#manmade sunshine

[andlatitude]

🎵I can’t make you love me, if you don’t 🎵

[artnshitposts]

just listened to man-made sunshine, one of the few times i've cried to an album. i am so unwell and as long as ur in a good mental state i think you should listen to it (and maybe watch the track-by-track on youtube, it's called difficult conversations with a friend)

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Favorite Albums of 2022

Thanks @hoodharlow for tagging me! I’m not sure how many I’m supposed to give.

No Pressure Tags: @mcplestreet @5-secondsofcolor @pinkbubbles-and-bigtroubles @boomhauer @loveshotzz

[m-a-d-e-l-e-i-n-e]

As someone whose two favorite bands are Paramore and Nothing But Thieves, I think the universe really smiled down on me AND all the stars aligned for me today

[xxshadowbabexx]

West Coast: The Train Ride

(Check series warnings on series masterlist)

You had left later than you had meant to, but you were lucky enough to still arrive on time to board the train. You weaved your way through each car, looking for any available seat. This is why you wanted to be early. You were almost to the last car when you spotted the first available seat next to a muscular, bear-like man. He didn’t look friendly necessarily, but a seat was still a seat and so you sat down, settling your luggage at your feet. He didn’t acknowledge you as you made yourself comfortable, and so you turned to introduce yourself. You were going to be on this train for hours, after all Being friendly might help the time go by. 

You extended an arm out as you told him your name, and he raised his brow, columbian eyes piercing through yours. After a moment, he finally took your hand, you could feel the callouses that decorated his skin, scarred tissue that would never heal. Nonetheless his touch was nice, warm. 

“Name’s John Price, doll,” he smiled sweetly. He had a wild, rugged look to him that you couldn’t seem to convince yourself to look away from, and found yourself getting lost in his colombian blue eyes. They were beautiful enough to swim in, and you found yourself leaning in, as if preparing yourself to dive and explore what lays beneath the crystal waters. 

You hadn’t realized you were still holding his hand until you heard him chuckle. You blushed out an apology, letting go of his hand and folding yours on your lap. 

“‘S alright,” he responded and your face flushed. What the hell allowed this man to be so attractive? 

Then he smirked at you, “Don’t know, doll, guess it’s just genetics,”

Could this get any more embarrassing? Probably not. Was this man going to be the death of you? Probably. 

You had a four hour trip to find out. 

The next twenty minutes went by in silence, him reading a book you couldn’t see the title of due to his hand placement, and you watching the scenery blur by through the window. 

You watched the green of the trees mix with the mundane browns and grays of the manmade buildings. Not necessarily a pretty picture, but a picture nonetheless. 

Every now and then you swear you could feel Mr. Price’s eyes on you, but when you turned to face him he never was looking at you. But what did it matter? It’s not like you wanted this handsome stranger to pay you any mind. 

You yawned, stretching your arms above your head and arching your back before settling again in your seat. 

“Tired, darlin’?” he asked, and you turned to face him. 

“A little,” you admitted sheepishly, smiling at him, but not looking in his eyes. You didn’t want to lose yourself in them again, and so instead you focused on his lips. On the thinner side, but they looked soft, kiss-able. 

“You can lie down on me if you want, I don’t mind,” he spoke, voice gravely. 

You blushed, “Oh it’s- I- are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother, Mr. Price,” you stuttered out, incredibly flustered. 

“It’s no bother t’ me, love. But you don’t need if you’re not comfortable. And please, call me John,”

You bit your lip, contemplating the offer. A rest would be nice, so would cozying up to him. However, you didn’t want to impose. But he did offer, so he mustn’t mind, right? 

Besides that, you’ve only just met him, so how can you be sure if he’s trustworthy? For all you know he could have ill intentions. 

You must be more tired than you initially thought, and it must be clouding your judgment because you found yourself laying your head on his shoulder, muttering your stop and asking him to wake you then before you drifted to sleep. 

•••

You awoke to a baritone voice in your ear, “Mornin’ sunshine, this is our stop,” he says as you sit up, rubbing the sleep off of your eyes. 

“Our stop?” you question and he nods. 

“Mhmm, I get off here too, darlin’,” he smiles at you, extending his arm out to help you up. 

You let him walk you out the train, turning to him once you exit. 

“See you around?” you ask bashfully, a undertone of hopefulness that you pray he doesn’t catch. 

He smiles at you “if you’re lucky, doll,”

And then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd. You stared at the spot where he had stood for several moments before gathering yourself bearings. 

Your best friend, Shelby, should be here to pick you up and take you to your apartment. Better to not keep her waiting. 

You got into Shelby’s dusty blue Chevrolet, buckling yourself in as she started driving. 

“So how was your trip?” she asked, voice bubbly as ever. 

“Oh, it wasn’t much of a trip. I was just visiting my parents for the weekend, you know this,”

Shelby tutted, “I know, I know. But did anything exciting happen? Fun?”

You pondered that for a second. Was meeting Mr. Price- John either of those things? It wasn’t necessarily fun, and it wasn’t all that exciting in the moment. But he sure did leave your belly full of butterflies and critters of the like after. 

You turned back to Shelby, “No, can’t say so,” you shrugged. Shelby knew everyone in this part of town, if John was a regular she would surely know him. 

Which is why you didn’t tell her. You’ve been wowed by the idea of too many men and left disappointed by the real thing each time. 

Maybe John would be better off kept in your head. 

taglist

@frogtowne @glossysoap

© xxshadowbabexx 2024. please do not steal, copy, plagiarize, translate, or repost any of my works without my permission. do not steal any elements of my theme without permission.

[paraliveimaginesblog]

may i ask for plumeria from the flower prompts with hokusai?♥️

(This got longer than intended lmao)

Hokusai Masaki:

Plumeria - discovering a flower field together.

It was too easy to get lost in conversation with him.

Hokusai’s voice was soft, gentle, and sometimes you had to listen very carefully to understand what he was saying. You always felt a tinge of guilt when you didn’t hear him calling for you but he never held it against you, smiling like a man who hit the lottery when you finally look at him. He wasn’t normally the talkative type so you made it a mission that whenever he did speak up, you’d focus all your attention onto him to assure that he was heard.

You trusted him to guide you where you needed to be, his fingers intertwined with yours at all time when you went on walks together. He held you a little tighter and closer at night, sending out a recurrent scan of the area every few minutes as if he was always looking to avoid approaching danger. He never let you walk alongside the road, switching positions with you in an almost elegant dance as he went from one hand to the other and tugged you close again.

“Do you have somewhere to go today?”

“No,” He responded simply, “I just wanted to walk.”

You remembered the old lady in the woods, her cute little cottage tucked away in a secret area where you never would’ve thought to look. Her flowers, her cats, it was such a stunning scene sometimes you dreamed of it at night. Right now, Hokusai lived with his brothers and you lived in your own apartment, but you wonder if he’d ever want to live in a place like that with you when you were married.

She encouraged you to find a place of your own, that her field was the perfect place for her but that didn’t mean it would carry the same magic should you live there. You had mulled over her words, hoping she didn’t think you were attempting to steal her house, but you sort of understood what she meant. You had found the place alone and then raved about it so much that obviously Hokusai would look at it through rose-colored glasses. But finding that perfect place together…

You were off on a stroll near his home, going to lay in his favorite field with a few cats that been crying for his attention lately. Two of them had followed after you, playfully swatting at each other and darting between your legs, turning this simple little walk into something of an obstacle course. Still, it didn’t bother you and certainly didn’t bother Hokusai, who had a happy smile on his face the entire time as he carefully watched them. It did mean you weren’t entirely paying attention to your destination, and when the cats stopped to look around as if they might be lost as well, you both followed suit.

“Mm, I think it’s in that direction, right?” You looked to the left while Hokusai looked right, a look of contemplation on his face. “Where do you think we should go?”

“…I think the left makes sense.”

A few more steps and things started looking a little more familiar, one cat now in your arms and the other settled on Hokusai’s shoulders as you didn’t want the little ones to get lost or distracted. Yet even despite the familiar looking trees, heading through the clearing and through a bunch of berry bushes, you find a place that was very much not familiar.

Seeing it was similar to how you felt when he looked at you. Completely bathed in sunshine, eyes taking on an excited sparkle, heart thumping loudly in your chest. You release the cat struggling for freedom in your arms and take a few careful steps into the field, the rainbow of colors almost overwhelming to take in at all once. The flowers were scattered and mismatched, making it clear that this wasn’t a manmade field, yet it was amazing just the same.

“I want to live here,” You muttered, leaning down to touch a few yellow flowers that were so vibrant it was like they were glowing; they were an odd yet fascinating shape, you’d have to look up the type of flower it was when you finally made your way back home.

“…It’s a nice place.” You feel bad that you almost forgot Hokusai was with you until he came up from behind you, the cat on his shoulders joining its feline companion on the ground as they sifted through the flowers. There were butterflies fluttering about that quickly caught their eye but even after being trampled by their little feet, the flowers sprung back up like it was just the wind.

“What if we built a house here? Would you live out in the woods with me?”

His eyes widened slightly at the proposal, which was your own fault. You had never talked about the future together; your relationship was a go with the flow sort of thing but you also knew that you were something special to Hokusai. Perhaps you didn’t talk about engagement rings and weddings, but you knew that he was your forever and that you were his. It seemed the question only caught him off-guard for a few moments, his expression returning to his peaceful smile as he surveyed the area.

“…When we walk back home, can we count how many steps away it is?”

“Oh, yeah! It’s probably pretty close to Iori and all them, right?” Hokusai nodded. “Yeah, we can count butttt… I wanna stay a little longer.”

Hokusai nodded his head in approval, hand reaching out to hold yours, fingers intertwining like they’d done hundreds of times before, “We should find where to put our house, right?”

[fagdykemuppet]

sodo and sunshine r each others emotional support ghoul so you cant separate them but also you cant leave them alone bc theyll create manmade horrors beyond our comprehensions okay? do you understand?

[bri-to-the-future]

hello im here to request 40s doc for the song post 👀

Hehe i figured youd be the one to ask for him. Okay here they are:

Rat by Penolope Scott- About someone losing faith in a scientist- gives the vibes of doc losing faith in oppenheimer. “When I said take me to the moon i never meant take me alone/i thought if mankind toured the sky it meant that all of us could go/but i dont wanna see the stars if theyre just one more piece of land/for us to colonise for us to turn to sand” in particular makes me think of him

Laplaces Angel (Hurt People? Hurt people!) by Will Wood- “have you ever died in a nightmare?/woke up surprised you hadnt earned your fate?” And “so if you wash your hands of where youve been/until you flood the second floor/neatly fold your skeletons/but stull cant shut the closet door” give me such 40s doc vibes its insane

Oblivion by Halfy and Winks- look. I know its a dream smp fan song. But they make good music! And this absolutely murders me with the 40s doc vibes. The entire first verse fits him so well. “Pride in myself was something i swore would never die/gaining respect means giving up a past life/the illusion crafted by my arrogance/had protected me from the wrong that i couldnt admit” PLEASE. The song is about guilt and regret and its so perfect for him

Dr. Sunshine is Dead by Will Wood- another will wood song! This one gives me the vibes of someone who’s afraid of themself, which fits 40s doc beautifully. Particularly the last line. “And if dreams can come true, what does that say about nightmares?/ill stay awake tonight”

Run Boy Run by Woodkid- this one makes me think of someone trying to run from themself “run boy run/they’re dying to stop you/run boy run/this race is a prophecy/run boy run/break out from society” it sort of gives me the vibes of how hectic it mustve been while they were working on the bomb

21 Guns by Green Day- this one almost feels obvious to me? It’s about wanting peace in a time of war. “When you’re at the end of the road/and you lost all sense of control/and your thoughts have taken control/when your mind breaks the spirit of your soul” reminds me of him. Also at the start of the chorus when he says “one, twenty-one guns” its like 1.21 which is fun

Wires by The Neighbourhood- this one (i think?) is about someone not being in control of themself due to obligation. “I see the wires pulling while you’re breathing/you knew you had a reason/it killed you like diseases” reminds me of how i think 40s doc probably feels about his actions. It ended the war, but at what cost?

What Ive Done by Linkin Park- this whole song fits him really well so its hard to pick a lyric to highlight. “Put to rest/what you thought of me/while ive cleaned this slate/with the hands/of uncertainty” makes me think of how doc would react to marty finding out (assuming he knew him from the 30s)

Killer by The Hoosiers- well it’s just right off the gate with this one. “I hate my work/but im in control/im fearless now/but it cost my soul” c’mon thats so good for him! Theres also a later line, “i conduct fear like electricity/a manmade monstrosity” and i think thats his feelings about the project and his part in it exactly

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons- this one gives me the sense of doc a bit further past the bombs being dropped, reluctantly accepting the new norm. “All systems go/the sun hasnt died/deep in my bones/straight from inside” particularly makes me think of him

[exploretraveler]

Best Places to Visit in Doha, Qatar

Let’s be honest: Tourism is increasing exponentially in Qatar. Whether you want to shop at the lively markets, experience a sand dune safari, or soak into the sunshine at a breezy beach, the country has it all. If you are one who wants to immerse yourself in the buzzing nightlife, ultimate adventure, and blissful relaxation, we have got your back. Here we have come up with the highlights of the best places to visit in Doha, Qatar, in 2023.  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm3t7thMhQUPzaLZWfu0qgsh14RXok6LJ

Let’s dive in

Fort Al Zubarah - a Must-See The first and foremost on the list of the best place to visit in Qatar is Fort Al Zubarah. The site was privileged to get honored with the UNESCO World Heritage in the year 2013. It is considered an important site to preserve the rich history of early Qatari Culture. It is one of the iconic desert forts of Qatar, which you can’t miss out on if you are planning to visit Qatar soon. It usually takes an hour’s drive outside Doha to reach this fort. You don’t have to pay any fee to enter this fort and admire its beauty. Just pay a visit between 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and you will be good to go. A Cultural Village Awaits you at Katara Want to experience the artistic and cultural interchanges to spread the message of hope and peace? Dive into the beauty of the cultural village of Katara. It is one of the places to visit in Qatar, where you can find a blend of Oriental and European architectural styles with Qatari. Valley of Cultures is another name famous for this village. It comes under Qatar tourist attractions and is regarded as a phenomenal place for all the thespians out there. Art and architecture enthusiasts love to come here.

Water fountain at Katara cultural village You would be surprised to see an opera house, art galleries, amphitheater, and heritage centers here. The village celebrates not only the Qatari culture but also other civilizations and customs. Enjoy the traditional Qatari architecture right here at village Katara in addition to other activities like concerts and exhibitions.

The Blend of Taste and Tradition

Souq Waqif Next on the list of Qatar tourist places is Souq Waqif. The word “Souq Waqif” means standing market. Here you will get the perfect blend of taste, smell, and tradition. The stunning architecture and incredible perfumes will make you go gaga over this place. Bring out your inner shopaholic with the plenty of shops here dealing with handicrafts, clothes, and souvenirs. Souq Waqif is an ideal mix of traditional and modern Qatar culture. You can dine at the best restaurants to relish the taste of dishes famous in Qatar. It's not just about the food. Explore the local art galleries to make your visit successful. Let Pearl Qatar awe you Manmade island depicting the epitome of luxury, Pearl Qatar is yet another best place to visit in Qatar. It is located north of West Bay. Interested in finding out how wealthy people live there? You must add Pearl Qatar to your list. Remarkable yachts, gorgeous villas, and outstanding stores give you an in-depth understanding of the life of upper-class people here.

Pearl Qatar Famous Doha activities of Pearl Qatar include dining in the best restaurants and experiencing a cruise ride to Pearl island. Every year a large number of tourists come here to relish haute cuisine and witness the premium lifestyle and top-notch entertainment of Qatar. The Doha Corniche with a Laid-Back Atmosphere Wondering where to go in Qatar today? You don’t need to. Enjoy the beautiful sights of Doha Bay at Doha Corniche on the West Bay. Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade, and don’t forget to click your photograph there to keep it tucked under the memories. You can capture an amazing photo by standing close to the museum of Islamic art, which also gives you a panoramic view of the skyscrapers. Are you a nature lover? If yes, the sunrise here is just splendid. And you definitely can’t miss out on that. Qatar National Theatre is just halfway down the promenade, where you can see plays and concerts. Large Al Bidda park gives you a chance to do bird watching and let your kids have fun. Barzan Towers - Don't Miss It  Located just 20 km north of Doha, Barzan Towers were built in the late 1800s and renovated in 1910. The credit goes to Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani who built this tower with great zeal to show the history of this place. The towers are used for inspecting new month during the holy month of Ramadan. If you want to know the nitty-gritty of the life of pearl drivers and the military in the bygone years, you must visit Barzan Towers.  Sheikh Mohammed built the Western tower on the site between 1910 to 1916. The wall surrounds the village and gardens well. Furthermore, the eastern tower was built after 1958, having an equal height as that of the western tower, which is 14 meters. East-West/West-East is Worth Admiring Richard Serra created a new sculpture in the middle of the Qatari desert called “East-West/West-East Artwork.” It is the perfect example of showing the artistic side of Doha. The sculptures there are mesmerizing.

East-West West-East sculpture by artist "Richard Serra" The four pillars change their colors from gray to orange to brown until they turn dark amber. Do you know that the hot temperature of the pillars goes to such an extent that you can cook scrambled eggs or even bake cookies? So, praise the beauty and artwork of East-West/West-East and let your Doha trip become fulfilling. The Falcon Souq Teaches you About Falconry An intriguing place located in the Souq Waqif, Falcon Souq is also one of the places to visit in Qatar that you will surely enjoy. Fact check: Qatar is the richest country in the world per capita. And after visiting Falcon Souq, you will see innumerable expensive sports cars and world-class skyscrapers. Having a Falcon is considered a status symbol in Qatar. You can find n number of shops here specializing in falcons. You can even see the monthly auction where people judge the physical abilities of the falcons. Isn’t that something unique? Obviously, it is. Shoppers Will Enjoy the Villaggio Mall Mark shopping in Villaggio Mall as the thing to do in Qatar this weekend. The creative ambiance here makes you feel like you are somewhere in the city of Venice. The mall ranges from normal retail shops to high-end luxury products.

Villaggio Shopping Mall Located in the Aspire region, there are multiple options for clothing, jewelry, movies, and leisurely food. Thus, it is not wrong to say that it is a one-stop family destination.

Final Words

It's time to fall in love with Doha. Include the above-mentioned places in your itinerary of Doha and embark on a worthy journey of your life. Read the full article

[blackmouthdog]

✘ ♱

Have they ever committed a murder?:

Arguably she has committed more murders to rival the most prolific serial killers. Many 'parasites' are considered humans by other hunter standards, and she kills them with little thought at all. In terms of 'accidents' and mistaken identities, the body count only comes up to about 6. So, yes.

What do they think awaits them after death?:

The idea of being 'returned to the Green' is very prevalent in her belief system. 'Heaven' is more of the idea that your essence becomes part of all that is good- trees, plants, water, wind, sunshine, etc. You exist beyond the boundaries of time and space- you are present with your ancestors, your current family and all their descendents all at once and at the same time not at all. Animism and ancestor worship are one and the same.

The idea of hell is a bit closer to a more traditional sense. The body is torn apart, pieces repurposed for giant manmade machines made for destruction, an eternity of agony and dismemberment, rot without benefit.

[theofficersacademy]

The rainy season is nowhere to be found, and neither is the Blue Sea Star.

Elsewhere in Fódlan, the latter is cause for alarm. More sunshine and clear skies so early into the year would be cause for celebration were it not for the absence of their goddess’s guidance even as they prepare for the Rite of Rebirth and of all of the festivities that come with it. Instead, where usually Garreg Mach receives a flock of visitors this time of year, there are but whispers, a current of uncertainty in the air.

All that said, those enjoying some respite in the coastal territory of Rusalka feel no such misgivings. Everything is as it should be, according to the villagers.

All is well.

Additions to the Mission Board

Black Eagles Mission Board

You’ve lost track of one of the Knights of Seiros that escorted you here, only to find them tucked away safely amongst the rest of the sleeping villagers. They sleep deeply and peacefully, with soft blankets wrapped tightly around their body to keep them straight and still. Trying to wake them up earns you a scolding from the other villagers, and any concerns you have for the knight aren’t taken seriously. It’s what the knight wants, the village insists.

In spite of getting dragged from your Academy beds and made to solve problems in the middle of nowhere, these weeks spent in the village have given you all the best sleep of your lives. Tonight, you and your friends are whisked off to shared a dream of the past, what is now an idyllic world that adapts easily to your desires and expectations. Your mistakes, the pain others have inflicted on you, the things you’ve lost… everything you wish you could have changed or have control over, this dream gives you the chance to correct the course and make things right again. But as you feel your mind and body getting weaker with every minute you remain asleep, you realize that tearing yourself away from a world where everything is perfect takes a lot more will than simply kicking yourself awake. [ Grants Faith +1 ]

Exploring the dense, forested land surrounding the town leads you to the yawning mouth of a cave, one that you don’t recognize from the villagers’ explanations of their territory. Carved stone steps invite you into a manmade bunker, an underground web of hallways and rooms that are too well-maintained to be abandoned. Eventually your group manages to stumble their way into a treasure trove of information, a library stocked with books on a variety of magical topics from taming spirits to exorcising them. You read a book on barriers intended to block out wayward spirits from corrupting the mind, learning how the writer’s people would build labyrinthine strongholds underground to trap them in for the rest of their days. An underground maze… hallways that twist and turn… “no way home”? This may be time to trace your steps before this place becomes your grave. [ Grants Any Skill +1 ]

Non-Mission Task Board

It's that day of the month already, where you quietly meet up with some pals to continue your fantasy roleplaying adventures! The Crypts of Falkor vanquished, your party this time delves into the sunken city of Atlantys to fetch a priceless artifact said to control the element of water. The crystal ball retrieved during your last escapade allows you all passage below the surface of the sea without worry of drowning... but it won't protect you from other dangers lurking in the depths. Traps abound, as do clues and puzzles scattered about the city. Will they lead to success, or instead into the depths?

There's a new game taking the school population by storm. It involves collecting small art prints of various monsters controlled by powerful summoners with spells and traps. They can be combined to form decks to be pitted against other players in head-on battles. Are you interested in playing and collecting? Or are you perhaps more interested in grabbing the rarest, powerful cards and selling them for a profit? [ Grants Authority +1 ]

[liveattheauction]

OCs and WIPs Masterlist

Here's every WIP, original and otherwise, I've got running right now. I've got older projects I may dig up someday and gods know I'll come up with more, so I'll add/subtract as things change.

Help me stay motivated! Feel free to ask anytime about any of these projects, characters, or fics!

Current fics:

Becoming is Unbecoming (IHNMAIMS, 9/? chapters)-- jelly!Ted finds the other survivors. Mostly hurt/comfort.

Sympathy for the Devil (IHNMAIMS, 1/? chapters)--AM gets trapped in Ted's head after the events of the game. Hurt/Comfort, angst, slow recovery, character exploration.

Original Stories:

Wyatt and Malcolm, aka the Oriaz Crew-- fantasy world with undead demon-slayers and the strange things they fight. The grumpy one is friends with the sunshine one. Found family out the wazoo.

Reid and Leif-- sci-fi fighter pilot rebelling against the system in the name of his lost brother. Technopathy and brain-to-brain interfacing. Political rebellion, global war, some aliens maybe.

Lenny-- a young tech nerd gets swept up in an Illuminati-esque organization fighting a supergenius who makes cyborgs. Body horror, found family, lots of violence and gore, spy-type stuff.

Mordred and Valiant-- an outlaw alchemist and a failed succubus both find out they're "special." The second closest thing to romance I'll ever write. Fantasy, gore, some religious critique, possibly sex.

Delphi, Shiloh, and Nestor-- in a post-WWIII world, mutants made for combat are finding other ways to survive. The closest thing to romance I'll ever write. Exploration of abusive relationships, sci-fi, a touch of noir, spy stuff, gay sex.

Shit I think about but never write:

Leander and Calleo-- what happens when the "chosen one" loses to the baddies; a world-ending demon is trapped in his long-suffering vessel, hijinks ensue.

Jason Liakos-- the son of a famous geneticist is legally claimed by the organization his dad made for having patented combat genes. Technically my first novel, not that I ever actually wrote it.

Tilion/Elijah and Autumn-- a dragonslayer from the past is transported to a future where dragons and humans coexist.

Mark and Jared-- a young mage discovers his place in an urban fantasy and finds himself, not proudly, the low man on the pole beside his hyper-powerful friends. YA-ish.

Cyrus-- manmade monster combat is everyone's favorite gladiator sport until someone enters a mostly-human combatant. Gore, body horror, poorly-written political intrigue.

Vaalik plots-- shapeshifting aliens invade earth. There are, like, three different plots that run through this concept at different points in the story. October is an amnesiac soldier that befriends an alien; London is part of the cleanup crew in the early days of the truce; Dez, Russ, and Kat run control on the results of mutating alien diseases.

Tom, Rich, and Basil-- three teenage boys on a crazy fun frat-boy adventure to expunge the demon from Tom's body. Not actually as fun as it sounds.

[huzurrjewelry]

🌻✨ Elevate your style with our stunning sunflower rings, available in a variety of gemstones and metals! 🌻💍 Whether you’re into classic elegance or boho chic, there’s a sunflower ring to match your vibe. Handcrafted with love and attention to detail, each piece adds a touch of sunshine to your day. Explore our collection and let your inner beauty bloom! 🌻💖

customizedjewelry #customjewelry #huzurr #huzurrjewelry #instagram #birthstonejewelry #blue #modern #women #girls #shop #shopnow #offer #sunflowerrings #handcraftedjewelry #accessorizeinstyle #manmade

[charmyposh-blog]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Sam Edelman Sandals.

[lizhildsblog]

Color Analysis of Kurosawa's "Dreams"

Dreams by Akira Kurosawa is unwavering and multifaceted through its seamless retelling of stories, and it uses every strong suit that a film can utilize. From touching tales about nature to the horrors of post World War II Japan, Kurosawa depicts masterful blocking, talent, screenwriting, themes, framing, and more in the eight stories that he has to tell. However, arguably one of the strongest aspects about this film is his use of color. Each story presents a unique color palette that serves a purpose, and adds to every scene in various ways, whether it is a bright and colorful palette, or a dark and dreary one. 

“Sunshine Through the Rain”

The first dream of the film entails a boy’s mother telling him that he shouldn’t go out because on days that sun shines through the rain, kitsune would have their weddings and they do not like to be seen. They stand in front of their house, a dull gray color. The boy is wearing a white robe with black dots in the dream, the white perhaps signifying innocence, and rebelling against his mother he goes into a forest. The forest is a lush green with warm sunlight shining through, a stark contrast to the previous scene, and as the boy goes deeper he finds what his mother warned him of.  The kitsune all don masks and blue robes, except the assumed bride and the groom, the bride in all white attire and the groom in gray and red. They all wear different colored headdresses, perhaps implying differe roles, and they spot the boy hiding behind a tree. He runs back to his mother, who tells him that a fox had dropped off a knife at their house, and that he has to go to the rainbow where they live and apologize to them and they must accept, or else he will have to take his own life with the knife. He rushes back through the forest and into an opening of a bright, dreamy vast field of grass and bright-colored flowers, yellow, pink, red, white, and purple. Here he reaches the rainbow, and the dream ends. It is somewhat of a nightmare, at least from the boy’s perspective, and the story’s dark nature is a compelling contrast to the bright and colorful layout of the forest and field scenes. He emphasizes this contrast by filming the house scenes in much duller and cooler colors as well. Kurosawa achieves a great dream-like quality in the field scene, with the haze of the rain, the rainbow centered, the blue-hued mountains in the background, and the flowers. It seems that Kurosawa was giving the audience a glimpse into his psyche, and within this dream specifically, his childhood anxieties. A boy anxious to grow up and marry, even though the prospect might be beautiful, but at the same time curious and mesmerized at the world. There are also themes of nature vs. people, as the boy’s world of humans appears dull and unsatisfying, while the nature had an innate beauty, a commentary on manmade unhappiness compared to naturally occurring beauty.

“The Peach Orchard”

The boy in this story wears a black/dark purple robe with white dots, almost a direct contrast to the boy from the first dream. This could represent some form of loss of innocence, again, giving us a glimpse into Kurosawa’s childhood.  He goes into a house where there are three girls, and examines a wall on which an array of dolls are placed on shelves. The wall is a bright red, and the rest of the walls is extremely dark except for the three girls, who are all wearing multicolored robes. Red is a recurring motif throughout the film, and is used in many of the dreams. He points out to the girls that he thought there was a fourth girl missing, and a plant with pink leaves can be seen outside of the room. He spots the missing girl here, who is dressed in all pink, but she runs away leaving only the pink plant. He runs after the girl into a forest, where there are more pink leaves that can be seen on the ground. Kurosawa’s meticulous color placement is subtle at times, but the subtlety foreshadows what is to happen. He follows the girl to where his family’s peach orchard once was, and in front of him are the dolls on the shelves, but in human form. The apparent leaders of the dolls were wearing bright, all-red clothing, and each group of dolls had a distinct wardrobe. They reveal themselves to be spirits of the peach trees, and they reprimand the boy for his family having the trees chopped down. However, after realizing that the boy had loved the peach trees and even tried to stop his family from cutting them down, they allow him to see the orchard one last time. A shroud of pink peach tree blossoms then covers the screen, and the peach trees manifest from thin air, taking the dolls’ places. The boy sees the girl in pink among the trees ane begins to chase her when the trees abruptly return to their previous chopped state, and only one small tree remains, taking her place. This story largely depicts loss of innocence, both through the boy’s first experience with loss, the peach trees, and his curiosity towards the girl in pink. It is a transitional stage, marked by both the presence of the dark color of his robe and the reappearing pink. It also makes a statement about Kurosawa’s relationship with his parents, and/or authority figures in general. The dolls in red were portrayed as the authority figures in their group and acted hostile towards the boy, and his parents cut down the peach trees that he cherished.

“The Blizzard”

This dream tells the story of four mountaineers caught in a blizzard that has been happening for three days, a cool blue engulfing the scene. Kurosawa immerses the audience into the atmosphere they are experiencing with this color choice; a freezing, dreary, wet wasteland. They all wear yellow attire, and although it is difficult to notice it through the blizzard, it is the only presence of warmth, in the people. Most of them also wear blue hats, a cool tone to represent their diminishing will and function. Eventually three of the men collapse and only the leader is left to go on, but then a woman appears from thin air, causing a warm light to fall onto the man’s face. She tells him “the snow is warm” and “the ice is hot” in an effort to render him unconscious like the rest, and maybe he is convinced for a moment, as the warm light may point towards, but he perseveres and remains conscious until she vanishes into the wind just as she appeared. The rest of the men gain consciousness and the blizzard immediately subsides, only for them to find that they are right next to their camp, a yellow tent with a red flag attached to it. Kurosawa intentionally makes the tent these colors, not only to match the outfits of the men, but because he knows that its warm colors will have an alluring effect to both the characters and the audience after having witnessed the intense blizzard that they just went through.

“The Tunnel”

This story opens with a man walking towards a dark tunnel. Behind him is a mountain range and the scene contains mostly warm, earthy tones. He approaches the tunnel, its darkness framing him in a claustrophobic manner, when from the tunnel a dog emerges. It is covered in a red substance and carrying what can be assumed to be a bomb on its back. It barks at the man to go through the tunnel which he does, and he comes out to red street light. A man appears from behind him coming from the tunnel, in army attire and with his face and hands painted blue. His face is also blackened around the eyes, and the viewer gathers that he is dead. The soldier stands in front of the tunnel, the darkness framing his cool tone, meanwhile the main character is cast in a warm light. The main character turns out to be the dead man’s commander, and after realizing he is actually dead, the soldier marches back into the tunnel. Soon after though, the entire third platoon that the main character was in command of, also march out of the tunnel, all dead as well with the same blue face paint. The man tells the platoon that they are dead, and he takes the blame for it. He commands them one last time to march back into the tunnel, and in his moment of grief when they disappear, the dogs reappears from the tunnel, snarling at him. This story examines themes of life vs. death, expressed in the blue makeup, representing death, and the warmer lights representing life. The first soldier that comes out reaches out towards a yellow light in the distance, expressing that he wants to go home and live, but cannot because he is dead. The red light may represent existence, but one experienced through guilt and PTSD, as the main character depicts. He cannot control that he is reminded of his past, and even though it may be difficult to live with the guilt, he carries on. 

“Crows”

A man walks through an art gallery with the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. He lingers for a moment on his painting of crows flying above a wheat field, the last one he made before he killed himself. The man is then transported into a painting, depicting a bridge over water and people next to the bridge. Kurosawa masterfully recreates the painting by replicating it for the scene, choosing to paint the bricks of the bridge to make the colors more accurate to the painting, and the whole world seems more saturated and vibrant. In traveling through the painting, the man finds Van Gogh himself, painting a scene of a wheat field. They talk about art, and Van Gogh vanishes to go paint something, walking into a field and scaring the crows away. The way Kurosawa manipulates the frame to evoke paintings is impressive and the final product is beautiful. After Van Gogh disappears, the man sees a gray version of the world, the only color being emitted from the sun. This serves to immerse the viewer into what it might have felt like to be Van Gogh before the time of his death; a world full of color that had been drained, when your whole life was devoted to creating beautiful, vibrant paintings. Seeing this change in the film after being shown a world that intentionally mimics these paintings is devastating, and coupled with the fact that the audience knows Van Gogh is about to end his own life, makes for an emotional watch. Kurosawa utilizes the power of color to create an emotional impact, and it works brilliantly.

“Mount Fuji in Red”

This dream opens to a frame of a nuclear power plant explosion by Mount Fuji, the background cloaked in bright red flames, so hot that you can see the snow melting off of the mountain’s peak. Thousands of people are attempting to flee the island, some even jumping to their deaths. A man, a woman with two children, and an older man stand next to a ledge above the ocean, as three distinctly colored gases emerge from explosion. The yellow one, the older mans explains, causes leukemia, the red causes cancer, and the purple causes birth defects. The older man remarks on the foolishness of having the gases be certain colors to code them, because it is going to kill everyone regardless of if people can differentiate them or not. As the gases approach, the lighting of the scene becomes much brighter, emanating a warm hue, and signaling the nearing end of their lives. Kurosawa also utilizes the juxtaposition between water behind the characters, compared with the flames that are engulfing Mount Fuji to emphasize the extreme danger. Additionally, Kurosawa brings back the red motif, representing death. 

“The Weeping Demon”

This dream opens up to a bleak world destroyed by nuclear fallout, with lots of grays and a heavy fog. The only living things are people with mutated horns on their heads because of the radiation, and enlarged dandelions, which provide some of the only color. There is also the presence of one pink flower, which could be foreshadowing a later scene with the presence of bright red/pink. The “demon” that talks to the man wears a blue and red outfit, but it’s so worn that it’s difficult to see the color. The only other intense presence of color can be found at the end when the rest of the horned people are revealed, and they gather around two pools of a bright red liquid, which could be assumed to be blood. Once again, red makes an appearance as the presence of danger. The only signs of life other than the humans are the mutated dandelions and the bright red pools that once were living people. The pink flower that is seen towards the beginning prepares the viewer for what is to come, and Kurosawa implements many clues like this throughout his dreams. For example, the pink leaves and pink plant in the peach orchard story and the dog being covered in red during the tunnel dream. It creates a cohesive and interesting narrative, because it leaves the viewer to wonder why he made those specific choices. 

“The Village of the Water Mills”

The final story that Kurosawa has to tell us is of an isolated village, where modern technology does not exist and the people take on a more traditional way of life. The village is lush with nature, with no sign of pollution or human intervention except for the water mills, as marked by the bright green trees and grass, the clear running water, and the various flowers of different bright colors that grow. An old man attends a funeral, but it is not a typical one; everyone is in colorful attire, and cheerful music is being played by a band. A funeral in this village is a celebration of life, not a mourning of death. Kurosawa portrays this through the colorful attire that the people wear, and the sunny day that it takes place on, as well as the life in the form of flourishing and colorful  nature that surrounds it. The main character also puts down a yellow flower on a stone to commemorate a death, and later at the end of the dream, a yellow butterfly flies across the screen. This symbolizes the cycle and continuation of life, especially emphasized through nature. It is a very Thoreau-esque story, placing importance on the natural beauty of life, and deemphasizing modern technology through the symbolism of color.

[a-tale-of-legends]

Okay so they aren't Chosen ( at least I think Hau isn't) but:

Gladion has Silvally, the manmade Arceus. Artificial Holiness. Artificial light. A manmade god.

Hau, at some point, obtained Marshadow. A shadow in the dark. It stays there, watching. Cowering. The shadows is all it knows.

I think it's kinda interesting when you take Silvally( Artificial light) and Marshadow ( cowering shadow) and give them to Gladion (wears black and red) and Hau ( literally a sunshine child). Admittedly both Silvally and Gladion have a similar edge to them that links them together, but for the sake of saying symbolism, the difference is there.