#gold import benefit order

[sirfrogsworth]

Best light for streamers without a lot of space.

Amaran is the budget line of video equipment for Aputure. And it is surprisingly solid for the price. You can get knockoff versions of most of their stuff from Neewer or GVM, but if you want something reliable that won't break in a year or two, Amaran is a good medium budget option.

They just released what I am callng the anti-ring light.

The Verge Max.

This is a ring light where they fill in the hole and give you an entire light. You can read a long rant about ring lights here. But the short version is, you don't want one unless you put the camera in the hole and are doing a tight close up of a face.

If you aren't doing a close up of a face (like for a makeup tutorial) then you just have a normal light with a giant hole in it.

You will get no magical benefits from a ring light under any other circumstances.

The reason ring lights are so popular (outside of being a fad), is because they don't take up a lot of space. A lot of people are streaming from their computer desk which is usually up against a wall. And you just don't have a lot of room to set up a proper light with a modifier.

Before now, your best option would be an LED panel (with the hole filled in). This one by Godox is pretty good.

It has a little remote and you can add batteries to make it mobile.

But it is small and in order to get soft light, you have to place it very close to your face or set up two of them. And it might get uncomfortable blasting a small light source into your eyes for long streaming sessions.

This new Amaran light is just as thin as a panel light, but its lighting surface area is like a proper studio light.

And it is round so you will get nice catchlights in your eyeballs (if you care about that).

So you can place it a little farther back or against the wall and distribute the light over a larger area. It won't be as piercing and uncomfortable, and you get flattering soft light.

I realize $260 is an investment. You need to be sure you can make good use of this light. But if you are in cramped quarters and need a proper lighting setup, this is a great option.

Otherwise, if you do have a little space to work with, you can buy the Godox panel (or use any decently bright light you have), and tape a $10 umbrella in front of it.

Don't sleep on umbrellas. They work great. They just spill light all over the place, so you have to be mindful of that.

But I took this photo of Chris with a $10 umbrella.

All you are trying to do is make the light source bigger. You can even put the umbrella on a ring light if you already have one.

Or you can bounce the light off the wall behind your desk. If you have a big white wall, use it as a light source.

The gold standard for video lights is always going to be a COB LED light with a Bowens mount. That last part is important. The mount allows you to attach any light modifier there is.

This Godox is pretty good for an entry level continuous light. I like them as much as Amaran.

And then you can throw an octobox on there at the size of your choice.

It even has a grid to help prevent light spill.

This setup is also great for portrait photography.

The Verge Max comes out in June, but here is a video of it if you have any interest.

Good lighting is a superpower. You can be using a webcam or smartphone and lighting can improve your image much more than just about anything else.

Because I have to socialize mostly through video chats, I have a little LED panel set up near my computer. Makes a pretty big difference when compared to the regular room lights.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Podcasting “Capitalists Hate Capitalism”

I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in Torino (Apr 21) Marin County (Apr 27), Winnipeg (May 2), Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), and beyond!

This week on my podcast, I read "Capitalists Hate Capitalism," my latest column for Locus Magazine:

https://locusmag.com/2024/03/cory-doctorow-capitalists-hate-capitalism/

What do I mean by "capitalists hate capitalism?" It all comes down to the difference between "profits" and "rents." A capitalist takes capital (money, or the things you can buy with it) and combines it with employees' labor, and generates profits (the capitalist's share) and wages (the workers' share).

Rents, meanwhile, come from owning an asset that capitalists need to generate profits. For example, a landlord who rents a storefront to a coffee shop extracts rent from the capitalist who owns the coffee shop. Meanwhile, the capitalist who owns the cafe extracts profits from the baristas' labor.

Capitalists' founding philosophers like Adam Smith hated rents. Worse: rents were the most important source of income at the time of capitalism's founding. Feudal lords owned great swathes of land, and there were armies of serfs who were bound to that land – it was illegal for them to leave it. The serfs owed rent to lords, and so they worked the land in order grow crops and raise livestock that they handed over the to lord as rent for the land they weren't allowed to leave.

Capitalists, meanwhile, wanted to turn that land into grazing territory for sheep as a source of wool for the "dark, Satanic mills" of the industrial revolution. They wanted the serfs to be kicked off their land so that they would become "free labor" that could be hired to work in those factories.

For the founders of capitalism, a "free market" wasn't free from regulation, it was free from rents, and "free labor" came from workers who were free to leave the estates where they were born – but also free to starve unless they took a job with the capitalists.

For capitalism's philosophers, free markets and free labor weren't just a source of profits, they were also a source of virtue. Capitalists – unlike lords – had to worry about competition from one another. They had to make better goods at lower prices, lest their customers take their business elsewhere; and they had to offer higher pay and better conditions, lest their "free labor" take a job elsewhere.

This means that capitalists are haunted by the fear of losing everything, and that fear acts as a goad, driving them to find ways to make everything better for everyone: better, cheaper products that benefit shoppers; and better-paid, safer jobs that benefit workers. For Smith, capitalism is alchemy, a philosopher's stone that transforms the base metal of greed into the gold of public spiritedness.

By contrast, rentiers are insulated from competition. Their workers are bound to the land, and must toil to pay the rent no matter whether they are treated well or abused. The rent rolls in reliably, without the lord having to invest in new, better ways to bring in the harvest. It's a good life (for the lord).

Think of that coffee-shop again: if a better cafe opens across the street, the owner can lose it all, as their customers and workers switch allegiance. But for the landlord, the failure of his capitalist tenant is a feature, not a bug. Once the cafe goes bust, the landlord gets a newly vacant storefront on the same block as the hot new coffee shop that can be rented out at even higher rates to another capitalist who tries his luck.

The industrial revolution wasn't just the triumph of automation over craft processes, nor the triumph of factory owners over weavers. It was also the triumph of profits over rents. The transformation of hereditary estates worked by serfs into part of the supply chain for textile mills was attended by – and contributed to – the political ascendancy of capitalists over rentiers.

Now, obviously, capitalism didn't end rents – just as feudalism didn't require the total absence of profits. Under feudalism, capitalists still extracted profits from capital and labor; and under capitalism, rentiers still extracted rents from assets that capitalists and workers paid them to use.

The difference comes in the way that conflicts between profits and rents were resolved. Feudalism is a system where rents triumph over profits, and capitalism is a system where profits triumph over rents.

It's conflict that tells you what really matters. You love your family, but they drive you crazy. If you side with your family over your friends – even when your friends might be right and your family's probably wrong – then you value your family more than your friends. That doesn't mean you don't value your friends – it means that you value them less than your family.

Conflict is a reliable way to know whether or not you're a leftist. As Steven Brust says, the way to distinguish a leftist is to ask "What's more important, human rights, or property rights?" If you answer "Property rights are human right," you're not a leftist. Leftists don't necessarily oppose all property rights – they just think they're less important than human rights.

Think of conflicts between property rights and human rights: the grocer who deliberately renders leftover food inedible before putting it in the dumpster to ensure that hungry people can't eat it, or the landlord who keeps an apartment empty while a homeless person freezes to death on its doorstep. You don't have to say "No one can own food or a home" to say, "in these cases, property rights are interfering with human rights, so they should be overridden." For leftists property rights can be a means to human rights (like revolutionary land reformers who give peasants title to the lands they work), but where property rights interfere with human rights, they are set aside.

In his 2023 book Technofeudalism, Yanis Varoufakis claims that capitalism has given way to a new feudalism – that capitalism was a transitional phase between feudalism…and feudalism:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/28/cloudalists/#cloud-capital

Varoufakis's point isn't that capitalists have gone extinct. Rather, it's that today, conflicts between capital and assets – between rents and profits – reliably end with a victory of rent over profit.

Think of Amazon: the "everything store" appears to be a vast bazaar, a flea-market whose stalls are all operated by independent capitalists who decide what to sell, how to price it, and then compete to tempt shoppers. In reality, though, the whole system is owned by a single feudalist, who extracts 51% from every dollar those merchants take in, and decides who can sell, and what they can sell, and at what price, and whether anyone can even see it:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/01/managerial-discretion/#junk-fees

Or consider the patent trolls of the Eastern District of Texas. These "companies" are invisible and produce nothing. They consist solely of a serviced mailbox in a dusty, uninhabited office-building, and an overbroad patent (say, a patent on "tapping on a screen with your finger") issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office. These companies extract hundreds of millions of dollars from Apple, Google, Samsung for violating these patents. In other words, the government steps in and takes vast profits generated through productive activity by companies that make phones, and turns that money over as rent paid to unproductive companies whose sole "product" is lawsuits. It's the triumph of rent over profit.

Capitalists hate capitalism. All capitalists would rather extract rents than profits, because rents are insulated from competition. The merchants who sell on Jeff Bezos's Amazon (or open a cafe in a landlord's storefront, or license a foolish smartphone patent) bear all the risk. The landlords – of Amazon, the storefront, or the patent – get paid whether or not that risk pays off.

This is why Google, Apple and Samsung also have vast digital estates that they rent out to capitalists – everything from app stores to patent portfolios. They would much rather be in the business of renting things out to capitalists than competing with capitalists.

Hence that famous Adam Smith quote: "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices." This is literally what Google and Meta do:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Blue

And it's what Apple and Google do:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/27/23934961/google-antitrust-trial-defaults-search-deal-26-3-billion

Why compete with one another when you can collude, like feudal lords with adjacent estates who trust one another to return any serf they catch trying to sneak away in the dead of night?

Because of course, it's not just "free markets" that have been captured by rents ("Competition is for losers" -P. Thiel) – it's also "free labor." For years, the largest tech and entertainment companies in America illegally colluded on a "no poach" agreement not to hire one-anothers' employees:

https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/03/apple-google-other-silicon-valley-tech-giants-ordered-to-pay-415m-in-no-poaching-suit/

These companies were bitter competitors – as were these sectors. Even as Big Content was lobbying for farcical copyright law expansions and vowing to capture Big Tech, all these companies on both sides were able to set aside their differences and collude to bind their free workers to their estates and end the "wasteful competition" to secure their labor.

Of course, this is even more pronounced at the bottom of the labor market, where noncompete "agreements" are the norm. The median American worker bound by a noncompete is a fast-food worker whose employer can wield the power of the state to prevent that worker from leaving behind the Wendy's cash-register to make $0.25/hour more at the McDonald's fry trap across the street:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/02/its-the-economy-stupid/#neofeudal

Employers defend this as necessary to secure their investment in training their workers and to ensure the integrity of their trade secrets. But why should their investments be protected? Capitalism is about risk, and the fear that accompanies risk – fear that drives capitalists to innovate, which creates the public benefit that is the moral justification for capitalism.

Capitalists hate capitalism. They don't want free labor – they want labor bound to the land. Capitalists benefit from free labor: if you have a better company, you can tempt away the best workers and cause your inferior rival to fail. But feudalists benefit from un-free labor, from tricks like "bondage fees" that force workers to pay in order to quit their jobs:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/21/bondage-fees/#doorman-building

Companies like Petsmart use "training repayment agreement provisions" (TRAPs) to keep low-waged workers from leaving for better employers. Petsmart says it costs $5,500 to train a pet-groomer, and if that worker is fired, laid off, or quits less than two years, they have to pay that amount to Petsmart:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/04/its-a-trap/#a-little-on-the-nose

Now, Petsmart is full of shit here. The "four-week training course" Petsmart claims is worth $5,500 actually only lasts for three weeks. What's more, the "training" consists of sweeping the floor and doing other low-level chores for three weeks, without pay.

But even if Petsmart were to give $5,500 worth of training to every pet-groomer, this would still be bullshit. Why should the worker bear the risk of Petsmart making a bad investment in their training? Under capitalism, risks justify rewards. Petsmart's argument for charging $50 to groom your dog and paying the groomer $15 for the job is that they took $35 worth of risk. But some of that risk is being borne by the worker – they're the ones footing the bill for the training.

For Petsmart – as for all feudalists – a worker (with all the attendant risks) can be turned into an asset, something that isn't subject to competition. Petsmart doesn't have to retain workers through superior pay and conditions – they can use the state's contract-enforcement mechanism instead.

Capitalists hate capitalism, but they love feudalism. Sure, they dress this up by claiming that governmental de-risking spurs investment: "Who would pay to train a pet-groomer if that worker could walk out the next day and shave dogs for some competing shop?"

But this is obvious nonsense. Think of Silicon Valley: high tech is the most "IP-intensive" of all industries, the sector that has had to compete most fiercely for skilled labor. And yet, Silicon Valley is in California, where noncompetes are illegal. Every single successful Silicon Valley company has thrived in an environment in which their skilled workers can walk out the door at any time and take a job with a rival company.

There's no indication that the risk of free labor prevents investment. Think of AI, the biggest investment bubble in human history. All the major AI companies are in jurisdictions where noncompetes are illegal. Anthropic – OpenAI's most serious competitor – was founded by a sister/brother team who quit senior roles at OpenAI and founded a direct competitor. No one can claim with a straight face that OpenAI is now unable to raise capital on favorable terms.

What's more, when OpenAI founder Sam Altman was forced out by his board, Microsoft offered to hire him – and 700 other OpenAI personnel – to found an OpenAI competitor. When Altman returned to the company, Microsoft invested more money in OpenAI, despite their intimate understanding that anyone could hire away the company's founder and all of its top technical staff at any time.

The idea that the departure of the Burger King trade secrets locked up in its workers' heads constitute more of a risk to the ability to operate a hamburger restaurant than the departure of the entire technical staff of OpenAI is obvious nonsense. Noncompetes aren't a way to make it possible to run a business – they're a way to make it easy to run a business, by eliminating competition and pushing the risk onto employees.

Because capitalists hate capitalism. And who can blame them? Who wouldn't prefer a life with less risk to one where you have to constantly look over your shoulder for competitors who've found a way to make a superior offer to your customers and workers?

This is why businesses are so excited about securing "IP" – that is, a government-backed right to control your workers, customers, competitors or critics:

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

The argument for every IP right expansion is the same: "Who would invest in creating something new without the assurance that some­one else wouldn’t copy and improve on it and put them out of business?"

That was the argument raised five years ago, during the (mercifully brief) mania for genre writers seeking trademarks on common tropes. There was the romance writer who got a trademark on the word "cocky" in book titles:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/16/17566276/cockygate-amazon-kindle-unlimited-algorithm-self-published-romance-novel-cabal

And the fantasy writer who wanted a trademark on "dragon slayer" in fantasy novel titles:

https://memex.craphound.com/2018/06/14/son-of-cocky-a-writer-is-trying-to-trademark-dragon-slayer-for-fantasy-novels/

Who subsequently sought a trademark on any book cover featuring a person holding a weapon:

https://memex.craphound.com/2018/07/19/trademark-troll-who-claims-to-own-dragon-slayer-now-wants-exclusive-rights-to-book-covers-where-someone-is-holding-a-weapon/

For these would-be rentiers, the logic was the same: "Why would I write a book about a dragon-slayer if I could lose readers to someone else who writes a book about dragon-slayers?"

In these cases, the USPTO denied or rescinded its trademarks. Profits triumphed over rents. But increasingly, rents are triumphing over profits, and rent-extraction is celebrated as "smart business," while profits are for suckers, only slightly preferable to "wages" (the worst way to get paid under both capitalism and feudalism).

That's what's behind all the talk about "passive income" – that's just a euphemism for "rent." It's what Douglas Rushkoff is referring to in Survival of the Richest when he talks about the wealthy wanting to "go meta":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/13/collapse-porn/#collapse-porn

Don't drive a cab – go meta and buy a medallion. Don't buy a medallion, go meta and found Uber. Don't found Uber, go meta and invest in Uber. Don't invest in Uber, go meta and buy options on Uber stock. Don't buy Uber stock options, go meta and buy derivatives of options on Uber stock.

"Going meta" means distancing yourself from capitalism – from income derived from profits, from competition, from risk – and cozying up to feudalism.

Capitalists have always hated capitalism. The owners of the dark Satanic mills wanted peasants turned off the land and converted into "free labor" – but they also kidnapped Napoleonic war-orphans and indentured them to ten-year terms of service, which was all you could get out of a child's body before it was ruined for further work:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/26/enochs-hammer/#thats-fronkonsteen

When Varoufakis says we've entered a new feudal age, he doesn't mean that we've abolished capitalism. He means that – for the first time in centuries – when rents go to war against profits – the rents almost always emerge victorious.

Here's the podcast episode:

https://craphound.com/news/2024/04/14/capitalists-hate-capitalism/

Here's a direct link to the MP3 (hosting courtesy of the Internet Archive; they'll host your stuff for free, forever):

https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_465/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_465_-_Capitalists_Hate_Capitalism.mp3

And here's the RSS feed for my podcast:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/doctorow_podcast

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/18/in-extremis-veritas/#the-winnah

[officialdaydreamer00]

A Knight and their Royalty

in which your knight yearned for you dearly

tags: knight!kris x royalty!reader, fem-aligned/neutral reader, vaguely medieval settings, mainly fluff waow

(1/3)

(Please reblog if you enjoy my work!)

.

.

.

You sat in front of your vanity, your face stone cold as servants scrambled to dress you up appropriately.

Sixteen was an age you hesitated to reach. Obligations, betrothals, marriages, you had much gripe about it.

Born into a peasant family, you had no right. Born into a noble family, you had slightly more right, but your standing was the same. Born into royalty, you had right, but still no place of importance for you. Such was the fate of many young royals, just like you.

Nothing but an item to be traded for political benefits of men.

Your face darkened. An item to be sold and purchased without much difficulties. That thought scared you more than ever. Who were you even betrothed to? What would become of you after this marriage?

The door to your private chamber creaked. Entered a tall individial, bowing with such a grace one could yearn to achieve. Their armour shined under the dim torch light, their cape trailed behind them, bearing the royal crest with purpose.

The Knight.

The Knight who remained steadfast and loyal, valiantly guarded you through the years. The Knight who silently offered you their shoulder to cry on whenever your anger over injustice subsided. The Knight who pledged their loyalty to you and you alone, choosing to stay by your side, regardless of your insistence and protests.

Your Knight.

As the servants, albeit hesitantly, trickled out of your chamber, they knelt before your seating form.

"My Liege."

Came their soft voice, a blend of monotone and androgyny you grew to adore. The cold metal felt comforting as your hand was placed on theirs, lips pressed a reverent kiss to your knuckles, though avoiding the golden band on your ring finger.

A bitter reminder of your impending birdcage, painted in gold and saccharine promises of wealth and happiness.

“…” They stared at you, dark mahogany eyes stayed unvawered behind their long bangs, yet many questions they wished to ask resided deep inside.

“Speak.” You said with a small sigh. They spoke so little for someone who expressed so much through actions.

A faint pink hue dusted their cheeks. Even if they had been serving you since both were at a very young age, they still had yet able to speak their own mind without your orders.

“Of course, my Liege.” They coughed, trying to school their expressions. Alas, it was difficult to do so, when it was only you they were with.

You stared at them with a raised eyebrow.

"... My Angel." They conceded.

They could never refuse you anything. How could they, when that satisfied smile on your face was enough to drive them mad?

Your Knight is wholeheartedly devoted to you. Heart and soul, all of them belong to you, and they will gladly offer them on a silver platter if you so much as mention it.

-> Part 2

[multidimensionalguidance]

💰 Wealth Indicator 💰

I’ve observed that natives with Rahu in 2H often comes from families that have already amassed a certain amount of wealth, comfort, power, skills, or talents, whereas Ketu in 2H becomes the one who builds it all in order to elevate their entire family line along with them.

Today, Aga Khan IV showed up on my IG feed, so I got curious and found Rahu in his 2H, he comes from a long line of ancestral wealth and royalty. Then, I randomly looked into Brad Pitt and boom, there’s Ketu in the 2H, guess who else has this placement? Elon Musk, and many other individuals who had to put their own efforts in order to achieve wealth, power, or recognition as well to a level no one in their family line ever had before.

I also remembered metting someone who has Rahu in 2H that enjoys a very lavish lifestyle, and it definitely has family times. I will note however, that this individual has been able to gain lots of his own personal wealth, but through shady deals, which makes sense considering Rahu’s illusory nature + link to underworld activity.

Worth mentioning as well that in all cases I’ve seen a massive increase of wealth, almost without a miss, the dispositors of the nodes are well placed (domicile or exalted).

Now, this is not to say that debilitation wouldn’t give good results, for example:

Eddie Murphy has Rahu in 2H with its dispositor debilitated (Mercury in Pisces), and he dealt with a lot of difficulties before reaching the point of fame and success that he has now.

His father was an amateur actor and comedian. Those were the family resources that Eddie had to his advantage, even through he never got to be close with his own father he found a way to flip it to his benefit!

Yes, if it shines like gold it can be gold, but how it was obtained poses a more important question.

[itsvenera]

Hi!! (: Could you maybe do some headcanons for what Gaara, Itachi, and Kakashi's type/ideal partner would be? In terms of personality, traits, looks, or anything else (: Also feel free to only do one of the above or add any other characters you'd want! Thank you!!

author's note: I love this request so much, I've been waiting for someone to ask me about Naruto characters' types, so I can rant about it. Thank you so much for sending this idea! :) <3

➤ Gaara

Occupation - Gaara's ideal partner would either be a civilian or someone who is involved in state politics (for example, a member of the Council). Knowing how dangerous the life of a shinobi is and how many enemies he has out there, I don't believe he would ever fall for a ninja.

Looks - while I don't think Gaara particularly cares for looks and appearances, his s/o has to be more or less presentable (especially if they are to be seen next to the Kazekage). I've always imagined him with a s/o, whose style resembles the style of the ancients- clothes made of white linen, gold jewellery (especially jewelled collars and bracelets), and different hair accessories, symbols of their status in the village. I also definitely see his s/o wearing makeup as both a way to protect their skin from the harsh climate and a way to compliment their look.

Personality - the ideal partner for Gaara has to be someone who is calm, gentle, and cares for the people, just as much as him. They definitely have to be patient (being in a relationship with him would definitely require a lot of patience!) and understanding person, who is able to accept him for who he is and what he has done in the past. Now, if his s/o is involved in politics of some sort, I definitely imagine them as someone who is calculating and cunning as well. While Gaara has years of experience as a Kazekage, I don't think he is a political strategist, so his partner would usually be the one influencing the other members of the Council or important figures from other villages, in order to further Suna's best interests.

➤ Itachi

Occupation - healer or a civilian, who lives a life completely dissociated with that of a ninja. Preferably someone who lives far away from the Land of Fire, in a remote village or by themselves, and also had never heard of him or his clan before.

Looks - I think Itachi would fall for someone who is very soft and innocent looking - someone who more or less remind him of his mother. As someone whose main occupation is to gather herbs or do some type of craft, I imagine his s/o preferring more simple clothing, in which they can move freely and comfortably. They would probably have tons of amulets/jewellery on them, the majority of which are heirlooms left by their family. Their style is what I would describe as "bohemian" with an emphasis on organic elements and nature.

Personality - I think Itachi's ideal partner is someone who can serve as some form of escape for him - a free-spirited and optimistic individual, who can offer a different view of the world. They have to be caring, sweet, and respectful, especially when it comes to Itachi's personal space. I think he would appreciate having someone, who won't poke their nose in his business too much and press him to open up to them before he is ready. Still, his s/o has to be someone confident, loyal and also very honest. He would benefit from someone, who would tell him openly what they think and would be his pillar of support in moments when he dwells in self-doubt and regret over the past.

➤ Kakashi

Occupation - there is a 99% for Kakashi to fall for a fellow shinobi or at least someone who had worked a shinobi at some point in their life. His work is pretty much his life, so I definitely see him with someone who can understand how demanding this job is, as well as how it can affect people's lives.

Looks - as long as their s/o does NOT resemble Rin or an Uchiha, he doesn't care. If his s/o is a ninja, they would probably wear the same shinobi attire as him most of the time. If they are not a ninja anymore, I imagine Kakashi with someone who still puts some effort in their appearance, but they don't overdo it. Not a "must", but I do imagine him with someone with either shoulder-length or long hair, so he can run his fingers through their locks as a gesture of love or while falling asleep.

Personality - his s/o has to be someone who is strong-willed, honest, and has a deep sense of community and caring about the people close to them. I imagine Kakashi being with someone who can easily take the role of a "parent" or "the wise adult" (as he has to do quite often) and who doesn't shy away from their responsibilities. His s/o has to be someone who he can share his burdens with and who would stay by his side through good and bad. I imagine Kakashi being with someone with a strong personality, who can sometimes act before they think, yet they always have others' best interests in mind. They would often have strong opinions of stuff and while this can lead with occasional clashes with Kakashi, he would appreciate their honesty and their willingness to argue for what they think it's right.

cc artwork: Sin Jong Hun

[sybilofhearth]

PART TWO: THE LIE

Synopsis: You’re close to victory, but someone stands in your way.

Content warning: mention of death, injury, revenge and vengeance themes, possible emotional trauma or grief, manipulation and spying, implied political intrigue and betrayal.

Pairing: GN!Reader x Lahan

Word count: 2k

You have worn three faces in that palace.

Today, you are a lie.

A not so innocent lie that could easily make you lose your head, both figurative and literally.

The soft breeze of the early morning caresses your face like the ephemeral touch of what your identity was once, a quiet reminder of your actions, and their consequences.

You knew that there was the slightest possibility that they suspected your involvement in this case.

Now that you think of it, why would Master Jinshi talk to a recently arrived scribe who he knew nothing about and suddenly trust them with an important mission?

You got even more and more anxious as you thought of it. They found out, they were surely just making sure you would expose yourself sooner than later.

But you wouldn't get anything out of thinking yourself to death— you were already into this mess.

It's not like you didn't know already who the culprit was, because, in fact, you were the one responsible for their disappearance.

Meanwhile, you couldn't help but think of how much of an advantage you would have if you earned Master Jinshi's approbation. You would be able to access all the scrolls with the worst information about every single individual in court, and the object that brought you here.

Well, it was more a rumour than an actual fact, but rumour had it that the deals done by some clans with the Emperor were recorded there, in a ledger. But who knew if that ledger existed, or it was merely a distraction from other matters?

If it truly existed, would it have the hints to make the La clan meet its demise?

The Imperial Palace itself was like a golden painting, sewn by gold threads and fallacies that caught even the most high and mighty and used them for their own motives and benefits. In the end, everyone would end up paying the consequences of those fallacies, but the puppets within the palace had to do everything it took to avoid that.

Although, they only would get to delay it.

If it weren't for that strategist… He always seemed to be in the most unwanted places of all the Palace.

You recall seeing him while you were trying to get some cloves from the royal kitchen, and even when you were supposed to meet the envoy your patron sent.

He was someone you were meant to be wary of.

Not because of his status and the ease that he would have to get you beheaded for treason, but because he was as sly as a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Although he was far from being perceived as an inoffensive shepherd, there was a reason why he was feared, and no one wanted to get involved with him at all.

Or at least that's how you learnt to perceive it after years on his tail.

After all, you had the fortune of witnessing that first-hand.

You sighed, observing the beautiful blossoms that welcomed spring with open arms and a maddeningly calming scent that would make even the most cold-hearted soul in that palace melt.

A reminder of your time spent within the walls of the Palace. Four months.

Four months where you had to meet with the son of the strategist and feign that you were actually interested in finding the culprit behind the disappearance of such important documents.

He was a sly one, though you tried to dodge every single quastion he threw your way for whatever reason he had.

You remember he went as far as to somehow imply that you were the one who had been the closest to the culprit, and of course, that didn't sit well with you at all.

Perhaps he was having fun with this mouse and cat game.

To him it was perhaps simply another attempt at seeking the collapse of his clan.

To you? You still had matters to finish before corridors were filled by the footsteps and whispers of servants being ordered around.

That was the sole reason why you had bothered to wake up at such an unholy hour, when not even the servants and eunuchs started their services. Although, there were some guards stationed before the grand gates that separated the Palace from the rest of the Imperial city. It was there where actual life was, instead of that unbreakable tranquillity and rules that expectations burdened every single person with within the imposing walls.

As you approached the guards, you nodded in acknowledgment before showing them the small entry tablet which allowed you to enter and exit the palace without raising suspicion. The guard analysed the tablet with the passion of a servant folding clothes and stepped aside, allowing you to momentarily escape that golden cage.

When you walked past the gate, relief filled your entire being. You despised the demeanour that the palace had made you acquire. Every step away from it felt like you were actually escaping your destiny.

The fresh scent of air without it being inundated by the suffocating scent of the incense and perfumed oils made you want to never return to the palace again. But you couldn't actually deny the perks that came with being stuck there almost all the time.

At least you got double paid, both as a spy and as a scribe, and you didn't need to worry about a place to sleep in —at least not until you ended your mission.

If someone asked, you were fetching some ink supplies for the Head Scribe, even if you were meant to fetch them yesterday.

You had even taken the time to buy a small pouch of cloves, and carefully hid it in one of the pockets of your attire.

As you strolled near the dark alleyways where you were meant to join an envoy sent by your patron, a hand made you halt and jump in place.

You turned around, sorting how to get out from this situation.

It was either someone trying to rob you or a foreigner asking for directions, speaking from your experience.

Although you were not even close to whom the individual was, because as soon as you turned around, azure eyes met yours in an endless dance of wills because neither of you blinked.

At least not until he spoke.

“I didn't know scribes woke up so early, given that your tasks start when the bell rings.” His tone held that kind of confidence which seemed as if every word he spoke was an actual fact, rather than a simple conjection.

He was right, and surely, he was suspecting the reason for your presence there. Or maybe you were just paranoid.

For you it was normal to wake up early, although you didn't expect a pampered heir to a clan to be that aware of his own privileges.

You were used to waking up early, hell, you even remember seeing tons of eunuchs and servants wake up early to run errands as well.

You fight the urge to roll your eyes and the need of knocking him out at least for some minutes in order to not be delayed for the meeting... you thought you could take him.

He wasn't specially robust, nor tall, and with your skills, it should be easy to make sure that he doesn't hinder your path.

But, as the logical person you are, you simply decide to explain to him politely the excuse you had managed to pull in order to avoid complications.

“Master Lahan.” You bow at him slightly and stare at him with a curated gaze, trying not to let a single emotion slip through the reflex of your soul. “I must say it does surprise me as well to see you here, although there is a reason why I am needed to be awake and here at this hour.”

You cross your arms, to which he chuckles and nods, his gaze holding something akin to faux security.

“Pray tell, then, scribe, what face are you wearing today?”

You were about to say that you had to fetch some ink, but his words took you back, and you stared at him slightly in shock. What a marvellous show of control of your emotions and all that's needed to avoid getting caught. Indeed, you were sure that your face conveyed it pretty much.

“Well, isn't my face the usual?”

You play it down by showing some worry about your appearance, to which he scoffs, but that confirms your thoughts.

“It is, although you seem to look about more...”

The sound of the first bell echoes through the city, signalling that the working hours would start in brief, and you had to hurry.

“If you pardon me, Master Lahan, at this moment I have matters to attend.”

You bow, and when he nods in acknowledgment and turns around to leave, disappearing between the people who already crowded the street, you hurry towards the meeting place, rounding an alley and nearing a door.

You waited a few seconds before knocking on the door with the same pattern you had repeated every time you were there to report on your progress.

Twice.

The sound echoed in the space behind the door.

Once.

Not a sound. Not yet.

Four times, until you finally heard a sound that indicated that someone was there.

The sound of someone behind the door walking around hastily and fidgeting with metallic keys, ding-doing, almost hypnotic.

As the door was left ajar, a sharp nose poked through it, and sharp green eyes hidden behind a veil burn you with a suffocating intensity.

“You are late.”

You stare at the woman in front of you.

“I am aware. There were some obstacles on the way, and I had to deal with them not so hastily this time.”

She stares at you in slight disappointment.

“Do you have at least something to deal with the final blow?”

You nod and hand her a few scrolls and a ledger.

“I have heard that there is a—” you notice her staring at you intently, “Is something the matter, lady Biyu?”

“You...” She squints her eyes as if trying to pinpoint what exactly is off.

“You smell like cloves. I believe I already told you to avoid bearing scents that could make you recognizable.”

You roll your eyes, clearly unfazed, because who the hell would actually pick up on the smell of cloves? It was normal to smell like cloves, too, when you were in a market where they sold spices not so long ago.

And considering you had a whole pouch of them with you.

“I will be more careful, but I doubt someone would actually pick up on the smell.”

You take some scrolls from your sleeves and hand them to the envoy.

“The patron wants to deal the final blow.”

Her hands take the scrolls and open them, one by one, her eyes analyzing every word with scrutiny.

“A fake eunuch? This is… impressively good.”

You smirk and regard her with a rather sly expression.

“Ah, I have a surprise in store for the La clan as well. They are one of the most powerful clans, and it would not benefit them nor the Emperor for their dirty tricks to come to light.”

The envoy regards you with slight disbelief.

“Well, just don't disappoint the boss. Or you won't live to tell it.”

She says with that sinister smile of hers, one that you've grown used to, even fond of. Unlike the first time, when even the slight shift of expression made you shiver.

Now that you think of it, you've come to change quite a lot, especially since the incident.

That incident

You were just initiating on being a mercenary, working with your mentor, the one who had raised you after you became an orphan.

That night, you understood how life worked. Pawns in the master's game. You remember how she watched you, with a sinister and silent expression, almost as if she relished in the ingenuity you had back then, like a predator savouring the instant before pouncing over their prey.

You wanted so bad to feel like you belonged, for her to approve of the miserable kid you were when you still had to wander the streets to look for something to eat.

You wondered if you should fear her, but despite her tough and demanding exterior, you ended up growing fond of her.

For your first mission, your patron assigned you to assist both your mentor and Baiyu, and the mission was none other than infiltrating in the La clan household to get back a confiscated item that could prove to be useful.

The tragedy that dawned that night was like many others in your field. But that was your first. You knew very well the feeling of losing someone dear to you, but your younger self didn't expect to have someone die in your own arms. You relived it that same evening when you managed to escape, but your mentor, who had been severely injured by one of the guards, died in your arms.

You felt impotence. You wanted to take your revenge oh so bad. To take from those who had taken from you the only figure that mattered to you.

But every time you decided to avenge him, your mentor's last words echoed in your head.

“What difference will you be from them if you resort to vengeance, my dear?”

But you were adamant on settling the score.

And those same words echoed now as Baiyu gazed at you, clearly used to your drifting out. She placed a hand over your shoulder as her cool expression analyses you.

“Please, don't focus on your vengeance. Even if the patron allows you to, remember that our mission is to send intel rather than tarnishing the walls with red.”

“Now hurry before the working hours start. Or you'll be in trouble.”

“Don't worry. I've got it all controlled.”

She smiles faintly, but soon, her neutral expression returns as she hands you a small box with ink, and hurries you out of the building making sure no one catches a glimpse of either of you.

You nod and walk towards the Imperial Palace again as the second bell echoes through the Imperial city, marking the start of the workday.

As you walk back towards the inside of the Palace, too caught up in your thoughts and showing the guards your entry table, you fail to notice the watchful sapphire eyes that observe you from the outer palace.

When the burning feeling at the back of your head becomes unbearable, you turn around to be met with absolutely nothing.

Only guards watching, curious by your sudden move.

Despite the chill crawling up your back, you continue your moves towards the archive chamber without hesitation.

As you enter, the room is empty. There's no one as you walk through the shelves, hoping to see at least the chief scribe, but not even him is there.

Setting the small container with ink over a desk, you move towards the shelves again, eyes analyzing the contents, until they fall over something that makes your heart stutter.

An old scroll with the La clan's seal sits on a dusty corner, and that made you eager to relish in your victory against those who took the man who you most admired.

You only hoped it would actually be something with compromising information, so you reached to take it, and as your fingers brushed the parchment, not even wrapping them around it, the smell of sandalwood invaded your nostrils.

Quickly, you opened the scroll, only to be met with fresh ink.

Were you not taught that curiosity kills the cat? The face you've been wearing is nothing but a mere lie. Turn around now that you can.

A trap. Of course.

It made sense. After all, you've never seen that scroll before.

“I see you're still here. It seems your little plan is not going to end up very well, hm?”

You whirl to face those amethyst eyes, sharp and unreadable.

What is he doing here?

Before you try to even react, a hand closes around your wrist.

“Your little game is over. We know everything.”

The watchful figure with sapphire eyes steps forward, lips curled into a knowing smile.

“You underestimated how closely we’ve been watching.”

Of course it was him.

Your heart sinks. The trap was never just about the scroll — it was about you.

Notes: Here’s the turning point! What awaits you in the final act? Let’s hope it’s not too cruel… Writing this second part was tough, but I wanted to capture the tension and backstory. I hope you like it and stick around for the final part!

[fancygremlin]

I love how Warren, Gordon AND Clive are character foils of one another. Interestingly, all three of them is assigned the colour gold. The colour implies relevance… which contrasts pretty well how they are viewed or treated by the other characters.

Warren is the “golden egg”.

He is the most important asset Overhead ever obtained and YET— despite all that, he is not treated like a person... he barely classifies as human by the people working at Overhead. In most instances, people talk for him, over him, and as if he’s not even in the room... and no one (except Gordon) seem to find that bothersome. At the start of the podcast he is set to follow a trail of breadcrumbs to return to the Red Valley Research Facility, which led him to discover that everything he thought he knew (his wife, his co-workers, his job, EVERYTHING) was fake. Overnight, his life was ruined and everyone was treating this event as if they managed to pull off a surprise birthday party for him (there was even cake! Oh, how lucky!). He later drives a scalpel through his own hand and people are worried for maybe a minute about him before they decide to use the self inflicted injury as a fantastic opportunity to test the pod’s potential benefits for medical urgencies. Warren is dehumanised and reduced to nothing at every turn, even before taking part to the project.

Warren is seen as nothing more than just a "fun" science project. Comparing him to a lab rat would be too kind, because that would imply that the people carrying out the experiments care about his wellbeing and are tracking his health (mental and physical) and ensuring his safety at each and every step of the way. Instead, he is simply viewed as nothing more than a test tube, a petri dish, a limited stock of valuable cells to routinely freeze over and thaw.

Gordon has a car that he lovingly calls the “golden bullet”.

He is always shoved in the background, belittled and treated poorly by his colleagues. He receives the most hostile comments from the people around him... quite routinely, too. When he worked at Overhead, he was considered as nothing but a corporate drone. Clive calls him "stillwater" to demonstrate how inconsequential and invisible he was to the company. Later, when he becomes the archivist at Red Valley, he is described as a man-child and treated like he has zero brain functions (he even gets called Igor, in reference to the character of the Frankenstein movie), he is made fun of constantly. No one expects anything of him... and Gordon internalised this, too. No one sees his importance, and as a result Gordon doesn't either. In reality he IS the one at the heart of the story: he was researching the seed vault way before anyone else, he is the one that records everything and subsequently provids the material that sacks Bryony, he is the one that explores the secret tunnel to aid Aubrey's plan and he is Warren's lifeline and only safe space while he continues to go in and out of hypersleep. He is the ONE person that helps Warren realise he doesn't deserve the harsh treatment he had to endure.

How fitting that Gordon, a character that struggles to find their purpose and their usefulness, is not even directly tied to the motif himself... his car is. And how interesting that the car is only lovingly referred to as golden, when in reality it is just coppery in colour.

Clive is the "golden boy".

He is at the front of the Kontinue project, and yet, no one really takes him seriously. He hires assistants for the project putting more importance on their appearance, rather than their qualifications. He dresses up in expensive clothes and suits to show how important he is to the company, only for the actual relevant people to not care what he thinks. During the meeting with Malcolm and Hester he was talked over, ordered around, treated more like a waiter than the important R&D person he is supposed to be... and I can't tell if he actually doesn't see this, or if he is refusing to face this reality. Bryony was fired because she was too smart for her own good and too dangerous, Clive was kept on the Kontinue project because he is being promised status and relevance, if he keeps doing what he is being told. He routinely threatens people, and still he never commits to the extremely graphic (and creative) threats he throws around: he is not the one that used the gun that one time, it was Bryony. After he is shot in the knee, his “get well soon” card is bland, generic and unsympathetic. No affection or warmth was being conveyed from his co-workers, despite the fact that he has been referred to as “the man of the hour” on multiple occasions before. And most importantly… he is recovering (seemingly) all on his lonesome. Just a Blue Sky to keep him company, while eating sad ready-meals and microwave lasagna. Where are his beloved wife and kid?

Clive is all appearance and no substance, all bark and no bite.

These characters seem to not be quite enough to classify as gold, they may be pyrite, or fool's gold instead:

Warren is the pyrite from which a lot of gold can be extracted. However, once all the gold is gone, he is going to be tossed aside, as his value is limited to and tied solely to its gold contents.

Gordon is the pyrite that was found by people who only see value in gold. No matter what, the people at Overhead will never appreciate the properties and qualities and uses of pyrite when they are so hellbent in digging and mining for gold.

Clive is the pyrite that is trying so hard to pass as real gold and wants to be treated as just as worthy. He is able to fool people for a bit, but pyrite might shine as brightly as gold and share some qualities and properties... but he'll never be the real deal... and some people might have started to notice.

[vexxandra]

what is coming? (timeless pick-a-card)

for those who need comfort, or dream of the future, this might be the pac for you ☆ 3-17-23 .

PILE ONE ; " i'm so tired " ...

how long have you been keeping yourself awake? it's up to you to decide whether that statement was metaphorical or literal, but the point still stands. can't catch sleep? it's not your fault. you don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, you deserve to rest. sleep is a blessing that you will catch up on soon. the mistakes of your past shouldn't stop you from rejuvenating yourself. i'm sorry this relief from life has been taken from you.

i can see that what's coming toward you is more closure. conflicts being resolved, and action being taken to prevent future problems from happening. peace is coming, and more spiritual peace- however you may find it. you are finding what is lost or missing; a confidant, a part of yourself you lost, or a sense of responsibility. this will make you feel a little less confused in this dark time. whatever you find, make sure it benefits you, not hinders you.

extra: the number 7 or 16, cheerleading, studying, driving/cars, violent - carolesdaughter, the need to please, disappointment, "you are more than your thoughts, more than your past" green, spring months, gaming to cope, betrayal, "you deserve love because you exist"

PILE TWO ; " i am fighting " ...

you are so strong. your strength is commendable, and so is your resolve. you are making me smile. things seem to be good for you right now, but have they always? no one is born to be so resilient, it's our experiences that shape us to be who we are, and yours have molded you into a warrior, pile two. you are so strong, have you heard that before? i feel like you don't get recognized enough. but you suffered, and i see that. i see that, and i see you. thank you, for never giving up.

stability is reaching you. i feel like you have a 'fake it till you make it mindset' in order to reach what you truly want. but i see that you will soon have whatever you desire. it will be unmistakably yours, and you'll know in your heart when you find it. you will be emotionally fulfilled, and reach a state of kind of 'enlightenment' where you're like, i know what im doing now, it all makes sense. it will be a moment where everything clicks, and everything settles down.

extra: pink, red, gold, orange, chains of pearls, instruments, stuffy, nostalgia, memories like the color yellow, may, june, 2018, "this feels right", back to the future/past, vintage, aesthetic, dream girl vibes, photos, "everything is okay"

PILE THREE ; " where is the sun ? " ...

you have lost your sun, pile three. you remind me of a sunflower, looking for the sun to turn to, but what happens if the sun isn't there? you are aimless and lost, trying to find what has been stolen from you. but it hasn't, has it? it's time to take off your lenses, and realize that this isn't healthy. you have been stuck in a cycle for a while, and i feel like you kind of actually trap yourself in it. i get it, it's better to be trapped than face the reality. but is the pain you're causing yourself really worth it? please find strength in yourself to break free. trust me, it's better than staying. im rooting for you, pile three.

what's coming toward you is the strength to pull yourself out of this negative situation. i see you putting yourself first, and sparing yourself of further heartbreak, disappointment, and sadness. i can see that this will sort of be a tower moment for you; the tower has always been shaky, but it's only now that you are fleeing from it, and i'm proud of you. it's hard, but you can do it. after, you might find yourself stuck in your own thoughts secondguessing, but you did the right thing. never forget that. i also see someone of importance entering your life, a little after this.

extra: dont worrry darling, omori, pink beats, neurodivergence, black, alternative culture, crosses, pinky promises, mother figure, chocolate, willy wonka and the chocolate factory, balloons, lamps, llamas, "why would you leave me?", "because i couldn't stay", polish

[missdollcouture]

Finding your personal style: self evaluation

developing your own style or aesthetic not only boosts your confidence, but it can also help you discover new things about yourself. and I know a lot of people may struggle with this because of being indecisive (like myself) or wanting to fit into society's standard so I'm here to help

find your fashion icons

style icons can give you inspiration on what you like. this can be a movie character, a celebrity, or an influencer you like. for example I love dionne davenport, london tipton, and paris hilton for my top three fashion icons

experimenting

fashion is all about experimenting with what you like best. so, find what patterns, silhouettes, colors, and fabrics you're fond of and put them together. this is all about trial and error so you're not guaranteed to find your style overnight which is totally okay, so don't rush things.

do your research!

go online and figure out what colors or styles match your skin tone, stature, or body type. this can give you a good idea of what looks best on you personally. trust me, it'll benefit you immensely

accessories

accessorizing can completely alter a look. adding jewelry or a nice handbag to a look can really boost your style. if you're struggling to decide whether gold or silver jewelry suits you the best, there's online quizzes or beauty experts you can go to in order to find that out

dress your body type

discovering your body shape is important to determine what looks best on you. keep in mind, everyone's body type is different so what may suits yours, may not be for everyone here's a guide to figure out your body type- ❤

mood boards

since I'm a visual person, I love any excuse to make a mood board. and they've really helped me develop my style. collect photos that capture the feeling and vibe of the style you're going for. use this board as a visual reference when shopping or creating outfits.

practicality

don't forget to consider your lifestyle when choosing your style. if you have a busy lifestyle, prioritize comfort and practicality without sacrificing your individual style.

shopping

when you're out shopping, take your time to really look through the items. try on different pieces and see how they look and feel on you.

[shini--chan]

What about Yandere Allies pining after an (S/O) that's Aromatic and Asexual. (Sorry if this is against the rules)

Yandere Allies - Pure as the Driven Snow

Trigger warnings: disregards for sexuality, dub/non-con, manipulation, drugs

He wouldn't take you all too seriously. In his eyes, you would have just had to find the right partner that would evoke love and lust from you. Now, that perfect partner would be right in front of you, so you can stop saving yourself for your one and only. According to him, he would treat you right, as long as you'd play along. Part and parcel of that would be to participant in that pure domestic life he'd envision for the both of you, so you no longer have to deny yourself. Stop being so shy, you don't have to be pure anymore and don't pretend you don't like it. While he would state that he would be touched that you would have saved yourself up for him, you clinging on to past ideals would be annoying. Some of your resistance would br chalked up as you being coy or playful, but past a certain point he would ignore your desires and completely force you to give him what he would want. - America, France

He would be supremely annoyed by your “preferences” but would live with it to an extent. After all, if he just wanted sex and kisses there would be many a more talented and eager person than you. Still, part of a relationship is comprimise and doing things you don't want for the sake of your partner. That would apply to him as well as you. It could start as him demanding that you play the part of a loving partner with him in public, to quell unwanted rumour and to signal to people that you're taken. It could be further, by him coaxing you into indulging him by letting him thrust his cock between your thighs. Or by waking you in the middle of the night saying that he can't sleep and needs your help and that he would be alright with you not being an active participant. If you want children, he would be eager to indulge you. Though he might put you on contraceptives without you knowing so that he has an excuse for continued fun in the bed room. - England, Russia

Aside from some pouting and insistent questions in the beginning, he would actually be fine with a different arrangement. Having you would be important, and he would get you through relationship styles other than romance. It could be through a mentor-protegee relationship, or that of partners, or that of scientist and subject… Either way, he would find a way to make you comfortable enough to get you to contribute to the relationship so that he can dig his claws into you. So that he can make you dependant on him. Though he would have the occassional fantasies, and he might take somebody who looks like you as a replacement gold fish. Would propose that you be his tax benefit instead of his romantic partner in order to get you to agree to marrying him. - Canada, China

[lilith-1916]

PISCES APHRODITE ♓

Appreciation post for Pisces Aphrodite, or rather, why Pisces Aphrodite has been my favorite character from Saint Seiya since my childhood until today.

We start with the most obvious: it's my sign. The sign here is a determining factor, and if any fan from my generation says otherwise, they are lying. In the times when Saint Seiya was at its peak popularity, they would even bully kids in schools depending on which gold saint you got. With that, I mean Pisces; I guess I don't need to say why. They were dark times, but still, I have always loved this character since the first time I watched the anime.

Since my childhood, I have always preferred multidimensional characters, whether they are heroes or villains. In particular, heroes tend to bore me when they are one-dimensional, so Aphrodite starts off strong in this area. In my opinion, the character is very interesting and complex to analyze, as well as very difficult to categorize as either a hero or a villain, at least not within the known stereotypes. It's so much the case that to this day, I see fans of Saint Seiya having discussions about it. This applies to both its canonical version and the spin-off (Aphrodite's multiverse lol).

Another feature that makes me love the character is that his personality is very Pisces coded lol, or at least very much a March Pisces like myself. Aphrodite is rather solitary; he hardly interacts with the other Gold Saints (neither in the canon nor in the spin-offs); moreover, he is quite introverted and seems difficult to understand. Taking into account the entire Saint Seiya universe so far, I would say his only friend or at least his only person of trust is his buddy Deathmask, with whom he has like 99% of his human interactions.

These characteristics of Aphrodite are not something I'm making up; I base them both on the canon that created and laid the foundations of the character, and on the spin-offs that have been able to interpret it and have given it more development and depth. In the canon itself, we can see that Kurumada doesn't introduce him straightforward as a villain. Since his first appearance we saw some subtle but important differences with his bestie Deathmask, for example. I believe that for the latter, Kurumada wanted to introduce him as someone cruel and unworthy of his armor (the faces of the dead decorating the temple and the Cancer armor abandoning him in battle), but it wasn't so much the case with Aphrodite.

Aphrodite knew the truth, never regretted it, fought to the death defending what he believed, and the armor of Pisces never abandoned him. It's all madness. Personally, I explain this because Aphrodite truly believed that following Saga would ensure peace on earth, which is why he swore loyalty to him and followed his orders, not for personal gain. This last point is also very characteristic of the Pisces sign, the tendency to idealize people and situations, exactly what Aphrodite did until the end. Well, besides the pride he carries, another reason I love him, to give up? To regret? No way, crazy! This is a death match with knives, my people!

And all of the above could have remained only in the arc of the Sanctuary, since Kurumada did sh*t with the character in Hades Saga (before the wailing wall, obviously). However, and to my surprise, in Episode Zero it seems that Kurumada returned to the origin and again established subtle differences between little Deathmask and little Aphrodite, raising again the question of how much of a villain he really was. Aphrodite was the first to suspect that there was something strange about Saga's disappearance, he never mentioned wanting to gain personal benefit from anything and moreover only fought against Aioros because he truly believed he was fulfilling his duty (it's understood that none of them knew the truth yet). What was going through that 9 year-old Pisces's head is still a great mystery:

Regarding that, something curious and that I believe makes the character even more mysterious is that so far no author has wanted to show how and when Aphrodite found out the truth. In Episode G, Okada shows us his version of Deathmask and Shura discovering Saga, but not Aphrodite. With the latter, it only shows us that by that time he already knew the truth, this in his Gaiden named "the one who remains at the limit". Could it be that no one comes up with something convincing for the character? It probably isn't anything deep, but it catches my attention that only Pisces remains in absolute mystery, especially since we find out about the three who knew the truth through Aphrodite, he was the only one of them who died fighting for and loyal to his ideals (represented by Saga), and in the spin-offs, he is also shown as the one to whom Saga entrusted the greatest number of "secret" missions. However, no one has ever shown him discovering the truth.

I highlighted Episode G a bit more because thanks to this spin-off, I loved my dear Aphrodite even more. The episode where he kindly 'asks' the enemy to spill their blood to dye his white roses red is easily one of my favorites among all his scenes, lol. I mean, look at this cutie, how can you not love this little, beautiful, and sociopathic creature?

I also highlight his scene in Saintia Sho, because, as I mentioned, the author respected the essence of the character, giving more depth and development to his ideals, motivations, and worldview. Besides the beautiful artwork. Just look at this beauty telling his Goddess to stop being a naive little girl and get her act together once and for all.

Now I will briefly talk about one negative thing: Toei Animation.

Toei only respected the essence of Aphrodite in the Sanctuary arc; after that, an odd distortion of the character began, and unfortunately, that's the image that many fans of Saint Seiya were left with. The only thing I may thank Toei is that they made good use of Aphrodite's abilities in Soul of Gold. However, the personality was still distorted, although not as much as in the Abel movie (I grant them that)

Currently, I know that Aphrodite has just appeared in a new manga called Saint Mariya, and obviously I went to see what it was about. My first impression is that I don't have high expectations for it. While the character design is very pretty, I have a feeling they will only use him as cannon fodder for the development of the plot and the main characters, so I'm not very excited about following that story (I really hope I'm wrong). With Toei, and even Kurumada in Hades, I've had more than enough of seeing how they use a good character like Aphrodite as cannon fodder just because they can't think other way to development the plot and other characters. At this point, my patience and tolerance level is zero. Respect for Aphro, my people, nothing less is acceptable (not even from his own creator)

Well, one positive thing is that I've discovered that Aphrodite's fans, although we are few, we are of excellent quality. The vast majority manage to understand the essence of the character, and thanks to that, I've seen many beautiful fanart and read many wonderful fanfics (of all types, styles, and "age rated", lol). It has been a pleasant surprise to see how they portray this beautiful character who's still a topic of discussion today, 30 years after the anime was released. Aphrodite keeps this aura of mystery so characteristic. Moreover, I recently read some fans from my generation saying that as they grew up, they came to better understand the character of Aphrodite; one said that now he really supports him, and the other that he now places it among the four most interesting gold saints. There's still hope for humanity.

In addition to all the above, Aphrodite's power is very original. He has four types of roses to kill you, like, come on. Whether it poisons you slowly and softly, poisons you quickly, sucks all your blood like a vampire, or leaves you like a pincushion. His skills can be greatly exploited, when there is the will to do so.

And the last but very important reason why Aphrodite is my favorite character: because for over 30 years he has been a beautiful natural repellent for homophobes and misogynists. When you meet an Aphrodite fan, you immediately know that there is about a 99.9% chance that person is a good person. You couldn't ask for a better filter against idiots in this virtual madhouse called the internet.

I could keep delving into all the points discussed, but this is already long enough. I believe the main idea has been understood, or at least I hope so.

If anyone has made it this far, I admire and thank them for their patience. I say this from the depths of my Pisces heart.

Long live Pisces Aphrodite forever and ever 🌹

[shingekinohyrulewrites]

Golden Sand

Princess Zelda of the Gerudo is the reincarnation of the Goddess of the Sand. Link of the Gerudo is the first Gerudo born in one hundred years after Ganondorf. On his eighteenth birthday, he is sent to Zelda to assess whether he is a threat. The consensus ?

He is a threat.

Read on AO3 here

Credit to the original artist for this beautiful art !!!

The Gerudo, who hail in the desert far to the West of the vast land of Hyrule, are a proud race of warrior women. They are known far and wide for their flaming red hair, strong, tanned bodies, and fierce fighting spirit. Although they are rather isolated, they are a powerful group, maintaining a flourishing civilization in the warm desert heat.

While Hylians revere the Great Three Goddesses Nayru, Din, and Farore, the Gerudo have their own beliefs. Since the founding of their civilization, they have worshiped the Spirit Goddess, also known as the Goddess of the Sand. According to their legends, the Spirit Goddess rose from the sand shortly after Hyrule was founded. She spread her arms, and sand followed her as she walked. Once she had created the desert, she used the sand to create the first Gerudo man and woman. She shaped them to handle the harsh heat, blowing her fierce spirit into them to make sure they never bowed down from a fight.

However, the male Gerudo used his newfound spirit to hurt his wife, barking orders at her and forcing her to obey his every will. Even while she was pregnant with their first child, he took every opportunity to strike her. The Spirit Goddess, infuriated at the violence by his own hand, struck him down and cursed him.

“You, who have dared to strike a woman,” she proclaimed. “One male will be born every hundred years as a curse. You will carry the fighting spirit I bestowed unto you, but it will be up to your heart to decide how to use it.”

Thus, Gerudo women began traveling to look for husbands to continue their lineage. It has become a known tradition, with many Hylian males willingly traveling to the desert to claim a Gerudo wife.

The Spirit Goddess, her spirit fading, summoned the first Gerudo woman.

“You, who I poured my soul and spirit into,” she whispered, voice weak. “I entrust my spirit to you. My spirit will continue to flow, and those who are born as my reincarnation will be destined to rule over my proud Gerudo.”

Henceforth, the Spirit Goddess’s spirit was passed on.

***

Princess Zelda of the Gerudo was born with hair as gold as the sand that surrounded her home. Her eyes were blue and clear as the sky above her, a difference from the traditional amber that Gerudo were born with. Although she had fair skin, over time she developed the trademark tan from her time spent in the sun. Her mother, the previous incarnation of the Spirit Goddess, had been gifted with foresight, and she had predicted that the spirit would move to her daughter at birth. She also foresaw that her daughter would be a generous ruler, but would face difficulties once she came to power.

Zelda was a shy child, often hiding behind her mother’s legs. She was trained in royalty, learning about diplomacy starting at the age of five. Her geography skills were impressive by six, and she was fluent in both Gerudo and Hylian by eight. At ten, she began attending events with her mother, socializing with other important figures from around Hyrule. She found the Royal Family especially fascinating, marveling at how everyone was in awe of them.

She wanted to emulate that.

At eighteen, Zelda became ruler of the Gerudo. Her mother stepped down, assuring her daughter that she would do well before departing to travel the world, as she had been unable to while ruling. It was a bittersweet farewell, but Zelda felt the confidence her mother had in her and used that to guide her.

It didn’t take long for the Gerudo to admire their new ruler. She was seen as loyal and passionate for her people, listening to their pleas and making decisions that benefited them all. It wasn’t uncommon to see her wandering through town, stopping in the market to buy local goods and even accepting dinner invitations from random citizens. Her first year was a triumphant one, and when her nineteenth birthday approached, she felt pleased with herself.

Being the reincarnation of the Spirit Goddess, Zelda was worshiped fiercely by the Gerudo in the Temple where she resided. Once a week, she was dressed in her ceremonial clothes, surrounded by women and incense as she listened for the Goddesses’s voice inside of her. Sometimes she delivered wisdom; other times predictions. The Goddess guided her as a ruler, providing insight when she could.

While the Gerudo were an isolated group, Zelda worked hard to be a liaison for the rest of Hyrule. She established a strong bond with the Hylian Royal Family, who relied on her for certain goods. The Gorons, hailing in Death Mountain far to the East, were permitted to enter to trade their precious stones. The desert heat was too harsh for the Zoras, but Zelda occasionally traveled to their domain in the Southeast to take an audience with their King. Even the Great Deku Tree and Koroks in the South spoke with Zelda, sending her their forest goods and childish joy. She relished those trips the most, enjoying the quiet of the forest and listening to the Tree’s wisdom.

Princess Zelda of the Gerudo, widely respected, did not know the trouble that was to come.

[sexhaver]

i have opinions about the Blue Prince workshop contraptions. one of the most important things to bear in mind when evaluating them against each other is that any recipes using the same base items are basically impossible to make in the same run- i'm unclear on the exact mechanics, but as far as i've seen, the Battery Pack is the only item that can spawn a second copy of itself if you're holding a contraption made out of it. for example, if you're holding a Jackhammer, you will never see a Shovel spawn, and if you find one in a commissary it will be grayed out and unpurchaseable. amusingly (or not), this also extends to having the Jackhammer in Coat Check, not just your inventory. this means that you should aim to get good at crafting the items near the top of this list from scratch consistently.

anyways. from worst to best:

Burning Glass (Magnifying Glass + Metal Detector). these first two entries are kinda weird since they're initially the highest priority items to make, but once you use them in the half-dozen locations where they have permanent effects, they become worse than useless and will never be crafted again (until a certain endgame puzzle, lol). Burning Glass barely snatches the lower spot from under Power Hammer by virtue of just unlocking overall less impactful stuff, plus the fact that you can just replace it with the Torch from the Armory eventually.

Power Hammer (Sledgehammer + Broken Lever + Battery Pack). like the Burning Glass, this is used in six (really seven) specific locations to make permanent changes. unlike the Burning Glass, these changes kick ass: revealing Antechamber levers, adding an extra room to a floor plan, and opening the single most important shortcut in the game are all great points in its favor. another benefit it has over Burning Glass is that you don't actually lose any functionality by making this, you just waste the Broken Lever and Battery Pack you could have used to make the best contraption instead. alas. remember, if you have this in Coat Check, you won't see regular Sledgehammer spawns

Dowsing Rod (Shovel + Compass). okay now we're on to real items you might consider crafting past day 70 that just suck. the most fundamental question when evaluating any contraption is whether it's worth losing the functionality of the items needed to make it. Dowsing Rod is the worst example of this. you give up arguably the best base tool in the game and a very useful drafting accessory in exchange for a shittier Metal Detector that forces you to draft awkwardly. no thank you.

Pick Sound Amplifier (Lockpick + Metal Detector). obviously the straight upgrade to the Lockpick is nice but what really kills this one is the fact that you lose Metal Detector and can't get it back that run. part of Metal Detector's effect is additional key and coin spawns that otherwise would never appear, and those additional keys will more than outweigh the difference in lockpicking efficacy between the base tool and this contraption. and then you add in the additional coin spawns + pinging to remind you not to forget pickups... yeah this really is not worth Metal Detector.

Electromagnet (Compass + Battery Pack). both halves of the effect (increased odds to draft Mechanical Rooms + autopickup coins and keys when entering a room) are really good, the main issue here is just how rare the base components are unless you're putting in special orders for compasses. also if you walk into the Locksmith while holding this, you yoink all of the keys off the wall and into your pocket for free, gaining 40ish keys and instantly making the shop sold out of everything lol

Lucky Purse (Coin Purse + Rabbit's Foot). obviously the effect of doubling all your gold pickups is insane and you should craft this whenever you can. the only issue is that that will not be very often, because it feels like both halves of this item are way rarer than they should be and are allergic to showing up in the same run. also, as insane as the effect is, eventually you reach a point where your allowance is over 50 coins and you're just casually walking around with triple digit funds buying out every shop as you draft it just to sink it somewhere.

Detector Shovel (Metal Detector + Shovel). does what it says on the tin. you don't lose the Metal Detector functionality, and the Shovel functionality is improved. also condenses them down to one inventory slot for synergy with the Moon Pendant. the only reason not to craft this as soon as you have the ingredience for it is if you're saving the shovel for the last item on this list. also never stick this thing in Coat Check, it will stop both Metal Detectors and Shovels from spawning and you will hate yourself.

Jack Hammer (Shovel + Broken Lever + Battery Pack). god this thing is cracked. you will be swimming in gems and dice. one time i crafted this early on a Root Cellar run and ended with 60 gems. the existence of this recipe singlehandedly makes it optimal to not dig up any dig spots anywhere in the house with the regular shovel, because you're saving them for when you use that shovel to make a Jack Hammer or Detector Shovel. the existence of this recipe means you should be placing a special order for Shovels literally every single day so you can consistently craft it. it's that good.

[phightinghottakes]

This is in response to that one person who said that the True Eye’s fashion sucks, and this is why I DISAGREE! (a respectful rant)

Their uniforms reflect themselves well in my opinion; we don’t know the cults true intentions just yet, though we can assume that they’re a very ‘business-oriented’ group, hence the more formal suit like uniforms. ALSO, the cult is not going to present themselves AS a cult. Wearing robes with lots of gold and jewelry would not do them any good (at least not in public). They describe themselves as a family, like some actual cults are known/have been known to do. This is for a few reasons, though the main one is so they can recruit new members without scaring them off with all the cult talk. No one wants to join a cult; though joining a family sounds much less scary. They present themselves as a family with the benefits of protection and wealth so it’s easier to lure others in, and to avoid suspicions of any strange activity.

Their uniforms also tie into the little information we know about The Lost Temple in general- being that it is a prosperous desert region where only the rich thrive. The True Eye’s uniforms include teals, blues, turquoises, whites; and most importantly gold. Although minimal, the gold accents (especially on scythe) are important, and their fancy suits reflect their wealth further without being too loud about it. Another main aspect to some (if not most) cults is individuality; or the lack thereof. Cults are known to slowly strip members away of their individuality, in order to make everyone ‘equal’, of course except for the higher ups (a good example being scythe compared to medkit, as her outfit includes more white and gold). Although the True Eye uniforms are not identical and can vary in terms of general fashion, they are still similar in color palette and overall style (that being, again, suits).

I can see why their uniforms may be a little underwhelming at first due to their cult member status, though I think it’s important to think about WHY they dress the way they do. I could imagine that they do have some fancy robes they occasionally wear during rituals or meetings, especially Overseer, though they would not wear them anywhere outside of the Church, as that would be a dead giveaway

This is based as hell but did you have to send it 5 times in the span of what looks to be 1 whole second?

[binastazya]

The Magic Behind Creating the Perfect Homemade Pink Salt Manjaro Recipe

There's something truly special about crafting your own homemade pink salt manjaro recipe from scratch. This delightful treat brings together centuries of culinary tradition with the simple joy of home cooking, creating an experience that goes far beyond just following instructions.

Why Quality Ingredients Make All the Difference

When it comes to perfecting your homemade pink salt manjaro recipe, the foundation lies in selecting premium ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the complex flavors and achieving that signature texture everyone craves.

The pink salt itself isn't just for show – it brings a subtle mineral complexity that regular table salt simply can't match. This ancient seasoning has been treasured for generations, and when used properly, it transforms ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

Your choice of base ingredients will determine whether your manjaro turns out light and airy or dense and rich. The beauty of this recipe lies in how these carefully selected components work together in perfect harmony.

The Secret to Achieving Perfect Texture

Here's where most home cooks get it wrong – they rush the process. The secret to mastering any homemade pink salt manjaro recipe isn't in expensive equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. It's all about understanding timing and technique.

Temperature control is absolutely critical. Too hot, and you'll end up with a grainy, unpleasant texture. Too cool, and the ingredients won't properly combine to create that smooth, creamy consistency you're after.

Ready to discover the complete technique? Click here to access the full recipe with detailed instructions and learn the professional secrets that make all the difference.

The mixing method is equally important. There's a specific order for adding ingredients that ensures everything comes together beautifully. This isn't just about following steps – it's about understanding why each step matters.

A Rich Cultural Heritage Worth Preserving

The origins of this homemade pink salt manjaro recipe trace back to ancient trade routes where pink salt was more valuable than gold. Merchants would carry these precious crystals across continents, and local cooks began incorporating them into traditional recipes.

What started as a luxury item for the wealthy gradually became a beloved staple in home kitchens. The recipe evolved through generations, with each family adding their own special touches while maintaining the core elements that make it so distinctive.

Regional Variations and Modern Adaptations

Different regions developed their own interpretations over time:

• Mountain communities added local herbs and spices • Coastal areas incorporated seafood elements • Urban centers created more refined, elegant versions • Rural families kept to simpler, more rustic preparations

Tips for Success in Your Kitchen

Creating the perfect manjaro at home doesn't require professional training, but it does benefit from understanding a few key principles. The environment in your kitchen matters more than you might think.

Humidity levels can affect how your ingredients behave. On particularly humid days, you might need to adjust your technique slightly to compensate for the extra moisture in the air.

Essential Equipment You Probably Already Have

You don't need to invest in expensive gadgets to succeed with this recipe:

• A reliable mixing bowl (size matters here) • Proper measuring tools for accuracy • A good thermometer for temperature control • Quality storage containers for the finished product

Making It Your Own

Once you've mastered the basic technique, there's plenty of room for creativity. Some home cooks like to experiment with different types of pink salt from various regions, each bringing its own subtle flavor profile to the finished product.

The beauty of any homemade recipe is that it becomes uniquely yours through practice and personalization. Don't be afraid to make small adjustments based on your family's preferences.

Start with the traditional approach, then gradually introduce your own creative touches. This is how culinary traditions continue to evolve while maintaining their authentic roots.

Remember, the best recipes are the ones that bring people together around the table, creating memories that last long after the last bite is savored.

[rabbitcruiser]

Discovery Day

On August 18, celebrate Discovery Day, an annual event in Yukon, Canada.  The day has both historical and cultural significance. In 1896, Skookum Jim Mason, originally named Keish by his Tagish parents, discovered gold in the Bonanza Creek. This discovery triggered the Kluane gold rush in 1905, eventually establishing  the Yukon as a Canadian territory.

Keish was one of the first native men to successfully straddle the worlds of both white and Indian peoples.  Before he died in 1916,  Keish set up a large trust fund benefiting his native community.  So, Discovery Day acknowledges this history with its week-long festival in Dawson City,  a fun, end-of-summer destination.  Enjoy walking tours, art exhibits, a golf tournament and more on Discovery Day.

When is Discovery Day 2025?

Yukon’s Discovery Day is celebrated in the territory of Yukon, Canada, on the third Monday of August.

History of Discovery Day

Where many parts of Canada celebrate Civic Holiday on the first Monday of August, Discovery Day is celebrated in Yukon on the third Monday of August.

The origin of Yukon’s Discovery Day dates back to August 17, 1896, when George Washington Carmack discovered gold at Yukon’s Bonanza Creek. His discovery led to a gold rush, with traders and miners flocking to the region to dig for gold. Over the next two years, more than 100,000 prospectors rushed to the Klondike region, constructing the narrow-gage railway in Yukon and establishing Dawson. The race for unseen wealth continued till 1899 when the bubble burst and gold discoveries in other regions drew miners away.

After the gold rush, the Yukon Order of Pioneers convinced Yukon’s Territorial Council to celebrate Discovery Day as a public holiday in 1911. The following year, the holiday was celebrated with parades, sports events, speeches, dances, refreshments, and more. Mining is still an important economic activity in Yukon, and Discovery Day is celebrated with zeal. Miners may not have struck gold, but the gold rush led to the establishment of Yukon as an independent territory. Discovery Day in Yukon is not the same as the Discovery Day celebrated in Newfoundland in June.

Discovery Day timeline

1896

Keish strikes gold

A Yukon native man, Keish, also known among the whites as Skookum Jim Mason, discovers gold at Bonanza Creek in Yukon.

1897

The first capital of Yukon is founded

Joseph Ladue founds Dawson City and it becomes the first capital of Yukon.

1911

Discovery Day goes public

The Yukon Order of Pioneers convinces the Territorial Council of Yukon to recognize Discovery Day as a public holiday.

1953

The capital of Yukon is changed

The capital seat is moved from Dawson to Whitehorse due to the construction of the Klondike Highway.

1968

The Yukon flag is selected

Created by Lynn Lambert for a territory-wide design competition, the Yukon flag is adopted.

Traditions

Activities are arranged on Discovery Day throughout the territory in places like Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon, and Watson Lake, also known as the “gateway to Yukon recreation.” These events include sporting tournaments, family arrangements, and festivals. Visitors from outside the area visit Dawson city to photograph Mounties in their official uniforms and watch some street theatre.

Discovery Day is a statutory holiday in Yukon so many government offices and schools are closed. Delivery of mail is also ceased for the day. However, some private businesses and sectors remain operational.

Discovery Day By The Numbers

183,287.57 square miles – the area of the territory of Yukon, Canada. 17 – the number of Canada’s highest mountain peaks located in Kluane National Park, Yukon. 43.5 miles – the length of the Yukon’s longest glacier, the Kaskawulsh Glacier. 1.0 square miles – the area of the world’s smallest desert in Yukon, the Carcross Desert. 200,000 – the number of porcupine caribou that migrate to Yukon every year. 100,000 – the number of signs in Yukon. 100 – the number of sounds that Yukon’s national bird, the Raven, makes. 70,000 – the number of moose living in the region. 40,962 – the number of people living in Yukon, Canada. 8 – the number of first nations languages spoken in Yukon. 100,000 – the estimated number of prospectors who flocked to Yukon during the Klondike gold rush.

Is Discovery Day a holiday in NL?

Discovery Day in Newfoundland replaces the Civic Holiday observed in other areas of Canada.

How much gold was found in the Klondike Gold Rush?

Adjusted to the 20th century, the Klondike Kings amassed wealth estimating over one billion dollars. 

Is there still gold in the Klondike?

There are still gold resources in the Dawson area, with large corporations set up to excavate and process it. 

Discovery Day Activities

Discover a festival on Discovery DayBecause Discovery Day is such a popular holiday, some festivals last all weekend long. The festival at Dawson City features a Can-Can dance show, face painting, arts and crafts and writing competitions. Just be sure to allot extra travel time as local traffic tends to be heavy on these days.

Throw a partyIf you’re looking to do something different from the usual Discovery Day festival, consider throwing your own party. Keep things within the gold rush theme by having gold décor and chocolate gold coins as cute party favors. You can also turn the party into a fun learning experience by having Klondike Gold Rush trivia games.

Broaden your knowledgeTake a trip to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park for free tours, Junior Ranger activities for the kids, camping and hiking. There are also informative books and movies you can watch, like "Call of the Klondike: A True Gold Rush."

5 Thought-provoking Facts About Whitehorse, A Town With The Coolest Name Ever

It has an inspired name: Whitehorse was named after the White Horse Rapids, whose rapids — before they were dammed — resembled the mane of a white horse.

It had a name change (well, sort of...): Originally, the city's name was White Horse and later slightly modified to Whitehorse.

The Yukon River has a large presence: The Yukon River literally flows through the center of Whitehorse.

It also has a different name: Because of its many trails (approximately 700km worth), Whitehorse is often referred to as the "Wilderness City".

Size is on its side: Whitehorse is northern Canada's largest city.

Why We Love Discovery Day

It reminds people of their history: Not only does this holiday honor the Klondike gold rush, but it also reminds them of how Yukon was established as a territory. Every year on Discovery Day, Canadians honor the founding of the Yukon.

It’s a great reason to party: Why not party in the Yukon? At summer's close, Discovery Day provides an excuse to get friends and family together for a celebration and festival of delights. Discovery Day in Dawson City offers an amazing backdrop for fun events in a beautiful, natural setting.

It’s a statutory holiday: Let's be honest. Sometimes, it's great to have a day off from work or school, whatever the reason. Because Discovery Day is a legal holiday in Yukon, you get to have the day off. You might as well head to the festival and have some fun!

Source