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scremogirl · 7 months

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☾✧꥟ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ✧✰☀︎︎

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧

Yandere! Serial Killer x Reader

Mentions of blood! Mentions of Death! Mentions of mutilation! Mentions of Murder, GN! Reader, NReader/Diolouge uses a lot of black colloquialisms/AAVE *slightlyyyy black coded but only for the speaking bits. NO APPERANCE MENTIONED!* READ THE NOTE AT THE END PLZ! (●’◡’●)ﾉ Part 2 here Part 3 here

Halloween.

The day where people grasp the fact that the summer's over and the seasons have finally changed. Corny decorations on front porches, masks in windows to scare unaware customers, and people dressed as slutty cartoon characters.

You loved the last one. You’ve always worked hard on your costumes; from a small cameo in the school yearbook to entering contests and pageants. You loved fashion, everything about it. The different fabrics, colors, patterns; you cherished it all. So, it’s no wonder that’s what you’ve chosen as your destined career path. You somehow managed to get into the third most prestigious fashion school. I say third because the first one you applied for, was full of egotistical French exchange students who do nothing but compare their lives at home to their lives in America. The second… well, you don’t want to talk about it. Regardless, you’re so grateful your talents have been recognized.

That leads us to now. At the biggest fright fest of the year. Your professor decided that if everyone got at least a 95% or above on the unit test, he’d take the whole class on a field trip to the annual Freak do Shek Carnival. A free trip and creating a new costume? You’ve never studied harder in your life. You spent days working on your costume; hoping to win the annual costume contest.

“Breaking news! The killer know as the “Mask Maker” is still on the loose and is currently suspected to be in the Witchwood area. It is recommended for all residents to stay indoors travel in groups-,”

Your heart sinks.

No, no, no! Why does it have to be now? Why here? The area you lived in was one of the safest in the city! Police patrolled regularly, security systems were available to all, and most people have been traveling in groups these days. So, why? You look at your friend, Malika, who no doubt received the same alert as you did, judging by her face.

“Well what the hell are we supposed to do now!?” She yells in frustration. You all have arrived at the festival and the bus has already taken its leave. Unless you call an Uber, there’s no way out; but then again, with a killer on the loose, no person would be dumb enough to let any stranger in their car. You tell your teacher your concerns, but does he listen? No.

“We’ll be fine,” , “just travel in groups,” , and “make sure you check in with everyone at least every 15 minutes,” is all he says to shake your worries. Great job by the way. With that, he goes ahead with another one of the chaperones, probably on their way to get drunk on cheap beer and look at young girls. Pig.

“I know I ain’t stayin for damn sure,” you chuckle at Malikas abrasiveness and nod your head in agreement.

“Who’s gonna pick us up though? We all came here on a bus and no Lift driver is stupid enough to let strangers in at this time,” you both sigh and end up agreeing that she’d call her boyfriend to come get you. The only downside is he lives in the next county. That means 3 whole hours plus some that you two have to try and rid your paranoia.

“How ‘bout we go check out the costume display for the upcoming show? Maybe scope out some the competition?”

“You know what Malika, that sounds like a great idea,” she holds out her arm and you take it , laughing your way down the hay covered dirt path wearily dodging scare actors. Unbeknownst to you the glowing eyes of one of the masks are filled with anything but fake intent.

“Hey, Mal? Is he on the way yet?” You two have already viewed the display, concrete knowing you’re gonna knock everyone at the park. So you decided that maybe a little sightseeing wouldn’t be that bad.

“Ugh! He said he’s on his way but knowing him, that means he just got in the shower,” with a deep sigh she puts her phone back in her pocket.

“Look,” she continues

“ How about we go get something to eat and enjoy what we can. I mean, we did wait all year for this,” you’re a little hesitant but you end up caving; fried oreos do sound good right now.

The walk to the concession stands is filled with jump scares from actors, Jack, o lanterns illuminating your path and the laughter of children and adults a like. The environment reminds you of why you came here in the first place, maybe there is nothing to be worried about.

Oof!

“Oh I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” to wrapped up in the scenery and nostalgia, you failed to notice one of the actors scrambling by. You hear the muffled laughter of Malika and try your best not to strangle her to cover up your embarrassment. Fortunately , it was just the water that spilled on them; Unfortunately, your oreos lay spread eagle on the ground. However, even with a soaked costume and powdered sugar all over their boots, they remain in character. Only giving you a tilt of the head, a grunt, and tightening their grip on their axe. The eyes that lay behind the papier-mâché mask boar deep into your soul, the white contacts holding something deep and dark. The feeling of guilt is slowly washed away and replaced with anxiousness. Man, they're getting employee of the month. Still, you feel bad so you grab the napkins from your back pocket and gently wipe their mask, some of the fake blood coming off along with the water. Hmm, these effects are off the chain too.

As you clean them up you can’t help but to think that they’ll join the costume contest, definitely giving you a run for your money. You're snapped out of your thoughts when Malika pulls you along the road, whining about how upset she is because she didn’t get to snag one of your Oreos. Making your leave, you look over your shoulder one last time, only to find those same white eyes trailing your figure.

My god, you're even more beautiful up close.

“Personally, if that happened to me I’d kill myself,” once again, your friends laughter snapped you outta your own mind. You just giggle and brush it off.

“Shut up! It’s not like I did it on purpose! Besides he was kinda fine not gon’ hold you,”

“I know right! the way he titled his, had a tear running down my leg not gon’ lie,”

“Girl… don’t you gotta man? Like… on his way here?”

“Shhhh don’t ruin the fantasy,”

Two hours have officially passed, the same old texts between Malika and her boyfriend, this time however he was actually in the car. She had pressed him to turn on his location for safety, you could never be too sure now can you? He should’ve been here by now but with how crowded the festival is getting, you can’t blame him. Thankfully, the contest is just about to start! Going against your better judgment, you and Malika thought that being apart for about 15-20 mins wouldn’t hurt. She’ll be waiting in the audience while you go change anyways.

Rushing to the changing rooms you fail to notice another contestant coming towards you just as fast. For the second time this night you managed to bump into someone.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t mean I-,”

“Watch where you’re going bitch! Y’know how long it took me to make this thing?” You look to the left and then to the right trying to figure out who the fuck they think they’re talking too.

“Look I didn’t mean it, I’m sorr-,”

“Yea yea whatever, just stay outta my way next time. Besides, it’s not like you're gonna win this thing anyways,” just before you were about to give them a piece of your mind, the manager stepped in and separated you two. Jeez now this is gonna take even longer than you expected. You thought it was only fair to let Malika know shoot her a quick text. “No worries, babe! Gill's location says he’s here already so Imma grab us a quick bite to eat before I look for him and we head to you. See ya soonnn❤︎︎!!!”

Good; that buys you just enough time. After getting changed and checking your reflection for the hundredth time, you step out feeling as confident as ever. Just as you exit the stall, you hear the worst blood curdling scream of your entire life. You look over to your right and see that asshole from early and that guy with the really nice axe murder costume. Your eyes have to be deceiving you! One of their legs is completely severed, blood dripping from the stub left behind. Slash marks, deep and crooked, adorn their arms and remaining leg. They Look as if their limbs could snap off at the slightest breeze. They cry and groan as they reach out to you. Following their eyes the crazed murder shifts his eyes to you. Their weapon of choice freezing in their hands mid swing. Their victim continues to moan in pain and crawl away, begging and pleading for someone to save them. But…you just laugh.

“I see what you're trynna do here, and it ain’t workin’. Your costume is good but it isn’t better than mine. Assholes,” the last part is mumbled under your breath as you walk away. Even though you presented yourself in this prideful manner, you can’t help the feeling of disappointment that bubbles inside you. You tried really hard this year, let’s just hope that everyone else thinks you did too.

CHOP

Finally. Holding up the severed head he smiles, crooked and eerie. The bitch wouldn’t stop screaming, but at least he gets to see the look of fear in their face forever.

“Hey! What the hell’re you doing!?” hm? Turning around he sees the manager from earlier, standing before him with wide eyes filled with shock and anger. He can’t have his plans be ruined by a little slip up! He didn’t mean to act so impulsive but he couldn’t help. Nobody talks to you like that; not if he had something to do about it. Swinging his weapon of choice up on his shoulder, he’s about to take a step before he’s interrupted.

“Didn't I tell you guys to keep all spare props in bags because of the fake blood?! It gets everywhere and I’m the one who has to clean it up!” They shoved him to the side before grabbing a large trash bag from the cart they lugged behind them; simultaneously grabbing a mop and bucket. Continue to grumble about how “they don’t get paid enough for this” and “all the newbies are irresponsible”. But hey, free disposal.

“Sh, sh it’s okay; it was never your fault,” you tried comforting her but to no luck. All she can see is red as the burning hot tears streaming from her eyes ruin the makeup she spent so long on

“Okay?! It’s not okay (Y/N)! He said he was stuck in traffic all the while he was toungin’ down some bitch in a slutty cat costume. Very unoriginal btw!” You try to keep your giggle in for her sake. You kept trying to tell her this idiot wasn’t any good for years but nooo “the dick was too good to let go,” and apparently, someone else thought so too. Her weeping continues before she builds up the courage to speak again.

“All I wanna do is go home; fuck this competition,” you smile seeing her personality shine through her sadness just a little.

“Yea, fuck this competition,”sure you’re sad about to being able to participate this year, but with your best friend in distress and a serial killer on the loose, you can’t help but to think that maybe you could wait until next year. Ordering the Uber, you suggest that before it gets here, you should check in with your teacher first. Of course you don’t have his number and you're sure your other classmates are not worried about their phones unless they’re snapping pics and recording for their stories . You send them a quick text to your classes group chat and look for the exit.

“He really is a dick, you don’t need him,”

“Yea, I know. Besides, maybe that axe guy will take care of him for me,” she giggles but you don’t find it funny at all.

“What?”

“Yea, I saw him outta the corner of my eye when I walked in on he who shall not be named about to fuck that other girl,” she rolls her eyes and continues walking but you remain stationary.

“You gotta be joking,“ she turns around and gives you a quizzical look so you continue further.

“He and another dickhead I bumped into put on this whole show to get me to drop outta the contest. Lost limbs, fake blood and everything. I don’t know what his problem is, but he needs to leave me the fuck alone before I get the manager, on some Karen shit”

“Now that I think about it, he has been high-tailing us ever since we’ve got here,” she freezes before looking at you dead on. She wipes away the tear stains and brushes her nose against her sleeve before scanning the area.

“You don’t think it’s Kee-,”

“No! Don’t. It’s not him. It couldn’t be,” she holds up her hands in defense before pulling you along to get the hell up outta here. It goes dead silent, tension filling the air. It couldn't be him! It’s just some rando whos jealous of your skill! But…your mind was just playing tricks on you. That feeling of paranoia started to rise again and the flashbacks felt like they were hitting you in waves. She saw this and decided to speak up before it got worse.

“Hey, I’m sorry for bringing it up. I really didn’t mean to-,” this time it’s your turn to cut her off. You offer her a light smile and hold her hand in yours before squeezing.

“It’s alright. Besides, who needs men anyways. You’re all I need,” she gives you an even brighter one, her usual self returning, before squeezing just as hard, laying her head on your shoulder while you walk.

“Yea, fuck men,” you two laugh in sync before changing the conversation to what you’ll do when you get home; maybe a Horror movie marathon and some junk food will cheer you up. Who cares, the night has just begun for you and there’s no way anything was gonna ruin it.

Watching you walk away a gloved hand slams into a tree. Dammit! You won’t get away so easily. You’re his. Nobody else’s. He’ll make sure of it. Starting with her.

Hello everyone!!!! Hope you enjoyed the first part of my Halloween special. I’m breaking this down into 3 parts because I’m afraid people will think it’s too long if I put the whole thing on tumblr. I will be making an Ao3 and the whole fic will be posted without any split up. When it’s created and up I’ll let you know. Hope you enjoyed Loves!!! ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎.

-Love, Sosa❤️

#Yandere! serial killer #yandere x y/n #yandere x reader #yandere x you #yandere #✧✩🜚𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐈𝐂 🜸𖤐✰

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discountalien-pancake · 3 months

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How to sew “French” seams (in french they’re known as English seams, so…) by hand!

It’s actually really straightforward, at least to me. You sew each seam twice, which is extremely annoying, but other than that it’s not actually difficult.

Some basic guidelines you’ll want to keep in mind:

french seams are best for light-medium weight fabrics. With heavy fabrics you’re better off binding the seam allowances with thin ribbon.

not great for dramatic curves but soft curves can be managed with a narrow allowance.

you will be doing a lot of running stitches. Having a beading needle can be helpful for this because you’ll be able to take more stitches in one pass.

narrower final seams look prettier but are more fragile. fabrics prone to fraying (dupioni, charmeuse, linen, loose wovens, etc) need a wider seam allowance than fabrics that resist fraying (crepe de chine, cotton voile, knits). I recommend 10mm seam allowance for fabrics that don’t fray too much, and 12mm for ones that fray more (trust me, the 2mm makes a difference).

you can french seam knits! By hand! Keep in mind that you will want to use a blunt needle, like a small size tapestry needle, and you must use a backstitch for any seams that need to stretch parallel to the seam.

If you are seaming something that needs to be hemmed, i recommend doing the hemming first, before sewing panels together. If facing or binding the hem, you can do that before or after.

Start by laying your pieces right sides out, wrong sides together. Pin (or baste) along the seam line. For french seams, it does really help to cut pieces out with exact seam allowance so that you can simply align the cut edges.

Stitch parallel to the edge and seam line, a couple millimeters shy of dead center, closer to the edge than the final seam line. It may help to trace the secondary sewing line onto the fabric. Use a running stitch for this unless seaming knits or other stretch fabrics along a seam that needs to stretch in the direction of the seam. If the direction of stretch is primarily perpendicular to the seam, go ahead and use a running stitch. This line of stitching will almost never be subjected to strain, so a finely spaced running stitch is all you need. You can also use lower quality thread for this if you don’t have a lot of the nice stuff.

Press the seam allowance to one side, then the other. Really pull the layers away from each other to get the crease as close to the stitching as possible. Hold the two panels wrong sides out, right sides together, with the raw edges trapped between.

Starting from the hemmed edge, if there is one, anchor your thread in the seam allowance and whipstitch the hemmed edges together at the seam line.

Stitch along the marked seam line, which should fall outside of the raw edge. If you didn’t offset the first line of stitching enough, you may find this difficult and end up having raw edges poking through. You can use a fine running stitch for seams that won’t take strain, and a backstitch for seams that need more strength. You should use stronger, nicer thread for this as well. I like running stitch for this especially because that means i can use one length of thread for the entire length of the seam. Backstitch uses approximately triple the length of the seam + a tail, which becomes extremely unwieldy with long skirt seams, for example.

I end the line of seam stitching with a few backstitches.

Press the seam allowance to one side and marvel at how tidy they look. If the garment is mirrored, make sure the seam on the other side is ironed the other way.

Pictures below bc tumblr isn’t letting me rearrange them on mobile for some reason:

Last pic is showing a backstitched final seam. I only did that for the two side seams on the bodice because those are most likely to experience strain. All the skirt seams (6!!!) were running stitched.

In my experience, a french seam is one of the most comfortable seams to have against the skin. Ideal for shirts, fancy chemises, lingerie, etc.

I hope this explanation helped a bit! Truly the only thing you need to pay attention to is starting right sides out.

Go forth, make pretty slips and chemises!

#pancake talks textiles #stitch witchery

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booasaur · 3 months

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how are you downloading Ici tout commence?

From the official site!

First, I use a VPN to get a French IP (or Belgian--I'm not sure which they accept, I just know these two work) so I can access the network's streaming site, TF1+. You should be able to sign up for a free account without issue. This is the page for the season 4 eps:

https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/ici-tout-commence/videos/saison-4

Apparently there are always two eps in advance available for the premium subscribers but I'm not caught up plus I think it'd be a little harder to sign up for an actual paid account so I probably won't be able to do that.

So normally I would use youtube-dl/yt-dlp to download the eps but that won't work here, or at least not without some extra steps, because these are DRMed. This is where it gets a little tricky and the whole process isn't super well documented both because it changes a lot and it makes more sense to teach people to learn how to do it than how to do it and also because, well, the more these methods are spread, the more networks change things up and make things harder.

This thread can help you get started: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/412113-MYTF1-Help-needed-New-DRM-system-can-t-download

The whole forum is quite useful and I've only had to post for help a couple of times, mostly I just search my issue and read through.

That provided command in the second post, that's something to be used in your command line, on Windows in Start you can open that by typing in cmd or PowerShell or just google what you'll need for your computer.

These are the things you'll need to get to run the command:

N_m3u8DL-RE is a tool you can google and download, and also ffmpeg and mp4decrypt. You'll want them in the same folder for convenience. (I think you might need to install python too? If it says you do, then go ahead, lol.)

The way to get the key, this is the most gatekept part, probably. The various streamers out there use different methods of encryption and increasing security levels, and if you read up on it, you'll see stuff about kid and pssh and cdm and L3, it can be overwhelming, but in this case, the things you need are relatively easily accessible.

I'll tell you how to get the pssh and the license URL and you'll be able to use those to get the key. There are several tools you can use them on, one is public and easy, one is private but still easy-ish, and one is pretty complex and not a route I've gone down myself yet (it's the pinned thread in that particular forum). I don't want to link any of them myself, but I'll link to a thread that mentions the easy public one. It does go down at times which is why the hardcore people recommend that last method.

First, before you click on an ep, open up your browser's Developer Tools, usually Ctrl+Shift+i will do the trick. Go over to your Network tab, this shows all the requests your browser makes when you go to a site.

Then click on the episode in the actual browser. You'll see a flood of requests in the Network tab, filter on mpd.

Select the mpd result and the details for it show on the side, click on Preview. Scroll down until you see . A couple of lines below it, you'll see something like <cenc:pssh>AAA[a bunch of characters]</cenc:pssh>

Grab that whoooole part that starts with AAA, that's the pssh. Go to the Headers detail tab while you're there and grab the Request URL, this is the mpd link we're going to use later.

Now to get the license. Usually you can filter in your Devtools Network tab on license or, in this case, widevine. Since we're already on the Headers detail tab, grab this Request URL now, it should start with https://widevine-proxy-m.prod.p.tf1.fr/proxy?

Now go back to that easy public tool linked in that thread I linked, lol, and just fill in the PSSH and the License. Hit Send and you get a list of three keys at the bottom. I've always gone for the one in the middle and not bothered with all three, but you can try them all.

So at this point, you should be able to fully create and use the command in the first forum link above. If you read the documentation for N_m3u8DL-RE, there are various flags you can use, --save-name "Outputname" will let you name the output what you want, -sv best defaults to the best video quality, -sa best is best audio quality, and so on.

The way to get the subtitle is to turn on subtitles on the video player on the site and to go back to the DevTools box and filter on textstream. Grab the first request, the one that ends with =1000.dash and paste it into a new browser address, and change the .dash to .vtt. That's the subtitle. :) You can use the free tool Subtitle Edit to both convert it to srt, which will let most video players play it with your video, and there's also an Auto-translate option that lets you translate to English. It offers several ways but as I don't have a Google API, I just use the normal "slow" method, it's not that bad.

A second way to get the subtitle is to use the same command as when you're downloading the ep but remove the -M format=mp4 at the end, and instead add -ss 'id="textstream_fra=1000":for=all'

This was all figured out through a LOT of trial and error on my part so please do try your own best if you hit some issues, that's the best way to learn. Also, I just don't want to be the helpdesk on this, lol.

#replies #Anonymous #sent on 20240213 #whew #that's a lot #but for real unless there's a huge error in what I've said just try to troubleshoot your issues on your own :x #there seems to be increased interest in this show...I wish I was in the mood to catch up #unfortch I've stopped on both this and neighbours for now...#I don't want to waste them on the mood I'm in these days #ici tout commence

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manonamora-if-reviews · 9 months

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Rougi by Jinx/Lapin Lunaire

============= Links

Play the game See other reviews of the game See other games by Jinx or follow @lapinlunaire-games

============= Synopsis

The Palais Garnier, home to the renowned Paris Opéra Ballet, is set to premiere Les Souliers Rouges, a ballet whose very name is rumored to carry a formidable curse. As the premiere draws ever nearer, a series of inexplicable incidents in the opera house stir up a maelstrom of terror and intrigue. With whispers of illicit affairs, sinister motives, and hauntings around every corner, tensions—and the stakes—have never been higher. Here, everyone has a part to play…and everyone is playing a part. Delve through rumour and reason into the glittering Belle Époque world of the Paris Opéra Ballet and unravel what’s really going on in the wings. After all, the show must go on…

============= Other Info

Rougi is a Twine (SugarCube) demo, submitted to the @interact-if 2022 Unranked Game Jam, with Red Herring as a theme. This project is in development.

Status: WIP Genre: Historical, Mystery

CW: / - mention of death, injuries, and implied violence

============= Playthrough

First Played: 24 Feb 2022 Last Played: 9 Aug 2023 Playtime: around 3h (current demo) Rating: --- WIP Thoughts: Dizzying Twirls, Smoke and Mirrors.

============= Review

Invited for a visit at or found your way into the Palais Garnier, you are thrust into a world full of dance, intrigue, and superstitions. Your tasks is to separate fact from fiction, and make sense of the mystery afoot. No matter the supposed curse, the future of the ballet, and its corps, depends on you!

Spoilers ahead. It is recommended to play the game first. The review is based on my understanding/reading of the story.

Set during the Belle Époque in Paris, Rougi paints a vivid and dizzying picture of the ballet scene and its intrigue. Starting from the prologue, you are introduced to a small cast of characters with links to the Palais Garnier or its ballet crew, their relationships with one another, and the hints of conflicts between them. Even before the crux of the mystery is revealed, the game sets the stage for some delicious intrigue.

Thought the project is only in a development stage, the available demo already lays out an intriguing premise, a compelling and layered mystery and interesting use of interactivity (in picking up clues). The story pulls the player in different direction, through crimson strings towards potential answers or red herrings (and there seems to be many red herrings). Is the Director behind it all, due to disagreement with the Maestro? or an admirer of the Danseuse Étoile take revenge for the casting choice? or maybe the Danseuse Étoile walks the path of destruction? Could it actually be supernatural or a former foe behind it all? The game seem to take pleasure in throwing the player off the scent...

Further than the mystery afoot, there are interesting conflicts and backstories I hope the rest of the game will explore. Between the seasoned Danceuse Étoile and the naïve newcomer, will they claw each other out for the top spot or is there something more caring behind the façade? Will Élodie's part in the performance create a stir? Were Camille's failures a coincidence or were they external forces at play? What does it all mean for the ballet?

The writing is somewhat reminiscent of French contemporary(-ish) writers, like Flaubert or Balzac, in its flowery descriptions and detailed flow-y and rather sizeable text. The abundant use of imagery and metaphor adds to the strength of the project, enhancing the theatrics of the story. As dance is to ballet, so it is reflected in words here. The author has also a good attention for details, showing its effort in including the correct terminology in ballet concepts or in the descriptions of the Palais Garnier. It shows that research has been done. I also liked that the author put the MC in a very secondary/observer position. We are thrust into the setting, an outsider looking in and trying to make sense of established facts and relationships. Navigating this whole affair is both exciting and dizzying. (Is it a commentary that as players we are outsider to any story's game too?)

As a sidenote, while Les Souliers Rouges was not a contemporary ballet to the current setting (late 1800s), nor a cursed one at that, but a more recent invention, the author's plan for said ballet share very few similarities. It will be interesting to see where the story takes us and how the premise of the ballet is reflected in the path the characters will take...

As is expected with a working demo, there were some icks that stood out. Some interactive aspects were a bit out of place (like going through Camille's desk when the following line they are here in the room) or lacked the satisfying formatting of the choice list (even for single choice). Passages were at time getting a tad too long, which is a bit of a issue when saving (as Twine can save when moving to a new passage only) or reloading a page. Along with page breaks, I think a better separation between chapters/beats would help with the flow between scenes and make it a bit clearer in the time passed or in the location (maybe a header at the start?). And while I liked the UI, especially its dark colour scheme, I think the Belle Époque aesthetic could be pushed even further to complement the setting of the story (or its mystery).

This project had been on my radar since it was first submitted to the Interact-IF jam, and I've been waiting for its return ever since, hoping to bring back my ball of red twine and connects unlikely dots...

#Rougi #lapin lunaire games #interactive fiction #wip #2022 #twine game #review #historical #mystery

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cinematicct · 1 year

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Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, this jukebox musical film stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as courtesan/star attraction Satine and poor writer Christian, respectively, in a story about truth, beauty, freedom, and love above all things.

The supporting cast includes: John Leguizamo (who performs on his knees to appear dwarf-sized) as French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jim Broadbent as Moulin Rouge owner Harold Zidler (loosely based on real-life Moulin Rouge founder Charles Zidler) and Richard Roxburgh as the Duke of Monroth.

Among the dazzling performances of a terrific cast, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor both manage to add some extra sparkle to the screen as two lovers who come to realize their mutual relationship is greater than anything in the world.

The story takes place in 1899 Paris during the Bohemian movement. A nightly district of France is the Parisian neighborhood known as Montmartre, where artists, writers, performers and even visitors come together to mingle. The backgrounds are created in visually stunning (and painterly) detail since the film depicts a world of blissful entertainment as opposed to a historic setting, winning an Oscar for Best Art Direction (known today as Best Production Design).

The costumes (which won an Oscar in that category) enhance the bohemian underworld in terms of color and livelihood. Among the embroidered clothing, Nicole Kidman’s wardrobe stands out ranging from sequin outfits to proper evening gowns. It goes to show that while Satine is sensually desirable at the Moulin Rouge, she dresses appropriately after every performance.

However, apart from the debauchery, the Moulin Rouge also has a strict policy that prohibits the performer from falling in love with the customer and vice versa. Furthermore, Satine (later revealed to be diagnosed with tuberculosis) has been arranged to seduce a powerful, antagonistic Duke (who holds the deed to the Moulin Rouge) in exchange for the conversion of the Moulin Rouge into a theater. Christian on the other hand is determined to prove that love can overcome any obstacle by putting on a show.

But on top of all that, the actors’ singing draws you into the bewildering world of contemporary music against the whimsical backdrop of turn-of-the-century France. Every song contains an eclectic blend of modern pop, rock, techno and Broadway show tunes spanning the 20th century. What’s more, the can-can dancers are dubbed the “Diamond Dogs”. The track list includes both solo and medley renditions of: “Nature Boy”, “The Sound of Music”, “Children of the Revolution”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Because We Can”, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, “Material Girl”, “Rhythm of the Night”, “Your Song”, “One Day I’ll Fly Away”, “Górecki”, “Like a Virgin”, “Roxanne” and “The Show Must Go On”. The film also includes an original love theme (which serves as a secret yet powerful affirmation of love) titled “Come What May”, sung by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. In addition, a cover version of “Lady Marmalade” performed by P!nk, Mya, Lil’ Kim and Christina Aguilera is heard on the soundtrack. These songs not only reflect the intoxicating frenzy of a nightclub attraction, but they are reinterpreted as an act of creativity by a group of entertainers who appear to be ahead of their time.

Thanks to the visionary style of Baz Luhrmann, we see a groundbreaking spectacle of musicality. Plus, this particular story confirms that despite the complications of show business, the greatest thing ever is just to love and be loved in return. All that said, I recommend this enticing, original film to every lover and hater of musicals.

#moulin rouge 2001 #jukebox musical #baz luhrmann #ewan mcgregor #writer #nicole kidman #courtesan #john leguizamo #henri de toulouse lautrec #red curtain trilogy #montmartre #Paris #bohemianism #turn of the century

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misunderstoodnotevil · 10 months

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I was tagged by @barris-ftw. Thank you so much for tagging me.

Rules: Tag 9 people you want to get to know better.

Last song: Frozen Roads by Brett Anderson

Last show: I don’t watch much TV or anything really lately, but the last tv series I watched was Balthazar. It’s about a forensic pathologist who has the dead talking to him while he examines their bodies. Morbid, funny, interesting. French.

Currently watching: Re watching the first season of Person of Interest, late at night. On my computer.

Currently reading: The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss. It’s a bit difficult for me because it’s written in first person - and unless you’re one of the Bronte sisters I find it hard to get invested... But lot’s of unknown words for me, so the that’s a plus (I’m Greek). They will help when I get back to writing Thomas’ stories.

Also, I’m reading The Granchester Mysteries: Sidney Chambers and The Perils of the Night by James Runcie. (At the moment I have two AUs set in the early 50s and I am being inspired by this series of novels. I would recommend the tv series as well)

Current obsession: I don’t think I have one right now, except for writing (& an unhealthy fascination about everything going to hell. Some people are optimistic so don’t listen to me).

Tagging:

@bitletsanddrabbles

@oleander4

& tbh I don’t remember anyone else doing this kind of games, so if you want do go ahead. Say you’re tagged by me. Because you are.

#tag game

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raylex · 1 year

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💫 RAYMAN GO!!!

RAYMANRAYMANRAYMAN (DOES A LITTLE DANCE)

THANK Y'ALL FOR THE ASKS! hope both of your weekends are going good!!! NOW. RAYMAN. let me take you on a JOURNEY through the years, powered by my autism.

let's start off by asking ourselves a question like we're french philosophers. who is rayman?

rayman is the creation of a man named michel ancel. ancel had always loved videogames, and he had spent much of his life doodling little characters and coming up with ideas for them. around 1992, ancel created his favourite character: rayman!

rayman ended up being left with no arms or legs in order to be easier to animate due to, y'know, several technical limitations at the time. this ended up being a fantastic decision, because not only was it unique and creative, but it opened up for so many more possibilities than normal in regards to his moveset! ah, but i'm getting ahead of myself.

around that same time, development began on a game starring ancel's new character. at first it was planned to be released on the super nintendo, but this was scrapped and it got reworked into an atari jaguar game instead. and such, in 1995, the world was introduced to our platforming limbless wonder ❤

following the release of the first rayman game, it was quickly realized how much potential this series had for its future. tons of edutainment games were created, the game got ported to a whole bunch of different platforms, and eventually, a sequel was developed for the n64 and pc in 1999. i present to you, rayman 2: the great escape!

i would insert a joke here about "Rayman had a rough transition into 3d" but that couldn't be further from the truth. rayman's transition into 3d got nothing but praise! this game has been included in multiple lists for the greatest games of all time. suffice to say, this is a common favourite among rayman fans, and for good reason!

a fun fact about this game is that it has been ported to basically every console imaginable. it's like the doom of platforming. you could probably play rayman 2 on your calculator. rayman 2 microwave speedrun when?

anyways, during this time, a tv show was also in production! it unfortunately only got four episodes in before it was cancelled, but it's still great fun. billy west voices rayman, it's hilarious, i recommend giving it a watch. it sort of follows the scrapped plot that the original rayman 2 had.

before we get to my BELOVED rayman 3, i want to point out one port of rayman 2 in particular that's interesting: rayman revolution, released in 2000!

rayman revolution is the ps2 port of rayman 2, and let me tell you, it's got, like, hours worth of more content than the original game did. it SLAPS. in my opinion, it's my favourite version of rayman 2, but some people feel it's a bit over-bloated with all the new added content. i think it's awesome though. it's got an openworld hub world and everything!

anyways, moving on from rayman 2, we get to my FAVOURITE game in the entire franchise. i love this game so much, i could gush about it for HOURS. RAYMAN 3: HOODLUM HAVOC.

I LOVE RAYMAN 3 SO MUCH, Y'ALL. IT'S INSANE. i literally have practically the entire game memorized in my head.

so for this game, michel ancel actually wasn't directly involved with a lot of it. he did, however, help out with a new redesign of our titular main character! this was 2003, everything had to have that early 2000's edge, and rayman was no exception. so he donned a hoodie, got some sick new kicks, and got a fresh sharp new haircut. and he looks SO GOOD Y'ALL but i'm not going to go into how handsome i think he is because i'm gay enough already. BUT SERIOUSLY, COME ON, JUST LOOK AT HIM, HE'S SO BADASS.

MY LOVE ❤❤❤❤❤

although rayman 3 didn't do as well as rayman 2 did, it wasn't considered a BAD game or anything (i will fight anyone who thinks this is a bad game 😤😤😤), and so the franchise continued... and we got, uh. rayman raving rabbids, in 2006.

i'm using an older ps2 cover here purely because i think it looks cooler but the game was primarily developed with the wii in mind seeing as it ended up being a party game. initially, it was developed as rayman 4, and it was supposed to be a platformer like the others (i could rant about the scrapped prototype for a WHILE) but they tossed that concept aside because they wanted to incorporate the wii playstyle into it.

i am not a huge fan of the rabbids. they're like the minions before the minions existed. i actually didn't even know they were in the same franchise as rayman until i got into the rayman franchise, because they ended up branching off and ubisoft favoured rabbids games over rayman... so he sort of got abandoned for a while. in the period between 2006 to 2011 we got some rabbids games. i'm not going to go over them because 100% honestly i do not care for them a whole lot HAHA.

well, 2011 rolls around, and our boy rayman is back in the spotlight with RAYMAN ORIGINS!

despite its title, it's a direct sequel to rayman 3, not a prequel (though it was originally supposed to be, and it was gonna detail rayman's past and how he grew into the hero that he was, but that idea was put aside last minute).

rayman's returned to his 2d platformer roots and he's here to just go through goofy shenanigans and kick some ass and i can respect that!

in 2013, we got a sequel to rayman origins, rayman legends! another great game. i played this one with two of my friends and i had so much fun.

both really good games!

anyways for the next near-decade we just got a bunch of mobile runner games that recycled origins and legends assets. they're fine, nothing noteworthy.

nowadays, ubisoft hasn't paid much mind to rayman anymore, despite him being the mascot that got them where they are today, and they still seem to favour the rabbids, considering that they got in a game with MARIO before rayman did. but it seems like ubisoft hasn't completely forgotten about their old friend... :D

let me tell you. 2023 cannot come fast enough.

#sorry for the essay y'all i just love rayman an ungodly amount and will take any and every opportunity to infodump #ask games #frozenhi-chews #anon #💜☀️ray of sunshine☀️💜

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frenchlitclub · 2 years

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I'm sorry if this has been asked before but I'm new to learning this(self taught), so I was wondering if there's any apps or sites that you would like to recommend? Or if there's any suggestions on where I should start with learning, or just tips in general. Thank you in advance and I hope you have a great day ahead!

Hi!

I'm a native french speaker, so I've only learned the language at school, but in my experience with other languages I've learned, I would say immersion through consuming content in your target language is the most important part of the learning process. (That is, if you're not in France already, cause that would be the ultimate immersion😅) So that could be TV shows, movies, YouTube videos, a french person on social media, etc. Hearing the language will help you a lot with pronounciation, comprehension, and memory. At the beginning, you won't retain much consciously, but your brain does remember things and it'll be easier when you study. You'll be able to call back to things you've heard and make connections that way, thereby making more out of your studying. Use subtitles to help you know what they're saying, so you can take notes when there's an expression or a sentence you want to remember!

I've used the apps Memrise and DuoLingo for languages. An app alone will not make you fluent, but it will give you a pretty good base from which to continue. I also recommend starting with an app so you can see if you actually enjoy the language!! Try it for a few days or more, and see how it feels. Maybe you'll be even more interested the more you learn, or the opposite will happen, and you'll realize you actually don't like the sound of it. Both are okay! If you're learning for leisure, don't pressure yourself with a specific idea that you have of a language. Get to know it a little so you can decide if you wanna dive in.

Then if you do want to keep going, do some writing exercises. Maybe write a paragraph or a sentence in a language you know, and try to write it a second time in French. Pick topics you love talking about, things that are central to your life, stuff you want to actually be able to say! You could even pick a celebrity, show or whatever, and write an introduction to them. The key, to me, is keeping the interest of learning alive, by using other things you're already interested in. That's another reason why immersion is important: you can find new things to like that are ALREADY in your target language, and it's very likely you'll be motivated by the desire to understand them without needing to translate.

Speak out loud to yourself!! Have fun with it! It will not be perfect, but you're learning, it doesn't matter! Repeat out loud sentences that you hear in the content you watch! I do this, and I love it. Exaggerate the accent, do impersonations of characters from shows or movies you watch. It lightens the mood when you study, and it also makes you remember what you're saying better.

When you feel you know enough to have a conversation with someone else, I'd definitely recommend reaching out to other people through apps like Tandem! If you're not exactly there yet, but you want some practice with interacting with others, try writing comments under french YouTube videos, or under posts by french people you follow on social media.

As for resources, I don't have experience with any bilingual website, but elearningfrench.com seems pretty good! If you're studying for school or work, I think the best option would be a grammar textbook. It's a resource you'll use throughout the learning process, so if you had to buy anything for French, it'd probably be that. There's gotta be more helpful websites for grammar, but I don't know them, unfortunately.

I hope this helps a bit! Thank you for your question, and I hope you have a nice day too. 😊 If you have any more questions, don't hesitate! 🐝

#q&a #asks #learning tips #French study #Learning recs #Language learning

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cringy-username-dream-wanderlust · 1 year

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Top 10 movies

I was tagged by @whereforartthoumisthios. The first time I ever got tagged, thank you 🥰

Avatar The Last Airbender

THE TV SHOW, DEFINITELY NOT ANYTHING ELSE… (there is no movie in Ba Sing Se)

Not a movie, but still the best series of all time. It deserves to be mentioned and it deserves to be number one. Nothing compares. Labelled a kids show but it is so much more than that. The Asian culture, the redemption arcs, the characters, the plot, Zuko. I genuinely feel bad for anyone who never had the pleasure of seeing this.. and I don’t mean that in a degrading way. Many adults have recently watched this for the first time and love it. It’s a masterpiece. It changed my life and I will love this show forever.

Les Intouchables

The last movie I ever watched with my grandma before she passed away. It’s such a beautiful story of the meaningful friendship between two men, one who’s just trying to survive and scrape by and one who is fully paralyzed and is looking for a caretaker. Probably the most inspirational movie I have ever seen. It’s a French movie but with subtitles it is very enjoyable and I HIGHLY recommend.

Encanto

Perfect. I love this movie so much. It’s my comfort movie. Probably because I too was raised in a tight, close family with my grandma being the matriarch. I love Mirabel and as an autistic person I really relate to her and her struggles of not belonging and being left out constantly. (I’m doing much better nowadays, don’t worry haha) I also love the Colombian culture and the story. The songs are bops too. It’s so refreshing to see a Disney movie that doesn’t entirely revolve around the female main character being obsessed with a handsome man. This story is about family and it’s beautiful.

Avatar

NOT RELATED TO ATLA (no movie… Ba Sing Se…)

A classic. I can’t find the words to describe it. It’s just a beautiful, inspiring masterpiece. It’s insane how ahead this movie was of its time. Humans truly are the bad guys for a lot of living beings. If you haven’t seen it you really need to. The spirituality, the love story, the alien culture, the LANDSCAPES OMG.

Frozen 2

Better than the first one imo. And that’s saying a lot because I love the first movie. I just love the story and the sisterly bond between Anna and Elsa. I love Olaf, I love Kristoff, I love Sven. Reindeers are truly better than people.

A Cure For Wellness

My favorite horror movie. It’s such a mindfuck. It’s creepy, disturbing and it keeps you thinking from start to finish. Such a unique concept too, a horror movie in a wellness resort. It kinda makes my want to go there too if I didn’t know what happens. I highly recommend if you’re into psychological horrors/thrillers. There are no jumpscares.

Get Out

A horror movie again, but without jumpscares (maybe some tiny ones but they aren’t too bad). Without giving too much of the plot away, the stuff happening behind closed doors…It’s so messed up and it’s so sad that this is loosely based off of current racism POC are still facing. I do think the story sends a very good message though and I am glad it was made by Jordan Peele who is POC himself. The main character Chris is a very funny and intelligent person and it’s so satisfying to see a main character in a horror movie make all the right choices though.

folklore: the long pond studio sessions

I love Taylor Swift and her album folklore.

Miss Americana

I love Taylor Swift.

Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper

Sort of an honorable mention because I actually haven’t seen this movie in over a decade, but I still love Barbie movies and especially this one! It's my favorite! I used to pretend I was Erica lol. The music and the story are so good! I’ve been trying to find a dvd of it in thrift shops but so far no luck.

Thanks again for the tag girl!❤️

#tagged

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litlbean · 2 years

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⚠️Contains Spoilers!!!⚠️

The Old Grist Mill

youtube

I'm just going to go ahead and link this song because in my opinion it is one of the best songs in the whole series period.

I love how the beginning of the series makes no sense to first-time watchers but after you have watched it at least once, everything at the beginning of the first episode makes sense. It gives off the same vibes as Jojo's Bizzare Adventure's openings... The Tome of the Unknown style is in every single title screen and it makes me so aesthetically happy. It intensifies the melancholy-autumn mood that this whole show embodies and of course, the art style is just amazing. I don't think any other art style would fit this series better than this one. Can we just pause for a second and talk about how f*cking cool it is that this entire show is just one big circle? The opening scene when the narrator starts talking is Wirt falling into the frozen pond... How do people come up with stuff like this!? I wish more series/movies did this kind of stuff. It just opens the door to so many more theories and expands the lore just that much deeper. Also before this episode gets any further in I just want to mention: grist;

grain that is ground to make flour.

malt crushed to make mash for brewing.

2.useful material, especially to back up an argument.

grist for the mill — useful experience, material, or knowledge.

I just found it interesting that the episode is named after it ヾ(＾∇＾)

Beatrice is one of my favorite characters in this show besides the Frog. The name Beatrice has many meanings but the one I think that makes sense in relation to the storyline is the one from the bible: deriving from the Latin word Beatrix meaning "One who blesses others". We'll talk about her more later because she is definitely a very important character in the series and the amount of lore is just *french kiss*. I'm ashamed to admit that I missed this the first time around but it's now so funny to me that while Wirt is wallowing in his sorrows and talking versing poetry about his life- Greg is just in the background swinging around objects to see which one he could knock out the woodsman with the best.

I love rock facts. 〔´∇｀〕

🍬 The candy trail that Greg has and produces out of his pants that ultimately "leads the beast' to them (Wirt and Greg) could be taken as a metaphor for no good deeds go unpunished- or that all good things lead to the bad. The 'beast', or the bad in OTGW is led to the mill by Greg's candy trail that was supposed to lead Wirt and Greg back out of the Unknown. One of my favorite lines from the show is when Greg sees the 'beast' and says "You have beautiful eyes". Greg always looks for the good throughout the series and that makes me happy （＾ｖ＾）

🐢 The Black Turtles ~

These guys show up everywhere. I recommend you read the short article about them from the wiki that you can find here. I love these things. They're so mysterious, rare, and never explained. It never is even explained why Wirt says later in the series to Auntie Whispers that he "came to burgle her turts!". Does Wirt know something to do with the turtles that the watcher doesn't or is he just being observant and trying to make up an excuse on the fly? (More about that later in the series) It's such a good example of an uncanny valley~ they are turtles but they're black..? Black turtles don't exist in real life** and the ones in OTGW seem either to be just a singular turtle (although its never specified ).

** I kind of went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole and found out that "black" turtles do exist. Okay, so they're not entirely black but they are at least darker in color than your average sea turtle. Even farther down the rabbit hole, I started to find some things about Chinese Astrology and what certain constellations mean to them. The one that I found is the most 'relevant' (a.k.a I think it just matches the theme of OTGW the best). This is kind of complicated because of course, everything is disputed because legends and myths are always disputed so I'll try to explain this in the least confusing way possible: So the moon travels around the earth in a total of 27.32 days. Scientists track this progress by calculating the longitudes along the orbit (called an ecliptic) and then split it up into 28 different segments called Mansions or Stations (and sometimes even houses for some reason?). Anyways, ost often these were used by ancient cultures as part of their calendar systems. One of these cultures is ancient China. There's more... "The 28 Lunar Mansions are divided into four clusters, with each cluster made up of seven constellations"... There's a lot of math involved in all of this and I'm not an astronomer so I'm not sure how all of these connect but anyways I will put a pretty picture to kind of give you an idea of what I'm talking about here. Now... how does this connect to OTGW? Well, 2 things: 1. All of these Moon Stations make up "The Black Tortise of Winter" which according to this Wikipedia passage states that the Black Tortise corresponds to astrology and traveling to the underworld to guide people. 2. The 11th Moon Station of the "Black Tortoise of Winter" has a Chinese character meaning Emptiness. (pictured below)

I think that all of this concentrated around emptiness and the underworld largely reflects the ideas of the Unknown in OTGW. The Unknown is like a different world where people who are lost go to never be seen again. Kind of like Hell or the underworld. It's vast and has very few inhabitants. The turtles showing up in the movie could be almost like a guiding figure.

I appreciate the fact that the 'beast' in the beginning is Beatrice's dog. I just love dogs and that little extra added touch for the whole full-circle vibe of this show just makes me happy. "Aint that just the way" Burdens and burdens that are needed of bearing are mentioned in this episode and then never again but I still want to acknowledge that the Woodsman kind of predicts that Wirt will take on most of the problems in this show following this episode. Taking the blame, solving problems, etc., etc. which is most likely the reason why he gets turned into an adle wood tree first before ultimately Greg does. Kind of a statement piece on how difficult it is being an older child and looking after your younger siblings. This whole sentiment of "oh, your younger sibling is too young and doesn't understand, and therefore shouldn't get blamed" really can affect the elder sibling and like Wirt in the end, make them lose hope over time. Getting blamed for other people's problems is a tough situation and I think that way too many eldest children get put in the same boat. Especially at younger ages, this can cause severe problems later on down the line. I love the frog. I also love this drawing by @wabidrawbi

keep drawing friends. you're doing amazing <3 XOXO

#Youtube #over the garden wall #otgw #otgw aesthetic #greg otgw #otgw wirt #otgw spoilers #otgw fanart #wirt #greg #otgwfan #otgw beatrice

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livelysonletour · 2 years

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Barcelona>Toulouse>Lourdes

When traveling abroad you may feel compelled to secure your transportation weeks or even months in advance. Us? We decided to just plan our route from Spain to France well ahead of time and then purchase our tickets later in person. 36 hours ahead of time. On a holiday weekend. While, as it turns out, French railroad operators were on strike. Oh and the route we had planned was no longer in operation.

Now to be fair to whichever one of us came up with this plan (thank God it wasn't me), we did visit the train station and attempt to buy tickets 56 hours in advance (9pm), but sadly the long distance travel sales windows had closed. Sadder still, the empty ticketing queue, which required you take a number and wait for it to pop up on a screen (a la the DMV), would not be indicative of the following day's wait time.

So, the next day, 36 hours out, we got a number. Shortly thereafter we decided we would try our hands at navigating the sometimes-translated self service kiosk, so we threw our number away. Toulouse wasn't popping up in the search (we suspected something was amiss with the route, later revealed to be out of commission) so we found the closest town we could and decided we'd figure out local travle from there. Great. We spent 10 minutes clumsily typing in our details, swiped our credit card, and "Incapaz de comprar boletos. consulte a un agente." We grabbed another number.

After our 1 hour wait, the agente made this exact face when we said we were trying to get as close to Toulouse as possible on Sunday: 😬. After some unsuccessful keyword searches, an explanation of the French holiday, and some desperate attempts at piecemealing a route together, we were advised to find a bus.

Despite some initial panic over never being able to leave Barcelona (and jokes about how this felt like the time Cat’s dad “almost” got stuck in Austin), some concern over bus travel safety, and my idea to abandon frugality and buy plane tickets, we decided to get a bus. A few recommendations from the concierge and Reddit later, we picked out a bus company and enjoyed our final day in Barcelona.

Cat did pretty well on her first commercial bussing experience (not my first -Cat), an adventure I am very familiar with from our early days of dating. The gas station stops made her feel right at home.

(Note from Cat - I waited on the bus with our stuff while Garrett went inside to use the bathroom. When he came back he asked if I wanted to go inside, to which I responded “what is the Kinder selection like?” And he immediately pulled up this picture on his phone to show me. Just more evidence that Garrett can read my mind, he just chooses not to.)

After a few stops and exchanges, we made it to our hotel in Toulouse. I wish we could've spent more time in the city itself. We will have to come back.

The next day (today), we met up with our tour group and headed in to Lourdes in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We will be staying here for a while, but we will travel out everyday to various spots the bike race will be passing through.

We did a "petit train" tour with our group, and learned all about the town's holy water, some castles, and a steep cablecar running up the mountainside. But I'm sure we will have more to share about Lourdes in a future post.

So far throughout our trip, we have had many missteps:

We've miscalculated how late things will be open, how busy events will be, and how quickly we'll be able to do things.

We don't know if we are supposed to ask for the bill or wait patiently at each restaurant.

There is never enough water. And it is never cold enough.

I've had a sinus infection (pray for Cat).

We struggle to withdraw Euros (primarily because Cat keeps her debit card locked and forgets to unlock it at the ATM.)

We are still learning how to order coffee.

Cat hasn't picked the right shoes for the day yet (blisters abound).

Cats hair straightener broke the second she plugged it into the outlet in Spain. I’m told this is a very big deal.

But, we've been very fortunate:

Winston helped us get here very affordably.

Mom and Gibson have given us peace of mind leaving Sir back home.

Nanny and Pepa inspired us to go on this crazy adventure in the first place, and made some great recommendations.

All of you reading this encourage us to journal and commit this experience to memory.

And Cat picked out what has to be the most incredible experience an outsider could get when attending le tour.

We're very excited to get started on this part of the trip.

#submission

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skateamini · 1 month

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I had my Hannibal obsessed phase (especially because of Mads Mikkelsen). I love this kind of art, dark, strange and morally dubious with lots of blood. I watched Bones and All (again, because of Taylor Russell) and really liked it.

About All of Them Dreams, I really think the movie A Ghost Story will make you think, it's like its description of the story. There is also a book called The Ghost Bride that addresses the world of spirits in Malaysia, it is a fantasy with a lot of Asian culture.

This year I read Carmilla, a classic vampire book that came long before and which inspired Dracula, about Carmilla and her obsession with beautiful women, especially the book's protagonist, Laura. It has everything that the term "vampirism" carries.

There's a film about cannibalism called Raw, it's very explicit, but it has some interesting discussions.

A list of films that are unique, in my opinion:

Antichrist is about a couple who lose their son and deal with their grief, but things go south in Act 3.

Climax is a crazy movie too, it makes me think of Hoseok because it has an opening about dancers explaining why they dance and then a long presentation with various dance styles, but again, things get dark.

Martyrs from 2008, in French (the remake is not worth it) about a religious sect that tortures people so that they are between life and death and can glimpse the other side and tell what they see.

I watched All of Us Strangers yesterday and, my god, the ending left me with my mouth open. It's Queer and talks a lot about loneliness. A writer visits his childhood home and meets his parents, but his parents died when he was a teenager. Meanwhile he starts to get closer to his neighbor.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer was one of my first in the "bizarre" genre.

I have more recommendations, but I don't know if you want them? I think I've already written too much.

No, thank you! Go ahead and recommend everything. My favourite kinds of media are those that are "bizarre" and strange!

To balance it out, here's some films and books that I enjoyed for being dark and strange:

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires - a lot more gruesome and dark than the title insinuates! About a vampire. Weird stuff going on. A great allegory for community groupthink and underprivileged voices not being listened to.

Piranesi - the narrator lives in a great hall, flooded by the sea and full of columns and ancient greek statues. A really strange and magical world with a darker undertone!

House of Leaves - a really dense and convoluted novel with an "editor" writing and editing text around the story of a family who discovers a door in their house that leads into a dark and endless labyrinth

Handling the Undead - one day the undead wake up, and chaos ensues! Dark, haunting but also tragic.

Where I end - a dark and twisted story about a young woman who looks after her bedridden mother (read TW for this book regarding infanticide and abusive behaviours, etc.).

Here are some films that inspired All of Them Dreams:

The Devil's Backbone - takes place during the spanish civial war, boy abandoned in orphanage in the middle of nowhere, a ghost of a little boy tries to warn him.

Incantation - Taiwanese Horror Film about a mother who has cursed herself and her daughter, found footage style

The Wailing - Korean horror film, folk horror and shamanism.

The Others - woman whose husband is off at war lives in house with her two young children, strange servants show up one day to work, strange things happening in house.

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bllsbailey · 5 months

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Israel, Do Not Place Your Security in Joe Biden's Hands

Hezbollah has all but made it official that they’ve declared war on Israel. The Jewish state is waging an existential battle against the terror group Hamas, which launched a genocidal attack on October 7 that murdered over 1,200 people. Israeli forces have hit terrorists not just in the Gaza Strip but throughout the region. Wherever these groups were reportedly being housed, the IDF launched airstrikes. Hezbollah is the most well-equipped and trained foe Israel faces on its border now; they have ballistic missiles. With rocket attacks intensifying in northern Israel, it was seen as inevitable that the IDF would invade southern Lebanon again.

Israel invaded Lebanon twice before, in 1982 and 2006. For over ten years following the 1982 incursion, they remained in southern Lebanon until their withdrawal in 2000. With the Hamas attacks, Israel has made it clear that unless the UN and the Lebanese government get their act together and retake control of the southern part of the country from Hezbollah, they will go in and do it. Most air operations are now being geared toward Lebanon. The Wall Street Journal reported that in October, Israel was prepared to launch a massive pre-emptive strike against the terror group. Still, Biden was able to talk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of it (via WSJ):

President Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon days after Hamas militants’ Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, warning that such an attack could spark a wider regional war. Israel had intelligence—which the U.S. deemed unreliable—that Hezbollah attackers were preparing to cross the border as part of a multipronged attack, pushing some of Israel’s more hawkish officials to the brink, officials said. Israeli warplanes were in the air awaiting orders when Biden spoke to Netanyahu on Oct. 11 and told the Israeli prime minister to stand down and think through the consequences of such an action, according to people familiar with the call. The Israeli attack didn’t go ahead. And the conversation between Biden and other U.S. officials and Netanyahu and his war cabinet—the details of which haven’t been previously reported—set a pattern of White House efforts to guard against any expansion of the conflict that could draw in the U.S. […] The U.S. role in stopping Israel from carrying out a massive attack on Hezbollah in October shows the critical role diplomacy has played in preventing the conflict from metastasizing into a larger regional war. […] There are signs of progress in the diplomatic efforts, however. Lebanon Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has told French interlocutors that his country is ready to work on a deal, according to Lebanese officials. And after more than two months of strikes that have delivered a significant blow to Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, Israeli officials also expressed optimism that the militant group would agree to withdraw its forces from the Israel-Lebanon border. “The feeling is that this is doable now,” one of those officials said.

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The sign of a possible deal is a positive development, but no one should be taking victory laps. We all know talk is cheap, especially when one of the negotiating parties is a terrorist. Also, the risk of regional war is still real, and it wouldn’t shock me if the foundation for a Lebanese deal collapsed. It’s frustrating, to say the least, how some folks cannot grasp that no peace agreement can ever be forged when one side’s position is that all Jews should die. Israel’s destruction is a top priority for Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and any other radical Islamic terror group. You cannot deal with these people, and Israel appears finished with tolerating this puppet show anymore.

Also, Israel, for the love of God, do not trust Joe Biden, a man who has been wrong on every major American foreign policy decision for the past 40 years, with your national security decisions.

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