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smolcuriouskitten · 1 year

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{OKAY FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO THIS.

✨ Rockelles powers! ✨

To start off, the witches in my universe are not your broom riding/evil cacking norms. Seriously, they will slap you if you call them that. Take what you know about witches and leave them at the door because I am about to blow your mind.

Where do witches get their power sources from?

Witches get their power sources from auras. What are auras? They are like a sun about the size of a tennis ball. They have colors that correspond with their hair colors, most of them candy colors. Orange, purple, pink, etc. They are born with them and it powers everything from their immortality to their magic.

How does their magic work? Like do they get it from spells or potions?

So witches powers come from spells that they learn as children on Nekoian. In Rockelles case, she wasnt able to have the normal witch school setting, so her brother/mother had to act as teachers for spells. Christopher saved alot of the books he recieved from his nekoian studies, so he passed those onto Rockelle and Renelle while they were kids and they expanded on the knowledge. The spell books did have potions, which are stronger versions of pre-existing spells such as healing, reviving, or even attacks. To answer the question, it comes from both.

Give me an idea of Rockelles general abilities as a witch.

Rockelle can use her magic to produce music without instruments since it is a part of her main skill set, manipulate soundwaves and manipulate her voice to sound like anyone she wants. These are skill sets of a musical witch and that is what she specializes in. The other abilities include...

-floating objects up to the size of her body weight.

-changing clothes/hair in a split second with a snap of her finger.

-'walking' on it to reach top shelfs.

-astral projection (aka being able to monitor a space without being present physically.)

-being able to communicate through her aura. (in humans it comes as a voice in their head.)

-Linking herself to humans (see this post)

-voice replication (if she hears a voice, she can replicate it to a T.)

-teleportation within the country she is in.

-shapeshifting into people or her kitty form. (she can replicate the person to a T but her height and size stays the same, so she doesnt use this much.)

-healing properties (on herself or on others. on humans she can touch the injured body part and heal it or give them a healing potion.)

-resurrection (only if the person is recently deceased. she cant revive a person whose been dead for a month, year, etc etc.)

-building and creating objects out of nothing. (if she can visualize it in her mind, she can make it happen.)

-among many many more.

Rockelles eye color change alot in threads. Do the colors have meaning?

Yes they do have meaning! Brown is her normal/default eye color which means that shes calm OR using her magic to keep them that color if shes in a situation where shes around people. Green means shes horny. Blue means shes sad. Red is anger. Purple means shes happy.

How does she use her magic for attacks?

HHHHHH- listen Im not good with describing the combat side of things but I will try my best.

-shocking a person, level of shock can go from a tranqualizer to a lighting bolt.

-picking up and throwing a person.

-blasting a person with magic (imagine a little ball or a kamehameha.)

AMONG OTHERS LISTEN I DONT DO COMBAT RPS SO IT WILL COME UP IN THREADS IM SORRY-

You mention her magic is based on emotion. How does that work?

Okay so in short, the more distressed she is, the more fatal her magic is. When she has a level head and she can increase or decrease the power as needed, shes calm or in a stable headspace. If shes scared, angry, or extremely distressed, her magic becomes unstable. Imagine her attempting to lift a glass cup. When shes calm, she can move the cup around and do little tricks with it using her magic. If shes angry, she could break the glass or it would pick up another object.

Rockelle will tell your muse if shes angry to stay away for good reason. She could shock your muse (about the level of when you rub your feet against the carpet and get shocked.) and it wouldnt be her intention. Her magic can be harmful if it becomes too unstable.

Speaking of unstable...What are her forms? Does she have any?

Rockelle has 3 forms.

-One. Her default form which is the one you see using the face India Love. Nothing weird about this form besides her neko ears and tail.

-Two. Roxie is a corrupt/opposite form of Rockelle. Despite them having different personalities and beliefs, Roxie is an extension of Rockelle rather she likes it or not.

-Three. They dont have a name but its her horror form. Shes no longer the small loving woman you know, shes not herself anymore. A 6ft black figure with a melting face and her hair drags behind her. This form is dangerous and if you were the cause of why she went this way...you will die. (see this post.)

Her neko ears and tail....are they just on her all the time?

Yes and no. Yes since she cant take them on and off at will SOOOOO she has a spell to hide them when shes in public. The spell is automatic, so once she reaches the threshold of her home, they pop back on her head. Her tail is hidden the same way as her ears.

So auras...are they endless amounts of power?

No. Auras like many things, run out after too much use. The simplest way to explain it is to think of a phone battery. When you use it, the battery decreases over time until it dies if you dont get to a charger. Except when the aura burns out, the witch dies immediately.

Auras can regenerate over time but you have to make sure they are supervised. Think of spells as a number system. Some spells use more of your aura, others use less. A witch knows their limit and how far they can go with their spell count IF they are in tune with their magic.

Do witches have any weaknesses or flaws?

They do! Iron is the main thing to weaken them thats easily accessible. There are more weapons that can be used to harm witches such as a witches trap BUT most of them were destoryed on Nekoian. The only known thing to for sure weaken a witch would be to rip their aura out of their bodies or use magic reducing handcuffs (rockelle is the only person who has them and they are well hidden in her home.)

You mentioned immortality...How does it work for witches?

Immortality comes from their auras. It keeps them alive and young. Dont get me wrong, witches can still feel and experience pain. If you stab them, they bleed. If you punch them, they feel it. The difference is that it heals after a few moments. This could be a few minutes or even a few hours depending on how distressed the witch is. They stop aging once they hit the range of 23-27 and the immortality fully kicks in.

Any side effects to their magical abilities?

Oh god where do I begin? Headaches, migraines, nausea, etc. Using Rockelle as an example, she suffers from terrible migranes and her body is always sore. The body being stuck in one age can be less than pleasant, anything from random parts of your body giving out, sharp pains in limbs, or your vision fading over time.

Magic malfunctions as well, the aura, while it powers witches, it can go haywire sometimes. Sometimes its something as small as them not being able to talk to something as big as having another limb, changing genders, being stuck inbetween forms, the possibilities are endless. The aura does have a mind of its own and it raises hell for the witch.

At the end of the day, witches present as human and of course human bodies and tiny ball of fire in their bodies dont mix.

Do witches require humans in any part of their magic?

Short answer no. Long answer, humans were not in mind when Nekoian was existing so none of the spells require humans for anything. There werent any humans on Nekoian so it wouldnt have benefited them.

HOWEVER a dark witch (corrupt side witches mainly) do use humans as an ingredient for most spells. Since they are opposites of the main witch group, they go against the grain, hence why they need to be locked away or hunted.

Whats Nekoian and how is that relevant to witches?

Nekoian is the planet that Rockelle and her siblings are from. It was destoryed 100s of years ago by a enemy planet Derion.

#lovely kitten {character info}#lovely kitten; {character info}#{if i think of more i will add more but this is a fleshed out explaination of rockys witchy abilities!}

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twistedtummies2 · 2 years

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Top 12 Characters from FOX’s Sleepy Hollow

Halloween may have ended the day before yesterday, but I wanted to give the spooky season one last hurrah! I recently did a couple of lists related to characters from Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” I’ve been on a Sleepy Hollow kick lately, for a few reasons…and due to this “kick,” I decided it was time to revisit the somewhat controversial FOX TV Series simply called “Sleepy Hollow.” When the show first came out, I actually only got part of the way through Season One before I stopped watching it; at the time, I had a lot of other things eating up my attention, and I think I was also a little more closed-minded towards the drastic reinventions this series put forth.

After revisiting the show in the past couple months, I found a new sort of love and respect for it. It’s not a perfect series, mind you, but I think the mixture of my love of the source material and the excellent performances from the actors, above all else, pull it through. The show is a supernatural crime drama, similar to things like “Supernatural,” “Lucifer,” or “The X-Files.” The series focuses on Ichabod Crane - a dashing Revolutionary War hero, in this version of the story - solving a variety of strange crimes in the modern day. From witches to demons to figures from mythology - and, of course, the Headless Horseman - the show had a lot of really wonderful characters and creatures on display. I decided it would be fun to count down some of my favorite characters from the series overall, in honor of All Hallows Eve (or, given today’s date, Dia de los Muertos; take your pick). Because not only did this show have great reimaginings of the characters from the Washington Irving legend, but also a fine array of original characters unique to this interpretation. They all deserve to be recognized. So, without further ado…here are my personal Top 12 Characters from FOX’s Sleepy Hollow.

12. Jake Wells & Alex Norwood.

These two characters debuted in the show’s fourth and final season. I’m just going to state outright: in my opinion, Season 4 was the worst season of the show. On its own terms, it wasn’t necessarily all that bad, but I think it tried to do a few too many things at once, and changed up the formula of the series in a few too many ways. When you compare to the prior three seasons, it stands out as the weakest link, in my opinion. One of the issues this season had was that it had a whole new cast of major characters we’d never met before, which meant a whole new set of relationships, personalities, and performances for the audience to get used to. Thankfully, most of these characters were pretty strong. Case in point: Jake Wells and Alex Norwood, two eccentric history buffs who work as the chief operatives for Agency 355: a secretive part of the FBI that investigates supernatural phenomenon. Jake and Alex I always saw as a duo, first and foremost, hence why I decided to include them together here. Jake is a dorky, geeky fellow who has read more books on history, and done more research into the paranormal, than almost anyone else; his knowledge on both subjects almost rivals that of Ichabod himself, and he is eager to prove his worth as a hero when he realizes his true calling. Alex, meanwhile, is a snarky, sneaky weapons expert fascinated with ancient technology and cursed objects; she’s actually a bit more skeptical than Jake, but she goes along for the ride. Alex also has a hidden crush on Jake, who naturally remains totally oblivious. These two were just a fun pair to watch in action, and many of the funniest moments in the final season came from their interactions.

11. Jobe.

While Season 4 may have had a lot of problems, one thing I almost unconditionally loved about it was its villains; most notably its two main antagonists. One of those antagonists is Jobe. It’s unclear if “Jobe” is actually his true name or not, but regardless, Jobe is a Mephistophelean sort of figure: a high-ranking demon who has become the personal bodyguard and assistant of the season’s main villain, Malcolm Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss made a deal with the devil years ago, part of that bargain being that Jobe would faithfully serve him until Dreyfuss’ death. However, Dreyfuss’ plans to gain immortality put that exact bargain at risk, and Jobe is thus in danger of potentially becoming a pawn in the mortal man’s game forever. There’s an interesting contrast with Jobe’s relationship with Dreyfuss; Malcolm relies on the demon constantly, and goes to great lengths to help him out, and Jobe will do just about anything Malcolm demands. At times, one could almost believe the two were friendly with each other…but it eventually becomes clear that Jobe is NOT Malcolm’s friend. He’s simply fulfilling the contract’s stipulations to the letter. While he does not approve of the loophole being used, there’s nothing he can really do about it…aside from finding his own loopholes to try and sabotage the scheme.

10. Katrina Van Tassel.

A.k.a. Katrina Crane. In this version, she and Ichabod actually get married, so which surname you use can be interchangeable. I call her “Van Tassel” simply because that’s the character’s name in the original story. ANYWAY: Katrina was a major figure in the first two seasons of the show; in many ways, she is the catalyst for a lot of the action that goes on in the series. It’s revealed that Katrina is a witch who was secretly working with American Revolutionaries. It was partially due to her influence that Ichabod defected from the British side of the conflict, and the two were eventually wed. For the first season and a half, Katrina is one of the main protagonists…but, in the latter part of season two - for various reasons - the character falls to the dark side, going from a good and noble enchantress to a truly wicked witch. I’ve always felt sort of conflicted about this portrayal of Katrina; my biggest issue is that, for that first season and a half, the writers couldn’t seem to make up their minds if Katrina was meant to be a strong, independent, powerful woman and role model…or a rather silly damsel in distress. On the one hand, she’s quite literally got a ton of power as a witch, and she’s a skilled manipulator in her own way…but on the other hand, most of her time before we get to her descending arc is spent with Ichabod trying to save her, and it gets old fast. Having said that, I honestly think she became a much more interesting character in the second half of season two, with her descent into darkness story arc; the tension of love and anger between herself and Ichabod, not to mention the other characters, made for some dramatic moments, and her motivations and goals as an antagonist were really quite interesting. She got more chances to actually SHOW her strength as a character, helping Ichabod on cases in the early parts of Season 2B, and then shifting and turning her coat as the arc went on. Actress Katia Winter really helps sell the character, and while I may have some issues with the way she’s written, she’s still an important and iconic figure in the series.

9. Diana Thomas.

Yet another character from Season 4. Played by Janina Gavankar, Diana had a really tough gig to follow: for the first three seasons, the two main characters of the show had been Ichabod Crane and “Leftenant” Abbie Mills. However, due to issues with the creative team behind the scenes, Nicole Baharie - Abbie’s actress - decided it was time to leave the show. Rather than end the series with Abbie’s death, however, the writers decided to provide Ichabod with a new modern detective to join forces with, and invent a new “Second Witness” as well. This is where Agent Diana Thomas of the FBI comes in: much like Abbie, she meets Ichabod when her own partner and her boss end up killed by a demonic entity. From that point on, the two become entangled, as Ichabod helps Agent Thomas with a variety of cases not in Sleepy Hollow, but in Washington D.C. itself. At first, we believe that Diana must be the new Second Witness…but instead, it’s revealed that Diana is a mother, and it’s her ten year old daughter, Molly, who is the Second Witness. Diana effectively tries to become a crusader for her own offspring, fighting the battles Molly is too young to fight, and trying to find some way to balance her duties as a mother, a member of law enforcement, and part of a secret war against Hell itself all together. While following on the heels of “The Leftenant” wasn’t exactly an easy task, I actually think Diana pulls it off: her own relationship with Ichabod hits some of the same beats, but her character and setup is unique enough to make her interesting and fun in her own right. The way things develop between herself, Molly, and Ichabod is also quite engaging; if the show had gone on longer, she might have ranked more highly here.

8. Nick Hawley.

It’s weird that this character ranks so highly for me, because - much like the Season 4 cast - this was a character who only appeared for a single season. And unlike most of the S4 cast I’m covering here, he WASN’T a series main during his tenure. I guess one could just argue that character is simply that strong. Nick Hawley, a.k.a. “The Privateer” (as Ichabod likes to call him), is a self-proclaimed treasure hunter. He seeks out rare and mysterious artifacts and items, which usually have some kind of supernatural or mythological tale behind them, and then sells them off either to private buyers or simply to the highest bidder he can find. Hawley is a modern-day pirate: while not completely without scruples, he cares most chiefly about his own health and finances, which makes him an unpredictable, anti-heroic figure for the season. He’s smart, he’s capable, and he’s a great ally to have when you have him…but he’s not above leaving people behind in the lurch when it suits him best, and he even acted as an enemy once or twice to the main heroes, whenever his clients weren’t exactly friendly souls. He was a major figure in Season 2, and he got richer and richer as the season went on…but unfortunately, this was the only season Hawley appeared in. His story effectively remains unfinished, since his departure from the show saw him planning to actively hunt down his own adoptive mother (who had become a demon…it happens). We never saw Hawley again, so we have no idea how his adventures on that front turned out. I had a feeling they MIGHT have been considering using the character in future seasons, but for one reason or another that never happened, either because the show was canceled before such a thing could occur, or because the actor just wasn’t available. Whatever the case, he was a fun figure who brought a sense of mercenary chaos to the program, and his time in the series, while short, was truly unforgettable.

7. Malcolm Dreyfuss.

Like I said, in my opinion, the best part of Season 4 had to be the villains. Chiefest among them is Malcolm Dreyfuss, the main antagonist for the show’s final season arc. Dreyfuss is a character who feels like something straight out of a comic book, and I mean that in the best possible way: he’s an eccentric, half-mad tech mogul, with a flamboyant, sleazy sort of personality. He feels like he’s somewhere between a mad scientist and a used car salesman. It was a unique personality for a main villain in the show to have; most of the main villains before were more serious, stoic, sinister characters; hyper-powerful beings who controlled legions of Hellspawn and could kill you with a look. Dreyfuss is the exact opposite: he’s just a guy. A very, VERY bad guy with a lot of ambition and a lot of money. In fact, at times Dreyfuss is quite pathetic; one of my favorite elements of this character is that, despite all his theatricality and high-flying schemes of grandeur, there are so many times where the vulnerability and fearful status of Dreyfuss’ position comes into play. Whenever someone sees right through him, so to speak, he goes from a criminal mastermind to a whimpering child, and it’s equal parts funny and kind of sad to see this character fall so low. While he’s an awful creature, he’s also highly entertaining, and his reasons for his evil deeds are actually somewhat sympathetic: this is a man who lived his life in the shadows for so long, and desires to finally be in the spotlight. I think that’s a concept we can all relate to. The season as a whole may not have been the best, but Dreyfuss is a great villain who made for some of the most memorable moments in the final arc of the show.

6. Frank Irving.

Played by the inimitable Orlando Jones, Captain Frank Irving was one of the main characters in the first two seasons; I can’t help but wonder whether or not it’s merely coincidence that, in my opinion, the latter two seasons - where he was NOT present - were the least grand of the series as a whole. In any case, Irving, for the first half of season one, starts off as a pretty standard sort of “doubting police official” character. While he isn’t a bad person, he doubts in all of the supernatural and fantastical explanations Ichabod and Abbie try to give him for the various crimes they face. It isn’t until his own close encounter with the Headless Horseman that Captain Irving becomes a more active member of the team, as he realizes the war with evil is very real, and far more bizarre than he ever gave it credit. That war hits close to home when a demon actually possesses his daughter; an event that causes endless dismay for Irving, and sets in motion many of the struggles he faces for the rest of his time in the show. Seeing Captain Irving’s transition from a tough-as-nails doubter to an increasingly more tragic and complex character entangled in a web of danger made for an interesting story arc. The lengths he’ll go to in order to keep his family safe are only matched by his tenacity on the battlefield, and the many twists and turns his own private side of the story faced made for some of the most intense parts of the show. It’s really a shame that, after Season 2, we never saw him again, or even got much mention of where he was and what was going on in his life.

5. Henry Parrish.

Played by the Scarecrow himself, John Noble (or Denethor himself, for you Lord of the Rings fans), Henry Parrish was one of the main antagonists in the first two seasons of Sleepy Hollow. In fact, in Season 2, he basically acted as the main villain, outranking even the Headless Horseman himself! When we first meet Henry, he is a somewhat neurotic, mild-mannered fellow, suffering under a great burden: Henry is a Sin Eater, someone who can physically absorb people’s sins into his own body, a fact that seems to torment him constantly. As the series goes on, he comes out more and more as a worthy ally to the main team…but it’s ultimately revealed that Henry is actually the master manipulator behind many of the things that have gone wrong in the season up to that point. Henry, you see, is actually Ichabod’s own son, Jeremy Crane; abandoned by his mother as a child while Ichabod was still in the crane, Jeremy grew up hated and feared, and was eventually - like Ichabod himself - buried in a state of suspended animation, only to be reawakened years later, and years before his father (hence why the son is physically older than the father; he’s had more time to age). But while Ichabod rose from the dead as a force for good, Jeremy - renaming himself “Henry Parrish” - has become a force for evil: he is the Horseman of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and a servant of the arch-demon Moloch, whom he sees as his “real” father. John Noble plays the character to perfection, and despite his ultimate defeat in Season 2, Henry would actually be one of the few characters to see the show to the end: he returned a few times in Season 4, first in a nightmare Ichabod has while under the influence of a monster, and then for real in the last couple episodes of the show, teaming up with Malcolm Dreyfuss, as well as hiss old compatriot, the Headless Horseman. Speaking of…

4. The Headless Horseman.

I mean…it’s Sleepy Hollow. So of COURSE the Headless Horseman is going to be in the Top 5 here. In fact, some of you are probably wondering why the Horseman isn’t in the Top Three! How could the HEADLESS HORSEMAN not make the top three in SLEEPY HOLLOW?! Well…I’ll get to that in a bit, but first, let’s go over the positives. In this series, the Horseman is revealed to be another of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: specifically, he is the Horseman of Death. And, being the Horseman of Death, he cannot truly die, no matter what happens. As a result of this, even as other villains came and went throughout the show, the Horseman stuck around: alongside Ichabod and Jenny Mills (more on them later), the Headless Horseman is the ONLY major character in the series who appears in all three seasons. While he didn’t show up in every single episode, every time the Horseman DID appear, it was a big deal, which made his appearances all the more special; you knew bad stuff was going down in the Hollow when Death rode into town. I also appreciate that the series actually went out of its way to make the Horseman a real character, with a proper true identity, backstory, and personality…at least at first. This is where the problem with the Horseman, and why he isn’t in the top three, comes into play: in the first two seasons, the Horseman is handled EXTREMELY well…but in Season 3, the character only appeared twice. First in a cameo in the opening…and then in a more prominent part in the season finale. That’s it! We never see or even get much reference to him anywhere else! In a show called SLEEPY HOLLOW, it was kind of shocking that such an iconic figure was almost nowhere to be found, especially after his huge level of importance in the prior two seasons. In Season 4, the character had a more prominent role - acting as a tertiary antagonist after Malcolm and Jobe, with at least as many appearances as he had in Season 1 - but the actual character took a HUGE step back. He basically just became a faceless monster; that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since most versions of the Horseman are that, but a big part of what made the first two seasons and their handling of the Horseman so great was that they DID give him more real character and development. Season 4 really watered down the character, and felt like a missed opportunity as a result. There were lots of places where all that established lore and personality could have been utilized, and it just never really was. Having said all that…it was still really cool to see the Horseman anytime he appeared, and the fact he lasted till the end is definitely a credit to the ghost’s power. Also, I guess one CAN technically say he was in EVERY episode, since the opening titles for every season featured the Horseman…but I think that’s pushing it a bit. Anyway, great version of this classic horror icon, and easily my favorite villain from the series…but not great enough, within the show’s own setup, to make the top three.

3. Abbie Mills.

Abbie Mills, a.k.a. “The Leftenant,” was the secondary protagonist of Sleepy Hollow for the first three seasons. And unlike with Captain Irving, it’s no coincidence at all that the show’s biggest decline happened courtesy of her departure. Abbie is an ambitious police officer at the start of the show, with a checkered past; as a child, she encountered supernatural evil at a young age, something she has tried to deny all her life. Tragic events in her past led Abbie to becoming a petty thief, but - with the help of her mentor, Sheriff August Corbin - she eventually found her calling in law enforcement. In Season 3, Abbie went from being a simple police lieutenant to an agent of the FBI, stationed in New York, which kept her close to home, so to speak, while still allowing the character to advance and shake up the formula a bit. Abbie was a fun character; her relationship with Ichabod was one of purest friendship. There is no romance between them, yet they are as close as two human beings can be; as Ichabod describes in the “Bones” crossover episode (yes, that was a thing), they are a relationship of pure opposites. Ichabod is a quirky, theatrical, grandiose figure out of place and out of time, given to grandiloquent phrases and speeches and constantly prattling off trivia about a past he lived; Abbie is a more down-to-Earth, grounded person who takes things more easily in her stride, but is still open to having her horizons broadened. Both often feel alone in the world, due to various personal tragedies they’ve faced and mysteries they have yet to figure out, but at the end of the day, they always have each other. At times they may bicker and banter, but the chemistry between them is pure gold. When “The Leftenant” finally did leave the show, she went out like a hero - sacrificing everything to save her friends, her family, and the world itself - which was just the proper sendoff her character deserved. One only wishes she never had to leave at all.

2. Jenny Mills.

While Jenny Mills was never the secondary protagonist in ANY season, she was, effectively, the tertiary protagonist of EVERY season. Like I said before, she was one of only three major characters in the show to appear in every single season, practically from start to finish. (The only other two were Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, and…let’s face it, in a show called “Sleepy Hollow,” it would have been more amazing if those two DIDN’T show up every single season.) At the start of the show, Jenny is Abbie’s estranged sister; a notorious delinquent who has spent much of her life in-and-out of the local mental hospital. It’s later revealed that all that time “out” of the hospital was spent with Jenny running various secret missions for Sheriff Corbin, who knew all along that the Apocalypse was night, and helped Jenny out when she was possessed by a demon during her adventures. As the show goes on, Jenny became a more and more interesting and important character, and even after Abbie and so many other characters who had played such a big part in the series for the first three seasons disappeared, Jenny stayed on right to the last episode. Jenny is just a bad@$$, plain and simple: she’s not as straight-laced as her sister, much more trigger-happy and far less lawful. She’s essentially a treasure hunter; a low-budget Indiana Jones who works from a trailer rather than a university. In many ways, she is a lot like Nick Hawley; but while Hawley fights for himself above all other things, Jenny believes in a bigger plan, and is simply trying to find her place in it. Because she lasted so long in the series, we got to see Jenny interact with more characters and form more relationships than almost any other in the show, barring Ichabod himself; and as the show progressed, and her role increased, we saw Jenny mature and become more and more independent. The final season indicated that she was actually planning to leave “Team Witness” and go off on her own, no doubt preluding the actress’ departure; I’m actually sort of glad this DIDN’T happen, only because it meant that the character did remain a firm anchor all the way to the end of the ride. Having said that, it would have been interesting to see how Jenny and the show would have fared if this had; this is a character so strong that I actually would have loved to see an entire series JUST about her, and that’s high praise indeed.

1. Ichabod Crane.

For some, it’s probably an obvious no brainer to put the main character at the top of the ranks. However, in all honesty, I would argue it’s more surprising to do so, since - as we all know - the MAIN character of any series isn’t necessarily one’s FAVORITE, nor the BEST. But in the case of “Sleepy Hollow”...there is no question, this is just a case where the central protagonist is my favorite. I think a lot of the credit goes to the actor, Tom Mison: while the character he plays owes precious little to Washington Irving’s spindly schoolmaster, something about the personality he gives Ichabod, and the way Mison looks, in general, just feels so much like it captures the basic DNA of the character we all know and love, while adding something brand new and utterly fascinating to the mix. Much of the humor from the series comes from Ichabod’s “fish out of water” status - a man from a past long-misunderstood, stuck in a future-present he is still struggling to fully understand. At the same time, much of the pathos for the character comes from the same place: a constant theme in the series is Ichabod constantly battling between the sense of being alone in the universe, and realizing that maybe he isn’t AS alone as he really thinks. Throughout the series, he loses allies, friends, family, and even loved ones…but through it all, he perseveres, and finds new people to assist him, as well as new enemies to combat. There is never a dull moment when Ichabod is onscreen, and that’s thankfully most of the show’s runtime, given his status as the main character. He is by no means my definitive take on the classic character, but he is a strong and interesting protagonist in his own right, and it’s easy to see why, when all else failed, you could count on Ichabod to keep people coming back to the show, over and over again. It’s really not a shock at all that Ichabod Crane is My Favorite Character from FOX’s Sleepy Hollow.

Honorable Mentions…

Sheriff August Corbin. (He’s played by Clancy Brown. ‘Nuff said.)

George Washington.

Benjamin Franklin.

Andy Brooks.

Betsy Ross.

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astraltrickster · 1 year

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Last AI politics talk of the day I promise, but,

No, seriously, ESPECIALLY in gray areas about things like creative work, the definition of "theft" (or "plagiarism" for that matter) IS a matter of ideology, which is why I really don't take issue with a certain level of AI negativity about dataset sourcing despite...personally, not finding the argument that it is definitely always theft to be very internally consistent and being willing to debate my point on that.

Look. There are things we can absolutely agree, regardless of culture or background or politics or whatever, are theft. Smashing a window and taking someone's physical belongings without permission? Theft. Picking someone's pocket, taking their cash, and depositing the wallet back? Cool of you to give the cards and wallet back, still theft. Lifting someone's manuscript from their printer and submitting it to a publisher as your own? Theft and plagiarism (...or at least the latter is 99.something% a consensus; stick a pin in that, we'll get back to it). Most people, myself included, as well as US and international law, will agree that copy-pasting someone ELSE'S fanfic, filing the serial numbers off, and passing it off as an original novel is plagiarism, copyright infringement, and a colossal dick move. Pretty much anyone who is not on the same page here is an outlier adn should not be counted.

Similarly, there are things we can all agree are NOT theft. Selling someone an item? Perfectly legitimate transaction. Picking up something someone dropped to give it back to them? Just because you held it in your hand doesn't make it theft. Using a stock image in accordance with its license agreement? A-OK! Borrowing a book from a library, returning it a day late, and paying your overdue fee? That's what the whole system is structured like that for!

But, between those obvious cases? There's a surprising amount that people may disagree on for any number of reasons, some stupid and selfish yes but a lot of them PERFECTLY valid.

Imagine someone borrows your car without asking. I do mean borrows - they take it with the intention that you'll get it back. It's missing for a few hours, then it's back in your driveway. Is that theft? Is your answer different if they left a note? If they refilled the gas? If they left it with an empty tank? If they left it with an empty tank but put some cash on the seat for you? If they got it washed? If they got in an accident? If they're your neighbor or friend or family member? If it's a neighbor/friend/family member you have an implicit agreement with but they forgot to tell you? If they got a speeding ticket? If they were transporting someone to the hospital? In the latter case, would you prefer if they got the interior cleaned of any blood or other bodily fluids that may have been involved in the emergency, or if they left your belongings alone to the best of their ability? Is it worse for them to copy your key, or to hotwire it?

I can tell you what absolutely makes a difference in your answer: your cultural background. There are places in the world where people just borrowing vehicles without asking is just a thing people do - the ones I'm personally familiar with, well, whether or not it's considered "theft" colloquially depends on what the owner wants to call it (which is often dependent on those other questions such as "did they refill the gas?"), it's something people should try to avoid doing because it's gonna inconvenience the hell out of the owner in the very likely event that they need it too and unless they leave a note the owner can't exactly tell that they mean to return it, but vehicle theft reports aren't really taken seriously unless they've been missing for over 24 hours or they're returned damaged. I'm sure there are others I'm not personally familiar with where it's even less of a thing because it's so expected that vehicle owners just plan around it in case someone borrowed their shit.

Point is - some people would call it theft. Others wouldn't. Neither is objectively wrong.

Or, for an even more relevant example to the digital age - piracy. I mean, this is tumblr, most of us agree that pirating a AAA game is totally fine and in fact that pirating deprecated/abandoned/out-of-print media is not only okay but GOOD for the sake of archival! But accountants at Nintendo or wherever sure as hell don't, the consensus would be VERY different in most business schools, and even we here in our own little subcultural pocket get into heated debates over pirating indie media and books because of the fact that the former is very likely to be something some random person like us is depending on for groceries, and the latter has a unique contract and payment structure. Is it okay because that's just part of the digital age and word-of-mouth is good advertisement? Is it okay if you CAN'T buy it but a dick move if you would have bought it if you didn't have the option to pirate? Is it just something you shouldn't do because it will encourage people to do it for the sake of stinginess rather than necessity? I could ask 100 different tumblr users - hell, I could ask 100 different authors and other indie media creators - and get dozens of different answers. Is pirating an indie game meaningfully a form of theft? That is an ideological question.

In fact, circling back to what I said about disagreement about even the most seemingly open-and-shut plagiarism cases, did you know that there are cultures - and individuals with more collectivist leanings for that matter - that consider the ONLY bad thing about what we call plagiarism to be the dishonesty of claiming that you came up with the work totally on your own?

Like all ideological questions, the definition of "theft" in the gray areas is both personal AND culturally sensitive - and no singular aspect of a culture exists in a vacuum. Remember what I said about cultures where borrowing vehicles without asking is...annoying and kinda rude, but normal and not universally considered theft? Well, here's the thing - the one I'm most intimately familiar with is on a small island, with no bridges to the mainland, and the ferry services are very expensive and very limited. As a result, people there know damned well that a borrowed car isn't going far. If they built a bridge, then the popular attitude would likely become much less forgiving!

That kind of environmental factor is a huge part of, if not the SOLE reason why the question of "is AI training theft?" is even a gray area worth debating right now. Under most meaningful frameworks, it's not! It's just fucking not! It doesn't take someone's art or writing away from them. It doesn't bar them from ever doing it. It doen't bar them from selling it - it saturates an already oversaturated market further which does suck major ass for those of us who have no fallback, but banning technology at the legal level based solely on that is a JUSTIFIABLY illegal anti-competitive practice. It doesn't reproduce anyone's work in a meaningful way unless the model is broken (look up "overfitting") or someone is straight up lying to you about their process.

But, I can totally understand where a personal definition can vary when we have big corporate copyright trolls out here claiming that someone using the wrong hex code as a background is stealing from them and worthy of ruining their entire lives, but statistically analyzing pretty much the entire fucking internet - including the work of millions of small-time hobbyists - to build software, LYING about how easy it is to use that software to get a certain end result, and using that lie (and the outrage generated by it) to justify treating the operators and editors wrangling that software into building a finished product even WORSE than they already treat laborers in creative fields (spoiler alert: they're already treated pretty fucking badly) is not. The only disagreement you, theoretical reader who defines this as "theft", will hear from me is about WHERE in the process the whole software Thing goes from neutral and potentially positive to just plain shitty, and even then it's only partially (as a privacy advocate I would LOVE to see robots.txt/Do Not Track/etc. instructions become legally and technologically enforceable).

But.

Even beyond this.

When you're trying to set rules and laws, you need to actually keep in mind what is and is not enforceable, and what the consequences of trying to enforce those rules are.

Anti-plagiarism laws and rules are already notoriously hard to enforce, because coincidences happen. Two people may draw very similar-looking OCs based on the same stock photo without ever having seen each other's work. Two people may have very similar writing styles, not because they know each other, but because they were influenced by the same works that came before them. Two books may be completely different in their setting and writing style but, when stripped down to their basic plot, be beat-for-beat identical - maybe because they're in a genre that can get pretty samey, but maybe because the second writer DID copy the first, and unless you personally know the second author and they told you they were copying it during the process, you can never know - and even then, there's the even further gray question of whether or not that's transformative enough to constitute an original work (the fact that they're in the public domain isn't the ONLY reason we don't see an outcry over people writing original stories that can be distilled to wild and creative retellings of old fairy tales and/or Shakespeare plays, after all).

So what's the consequence for trying to define, in law and in major rule, the end product of a tool that can be argued to be built with stolen property, as theft itself, especially when false accusations are likely to target the already vulnerable (in this case, novice writers and artists, and non-native speakers of the language they're writing in)?

I'll give you a hint: it's nothing good.

#ai tag #serious tag

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sfarticles · 3 months

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Cookbook features recipes for two-ingredient dough that anyone can make

When it comes to baking, making a pie crust and recipes requiring yeast intimidate many people, including me. Let’s be honest, at least perception-wise, baking with yeast is more complex and sophisticated than baking methods that are quicker.

But why? Activating the yeast properly could be intricate, and the rising process requires time and patience. And without the exact measuring of ingredients and timing of when ingredients are added, you could end up with not-so-appealing results. Let’s not forget accurate baking time and having a properly calibrated oven.

When it comes to a recipe that lists yeast as an ingredient, many pass right by it. The chemistry behind baking, and the preciseness required for the chemical reactions that must occur to end up with a product that has the right texture and flavor, scares home cooks. This is usually not the case when it comes to other cooking techniques.

During my interview with author Erin Renouf Mylroie for my recent soup column, she mentioned her previous title, “2-ingredient Miracle Dough Cookbook: Easy Lower-Carb Recipes for Flatbreads, Bagels, Deserts and More” (2019, Page Street Publishing, $21.99). I was determined to get a copy.

She was originally skeptical when she came across two-ingredient dough while browsing online. Considering herself to be an avid baker, and not minding the hours to produce aged pizza dough to perfection, and other quality baked goods, she said: “The idea of a dough that could be ready in minutes with only two ingredients seemed almost like fool’s gold … and probably too good to be true.”

After trying a few recipes, she was sold on this new technique of baking.

“Anyone who can hold a spoon can make two-ingredient dough,” she writes. “Everyone can remember the ingredient list: equal parts Greek yogurt and self-rising flour. There’s no waiting, no rising, no complicated or fussy techniques here.”

Another plus she mentions is this dough is lower in calories and carbs. Why?

“Half of the bulk of the dough comes from protein-rich Greek yogurt,” she said. “You’ll always want to use Greek yogurt for two ingredient dough because of its thick texture. Regular yogurt will be too watery to get the thick and only slightly sticky dough. Greek yogurt is also a better source of protein than regular yogurt, so you’ll get more health benefit from this type.”

When asked about using this technique and the difference in the outcome vs. using yeast, she responded: “The leaveners in the self-rising flour react with the yogurt in the dough to create a light and fluffy baked good. It’s not exactly the flavor of yeast, but it gets the job of done with fantastic results!”

I asked her to pick her two favorite recipes from the book.

“I really love the bagels in the book,” she said. “It was the first two-ingredient recipe I tried, and the one that I return to must often. They make an excellent breakfast sandwich in the morning, a great snack with a schmear of protein, and they slice up nicely to make bagel chips if you’re blessed with any leftovers.

“I also love buttery parmesan and garlic knots. It’s hard not to love anything slathered with garlic butter. One of the sweet treats that I love is the Ginger and Brown Sugar banana cake. It’s a bit of a stretch to call it two- ingredient dough since I throw in a few more things, but it sure is scrumptious!”

What does she hope the reader learns from the book?

“I hope that readers of ‘2-Ingredient Miracle Dough’ will enjoy creating baked goods that are a little healthier, a little faster and a little easier than yeast risen baked goods you would normally make at home,” she said. “I hope it gets some readers back in the kitchen!”

She concludes the book’s introduction with, “Two-ingredient dough might seem a little too good to be true, but that’s the miracle.”

For the recipe for Four Seasons Sheet Pan Pizza—Pizza Quattro Stagioni visit https://bit.ly/4c2u0nY

Monterey Jack Cheese, Dill and Scallion Biscuits

The headnotes says: “I love biscuits with barbecue in the summertime and with pot roasts in the winter. Biscuits come together so quickly, but like all warm breads, they make a meal seem almost holiday-special. If you have any leftover biscuits, these make a spectacular sandwich with leftover shredded barbecue meat and a little coleslaw.”

Makes 6 biscuits

Ingredients:

1½ cups self-rising flour, plus more for work surface

1½ cups plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons cold butter

½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

¼ cup sliced scallions

2 tablespoons butter, melted

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried dill weed

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour and yogurt until just combined. Grate the cold butter, using the large holes from a box grater, directly into the bowl with the flour and yogurt. Gently stir together. Stir in the shredded cheese and scallions.

Dust a work surface generously with flour. Transfer the dough to the work surface and knead until smooth, about 30 seconds. Press the dough into a rectangle, about 9 x 6 inches. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into six equal-shaped square biscuits. Transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic powder and dill. Brush about half of the butter mixture over the tops of the biscuits. Bake for about 16 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove the biscuits from the oven and brush them with the remaining butter mixture. Cool for 5 minutes before eating.

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Strombolipays homage to the two great Philadelphia food favorites: cheesesteak and stromboli. (Courtes of Ken Goodman)

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Stromboli

The headnote says: “This hearty dish pays homage to the two great Philadelphia food favorites: cheesesteak and Stromboli. The debate rages on over what is the proper cheese for a Philly cheesesteak, but I prefer provolone here because it melts beautifully and adds a hint of creamy sweetness. You could swap out the provolone for any cheese you like. One more note: this Stromboli is a Superbowl tradition at my house. Cut it small if you want to serve it as an appetizer.”

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound tender beef sandwich steaks, raw, thinly sliced

1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

6 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1¼ cups self-rising flour, plus more for work surface

1¼ cups plain Greek yogurt

8 ounces provolone cheese, sliced, or substitute shredded mozzarella

2 tablespoons butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced parsley

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook about halfway through, about 3 minutes. Add the bell pepper, onion and mushrooms. Cook for about 7 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened. Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir. Turn off the heat and let it cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour and yogurt with a wooden spoon, stirring until a sticky dough forms. Generously flour a work surface. Turn dough out onto the work surface and knead, adding a dusting of flour from time to time, until the dough is no longer sticky. Roll or press the dough into a rectangle about 15 x 10 inches. Place the cheese in a long line parallel to the long edge of the dough, leaving a 4-inch margin. Cover the cheese with the beef mixture.

Roll up the dough, cinnamon roll style, until you have a tight cylinder, and pinch the edges shut. Transfer the Stromboli to the prepared baking sheet.

In a small microwaveable dish, heat the butter and garlic until the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant, about 40 seconds. Add the parsley. Brush the dough with half the butter and garlic mixture. Cut a few slits along the top of the dough to allow steam to escape.

Bake the Stromboli for 14 to 18 minutes, or until it’s golden brown. Brush the Stromboli with the remaining butter mixture. Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing into segments and serving.

Sweet Irish Soda Bread with Currants and Raisins is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Serve it warm with a generous dollop of creamy Irish butter. You can add caraway seeds if you like for an interesting sweet and savory twist, (Courtesy of Ken Goodman)

Sweet Irish Soda Bread With Currants and Raisins

The headnote says: “I’m duty bound to make this special bread for St. Patrick’s Day every year, but it would be wonderful any day, especially if you serve it warm with a generous dollop of creamy Irish butter. You can add caraway seeds if you like for an interesting sweet and savory twist, but I like it best with dried fruit and a crunchy sugar topping. “

Serves 8

Ingredients:

½ cup dried currants or dried cranberries

¼ cup raisins

1½ cups self-rising flour, plus more for work surface

1 cup vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt

4 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons cold butter, grated

2 tablespoons cream or milk

2 tablespoons turbinado or coarse sugar

Directions:

Place the currants and raisins in a small dish and cover with 1 cup boiling water. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, yogurt, sugar, egg and butter. Drain the currants and raisins and stir them into the dough.

Generously flour a work surface. Turn out the dough onto the work surface. Knead the dough until a smooth dough forms, about 1 minute. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet and brush with the cream and sprinkle with the turbinado.

Using a sharp knife, score the bread into eight pieces, cutting pie style into wedges, but not cutting all the way through to the bottom. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until it’s golden brown. Serve in wedges with whipped butter if you like.

Recipes reprinted with permission from “2-Ingredient Miracle Dough Cookbook” by Erin Renouf Mylroie (Page Street Publishing Co., 2019)

Stephen Fries is professor emeritus and former coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Conn. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 16 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Email him at [email protected]. For more, go to stephenfries.com.

#2-ingredient miracle dough cookbook #baking

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jcbmcdrmtt · 6 months

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I’ve been feeling very down lately for life reasons, so as a pick me up I ordered some of @aredblush ‘s adorable Sterek art in sticker form (link in source). Now I normally do not buy stickers because I am forever unsure of where to put them - all of the standard destinations like my laptop or phone or water bottle will be replaced one day, which would mean losing all the stickers on them, perish the thought!! But. Stickers were the art form that I could both afford and had room for right now, so while they were in shipping I was brainstorming where to put them.

And then it hit me.

I bought 2 of Nas’ (i.e. aredblush’s) lovely art books from Lulu wayyyyyy back in 2015/2016. I treasure them, I shouldn’t ever have to replace them, and everything between the covers is well-protected. What better place to put stickers from the same artist?? It’s almost like I’m updating the books with some of her newer contributions to fandom :)

So without further ado:

(yes I know my sticker placement/alignment in the second book was atrocious, I’m working with what I’ve got here 😂)

Also, bonus! The most recent iPhone software automatically identifies objects in photos you take and lets you create digital stickers out of them to use in chat! I’ve been having a lot of fun with it the last month or two, and that has also included many art pieces from Nas 😁 (also many, many pictures of my baby nephew 😅). So far I have not sent them to anyone because I sadly do not text with other Sterek or Andreil lovers, but it’s nice to know I could if I wanted to :) Plus this way cute art is always a tap away on my phone for me ☺️

(side note, that last little guy down at the bottom right is a creation of @/magentasnail)

Nas, if you’re reading this, thank you for drawing soft, adorable portrayals of people quietly loving each other (or maybe not so quietly, in Stiles’ case haha). Multiple times now it has been a bright spot in a dark world for me.

#jake talks #mine #aredblush #wow i teared up typing that last sentence. huh. maybe a darker world than i realized atm #wasn’t aware my emotions were so close to the surface #to be fair it is 4:30 in the morning so i may just be tired #i have GOT to try and reset my sleep schedule tomorrow. er. today #on the plus side i am going to a local brewery with a friend today to hear a professor talk about how scientists search for planets that ->#might be able to support alien life! it’s part of a series! last week the lecture was about the history of sea shanties :)#so at least I have to be up and out the door at a certain time to make that #hopefully not being able to lie around too long in bed today will help with trying to get to bed at a decent hour tonight #cw negativity

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thegirlwiththelantern · 2 years

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When I write book release posts on my book blog, China Sorrows, it's books I'm excited about. But in looking for 2023 releases I came across quite a few books I don't want to read but which would probably be really exciting to other people, so here some are.

Quick note- because I'm not covering them on my blog I didn't hunt through various sources and if the one I found doesn't list a synopsis I won't. I also don't list for sequels in case of spoilers.

How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok (sapphic)

In this YA thriller, 17-year-old amateur sleuth Iris and her sapphic detective agency decide to investigate when Iris's ex-girlfriend—notorious for creating a polarizing true-crime podcast about Iris's missing sister—disappears too.

Home by Cailean Steed (queer)

Someone has broken into Zoe's flat. A man she thought she'd never have to see again. They call him the Hand of God. He knows about her job in the cafe, her life in Dublin, her ex-girlfriend, even the knife she's hidden under the mattress. She thought she'd left him far behind, along with the cult of the Children and their isolated compound Home - but now he's found her, and she knows she must go back to rescue the sister who helped her escape all those years before. But returning to Home means going back to the enforced worship and strict gender roles Zoe has long since moved beyond; back to the abuse and indoctrination she's fought desperately to overcome. Going back will make her question everything she believed about her past - but could also risk her hard-won freedom. Can she break free a second time? One - My name is Zoe Two - I am here to rescue my sister Amy Three - Nothing anyone says here is true Four - Four - What is my fourth true thing?

Damned If You Do by Alex Brown (queer, filipino)

High school stage manager Cordelia Scott learns that she may have accidentally sold her soul to a demon, and now she must help him neutralize a demonic rival or risk spending eternity in Hell --all while navigating a disastrous Tech Week, her feelings for her best friend (who might be a monster), and way too many pop quizzes.

Biance Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans (nonbinary)

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3: Murder and #55: Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment) or investigate what happened. Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13: Beautiful People, #11: Parents Discovering They’re A Raging Lesbian), the trio uncovers a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. But when the killer catches wind of the investigation, Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.

Truly Wanted by J.J. Hale (sapphic)

After a chaotic childhood in a long line of foster homes, Sam McKenna found her version of serenity in her friendship with Brooke Fields. When tragedy forces Brooke to become a single mother, Sam is there for her. Sam ignores the crush she’s had on Brooke since college. Their relationship is too precious to risk. After the loss of her husband, Brooke finally dips her toes back into the dating world only to have each encounter end in disaster. If it wasn’t for Sam by her side picking her back up, she might give up on ever finding love again. After a night of unexpected passion when Brooke and Sam cross the line of friendship, Brooke can’t help but yearn for more with Sam. A chance encounter leads Brooke and Sam on a journey to Sam’s birth family, uncovering the ghosts of Sam’s past and revealing wounds that threaten the friendship both once believed to be indestructible, and any chance for something more.

Bleeding Heart (Cardplay #2) by Brittany M. Willows (ace, pan, queerplatonic)

Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir by Lamya H. (memoir)

When fourteen-year-old Lamya H realizes she has a crush on her teacher—her female teacher—she covers up her attraction, an attraction she can’t yet name, by playing up her roles as overachiever and class clown. Born in South Asia, she moved to the Middle East at a young age and has spent years feeling out of place, like her own desires and dreams don’t matter, and it’s easier to hide in plain sight. To disappear. But one day in Quran class, she reads a passage about Maryam that changes everything: when Maryam learned that she was pregnant, she insisted no man had touched her. Could Maryam, uninterested in men, be . . . like Lamya? From that moment on, Lamya makes sense of her struggles and triumphs by comparing her experiences with some of the most famous stories in the Quran. She juxtaposes her coming out with Musa liberating his people from the pharoah; asks if Allah, who is neither male nor female, might instead be nonbinary; and, drawing on the faith and hope Nuh needed to construct his ark, begins to build a life of her own—ultimately finding that the answer to her lifelong quest for community and belonging lies in owning her identity as a queer, devout Muslim immigrant.

Citizens of Shadow: A Vampire Tale by Nicole Eigener (queer)

BEGUILED BY NIGHT: BOOK TWO. In which the vampire Vauquelin's tale continues. A queer dark fantasy of vampires, time travel, and sinister secrets that threaten to unravel an eternal existence.

Dragonfall by L.R. Lam (queer, nonbinary)

Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the 'gods' remember, and they do not forgive. Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge. The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completel - -body, mind, and soul - and then kill them. Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.

Tears in the Water by Margherita Scialla (queer, pan, gender questioning)

Spell Binder by F.T. Lukens

Edison Rooker isn’t sure what to expect when he enters the office of Antonia Hex, the powerful sorceress who runs a call center for magical emergencies. He doesn’t have much experience with hexes or curses. Heck, he doesn’t even have magic. But he does have a plan—to regain the access to the magical world he lost when his grandmother passed. Antonia is…intimidating, but she gives him a job and a new name—Rook—both of which he’s happy to accept. Now all Rook has to do is keep his Spell Binder, an illegal magical detection device, hidden from the Magical Consortium. And contend with Sun, the grumpy and annoyingly cute apprentice to Antonia’s rival colleague, Fable. But dealing with competition isn’t so bad; as Sun seems to pop up more and more, and Rook minds less and less. But when the Consortium gets wind of Rook’s Spell Binder, they come for Antonia. All alone, Rook runs to the only other magical person he knows: Sun. Except Fable has also been attacked, and now Rook and Sun have no choice but to work together to get their mentors back…or face losing their magic forever.

Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni (queer)

Best friends and chosen family Chris, Elise, Jo, and Alex work hard to keep themselves afloat. Their regular brunches hold them together even as the rest of their lives threaten to fall apart. In an effort to avoid being the oldest gays at the party, the crew decides to put on a new queer event called Grind–specifically for homos in their dirty thirties. Grind is a welcome distraction from their real problems: after a messy divorce, Chris adjusts to being a single parent while struggling to reconnect to their queer community. Elise is caught between feelings for her boss and the career of her dreams. Jo tries to navigate the murky boundaries of being a supportive friend and taking care of her own needs. And Alex is guarding a secret that might change his friendships forever. While navigating exes at work, physical and mental exhaustion, and drinking way, way too much on weekdays, this chosen family proves that being messy doesn’t always go away with age.

Jamie by L.D. Lapinski (nonbinary)

Jamie Rambeau is a happy 11-year-old non-binary kid who likes nothing better than hanging out with their two best friends Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that in Year Seven they will be separated into one school for boys and another for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. And when Jamie realises no one has thought about where they are going to go, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and sort it all out once and for all. As the friends' efforts to raise awareness eventually become a rooftop protest against the binary rules for the local schools, Jamie realises that if they don't figure out a way forwards, they might be at risk of losing both their friends forever.

Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric Larocca (queer)

Evil waits for the unsuspecting in the small town of Henley's Edge, Connecticut after a recent string of unexplained disappearances. Lives are interwoven and transformed forever when pacts are drawn, deals are made, and when hatred is left unrestrained. Some will succumb to the darkness that lurks in the cellar of Mr. Heart Crowley's home, others will resist, and some will face a truly remarkable being--creator of tides, vessel of infinity, eater of darkness.

Now She Is Witch by Kirsty Logan (queer)

She dug her mother's grave in the poison garden so it would stay hidden... Lux has lost everything when Else finds her, alone in the woods. Her family, her lover, her home - all burned. The world is suspicious of women like her, neither maiden nor mother. But Lux is cunning; she knows how to exploit people's expectations, how to blend into the background. And she knows a lot about poisons. Else has not found Lux by accident. She needs her help to seek revenge against the man who wronged her, and together they pursue him north. But on their hunt they will uncover dark secrets that entangle them with dangerous adversaries.

Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland (queer)

In becoming a vampire, I’m less than a girl. And more. Or maybe I’m becoming what I always have been, deep inside. A blade. When nineteen-year-old Fin volunteers to take her secret love's place in their village's Finding, she is terrified. Those who are chosen at the Finding are whisked away to Castle Courtsheart, a vampire school where human students either succeed and become vampires, fail and spend the rest of their lives as human thralls...or they don't survive long enough to become either. Fin is determined to forge a different path: learn how to kill the undead and get revenge for her mother, who was taken by the vampires years ago. But Courtsheart is as captivating as it is deadly, and Fin is quickly swept up in her new world and its inhabitants - particularly Gavron, her handsome and hostile vampire maker, whose blood is nothing short of intoxicating. As Fin begins to discover new aspects of her own identity and test her newfound powers, she stumbles across a string of murders that may be connected to a larger ritual - one with potentially lethal consequences for vampires and humans alike. Fin must uncover the truth and find the killer before she loses her life...or betrays her own heart.

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler (bi)

A queer Sliding Doors rom-com in which a girl must choose between summer in NYC with her dad (and the girl she's always wanted) or LA with her estranged mom (and the guy she never saw coming). Natalya Fox has twenty-hours to make the biggest choice of her life: stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad (and finally screw up the courage to talk to the girl she's been crushing on), or spend it with her basically estranged mom in LA (knowing this is the best chance she has to fix their relationship, if she even wants to.) (Does she want to?) How's a girl supposed to choose? She can't, and so both summers play out in alternating timelines - one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the girl she's always wanted. And one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the guy she never saw coming.

The Gay Best Friend by Nicolas DiDomizio (gay)

Domenic Marino has become an expert at code-switching between the hypermasculine and ultrafeminine worlds of his two soon-to-be-wed best friends. But this summer―reeling from his own failed engagement and tasked with attending their bachelor and bachelorette parties―he’s anxious over having to play both sides. The pressure is on. The bride wants Dom to keep things clean. The groom wants Dom to “let loose” with the guys. And Dom just wants to get out of this whole mess with his friendships intact. But once the rowdy groomsmen show up at the beach house―including a surprise visit from the groom’s old frat brother, handsome and charming PGA star Bucky Graham―chaos (and unexpected romance) quickly ensues. By the time Dom returns for the bachelorette party, he’s accumulated a laundry list of secrets that threaten to destroy everything―from the wedding, to Bucky’s career, to the one thing Dom hasn’t been paying nearly enough attention to lately: his own life.

Black Sails to Sunward by Sheila Jenné (queer)

In a world of frock coats, solar sails, and rigid class boundaries, Lucy joins the Martian Imperial Navy as a midshipman. Mars and Earth are at war, and Lucy hopes for quick promotion. But when she arrives aboard ship, she finds her childhood ex-friend, Moira, already there. Class differences got in the way of their budding romance five years ago, and both of them are nursing grudges. Those same class differences are threatening the ship, as the enlisted spacers threaten a mutiny and Lucy is forced to support the abusive officers. When Moira becomes a pirate, taking Lucy captive, the tables are turned. Lucy now has to rely on her enemy for her life. Her oath as an officer forbids her from helping the pirates, but it’s becoming obvious that the Martian Empire doesn’t deserve her loyalty. If she throws in her lot with the pirates, her family is doomed to poverty, but it could give her a chance to reconcile with Moira and claim the love she rejected so long ago.

Child of the Crystal Planet by Ennis Rook Bashe (nonbinary, queer, disability)

A runaway trans kid with uncontrolled psychic powers and secret trauma. An impulsive teenager whose psychic powers have forced her to become an intergalactic celebrity. No one on their home planets understands them. What if they could be the perfect team? From fighting an evil ghost preying on an exoplanet’s queer population, to freeing the captive population of an orbiting sweatshop, no mission is too dangerous for this badass pair. But what happens when, as adults, their feelings for each other change?

#2023 #book #books #queer #also i'm still making 2023 and 2022 releases posts!!!#if you have one let me know #for the 2022 releases post it can be something that's already out it just needs to have come out this year #do not ask me why my unable to work ass is posting this here when i need to make my blog monetisable i'm an inept fool #booklr #my lists

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rosenkildelundqvist · 2 years

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Significant Things To Understand Video Games

Games provide us another planet to gain access to and will be a thrilling time, there is however a lot more into it than that. You have to know the way to get the most from video games, how to get to the next level and the ways to get better enjoy from the machine. Discover that plus more, using this type of report. Don't take the expression of the minimal on whether or not a game title is suitable for these people. If your game is graded M for older, there is usually a good reason for this. Research your options on the warm new game your child is pleading for. Make sure it is anything you would like them enjoying prior to put money into it. Know your charts in the video gaming you are playing. Knowing the landscape is important to winning. Where by are the best locations by which to conceal and ambush your opponents? Exactly where could you get cutting corners to offer you an improved ideal placement? This sort of expertise gives you a serious ideal benefit. Constantly consider the program prior to buying a game for your personal computer. When you personal a personal computer manufactured by Apple, by way of example, you are unable to operate a Computer game on your own program. Especially, in the event you aren't paying attention, you can easily get this blunder. Spend another second from the buying process to find out you have the best model of your activity. Don't spend time in the instruction guidebook. Learn when you perform. The overall game will be considerably more interesting in the event you physique things out as you go along. If you achieve disappointed, you usually have the option of collecting the guide and turning through it for assist. Try it yourself very first, however. In case you are enjoying a showing off online game, so you don't have knowledge about it, set the difficulty levels to rookie. This will help pick-up on the special options that come with the video game and discover towards you throughout the industry. In the event you set it up more than that, you may very well get irritated and never have any exciting. Boost the screen's lumination. A game occur a darkish cave or abandoned developing may make for great ambiance, but it really does absolutely nothing for the functionality. A darker monitor minimizes presence and makes it more challenging to view your adversaries. Increasing the brightness may modify the truly feel of the online game but it may be worthwhile because it boosts your skill. This will help spot your opponents to enable you to prevent them or attack. Steer clear of acquiring the high priced release of game titles, except when they may be a favorite. Often autoclick.vn , online games may have an exclusive release, however it isn't required to have so that you can take part in the game. By not buying the specific release you can save money on the video online game but still appreciate it. Control is important in all of the issues, and enjoying games is not any different. Enjoying for hours on finish isn't healthy, actually or psychologically. There are a few games on the market that know this and may include steps to remind anyone to acquire splits. Take the initiative your self, though! Set an alarm so that you will don't enjoy for more than 1 hour right. Before actively playing a fresh computer game, look at the cheat reserve. Most game titles have a book you can buy independently. You may want to look at accomplishing this and studying it before you engage in, as well as when you are enjoying. Using this method, you will get the best from your online game play. Video gaming positive could be loads of fun but it may also be pricey and also hazardous to your equipment should you don't get new materials from respected sources. Don't squander your time and energy or risk your computer hardware on gimmicks and shady sites--make use of the suggestions with this report to securely get the most from your video games.

#autoclick

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pdfsevafree · 2 years

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Instructions to Convert Word Documents In to PDF Format

All in all, you need to change over your Word records into PDF, isn't that so? All things considered, it's not quite as extreme as it would have appeared to you. It is genuinely straightforward. In a couple of steps the work finishes absent much by way of with nothing to do and exertion. However, before we really find out about the change interaction, we should start understanding that what is a PDF Free Download and for what reason would individuals like to pick PDF however there are numerous ways of sharing records. First we'll discuss what precisely are PDF.

Compact Document Format (PDF) is a record design that is ordinarily utilized for sharing Word reports among the perusers who might not have Word introduced on their frameworks. The organization moderates the format of the archive and checks against altering the report while opened utilizing Word. Word without anyone else doesn't permit you to save records in this configuration. Outsider devices and modules programming permit the transformation of Word reports to PDF and convert PDF into a Word record.

Why PDF? Indeed, the response is versatility on different working frameworks without the gamble of record being altered and changed. By movability I imply that a record saved in this organization can be perused on each machine and convenient gadget including Pads. All you really want to do is to download Adobe's free peruser, and your PDF record can be perused on practically any PC. Assuming you need that your record be perused on all convenient gadgets, all you really want to do is to save your record into a PDF design.

Allow us now to take a gander at how to make a PDF. There are various manners by which you can make your PDF. However, the authority way is to buy Adobe Acrobat that is the main genuine instrument that will permit you to make, read, alter, and search a PDF with next to zero exertion. After you introduce Acrobat, you will see that it likewise introduces various instruments, alongside a Word large scale that makes PDF creation as simple as clunking a button. Close by, a Windows printer driver is likewise introduced that permits you to make PDF from any printing application. Sounds perfect, right?

You may likewise make a PDF online by utilizing the Adobe's on-line arrangement called Create Adobe PDF Online . You want to buy in yet with a free preliminary that is on offer you can make your initial five PDF for nothing. Besides, in the event that you lead a Goggle search, Hanuman Chalisa PDF you may likewise get a rundown of various projects that offer similar offices as Adobe and are accessible either as freeware, shareware or paid. These product fluctuate in the quantity of highlights they offer and thus their expenses and rating. To choose the one that suits your requirements the best, attempting some is better.

Another way is the Open Office which is a free set-up of office applications, particularly like MS-Office, that incorporates a Word processor like Word . Open Office permits you to peruse Word reports and furthermore to make PDF. Twisted Lies Book PDF Here the list of capabilities appears to be very comparable, a piece not the same as Word and Acrobat, consequently there might be issues with similarity. In any case, it is a very much upheld open source application with a functioning and aiding client local area. Expertly, Adobe is by a wide margin the most ideal decision whether you need to change over your Word report into a PDF or convert PDF back to Word design.

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hairdoubt98 · 2 years

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Ideas That Can Make Your Travel Successful

Travelling is supposed to be considered a calming getaway, but without proper preparation, traveling can make you much more stressed than your normal everyday life. This article has easy to follow easy methods to make any type of traveling enjoyable, easy and stress free. Prepare yourself before leaving, by reading this guidance. Consider booking a cruise for your upcoming travel adventure. When you find yourself on the vacation cruise, you may not need to worry about locating places to eat or continue to be. Adventures on property may be established to suit your needs through the cruise director. All things are done for you. So, you can easily relax and appreciate. If you will certainly be vacationing using a smaller sized airport terminal, verify which airlines offer solutions there. Some tiny international airports might have charters with far better bargains. Sign up for the loyal consumer team. These organizations prize you having a totally free nighttime following you've stayed a particular amount of evenings at their engaging locations. Even though aren't planning to stick to them yet again, enroll in any case. As a associate typically entitles anyone to more rewards--everything from cocktails to internet access--in your keep. When thinking about those items you are going to take with you in your journey, consider precisely what the weather will be like. You can check exactly how the climate has been around in the region for the past full week and also look at the forecast. Make absolutely certain you practice safety measures if necessary, so you won't be caught off guard, if the climate chooses to change. If you plan on vacationing with small children, be sure to end often on the way there and back. Explain them in details your location going, and how long it should take to visit there. Prepare some activities to keep them busy in the trip, including shading publications. Air-port foods can be pricey and not all air flights supply snacks whilst in trip. Its useful to hold a couple of stays of jerky, a candy bar, or simply a load of peanuts in your wallet or handbag so that you can have that fast power boost you will need without having to pay an left arm as well as a lower leg or make time to purchase foods with a shop. When traveling completely to another spot, consider preparing outdated apparel that you no longer worry about. When you can eliminate aged clothing in the process, you will possess far more room with your suitcases for first time outfits or gifts that you simply acquire during your travels. Also, vacation is tough on clothes and might wreck brand new ones. When going on a highway getaway, usually provide a video camera along. You will never know if you may be found across a thing that you'll would like to have a snapshot of to keep in mind. It doesn't have to be anything costly and fancy, any simple camera will work. You certainly won't feel sorry about catching your memories on movie. To help you lighten your luggage, use test dimensions beauty products and toiletries if you pack. Should you don't want a full size jar of hair shampoo, there is absolutely no explanation to handle it country wide. Most drugstores possess a traveling portion where one can purchase traveling-dimension hair shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, tooth paste and a lot more. If you're considerably out and about and find that you've kept your mobile phone battery charger in your house, call the top workdesk of your respective resort and clarify the situation. Most accommodations conserve the abandoned or overlooked rechargers which are still left in hotel rooms should your phone is a reasonably common version, it could save you from paying out fifty bucks to get a battery charger that you only use for a couple of time. Once you pick a travel spot, be sure you verify end user critiques on community lodges prior to protected your concerns. Collect these from numerous sources, which include mags, web sites and guidebooks. Also ask your accommodation to transmit you photos of the particular room that you are remaining in. Doing your investigation can help you avoid unanticipated surprises when you get to the destination. Before your holiday, be a part of some message boards specifically relevant to travel. These residential areas are full of knowledgable people who may be of great support prior to, throughout and following your holiday. Continue to be lively in whatever neighborhood you might have preferred throughout the year, as you may find some good traveling ideas for next season's journey! If you plan on going backpacking, make sure you load the right equipment. Including the most experienced backpackers could possibly get dropped, so it is very important provide torches, food, considerable amounts water, fits and medical materials. Also, outfit correctly. Put on layers and avoid cotton clothing and denims. Avoid going to European countries during the very hot summer time. The comprehensive agreement is the fact that this is actually the most detrimental time and energy to trip there. Another reason why is the fact pricing is higher, numerous trips are arranged as well as over-arranged, and there are many crowds of people during this time period of year. Practical experience The european union from the off-season to view what it's like for residents. When packaging for your seaside during your vacation, try out packaging your equipment as a stand alone in a beach handbag that will very easily easily fit in your suitcases. This can be a excellent time saver because it will probably be stuffed prior to your seashore getaway, and it can also save time in case you have youngsters in your trip.

Bring back toiletries in the hotels which you stop at while on a trip. Such things as detergent, shampoo or conditioner and lotion can be some of the finest souvenirs of the getaway, and they are free. Since your place amount contains the cost of these items, don't truly feel harmful to using them property together with you. เที่ยวหลีเป๊ะ Make use of them to not forget the great time you have whilst you had been away. An incredible vacation tip if you're touring in another country would be to constantly require a publication of suits along when you abandon your resort. Possessing this book of matches can be very useful if you wind up obtaining misplaced eventually. They may demonstrate local people where you've just remaining. Should you adhere to the tips on this page, you will find that touring lacks to become stress filled. There are lots of simple ways to ensure things are cared for before you leave, which means your time out and about will be more soothing than you can think of.

#เที่ยวหลีเป๊ะ #ที่พักหลีเป๊ะ

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saintsofvoid · 3 years

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Psychofans & Mediacorps

(Backstory and lore on some psychofan encounters and the attempted kidnapping of Kerry Eurodyne along with some related events with Johnny Silverhand. Written as a Screamsheet because I was bored, and this all isn’t 100% since actual events aren’t always fully disclosed. Word count: 2976. Sources at the end.)

Being a world famous Rockerboy is really all it’s chalked up to be, doesn’t mean there isn’t its fair share of snags along the way. Fame and glory comes with a heavy price tag many don’t realize as they’re building their way to the top. Blinded by having your name in the lights, seeing hundreds of thousands of fans all eagerly waiting to just get a glimpse of you. Night City Legend Kerry Eurodyne commented, “It’s scary. I mean, to think that one hundred thousand people are selling their souls to see you, and you’ve got them hanging on your every word.” The very fans that would kill for a chance to see their idols live, are the very same that would put them on Trauma.

Not just the fans either. Corporate is everywhere, in everything. Fight the system through lyrics while making them richer all the same. Media giants like N54 and DMS buying up the whole show to beat on their chest about who has the most control. The issue comes with their greed for it, keeping those who give them wealth on short leashes. Best offers, benefits, prestige of having a higher name attached to yours. But when friendship runs deeper than the quick climb to fame, other options of “persuasion” may occur. Aggressive strategies to keep themselves on top, because the company always come first.

We’re going to start this article off on arguably a lighter topic, that being the psychofans. I say arguably because they can do just as much damage as the corporations, but it's usually a bit more controlled. We'll hit on that later. There’s the usual rush security, jump fences, steal an axe, the almost seemingly normal chaotic fan behavior you can expect at most high profile gigs. Don’t lie, there’s always one in the audience.

The sudden rise to fame with Samurai also helped play a part in this erratic behavior, Eurodyne had previously stated, “One minute we’re chugging through our old numbers in some small, no name club to the same crowd; the next we’ve sold out Wembley Stadium and there are a hundred thousand killing each other to get a look at us.” This wasn’t much of an overstatement either. Samurai’s rapid rise to fame took a mere three weeks after signing to Universal Music to reach the number one spot on EuroRadio charts. Everyone wanted a piece of Samurai then, and following the break up in late 2007 that craving didn’t soon die out.

A number of incidents have happened, being on world tours is a crazy place. Never really know how fans are going to act until you’re in the thick of it. Most these incidents happen backstage, after gigs, or just by random chance coming across someone on the streets, in the open. One particular incident was documented in 2020 in the following of Trauma Team’s Rich “Meatball” Cramer M.D., Lifeline Trauma Inc., Night City Branch #23.

Broken card call, 15:55, to the Grand Illusion Dance Hall and Bar. Patient being none other than one Rockerboy, Kerry Eurodyne. Compared to the rest of the logs of the night this was a breath of fresh air for the Lifeline agents, not so much for Mr. Eurodyne who was being assaulted by a gang of young female fans. Teargas was dispensed and our Rocker was extracted from the scene. Kerry was in good health at time of extraction, footing the bill of the call to the studio as well as a new set of clothes. Lawsuits were never charged as the fans left enjoying the chaos.

Another lesser known act back in 2043-44, while performing in Memphis TN an assailant got backstage and put a knife to Kerry’s throat. Intentions of the attack are unknown. Could have been a psychofan making demands of an idol, or someone who knew the net wealth of the name Kerry Eurodyne at the time? Either way the incident ended without bloodshed, Kerry was able to talk the assailant down and promptly knock him out with a stiff pour of that high life tequila. The rest was handled by the venue’s security. Unfortunately events like these are almost common for the stardom lifestyle.

Lives are kept under public scrutiny 24/7. “Be prepared to have your private life open to the world,” Rockerboy, Johnny Silverhand, had mentioned in a column from Advice From the Pros. Name in the lights simply means just that, private life is on show as well and nothing can truly be kept secret forever. Kerry Eurodyne had added, “Cover your ass on your social life, the mediacorps are capable of setting you up bigtime in compromising situations… Make sure you know who you’re hanging out with, and something about their friends.” Not just fans and so called friends you need to watch out for, but the very people you sign yourself away with.

Rockers Kerry Eurodyne and Johnny Silverhand are no stranger to this cold truth. Even mediacorps you don’t sign with will have motives, and often resources, to try and gain a signature. Corporations will often go after the output/input or family of the Talent instead of the Talent itself. However, big companies like DMS, the rival to N54 News, also have other methods to “persuade” a contract breach and change. Both Kerry and Johnny were targeted by this particular company, though this time it was Eurodyne dragging Silverhand into trouble.

After the time Samurai had broken up for good, late 2007 early 2008 Kerry was looking for a decent solo deal. This was a gamble for most Labels at the time, Johnny was the frontman of Samurai, Kerry’s true talent had yet to really flourish into the Legend we know today. At this stage in their careers they were just some new-boy artists, that had a couple songs and albums that made it big. A lot of bands will have their handfuls of top sellers and then disappear into a faded memory. However, media giant DMS saw promise in Kerry, and they quickly came out with an offer for the young Rockerboy that would put him right back on the road to stardom.

Kerry was going to take the offer until Universal came up with an offer that wouldn’t just set him up but Johnny as well. The two decided that the offer Universal had was too good to pass up, and with good reason. Universal not only was packaging the two Rockerboys together as independent solo artists, they were offering a better deal as a whole. Since Universal already knew them from Samurai, and knew what the two could produce, formalities of signing a new band was skipped. Re-signing with Universal gave them guaranteed concessions normally only offered to major bands or superstars.

DMS didn’t come back with a counter offer, they came back with threats. Eurodyne, and those close to him, started to receive threats from the mediacorp, these quickly escalated to hired thugs harassing and assaulting everyone in the Rocker’s inner circle, as well as himself. A common tactic for many corporations to get what they want. However, Kerry wasn’t folding to their pressure, sticking with his decision with Johnny to sign to Universal. At this point the signatures were received and Kerry’s talent was the official property of Universal Music once again. This only made the situation worse, and turned into a rather rare occurrence for the music scene.

Major corporations have a number of outlets that they have at full disposal to get what and whom they want, when they want. DMS is not unique in this fact, but they do have one of the more unique techniques. DMS is creative, deadly, and, for a corporation its size, dangerously agile. They are known for their aggressive and ruthless recruiting tactics, and they do not take “no” with grace.

Eurodyne’s fate, to DMS, was sealed the moment they selected him, no matter his choice. DMS starts with a fair offer, most of it coming with the prestige of having their name backing you and their benefits package. In the case of Eurodyne, where this was not enough, DMS will call on their Special Recruiting Division, which is devoted solely to recruiting and converting people who are reluctant to sign to DMS. A fancy way of saying they send in their black ops section to perform extractions on those who are bound by contract or reluctant to leave their current company.

Extractions are illegal, but the government is in the pocket of these corporate giants. Though they hardly ever send their own people, so even if the extraction does fail the proof of finding out who sponsored the extraction is normally too timely, over looked, or asking corpses. Most these companies hire Solos to get the job done, a number of groups exist in this profession alone. Extractions are unsettling common in the corpo world that counter extractions are budgeted into company spending plans. As well many big companies have jealousy protection, and pre-planned countermeasures to prevent extraction attempts of their employees or Talents.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “If they didn’t want to work for them before, what would kidnapping them do?” Well, DMS and other companies thought about this issue as well. How do you force someone to work for you? Blackmail is the obvious answer, to the Talent, to their friends, their family, etc. It's a simple fix that will get a result, but can’t guarantee the product. Its proven effective though, reputation is everything- threats to destroy that are not taken lightly. For a company like DMS, they have a one up on this if they can't get the Talent to see eye to eye with their terms. “Talent Indoctrination”, TI for short, otherwise known as brainwashing to the common choom. It's a program used for winning over people who express resistance to “joining the DMS family” even after extraction.

TI is only a rumor outside of the highest levels of the corporation, and those who have been subjected to it. Luckily, TI section failures are rare, unluckily survival of TI section failures is even rarer. DMS, however, is willing to risk TI only on targets with a high enough revenue generation potential. Executives are more at risk than artists, given artists are seen as disposable and the average commercial shelf-life of a DMS Music artist is only a couple years. Most only making it an average of two before they’re dropped back to performing at clubs and bars for the same hundred fans, if that.

This was the threat Kerry was under, one that became very real one fateful day when the Rockerboy was abducted by a group of hired muscle from the corporation. While Kerry was successfully kidnapped and relocated, the extraction itself failed due to intervention of Legendary Solo, Morgan Blackhand. Blackhand was able to capture all five kidnappers, alone, and turned them over to the Federal Authorities. Beaten, battered, and bruised but all five were alive when they were handed over. This act alone humiliated DMS, who was only found later on in investigation to have been the group’s sponsor. Its not unheard of extractions being foiled, but for a company like DMS it was a shot to their pride since Kerry would know it was them that called it. The real humiliation of it comes from the fact Blackhand snagged them all alive, allowing the truth to be exposed to the public, tarnishing that royal reputation of theirs, though no legal action would be taken.

Embarrassing a huge company like that puts a major target on your back. Legality they could care less about, but reputation is not something any corporation wants to gamble with. Morgan Blackhand would become a target for a later date, DMS wasn’t done with Kerry Eurodyne yet. Now, though, their attention was brought to one of the key elements for why Kerry declined their original offer; Johnny Silverhand.

“They were threatening Johnny and I with things like government investigations and stuff. By the time that threat was made, we’d already signed with Universal…” Eurodyne recalled during an interview. It was true, DMS had dug not only into Kerry’s past life but Johnny’s as well. They were at the stage of “If we can’t have you, no one will.” While Eurodyne’s rap sheet was arguably cleaner, DMS was preparing to go full out, and all in to find anything they could. What they had as their ace was Silverhand’s military past, and they knew they could find the same information about Eurodyne as well or paint him for it. Both Rockers had served during the 2000’s Central American Conflict, Johnny’s desertion was all they needed to start the fire.

DMS was preparing to take this knowledge to the government, and at that point they could say and paint anything on Kerry as well. Their careers were about to end before they even began. Short on time, they did the only thing they could do, they went to Universal Music. With the counter threat of exposure of DMS’s corruption and abusive power over their Talents, Universal made their position clear. This was a PR move, DMS could go to their pocket government agents to have the Rockerboy’s locked away for life, but Universal was going for their public appearance. The ends didn't justify the means, DMS backed down.

Lawsuits were dropped, threats ceased, no more extraction attempts were made on either rockstar. They were given freedom to produce their albums and do tours under the protection of Universal. It wouldn’t be for another several years down the line when DMS would rear its ugly head back into their lives. Well, only in passing.

Denny, the former drummer of Samurai, had a new band called Mastermind that was being recorded by DMS Music. “She knows how I feel about them, but the contract they’ve got is suitable for her, so I’m not going to interfere as long as she is happy.” Kerry had stated on the matter back in late 2013, “Even now you won’t find Johnny or I saying anything remotely positive about DMS… I’m just glad no one was listening when I made certain comments or some of my fans might have taken those rash words to heart and we might have had some serious problems.” A tongue in cheek response to the 13 April 2013 Arasaka Riots led by Johnny Silverhand, under the old band's name of Samurai. Rioters killed 18 and wounded 51 on that night, gutting the Arasaka complex. An event that would only deepen the wedge between the two Rockerboys, yet redefine them entirely.

Silverhand, however, would be blackmailed again later on in 2009 by EBS Records to leave Universal and sign a solo contract with them. EBS had found out that Johnny was an AWOL U.S. Marine who had deserted during the Second Conflict. The blackmail attempt was quickly dropped as Johnny came clean himself, revealing all his secrets and shining light on the plight of veterans of the covert war, with his now famous album Sins of Your Brother.

One thing the Rocker was known for was starting changes with his music, back in late 2012 Silverhand had an assassination attempt on his life believed to be sourced from Biotechnica do to their belief of controversal opinions to their practices heard on his album Clone Wars. Being forced to take several months of seclusion to let the heat die down before going on tour himself.

Given all of this, and much more, they had been relatively lucky. Maybe not with the fans, Eurodyne still faces the masses though in some more creative ways now. Having his biometric data copyrighted, and agreements with NCPD to monitor CCTVs for any unauthorized replications. Hasn't stopped some from trying, going as far as faking nudes that broke headlines awhile back only to have frisky imaginations shot down by his management. As far as Johnny goes, I don't think anything beats the rumor that was circulating sometime after the events of Arasaka Tower back in 2023. The idea some obsessive fan sneaked past security of the city to dig through the rubble, locating his body to put on ice and keep like some kind of memorabilia? It sounds crazy, but everyone in Night City knew what kind of fans Samurai, and more importantly, Johnny Silverhand had. Made it completely possible and people didn't really doubt that it could be true.

With corporations though, the two Rockerboys dodged a bullet. Multiples if you were keeping count. Others haven't been so lucky. A number of stories of Talents being threatened and giving into demands, multiple assassination attempts to end someone's career, Talents being kidnapped and tortured, so far as one account of a musicians hands being crushed to prevent preformances. From the outside being a Rockerboy looks like a party scene, and a lot of it is, but as the longest living in the scene will tell you, keep a Solo and a Netrunner you trust close on personal pay.

Events come full circle, once you make it to the big time stardom, the public eye notices everything, hangs onto every word. Talents like Silverhand and Eurodyne control the masses in the same way the corporations do. The audiences look to them for guidance, though in some cases the lessons are lost in translation. With everything from greedy labels making backdoor deals behind their Talent’s backs, something Kerry Eurodyne and Us Cracks went through this year, to psychofans making their own demands, to corporate reputation wars. Being a Rockerboy never gets easier, but few have hardly ever survived the test of time as Kerry has. An uphill battle from his earliest beginnings, to sitting on the Rockerboy throne of Night City, well into 2077 and still holding the title of "God of Rock" without a fault.

Sources and Quotes:

Rockerboy Source Book

Backstage with Kerry Eurodyne page 7-9

Extortion. Bribery. Kidnapping. Brainwashing. And Other Nasty Tricks. Page 44-45

Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0. The Second Edition

Silverhand Update: Clone Tour Begins page 225

One Night with the TRAUMA TEAM page 231

Live & Direct

Diverse Media Systems “Technotainment” page 81-82

Solo of Fortune Vol II Source Book

American Angels: One of Europe’s Best Rates the Top U.S. Pros. page 63

Cyberpunk Red

Welcome to the Dark Future page 239

Cyberpunk 2077

Spector Melee Vendor Westbrook

Gig: Psychofans Gaston Slayton's computer

Shard Glam Now! - The Mag For Those Who Love This For Themselves

#johnny silverhand #kerry eurodyne #cyberpunk 2077 #cp2077 #cp77 #s.screamsheets #this was honestly pretty fun #included sources in case anyone wants to pick up the books #hope you enjoy and maybe learn a thing #took liberty on frills to make it more like an actual sheet piece rather than just lore/facts #years are the only thing i fudged a bit #2003-2013 is a hella confusing time in cp and it doesnt make any sense when you do the math

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brushstrokesapocalyptic · 3 years

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it’s time for the “overanalyzing one-off lines” show!

so the very first thing magnus says when he sees pit in chapter 2 of kid icarus: uprising is as follows:

“Well, I didn’t expect to see an angel here. Hope this doesn’t mean I’ve kicked the bucket.”

now, i’m not sure if you’re aware, but that’s a really weird thing for someone to say, and it’s even more weird that no one comments on it. pit and palutena go on talking about unrelated things, as if that’s a totally normal and expected thing for magnus to say.

now, if you’re like me, you probably also didn’t really react to this line the first few times you saw it. it’s the second chapter, kiu has a lot of slightly-odd lines which turn out to be foreshadowing. me, personally? my first thought was “oh, i guess angels are probably associated with escorting the dead to the afterlife,“ and then i moved on.

they’re not, though. that’s what reapers do. and there’s no way humans have these two races mixed up. just fucking look at them.

do they look anything alike to you??? no. they don’t. which raises the question of why, exactly, magnus said that.

now, we don’t know a lot about angels as a whole. pit (and by extension dark pit) is emphatically not the gold standard of angeldom. we can assume he looks fairly ordinary for an angel, seeing as no one has trouble identifying him as such. beyond that, though, a lot of what we know about angels comes from what pit isn’t. for starters, he can’t fly. and there’s something else, too, but i’ll get to that later.

before that, though, i’m gonna go through the various unsubstantiated comments made by people with a dubious level of authority on the subject. (incidentally, i sourced these screenshots from the wiki— much more convenient than trying to dig through youtube for every single random conversation.)

without any further ado! let’s get into it!

Angels as Messengers

Gaol: Aw, Palutena’s little messenger boy. And Magnus, it’s always a pleasure. (src)

in the specific context of overanalyzing magnus’s first line, this is an important sentence to pick out. magnus and gaol are both humans, both with presumably a fairly similar history as mercenaries up until gaol got stuffed in a suit of armor. but while magnus makes a weird comment about death, gaol calls pit a messenger.

and pit agrees with her!

Viridi: I wish I had an angel to do my bidding. It’s like having an intern.

Pit: I’m not an intern. I’m a messenger of the gods!

Viridi: Poor Pit. Don't you know that the definition of angel is "errand spirit"? (src)

this particular conversation is the most insight we get into angels as a whole, i think. viridi thinks of angels as like divine interns, there to do little tasks for gods, and palutena doesn’t exactly disagree with her. pit says they’re specifically messengers, which lines up with biblical mythology. i could see the traditional role of angels in the world of KI being exactly that, showing up to tell the humans what the gods have to say because the gods themselves are too busy being petty jerks to do it themselves.

The Angel’s Code of Conduct

Magnus: You go in fully dressed? Don't you at least want to change into a...swimming tunic or something?

Pit: Oh, no no no! The angel's code of conduct says that we must always be ready for duty.

Magnus: I guess you wouldn't be an angel if you didn't do things by the book. (src)

Pit: Hey! You know the angel's code of conduct! I need to be prepared at all times! (src)

another random little thing is the angel’s code of conduct. without a larger sample size, we can’t know if it’s a real thing or just an excuse to save on laundry, but apparently it’s against the rules to not be on call at all times. in pit’s case, the duty he has to be ready for is doing palutena’s dirty work, but it can easily mean just about anything— including, of course, being a messenger.

No Warrior

Chariot Master: But you are no warrior, angel. Tell me, why do you fight?

Pit: I fight for Lady Palutena. And I fight for the people under her protection!

Chariot Master: That's not reason enough for an angel. (src)

remember how i said there was something else weird about pit? the chariot master seems to think angels aren’t very prone to battle— or perhaps even that they’re actively opposed to it. this lines up well with the idea that they’re supposed to be messengers, peaceful go-betweens for gods and mortals. this does not line up well with pit, the adorable weapon of mass destruction.

and it also does absolutely nothing to explain the question driving the whole existence of this post.

you know what does kinda lean towards an explanation?

No Other Angels

Pit: Do all gods have their own angels, like you have me?

Palutena: No, I don't think that's necessarily the case. (src)

i said before that the Intern Pit conversation had the most illuminating information on angels. this is what i was actually referring to. on its own, it’s pretty innocuous, but it’s just as weird as the magnus line. shouldn’t pit know about other angels, seeing as he is one himself? but he doesn’t know if there are other angels.

the only angels we ever see are him and his clone. no one ever directly references the existence of other angels, they only make general statements about what angels as a whole are like— statements which clearly don’t apply to pit, meaning they’re not just extrapolating based on the one angel that definitely does exist.

the one time someone does comment on the hypothetical existence of other angels, palutena gives a vague answer to the tune of “no,” the topic is changed, and no one brings it up again.

let’s go over everything i’ve established about angels up to this point. they can fly, they’re peaceful messengers of the gods, and pit is the only one that seems to exist as of the start of KIU.

it should be pretty obvious at this point what answer i’m dancing around, if it wasn’t obvious from the start. pit is the only angel around because all the other ones are dead. the reason why magnus said what he did is that his thought process went something like this:

See an angel.

Think “Aren’t angels extinct? Is that a ghost? Am I a ghost? I sure hope not.“

Make a quip about that.

Move on with his life, because he isn’t dead and evidently neither is this guy.

i’m not gonna pretend i went into this post with the intent of any other conclusion to that mystery. anyone who’s bothered glancing over a plot summary for the original kid icarus can draw that conclusion. it’s certainly what i did, reinforced by fics by people who had the same thought!

the truth, however, is that this was all a trick to get you to read my analysis of the theoretical nature of angels as a race. now that you’re invested, i’m going to dramatically throw aside my cape and reveal my TRUE FORM: telling people that fandom consensus is wrong, and my ideas are cooler and better than everyone else’s and you should all throw roses at my feet and bow before your king.

(or just, y’know, take it as the subjective analysis that it is. whatever floats your boat.)

Hot Takes

the original kid icarus does not actually tell you about angels going extinct. here’s the wiki article with the full text of the backstory, just for convenience, so you know what i’m on about for the rest of this post.

so, the part of the story that i think gets misinterpreted is this part about palutena’s army.

Medusa led a surprise attack on Palutena's army which could barely fend off the attack. Palutena's army suffered major losses and was heavily defeated in the final battle.

specifically, i think a lot of people interpret said army as having been made up at least partly of angels. sure, in the actual game it consists entirely of centurions, but you have to take old NES games with a grain of salt. i know i don’t buy for a second that pit was part of palutena’s guard before the original game (he was just too goddamn young), there’s nothing wrong with reinterpreting things.

recall everything i established about angels already, though. this is the hot official lore, from the game everyone knows and loves. angels are messengers, and if the chariot master is to be believed, never warriors. pit is an outlier. palutena’s army consists of centurions, not angels. if medusa wiped them out, it wasn’t because they were fighting for palutena.

(and honestly, i don’t think angels are necessarily associated with palutena exclusively. sure, she’s got the wing imagery, and she’s got the one known surviving angel working for her, at least up until pittoo is born. but angels are messengers of the gods, not messengers of palutena. again, pit is an outlier.)

which all brings us to the real question of this post.

what the FUCK happened to all the other angels? why is there only pit? why does magnus act surprised to see a messenger of the gods, and make a quip about being dead, if not because angels are otherwise extinct?! WHO KILLED THEM, AND WHY?!

thus concludes the “over analyzing one-off lines“ show. see you next, uh, maybe at some point if i feel like it!

(also another thought i had but couldn’t find room to fit it in properly: the gods don’t really act like angels are all extinct, but i feel like that can be explained through the sheer scale of a god’s lifespan. if we assume they were wiped out sometime around the original kid icarus (even if not as palutena’s army) then that’s a whole twenty-five years. that’s a long time for us humans, but for a god, that might as well be last tuesday. “yeah, i know what angels are like. sure wish i could have one. too bad palutena’s got a monopoly on the one single angel that medusa didn’t manage to wreck.”)

#kid icarus #kid icarus uprising #the things i think of at five am #i am just yelling and spewing thoughts and theories and headcanons #if anyone has their own thoughts to add go right ahead i am dying to know whether or not i'm actually breaking new ground with all this #or if there's some vital lore i missed #or anything like that #i am OPEN for CONVERSATION

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perfectlypanda · 3 years

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Zutara and the (un)Importance of Canonicity

(This has been languishing in my drafts for ages, but I want to use a quote from it for an edit I’ll be posting for Zutara Week so it’s finally getting yeeted into the void.)

A lot of emphasis in fandom shipping is placed on the canonicity of a romantic pairing within its source text, with canonicity often being used as a marker of superiority. However, the term “canon” is not an indication of the value or the quality of something. All it refers to is if something is explicitly present in a text or not.

For example, if someone said that it’s canonical that Aang and Katara kissed in the AtLA Book 2 episode “The Cave of Two Lovers”, they would be incorrect, because a kiss is not explicitly present in the text. Aang and Katara lean in like they are about to kiss and then the screen goes black. The audience does not see a kiss, nor is one ever discussed later. There are valid arguments that could be made to support if someone interprets a kiss as having happened or not happened, but because there is not confirmation in the text, a kiss at that moment is not canonical.

With Avatar, what’s “canon” gets a little tricky because there are multiple “canon” texts - Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: Legend of Korra, and the Avatar graphic novels. While officially they are all part of the Avatar world “canon”, there are elements within LoK and the graphic novels that are inconsistent with the world as presented in AtLA (so many in the graphic novels my god). This means that for certain things the canon includes elements that are mutually exclusive, creating a paradox. To examine Avatar canon you either have to engage with doublethink, or play “pick your own canon” and decide which text’s canon takes precedent (personally, AtLA takes priority when there is a discrepancy because it came first but ymmv). It gets even messier if you want to take into consideration commentary by creators. Although it should be noted that just because a creator says something about their work, that doesn’t necessarily make it canonical if it isn’t also explicit in the text.

If you’re looking at a text from an analysis standpoint, then something being “canon” or not is important, because an argument that can be backed up with evidence from the text will be stronger than an argument that can’t be backed up with evidence from the text. Otherwise... something being canonical is only as important as you make it.

Creators are not infallible, so sometimes they make bad choices. There are so many times when creators did not, objectively, make the strongest choice in something they included in their text. Think about every time that a book, tv show, or movie franchise continued on past its shelf life. It’s especially obvious in cases where a main actor/ actress left the series, but the creators decided to continue the story anyway. Or when a book/ movie/ mini series had a tightly written plot, but does so well that the creators decide to write unnecessary sequels to cash in on the popularity. A creator can make a truly terrible decision within their story, and it will be just as canonical as good choices they make solely by virtue of being included in the “official” text.

All of which is to say that a ship being canonical or not canonical has no bearing on if a ship is the best romantic pairing for characters based on the traits or dynamic explored within the canon text. All it indicates is if the creators decided to involve those two characters in a romantic relationship within the text.

I’ve been shipping Zutara since 2006, and I spent a long time bitter about them not ending up “canon” in the show (OG shipping wars anyone?). But now? Well, it would have been nice if that was the direction the show had gone, but canon or not, it doesn’t change the fact that a Zuko/ Katara pairing would have been an objectively stronger narrative choice. Or that for all Bryke’s bullying and insistence that I will “forever have doomed relationships”, I still like Zutara better than the canonical relationships they decided to go with on the show.

So if someone asks me if a romantic Zutara relationship is “canon” within the context of AtLA, then no it isn’t. But for me, that’s literally the only place where Zuko and Katara aren’t deeply in love and living their best lives together. AtLA is a work of fiction, and fictional characters are just as fictional when a fan thinks about them as when the character’s creator thinks about them. A story is only as real as you make it. And for me? Zutara is real.

#zutara #anti-kataang #atla meta #anti-bryke #long post #honestly I'm not sure what to tag this #avatar #canon canonicity and canonical aren't really interchangeable in terms of what part of speech they are #but I'm too tired to go through and double check for that mistake at this point.#look I wrote a thing

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samwisethewitch · 4 years

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Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

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mochacoffee · 4 years

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I created a 3D model and floor plan of Aziraphale’s bookshop in Good Omens!

I really wanted one for reference and it seemed like many others did too, so I put together my best approximation of where everything is. Beneath the color version, you’ll see I’ve included two simplified, labeled versions of the plan. The verbal labels are so you know what the object is. The numerical labels are there to make it easy to find more information about the object. I’ve put a numbered index below the cut that features the relevant reference images I used for each object and some more information about why I put it where I did/why it’s relevant/etc. I want to be very clear that I did not add anything to this from my own imagination; every single item and feature represents something I actually saw in the shop.

If you have any questions or want more information about this, PLEASE do not hesitate to ask! I put so much time into figuring it out and I would be more than happy to be a resource for anyone who needs it. Also, if you notice any errors, let me know and I’ll update the post. I hope this is helpful!

Update: Here’s a link to an interactive view of the shop! It takes a moment to load. You can click the “3D” tab in the top right to view it in first person and walk around inside. Double click a spot on the floor to move there and pan around by clicking and dragging. The oval symbol next to the person walking gives you a birds-eye view.

Update 2: Here’s a higher quality rendering of the first person perspective! Update 3: I made an alternate first person render here complete with a ceiling, light fixtures, and ambient lighting from outside. This one is optimized for making it seem more like you’re actually there, whereas the previous one is for maximum visibility. This render also has some minor accuracy improvements, which are detailed under the cut in the relevant sections. (The first interactive link with the birds-eye view updates automatically.) Update 4: In case you’re interested in Aziraphale’s books specifically, I’ve made a catalogue of those here.

1. Unknown closet

Images

There is a door behind Gabriel when he talks to Aziraphale in the backroom. So where does it lead? Well. The wall we can see behind Aziraphale when he encounters Shadwell in the shop (see #17: boxes/storage) doesn’t have a door in it. It’s also facing the wrong direction and it’s in the middle of the southwest wall ⁠— we know this because Aziraphale can see Shadwell in the entrance from there. So the wall behind him at that moment is definitely not the wall of the backroom. We’re left with this door and unaccounted-for corner. The only thing that makes sense to me then is that there’s a closet there between the two spaces. My personal theory is that this closet is “the back” that Aziraphale refers to keeping the Châteauneuf-du-Pape in since I didn’t see any other obvious alcohol storage space in the shop. Update: @n0nb1narydemon has suggested this could be a bathroom for guests or because culturally it’s a room you can use to extricate yourself from situations, which is another possibility! They also asked where I think the doors behind object #20 lead, and I thought it would be good to add here that they might lead to the shop next door or to this unknown room. It’s possible the room actually extends further into the next shop and encompasses the part of the wall where the doors are, but I didn’t have concrete evidence to support that idea so I didn’t include it in the floor plan. Update: I was wrong about the Châteauneuf-du-Pape! In the DVD bookshop tour we learn that the cabinet in the top left corner of the backroom is where Aziraphale keeps his alcohol, including that particular wine. I added a reference photo of Neil pointing it out. Thanks to @fuckyeahgoodomens for bringing the existence of this tour to my attention — ya girl got the special edition blu-ray even though I don’t have a blu-ray player yet so I hadn’t actually seen it. Also, there is a chair right next to this cabinet against the wall which I missed in my initial rendering of the shop but have since added.

2. Part of shop next door (top right)

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This was very tricky to figure out because you can see from the exterior of the shop that there is no wall past the back door, but from the interior there is clearly more space there. BUT in a behind the scenes photo of David during the fire scene, you can see on this back wall that there’s actually a nook with two large entryways, similar to the one that makes up the backroom. From the exterior you can see that the area next to the back door is taken up by the window of the next shop, so I concluded that this little square of space was not part of the bookshop’s interior, but the nook did extend further back than where the shop appears to end from the outside. I had to make one bookshelf more nubby than the others to make this work, but after a LOT of trial and error I decided one nubby bookshelf was the only thing that could explain the apparent architecture of the space. Any floor design that accounted for a bookshelf of the same length as the others just did not make sense on a fundamental level.

3. Part of shop next door (bottom left)

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From the exterior of the shop you can see that this window belongs to the adjacent store, as the wall is a different color. Within the bookshop you can also see when Gabriel and Sandalphon enter the backroom, there’s no window behind them; there’s a sink. So it’s definitely not Aziraphale’s window. The wall of the backroom is also further into the shop’s interior than the wall Aziraphale’s desk sits against, so there’s a corner of space inside that’s unaccounted for. At first I assumed it was plumbing from the sink that had been sealed off or something, but when I realized that’s where the window was on the outside, I figured the space is probably part of the next shop over.

4. Aziraphale’s desk

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This is where Aziraphale sits in the shop like 90% of the time. It’s on the Eastern side of the shop because Aziraphale was the guardian of the Eastern gate in Eden and because production designer Michael Ralph is a goddamn genius (source). Shout out to @posted-omens for this fascinating post analyzing the chariot sculpture on his desk. Update: Fun fact, the ladder behind his desk is actually called a library chair, supposedly designed by Benjamin Franklin. It functions as a ladder but you can also fold it into a chair! Neil mentions this in the DVD extra bookshop tour. I added screen caps of it to the reference photos above since I don’t have a specific section for the ladders!

5. Phone Aziraphale calls Crowley from

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I will be honest with you: I think there’s something a little fucked up about this corner. It is my nemesis. I tried so many things to make it work and I just could not get it exactly right, but what you see in the floor plan is my best guess as to what’s going on. The conundrum is that the spot where Aziraphale stands when he’s on the phone with Crowley is definitely closer to the fence around the staircase than it is in my layout. But the table he’s in front of is also clearly against the outside wall of the backroom, and the stairs being where I’ve put them here is the only thing that made sense based on the reference photos. So there’s some weird spacing issue where there’s a little too much room between the fence around the stairs and this phone. If I were to move the walls to close that gap then there would be way too much space in the backroom and way too little space on the southwest side of the shop, so I think the walls are correct as they are. So ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. What I can say for certain is that the phone is there and it’s on a table next to a lamp, and the table is definitely against the wall of the backroom and behind the staircase. The distance between these things doesn’t hold up perfectly, but their arrangement does. On another note, this is one of two phones in the shop. The other is on the table next to the cash register (see #9) which Aziraphale picks up when Crowley calls to say they need to talk about Armageddon. I believe this is the same one he uses to call Adam’s house in episode two, only he moves it from the table by the register to the top of a pile of books (which I’m pretty sure were stacked on the circular table between his desk and the sofa). Update: OKAY SO it turns out in the behind-the-scenes bookshop tour on the DVD we get two more teeny tiny glimpses of this corner! I added them to the reference photo album above. It appears I was right about the lamp, phone, and bookshelf being where they are, except that the bookshelf and table are touching. There’s also a ladder propped against the shelf. I’d say it’s possible there are actually two bookshelves here; based on the parallax in the DVD tour, the one next to the phone didn’t appear to be against the wall, but we know there is a bookshelf against that wall because we see it in the show. (P.S. There’s also another chair against that wall which I didn’t see because Aziraphale was standing in front of it, so I added that too.) This leads me to believe there’s one against the wall and another one further from it next to the table. But that’s just my speculation, so I won’t change the actual floor plan unless I find more evidence.

6. Where they’re drinking when Crowley realizes Adam has named the hellhound

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When Aziraphale sits down at this table, the background is of the same space he refers to as the “backroom” when Gabriel and Sandalphon show up. He’s across the table from Crowley, behind whom you can see a bookshelf, the staircase, and the coat rack. The table is half in the backroom half out, since the room has two large entryways in its wall. Update: I realized the wall behind this table actually dips back further! It is a weirdly-shaped wall! But in the DVD special tour of the bookshop Neil walks past it and there’s clearly an area that recesses even further, so I’ve modified that in the interactive floor plan :)

7. Bench of books that start the fire

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When Shadwell leaves the book shop and slams the door, one of the candles knocks over and rolls into a pile of books and other papers (including the Sound of Music lmao). You can see it’s the same bench the customer is standing in front of when he gives Gabriel a weird look after he yells about pornography. (I love this customer so much because they gave me a super HD shot of this particular area.) The poles of the fence around the bench, the staircase behind it, and the smaller shelves beside it holding Terry Pratchett’s books make it clear that the bench is in that spot in the shop and that it’s the place the fire starts.

8. Coat rack with Terry’s hat on it

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Aziraphale hangs his coat here right before Crowley calls him to say they need to talk about Armageddon. Out of focus in the frame you can see the lion sculpture that sits on the fence surrounding the stairs (see #11) and a bookshelf. The camera pans past the shelf and we see him walk past his desk to pick up the phone by the cash register, which puts that shelf right next to his sitting area. We can also see the coat rack in the background when Crowley realizes Adam has named the hellhound. The coat rack has Terry Pratchett’s hat and scarf on it in his honor (source).

9. Antique cash register

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You can see this register in the background when Crowley is on the couch and when Aziraphale invites Gabriel and Sandalphon into the backroom. I know it’s an antique cash register because it’s photographed and referenced directly on page 79 of the Good Omens TV Companion. It’s a typewriter in my floor plan because the website I used (floorplanner.com), who knows why, did not have a 3D model of a cash register from the early 1900s.

10. Back door

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Thank you so much to @fuckyeahgoodomens for this post where they figured all this out!! Wonderful work! You can see this door from the exterior of the shop and its existence is referenced in the Good Omens script book on page 94. It’s also in the background of a behind the scenes shot of Aziraphale pulling away the carpet so he can contact heaven. Behind him in that shot you can see the bust (which moves around a lot - see #19) and a grandfather clock, and in the show from one of the aerial shots you can see that the carpet is pulled west, further confirming the door’s location.

11. Fence around the stairs

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I have concluded that this is a fence to keep customers from going up to the second floor. It looks to be made of golden pillars with wooden shelving atop them. The fence crosses beneath the staircase on one side and the other side ends about where the stair’s railing does. You can see this fence behind Crowley when he realizes Adam has named the hellhound, behind Aziraphale when he calls Crowley to tell him he knows where the antichrist is, and next to the customer who gives Gabriel a look after he yells “PORNOGRAPHY!” It’s also visible in one of the aerial shots of the shop. Update: In the DVD extra bookshop tour I noticed the lion sculpture on this fence is not just a lion, but a lion with a woman holding its mane. I think it might also be a lamp? In one of the reference photos, the one that looks down from the second floor, it appears there’s a light in the woman’s other hand. I’d be interested to see if we can track down what this particular sculpture is and what it might mean. Update: @cantdewwrite has suggested here that the light/sculpture could be a replica of one of the bronze statues in the Victoria Memorial, which does look quite similar. I’m fairly certain Aziraphale’s sculpture is of a woman, which would make it the figure in the memorial representing peace.

12. Open book of illustrated story of Adam and Eve

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Shout out to @amuseoffyre for this post where she figured out what this was! Update: I’ve determined that this book is The Gospel in the Old Testament: A series of pictures by Harold Copping. The painting is, naturally, by Harold Copping. It’s called “Adam and Eve after the fall.” Unfortunately this book is out of print and I haven’t been able to track down an ebook or scan of it, so I can’t confirm the text just yet. But based on its premise, I think it’s safe to assume that it’s telling the story of Adam and Eve directly. Aziraphale has a second copy of this book visible on the shelf next to the sofa.

13. Antique computer

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This is the computer Aziraphale does his extremely scrupulous taxes with, as confirmed in this ask that @neil-gaiman answered from @prismatic-bell! It’s an Amstrad, according to the bookshop tour in the DVD extras.

14. Spiral staircase

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These stairs are in many shots of the shop so it was pretty obvious where they were.

15. Sink, teapots, etc.

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You can see this wall right before Gabriel walks into the backroom and behind Aziraphale when he’s drinking with Crowley at the end of episode one. It appears he has two hand towels, a ceramic angel soap dish (aw), some teapots, and a decorated box above it, among other things. On the floor beside the sink is what I believe to be a broom handle, though it could be a mop? Next to that is a bronze statue of an angel atop a small table piled with books. On the other side of the sink is an open book on a stand ⁠— it has a fabric bookmark in it with a crucifix at the end, so I’m assuming it’s a bible. Light reading while you make your tea I guess. Update: Thank you so much to @brightwanderer for pointing out in this post that he has four extra angel wing mugs above the sink as well! I couldn’t figure out what they were! Update: Neil said in this ask that you can see an oven by the sink when Gabriel and Sandalphon walk in. Which you can! It’s real small and there’s a little pot on top of it. I’ve added a screencap of it to the images album for this area. Update: I’m donating my heart and soul to @ack-emma for suggesting in the replies to this ask that the central object above the sink is a samovar!! I had never heard of this so I had absolutely no idea what it was, but I think they hit the nail on the head. Y’all Aziraphale really likes tea.

16. Sculpture

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Thank you @ineffable-endearments, @behold-my-squeees, @srebrnafh, @aethelflaedladyofmercia for contributing to this post about the statue and its potential symbolism! Update: @doctorscienceknowsfandom has added some analysis to the post above suggesting that this is a sculpture of Paris, the figure from Greek mythology. I’m inclined to agree! Update: BINGO! @tifaria has found Aziraphale’s exact statue (confirmed Paris!) in this post. Brilliant work!! This community continues to blow me away. Further discussion about the sculpture’s meaning in the context of the show here — be sure to check the notes for further commentary.

17. Boxes/storage

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These boxes and piles of books can be seen behind Aziraphale when he encounters Shadwell in the shop and behind Crowley while he’s rambling drunkenly about why they should stop Armageddon in episode one. They’re in a nook that goes further back than where the shop appears to end from its exterior (see #2 for more info on that!).

18. Stacks of books

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You can see this stack in one of the aerial shots of Shadwell in the shop. I didn’t include most stacks of books in the floor plan because they’re literally everywhere and I had to manually set how high each book would be from the floor, so putting them in piles got tedious very quickly. But I did include a few notable ones, and this is one of those imo because there’s not much else in that area as far as I can tell.

19. Bust

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This little guy moves around quite a bit, unlike most things in the shop. In some photos/scenes it’s where I put it on the floor plan, but in others it’s closer to the northwestern wall and in this 360 video of the shop it’s right between two of the columns. I chose to put it where I did because it’s there in the scene where Crowley is drunkenly rambling about Armageddon, whereas the other locations I’ve seen it in were from behind the scenes shots and stuff. I’m not sure who the bust is of! It appears to have a little ribbon with a medal around its next though. Update: More speculation about the bust here, courtesy of @aethelflaedladyofmercia! Update: @fuckyeahgoodomens has confirmed in this post that the thing around the bust’s neck is the medal given to Aziraphale by Gabriel in this deleted scene!

20. Divider I think?

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Please for the love of god if you know what this thing is, tell me. My best guess is it’s a room divider because what else looks like that?? But I don’t know why you would put a room divider there. And it still doesn’t look exactly like a divider either. But the decorative element at the top and apparent gap between the metal frame and the red bit leads me to believe it’s not furniture or a box. This mystery object is my second nemesis after the weird corner (#5). Update: @brightwanderer has suggested that it might be an embroidered/tapestry draft screen, which I think makes more sense! Update: In the DVD extra bookshop tour I found a very brief image of this item over Neil’s shoulder which I added to the reference photos above. I think by some miracle I was right and it is a divider. It could be a draft screen but at the very least it is shaped like a divider with at least three sections. Wahoo!

21. Record player

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This is the phonograph that’s playing Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C major (thank you again to @fuckyeahgoodomens for that info) when we first see Aziraphale in the shop. It also plays Queen’s You’re My Best Friend when Crowley runs into the fire.

22. Terry Pratchett’s books

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Another one of the many little Terry easter eggs in the show is this set of his books! @devoursjohnlock made a post highlighting some other specific books you can find in the shop.

23. Chess set

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I saw a post once pointing out this chess set and the implication that Aziraphale and Crowley must play together sometimes, which I thought was a really nice detail to put into the set. But I can’t find the post to credit it! I will update this with a link if I do. Update: Pretty sure this is the post I saw. Thank you to @losyanya for mentioning it :)

24. Circular entryway

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This is one of many circle motifs that production designer Michael Ralph incorporated into the shop. It’s gorgeous. I think there’s actually more room between the archway and the door than I’ve included in this floor plan; Shadwell takes a few steps through it when he runs out of the shop. But I think the fix is just the door being further out from the entryway rather than the entryway being further in. I didn’t want to fuck with the walls to improve this particular area because when I realized the spacing was wrong, I was almost done and would’ve had to manually move each object in the shop over a few inches over. Made more sense to leave the caveat in a footnote. Update: In the DVD extra bookshop tour you get a brief glimpse of something on the inside wall of the entryway. I think it’s a wall sconce or something along those lines. There’s one on either side. I added them to the reference album above! I also figured out how to extend the walls to accommodate some more space there without having to move everything else, so I did that. Update: Here’s a link to some meta discussion about the cupid sculpture in front of this entryway!

25. Sofa Crowley sits on when he suggests they could be godfathers

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You can see that the sofa is next to Aziraphale’s desk and the cash register, and also that there’s a bookshelf behind it. From the entrance to the shop you can see two bookshelves on either side of the central circle, so it was pretty clear that the couch was on the other side of one of those shelves.

26. Wall crucifix

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I find it very interesting that Aziraphale has this considering Jesus isn’t a big part of angelic lore or heaven’s general priorities in the show. It would make more sense to me that he has it because it’s another memento of his time with Crowley, sort of like the illustrated story of Adam and Eve by his desk (#12). Also, fun fact, the opposite side of this wall segment is where he put up all his maps and notes about the whereabouts of the Antichrist in episode three.

#good omens #aziraphale's bookshop #good omens reference #floor plan #ref #i hope people see this i posted it at 2am because i was too excited about it to wait until daylight hours #OKAY SO PEOPLE SAW IT THANKS GUYS #check out the tag:#bookshop questions #for follow-up Qs!

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smhalltheurlsaretaken · 3 years

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So this is less kicking a hornet's nest and more flinging a dynamite stick to it, but... The Baby Ludi case from the Star Wars EU is fascinating.

And not fascinating in the story itself (earthquake destroys town, mom is presumed dead, baby is found and adopted by the Jedi, mom wasn't dead, battle for custody ensues because the baby's mind has already been opened to the Force), but actually fascinating with how effective it is, and how it perfectly exemplifies how polarizing issues work.

It was specifically written to show how the divided the Galaxy was, especially over the Jedi, just as the Clone Wars were about to break out:

Pablo Hidalgo wrote it, though idk if Lucas approved it - or even knew about it at all - since it was promotional material for AotC but still was never featured or hinted at in any capacity in the main canon.

The only thing we have on Baby Ludi are 9 holonet articles (available on archive.org, see the wookiepedia page for a list of all of them) with absolutely no indications of how objective they're even supposed to be. They are media pieces. They make us feel emotions - they sensationalize, they stir up outrage, they make us completely irrational. Just look at what's under the first holo-report:

It's just so meta - so clearly reflecting on itself as it presents us with a certain (incomplete) narrative while simultaneously exploring how incomplete narratives make people react.

I used to see people (admittedly a while ago) brandishing this one obscure-ish story that only appears in one piece of EU media as the end-all, definite proof that the Jedi were meant to be understood as kidnappers - but in doing so, those people were actually playing into the story's very purpose: showing how manipulation is done. Showing how media and news outlets work.

If the story's goal was to end the debate on whether or not the Jedi are baby thieves, then it wouldn't have been given to us in the most vague, subjective way. There are no reliable sources in the articles, only second hand retellings of nebulous events.

The people who like the Jedi (like me) will probably jump on the information that Ludi's mother was too busy reviewing the script of an upcoming movie relating her tragedy to comment on people trying to storm the Temple on her child's behalf, and later being too busy with the movie's casting to comment on Ludi being transferred to an off-planet Temple. Or that Thrynka Padaunete, the leader of a Jedi 'watchgroup' who first protested the situation, then went on to be Jovana's agent in a production that was expected to be very profitable.

The people who don't like the Jedi will focus on them moving Ludi off Coruscant, or Plo turning an entire crowd of protestors away with a powerful mind trick (by the way, not something that's actually been shown to be possible in canon, but that's not the point).

At first I tried to analyze the story like I usually approach things, by trying to understand the perspective of each party involved. While I personally couldn't see the Jedi from Lucas' story keeping the child after only one month of training (since there even is EU precedent for Mace giving a kid back to the parents because they'd changed their mind), that wasn't what this story said, so I tried to understand. Maybe it really was too dangerous. Maybe they would have let Ludi see her Mom again if not for one particular reason we weren't aware of. Maybe they knew something that I wasn't being told.

And then I flipped my perspective, and I tried to put myself in the mother's shoes, and it was really horrifying. It was gut-wrenching, and there had to be more to her than making money off a tragedy. Maybe her conspiracist agent manipulated her, playing on her grief. Maybe her saying she wanted the money to go to charity was genuine. Maybe she was actually too distraught to keep fighting, because she felt the battle was already lost, hence why she stopped commenting on the developments.

And that's when it hit me. I was trying - when I was missing basically all of the information and all of the context - to pick a side to see who felt more right.

But we don't know. We can't know. We don't have any first hand account, any actual interview of any party involved given to us. There really is next to nothing more to the story than the summary I gave. Technically - since the story is entirely fictional - the 'right' answer doesn't even exist - there is no objective truth to base an opinion on. We don't see the reasoning behind each decision, who could have influenced who and why, what could have been political and what was in good faith.

Even when we do have those things, like with the actual movies, it's still possible to endlessly debate intentions, responsibility and failings. Here, we don't have any context, any ground to build upon. So to try to create that context based on our assumptions, whether they are more favorable to one group or the other is - in a very meta way - playing into the media's polarizing effect as though we were citizens of the Republic blind to the looming war, and trying to pass judgment on issues we're badly informed on.

That's the point of the Ludi story, not whether or not the Jedi are right or wrong, or whether the mom is actually opportunistic or simply heartbroken and human.

The point of that story (which is only 'canon' because it's referenced in the current continuity's book on propaganda) is to show how people jump to assumptions, and then try to create context around this kind of stories because they're either trying to support said assumptions, or because they're aware they can't pass judgment with so little to go on from, but since they want to pass judgment they have to give themselves something to work with.

And you know why I didn't include that much info on the story itself? (Apart from the fact that making this into a proper, impeccable meta would be a hassle and this is me already procrastinating on my homework?) Because many people who read this probably had their opinion on the case set by the time they were done with the second paragraph. Because I didn't give you any context, but it hardly mattered - just like it hardly matters to us that we often read a headline and think we've got it figured out.

So again, the Ludi story is fascinating, and super effective. I was ready to make a big fool of myself by trying to analyze the facts, when I didn't have them, when they didn't even exist.

Damn, that's the kind of reflection on perspectives and narratives and politics that Star Wars can do right!

ps: Lucas' Jedi were not child thieves in the movies or TCW, that's a hill I will die on. Here though? It is not the point. If anyone tries to use this post to argue that the Jedi were child kidnappers OR that they were right in the Ludi case - you missed the point.

#meta #long post #baby ludi #jedi order #star wars eu #legends vs canon

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