all about. I'm happy."

Cal stays in Los Angeles to face USC tomorrow at noon.   California (5-0) defeated No. 25 UCLA 4-2 Feb. 1, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif.Los Angeles Tennis Center   Doubles 1. Spencer Johnson/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. No. 84 Alex Chang/Mikey Wright (Cal), 6-4 2. No. 30 Theo Dean/Carl Emil Overbeck (Cal) def. Alexander Hoogmartens/Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA), 6-3 3. Derrick Chen/Timofey Stepanov (Cal) def. Gianluca Ballotta/Giacomo Revelli (UCLA), 7-6(4)*   Order of Finish – 1, 2, 3 *Clinched the doubles point for Cal   Singles 1. No. 4 Carl Emil Overbeck (Cal) def. No. 50 Rudy Quan (UCLA), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4^ 2. No. 66 Alex Chang (Cal) vs. No. 13 Spencer Johnson (UCLA), 6-7(1), 7-6(5), 2-2 DNF 3. No. 93 Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. No. 32 Theo Dean (Cal), 6-4, 6-3 4. Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. No. 102 Derrick Chen (Cal), 6-3, 6-1 5. No. 110 Timofey Stepanov (Cal) def. No. 93 Giacomo Revelli (UCLA), 6-4, 6-4 6. Bernardo Munk Mesa (Cal) def. Gianluca Ballotta (UCLA), 7-6(5), 6-4   Order of Finish – 4, 3, 5, 6, 1^ ^Clinched the overall win for Cal

[let-me-be-an-egg-toast]

part 2

shout out to @zia-the-weirdo and @get-a-snack-at-an-ungodly-hour for this (part 1)

so "Microphone Guy" would probably be found in the upper floors (maybe 50+) and you need to find them 7 times and completely interact with them just to get them

(what you see at first [you need to click the error])

but it wont be automatic they'll actually ask to "join your amalgamation" and you can refuse, which makes them only appear whenever you keep ignoring dandy (odd-numbered floors) and will offer you health kits or bandages (this can also happen if you don't play as them ngl)

if they say something like "today i was feeling extra silly" they will give you what looks like either the eject button, valve, or smoke bomb, but its actually not

the "eject button" causes a random Twisted to be sent flying through the roof, the "valve" causes the machine to be filled up with something called "lICORice" instead of ichor (still does the job but yk you have less ichor now), the "smoke bomb" will blind both the player and twisted (for 30s) with "glitchter" (glitter+glitch)("GET GLITCHTERED") and to the other players they see the player/twisted walking around with glitch/ichor-like substances on their face and hands moving about trying to find something to cling to

you will need to press "A" rapidly once you get glitchtered to remove the substance off your face but the Toon will have smudges on them and a disgusted/sad wiggly face with your screen having smudge-like marks

if you fail to do this right after getting glitchtered you will have it for 30s

the said objects in question look normal at first until you see they're more darker/desaturated versions of themselves or their hue is a little off

example:

original vs fake

this also applies too for the health kits and bandages if "microphone guy" was feeling extra silly TM where instead of just healing they also boost a random stat by 40%

"microphone guy" has two special objects: the Flute (item) and the Note Staff (trinket) (BOTH ACTUALLY VERY DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO LORE)

The Note Staff can be obtained by completing all of "mic guy"'s 7 interactions and all research on every Toon, or just completing the research for "mic guy"'s Twisted form ("The Twisted Clef")

Ditto, but instead of research for the Flute you need to survive every single Twisted existing or just Twisted Clef in one run

the Note Staff grants +5-10% research everytime and 30 extra tapes at the start of every run but wait here's the catch

there is a 1/35 chance of a Corrupted Tape spawning and when used it stuns all Twisteds on the floor permanently until you get out

the visual effects are actually different

instead of just stopping in their tracks the Twisteds will convulse and scream

so that's disturbing :D.

the Flute is permanent (not consumable) and by itself can give one additional star to all your stats and even stun all Twisteds for 15 seconds and heal everyone by one heart

but only once each floor

using/equipping the Flute and the Note Staff together, you can get 10-15% more research, 40 instead of 30 tapes (retaining the 1/35 chance), stun countdown is now 20s, and full healing

if you're playing as "mic guy" however, the Flute will grant 2 stars for all stats and 3 if paired with the Note Staff

it will also affect "voice.", where instead of "mic guy" vaguely singing they're now playing the Flute with the Note Staff floating and circling them

These are the countdowns for "voice." (path finder = twisteds knowing your location) Alone - 30s Stop All + 20s Slow Down + 10s Path Finder + 1 heart + 25s cooldown +Flute/Note Staff - 35s Stop All + 25s Slow Down + 15s Path Finder + 1 heart + 30s cooldown +Flute + Note Staff - 40s Stop All + 30s Slow Down + 20s Path Finder + full health + 40s cooldown

so with Flute and Note Staff "mic guy" is just Boxten/Poppy with a double-edged ability

here's the auditory effects:

Alone: vague singing + layered whispers

+Flute: flute + layered vague vocals

+Note Staff: singing now follows a 7 note melody

+Both: same as flute but now also following 7 note melody

You'll get the achievements Melodic Measure (Flute + Note Staff) and Star Sonata (using both as "mic guy")

also "mic guy" is the only one who doesn't get insta-killed by Twisted Dandy, only receiving normal damage

bro got too lost in the sauce

anyways this is The Twisted Clef, and I think its obvious that the cords in this idle pose become both a G AND F clef

also btw their eye is supposed to subtly look like a whole note anyways so

twisted clef is a roaming Lethal about the size of 2 Toons or more and they're supposed to be very creepy

twisted clef floats around and has their own "biome" or i guess floor layout where it looks like a floor full of tunnels, vents, and hallways

If this happens the achievement " 'Lost in the Music' " is gained

they have a very rare chance of spawning in floors 90+ or if you die in floors 80+ and immediately go back again for your 2nd run

The odds will increase if you refused to let "mic guy" join you

if you're playing as "mic guy" Clef can't spawn

NO OTHER TWISTEDS WILL SPAWN WITH THEM.

if clef goes through a tight space they will get out of their idle pose and start physically climbing through the space

vents are tight spaces that are almost the size of a Toon, hallways are tall spaces, and tunnels have varying sizes

now heres where Clef's ability really takes place

Clef can mimic ANY sound - Toons, any action sound effect (collecting extracting etc), Twisteds', and if with voice chat - even clips of players' voices

the more tighter a space is the more their sounds can echo, which can cause confusion to the player because they will hear a sound at the end of the hallway but Clef is actually in another one

the pipes in the hallways/tunnels will sometimes leak, but its not ichor - its actually "lICORice". if you ask "mic guy" about "this"lICORice" (if you refused to let them join), they will say something like "at least its not body fluid" or "its very edible"

all the machines are now for this "lICORice" instead of ichor, and your only reward for surviving Clef is getting 100% research on them

the hallways are the only thing without a blackout effect, but they only have one large lamp each, which flickers when Clef is near

if Clef has their sights on a player and said player is running in a hallway/vent, they will be stunned immediately by Clef, who then slows down as they approach the player, twisting their cord around their neck and slowly dropping them into the darkness of their face "puddle"...

yeah thats the mechanic and jumpscare

for the first 2 minutes Clef will actually be stationary, disguising themself as one of the wires hanging from the ceiling. the difference between them and the other wires is that the exposed yellow parts are frayed and branched, not claw-like and single like Clef's "hands"

if no players managed to get caught by their hands then they will become roaming

here's a thing: the only twisted to be able to spawn with them is Dandy.

dandy won't come for the players first instead he will HUNT clef down (if no players are in his way during this) and because of this clef has the chance of "dying" and disappearing early due to dandy

If you see them die you'll get the achievement "The Death of Sound" and for the rest of the game there will actually be NO SOUND AT ALL

if a player comes while Dandy and Clef are fighting they will stop and turn their attention to the player, both chasing them down

also yes its canon Dandy LOATHES "mic guy"/clef for many reasons though ill let you figure the reasons why ;)

for now, IF YOU REACHED THE END OF THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH I PUT TOO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS LMAOOO

i hope you enjoyed because this won't be the last post about this little shit

have a Paper Splatter skin

[thelorelounge]

SIRENS vs. SELKIES: DATING EDITION

Dating a Siren:

You think you're in a relationship, but really you're starring in their tragic three-act opera called "You Were Too Weak Anyway."

Compliments are suspiciously double-edged. ("You're the most tolerable human I've ever seduced.")

Constantly cancels plans by causing small localized storms.

Flirts like it’s a competitive blood sport.

Kiss is perfect. Mind is not safe. Ship? Sunk. Heart? Shipwrecked beyond repair.

Relationship Perks: ✅ 10/10 jawline and voice. ✅ You will never lose an argument because you'll never get a word in. ✅ Emergency excuse to ghost your friends ("sorry, trapped under a glamour spell again!")

Relationship Risks: ❌ Will emotionally manipulate you with a minor chord progression. ❌ Calls you "my pet" and somehow it's not cute. ❌ You end up writing their breakup album.

Dating a Selkie:

Feels like living inside an indie folk music video, except you’re always two seconds away from being left for the sea.

Their love language is "giving you sad looks across the shoreline."

Extremely affectionate… until you look at their sealskin wrong. Then you’re on emotional probation for six months.

Best cuddles you'll ever experience. Worst abandonment issues you'll ever survive.

Relationship Perks: ✅ Absolute masters of cozy domesticity (until they vanish into mist). ✅ Will sing you to sleep (and maybe weep gently about lost oceans, but it's very romantic if you squint). ✅ Your Instagram will be ethereal as hell.

Relationship Risks: ❌ Their ex is probably the Atlantic Ocean. Good luck competing. ❌ You’re one misplaced coat away from being single and heartbroken. ❌ 90% chance they’ll vanish during your wedding vows.

Final Dating Tip: If you want intense passion, devastating betrayal, and poetic last words? Date a siren. If you want tender snuggles, whispered regrets, and eventually being abandoned at low tide? Date a selkie.

Or, you know, maybe just date a nice kelpie instead and hope they don’t drown you. (Folklore dating is HARD, okay.)

[the-most-humble-blog]

🛡 The Protector Paradox

Why Modern Women Say They Want Protection — But Sabotage the Men Who Offer It

“I want a man who will protect me.”

Oh, you do?

You want a man who will stand between you and danger.

Who will fight off home invaders.

Who will throw fists in the street.

Who will take a bullet.

Who will die for you.

Until, of course, the threat isn’t physical.

Until the threat is another man sliding into your DMs.

Or a girlfriend whispering jealousy in your ear.

Or a “girls trip” with three single women, five tequila shots, and zero accountability.

Then suddenly his protection is “insecurity.” His awareness is “control.” His instincts are “toxic.”

This is The Protector Paradox:

A woman demands the man be her shield —

But only if he never uses it on the things she actually likes.

🧠 Masculine Instinct vs Feminine Delusion

Let’s break it down with surgical brutality:

The masculine imperative is this: PROTECT.

Not just her body.

Her reputation. Her fertility. Her honor. Her soul.

A real man doesn’t just protect from violence —

He protects from erosion:

The slow moral disintegration that turns wives into Instagram memories,

and homes into battlefields of passive-aggressive resentment.

So when he sees:

A male friend who’s “just like a brother”

A club full of predators

A drunk girl gang headed to Miami

A shady ex texting “how have you been?”

He’s not insecure.

He’s tuned in.

He’s doing his job.

💥 The Girls Trip = Relationship Hospice

Let’s be clear: There is no such thing as a “girls trip” that strengthens the relationship.

There are three outcomes:

She cheats and lies about it

She doesn’t cheat, but now low-key resents you for “limiting her freedom”

She sees what single life looks like again and comes home colder

A girls trip is not “harmless fun.” It’s a preview of post-you life. It’s single cosplay. It’s emotional prepping for divorce.

And if you say no?

You’re called:

Controlling

Possessive

Weak

Abusive

When in reality?

You’re the only one in that room playing for the team.

😬 The Gynocentric Double Bind

This is the trap they set:

If you protect her from outsiders — you’re a “real man.”

If you protect her from herself — you’re a “red flag.”

You’re allowed to throw hands in a bar fight.

But you’re not allowed to say:

“I don’t trust that guy you keep texting at 2AM.”

You can work overtime to pay rent.

But you can’t say:

“Your friend who cheated on her husband is filling your head with poison.”

You can jump in front of a bullet.

But you can’t say:

“Maybe don’t post that thong pic to 300 strangers on Instagram.”

The modern woman wants your sword — but only if it never points toward her choices.

📖 The Adam Principle: Why Simps Still Fall

Let’s take it all the way back.

Adam. First man. First simp.

God gave him paradise. Purpose. Protection.

Eve?

Bored.

Talking to snakes.

Taking fruit she wasn’t supposed to touch.

Dragging him into the fall — and then blaming him for not stopping her.

“Why didn’t you stop me, Adam?”

Sound familiar?

“You’re supposed to protect me…” (…but not from my own impulses.)

This is the ancient curse.

This is what modern men are still dealing with.

You’re expected to guard the gates —

But not tell her she’s the one leaving them open.

🔥 What Real Men Know (That Cucks & Simps Never Learn)

A woman’s instinct isn’t to self-govern.

It’s to test the perimeter.

Push the edge.

Find the limit.

And if you don’t give her one?

She loses respect for you.

Because she can’t trust a protector who’s scared of her mood swings.

Simps think saying “yes” gets them love.

Cucks think being “secure” means never saying “no.”

Meanwhile real men get called “abusive” for laying a boundary —

Until she hits 35, gets dumped by a DJ, and finally understands what security meant.

🧨 Masculine Boundaries Are Not Abuse

Let’s set the record straight:

Telling your girl you don’t want her around men who want to sleep with her = 🔒 Protection

Saying no to a “girls trip” in a city known for bachelor parties and fentanyl = 🔒 Protection

Cutting off friends who sabotage your relationship = 🔒 Protection

That’s love with spine.

That’s leadership.

That’s the thing they say they want, until it costs them a dopamine hit.

And if she calls that abuse?

She’s not ready for a man.

She’s ready for a therapist, a vibrator, and an Instagram account full of quotes about “divine feminine healing.”

👑 A Woman Worth Protecting Understands The Cost

The right woman sees your boundary and says:

“Thank you for caring.” “You’re right. He was shady.” “You’re not controlling — you’re wise.” “I respect you for not letting me destroy us.”

She doesn’t argue with the alarm system.

She thanks it for going off when the door was cracked.

🧠 TL;DR — Read This or Repeat the Pattern

She wants a protector until he protects her from herself.

“Girls Trip” is a relationship coma.

A woman who respects you doesn’t need male friends.

Real men set boundaries. Fake men say “yes, queen” until they get left.

Adam loved Eve. But he let her flirt with the snake. Don’t be Adam.

💣 CTA (Clip This. Paste This. Tattoo It on Your Cheek.)

👉 If she calls boundaries “abuse,” walk.

👉 If she needs constant validation from strangers, she’s not yours. She’s the algorithm’s.

👉 If she thinks protection is only physical, she’s not ready to be led — just entertained.

👉 A real man protects spirit, flesh, and future.

👉 A real woman honors that. Or gets left.

⚖️ LEGAL DISCLAIMER (Carved in Iron & Flame):

This post is 100% protected free speech under U.S. law.

It is cultural analysis, political commentary, religious reference, satire, parody, and literary opinion.

If this post hurts your feelings, that’s because your feelings are based on lies.

This content is not hate speech. It is survival speech.

All attempts to censor it will be viewed as acts of cowardice, intellectual surrender, and a possible sign of simp infestation.

We are not asking for permission. We are stating facts. If they burn — that’s on you.

Cry harder.

We’ll be fortifying. Stay mad.

🔁 Reblog this if you’ve ever been called ‘controlling’ for having standards.

🧱 Share it if your girl’s ‘girls trip’ had more red flags than a Sith uprising.

🩸 If she says 'protect me' but cries 'abuse' when you set a boundary—REPOST THIS, KING.

[cheddar-baby]

something so interesting about how a very function heavy company will gain notoriety for their product by word of mouth and they'll gain a small cult following then shift their marketing from function to visuals. Dramatically changing their identity to a lifestyle brand selling aesthetics over actual functional products. It happens a lot over time with the assumption is that because they have a stable consumer base they can start going abstract because the people already buying it know what it is and why they're using it but they want to reach into a new market. It feels like an animal thats adapting a new beak for its environment or something. Or maybe more so like a new virus forming from an old ineffective one.

Being interested in advertising is such a double edged sword because of this exact thing its like inherently evil and manipulative but thats exactly what makes it so incredibly fascinating. You can really pick it apart frame by frame and see every single decision some brand expert made to get to that specific visual, that specific word. Advertising is like mysticism in that way. These people are trying to cast incantations on the viewer to sell products and they spend millions of dollars testing the word fresh vs clean (lower case to feel more approachable) to see which one has more power over you. Its semiotics ripped from the artists hands and weaponized against the general public its incredible.

[divinheal]

Heart Bypass Surgery in India: Comprehensive Guide to Cost, Care & Outcomes

According to DivinHeal’s detailed guide on Heart Bypass Surgery Cost in India, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reroutes blood flow around blocked arteries using grafts from the patient’s own vessels. India combines this gold-standard treatment with world-class expertise, cutting-edge technology, and personalized care at highly competitive prices.

1. Why India for CABG?

Globally Accredited Centers

Over 50 hospitals in India hold Joint Commission International (JCI) or NABH certifications—ensuring strict adherence to international quality and safety benchmarks.

Expert Cardiac Teams

Senior cardiac surgeons in top-tier hospitals average 15–25 years of experience and often have fellowships from leading US, UK, or European centers. Multidisciplinary teams include interventional cardiologists, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and specialized nursing staff.

Advanced Technology

Operating theaters equipped with high-definition video imaging, on-pump and off-pump bypass capabilities, intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and rapid-recovery ICU protocols deliver superior outcomes.

Patient-Centric Packages

Medical-tourism facilitators coordinate visas, airport transfers, interpreter services, accommodation, and rehabilitation—allowing patients and families to focus solely on recovery.

2. Detailed Cost Breakdown

Component

Cost Range (₹)

Approx. (USD)

Surgery (CABG)

240,000 – 640,000

3,000 – 8,000

Tier-1 Metro Premium

(Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai)

350,000 – 700,000

4,500 – 9,000

Tier-2 Regional

(Pune, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Chandigarh)

240,000 – 400,000

3,000 – 5,000

Pre-Operative Diagnostics

25,000 – 65,000

330 – 850

• Coronary Angiography

16,000 – 40,000

210 – 520

• ECG + Echocardiogram + Labs

8,000 – 25,000

105 – 330

ICU & Hospital Stay (7–10 days)

65,000 – 160,000

850 – 2,100

Surgeon & Anesthesia Fees

160,000 – 330,000

2,050 – 4,200

Medications & Follow-Ups (6 months)

40,000 – 120,000

520 – 1,580

Cardiac Rehabilitation

80,000 – 200,000

1,050 – 2,630

Total Estimated Package

400,000 – 1,300,000

5,200 – 17,100

Note: Final cost varies by hospital, city, complexity (single vs. multivessel), and length of stay.

3. Factors Influencing Your Investment

Complexity of Blockages

Single-vessel bypass involves one graft—quickest recovery, lowest cost.

Double/triple/quadruple bypass uses multiple grafts, extends OR time, adds ~20–30% to base cost.

Type of Graft Internal mammary artery grafts boast superior long-term patency but cost slightly more than saphenous vein grafts.

On-Pump vs. Off-Pump Technique Off-pump (beating-heart) CABG can reduce postoperative complications yet may attract a 10–15% premium for specialized equipment and training.

Hospital Tier & Location Metro centers offer specialized ICUs and VIP suites—ideal for international patients preferring deluxe amenities. Regional centers provide excellent clinical outcomes at 30–40% lower cost.

Length of Stay & Rehabilitation Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols can shorten hospital stay by 1–2 days, lowering costs. Comprehensive outpatient rehab programs improve long-term quality of life and reduce readmissions.

4. Insurance, Financing & Government Schemes

Private Health Insurance Major insurers (HDFC ERGO, Star Health, Max Bupa) cover CABG under “major surgery,” often subject to sub-limits; pre-authorization and waiting periods apply.

Government Coverage

Ayushman Bharat offers up to ₹500,000 per family annually for secondary and tertiary procedures, fully covering CABG for eligible patients.

State-sponsored schemes (e.g., Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance) subsidize large segments of the underprivileged population.

EMI & Third-Party Financing Banks and NBFCs partner with hospitals to extend 0–12% EMI options over 6–60 months, reducing the burden of upfront payment.

5. Comparing Global Prices

Country

Approx. CABG Cost

India

₹240,000 – ₹640,000 (USD 3k–8k)

USA

USD 80,000 – 170,000

UK

USD 40,000 – 60,000

Germany

USD 50,000 – 100,000

Singapore

USD 35,000 – 55,000

Thailand

USD 15,000 – 30,000

Even with travel and accommodation, total outlay in India often remains 50–70% lower than in Western nations.

6. Patient Journey & Timeline

Initial Consultation (Day 1–3) Virtual cardiology review, diagnostic report submission, treatment plan finalized.

Travel & Admission (Day 4–7) Medical visa processing, hotel/guesthouse arranged near the hospital, pre-admission labs.

Surgery & ICU Stay (Day 8–14) CABG procedure (3–6 hours), ICU monitoring (24–48 hours), transfer to ward.

Ward Stay & Discharge (Day 15–18) Wound care, physiotherapy initiation, discharge counseling.

Rehabilitation & Follow-Up (Month 1–6) Outpatient cardiac rehab, medication titration, lifestyle modification coaching.

7. Outcomes & Success Rates

Survival & Patency 5-year survival post-CABG exceeds 85% in JCI/NABH centers; arterial graft patency > 90% at 10 years.

Quality of Life Over 75% of patients report significant angina relief and improved exercise tolerance within 3 months.

Complication Rates Low incidence (<3%) of major complications (stroke, wound infection) due to rigorous protocols and specialized nursing.

Ready to plan your surgery? Visit DivinHeal’s full guide on Heart Bypass Surgery Cost in India for end-to-end medical tourism support.

[moistvonlipwig]

Supergirl for the gen relationships ask game?

My favorite parent-child relationship: Earth-38 Lillian and Lena. NOT Earth-Prime Lillian. Earth-Prime Lillian was way less complex and way too pro-Lex.

My favorite sibling relationship: Either the Luthors or the Olsens. Both were interesting.

My favorite family relationship (other): Kara & Clark had a fun dynamic. I wish we'd seen more of them.

My favorite friendship between two people: Lena & Brainy of course <333

My favorite friendship between a group: ...I guess the Superfriends are the obvious answer here although I have #problems with how that group friendship operates. Maybe the Otis/Lex/Eve/Red Daughter squad? It's full of deception and double-deception and toxicity but they're also kind of a fun group to watch.

My favorite mentorship: I think James & Nia had a sweet mentor-mentee bond that I wish the show had explored more.

My favorite rivalry: Kara & Andrea were fun :)

My favorite hatred/antipathy: Lena, James, & Kara vs. Morgan Edge. Edge sucked but he brought out the badass protective snarky hater in all 3 of them. <3

My favorite potential relationship between characters who never talk in canon: Can you believe Lena and Kelly never had a single onscreen one-on-one conversation. I can't either. .....Also they do technically talk in canon but we were robbed of more Lena & Clark interaction.

[cuprohastes]

Trying to make AI Bros useful.

So I have an R1 from Rabbit.

If you don't know what an R1 is: It's a very nicely designed palm sized block of glossy orange plastic with a small indoor screen, camera, a scroll wheel and a button. It costs $200 and is a really basic Android phone where all the android phone parts are hidden. It uses Perplexity/ChatGTP to answer questions. There's also a LAM - Large Action Model, which doesn't exist, but is supposed to.

The idea is that the R1 will answer questions, find information and be able to take action on your behalf. Many people have done clickbait Youtube videos about how this is a scam.

It's only partially a scam.

The part where you activate the camera, which is unable to see anything until activated, by physically not allowing it to point out the front or back until it's rolled around, and ask it for information about what it sees, is fine.

That works.

The rest...? Bullet point time.

The Bad

The LAM is just a bunch of scripts for using four different websites, all of which are the ones you'd assume a Tech-Bro thinks are important. Uber, Door dash, Yelp. No other websites are supported, and every time one of these services changes their layout the "LAM" goes down for "maintenance".

The GPS is just garbage.

You have to tether it to a Hotspot or SIM that has voice and data. Data alone won't work. The R1 cannot make phone calls.

No app integration: You can't send a message, check your mail etc.

Screen is hilariously shit outside or in bright light

UI prioritises icon of a cute rabbit vs the results.

So WTF?

✨Use Case Scenario!!✨

OK: Imagine you're partially sighted. You pull this thing out of your pocket: It has one easy to find physical button that does nearly everything.

You turn it on with a click.

You double click to go into vision mode.

You hold the button down and say "What am I looking at?"

The R1 then uses a pretty good speech model to describe the scene!

You hold the button down and ask further questions about the image:

"How much is this?" "What's the weight?" "Is there a special offer?"

Or a bill:

"Who is this from?" "Wow much is it for?" "When do I have to pay by?"

Common Arguments

"This could be an app!"

Yes it could be an app and if you have absolutely fine vision and motor control and want to pull a phone out, unlock it, find the icon, then navigate around a UI, go for it. Perplexity is right there, you can use it now. It's fantastic at checking websites (Even ones it's explicitly banned from using) and summarising them.

But again: If you're having to run things by touch, a single button is way easier.

"It wasn't designed as an assistive product so..."

No. And a genuine assistive product is most likely an android phone of the cheapest off the shelf hardware, an OCR app, and a £1,200 price tag. Comes with the cutting edge synthesised voice tech of 1995. The rabbit is $200/£160, and is voice controlled and still somehow has fewer buttons than a device that's supposedly designed for people who can't see buttons.

"Ah but does it really..."

The hype is massive. But I physically have one. One moment. I am now holding it.

Did I run down to the supermarket and test it? Yes. Did it work? Yes. Was it minorly a pain in the ass? Yes.

"You ain't visumably Impaired!!"

Ah, no. Yes. Depends on how nitpicky you want to be.

However, I do have someone here whose vision is basically Noped out, who will be helping me test and either she hates it or I'll have to spend a few hours planning a heist to pry it out of her hands, so I can charge the battery.