How to knit a vest\

how to not give a fuck

2012.02.29 03:35 afewseekhay how to not give a fuck

how to not give a fuck is the paradoxical problem-free philosophy @ https://discord.gg/bHV7hvMUMm
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2018.05.15 14:05 adam8866 How NOT To Summon A Demon Lord (Isekai Maou)

A subreddit all about the popular manga, anime, and light novel series: How NOT To Summon A Demon Lord! (Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu)
[link]

2012.06.04 00:35 kbiering cookingvideos: a video subreddit on how to cook

A place for anyone to post videos of their recipe or a recipe that they've found that was really enjoyable. Also a place to figure out different cooking techniques.
[link]

2024.05.13 23:15 oftenfrequently Comparing the HTT strategies for each of the main families

Comparing the HTT strategies for each of the main families
Fair warning, this is gonna be a long one :)
I started working on this for my own purposes because I’m fascinated by the similarities and differences between the HTT styling approaches Kibbe recommends for the different ID families, but then thought it might be helpful to share with the sub. I always see lots of mention of “lines,” but the overall HTT approach for each ID is sometimes (often) oversimplified. Plus all the other very fun elements that make up a HTT are, imo, getting short shrift! There are a few users who have posted amazing full HTTs for their IDs and I'm hoping even more people will be inspired to explore.
So what even is this post?
Basically, I went through the styling directives in Metamorphosis (Chapter 4) for the main families and directly compared the recommendations for the IDs on a number of smaller, more discrete variables because my brain finds it more digestible that way. I only did the main families because “you’re a [insert family here] first and foremost!!” is a thing regardless of your ID ;) And I thought it was more interesting to compare the elements of the pure families without the influence of any other undercurrents. Also it just would have been a lot of work to do all of them 🙃.
A few notes before getting to the good stuff
  • I tried to mostly focus on the words Kibbe uses to evoke feelings rather than specific items, since the book was written in the 80s and clothing is obviously quite different.
  • Some of the things that fall in the middle of a scale have debateable positioning since the middles are sometimes hard to compare (ex. Is a moderate pinstripe more angular or less angular than a soft-edged plaid? My vote was more angular but your vote could be the opposite!) I included all of the language I used to determine placement on the scales so you can make your own call if you want.
  • I disincluded some, ahem, charged descriptors in a few IDs but I don’t think it changes the overall picture painted of what that ID would be looking to channel in their HTTs
This post includes all of the scales I compared the families on in 6 main categories - silhouette, fabric, detail, prints, color, and accessories - plus some keywords that came up for each family that give the overall impression of the HTT. I might make a second part later with key similarities and differences between the approaches for each pair of families, but we'll see! I'm also interested in any discussion here or observations that others might have on the various categories :)
And of course you can always read Metamorphosis for yourself in full here, which I highly recommend!

1. Silhouette

This section is related to the base silhouette of an outfit - the overall shape of garments that make up a HTT and how they relate to one another. For the purposes of this category, I'm defining "ensemble" as the pieces look related or like they were purchased together, which I believe is the sense Kibbe uses it in.
https://preview.redd.it/8earo8fbm70d1.jpg?width=1965&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40f17625fbfc45cc723b9cc83d447111428d8b02
Shapes
  • D - “keep shapes sharp and geometric. Triangles, rectangles, and everything sculpted, sleek, and elongated, with crisp edges.” “square, sharp shoulders”
  • R - “keep your shapes rounded with soft edges! Circles, ornate swirls, and intricate flowing shapes” “shoulders should be curved”
  • C - “slightly geometric or slightly curved, blend the same shapes together in your look” “slight, crisp shoulder padding”
  • N - “geometric shapes with soft or rounded edges are the key. Rounded-edged rectangles. Soft oblongs, rounded-edged squares, irregular shapes, and soft asymmetrics.” “soft-edged shoulder pads are very good”
  • G - “small, sharp geometrics” “sharp edges and crisp tailoring” “crisp” “sharp edges and extreme tailoring and construction” “sharp shoulder pads”
Outline quality
  • D - “Always straight, with elongated draping that is sleek”
  • R - “your outline should always be soft and flowing” “lots of gentle draping everywhere” “soft fluidity”
  • C - “smooth and symmetrical with the emphasis on controlled and even edges, soft, straight lines, or smoothly curved lines - softly tailored or slightly flowing.”
  • N - “a relaxed, straight line is the outline of your look”
  • G - “sharp, straight, and staccato” “severe lines with sharp edges” “broken, staccato, animated outline. Utilizing many short vertical lines and many short horizontal lines is also effective.”
Closeness of fit
  • D - “always tailored and sculpted” “streamlined shape” “tailored and sleek” “the more tailored the better”
  • R - “showcase the lush curves of your body” “Sleeves should be tapered at the wrist” “waistline should always be emphasized, with soft gathers, folds, draped sashes, and lightweight and supple belts to give a cinched effect” “[Jackets] should be fitted at the waist”
  • C - “very slight draping in constructed garments” “crisp and finished cuffs” “tailored pleats” “narrow and tailored [jackets] with a smooth outline.” “lightweight unconstructed jackets are fine when they are kept sleek and narrow. Blazers, cardigan-style, elongated Chanel (not cropped) are all good choices” “softly tailored”
  • N - “softly tailored, always unconstructed” “Your outline should be fairly narrow and slim, in a loose and easy way.” “Dropped waist detail (loose sashes, overbloused tops, ties, etc) is excellent, as are slightly dropped shoulders.” “Relaxed shapes” “relaxed and easy fit” “dresses should be simple and unconstructed, with a narrow shape and a relaxed outline.”
  • G - “Precision fitted and crisply tailored” “[a] precisely fitted silhouette is crucial to your look” “Sharp and narrow waist definition.” “very fitted” “[skirts] should be very fitted at the waistband” “Pants should always be very sharply tailored with outlined or animated detail at the edges (waistbands, pleats, crisp cuffs).” “Skin tight stretchy pants are excellent” “Very tailored [blouses] with sharp edges and crisp detail (collars, cuffs, pleats, etc.)”
Length of garments
  • D - “Long, vertical lines are essential.” “generally [jackets] should be long (ending at the mid-thigh area), although a very sleek, Italian-style might be cropped (be sure this has an extremely sculpted, streamlined shape)” “straight and long [skirts]” “a long hem” “long cardigans or pullovers”
  • R - "lengths should be kept gracefully long as uneven hemlines (mid-calf), and short as the tapered styles with an even hemline (mid kneecap)" "[for sweaters] short lengths with waist detail"
  • C - “standard length is best [for jackets] (just below break of hip)” “slightly longer jackets are possible when the corresponding skirt is elongated to match.” “moderate length [skirts]”
  • N - “Elongated [jackets] (ending from the upper thigh on down.)” “Moderate length [skirts]” “Very short skirts for fun/funky looks.” “Nearly all styles [of pants] are excellent, from very casual to very dressy… short, cropped, or long.” “Any and all lengths [for sweaters]”
  • G - “Short, cropped [jackets]” “Straight, sharp, and short [skirts]” “A slightly flared hemline [on skirts] may be slightly longer (top of the calf). Anything extremely long is very tricky, and must have a slit and be pencil slim.” “[For pants] Short lengths, anywhere from cropped at the calf to the top of the ankle.” “Short, cropped cardigans” “Short cropped jackets, vests, and boleros work well with dresses for you”
Cohesion
  • D - “keep individual pieces blended together in an artful way for elegance”
  • R - “include an artful blending of plush textures, draped fabrics, and luxurious colors” “avoid any kind of harsh contrast between top and bottom”
  • C - “A clean, unbroken silhouette is your most elegant statement! Think ‘head-to-toe’, and blend everything accordingly.” “Use [separates] carefully and sparingly” “Make sure colors, textures, and prints blend together”
  • N - “Separates are extremely exciting on you, and should make up the bulk of your wardrobe” “you’ll do better with an artful mixture of patterns, textures and colors than you will with an overly matched look” “designer sportswear” “definitely mix n’ match in the most sophisticated sense of the word”
  • G - “A use of well-coordinated separates with lots of animated and colorful detail can be very exciting to your look.”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • N fam has a truly impressive amount of versatility in terms of the length of pieces they're recommended, probably because they're the only family that's really strongly encouraged to go whole hog with a mix and match/separates-forward approach (a superpower tbh).
  • Although the scale of pieces recommended are obviously quite different, the words he uses to describe the shapes for D and G fams are extremely similar. Definitely two families that benefit from an emphasis on crisp sharpness and angularity.
  • I thought it was interesting that he used "softly tailored" in both the C and N fam sections, although the effect they're going for is very different (blended understated elegance vs. relaxed funky easy vibes).
  • He never uses the word "wide" in the N fam section. He does, however, use "narrow" and "loosely tailored" a number of times 😈 No oversized shapeless potato sacks here!

2. Fabric

This category is pretty self-explanatory I hope!
https://preview.redd.it/94e76p19190d1.jpg?width=1976&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=816214030ae525dd16ec2e071426eab1e571c544
Definition
  • D - “fabrics that hold a defined shape are necessary”
  • R - “fabrics that drape easily” “flowing”
  • C - “beautiful, luscious fabrics are an important element in your understated look” “very slight draping in constructed garments.”
  • N - “loose and easy”
  • G - “must always be crisp, able to hold a defined shape, and be tailored easily”
Range of textures (how many different fabrics can they use)
  • D - “Moderate to heavyweights are best, with a matte finish and a smooth surface” “textures should be tightly woven, and shiny fabrics should be very stiff and ultraglitzy”
  • R - “softly woven fabrics” “ultrashiny fabrics” “ultrasoft or plush textures” “sheer fabrics” “any kind of sparkle is excellent”
  • C - “Matte finish or slight sheen.” “Luxurious to the touch” “lightweight textures” “smooth knits” “smooth chiffon and elegantly beaded fabrics for evening.”
  • N - “All soft textures are excellent” “any fabric with a rough or nubby surface” “any wrinkly fabric works well” “all woven fabrics” “knits are excellent in nearly any weight and thickness, from very finely woven to very heavy and rough” “Plush velours, suede, and soft leather are perfect” “drapable fabrics are best kept to heavier weight jerseys.” “A matte finish is far superior to sheen for daytime” “In the evening, you can go very glitzy with hard-finished sheens”
  • G - “a flat surface or light texture is best” “finely woven knits, especially when ribbed and skinny, are good choices.” “matte finish is best, although hard-finished sheens can be very exciting (especially metallics)”
Weight
  • D - “Moderate to heavyweights are best” “occasionally lightweight fabrics can work if they are extra-structured in the design of the garment”
  • R - “lightweight fabrics”
  • C - “moderate weights. Lightweights in very constructed or tailored garments.”
  • N - "knits are excellent in nearly any weight and thickness, from very finely woven to very heavy and rough." “moderate weights are best, although textures can easily be lighter”
  • G - “usually your fabric will be of moderate weight, though lighter weights that hug the body are excellent”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • Again lots of similarities for G and D fam as far as structure and matte finish, although D also has heavier structured wovens while G has fine knits.
  • R fam and N fam get by far the most diverse recommendations as far as fabric and textures go (again a ton of versatility in N fam!). Seems like you really can't go wrong with something sparkly, shiny, glitzy, or plushy if you're in R fam. And for N fam it sounds like you get to mix far more textures into one HTT than everybody else does, which is exciting!
  • I thought the emphasis on flowing for R fam was interesting. It makes total sense - I haven't read too deeply into R since I am clearly not one lol - but for some reason I had flowing associated with N in my mind.
  • I really love the C recommendations myself - "luscious fabrics" just makes me think about burrowing in a cashmere blanket haha. I could definitely picture Grace Kelly as I was reading them.

3. Prints

Also self-explanatory!
https://preview.redd.it/nn24my93490d1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a8d47c3a4d4d5984b6cac8d9deeccdf7da834c4
Pattern
  • D - “bold and geometric: stripes, zigzags, asymmetrics, and irregular shapes.” “Think Picasso and strive for a contemporary feeling”
  • R - “rich and luscious with the emphasis on an abstract, watercolor blend (think Monet). Swirls of color, flowing together, with soft and rounded edges may be used in abundance.”
  • C - “symmetrical, evenly spaced, and regular or realistic patterns. Understated prints (pin dots, pinstripes, checks, blended plaids, herringbone, symmetrical paisleys, etc.)”
  • N - “casual styles that are soft-edged geometrics (plaids, stripes, paisleys, etc.) and funky prints in irregular shapes (abstract asymmetrics, leaves, animal prints, etc.).”
  • G - “Prints should be sharp, colorful, and animated. Small geometrics and angular asymmetrics are excellent. Most of your prints should be very contemporary in feeling (“Picasso-ish”) although humorous styles that are outlined and caricatured can be quite stunning on you as well.”
Contrast
  • D - “Bold color combinations and high-contrast blends work best”
  • R - “swirls of color, flowing together”
  • C - “Make sure colors, textures, and prints blend together” “understated”
  • N - “generally have a softly blended edge”
  • G - “colorful and animated” “outlined” “contrast”
Scale
  • D - “bold”
  • R - “luxuriously large: oversized florals or feathery shapes are especially lovely”
  • C - “understated”
  • N - “moderate scale to slightly large”
  • G - “small”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • Again lots of similarities for D and G for the type (sharp geometric) and feeling of prints (contemporary/Picasso) with the main difference being large vs. small scale (don't worry, they're about to diverge hardcore 😂)
  • R fam is recommended significantly more abstract and organic prints than everyone else. I also thought it was interesting that both D and R call for larger-scale prints - finally something in common!
  • For C fam it seems like the most important thing is that the prints blend in and are understated rather than drawing attention to themselves.
  • Preferring high contrast and sharp prints vs slightly more blended and soft ones seems like a notable difference between D/G and N fam.

4. Garment Detail

This category is related to the details within the confines of the outline of a garment. So things like necklines, collars, effects like beading and sequins, trim, buttons, etc etc.
https://preview.redd.it/342pwi6y390d1.jpg?width=1971&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64115f1045c7a3cb6d9ac1d6d843754ca943a603
Shape - sharp vs soft
  • D - “angular shapes” “sharp edges” “clean, angular necklines (plunging v’s, skinny turtlenecks, high Mandarins, slashed collars, halters…)” “anything tailored (crisp cuffs, sharp pleats, sharp lapels, etc.)”
  • R - “soft” “[Sleeves can be] very soft and flowing” “lapels should be curved, rounded, or shawl-collared” “gathers, tucks, or bouffant shapes” “any draped, gathered, or shirred touches are wonderful accents”
  • C - “clean, tailored necklines” “crisp and finished cuffs”
  • N - “Any unconstructed or loosely tailored detail works well.” “Simple necklines… are best, and you should concentrate on open necklines for your air of casual chic” “lapels should be tailored, notched, or clean (lapel-less).” “Cuffs should be very plain.”
  • G - “Detail should always be… sharp” “very crisp, staccato, broken up, and multicolored” “lots of crisp trim” “lots of outlining (collars, cuffs, waistbands, lapels) with piping of contrasting colors or fabric, braiding, beads, etc.” “Small, crisp pleats.” “Sharp, angular necklines - also small” “Small, crisp ties (ribbon, leather, etc.)” “Small, tailored lapels or crisp lapel-less with piping.” “Small, crisp cuffs.”
Scale - large vs small
  • D - “bold, sweeping geometrics”
  • R - “oversize bows, flouncy ruffles, and delicate lace are always good choices”
  • C - “[detail] should never call attention to itself”
  • N - “pleats should be soft and deep” “You can use small touches of hand embroidery or rough lace and eyelet for very simple trim.”
  • G - “Detail should always be small” “Small, crisp pleats.” “Sharp, angular necklines - also small” “Small, crisp ties (ribbon, leather, etc.)” “Small, tailored lapels or crisp lapel-less with piping.” “Small, crisp cuffs”
Complexity - clean vs intricate
  • D - “detail should always be clean and minimal”
  • R - “intricate, ornate… with an emphasis on framing your face” “Sleeves should be tapered at the wrist with intricate buttons” “any kind of sparkle is excellent (pearls, sequins, beading, etc.)” “belt buckles should always be intricate” “the more intricate or antique looking your buttons are the better” “ornate detail” “ornate necklines”
  • C - “clean, simple, and minimal - just enough to add an elegantly understated touch.” “never call attention to itself” “clean lines” “minimal detail” “minimum of detail”
  • N - “detail should be kept minimal. Plain and simple is best for you.” “gathers should be minimal” “simple tailored styles with minimal detail” “Simple shapes with easy fits” “Minimal detail”
  • G - “an overabundance of detail” “You can never wear too much detail! An abundance of it and everywhere in your look is one of the most effective tools you have for capturing your animated effervescence!” “Detail should always… call attention to itself (not blend into the lines of your garments)” “lots of animated and colorful detail” “Collar, cuff, lapel, and waistband detail (outlining, trim, piping, ribbing) are essential”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • A very stark divide here between the families that lean minimal/clean (C, N, D) and the families that lean complex (R, G)!
  • Even though R and G both call for a lot of detail, G fam seems to like it literally everywhere (but especially at the edges) while R focuses on framing the face. Another difference between them is that G detail is high contrast, sharp, and colorful while R fam's detail tends to the ornate, flowing, intricate, and sparkly - very different shapes I think.
  • Finally a category where N fam is not running away with the versatility haha - it seems like a more minimal and clean approach to detail really helps them shine.

5. Color

Y'all know what colors are :)
https://preview.redd.it/5he7hmfk790d1.jpg?width=1949&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc59971dc9518bfbd276300feccba5838f4d7971
Number
  • D - “Always think ‘head-to-toe’ with your color schemes” “All monochromatic schemes are excellent”
  • R - “include an artful blending of… luxurious colors”
  • C - “Make sure colors, textures, and prints blend together” “monochromatic schemes are excellent, although you do not need to be limited to just one or two colors.”
  • N - “Color is an area in which you should have lots of fun! Strive for zip, verve, and lots of pizzazz with bolds, brights, pastels, vivids, and wild color combinations - anything imaginative.” “Break all the rules when it comes to color! Mix ‘n match with ease.”
  • G - “lots of animated and colorful detail can be very exciting to your look” “Your use of color should be bold and sassy; break all the rules here! Multicolored splashes are perfect. Bright and shockingly colored accessories played against a dark or light background. High, sharp contrast and wild color combinations are all very chic on you. Break your line with color!”
Effect
  • D - “color combination should be bold but elegant. Combining bright shades with dark shades achieves this with ease.”
  • R - “should emphasize a watercolor palette of soft pastels and luscious brights.” “rich, luxuriously blended colors” “pale neutrals… are your best accents”
  • C - “accentuate your smoothly blended visual outline. This means that a mixture of colors in an outfit should blend together in intensity so as not to disrupt your clean and smooth silhouette.” “The key is to make sure the tones (intensities) blend, instead of contrasting.”
  • N - “Strive for zip, verve, and lots of pizzazz with bolds, brights, pastels, vivids, and wild color combinations - anything imaginative. Neutrals work well when they are used in beautifully textured fabrics… but you will feel a little dull without a few bright accents, either in accessories or jewelry.” “Colors can be very wild and unusual if you wish, or more muted and earthy-looking”
  • G - “bold and sassy” “Multicolored splashes” “Bright and shockingly colored accessories played against a dark or light background.” “High, sharp contrast and wild color combinations”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • It's been said before but D fam's inability to do anything but monochrome has been greatly exaggerated. Outfits can have high contrast colors as long as they still read bold and sleek!
  • I found it interesting that both C fam and R fam call for a blended effect.
  • Color seems like a key category to focus on for both N fam and G fam - bold color kings/queens 👑

6. Accessories

The category for everything else - bags, hats, shoes, jewelry, belts, etc etc.
https://preview.redd.it/ek7fu7oz790d1.jpg?width=1923&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c24f3db63656cef4a8da916665ba0f19893cc86
Scale
  • D - “Belts should be bold and wide” “Metal belts will be sculpted and quite large.” “[Hats should have] wide brims” “[Jewelry should have] an emphasis on bold, modern shapes.” “[For jewelry,] Pieces should be large but not overly bulky.”
  • R - “The effect may be lavish, but the workmanship should be intricate and delicate.” “delicate [shoes]” “[For bags,] Delicate shoulder straps. Elegantly slim briefcases.” “Jewelry should always be delicate and lavish, with intricate and ornate touches. Rounded shapes, curves, swirls, and lots of dangles”
  • C - “slender pumps” “narrow heels” “moderate size [bags]” “slim and elegant” “keep [belts] elegant, slim, and narrow with small smooth buckles” “small and crisp [hats] with even brims” “Small [jewelry]”
  • N - “moderate-sized [bags]” “Jewelry should be kept on the chunky side” “It is possible to get away with very minimal chains, tiny diamond studs, etc., but chances are you won’t be satisfied with this once you experiment with a zippier look!”
  • G - “All accessories should be small, crisp, geometric, and colorful” “Small, crisp geometrics [for bags]” “[Belts] may be narrow to moderately wide.” “Small, crisply tailored hats.” “Jewelry should be small and sharp.”
Shape
  • D - “All accessories should be crisp, sharply tailored, and angular with geometric shapes. Keep everything sleek and contemporary in feeling.” “High, straight heels, crisp soles, and elegantly tapering toes.” “Angular envelopes, clutches, or structured briefcases.” “[For jewelry,] thin sharp pieces are good choices, as are avant-garde works of art.”
  • R - “softly sophisticated.” “[Shoes of] Lightweight and supple leather.” “[For bags,] small, rounded shapes. Soft, supple leather or fabric.” [For belts,] soft and supple leather or fabric.” “Soft, curvy [hats]” “Large, fluffy fur hats.”
  • C - “elegant scarves in symmetrical ties” “tapered toes” “elegant leather” “softly tailored flats” “crisply tailored [bags]” “supple leather [bags]” “tailored, symmetrical shape[d hats]” “Keep your jewelry elegant, smooth, and symmetrical” “Small, slightly geometric shapes [in jewelry] are good, as are smoothly curved swirls.”
  • N - “Unconstructed styles with soft or rounded-edged geometric shapes are most effective.” “high heels should be very angular and straight, not tapered” “unconstructed pouches” “Simple geometrics in supple leather” “softly geometric [belts]” “unconstructed [hats]. Large, loose, and floppy. Shaggy-haired fur.” “Soft or rounded-edged geometrics [for jewelry]”
  • G - “All accessories should be small, crisp, geometric, and colorful” “tailored and angular [shoes] in lightweight leather. Unusual shapes in toes and heels are excellent (asymmetrics, wedges, sharp points, etc.) as are bold colors and printed fabric.” “Small, crisp geometrics [for bags]” “Stiff leather [belts] with geometric buckles.” “Jewelry should be small and sharp and in geometric, asymmetrical, or irregular shapes.”
Detail
  • D - “sleek & elegant”
  • R - “ornate” “strappy, slender-heeled [shoes] with tapered or open toes” “[Flats] with ornamentation” “[For bags,] Ornamentation or luxurious detail (beads, gathers, trim).” “[For belts,] All beaded, bejeweled, or sparkly styles are excellent.” “belts are a focal point, and should be selected as carefully as a fine piece of jewelry” “Jewelry should always be delicate and lavish, with intricate and ornate touches. Rounded shapes, curves, swirls, and lots of dangles… sparkly materials are essential… and an antique, baroque, or rococo effect is desirable.”
  • C - “simple, clean, and elegant” “Be careful not to overdo! Go elegant instead of extreme.”
  • N - “Accessories should be kept minimal; plain and simple is your best look here” “evening sandals should be very bare, not strappy” “belts should be simple” “[For jewelry, think] “wearable art”... or it can be bright and funky costume pieces that add pizzazz! Earthy materials are very elegant and sophisticated on you (copper, silver, amber, turquoise, etc.). Hard-finished enamels and glass are fun, especially when used in bold colors for vivid accents”
  • G - “[Accessories] should call attention to themselves as detail” “Contrast is being strived for with your use of accessories, as well as bringing out your wit and a sense of fun.” “[For shoes] bold colors and printed fabric. Flats of all kinds should always be funky and fun (patent leather, trimmed, etc.)” “Brightly colored belts are excellent aids in breaking your line.” “[For jewelry] Brightly colored enamel, stone, or glass are best. Very contemporary avant-garde pieces are excellent on you, as are trendy pieces that accentuate your wit.”
Some random observations from me about this category
  • In keeping with the general themes, D fam again shines more with much bolder or larger scale accessories than everyone else, although they don't need a ton of detail within them. The overall shape seems to do most of the heavy lifting.
  • In contrast, G fam and R fam once again call for a lot of detail within their accessories. They also get the most fun-sounding shoes (to me, a magpie).
  • And again N, C, and D have the cleaner strategies for accessories, although N does have a more G-like approach recommended for fun colorful jewelry.

7. In closing, some keywords

Picked out from the sections for each main family. I find these helpful to kind of paint a word picture of the overall vibe each family is recommended to go for.
  • D - sharp, geometric, elongated, sculpted, sleek, streamlined, defined, structured, clean, bold, sweeping, angular, tailored, elegant, long, straight, contemporary, avant-garde, crisp, modern, chiseled, high-contrast
  • R - soft, rounded, ornate, intricate, flowing, draping, light, shiny, plush, sheer, delicate, curved, tapered, sparkle, gathers, folds, blended, luxurious, fluid, antique, shirred, flounces, frills, fluffy, swirls, watercolor, rich, abstract, sophisticated, strappy, ornamentation, beaded, bejeweled, lavish, rococo, elaborate, colorful, glitzy
  • C - smooth, even, blended, controlled, softly tailored, slightly flowing, clean, elegant, luscious, understated, quality, moderate, simple, minimal, crisp, symmetrical, gathers, slim, beaded, sleek, natural
  • N - geometric, soft, rounded edges, irregular, asymmetric, relaxed, straight, softly tailored, unconstructed, narrow, slim, loose, easy, textured, plush, matte, minimal, plain, simple, open, casual, chic, separates, mix and match, pattern, color, sophisticated, easy, elongated, short, zip, verve, pizzazz, bold, bright, pastel, vivid, wild, imaginative, funky, blended, chunky, elegant, tousled, free, fresh-faced, glowing, radiant, healthy
  • G - small, sharp, geometric, fitted, crisp, tailored, straight, staccato, severe, animated, broken, short, detail, defined, flat, light, matte, sheen, moderate, call attention, colorful, trim, outlined, piping, ribbing, contrast, pleats, angular, ties, lapels, narrow, well-coordinated separates, tapered, stiff, slim, asymmetrical, bold, sassy, splashes, bright, high contrast, wild, chic, contemporary, humorous, wit, fun, angular, unusual shapes, prints, irregular, avant-garde, sleek, beading, tousled, cropped, fresh-faced, glowing, doe-eyed
Phew! You made it to the end. Hopefully it was helpful, or gave you some ideas of smaller, more approachable categories to explore for HTTs. If not, at least it was a great exercise for my own weird brain processing lol. Feel free to drop any observations/thoughts you might have in the comments, I'm curious what everyone else sees or thinks is notable or interesting!
submitted by oftenfrequently to Kibbe [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 04:24 Madam_meow How I keep track of rows

How I keep track of rows
I think earlier in the year there was a discussion on how people keep track of their rows or their spot in a knitting pattern. Well… I took a look at mine and this is what it looks like. Don’t ask me what any of it means. This was for the arcuate vest by cl.knits, I included a picture of my finished object at the end.
Extra information: I use the back of my school notebook to track my knitting. I often knit on campus between classes and I don’t always have a flat surface to write on. That’s not really an excuse, I notoriously have bad organization and messy handwriting.
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2024.05.13 04:06 flmdicaljcket My rule of elimination

This is such a non sequitur but I finalized my guest list this weekend using an elimination tactic I feel…really good about.
I don’t have a lot of extended family. My mom has two living relatives. Cousins - very sweet, a little elderly, I’d be happy to have them. I know them. Logistics might be complicated. I made it clear no presents if they attend or otherwise. Not trying to bogart someone’s pension or SS for a toaster (or whatever).
My dad doesn’t have a lot of close relatives. Some first cousins once removed, second cousins, etc. I’ve met some, ambivalent, maybe minor dislike of others. I don’t know most of them.
I am really close to my uncle. I wouldn’t invite anyone because “fammmmilly.” I figured if he likes them, I’m okay with giving the “grownups” a little social circle. Also my dad is weird, a distraction/buffer of relatives seemed like it had potential to prevent mortification scenarios.
Me to uncle: “are any of these people cool / do you want to hang out with them?”
He looked me dead in the eye and was like “not a single one has called grandma in 5+ years.”
Grandma is a 97 year old badass. She’s adorable - like wearing a knitted beanie and flannel shirt with a vest earlier today, trying to give me her house (I’m like grandma you are the queen of this castle, forever may you reign). She wasn’t serious, she was was just so happy to have a surprise visitor with a dozen cupcakes and a smile. A short Mother’s Day surprise visit made her week.
If any of these DBs were selfless enough to not act like she’s already gone, and called her once in awhile, I’d have gladly wined and dined them. Steaks all around.
Two of these shet bags used her address to fraudulently attend the better high school in her area. Radio silent.
I’d rather have grandma and a fleet of home health aides. As it stands, she’s not really strong enough to make it, which makes me sad. My uncle gave me a piece of intel that was literally intel of peace. I can have a few more actual friends on the big day. If there’s any weirdness, I am fine with letting these “relatives” know that because grandma is slightly infirm, we thought it would be best she have some comfort and company to feel less lonely while celebrating from home. If I’m feeling especially passive aggressive, I’ll offer to have some nice takeout delivered for them to eat while streaming the ceremony with grandma. Most of these jerks live within 20 minutes of her house. I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t hear some bs through the grape vine. Nothing would make me happier than getting into it. If I could do a shame bell game of thrones thing it would be the best wedding gift of them all lol
A bit of a ramble, but this cleansed my mind of any subconscious guilt creeping up about not inviting family. Being a family is how you treat each other, not feeling entitled to being wined and dined just because. Yes, she’s old but she’s still the same wonderful person who was there for all of these people all of their lives. I love my grandma. No one puts granny in the corner.
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2024.05.11 22:32 manlikemnny [FS] [UK] Spring Clearout

Vouch threads: https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/mhx53a/umanlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/j4dnoe/umanlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/fpcl00/manlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share
Payment via Paypal invoice only. Check vouches Comment PM before messaging me. Feel free to ask for measurements, etc.EU/WW shipping will cost extra
Tagged Pic and Timestamp
Reps
________________________________________________
R3pr3sent brown Knit - £45
Martin3 R0s3 billiard knit - SOLD
Acn3 lightweight Wool knit - SOLD
Pr*da Nylon Cargo -SOLD
@ndersson Bell x As1cs gel-1090 -£45
Retail
_________________________________________________
F0G 3ssentials mock neck vest – £40
Doc Mart3ns Made in England Boots - £45
NB 801 All Terrain -£30
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2024.05.11 22:31 manlikemnny [FS] [UK] Spring clearout

Vouch threads: https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/mhx53a/umanlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/j4dnoe/umanlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share https://www.reddit.com/RepVouch/comments/fpcl00/manlikemnny\_vouches/?utm\_medium=android\_app\&utm\_source=share
Payment via Paypal F&F / Cashapp. Check vouches Comment PM before messaging me. Feel free to ask for measurements, etc.EU/WW shipping will cost extra
Tagged Pic and Timestamp
Reps
________________________________________________
R3pr3sent brown Knit - £45
Martin3 R0s3 billiard knit - SOLD
Acn3 lightweight Wool knit - SOLD
Pr*da Nylon Cargo - SOLD
@ndersson Bell x As1cs gel-1090 -£45
Retail
_________________________________________________
F0G 3ssentials mock neck vest – £40
Doc Mart3ns Made in England Boots - £45
NB 801 All Terrain -£30
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2024.05.10 20:28 pillowcase-of-eels [Music] Emilie Autumn's Asylum, pt. 5 – Musician spends years building vibrant and loyal audience; single-sentence comment from concerned fan triggers civil war and ruins everything forever

🪞 “It's much easier to get in that it is to get out,” Emilie Autumn used to say. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4.1 - Part 4.2
She was not wrong. Welcome back to the Asylum write-up!
In this installment, we're finally getting down to the nitty-gritty of the enmity between EA and her fans.
It's time for war. It's time for blood. It's time... for tea. 🎵

THE PRESENT DAY: “ASK ME ANYTHING (WELL, NOT QUITE)”

​
"Ask me anything" titles are catchy, and that’s why I’m using one. But, obviously, don’t ask me anything, by which I mean that, if you think I wouldn’t answer it, you’re probably right. Ask me something really good. I’d love to answer you. I’d love to have comments on these posts, in fact, so that I could answer questions there regularly and ask you things as well, but insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, or so Einstein is supposed to have said, and attempting to create yet another interactive online venue after every previous attempt has ended in heartbreak—forums, facebook groups, social media accounts—it would indeed be insanity to think that this time would be any different. So there are no comments. This too is heartbreaking in the sense that, and you may not realize this, but I desperately want to connect more completely with you—to be able to intelligently converse and share and exchange. We can do that in person, of course, because the wrong people never show up in person. Isn’t that funny… So, perhaps we’ll have to arrange that;). I’ll start you off with an example question I’d want to know if I were you (I can almost guarantee that you do not want to know this). Q. Hey EA, how do you keep your wireless bodypack transmitter secure when you are leaping about in skimpy costumes and doing frequent costume changes? Also, dye your roots. A. Fantastic question, EA, and I just dyed my roots thank you very much. ... (Deleted blog post followed by a year of radio silence, 2022 📝)
Sooo. For the past five-ish years, the vibe in the Asylum has been that of a protracted Christmas dinner where everyone is tensely moving their food around in their plate, bracing themselves for whatever will trigger the screaming match. Wondering what it's going to be this time. Weary old-timers make small talk about the food because no other topic feels safe. Every glance, every forced smile, is fraught with eons-old grudges and unspoken regrets; every nervous pleasantry sounds like a thinly-veiled accusation. Aunt Emilie always insists on hosting, but not-so-secretly hates having people over. Sooner or later, she finds a way to get all of these assholes out of her house. Most of the adult children are daydreaming about going no-contact.
Everyone ready for some dysfunctional family history?
CW for discussion of bullying, online harassment, mental illness stigma.

YE OLDEN DAYS: CUCKOOS OF A FEATHER NEST TOGETHER

In the beginning, it was beautiful.
EA had the excellent instinct to start banking on her online presence📝 long before MySpace was even a thing. She had a website, several online stores, an active LiveJournal and a ProBoards forum right from the turn of the millennium.
In 2004, she attached an official forum to her website; the earliest archive shows 74 registered users. By the time Opheliac came out in 2006, that number had grown tenfold. And it was, by most accounts, a pretty dope place to be! (I should specify that this write-up focuses on the anglophone side of the fandom: there were also thriving fan-run communities in at least German, French, and Spanish. Because EA doesn't speak any of those languages, the lucky bastards were mostly left alone.)
Forum users enjoyed interacting with some of EA's closest IRL friends and associates – and with the mistress of the house herself (user flair: PsychoFiddler), when she occasionally responded to comments under her own posts. But that wasn't even the main appeal for many. For a long time, on top of all EA-related topics, the official forum had very active “Off-Topic” subforums, with lively and friendly conversation on a variety of subjects. (There was even a “Filthy Libertines (18+)” sub for a while, which was closed due to preemptive concerns about minors.) Swear words (not slurs) were allowed and encouraged, and moderation was overall pretty loose beyond basic enforcement of civility. There was a lot of mutual support, creativity, and solid banter going around.
It wasn't just about Emilie on the forums. People could chat about almost anything with near free reign, making connections and lifelong friends. ... This community mattered SO MUCH to people. They felt included, accepted, and understood within the walls of the Asylum. People invested their time and creative energy into keeping the forums a vibrant, active community, and made sure that carried over into the real world. ... I've never seen anything like it in a fan space. I doubt I ever will again. (@Asylum_Oracle - “Fandom History” Instagram highlight 🔍📝, which contains most of the sources for this segment.)
And it did, indeed, carry over into the real world. There were numerous meet-ups – a few organized by EA, many more spontaneous. People who didn't know any other EA fans in real life, or were just excited to add new Plague Rats to their friend group, would regularly connect with other forum users from their area to meet up and hang out before EA shows. “Who else is dressing up??”
In 2008, for instance, EA held an afternoon meet-up at Lincoln Park in Chicago. 📺 The event was free to attend; it featured live acoustic music and a reading from EA's upcoming book, the intriguingly-titled Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls.
On the appointed day, EA rolled up in a fabulously tousled red wig, bedazzled white corset and steampunk-altered wedding dress. She had brought friends alongs. Sporting blue hair and a pink bustle and corset was her Chicago bestie, the main forum admin. Rocking a guitar and a top hat was EA's sound engineer, the soft-spoken wizard behind the Victoriandustrial sound, who was also a forum mod. The photographer from the original Opheliac cover art was there as well; he was formally introduced by EA and got his own round of applause.
People who would never normally be involved in an artist's fanbase were in EA's world. And not only were they known – they were respected and incredibly active with the fanbase. These people who managed an online message board were willing to engage in real-world meet-ups (with no security??) because of how tight-knit the community they had built was. People turned out to this event. People traveled to go to this event. It was a short reading of a book that hadn't been released yet, and wouldn't be for some time. Why? Because not only was it a chance to meet Emilie and listen to parts of the new book, but it was also a chance to hang out with their friends from the Asylum. ... The fandom really was a family for a lot of people. (@Asylum_Oracle)

“SERIOUSLY, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE.”

It all started with The End.
The End Records, that is! Quick refresher: in 2009, after three years or so with Trisol, EA split from the label over allegations that the owner was embezzling money from ticket sales. A few months later, she signed with The End Records. Understandably, EA still wanted to sell the album that had made her famous, and to which she had smartly retained the rights – which meant a brand new, “Deluxe” release of Opheliac. (Remember, from part 3? The one you could pre-order as a bundle with the book? Some projects are just cursed, I guess.)
At that point, Opheliac had been released three times already, as recently as the year before, with only slight variations in format and tracklist. (Yes, that is a theme in this story.) The End Records version would feature new cover art and a handful of new tracks, but overall, it was... you know... the same album.
(The following paragraphs are largely sourced from this excellent recap 🔍📝, which also provides potato screenshots for all quotes.)
One fateful day of August 2009, a user started a thread entitled “Opheliac US edition deluxe re-release??” in the “EA News” subforum. In the thread, some people were kind of balking at the re-do, pondering whether to buy the “new” Opheliac or sit this one out. Some expressed that after three years, they were jonesing for a new album. Others shared what B-sides or dream covers they would have liked to see included on the bonus disc. Just... fans being fans, in a fan discussion space.
And then EA jumped out from behind the curtains.
Fan: Okay. Before I start, I just want you to know that I think it's very good that EA is getting more popularity, and that she can release lots of albums, but - are 5 editions of the same album really needed? You may say now “ah, it's not the same, it has 2 bonus tracks” or whatever, but I mean: it's not new material. Now don't get me wrong. I'm happy for it, maybe I'll even buy it, but I'm just wondering if she shouldn't keep herself busy with other (maybe more important) stuff? * hides * EA: Nobody's forcing you to buy it. Thanks.
Record scratch.
Fan 1: is this Opheliac release version number 4? lol If she's recording NEW tracks, then surely they deserve to be sold by themselves, otherwise people are going to have to buy an album that they may have already bought twice (like me!). But... alas, I am a fool and adore everything this woman does... im buying it lol Fan 2: exactly – if it was just reissuing the last version of Opheliac to tap into new markets that would be fine (...) but if they start adding extra bits of material to albums people already have then the true muffins are going to feel obliged to buy new copies (...) EA: How exactly are you obliged to buy anything? Nobody is forcing you to spend a fucking penny, my dears. I suppose it would make more sense to you to simply not have my records available any more as the old label I just escaped from will no longer be distributing them? Forgive me for adding extra tracks. No obligation necessary.
...Okay, so I'm pretty sure that we can see both sides of the argument here. Fans are annoyed at the idea of spending money on barely-anything-new, because they love EA and buy every single CD she releases. EA is exasperated by fans acting like she's twisting their arm and somehow resenting the inclusion of new material, when she was just ensuring that her album would remain available for purchase and trying to keep things interesting.
But maybe we can also agree that those replies should have been screamed into a pillow rather than typed out on a keyboard.
EA was getting increasingly (and, I'll just say it: disproportionately) sarcastic and defensive in her replies. Enter poor FantineDormouse.
FantineDormouse meant well, I think. Maybe she thought, she's spiraling. Maybe she thought, friends don't let friends go down that road. Granted, FantineDormouse probably should have known better than to phrase it the way she did. Or to assume that EA perceived her as a friend.
Either way, at some point, FantineDormouse jumped in and posted the comment that finally made EA lose it. THE comment which, overnight, ended the honeymoon period of the Asylum, triggering a doomsday domino effect from which the fandom would never truly recover. Are you comfortably seated?
FantineDormouse: Uhm, Emilie, love, I don't mean to sound rude or anything... but maybe you should have a cup of tea and relax a little.
...
* sound of archduke getting shot *
EA: Excuse me? You can throw this onslaught of absolute cruel bullshit at me and those I work with in my own space that I own, and I can't say anything back? How fucking patronizing. Relax? Are you fucking kidding me? Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? FD: I'm not trying to piss you off even more, Emilie. And trust me, I have to deal with it myself, and as much as I would really love to punch the cunts I have to deal with in the face, I don't. You're pissed off, I get it. You're bipolar, which makes it 10x worse, I get that. I'm just not the person to stand around and do nothing when a fight where I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of regret is going on.
Famous last words. Literally! Immediately after EA delivered her irate closing statement – which includes one of my all-time favorite EA zingers, bolded...
EA: I cannot believe this... You just don't stop, do you? So just because I've shared the personal information with you all that I happen to be bipolar, I can't get pissed off at all of you being perfectly awful in the very space that I pay fuckloads a month to have up (has it ever occurred to you all that I pay dearly for this space you play around in?) Why not just tell me that I must be upset because it's my time of the month? Seriously, get the fuck out of my house. You are unbelievable, and your level of patronization is almost criminal. Don't make me write another book. With muffins like you, who needs enemies? Nothing I say or feel is legitimate, not ever ever ever because I'm bipolar... discredited before I begin... unbelievable...
...FantineDormouse got permabanned.
Jaws dropped. After days of infighting between white knights, detractors, and crossfire negotiators, several mod resignations, and general mayhem surrounding the ban, EA made a post entitled “In Which: I Invite You to Make a Fucking Choice.” 📝 For brevity's sake (cue laugh track), I can't reproduce it in all of its righteous splendor, but it's quite a read. It runs the gamut from fair and articulate points about how mental illness shouldn't be used to discredit someone's legitimate anger... to histrionic commands that “deserters to the cause” should “turn in their weapons” if they can't handle her way of doing things.
To those of you who appear not to understand why said posts, most especially those of the banned party, were offensive to me, I give you the option to either educate yourselves on your own time and in your own space (because please never forget that this is my space that I share with all of you at my own expense, and in which I generally give you all the freedom I would wish for myself), or to resign your posts in the Asylum Army – this is not the place for you, and I humbly suggest that you turn your attention and support towards other artists of a more placid, non-controversial, and less opinionated nature; there are more than enough of them out there, and I’m sure they all have forums of their own.
Some fans did leave. Most stuck around, whiplashed. Soon, the storm quieted down, and business as usual resumed on the forum. But something had been damaged beyond repair. The FantineDormouse fiasco had erected walls and drawn lines in the sand, both around EA and among her fans; its sad specter would haunt every Asylum crisis that spiked up forever after. “Fucking Patronizing Fucking” or “FPF” 🔍 became memetic shorthand in the fandom for overreaction and self-righteousness. 🐀
...And now you understand why, in the following years, some fans were so delicate and diplomatic in voicing their very legitimate complaints about messed-up orders, unsigned books, and puzzling lies... while unofficial platforms like Tumblr flourished with pent-up resentment and snark. 🦠

A NOTE ON HARASSMENT: “MAD GIRL, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO YOU?”

Wouldn't they stop When you asked them to leave you alone? (“Mad Girl”, 2008 🎵)
Now, let's be clear, because it should not be minimized: EA has also been the target of genuine online harassment. Based on the simple fact that she is a woman with a public presence on the internet, I have zero doubt that EA has received (and perhaps continues to receive) more than her share of truly vile, bigoted, creepy and threatening messages – and, knowing what I know about the darker recesses of the Asylum, a terrifying amount of emotional blackmail and obsessive projection from people who hold her to punitively high standards. I'm also inclined to believe that it started way before she ever did anything that warranted any backlash. And that fucking sucks. It's repulsive and inexcusable, and the people who harass her should crawl into a hole and live among the worms.
Notwithstanding. In my decade-plus of following EA drama, the public comments on EA's own platforms (where people knew she was likely to be reading) have been, for the most part... civil and nuanced, and relatively mindful of the human? Even very confrontational comments (some clearly written from a place of anger and desire to shame) rarely resorted to outright name-calling or cruelty. When abusive or bigoted language did crop up, it was often promptly shut down by other fans as gross and uncalled for. In short: I have, with mine own two eyes, in real time, read some of the comment sections that EA described as cesspools of blind rage and odious attacks, and... I just couldn't see it.
If anything, for a long time, a lot of the angry comments directed at EA during any given controversy read more like break-up letters to an ex-best friend: harsh, curt and targeted in a way that cuts deep.... but also kind of screams how much love you still have for this person, against your better judgement.
Not that it wouldn't mess a person up to get hundred of those in a matter of hours, even if they don't individually qualify as “abusive”.
It's worth noting that prior to becoming semi-famous and regretting it, EA was also (by her own account and among other forms of abuse) a victim of intense childhood bullying. It feels like the two situations are closely connected in her mind when her focus seamlessly transitions from one to the other. 📺 I don't think that tremor in her voice is put on.
Based on her writings, I get the feeling that over the years, EA has developed a very black-and-white view of two monolithic groups of people. There's (an idealized vision of) her “real audience”, well-dressed, well-read, kind-hearted, and Asylum-savvy, who she fully trusts to “get it” – and buy it, and love it, unquestioningly, whatever “it” may be at any given time – because that is the true measure of love and loyalty. These are the people she makes art and merch for, the people she writes heart-emoji-filled newsletters to, and desperately longs to see in person again.
And then there's the lynch mob, those who really don't “get it”: the trolls, the faceless creeps, the basement-dwelling mouthbreathers, the ones who stalk her every move obsessively, waiting for any chance to spam her with vicious abuse and slander and obscenities. The latter only exist online (they are manifested into arbitrary existence by the internet itself, not by anything EA said or did), and there is zero overlap between the two sets of people. That seems to be the official narrative.
The "public eye" isn't an [enviable] place to be, and the closer I've come to it, the more horrified I've been. Because, for starters, who is "the public?" Is "the public" my audience? Hell no. My audience is special. They are not the general public. If they were the general public I would be a lot wealthier. The "public eye" means getting stalked, harassed, viscously judged, and put in danger. If I do things in the future that gain notoriety, I will do them in spite of fame, not because of it. I am out for world domination, but not fame. (Interview for The Moaning Times, 2014 📝)
In real life (well, mostly online, but I mean: on this shared plane of existence), things play out slightly differently. The Venn diagram of “true blue fans” and “people who criticize EA" and "people who know way too much about EA” is a circle. The call is 100% coming from inside the Asylum, and I think EA rationally knows that. But here's the thing: no matter how many shows and meet-and-greets you've dressed up for, how many loving and supportive comments you've left, or how many family heirlooms you once pawned to purchase a copy of the not-for-sale 2003 DJ pressing of Enchant... the instant EA feels attacked, everyone is a saboteur and a bully until proven otherwise, and suspected treason is dealt with on the spot. One strike, you're out. Unfortunately for everyone involved, her threshold for bullying seems to be “any remotely thoughtless opinion from any stranger on the internet”.
It makes for outstanding human-interest entertainment... but it also sounds an awful lot like the unhealthy patterns of a person suffering from all sorts of PTSD. 🔍 So, please bear that in mind as you read through this write-up. It's easy to make EA out to be the sole villain, a paranoid and delusional drama queen, based on her extreme reactions to things that often “weren't that bad”. Anything can, in fact, be “that bad” when you're thrown back into the very worst moments of your existence every time your brain decides that the situation is even remotely similar.
PTSD takes over your rational mind and actively distorts your perception of reality. That can be how a person ends up impulse-reacting to “a few people expressing an unfavorable opinion” as if the entire internet had just ganged up on them with knives. Which makes their audience feel unjustly accused, which makes them hostile, which gives the person actual good reason to feel attacked... and so the cycle of hurt continues.
You know the games I play And the words I say When I want my own way You know the lies I tell When you've gone through hell And I say I can't stay You know how hard it can be To keep believing in me When everything and everyone Becomes my enemy, and when There's nothing more you can do I'm gonna blame it on you – It's not the way I wanna be I only hope that in the end You will see: It's the Opheliac in me... (“Opheliac”, 2006 🎵)
And YES, it is extremely regrettable to have this as a trigger, when you're a public figure and you're bound to receive more negative feedback than the average citizen. “It's what she signed up for”, “it comes with the territory” and all that jazz. I really don't think EA was unaware of that fact when she decided to become a musician, share her personal life, and form an intense parasocial bond with her audience. But maybe she underestimated how hard it would be to process and recover from.
Just because you expect something unpleasant to happen, doesn't mean your psyche will be ready to handle it when it does – or that you'll pick the best and most effective strategy to deal with it.

A MADHOUSE UNDER MARTIAL LAW: MARCHING INTO THE FORUM WARS

There are two sides to every story... except for this one! (“If I Burn”, 2012 🎵)
You may have noted the military imagery in EA's “Make a Fucking Choice” response post – “resign your post in the Asylum Army”! What do psychiatry and the military have in common? They're both institutions of top-down social control. 🔍 EA's mixed metaphor may be a bit clunky, but it did foreshadow the evolution of the Asylum – in terms of aesthetics and power dynamics – in the years that followed the FantineDormouse incident and the release of The Book.
EA's next big release after the Asylum book came in 2012. It was a new album, an outline of the soon-to-be Asylum musical, called Fight Like a Girl (FLAG for short). As the name suggests, the main mood was bellicose. Incidentally, in the interim years, EA's communication style generally became noticeably more combative, incendiary, and (within her own spaces) controlling.📝 You remember those quirky word filters on the forum, that would change “fan” to “muffin” and “bra” to “teacup holder”? They kind of took on a Nineteen-Eighty-Four-burlesque flavor when you realized that one filter automatically changed “Fischkopf” to “Liddell” - and that circumventing the rule to address her totally real last name would get you banned, as would any discussion of her family. (“Wikipedia, random internet sites and heresay are not credible sources.” - Mod reminder of forum rules, 2010.)
Also, you try sustaining a serious, grown-up conversation among concerned fans about how Emilie Autumn should “take ratsponsibility for her mistakes out of ratspect for her muffins”. Thus, the official Asylum forum kept a tight grip on overt criticism of EA's claims and actions.
The Emilie Autumn forum is a dystopian hell. Truth be told, when I decided to leave you could not do anything but gush about Emilie. Otherwise all of her extremist arse kissing fans will be down your throat, ripping you apart in seconds, if you so much as questioned her behaviour. So much for freedom of opinion, let alone the idea of creating a harmonious community for ‘outcasts’. Hahaha. (2014 🐀)
The word filter thing really wasn't a big deal – I'm just pointing it out as one goofy expression of EA's need to control the narrative and rhetoric, which became especially noticeable in those post-book, pre-FLAG years. By that point, EA's fuse had been shortened by near on half a decade of non-stop touring / recording / writing / promoting / adjusting to the pressure and demands of an ever-growing fanbase, while also dealing with a horrorshow of personal turmoil and health issues behind the scenes. In other words: she was done taking any shit, in any form, or humoring anyone's ridiculous feedback regarding anything.
To be fair, it was never her forte to begin with. Will it come as a shock if I tell you that EA doesn't have the greatest track record for successful collaborative work? Let's do a quick-cut montage!
EA's very first corporate sponsor was her mother's “Enchant Clothing & Costume” online store 🔍; she went on to claim that her mother was dead. She sessioned for Billy Corgan, that went super well. 🎵 She liked Courtney Love for a minute, but that didn't work out because she felt that Courtney only valued her for her pee. 📝 (It probably didn't help that in early 2006, while EA was recording her post-break-up-tell-all album about Corgan, C-Love was recording her post-rehab-redemption album with Corgan. 🔍 Either way, EA didn't seem to like Courtney anymore after that. Courtney likes her, though! 📝) The one artist EA has ever approached for a duet (and by approached, I mean she recorded a demo and threw the CD on stage when he played Chicago in 2004) was, of all people, Morrissey. That never came to pass, thank mercy 🔍 – this fandom has suffered enough. In 2005, EA recorded some haunting vocals and violins for a potential collab with the frontman of Attrition. When, three years later, they were used on one track 🎵 of Attrition's All Mine Enemies Whisper, she alleged 📝 that the recordings had been obtained from her under the false pretense of a different project, then hideously altered to sound “out of tune”, and used without her permission. She enlisted her fans to boycott the album and the band, and threatened legal action. Meanwhile, on LiveJournal and Attrition's message boards, band associates were appalled: according to them, EA had been aware of the project's nature from the start... and had been completely unreachable, even through her label, during the months of its development. (Besides, Attrition is a semi-obscure English darkwave band from the 80s, whose micro-distributed albums don't even have their own Wikipedia pages... so I wonder what EA was hoping to get out of that theoretical lawsuit. These people own nothing but vintage gain pedals!) The song “Cold Hard Cash” 🎤 by Angelspit (who contributed a remix to one of her EPs in 2008) may or may not be an EA diss track. 🐀 Back when indie jewelry brand RockLove (which now has licensing deals with Disney, Marvel, and DC) was still someone's bedroom project, their first drop was an EA-inspired collection 🔍, which appears in many early Opheliac photoshoots. The partnership was terminated on bad terms, for unclear reasons; the RockLove owner shared in a statement that EA had “drunk the cool-aid” of Trisol Guy's shady business practices, and that the two of them had been spamming her with “crazed angry message[s]” for days.
Why am I talking about this? Because it was precisely one such ill-fated business partnership that triggered the Great Asylum Secession.
One fine day of spring 2010, the owner of vegan make-up brand Aromaleigh popped onto the Asylum forum to announce that they were cutting ties with EA, with damning receipts of copy-pasted emails (lost to time). Basically, the brand had been sponsoring her for half a decade, and while Aromaleigh had been actively promoting her music and tours, EA hadn't exactly been returning the favor. (Indeed, the extent of EA's sponcon seemed to have been a banner link to their website on her front page, and a single “random drunken endorsement” LiveJournal post that kind of reads like satire📝, from 2005.)
EA responded by banning the owner's account, deleting the thread, and posting this flippant statement a few days later:
Dearest Plague Rats, To be honest, I have no idea of what the hell happened with Aromaleigh, and I don't care to find out – the whole drama is a complete mystery to me, as I've been away for months touring and have not been in contact with anyone. All I know is that I've been promoting the company for ages and have not asked them for anything in years. (...) Please focus on more interesting things. I am. (“Save the Drama...” forum post, March 2010)
Posts questioning her good faith in the conflict were deleted from the forum. Shortly thereafter, citing how prolific and labor-intensive the Asylum forum had grown, EA shut down all non-EA related subforums – which, among many other topics, included a pretty active thread about Aromaleigh products.
So one Plague Rat decided to create a separate, members-only forum 📝, where users could recreate some of the now-defunct off-topic threads... and also freely voice their critical opinions of EA's behavior without fear of backlash from mods or rabid stans. Thus, “The Reform” was born. (Reform [n]: amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved.)
For a few weeks, the two-state solution seemed to work fine. And then word spread among forum mods and other diehard fans that there was this horrid other forum, where obsessive haters gathered to spew disgusting lies and vitriol about EA... and soon enough, it was bedlam in the Asylum.
Any explicit mention of the Reform was forbidden on the Asylum forum. Suspicion of participation in the Reform would get you banned. The party line was that The Reform was the enemy 🐀 – even though a number of people were active on both forums, because they liked freedom of expression almost as much as they liked EA. Double agents would lurk on the forum and report back with snark material; sycophants would infiltrate the Reform to identify traitors – much to the amusement of the “haters”, who mocked them and their ilk for “licking EA's pink sparkly boots”. There was no containing the seething, or the sass, among Asylum ranks.
Pretty soon, the insubordination spread to Tumblr. There was the “Ask the Reform” Q&A blog, where questioning fans could interact with “Rebel Rats”, get more details on past drama, and make up their own minds about the people EA called bullies.
And then, there were the “confession blogs”, which published anonymous submissions about EA, positive, negative or neutral, with little censorship. Finally, you didn't even have to pick a throw-away username on a private forum to voice your hottest / strangest / most controversial EA takes. Fans could vent, rant, lament, wonder, shitpost to their heart's content, anonymously. Obviously, given the context of frustration and censorship in the fandom, a lot of the first waves of confessions were EXTREMELY negative.
EA's acolyte Veronica managed to get the first one shut down. If memory serves, she misunderstood the confession blog format, and may have believed that all the posts on “Emilie Autumn Confessions” came from one or a small group of individuals. She was genuinely devastated, and wrote the blog admin to let them know that they were a terrible person who said terrible things. The admin was mortified, apologized profusely and deleted the blog of their own initiative. (Which goes to show that the concept did not come from cruel and malicious anti-fans, as detractors often claimed.)
But a new blog sprung up almost immediately, with a different mod team, and did not surrender. And much like in EA's own book, once the Plague Rats found out that they possessed the gift of speech... well, they really took to it.
Established in 2011 and passed on through generation after generation of mod teams to the present day, Wayward Victorian Confessions would turn out to be the longest-lived institution in the EA fandom. For over a decade now, through all the bleakest nights and dankest debacles of the Asylum, and despite its initial reputation as a troll den, WVC has acted as a kind of neutral ground and vox populi for the active fanbase and anti-fanbase. (The last nominally-active EA fansite to date, She Fights Like a Girl, is actually an offshoot of WVC: one of the old admins created it as a database to answer “frequently asked questions” about EA.)
Wayward Victorian Confessions has now outlived every other EA platform, official and unofficial. Were it not for the continued existence of the “troll den”, what little fan community survives in 2024 would be non-existent, plain and simple. To quote from late 20th century Canadian philosophy: isn't it ironic?
I feel like [WVC] is the only place I feel any of that old Asylum community kind of feeling I felt before EA got so focused on the book. It sucks that it’s so full of unhappiness, and I wish she hadn’t poisoned the sanctuary she claimed to have built. It’s just kind of fallen apart, like a crumbling building. (🐀 2016)

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

submitted by pillowcase-of-eels to HobbyDrama [link] [comments]

2024.05.09 12:46 bluedawnflower Is Julie's new School Outfit Vest ACTUALLY crochet?

Hey all, I have a question for you. Julie's new School vest is obviously meant to look like it was crocheted. Is it ACTUALLY crochet? I'd be a bit concerned with the production of the outfit if it is. Crochet is a process that cannot be machine automated (like knitting) or streamlined by machines (like sewing), and while I know that crocheting doll clothes doesn't take nearly as much time and effort as crocheting human clothes, I still have some ethical concerns with mass-produced crochet items, especially since I know how damaging it can be to crochet for extended periods of time (from personal experience I know it can hurt your posture and your wrist pretty bad if you're not given extended breaks).
submitted by bluedawnflower to americangirl [link] [comments]

2024.05.07 15:16 PumpkinsValley Combining knitting and crochet? Knitting flared sleeves?

Hello! I have gotten into knitting recently and working on a cardigan as my first real knitting project! (I did try knitting a hat but I don't like hats and never finished they are still sitting on a pair of needles) I don't use patterns and make my own as I crochet a lot and have a good understanding of how panels work together.
Either way for my cardigan I want to make flared sleeves but I'm struggling how to make the sleeves increase fast let alone finish the body of the cardigan/vest thing. How can you even knit a flared sleeve in the round?? I can crochet twice as fast as I can knit, its taken me about 2 months on/off to only finish the back panel and one front panel.
I am starting to loose motivation fast and I know how to crochet flared sleeves but how would that look? Would the stitches just look super bad together? Is it worth it to just knit it all and finish it in the next 5 months T-T I get good rhythm going but it still takes me ages to finish what it seems other people do in a few days...
Tl:dr
If I crochet sleeves and attach it to a knitted project would it look odd or would it look similar enough you couldn't tell the difference? Is it even possible to knit flared sleeves in the round or do I have to crochet it?
Thanks in advance!
submitted by PumpkinsValley to knitting [link] [comments]

2024.05.06 01:43 cxklm My hot weather travel essentials

My hot weather travel essentials
A friend traveling abroad asked me for some recommendations, so I decided to make the list I wrote into a post! (Which actually started as a comment on another post here!) These are my must-haves for summer or hot weather travel, and many of these are geared towards sun protection.
This is my baseline, and then I’ll add and subtract to create a travel capsule. For example, I went to Costa Rica last year, so I removed the black dress, and added an additional sun hoodie, pair of hiking leggings, and a synthetic tank top, and left the linen hat at home. Not pictured are my pjs (a random cotton tshirt), second bra (a random bralette) and shoes (hiking boots and sneakers). No shorts on my list as I need to keep my pale legs covered lol and I’m not one to get overheated from long pants!
  1. Thin cotton or merino wool cardigan - A great mid layer for hot weather travel. I wear mine on the plane and have worn it to events and fancier restaurants.
  2. Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake sun hoodie - I have super fair skin so I'm usually wearing long sleeves for mid-day hot weather travel activities. These are my absolute fav! The solar knit fabric is lightweight, cool, and very stretchy (I prefer them to the Patagonia Capilene cool and Backcountry Tahoe sun tops). AND in the newer version, they’ve fixed the issue with the stitching around the cuffs/thumb holes!! (and removed the tie hem and updated the hood!)
  3. Kari Traa merino wool top - a 100% merino wool tee. I used to both freeze and overheat on travel days (during summer AND winter), and wearing a merino wool top has solved that problem. It's also amazing to not have extremely stinky pits by the end of the day!
  4. JCrew Scallop tank - This is my go-to "dressy" top, unless I'm attending a more formal event. It’s loose, cotton, and comfy!
  5. Classic black dress / or this one - I got my favorite one secondhand ages ago. It's plain black, super soft stretchy fabric, and somehow manages to not look old. My go-to for a more elevated look!
  6. Flowy pants - The most amazing pants/skirt compromise! I love these because they’re so incredibly light and comfy and I usually pair them with the scallop top for dinners. For a more rugged version, I’ve been eyeing the Title Nine Round Trip pants and I’ve also tried the Quince Tech Wide Leg.
  7. Fabletics 7/8 leggings - I've had these for years - can attest these are high quality! I love these as travel leggings due to the deep and secure pockets. They also breathe well.
  8. Anatomie Skyler Travel Pants - I mention them constantly on this sub, but I’m a huge fan! If you like to wear full length pants in summer that aren't leggings, this is it. I got these for about $60 secondhand. They pack down insanely tiny and they're super lightweight and breathable. I also roll the cuffs in and up to turn them into ankle pants. I tried on some Prana pants with a similar look but I thought the Prana fabric was scratchy and hot.
  9. Packable raincoat - most of my summer travel is to places where it rains occasionally. I've had the Marmot Pre-Cip for years, I don't know if it's the best but it's decent!
  10. Nike Alate Coverage - the world's best one bra (for me!)
  11. Bombas - I’m a fan of how padded and sturdy these socks are! I like cotton but they also have merino and more wicking blends which are better for travel.
  12. Uniqlo Airism Hiphugger - The best hot weather, fast drying, durable, no VPL undies I’ve tried. I’ve had some of my pairs for over a decade.
  13. Knix period undies - These are the only period undies I’ve personally tried that can air dry in high humidity climates! I will usually pack a pair of backup Modibodi seamfree undies (which absorb more) and save them in case I end up on a really long plane/bus/train ride on a heavy day. They will dry quickly in normal humidity or with the help of ac or a cool blow dryer in wetter places.
  14. Polarized Sunglasses - Gotta protect your eyes from those uv rays too! Admittedly, losing sunglasses is kind of my thing, so I do tend to go for cheaper pairs.
  15. Hiking sun cap - Sun caps are amazing... ultra squishable and washable. However!! If you have light colored or thin hair beware - the one pictured and linked is made of VERY thin fabric that my scalp has been burned through before (after 2 hours outside). For more intense days outside, definitely look for something with opaque fabric!! (Adidas sadly doesn't make my go-to anymore)
  16. Uniqlo Linen sun hat - I looked for a long time for a packable, cute, high coverage sun hat, and this is the one! It’s washable, adjustable, and I love that this year’s model added a removable draw cord! I’ll usually choose one hat based on my trip’s activities.
  17. Convertible wallet/crossbody - This is very much personal preference, but I really wanted a wallet that could fit a strap inside to convert to a slightly more upscale crossbody. I LOVE this one - it’s my fun accessory. It can fit my phone, chapstick, cards, passport, cash, etc.
  18. OR Chroma Sun gloves - Sun gloves are so slept on for outdoor activities! I got these for hiking at altitude, but they’ve been amazing for feeling fully protected from the sun. I’ve worn them kayaking, to walk my dog midday, and my friend loved them for pushing her little one in a stroller.
  19. NUUD Deodorant - A game changer. I was so skeptical, but it really does work! I apply a pea size once a week, and the speed at which my tops develop pit stink has been drastically reduced. Plus I can put little dots into the smallest Litesmith flip top container and bam, deodorant for weeks.
  20. Ipanema Sandals - Ipanema makes a bunch of great sandals that can go from shower shoes to fine dining! I used to walk miles in these but would not recommend it lol
  21. Davek Mini - Such a great travel umbrella. I do travel with both a packable rain coat and this umbrella, as we have been known to hike/sightsee in the pouring rain and a packable rain coat will only repel that much water for so long.
  22. Reusable menstrual cups or disks are obviously super personal, but for anyone who is comfortable, they’re a phenomenal travel companion! Even if I’m in a place without potable water and I have to use bottled water do the daily rinse, it’s so worth it. This, in conjunction with the Knix undies, definitely reduces the stress of getting a period while traveling.
submitted by cxklm to HerOneBag [link] [comments]

2024.05.05 20:41 IcyTune1160 On shift fleece v sweater knit vest

Does anyone know if the on shift fleece and sweater knit vests fit the same? I have a 2x in the on shift fleece and sadly they’re sold out of navy but I wanted to get it in sweater knit. Just unsure how it’ll differ since I want to embroider it and can’t return then. TIA
submitted by IcyTune1160 to Figsscrubs [link] [comments]

2024.05.05 19:09 staenkerliese Vest border - can‘t tell how I should do this?

Vest border - can‘t tell how I should do this?
Hi everyone,
I fell in love with a knitted vest a while ago, but it’s very pricey and I wanted to do one myself as I simply can’t afford the original. I finished the back and both front parts yesterday, but I‘m now stuck with the border. The vest I‘m trying to make has this knitted (?!) border on each side as well as the armholes. See picture attached. Can someone please help me to figure out how this was done? I thought about knitting 4-6 rows and then sewing it on to resemble the border, but there‘s probably a better way. Any ideas? I hope you understand what I mean, I‘m not a native English speaker and don‘t know all the knitting lingo. 🫠
Thank you!
submitted by staenkerliese to knitting [link] [comments]

2024.05.05 04:33 sweetpechfarm Sad: this knitter can't count (not clickbait)

Sad: this knitter can't count (not clickbait)
I have been swatching for the Amedeo 2.0 shirt/vest pattern. I have washed and blocked three swatches so far and started and ripped out one because it was so far off gauge and am now on swatch number five (pictured). I have been losing my mind because of how far off my row gauge was. I even bought bamboo needles because that is supposed to give a shorter row gauge than metal.
Reader, I was only counting my right side rows. I was looking at the lace chart to count (right sides only) and just measuring my row gauge by the number of pattern repeats. Rant is probably too strong a word, but oh boy do I feel very silly.
I may suck at counting, but at least I'm not as bad at knitting as I was starting to think I was 😭😂
submitted by sweetpechfarm to knitting [link] [comments]

2024.05.04 01:02 Repulsive_Copy_403 Help picking up stitches

Help picking up stitches
Hi everyone. I’m working on a vest right and keep getting stuck when it comes to picking up the stitches to knit the neckline edge. The pattern says to pick up 78 stitches along the neckline using the method described in the linked YouTube video. I’m really struggling to understand the video, as I cannot figure out how to do it on my own project. Do any of you guys know of any better tutorials for this method? Thanks !!
submitted by Repulsive_Copy_403 to knittingadvice [link] [comments]

2024.04.29 18:38 TypicalSet0 Tips for adding sleeves to a vest pattern?

Tips for adding sleeves to a vest pattern?
I'm knitting the Vilma top from Gregoria Fibers, which is written as a vest, but am hoping to add short sleeves. This is my first time doing sleeves, and I found one person on Ravelry who did set-in sleeves and left some notes on how they worked it- between that and Youtube I'm confident that I can figure out the sleeves, but I'm a bit worried about the current armholes. I worked the armholes as written in the pattern, not realizing that, for sleeves, the armholes should be a bit smaller. The pattern calls to add about 1.5cm of twisted ribbing to finish the armholes, so they're quite loose right now, especially around the bottom. Nothing's blocked yet, though, so the edges are still curled in and it might stretch a bit once I block it. The top of the shoulder sits pretty nicely (when I uncurl the edges it's just shy of the shoulder seam on my shirt), so I don't want to add length to the whole thing- would working some short rows on the bottom make sense? Are there any tutorials or specific types of sleeves that might work better for this? Worst case scenario is I just make it a vest, but I'd like to try adding sleeves if possible!
submitted by TypicalSet0 to knitting [link] [comments]

2024.04.23 12:03 donqsprivatehams A cool guide to style T-shirt

A cool guide to style T-shirt submitted by donqsprivatehams to coolguides [link] [comments]

2024.04.17 22:43 HFY_Inspired The Prophecy of the End - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Farewell for Now
Previous Chapter
Alex opened his eyes slowly. He was usually a deep sleeper and getting up was never easy for him. The absence of the shipboard alarms didn’t help, though his quickboard was quietly beeping over by the side of the alien bed he was on.
It took him several minutes to pick himself up and drag himself over to the strangely laid out bathroom to begin his morning ablutions. His body was stiff from the exercise the night before, but the warm water helped and before long he began to feel relatively presentable.
He’d spent the entire night up dancing with Sophie in the storage area, and by the end they’d both been so tired they were practically dead on their feet. Sophie still escorted him, as required by the other races, back to his lodgings before she headed back to her quarters. He’d taken a few steps in then fallen on the bed and dozed off more or less immediately.
He yawned as he grabbed his visor and hooked it around his ear, then slid the breath mask over his face. “Arcadia, invite all members to conference.”
Several orange pips appeared in his field of view. Par’s turned green almost instantly, and with a few seconds all except for Amanda had joined.
“Good morning, everyone.” He said as cheerfully as he could. “How’s everything going so far?”
Josh responded first. “I’m back and mobile, Al. Gonna be on light duty for a week but no lasting damage..”
“Good to hear, and thank god for that. You had us worried there for a while.” Alex knew the prognosis the med computers had spat out to Ma’et, but hearing the confirmation that his best friend was doing well was still a massive relief. “Looks like the comm gear’s being delivered in a few hours. Once it’s here, I’m heading home.”
Ji responded to that. “Sounds good. I’ve been bored off my ass waiting for you guys to finally get it up here.”
“Do you have any idea how long it’ll be once we get this thing onboard before we’re ready to leave the system?”
“I’ve already removed the J12 ablative plate, and we’re ready to patch it in. We’ve already prepped the power and data runs, so give us six to ten hours after delivery and it’ll be ready to test.”
“Good. Once it tests good then I want us to be heading to the system perimeter to open a gate. I’ve decided our next stop is the Sovalin homeworld.”
“Y’sure you don’t want to head back to Proxima space and send a message about first contact first? I dunno the legal shit, but if we’re going around visiting aliens as ‘representatives’ of Humanity without official approval we could get in some shit.” Min pointed out.
“I’ll talk to her when we shuttle back. But I’m probably gonna pull rank on this one.”
“Mind if I ask why we’re going birdwatching?” Josh joked.
“Oh I have a whole damn list of reasons. They’re the newest species except for us to join this little cradle of galactic civilization. They’re also not very well regarded, at least that’s my guess. Sure, Sophie’s basically the station’s number two but nearly the rest of them seem to all be down in the Pits. They’re the most human-like which I feel like makes them more likely to become close allies quicker, and they’re damn beautiful to look at. Those are just my biases but I feel like that’ll hold true for others. They’ve been screwed over by the other races in various ways which gives us plenty of opportunities to get some altruistic good will. And lastly they seem to appreciate our culture which should make it easier to negotiate without having to use up fabber materials. If we can trade data for physical goods then we’re always going to stay ahead.”
“I feel like that ‘damn beautiful’ bit is the biggest motivator for you. At least judging by how much you’ve been fawning over the chief.” Ji snickered at the Captain.
“It’s not FAWNING, bucko. It’s establishing good relations with a respected member of another society in the hopes that it turns out advantageous for us in the future.”
“And that’s even MORE out of character for you.” Josh opined.
“First contact has changed me, my friends. Gone is the immature Captain of old and now is the time for Captain Alexander Sherman to turn over a new page in the book, to become a sophisticated traveler of the stars.”
“Ah, there’s the delusional idiot we know and love.” Min joined in on the abuse. “But seriously, I’d have a long chat with Amanda before you make any concrete plans. She’s got her finger on the political pulse, and much as I wanna explore and have fun out here I do eventually want to return back to humanity. And I wanna do that without risk of being arrested cuz my captain’s horny for birdpeople.”
“Yeah, yeah. Yuck it up, chucklefucks. I’ll talk with Amanda. Anyone got anything else they wanna bring up before we leave the system?”
“Did you mention our plans to the folks that think we’re responsible for the Qyrim attack?”
“I’m going to the Security station to discuss it with the chief and find out if they need us to stick around or not. If they say we stay… well, we’ll discuss it if or when that happens.”
Alex quickly dressed while he was talking, slipping into a fresh pair of pants and throwing a nondescript shirt over his head. He put on the usual vest he wore when off the ship, and did a quick check around the room. He’d already packed, so he threw the carryall bag over one shoulder and left the building, approaching the security officer stationed outside.
The walk to the security station was only a few scant minutes, and he’d spent most of that time cheerfully insulting (And being insulted by) his crew over their comm link. As he walked in, he cut the conversation short and turned off the mask.
The chief was in her office for a change, and he was quickly escorted back. “Hey Sophie. How you feeling?”
Sophie shook her head irritably. “Sore. It’s been a long while since I exercised my wings as hard as last night.” She still looked over at him and smiled. “But it was definitely fun.”
“Glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join you in an impromptu club stomp for a while. We’re planning on heading out today once our comm gear’s loaded up. Then we’re thinking of heading out of the system.”
Sophie sat up straighter, and nodded. “I hope you enjoyed yourself here. I know you got attacked, but that really isn’t representative of how things normally are here.”
Alex chuckled, and held up a hand. “Hey, no worries here. I’m not usually the type to just start smashing stuff either. I was worried I’d give you a bad impression of Humanity. But I actually enjoyed most of my time here. And if we can figure out what the whole thing with the Qyrim is about, then I wouldn’t mind stopping back again.”
“Good. I’d hate to think we left a bad impression.” Sophie tapped at her screen, browsing through the info there. “The representatives didn’t mention anything about barring you from leaving, so there’s no concerns there. Out of curiosity, where do you intend to go next? Planning to return to the other Humans and tell them of us?”
“Not just yet. I’m sure we’ll have to sooner or later, but to be honest I’d rather see a bit more out here first. Truth be told, I was actually thinking that visiting the Sovalin homeworld would be nice. We could propose our new Universal name for your species, we could learn a lot more about your people, that sort of thing.”
“Visiting Kiveyt?” Sophie paused in surprise. She hadn’t considered it yet, but now that it was pointed out she could see the appeal. Few Sovalin had met the humans thus far, but those that had enjoyed it and Demt was drowning in requests for the Human music. “That would be a good idea, yes. Do you have enough moyu to get by when you’re out there?”
“Well, we have some money we made here, and I have some ideas for how we can make more if needs be. To be honest though I’m hoping that we can just make an arrangement with whatever governing body there is. Since I’m here, though, any suggestions would be appreciated.”
“We don’t have a centralized government. It’s more of a hierarchical tree, with the five largest Teff at the top, with smaller Teff below them. I have a feeling that you’ll be meeting with the five major Teff more than the others. That said, the Noarala Teff should be welcoming if you mention my name.”
It took Alexander a few moments before he realized that ‘Sophie’ was still just a nickname. To him, it had become her actual name. “Right, sorry. I think of you as Sophie now and it’s become stuck in my mind. Remind me how it’s pronounced again?”
“Sffffheenoarala.” She carefully kept the laughter out of her tone as she reminded the captain. “I will also record a statement to the clan leader. Being this far away from my home I have little influence, but I can at least ensure you will be treated as a friend by my Teff.”
“Gotcha. And just because the translation isn’t entirely picking up on it, a ‘Teff’ is a….?” he trailed off.
Sophie tried to think of the best way to describe it in Universal. “More tightly knit than the Bunters' companies or the Fwenth circles. We all act together. Not all of us are related to one another but being in a Teff means that we all work together. Any problem for one member of a Teff is a problem for us all, but also vice versa. We live together, celebrate together… it is not easy to explain.”
“I think I understand. In our language I think the word ‘Flock’ would be appropriate.” Since there was already a heavy ‘bird’ them in the minds of the Humans, it was only appropriate to expand it here. “I’ll reach out to your ‘Flock’ once we’ve arrived. I promise to you now, I’ll treat them all as well as you’ve treated me.”
“You’ll have them locked up for vandalism and property destruction?” Sophie teased with a smile.
“C’mon, you know I don’t blame YOU for that. It was entirely my fault and I don’t hold it against you in any way.”
“I know. I was just making a joke.” She sighed. “You know, I’m actually going to miss you. Outside of security there’s very few who understand our humor. A joke like that would have deeply offended a Bunter and scared a Cetarian. I’m always on eggshells when I’m outside the Security station. It’s nice to be able to make a joke without worrying about the consequences.”
“Hmm. You know, I hadn’t really thought of that. It’s our first time meeting other species.” Alex thought about that and amended it. “Well, mostly. There’s one exception but they’re… well, they want to be left alone by us and we’re happy to leave them alone. But they’re also pre-spaceflight.” Alex shook his head. “Anyway, I guess humor doesn’t translate well to every species. So I get your point about humor. It is nice to have someone around who you can be a little silly with.”
“Of course. If I didn’t understand humor, I’d have been appalled at your dancing last night.”
Alex clutched his chest. “You wound me. I opened up to you last night! And this is how you repay my trust?”
Sophie just smiled and poked him in the chest. “Of course. Anyone who can be knocked flat on their back then just get back up laughing can shrug off a small joke like that.”
“Alright, fair enough. I admit, I’ll definitely miss you as well. Unless you wanna come with?” Alex suggested gently. “Join us on our trip to… Kivet?”
“Kiveyt. And, that IS a rather tempting offer, but I am afraid I’ve a great deal of responsibilities here on the station. I have much to attend to, and even if I were to join you, I’d have to take the time to arrange for a replacement security chief.” Sophie was tempted. INCREDIBLY tempted. The humans were fun, understood her humor, had wonderfully pleasing voice and that music. Still, she had accepted this position and until she could pass it along properly would not shirk the responsibilities that had been granted her.
“Ah. In that case, I would actually like to pass you a parting gift.” Alex set down his carryall, and pulled out two elongated silver objects. “I have to confess to having done something a teeny tiny bit unethical, but it was for a good cause.”
He lifted up the two devices, and Sophie immediately recognized them. “Wing controls?”
“Modified. While Par was here helping convert our sensor data on the Tanjeeri, he scanned yours. We made a new pair - they should be basically the same, but these…” He set them down on top of the console in front of Sophie. “These are state of the art. Full holographic display and controls to make it easier to do more with them. They can interface fully with the station's systems, and most importantly, they have roughly 200 or so songs that are exclusively yours to listen to. They are also, unfortunately, very slightly heavier but we tried to keep the weight down as much as we could.”
Sophie reached out and picked up the two metal sheaths. They were noticeably heavier than the controls she was currently wearing, but otherwise seemed almost identical. “Are you trying to sell them to me?” She inquired.
“Nope. They’re a gift. You were a gracious host to us from the beginning and we thought we’d like to give you something to express our gratitude.” Alex zipped up the bag and threw it back over his shoulder. “It’s not really a human thing so much as a ‘me’ thing. Me and the crew. We all agreed we enjoyed your company.”
“I see.” She set them down carefully. “I don’t mean to be ungrateful but we WILL need to analyze them for security concerns. A device such as this given to a security officer can often be seen as an attempt to slip monitoring systems or possibly even disruption systems.”
Alex nodded. “Y’know, I didn’t think of that until just now, but yeah. Your job is all about being careful.” He tapped his foot thinking about it. “All I can say is we definitely didn’t put anything suspicious in there, but that's just my word. Go ahead and do any analysis but if anyone wants to disassemble it they’ll need to be super, super careful. There’s a lot of microwiring in there and once the cover’s off it’d be easy to damage it beyond repair. That said, if anything DOES happen to them, you can contact us and we’ll be happy to bring you another set.”
Sophie smiled in gratitude. She’d hoped he would understand her caution stemmed from her job and not any innate distrust. “I appreciate this gift all the same, and we’ll be careful when inspecting it. Though I do personally trust you, it’s simply the nature of being the chief of security to be overcautious.”
“Yeah, I didn’t see that when I came up with the idea, but I can see it now. Par did include some instructions on the new features. He said you should “operate the twin-right control three times and circle it to activate the help mode”. Since I’m not very familiar with your anatomy I just hope I relayed that correctly.”
Sophie arranged the wing controls in front of her and (carefully) performed the instructions. Immediately universal text appeared in front of her, floating in midair. “Put your finger near the text and move it up to scroll. If you want to close it, double-tap to bring up the controls and press the slanted cross,” Alex advised. She did and sure enough, the instructions were all there. From how to interface it with her console, to how to access the music playback. She double-tapped and pressed the ‘x’ icon as indicated.
“Thank you for this. I do appreciate the thought, though I confess I’ve no gift for you.”
Alex waved that away. “Nah, nothing to worry about there. You welcomed us here and helped us out. This is just our appreciation for that. You’ve already given us plenty of help.” He shifted the bag on his shoulder. “For now though I’m going to head back to the shuttle. Our Comm gear should be arriving anytime now, and once it does they’re going to want me back on the ship.”
“Understood.” Sophie stood from her chair and offered her hand in the now-familiar human gesture. “It’s been a pleasure to have you aboard the station, Captain.”
Alex gripped her hand gently and returned the handshake. “It’s been a pleasure to be aboard, Chief.”
—--
The ride back to the ship was relatively uneventful. Alex had suggested to Amanda the idea of proceeding to Kiveyt and she’d simply said they’d discuss it together as a crew once they reached the ship. Since it wasn’t an outright refusal he saw it as a foot in the door, and graciously accepted the win.
Once back on board everyone was immediately plunged into busy work. Alex, Ji, Min, and Ma’et had the thrilling job of moving the large pieces of the comm suite to the bay door. It would have been far, far more effort than it was worth to try to wrestle them out the airlock, so the decision had been made to simply cut gravity to the shuttle bay and open the bay doors to allow Ji and Min to maneuver the pieces into place for assembly and connection on the outside of the ship. While they suited up for EVA, the Captain and Ma’et secured the shuttle and locked it down to the deck. Normally Josh would have also been helping out, but Alex took ‘light duty’ seriously.
“No, seriously, Min. You gotta check out the design I made. It’s simple but elegant as hell. I used one of the multi-frequency modulators we set up on the ATMAP sensor array, and I used it to bridge power from the mains to the adapter suite we set up. It gives us something like thirteen times more fine control over it. Plus, I had some extra time so I used some of those spare gimbals we had laying around to create an articulating system to cover it with an ablative plate during combat.” Despite the heavy labor of locking down the shuttle and moving the Comm gear into position, the most difficult task that the crew had to deal with was putting up with Ji’s nonstop chatter (and bragging) about the preparations for the new equipment he’d done while awaiting delivery. If Alex could have he’d have muted the audio feed and just put on some music to work to, but he had to keep his comms active during the vital tasks.
It didn’t actually take that long to complete the preparations for the EVA assembly, but Ji’s chatter made it feel like hours. Once they were done, though, Alex turned over responsibility of monitoring the channel for assistance to Par and returned to the ship’s bridge, where Joshua was at.
“Sup XO. Whatcha doin’?” Alex said as he strode in.
Josh’s eyes didn’t even flicker up from the list he was going down. “Running down the diagnostics checklist while we get the new system installed, make sure there’s nothing else we’ll need to address before we leave the system.”
“What a thrilling life you lead.” Alex settled down into the big, cushy command chair.
“Yeah well this trip’s had enough thrills that I’m more than happy to just do something mindless for a bit.”
“Fair enough. Our next leg of the trip should be much, much better though.” Alex had already begun combing through the astro data they’d downloaded from the station, looking for Kiveyt.
“Amanda signed off on heading to the bird planet?” That WAS surprising enough to disrupt Josh’s concentration on the checklist, as he looked up at the captain.
“She didn’t immediately say no, which is close enough to a Yes for me. Did Ji ever fab that new shield emitter he was going on about?”
“Yep. We don’t have the raw materials to fab another one though, so we better try to buy some at our next stop wherever that is. There’s crystallization on the current ones so recycling would take ages.”
“Well let’s see if we can get replacement mats first before we make any decisions.” Alex sighed and slouched down in his chair. “God it feels good to be back. Nice to relax and stop being on my best behavior.”
“Your best behavior involves smashing the shit out of an office building and getting into a brawl that kills over 30 aliens?” Josh couldn’t resist teasing the Captain.
“Ha ha. You’re a fucking brilliant wit. Or half of one at least.” The captain pulled a red cloth sack out from his vest pocket. “Brought you a present though man.” He lightly tossed it to the larger human.
“What is this?” Josh could feel something dry and crinkly inside the sack. He lifted it up to his nose and gave it a smell. “Dill?”
“Almost exactly dill, yes. That my friend is a Bunter Scent Pad. Amanda got her hands on one and apparently while the plant that produces the scent is wildly different, the chemical composition of the scent is almost exactly the same as dill.”
“God damn. So we could have given the Bunters we rescued some pickles to keep ‘em from fucking with the dryer.” Josh shook his head. “That’s nuts. Who the hell would have thought they’d get high on goddamn DILL?”
“Not me, that’s for damn sure. And sadly, this shit’s super cheap and commonplace so not gonna be a viable revenue stream for us. At least we know now though.”
“Fair enough.” Josh tossed the red bag back to the captain, and picked up his quickboard. “Hey, with Ji and Min out doing their EVA, I’m going to run down and check off the particle bottles and converters. One less thing we’ll have to wait on them to do before we can leave.”
“Have fun. Comm me if anything interesting happens.”
—--
Maxwell Johanneson walked out of his office cheerily. Heads, it would seem, were going to be rolling - but none would be his. He would instead be getting a front row seat for the spectacle. And judging by the documents delivered electronically to him a few minutes ago, the spectacle would be incredible.
He walked down the short hallway to another office, knocking briefly on the open door before walking in. “Jake, c’mon. We’re being called into the conference room..”
Jacob looked up irritably at the newcomer. “Not right now. I’ve got to finish this writeup to send to the Proxima council.”
“The council can wait. This one’s big. Shit has hit the proverbial fan in a big way.”
“Fuck. It’s Sol, isn’t it? They made their move. I told you they wouldn’t believe us.” Jacob stood up from his desk and walked around it to join his colleague. “Which system did they hit?”
“Not Sol. Latest download came in from Cleopatra. Complete comprehensive writeup, and everyone’s flipping out over it.”
The two walked side by side down the hall, chatting amicably. “Do we have to use the stupid codenames? The office is secured. They check that every day.” Jacob groused.
“Yeah, well, some old habits die hard.” Max rounded a corner and came to a stop before a large double-door. A massive ‘TF’ logo was painted on, and he presented the back of his hand to a small blank panel next to it. A second later, the door silently slid open.
Six others were already seated at a massive table there, and Max could see more making their way in. He quickly stepped forward to grab a decent seat before things got too crowded.
It wasn’t long before the table was full, and a tall man entered from the opposite end of the room. He was immaculately dressed in a black suit, with slicked-back hair and eyeglasses. He immediately stepped up in front of the table.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attendance here.” He began formally. “You’ve been called in because we’ve just received the latest dispatch from Cleopatra. Our humble little company has now received confirmation of SIX non-human sapient species with spacefaring capabilities.”
He pressed his fingers down on the table, and a section lit up. The quickboard built in sprang to life and a few moments later a large document was displayed on the screen.
“Cleopatra has reported they were en route to a station to meet with the representative of non-hostile species. Things, apparently, went wrong there. Very wrong. To recap, we had previous confirmation of 3 species rescued from a derelict ship. A fourth arrived and fired upon them prompting a retreat. Upon arrival at the station, they were introduced to 2 more.”
The director pointed to a list behind him. “I will be brief, though the full report is available to anyone who wishes to peruse it.”
“To give a brief summary of the events that took place, the crew of the Ship made first contact and established friendly relations with station personnel. They then were taken to a negotiation where they were, and I am quoting here, ‘blamed for rescuing the crew of the damaged ship and not the cargo’. Attempts were then made to extort the ship’s AI crewmember into being given as reparations.”
Max leaned over to Jacob. “MOTHER is going to be absolutely livid when she finds out,” he whispered quietly.
“Cleopatra noted that the Captain reacted badly to the suggestion and destroyed the negotiation room before turning himself in to station security.”
That first part sounded an awful lot like Captain Sherman. Those who had met him or had read the reports about him knew he was an unpredictable oddball. And one that frequently ran into the wrong side of security. But turning himself in, that was, from the reports, uncharacteristic.
“Cleopatra completed negotiations for mineral wealth to be delivered as recompense for the lost cargo. The crew then sold visual stimuli entertainment devices to acquire local currency, and sold a number of quickboards and data chips to acquire alien communications technology.”
There was some jealous muttering. First Contact was already be prestigious enough, but acquiring new tech on top of that was a coup that few in the company had ever or would ever be able to match. The company as a whole would benefit, of course. But some would benefit more than others, and even knowing you were going to be getting a bonus wouldn’t stop the jealousy of knowing that others getting a bigger one.
“Lastly, upon completion of the trade, they were assaulted by one of the new species. One crew member was wounded but three others present were able to retaliate against the attackers. The attacks also happened on others and there was a double digit count of fatalities.”
The display behind the Director went dark. “For now, this information is being disseminated to the Proxima council. A more sanitized version is being prepared to be sent to Sol. However this new data does indicate the likely presence of two hostile alien races. While we have discussed and established a rough outline to proceed with hostile OR friendly contact, the combination of the two is throwing off many of our estimates. The Proxima council is scrambling to come up with the best possible response, but being that the Company is officially the sole point of contact between ourselves and the Arcadia, we are in the unique position to be able to benefit the most from the situation.”
“Sir.” A hand shot up across the table. “Is the Ship staying in the station after the attacks?”
“No. They are preparing to move on to the homeworld of one of the non-hostile species they believe we could establish the best relations with. We lack the bandwidth for large data transmissions but the brief indicates a humanoid with avian features. Thus far Cleopatra’s instructions have been to go along with the Captain’s plans until we can decide the most effective course of action. Officially we can’t restrict his movements as he’s simply a contractor and not an employee.”
“Have they sent us the stellar coordinates of the station?”
“Yes. At this time, negotiations are still ongoing with Sol about the possibility of a joint expedition to meet and greet there. Unfortunately Sol appears to be hesitant and believes this to be a stalling or delaying tactic. Until that’s cleared up, contact can ONLY be made through the Arcadia.”
Another hand shot up. “How will this affect company day-to-day operations?”
“Full bore ahead on mining, salvage, and storage ops. We’re fulfilling all current contracts but taking on no new ones. The plan is to stockpile materials and prepare industrial-scale fabbers so that once trade is open, we’ll have everything on hand to take full advantage and provide any necessities.”
“Do we have any idea what trade goods will be in demand?”
The director shook his head. “Not as of this time. Keeping our transmissions secret means that we’ve received after-action writeups but lack the bandwidth for mass data dumps on the various species. We’re debating whether or not to request that they send their emergency beacon with a full data dump, but given that they’ve been attacked twice - once in space, and once on a station - there’s a very good chance they may need it.”
The questioning continued for another half an hour, and just as the director was about to wrap it up, one last hand shot up. “Yes, Jacob?”
“Director. About those hostile species. We have no idea what armaments, technology, or capabilities they have. What’s our plan for dealing with potential confrontations?”
There was a soft murmur around the conference table that was instantly silenced when the Director held up his hand. “Currently our plan is to deploy a much more heavily armed escort than usual. Upon completion of negotiations with Sol, we plan to send a joint escort of two diplomatic vessels from each of our governments. And along with those, there will be a matching escort of one Dreadnought and one Battleship. From Sol, AND from Proxima.”
Jacob pursed his lips. “That much firepower for a Diplomatic mission? Won’t that be counterproductive?”
“Nobody wants to engage in gun point diplomacy. But even the existing friendly races are a concern. Until we know the potential threats that could be awaiting us, we’re going to err on the side of caution. No matter what is waiting for us, no matter what situation we’re presented with, we will be ready to the best of our ability to make ready. And if things do go sour, we’ll respond with the absolute best of our ability to do so. We can only hope that the discrepancy between our technology and theirs isn’t so high that our best efforts don’t go to waste.”
The director looked around the table. “Any other questions?” A few moments passed. “Alright everyone. The full text of Cleopatra’s report is available on your stations for your perusal, but until we know more, you’re dismissed.”
—--
submitted by HFY_Inspired to HFY [link] [comments]

2024.04.17 12:45 Significant-Tower146 Best Black Turtleneck Dresses

Best Black Turtleneck Dresses
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Turtleneck dresses are a classic wardrobe staple, offering both comfort and style. In this roundup article, we'll explore some of the best black turtleneck dresses on the market, perfect for any occasion or season. From chic and versatile designs to warm and cozy options, we've got you covered with our top picks.
Get ready to elevate your fashion game with these stylish and functional black turtleneck dresses. Let's dive in and discover the perfect addition to your wardrobe.

The Top 5 Best Black Turtleneck Dresses

  1. Soft Cotton Turtleneck Minidress - ÉTERNE's sleek and comfortable Black Turtleneck Minidress is a stylish day-to-night essential, made from a soft ribbed cotton and modal blend, ensuring a form-fitting and flattering fit for all events.
  2. Black Turtleneck Fishtail Dress by Norma Kamali - Make a bold statement in this chic and comfortable Norma Kamali Black Turtleneck Fishtail Dress, featuring a stylish turtleneck and fishtail hemline. Perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to your wardrobe.
  3. Black Stretch Turtleneck Maxi Dress - Experience timeless elegance with the ÉTERNE Black Turtleneck Maxi Dress, a versatile and comfortable blend of stretch cotton and modal ribbed jersey perfect for any occasion.
  4. Elegant Black Turtleneck Sweater Dress for Women - Experience effortless style with the Renee C Black Women's Turtleneck Sweater Dress - a chic, bodycon mini dress perfect for any occasion.
  5. Chic Black Turtleneck Dress with Padded Shoulders - Experience luxury and comfort with the & Other Stories Long Sleeve Padded Shoulder Turtleneck Wool Sweater Dress - an elegant black choice perfect for any occasion.
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Reviews

🔗Soft Cotton Turtleneck Minidress

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As a fashion enthusiast, I've always been on the lookout for versatile, stylish pieces that can take me from day to night without a hitch. When I discovered the ÉTERNE Black Turtleneck Minidress, it seemed like the perfect addition to my wardrobe.
Made from an incredibly soft ribbed cotton and modal blend, this mini dress hugs my curves in all the right places. Its form-fitting design is both flattering and comfortable, making it a pleasure to wear. Whether I'm out running errands or dressed up for a night out, this dress has become my go-to choice when I want to look effortlessly chic.
I love styling this dress with the Kane Vest and Porto Cap in black for a look that's both casual and sultry at the same time. And the best part? It's true to size, so I can confidently order my regular dress size without worrying about fit.
Designed by experts in the industry, the ÉTERNE Black Turtleneck Minidress is not only stylish and comfortable, but also durable and easy to care for. Made from 47% Cotton, 47% Modal, and 6% Spandex, this dress washes well in cold water and dries on low heat – perfect for those of us who prefer low-maintenance clothing items.
In terms of negatives, I have to admit that the fabric can be a bit creasy if you don't hang it up right away. Additionally, while the slim fit is flattering, it may not be ideal for everyone's body type.
Overall, the ÉTERNE Black Turtleneck Minidress has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe. Its buttery soft texture and timeless design make it an unbeatable choice for any fashion lover looking for a versatile dress that can easily transition from day to night.

🔗Black Turtleneck Fishtail Dress by Norma Kamali

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I recently tried on the Norma Kamali Women's Turtleneck Fishtail Dress and was immediately drawn to its unique design. The lightweight microjersey fabric felt smooth against my skin, and the turtleneck and long sleeves provided a comfortable fit. The dress features a hidden zip at the back, which helped me slip in and out easily.
One of the standout features was the fishtail hemline, which added a touch of elegance to the dress. However, I did find that the dress required a bit of careful hand washing and line drying to maintain its quality.
Overall, I was impressed with the fit, comfort, and style of this Norma Kamali dress. It's a perfect addition to any wardrobe and has definitely become one of my go-to pieces for a night out.

🔗Black Stretch Turtleneck Maxi Dress

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I've been living in the ÉTERNE maxi dress for the past few weeks, and it has become my go-to casual chic look. The black turtleneck style is not only flattering but also extremely comfortable due to the stretchy ribbed jersey blend.
The hem and cuffs are left raw, giving it a unique touch of sophistication. This versatile dress can easily be dressed up or down with just a change of jewelry or footwear.
Overall, my experience with the ÉTERNE Black Turtleneck Maxi Dress has been positive, with its elegant design and comfy fit being the standouts.

🔗Elegant Black Turtleneck Sweater Dress for Women

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I recently tried out the Renee C Women's Turtleneck Sweater Dress in black, and I have to say, it's not exactly what I expected. First of all, the fabric felt a bit rough and not as soft as I had hoped.
It also seemed to be a bit too tight around the bust area, which was uncomfortable. On the positive side, the turtleneck and dropped shoulders added a unique touch to the dress and made it a bit more stylish than your average mini dress.
Overall, while it's not a bad piece, there are better options out there for a comfortable and chic turtleneck sweater dress.

🔗Chic Black Turtleneck Dress with Padded Shoulders

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As a lover of cozy sweater dresses, I was drawn to this black turtleneck wool number from & Other Stories. The long sleeves and padded shoulders gave it a comfortable, effortless look. But it wasn't just style that won me over – the wool material made it perfect for those chilly days and nights.
One thing that really stood out to me was the high neckline. It was not only comfy but perfect for keeping my neck warm on those nippy days. The side slit added a subtle touch of flair, making it a versatile piece that could be dressed up or down.
However, it did have a regular fit which might not be the best option for those seeking a more tailored look. But overall, this dress by & Other Stories was a winner in my book, offering both style and comfort in equal measure.

Buyer's Guide

Black turtleneck dresses are a versatile and timeless wardrobe essential. They can be dressed up or down, and are suitable for various occasions. When shopping for a black turtleneck dress, consider the following features and advice to ensure you find the perfect fit for your style and needs.

Material and Comfort

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Black turtleneck dresses are available in various materials, such as cotton, wool, and polyester blends. To ensure comfort and durability, look for dresses made from breathable, lightweight fabrics. Check the label to see if the material is suitable for the climate where you live.

Fit and Length

When choosing a black turtleneck dress, consider your body shape and the desired look. A-line, fitted, or empire-waist styles can be flattering options. Ensure the dress fits well and is comfortable, without being too tight or too loose. Pay attention to the length of the dress, considering the occasion and desired level of coverage. Some may prefer a longer turtleneck dress, while others may prefer a shorter one.

Design and Detailing

Black turtleneck dresses come in a variety of designs and detailing, such as ruffles, lace, or sequins. When selecting a dress, consider the occasion and your personal style. Some dresses may feature adjustable straps or built-in support for added comfort and functionality. Look for dresses with well-constructed seams and details that enhance your overall look.
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Quality and Durability

A good-quality black turtleneck dress should have well-made seams, be resistant to pilling or fraying, and maintain its shape after multiple wears. Examine the dress for any loose threads or uneven stitching. Check the hemline and cuffs for reinforcement and durability.

Maintenance and Care

To ensure your black turtleneck dress lasts a long time, follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. Typically, these include washing and drying guidelines, as well as tips for storing the dress when not in use. Regularly check for any signs of pilling or fading, and take care to handle the dress gently to prevent damage.

Accessories and Styling

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Black turtleneck dresses can be dressed up or down with the help of accessories and styling. Add a statement belt, scarf, or jewelry to elevate the dress for a more formal occasion. Pair with knee-high boots or strappy heels for a sophisticated look. For a more casual appearance, wear the dress with flats or ankle-length boots.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Before making a purchase, read customer reviews and ratings to get an idea of the dress's overall quality, fit, and style. This can provide valuable insights into potential issues and help you make an informed buying decision.

FAQ

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Why are black turtleneck dresses popular?

Black turtleneck dresses are popular because they offer a versatile and stylish option for any occasion. They can be dressed up or down depending on the accessories, making them a go-to choice for many clothing enthusiasts.

What are the different types of black turtleneck dresses?

Black turtleneck dresses come in various styles, including maxi, midi, fitted, and flowy. There are also dresses with long sleeves, short sleeves, or even no sleeves. Some models might have a collar, or they might have a scoop neckline, V-neck, or a sweetheart neckline. Additionally, there are different textures such as silk, cotton, and knit.

Which materials make the best black turtleneck dresses?

The choice of material for a black turtleneck dress depends on personal preference, climate, and the desired look. Some popular material options for turtleneck dresses include silk for a sleek and sophisticated appearance, merino wool for better insulation and breathability, and cotton for a casual and comfortable feel.

What are the key features to look for when buying a black turtleneck dress?

  1. Fit: Ensure a snug yet comfortable fit to create a flattering silhouette.
  2. Material: Choose a material that suits your personal style, climate, and budget preferences.
  3. Length: Select the right length for the occasion, be it a maxi, midi, or fitted style.
  4. Sleeve length: Whether you prefer short, three-quarter, or long sleeves, ensure the dress fits well and allows for proper movement.
  5. Neckline: Opt for a neckline that flatters your face shape and suits the event you're attending.

What are some fashion tips for styling a black turtleneck dress?

To make the most of your black turtleneck dress, here are some styling tips:
  • Layer with a long, cozy cardigan for a perfect winter look.
  • Add statement jewelry, like a bold necklace or chunky bracelet, to elevate the dress.
  • Pair it with leather boots for a casual yet chic look.
  • Add colorful accessories, like a scarf, clutch, or statement shoes, to break up the all-black outfit.
  • Opt for a nude or bold lip color for a sophisticated finish.

How should I care for my black turtleneck dress?

To maintain the quality and appearance of your black turtleneck dress, it's essential to follow the manufacturer's care instructions. In general, wash the dress separately, use cold water, and avoid rubbing the fabric together. If ironing is required, use low heat and be cautious with delicate or heat-sensitive materials.
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submitted by Significant-Tower146 to u/Significant-Tower146 [link] [comments]

2024.04.17 12:18 EvilMonkeyPaw Veilbinder - Chapter 6

Turns out, bulletproof doesn't necessarily mean axe proof, and something special about the Earthlings is revealed.
As always, thanks for reading!
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The battle, if it could even be called that, hadn’t lasted much longer, within ten minutes, those that could had fled back into the forest. Of the 150 or so original riders, they counted 41 dead as well as 15 surviving mounts that hadn’t run off. Additionally, they were able to recover four surviving horsemen who were now being held in the jail below the town hall. Even now, members of the militia and a squad of marines were combing through the surrounding forests for any stragglers.
For the time being, however, that was the last thing on Xander’s mind.
He groaned involuntarily as he gingerly slipped his plate carrier over his head. The remains of the shattered striking plate rattled around like gravel somewhere inside the vest. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, the pain in his chest was flaring up every time he took a breath.
He was seated on a stool inside Lyrian’s clinic. It felt strange think about it as “Lyrian’s clinic” considering he was so young, but as the healer’s apprentice, he had effectively inherited it when the Styllani abducted the town’s healer, and it would be his until either his replacement from the capital arrived, or the original healer, a man named Osyrn, was found or returned.
Dawson and Lyrian both walked in as Xander set the armored vest down. The young healer had been busy making sure that the prisoners they’d taken survived until forces from the capital arrived.
He looked troubled.
“Hey,” Xander said, a look of concern crossing his face, “you alright?”
Lyrian looked down, he worked his jaw a few times, searching for words, before Dawson placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“The kid’s a little shaken up, never seen bullet wounds before, but power to you, you got them fixed up good.”
Lyrian nodded gently, though he didn’t look back up.
“Is it always so… gruesome?” He asked no one in particular.
Xander sighed, wincing as his chest compressed, “It- yeah. Yeah I guess so.”
“And you’ve done that before? To other people?”
Dawson let out a humorless huff as Xander replied.
“Yeah… a couple times. We actively try not to, that’s kinda the point. The hope is that everyone chooses the non violent option, but that’s not always the case, especially when people aren’t thinking straight.”
“Still it’s- it’s-” Lyrian was at a loss.
“It’s brutal, yeah.” Dawson finished the thought. “Here’s hoping you never have to see that again. If it keeps troubling you, you can talk to us, but you might also want to talk to Doc Hansen, she’s been putting the likes of Xander and I back together for a while now. She probably understands how you’re feelin’ better than most.”
“Isn’t she on her way over?” Xander asked.
“Yeah, she was gonna take a look at you and then see to treating the prisoners but, like I said, Lyrian here got them patched up good as new. Never seen anything like it, some fancy words and healing juice and the holes just closed up like nothing happened, their bodies even spit out the bullet fragments. That guy’s leg was still pretty messed up though.
Lyrian chimed in. “Knitting wounds closed is not too difficult, especially with the proper potions to bolster my healing magic, but regrowing what was lost, things like severed limbs, is much more… intensive. It’s not something we’re equipped to handle here, at least I’m not equipped to handle it yet.”
“Well,” Xander replied, “we may not be the best judges of magic all things considered, but with how you stepped up here there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be one hell of a doctor in no time.”
“… Thank you,” The young healer flashed a small grin, “but I won’t make a very good healer if I don’t actually heal, so let us take a look at your injuries.”
“And here I was thinking we’d forgotten all about that…”
Xander’s grin morphed into a grimace as he started to lift up his uniform top while Lyrian made his way over to a cupboard to retrieve some more supplies.
“Yo, lemme help with that. Lift your arms.” Dawson said as he grabbed Xander’s uniform by the sleeves and pulled it up and off, trying not to jostle his friend too much.
“Ooh, that’s gotta hurt…”
“Ugh, you have no idea, dude.”
A massive splotchy red mark could be seen stretching across Xander’s sternum, following the general path where the axe head had impacted his chest. The edges of the mark were already starting to turn bluish black.
Lyrian returned with a small vial of viscous, faintly lime green, liquid, which he set down on the table nearby. He winced upon seeing the injury.
“That looks like it could have been a lot worse, not to worry, it’s a simple fix.” He said with a smile.
Lyrian extended both hands, palms facing Xander’s chest and started softly chanting something under his breath that they couldn’t understand despite the magical amulets in their possession. A soft amber glow started to emit from Lyrian’s palms, washing over the rapidly forming bruise. This continued for several seconds as a look of confusion came over the young healer’s face.
As he lifted his hands, nothing seemed different.
“That’s not supposed to happen…” He stated as he tried again, to the same effect.
“I’m guessing all the pain and the redness was supposed to magically disappear?” Xander asked.
“Yes, exactly… The only time master Osyrn said healing wouldn’t… work…”
Lyrian’s eyes widened as he ran over to a cupboard. The Xander could hear him muttering under his breath.
“… but how could? … that’s not… there weren’t any…”
He rooted through the cupboard for a several seconds before producing a set of amber tinted, wire framed, glasses. He took a deep breath as he looked back at the two marines, evidently concerned.
“I hope I’m wrong about this.” Lyrian said as he donned the glasses.
His eyes widened as he stood dumbfounded, struggling to process what he saw.
---
Mira paced back and forth angrily in front of the assembled marines while the mayor interlaced his fingers, contemplating the soldiers intensely.
After his discovery, Lyrian had approached Okoda and asked if he could assemble his soldiers at the town hall, telling him that is was essential if they were to avoid potential catastrophe with the town and its inhabitants. He then went to the mayor and the watch captain in turn and asked them to meet as well for the urgent issue.
He broke the news once he was sure that no one was listening, though to be honest, without any silencing spells or wards, there was no guarantee.
“Why didn’t we catch this!?” Mira demanded at one of the guards. They couldn’t answer, simply looking down in shame.
“B- because, it’s not a curse or anything like that.” Lyrian explained, trying not to be intimidated by the much larger warrior. “Being aware of the Veil Touch curse is one of the first things master Osyrn taught me, and they don’t have it.”
“And how can you be sure of that!?”
Lyrian sighed.
“Because of this. Mister Mason, would you hold out your hand please.” He said as he willed a small mote of light into existence in his left hand.
Mason looked at the sergeant and, after receiving a nod, held out his right hand, palm up.
“Lyrian, what are you doing!? Don’t-” Mira exclaimed as Lyrian gripped Mason’s hand.
“Look, Miss Mira.” Lyrian said as he waved his left hand around, the mote of light staying fixed a few centimeters above the middle of his palm. “If it was the curse, I wouldn’t be able to do this. It would have spread and choked out any magic I had, but it’s not. Besides, with how much they’ve been moving around the town, if it was a Veil Touch curse, it would have spread throughout the town by now, but it hasn’t, it’s like it’s stuck only to them somehow. That most likely goes for anyone on their ship, too.”
“It’s all well and good that whatever this is isn’t contagious,” Okoda said as he was met with a smoldering glare from the watch captain, “but we don’t even know what this is. Is it some kind of disease or something?”
At that the marines looked at each other uncomfortably.
Lyrian let go of Mason’s hand and extinguished the point of light before answering.
“No, it’s not a disease. The scholars at the capital would be able to tell you more, but the Veil is like a- a barrier to magic. Think of a piece of dry wood, if you leave it out, it naturally soaks up water from the air. The Veil acts like oil on the wood, stopping water from going in or out, at least that’s how it was explained to me, but it goes further than that. Depending on how concentrated the Veil is, it can block the effects of magic to varying degrees.”
“Which is why you couldn’t fix my chest.” Xander interjected, before they had left, Lyrian had applied a numbing salve to Xander’s injury and wrapped his chest in bandages.
“Right. With how strongly the Veil is present in you, it blocked the healing energy from doing what it was meant to do. The energy just dissipated into the surrounding space. The same goes for, well, all of you.” Lyrian said, gesturing to the other marines.
“Alright,” August chimed in, “but you keep mentioning it has something to do with a curse?”
“Yes, because of what the Veil is, it’s extremely rare, almost impossible, to find pockets of it naturally. It also takes a very powerful caster to perform the Veil Touch curse. I don’t know exactly how it works, but from what Master Osyrn has told me, it basically infuses someone with the Veil to varying degrees depending on the strength of the curse. The curse then spreads in a weaker form to anyone that comes into contact with the first person, growing weaker and weaker as it spreads from person to person, though it also eventually dissipates on its own over time.”
“And because of what it does, it would hamper any attempts to heal anyone that was injured in the event of an attack.” Mason concluded.
“Among other things, yes, but like I’ve been saying, whatever is affecting you all isn’t a curse. It’s like the Veil is just… present, but there’s something else. Here, take a look at your hand.” Lyrian said as he handed Mason the glasses.
Mason gave a confused look as he put them on.
“Whoa, what the?” He stated as he lifted the glasses on and off while looking first at his hand, then down at his body, before looking at the group. He passed the glasses to the sergeant before speaking again.
“This is freaky, we look like we’re covered in black smoke or something.”
“Notice how the Veil around your hands is less present than the core of your bodies?” Lyrian asked.
“Uh… yeah. Yeah I can see that.” The sergeant said, slightly shaken by the sight through the glasses of his marines looking like a mass of roiling shadow people.
“If this was a curse, it would be covering you evenly. I can’t say for sure, but that it’s thinner around your hands and feet makes me think it’s dissipating, the group from the capital should have some casters that can confirm that when they arrive.”
“Regardless,” the sergeant continued, “if this is going to be a problem, we can head ba-”
“That won’t be necessary.” The mayor spoke suddenly, surprising everyone with the speed of his response. “From what young Lyrian has demonstrated, whatever this affliction, if it can even be called that, is, it doesn’t seem to be harmful to anyone.”
“But sir-” Mira attempted to interject before being cut off.
“Moreover, with how you defended us earlier today, it’s plain to see that you don’t mean us harm. After all, it now strikes me that it would have been exceedingly trivial for even your small group to pacify this town if you so wished. Do keep in mind, however, this it is only because you came to our aid that I place this trust in you now. Do not take it for granted. Also, please understand that the guards will be more weary of you for a time, but they shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
Mira sighed through gritted teeth, clearly very annoyed. “Yes, sir.”
“I- thank you, Mayor Arbert. We appreciate the trust you put us, we won’t let you down. Isn’t that right marines?” Sergeant Okoda asked as he handed the glasses back to the young healer.
“Sir, yes sir!” The marines responded in unison, causing everyone but the mayor to immediately tense up. The mayor only chucked with an amused grin, the crows feet showing at the corners of his eyes.
“Hah, very good, very good. Now, Lyrian, would you mind performing that demonstration with the light again?”
Lyrian nodded.
“Good, we will have to explain this to the rest of the townsfolk to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Having them see your demonstration will go a long way to quelling any fears they may have.”
---
It was a solemn end to a grim day. The people of Felhaven were weary of the newcomers once the announcement had been made about their connection to the Veil, but a combination of their actions that morning as well as words of support from both the mayor and the demonstration by both Lyrian and a few braver magically inclined volunteers confirmed to them that there wasn’t any threat of the Veil spreading.
The revelation that the Veil was most likely dissipating also served to calm them down, though there were still some dissenting voices in the crowd that wouldn’t fully trust them until its threat had disappeared completely. Mira was among them, though she didn’t voice her opinion out loud.
It was a better result than Lyrian dared to hope for. Moreover, there was cause to be happy. In their sweeps of the surrounding countryside, the militia and Mason’s team had stumbled across the Styllani encampment and found that they had left most of their possessions behind in their hasty retreat. This included the man-sized cages they would have used to transport any captives back to their capital. All were empty save one, which was occupied by the town’s missing healer.
Osyrn was a limnal, a were-crow to be more precise, which had explained why he had been initially taken. He had been starved in the intervening weeks, his naturally thin features exaggerated by his emaciated form which barely filled the robes he was wearing. More than a few feathers were missing from his wings, a couple would later be found tucked into the armor of a few of the dead riders.
Despite the testimony from the militia members as to the marines’ defense of the town, he was still deeply mistrustful of the new arrivals. After breaking the lock to the cage, it was decided that a few members of the town militia would be the ones to help carry him back while the others escorted them. The town had cheered when they returned through the treeline, none more so than Lyrian, who, with tears in his eyes, had almost tackled his mentor before one of the soldiers had stopped him.
Now, Osyrn was back at the town clinic, with Lyrian and a few volunteers tending to him.
Back at the battlefield, Xander was examining the series of small craters blasted into the hillside. Two of the craters were only a few feet across, a product of the Bornholm’s five inch shells burying themselves into the soft dirt before detonating. The last was notably larger and had a different appearance. Rather than looking like the dirt had been picked up and tossed everywhere, it was wide and shallow, many times wider than the first two. The surrounding grass had also been charred, though only in one direction, towards the town.
What little remained of the riders and their animals that had been near the blast had long since been collected, no identifiable remnant of the caster had been found.
“What the hell happened here?” Xander wondered as he nudged a stone with his boot.
---
Thankfully, the next couple days passed without incident.
Xander sighed contentedly as he took a seat at a table just outside the front of the local inn, tray in hand. By any standard, the meal was simple, two dark bread rolls with a decorative leaf pattern cut into the top, a bowl of something called the “Wayfarer’s Delight”, which looked and smelled like a creamy, hearty, meat and vegetable stew, topped with a fried egg, and a large cup of fresh water, he was still on duty after all.
Yet, this meal was also a milestone.
Yesterday, Captain Sinclair had personally stopped by, firstly to give the people of Felhaven a chance to meet the leader of their mysterious group, and secondly to hammer out some kind of trade agreement. Xander wasn’t privy to the exact details but the gist of it was that the captain, claiming the horses, armor and weapons of those killed as spoils, had effectively traded them back to the town as raw materials for a fraction of their full cost. The coin earned would then be used to trade for supplies later in the year, once the harvesting was back in full swing. In the meantime, so long as they kept returning to the town, Xander and the rest of their platoon were given a two silver allowance per day to spend as they saw fit, which was doggedly enforced by the Bornholm’s purser.
Xander knew exactly what his first purchase would be.
While he and most of the Bornholm’s crew had an easy time learning the Cadonian numbering system, they still had almost no idea how to actually read the alphabet, and so, with a little embarrassment, Xander had asked the innkeeper if they could read their menu out to him as he made his decision, deciding to defer to the innkeeper’s recommendation for his first Cadonian meal.
Bought for one silver, the thought never left his mind that this meal would mark his first time ever trying truly otherworldly cuisine, despite how familiar it looked. That it was bought with what he had considered fantasy money up until this point, money that he had earned in this new world, made the moment that much more satisfying. As he settled on the almost awkwardly tall wooden chair, he closed his eyes and leaned over the tray, inhaling deeply. The warm, sweet, aroma of freshly baked rolls mingled pleasantly with the savory richness of the creamy stew, all offset by the crisp spring air.
All that mattered was him and his meal as he ripped a roll in half and dipped it in the piping hot stew before biting into it with gusto.
Hot damn, lady knew what she was talking about! He thought as the lightly sweet and surprisingly smoky flavor of the dark bread contrasted with the heavy, yet well-seasoned stew. There was a hint of some faintly lemony, minty, herb behind all the savoriness that gave the stew a flavor profile unlike anything he’d tasted before, regardless, Xander found it rather pleasant as it helped cut through the richness.
Now that he’d had a taste, it was time to move on to the only part of the meal that worried him slightly, the fried egg. It looked mostly normal, with a proportionately larger yolk than he had seen before, but he had been taken aback at its dark crimson color.
The innkeeper had assured him that it was perfectly normal.
What the hell kinda chickens do they have here? He asked as he steeled himself and dug in. He had fully expected the familiar iron taste of blood and was instead met with a rich, almost sweet, grassy flavor. As he exhaled, he caught a brief hint of a berry-like aroma at the back of his throat. His eyebrows perked up as he nodded to himself.
He ate in silence for several minutes, only pausing occasionally to look up, enjoy the scenery, and keep a lookout for any trouble. He noticed some of the townspeople nod respectfully in his direction as they met his gaze, which was returned in kind. He was constantly in awe at the mix of what should have been fantasy races, elves, dwarfs, orcs, a small number of werewolves, regular humans, and many others in such a small town.
Ever since the skirmish, people had warmed up to the marines despite their situation regarding the Veil, seeing them act more naturally would only further ease any lingering tensions.
As he finished his meal, Xander inhaled a deep lungful of cool air, closing his eyes as he leaned back. He let his breath out as he enjoyed the warmth spreading from his stomach, suffusing the inside of his ribs, and soothing the dull ache in his sternum.
A deep, gravely chuckle brought him back to reality.
Xander looked back down to see Johan standing across the table. A look of worry must have flashed across his face as the large werewolf unfolded his arms and held up both hands in a placating gesture.
“Peace, Mister Douglas. I mean you no harm. In fact, I would like to… apologize… for my actions the other day.” Though Johan flattened his ears and bowed his head slightly, the confidence never left his stance.
“Uh huh… alright…” Xander said, eyeballing the larger being wearily, “well… no harm done I guess, not by you at least… just as long as it doesn’t happen again.”
Xander relaxed slightly before adding. “You can just call me Xander by the way, it’s not like you’re a part of my military so no need for the formal stuff.”
“As you wish, Xander. If it does happen again, rest assured it will only be because it is truly warranted.” Johan said with a slight smirk.
There was a brief pause as Xander scrutinized the werewolf before he relented.
“Hah, fair enough. So, what can I do for you?” Xander asked while gesturing to the seat on the other side of the table. Johan considered the offer for a moment before silently padding over and taking a seat. He rested his large hands on the table, lacing his fingers together. While the seat had felt much too tall to Xander, it was now apparent that it had been scaled for someone of Johan’s size in mind.
“I wish to offer some advice and information, hopefully it prevents what happened between us the other day from happening again with another Kindred that may not have as much self control. Consider it a token of my apology and gratitude.”
“That would certainly be helpful. I appreciate it.”
“You have, no doubt, wondered why I acted the way I did.”
“Yeah, a little. The suspicion was understandable, getting hoisted like a sack of trash, not so much. I gathered it was something to do with my little good luck charm.” Xander said as he reached back into his pocket to retrieve it.
“Stop.” Johan commanded suddenly, causing Xander to look back up. “Do not show it around. For your own sake, please keep it hidden for the time being.” He said before taking a quick glance around.
Xander glanced between Johan and his pocket before letting the charm go and zipping the pocket back up.
Johan sighed before continuing. “Yes, you are correct, my outburst had everything to do with your ‘good luck charm.’ It closely resembles artifacts that are held in high regard by the Kindred, myself included. More than that, it acts like them too.” He stated as he reached into his shirt collar and retrieved the end of a necklace that was hidden by his fur. The end of the necklace held a small dark pearl, different to the cloudy white of Xander’s charm.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“How do I put this? These artifacts, aurites we call them, they are magical in nature.” He stated as he tucked his necklace back into his shirt.
Xander's eyebrows knit together in confusion. “And you think my charm is too?”
“I am… not sure. All the more reason for it to be looked at by one more qualified than I. I know that I cannot force you to do so, but, you are headed to Aestrahd, correct?” Johan asked with a tilt of his head.
“If that’s the capital, then yeah. We’ll need to head there sooner or later.”
“Good. Once you arrive, you would do well to seek out the Silverlight Grove. It is a place of worship to our goddess, Lythris. The high priestess there should be able to ascertain your charm’s true nature. For the time being, however, I would be vigilant to keep it out of sight.”
“Easy enough,” Xander said after a small pause, “so, the Silverlight Grove, is that a temple or a monastery or something?”
“Mmh, an accurate enough description.”
“Right… so find the high priestess and she’ll what, give me her blessing or something?”
“I don’t know for sure, but something like that.” Johan chuckled.
They both sat in silence for a few moments while Xander processed the information.
“Hey, I have a question if you don’t mind.” Xander stated.
“Not at all.”
“You called yourself Kindred and Moon-blessed and everyone else calls you a Limnal, which one’s the most accurate?”
At that Johan let out a chuckle.
“We go by many names depending on the type. To the world at large, we are collectively known now as Limnals, beings between man and beast. Amongst ourselves, we are known as Kindred, for that is what we are to each other, regardless of the specific clan, and we are all Moon-blessed, given our gift through the blessing of Lythris.” Johan stated.
“As someone who is decidedly not one of us, please do not refer to any limnal you encounter as Kindred, at best you will receive a strange look, at worst you will have picked an unnecessary fight.”
Xander smirked.
“Good to know, so what kind of limnal are you, like your clan, if that’s not too blunt.”
“Blunt is good, most of us appreciate straightforward honesty over diplomatic tiptoeing. As to your question, I am a Feris, a child of the Great Wolf.”
“Feris… neat.” Xander said, raising his eyebrows, “we have legends of creatures like you on our world, though we usually just call you werewolves.”
“Yes, one of your compatriots explained the term to a few of us, I shouldn’t be surprised that your people gave such an imaginative name to us as ‘man-wolf.’” Johan stated sarcastically.
Xander laughed.
“Yeah, can’t argue with that. Seriously though, thanks for the heads up, I really do appreciate it, and I’ll take what you said to heart.”
“I am glad of it.” Johan said with a respectful nod.
“Right, I’ve got a ton more questions, but I need to get back on shift otherwise the sarge will be on my ass about it all week. You’ve given me a lot to think about, though, and a few answers to questions I didn’t realize I had.”
“That is understandable, you will have to tell me about that when next we have a chance to talk.”
“Definitely. I’ll see you around, Johan.”
“Likewise, Xander.”
With that, they both stood as Xander extended his hand to shake. Johan looked at it a moment before carefully grasping Xander’s forearm in a Roman handshake, which Xander returned. He watched as Johan nodded, turned, and made his way back into the hustle and bustle of the town before returning his tray and making his way back to the town hall to link back up with the rest of the squad.
The forces from the capital would be arriving in just three days and they needed to be prepared.
A/N: I originally used 'breed' as the descriptor for the different types of limnal races, but I think 'clan' sounds better. Also, my goodness, the pacing for this chapter is all over the place. I hope it flows well.
I also learned the hard way that the fancy pants editor does not like it when I paste a 4000+ word chapter into it, but markdown mode takes it just fine.
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2024.04.11 17:47 SeeCrew106 Weapons at the J6 assault

I hit the 40,000 character limit. Feel free to add more in the comment section.
Farbod Azari
Knife, flagpole.
Based on my review of body-worn camera (“BWC”) footage from Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) officers that responded to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, USCP CCV footage, and other publicly available video footage, I have observed that, on January 6, 2021, AZARI was wearing a black jacket, a light-colored t-shirt with a black American flag on it, black Oakley-style sunglasses, dark pants, a tan belt, brown lace-up shoes, and, at various times, black knit hat and/or a red knit hat. I have also observed, at various points, what appears to be the handle of a knife visible in AZARI’s waistband, as depicted below:
(...)
AZARI then jabbed the flagpole at the line of USCP officers, and appeared to make contact with one of the officers’ arms:
(...)
Moments later, AZARI picked up a flagpole with a blue and white "Trump" flag off of the ground, raised it behind his head, took several steps towards the line of police officers and swung the flagpole towards the line of officers:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1567371/dl
Ronald Balhorn
Wooden club.
Following this encounter, they proceeded to the Upper North Terrace, where they appeared to have an altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer. Mlynarek and Balhorn then proceeded to the West side of the terrace and entered the Capitol shortly after it was first breached by the mob. They remained in the building for nearly half an hour while Balhorn carried with him a wooden club or stick. Mlynarek later posted images of himself and Balhorn inside the building on social media.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptwo-michigan-men-arrested-felony-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Thomas Ballard
Baton, tabletop, bottle, pole, plank, etc.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Ballard was among the crowd of protestors at the lower west terrace of the U.S. Capitol building. While among the crowd of protestors at approximately 4:30 p.m., court documents say that Ballard used a police baton to repeatedly strike and hit police officers and pushed a piece of metal scaffolding at the legs of officers. In addition, court documents state that Ballard threw multiple objects at law enforcement, including a tabletop, a bottle of unknown liquid, a white pole, pieces of a wooden plank, and two other unknown objects.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptexas-man-pleads-guilty-felony-charge-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-2
Logan Barnhart
Flagpole, baton.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Barnhart was part of a mob that confronted law enforcement officers at the Archway leading into the Capitol Building from the Lower West Terrace. During the violence, at approximately 4:27 p.m., another rioter - co-defendant Jack Wade Whitton - began striking at an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with a crutch. As this was happening, Barnhart climbed over a banister and went up a set of steps leading to the Archway, towards the officer. Whitton grabbed the officer, first by his baton, then by the helmet and the neck of his ballistic vest. As he did this, Barnhart also grabbed the neck of the officer’s ballistic vest. He and Whitton, along with another rioter, then dragged the officer down the steps in a prone position and into the crowd, where other rioters beat the officer with weapons, including a flagpole and a baton. As a result of this attack, the officer sustained physical injuries, including bruising and abrasions.
Several minutes later, Barnhart returned to the Archway, where other rioters were slamming riot shields into the line of police officers. Barnhart pushed other rioters from behind, supporting them and propelling them forward into the line of officers. He then approached the line of officers and struck at them with the base of a flagpole.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmichigan-man-sentenced-assaulting-officers-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-0
Matthew Beddingfield
Metal flagpole, metal rod.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 12:58 p.m., Beddingfield jumped over a barricade and charged toward a group of U.S. Capitol Police officers who were near the scaffolding that had previously been erected outside the southwest side of the building. A crowd surrounded the officers. At approximately 1:06 p.m., Beddingfield attacked the officers, jabbing at them with a metal flagpole he had brought with him. Soon thereafter, Beddingfield can be seen throwing a metal rod at law enforcement. He remained on the restricted grounds, moving about, before entering the Capitol at approximately 2:38 p.m. through a door on the upper west terrace.
(...)
According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, when Beddingfield committed these acts, he was on conditions of pretrial release in Johnston County, North Carolina, while awaiting trial there on a charge of attempted murder.
Additionally, before the events of January 6, and specifically on November 17, 2020, Beddingfield wrote to an unidentified Instagram user, “Anyone who is in antifa deserves a slow death. They are literally communists.” Nearly a year after the events at the Capitol, on January 19, 2022, Beddingfield wrote to an unidentified Instagram user, “I’d like to reclaim America and it is fine if a few of my peoples enemies are ‘hurt’ in the process.”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pnorth-carolina-man-sentenced-assaulting-law-enforcement-officers-during-jan-6-capitol
Aiden Bilyard
Pepper gel, bat.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:35 p.m., Bilyard was among a crowd of rioters illegally gathered in the Upper West Plaza of the Capitol grounds. He carried a gold-colored canister of “home defense pepper gel.” Bilyard pointed the nozzle of the canister at officers who were attempting to prevent the mob from proceeding further towards the Capitol Building. He then discharged the chemical irritant towards the group of officers. Immediately after he sprayed the irritant, Bilyard and other rioters overwhelmed the police line, causing the officers to retreat through a stairwell to the Lower West Terrace.
Bilyard also went to the Lower West Terrace. At approximately 4:10 p.m., he was in a group of rioters massed in front of a glass window to the Capitol Building. While there, he encouraged an individual who was striking the window with what a metal tomahawk. Bilyard was handed a bat, which he used to shatter the lower glass portion of the window. He then turned to face the crowd and clapped and shouted in an act of encouragement for people to start entering the building. Bilyard also entered the Capitol by crawling through the window that he had shattered.
https://insurrectionindex.org/records/person/aiden-bilyard/
Kenneth Bonawitz
8-inch hunting knife.
According to court documents, Bonawitz traveled by bus from Florida to Washington, D.C., to attend a rally on January 6 at the Ellipse. After the rally, Bonawitz marched with more than 1,000 individuals to the U.S. Capitol and was among the first of the rioters to push through a police defensive line on the grounds at about 2:28 p.m. at the building’s West Front. Bonawitz was carrying an 8-inch hunting knife in a sheath attached to his belt.
Bonawitz mounted the stage built for the upcoming Inauguration. He then turned and ran in the direction of the edge of the stage with both arms raised. He hurled himself at two Capitol police officers, knocking both to the ground, injuring one of them.
As other officers escorted Bonawitz away, they confiscated the knife and then released him back into the crowd. Seconds later, Bonawitz rejoined the mob and again confronted additional officers on a defensive police line. Almost immediately, Bonawitz assaulted four separate Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in a melee.
As rioters pushed back against the police, Bonawitz shoved an officer, causing the officer to stumble forward. When the officer turned to face Bonawitz, he wrapped his arms around the officer from behind, inserted his forearm under the officer’s shield, then put the officer in a chokehold. He briefly lifted the officer off the ground and caused the officer to gag before struggling free of his grip.
Bonawitz assaulted two more officers before he began to exit the area around the West Front after being sprayed with a chemical agent.
As he exited Capitol grounds, Bonawitz gave two brief interviews to media outlets. In the first, Bonawitz stated, “I was up on the stage breaking through the lines. D.C. police maced me, hit me over the head with batons, and was kicking me in the side of the face.” In the second, a reporter asked him his name and where he was from. He replied: “Kenneth Bonawitz, Florida.”
Many of Bonawitz’s actions were video recorded by police body worn cameras.
Bonawitz was identified by a confidential source based upon his distinctive tattoos, Bonawitz’s own social media accounts, and his appearance on a Proud Boys meet-up poster that circulated in May 2022 in South Florida.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pflorida-man-pleads-guilty-felony-charges-related-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Tim Boughner
Chemical spray.
According to court documents, video footage depicts Boughner among a crowd of rioters at the Capitol. At approximately 2:33 p.m., he used a chemical spray against the officers. Around this time, people in the crowd were throwing objects and deploying multiple chemical sprays against law enforcement officers who were attempting to secure the building. One minute later, Boughner again used the chemical spray against the officers. Later, he posted on social media about his actions that day. In a post on Jan. 6, he stated that he “started spraying” at the Capitol and “f---- those cops up.” On Feb. 17, he posted, “I have to share. My life has not been the same since this day … I still don’t know how I ended up on the capital steps having a pepper spray fight with the capital police.”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmichigan-man-charged-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Steven Capuccio
Baton.
During the “heave-ho” push, a police officer became pinned between the metal doors in the tunnel and a shield held by a co-defendant. Cappuccio saw this and then forcefully yanked the gas mask away from the officer’s face in hard quick movements, causing the officer’s head and neck to be yanked violently in various directions.
As he viciously ripped off the police officer’s gas mask, Cappuccio appeared to say, “How do you like me now, fucker?!” Cappuccio then took the officer’s riot baton out of his hands and used the baton to strike the officer in the face. Cappuccio later exited the tunnel, looked to the crowd, and pumped his fist into the air victoriously.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptwo-found-guilty-assaulting-law-enforcement-west-terrace-tunnel-and-other-charges-related
Lonnie Coffman
Molotov cocktails with napalm, cache of weapons with large capacity ammo feeder.
"The Molotov cocktail components were created so as to be particularly lethal, with a napalm substance inside that would stick to the target and continue to burn," prosecutors wrote in a detention motion. "The defendant had hundreds of rounds of ammunition, each of which could cost a human life. The pickup truck was parked in close proximity to the U.S. Capitol Building. And the handwritten messages in the defendant’s pickup truck raise grave concerns about his intentions, and suggest that these weapons were intended to be used in an effort to violently attack our elected representatives."
Prosecutors allege Coffman had five illegal firearms in addition to the Molotov cocktails and a "large capacity ammo feeding device."
Montgomery Advertiser - 'Bad guy,' 'Good Girl': Alabama man with Molotov cocktails in D.C. left alarming notes in truck, records show
Mason Courson
Baton.
During the violence, at approximately 4:27 p.m., another rioter, Jack Wade Whitton, climbed over a railing and began striking an officer with a crutch, also kicking him. Whitton then grabbed the officer and, along with Logan Barnhart and another rioter, dragged the officer down the steps and into the crowd. Courson, who was at the bottom of the steps, beat the officer with a police baton, as other rioters struck him with other objects. The officer sustained physical injuries, including bruising and abrasions.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pflorida-man-sentenced-prison-striking-officer-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
David Dempsey
Crutch, metal pole, mace.
In several still photos, he can be seen using various objects, including a crutch and a metal pole, as bludgeoning weapons or projectiles against the line of law enforcement officers protecting the tunnel in front of the west terrace entrance. Additional video footage shows Dempsey spraying officers with what appears to be a lacrimal agent.
https://insurrectionindex.org/records/person/david-dempsey/
Lucas Denney
Chemical irritant, large tube, pole.
According to court documents, for weeks leading to Jan. 6, 2021, Denney, a former military police officer and the self-declared President of the Patriot Boys of North Texas, a 3%ers-identifying militia group, gathered protective gear and weapons and recruited others to join his group and travel with him to Washington. In one message on social media, posted Jan. 1, 2021, he wrote, I’m so pumped brother. I can’t wait to be in the middle of it on the front line on the 6th.” Later, on Jan. 4, 2021, Denney expressed his expectation for “civil war,” claiming “Ww3 isn’t too far away though.”
On Jan. 6, Denney was outfitted in tactical gear. Soon after illegally entering the grounds, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Denney repeatedly confronted police officers protecting the Capitol. At the west side of the Capitol, he fought with officers at metal barricades, punching one of them in the face shield, sprayed what appeared to be a chemical irritant at officers on two occasions, grabbed and shoved an officer, and joined another rioter in launching what appeared to be a large tube towards a line of officers. He attempted to disarm an officer by grabbing the officer’s crowd-control spray, then swung a pole at the officer.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptexas-man-sentenced-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-officers-during-jan-6-capitol
Timothy Desjardins
Broken table leg.
According to court documents, video footage depicts Desjardins assaulting multiple law enforcement officers in the tunnel area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, at approximately 4:46 p.m. on Jan. 6, using what appears to be a broken wooden table leg. At the time, law enforcement was under assault from a crowd of other rioters who were pushing themselves into the tunnel and hurling various objects, such as a baton and table, at the officers.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/prhode-island-man-charged-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Israel Easterday
Chemical irritant.
As shown in YouTube Video 1, EASTERDAY approached a group of police officers, including USCP Officer 1, and appeared to put down the confederate flag. A moment later, EASTERDAY (circled in yellow) pointed what appears to be some sort of bottle at USCP Officer 1 (circled in blue) and sprayed him with what appears to be a chemical irritant (circled in red), as shown in Image 2 below.
(...)
USCP Officer 1 has described to law enforcement, in sum and substance, that he believed he was sprayed with mace; that the irritant that sprayed him was different from the pepper spray used by the United States Capitol Police; that the irritant got in his eyes and caused him pain. Image 3 below, captured approximately two seconds after Image 2 above, shows USCP Officer 1 (circled in blue) turning away from EASTERDAY in reaction to being sprayed.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1559716/dl
Donald Hazard
Knuckle gloves, pepper spray.
According to court documents, Hazard was the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Patriot Boys of North Texas, a self-described militia. In preparation for attending the rally in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, Hazard gathered protective gear and other supplies including a military-style helmet, knuckle gloves, goggles, body armor, and pepper spray.
On January 6, a newspaper photographer recorded Hazard marching in Washington D.C. In that video, Hazard stated “Make sure you get my face and everything on your news channel. I want the enemy to know exactly who is coming after them.”
On Jan. 6, by approximately 2:00 p.m., Hazard was positioned under scaffolding that had been erected over the stairs on the northwest side of the U.S. Capitol building. As Hazard and other rioters attempted to climb the steps, they encountered United States Capitol Police (“USCP”) officers. Officer T.S. engaged with Hazard in order to force Hazard back; Hazard grabbed Officer T.S. as Hazard fell and continued to fight with Officer T.S. has the two fell down the stairs. Officer T.S. hit his head and was knocked unconscious. He also sustained injuries to his head, foot, and arm, some of which required surgery.
At another point on January 6, Hazard advanced towards a line of police officers on the west side of the Capitol with a cannister of pepper spray in hand. At approximately 2:56 p.m., Hazard entered the Capitol building via the Parliamentarian door and remained inside for approximately five minutes. Hazard also posted selfie-style videos, inside and outside of the Capitol building, in which he made statements such as “We’re here at the nation’s capitol and we’re storming it. We’re taking the Capitol. . . This is America baby.”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptexas-man-sentenced-felony-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Shane Jenkins
Metal tomahawk, flagpole, metal walking stick, wooden pole with a spear-like point.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Texas man who attacked the U.S. Capitol with a metal tomahawk — and is now the face of a website selling merchandise portraying jailed rioters as “political prisoners” — was sentenced Friday to seven years behind bars.
Shane Jenkins, 46, tried to smash a Capitol window with his tomahawk during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege. He also repeatedly threw makeshift weapons at police officers, hurling a desk drawer, a flagpole, a metal walking stick and a wooden pole with a spear-like point.
https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-tomahawk-shane-jenkins-d33fd96d4a8a747748d2a0a8adfb56d2
Justin Jersey
Large, gnarled stick, baton.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, Jersey was part of a mob that confronted law enforcement officers at an archway leading into the Capitol Building from the Lower West Terrace. At approximately 4:26 p.m., Jersey was on the steps leading to the Archway and carrying a large, gnarled stick. He raised the stick behind his head and moved towards the Archway. Jersey eventually gave the stick to another rioter, but at 4:27 p.m., he sprang at the line of officers who were positioned at the opening of the Archway. He grabbed one officer’s face, knocking the officer to the ground, then grappled with the officer over the officer’s baton.
Another rioter then kicked the officer, who was still on the ground. As a result of the attack, the officer sustained serious physical injuries, including a laceration to his head, and bruising and abrasions to his body. Jersey, meanwhile, was able to grab another baton and used it to strike at other officers in the Archway.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmichigan-man-sentenced-assaulting-officers-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Josiah Kenyon
Table leg with a protruding nail.
I again observed Josiah Kenyon with a deadly weapon; specifically, what appeared to be a table leg with a protruding nail at 5:02:38 pm. Josiah Kenyon strikes officers with the table leg.
https://www.justice.gov/media/1182791/dl
Markus Maly
Chemical irritant.
According to court documents and evidence presented by the government at trial, on the afternoon of Jan. 6, Maly pointed and sprayed a chemical irritant at a line of police officers attempting to secure the area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building. He additionally assisted co-defendants Jeffrey Scott Brown and Peter Schwartz with spraying law enforcement by taking a can of spray from Schwartz and handing the can to Brown. Later in the afternoon, Maly exited the tunnel area with a riot shield and testified that he intended to take the shield home as a trophy.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pvirginia-man-sentenced-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Christopher Manley
Metal rod, bear spray.
According to the statements of facts, Manley was captured on video in the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, wearing a flak jacket, armed with bear spray, a collapsible police baton, and handcuffs as he approached the archway entrance. At approximately 2:53 p.m., he can be seen spraying bear spray at officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department, who were defending the entrance. He threw the empty bear spray container at officers a few seconds later, then used a second cannister to again spray the officers. He then threw this cannister, too, at the officers. Then, at 2:55 p.m., he accepted a metal rod from another rioter and threw it at the officers. Manley also wedged his body against a wall in the tunnel and used force to push the security door against officers defending the Capitol.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pflorida-man-sentenced-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Mark Mazza
Gun.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Baugh and a friend, Mark Mazza, illegally entered the Capitol grounds. Baugh was aware that day that Mazza was armed with a firearm. At approximately 2:50 p.m., both men moved up a staircase and to the West Front Terrace.
(...)
Mazza, 57, of Shelbyville, Indiana, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2022, in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. He was sentenced earlier today to 60 months in prison. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must pay $2,150 in restitution.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pkentucky-man-pleads-guilty-felony-charge-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-0
Ronald McAbee
Reinforced knuckle gloves.
After the officer was knocked to the ground, McAbee stepped into the Archway, grabbed the officer’s leg, and pulled him further towards the crowd. When a second MPD officer stepped off the police line to assist the downed officer, McAbee stood up, yelled at the officer who had stepped out to assist, and then swung his arms and hands towards the officer’s head and torso. McAbee made contact with the officer and was wearing reinforced knuckle gloves at the time of the assault.
McAbee then returned his attention to the downed officer and lifted him by the torso and shoulders. As a result, McAbee and the officer slid down a set of steps, with McAbee falling on top of the officer. The two landed in the crowd, where McAbee lay on top of the officer while other rioters assailed the officer for over 20 seconds before the officer was finally able to get up and work his way back to the Archway. The officer sustained physical injuries, including a head laceration, concussion, elbow injury, bruising, and bodily abrasions. The officer was transported to the hospital and treated for his injuries.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptennessee-man-found-guilty-felony-charges-related-jan-6-capitol-breach
Scott Miller
Pole/pipe.
According to CCTV footage, at approximately 4:31 p.m., BOLO #132 was located at the south side of the tunnel where he began to throw objects into the tunnel at MPD officers. Below is a still image taken from a public video (“Public Video 1”) 1 depicting BOLO #132 throwing what appears to be a pipe or a pole into the tunnel at officers:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1559876/dl
Rodney Milstreed
Wooden pick handle.
According to court documents, before the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Milstreed planned to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally on the National Mall rally in Washington, D.C., to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election. Court documents say that Milstreed attempted to recruit friends to join him at the rally, procured a wooden club, injected steroids for several weeks, and worked out to get "jacked" ahead of January 6th. Milstreed indicated to others that he was prepared to "crack some skulls" at the Capitol.
On the morning of January 6, Milstreed took the train from his home in Maryland to Washington, D.C., carrying a wooden pick handle, approximately 4 feet long, with a blue "Trump" flag attached. Shortly before 1:00 p.m., Milstreed made his way to the restricted grounds of the U.S. Capitol and was behind the initial group of rioters who breached the police line at the Pennsylvania Avenue walkway. He then made his way to the front of the crowd at the West Plaza barricade, where he broke through the police line.
(...)
While Milstreed was on the Upper West Plaza, shortly after 1:00 p.m., court documents say that he forcibly assaulted a group of U.S. Capitol Police officers by throwing his wooden pick handle, with the flag still attached, into the line of U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers attempting to prevent the crowd from advancing. The pick handle hit a USCP officer and glanced off the officer's helmet.
In addition to the assault on police, Milstreed assaulted an Associated Press journalist on the Upper West Plaza.
(...)
Specifically, Milstreed grabbed the photographer's backpack and yanked him down a set of steps to the Lower West Plaza. After the victim stumbled to the bottom of the stairs, Milstreed shoved him and advanced toward him threateningly. Additional rioters surrounded the victim and continued the assault, dragging him through the crowd, grabbing his media identification lanyard and his face and neck.
After the riot, Milstreed sent messages to friends celebrating his participation in the riot and his assaults on law enforcement and media members. Around 8:00 p.m. that evening, Milstreed told one individual, "We f— them federal cops up. They all ran when we got physical. LMFAO[.]” He then added, "Time for war."
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmaryland-man-sentenced-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-related-jan-6-capitol-breach
Marshall Neefe
Wooden club.
In another such communication, Neefe wrote, “We goin? ...Cause hot damn son I really wanna crack some commie skulls.” The two discussed bringing “batons” with them, and Neefe sent a photograph of a wooden club he had made to Smith and others, with a caption that called it “The Commie Knocker.”
On Jan. 6, both illegally entered the Capitol grounds. Neefe carried the wooden club. They both participated in pushing a large metal sign frame – at least eight feet tall and 10 feet wide -- into a defensive line of officers attempting to prevent the mob from further advancing on the west front plaza of the Capitol. Smith also encouraged people in the mob to keep forcing a door to the Capitol closed to keep law enforcement officers inside the building so that they could not respond to the riot unfolding outside.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ptwo-pennsylvania-men-sentenced-41-month-prison-terms-assaulting-officers-during-jan-6
Gregory Lamar Nix
Baton, flagpole.
According to court documents, at approximately 2:21 p.m. on Jan. 6, video footage captures Nix banging the end of a white flagpole against the East House Doors, attempting to breach the U.S. Capitol building. Approximately six minutes later, Nix physically assaulted an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, striking him with the flagpole and then thrusting and throwing the object at him. A few minutes later, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Nix attempted to smash the East House Doors’ glass panes with a black baton. He subsequently entered the building.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/palabama-man-arrested-assault-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-1
Barry Ramey
Pepper spray.
According to court documents, on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Ramey joined a large group of Proud Boys, an organized extremist group of which Ramey is a member, gathering at the Washington Monument. After receiving instructions near the Washington Monument, court documents say that the Proud Boys began to march eastward on the National Mall toward the Capitol starting at about 10:45 a.m.
Court records say that Ramey and the other Proud Boys then circled the Capitol, “casing” the grounds for weak points in the security perimeter. At approximately 1:48 p.m., several U.S. Capitol Police officers were attempting to block rioters’ access to the stairwell leading from the Lower West Terrace to the Upper West Terrace of the building.
According to court documents, Ramey was in a group that pushed forward into the officers, pushing them back and up the stairwell. Ramey then sprayed two officers in the face and eyes with pepper spray. Both officers reported that the spray caused them to become disoriented and have their vision impaired.
In a matter of seconds after Ramey’s assaults, court documents say that rioters pushed past the remaining officers in the line and up the stairs toward the Capitol building. Ramey and the Proud Boys moved to the side of the stairs and celebrated what they had accomplished. Ramey then remained on the Capitol grounds for approximately four and a half hours.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pflorida-man-sentenced-felony-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Kasper Riley
Pepper spray.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, starting at approximately 1:50 p.m., Kasper sprayed an aerosol canister of what is believed to be pepper spray toward law enforcement officers attempting to secure the Capitol building and grounds. That day, Kasper also communicated on social media with another individual, declaring, among other things, “I pepper sprayed 3 cops so bad they got undressed and went home,” and “As you can see in that video, it was my group that busted the first gate and kept chasing the cops down and pushing them back at the capitol.”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pwisconsin-man-pleads-guilty-assaulting-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Jeremy Rodgers
Flagpole.
According to court documents, authorities identified a man, later determined to be Rodgers, from video and surveillance footage on Jan. 6, 2021, assaulting a law enforcement officer with a flagpole. Court documents state that on January 6th, Rodgers, carrying a blue flag attached to a wooden flagpole, approached a line of law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the East Rotunda Door and then used his flagpole as a weapon, audibly striking a United States Capitol Police (USCP) Officer three times on the helmet. Court documents say that shortly after, Rodgers again struck down the flagpole twice more in the direction of the officers.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmichigan-man-arrested-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach
Christopher Roe
Pitchfork, zip ties, duct tape.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Roe attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., carrying, among other items, a pitchfork, zip ties, and duct tape. After the rally, Roe went to the west front of the U.S. Capitol building and approached a police line with the pitchfork in hand. Court documents say that Roe then pushed a police officer and wrapped his arm around the officer’s arm. Other officers then sprayed Roe with a chemical irritant, causing him to retreat from the police line.
Court documents say that Roe later moved to the Upper West Terrace, where he entered the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol. Roe moved through the Capitol for approximately 15 minutes when law enforcement officers attempted to remove Roe and other rioters from the building. Roe shoved one of these officers several feet backward and wrapped his arm around the officer’s baton. Roe was then expelled from the building; however, court documents say that Roe reentered the building through the East Rotunda Doors with another mob and further clashed with police.
According to court documents, Roe was again removed from the Capitol only to attempt to regain entry a third time on the north side. Here, Roe rammed a bicycle rack ten times against a set of doors leading into the building.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmissouri-man-arrested-felony-charges-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-0
Shelly Stallings
OC spray.
According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 6, 2021, Schwartz and his wife Shelly Stallings, who pleaded guilty in August, traveled to Washington D.C. and were at the area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building. While at the front of the police line around 2:28 pm, Schwartz threw a folding chair at officers, later claiming to a friend that he “started a riot” by “throwing the first chair.” He then stole MPD duffle bags full of O.C. spray canisters, which he distributed to other members of the mob, including his wife, so that they could deploy them against the police. Wielding a large MK-46 canister and carrying a wooden tire thumper, Schwartz began indiscriminately spraying O.C. spray at any retreating police officers he could find.
Around the same time, co-defendant Markus Maly pushed through the crowd toward a group of police officers trying to escape up onto the inaugural stage and sprayed with his own O.C. canister. Schwartz and Maly then followed officers up into the lower west terrace tunnel, where they were joined by defendant Brown and dozens of other rioters. As the crowd heaved against the makeshift police line, co-defendant Jeffrey Scott Brown received an O.C. spray canister that was passed from Schwartz to Maly to Brown. Brown tried to use it but couldn’t figure out the nozzle. He passed it back to Schwartz, who appears to have shown Brown how to use it and passed it back. Brown then dove towards the front of the police line, spraying them with yet more OC spray.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/ppennsylvania-man-sentenced-felony-charge-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-0
Andrew Taake
Metal whip, bear spray.
Andrew Taake, 35, of Texas, pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon, admitting that he used both bear spray and a metal whip to attack officers, at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-rioter-nabbed-bumble-dating-app-sting-pleads-guilty-assaulting-o-rcna130593
Isaac Thomas
Flagpole.
According to court documents, the two defendants were among a mob that illegally engaged in a physical confrontation with law enforcement officers on the west front of the United States Capitol. Isaac Thomas used a flagpole on fully uniformed police officers during that confrontation, with the interaction captured on Christina Legros’s phone. Eight minutes after Thomas swung the flagpole at the first officer, at another confrontation with police Thomas struck an officer with the United States Capitol Police to help the mob move up the steps to the upper west terrace.
Both defendants entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door and paraded to the House side of the Capitol until returning to the central room known as the Crypt, where they ascended to the second floor. Once at the second floor, the two entered a suite of offices designated for the Speaker of the House where Thomas recorded a video message on his cell phone: “. . . The United States of America thinks we were playing . . . Do not let them take our country. Mike Pence failed us today. Ya’ll better take your country back. Take your freedom back for the sake of your families and your children!”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pmichigan-residents-arrested-charges-actions-during-january-6-capitol-breach
Devlyn Thompson
Metal baton, flag poles.
According to court documents, Devlyn Thompson, 28, of Seattle, Washington, was among a crowd of individuals on the lower west terrace who were pushing against and assaulting MPD and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers in the tunnel leading into the U.S. Capitol. Thompson admitted that he and others in the tunnel yelled obscenities at police and encouraged the continued assault. According to his plea, Thompson was part of a group that threw objects and projectiles at the officers, including flag poles, and grabbed and stole the officers’ riot shields to prevent them from defending themselves against the violence. Thompson personally observed police order rioters to stop, physically push the crowd back and deploy pepper spray in an effort to try to stop the ongoing assault. Later, Thompson picked up a metal baton from the floor of the tunnel and swung it overhead and downward against the police line in an apparent effort to knock a can of pepper spray from an officer’s hand and stop the officer from pepper-spraying the rioters. After more pepper spray was deployed by the rioters and the officers, Thompson retreated from the archway area.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pwashington-state-and-new-jersey-men-are-first-plead-guilty-assaulting-law-enforcement-jan
Adam Villareal
Wooden stick.
Most of this video shows VILLARREAL at the front of the large crowd. VILLARREAL can be seen wearing the plastic orange construction-style helmet on his head. In the video at approximately 4:40, 4 VILLARREAL is seen at the front of the group facing the officers. He is seen moving his arm backward to gain momentum (Image 5) then throwing his arm forward while releasing a wooden stick which strikes United States Capitol Police Department (USCP) Sergeant A.G. (Image 6)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1567166/dl
William Watson
Pepper spray, pocket knife.
WATSON also admitted during the January 15 interview to having a pocket knife on his waistband while at the U.S. Capitol, which he further described as a “flip box cutter” and Gerber knife.
WATSON used his hands to show how large the knife was and your affiant observed him to be describing a knife of about three to four inches in length. According to WATSON, he used the knife to help tear down cloth around the Presidential Inauguration scaffolding so the crowd could movefurther up toward the U.S. Capitol Building.
Affadavit - Lee County, Alabama
Ryan Wilson
Pipe.
By 3:00:56 pm, WILSON was directly in front of the police line, separated only by shields that the police were using to defend themselves. At that time, WILSON grabbed hold of a pipe that a rioter behind him had begun to thrust toward the police, and WILSON rammed it toward the police repeatedly and forcefully, as captured in Morgan’s footage in Image 8.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1595111/dl
submitted by SeeCrew106 to JamiePullDatUp [link] [comments]

2024.04.08 19:58 Groovyluscious What fibers can I use together?

I am fortunate to have been gifted a large amount of yarn. There’s a lot of variety in material, and my question is about using different fiber types together. I’m a little stumped on how to even research it and am hoping for some collective wisdom.
Can I use different fiber types of yarn in the same project? (Let’s say a sweater vest, hypothetically) I wouldn’t want to mix a cotton and a wool, but what about alpaca and sheep wool? Where does yak fall in the mix, and what about bamboo, silk, and even chitin yarn? A lot of what I have is in small amounts, a skein or two of each, maybe a few have like four of the same yarn in three colors. My concern is that I’ll knit up a pair of socks or heaven forbid a sweater and then the yarns won’t mesh well and one will wear horribly or stretch in a much different way. I’ve been looking at patterns with colorwork knowing that I don’t have a lot of one color, but I guess I’m not much of a pioneer with experimental knitting and I’m wondering if anyone has any sage advice on mixing fiber types. Leaning towards working with some wool specifically at the moment and wondering what I can mix together, if at all.
My basic assumptions: keep animal fibers together, keep plant fibers together, chitin and silk are wild cards.
Help or keyword suggestions for research would be welcome and very appreciated, and thank you!
submitted by Groovyluscious to knitting [link] [comments]

2024.04.08 16:14 sheisashcorpio Gaps in the Knit?

Gaps in the Knit?
Hi knitters of reddit!
I’m not sure how to phrase the question, but it seems that whenever im doing an 1x1 ribbing the knit sts always end up with a gap instead of nestled close together within the knit stitch. Do we think this is an issue of tension or gauge? Is it just me? For reference with this particular project, i’m starting my first vest using an etsy pattern, the yarn is Wool & the Gangs “Crazy Sexy Wool” (recommended to use by the pattern) on US 17 needles for the ribbing, and moving up to US 19 needles for the rest of the garment. But this has happened to me before with other projects i’ve done when doing 1x1 ribbing.
I hope i explained my question well, and hope the picture helps!
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2024.04.07 17:14 tourennatrix Nonbinary makers (sewists/fiber artists)

Nonbinary makers (sewists/fiber artists)
Hey beans,
So I've been very much into creating stuff this year, and I really want to get to the point where I make a garment I would actually wear out in public sometime. I get lost in the weeds quite easily, so it's been a longer process than I've liked in just getting started lol.
One thing I've enjoyed is going to the YouTubes and seeing people share "everything I made this year" or "I'm going to try to make this thing and I'm gonna learn how to do it as I go" type of content.
But invariably, (a) these people are way more into clothes than I am in general and (b) their style is definitely not my style, so I don't really know where to look to find inspo for things I want to make.
Idk if that makes much sense?
I enjoy watching these people but def would like to see more NB or even transmasc rep in the wardrobe seewing/knitting/crocheting space. Anyone have any suggestions for people to watch or places to hang out to find inspo?
(PIC of a floofy shirt I sewed for a Renaissance faire and a vest I made for pride a few years back- this whole ensemble was my Demi pride for 2022 and 2023. Both fit ok last year but will probably be a bit snug this year lol. While these are garments I have worn outside, they are not the daily wear I aim for (tragically, lol))
submitted by tourennatrix to NonBinary [link] [comments]

http://rodzice.org/