#excel absolute is not (complex) latest

[ayeforscotland]

What is Dataflow?

This post is inspired by another post about the Crowd Strike IT disaster and a bunch of people being interested in what I mean by Dataflow. Dataflow is my absolute jam and I'm happy to answer as many questions as you like on it. I even put referential pictures in like I'm writing an article, what fun!

I'll probably split this into multiple parts because it'll be a huge post otherwise but here we go!

A Brief History

Our world is dependent on the flow of data. It exists in almost every aspect of our lives and has done so arguably for hundreds if not thousands of years.

At the end of the day, the flow of data is the flow of knowledge and information. Normally most of us refer to data in the context of computing technology (our phones, PCs, tablets etc) but, if we want to get historical about it, the invention of writing and the invention of the Printing Press were great leaps forward in how we increased the flow of information.

Modern Day IT exists for one reason - To support the flow of data.

Whether it's buying something at a shop, sitting staring at an excel sheet at work, or watching Netflix - All of the technology you interact with is to support the flow of data.

Understanding and managing the flow of data is as important to getting us to where we are right now as when we first learned to control and manage water to provide irrigation for early farming and settlement.

Engineering Rigor

When the majority of us turn on the tap to have a drink or take a shower, we expect water to come out. We trust that the water is clean, and we trust that our homes can receive a steady supply of water.

Most of us trust our central heating (insert boiler joke here) and the plugs/sockets in our homes to provide gas and electricity. The reason we trust all of these flows is because there's been rigorous engineering standards built up over decades and centuries.

For example, Scottish Water will understand every component part that makes up their water pipelines. Those pipes, valves, fitting etc will comply with a national, or in some cases international, standard. These companies have diagrams that clearly map all of this out, mostly because they have to legally but also because it also vital for disaster recovery and other compliance issues.

Modern IT

And this is where modern day IT has problems. I'm not saying that modern day tech is a pile of shit. We all have great phones, our PCs can play good games, but it's one thing to craft well-designed products and another thing entirely to think about they all work together.

Because that is what's happened over the past few decades of IT. Organisations have piled on the latest plug-and-play technology (Software or Hardware) and they've built up complex legacy systems that no one really knows how they all work together. They've lost track of how data flows across their organisation which makes the work of cybersecurity, disaster recovery, compliance and general business transformation teams a nightmare.

Some of these systems are entirely dependent on other systems to operate. But that dependency isn't documented. The vast majority of digital transformation projects fail because they get halfway through and realise they hadn't factored in a system that they thought was nothing but was vital to the organisation running.

And this isn't just for-profit organisations, this is the health services, this is national infrastructure, it's everyone.

There's not yet a single standard that says "This is how organisations should control, manage and govern their flows of data."

Why is that relevant to the companies that were affected by Crowd Strike? Would it have stopped it?

Maybe, maybe not. But considering the global impact, it doesn't look like many organisations were prepared for the possibility of a huge chunk of their IT infrastructure going down.

Understanding dataflows help with the preparation for events like this, so organisations can move to mitigate them, and also the recovery side when they do happen. Organisations need to understand which systems are a priority to get back operational and which can be left.

The problem I'm seeing from a lot of organisations at the moment is that they don't know which systems to recover first, and are losing money and reputation while they fight to get things back online. A lot of them are just winging it.

Conclusion of Part 1

Next time I can totally go into diagramming if any of you are interested in that.

How can any organisation actually map their dataflow and what things need to be considered to do so. It'll come across like common sense, but that's why an actual standard is so desperately needed!

[autolenaphilia]

One of my strongest gaming opinions is that I should be able to manually save my game whenever I want, how many times I want, with lots of save slots. And when I reload it should return my gamestate to exactly what it was when I saved, including the location in the game world, not at the last checkpoint I touched.

This is a very “30-year old boomer” opinion to have, and reveals me as a literal 30 year old who has played a lot of old pc games. But manual unlimited saves used to be the standard for PC games, and it was wonderful. It’s such a quality of life thing for me, it ensures that you won’t lose progress when real-life interrupts your game, or you just don’t feel like playing anymore.

Sure, some games have it still, like the excellent retro-shooter Dusk and that’s great, but a lot of the games world views it as a thing of the past. And of course it was never the standard for console games, they pretty much always had some kind of save game limitation. But that was because of technical limitations that PCs didn’t have. Only having autosaves at pre-defined checkpoints feels like an old console limitation being presented as a feature.

Sure it can be convenient to have autosaves, but without manual saves, it’s suddenly not so convenient when you need or want to stop playing but you will lose serious progress unless you reach the next checkpoint first.

And for games that tout themselves as hardcore and challenging, limiting saves absolutely can increase the challenge for those looking for that. But it feels like a particularly cheap way of adding difficulty.

A game that is difficult even when you have unlimited manual saves, now that’s a real challenge. And that’s the case for a lot of old PC games, who are often infamously difficult. In part that was because their difficulty was designed with the player having unlimited saves and reloads in mind. One of my favorite games is Commandos 2: Men of Courage. It’s difficult, an unforgiving stealth game with long and complex missions in which minor mistakes will almost always lead to a game-over. And the only way to make this playable is the generous save and load system.

To be fair, for a lot of modern AAA games, it’s probably still technically impossible to implement an old-school pc game save system. These games have so much stuff going on that the game state has too much data to save all of it to a save file without that file becoming too big in size. So the designers instead make save games only save only a minimum of data, things like the player’s story progression, inventory items and the latest /nearest checkpoints and reset the rest of the game world when the game reloads.

But frankly this is a case of triple-a games becoming bloated, because in that case the developers’ GPU-melting graphics and massive open world actually gives the player less options, less features than what was once standard.

I can accept video games having limited saves of course. But that requires the rest of the game being good enough to outweigh that, and it will always be a minus in my assessment of the game’s quality.

[akatsukinolola]

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧┊𝗧. 𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗡

ఌ︎. p. Thor Odinson x f!reader g. smut + fluff + little bit of angst

ఌ︎. cw. SMUT [oral (f + m receiving), male masturbation, cum eating], Thor being mean(?), manhandling, use of feminine pet names— let me know if i missed anything!

ఌ︎. wc. 2.2k

����𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧

The library in the Avengers compound was your safe place. It was big enough to hide in your favorite cozy corner with a good book.

You were curled up on the plush loveseat with a book and a warm drink. You could feel the cool air from outside through the window beside you. Looking out, you were met with the sight of rain pelleting the ground. Lightning cracked through the sky in fanciful patterns as thunder clapped throughout the dark clouds that packed the once blue sky.

The weather turned nasty about the same time Thor closed himself off from everyone; the god not interacting with anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. Not even you, his wife of almost four years, could pull him out of his funk. He would send you away each time, his tone growing more irritable as the days passed. A simple question regarding his well-being ended with him barking out an annoyed response that more often than not, hurt like hell.

Finishing off your drink, you made the trip across the compound to put away your mug. As you walk through the threshold of the kitchen, you’re pleasantly surprised to see Loki. With him being away for a month you hadn’t been able to ask the one person who possibly knew what was wrong with your husband.

You sat the mug on the counter, “brother dearest, it’s so good to see you!” you gave him a hug. Loki was complex and despite his past transgressions, he was an excellent friend. He hugged you back, welcoming your affection. You were always an interesting one in his eyes. Even when he was trying to take over earth, you tried to reason with him and understand him rather than talk down to him like the others did. Pulling back, your hand rested on his shoulders. You squared your own and looked at him seriously. “There’s a crisis.”

Loki raised an eyebrow and bit back a laugh, failing to hide his smile, “your definition of a crisis is interesting to say the least,” you rolled your eyes. Sure you could be a bit dramatic, but only because no one moved with any urgency unless the fate of the universe was hanging in the balance. “What is the matter?”

“There’s something wrong with Thor. He hasn’t left our room all week and he’s having these shitty mood swings that make me want to swing on him,” you grimaced thinking back to the attitude Thor gave you this morning for simply making sure he ate something.

Loki snickered against the back of his hand. He always knew this day would come. He’d told his brother countless times since he set his sights on you to tell you about his condition. “Dear sister, it’s his time of the year,” Loki smirked, his fit of giggles finally subsiding.

“‘Time of the year’? What does that mean?”

“Your beloved is in heat.”

“Heat? Like an animal?” you inquired. Loki simply nodded, picking up his newspaper, wanting this conversation to be over. “Since when? I’ve known him for well over seven years and I’ve never seen him like this.”

“That’s because he always goes back to Asgard to procure a special remedy to tame it, but it seems his latest mission has thrown him off schedule and now he’s in agonizing pain.”

“Agonizing pain?”

“Yes, yes. The sexual frustration will just continue to build. He’ll become aggressive, unable to contain his strength, and who knows what else,” Loki turned the page of the large stack of paper occupying his attention.

“And neither of you thought to let me know this very important piece of information?” anger evident in your voice. Of course you were upset. The love of your life was in pain and instead of coming to you about it, he hid himself away. ‘But doesn’t that say more about me than him?’ you thought to yourself.

“Sister, that is a conversation for you and my brother. Now shoo, I’m trying to read,” he waved his hand dismissing you.

You practically sprinted to your and your husband’s shared room and began knocking on his door. “Thor, love, can I come in?” you waited a few moments and didn’t hear a sound.

Turning the knob, you entered the room. Everything was the same aside from the disheveled bed and pile of clothes on the floor. You heard the shower running and went to knock, but stopped right as your knuckles were about to begin rapping.

Frustrated groans could be heard behind the wooden obstruction. ‘…now he’s in agonizing pain,’ Loki’s words rang through your head. Barging into the spacious bathroom, you’re met with quite the sight.

Through the glass shower you could see one of Thor's large hands cupping his balls, gently massaging, as the other stroked the length of his cock. Although the steam from the hot water had fogged up the glass, you could see some semblance of his red, engorged tip. His face was flushed, beads of sweat and water rolling down his body; the veins in his arms protruding more than usual as he desperately tried to get himself off. Another frustrated groan left the god right before the thunder outside roared so loud it reverberated through the entire building.

Looking up, Thor met your wide eyes and lax jaw. He zeroed in on your lovely frame, sweeping over your body from your ankles all the way back to your eyes. 

The last week had been hell. The constant erections, cold sweats, night terrors, and a plethora of other symptoms as a result of his demigod heat. Thor threw the glass door open, hitting the surface behind it making you cringe thinking it was going to shatter from the force.

The blonde stalked toward you like a wolf to a lamb, taking slow and calculated steps; stark naked as the day he was born. He came to a full stop right in front of you, his substantial frame glistening under the artificial lighting. Water dripped off of his body, pooling at his feet. His strong hand reached out and wrapped around your throat; not to hurt you but to establish his dominance. He forced you to look at him. The blue eyes you fell irrevocably in love with all those years ago were nowhere in sight. They were now an icy blue that engulfed the expanse of both his eyes emitting small strikes of lightning around the outer corners.

“I told you to leave me be,” he growled, teeth clenched. The hand around your throat trembled.

“I know,” you swallowed, “Loki’s back and he told me what’s going on with you. You’re hurting— why didn’t you come to me?”

The sound of your trembling voice softened Thor’s rigid exterior a bit. His hand moved to cup the side of your neck, thumb tracing your jaw. “My love, I have never calmed this storm with a human lover before. I don’t know what I would do if I hurt you in my pursuit of peace,” he confessed sincerely.

“I made a promise to you the day we got married and I fully intend on fulfilling that promise every day,” your hands cupped the sides of his face. Staring into his eyes, the piercing blue-gray gaze that enchanted you came back into view, kindling that beautiful smile he loved so much. Thor bent down and touched his sweaty forehead to yours. His eyes closed as he took a deep breath.

His hand moved to the back of your neck, bringing you into a searing kiss. The pent up aggression and sexual tension he’d been struggling to contain finally finding it’s subject. The kiss was sloppy; teeth clashing and his tongue licking every inch of your mouth. He pet your ass, a nonverbal cue to hop up. Your ankles crossed at his lower back, hands pulling him impossibly closer by the back of his head. His hands kneaded the flesh of your ass as he carried you to the bed.

He laid back, pulling you on top of him. Breathy groans left his lips as you ground your clothed cunt over his length. The stiff member prodded against your clit drawing out desperate whimpers from your lips.

You pulled up and away from Thor and he scoffed. “Problem?” you raised an eyebrow.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he tried to pull your shirt up but you got off him completely. He sat up leaning back on his elbows. You pulled your shirt over your head, then removed your sweatpants. You took your time removing your bra, breasts freed and nipples pebbling from the cool air.

You leaned forward and rested your hands on his thighs, coming face to face with the sexually frustrated god. “How do you want me?” your breath fanned over his lips.

The blonde reached back for a pillow and pushed it toward you, “on your knees.”

You lowered yourself to the ground, kneeling on the pillow. Thor sat above you, legs spread and chest heaving. He took a moment to hold your chin and look into your eyes, “what’s your word?”

“Clover.”

“Good girl,” he cooed. His thumb swiped at your bottom lip. You wrapped your lips around the digit, licking at the calloused pad. Releasing it, you lower you head and take his tip into your mouth.

A blissful groan from your husband resonates throughout the room as you take in more of him. One of his hands finds it’s way to your hair, tugging at the curled and coiled roots. After a week of never ending misery, Thor finally began to feel some semblance of relief. But it wasn’t enough— he needed more.

Using the hand in your hair, he manhandled you from your knees and onto the bed. Your back was pressed into the mattress and your lips were attacked with heated kisses. You took his heavy cock in your hand and ran it up and down your slick slit. Lining him up with your entrance, he pushed into you.

A tingle at the base of his spine traveled up to the base of his neck when he bottomed out. The sound of your choked out moans sent him into a sort of trance.

He pulled out leaving just his fat tip in before he began to pound into you mercilessly. Every thrust choked you up, but you wouldn’t dare ask him to stop. The knot in your belly began to wind up, tightening every time he kissed your cervix.

The erotic sounds of your sweet moans, the clap of his balls against your ass— did nothing but push him further and further toward his release. You clenched around him, as he dragged his cock along your velvety walls. Thor tucked his face into the crook of your neck as his orgasm hit him full force. He stilled above you as rope after rope of his cum spilled into you, filling you to the brim.

Warmth spread throughout your midsection as you both caught your breath. Thor’s lips met your forehead. “How do you feel?” you asked, cradling his face in your hand. You can already feel his body temperature falling back to normal and his eyes are softer.

“Better, love. Much better,” he kissed you once more. He eased out of your sensitive hole, his spend dribbling onto the sheets beneath you. Thor laid in between your legs. His lips leaving butterfly kisses on your inner thighs. His thumb found your clit as he gently circled your clit with the calloused pad. If it weren’t for his broad shoulders, your legs would’ve slammed shut. “You know I’d never leave you unsatisfied, don’t you?” he said right before pressing a lingering kiss to your puffy clit.

“Mhmm,” you hummed, writhing at the sensation. He licked a stripe up your pussy, gathering your mixed cum and dragging it through your slick petals. One of your hands found the back of his head while the other clawed at the pillow your head rested on. The demigod wound his muscular arms around your thighs bringing your cunt impossibly closer to him mouth. The satisfied grunts and groans coming from your husband reverberated through your core. That paired with the movement of his tongue, and the burn of his facial hair wound the knot in your belly tighter and tighter. Your walls clenched around his tongue and he knew you were close. Her took your swollen bud in between his teeth and tugged gently. The mixture of pain and pleasure sent you over the edge and into the depths of ecstasy.

Your thighs squeezed around his head and your fingers tightened at the roots of his hair as he licked you through your orgasm. He didn’t stop until you were near tears and pushing him away. With a final kiss to your overstimulated bud, he began littering kisses on your inner thighs, your hips, up your abdomen, along your jaw, and finally pressed a languid kiss to your plush lips. Smiling into the kiss, you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him as close as possible. You brought a hand to his face and gripped his jaw. 

“If you ever keep something like that from me again, I’ll kick your ass back to Asgard? Got it?” you said, narrowing your eyes.

The god smirked at you, leaning in to steal another kiss. “You have my word.”

[deazmonius]

Latest model Gundam Arial from the Witch from Mercury(WFM), the Primary hero unit piloted by Suletta. For those who have not watched the show I highly recommend commend it. Having watched all the other Gundam series this one has definitely earned a top spot IMO. The story is one of the best and not like every other one. The character development is excellent, the music and animation is top notch. We can’t forget the mechs each one unique and wonderfully designed.

That said this model is the Full Mechanics(FM) 1/100 scale model and it was an absolute joy to build. With a nice fairly simple build that was on a touch more complex then a High Grade(HG) but not quite the complexity of a Master grade (MG) build. The color separation and details are excellent. Not to mention it can pose up a storm with little to nothing getting in the way of mobility. With the way this unit built out I am really looking forward to another FM model in the line, I would love to see more WFM mobile suits get the 1/100 scale treatment. Case if they ended up being half as good as this kit this would still be awesome. If you’re thinking of giving Gunpla a try this kit will not disappoint, even if it is the only kit you decide to get.

On a side note this is also the first time I have ever used water slide decals. They where quite time consuming to do but I gotta say they really take the model to a whole other level. I think I will be doing them more going forward.

For those following I will be working on other Witch from Mercury units, it likely won’t be a full spread of the MS cast but it will be a good number of them.

[seariderfalcon]

Me on a current CCxNiles binge finding your excellent fics, seeing that the updates/years aren't super current: aw man I hope she's still active. Let me check tumblr.

Sees you still have a Nanny quote as the title but Hetty is the current fixation: HELL YEAH 2 of my favs.

In all seriousness though that's very exciting because I'm sure you'll write equally introspective and well characterized fics for Hetty and Trevor as you do CC and Niles. Hetty is as wonderfully complex as CC and it's no surprise you love her (I do too!) :)

This made grin! I love when I can share multiple fannish loves with someone else!

Yeah, idek what my status with The Nanny & CC/Niles is right now. You're catching me literally just a few weeks into my very new obsession with all things Ghosts, Hetty, & H-Money. I'm feeling kinda bad about about my Nanny WIP folder rn, but maaaaan, I've spent the past week and a half writing with an ease I haven't been able to manage for a few years now. I forgot how inspirational and potent that new fandom glow can be. I may be able to find a balance once I come down from my initial high from it...oooor my latest CC/Niles fic may have inadvertently been my last hurrah. Time will tell, I guess.

And thank you! Hetty's a captivating, messy, hilarious, heart-breaking, absolute damned delight and it means a lot that you think I'll be able to do her justice. 🩷

P.S. Thank you so much for all the comments and kudos you left for me yesterday! They were a lovely treat to wake up to!

[necngravestcnes]

Rojst/The Mire/Rojst ‘97/The Mire ‘97/Rojst. Millenium/The Mire. Millenium (dir. Jan Holoubek)

A crime series consisting of a three-part journey into the times of deep communism in Poland, suffocating cigarette smoke in every possible room, gloomy buildings and people with minor or major secrets.

This story is so complex with its characters and storytelling that I don’t really know where I should start… Well, alright let’s start with these two in the picture above. Witold Wanycz (played by Andrzej Seweryn) and Piotr Zarzycki (played by Dawid Ogrodnik). The chemistry between these two actors is remarkable! They fits their characters so well and from the very beginning you just believe both of them to be an old journalist troubled by his past in this small town, and young, spirited one, who wants to reveal the truth, and despite being quite an annoying character cares about justice. The show has many excellent supporting characters as hotel manager Kocioł or Nadia. If some fans of World on Fire ever read it, they will be nicely surprised by presence of Zofia Wichłacz, who plays Piotr’s wife. But anyway! The plot takes place in 80s, in gloomy small town where a prostitute and a communist activist are murdered. I don’t want to spoil anything but you can already say by the times it happens it’s not easy to solve… Wanycz wants to run away from the town and Zarzycki wants to solve the case with him. And it’s all starts spinning! Everyone in the town lies of course.

Second series takes place also in the same town, but in 1997 and introduces new characters, which you can see in the pic. My absolutely favourite sergeant Mika (Łukasz Simlat), and sergeant Anna Jass (Magdalena Różczka). Year '97 was the period of the greatest flood in over a century in Poland and the plot covers the aftermath of it. It takes place after Poland became fully independent but the hallmarks of communism are evident at every turn. In district Gronty somebody finds the body of a young boy, and water washes away the bones of people killed there during the war. In general it’s a mess. Police try to work on the case but again, nothing in this town is easy and everybody lies. Of course there are old friends occurring there as well from the previous series. We have some flashbacks into the past back to 1940s, and we get to know Wanycz’s story.

I really think that the latest part of the series is my favourite. Again, all previous characters appear, but the creators take the audience back into the super communist 1960s, apart from 1999, and we have some more light shed on Mr Kocioł (played by Filip Pławiak as younger version of him)

- for comparison here’s older Kocioł and younger one, can you seeee the visionnnn? -

Anyway, there is more and more of dark stuff happening, this essay is shitty and I don’t want to spoil anything, just please give it a chance! It is now streamed on Netflix. Some stuff may be a bit hard to understand for non-polish folks in terms of cultural aspect or some sayings but I assure you all, it’s a really captivating crime/drama series ✨ and Jan Holoubek is a geniussss! I just love that it reflects on people’s lives in hards times and what human’s nature is able to do and that… well… karma is real.

[theskyexists]

The golden enclaves

Ok so i like how this starts with: Orion has been unutterably stupid

Please tell me that we will find out why

This was devastating.

But also WHY IS ORION SUCH A PIECE OF SHIT HE PROMISED TO GO WITH HER AND INSTEAD HE MADE HER LOSE HIM FOR NO REASON TO A FUCKING MAWMOUTH LIKE HER DAD WAS FUCKING LOST BUT NOT KILLED BECAUSE THE VICTIMS DONT DIE THEYRE DIGESTED FOREVER IN ETERNAL PAIN Jezus Naomi god it really is horrific what is up with this

Also, and I say this with absolute extreme disdain, El seriously only just now realised that she has perfect combat synergy with Orion and she COULD have destroyed Patience and freed her father from the eternal torment of being digested? Like......seriously? Did Liesel not even realise this, who is the only one with any brains? (I realise that Liesel at least had different priorities)

Also I am going to explain Orion's craziness and personality change in book 2 as such: he didn't have any mals to eat and so he went mad. He decided, like the piece of shit that he is, that he'd prefer to do months of battle against mals because at least he wouldn't be hungry.

The funny thing is that book 2 ESTABLISHED that El has ZERO absolutely ZERO idea of what goes on in Orion's head. Like. She doesn't get him AT ALL. So her prevaricating on how he's so misunderstood and pushed to be what everybody sees in him - he ALREADY TOLD YOU HE JUST LOVES EATING MALS HE DOESNT CARE ABOUT ANYONE OR ANYTHING HE JUST LOVES EATING MALS EL STOP BEING AN IDIOT AND PROJECTING YOUR OWN SHIT ON THIS POOR BOY

She's literally comparing herself to him again. Look he was a hero and I was an evil witch. Everybody thought that and wanted that from us. EL HE DIDNT FUCKING CARE OK????? Worse, (and it makes sense in this moment), she somehow threads her mum's direct look at his soul into this narrative as some kind of reinforcement of it. He didn't care El. He didn't care. He's just a hungry boy.....

In fact, I cannot remember her classmates ever hating El. Because....they didn't even know she was fated to be an evil witch archetype? They just avoided her bc she wasn't an asset to their survival they thought which was so absurdly idiotic since EL IS A GODDAMN MAL EXTERMINATOR and she never told anyone because of her stupid fucking hangups she could have been a fucking prep and made everybody's lives so much better so much earlier

'because he thought it was his job to make a way out for everybody but him'

This is why I didn't like the second book so much. El is so obviously delusional about this guy.

I cannot STAND IT!!!! HE LITERALLY TOLD YOU HE HAS NO HERO COMPLEX EL!!!! YOU WERE HAVING YOUR LOVELY FIRST TRY AT SEX WITH THIS COOL GUY AND HE SAID: NAH EL. I JUST LIKE TO EAT!!! MALS!!!!!

And the weird thing is she GOT it. When she was getting his mana as he was zipping around pulverising them she was like: OH he loves this. I guess I was wrong. So why are we back here??? Or do I remember that wrong??

I've forgotten how the magic system works. Shit. Malia? Oh yeah.... There was some sort of prophecy. She was gonna bring the enclaves down and kill lots of people or soemthing. so why the fuck did they leave the payment open???

Oh yeaaaahhh the enclaves got hit

"She really did an excellent job of making it seem perfectly ludicrous for me to be living quietly in my own home instead of keeping close tabs on the latest news from international wizarding circles."

LOL

Can seriously nothing kill a mawmouth but El? How is that even POSSIBLE. How did enclaves ever work then? The moment a mawmouth gets in its over

How the fuck is Liesel THIS good at manipulating El. Oh my god.

Her saying: hey bitch, stop feeling sorry for yourself, your boyfriend being dead, no thank you by the way for saving all of ours lives, I don't care about your other problems, or that you might want a break from the horrors with your mum, also come help me out with the worst most insanely horrible creature in the world AGAIN because I know only you can do it. Bitch. Your house sucks

That worked....

She's going to London to fight another fucking Mawmouth - something her mother doesn't even KNOW SHES DONE YET - and leaves her behind without even a hug of goodbye. AFTER FOR YEARS OF TERROR. I honestly....I'm speechless. I started to suspect El was insanely dumb in book 2 but damn, she really is perhaps the dumbest protag I have ever known barring Korra

I love Liesel. Liesel saw El, FOR WHAT SHE WAS, and she CALLED HER OUT,, and said: you are such a stupid fucking idiot. In book 2. Thank god she's around. She's the only good thing out of book 2 really in my opinion. She says to El: you are insanely powerful. You could change the whole world. Now DO IT! Stop sniveling in the fucking dirt!

Ok there we go. There's my El. 'i eyed him in enormous irritation' her fucking disdain for the preps is my endless delight. Even to her enormous personal disadvantage.

Oh I see. It's like Naomi novik read my harry potter post about the wizards being the Fae.

I remember reinterpreting els prophecy into its super obvious good meaning but can't remember what it was.

How the fuck can Enclaves be based in Malia if that's not allowed (murder? But that's illegal.)

Oh what??? There's still working wizards out there working on keeping the enclave running??? Oh damn. Ok so the class hierarchy becomes explicitly about adult production.

Liesel made her angry again. Made El who she is again.

Why isn't everybody fucking fleeing dude??? Why are there still even people there? Grt the fuck out! The enclave is compromised! Get out with your damn lives you preps!

Oh my god. Go after it! It's fucking going after someone else!!! Oh my god go after it guys!!! IT WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM EL???? CAN MAWMOUTHS KNOW SUCH THINGS?

I have to say. Naomi made a deeply op protag and is now taking a more powerful hammer to the self-delusion that El mysteriously developed about her own power.

Liesel, impervious to El's natural intimidation vibes.

Oof i love all the delicate injustices and horrors in Liesel's life. Ok no. I no longer do. It's too painful

'“So it’s better to have power, and it’s stupid not to take it when you have the chance.'

Yeah. In fact. If I was Liesel I'd be beyond furious at El. Somebody so gifted, SO powerful, and she's just pissing it all away.

Jezus christ. Jezus christ! Liesel! A sensible person of intelligence????

Oh right. The prophecy. Killing thousands doom destruction. WHO IS GETTING KILLED EL COME ON THINK!!! THINK FOR ONCE IN YOUR GODSDAMNED LIFE!!!!! or tell Liesel about the stupid prophecy and she'll do it for you -_-

It was a nice thought though, letting the commuters into the garden but damn, yeah they're gonna obviously only be enthralled.

A TERTIARY ORDER ENTITY.

LIESEL WAS TRYING TO SNAG EL THE ELDRITCH WHATEVER THE FUCK SHE IS FOR HER HIGHLY EFFECTIVE POWER THROUPLE?

And I mean. Alfie is literally bound to El too. Wait. Is Orion actually not coming back...? Are we never getting answers? El's gonna fall for Alfie and Liesel? No....

Love how Liesel and Alfie protectively jump up and go: OUR entity. Lol

Oh ok so the compulsions off. She doesn't think he'd help her after she saved his dad, his home, oh yeah saved the whole school that he felt responsible for, and didn't even insist on keeping him as a slave.

I must admit, I did not at all expect El to be hanging out with Alfie and Liesel after all that. I thought, more like her team, but yeah they're not exactly in England. Isn't there travelling magic. Also I expect that Claire or whatever had a family member eaten by the mawmouth.

I was thinking that: won't commute from an enclave be really dangerous? So. Yes. But like. Why then even work for them. Oh ok so you could just go live in a villages with a few other wizards in a circle

Sometimes novik is not consistent about the vulnerability of adult wizards. But this description seems more apt.

Liesel coming in to say 'stop it!' to eldritch monster entity El like she isn't going over the deep end suddenly and very badly. And succeeding. And then getting Yancy to say what El wants to know. Wow they're a good team. I propose Orion/El/Liesel/Alfie super extreme power ..... Thing? Uh. Bridge structure?

El seriously is like: hm. Why is Liesel helping me now? Already turned her down....

El. You saved the whole school. You made that possible. You killed three MAWMOUTHS. You treat Liesel like a person you respect. You are a fucking entity who could do incredible things with a whole lot of help on the bits you suck so terribly at. Liesel owes you, thinks you're a good person, and is probably genuinely into you, also you need HELP. In so many damn ways. Being sensible, getting around in the world, being smart, getting it together.

Liesel has the most practical magic in the world. Wait. Holy fuck. Is Liesel like...Hermione???? Like powerful power top Hermione???

Wow. Damn. Amazing sex scene here. It makes me laugh in delight almost. Wow Liesel is an insanely stabilising influence. Literally kissing the trauma out of her head for a bit. (Edit: uh is there a fanfic version of this out there...?)

There was something so absolutely wrong with Orion and everybody kept trying to tell El and she never saw it because he became a person FOR HER. And she keeps trying to blame his family but his family probably endlessly tried to connect with him but he was just hunting mals. His father responding like this- just absolutely devastated over Orion finally having acted like a human being with somebody is enormous proof. Uh yeah and the rest of the chapter confirms this explicitly.

It really is harry potter but cooler and grittier and more horrifying and more interesting. Our dark'ness dementia ravenway.... The bit about how really witches when caught up in the witch hunt really can't get themselves out because the 'mundanes' negate it by the disbelief.... A direct reference to Rowling's note about witches making the fire tickle and going in for multiple rounds. Also the whimsical magic. But it doesn't have that magic to the magic. It's uneasy.

Man. So that's why novik repeated el's misconceptions of Orion in her time of grief. To finally disembowel them conclusively later in this book.

Yeah. The big question is. Why did Orion become a human being for El?

I love how aadhya and Chloe and Liesel are all instantly INSTANTLY like oh fuck El sees evil she's evil. They are still an extremely well oiled team

Ok but like, El could just grab new York's mana pool right. But yeah she'd become like ophelia

Lol right. By destroying so many mals ( i really didn't think the estimation had been 92 percent but ok) the enclaves lose their power. That's how El has already smashed them....

Oh wow. I forgot about that malia is stealing life force.... And mals come from Malia....

Which means.....that Ophelia is a huge maleficar and Orion is a big old mal. But she certainly is smart enough to say: we should look into reproducing what you did

Damn.ophelia is smart. She's really doing some magic economics

I really didn't know enclaves were built on malia. I think that's a retcon actually. Not just that El didn't know though also that naturally. It's to make this numbers game fit - to say - there's another numbers game beneath the numbers game - to make the mana and malia interactions fit. And well done novik for that

Because the golden enclave really does become the better solution.

I'm not sure how El going in to kill patience is going to help her recover the scholomance though. I mean. Turns out El could have just cleaned the whole place up all along but yknow. I already knew that.

Why did they ever even send Orion away. They could have just unleashed him endlessly on the enclave's mals. Probably infinitely safer and more pleasant for the enclaves children.

Is El really going forward with this? His mum is a maleficer oh poor poor hero boy Orion.... He was never loved. HE LOVED THE SCHOLOMANCE FOR THE MALS EL NOT BECAUSE HIS MOM HIS AN ETHICAL EVIL MAGIC HACKER

Oh no...please tell me that isn't Chloe's only role. She came late to the team but she was fourth!

Aadhya??? WHAT is Liesel's deal? Uhhhh she ran the whole thing? She made everything possible? Do you think she did that because she's a steely selfish bitch? No.

It was a moment of both weakness and total insanity in the literal senses of the word. So maybe you can thank Liesel for sexing El back into a somewhat functional state Aad

'Liesel made an impatient dismissive gesture. “Yes! You have a hook in her yourself. And why will we yank on these hooks? To make her protect us, save our lives? She will do that for strangers, for nothing. What else? You are her ally. Have you asked her to do anything for you? To make someone give you an enclave place, or an artificer contract? Why not?Because you are also a great martyr, who does not want these things?” She snorted as Aadhya scowled at her. “No! You don’t ask because you know she would say no. I tried asking myself. But she will do nothing selfish for herself, much less anyone else. And she is not wrong,” she added, in a grudging tone of having been unwillingly persuaded. “She is too powerful. Once she started, there would be nowhere to stop. So there is only one use of our hooks: to help her stop. You had better be glad that I have one, and hold tight to yours, too.”'

I fucking love Liesel. What the fuck

Lololololol

Oh my god. El angry at Liesel AGAIN for....offering exactly what she needs and wants and doing so perfectly. Lolololololloll

Oh my god is this the garden in sintra with all its fun fake-magic masonry caves and structures???

IT IS!!! I LOVE THAT GARDEN!!! If you're just out to chill and stroll and tramp around lovely fake natural structures that still look cool!

Sad the characters are experiencing such frustration in such a lovely place.

Adult Disneyland....you're killing me novik. It really was a nice place. I mean I was there when there weren't many other people. It was just nice gardens with caves.

Novik describes the portalling system for the scholomance. Yes. It still doesn't make any sense.

Ok but like the gardens are closed at night. Mals can get in no problem.

What im getting from this is that i had incredible timing and normally that garden is packed with horrible tourists

So....how is it that El has a direct link to New York's mana pool THROUGH the pool right into the scholomance?? Because all the wards are down? Ok but uhhhhh it's out in the void??? That's the whole point

UHHHH actually El I don't think you felt Patience scrying for Orion you just felt Orion

How the fuck is Liesel like, exactly the sharp cold sense that El actually WANTS every time?

Ohh ok so Ophelia somehow did make Orion as he is. Somehow.

Well OBVIOUSLY the Malia source is fucking horrible if it can bring an enclave into being. Like come on. Probably produces a mawmouth or something. And you gotta feed it 50 people or whateve

Damn. They're gonna turn Liu into a mawmouth. Its a sacrifice. Uh Novik. You better not go there.

Wow they were gonna make Liu a mawmouth and make her eat her closest full grown wizard family? I think so. Lets see. Go El!

I KNEW IT!!!!!!! WHAT IS THE WORST AND MOST POWERFUL MAL? WHAT IS THE GREATEST PIECE OF MAGIC AND MALIA? AN ENCLAVE

fucking hell. They're squeezing Liu into a mawmouth. Fuck.

No..her hand...

When I am very moved by a scene, i read it out, the first time. This was the scene.

Oof. Orion just ate some wizards. Surely he has less deadly weapons???? He really is a mal

Uh

Oh he actually really is a maw mouth mal? He's a fucking maw mouth? Her dads now inside fortitude inside patience inside Orion, still getting endlessly tortured. Uh...

'for all I knew' NO. DEFINITELY YOUR DAD

Well idk he's had pretty good control so far. Just unfortunate those damn Beijing council guys tried to kill El

Aadhya and Liesel going into negotiations as proxies for El who'd absolutely fuck them up lol

What a coincidence! You wanted to go to India. Now youve been invited to India! She gets angry

OH. MY. GOD. El actually learned a lesson. Asking for help. And of the right person. Liesel.

Wait a minute. She's been destroying the enclaves. By destroying the maw mouths. The maw mouths REMAIN the foundation. So those 'random' attacks. They were her destroying the enclave foundations while still on scholomance. They're lined up.

So if she kills this maw mouth - but still, why wouldn't her new foundation hold up. Oh she realises it completely too. Shit. I forgot that Salta and Bangkok simply died. She did that

Well honestly, Orion isn't such a bad solution, except the mawmouths in him don't die and also apparently he can't help himself eat people now....

LIESEL KNEW???????? WHAT THE FUCK?!!!!! SHES EVEN SMARTER THAN ME??????

Then surely there must be a foundation in the scholomance. And perhaps Orion is now carrying the mawmouth that pins it.

What the fuck do you mean this ain't a trolley problem. Just start in on propping up all the damn foundations with some real ones El. Then go on a lil maw mouth hunt

Ok but she doesn't even call her mother. Right. She can't. Forgot. She doesn't even DREAM AT HER MOTHER. Or some other magical communication. Not even about the family welcoming her after all or the true meaning of the prophecy

Actually since when is El capable of just catching others spells. And get mana from them?? Like some sort of scholomance? Oh yeah she s just so horrridly op

She's....catching bullets out of the air. And...turning people into stone temporarily with them. Fucking absolute lol

I get the sense that novik got lost in the Sintra garden... Like multiple times. Which is very hilarious because my god. It is very easy.

So weird to have fond and vague memories of this precise settting

Ok so i was right. And Naomi novik is a little bit of a genius for this. Real Orion, the realest Orion, was the Orion of book 1. The genuine hero. When there were fewer and fewer mals to eat in book 2, he became more and more maw mouth, started behaving strangely.

Oof. Better run El. He's about to start..... Eating.

What a fucking BASTARD. COULD HAVE AT LEAST HELD ON ONTO EL WAS NOT AT LEAST S HUNDRED STEPS AWAY

Damn El people are getting EATEN OVER THERE HELLO STOP FUCKING STALLING

The thing is all this time I've been thinking CANT YOU KILL THE BITS AND NOT THE BOY. KILL THE MAW MOUTH BITS BUT NOT THE BOY? THE BOY ISNT SOME ORGAN THAT CANT BE AUTONOMOUS. YOU COULD SURELY EXTRACT HIM WHOLE BECAUSE HE IS. YOU HAVE TO KILL THEM ALL INDIVIDUALLY REALLY ANYWAY

Oh my god. No

She did something much more

Damn. I remember wishing el would become child guardian in the scholomance but it's true that Orion would also do very well

But he's not getting mana out ...wait. he can still extract mana out of mals he snaps into the void? Uh ok.

That book made a lot of sense. And was very very very good.

[soonie-doongie-and-dori]

Rock-star thoughts

Ok, so. Rockstar came out. And it was, as expected, awesome. I have so many thoughts about the comeback, a lot of which are *incoherent screaming*. But, I also wanted to write about what I thought of the songs overall. So, enjoy the word vomit <3

Megaverse

I've said it once, I'll say it again; the first tracks on skz albums always go HARD.

Absolutely in love with the beginning- Felix singing in french, and I'm in love with Bangchan's verse, it reminds me of the 'break the wall' ateez fanchant for some reason

This is the ultimate hype song, very much following in the footsteps of it's predecessor Hall of Fame

Lalalala

This title track ROCKED (pun intended)

Often, I find that I like the b-sides of skz albums far more than the title track; which really frustrates me, but Lalalala did NOT disappoint. It is the epitome of what a title track should be, since it represents skz so well; unapologetically loud and fun

I absolutely love the wordplay in this album; La means happiness but it also sounds like rock buts it's also la in the sense of lalala. I'm an absolute sucker for wordplay, and this made me feel so happy.

Another hype song, it embodies it's message so well; even though negative emotions exist, joy always comes out on top

I loved the pirate concept of the mv, but I would have absolutely lost my shit if the mv was an actual rock star concept. But pirate skz is also pretty cool

Blind Spot

Our genius Quokka did it again guys

But seriously, I'm absolutely in love with this song. It's my favourite, I'm absolutely addicted to it

This song is Mixtape 2/Behind the Light pt 2. I can't explain myself, it just is. (If you don't remember it, go listen to it!! fr one of the most underrated skz songs)

Bloody hell, I love "Shining, we are the champions,Trying to make a difference" It's truly so good

The opening instrumentals are NO JOKE, they're short but they are so vital to the song

I also love the imagery of a 'Blind Spot' in the song, like it's a part of them that we don't see. I really want to write an entire essay on this song. I might.

Comflex

WORDPLAY AGAIN, 3racha are fucking genius

It's exactly what it says on the label, a(nother) hype song, this one about embracing your flaws & insecurities and being proud of them

It's a self love song, in the most skz way possible. Reminds me of the meme of someone yelling 'HYDRATE OR DIEDRATE' while throwing water bottles at people

If Youtiful was skz telling us that they love us, Comflex is skz screaming at us to love ourselves

Flex your complexes guys!

Cover Me

When I first saw the credits for this song, I screamed a little. I've been waiting for a song written by Hyunjin since he talked about getting into songwriting in the 5-star intro. I was so disappointed when I saw that none of the 5-star songs had Hyunjin as a writer, because I was so sure that one would be there, and then I forgot all about it, so Cover Me hit me like a brick to the face

This song quite literally feels like a warm blanket covering you

Something I found really interesting; I'm usually pretty good at figuring out who is singing when, but damn did this song stump me. It's probably because it was a mainly vocal song, unlike most of skz's songs, but it's still interesting

In a similar vein, FELIX USED HIS MIDDLE REGISTER! Don't get me wrong, I love Felix's deep voice as much as the next simp, but I loved Deep end because it gave Felix a chance to explore range other than the deep voice he always gets handed in songs. I was praying for some songs to allow Felix to use his mid-upper range and I was hopeful when I saw the intro, and Cover Me delivered. I love Hyunjin so much for this

Leave

Skz's latest break up song! Reminds me of Ex

Being honest, I didn't find much special about this song, but it is genuinely a pretty good song

But, the angst is quite nice and it's an excellent song to sob to

Overall

Skz just outdoes themselves every time. I'd describe this album as very evenly split between Head-banging hype songs and ugly crying songs. If they'd have swapped Blind Spot and Comflex, the album would literally be 3 songs of pure hype followed by 3 songs that you're sobbing to. Skz continues to display their range by giving us whiplash with every album. I'm so, so in love with this comeback. The rock ver of lalalala was also a pure genius idea, it brings the album together so well, and it's just plain fun

[borkthemork]

Started watching Miraculous after you reblogged a few related posts. Though I haven't gotten past season 2 yet, it looks like there's a pretty stark division between season 1/2 and the later seasons, and apparently season 4 gets real bad? Seems like you're all the way through - is it worth the time sink to reach what looks like some Cool Shit from the movie?

So the thing with Miraculous the series and Miraculous the movie would be that they're both separate entities, and have different canons. You don't have to watch the series to understand the movie, since they basically have different characterizations, interpretations, and overall divergent tones. Which is a good thing, because I would recommend Miraculous the series on the condition that someone recognizes that the writing is absolutely buck wild, and it's based on how much you're willing to cope through its buck wildness to see what's happening. So, when it comes to asking your question, Anon, I would have to go a bit more in-depth to at least showcase which one I would recommend based on your preferences. We can start with the movie, since it's quicker. [Warnings for some spoilers in the series, including the last season.] The Miraculous movie is pretty good. I can say that the composition, songs, fight scenes, and animation are quite beautiful, and a definite recommend for anyone who wants to get some understanding of the series, without being obligated to watch the show, and prefer a more "polished" look. Excellent designs, gorgeous lighting, I cannot stop thinking about the composition toward the piano scene. Stunning. It does lose characterization or mix up the personalities of the characters to make the story fit for a movie run — unfortunately, Plagg has been hit by this the most, alongside a few other characters like Alya. Marinette and Adrien, specifically, have had their personalities tweaked to match the tone of the movie, and overall, make the film complete, yet lose some of the complexity that comes from the series. If you're looking for a more action-focused, shonen-esque experience with a complete end, that would be the media I would recommend. If you're looking for a more magical girl-esque experience, with writing that makes you wonder what type of crack the team was on to give me an existential crisis while having this conveyed through zany shenanigans, the series would be more to your alley. There has been some discourse in the fandom regarding the quality of each season, and to be fair, a lot of this comes down to stuff I'm not really much invested in. Miraculous, at its heart, is a romance action show, so characterization and the romance (which includes the love square outside the two characters) will be that focus. Some characters that fandom want redeemed won't be redeemed, or are annoying, and I'm fine with that. As a casual viewer, I don't find myself seeing them as heavy flaws, unless the writing makes it too overbearing. I will note that, Anon, you're definitely correct that there is a difference between Miraculous's first two seasons compared to the current ones, and I think that's probably the main appeal for me as someone who listened in and then decided to watch again, since the tone transition is entertaining to watch during the course of the show. The seasons begin to go into a downward spiral in the best way possible. Details from past seasons get brought up. More of the monster-of-the-week is shown, and yet it gets more sinister with Hawkmoth's new power-ups and allies. You go from Chloe being your typical rich character in a show, to being manipulated in a massive political game to take over France using robotic infantry by the end of the latest season. You have characters like Plagg and Tikki — tiny creatures with the powers of gods — making multiple jokes of how powerful they are and sometimes how apathetic they can be to human suffering, and then have that be an actual pay-off within the show. This series is wacky, insane, and yet I can't help but enjoy the journey on how it dives into more serious undertones while also keeping its more wacky side to it all. It might not be everyone's tea, but if you're curious on how Season One went from that to (Motions to Season 5) this, then I think the journey is worth it.

[armchairaleck]

Alright, I am going totally out into the wilderness, away from anything the Dragon Prince fandom wants to read, to write some totally self-indulgent Viren/Corvus post s5 enemies to lovers.. ticking all my boxes but no one else's.. it’s pretty much consuming all my writing hours because I know it will be blown to smithereens by season 6… and I don't have much to say about it here because I also know it's utterly ridiculous.

ANYWAY sometimes I need a break from two guys discussing the nature of fate and existence around a camp fire (yep, fun times when I go all in on the indulgence..) so I’ve also started to write bits of King Atticus is an utter bastard AU (haven’t really thought of a proper name for this yet…)

Here’s a snippet cut below. I don’t even know if it will make it into the main plot, it's really just a little study of Atticus and Kpp'Ar plotting somewhat dubious stuff for Duren...

“Mmm” Atticus lifted the goblet of red wine to his lips and smiled. “Here’s to new ventures.”

Kpp’Ar did not drink straight away, he swirled the wine a little and let its scent settle in his nose first. The wine would undoubtedly be some of the best the five kingdoms had produced. He might as well savour it.

The first sip didn’t disappoint, rich and heavy on the tongue, mountain wine, grown in the foothills of Del Bar, he could almost taste the sweetness of the first winter frost that they’d allowed to settle on the grapes before harvesting. An excellent vintage, he let it roll slowly around his tongue and watched the king.

Atticus sat regarding him, eyes narrowed. It was often the king’s policy to sit until a silence grew so uncomfortable that it was impossible not to break it, and Kpp’Ar decided to oblige him before it reached that point.

“You seem to have already decided on the mage you want as my successor.”

Atticus leant back in his chair and rotated his goblet slowly between his fingers so that the candlelight glinted off the gold.

“Well, he has certain admirable qualities the others don’t possess. Very dedicated to the kingdom, and my son Harrow seems fond of him, they’re fond of each other, no? You can’t pay gold for that sort of loyalty.” He laughed, and Kpp’Ar felt his usual slight revulsion at the cold, metallic ring of it. “You’ll have time to indulge your other pastimes, research, those puzzles that you like. You can let someone younger do the more mundane magic and worry about politics.”

Kpp’Ar shrugged, it wouldn’t do to let the king see his true emotions, he was like a snake that way, he would swallow them now and digest them slowly later, add it to the list of all the other information he kept locked away inside his head.

This latest move, his retirement, was simply the king rearranging his chess pieces on a board. Kpp’Ar knew he had outstayed his usefulness, there was no point in arguing his case.

“It would be nice to have the time to explore other avenues certainly.” He smiled back at the king.

“Precisely, council meetings were never really your scene, and Viren has a strong sense of… justice.”

“Indeed.”

Kpp’Ar gazed down at his glass, he didn’t particularly want to look at the king, to see the knowing look on his face, the unspoken things that lay beneath his words. There were many things he found it prudent to keep to himself, but he could never be completely certain that Atticus hadn’t already sniffed them out somehow.

“You’ve invested a lot of time in Viren, it must make you proud to see how far he’s come.”

Kpp’Ar took another sip of the wine. There it was, the little flash of the blade. The way Atticus would hold it in his hand and let you see for just a moment before striking.

“Of course.” He let his finger trace the patterns etched around the goblet, finest Neolandian gold of course, and he feigned absolute indifference. Even if Atticus had an inkling of just what Viren meant to him, of the odd complexities that their relationship contained, he was not about to expose that in front of him. “I suppose I’ve grown… fond of the boy.” He wasn’t a boy now of course, he was a man grown and yet sometimes there were moments when Kpp’Ar could still see the burning drive of Viren’s younger self, awkward and eager and full of passionate intensity.

“Yes, you always seemed unusually invested in that one.” Atticus gave him a slow smile, like a wolf it was, all barred teeth. “Don’t worry, he’ll do well, achieve far more than most men of his station. Do you know, I’m even considering giving him a title? Lord Viren, I expect that would sit well with him. You were never much moved by titles were you Kpp’Ar? But then, you came from money, what does a little word mean then?”

Atticus knocked his signet ring against the rim of the goblet in his hand and the sound reverberated in the silence.

“For what would you give him a title?” Kpp’Ar kept his voice merely curious but he knew there would be a cost involved commensurate with the reward. Common boys like Viren did not simply become lords in Katolis.

“For services… rendered. I mean, that’s the usual reason for giving out titles, no?”

Kpp’Ar stilled his features and took another sip of the wine. There were very few angles to playing Atticus, once he had made up his mind about something there was very little dissuading him. Kpp’Ar knew he himself was an aberration, tolerated only for his unmatched skills in dark magic. Of everyone at the court he alone said no to Atticus, everyone else bent the knee, and so here he was, nothing but a piece in a game that could be quietly removed now. There was a new piece to take his place, one that he himself had trained and honed to perfection to suit the king’s needs. In a way he’d always been playing Atticus’s hand, had moved his own pieces exactly where the king had wanted them.

“What service will you be asking of him? It would be better for me to know, in case I need to advise him.”

Atticus placed the goblet back on the table.

“Yes, of course, you might be right. The ambassador from Duren… she’s been getting a little… insistent lately, harvest failures, a blight that’s been spreading year by year. Of course Duren don’t keep a high mage, strictly speaking there are no mages at all in Duren, they see themselves as… above that sort of thing. Enlightened, talk is Del Bar are thinking of curbs at least. Imagine that, soon all the kingdoms might start considering dark magic unacceptable, you know how they love to frown on anything they don’t understand.”

“I’ve heard some rumours.”

Kpp’Ar did not keep in particularly close contact with any dark mages other than those he has trained himself, and yet this news had already travelled to him from a disgruntled trader in Del Bar. It’s true that Duren by advantage of their geographical location have not had to resort to dark magic in quite the same way the other kingdoms have. Most practitioners there are simple healers who keep to the shadows and are recommended only by word of mouth. There are no great mages, no one of the calibre that Kpp’Ar would consider worthy of the title.

“Quite, and yet now that their harvests can’t feed the population, to whom do they turn?”

“To you I suppose.”

“To me.” Atticus’s voice cut like cold steel. “Suddenly their moral high ground is not so lofty after all, suddenly our aid is acceptable. I intend to let them see what a few more years of blight does. Let them come to the pentarchy when their backs are really against the wall. Then we can negotiate.”

Kpp’Ar nodded, Atticus had always been politically ruthless, it had left Katolis almost as powerful as the other four kingdoms put together. The Katolian army is a well-oiled machine, it greatly exceeded the needs of a few border skirmishes that erupted from time to time with Xadia. He ruled with an iron fist, and yet he was one of those rare leaders who can also put on a show of relating to the common man. Kpp’Ar had always been impressed watching him in action, from the humblest peasant to the richest lord he ingratiated himself effortlessly, like some street hawker peddling false cures.

He himself had always struggled to bond with anyone, he had very few friends, and yet for some reason over the years he has known him Viren alone had become something else to him. Something he chose never to quite quantify with words because it was fraught with hidden danger. They have blurred the edges of their relationship in so many different ways now and it was increasingly apparent that these feelings he had have allowed him to be played. He can see no way for Viren to avoid the web that Atticus has spun.

“So you want Viren to put her off?”

“No. I want new ambassador, someone a little more amenable, or better still, no ambassador from Duren. She simply has to meet with an accident, it would be unfortunate, but… well these things happen.” Atticus spread his hands and shrugged.

“What will you tell Viren?”

“Just that, nothing more, he’s a bright enough lad, ambitious, he’ll figure it out.”

“I don’t think you know him that well, he won’t kill someone, not even for a title.”

“Well, the title is only an incentive, a man like Viren has plenty to lose though doesn’t he? That beautiful wife, the son he seems so fond of, a baby daughter too.”

There is a dark look on Atticus’s face now and it is that moment that Kpp’Ar can see how easily he’d been played, how utterly out manoeuvred he had been, and that he is now expendable, he too could meet with an accident if the king willed it. He took another sip of his wine, swallowed it impassively as his mind worked around the problem.

Atticus thought that he knew him, thought he knew every person and all their weaknesses, but he isn’t infallible, he’d always been greedy for magic, for the power that it gave him but also for the knowledge of it too.

“I have a solution that might work, something I’ve been wanting to test for you actually, something I believe you’ll like.”

“Oh yes?” Atticus looked at him, face impassive, but he can see the glint of hunger in his eyes. Kpp’Ar knows something about human weakness too.

“Old magic, elven, I picked them up in Xadia, I had to pay a considerable price.”

Kpp’Ar reached into his cloak and dropped a soft fabric bag on the table, Atticus reached for it, undid the string. He is a man who had always been inordinately interested in dark magic and all its trappings. A small pile of coins dropped onto the table and the king stacked them, one on top of the other, before picking up the top one and spinning it slowly between his fingers.

“What are these?”

“Prisons, very old I believe, they trap the soul, hold it in an different plane. Far more elegant than murder.”

"Hold it how?"

"Trap the soul, transmigrate the body. No trace."

“Alright, so the ambassador is gone, we say she’s been taken by Moonshadow elves. Create a little division with Xadia. Duren could send a hundred spies to scour our kingdom and they won’t find a trace?"

"Correct."

Unlikely another ambassador will be keen to come after that.”

“I'm sure you have ways of getting your wish, Sire.”

Atticus flipped the coin and caught it easily, regarded his own reflection in the polished gold.

“Heavier than a normal coin.”

“Yes.”

“What magic?”

“Star they told me when I bought it, but that’s only because it increases the price considerably. I should say moon, perhaps some corruption of the moon primal. Hard to be sure without more research.”

“Interesting. Fine that plan is acceptable, can you reverse it?”

“Theoretically, I haven’t quite worked that part out yet, there are very few records of this sort of thing. Perhaps if Viren and I could use the castle library I might find something there.”

“As you wish.”

The king placed the coin back in the sack, pushed the others back in carefully and tied the string.

“I think perhaps I’ll let Viren have a few more months under you, so he can get used to the new role, he can attend the council meetings, but I’ll still consult you on the magical side of things. How does that sound?”

“Very good your majesty.”

Kpp’Ar bowed his head so Atticus couldn’t see his expression.

“Oh, and Kpp’Ar, send Viren to me later will you? There are a few things I wish to discuss with him.”

———

What are the complexities of Kpp’Ar and Viren’s relationship?

Viren and Kpp’Ar are carrying on a clandestine affair behind Lissa’s back… I mean maybe.. when I get into the planning of this AU Viren has a lot of affairs, clandestine and otherwise..

[arysguide]

a song a week: #5

Unfinished Sympathy (Cover) by Underdark (2023)

I've been a fan of trip-hop for a while now. I have to admit I don't know that much about the genre broadly but I love Massive Attack. I've lost count of the amount of times I've listened to their albums Blue Lines, Heligoland and Mezzanine. Blue Lines (1991) is one of trip-hop's most iconic albums, and Unfinished Sympathy is one of its most iconic songs. A perfect fusion of cinematic strings, gorgeous strong vocals, and the undeniable cool of the sampling and crystalline beat. A mysterious song that appears to be about questioning if a relationship with undeniable chemistry can continue after a betrayal. But this post isn't really about that song. This post is about the black metal cover by Underdark, released over 30 years later. Definitely a ballsy choice, I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing the first time I encountered it.

Underdark are a fantastic black metal band from Nottingham. (No strangers to an interesting cover, they also covered Plainsong by The Cure in 2020.) My love affair with black metal started a few years later but now hugely influences what I listen to on a daily basis. To an outsider it may seem like a genre myopically concerned with only the darkest of human emotions, rage, depression and hatred. In truth a lot of black metal albums are like that, for better or for worse. However in all of the intense darkness there is potential for endless complexity. This cover is truly a shining example of that. It really showcases not only excellent musicianship but also an incredibly interesting take on the original song that clearly comes from a place of deep affection. I know this sounds very intellectual and sure, this is post-black metal after all (à la "post-metal", beyond heavy metal conventions), the kind of metal derided as "hipster metal" back when hipsters were still a thing. But let's be clear - for all its complexity this song absolutely rips. The breakdown is incredibly satisfying and ferocious. The end of the song elegantly winds down to just the guitar melody recalling the melancholy feeling of the original.

If you enjoyed it, definitely check out their latest album, Managed Decline.

Really hurt me, baby, really cut me, baby How can you have a day without a night? You're the book that I have opened And now I've got to know much more

Song also available on Bandcamp.

[legion1227]

Barry: Season 4 Review

With the latest season, Barry has to be cemented as one of the best shows. Period.

If you're unaware of the future classic HBO show, I recommend a watch absolutely. On March 5th, 2018, the first season of Barry started to air. Initially, the show followed Bill Hader as Barry Berkman, a former military veteran turned hitman who pursued acting. Its first season is this great blend of drama and comedy as Barry meets his acting teacher Gene Cousineau, played by the immaculate Henry Winkler. Accompanying the amazing duo are an equally outstanding cast with Sarah Goldberg as Sally, Barry's love interest, criminals NoHo Hank and Critobal, played respectively by Anthony Carrigan and Michael Irby, and the man who groomed Barry to be a killer, Fuches, played by Stephen Root. Other characters are introduced throughout the seasons, but the aforementioned core players are show-stealers for four seasons straight. Barry, the show, may remain comedic throughout, but by season three, the show makes a darker turn. The comedy remains, but the drama is upped.

And with its final season, it's solidified as a top-tier show.

The show can shove a lot into its eight-episode season, but it doesn't feel bloated. Its eight-episode run has a perfect pace with every episode and every character getting ample time to breathe. The arc every character goes through by this final season is a fascinating endeavor as every character is nearly unrecognizable from who they were in the first season.

Some of the cast become genuinely unlikable yet still rich and complex, with a tangled web of complications plaguing and infecting their past and present. It's hard to root for certain characters by this point, but equally difficult to turn away from the screen as you're left dying to see what happens next or what each person's next action will be…

Not only does Bill Hader excel at acting as the titular character Barry, but he and Alec Berg truly crafted a masterpiece that warrants immense critical acclaim and praise. Everyone deserves so many awards this Emmy season for creating an excellent sendoff to a truly underrated piece of television. 5/5. Absolute recommendation, a must-watch.

[abhiwantech]

Top 5 3d animation services providers in India

3d animation services in India have seen a rapid growth in demand in recent years. The businesses are creating a mix of storytelling with immersive experiences through 3d animation for the entertainment and gaming industries, real estate, education, and advertising. India has developed into the centre of 3d animation production, endowed with a flourishing talent pool and technical infrastructure. We now usher you into discovering the top 5 3d animation services providers in India that have made a mark through their creativity, innovation, and technical excellence.

1. Abhiwan Technology 

Abhiwan Technology has emerged as a promising and innovative 3d animation studio in India. The studio specialises in 3d animation services, which Abhiwan skillfully combines with the latest technical know-how to deliver captivating animation for various industries, including real estate, gaming, and advertising. The able team's specialisations include character animation, architectural visualisation, product modelling, and interactive 3d experiences. Abhiwan Technology uses advanced tools and engines, such as Unreal Engine, to realise mesmerising animations from complex ideas.

2. Maya Digital Studios

An Indian animation industry major, Maya Digital Studios, is one of the most well-established names in the business. With a legacy going back decades, Maya contributed to innumerable projects of domestic and international importance in television, film, and games. Maya provides services in a range of 3d animation, including character modelling, VFX, architectural visualisation, and 3d walkthroughs. Its team of talented artists and animators specialises in 3d, which we fine-tune according to the client's requirements and deliver detailed and polished output. Maya Digital Studios has worked with many of the world's top entertainment companies and continues to redefine visual storytelling.

3. Toonz Animation India

Toonz Animation is located in Trivandrum, Kerala, and it is another industry giant known for offering unparalleled 33danimation services. The studio is focused on children's content, animated TV shows, feature films, and commercials. Toonz has been producing amazing animation content that, over the years, has appealed to diverse audiences with its international clientele. The strength of Toonz Animation can be found in its extensive pipeline, advanced 3d animation tools, and a group of fully devoted employees who bring every frame to life. Their work showcases an absolute amalgam of creativity and precision in terms of technology.

4. Prana Studios

Prana Studios is an animation studio that operates in the cities of Mumbai and Los Angeles. The studio has global acclaim and renown in providing the highest quality 3d animation for films, TV shows, commercials, and theme parks. It is sought for its detailed work on character animation, light, and rendering. Their 3d animation services have been used by several Hollywood blockbusters and animated features. Prana can scale large projects with top-of-the-range quality and is therefore able to provide partners in international collaboration.

5. Makuta VFX

Makuta VFX, located in Hyderabad, is amongst the very few names where the backyard of providing exceptional visual effects and 3d animation works is considered. The studio garnered much fame for its contribution to the blockbuster Indian films like the Baahubali series. From concept to end, using cutting-edge technology, visual splendour is made when creating believable environments and lively characters. With complete 3d animation services-from pre-visualisation, modelling-texturing-lighting, rigging, to post-production-Makuta excels in modern-day cinematic storytelling with an uncommon depth of understanding and high-end production workflows.

Conclusion

The Indian 3d animation industry is moving forward, and the above-mentioned studios are at the helm of this creative revolution. With recognised global players beside innovative start-ups like Abhiwan Technology, they all provide an assortment of diverse types of 3d animation services for the domestic and international markets. An association with one of these leading 3d animation service firms in India is the right step to take a step forward in creating visual beauty for your brand, telling captivating stories, presenting their ideas, and creating enthralling virtual experiences.

[nulledclubproblog]

Kissmetrics nulled plugin 1.18.1

Download Kissmetrics Nulled Plugin for Free: Unlock Advanced Analytics Effortlessly Looking for a powerful way to supercharge your WordPress analytics? Discover the incredible Kissmetrics nulled plugin—a high-performing tool that offers professional-grade tracking and insights for your website without spending a fortune. Download it today for free and experience premium features at zero cost! What is Kissmetrics Nulled Plugin? The Kissmetrics  is a premium WordPress extension designed to integrate Kissmetrics' renowned analytics platform directly into your WordPress site. This plugin allows you to effortlessly track customer behavior, create detailed reports, and optimize your marketing efforts—all without requiring complex setup processes. With the nulled version, you can access all premium functionalities free of charge, making it an excellent choice for website owners eager to boost their data-driven strategies. Technical Specifications Plugin Name: Kissmetrics Nulled Plugin Version: Latest Updated Version Compatibility: WordPress 5.0 and above Required PHP Version: 7.2 or higher License: GPL (Nulled) Updates: Manual Updates Supported Top Features and Benefits of Kissmetrics Nulled Plugin Comprehensive Customer Journey Tracking Understand every step your visitors take, from their first interaction to final conversion, thanks to the robust tracking capabilities of the Kissmetrics  Event-Based Analytics Unlike basic Google Analytics, this plugin focuses on meaningful actions—such as sign-ups, purchases, and downloads—giving you actionable data to refine your marketing strategy. Customizable Reports Generate tailored reports that give deep insights into your audience's behavior, allowing you to make smarter, data-driven decisions to grow your business effectively. Seamless Integration with WordPress Installing and configuring the Kissmetrics nulled plugin is a breeze, requiring no coding skills. Start analyzing critical data within minutes of activation! Use Cases for Kissmetrics Plugin E-commerce Stores: Track the entire buyer's journey from product discovery to checkout, optimizing for maximum conversions. Membership Sites: Understand member engagement and retention trends to improve your offerings. Content Creators: Analyze which articles or videos keep users hooked and adapt your content strategy accordingly. How to Install Kissmetrics Nulled Plugin Download the latest Kissmetrics nulled plugin file from our website. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard. Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin. Select the downloaded ZIP file and click "Install Now." After installation, click "Activate" to start utilizing all premium features for free. For a similar premium experience, you might also want to check out our amazing offer on elementor nulled pro to enhance your website's design capabilities without any cost! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is it safe to use the Kissmetrics nulled plugin? Absolutely! We ensure that all plugins available on our site are thoroughly tested and free of malware, so you can confidently download and use them on your site. Will I get updates for the Kissmetrics nulled plugin? Updates are not automatic. However, we regularly upload the latest versions on our platform for you to manually update your plugin. Can I use Kissmetrics plugin on multiple sites? Yes, you can install and use the Kissmetrics  on unlimited websites without any restrictions! If you're interested in exploring a broader collection of top-rated WordPress tools, don't miss out on our curated list of nulled themes to transform your website today!

[basmatirice2]

Sirra Foods : Best basmati rice exporter in India 

As prominent Basmati Rice Suppliers in India, Sirra Foods, headquartered in the heart of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, stands as a custodian of India's rich agricultural heritage, bringing the timeless allure of authentic basmati rice to discerning palates across the globe. For centuries, the fertile plains of our nation have nurtured this exceptional grain, celebrated for its distinct flavour profile and captivating aroma. The very essence of basmati lies in its delicate, subtly sweet taste, a nuance that perfectly complements both savory and subtly sweet dishes, and the fragrant, almost floral notes that elevate every culinary creation it graces, making dining an experience rather than just a meal.

At Sirra Foods, our commitment to quality is absolute and deeply ingrained in our operational ethos. Our stringent quality control measures are meticulously applied at every stage, commencing with the scrupulous selection of premium paddy sourced directly from trusted farmers in the fertile regions of Uttar Pradesh. Our state-of-the-art processing facilities, strategically located in Kanpur, are equipped with the latest technology to ensure that each grain embodies the authentic characteristics of true basmati – its elongated, slender shape, its non-sticky texture upon cooking, and its signature fragrance. Our close collaboration with local farming communities, who possess generations of invaluable expertise in cultivating this precious grain, allows us to champion sustainable agricultural practices and consistently guarantee a superior yield, benefiting both the land and the final product. This unwavering dedication to quality has firmly positioned us among the Best Basmati Rice Exporters in India.

Our premium basmati rice serves as the quintessential foundation for creating the aromatic and flavourful biryani rice, where its elongated, separate grains beautifully absorb the complex symphony of spices, meats, and vegetables, creating a dish that is both visually appealing and gastronomically satisfying. For wholesome and satisfying veg rice dishes, our basmati enhances the natural sweetness of vegetables with its light, fluffy texture and delicate aroma, making even simple meals feel special. Furthermore, our selection of superior long rice varieties offers remarkable versatility for a diverse range of international cuisines, prized for their impressive grain length and ability to remain distinct after cooking, making them ideal for pilafs, salads, and side dishes.

The increasing global appreciation for authentic Indian basmati rice underscores its unique appeal, and Sirra Foods, operating proudly from Kanpur, serves as a dependable bridge, connecting the rich agricultural bounty of Uttar Pradesh and India with the diverse culinary landscapes across the world. Our unwavering dedication to providing consistently high-qualityrice and edible oils has established us as a trusted exporter in numerous international markets, a testament to our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. We strive to be more than just suppliers; we are partners in delivering authentic flavours and wholesome ingredients to tables worldwide, all while contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of our local community in Uttar Pradesh. Experience the true essence of India's finest with Sirra Foods, where tradition, quality, and global reach seamlessly converge. We are proud to be recognized among the leading Basmati Rice Manufacturers in India.

[technicalgurus]

Unleashing the Power of a TechnicalGuru in the Digital Era

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, having a reliable source of knowledge is essential for staying ahead. That’s where a TechnicalGuru comes in — a term that has become synonymous with expertise, innovation, and guidance in the world of technology.

A TechnicalGuru is not just someone who knows how to fix a computer or install software. They are a well-rounded expert, constantly exploring new trends, tools, and techniques that shape the future. From AI and cloud computing to cybersecurity and coding, a true TechnicalGuru has their finger on the pulse of tech evolution.

What makes a TechnicalGuru stand out is their ability to break down complex concepts and present them in a way that’s easy to understand. Whether through online tutorials, blog posts, or social media channels, these tech-savvy individuals make learning accessible for everyone — from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals.

With the rise of platforms like YouTube and Instagram, many TechnicalGurus have built loyal communities by sharing hands-on reviews, how-to guides, and tech tips. They influence purchasing decisions, provide honest product feedback, and even guide careers in tech. Their presence is felt across multiple industries, and their advice is often more trusted than traditional advertising.

Businesses, too, are recognizing the value of having a TechnicalGuru on their team. Whether it’s to streamline operations, develop innovative solutions, or train staff, these experts play a crucial role in digital transformation. In startups, a TechnicalGuru might serve as the CTO or lead developer, driving the company’s vision forward with technical excellence.

For individuals looking to become a TechnicalGuru, the path requires continuous learning, curiosity, and a passion for solving problems. Certifications, hands-on experience, and building a personal brand are all key components. It’s not just about knowledge — it’s about sharing that knowledge effectively.

In a world flooded with information, the demand for trustworthy, knowledgeable voices is higher than ever. A TechnicalGuru serves as a beacon, helping others navigate the chaos of modern technology with confidence and clarity.

Whether you're a student trying to understand coding, a business owner needing tech support, or just someone curious about the latest gadgets, having a TechnicalGuru to follow or consult can make all the difference. In the end, it’s not just about being technical — it’s about being the guru who empowers others through technology.