#Cannot guarantee these will come out at a consistent pace

[the-ghost-king]

I spent about two hours on this over the past couple of days in total, and I'm sure I've missed a few things and I guarantee that some of my opinions will not be shared by others and that's okay. I'm comfortable with people adding on their own thoughts and feelings and continuing on a conversation if they wish to.

Before I truly begin: this book isn't bad, that doesn't mean it's good it just means it's not bad. I think this book is both wonderful and awful, this book is both exactly what I expected and unlike anything I could have come up with. I will also clarify before you read this that I have never personally enjoyed any of Oshiro's work I've read, if you're someone who enjoys Oshiro's body of work there may be many places you disagree with me and I would like to note that ahead of time. I would also like to note that these are simply my initial thoughts, I finished TSATS two days ago and I have done some thinking and pondering over it since and these are the conclusions I have reached in that time. I cannot say how much of this I will agree with in a week, or a month, let alone three, or a year. I considered writing an essay and then decided a bullet point list would be sufficient, there is no order to these bullet points and some conversation points move in a circular way, I did not proofread this either. Also be aware there will be spoilers. Without further ado, my thoughts:

- Hades is weirdly ooc plus having him be responsible for this and him knowingly harming Nico and Nico just being like "oh ok i understand" undoes so much of the relationship progression from Pjo to BoO to ToA to here!!! Hades is still a god yes but he was becoming something of a father figure to Nico as well again and he just throws that all away because Nyx and Bob were "being annoying" and Nico is just… fine with that??? And they just jokingly brush the whole Hades loved more Bianca thing under the rug WITH MARIA RIGHT THERE

- Why are we reintroduced to Persephone like she's a new character? Sure it's from Will's pov and they've never met but the readers have met Persephone multiple times before!! It was weird to reintroduce her!!

- Worst editor ever, a few typos and apparently some copies have Nico saying his mother is Bianca? He also calls his mom Maria instead of mom or mamma? And we've only ever heard nico call maria mamma before this point so him calling her mom is less weird than him calling her Maria but still off

- Will… still doesn't have a personality entirely and what personality he was given does not match the personality he has in ToA OR in BoO??

- Once again, I don't like Oshiro's pacing and you can tell how hands off Rick was with the whole thing - I've never personally been a fan of Oshiro's work and one of my top reasons has always been their terrible pacing. I will read a phenomenal paragraph and then spend the rest of the chapter struggling to find anything that feels worth my time, and while i felt within chapter there was a fair bit of consistency between different chapters there was not- i would read one chapter that read well and felt amazing and then the next 3 chapters would feel like useless side plot that served no purpose. Oshiro also really struggles to maintain tempo in their work imo.

- Characters defining their sexuality in explicit terminology or labeling isn't inherently wrong but its also not in line with what we've seen so far and while this could be a sign of progress it could also be a step back so instead it's best to consider how this effects or determines characterization

- Nico's coming out party…. God… why?

- There's also this weird thing with so much of the sexuality/gender stuff that it feels more like a lecture than an authentic experience, for me personally based on the flow of these conversations and the events and things i feel like it was done to make this more palatable for a cishet audience rather than to maintain and authentic experience??

- Anyhow the thing where Nico kind of makes Will come out in front of camp is giving me love simon flashbacks and i just have to say making someone come out to a large group or in public just to be with you is so so gross… there was no reason for this to be a plot point whatsoever imo, it feels really ooc and it does that really upsetting thing lots of ya books do where it tries to depict that in order to be authentically and "properly" queer one must be public in their grsm orientation which i think is a pretty harmful/hurtful idea overall but especially in media designed for preteens and teens who are more likely to be living in environments where coming out is unsafe

- None of the jokes land

- Literally they have the worst nicknames for everything. I liked the cringe otherwise, it did have young teen relationship vibes… but that was unforgivable to me personally but i guess other people liked this? To each their own!

- On that note! I've talked a lot about Solangelo being two sides of the same coin in terms of how their relationship works and while symbolism would have been nice straight up seeing Nico given a coin by will was also cringe and too far? Nico gave Will his ring, this thing that we've built up over the series to view as a representation of his grief and loss and his family and love and home and a culmination of Nico and Will gets nico… this coin he just seemingly had made that has almost no symbolic meaning beyond that? Nico's ring is basically a character unto itself, not only does giving a physical object and having Nico outright state the symbolism of it ruin the "show don't tell" logic of authoring it also feels hollow as the reader has no connection to this object like Nico's ring. There was no reason for this other than to make an equivalent exchange which is kind of a sucky way to weigh a relationship… it could have been better for Will to give nico something from his past as well and to have the piece come up in a memory or something OR for will and nico to have exchanged these gifts at some point on or just before their journey so the reader got to experience this connection as well

- Will's pov was kind of trash actually

- Why doesn't Will ever talk about finding Nico attractive?

- We never have it explained what exactly makes Nico a "star" ..? Like its constantly alluded to or even stated he is a star but we never actually get to see why

- Will never really "goes dark" the sniffles are not dark, dark would be like straight up plaguing them or having some sort of ability to radiate heat and blast things or craft his own weapons out of light or just something beyond singing and having the heart blast effect thingy…

- Their relationship is stated they've been together a year and trauma can definitely change things but for whatever reason their relationship feels more new and raw and tender than it did in ToA??? Why??? They do not feel like two fifteen/sixteen year olds who have been in a relationship for a year, they feel like two thirteen year olds who've been in a relationship for three months?

- I also personally feel conflicted about them not having a major kiss scene? Like on one hand it's nice to see queer couples treated like any other couple and kisses to be fairly casual mundane interactions! But on the other hand being a queer couple especially an mlm couple in a children's/ya series and being able to show physical affection is really quite uncommon tbh and I would have liked to see maybe a little emphasis at least on the first kiss that the audience gets to experience on paper just to sort of acknowledge that groundbreaking act? But maybe that's just me?

- Additionally speaking all of their prior banter is just.. gone..? They literally don't joke around except for 2 or 3 lines in the book despite previously being a very banter heavy couple? There is no reason they can't be both soft and comedic or have banter yet be tender to one another? It's like all the joy that was previously in their relationship was traded for arguing and bickering and this weird pettiness that feels ooc in general but especially from them?

- What was the plot point of going to Sally's house to send the iris message? Why was Sally brought into this? She's cool and we love her but there was no plot reason to add her? Even the percabeth iris message only minimally added to the plot

- Why is Will so bothered by death? Like I'm cool with him feeling weak in the underworld. I can respect that from a tension building pov and also being in the dark does go against his nature but like death is not something against his nature? He is well acquainted with death? People die in medical settings all the time i guarantee he has lost many patients and brushed shoulders with thanatos more than most people at camp + he lost A TON of siblings in the war he would have to be familiar with grief AT THE VERY LEAST but yet he seems to lamblike to all these things the whole novel I feel it weakens his character, the story, the plot, previous books, and his relationship with Nico- if they wanted him to have some reserved hesitations about death they could have done it much more tactfully but they didn't?

- I also hate every time some sort of discussion about him being a healer comes up because yes he is a magical exception that makes him a "natural born healer" but they take that too far imo, yes he is a magical exception but the way this stuff is worded gives this like "Will is such a good healer he never fails or breaks down or fatigues from it" and i just feel like it becomes an unrealistic and unhealthy example after a certain point and I would have loved to see that exploration that so many fanfic authors have done wonderfully about how Will is overworked and needs to learn to take care of himself before his patients just to add that depth to his character but Oshiro and Riordan just skip past this and again it feels like a massively missed plot point to give Will a deeper character

- It's also weird everytime Nico is like "Will always takes care of me now I have to take care of him" because again it just feels like such an unhealthy way to view a relationship… like if a partner gets sick 3x a year and the other partner is sick 5x a year partner A shouldn't be like "well now you owe me two sickness helpings" or something you know? Thats so petty and immature and unhealthy for a relationship and it's something that can be unlearned but also like if they've been together a year and they're supposed to be like a perfect fit according to what i think the symbolism was trying to get at (so much of this book feels like a rough draft not a final cut istg) then why is this even included anyhow?

- Also Nico is ooc at points, he seeks to heal others a lot of the time as well- Hades even mentions this, how even when Nico is offered something for himself he uses the gift to help someone else- this is a quality Nico and Percy (and Jason) all really consistently display throughout pjoverse EXCEPT Nico doesn't do this early on in the text?? He is unfazed by the nature of some things in the underworld (Will is right the fields of asphodel are perhaps more horrific in some way than the variations of hell provided in the underworld) and Nico is just like "yeah that's just how it is here" which kind of goes against that character trait + (though i may be confusing fanfic and canon here) didn't Nico and Hazel have a whole convo about how upsetting or painful asphodel is?? It goes on kind of even more so in this regard though where his regard for humanity seems significantly less so than in previous texts, there's something else as well i can't exactly put my finger on yet that also feels ooc … I'll keep thinking lol

- Once again to the "why is Nico a star thing" we have Nico constantly talking about how live exists even in the underworld and it's obviously intended to be a metaphor for hope and finding light in the dark and therefore a whole solangelo metaphor too but Nico brings it up and Will doesnt understand and then they argue (?) And then the metaphor falls flat because we never get to see this explored; we just have it Stated out loud a few times? Like there are many good explanations as to why this keeps getting brought up especially because we can also tie in how Will and Nico are alive down there or how Nico is seperate from the rest of the underworld because despite being part god he is also part mortal

- Once again Tartarus isn't actually scary and there's only so much "it's for kids" I'm willing to accept there, give it more Coraline please!!

- Again an issue with the Nyx thing, Nico doesn't agree with Nyx about who he is because Nyx cannot understand life and Nico can because he is mortal- Nico's mortality is a hugely defining aspect of his character because it sets him apart from the gods and the dead that make up so much of his life- in order to truly appreciate death and the afterlife you have to actually live and know life and change and things and the gods in their consistency are more like ghosts than anything

- It's also very irritating that this was never explored !!! So much of what makes demigods special in the rest of the series is their godhood and their connection to godhood, they are powerful because they are beyond human. However in Nico's fight with Nyx and some other aspects of Nico's behavior but most notably Nyx vs Nico is the culmination of this situation is that Nico's greatest strength throughout tsats is that he is mortal. He is powerful because he is human. He does all the things he does the way he does them because he is human. He is something beyond the gods' understanding because he is mortal- and that's all just swept under the rug for…? Honestly i have no idea why it makes no sense how that is a constant theme in this book yet it feels like the book falls constantly short of actually grasping that concept.

- And if you're wondering what the plot symbolism of Will being involved in all this is? I dont fucking know he doesnt have one he was kind of just dead weight the entire story!!! He was basically there just to help Nico pick some fruit and have dialogue with. I feel like Will was potentially supposed to represent how the "average person" would feel on this adventure but personally I feel if that is the case that I may be one of the worst people to understand that perspective as I have a peculiar and poetic love for death and dying.

- Plus when they're wandering through Tartarus's digestive tract (if you're reading this and you haven't read the novel yet or you didn't yet finish it, yes this is a thing that actually happens) and Will starts struggling with his memory, I would have loved to see the effects of that situation on Nico explored more as I would assume amnesia and people forgetting about him/leaving him would be a very difficult thing for him to deal with yet instead we're just told they passed stories back and forth and that made everything all right + not sharing much of those stories with the audience was again a missed character building moment for Will and a missed relationship building moment between them!!

- Them cuddling in the hut together and Nico wanting to wake Will up to share his nightmare was kind of cute though I will admit to that much

- I also hate how they put all this time and work into saving Bob and then Bob just fucks off into the sunset like everything is normal?? He just fucking dips like nothing even happened??

- Also people have been saying Will kissing Nico when he found out Jason was dead was wrong, and look idk if I'm personally going to go that far but I do think as a first kiss it's definitely weird than cute?

- I think Will's background and childhood could have been expanded on a lot more to make him an interesting character- we learn some about his life with Naomi before camp (and its nice to see her as a complete person and I think she has cool mom vibes for real) but I feel like the only adventure we get to hear about is him and his mom being in New York for concerts… what about other places around the country? what about the life he had with her when she wasn't touring?

- Along this same vein I feel like Will's behavior in the story not only doesn't match his behavior from the previous appearances he's made, but that for someone who seems to have spent a lot of time on the road getting to experience lots of different places (even if it was just the US, that's still pretty significant) I once again truly cannot understand his weird behavior about dead people and the underworld- its not only inconsistent with previous behaviors and beliefs he's exhibited but if he's been show so much diversity from a very young age he's probably naturally curious and inquisitive as well as naturally adventurous and outgoing- yet instead he basically just sticks his nose up at everything underworld-ish?? It not only weakens the plot, his character, and his relationship it also makes no sense with previous set ups AND it has no true culmination by the end of the story because we never truly see him accept or enjoy the underworld and what it has to offer he merely endures it.. so again, what was the point of him acting like that?

- Unpopular one: coco puffs are very cute but i find them unnecessary and completely over the top even for pjo and i can see them becoming annoying later on but that's just me personally.

Okay, I'm going to call it quits here. There's probably more I'll think to say later on but I feel this is a good summary of my initial thoughts. Weirdly enough, despite the negativity here, I would still recommend people read this book? I feel conflicted about whether or not the book belongs among my favorites, and it would certainly be the worst book among my favorites and/or recommendations for novels if I do end up feeling it belongs there. I have to say even despite as much as this book fails, I admire what it was attempting and I think like so many works in pjo before it there was a level of unrealized potential here amongst the text that will always be mildly infuriating. I feel very strongly that this book is a whole new era in Riordan's pjo verse, despite some aspects being "cringe" or some things being literary flops and emotional failures in my opinion, i do think this novel may be one of the most "mature" pieces in Riordan's collection- even in his and Oshiro's failure to bring MOST of their narrative full circle or to tie up their loose ends I can see what they're going for and I think having a taste of that potential really did something for me. I have read lots of books that leave me staring at the ceiling for hours in wonder and awe with a feeling i cannot describe as anything other than a "readers hangover" a desire to hold onto that book and to keep it beside me for a long time just to remember reading it, and I would pick it up many times through the following week or two just to rediscover certain parts, i have to say this book has definitely not been that. However I did spend a long time looking at the ceiling pondering it, and I do think I will reread it in the next week or so- but I have less a desire to return to the events of the novel and more a desire to simply upturn more stones in the landscape and find what I am missing. I want to say I hate the book, that it has no redeeming qualities, that everyone should simply leave it behind because of how awful and excruciating I found this novel- that wouldn't be accurate. I think this is the greatest book I have ever had the misfortune to read, I have never cared so deeply for a book I cannot stand. I absolutely adore this awful thing. I feel comfortable saying that for me, personally, percy jackson will never be the same again and that this book has completely changed the field and depth of my experience. I am literally failing to put into words how this book makes me feel. I suppose this book is my most wretched child and I shall cherish it dearly.

#long post #tsats spoilers #tsats #pjo #nico di angelo #will solace #solangelo #ask to tag

[fleckcmscott]

hey cm! i'm always impressed with how consistently you post new writing and was wondering: do you have a regular writing routine? also: any tips for writers block? 🩷

Hey, Fleckficgirl!

Thank you so much for your generosity and kind comment.

The timing of this ask is rather ironic, because getting words on the page has been incredibly difficult as of late. Much of my routine has tapered off this summer. My job's more stressful, personal matters are a challenge, my brain is bereft of ideas. Maybe I should blame the heat and humidity, too. 😂

The routine I've slipped away from (and am currently working back towards!) is writing something every day. When life is not busy being life, my goal is to write 500 words a day. However, I have to keep in mind that I will not always reach that word count - and that that's okay! A goal exists for me to strive for, to pick up the pen and get going.

(That 500 words isn't applicable to creating an outline, taking notes, or rereading drafts and editing. While important to creating a rich, well written story, those are different parts of the process.)

I also make sure to take a day off once a week. That's usually Saturday but it could be another, depending on what's happening.

Now, no one wants to strive all the time; that's discouraging. On the days I'm struggling, my depression flares up, or the nasty fear of failure called Writer's Block settles over me like a mildewed cape, I need a guaranteed win, so I set a goal I cannot fail. Write three sentences, set a timer for thirty minutes and write whatever you can, write 300 words.

If you're dealing with writer's block, I encourage you to try one of those goals, or to come up with your own.

When writing is a neverending difficulty that drives me to the point of despair, I take that as a sign I need a longer break. (The friends I whine to about it are also good at pointing that out. 💜)

Creating is an act of faith in the process. Inspiration is a series of elusive bursts. Writing is perspiration and work, work, work. If we don't plan breaks, our brains will force us to rest. So I plan two-four weeks off and make sure I set a date to return - even if the return is three sentences a day.

Here are some other writing tips I've posted:

1) Read a lot - but read critically. If a book doesn't work for you, ask yourself why. If you loved a story's pacing, take note of that structure. Read not just popular fiction, but the masterworks that have stood the test of time.

2) Self-doubt and fear are part of the package. While they’re painful, try to take comfort in the fact that every writer who isn’t deluded goes through them.

3) Be diligent about writing, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you only get a few words out during a session. That happens! 😃

Thanks so much for your ask! I hope this helps! 🤗

[baladric]

jic anyone is wondering or annoyed or anything, the reason i’m not posting the pirate fic chapter by chapter despite the fact that i clearly have “finished” chapters sitting here already—is that i write very much by the seat of my pants, in such a way that i regularly render stuff i wrote earlier in a story not just incorrect, but entirely contradictory to the direction i end up taking plot points or worldbuilding. the two chapters i have done are very far from actually done, and i won’t be able to truly finish them until i’ve finished writing the entire story.

as a writer, outlining or really any preparatory work (aside from doodling and playlist-building) guarantees that i won’t end up writing a single word of the proposed project. i get too twisted up in my perfectionistic need to make shit Groundbreaking or Wildly Innovative, plot-wise, and that’s just.... not helpful, to a point where i basically didn’t write anything for 6 or 7 years? and now i’ve found that if i just bang shit out w/o editing or stressing myself out about trajectories or consistency, i can get through what was previously an unimaginable number of words while having a lot of fun, and come out with a scribbly little pile of shit i can polish up into a much tighter story, which might not be earth-shattering, but hopefully my wild adoration of language and character narrative shines through—which is my actual goal!

consequently, concluding a chapter at this stage is the equivalent of finishing actively shaping a mug on the wheel, and i still gotta like... wait for the clay to leather so i can even put the handle on it, let alone glaze it or fire it.

i’m anticipating the story to be four or five chapters, but considering the fact that i write beat-to-beat instead of holding a whole plot in my head, i’m not entirely sure. there’s a lot of strings to loop together still and i don’t quite have the pacing figured out! when i hit the end, though, i’ll loop right back to the beginning, and start hucking things up chapter by chapter as i edit.

just saying it so people don’t think i’m being, like, willfully withholding or coy or anything!!! i’m wildly excited about this story and i want soooo much for people to read it, which is why i keep squirrelling about with art and snippets. i’m like.. blind-sided that i have even just a few people floating around, being excited about my weird brainchild?? and it fills me with joy to see that excitement!! and i cannot fuckin wait to share it with you for real!!!!!!!

#psa i guess!!! #maia's a pirate now #love y'all!!!!!!

[choerrypuffs]

HI LANA!! Just wanted to tell you that you hurt my feelings with starlet and i didn't appreciate the sudden angst attack 🥲

Jokes aside. Is it ok if i ask for tips on how to writing a long fic? i always end up doubting myself or procrastinating because i get stuck. And just any other tips that you think are essential :')

hi lovely!!! i apologize for hurting your feelings and blindsiding you like that 😔 though i am a lil happy bc i wanted to inflict pain when i wrote it 😈

of course you can ask for tips, my love!! though i will warn you that i may not be the best person to ask for advice bc 90% of the time i do not know what i’m doing 😅 but i will try my best to explain how i personally do things!!

first i want to preface with long fics do NOT equal better fics. i think a lot of people automatically think a 20k word fic is better quality than a 3k word fic when that isn’t true. if you’re able to tell a good story within the 2-5k range then there’s no need in trying to drag it out. 

that being said, some people want to make their fics longer for the sake of character development or a complicated storyline or both, so here are some suggestions: 

make an outline, separated scene by scene 

this is probably the most important for me when it comes to writing longer fics. it sounds pretty basic but it helps so much!! i used to just rawdog it and write as i went, completely coming up with ideas on the fly, and i still do this occasionally but for the most part, it really helps a story come together when you have a rough outline of the story. and by rough, i mean it can be rough, i sometimes just insert a line of dialogue and separate it with a slash. for example, here are some of my notes from when i was drafting my jeno demigods fic

and this was just the first version of my outline bc i later separated these notes by scene and added to each scene as i came up with more ideas. of course these aren’t set in stone and i often ended up changing things as i was writing but it’s good to have a general guideline! 

having these scenes separated is also helpful bc it gives you an idea of what the word count for each scene is! mine are usually between 2k-3k words so even having 3-4 scenes could potentially mean a 6-8k word fic already. 

have the fic take place over a specified amount of time

i think using this plot element is one of the best ways to guarantee a longer word count! for example, if the fic takes place over the course of a week, that is 7 scenes (assuming you don’t skip a couple of days) and even if they’re only 1k words each, it’s a 7k word fic already. 

write out of order

while this is not a technique that i use, cat and moon do this and their fics are top tier so i trust them on this 🥰 i can’t help much with procrastination bc i suffer from it myself but i think writing out of order will help with the getting stuck part! it’s a good change of pace to just work on a different scene when you’re stuck something else. i simply cannot do this bc i change so many elements last minute so i need to write in linear order so i keep things consistent 💀

i hope these tips were helpful and good luck, my love!! 💕

#ask #anon #answered #how to

[bescaoutlook]

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[eurekaserv01]

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[techno12]

The Key Elements of User-Centric Mobile App Design

Introduction

For the contemporary phone-driven environment, user-centric design has become essential to developing effective mobile apps. Given the fact that there are millions of applications accessible for downloading, it is essential to differentiate yourself from the competition and offer a simple and fluid user interface. When it comes to this, intuitive design is crucial. App developers may create Mobile App development in Kuwait that not only satisfy the demands and preferences of users but also please them with a simple and pleasant experience by knowing the fundamentals of intuitive design.

Our daily lives now cannot function without mobile apps. It might be difficult for developers to make a product that stands out and attracts customers because there are millions of applications accessible across several platforms. A mobile app's design is one of the crucial elements that may make or ruin it. more specifically, a user-friendly design that puts the needs and preferences of the user first.

Also, read: Mobile app development companies in Bahrain

The importance of simplicity in mobile app design

When it comes to designing user-centric mobile apps, simplicity is key. In today's fast-paced world, users are seeking convenience and efficiency in their mobile app experiences. That's why it's crucial to prioritize simplicity in your design process. A simple design not only enhances the overall user experience but also contributes to the success of your mobile app. By eliminating unnecessary features, complex navigation, and cluttered layouts, you can create a streamlined and intuitive user interface that allows users to effortlessly navigate through your app. Simplicity in mobile app design also helps in reducing cognitive load for users.

You may help users understand and utilize your app more easily by displaying information and functionality clearly and straightforwardly. User pleasure and engagement are subsequently increased as a result. The aesthetic attractiveness of your app is improved by design simplicity. Users are more likely to stick around and continue exploring your app if it has a clear, uncluttered UI since it makes for a visually appealing experience. Additionally, it enhances readability and legibility, guaranteeing that users will have no trouble consuming the material and navigating the app without getting lost. A straightforward layout also permits quicker loading times and enhanced functionality. The speed and responsiveness of your mobile app may be improved by minimizing the number of components on a screen and streamlining the app's code.

This is particularly crucial considering the increasing demand for fast and efficient app experiences in today's digital landscape. In conclusion, simplicity plays a vital role in creating user-centric mobile apps. By prioritizing simplicity in your design approach, you can enhance the overall user experience, reduce cognitive load, improve visual appeal, and ensure faster loading times. So, when developing your next mobile app, remember that less is often more, and simplicity can be the key to success.

Consistency: A key element for intuitive mobile app design

Consistency is a crucial element when it comes to creating user-centric mobile apps with intuitive design. It refers to the uniformity and coherence of the app's visual appearance, layout, navigation, and interactions. Consistency plays a significant role in providing a seamless and familiar experience for users, enhancing their overall satisfaction and ease of use. In terms of visual appearance, consistency involves using a consistent color palette, typography, and iconography throughout the app. By making the app feel unified and well-designed, users may more easily recognize and connect these design aspects with certain activities or functionalities. Consistent element positioning and grouping throughout the app's many screens and sections is made possible by the application's layout. Users may create mental models and patterns as a result, making it easier for them to navigate the app and get what they need without difficulty or guessing. The use of standardized navigation patterns, such as a hamburger menu or tab bar, that consumers are already accustomed to is referred to as consistency in navigation. Users may quickly browse around the app and access various features or information by adhering to established norms without feeling lost. 

Interaction consistency involves designing interactions and gestures that are consistent with users' expectations and established mobile app conventions. For example, swiping left to delete an item or tapping and holding to access additional options are commonly understood gestures in mobile apps. Consistency in these interactions ensures that users can easily understand and perform actions within the app without having to learn new or unfamiliar gestures. By incorporating consistency as a key design principle, you can create a mobile app that feels intuitive and user-friendly. Consistency helps users build mental models and navigate the app effortlessly, leading to increased engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, a positive user experience.

Responsive design: Ensuring a seamless user experience across devices

When it comes to developing user-focused mobile apps, responsive design is a key component. It is crucial for your app to be accessible and to offer a consistent user experience across a range of screen sizes and resolutions given the rising popularity of mobile devices. Whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or even a wristwatch, your software will adjust to the device it is being accessed on if it has a responsive design. Reducing the requirement for numerous versions of your software for various devices is one of the major advantages of responsive design. Instead, you may use a single app that dynamically alters its content and layout according to the screen size. It also guarantees consistency in the user experience while saving time and money. 

To achieve a responsive design, it is important to consider various factors. First and foremost, you need to prioritize content hierarchy and ensure that it remains easily readable and accessible on smaller screens. This may involve reorganizing or resizing elements, adjusting font sizes, and optimizing images. Another crucial aspect is touch-friendly navigation. Mobile devices primarily rely on touch gestures, so it is essential to design intuitive and easily accessible navigation menus, buttons, and interactive elements. Users should be able to navigate through your app effortlessly, regardless of the device they are using. 

Optimizing load times and speed is another aspect of responsive design. It is crucial to reduce file sizes and give priority to crucial content to guarantee a seamless user experience on mobile devices, which frequently have constrained processing power and slower internet connections. In conclusion, responsive design is crucial for producing user-focused mobile apps. You can improve user happiness, boost engagement, and ultimately accomplish the objectives of your app by making sure that the user experience is consistent across all devices. Therefore, keep in mind the value of responsive design and how it affects customer happiness while creating your next mobile application.

Have a look: Mobile App development in Oman

Harnessing the power of user feedback for continuous improvement

User feedback is an invaluable tool when it comes to creating user-centric mobile apps. By harnessing the power of user feedback, developers can gain insights into the usability and functionality of their apps, allowing them to make continuous improvements and enhancements. One of the key benefits of gathering user feedback is the ability to identify pain points and areas of frustration for users. By listening to their feedback, developers can gain a better understanding of where the app may be falling short in terms of user experience. This feedback can then be used to make necessary adjustments and refinements, resulting in a more intuitive design. 

Additionally, customer feedback may reveal fresh feature suggestions or enhancements that weren't initially taken into account. Users frequently offer distinctive viewpoints and insights that may be useful for fostering innovation and improving the overall app experience. Developers have several tools at their disposal, including surveys, in-app feedback forms, and even user testing sessions, to efficiently acquire user input. These methods provide people the chance to talk with the development team directly and share their ideas, worries, and suggestions. 

To be effective, customer input must be analyzed and taken into consideration; merely gathering it is not enough. To prioritize customer input, developers should carefully go over it and look for recurrent themes or problems. Developers may make sure that their efforts for ongoing development are concentrated on the areas that will have the biggest favorable influence on user satisfaction by responding to the most important comments first.

Conclusion

Mobile applications have assimilated into our everyday lives in the fast-paced digital world of today. We rely on smartphone applications for a variety of functions, such as shopping, socializing, managing finances, and remaining organized. But not every smartphone app is made equally. Apps that prioritize user experience and concentrate on intuitive design are the most popular and successful ones of user-centric mobile app design that can elevate your app from average to exceptional. By understanding the importance of simplicity, consistency, responsiveness, and user feedback.

BrillMindz Technologies is one of the top mobile app and game app development companies in the Middle East. We have a team of skilled developers who work on different platforms. We have successfully developed many apps with various clients from all over the world. We can help you build your dream app with our mobile app design and development services. We have expert developers who can build any app for any operating system.

email us: at [email protected]

#mobiledevelopment #brillmindz #ios and android app development #mobile app developer company #iosapp

[roll-fast]

From Nuts to Bolts: Unleashing the Power of Versatile Industrial Fasteners

I am taking this content from this https://www.roll-fast.com/blog/fasteners-manufacturer .

In the fast-paced world of industrial manufacturing, the importance of reliable and high-quality fasteners cannot be overstated. From heavy windmills to small electronic appliances, every product relies on the strength and durability of its fasteners to hold it together. As such, finding a trustworthy and reputable fastener manufacturer is crucial for businesses looking to ensure the longevity and performance of their products.

India has emerged as a prominent hub for fastener manufacturing, with the market expected to reach INR 460 billion by the end of 2023 when it comes to fasteners manufacturer in India, one name stands out above the rest - Roll-fast. With their world-class setup and unwavering commitment to excellence, Roll-fast has earned its reputation as the best solution for all kinds of fastener requirements.

Choosing a Top Manufacturing Bolt and Nut Company in India:

What sets Roll-fast apart from other manufacturers is their unwavering dedication to quality. Each fastener produced goes through rigorous testing procedures to ensure that it meets or exceeds industry standards. This ensures that customers receive only the highest quality products that are built to last.

1. Expertise and Experience: Roll-fast has been manufacturing fasteners for the last 29 years with its expertise in bigger diameter bolts and nuts, it has also outperformed in the precision market. Roll-fast has been exporting precision turned components to more than 22 countries now.

2. Quality Assurance: Roll-fast ensures that they follows strict quality control measures and adheres to industry standards. We are an ISO 9001 certified company with a team of professionals in the quality department working continuously to give better results to our fasteners. With machines like tensile testing, impact testing, Rockwell hardness tester, micro vicker hardness tester and various other instruments for testing, we ensure our quality is the best available.

3. Technological Capabilities: Considering the technological advancement seen in the previous decade, we at roll-fast also moved ahead with time. We are proud to say our entire process, plant and machinery are run and operated on software’s like SAP, SCADA and many more. We have not only added technology in our manufacturing process but also ensure precision and uniformity in the manufacturing process.

4. Customization Options: We at Roll-fast make more than 10,000 types of fasteners depending upon their size, grade, coating, raw material etc. These fasteners can be forged, machined, tapped, drilled, hardened, annealed, turned components and even customised as per customers’ requirements and needs.

5. Timely Delivery: Timely delivery is critical to guaranteeing smooth operations in our industry. We make sure we deliver to our words and the commitment we made to our customers.

Fasteners manufacturer Industries that rely on Roll Fast

Roll-fast's commitment to customer satisfaction is also second to none. Their team of experts works closely with clients to understand their specific needs and provide tailored solutions accordingly. Whether it's a standard sizes, precision turned components or a custom-made fastener, Roll-fast delivers with precision and efficiency.

Moreover, as a trusted and leading brand in the fastener industry, Roll-fast has built long-lasting relationships with customers across various sectors including automotive, construction, renewable, HVAC, and more. Their consistently reliable products have made them a go-to choice for businesses seeking durable solutions for their fastening needs.

So if you're seeking versatile industrial fasteners that don't compromise on quality or reliability, look no further than Roll-fast. With their state-of-the-art facility and unmatched expertise in the field, they are poised to meet all your requirements efficiently and effectively.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, when it comes to unleashing the power of versatile industrial fasteners in India, Roll-fast is truly a cut above the rest. With their commitment to excellence, world-class setup, and unmatched customer satisfaction record , they are the preferred choice for businesses seeking high-quality fasteners that stand the test of time. Trust in Roll-fast for all your fastening needs and experience the difference that true craftsmanship can make.

#fasteners manufacturer #industrial fasteners

[sauermccabe17]

How much do you know about basketball? Whether or not you might be just now getting into actively playing the sport or you happen to be a seasoned veteran, you can normally find out some new procedures. Probably you'd like to learn fancy tips, or probably you want to play superior defense. This report is likely to guideline you with a couple handy guidelines during your quest.

When dealing with the ball, make guaranteed you spread out your fingers. This will make it a lot less possible that the ball will slip away from you. Also, continue to keep your palm from building speak to with the ball. Only your fingers should really be associated in the procedure of acquiring the ball to exactly where you want it to go. Practice catching the basketball whilst you are shifting and stopping cold for a shot. Basketball is a fast paced activity, and the frequent movement can toss your shot off through game time. This is particularly accurate if you have practiced your taking pictures standing even now. That is not as widespread in a game expertise. Get the come to feel for going, stopping, and capturing. When you are dribbling the ball, be certain that you are performing so with your head up. If you have your eyes on the ball alternatively though you are dribbling it, you cannot maintain an eye on those people defending you. This could lead to them thieving the ball absent from you. To get superior in your basketball video game, emphasis on your strengths. Your expertise may possibly not make you a star having said that, understanding your strengths will aid you turn out to be a greater crew participant. Know your strengths and exercise them right until you have perfected them. Practicing with your group is essential, but never neglect the benefit of daily observe on your possess. Established up a every day follow time for by yourself and stick to your plan. Practice footwork, taking pictures, and dribbling. It is also essential to consist of strength teaching and endurance instruction in your follow plan. Learn how to be client and trust your teammates for the duration of online games. Many players fall into the entice of not passing the ball and hoping to do it all them selves. You want to have faith in them and move the ball. This is a staff sport and passing is component of what allows your team acquire game titles. Figuring out how to manage the basketball is an significant step in starting to be a very good player. Operate challenging to excellent your dribble with your weaker hand. The means to dribble the ball effectively with both of those palms will maintain opponents guessing. When you are able to acquire off dribbling to the correct or the left, opponents will have a hard time predicting the place you will go. Strive to be a participant that all people can respect. You are representing your group equally on the courtroom and off. That suggests that you will need to be a very good sport and to not imagine that your status as a participant can make you far better than anybody else. The most well known players are normally well-known simply because of the way they deal with teammates and lovers. Ball regulate is an important skill for very good basketball playing. Just one very simple drill to improve your control is to use a ball in every hand for dribbling follow. Bounce one particular ball to start with and then just a next right after, bounce the other. Alternate the bounce as you go down the courtroom. As you acquire additional handle, decide on up the tempo. A fantastic way to exercise the quick break is to get the ball up the court in considerably less than 5 dribbles. It could feel extremely hard, but the more you apply this rule, the less complicated it turns into. Throughout match time you will recognize your self utilizing this to your edge through the quick break. To engage in the finest defense, you have to conquer your man to the area he desires to go and pressure him to go somewhere else. smartphones suggests that your feet have to go speedily, so apply shuffling from side to side without crossing your ft. This is the quickest way to transfer laterally on the ground and will frustrate your male. So are you all set to get out there and show people what you have got? If this article has motivated you, just keep in mind there is often a great deal more to understand about basketball. It's a extensively-common sport, and is so considerably pleasurable. As you carry on learning, you could find out that you get pleasure from it even a lot more!

#smartphones #sma

[ryuunosenshi]

A Random Collection of Tom Scott Gifs  -  1/?

Links to the videos in the readmore

1. Can auto-tune make me a good singer?

2. The diving gondola: a strange elevator to the ocean floor

3. The shooting range where you fire over a busy road

4. The World Is Slowly Running Out Of Sand

5. The Human-Powered, Giant Theme Park Playground: Ai Pioppi

6. Big Industrial Simulators in Finland

#Tom Scott #Well #there you go #I've surrendered to the Tom Scott Gif Bug #Cannot guarantee these will come out at a consistent pace #I will take the Matt Gray approach to his youtube channel; content will get there when it gets there xD #but for now; enjoy these! <3 #more to come! #think the last one is my favorite in this set <3 such an adorable precious bean #My Gifs #My Tom Scott Gifs #(of course he gets his own gif tag come on xD) #RyuuNoSenshi

[otonymous]

“The Most Beautiful Girl In The World”: The Guys As Fathers (MLQC Headcanon)

Hi dear Nonny!

What a wonderful idea!  We could all use a bit of fluff every now and then 🤣 I hope you’re doing well too!  Sending you much love along with these headcanons!  Hope you enjoy the read! 🥰💖 

Victor:

Daddy’s little princess - this little girl is the CEO of Victor’s heart

She is also the unofficial CEO of LFG: Victor loves to bring her to work with him every now and then, and all the office staff go absolutely ga-ga over her

Goldman.  Is.  Smitten. (Especially since she has a way of softening Victor’s hard as nails exterior)

Victor likes to front like he’s strict, but he’s not fooling anybody.  Just one look at the tenderness in his eyes when he’s looking at his daughter would tell you who’s really the boss

Psst!  He loves to spoil her!

And by spoiling, we don’t mean that she gets whatever she wants, all the time (although daddy’s heart DOES thrill a little inside to see her all bubbly with happiness after he presents her with a gift) — Victor will also ensure that he carves out time from work to spend with his family (there will definitely be a shift in work-life balance)

He won’t let her get away with everything though!  The man will still insist that she be on her best behaviour when necessary, but he is a lot more lax than you would’ve expected from him

Family time would consist of: horseback riding lessons, teddy bear picnics and tea parties (best believe she will be sending an actual invitation in the mail to Mr. Mills) — you will absolutely melt the first time you see Victor perched uncomfortably in a tiny chair, holding a mini plastic teacup to his lips and asking a stuffed cat if it would like another scone

She LOVES to be Victor’s sous-chef in the kitchen, and when she gets a bit older, she’ll also become daddy’s jogging buddy

Victor will always, always read her a bedtime story, even when he’s away from home on business, even if it means interrupting a meeting (Victor will establish a new norm; his peers will come to respect his family values)

The absolute apple of the eye of Victor’s father and aunt: this munchkin can do no wrong.  If she is to be spoiled rotten by anyone, it would be by these two.  

Every time you go over to their place for dinner, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be leaving with a trunkful of new toys

This little girl would be a good mix of her mother and father: she’ll inherit her father’s jet black hair, but the intensity of her eyes will be softened by your genes

In spite of all this generosity, your little girl will grow up to be far from spoiled

She will be incredibly compassionate, and will go from donating her many, many books and toys to other less fortunate kids as a child to organizing charity functions, etc., as a young adult.  

Victor couldn’t be more proud.

Lucien:

The shift is seismic the very first time Lucien holds his newborn daughter in his arms

“She looks just like you,” he whispers to no one in particular, careful not to wake you as you get one night of precious sleep immediately postpartum before your nights become interrupted by endless wake-feed-soothing back to bed cycles

Lucien doesn’t sleep that first night in the hospital; he spends it cradling your daughter by the light of the moon seeping in through the thin slats of the blinds

The cool rays illuminate every single feature that Lucien sets his mind on memorizing: her eyes — still a little bit swollen, the flare of those tiny nostrils, the sharply defined cupid’s bow of the most perfectly shaped lips

He is putting his face to the downy soft hairs on the crown of her head, nose pressing to cheek to inhale the scent of his newborn daughter

A tiny seed of anxiety begins to sprout from deep within Lucien to know that he will never have this moment again with her, and it feels like time is already slipping from the tight grasp of his hand

But then suddenly, she opens her big, bright eyes.  Quietly, she stares at her daddy, her irises the same colour as the ones drowning in her gaze, and the nervous clench in Lucien’s gut dissolves

And when she opens and closes her mouth in a soundless gape as if to say that everything will be okay, Lucien knows he would give his life in a heartbeat to protect hers

This little girl is wise beyond her years, and will often say things that surprise the adults around her; family friends will refer to her as an “old soul”

She is far from a little chatterbox, preferring instead to listen and observe those around her, her big, bright eyes patiently taking in every detail

Initially, you’ll be concerned that she isn’t speaking as much as other children her age.  Lucien will take his time reassuring you, an almost knowing smile on his lips.

When she does finally speak, she blows everyone away with the relative complexities of her sentence structures

Little genius: your daughter shares her father’s intelligence and can often be found snuggling up under her favourite camphor tree, books and sketching pencils in hand

She loves flying kites with her mommy and daddy

Quiet but kind, she’ll have no shortage of friends and admirers

You might be surprised, but she also has a wicked sense of humour.  Enjoys delivering jokes with the cutest wink in the world.

Her favourite place in the world is daddy’s laboratory.  The noisy whirs of those big, fancy machines make her jump for joy and Lucien cannot help but smile

There are times — especially when you guys are at your happiest as a family — that Lucien has to fight back the anxiety that all this could be taken away from him.  The melancholic tinge in his smile is so slight that even you could miss it at times.  But your daughter will always catch it.  And when she does, she’ll slip her tiny hand within her father’s much larger palm, look up and give him the biggest smile she can muster.  It’ll always bring him back to the moment.

Little though she is, she gives him strength beyond compare

And on the day of her graduation from university at the top of her class, she’ll be given a priceless gift from her parents: a silver pen named Iridescent.

Gavin:

Usually so calm, cool and collected in even the most stressful of situations, Gavin is a nervous wreck when you go into labour

He is pacing back and forth and back and forth in the hospital room.  You almost want to send him on an errand to get some popular street eats with a guaranteed long line up just so he can calm TF down and not get in the nurses’ way

He is offering you ice chips before you even ask for it, patting at your forehead with a facecloth even though you’re not sweating, giving you his hand to hold every two minutes even though you haven’t started pushing yet

When you mention that he should probably try to calm down since you likely have at least another hour to go before your cervix is fully dilated, he nods in agreement and starts doing push-ups and sit-ups on the floor

The battery of Gavin’s phone dies from all of Minor’s messages asking if the baby has arrived yet

Birdcop is fit to burst from all the joy his body just simply cannot contain the moment his little girl arrives

Because now he has not just one, but TWO of you!

Your daughter will be the splitting image of you, except for her striking amber eyes

The names she gives her stuffed animals will be strangely familiar: Fluffy, Softy, Pearly Jr., etc. (you’ll have to ask her whether daddy helped with the naming 🤣).

Minor’s enthusiasm cannot be dampened: he is over so often with food, diapers and offers to do the housework that you basically have to make him your child’s godparent LOL

Gavin is a giant teddy bear when it comes to your daughter: he cannot say no to her and lives to see her smile

She is gifted with her father’s athleticism, and Gavin won’t hesitate to personally instruct her on the art of self-defence starting at a very young age (needless to say, any future suitors will be given very intense once-overs by Gavin, even little boys at the playground; you can never let your guard down)

Eli is on Gavin’s watch list the moment G-man overhears her shyly asking you about “daddy’s handsome coworker” the year she turned 8

Yes, she will also be getting a bracelet with a GPS tracker LOLOL

She is incredibly strong: could probably toss Minor around like a burlap sack by the time she’s 12

This little girl is all about the thrills, screaming, “Go higher, daddy!  Higher!” in Gavin’s ear as he flies with her on his shoulders

He will take her to the BEST places for stargazing at night (when she’s old enough to stay up) — best believe this is something G-man will lament the loss of when she’s all grown up

Yes, the motorcycle will be her ride of choice the moment she gets her licence (much to her parents’ chagrin)

Gavin cannot help but tear up every time he watches her play the piano, especially if she plays with her mother at the same time

Psst!  He has a photo in his study of the two of you sitting next to each other on the piano bench, the late afternoon sun streaming in through big, French windows, dappled by leaves falling from the ginkgo tree planted in the backyard

He only wishes his mother could’ve been there to see his beautiful baby girl

Kiro:

This little star charms absolutely everyone at first sight: the doctors and nurses that help deliver her are completely enamoured with this little bundle of joy

Tears are streaming from Kiro’s bright blue eyes the moment she is placed into his arms for the first time; he’ll bend over to give you the biggest kiss while gently cradling the baby, the salt of your tears mixing together

This little girl has the best laugh: clear and bright and like music to the ears of anyone lucky enough to hear it.

And she laughs often — daddy is hell-bent on filling her childhood with love and joy and will do anything to make her smile

You’ll often see Kiro crawling around the house on hands and knees, your daughter shrieking with laughter as she tugs on his golden hair, yelling “Giddy-up!” over and over again

Genetics aside, let’s just pretend that her hair is long and golden like her father’s.  At times, she literally looks like a doll come to life, especially with those azure eyes

Budding superstar: this girl has inherited her father’s talents when it comes to acting and music.  She is hitting those high notes, projecting that beautiful voice and basically hamming it up all the time just to get a laugh from her adoring family.

Kiro will “complain” about double standards because Savin will always have a tasty treat for her whenever he sees her, saying “Make sure your daddy doesn’t get any, okay?” LOL

At the same time, Kiro decides to (gasp!) cut down on his junk food habit when his daughter is born.  He actually already started out of solidarity during your pregnancy, and wants to be healthy so he can have as much time as possible with his beloved family

Kiro also cuts back on his workload when his little girl arrives.  This daddy is super involved in all aspects of taking care of his baby and his wife.  You’ll never hear him complain about having to change a dirty diaper.  In fact, he even does it better than you do — no leakages here! LOL

Kiro LOVES to dress his daughter up and will often wear matching outfits with her.  Baby and daddy denim overalls?  Check.  Father-daughter couture?  Check.  

Baby globetrotter: you guys will tag along with Kiro when he flies overseas to shoot on location.  Kiro loves having you and the baby near.

When she gets a bit older, you can bet that they’ll be the best gaming buddies (you’ll insist on her having completed her homework first, but Kiro will secretly let her play one game before she starts - “just don’t tell your mom, or else we’ll both be in trouble!”)

Charming and bright, your daughter is also a bit of a tech wiz.  Learns to code at a very young age under her father’s tutelage, and enjoys building computers from scratch as a hobby.

This little girl carries joy with her wherever she goes, spreading it around like warm sunshine

Shaw:

Shaw is soft, soft, soft the moment he becomes a father

He could be blasé about everything else, but not when it comes to his daughter, the absolute treasure of his heart along with his wife

There will be times that you wake up in the middle of the night and find his side of the bed empty.  You’ll hear his footsteps, softly pacing back and forth before a large window as he tries to sooth your infant daughter back to sleep.  Shaw will look like he literally stepped out of a ‘90s Calvin Klein ad campaign, topless and clad only in low slung pyjama bottoms as he cradles your daughter in his arms, the muscles of his biceps bulging in the pale moonlight that casts a silvery glow on his lavender hair.

(Example of a Calvin Klein ad from the 1990s)

Guess your thirst will have to wait till your daughter falls asleep again to be slaked LOL

This little girl will have her father’s amber eyes as well as the fine features of his face — she will slay all the kids in school with her beauty

Loves to snark her dad but is all sweetness to you (Psst! Shaw (not-so) secretly loves it!)

A fast-talker and quick-witted: sometimes, you think you can actually hear her mind working

Absolutely loves her daddy’s skateboard and would much rather learn new tricks on her own board than play with more age-appropriate toys

She is also a bit of a bookworm: loves to read and is often surprising you with new topics of interest, everything from ancient civilizations to meteorology

Your little girl will often snuggle up to him and ask him what he is reading.  Shaw will then proceed to read to her, even if it’s a paper or a textbook.  Her quick mind has been able to grasp even abstract concepts from a very young age.  She’s a bit of a genius in that respect.

Inherits her dad’s love of music.  The two of them will enjoy rocking out in the basement the moment she is big enough to properly hold an electric guitar (with you sneaking peeks every 5 minutes to make sure she’s still got her protective headphones on LOL)

She’ll take after her dad in that she’ll seem uncomfortable with the concept of authority starting at a very young age.  She questions nearly everything and will drive many of her teachers up the wall, although they will also recognize the extent of her incredible intellect.  She’ll set herself apart at school as a leader, having also the charisma to charm those who would wish to follow

Her dad, of course, is absolutely ecstatic to have a daughter capable of thinking for herself instead of blindly following others (and you will be too!)

🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣

Thanks so much for reading!  Check out more of my work here! 📚 

(Please do not copy/alter/edit/repost my work - thanks!)

#mlqc #mr love queen's choice #love and producer #mr love dream date #evol x love #mlqc headcanons #my writing #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc lucien #mlqc xu mo #mlqc kiro #mlqc zhou qiluo #mlqc gavin #mlqc bai qi #mlqc shaw #mlqc ling xiao #q&a #all request line #anonymous

[dryemiddi]

Talking 2022

This year, even though my plans aren’t solidified yet, is one I am quite optimistic about. Though despite that, I have some bad news to share- news that will affect my workflow for the next month, perhaps longer. Just a few days before the new year, I’ve experienced major issues with my laptop’s battery- to the point where I struggle to get work done in a timely manner. This laptop I use both for personal work and school, and my worries of what these battery issues may lead to has brought a lot of stress onto me, further hindering my ability to work. I hope to get a battery replacement in before the end of the month, and work will come back to a consistent pace, but I cannot guarantee anything.  With that out of the way, I want to say a few things about the year coming. Though it may be vague, since I don’t want to promise things I may not be able to fulfill.  A lot of the things I’ve done in 2021 have been in preparation for 2022, though I doubt most of it will come into fruition until the middle of the year. One of which is saving up money for something I’ve long urged to own, and will no doubt make work, projects and developing passions astronomically easier.  These include my current comics, budding YouTube hobby, and something risky that, if it succeeds, can do wonders for the Undertale community...  With that said, let’s hope 2022 doesn’t become the pile of dogshit that the last two years have been.

#2022 #drye rambles #new year talk

[alatismeni-theitsa]

Do you have any sort of, words of encouragement, for a Greek-American who is struggling to learn Greek? My family is pretty connected to our heritage but I was never taught to speak Greek. I am an adult now, and I know I'm at an incredible disadvantage trying to learn a new language. The most discouraging thing is when I try to pronounce a word with a sound that isn't really in English (like γ) and I KNOW I am not saying it right, but no matter how hard I try I can't pronounce it correctly.

Hello! I'm very sorry for delaying this answer for some days, but as we see here, Zeus was fucked this week 😅

I will pin my answer so you can see it when you return, and the rest will be under the cut.

I believe there are MANY reasons for hope in this situation. Of course it feels very discouraging that you don't know the language already and you might feel left behind in this process. Plus, learning a new language is not an easy thing to learn. But worry not!

You are grown, and that means you can learn a language better and with more consistency and discipline. Have trust in your skills as an adult. What is more, you have grown up around Greek speakers and you will pick up certain things faster.

You are not alone in feeling this way. Most of the world has to learn a second language (and a third, as it's usual for many) and that would be the language most dominant in the wider area. Almost every person in the West who is not an English speaker has to learn English and learn it well, otherwise we feel embarrassed every time we try and form a sentence. For example, we apologize to each other about our accents in English German and French, even though we speak Greek.

Surely there are some differences between your situation and ours, but I mentioned this to show you that most people will be very understanding with accents because they have the same struggle. I mean, I'm not going to make fun of someone for having an accent in Greek when I sound like a demented chicken in German, despite taking years of lessons 😵 I have more confidence in my English but even now that I'm writing to you in this language I have to quadruple-check my sentences and phrasing. The amount of times I apologized in advance for my accent to English speakers is higher than my credit.

I relayed your situation to other Greek speakers and non-English speakers, and ALL agreed the accent is not anything they would pay attention to and told me to write you that you shouldn't feel bad about that. I did that because I knew they would have words of encouragement for you. And it turns out they believe exactly what I'm writing in this answer.

Accents are natural. You cannot expect not to have an accent when you have been speaking a different language all your life. Beating yourself up for having difficulty with the Greek pronunciation is like beating yourself up for something normal like walking or laughing when hearing something funny. You lack practice with the pronunciation due to circumstances beyond your control. You are doing what you can to change that, and every small win is worth celebrating!

I found this post the other day:

The notes? The likes?

And NO disagreements in the comments and reblogs for OP’s statement! Look how many thousands are supportive in this! (And that’s a small fraction of people who understand accents are natural.) And some of the responses:

Sure, some mention they have met native speakers who made it more difficult to feel comfortable with their accent and phrasing. But those people are assholes in general, and not the people you want to surround yourself with. If a relative expresses disgust about your accent remind them you didn’t have any control of how much and how well you were taught Greek when you were a kid, and then tell them that if they are a true friend and relative to you, they should support you in your journey. And even if you had some control and chose not to learn, you are learning now. So they should leave their resentment behind because, honestly, what do they have to lose from you learning the language better??

For the embarrassment you feel for yourself: you wouldn't make fun of a Greek for having trouble with the “r”, "s", “ch”, and possibly the "h" when speaking English, so extend that kindness to yourself when you speak Greek. Not to mention that with enough practice and time you can nail the accent!

Worst case scenario, if the accent never leaves, that's no problem whatsoever. Anyone who thinks badly of you for your accent is probably a PoS and they don't deserve your time. No matter where you are from, if they make you feel bad for having an accent in Greek, block them from your mind forever.

But chances are that (from experience) if anyone laughs with how you said something, I guarantee they are not laughing at you but because of how strange the sound or phrasing was. The person doesn't think badly of you because of this. Making mistakes of any kind when learning a language is very natural and it's something everyone must accept. If you are not willing to make mistakes and expose your language vulnerabilities to people who know the language better, might as well not try improving at all.

If anyone corrects you, they are not doing it out of pity. The majority of Greeks do it because they are very happy you speak the language and want you to be even more fluent. Like, they are doing it as an act of backing you up, they are feeling like they are giving you that extra XP to reach the next level! Others - like me - get that rush of happiness when they get to share their language with others 😁

I remember a guy on Tiktok who was learning Greek and ordered a coffee "without sugar" in a Greek cafe but instead of saying σκέτο ("without") he said σκατά ("shit"). I mean damn that was funny! I remember it weeks after I saw the video of him telling that story and it always cracks me up. Do I still appreciate him the same as before and follow him? Absolutely! He just had an unfortunate - and funny - incident, not something that lessened his integrity as a person.

From tiktok again: An American girl wanted to pronounce γύρος correctly when ordering it, and she was mumbling to herself on camera: “yeero, yeero, yeero!!” When her time to order came she shouted “May I have a gairow? FUUUUCKK FUUCK FUCK I SAID IT WRONG” 🤣

Another example is Athena from the Bachelor 2! She has given some gems throughout the show because she doesn't know the language that well, but everyone still loves her because she spreads positivity and is so cute!! If we, as viewers, disliked her it would be because of her character, not because she doesn't know the language well. And if some of the other girls in the show don’t take her seriously is because she laughs too much and mentions feta too often, not due to her Greek level of literacy. Athena, even when she is hurting someone else’s feelings, is always so genuine and you just can’t be mad at her!

I really can’t stretch enough how people laugh at the mishap, not the person! Please don’t feel discouraged if you ever see a Greek laughing with the pronunciation of an English speaker when it comes to Greek words (which I have done as well) because we never laugh at the speakers. We don’t even know them! We might laugh at one mistake but then instantly want to become this individual’s friends because we think they are amazing (see the three examples I mentioned above, the sugar guy, the gyro girl and Athena). Because that’s the normal thing to do; laugh at fun stuff and not judge people for their small mishaps. (In a casual setting, and not to an uncomfortable degree ofc!)

There are so many things to a person other than their accent and the accent becomes old news really fast. What remains is how the presence of a person makes you feel and if they are a good individual. If an English speaking friend says yatakai instead of γατάκι that opens the way for sooo many jokes! Greeks will laugh, do some YATAKAAIIII screams - ninja style, and then continue being friends with that person!

Greeks makes these mistakes as well... A Greek once said "arrive arrive" (φτάνει φτάνει) instead of "enough" when an English speaker was filling his glass. A Lower English degree caught fire that day 🤣 I have many bad examples of Greeks’ mistakes in English but I can’t remember a lot. But I’ve seen many videos of Greeks mocking themselves for how they sound in English. You can take a look at Tsipras’ (our former prime minister) mistakes on youtube if you are feeling brave 😂 (Ο Τσίπρας μιλάει Αγγλικά)

So, own your possible mistakes, laugh at them and move on because everyone makes them and we better have some good while we are struggling!

(( For the record, we are not making fun of Tsipras because of his accent, but because 1) he doesn’t know γρι English and yet he rarely brought a translator with him in international meetings with world leaders, 2) he could absolutely not hold a conversation with negotiating or discussing 3) he didn’t take steps to improve or fix the situation (like bring a translator). 4) Instead, he chose to torment us all with mind-numbing hours of reading English texts and making other world leaders struggle to explain to him what they meant for the nth time and meetings move at a snail pace.))

Alright, now that I cringed with the memory of Tsipras speaking English, I’ll go though the recommendations for improving the Greek pronunciation.

1) Go to my resources for learning Greek (#learn greek) where I have many videos where you can hear the sounds individually or withing other words very clearly. Easy Greek on youtube has excellent videos about pronunciation!

2) Seek practice as much as possible. Some Greeks switch to English when they hear an English accent to make the conversation smoother for the other person. If Greek speakers insist on talking with you in English tell them that you would wish to speak in Greek. I've seen that people often mirror the accent of the native speaker when they speak to one, so this might work for you as well with hours of practice. If no Greek speakers are available to you now, you can find Greek Americans online – or go to their festivals – and start talking to them.

3) Listen to Greek podcasts, songs and shows. (In my blog you’ll find them at #greek youtuber #podcast #greek tv #greek movie #short film #greek music). You know when you hear a catchy foreign song and then it’s stuck in your head and you say all the words perfectly without even knowing what it means? Well, this helps with pronunciation!

4) If you had Spanish in school or have Spanish friends mimicking the Spanish accent might help you. (Our accents are extremely close! The Spanish are the best at Greek pronunciation, and vice versa!)

5) Find sounds in your native language that sound close to the sounds you want to say in Greek. In German lessons I had trouble with “ch” in certain words because I made it sound like χ and it was horrible. My Greek teacher told me to remember how χ sounds in χήνα (it sounds a bit flatter) and make that sound when I encountered “ch”. It worked actually!

To people who have English as their native language I often suggest they remember the sound of w for γ because, although not used the same in the word, at times they have the same intensity. Γ is pronounced more “to the front” of the mouth, so if you can bring that sound forward in your mouth you’ll be very close, if not accurate, to γ. (But don’t bring it too much forward, sometimes it can sound like a “y”, unless you are saying a word where γ sounds like “y”).

Greeks pronounce σ more closely to “sh” than to “s”, so you also might want to keep that in mind since σ often distinguishes the Greek accent in English for me :p

That’s all! If you have more questions or want to tell me anything else about your experience with learning Greek, feel free to send another ask or a DM!

#answered #learn greek #pronunciation #encouragement

[otp-armada]

"Bellarke doesn't make sense," they say. They say because Clarke hasn't done anything that resembles romantic gestures toward Bellamy. 

Conceding to march to her possible death in exchange for Roan sparing Bellamy's life. Obstinately fighting against Bellamy's stubborn wishes to remain outside the Ark while Praimfaya burns to the world to ashes. Shattering her soul by choosing 100 people to live and writing his name on the list, because he must survive. She can't have it any other way. Relinquishing 50 of those spots to Azgeda when Bellamy is captured and threatened, and Roan calls her bluff. Desperation driving her to the extreme to ensure the survival of the human race, yet unable to kill Bellamy to keep the bunker closed and the grounders from possibly killing Skaikru. Leaving the guaranteed safety of the fort to stay by Bellamy's side on the brink of global cataclysm. The bittersweet yet soft head and heart exchange she prompted. The hesitation in her last remark before imploring him to hurry. 

4x13 ends six years and seven days post-Praimfaya with Clarke radioing Bellamy on the Ring. An activity she performs daily for six years. In any six years of my adult life, my only daily consistencies have been limited to breathing, eating, and sleeping. This girl is devoted enough to send her equivalent of love letters into the emptiness of space for 2,199 days. Season 5 opens with her trying to survive by herself in an apocalyptic wasteland. She spends her journey narrating to him her unvarnished struggles during the most traumatic experience of her young life to date. Her despondency. Her loneliness. Her agony. Her desperation. Her small victories. Her discovered treasures. Her determination. Her doubt. Her guilt. Her defeat. Her morbid self-reflection. Her relief and contentment. Her happiness. Her admission of missing him. She shares all of it with only him. Only he is permitted to know her to this depth. Not any of her other people on the Ring. Not any of her people in the bunker, a group including her mother. Not a spiritual communion to the great, big love of her life Lxa, situated on her throne in the high heavens and waiting for her trophy wife, for Clarke to stay connected to her dearly departed. Isn't that the sort of behavior that might occur by a bereft widow? 

After finding an oasis to rest and call home, even after discovering a companion to build a life with, she continues with her radio calls. It doesn't matter that he never received her communications. The importance of the gesture- the intimacy of sharing her life and thoughts with him while he was gone- remains the same. The magnitude of her devotion to him made clearer through the absence of a single responding utterance. 

She lovingly tells Madi stories of Bellamy as her hero. Gazing warmly, hopefully up at the stars as if she longs for her vision to cut through an endless pitch-black sky and find dark curls and freckled constellations from thousands of miles away.

"Bellarke doesn't make sense," they say. They say because post-Praimfaya ended with an established B/E.

As Clarke looks up at the stars, questioning if she'll see Bellamy again, we transition to our first glimpse of Bellamy after six years, forlornly looking down on Earth to the very spot of green where he is unaware of who is yearning for him to return to her. Contrary to Clarke, who is covered in warm firelight when thinking of him, he is colored in cold, muted greys and blue, no speck of warm hue. (The rhyming scheme was unintentional, but hey, I'm going with it.) Behind him, his family is sparring, but he's distant from them. He's trapped within this tin can, his arms folded, his body taut, not facing the view on the other side of the glass, but still enraptured by the sight of his home below.  

We see what changes to the characters and their dynamics have taken place until, at long last, we uproariously cheer as Bellamy & Co. find a way to return to Earth, the sole event we've been anticipating for eleven months, to the point we could feel it at our fingertips, jittery and tingly. Bellarke reunion!! He's going to know she's alive! Yes! Finally!! Break out the champagne! We're celebrating, dammit! It's going to be so damn emotional! Authors start crafting mental fanfics. People are bouncing off the walls like bright, errant fireworks, unable to sit still. I can't believe it's finally happening...what do you think it's going to be like? Will he run to her? Will he be stunned and speechless? Will they sob uncontrollably?!? They'll be clutching the life out of each other! Another Bellarke hug!! The very best hug!!! They're never going to let the other out of their sight again! He's going to meet Madi! Mom, dad, and adopted preteen make three!!! There's no way they're not getting together after this!! He just got her back after six years of thinking she was dead!! The reunion's not going to happen this episode, but maybe next week, when do you think? You mean we have to wait seven days before----

B e c h o.

We stood on the precipice of what we agonized and crawled through for eleven excruciating months, only for an anvil to drop, and our heads to be clubbed. Our bodies fell through the floor, descending lower and lower with immense haste, to take up residence in the seventh circle of hell. 

Do you think the framing of these events wasn't intentional?

Do you think the powers that be behind the creation of that calamitous bombshell for our protagonist, intended for us to root for B/E? 

By us, I'm not restricting the effect of the blow to Bellarke shippers. The entire audience, casual and fandom alike, shippers and non-shippers, was meant to await this reunion. We were all meant to feel devastated by this revelation. 

If they didn't want to invoke in us feelings of support for B/E at their inception, how in the name of all things holy is a purported B/E endgame your conclusion? 

"B/E doesn't make any sense," they say, "when last we saw them, she was his enemy. Nothing more, nothing less."

Do I think their pre-Praimfaya status as antagonists rendered it impossible for B/E to have a convincing love story or sexual relationship?

I think, if Jason were so inclined, we could have gotten flashback Ring rendezvous of secret trysts between Bellamy and a googly-eyed, blonde-wig-wearing broomstick designated Clarke 2.0. So no, I don't consider B/E a deviation inherently outside the realm of romantic possibility. Jason is an artist, and this show is his canvas. He can give life to almost any whim he'd like in his work of fiction. Not only that, but B/E is also hardly the first pairing in this series modeled by the enemies-to-lovers trope.

"Bellarke doesn't make sense, they'd say, "absent any concrete evidence alluding to a romantic relationship." "Seven years running, and not a trace of romantic love," they'd conclude. 

Remind me, what was B/E's sublime prologue into coupling up again?

Furiously choking the life out of an enemy in a fit of rage two episodes before revealing her as his new girlfriend evidently can be considered by some an adequate precursor to a sensational romantic relationship. But endangering Earthkru's lives by risking the wrath of two societies in refusing to let Clarke die, pumping her heart for her to stay alive while begging her to fight so she can come back to him, cannot be. 

Either this show is quite the oddity, or it’s fandom's periodic knee-jerk, ass-backwards, charming zeal at play. 

The lack of rising development is all the more reason why B/E's grand unveiling demanded perfection. Instead, our first insight into their union is overshadowed by Clarke and the impending Bellarke reunion. B/E isn't central enough to the narrative to warrant focus that would put to rest any discord of illegitimacy. But you know which pair of the two is concentrated on for seven seasons now? Three guesses... 

But don't despair. Fandom has decreed, by its own appraisal, the shorthand of kissing and sex has rectified the discrepancy of a complete absence of pertinent on-screen development.

"It's not ideal storytelling," they say, "to exclude B/E's development. But The 100 has historically been a plot-driven, fast-paced, contained drama. It has always evaded expanding on character dynamics to fans' satisfaction.”

The writers have done more to present Josephine and Gabriel as soulmates with less airtime than B/E ever had in total. They don't lack the skill or time to fortify B/E in anyone's mind as the central romance. Jason made a conscious choice not to. Why would he? Does he think the endgame love story of the show's deuteragonist doesn't merit attention to detail by the writing? Or does it seem more likely, it was never his intention for B/E to cross the finish line?

And, for a plot-driven, fast-paced, contained drama, they sure have an awful knack for finding the time to showcase Clarke's kicked puppy reactions to an embracing B/E. We've had three thus far. One for science, one for emphasis, and one to say, "Do you people get it now?"

"Bellarke doesn't make any sense," they say, "if they wanted each other, they'd have gotten together by now." 

A long time ago, someone stated, "Lovers are supposed to do that you know and if they don’t do that it means their relationship isn’t romantic if sexual intercourse isn’t added." 

And to that, I posed the question, "Where exactly is it written that "if a pairing is not made canon by season [insert arbitrarily chosen number here], it will never be made canon, period?" Was I just absent from fandom class that day and skipped to the lesson on slow-burn ships?" We are going into the final season, and I stand by this question today as I did then. Bellarke could refrain from physical expressions of love and candid confessions to season 17, and their journey could continue to exemplify a love story. Because the absence of either one doesn't preclude two people from falling in love. Nor does the inclusion of either one necessitate two people falling in love. 

"Bellarke doesn't make any sense," they say. They say because Bellamy is her dearly beloved, but platonic, best friend.

Well, you've got me there. I'm stumped. How can it be possible for friendship and romantic love to behave as anything but mutually exclusive concepts? It's not as if friendship can be contorted to serve as a foundation for love.

 The cornerstones of strong friendships include trust, care, support, devotion, and many other features of a similar nature. Love- deep and genuine love, that is- involves frequent kissing and passionate, vigorous sex. The wilder the display, the stronger the pairing. The dozens of couples, love interests, and sexual liaisons before B/E who have kissed and had sex before dying must not have first consulted the manual for proper protocol.

And the inverse? Once two people fall in love, they cannot fall back to say, a familial connection. No, no, no. Such a regression would be the work of a tragic, reprehensible flaw in the cogs of the universe. Speak nothing of it.

"It doesn't make sense for B/E to break up," they say, "when B/E has stayed together for two seasons sans any indication Bellamy loves Clarke more than Echo, enough to want to leave his loving girlfriend."

How many times has Bellamy tried and failed to honor his commitment to Echo? How many weak attempts are met with a corresponding scene of Bellamy shifting his attention to the girl he tells himself to get over?

Echo leaves for Shallow Valley, his focus immediately turns onto persuading Clarke not to leave his side. He symbolically chooses Echo in the fireside scene by touching her sword. Yet, he looks at his girlfriend for the first time since their separation with the most aloof expression unsuitable for the occasion. No hope to be found anywhere. They share a brief reunion hug, no time for intimacy. He is reunited with Clarke and casts a nervous glance at Echo when bombarded with Clarke's appreciative gaze. Still no time for intimacy between B/E before a decade-long nap, but time can be carved out for a warm, flirty Bellarke reconciliation, complete with intensive heart eyes. No inspired, emotionally wrought, double sunlit embraces for B/E. If Bellamy is going to look out of a window at his future home, he'll either be by himself or snuggling Clarke into his side. There's no place for Echo in the lock of his arms anymore, only room for flanking him in the way loyal lieutenants tend to do. His girlfriend glances over at him as their exploratory team roughly plummets to new territory, and he does the same at Clarke. B/E reconnects lakeside, him asking for a swim with her and leaning into her arms at a campfire. He sits by her side on a swing set, amidst talk of moving their people into an abandoned village. And it's all well and good for B/E, right? They're presenting the front of a happy, unified couple. 

Until...Clarke walks away behind his sight, and he leaves Echo's side to seek Clarke's missing presence where the flirting and warm gazes and near confessions are kicked into overdrive. He calls Echo to hear his latest discovery, then proceeds to ignore the hell out of her, communicating exclusively to his co-leader. He stares wistfully at Clarke dancing with her new flavor of the night, cannot stop doing so even while excoriating Echo for her stoicism, expressing his frustration at her inability to fulfill his emotional needs. 

He recommits to Echo, as Clarke is kidnapped and her body is stolen, with nary a transition, suggesting we are meant to link the two incidents together. For all his resolve to face the future with Echo, he spends the whole of the next episode with a wary eye on Clarke, to the point that he is the first to realize Clarke is not herself. In the ensuing arc ranging from 6x05 to 6x11, approximately half of the season, what was B/E, again? Was that a thing concurrently happening with Bellamy's Operation: Save My Clarke? Because I seem to be able to recall only Bellarke goodness. Oh, my mistake, there was the consoling hug which, oddly enough, did nothing to soothe him. As evidenced by his choice to grieve alone. No girlfriend he wanted close by for comfort, knowing clear as day she couldn't provide it if she tried. Not with who he just lost. 

B/E gets another brief reunion hug, the majority of which is spent with him peering at Clarke. The show saw that hug and raised us an Austenesque-quality counterpart that would do Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy proud. 

"B/E endgame is the only sensible outcome," they say, "they love each other so much."

I don't contend they don't love each other. But we are shown two people determined but incapable of snuffing their deep-rooted feelings out of noble propriety, and most importantly, out of needless fear of unrequited love. And another two people who sought- and failed- to keep grasping the wisps of a gentle relationship slipping out of their hands since they left their comfortable space bubble. For anyone in this conundrum to be happy, the only natural course of action is for the latter to call it quits. The writing has been on the wall for too long.

Maybe a single Bellarke scene plucked out of the lineup can be interpreted on its own as platonic buddies being platonic buddies. But when all those individual moments are woven together, what forms is an ornate tapestry with a pattern so vivid, any inane rhetoric involving a hint of the word "platonic" is little more than ludicrous anti drivel transparently cooked up by those wishing a different endgame.

I hope you've enjoyed my second long-winded rant, @sometimesrosy, @jeanie205, @travllingbunny. One born of a teaching moment in which I learn for the umpteenth time it's best to steer clear of Twitter.

#the 100 #bellarke #b/e #c/b/e #my post

[meaningofmotorsport]

Italian Grand Prix Preview

Sprint qualifying is back, which means I can review qualifying here, and it also means more points on offer for the team which works best around this temple of speed! On today’s evidence, you would have to say that is Mercedes!

Having not won for the past 3 races, it was important that the reigning champions get back on the front foot in the championship fight for their sake. Their form guide around this track, especially compared to Red Bull in the past was very favourable, and so it proved to be this time, at least over one lap! It was not Hamilton though, who will get to start from the front for the Sprint tomorrow, instead, the man on his way out showed he still has it, as he grabbed the top spot right at the end of the session. Fair play to Bottas, as it must have been a hit for him psychologically, to know he is leaving the team, so this is a great way to bounce back.

Lewis barely missed out, and will want to take that spot back tomorrow, to get all 3 points. That is what could make the Sprint very interesting, as Bottas may want to get all the points for his own sake, whereas Hamilton needs the points against Max, who will in turn be right on them going into Turn 1. My guess would be, right now, that Mercedes will have a race pace advantage too over Red Bull, but probably less than what we saw today.

4 tenths of a second gap to first place is pretty big, given the gaps we have seen so far this year. Yet, for Red Bull, they cannot be disappointed, it is simply a side effect of their high rake set up, which causes more drag on the car. In fact, Verstappen did well to get to 3rd, as there were other fast cars out there. In both the Sprint and the main race, Max needs to attack on the 1st lap, otherwise the Mercedes will likely pull away from him, it could be fascinating to see if we get drama at the start! Perez was a sacrificial lamb today, all to get Max as far up front as they could, bearing that and their lack of pace in mind, 9th isn’t terrible for him, and he has 2 starts to make his way forwards.

With the Mercedes engine in the back, the McLaren is looking like a weapon this weekend, with both cars right up the front, nearly pushing Verstappen down to 5th. They could very well take advantage of any action in front of them, or simply have the straight line speed to attack the Red Bull. With Bottas taking an engine penalty for Sunday, they will be in the box seat to grab that final spot on the podium, depending on how well Checo climbs through the field. Credit to Ricciardo as well, for being right where he should be on pace with Lando. I hope this can become a common trend now for the Aussie, as they look to reapply the pressure to Ferrari!

It is becoming almost expected now, that Gasly will be doing amazing things over one lap consistently week after week. With his upturn in race pace, and the draggier Ferrari’s behind, it is very feasible he could stay there for both races this weekend. His teammate once again wasn’t where he needs to be, this time with track limits catching him out!

After the engine scandal of 2019, coming to a power track like this, didn’t bode well for the home team of Ferrari. Having said that, I was impressed with how they went today, and if Charles had had a smoother session, it could have been even better. Moving forwards will be tough as I said, it may be more about watching out for the Mercedes powered Aston Martin’s behind!

Talking of them, they just didn’t have that pure speed compared to those in front, but as usual should come back stronger over a longer run. Someone who did perform over 1 lap, was once again Giovinazzi, who for whatever reason has come alive in recent races. Whether he knows he is being fired, and has used the anger to fuel himself I don’t know, but it is a shame it is happening now, and not a year or two ago.

Alpine and Williams both fell back compared to Zandvoort, my guess would be that they have draggy cars, which didn’t show up on the Dutch beaches, but certainly will here. As always in this part of the field, it will be all about making the most of the opportunities you have, to try and get near the points. The Haas’ and Kubica were fairly close to the pack on pace, which is good to see, and there didn’t seem to be anymore drama between the two rookies either!

Finally, as always at Monza, slipstreams and traffic are big talking points. Again, this year we saw the stupidity and danger that comes from it. The problem is that teams will keep on doing it, because it works for them, they all want to be in the bunch at the right time, so they end up on top of one another. The fines for Alpine and Aston Martin are right in my view, as there was blatant impeding by both teams on leaving the garage. If other cars like Leclerc are penalised for on track blocking, that is probably fair too, although it wasn’t just their fault.

The solution to this seems simple to me, and even if we did it just at this track, I don’t think it would be a problem, that is one shot qualifying. It eliminates all risk of blocking and impeding, and in my opinion, gives us as much drama and suspense in qualifying as we have in it now. It would still be a 1 hour session, so works for TV, and allows every team to have 2 mins of guaranteed TV time per car for sponsors, which could boost investment in the sport. I believe it would also be a more natural way to shake up the grid, as if you don’t nail that one lap, that is it!

Returning to the action we are seeing this weekend, these two race starts could mean fireworks for any number of drivers. Especially for the main race, where it could be just Lewis vs Max! Silverstone Round 2 anyone?

-M

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#f1 #italiangp #italian gp 2021 #f12021 #formula 1 #motorsport

[440mxs-wife]

The Hunter’s Princess - Chapter 8: Communication Breakdown

Pairing: Dean x OFC Kira (eventual), Prince!Dean x OFC Lady Kira. Other Characters: Sam Winchester, Prince!Sam Winchester, Castiel, Rowena, Gabriel, King!John, Queen!Mary, Lucifer and assorted minor characters.

Chapter 8 Word Count: 3600+

Warnings: This is going to be a bit angsty. Confrontations, Misunderstandings and Threats, oh my!

A/N: This is from some material that’s been rattling around in my head from another project that changed direction. Couldn’t let all this content go to waste, though, so here it is. It’s a work-in-progress, and I will try and update as regularly as I can. If you want to be tagged in this series, send me a message!

A/N2: I would like to thank everyone for your support and your comments so far. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am having fun writing it.

Thank you and happy reading!

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"So let me get this straight....You cornered her and accused her of using some sort of trickery or magic to win the equestrian event. You were close enough to snap the locket off of her neck, but for some reason, I STILL DON'T HAVE IT?!?" Lucifer roared.

"It's not my fault! She ducked out of the way just in time, then her 'adoring fans' swarmed us in the courtyard. They jostled me around until I lost track of her," Lady Serena shot back.

"What is it with this woman?!?" Lucifer thundered. "Every time I think I have her cornered, she finds a loophole and gets out of trouble," he muttered as he paced the room.

"She and Prince Dean have been getting rather cozy lately," Lady Serena retorted. "Should I do something to break them up?" she asked.

"That particular issue is none of my concern at the moment, Serena. I have many more pressing issues that require my attention at the moment. Perhaps it's time I paid Lady Kira a visit myself. See if I can convince her to view things from my perspective," Lucifer replied ominously.

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The evening meal consisted of roast beef, potatoes and other assorted vegetables. Since Kira took first place in both competitions, her place at the table was next to Prince Dean. At various times during the meal, their hands would meet briefly under the table. After dessert, Kira wandered out on the terrace for some fresh air.

She placed her hands on the balcony railing and gazed up at the stars. She felt warm hands on her nearly bare shoulders and turned to see it was Prince Dean. "Good evening, Lady Kira," he remarked.

"Good evening, Your Highness," Kira replied, with a slight curtsy. "Lovely, isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes, you are, sweetheart," he murmured against her hair.

Kira smiled and laughed softly. "Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate the compliment, but we've talked about this. I need to go back to my world, and for that reason, I can't have any 'entanglements' while I'm here. Just friends, remember?"

"You are absolutely correct, and I apologize. Perhaps you'd like to join me in a moonlight stroll through the garden, Lady Kira? Just as friends?" Prince Dean asked.

"Thank you very kindly for your offer, but after today's excitement, I'm thinking of turning in early. I would, however, love to accept your invitation, should it be offered at another time," she answered.

"You have only to ask, Lady Kira. Until tomorrow, then," he kissed the back of her hand, then pulled her close and brushed her cheek in a chaste kiss.

"Until tomorrow," Kira whispered.

Kira could feel the blush rising in her cheeks as she made her way up the stairs to her room. Once inside, she leaned against the closed door, a thoughtful smile on her lips. The smile quickly faded when Kira saw Sarah standing against the wall, a look of sheer terror on her face. Kira also noticed that she had an unwanted guest in her room. "What exactly are you doing in here?" Kira demanded.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For Prince Dean, everything was falling into place. When his mother and father first announced this tournament to find him and Samuel a bride, Dean was skeptical that it would be successful. That was before he spent time with Lady Kira. Someone with her weapons skills and ability to handle a horse would be a definite asset to their hunting efforts.

But it was the woman herself that he found most interesting. Lady Kira was smart, kind and not afraid to speak her mind. She'd told him time and again that she didn't belong in this world, but that there is a Lady Kira that's stuck in her world. Prince Dean wondered how alike the two women were, if at all. He decided that once everything was made right again in the multiverse, he would do what was necessary to seek out his Lady Kira.

Strolling through the garden, Prince Dean noticed a yellow rose in perfect bloom on one of the bushes. Using his knife, he cut the stem and smiled to himself as he removed the thorns. He couldn't wait to see the look on Lady Kira's face when he presented her with this small token of his friendship for her. Prince Dean raced up the stairs to her room. He paused before knocking on the door because he heard another voice in her room, a male voice. The prince put his ear to the door and strained to hear their conversation.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Lucifer. What do you want?" Kira demanded.

"Relax, Lady Kira. I only want to talk. I understand you have a valuable piece of jewelry in your possession. A piece with tremendous power that could be dangerous in the wrong hands," Lucifer remarked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Lucifer. The only jewelry I brought with me is one of sentimental value. I've been wearing it every day in honor of my mother," she explained.

"Oh come now, Lady Kira, let's not kid ourselves," Lucifer chided. "We both know that locket of yours has more than just 'sentimental value'. It can allow travel between dimensions across the multiverse. For instance, you don't belong to this dimension, do you?" he asked.

"So, what of it? You don't actually think I'll give it to you, do you? I've dealt with you before, and I know what you're capable of. There's no way I will do anything that will disrupt the balance of power," Kira retorted.

"That kind of power is too much for one person or even one archangel to hold," he acknowledged. "But....if you and I were to control it together....we could rule the multiverse! Just think of the possibilities, Lady Kira! Unlimited travel, untold adventure, endless discovery," he remarked.

"Yes, all of that may be true. However, when you get tired of sharing with me, you'll snap your fingers and I'll be blinked out of existence," she reminded him.

"Oh, I don't know about that. You're a lovely woman, Lady Kira. Smart, sassy but with a good sense of humor. I find all that rather appealing," Lucifer said softly.

"The locket is one of the only ways I can get back to my world, something I am deeply committed to. I need to get back to Sam and Dean--" she started.

"Who, at this very moment, are being watched by my best demons. The minute things don't go my way in this dimension, they will strike. I truly cannot guarantee that Sam and Dean will come out alive," Lucifer threatened, his eyes glowing red.

"You wouldn't dare," Kira whispered, knowing full well he was serious. She took a deep breath and smoothed out her skirts. She sauntered over to Lucifer, stopping in front of him with very little space between them. Kira ran her hands up his chest and placed them on his shoulders. "I can see you're rather invested in making this work between us, Lucifer," Kira replied. She moved her hands to either side of his neck, teasing the hairs at the base.

Lucifer shuddered in response, telling Kira that what she was doing was having the desired effect. "I am, Lady Kira. With you ruling by my side, no one would be able to stop us," he grinned.

Prince Dean couldn't believe what he was hearing. All the time they had spent getting to know each other, becoming close friends. She was so adamant about getting back to her home dimension without 'entanglements'. He could see now that she was just stringing him along, feeding him lies while someone else was already waiting in the wings. He dropped the rose at her doorstep in defeat and returned to his room.

"Mmm hmm. However, there's just....one problem, Lucifer." Raising her voice, "It'll be a cold day in that Hell you came from before I ever give up this locket," Kira snapped. "Now, get out of my room before I call for Castiel or one of his guards," she threatened.

Lucifer yanked open the door and turned back one last time. "You'll regret this, Lady Kira. Mark my words: one way or another, that locket will be mine," he retorted as he slammed the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As soon as Lucifer left the room, Kira collapsed on her bed. She had just gone toe-to-toe with the Great Satan and lived to tell the tale. Sarah timidly stepped away from the wall and walked over to where I was sitting. "Can I get you anything, Miss? A glass of water, perhaps?" she asked.

Kira was in such a state of shock that all she could do is nod her head. As Sarah turned to leave, Kira took her hand. "Sarah, I am so very sorry that you had to go through this. You were very brave, though," Kira told her.

"Thank you, Miss. So were you," she replied, then left to get Kira a glass of water.

What was she going to do? Lucifer said he had his best demons watching Sam and Dean's every move, and could strike at any moment. Kira had to have faith that they could defend themselves against the demons. Kira knew she couldn't do the unthinkable, which was to hand over the locket to Lucifer. This is going to be a long few days, she thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning, Kira put on a pale yellow day dress and went looking for Prince Dean. She wanted to see if the offer for a tour of the gardens was still available. When she reached the stable area, she noticed Collins was saddling a horse, getting it ready for someone to ride.

"Good morning, Collins!" Kira called cheerfully. He removed his hat and bowed. "Good morning, Lady Kira. Brilliant riding yesterday, milady. I knew you would carry through to victory," he beamed at her.

Kira blushed at his compliment and thanked him. "Have you seen Prince Dean this morning? He mentioned something last night about a tour of the gardens, and...." her voice trailed off as she saw him with Lady Serena. She had her hand tucked under his arm, his head bent towards her as if sharing a secret. When he leaned back, she threw her head back in laughter.

Kira started to feel sick to her stomach at seeing the two of them together. She felt as if the time they'd spent together becoming close friends had meant nothing to him. Kira turned to leave, but not before Lady Serena called out, "Oh, good morning, Lady Kira!" She froze on the spot and waited for the prince and Lady Serena to catch up to her position. When Prince Dean caught Kira's eyes with his, they held none of the affection they once showed. "Good morning, Lady Kira. I trust you slept well," he said coldly.

She curtsied, "Good morning, Your Highness. Yes, thank you, I did sleep well," Kira responded, even though her sleep was anything but restful. "Please excuse me," she curtsied again and left before the first tear could fall. Kira heard her name being called behind her, but there was no way she was going to stop until she had reached her room.

Someone caught her hand and stopped her. Kira turned and found herself face-to-face with Prince Samuel. "Lady Kira, is everything all right?" he asked with concern.

"Yes, Your Highness. Everything is fine," Kira replied.

"I think we both know that it's not," Prince Samuel said as he guided her to a stone bench in the courtyard. "I can see that you're upset. Did something happen between you and my brother?" he asked. "One minute he's spending as much time as possible with you, and now he's turning to Lady Serena? What happened?" he asked again.

"I really don't know, Your Highness. I wish I did, because I can feel my heart breaking," Kira sniffled.

"Think back to last night. I saw the two of you at dinner, so I know something was going on between you two. Not that I mind, I want my brother to be happy, and it's been a very long time since I've seen him so," he remarked.

Kira thought back and relayed last night's events to Prince Samuel. Prince Dean asked her to take a midnight stroll in the garden just as friends. She said she wanted to turn in early, then she found Lucifer in her room. "We talked, he threatened me, I sassed him back, that's all I remember," Kira explained. "Wait a minute."

"What?" he asked.

"Well, Lucifer wants me to give up my locket. It's a 'charmed object' that would allow him free movement throughout the multiverse. When he was trying to convince me, he was sort of....flirting with me, complimenting me. At first I was repulsed, then he threatened my friends in my home world," she explained.

"Okay, then what?" Prince Samuel queried.

"Then I decided to pretend to flirt with him, make him think he was succeeding," Kira said. "It seemed to be working, but then I told him it would be a cold day in Hell before I would hand over my locket and kicked him out of my room. I remember looking down before I closed the door and saw....Oh my," she whispered.

"You saw....?" Prince Samuel prompted.

"A single yellow rose. Do you think that Prince Dean heard my conversation and thinks....oh no," Kira said in horror before bursting into tears. Prince Samuel took her into his arms to comfort her.

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Lady Serena looked over and saw Prince Samuel with his arms around Lady Kira. "Some people have no consideration for others' feelings," she shook her head sadly.

"Why do you say that?" Prince Dean asked as he followed her gaze towards Prince Samuel and Lady Kira. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the woman he thought he could trust, wrapped up in his brother's arms. "How about we visit the marketplace, hmm?" he said tightly as he steered them both out of eyesight of his brother.

"As you wish, Your Highness," Lady Serena said smugly as she allowed herself to be led out of the courtyard.

Collins had been watching the entire scene very carefully. He knew of Prince Dean's deep friendship with Lady Kira. Even from a distance, he could tell that something wasn't right between them at the moment. He decided to keep an eye on them and to try and figure out what was going on.

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Prince Samuel knew there had to have been some sort of misunderstanding between his brother and Lady Kira. He saw how they were at dinner the previous night, and he could tell she brings Dean happiness. Something he hadn't seen in his brother for quite some time.

When Lady Kira told him about her conversation with Lucifer, he'd bet the crown jewels that Dean was listening at the door. He may have heard Lucifer flirting with her, but probably didn't hear her reject him and throw him out. Prince Samuel made up his mind to talk some sense into his brother.

Prince Samuel pulled back from embracing Lady Kira and bent down to look in her eyes. "Listen, I'm going to talk to him, see if I can straighten things out. I've seen the two of you, and you have a great thing going. I know you said you don't exactly belong here and need to get home. But I haven't seen him trust someone or be this happy around another woman except you," he explained.

"That's very sweet of you to say, Your Highness," Kira replied. "And I wish it were true. Looks like he's made his choice to end our friendship and shift his attention to someone else. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to return to my room. Good day, Prince Samuel," she remarked as she left. Prince Samuel stared after her, watching as she retreated to her room.

"Begging your pardon, Your Highness," Sam heard as he turned to see Collins standing next to him.

"Yes, Collins? What is it?" he asked.

"We've just received word that there's been an animal attack two towns over from here in the Eastern Province. A few hours' ride from here, maybe less. Shall I fetch Prince Dean and Castiel?" he inquired.

"Yes please, Collins. Tell them I'll meet them back here in 15 minutes," Sam told him. Collins nodded and ran off to tell Prince Dean and Castiel about the hunt.

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Kira came back from breakfast rather suddenly, and with red, puffy eyes. Rowena went to see her in her room and ask what had happened. Between sobs, Kira told Rowena what she saw with Prince Dean this morning. "Don't you worry, dearie. Auntie Rowena is going to get to the bottom of this, you'll see," she assured Kira.

"I hope so, Rowena, because I miss my friendship with Prince Dean, and I miss my Dean at home," she choked out.

Rowena came over and gathered Kira in an almost motherly embrace. "Och, sweet child, I know your heart must be achin' somethin' fierce. I'm sure there's a miracle right 'round the corner, a way to get home. We just have to be patient and find it, darlin'," she soothed in her lilting accent.

A whooshing of wings was heard and a familiar figure appeared before them. A playful smirk was on his lips and he had a twinkle in his honey-colored eyes. "Ta-da! Behold! I bring you tidings of great joy, for I have your Get-Out-of-Here-Soon card," he announced.

"Gabriel!" Kira stepped out of Rowena's embrace and nearly threw herself into Gabriel's arms.

"Whoa, whoa, what happened, Kitten? Everything okay?" he asked. His hand rubbed up and down Kira's back, trying to comfort her.

Kira was still so upset that she couldn't tell Gabriel what had transpired between her and Prince Dean. Rowena explained about the competition and how Kira had won the equestrian challenge. "She seemed to have won the attention of Prince Dean, and the two of them had been spending a lot of time together. Until today, that is," Rowena explained.

"Why? What happened to make today any different?" Gabriel wondered.

"One word. Lucifer," Kira spat out. "He knows about my locket and what it can do. He tried to convince me to be his partner, travel the universe across all the dimensions. Prince Dean was on the other side of my door and heard our conversation," she finished.

"Why should that matter? And what did you tell Lucifer?" Rowena asked.

"I started flirting with him to make him think I was going along. He wasn't giving up on the whole, 'rule the multiverse together' idea. Prince Dean must have heard and got the wrong idea," Kira surmised.

"To answer your other question, I told Lucifer no. I also informed him it would be a cold day in the Hell he came from before I would ever give up this locket. This proves to me more than ever that we have to put our plan in motion to use a decoy locket," Kira declared.

"I'll get right to work on it, don't you worry, dearie," Rowena promised.

"Oh, hey! I did have a message for you and some information about how to get home. Your royal twin, the Samsquatch and your Dean-o figured it out. They used the lore books in the library and some of the ones in those boxes with your parents' stuff," Gabriel mentioned.

"That's great! What do we need? How do we do this? Come on, Gabe, give me details!" Kira was chomping at the bit because she wanted to be home. Anything that put her closer to that goal was something she was going to jump on and make happen.

Gabriel gave Rowena a list of the materials she would need and a sketch of the symbol to be drawn on the altar. Kira was relieved to discover that the petite, red-haired beauty had all of the ingredients. "This has to be done during the height of the lunar eclipse, so a little over two days from now," Gabriel explained. Then he went back to showing Rowena how to draw the symbol on the altar.

"Hey, Gabriel?" Kira said softly. He hummed in her direction to indicate that she had his attention. "You said you have a message for me from Dean," she asked timidly.

With a soft smile, Gabriel relented and confirmed that he indeed had a message for Kira from Dean. Once he put his hand on Kira's shoulder, the rest of the world seemed to melt away, leaving only a hazy-looking Dean in front of her. "Tell her that I love her and that Sam and I won't stop until she's back, safe in my arms," he faded away when Gabriel took his hand from Kira's shoulder.

Tears of joy streamed down Kira's cheeks. "He loves me?" she whispered.

"It would seem so," Gabriel muttered playfully.

"Is there any way that I can get him a message, like telepathically or something?" Kira asked. Gabriel nodded and whispered the words to a spell that, in conjunction with some special ingredients, would project her into Dean's thoughts.

"But, SweetCheeks, it won't last long, a few minutes at most. AND, when it gives out, you will feel nearly drained of all your energy. Like squeezing all the juice out of the lemon," he warned.

"I understand, Gabe, I just need to see him. To tell him that I love him as well, and that I'll do whatever it takes to get home," Kira vowed.

Part 9 here!

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The Hunter’s Princess Series Tags: @supernatural-love14

#dean x ofc #dean winchester x ofc #au dean winchester x ofc #au dean winchester #au supernatural #spn #The Hunter's Princess Series