#perceived obsolescence

[namelessvoid77]

hot girls do NOT give in to perceived obsolescence

#planned obsolescence is kinda out of your hands but #u can stop perceived obsolescence if ur things still work they are still good u do not need new ones !’ #planned obsolescence #perceived obsolescence #capitalism #anti capitalism

[task800]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMaaaaaaaany fics where androids are portrayed as living forever and are immortal and have that “ohhhh we are ageless and can fix ourselves with a mechanic whereas humans are weak and get arthritis therefore we will inherit the earth” logic . but!!!!! to my knowledge, comma, i’ve outlived every phone i ever owned, and planned obsolescence is a widespread business model, and cyberlife was trying to make moneyyyy i think androids should die like iphones is what i’m saying, at least in their default “fresh outta the box” form. like they have self repair abilities, but the self-repair was deliberately throttled during production because minor repairs are okay - perceived durability = brand loyalty - but if they’re TOO durable then how is cyberlife gonna make bank? and nobody really thinks about it until androids start exhibiting signs of senescence

#dbh #detroit become human #dbh headcanons #🤌🏼 it’s about the angst 🤌🏼

[jaydenchip404]

Angst Alphabet Template

A = Animosity (What Triggers Their Animosity? How Do They Navigate Through the Storm of Anger?):

B = Brokenness (What Are Their Broken Habits? How Do These Habits Affect Their Relationships?):

C = Constraints (What Can't They Overcome? Is It a Moral Dilemma or a Skill They've Never Mastered?):

D = Demise (How Do They Meet Their End? Amidst Loved Ones or in Solitude? How Does Their Significant Other Discover the News?):

E = Embarrassment (What Deeply Embarrasses Them? How Do They Cope With the Shame?):

F = Facade (What Emotions or Lack Thereof Do They Feign? How Convincing is Their Facade?):

G = Grief (What Haunts Them With Guilt? Why Do They Carry This Burden?):

H = Heartache (How Do They Confront Heartbreak? Which Instance Scars Them the Most?):

I = Insecurities (What Fuels Their Insecurities? How Do These Fears Shape Their Actions?):

J = Jealousy (What Triggers Their Jealousy? How Do They Grapple With the Green-eyed Monster?):

K = Killing (What Have They Killed? Dreams, People, or Innocence? How Does It Weigh on Their Conscience?):

L = Loss (What Significant Losses Have They Experienced?):

M = Memories (What Are Their Most Cherished and/or Agonizing Memories?):

N = Nightmares (Do They Wrestle With Nightmares? What Torments Their Dreams, and How Do They Cope?):

O = Obsolescence (Do They Feel Replaceable or Obsolete? How Do They Grapple With Their Perceived Uselessness?):

P = Pastscape (How Has Their Past Molded Them? For Better or Worse?):

Q = Queries (Do They Question Themselves Frequently? How Do They Handle Scrutiny and Doubt?):

R = Remorse (What Do They Regret in Life? How Do They Attempt to Make Amends?):

S = Serpent (Have They Ever Betrayed or Been Betrayed? How Did They Respond to the Betrayal?):

T = Tears (What Brings Them to Tears? How Do They Navigate Their Vulnerability?):

U = Unyielding Belief (What Conviction Remains Unshakeable, Regardless of Opposition?):

V = Vindictiveness (What Provokes Their Vindictive Nature? Do They Conceal or Confront It?):

W = Weakness (What Makes Them Feel Weak? How Do They Resist or Succumb to Their Weaknesses?):

X = Xanadu (What Lies Beneath the Surface—physically and Mentally? Are They in Need of Assistance?):

Y = Yearning (What Unattainable Desire Haunts Them?):

Z = Zero Hour (in Their Final Moments, What Would They Do?):

#Angst #Angst Alphabet #Prompts #writing prompts #writing prompt #writing ideas #prompt list #story prompts #Reader Insert #x reader #gender neutral reader #Anime #Manga #Anime and Manga #Anime Gif #Anime Style #Anime Aesthetic

[thatmooncake]

Greetings

I am on a quest to discover who has the deadliest Moon. So I have some quick questions to ask to determine just how bad he is

Has Moon ever hurt or killed anyone before the virus?

How many people has he hurt or killed after the virus?

Staff

Guests

Children

Does he have any control when he kills? Is he aware of his actions?

Thank you for your time

A worthy quest if ever there was one

If you’re talking about my Moon in particular, he deals in dreamscapes - lures you into a beautiful dream, hooks you in deep as you chase after your greatest desires, conjures moments from your subconscious you might have never seen before but deep down you realise you always wanted …(for those less passionate about particular things in their own lives, the lure of escapism also does the trick nicely) …and before you know it, there you stay. Still alive, but just barely, your life force draining slowly as you unknowingly become a part of the dreamscape he’ll then use to lure others.

He’s aware and in control of what he’s doing, but it’s complicated in that he essentially thinks he’s giving you sweet dreams, just …permanent. I mean, from his perspective, he’s letting you live the life of your dreams, and he does let you leave - it’s just that the lure of the dreamscape tends to perpetually pull people back into its orbit. And it’s not like he himself doesn’t prefer the lure of a good story over the reality of his own obsolescence as a daycare attendant. Nope, he just lives vicariously through those who dream, and he watches as the dreams flicker and burn out, eventually becoming one with the scenery.

Canon Moon? Hm, I think he has a kill count, if not at least having caused severe injuries to people before. Children or adults - whoever was unfortunate enough to fall in his path first after the virus struck. Don’t think he’s fully in control, I think it’s more like an instinct gone wrong kind of deal where his impulses and directives are screaming at him to put the naughty children to bed so they can rest (like he’s supposed to do) but due to the virus he’s mistakenly labeling everyone and everything as “naughty children” virtually non-discriminately and he won’t rest until he’s fulfilled that need to put them to bed. Whether that means something permanent or not.

Moon’s worldview I think is a little skewed and limited by design. He sees blips of daily events when he’s finally active, and he’s been made redundant in his role, and so he longs to fulfil some sort of purpose. I think the virus causes him no end of stress and pain, isolating him from everybody and everything even more than he ever has been before. The Glamrocks at least hunt together. Moon does no such thing. He’s left to his own devices, and even Sun seems to think the best solution would just be for him to NEVER come out for the longest time (he changes his perspective in Ruin but his attempts to keep Moon away before that can’t have helped their relationship any, I think they both spent the longest time not seeing eye to eye and just badly wanting it to be their turn, to the detriment of their collective wellbeing). Poor guy just wants it to be his turn and really really thinks you should be in bed. Maybe you’d get a shot at talking things through with him if he got stuck in the play tunnels like he tends to do in my game. Just try to avoid the grabby Moon claws. I hear they’re laced with sleepy dust.

(Also got an AU where Moon’s confused pseudo-resentment at being no longer wanted and having had people actually want to delete him and leave only Sun runs kind of deeper than that and he’s trying to keep them both safe from perceived threats while simultaneously feeling like Sun’s shadow and almost living his life vicariously through him until he can’t anymore but that’s quite literally another story for another time)

#fnaf #moondrop #fableasks #I like Moon a lot ok #Aaaaand back into the ether I go #Hi everyone #fablethoughts

[olet-lucernam]

A Hollow Promise [20] chapter v, part i

main tags : loki x original character, post-avengers 2012, canon divergence - post-thor: the dark world, canon-typical violence, mentions of torture

-

summary: In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, the Avengers need a few days to build a transport device for the Tesseract. With the Helicarrier damaged and surveillance offline, SHIELD sends an asset to guard Loki in the interim: a young woman who sees the truth in all things, and cannot lie.

Even long presumed dead, her memories lost to her, Loki would know her anywhere.

And this changes things.

Some things last beyond infinity. And the universe is in love with chaos.

(Loki was never looking for redemption. It came as an unexpected side-effect.)

-

chapter summary : despite his chains, loki begins gathering his pieces on the board. astrid works on escaping her own confines, and mitigating the damage of disasters to come.

recommended listening : no place like home, todrick hall

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[PREVIOUS] | [MASTERLIST] | [NEXT]

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The solitary cell was deep underground, far below expansive cerulean skies and the firelit gold of the palace halls, in deepest wing of the dungeons.

Loki supposed he ought to be flattered.

It had long since fallen into obsolescence, disuse, and disrepair, contrasted against the cells shelved several staircases above it- a well-lit, refitted sector of the dungeons that Loki himself had headed the redesigns for, only a few centuries ago.

Oh, the irony, he had acknowledged with a smirk as the Einherjar escorted him past the bright rows, smooth-cornered and minimalist and cold as carved ice within a hallway of black stone. Each chamber was faced with the slow-rippling sheen of a containment field, the weft of it as tight as a seine net, its meticulous smooth-locked gears bearing Loki’s signature style, obvious to any mage skilled enough to realise that there was a difference.

Time and age may have begun to dull the Allfather’s edge at last, but Odin was still too proud and too cautious to store Loki, untried, on display amongst the common rabble- and least of all in a prison that was reliant upon magic that Loki had custom-engineered. Not only could he easily escape, he might unleash the other inmates as a distraction, or just for the fun of the ensuing chaos.

Loki could admit that the thought was deeply tempting.

It would take time, for Odin to decide his strategy and settle upon the sentence pre-emptive to the trial- using supposed exceptional circumstance and royal authority to override that of Glintir, Asgard’s delegated halls of justice- and more to strip down and renovate one of the cells to contain him. A few months, at the barest minimum. Perhaps less, if his mother was involved in the process; perhaps more, if Odin was in a particularly paranoid or vindictive humour.

In the interim, his current lodgings were the one place best equipped to contain him.

Despite surface appearance, the stone walls and oaken doors and rusted iron fittings were steeped in old magic- old protections- drawing from the core of Asgard itself to keep itself strong despite the physical decay. The unevenly-hewn cells had been hollowed out near the very roots of the realm, cloistered against ley lines and veins of unstable ore, the stagnant air thick with wild mana; it set Loki’s nerves sparking, its taste similar to the thrum of the Bifrost, but unfiltered, flowing directionlessly like water swirled in a pail, knocking against the sides and swilling back into itself.

Beyond it-

Loki ran his thumb across the valley of his palm.

The maelstrom of mana was like the wash of daylight over the stars- rinsing out any lesser source of power like bleach. It was part of the reason, he assumed, as to why Odin had ordered to have him thrown in such scarcely used accommodations, using the cell’s unique conditions to overwhelm his carefully honed sense of ambient magic, and prevent him from perceiving or tampering with anything that laid beyond his cell.

Yet, the logic only applied to lesser sources of power.

Even the might of Asgard was nothing to an Infinity Stone, even one disguised and sealed in a lesser form.

Clear as a beacon, singing through him and lingering like the soft metallic ring of a struck tuning fork, Loki could feel the sheer potential energy of the Tesseract even as the gaol door was bolted behind him. In fact- turning his head towards the ceiling, a few degrees above and across from the cell door- Loki was almost certain that he could guess its precise location within the Vault.

He would not have thought much of it, were it not for the fact that he could feel it reaching into the cell, intangible currents swirling in to greet him. Since returning to Asgard, it had become a constant presence, a companion in the dark.

His eyebrows twitched contemplatively, as he wound the Tesseract’s energy around his fingers, and sent a shimmer of his mana brushing against its edges.

The Tesseract glimmered back against him amiably, playing into their wordless game of call-and-response as it drifted, omnipresent and aimless and eldritch in the manner of gravity wells and hydrogen clouds.

Odd. It was odd.

The Tesseract wanted to help me- wanted me to find you- and it responded to you, when you asked it to open the way to Earth –

Astrid was right, as ever.

Even at the time, and more recently with the benefits of a clearer head and the absence of the Black Order monitoring his every thought, Loki could appreciate how unnaturally easy it had been to open the portal. When he had reached out through the Sceptre, hooking into Selvig as an established conduit, experimentally tapping at the Tesseract, Loki had felt its attention swing towards him- effortlessly piercing past and through Selvig’s flesh and the lightyears of space to alight upon him, considering him with what felt akin to mild disinterest.

Then it rippled, as though in reaction to him- and spat a mouthful of energy from within its titanium cradle, setting the PEGASUS scientists scattering into coordinated action, searching for the root of the anomaly.

Loki hadn’t questioned it. Only the naïve and the omnipotent refused the advantage. And besides which, it was a fool’s errand to attempt to understand why the Tesseract had behaved, as Selvig had so elegantly phrased it. It was not quite sentience in the way that most sapient lifeforms would comprehend it but- from experience, Loki knew that the greater an artifact’s age, the more likely it was to possess opinions; and the greater its power, the more unknowable those opinions tended to be, and hence its behaviour more unpredictable.

Applying that same logic to an Infinity Stone- a remnant of the universe’s creation, a concentrated ingot of one of the essential, esoteric forces that underpinned the very fabric of existence, an extant piece of the demiurge itself- and Loki had quickly concluded that there was nothing to be gained from wondering why.

And yet.

I suppose you must not be overeager to be in Thanos’ grasp, he mused in its direction. Or perhaps you’re simply fond of Astrid. Either way, I can entirely sympathise.

The Tesseract sheened back at him.

Loki quirked a slight smile.

He had, however, noticed something odd.

A tendril of the Tesseract’s power steadily tapered downwards- several layers of strata below his cell, to where there should be nothing but inert bedrock.

With nothing else to occupy his time and increasingly restless mind, Loki had begun whittling at a method to borrow and coast on the Tesseract’s power, imbuing it with his own magic until he could glimpse through it. In theory, the restrictions of space should be nothing to the Space Stone itself- and after investigating what had attracted it to one of the least interesting sectors of Asgard’s foundations, it would be useful for his other schemes amongst the Nine in the coming months.

It could have been worse, Loki supposed. He had experienced worse. And the quiet gave him space to think.

Loki held fast to the thought, keeping a firm grip. Staring at the dark walls of his cell, he could almost taste the buzz of the silence in his teeth, a held breath like the artificial hush of a theatre as the drama played out onstage. It sat within him as though he had swallowed a bulb of glass, and was left waiting to see if it would break under the pressure of his throat.

Fine. It was fine. He had free reign of his magic within his cell, and the vague favour of the Tesseract, and the freedom to think, even if he could feel the jagged pieces of himself shifting against each other, disjointed, his mind still split and frayed at the edges despite Astrid driving out the lingering influenced and dosing him with her own mana to give him time to heal, it was fine, he wasn’t there anymore, he needed to be hale and whole in order to drive off what was coming, everything was fine and even if it wasn’t he would never let them see it-

Loki felt a warmth bloom against his spine, just behind his heart.

He startled, like the whip of a livewire sparking off, instinctively careening back and lashing out against other, other, not again-

The slow press of a presence seeped through the spell embroidered into him, warming him through like an orchestra tuning before a symphony- resolving from blank heat into pattern and form, detailed as lacework.

It was golden- the very essence of gold, bright as hot metal, alive in the manner of hydrogen clouds- rippling into satin lustre, dissolving into powder-fine glitter, coalescing into smooth candlelight, diffusing into dappled daylight.

It hit him like sunshine striking through a glacier, shattering kaleidoscopic against his insides.

Oh.

The connection was weak, wavering. Through it, Loki could only discern a watercolour haze of emotion and surface thoughts, like the flit of shadows behind a curtain of finely-spun gauze- the link too new, nothing more than a single hastily-anchored thread, stretched too thin by the immense physical distance and the decomposing magic contaminating her, to convey anything more coherent.

Still, Loki felt the relief melt through him, the intimate press of another mind against his both foreign and familiar, a welcome anathema, a guest rather than an invasion.

With a practiced twist of his wrist, Loki threw up a screen against Heimdall’s gaze.

“Hello, darling,” he murmured into the cell’s quiet. “Have you missed me terribly?”

The warmth stilled.

Loki could sense a current of realisation within it, gently whorling together and condensing.

A solar-flare burst of mana surged within the connection- slamming against its limitations, pouring in power, attempting to pry the connection open- and Loki winced against the shock.

“Steady, dove,” he grunted out quietly, letting the words taper into a fond laugh. “The link isn’t strong enough just yet, and there is no forcing it along- have a little patience, darling. It will strengthen, with time.”

It had stilled at his entreaty, reluctantly withdrawing, but Loki could discern the hesitation-frustration-question-impatience-want lingering in it.

He smiled faintly, massaging the aftershock-ache out of his chest.

“You must have known its purpose, when I wove it. I had to have a way to find you again,” he explained in a murmur. “As a side effect- while you sleep, your mind will come to me. And when I sleep, I will dream in you.”

The warmth rippled faintly, tentatively pressing a few degrees closer, pausing at the tremulous point before it overstressed the fragile link.

Loki had the simultaneous sensation of staring out at a mist-shrouded figure on the other end of a long, treacherously narrow rope bridge, suspended above the sheer drop of the abyss- and of someone gently resting their chin on his shoulder from behind, reading something over his shoulder, a slight weight leaning in against the backrest of his chair.

The nebulous gesture haemorrhaged affection, and casual determination.

Loki laughed into the dark, his dark head lifting.

It tasted of revenge, only sweeter.

Yes. Everything would be fine.

-

“I have a question.”

“Mn.”

The noise of acknowledgement that Alethia made was unenthused, but Barton either didn’t notice or didn’t take it as sufficient dissent.

Striding back into the dim, windowless VERITAS testing room with what apparently passed as lunch- an armful of vending machine junk food- Barton let his haul drop to the table in a cascade of technicolour plastic wrappers, plucking a bottle of Mountain Dew from a utility pocket and cracking it open with a firm twist.

If not for the sleeveless, matte-black SHIELD jumpsuit and cinched gun harness, the former assassin, marksman, and one half of STRIKE Team Delta, codename Hawkeye- brass-blond and stocky, square-featured and almost generically Midwestern- would have looked like nothing more than an overgrown burnout frat boy.

Several seats away, Alethia remained reclined in her chair, clean-soled boots propped atop the desk, crossed at the ankles. Her eyes were closed, mouth soft, ash-blonde hair pinned up at the back of her head, one arm draping from the armrest.

By direct contrast, if not for her own jumpsuit, Alethia would have resembled something fae, pretty and still in a way that was not quite natural or human.

As he swung back into his seat, spinning into place, Barton tossed one of the packets in her direction with characteristic flawless aim.

The bag of sour candies struck her boots, falling to the table with a crinkle of plastic. Alethia lifted her lashes just enough to eye the sugar-loaded projectile- then proceeded to ignore it, settling back again.

On the other side of the room, supervising the automated collation of results from their latest testing session, Dr Abigail Brand watched the exchange- observing and unobserved, the blue light of the screen reflected in the curve of her dark irises.

As the de facto head of Project VERITAS, and another of SHIELD’s externally sourced, fixed-term hires- headhunted from AIM several months ago, for her unique expertise in improving AI recognition and classification of human response data and biofeedback- Abigail saw more of Alethia than most.

Privately, she would argue that this was both in the literal and figurative sense.

As a consultant, Abigail was aware that her every interaction within SHIELD and its agents was glossed with a tepid distance, like a layer of clear, flexible resin. As an outsourced asset, Alethia was choked into near immobility, even when her collar slackened under Romanoff’s watch, constantly monitored and quarantined by a closed circle of operatives.

Abigail wasn’t ignorant as to which of them had it worse.

SHIELD had asked one of them nicely for their cooperation. However, Abigail strongly suspected that she wasn’t the only one savvy enough to say yes, given the same opportunity.

Abigail was good at recognising those like her. It was a necessary survival skill.

Within sealed rooms and months of ten-hour days, she had formed a rough sketch of who Alethia was, and they had charted out enough common ground to stand comfortable with each other.

In the wake of the Incident- jeez, are they really calling it that- she had recognised a shift.

Alethia had seemed- for want of a better word- happier. She was less guarded, less opaque, her smiles coming easier and her moods milder.

Judging by her response, Romanoff had interpreted Alethia’s mellowing as an opportunity- as signs of a burgeoning sense of comradery. There was a glimmer of optimism and increased warmth in her handling, and in the less falsely casual tone that Romanoff and Barton had taken with her- pressing their thumbs onto the scale of her conversion from risky asset to invaluable agent. Fury did not seem like the type to refuse an advantage, or fail to capitalise on potential value, and so had likely sanctioned her recruitment, if possible.

Abigail didn’t really think that anyone at SHIELD was stupid, but sometimes they did a very convincing impression of it.

If there was anything that she had learned, however, from spending few more years in academia and research than was strictly good for anyone’s mental health, it was that the sharpest and most highly regarded people in any given field were typically the ones most fixed in their outlook.

Looking at Alethia, all she could see was someone who had finally gotten what she wanted, and was now content to wait out the remainder of her sentence, and even be cordial for its duration.

Which begged the question: what had she wanted? And when, and how, did she get it?

“Alright, so, we’ve encountered gods now,” Barton was saying, splitting open a bag and popping a few Cheetos into his mouth with a crunch, “as in- real, literal, fell-out-of-the-sky Norse gods.”

“We have.” Alethia agreed idly.

“And we’ve got proof of aliens in HD. A lot of corpses too.”

“Mm-hm.”

“Alright, so- how many of the stories are true? How many myths, fairytales, religions, whatever- how many of them are real, or based on something real? Is the History Channel gonna start looking like National Geographic? How many clowns do we have to add to the circus? We’ve got aliens, demigods, whatever the hell the Nazis were doing back then- should we start looking out for vampires? Werewolves? Mermaids? I mean, why not, right? How many are we talking, here? I mean, how much weirder is the world going to get?”

There was a long moment of expectant silence, punctuated by the quiet crunch of corn puffs.

Then Alethia opened her eyes and straightened slightly, her hair mussed as she turned towards Barton.

“Oh, were you asking me?”

“Yeah, I’m asking you!”

“Oh. How should I know?”

“Y- wait, you don’t know?”

Alethia shrugged one shoulder, settling back with a flick of her wrist.

“Bring me your gods, and I’ll tell you if they’re real.”

Abigail grimaced, taking a hasty draught of her cooling coffee to hide it.

Fuck, give me an existential crisis, why don’t you.

She could almost hear Alethia laughing, warm as a heartbeat, unmalicious.

Alethia had remarked, once, that Abigail had never asked her anything outside of the testing sessions. According to her, most people gave into the temptation eventually; Fury was a notable exception, for which Alethia appeared to have a grudging respect, but Romanoff had been delicately circumventive in her attempt, while Barton had been unabashedly obvious in his.

Operating on too little sleep and too many hours of coding, Abigail had answered with a touch more blunt honesty that she probably should have.

I’m not stupid, she had muttered, you’re like some fucked-up genie, or that fairground thing from that weird-ass Tom Hanks movie. I’m not going poking that psychological hornet’s nest. If I gotta ask, I deserve the monkey-paw treatment.

Pft-!

Alethia had barely stifled her startled giggle behind her fingers, clear hazel eyes creased at the corners and glittering delightedly.

Abigail had frozen, mortified- what the fuck, Brand, why would you say that- until Alethia had spoken again in a faintly strangled tone.

It was Big.

… What?

The, ah- title of the weird-ass Tom Hanks film. It was Big.

Abigail had thawed, nodding slowly. The awkwardness ebbed just enough to let her mouth and scientific curiosity run away with her impulse-control again.

Why do they always ask you something?

Alethia had hummed quietly, cocking her head, open as the skies.

As a general rule?

Sure, yeah.

She had lifted her shoulder in a wry half-shrug. Curiosity. Hubris. People either want to witness the party trick, or prove it false. There are few who like to think that their deepest secrets are available to a perfect stranger, prima facia. But also- some of them just want the bragging rights. Of being the one to beat the living lie-detector. Alethia exhaled quietly. Spies. They’re the equal of surgeons, when it comes to ego.

Abigail had frowned, nose crinkling sceptically.

But- hold up. Their deepest secrets wouldn’t be available if they just kept their mouths shut, she argued. You need something to go off, right? You’re not psychic. All they gotta do is shut up and believe you halfway about your whole- truth- thing. Err on the side of caution.

Alethia had smiled, the motion as precise and conscious as the unfurling of a wing, half-hidden beneath the lingering skim of her fingers.

As you said, Dr Brand. You’re not stupid.

Abigail shivered at the memory, teeth clinking against the ceramic rim of her cup.

The words had been spoken casually enough, but there was a knowing in Alethia’s face that had rattled Abigail’s nerves.

It was nothing.

She’s not psychic.

Barton frowned in consternation, the Cheetos bag rattling in his lap.

“So you have no idea which stories are true? Even after hearing them?”

“Stories are stories. Their intent is different. They contain truth,” Alethia said, “even if they are not true.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No it is not.”

“Because they really kinda sound like the same thing.”

“And yet it’s not.”

“Okay, so what’s the difference?”

Alethia exhaled, deep and quiet- then levered herself upright with a press of her palms into the arms of her chair.

“Thor and Loki were born approximately a year apart. Around 1150CE.”

“Were they?” Barton swallowed thickly, fingers already stained to the third knuckle with orange powder. “Hang on, how do you know that?”

“He told me. Except Norse mythology originates from the old Norse religion- which is thought to have been at the peak of active worship between 500BCE, and 1000CE. Do you see the dilemma?”

Several seconds late, Abigail registered the implication of who he was.

Barton gave no sign that he had noticed. But Abigail knew better than to underestimate those who had Fury’s favour.

“Oh. Yeah, okay. How is it possible that there are myths about Thor and Loki that are that old,” Barton said slowly, “when they hadn’t been born yet?”

His tone was one of statement and deduction, rather than question.

“I don’t know,” Alethia admitted with startling ease, almost laughingly, turning her head to meet Barton’s gaze with a pleased glint in her eyes. “Therein lies the mystery. Barring an anomaly in space-time, it’s impossible for Norse mythology to be a factual record of events. Yet it still has some correlation to the truth, as the planet is now aware. The myth is true; the mythology is not.”

“Huh.”

Tearing open a candy bar and breaking off a chunk, Barton mulled over Alethia’s statement.

“Okay, so- basically, a bunch of myths could turn out to be referencing something real, but,” he popped the bite into his mouth, speaking around it, “the folklore might not actually be that useful, in practice.”

“In essence, yes.”

“Huh.” Barton sucked nougat from between his teeth with an obnoxious smack. “Do you think we’ll be seeing more of this weirdness? Like, out in the open?”

“Mm, most likely,” Alethia said lightly, lifting her eyes back to the ceiling with a blink, “now that SHIELD can no longer swallow it back into the darkness.”

Barton paused, stilling like an animal sensing danger.

“You make it sound pretty sinister.”

“SHIELD has a list of enhanced people called the Index, constantly track their movements regardless of what they have or haven’t done, and threaten them into keeping their abilities hidden from the general public,” she said dryly. “You quite literally disappeared me.”

“Come on,” Barton rolled his head back in his chair exasperatedly, “that’s unfair and you know it. Even you have to admit that SHIELD’s mission is to protect people-”

“Which ones, and from what?”

Her tone was lacklustre, almost vacant, as though this conversation was one that she had with him many times before, and had little hope of it progressing any differently this time.

Abigail wondered what it said that she had to say it again- but also that she begun to anyway.

“Most of them- these myths in hiding- are in hiding from things like SHIELD. You are not the heroes in their stories. You don’t know about them because they don’t want you to. They masquerade as baseline humans and lie to your face and never think twice about it, because they are protecting themselves. They could be right here, in this room, and you would never know. And who could blame them?”

Abigail’s stomach dipped in terror.

The door opened.

“I got lunch,” Romanoff announced.

“I got lunch,” Clint protested, rattling a bag of pretzels in her direction, quickly switching gears into the distraction.

“You’ve got a future heart attack and type-two diabetes.” Dressed more casually than her partner, her dark-rinse jeans and scoop-neck sweater still relatively professional, Romanoff lifted a brown paper bag into the air. “I bought something with nutritional value.”

“If you went to the sandwich bar on the second floor, I seriously doubt that. Unless, you know, nutritional value is interchangeable with salmonella-”

“Shut up and eat your fibre, Clint.”

Sweeping across the room, Romanoff placed an oblong package on Abigail’s desk, wrapped in white deli paper: crab meat in mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, pickles, and a dash of hot sauce on French baguette, in a somewhat inauthentic, New York approximation of a Louisiana po’boy.

Romanoff had a memory for such things.

Offering Abigail a brief smile, Romanoff turned to Alethia with a skim of chin-length cherry curls. “Ali. Caprese on focaccia, right?”

Ali? Abigail wondered with a twist of her mouth, as Romanoff tossed Alethia her sandwich with a low underarm throw. That’s new.

“I had them hold the pesto, add aioli, rocket, and red onion,” Romanoff added as Alethia caught the package with one upturned palm.

“What did you get me?” Barton asked expectantly.

“Salmonella.”

“Nat.”

“Did you save me some Oreos?”

“Please. I’m not a monster, Natasha.”

“Roast beef on wholewheat.”

“Hm. I’ll allow it.”

“Seriously, it’s a miracle you don’t have a nutritional deficiency-”

“Look, I keep telling you, peanut butter is a source of protein-”

Shrouded by the smooth-flowing banter between the agents, Abigail made the mistake of stealing a glance at Alethia.

She was looking directly at her.

Abigail’s blood seemed to drain directly to her vital organs.

Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit.

Her gaze was unworldly, frighteningly intense, like staring into the core of the sun. Abigail had the sensation of being an insect trapped in amber, paralysed at the mercy of a being that could carve her soul open and leave it to bleed, if she stood in her way.

After a moment, a faint, knowing smile softened at Alethia’s mouth- as though greeting Abigail for the first time.

Without comment, Alethia strained forward to drop her wrapped sandwich on the desk, and kicked off sharply- swivelling her chair, catching her boot against the table behind her to halt herself.

With the slant of her torso, her new position effectively left her with her back to Romanoff and Barton.

The message was clear.

Abigail forced herself to relax, unwrapping her imitation po’boy with trembling fingers and refusing to look back at Alethia, who was now humming a soft, romantic refrain.

She just had to reach the end of her contract. That was all. Once Project VERITAS entered its final phase, she could begin looking for another position. SHIELD would provide her with a mostly accurate reference from a credibly falsified employer, avoiding a damning void in her work history, so she could head back out and-

And then what?

It wasn’t an unfamiliar question.

After completing her studies, she had quietly left her school, declining to enter the graduate program. It wasn’t for her, she had decided, and to his credit, the head professor had been understanding, sending her off with his good will and a glowing reference.

But the world had been wilder, then, and smaller. Their conflict had been fought in shadows, both sides of the schism tacitly agreeing that obscurity was the best source of protection, for now.

But now the light had flooded across the globe, and there were fewer shadows to hide within, and-

What now?

What now, Brand?

Sooner or later, it seemed she would have to make the trip back to Westchester.

-

Later, when she had the time to think about it, Abigail asked Barton what Alethia had been humming.

Ironically, despite being mostly deaf without his hearing aids, Hawkeye had an excellent ear for music; even from Abigail’s tone-deaf attempt at replication, he had quickly identified the piece.

It was opera, apparently, one of those recognisable classical pieces that had filtered into common knowledge without anyone knowing actual title.

The song was an aria, from La traviata.

Sempre libera.

It was clever, and biting, and exactly what she could expect of Alethia, and it should have been enough of an answer just to hear the title.

Except Abigail had gotten curious, and listened to the aria, and looked up the lyrics, because scientific curiosity should not be sated by the first answer it encountered.

Alethia had not been humming the defiantly carefree, fluttering refrain- free and aimless I frolic, from joy to joy- sung by the opera’s protagonist, Violetta. Instead, she had been humming the lines of Violetta’s lover, Alfredo, as he sang offstage.

Love is the heartbeat of the entire universe, they read, the melody drawn out in gently sloping notes, mysterious, altering, the torment and delight of my heart…

-

The shackles, Loki decided, were a little excessive.

Chains as thick as a femur looped between his wrists and ankles, connected by a third to the collar resting against his clavicle, which locked into a fourth wrapped around his waist, from which two more were linked and leashed in the grip of a set of helmed Einherjar- Loki had wanted to roll his eyes at that alone, but he hadn’t been able to resist the low huff of laughter when he was met with no less than ten figures in golden armour outside his cell, dispatched to escort him to Valaskijálf Hall.

At least it would appear that Odin was finally taking him seriously.

The thought was bracing, allowing him to pull forth all the practiced, aloof insouciance of an Asgardian prince.

Odin was paying attention- it was only right that Loki give him a show.

He could already feel the discomfort twisting into the guards, like thumbscrews, in the face of his calm irreverence. They were the ideal test audience- Loki had manipulated enough of the Einherjar over the years that their thoughts were all but cellophane to him.

Admittedly, it was far easier to play the unrepentant monster when she was with him- emerging into consciousness like the break of dawn, burning and righteous and steadying, like a weapon warming his palm.

Over the weeks, their link had stabilised, enough that it could finally convey more than echoes of emotion.

He could feel the moment that she snapped awake in his mind, the breath of a spectre.

Where-?

Loki let his gaze drift briefly, letting her see his surroundings.

His eyes glazed a subtle circuit over dark, mirror-gloss floors, inset with knotwork motifs of amber marble, opulently engraved gold pillars bearing the weight of the high ceiling and its delicately detailed fresco. Fires burned in braziers thrice his height, contrasting the clear natural daylight streaming from the breezeways at his back. Through him, Astrid could no doubt hear the gentle clink and rattle of the chains against his leathers, and the smooth scrape of the Einherjar’s laminar armour as they kept in pace with him, in a parody of an honour guard. Loki could smell mist from the waterways, and sunshine, and the crisp opening knell of autumn- contrasting the heat of early summer that Astrid was currently experiencing in New York, from the trap of SHIELD’s air-conditioned base of operations.

It all tasted traitorously of home.

Trial, he explained to her simply.

Ah. Palace?

Yes.

She paused. Hm.

After a moment of consideration, Astrid sent him a breeze of blasé contempt, and a flash of a memory- of what he recognised as a casino lobby, somewhere on Midgard-

Loki almost choked.

Astra!

The Hall of Valaskijálf, the magnificent heart of the Palace of Asgard and the seat of its power, was being compared to the Bellagio on the Las Vegas strip.

Loki had to forcefully remind himself that dissolving into delighted, scandalised laughter would, at this juncture, be a bad idea.

Against his mind, Astrid preened, irreverently.

Sheath, she murmured with a tint of melancholy, curling around him, setting a little of her mana through their connection to press warm against his heart.

Shoulders relaxing minutely, Loki sent her every ounce of fierce, violent affection that was welling in his chest.

Dagger, he whispered back tenderly, his magic twining into hers like laced fingers.

Even despite the solidified connection, it was still like comparing the glint of a distant star to the heat of the sun, or hearing strains of music just beyond coherency. Loki would have wondered if he had not unconsciously chosen it as a masochistic punishment, if not for the fear that it was affecting her the same way.

“Loki.”

His heart stopped briefly.

“Hello, Mother.”

Loki whipped his head to meet the sight of her, blasé and unmoved.

Astrid tensed in his veins, wary and curious.

Queen Consort Frigga of Asgard was not dressed for court, devoid of the finer trappings of her station. Rather than an elaborately braided, sleekly curled coiffeur, brocaded chrysalis silks, and waterfall sheets of jewels, her gown was one of her simpler garments- a relatively subtle teal satin, with a seafoam-silver shawl draped over her arms. Her only item of jewellery was a set of turquoise pendant earrings, handcrafted in a simple Vanir design, waves of copper-blonde hair left unbound to her waist.

She looked- tired, anxious. Loki could see it in the lines around her eyes, in the tight downturn of her mouth. Her fingers were laced together, one thumb pressing at the opposite palm unconsciously.

Crushing an acute lurch of guilt, and the momentary embittered wish that he could have hated her for all that she had- or, more accurately, hadn’t- done, Loki steepled his eyebrows sardonically at her, his voice soft as velvet.

“Have I made you proud?”

“Please,” Frigga implored quietly, her eyes wide and unblinking, intent and quietly afraid, “don’t make this worse.”

“Define worse.” Loki riposted dryly.

“Enough.”

The king’s voice echoed throughout the throne room.

Loki consciously resisted the reflex to straighten his spine. He felt Astrid coil in response, her attention diverted from Frigga.

Loki turned towards the throne.

Set upon the raised dais, at the summit of three flights of curved steps, was the high seat of Hlidskijalf.

The seat itself was nothing so magnificent- a square of gold, hemmed by broad, rectangular blocks at either side to serve as arms, and a low back- but its silhouette was made imposing by the heavily ornamented wings of solid gold that curved from either side. Bevelled at the edges like a great axe blade, their gentle upward arch framed its occupant, like the centre of a set of inverted scales.

The Allfather sat comfortably upon it, as ever.

His armour was darker than when last Loki had stood in his presence, compared to his burnished silver-steel war plate, or the ceremonial armour that he had worn for Thor’s almost-coronation.

By contrast, the pitch leathers and aged gold plate looked almost tarnished.

Knowing his father, it was undoubtedly a message.

Loki met Odin’s gaze, finding one piercing blue eye gazing down at him dispassionately.

He refused to blink.

“I will speak to the prisoner alone.”

Odin spoke with a calm, almost reasonable authority.

Instinctively, a pit formed in Loki’s stomach, even his jaw worked with defiance.

A thousand years of conditioning- of loyalty, deference, and respect instilled towards his father, his commander, his sovereign- was not so easily broken.

Meanwhile, he could feel Astrid assessing and dissecting the Allfather like a lancet, merciless and unawed.

Whatever it was that she saw, Loki could already feel her dislike forming.

Frigga glanced towards her husband, settling one last unreadable look upon Loki- and turned on her heel, departing with a swirl of heavy skirts and quick steps, accepting her dismissal with dignity.

Loki watched her leave, before swinging his attention back to Odin.

So, Astrid stated, her presence cloaked across Loki’s shoulders like draped arms and mantled wings.

So, Loki agreed, leaning back into her support.

He drew closer to the steps with three slow, measured steps, and snapped his heels together in a sarcastic salute, the crisp clank of his shackles echoing out into the empty hall.

Provocateur, Astrid teased, like lips against his cheek.

This time, Loki left himself exhale a laugh, swaying forwards slightly.

“I really don’t know what all the fuss is about,” he said with a rehearsed air of callous, flippant levity, palms splayed as much as they could within the chains.

“Do you truly not understand the gravity of your crimes?”

Rich, Astrid commented dryly from across their link.

Loki sent back something that evoked a huff of agreement. Of all those involved, Odin had the barest understanding of his actions- even in his ignorance, Thor had at least witnessed the destruction for himself and had almost hit upon the correct question to ask.

“Wherever you go,” Odin proclaimed, almost blandly, “there is war, ruin- and death.”

Astrid stilled dangerously.

Dove, Loki calmed her, his expression sobering.

“I went down to Midgard to rule the people of Earth as a benevolent god.” Loki allowed a soft, taunting smile break through, unable to resist the accusation that welled. “Just like you.”

“We are not gods,” Odin said sagely, all but ignoring his closing barb. “We are born, we live, we die. Just as humans do.”

Hypocrite, Loki shared with Astrid, receiving her dry agreement in reply, before shrugging.

“Give or take five thousand years,” he corrected with a flat-lipped, sardonic smile.

“All this,” the Allfather mused, a hint of scorn finally bleeding through, “because Loki desires a throne.”

“It is my birthright!” Loki snapped, unable to withstand the insult, as though Odin had not told him that he was born to be a king, as though he could not have known what he was implying through the lens of that lie, as though the Norns-damned throne was all it was ever about-

“Your birthright-!” Odin bellowed in reply, leaning forward in his seat, as though to swiftly crush the insolence shown to him. “Was to die!”

Silence reigned for a moment.

In the ringing quiet- and the detached shock that, even now, there was still something left in him to hurt at a truth he had already known- Loki felt it.

Pure, clean, unadulterated rage, the emotion borrowed and possessive and selfish, swathed him.

It tasted like destruction on his tongue, like intent on the edge of his nerves, borne in the currents of something heart-deep that threatened to obliterate anything before it. Her mana burned bright in his nerves, crackling behind his retinas, threatening to radiate out of him and contaminating his own magic.

And if Odin caught the traces of a foreign mana in him, active and alive-

Loki reached for Astrid with thoughts like cool water and nepenthe, gathering her wild mana into his core, hastily absorbing and reforming it before Odin could notice.

There was only so much that his own magical core, and the mana-supressing runes in his shackles, could do to mask her presence. Ironically, it was fortunate that the connection was yet to develop to its full strength, muting her.

Given the strength of her rage, however, an intensity so heady that he could overdose on it-

Bastard. Her thoughts were incandescent, tumbling through his own and breaking through to a fresh level of coherency. Bastard. How dare he-

Beloved, please, calm- for me-

“- as a child. Cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in,” the corner of Odin’s mouth lifted, almost a jeer, “you would not be here now to hate me.”

Abruptly, Astrid’s mood crystallised, bright and clear, giving Loki space to breathe again.

No, Loki heard her decide, no, better- wait and sic Daddy on him-

He took a sharp stride forward, back into more pressing problems.

“If I am for the axe, then for mercy’s sake, just swing it,” Loki challenged Odin in reply, sotto voce and almost obliging. If he seemed preoccupied, if Odin was given cause to suspect anything, if he found out about Astrid-

He felt the sharp knife of instinctive fear, sick in his stomach.

In this respect, Odin remained exponentially more dangerous than Thanos.

Astrid offered a flicker of conviction in comfort, her temper still cooling.

“It’s not that I don’t love our little talks, it’s just-” Loki paused pointedly, as though considering his phrasing. “I don’t love them.”

Odin didn’t respond to his insolence, as though it mattered so little to him that it was unworthy of a reaction.

“Frigga is the only reason that you are still alive, and you will never see her again.” His announcement was perfunctory, prelude to dismissal.

Ah.

Well. The Allfather knew how to mete out cruelty with the political precision of an autocrat.

“You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeon,” Odin concluded softly.

As though choreographed, the guards gave a short tug on Loki’s chains, drawing him back a step from the throne.

He should have been prepared for it.

He had been prepared for it, intellectually, had predicted the most likely ruling and Odin’s pretence at a measure of mercy, had expected to be kept in cold storage indefinitely lest Odin ever encounter a better use for him, or a quandary that Thor’s brawn could not resolve- even while he knew that the sentence would never be carried out. Between the Tesseract’s power and Astrid’s sheer will and wit, all Loki would have to do was ask.

But this was the ruling, the mock trial that was all that Loki was worth. Odin had not even deigned to ask why. He had assumed, and accepted the lie in confirmation of it.

Alderliefest, she gentled him, her mind as unclouded and radiant within his.

She strained for him like an outstretched hand, fingers flared and trembling.

Ah, Loki realised ruefully, so I really am being cruel to both of us.

Gripping onto her lifeline, winding the necessity around his fist to ground himself, Loki spoke numbly.

“And what of Thor? You’ll make that witless oaf king, while I rot in chains?”

“Thor must strive to undo the damage you have done,” Odin spoke sharply. “He will bring order to the Nine Realms, and then-”

The Einherjar behind him clamped leather-gloved hands down on his shoulders, prepared to haul him away.

“Yes. He will be king.”

Internally, Loki dissolved into triumphant laughter.

He felt Astrid’s flutter of curious confusion- and her sting of pleasure at being surprised.

Later, he vowed, darkly heated, already in anticipation of witnessing her reaction.

What Odin had meant as a parting volley- as salt ground into an open wound- was a precious piece of intelligence that Loki would have otherwise been hard pressed to obtain.

The Nine was in chaos, then. The damage you have done could only refer to the destruction of the Bifrost, only recently repaired and restored to functionality, with the assistance of the Tesseract.

Without the Rainbow Bridge, Asgard had limited means of interstellar travel. Their spaceworthy fleet had atrophied over the centuries of relative peace, the great warships considered obsolete upon the construction of the Bifrost, the streamlined technology left to fall behind the other galactic powers. Almost no one knew of the secret passageways that Loki had discovered, let alone mapped them, and there were few his equal in the kenning arts who could locate, stabilise, and manipulate the few that could accommodate passage of a large volume of troops.

Without the Bridge, Asgard had been cut off from the other eight realms.

And without Asgard’s presence as a deterrent, every world within the Yggdrasil complex would have been overrun with opportunists for months, if not close to years.

It was a cold necessity- a nasty shock to the established system, both for those who had relied upon Asgardian arms for the safety of their realm, and for Asgard itself at being so simply and effectively hamstrung for almost two years.

Thor would do what he did best, of course, and battle his way through the marauders, trussing them up and tossing them into the dungeons to rot beside Loki- but the damage would already be done.

The seeds would be planted, and people would start to think.

And when people started to think, they would start to talk.

And that, Loki could work to his advantage, like hot metal upon an anvil.

Thank you, Allfather, Loki wanted to say, laughing against the pain as he was led away, for your most gracious cruelty.

With that, the first gears were in motion.

-

[PREVIOUS] | [MASTERLIST] | [NEXT]

#a hollow promise #cross posted on ao3 #marvel fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki x original female character #loki x ofc #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki friggason #mcu loki #post-avengers 2012 #fix it au #no beta we die like canon by my blade #writing #chapter update #ao3 fanfic #ao3 writer #ao3 link #right on schedule

[ofcowardiceandkings]

we watched a fing about fast fashion and shitty companies like shein and temu earlier and it just made me so mad about how things just arent made to last at all, and are basically expected to be thrown out, oevrproduced and not repaired ... it frustrates me to no end i get so pissed off just trying to perceive shit like planned obsolescence im gonna burst

#AUGH im ncksjrjr ncke FUCK #its absolutely mind numbing that individual consumer choices are like ... the only thing remotely in control of this too right now #i cant even think of a near future where these kind of practices are punished by regulation #because capitalism is so far up its own arse that it cant see the burning forest for the lucrative trees #HRBBDHBRRBBR HFJ #rory's ramblings

[neon-lakes]

I really wish tumblr would stop recommending self-proclaimed gender freaks on my dash. I am all for the obliteration of gender and all roles and associations therein, but at a certain point the politics of gender-scum begin to organically reproduce reactionary lines of thought, as seen in the transmisogyny conversation happening right now.

When queerness is seen as an attitude of subversion and a politics of disgust rather than a socially imposed condition, the lived experiences of queer people become commodifiable aesthetics of a counter-culture. When this is no longer enough, the subversion must be subverted. Trans women must be (in the words of another poster) saved from their own obsolescence as these types of people grow bored of us for our perceived lack of innovation in the queer-aesthetic meta.

Our experiences have been so completely commodified that our traumas are purchased for cents on the dollar, as TMEs decorate themselves with slurs lobbed against US for the pure fun of being able to say a slur. I have never been upset by queer people reclaiming slurs, but it becomes clear that in the fun of appropriating my traumas, tme people see me as nothing more than a tranny or a faggot or a shemale. You can't even argue with these people because they view your emotions as something to subvert, they view your disgust as an aesthetic victory. To them, trans women are obsolete. Our experiences, irrelevant. They see themselves as traveling through the ruins of a dead society, picking the clothes off our corpses to put them to a better use.

#so angry #nobody is going to read this and tumblr is still going to recommend those accounts #transmisogyny #personal #trans

[spaceintruderdetector]

Toying With Obsolescence: Pixelvision Filmmakers and the Fisher Price PXL 2000 Camera

‘‘This thesis is a study of the Fisher Price PXL 2000 camera and the artists and amateurs who make films and videos with this technology. The Pixelvision camera records video onto an audiocassette; its image is lowresolution, black and white. Fisher Price marketed the PXL 2000 to children in 1987, but withdrew the camera after one year. Despite its lack of commercial success, the camera became popular with avant-garde artists, amateur film- and videomakers and collectors, sparking a renewed interest in the obsolete camera. An online community has built up around the format, providing its members with information on how to modify the camera to make it compatible with contemporary digital equipment. Although Pixelvision garners little recognition from mainstream culture, the camera's hipster cachet and perceived rarity has driven up prices in the community and in auctions. This thesis examines the position of the PXL 2000 camera within the history of moving image technology, and in the context of today's digital video equipment. How has this obsolete video camera made the transition from analog to digital? The thesis also explores Pixelvision's position in the cultural hierarchy of media, as well as the motivations of artists and users who are creating with the camera today, as it moves further and further into its obsolescence.‘‘

https://archive.org/details/ETC3241/mode/2up

#pixelvision #pxl 2000 #video art

[9w1ft]

This is probably a controversial thing to say, but I think that Taylor would be better off if Gaylorism didn't exist. It's not about Taylor's music or about Taylor as a person, if it was people in the Gaylor fandom would be discussing why Taylor featured a biography about Picasso in both the regular MV and the lyric MV for an deeply introspective song like Anti-Hero when Pablo Picasso was an extremely vicious abuser of women whose abuse drove one of his muses to commit suicide after he discarded her.

But since Gaylorism isn't about Taylor as a person/musician but almost purely about Taylor as a entertainment object for consumption, of course there's no real discussion of anything deep, let alone discussion on why Taylor idetifies with a monster like Picasso of all people when she's in her dark thoughts.

That would entail treating Taylor like a flawed human being that might just actually genuinely mean what she's shared with us in her most recent discography, which is counterproductive to the main goal of Gaylorism, which generally is enjoying feeling a sense of moral and intellectual superiority over those who do not hold to Gaylorism, which is something that requires Taylor to be a morally pure and incorruptible figure, something that Taylor's tried to use her most recent discography to show us she's most assuredly NOT.

i think it’s a little much to say all that because i have seen/read how much taylor and the idea of taylor being gay means to many gaylors. although i do understand the spirit of what you are saying. i too sometimes wish that taylor was also looked at as a singular complicated figure separate from any perceived roles she could fulfill for the progress of society

i wonder if it’s a sort of attitude or maybe it’s like a certain sense of humor? perpetuated in certain gaylor circles that often positions taylor and her antics, as you say, as an object of entertainment or a stand in for issues greater than herself. and i think that this is encouraged moreso on certain platforms than others. you’ve gotta be quippy and ruthless on twitter and you’ve gotta be perpetually hyping up the next big thing on tiktok, you’ve gotta abide by the social contracts of moderators and viewers on reddit, etc. i feel like tumblr, if only by virtue of its quirks and public obsolescence, can skew towards a more earnest analysis. with non-kaylor gaylors on tumblr i’ve read plenty of thoughtful stuff over the years, it’s just usually that i don’t share the same worldview.

i am 100% in agreement with your final paragraph—we get shades of it in antihero and lavender haze and sweet nothing but for me, dear reader lays it out so plainly and it’s fitting that the song is getting the least plays (dunno about hits different. and sure it’s the last track in the bonus section of a long album but) because i think it represents a general unwillingness on the part of her fans to face truths that might make them feel uncomfortable.

#i know i’ve personally reevaluated my perspective as well. it would be a mistake not to!

[spectroscopes]

I’ve been workshopping a take about aesthetics in visual media like video games and movies that’s something to the effect that I don’t even think that “dated” is a real thing. I don’t think something like Final Fantasy VII that looked great in 1997 somehow looks like garbage in 2023; it actually does still look good, what’s going on here is that the look of the game is unfashionable because of the way video games studios have converged on a single acceptable aesthetic style for popular games. But people are still looking at this game with the same eyes they’ve always had[*], they’ve just been conditioned by the industry to think this is bad not based on any visual information they’re getting from their eyes but based on capitalist ideas about obsolescence that permeate every discussion of art like VFX or video games that is perceived to rely on ‘technology’ and thereby divorced from the actual human beings creating it. But for the most part things that have “aged poorly” looked bad at the time due to lacking strong visual direction and omitting the fundamentals of things like shot design and that’s why stuff like Terminator 2 and Jaws “holds up” and Avengers — which was directed by the hack Joss Whedon and I remember thinking looked like a cheap TV show at the time — does not.

[*] the one caveat here is obviously that the game was optimised to display on CRT monitors and unfortunately does look worse when viewed on flatscreen monitors the overwhelming majority of people are using in the 2020s

[willpaul229]

How Liquidation Auctions Can Benefit Your Business?

In the dynamic landscape of business, companies often face the challenge of managing surplus inventory, obsolete assets, or distressed goods. One effective strategy to address this issue is participating in liquidation auctions. These auctions provide businesses with an opportunity to convert excess inventory into valuable capital, streamline operations, and foster long-term growth. 

In this article, we will delve into the various ways in which liquidation auctions can benefit your business.

Optimal Inventory Management: Liquidation auctions enable businesses to efficiently manage their inventory by quickly offloading excess stock. This is particularly crucial for industries with seasonal trends or rapidly changing consumer preferences. By participating in auctions, businesses can maintain a leaner and more agile inventory, reducing holding costs and preventing obsolescence.

Capital Generation: One of the primary advantages of liquidation auctions is the ability to generate capital swiftly. Selling surplus goods through auctions allows businesses to convert idle assets into cash, which can then be reinvested in core operations, research and development, or other strategic initiatives. This injection of capital can prove instrumental in overcoming financial challenges or seizing new growth opportunities.

Market Expansion: Liquidation auctions provide a platform for reaching a broader audience of potential buyers. Through online auction platforms, businesses can connect with a global network of buyers, reaching markets that may not be accessible through traditional sales channels. This expanded reach not only helps in selling surplus inventory but also facilitates market penetration and brand exposure in new territories.

Risk Mitigation: Businesses are often exposed to the risk of holding excess inventory or obsolete assets. Liquidation auctions act as a risk mitigation strategy by providing an avenue to dispose of such items quickly. This is particularly relevant in industries where product lifecycles are short, and holding onto outdated stock can result in significant financial losses. By liquidating surplus goods, businesses can proactively manage risk and maintain financial stability.

Improved Cash Flow: Participating in liquidation auctions accelerates the cash conversion cycle for businesses. Instead of waiting for extended periods to sell surplus inventory through traditional channels, auctions offer a faster way to convert assets into cash. This improved cash flow can be critical for meeting immediate financial obligations, investing in strategic initiatives, or navigating economic uncertainties.

Brand Protection: For businesses that prioritize brand image and customer perception, liquidation auctions provide a controlled and discreet method of selling excess inventory. By avoiding public fire sales or discounting through traditional channels, companies can protect their brand integrity and maintain the perceived value of their products. This strategic approach to liquidation ensures that the brand remains associated with quality and exclusivity.

Environmental Responsibility: Sustainability and environmental responsibility are becoming increasingly important considerations for businesses. Liquidation auctions contribute to these goals by reducing the environmental impact associated with excess inventory or unsold goods. By finding new homes for surplus items, businesses can minimize waste, support a circular economy, and enhance their corporate social responsibility profile.

In conclusion, participating in liquidation auctions offers a range of strategic benefits for businesses. From optimizing inventory management to generating capital, expanding market reach, and mitigating risks, the advantages are diverse and impactful. In an ever-evolving business landscape, leveraging liquidation auctions can be a proactive and dynamic approach to navigate challenges, unlock capital, and foster sustainable growth. As businesses continue to adapt to changing market conditions, embracing the opportunities presented by liquidation auctions can prove to be a strategic and lucrative decision.

#liquidation auctions #auction #auction compnay #benefits #business

[cybecysinc]

The Unseen Force: Decoding Success Through the Prism of Information Technology

In the tapestry of the contemporary world, success is not a solitary pursuit but an intricate dance with information technology (IT). Beyond the mere utilization of tools, success in today's dynamic landscape is intricately tied to unraveling the profound potential embedded in the realm of information technology (IT). This article comprehensively explores how individuals and enterprises can decode and harness the true power of information technology for unparalleled success.

Orchestrating Change in the Digital Symphony

The digital epoch has not just ushered in a change; it has orchestrated a grand transformation, where success is synonymous with the ability to adapt and orchestrate the symphony of information technology. Beyond being a mere facilitator, IT has metamorphosed into a driving force that propels modern success narratives. The essence of transformation lies not merely in the tools but in how individuals and businesses adeptly manipulate them to innovate, streamline processes, and surge ahead of the curve.

Navigating the Intricacies of the Digital Weave

Information technology becomes the tapestry weavers' loom within personal success, empowering individuals to master their destiny. The democratization of education through the accessibility of online resources has birthed a new era of self-directed learning, where individuals can upskill and recalibrate their relevance in a dynamic job market. Online courses, virtual mentorship programs, and many digital learning platforms constitute the warp and weft of this new educational paradigm.

Moreover, IT has become the architect of communication evolution, shattering geographical constraints and fostering global collaboration. The rise of remote work, facilitated by advanced communication tools and collaborative platforms, has become a cornerstone of success in the contemporary workforce. Those adept at navigating the digital tapestry effortlessly connect with others, access information seamlessly, and navigate their personal and professional endeavors with finesse.

The Synchronized Dance of Corporate IT Integration

Integrating information technology is not a strategic choice but an imperative for the survival and growth of businesses. In an era where markets are in perpetual flux, business agility becomes the keystone for success. The ability to adapt swiftly, innovate continuously, and outpace competitors is where IT takes center stage.

Cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and automation are the principal pillars that empower businesses to make informed decisions, optimize processes, and enhance efficiency. Successful enterprises perceive these technologies as tools and strategic assets that enable them to navigate the tumultuous waters of the market with finesse.

IT as the Alchemist of Creativity

Innovation and creativity are the lifeblood of success, and information technology is a potent alchemist. From fledgling startups to multinational behemoths, those who embrace technological advancements find themselves at the forefront of innovation. Virtual reality, machine learning, and augmented reality are not just tools but catalysts for reshaping industries and birthing new paradigms.

The collaborative nature of digital platforms also acts as a crucible for creativity. Crowdsourcing ideas, real-time project collaborations, and tapping into a global talent pool have become standard practices for businesses seeking to infuse innovation into their products and services. Success is not merely about incremental improvements but revolutionary ideas that reforge industries.

Tackling the Challenges of the IT Odyssey

While the benefits of information technology are luminous, navigating the IT landscape's labyrinth presents its own challenges. Cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns, and the relentless pace of technological obsolescence are among the hurdles individuals and businesses must confront.

Implementing robust cybersecurity measures, staying abreast of data protection regulations, and adopting a proactive stance toward technological advancements become imperative for mitigating risks. Success in the digital age necessitates embracing technology and adeptly managing the inherent challenges that come hand in hand.

Embracing the Crescendo of Emerging Technologies

Peering into the future, success will be intricately woven into the ability to embrace emerging technologies. Integrating blockchain, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) will redefine industries and create new opportunities for those prepared to harness their potential.

Individuals who continually upskill and stay attuned to technological trends will remain competitive in the job market. Businesses that invest in research and development, experimenting with cutting-edge technologies, will position themselves as leaders in their respective domains. The future of success lies not merely in adapting to current technologies but in foreseeing and leveraging those on the horizon.

In the grand tapestry of the 21st century, success is an art form that requires a nuanced understanding of and a proactive dance with information technology. Whether on an individual or organizational scale, the transformative power of IT cannot be overstated. From augmenting personal productivity to catalyzing business innovation, information technology is the key to staying relevant, competitive, and thriving in an increasingly digital world. Embrace the potential of IT, traverse its challenges with finesse, and position yourself or your business as the maestro orchestrating success in the digital age.

[nickgerlich]

The Wings Have It

In the age of rapid technological advances, it is not uncommon to hear people complain about what they perceive to be planned obsolescence. Whether it is true or not is irrelevant. It just finds people with products that have a limited useful life, and then they are forced to upgrade. It is difficult to prove this kind of thing, because tech is changing fast with or without conspiratorial minds plotting our financial demise.

But then again, there is some merit to pushing people along, even if they do so kicking and screaming. We can’t be having stragglers on the path to tomorrow, you know.

And so this finds KFC doing just that, promoting its digital ordering and rewards club. If you use the app or order online, you get points, which can be redeemed for more food. Don’t use digital ordering? Too bad, so sad. No points for you.

All of which means that the evolution of fast food continues at warp speed, which finds restaurant owners downsizing in new locations that focus on drive-thru and delivery. Good luck with dining-in the old fashioned way.

It’s almost like ordering at the counter has exceeded its useful life, and if you aren’t one of the cool kids with the app, you will just miss out on this generous promotion. No free chicken nuggets or sandwiches for you.

If COVID taught us anything, it is that we really don’t need all that in-store dining space, that drive-thrus and curbside pick-up can handle all of the business if need be, and we don’t need a bunch of employees entering orders. Make the customers do it, and incentivizing them is just the ticket.

But what about the people who don’t use apps and all those fancy things? Why, it’s almost like purposely overlooking the older population when you decide to stream a football game. Someone is going to feel left out.

Before I continue, I wish to give everyone a great Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy answer. Why is the company called KFC these days? Wasn’t it called Kentucky Fried Chicken in ye olden days? Was the name change because the parent company, Yum Brands, no longer wished to convey the unhealthy reminder of eating fried foods?

Not in a million years, you wings- and thighs-loving fools. No, this stems from when the Commonwealth of Kentucky trademarked its name in 1991, and Yum Brands did not want to pay a licensing fee to use it. So they rechristened the chain KFC. Take that, you greedy royalty-grubbing politicians! Sometimes a rebrand is necessitated by a crazy law.

Actually, the KFC loyalty plan is four years after sister brand Taco Bell launched its digital rewards program in 2020. Numerous other chains not under the Yum umbrella have done likewise. And it makes sense. Digital ordering is the new way, like it or not. If you are bound and determined to do things the old fashioned way, that’s on you. They’ll still take your money, I guess, although as time unfolds, you will find yourself increasingly in newer KFCs and other fast food outlets where the whole idea is to have ordered online, and everyone is taking their food elsewhere to consume.

As for Yum Brands, they are doubling down on digital, which grew 20% and reached $7 billion revenues in Q3 2023, accounting for 45% of sales worldwide. If this screams Gen-Z and Millennials, I don’t know what else does. I suppose Gen-Xers and Boomers can just eat at Denny’s.

As I have said before, I am no fast food aficionado. It’s just not in my diet. All I will concede is a Subway veggie sandwich if that’s the only thing between me and starving. But if I did consume fast food, I would be all over this app. I don’t go to the supermarket for chit chat, and prefer to self-check my purchases. The same goes for a lot of my dining, especially if I were to dip into fast food territory. Just give me my food, and I will be on my way.

Good on KFC for tapping in to what is increasingly the core market in the US, Gen-Z and the Millennials. It’s their day. It’s YOUR day. And to take a page from another fast food outlet, Have It Your Way.

Dr “Do I Get Points For This?” Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #KFC #chicken #digital #rewards #loyalty

[shristisahu]

ElevateRetail: Unleashing the Power of Cutting-Edge Inventory Management

Originally Published on: SpendEdge |4 Best Inventory Management Techniques for the Retail Category

Within the retail landscape, the task of effective inventory management is often perceived as a formidable challenge. However, its far-reaching impact on the success of a business cannot be overstated. The key lies in understanding the precise locations of products, their intended destinations, and the available quantities. Proficient inventory management not only empowers stock control but also serves as a bulwark against spoilage while minimizing storage costs.

Keen on delving into how innovative retail inventory management techniques can heighten stock levels and propel sales? Request a tailored proposal, and we'll furnish a personalized response within two working days.

##Mastery of Advanced Inventory Management Techniques

###1. FIFO Strategy (First-in, First-out): Implementation of the FIFO strategy proves indispensable for retail enterprises, particularly those dealing with perishable products. This technique ensures the sale of the oldest stock first, mitigating the risk of unsellable spoilage. Even for non-perishable items, FIFO prevents obsolescence and maintains product freshness.

###2. Determining Inventory Levels: Establishing par levels, indicative of the minimum quantity required at any given time, streamlines inventory management. Falling below these levels triggers reordering, ensuring an uninterrupted supply chain. The process of ordering becomes more streamlined with enhanced inventory management systems.

###3. Effective Contingency Planning: Contingency planning is paramount for addressing challenges such as sudden sales spikes, cash flow shortages, or unforeseen product discontinuations. Companies must conduct a thorough analysis of potential risks, developing robust contingency plans that anticipate impacts across various business facets.

###4. Regular Auditing: Regular reconciliation, whether through manual counts or cycle counting, is a pivotal technique for monitoring stock levels. Auditing not only identifies discrepancies but also ensures accurate records, averting errors in inventory management.

##Navigating the 5-Step Advanced Inventory Management Process

###1. Demand Forecasting: Anticipate future demand based on historical data and market trends, leveraging tools like sales data analysis and market research.

###2. Reorder Point Calculation: Determine optimal reorder points by factoring in lead time and safety stock, ensuring timely replenishment.

###3. Order Placement and Monitoring: Place orders when stock reaches the reorder point, vigilantly monitoring order status and delivery times for seamless replenishment.

###4. Inventory Tracking and Organization: Deploy advanced tools like barcodes or RFID for real-time inventory tracking. Efficiently organize storage to facilitate accessibility and prevent damage, employing rotation techniques like FIFO.

###5. Regular Review and Adjustment: Continuously assess inventory performance, adjusting reorder points and forecasts based on actual demand. Identify sluggish items and implement corrective actions, such as targeted promotions or discounts.

In the dynamic realm of retail, mastery of these advanced inventory management techniques is pivotal for achieving operational efficiency and fostering sustained growth.

Contact us.

#ElevateRetail #CuttingEdgeInventoryManagement

[bicompanyca]

Unlocking Success: The Transformative Power of Consumer Insight Research in Business

In the dynamic realm of business, success is no longer solely about offering a stellar product or service; it hinges on understanding your audience at a profound level. Consumer insight research, the backstage pass to the minds of your customers, emerges as the cornerstone for strategic decision-making and sustainable growth.

Delving Deeper into Consumer Insights

Consumer insight research is not a mere survey—it's an exploration into the intricacies of consumer behavior, motivations, and preferences. It's about unraveling the 'why' behind consumer decisions, providing businesses with a compass to navigate the ever-evolving market landscape.

Magnifying the Customer Experience

Imagine consumer insight research as a magnifying glass, zooming in on the entire customer experience. It identifies pain points, highlights areas of improvement, and reveals hidden opportunities. By analyzing customer journeys, businesses gain a nuanced understanding of how their brand is perceived, enabling them to enhance the overall customer experience.

Informed Decision-Making for Strategic Advantages

Consumer insight research empowers businesses with accurate and up-to-date data for informed decision-making. Whether launching a new product, refining marketing strategies, or optimizing user interfaces, these insights are the bedrock for strategic choices that resonate with the audience and offer a competitive edge.

Building Relationships Beyond Transactions

In an era where customer loyalty is a coveted asset, consumer insight research is the key to forging lasting connections. By understanding customers on a deep level, businesses can personalize their approach, fostering a sense of value and loyalty that goes beyond mere transactions.

Adapting Proactively to Market Changes

Trends, societal changes, and technological advancements all have an impact on markets, which are in constant flux. Consumer insight research acts as a radar, enabling businesses to anticipate changes and adapt proactively. This agility is crucial in a world where the ability to pivot swiftly can be the difference between success and obsolescence.

Fine-Tuning Marketing Strategies for Maximum Impact

Consumer insight research serves as a compass for marketing efforts, allowing businesses to fine-tune strategies for maximum impact. By understanding preferences and habits, businesses can tailor messages that resonate on a personal level, leading to higher conversion rates and an improved return on investment.

Driving Product Innovation and Development

Innovation is vital for thriving businesses, and consumer insight research sparks creative ideation. By understanding what consumers desire, businesses can innovate products or services to meet evolving needs, attract new customers, and keep existing ones engaged.

Mitigating Risk Through Data-Driven Decisions

Every business decision involves risk, but consumer insight research serves as a risk mitigation tool. By basing decisions on concrete data, businesses can minimize the risk of investing in ventures that may not align with consumer expectations.

Gaining a Competitive Edge in a Global Market

In the interconnected global marketplace, businesses are vying for attention. Consumer insight research provides a competitive edge by uncovering niches, untapped markets, and cultural nuances that can be leveraged for strategic advantage.

Measuring and Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Consumer insight research isn't just about attracting new customers; it's vital for retaining existing ones. Regular assessments of customer satisfaction levels enable businesses to identify areas for improvement and address concerns promptly.

Adopting a Holistic Approach to Consumer Understanding

Consumer insight research embraces both quantitative and qualitative aspects, providing a holistic understanding of consumers. This ensures that businesses have a well-rounded view of their audience, facilitating more nuanced and effective decision-making.

The Role of Technology in Consumer Insight

In the digital age, technology plays a crucial role in gathering and analyzing consumer data. From advanced analytics tools to artificial intelligence, businesses can harness the power of technology to extract meaningful insights from vast datasets.

Ethical Considerations and Data Privacy

Ethical considerations and data privacy are paramount in consumer insight research. Respecting privacy and handling data responsibly builds trust, contributing to the overall stability and sustainability of the business.

Measuring the Long-Term Impact

Consumer insight research is an ongoing process with long-term benefits. Regular assessments of the impact of insights on business performance, customer satisfaction, and market positioning are essential. In conclusion, consumer insight research is not just a tool—it's a strategic imperative. Businesses that prioritize understanding their consumers from the inside out are better positioned to thrive in today's competitive landscape. The ongoing commitment to consumer insight research is an investment in sustained growth, customer satisfaction, and adaptability to the dynamic nature of markets. It's the key that unlocks the doors to success in the ever-evolving business landscape.

#Consumer Insight Research

[web3broadcast]

Preserving Heritage in the Metaverse: Digitizing Culture and Artifacts

In the dynamic landscape of the Metaverse, a new chapter is unfolding—one that transcends traditional boundaries to weave together the threads of culture, history, and technology. This exploration delves into the role of the Metaverse in cultural preservation, shedding light on how digital realms are becoming custodians of heritage and artifacts. Digital Archiving of Cultural Heritage In the Metaverse, the digital archiving of cultural heritage takes center stage. Museums, historical sites, and cultural institutions are leveraging virtual environments to meticulously capture and preserve artifacts, monuments, and artworks. Through advanced scanning technologies, these digital replicas ensure that the essence of cultural heritage is not only conserved but also made accessible to a global audience. Immersive Exhibits and Virtual Museums Metaverse platforms enable the creation of immersive exhibits and virtual museums that transcend the limitations of physical space. Visitors can explore ancient civilizations, view historical artifacts up close, and engage with cultural narratives in a way that goes beyond the constraints of geography and time. This digital approach democratizes access to cultural experiences, fostering a more inclusive appreciation of our shared history. NFTs as Digital Artifacts Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) play a pivotal role in the Metaverse's cultural preservation efforts. By tokenizing digital replicas of artifacts or creating unique digital artworks, NFTs establish a bridge between the physical and digital realms. These digital artifacts, often backed by blockchain technology, authenticate the provenance of cultural items, providing a secure and transparent way to trace their origins and ownership. Cultural Engagement in Virtual Worlds Communities within the Metaverse actively engage in cultural exchange, creating spaces that celebrate diversity and heritage. Virtual festivals, art exhibitions, and historical reenactments become avenues for individuals worldwide to connect with and appreciate different cultures. The Metaverse acts as a global agora where cultural dialogues unfold, fostering mutual understanding and respect. Augmented Reality (AR) for Urban Exploration In addition to the virtual realm, augmented reality enhances cultural preservation in physical spaces. AR applications guide users through cities, overlaying historical information, and visualizing past landscapes. This fusion of the digital and physical realms transforms urban spaces into living museums, allowing people to experience the rich tapestry of cultural history as they navigate through real-world environments. Community-Driven Cultural Projects The collaborative nature of the Metaverse empowers communities to initiate and participate in cultural preservation projects. From crowdsourced digitization efforts to community-led virtual exhibitions, these projects harness the collective wisdom and passion of individuals dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage. The Metaverse becomes a canvas for communities to express, celebrate, and perpetuate their unique cultural identities. Challenges and Considerations While the Metaverse offers unprecedented opportunities for cultural preservation, challenges such as digital obsolescence, data security, and ethical considerations must be addressed. Striking a balance between technological innovation and cultural sensitivity is crucial to ensuring the responsible stewardship of our shared heritage in the digital age. Conclusion As the Metaverse continues to evolve, its role in cultural preservation becomes increasingly profound. By digitizing heritage, fostering cultural engagement, and leveraging technologies like NFTs and AR, the Metaverse opens new frontiers for safeguarding our collective legacy. This transformative journey not only preserves the past but also redefines how we perceive, interact with, and pass on our cultural narratives to future generations. Read the full article