#the joy of reference books

[sanguinarysanguinity]

When I was in my twenties, before the internet was very useful as a reference tool, I painstakingly built myself a collection of how-to reference books: car engine and house repair, knitting techniques, knot-tying, basic cookery... An assortment of topics that I found useful to have at hand.

By the time I got into my forties, that reference shelf was looking rather obsolete. Even foolish! Why had I sunk all that energy into building it? Not that the knowledge on it was outdated, per se, but all information was on the internet nowadays, and often easier to find there, or in more detail, than I could get from one of my reference books. Why, when I was living paycheck to paycheck, had I spent all that money on reference books?

But now I find myself turning to my reference shelf again. Because suddenly the internet is drowning in AI-generated gibberish, and it's no longer easy to find basic how-to information anymore. I wade through webpages and webpages of unreliable AI-crap trying to find a solid answer to a simple question, and finally, in frustration, go consult my reference shelf. Because maybe my books only have a bare-bones and twenty-year-old answer to my question, but by god, it's on-point and accurate.

[cent-scratchnsniff]

doodles and stuff. struggled with painting until i gave up

[icewindandboringhorror]

Little bright colored outfit with a fun vest ~

(shoes from ebay like 10 years ago. everything else is thrifted)

[sovamurka]

oh, that explains a lot.

it especially explains why I felt like ma meilleure ennemie was so specifically about ekko and jinx's relationship and their feelings for each other, yet it didn't feel like "let's explain everything that happens" type of song, it's more about exploring what went and still goes on between them behind the scenes, exploring what we don't get a chance to see.

it's like connecting the dots, in a good way, like you see the full picture after you complete the puzzle.

anyway, stromae is a genius and I am, as always, right this makes me wanna scream even more about "pretend like it's the first time" and how great it is.

[capesch-arts]

You can't just mention kiy and joy meeting in person for the first time and not talk more about it. Please can u describe it more, it's all I can think about now 😭

Welp I was planning a comic on it but lost interest because I had to design Joy's dumbass Uncle lol. But, here's the drabble I have in my mind!

...

Death comes for us all, mainly for us humans. It's not about what's waiting for us after death though, it's what happens following it. How do we welcome death? And how would we be remembered? Statues were always such a marvelous piece of legacy. Well respected men immortalised on a piece of stone for all to admire, as if we're meeting them ourselves. It's intimate, in a way.

Arthur Lester... Oh, Arthur. Lester. An honourable end would have waited for you. Our King was so eager to welcome you to his embrace and finally allow you to be who you are meant to be! A musician! But, alas. Now as we wait for my brothers and sisters of the Yellow Sign to bring your handsome corpse, your final resting pedestal sits coldly while I draw your final bath. Consider it a final baptism, as your sins upon our King washes away, your flesh will turn to sparkling white marble. And of course I shall ensure you would dress your best! I'm sure your partner and daughter would want to know what happened for the last decade you left them. Nevertheless, you were a worthy adversary for us. Such a shame, such a shame you could not be converted.

Now, I wonder how I should dress you for this? Formal? Oh or biblical! The iro-

"What's taking them so long?!" Ah, I forgot the rat- I mean my uncle is here.

"Please complain louder, dear uncle. I could almost hear myself think".

"What if he's not dead? What if he slipped from us and-"

"He was ripe for harvest. Practically in the hand of our god. Do you doubt our lord?"

"N-no! Of course not!"

"Then there's nothing to worry about..."

The door opened. Finally, they've... Ah.

It was him. Arthur Lester, no doubt, but what moves him wasn't the soul of his body. Something... Someone more divine.

He entered, sluggishly, steps uneven, of course he would. He never stepped foot into our reality after all. But, oh my. I could feel it. I could HEAR it. So... Grandeur... The fool WISHES he could hear his music.

Speaking of,

"impossible! Ar- Arthur Lester!" Said the fool.

I raise my hand, "Uncle... Kneel".

"What?"

"Uncle. Kneel." I say, again.

A beat. We all felt it. Our King in his new vessel. No words need to be spoken. We knelt, and his presence fills the entire room.

My Joy... He said.

My Joy... Again, he said now with a sweet rumble.

With hands that are now his, he held my head by my cheeks and turned it up to him. I could SEE him. Past the human face he has claimed, past the pitch black eyes and beyond. I. SEE. HIM.

"My King..."

The yellow of his cloak fills the room and shadows fall behind him to show his vastness. Golden tendrils move about, reaching towards all his followers, caressing them, touching their minds. And his face. Oh his FACE... Though his face was made of pure white mask split, it was so beautiful... Thousands of eyes bright as gold with black cross irises replaced that section of his mask that was lost, like golden stars upon the night sky.

I could faint. Or die. If he were to take my life right now, I would be overjoyed. Perhaps he knew it, because he kissed my forehead and pulled me to his chest into an embrace. I leaned on his tender touches, and heard him whisper,

You're so beautiful, my Joy. So beautiful, so beautiful, and you're mine. You're mine and you're in my arms, finally. You deserve a reward...

"I need no reward, my lord. To serve you is a reward itself..."

So shall it be, then. My artist. I want to see you, create.

"My tools, my stones, I'll fetch them right-"

You have what you need here... Isn't that right, Donovan Joy?

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, poor old fool.

"I-I... My lord? I don't understand...". The fool sputtered.

That pedestal looks empty, don't you think? Go to the water, and JUMP, Donovan Joy.

There is a baptism after all this evening, but instead of a heretic that refused The King in Yellow's grace, it was the old conniving fool who thought the work of The Artists of the Yellow Sign was something of monetary value. What use of The King for one who cares little for the arts? None. Now, I have a new marble statue to work on, to sculpt and chisel to my heart's content. Perhaps you're finally worth something dear uncle. And my King is finally able to see my hands work with his very eyes.

[pisshandkerchief]

why do you mean you have trouble discovering new music. back in my day we got our obscure music recs from the welcome to night vale weather and we fucking liked it

[markantonys]

guys what's the significance of perrin in the apple orchard 😭 i keep seeing other readers going "ooooh we all know why this is important!" and i'm like "[has absolutely no recollection of anything to do with perrin and apple orchards] haha yeah..........we all know!......we sure do.........."

[theknucklehead]

I do like that a lot of shows have referenced/parodied Inside Out.

Granted the Simpsons have done this kind of joke lots of times before. (Here are some episode examples:

Diatribe of a Mad Housewife

We're on the Road to D'oh-where

The Blue and the Gray)

But to do it specifically as a reference to Inside Out and with their cast representing the emotions is cleverly done. Plus it's a hundred times better then what Family Guy did.

Seriously? Was it too much trouble to put someone like Mort Goldman as Fear?

[yeah-thats-probably-it]

The more Jeeves books you read, the more of your annotations will just be variations of “oh no” “Bertie no” “oh noooo” because you know these characters and know exactly what misunderstanding is going to result from the actions being undertaken

This demonstrates that the culture in Hollywood of “subverting expectations” at all costs is silly, because I’m almost never off the mark re: whatever is about to go disastrously wrong and it’s always hilarious anyway

[xxplastic-cubexx]

sorry to all the comic-only fans but as someone who knew xmen from the movies, this is a behaviour that i think it's kinda childish? we're happy mostly because we have the old man yaoi back than because marvel is bringing the fox actors back btw, but this is just my opinion being a xmcu fan 🤷🏻

based off my timeline the majority of reactions really are reserved just for mckellen and stewart (though then again im pretty sure my timeline is cherik-centered atp): i'm not sure what the other world where they didnt return looks like, but either way all the cheer i see is pretty much just for em so that's a fair guess to make about the fox actors coming back and mostly being happy just for those two

[dnangelic]

it's so funny that over in japan a guy who reads for a hobby is kind of whatever. if a guy anywhere else told me he read for a hobby i'd rate that at LEAST a solid 8 out of ten. not a ~4 like i've seen some jp girls give it. 'but what does this have to do with anything' i have to emphasize dai doesn't know games. he doesn't know movies. he doesn't go to karaoke or live concerts. he doesn't know popular stores or brands. anything that tends to carry a certain human social aspect, that quality is immediately lost on him. he'll never really 'get it' if there's a lot of hype surrounding something. but what he does love and can become spiritually intimate with is art, likewise entailing literature. his family's mansion already has an enormous library, and if he had more time, he'd probably read much more out of it. otherwise, if he's given any sort of option, or especially during long travels (ie train rides, overseas flights,) he's probably going to reach for a book and/or listen to some music first thing.

[orphiicheartd]

Bruh, I am prolly slow on the uptake, but I'm realizing that, considering their magic is heavily influenced by imagination, it's no WONDER Kalim's magic, especially his defensive magic, is so weak.

Because he's always had everything handed to him or done for him by others, especially Jamil, of course his imagination would never compare. Bc he's never HAD to long for anything, never had to think of anything for himself besides what he was told/given, outside certain circumstances!

Is it a wonder he was able to manifest his magic at an age when Jamil was attending another school away from him? When Kalim himself WANTED to and tried so HARD at something, likely for the first time in his life, to manifest his magic to be JUST LIKE Jamil?

Tbh, the best thing that ever happened to Kalim was not really Jamil. Bc incidentally, the way they were raised, it only served to limit Kalim both in life experiences and magic, having Jamil do everything for Kalim. He never needed to work on honing his magic when Jamil could take care of potions, when Jamil could defend him and take the brunt of the grunt work.

Thus, the best possible thing to have happened to Kalim really having to make his own friends outside of him at Night Raven. Like when he used Oasis Maker to entertain Crowley with excellent control and skill ( likely something he learned to do for shows with the Pop Music Club, I bet! ). Or how when he had to make a party without Jamil's help, Ruggie let him learn how to cook with only using magic and the food STILL turned out to be a hit despite it being Kalim's first shot at it! Or how he was able to surprise Jamil by making the river to bring Octavinelle, himself and Yuu'n Grim back to Scarabia after the boy'd dismissed his Signature Spell as useless.

[scene-iii]

—YOU & ME; MOONLIT SCENE (0-1)

[ but I know you ]

“You’re awfully excited,” The prefect whispers, eyes wide behind cracked lens.

The taller boy grins, cracked lips stretching to reveal missing teeth; it’s charming, in an off-putting way. The boy tilts his head to the side, his glasses nearly rolling off his nose and revealing his blood-orange eyes. He offers a hand to Dinah.

“How could I not be…?! It’s the most perfect time of the year.” The boy hums dreamily, his voice quiet to match the blond’s. It’s clear that it isn’t his natural volume, and the gentle gesture is appreciated.

Dinah nods shakily, blond locks draping over his glasses; his headband snapped on the way here. Hesitantly, the prefect places his hand in the pale stranger’s, and gets pulled to his feet instantly.

“Don’t tell me you’re not a fan?” The boy’s words flutter down to Dinah, and the ramshackle prefect realizes just how vastly different their heights are. Dinah cranes his head upwards, the cool metal rims of his glasses press against his face; they provide little solace in his new environment.

“I…” Dinah isn’t quite sure where to begin. This is supposed to be his first Halloween in Twisted Wonderland, a hauntingly exciting day to spend with friends and acquaintances. And yet, here he stands with moonlight as the only familiarity.

Dinah shakes his head, not minding that his hand is still in the stranger’s hold. “I’m worried, this year…?” His words are choppy—he’s had Halloween before back at home, right? “I’m… Alone, right now. Scared, to be honest.”

"Scared?"

His smile is warm but odd; Dinah has never seen this face before.

The boy presses his glasses up his face, hiding his eyes once more. His fingertips drift to his chest as he leans down, placing a kiss upon Dinah's gloved hand.

"Your fear is most appreciated, a true harbinger of the Halloween spirit...!"

"Yet," his voice drops, and he shifts his hand in Dinah's until their palms are flush. "The fear you hold isn't quite right."

"Won't you allow me to twist it to perfection?"

banner cred: thoselethalarts

[pepperbenmin333]

Phighting oc stuff i forgot to share (lore in tags)

[cctinsleybaxter]

someone in the notes of the sperm excerpt saying 'this is a beautiful passage it's so unfortunate how the wording aged'; melville was funny and he knew it.

[shiori8]

The assistant bodyguard, the boy of destiny and the girl with magic that works on iron

aka more doodles for the wizards of once series. This time our main trio Bodkin, Xar and Wish.

Part 1