#thrifting for those god powers

[m0rninglatte]

Thrifting 4 those god powers yk?

[I have no idea what I'm doing anymore-

Vens holding the list which includes:

- god powers

- Reaver]

[bluebellhairpin]

Anyone else get like. Gender envy from songs. Song don't have genders but when I listen to some of them I can't help but think. I want to look how that sounds. So bad.

[beckpoppinscosplay]

Taking more interesting portraits on your phone for minimal money and equipment that can fit in a duffel bag

a guide for cosplayers, fashion folk, and people who like looking nice in selfies.

By Beck Poppins

first off, its nice to have a big blank background. Some of us are lucky and have big massive white walls, most of us don't. My space that I can take photos in is my shitty midwestern basement. It has the best light control (i can get it nice and dark) and i have space to set up this bad boy, the photo backdrop.

These stands are very common, usually around 30-40 bucks, and they are so god damn useful. Not only can I light it from the front but from behind, they fold up REAL small and don't take up room, i can hang up any kind of fabric. I so also use them for things like party backdrops and some video calls. This is pictured here with 2 of my 10 dollar ring lights, we are only going to be using one of those today.

Fabric wise you can use anything, bed sheets, raw fabric off the bolt, party streamers, whatever. I am using a wrinkle free panel photo backdrop that i think cost me like 25-30 bucks and it was worth it to me because i don't have to iron it but you can use whatever. I will also say plain white gives you a LOT of options when it comes to lighting, we can make this look like whatever we want, no editing in post needed.

It's important to remember all of this wouldn't need to be bought all at once OR in total. these are loose suggestions that can be collected over time. before we get snapping, one last important bit of kit, I love bluetooth photo clickers they are SO cheap and you can stick em in your pocket and you dont have to fight getting your camera to get the right shot.

So where we are, my overhead lightbulb, my back drop, and my clicker.

I will be in boring clothes, no make up, and a mask in each picture so you are just seeing the unedited shot and nothing else, not even expression.

We can soften this shot up with that cheap ring light right in front of us that is holding up our camera on its little attached tripod. Most ringlights have at least 3 settings and you can fiddle with cold, warm, and neutral (seen here)

Now that we have a basic set up, lets play with junk!

My favorite extra style of light right now is a sunset lamp, about 15 bucks and a REAL power house. It blasts extremely bright blended colored light and has so many settings which really give you options.

Straight white light from a sunset lamp

straight pink light from a sunset lamp

Sunset lamp in blue and a ring light set to warm

If you have that backdrop and it a little sheer you can move that sunset lamp behind it and do some really cool stuff!

Red sunset lamp behind, warm ringlight infront

If its behind its a great way to use shadows and add some props and imagery to your photo

We can also put stuff between us and these lights to add interest, one of my favorite things is to use a recycled plexiglass out of a thrift store frame and hot glue.

here i attached it with photo clamps to an extra photo stand, but if you wanna be cheap you can prop it up between stacks of books or clamp it to the back of a chair, play around. This is a very simple way to add texture and interest.

Neutral ring light, blee sunset lamp, hot glue/plexi sheet

sheer fabric also makes a great layer, I used a sheet of sequins on tulle here, but you can use anything sparkly, or embroidered, or knit, there is a lot of texture to play with.

orange sunset lamp through sequins

another great recycled item is hooch bottles with the labels peeled off and filled with water, they gives a soft watery refraction for zero dollars. I am using the sunset lamp but honestly, a flash light will also give you a little bit of this.

blue sunset lamp through rum bottle, overhead lighting.

If we wanna get really fancy and nuts, try a projector. Mine is a bare bones model around 70 bucks and I use it for a lot more than photos. (you can watch movies! project ghosts on halloween! do family slideshows)

This is your option if you wanna add SPECIFIC imagery to your photo.

You can just add a nice high res photo to a thumb drive and BAM (a lot of museums have open download services for everything they have that's fair use, a great place to find images!)

painting projected, warm ring light

pool photo projected alone

Now lets mix them all up! Once you have your photo lights all set up, don't be afraid to add some in photo light source as props to bring it all together.

bubble photo projected, behind backdrop sunset lamp in light blue through rum bottle full of water, warm ring light, cheap led moon lamp held in hand.

rear used led light in gold and a projected painting

projected magic nonsense, distant blue sunlamp, LED in a little 3d printed orange bubble on a bit of fishing line

All these options are editing free, infinite, and all fit in one duffle bag and can be used again and again and again to make all kinds of photos! try different backdrops and lights! Once you add a little costumes and editing? WOW!

[wroteclassicaly]

Fallin’ For His Darlin’

(Gator Tillman x Female Reader)

Word count: 1,062

Pairings: Gator Tillman x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Language, mentions of trauma, wounds, pain, anxiety, and depression, vaginal sex, fluff, hurt/comfort, vaginal fingering, kind of dark!Gator, kind of soft/anxious too, etc.

A/N: So inspired tonight, listened to some mood music, feeling that fall vibe, haha! Hope y’all enjoy? I’m pretty happy with this one! And I can’t wait to see our boy in action 😭 P.S, forgive my shitty graphic making, I’m not good at that!

You’re not sure what time it is. Maybe midnight? You aren’t positive, because when his headlights find your garage door, floating in through your window like his own personal spotlight, his tires skid across the gravel of your lane, his car door heavily thudding closed, his boots crunching heavily over rough ground, signaling him closer… closer — time ceases to matter much. You’re meeting him eagerly over the threshold, his back slammed against the beat up wood, boots falling beside your sneakers on the entryway rug. Nothing can find you here, can harm you here, and what has lifelong permission to touch you, it’s always-only… him.

He smells as good as always. Spicy cologne and cigarettes, powdered sugar from the donuts he’d eaten for dinner (you are always on him to eat more), leftovers from your shared favorite diner — Angelica’s, still pressed into his crisp black t-shirt, as if he’d forgotten a napkin. His hair is usually in its less than pristine condition by the time he arrives at yours in the night hours. Doesn’t matter anyways, not with how you end up carrying on in front of your old fireplace (Gator’s a fan of your new cream rug, intricate floral patterns woven into it, loved by owners before, thrifted, and now yours), or on your couch. You’d never really gone to your bed, learning how those times nearly caused lines to be crossed, one ending with Gator falling asleep on your naked breasts, (the calmest he’s been in years, and you just watching him as the sun came up and cast a glow on his youthful head. he was lost, broken, beaten down).

Sticking to this, here in your living room, it’s safer, saner. But it’s not what you want. However, you’ll have him whichever way he offers. He’s Gator and you’re his sweet darlin’.

~*~

Your legs fall open, one wrapped up in his camouflage pant clad thighs. His fingers press deeper inside of you, thumb circling your curls, smearing the cream around in them, watching how it bubbles. You’re kissing him again, lips so soft on his chest, fingernails scraping through the thick tufts that rest on his chest, occasionally flicking his gold and silver chain overlays. You’d gotten him the gold pendant, something he could wear, a symbol for faith that Gator could attach his own meaning to, not having to wear because it meant what his father wanted it to. But it was safe enough that Roy wouldn’t question its meaning.

Your lips find that patch of skin by his left nipple, sucking it between your lips, before you bite down. Gator throbs in his pants, his spare hand squeezing your neck’s nape. Despite his fascination, he’s still a million miles away. “Why do you let me do this to you?”

It’s a default question, an answer you both know already. Why you let him love you like this, it’s so simple…

“These hands, what I do with them before I come here. I’m bad. And I could hurt you, you know?” He adds a little pressure that travels up your scalp in electric prickles.

You spread yourself wider for him, a third finger stretching you in a welcomed, boundary pushing burn. Your eyes meet the midnight murk that’s woven over his mossy pupils like a blanket to mask, face leaving that cove of his chest. Your finger reaches to rub along his lower lip, his tongue licking out to taste skin.

“You wouldn’t, Gator. You won’t...” Is your answer. As if you believe it more than you believe in any god or higher power.

He’s pushing, as he often does…

“And if I do?”

“Then I’d let you.” It’s plain and simple, your fingers leaving his mouth to wrap around his wrist and correct him to a deeper rhythm. This is not enough tonight. More. Fuck, you want him to swallow you whole, capture you, trap, and hurt you in the ways you welcome — how he can, ever so softly, but painfully blissful, like a fire to your fingertips, flames licking the skin, enough to sting, but never to take away in harm.

He’s fully hard, swollen, and he’s turning towards you, forcing you to him by your nape. Your noses bump into a brushing nudge, his hand leaving your cunt and pressing wet, calloused fingers to your jaw as he brings you into his mouth. He’s so warm, plush, his stubble has a scratching effect. He tastes like sweet sugar and Marlboros. He’s been smoking menthol, you note — what he switches to in the colder seasons.

He’s panting his next declaration over your mouth in a fragile concentration. “Would you let me put it inside of you, darlin’?”

Your thighs tighten together, pussy clicking noisily. You’ve never had penetrative sex with him yet, something so close for two childhood friends. But you’re ready to leap if he is, reaching for his hand on your jaw and squeezing over his knuckles. “What do you think I’ve been waiting for, Gator?”

~*~

Approaching Autumn glides in on the cool September rain of Sunday, leaves and earth filling your room with the harsh scent of two bodies connecting. Your blush curtains blow against the chipped, open window frames. Your nipples have hardened from the cool air, from dragging repeatedly across Gator’s chest hair, his necklaces dipping into your collar bones and the valley of your tits. He’s got your legs held around his waist, your hands pulling in his hair to mess it up, his nose finding yours, foreheads sticking with perspiration. The box of condoms lay abandoned at your bedside, a gamble in you, of which Gator is only ever willing to trust.

Your eyes tighten and close, his size making you feel as if you’ve never been touched or fucked before in your lifetime. Everything aches, everything is too much, all at once.

“Should I stop? You hurtin’?” He’s speaking to you in a way that makes tears gather in your lash line. He brushes them away with a rough thumb, then a trigger finger, almost immediately.

His hands let your legs drop to take your fingers in his own, directing one to his shoulder and the other around his waist. “Hold onto me?”

“I’ll never stop.” And you’re surging in for a kiss.

The rain hasn’t stopped when the sun begins to come up the next morning. And your boy sleeps soundly on your chest, uncaring. And that funny thing called time? Well, it still ceases to exist.

// Eat me paragraph //

[techno-phone-4]

do you have any headcanons for the funny phon 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Yes indeedy!!!!!!!!

Pretty long so under the cut haha……..

First and foremost my design for him!!

- His bag is for going out adventuring into the woods with 3GS or going into town. In the bag is obviously snacks, but also he loves collecting trinkets and cool things he finds while out and about!! Rocks, wrappers, Chronic hoarder for sure. He has a rock collection from every time he and 3GS go out, and they’re planning on making a room for the collection soon or else it’ll take over their bedroom..

- loves stickers which is why he has some on his front, like I said he’s a collector of lots of things, one of them being stickers which leads into my next hc ..

- SCRAPBOOKINGGGG he scrapbooksssss. He started back in s3 in the Polaroid ep when he realized he wanted to keep them in a safe place. He loves the chaos of mixed media and crafting and doodling in the pages of his scrapbooks. It’s also a good outlet for feelings.

- him and 3GS wear matching bracelets and have similar bandaids, they know the bandaids don’t do anything but they like being boo-boo buddies

- REALLY loves music so he self-installed an antennae to pick up radiostations!!

- on that note he makes so many playlists like bro im talking a playlist a day, a playlist for every season of the year, a playlist for every emotion, you get my drift..

- he tinkers and invents little gizmos. thingamabobs. they dont do anything. kinda just crappy figets lol. its kinda how he stims!

- to supply that hoarder in mephone, him and 3GS go out thrifting sometimes!! About once every two months. It’s where he usually gets the stuff to tinker with and his scrapbooking supplies

- very scared of the dark. back at meeple hq the stars on his roof would glow in the dark, and he uses those little orb light thingies from the nickel/balloon/bot elimination as nightlights! Another thing that helps him sleep is at least 3-4 stuffies in the bed (3gs also likes stuffies)

- him and 3gs live in a little cave and have built a little shack in it like marceline's house in adventure time! they have family dinners and have bunkbeds teehee

- Lovesssss videogames!! His favorites are Sonic because he loves the characters and relates to sonic, and Minecraft because he loves sandbox games where you can build your own worlds, he loves the freedom of it, same case for games like little big planet and scribblenauts!!!

- 3GS plays guitar and sings with lyrics written by mephone. Kinda have an acoustic version of Jack Stauber where the songs are really short and don’t really have any meaning, but on rare occasions they do! In that case they have more of an Alex g sound to them.

- Still draws, but also writes now too!! He loves making up little stories, and it also helps him cope with the loss of his generation ability. I feel like it was touched on perfectly in the finale that mephone not having the ability to generate anything will be a big adjustment, as hinted at by him snapping to summon one of his portals. He’s had this power his whole life and I feel like it’s the perfect metaphor for the life he’s leaving behind and the pros and cons of leaving said life.

- Speaking of writing his biggest muse is the shimmers and 3GS. He loves writing self insert high fantasy or sci-fo stories with characters heavily based on them.

- He considers the shimmers, ballpointpen, and 3GS his family. He keeps in touch with the shimmers via FaceTime calls, and is PENpals with ballpoint pen.

- Loves puns he’s so corny oh god he makes so many puns but ESPECIALLY around those he loves extra hehehaha..

- Loves blue rasberry things ANYTHING blue rasberry is not safe from him.

- Keeping the food motif going, he bakes!!!! He’s not good at it. But he’s getting better! His favorite thing to make is obviously cookies, but he invented a secret recipe for cookies that use blueberries instead of chocolate chips and they’re delicioussss and it’s basically the only thing he can make that actually tastes good so he makes them like once a week LMAO

- Him and 3GS are each others therapists since they share a lot of their mental experiences and struggles. They both have pretty bad ptsd when they first move in together which was the motivation to live together in the first place. They both knew they wouldn’t be able to make it on their own. Mephone struggles with ocd, mostly the impulsive thoughts side of it, and for a long while actually struggled heavily with suicidal thoughts (as hinted at during karma waits when he considers attempting on the clif. At least that’s how I interpreted that scene.) 3GS ptsd takes the form of schizophrenia. Them living together basically guaranteed that they would always have someone in the house in case anything ever happened. Both of their conditions weren’t strong enough to warrant real therapy or medication, plus they both agreed that it just wouldn’t really be for them, but they still needed very heavy support, so them living together worked out perfectly and they’d be happy to say after about 2-ish years that they now barely struggle with their conditions if at all.

- They’re pretty sure the cave will be their forever home and don’t see either of themselves moving out any time soon. (Half of the reason is because they don’t have to pay taxes because they literally live in a shack in a cave, so they only have to worry about buying food LMFAOOO)

- After living MIA for so long, the thought of returning to the spotlight in front of the camera just isn’t for him, HOWEVER!!! That doesn’t mean he lost his passion for tv entirely!! Mephone’s love for reality shows and tv in general is a core part of his personality in canon and I just can’t see any world where he would completely cut all ties with his love for tv. When him and 3GS finally decide to reenter society, mephone joins a local indie director/tech club!! For the first time he has friends. Organic ones. Real people (objects?) who have real flaws and personalities that by one way or another led them to the same place he’s in. He becomes very close with the club and they all go out for lunch at least 1-2 times a week, usually after club meetings and then on weekends, and he loves them so much. He keeps his infatuation with the tv industry, but has come to love the behind the scenes and prefers to stay out of the spotlight. He basically becomes a producer/co-director, and started to mentor up-and-coming directors/hosts/people who also want to make big tv shows like he once did. He doesn’t think he’ll ever make another show again, as he’s happy where he is in life and considers inanimate insanity a finished symphony, his magnum opus.

- Besides joining the tv/directing club, obviously mans’ has to make money. he loves seeing himself in people just starting out in the industry, and loves working with those with the same passion he had, so he became a volunteer at a local college to youngsters with a passion for tv/film! He teaches things mostly related to directing and producing media.

- Bonus to the reentering of society, 3GS ends up basically just taking up odd jobs wherever he can, basically just offers general services to anyone who’ll take his help. Bro kinda just turned his love for helping into a job. (Basically just that one cartoon “cupcake and Dino” you should check it out it’s real cute)

Sorry some of these mention 3GS but I love him and 4’s dynam sm and I hc that they’re pretty much connected at the hip outside of work and social life hehe.

[regaliasonata]

Ninja Storm Headcanons

@skyland2703 @eve6rangers @buster-loves-pr

(Some stem from the AU fic)

-Blake thrifts heavy, that man dresses to impress and would even go to lengths of joining online auctions.

-Tori has the strongest elemental output out of the team, while they are all strong her control over water is terrifying to the point of any deep feelings and willpower rooted together allow for her to make tsunamis or even a hurricane if she sees fit.

-Dustin might be a bit air headed but he’s really good and retaining information. Reading books can be exhausting but with his love for comics he’s gotten a very visual mindset and pretty much maps out every scene he reads, helps with studying a lot.

-Marah and Kapri are twins with Kapri being the older one.

-Hunter too likes to dress up a bit but the real reason why he never really showed off like Blake was cause most of his money was either spent on biking tools or saved up. He really prefers shoes and baggy clothing, also one of those people who actually uses a stylish watch when wearing it outside.

-Cam is loaded with money due to his dad, the Watanabe’s have investments all around the place through generational business and with Kanoi’s influence they’ve accumulated a lot of wealth. They live in a huge estate hidden away somewhat like the ninja schools, the team sometimes sneaks in due to the fact that there a bunch of rooms making it seem like a castle.

-Shane has a tendency of helping people but sometimes it tends to get him into trouble, years ago when he was around eight years old he stole medicine to help out a kid who had a sick mom and it got him in juvenile detention. Didn’t matter cause he was happy he could help, that kid was Cam(rip Miko).

-The team has a good taste in music, Blake enjoying a lot of R&B and Soul music, Hunter enjoying hip hop and rock, Dustin has a taste for a lot of upbeat music and Japanese city pop, Cam secretly likes pop, Tori has a mix of a lot of taste and Shane enjoys Lo-fi beats with high tempos. Their favorite artists is Nujabes.

-Shane tends to add style to his fighting by adding in chants or specific words with technique, he seems to find it bringing energy and more power into his element. He’s got a cool way of thinking within the world and the team started to pick up a few of these tendencies…they can’t make fun of him considering Hunter names some of this own techniques after specific gods of thunder.

-Best dancers on the team are Dustin and Hunter but everyone else has a really good rep as well…Hunter was taken aback when they went to a nightclub and Dustin got all close and personal when they started playing a bunch of huge beats.

-Cam broke the stock market and might’ve been responsible for the 2008 crash…

-Meeting up with other rangers is always pleasant, the yellow rangers before Dustin absolutely love him, Tori is surprised to have been the first female blue ranger in ages, Shane isn’t allowed to bring Hunter anymore due to him roasting and hating a lot of the old reds but he finds a way to sneak in. Blake pretty much judges some of the clothing of the other blues and Cam refuses to meet any green rangers but he will be down to hang out with RJ.

-They will jump the shit out of anyone who’s an asshole, anyone who’s homophobic, anyone who picks on Dustin and Cam, anyone who who’s basically causing some trouble. Like you don’t wanna catch any of their smoke🔥

-As teachers they made it mandatory for the students to watch ATLA, both cause the show is good but also the examples for lessons are top notch. It’s also how they found out that fire was an element some students could use.

-Dustin has a crush on Cole the Wild Force Red Ranger…Hunter is jealous.

-although ninja steel is another team that they somewhat acknowledge it anyone compares them to that team or tries to do a versus situation they will get very offended. In another universe where Ninja Steel was a good season they are a part of the Wave Academy and the Ninja Storm rangers love their company. Cam actually raised Levi.

[jazzybot4]

We're all going to need to get okay with being uncomfortable for a while.

So the next 4, 8, 12 years are going to be hard. They're going to be upsetting and scary and so hard. It's going to hurt and it's going to be the kind of environment that cooks us all in a slow simmer of despair.

Do NOT let the current corporate fascist power base have your despair. Despair makes you complacent. Things are going to be more expensive. Learn how to make your own things, so that you don't have to buy them. Make those things for your neighbors too. Find a mask design you like and wear it in public. You'll look like a weirdo but you can't afford to be sick, or get your family sick. Handsewing a mask takes a couple of hours but they're really comfy and satisfying. Make it a style point. Food is going to be more expensive. Figure out if your neighbors and you can go in on bulk food. Find storage at thrift stores, craigslist, anywhere you can think of. If you can dig it out of the ground, plant it as soon as the ground thaws. If you can get away with it and a neighbor is cool with it, see if you can start a backyard geurilla community garden. Be kind. Gods you do not have to be nice, but please be kind. We're all exhausted and afraid and angry and upset. Be kind, to yourself and to your friends. But also be kind to the conservatives who just got the same rug pulled out from under them as the rest of us. Every defeat from within their oligarchy-run political camp is a victory that we need to not rub in their faces. We need compassion, and we need understanding, and we need to show our neighbors that we are not fighting for our COMFORT but for our LIVES. A debate is when both parties are on the same playing field. An argument is when one side is fighting for their survival against the Devil that the other person is advocating for. Stop playing Devils advocate. He's had enough help and now we need to figure out how to get the Devil out of the hearts of people who don't need to love us, but who can and should respect us and vote with us. My favorite poem is also the most dangerous one I know. I think we all need to remember that this is not a mindset that requires other people to change. He drew a circle and shut me out Heretic! Rebel! A thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win We drew a circle, and took him in. Every single gab in the Hard Right rhetoric is a gap you can wiggle compassion into. Every single conversation about immigration, or queerness, or education, or security is a chance to ask questions and listen. Ask them how. Ask them why. Let them explain and don't try to talk over them or let them feel like you're just waiting for them to stop talking. Ask genuine questions to suss out what they're afraid of and why their fear matters more than your right to exist. Often, people won't have an epiphany. But it will give you the ability to figure out what they're afraid of, and offer them alternatives. These are not "Some Other People" who voted to put us all at risk. It's our neighbors, our friends, our families. People who love us but dont' understand that the way they vote will genuinely affect us. Let the Republicans bumble and blunder. Let them fumble and fuck up and propagandize. Every single slip is a chance for us to drag our loved ones out of their rhetoric and their voting block grip. We're able now to point out every single broken promise that is going to be made. We are poor. We are afraid. We have what the conservative base does not. We have patience, and we have compassion, and we must at all costs have hope. Even if that hope is small and afraid and alone. If you cannot be safe, then be free. Look them in the eye and ask why their freedom matters more than yours does, and watch them get angry trying to justify it with God or with Legislation or with Discomfort. Ask them why they think you deserve to die. Often the answer will make no sense, and it will be so extreme that you can look them in the eye and tell them that you don't want *them* to die, even if they hate you for being real, instead of the fantasy they're having about you.

Look out for each other. If you cannot afford it, make it. If you cannot make it, ask your community who can. If you can help, help. If you can be kind, be kind. Let's take our people back, because if we don't? This looks a lot like the world did, 4 years before world war 2.

[arctic-hands]

Thirty minutes and 9 paragraphs into an excited list of alternatives to Spotify's monopoly re: music, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, for weenies like me who are nervous about pirating, and my app crashes.

Well now I'm on a laptop and I swear to god if this crashes too I'm calling it a conspiracy.

LEGAL ALTERNATIVES TO SPOTIFY:

Music: There are virtually limitless options here. Buy music directly from the musicians/band! If they don't sell mp3s directly from their site, they almost certainly have CDs for sale, so buy those and rip the mp3s to your computer (if your computer doesn't have a CD slot, you can buy an external one for fairly cheap). Go to a new/used music store, they still exist!, and buy albums there. Buy old albums from ebay! Go to goodwill or other thrift stores and browse there collection of cast-off music for cheap, you never know what you'll find. Hell, browse their cheap vinyl if you prefer their sound and get a vinyl-to-MP3 conversion device if you like. They even have conversion devices for cassette tapes, if you find a treasure that was only ever released on tape. Once upon a time I would have said Bandcamp for MP3 or even physical albums (I once upon a time got an AUTOGRAPHED TO MY NAME CD of Lauren Ruth Ward's Well Hell album), but they recently union busted and a lot of artists pulled their stuff from them. I don't really know anything about 7Digital's business practices, but they are another seller of MP3 music, as well as MP4, FLAC, and WAV.

Music DEVICES: If you just want to manage everything on one device, your phone, get the free VLC app! It's open source and is absolutely wonderful. I only ever used it for music, but it's capable of much more than I realized, and it's open source and ad-free! And the audio files are tiny, even when I was running out of room on my sixteen gig old phone, I still had a substantial music library on it before before I got a dedicated music player.

Which brings me to my next point: MP3 PLAYERS STILL EXIST! I own two! My first one is a twenty-dollar SanDisk Clip Jam (an established and sturdy brand), my current is a thirty-dollar Phinistec Z6 (that just came out of nowhere it seems). Each have their pros and cons, and there are so so so many options out there. Some are smart, some don't even have wifi (neither of mine do). Some have expandable card slots for even more music. Some are extremely basic, some have a plethora of features. Some are cheap but still decent in sound, some are high-end for that true audiophile experience. Some have touch screens, some have buttons, some have no screens at all. Some only use wired earphones, some only use bluetooth, some (like the Z6) can use both! There are so many brands out there even in Twenty Twenty-four. Even the random brands cropping up online are some really good shit, and I bought both of mine used bc I have concerns about the lithium industry. Oh, and some are regular battery powered. And you don't need iTunes or anything, I just use the basic Windows Media Player to rip my CDs or put mp3s music on my player. In fact I've been avoiding Apple players because I'm worried they'd brick older devices, especially ones with wifi. But there are so many options out there, it's impossible to name them all.

Audiobooks: YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE AUDIBLE! Libro.fm has a similar business model (an optional subscription fee with a free credit every month, or the option to buy book without a subscription for a little bit extra price), and you can direct the profits to the indie bookseller of your choice! I have mine set to go to Baltimore's anarcho-feminist bookstore, Red Emma's. How to listen to the audiobooks you buy? Libro has an app you can listen to directly from! AND they have the option to directly download from the site (meaning no program you have to install) the book in non-proprietary mp3/mp4 files so you can listen to it on any device that can use those files! THAT INCLUDES MP3 PLAYERS! Almost every music player on the market now not only plays audiobooks, but has sections on the device specifically for them! Some, like the Clip Jam, are even proprietary audible-compatible if you still use or already have books there (check audible's site, and you'll have to go thru a registration process). I was listening to audiobooks on both my CJ and the Z6 (the Z6 doesn't have a section for them, but still played them), but I recently bought an e-ink/e-paper (meaning no backlit LED screen causing eye strain or insomnia) ereader, a Pocketbook Touch HD 3, and that is mp3/mp4 capable for audiobooks, and is easier to maneuver books with since it's meant for books. ALSO: the library apps Hoopla and Libby also have audiobooks you can listen to via phone or computer/browser, depending on your library's catalog. Some ereaders can even have the apps for them, and if they have audiocapabilities you can use the ereader for that too.

Podcasts: There are so many apps for this. I have Podcast Addict (I don't remember off the top of my head if it's on apple, I use android, but there are still so many apps). Literally I only had to sacrifice one podcast when I stopped using spotify, PodcastAddict has everything else I've ever listened to or want to listen to in the future. You can download them for offline use on your phone, and, you guessed it, MOST MP3 PLAYERS HAVE PODCAST SECTIONS TOO. MINE DO! There are still ads at the beginning and end, but I usually skip over them without care.

Video: This one is a bit trickier as YouTube is also a monopoly, but what I do is just watch yt on my phone's Firefox browser with UBlock Origins adblocker installed. Sometimes yt gets into a hissy fit with adblocker, but UBlock usually gets ahead pretty quickly thus far. And if in the periods Origins is losing, I just find something else to do. I'm sure someone else has recommendations for videos, they're just not a big part of my life right now.

Anyway, don't let the horrid beast that is spotify monopoloize the audio industry OR your time! There are options, and even if you're not a luddite like me that hates having everything on my smartphone bc I'm worried about privacy or companies yoinking their stuff off my devices via wifi (like Amazon did once with their copies of, of all things, Nineteen Eighty-four about a decade ago) at the whim of corporations. You HAVE OPTIONS! YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL YOUR MEDIA AND REJECT MONOPOLIES!

[finsterhund]

Talking about Labubu I guess (god help me)

So I'm the type of boy who primarily lives under a rock. But I'm also a stuffed animal fiend and toy collector. I've had many things to say about beanie babies and their craze in the past, so I imagine there's some interest to hear my thoughts on these guys.

First off, shut up about how they're "just stuffed animals" because stuffed animals are cool as shit and there's losers who blow all their money gambling or recreationally consuming rotting sugar in this species so I think stuffed animals are comparatively fine.

Second off. The UK incident with the knives. Y'all have really gotta stop blaming whatever trend or situation is involved when it comes to the UK and knives. It's a shithole with a government so hellbent on shoving violence under the rug wherever possible but doing jack fucking shit about the systemic issues causing the violence that you should EXPECT that no matter the situation there's some fuckshit with a knife. Think American gun violence. It's the culture of violence not whatever scapegoat the governing powers that be want to shift the blame to because they're too lazy to actually do anything. That's just the UK it has nothing to do with whatever trend is "to blame" like Pop Mart or whatever.

Now these guys are interesting. Little keychain monsters. There's a blind box/gambling aspect (because of course there fucking is) but they're a very solid product.

Personally though I don't see myself getting into them because while there's a lot of things I like about them, they just don't appeal to me in an art style/species biology perspective. They're too much like little humanoid dolls in the face area and I find the ear style boring af. I'm honestly more excited that this toyline seems to be bringing back the 1950s plastic face trend that many people find "creepy" these days with a new light.

And I think this is why I differ from Labubu fans. Because I don't inherently find the old rubber face style "creepy" but rather find the Labubu face style generic "cutesy" and not that interesting.

The plastic face of an otherwise furry stuffed creature is very compelling to me. From both a customization standpoint and a general appeal. I've been hoping the plastic face style would make a resurgence due to the increasing accessibility of 3D printing, with the ability to create molds and cast things in plastic, resin, etc. injection molding is hard to do as an individual but resin is comparatively way easier. I've seen some smaller artists do custom work where they cut up a thrifted toy and give them an air-dry clay face, but I'm not the most excited about that for a whole variety of reasons. Mostly is that these cannot be washed and like all fragile materials can easily break. I've been hoping for the "art doll" culture to expand more into the main toy market if this makes sense. More accessible products for those of us who bring out friends all over the planet alongside us. Like these little keychain monsters!!!

Anyways...

I kinda wish I did find the Labubu more compelling but unfortunately I am a picky little fuck. And I think on this case it's the art style.

What I'm really hoping for, is knockoffs with different face designs. Maybe give them actual snouts or more detailed monstery eyes or something. And more interesting ears than just generic rabbit. Horns, spikes, fins, etc. lean into the monster part.

In short I'm disappointed in the over reliance on the gambling aspect (which in turn drives the scalping and exploitative secondary markets) and wish that this trend pushes more into handmade and customizable alternatives.

The body shape and hug feel of these guys from what I can see is incredible. I just wish they weren't so, idk what's he word, milktoast? Wider appeal? Idk how to say it.

In short though, stop acting like a toy getting popular is some sort of moral failing. We're a social creature and 90% of the population can't responsibly afford to raise children so this is something that should be expected. We pack bond with literally anything and everything.

[mycosmicsage]

A Walk Through the Houses - Second House Pt. 2

Here we go into the second part of the second house. Where we continue off from Libra, if you happened to miss the first part you can take a look through my dash, or head over to my website to get full access of the article!

Libra

The Scales like to balance things, including their check books. When you have a Libra placed here you are going to find someone who doesn't like to go to either extreme when it comes to spending versus saving. Similar to their sister in this sign Taurus, a Libra can become very much focused on the material items in their life.

However, they place aesthetic over wealth in that manner. They will happily get a $4 knick knack from a thrift shop if it fits their vibe more than the $40 one that doesn't fit their vibe at all. They like adorning themselves with the things that make them happy, and search for the harmony that they can bring to the world around them.

A Libra's voice is often described as something even. They have an even tone, even key, smooth, and non-grating. It's fairly melodious and can very well bring peace as the diplomat of the Zodiac.

Their ruling planet Venus was covered in Taurus if you would like to head on down there to take a look.

Scorpio

For a Scorpio it's not really about the material possessions they have, or even wealth in general. More about their personal relationship with these things. To have a Scorpio in this house is to fully analyze your own values, and why you care about what you care about.

A Scorpio might realize that they have a high attachment to their material possessions after reflection, and then uses that to help push them into a career to better help gain those materials. Or they might find they have no desire to accumulate material possessions and would rather find something that is actually fulfilling to them.

The voice of a Scorpio is often said to be deep, and rhapsodic- a darker charisma that pull people to want to listen cause it always kinda feels like they're on the verge of telling you a secret about yourself.

Pluto

According to the Hellenistic pantheon. Pluto was not only the God of the underworld, but of the wealth found in the earth. To have this planet here is to find someone who can easily be motivated by greed, wealth and power. They are incredibly controlling when it comes to their finances (if they have a partner, they might want to pool their resources together just to make sure everything's coming in and out as it should).

Should a Pluto placement lose their job or means of finance in anyway it can send the person spiraling until it is regained. Feeling as though they have lost their purpose in the world. It takes a lot of time and energy to look through this placement, and to ensure healthy habits are encourage so one isn't lost to these being the only motivators in life.

A Pluto's voice is said to be near mesmerizing- something you can't turn off and that whispers in the back of your mind calling it to listen to what they have to say.

Sagittarius

Having the archer in this placement calls for someone who can readily give up their material possessions. They don't really need them, money comes and it goes. It's not that big of a deal. That being said it very hard for Sagittarius to hold on to money. Not really accumulating or valuing wealth.

That is, until, it gets to being able to travel. They have a strong work ethic- wanting to be able to go and see the sights and open their minds to the world. Especially if it's within a field that they admire or even nurtures their adventurous spirit.

The archer's voice is described to be that of someone who is fairly loud, not to say unpleasant by all means. But definitely loud, it carries. But it's hard not to when you have a generally optimistic sign who's just feeling themselves.

Jupiter

You lucky dog. A person having this placement is tended to find a butt ton of luck in their path when it comes to getting money. Random pay bumps, or that scratch off you bought on a whim that got you an extra $50 in your pocket? I mean that Jupiter working for you.

In all seriousness, though, Jupiter does tend to manage their money well. They seem to have the experience of someone whos run this track a couple times, and they know exactly what's important and what's not. Easily building their prosperity should they wish to. Not to say that they can't have some challenges in spending- they certainly do. If they see something they like- they wanna get it. It's just the way it goes, but they do rebuild that wealth like none other.

Jupiters voice is said to be endearingly sweet, and like someone's humming a song from long ago- pulling you in and you just want to listen and see what they have to say.

Capricorn

Would it be a surprise to anyone if I said that Capricorn really knows how to manage their money? They are planners, and plan out for their futures to the utmost detail, of course finances take place in this. This means taking their time to go through their budget to make sure they're in the black.

A lot of this has to do with the personal motivation of making sure they are achieving things. They're a cardinal sign at heart, and that's what helps them push forward into the long-term future. Medals, awards, promotions, raises- whatever they can get they want it, and that's what helps them build their foundations.

Their voice low and measured. They're very careful with their words, and how they express themselves. They rather be wary with their words now than regret something they said down the line.

Saturn

Similar to Capricorn Saturn likes to work with their finances and has a strong motivation for financial security and longevity. However, a distinct difference between the two is that where Capricorn can accept a financial disaster, and work their way through it. Saturn can't. Saturn can fall into mental ruin the moment they feel as though their finances have taken a turn for the worse and can't really get themselves out of the slump.

It's important when having a Saturn in this placement that you take a step back, and re-evaluate on your own time, and take the set backs when they come at you.

Saturn can come across as rude, and down right cruel in this placement. They can sound incredibly judgmental, and downright rude.

Aquarius

Putting the most humanitarian and unconventional sign in this placement is an interesting one for sure. They don't really see the need to amass wealth- but they can do it. They don't see the need to work for corporations- but will happily work for areas that help to promote other people and the world.

Aquarius is really hard to describe in the second house. They have a decent work ethic, but only when it comes to things they are truly passionate about, working well within the regulations of where they do work. The water bearer holds their personal values above all other material or financial motives, and often strives to achieve the best outcome outside of themselves.

They have an interesting way of talking- it's not unpleasant, but it's unique that could be in tone, clarity, or it may just not seem to fit their face very well. As though you expected a completely different voice to come out of it.

Uranus

Unlike Jupiter's placement where they get financial gains fairly easily and wealth seems to find them- Uranus experiences a strange flux of money, gaining and losing money at the weirdest turns, and it can be fairly large when it happens. Often leading to a new direction of thinking or evaluation of their current state.

Like the sign that it rules, Uranus tends to find they like making money in strange and odd ways. Often having a prevalent talent leading them down that course of the road. But that's kind of to be expected by the planet that defies societal norms and breaks the rules for fun, isn't it?

When it comes to their voice it may have a lot of rises and falls in their natural cadence, and it wouldn't be a surprise to say they have vocal talent. They have an interesting way of speech leading to one of those unconventional talents that could pull in a cash flow.

Pisces

Oh little fishy, you are certainly weird when it comes to this house. You make a lot of your financial decisions based off of your intuition and the way you're feeling at that particular moment. Not leading to a very good outlook for the long run. However, that's not to say it's a bad thing. Sometimes your intuition is right. There is no really structure or strategy about how you go about your spending habits, or your earning habits. A lot of it really just goes off of your passions, and what you think looks good.

Pisces values their creative spirit above anything, whether that's in writing, art, poetry, or crafting in some manner. It's a really fun little thing they got going for themselves, and it can be a very fulfilling life. However, you do have to stop listening to your gut all the time and maybe go talk to a Capricorn about some better habits.

Pisces is said to have a very comforting and soft voice, kind of like someone who's in the middle of sleep talking. You can't quite tell if they're talking to you or through you.

Neptune

Neptune has big dreams, and passions and things they want to pursue. This can lead to thinking that if they indulge themselves in the areas where they feel most keen that they may actually get something out of it. While this can be beneficial for Neptune it can often lead to misadventures and missed investments. Not really the way to go about managing finances.

As for personal values for this planet they tend to shift and evolve over time, especially as Neptune learns more about themselves, and the world around them. It's ever changing and leads to a unique outlook on life.

Neptunes voice tends to sound soft, and like it doesn't even exist on this plane of reality. Seeming to weave and wander it's way in melodic fashions and cadence. Similar to a gust of warm wind in the winter- you just can't tell where its coming from.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wrap Up: A Walk Through the Signs - Second House

There we have it for a Walk Through the Signs - Second House. Leading you through the financial, and personal matters that the signs and planets tend to align them with. If there is something that strikes you as something you're looking to change about yourself. Take a moment and do it. Break it down, evaluate yourself, and look to see where next steps can take you. Reach out to a financial advisor, speak with them if you have concerns. After all, I am just an astrologist. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading, and keep an eye out for when we cover the third house sometime in the coming future.

Stay groovy, and I'll catch you on the flip,

Cosmic Sage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[gffa]

i lost my dad a decade ago and it was the worst six months or so of my life. all the practical stuff that has to be dealt with after a parent dies feels so impossible. you definitely deserve All the back pats

I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, even though I hope you're in a better space now. And, yeah, it's exhausting, because there were some upsides to my situation--this had been coming for a very long time despite that he wasn't really that old he'd had this stuff his entire adult life just about, it was something of a relief that he was no longer suffering so much, I have wanted to clean like this for years, I had a lot of stuff already planned out, re: paperwork and goals--there are other downsides, mostly that my dad was a hoarder. He'd made a lot of progress on going through stuff over the last couple of years, but there's still just. So. Much. And it all needs a decision, because sure okay the food packaging boxes he liked to save to store things in, those can all go, but why throw a perfectly good flashlight even if he had 30 of them? They're little ones! They glow in the dark! I like them, too! They store nicely! (I struggle with hoarding as well, as you can see.) And that's just one thing. Okay, now about the tools. You should have a good set of the basics, you can always use a good screwdriver. But which ones to keep? Okay, now here's another stack of paperwork that he saved, how many bank statements do I need to save? Okay time to talk to the insurance agent make sure you have the original policy paperwork to send in, okay time to talk to social security, oh they don't put the instructions on there correctly and it has to be redone and sent in with another death certificate, okay time to talk to the bank to transfer his account, okay time to decide if mom wants to keep the cable because it's expensive and she really only watches just the one channel, okay time to decide how many pairs of gloves do we need, because there have been times they come in handy (defrosting the freezer needs a pair of gloves oh my god), okay time to decide which of these desk fans to keep and which to throw, okay time to decide do you need this rolly table that is perfectly good it's just kind of ugly and you don't really have an idea for it, other than the one in the laundry area that you store the clothes basket on while you do laundry, okay time to decide if you want to keep this radio in case the power goes out and you want to hear the local updates, okay time to decide if you should save the backup garden hose (not the ones outside, this one is in the house) it's perfectly good but do you need a backup?, okay where did those copies of the death certificate go, okay it's started snowing so is it still time to call the thrift store to come pick up this dresser that's finally empty and can be taken away or should I wait until the second one is empty and they can take both at the same time, okay time to figure out which of these bottles still has cleaner in it and which he kept just in case he could use the bottle, okay time to decide-- And that's on top of the dishes need to be put away, the laundry is still going, and there is so. much. dust. It gives me something to do, which I'm thankful for, but also it's so many decisions. Anyone going through this or has gone through it in the past, line up with me, we're getting some back pats for this RIGHT NOW. ;)

[the-everqueen]

hi!! it’s cold here too. what do you think Lucienne & Rose’s winter wear would look like? 🧣❄️

stay warm! we (the collective city it's just me here) are prepped for potential power outages but i hope you have layers and heating and hot beverages.

this ask is so fucking cute. Lucienne is obviously practical above all else. she's got a thick knit beanie for her head. she's maybe got one of those ear-flap hats if it gets Really Cold. she already dresses in layers in her professional attire, so we know she has a pair of long undies. she CLEARLY owns multiple knit and slouchy cardigans. she's got a long overcoat. she's got one of those head-to-toe puffer jackets. there's a variety of jewel-toned scarves. she sheds layers as necessary and folds them up neatly on her chair or desk. Dream has given her a little magical heater that looks like a pond lily that offers light and keeps her desk inks fluid. (this bitch ain't never switching to digital or even ballpoint pens.) i imagine the Most Daring she gets is a fair isle knit sweater or a beanie with a pouf on top. she's neutrals to monochrome but if she's feeling spicy there's a deep burgundy cape with some gold stitch detailing on the hems.

Rose lived in Brooklyn so realistically she knows what winter looks like. pero also she was presumably a college student so she's got an eclectic thrift wardrobe going on. we know she loves a sweater vest. like Lucienne, she tends to dress in neutrals or deep toned colors, but i bet she found a North Face puffer that's like, lime green at a buffalo exchange for $20 and she snagged that shit. i DO think she'd be into the scrunchy knit leg warmers trend. leggings. midi wool skirt. patterned sweater vest on top of a sweatshirt/pullover. long knit fingerless gloves. any combo of beanies or head scarves to keep her hair from getting snow or sleet in it. none of these things are in colors that "match" but somehow she's making it work.

in the LA guard dog au she has to donate half her winter gear because SoCal just does NOT get that cold. ever. she needs a slicker and some long sleeves and a couple sweaters. probably for the first five years she's one of those transplants who goes out in shorts or t-shirts in January when everyone else is bundled against an imagined ice age.

for some reason i imagine it snows more in the Dreaming when it's Daniel rather than Morpheus. because he's a little cotton candy snowflake man? because children like snow days? because Morpheus walked around tits out for god knows how many millennia and that seems uncomfortable if it's also subzero temps? idk. anyways. imagine Danny and Luce sharing hot cocoa. imagine Morpheus and Calliope making a snowbeast with their kid.

[su8arandspite]

on today’s oc hyperfixation we have:

high school freshmen, katy sullivan

the time between the events of summer 1985 and march ‘86 is… difficult. an adjustment period might be the best way to describe it

bc what do you do when the only two people in the whole world who can truly understand you are on the other side of the country? like, yeah, max is her best friend too (mike, dustin, lucas ofc) but her bond with will is different and el? el is the only person who understands what it’s like to have powers she can’t control and when things start to change she’s worried shitless

like okay yeah she’s had the pyrokenesis thing for going on a year now and she has a hold on that but now she’s having visions? or are they dreams? she isn’t sure, but she also knows better than to have that conversation over the phone. and here’s the thing: max is having a hard enough time with her grief as is, and the last thing katy wants to do is burden her friends. so, she just… buries it (is it genetic? yea, we think so. exhibit a: mrs. debbie sullivan, exhibit b: beth sullivan exibit

her time is split between max and the boys, but increasingly so max has been blowing her off and shutting her out. and there’s only so far she can reach for her before it’s up to max to accept it

she is the only girl in hellfire club. and as a tomboy whose only real friends were boys until she met elmax, well, that’s no challenge

katy is a tomboy but she has also come more into her own and found her own sense of style (with the help of her older sister ofc) and let me tell you, bby girl loves a thrift store. dresses like stevie nicks

“kathy, don’t you think those sleeves are a little too flammable for you?” “god, Beth, it’s called fashion! you of all people should know that” “ok but if it catches on fire, i’m not buying you a new one” (spoiler alert: she did)

she is not afraid of eddie munson and i’ll tell you right now, she will go toe to toe with him–no hesitation, if he’s being a dick

especially in that lunch room scene s4 e1. because lucas has been her friend since the dawn of time and eddie? who the fuck does he think he is? lsorry but she is simply afraid of No Man after a year trapped in the ud. especially one defeated by the anerican public school system (a/n: eddie, i love you, these are katy’s words not mine)

she is front row at all of lucas’s basketball games, even if she hates organized sports. because she loves her friends and being away from them for as long as she was, nothing can detract from that now. so if it’s a championship game? yeah, sorry, eddie, but she will watch lucas warm that bench come hell(fire) or high water. he can suck her dick, honestly (and she told him as much)

wait til you see what happens when she finds hellfire club in that parking lot after they stood lucas up

if she hears One More Time how susie is fucking amazing she is going to set dustin’s stupid hat on fire bc !!! who is this bitch really and it’s not like she still has a crush on her best friend or anything bc that’d be weird… right?

she’s a huge fuckin nerd (affectionate) and apparently being behind an entire academic year was not going to stop her from making it high school with her friends. good thing she decided not to skip the first grade when they asked her to

and so what if she’s been forced to attend counseling sessions where she has to pretend she spent a year in some loser weirdo’s basement and not a cold, fucked-up version of hawkins?? miss kelly can fuck off bc she’s fine!! she is! she just doesn’t like the lying and smiling at this adult who doesn’t know anything

bonus note: she will complain about how disgustingly affectionate stethany are, but she loves it every time she wanders into her living room and they’re having a movie night, cuddled up on the couch bc beth is happy and it’s normal and steve lets her rent out r-rated movies and steal from the candy stock at family video

[aria-i-adagio]

Thrift Shop Vikings premise, part 2

@atypicalacademic, @hoochieblues, @motherofqups

The plot edition....

Let’s go back to that map. Specifically, this part of the map. See that nice river basin, surrounded by mountains? This is our stage. I am quite terrible with geographic names. For the moment, we’ll refer to this as the Riverlands. The relatively isolated Riverlands are divided into three principal kingdoms. The real world model is the British Isles post the decline of the Roman Empire, because we definitely needed another fake Britain. Culturally, it's a backwater, but not “barbaric.”

The economic system is primarily agrarian. The more mountainous regions do engage in some amount of mining and metalwork, but the depths which have to be reached to acquire ore limits this activity. Primary exports are animal and plant fibers, a limited amount of metals, and paper, which isn’t really relevant at this stage. Both kinds of hemp are popular crops and the fun kind is the ‘cash crop’ so to speak.  

The surrounding mountains limit outside incursions. The past 2-3 generations have been remarkably peaceful and cooperative within the Riverlands with all the primary ruling families intermarried to a greater or lesser extent. Brivonia (highlighted), in particular, has developed solid economic ties with trading cities along the definitely Not!Mediterranean-esque coast. They have enough goods people want to make it worth the effort of travel, but not enough to bother with invading for land or wealth. (Assuming you’re one of the significantly wealthier countries to the south.) 

All of the above leads to a high degree of complacency regarding defense. And the people of those islands? Yeah, they’re a bit short on land resources for farming (did too good of a job getting those population numbers back up). About forty years ago, this might have been solved quite amicably, as there is more arable land than what is being used in the Riverlands. Unfortunately for the Riverlands, about thirty years ago power within the islands was consolidated by a female alpha named Synnove, who believes that she’s rediscovered the old, true gods and is destined to conquer on their behalf until she reaches the point where the sun rises over the ocean. She has a very high charisma stat and truly believes in her bullshit. Combine that with inadequate resources on the island themselves as motivation for people who aren’t entirely sure about this whole ‘old gods’ thing and fun times can be had by all.

Brivonia is targeted because Synnove, et. al., know that they are in a weak position defensively and were further weakened by two waves of plague in the past six or so years. The relative security of the river basin is also seen as a good place to build a base of support on the mainland, build up resources, and gather information about the geography and politics further inland. (And Synnove is just crazy enough that she might believe she’s going to live until her destiny is fulfilled, so while she wants to get moving, she’s willing to play a long game.)

And this, dear reader, is how Evyn, Prince of Aldenchester, ends up having definitely seen better days because “No surrender, we die like men” only works when you’re consistently classed as man.

...record scratch... Now we’re going to back up again...

Evyn has spent the twenty-odd years since he could form coherent sentences trying very, very hard to NOT BE PRECIOUS. This is very hard when one has six siblings between six to seventeen years older than oneself and then there was another six-ish year gap before the actual baby of the family was born. It is further complicated when one is an omega and therefore, by default, precious. (Two successive wives in this scenario, but the older children actually quite like their stepmother, who had the good sense to let them define the relationship.) Evyn is also the clever, conniving sibling. Not the one you actually want to leave alive to use as a puppet, but how was Synnove supposed to know that?

Evyn is also in many respects, the best connected of the siblings because he spent several years studying in the southern cities. (And he’s a grade A nerd, so studying did happen; along with a lot of ‘frivolity,’ as one does in one’s late teens and early twenties when far from home.) He was recalled home when his father died and has since largely been trying to put off an arranged marriage by being incredibly useful to the eldest brother on the administrative side of running a kingdom.

He also briefly crossed paths with Sindre, who of two sons Synnove has with her, several years, without either one knowing who the other actually is, and rather liked the big, sweet, slightly sad, sailor who was contemplating running the fuck away from whatever was going on in his life. So when he gets the ultimatum of “you’re either letting one of sons take you as a mate, or I’m going to kill in a very creative fashion,” a very clearly extremely pissed about this entire situation Sindre is the obvious best of the bad choices. (To the extent that anyone other than Synnove has any choice in this scenario.) 

Sindre (Asdason,sometimes referred to as Synnovarson) would prefer to be a gentle giant in peace. He is one of Synnove's older children, who she sired on a male omega, Asdi, who was married/mated to her during her conquest of the islands themselves. Sindre's grandfather had enough sway to keep both Sindre and Asdi within his settlement. (Asdi, as a male omega, has specific religious duties associated with protecting the boundaries of the settlement, death rituals, etc.) Sindre recognizes Synnove's depravity, but he has always believed there is nothing he can do about it. She controls Sindre because he believes, correctly, that if he challenges her or even simply breaks away it will be his family and his community that pays the price. He could be described as in a constant state of low key dissociation.

Much of Sindre's internal conflict boils down to pressure to be ‘manly’ or ‘alpha’ and the very meaning of those concepts. His grandfather and Synnove are opposing models. He feels inadequate to meet his grandfather's expectations. Other themes are honor/dishonor/atonement for what he has and hasn't done. Sindre is religious, but his religiosity has been picked up entirely from Asdi. Polytheistic, a touch of animism, a lot of superstitious beliefs. The injunction “Do not offend the gods” is real enough to him that he does somewhat fear Synnove's, even though he doesn't buy into her claim that they are supreme, and he quite frankly thinks they are cruel and unworthy of worship. Worship and fear are distinct.

Synnove thinks that ‘giving’ Evyn to Sindre will give her more control over him.

Now, dear readers, I hope we have a premise for the plot.

TMI/full confession: There’s some kink meme out there with conquering warlord/whoever they just vanquished as a prompt. That notion plus the madness of Nanowrimo are how we ended up here. Somewhere, at some point in fictional character land, Evyn, Sansa Stark, and June Osbourne are asked to leave the same therapy group because they are all a little too into revenge.

[audreyh002]

When they say that your understanding of God comes from your relationship with your parents it is not lost me that this spring is the first time in my LIFE that I’ve ever felt like God is a safe person who won’t harm me intentionally (or even unintentionally,) but it took literally 32 years to get there. So much work in therapy and on myself and in relationships with others to be able to discern and listen for that Divine voice and then to act on it, immediately, without doubt or second guessing or mistrust. So many of my previous discernments involved months or years long struggles trying to follow what I knew I was being told, but deep down couldnt bring myself to trust because I fundamentally believed God was powerful but wasn’t actually convinced that He is good. And so much of this work has been rooted in getting back to what my body is telling me — where I find a sense of peace, repeatedly; where those nudges and promptings feel more like a quiet, persistent pestering and less like anxiety or guilt or fear. It’s like the difference between an immediate “yes!” in the thrift store vs. that nagging sense of “I should buy this.” 😆

[castlebyersafterdark]

fashion question! ive always loved plain clothes so thank the gods for uniqlo, but now everyone is dressing like that normscore steve jobs oatmeal porridge bowl haha.

i love bold prints and power clash too, but sometimes you need a plain sweater than doesnt have 'babe' written in diamante on the back lol. maybe this isnt something you had to suffer seeing as you werent a teenage girl in the 2010s haha. but yeah... girls clothes have had a LOT to answer for for the past decades. not a tomboy at all, but sometimes i want to dress like a ski bunny from the 1980s in head to toe winter whites and pinks without also making some sort of statement written across my ass or boobs. and thats only become possible in recent years! sadly, thrifting has also gotten worse for me because all the good vintage was snapped up by 2015 haha.

so i wonder... how do you keep cosy and warm, or cool in high summer, with your thrifted styles? do you ever resort to high street fabrics or simpler shapes, plain tees, or do you always brave the 80s/90s fabrics no matter the weather?

Clothing chat under here:

Norncore Steve Jobs is killing me, that's what it is. Or Seinfeld-chic. Everyone dressing like dads on vacay in the 90s. Alllllll that. Nothing wrong with it, funny how prevalent it is. I think some of what I'm into definitely falls into that. Mostly I'm just... quirky and vibing now. Being a teenage boy in the 2010s was trying and failing to keep up with my lame ass wannabe skater friends who lived by brands and yeah, some of it I liked, but it was all so ridiculous looking back.

Freeing, to dress however I want. Getting hand me downs from 4 older brothers with wildly different styles than me, that was major. Pros and cons. But I have an appreciation for secondhand and A Good Deal. Rifling through consignment racks, thrift stores, surplus warehouses. I even buy on ebay and other sites! Sad to hear your thrift stores are scant for stuff, depends on what you're looking for I guess. Resellers 🙄 I wish you luck in finding the retro ski bunny fits of your dreams, that sounds amazing.

We went to a really cool "vintage" clothing market recently with hundreds of vendors, everything from flea market style booths with super cheap clothes to high end shops showcasing a small selection at the pop up market. Those happen here and there, always super fun.

When I buy stuff, nothing needs to be authentic - just look cool and is affordable. So, easy enough finding weather appropriate stuff, it's not all era/retro since I do like casual styles, too. Mix of fun and function.

I've used this comparison before - you'll find me in a thrift shop or the clearance rack and Z in a vintage store or fancy boutique. I have bought clothes as a joke and actually wear it, while he likes to Dress 🤭 But I do supplement my wardrobe with normal clothes from the big box stores here for the basics. I'm very not into high fashion! I like clothes, I like style - fashion is a whole different level. I don't care much about brand or designer and I do my damndest to avoid fast fashion as much as possible.