So, Microsoft is terrible. Yes yes, the oldest claim in the world.
But specifically… I just hate how Windows 10 tries to conflate and confuse web searches with things on one’s own computer. The start menu should never do anything related to web-searching, especially if it purports to try to give examples of things that are on my hard drive!
This will make old, computer-illiterate people more malware-vulnerable. You have to maintain a strong distinction between “things that are on this computer (and maybe even included in Windows)” (safe, one hopes, or you already got pwned by it, probably), and “things on the web” (scary, dangerous, not to be trusted at all).
Eroding that barrier in the UI is awful. It just FEELS like a violation every time I start typing into the start bar, and it tries to show me ANYTHING web-related. My computer is NOT just an internet-portal! It has tons of stuff on it, and when I’m interacting with the OS, I ONLY want to see things that are already on here!
If I wanted to see something online, I would go to my browser! All the online stuff should be segregated into the browser!
Specific programs can access the internet; that’s fine. But my OS’s functions and interface should JUST be about the things that are already on my computer.
i haven’t used this myself but i’ll be looking into it
Literally spent multiple hours lobotomizing my Windows reinstall when I upgraded recently, the amount of awful shit they had in nowadays makes me long for the age of win98, when software was merely bad, rather than actively harmful.
the exact setting in shutup10 for this issue is “Disable extension of Windows 10 search with Bing” it’s at the very bottom under misc.
There are 2 programs that will turn Windows 10 from an advertising riddled, bloated mess into a useful tool.
With one click, this will remove ALL THE BLOATWARE Windows comes with. Seriously, you need NONE OF THESE apps, and if you do, you can just uninstall all the ones you don’t need individually.
This program will give you almost complete control over Windows 10’s behavior. Disabling the web search in the start menu, op rightfully complained about, is just one of the many things this thing can do
For example, with a single setting you can turn off any ads from microsoft, system-wide
It is a powerful tool, but it can be a bit overwhelming. Luckily every single setting comes with an explanation about what it actually does, and most settings can be easily reversed.
This animation without the filter because it fucked with the framerate for some reason (this isn’t the intended look otherwise, but bleh)
im sure most of you dont give a flying dick tit about godzilla shit but this model and now animation is the first thing ive made and was kinda proud of in a long time .
WAIT YOU MADE THIS?
idk probably
im worried that the reason you’re getting less attention than you deserve is that this looks like it was clipped out of a Movie, and not one of the lower budget ones
I want to see a work of fiction that reverses the “vampires are snobby upper class, werewolves are brutish lower class” stereotypes
Consider a vampire’s reliance on blood as a metaphor for living paycheck-to-paycheck and depending on the kindness of others to get by, and the desparation that can make one slip into taking.
Exciting news for the cute shark lovers of the world! We finally have a recorded sighting of a baby great white shark, likely only a few hours old.
The question of where great white sharks give birth still remains a mystery to this day but this footage may suggest the coasts of California, where the footage was taken, are a site where these sharks give birth.
its face… trying to process being alive… me too little buddy
So, referencing your criteria here to make sure I use the same standards… First off, Phoenix is very willing to accept the supernatural once it’s shown to him, but he tends to be more cynical about it at first. He probably wouldn’t be making the immediate jump to “they’re totally vampires”, even though the similarities would still occur to him and he might even make sarcastic little jokes about it. But when there are things like lizard-style wall climbing, he would accept it at the least as a working theory until/if he could figure out the trick behind it (the trick is that they’re totally vampires). Also, a key supernatural detail he does accept and wear around is the magatama, which allows him to notice if people are lying and to try and force them to admit the truth by confronting them with proof. I think some of Dracula’s wordplay would slip by him but not all of it; there’d definitely be something that has Psyche-Locks which would put him on his guard.
He would 100% accept the crucifix from the old lady, and all the other gifts in the ride to the Castle. He’d also hang on to all manner of other stuff he found, such as evidence of the splintered door later on, and never put them down (gotta keep the Court Record updated!) as well as spend time thoroughly examining them and also presenting them to people/asking them what they think about this. Since Dracula is the only other person there, that would be him. Here’s where I have to wonder what Dracula’s reaction would be when Phoenix outright held the crucifix/other anti-vampire gifts out to him and asked for his thoughts, hahaha. It’s pretty early on in the stay so I think he might try to play off his obvious distaste and change the subject, much like he did when Jonathan asked about local myths (Phoenix would do this too). So I think that would be survivable for him, and possibly the first Psyche-Locks.
He would also definitely go exploring when told not to. That’s like a solid 40% of his job. He would be thoroughly examining every bit of the castle that he could access, and thus would definitely have the vampire ladies encounter. And this encounter would give him the driving force to keep going, because he would absolutely want to get justice for the baby he heard being eaten. Phoenix generally is very secretive but not the most motivated on his own, and he would definitely have a harder time of it by himself - but the anger and determination to get Dracula for the sake of the innocent babies would kick him into gear, even when all alone.
As for his ability to fascinate/manage a Rich Jerk… this is where I have two different answers. Early on in his career Phoenix has a nasty habit of confronting known killers outside the courtroom in moments of high emotion, to his own detriment. I think there is a chance a younger Phoenix would break Dracula’s Psyche-Locks and force him to admit to being a vampire/having killed the kids - which is obviously shortsighted and would result in immediate death. However, after his disbarment Phoenix proved his ability to play the long game and fascinate a Rick Jerk, by faking a years-long friendship with the one who framed him and then amassing evidence to get him convicted once the opportunity arose. So later Phoenix I think definitely has the ability to play his cards closer to his chest and last for the full stay.
Phoenix is scared of heights, which doesn’t work well in his favor… but given sufficient motivation he will brave them anyway. I think he could make the climb at least to Dracula’s window, and even if he fell when climbing down the castle he has already canonically survived a fall off a burning bridge into a supposedly deadly river from a great height with no ill effects other than a bad cold, so he would survive the climb down and the Jon-A-Thon as well if it came to that. Maybe he would get his own version of brain fever/amnesia, but he’s also had and recovered from that before in canon too so he’d be fine.
But would it come to that? Would he choose the wolves? I was a bit torn on this one, but honestly, Phoenix’s go-to strategy is to bluff his way out to the very last minute, while searching for something he can use along the way. I don’t think he would choose the wolves if he realized they meant certain death and Dracula only meant almost-certain death, or even certain death at a slightly later time, giving him time to try and turn the situation around.
All told, I think Phoenix Wright can survive Castle Dracula. And then he’d probably get hired to defend Arthur when he’s accused of Lucy’s murder (possibly still suffering brain fever amnesia for a good chunk of the trial), and get Dracula convicted in a suitably zany trial.
my mind is drifting once again to the narrative potential of the favor Eliot owes Quinn….
Like. Eliot Spencer (Of All People) owing you a favor is a big deal, especially in the hitter world. Eliot has a rep, one that just keeps growing over time. For the right people just having him show up could make them reassess what they’re doing or who they have employed. So Quinn wouldn’t want to waste his favor on something small.
And then again, maybe just having it is a nice little status boost. Or even just a mood boost. A nice little bit of insurance that he can call Eliot in if he ever needs to, and a point of pride that first off the Eliot Spencer called him when he needed help, and secondly Quinn’s got this handled, he doesn’t need help yet. Could be a comfort and a motivation in one, during tricky situations.
So when Quinn calls it in I feel it’s gotta be big. Or at least important to him in some way. That - or incredibly silly.
Maybe a loved one is in some kind of danger. It’s a situation he wants to be 100% certain of victory and with him and Eliot together that’s a guarantee.
Maybe it’s a total angstfest and Quinn himself is in deep trouble and needs a rescue, and he really did wait until the last moment to call Eliot - almost too late
Maybe someone puts a hit on Quinn with a bunch of people and we get a full on bodyguard action movie where Eliot helps watch his back as they figure out who’s after him
Maybe something happens that pushes Quinn to his breaking point of wanting to be a better person, and calling Eliot isn’t for help on a job at all. Maybe Eliot is his Toby, helping him through a difficult emotional time and then setting Quinn up with his own Leverage International team
Or hell, maybe it’s just been a long time since Quinn had so much fun on a job and he kinda misses Eliot but feels awkward getting in touch for no reason, so he hunts down a difficult job he thinks Eliot would like, and calls him in for an extended date as assistance for the gig
Maybe he never calls it in at all but they end up working together several times over the years anyway and they always talk about the favor Eliot owes and Eliot is like, just ask man, I’m ready, and Quinn is super enjoying holding it over his head. Calls him up in the middle of the night just to be like: “Remember that favor you owe me?” *Eliot rolls out of bed and starts getting dressed/arming himself with knives* “Yeah. Where do you need me?” Quinn laughs: “Just making sure.” and hangs up and Eliot barely refrains from throwing the phone at a wall. This happens like once a year.
Maybe he does something only to realize that it was a mistake and he needs help to undo it. Helps a guy who goes too far and violates his own moral code, or something. So he needs someone the guy doesn’t know to be the face while he rescues whoever he captured, or whatever.
Quinn stumbles across some huge threat ala Rundown Job and is forced into helping prevent it by virtue of being one of the only ones who can and like, ‘I don’t want the world to end because I live here too’ mentality. Eliot’s the only one he trusts to help him.
He’s been telling his parents he lives a very normal life for years and part of the lie was an elaborate fake boyfriend, but he recently got interrogated by his parents about how serious they really were, panicked, and updated him to fake fiance. Except now his parents want to meet the guy and Eliot can’t refuse or tell anyone because It’s The Favor
Quinn gets drunk and brags about Eliot Spencer (yes, That Eliot Spencer) owing him a favor, and then a bunch of fellow hitters/goons don’t believe him so he drunkenly puts Eliot on speakerphone and makes him confirm it’s still good.
Quinn is severely injured and needs a safe place to rest up while healing, and his other safe houses got burned for whatever reason.
Quinn gets stuck with a dog during a gig and has some excuse why he needs to keep it but really he’s just fallen in love with her, so he asks Eliot to be his petsitter while he is away on a single job. But Eliot falls in love with her too and offers to be her standing petsitter, and then it turns into them just coparenting this dog, whoever isn’t traveling for work keeping her with them.
Someone else calls in the favor on Quinn’s behalf, but when Eliot shows up it’s actually a trap for him. Quinn finds out and comes to his rescue and then tries to demand a second favor while they fight their way out, but Eliot insists this still ought to count
(A bunch of these could overlap with one another, too.)
SO MANY POSSIBILITIES. So much potential for Eliot/Quinn adventures or friendship or romance or any kind of emotional intimacy or something.
@darkfinch my fellow Quinn aficionado, do you know of any fics with this premise? Or have any other favorite favor ideas to share?
OH THESE ARE ALL SO GOOD…I’m personally v partial to the “quinn calls in the favour for eliot to retrieve….HIM” concept as well as the very good “hello i both look and feel like i’ve been hit by a truck and you’re maybe the only person on earth who 1) will watch my back while i heal up and 2) has good food, please can i crash on ur couch just this once”
but I also adore the idea of like. quinn is regularly crashing at Eliot’s place and eating his food whenever he’s stateside and every single time he’s like “this doesnt count as the favour” and eliot HATES him but also won’t tell him to go away bc hes like. Very Appreciative Of Eliot’s Food And Film Choices
also consider: quinn calls in the favour for a job that is SUCH a mess that eliot’s like “you owe ME a favour for that, actually” and its just. passing the favour back and forth for a decade + bickering. nice
i DO have some fic recs, bc i have read…..almost every eliot/quinn fic at this point:
AU where quinn is the sniper in the rundown job…the favour is not like. The Plot but it is mentioned and called in and also it’s just a Good Fic i can’t rec quinn & eliot fic without reccing a DPZ fic im incapable
Quinn (who is very cool and fun and enjoys photography as a hobby) calls in the favour; Eliot and Quinn go on a ROAD TRIP (for a job) [it’s a crossover with a media property that i am not familiar with but i still enjoyed it :)]
Hi! Do you happen to know if Jonathan and Mina would use Gregg or Pitman style during that era?
There’s a good post I reblogged a while ago talking about shorthand, let me see… here it is!
Pitman seems most likely given its greater popularity in England at the time. While Mina at least would likely be interested in the most up-to-date methods, she’s learning alongside/possibly beginning after Jonathan and intending it for help with his work. It would make sense for both of them to learn the more common one in their area/time. But I do like the idea of them learning or at least dabbling in other forms later on as well, possibly rarer ones (it’s all over sure but the usefulness of the ability to ensure as few people as possible can read what you’ve written has been impressed upon them), or trying to practice a lot/possibly come up with their own alterations in order to be even faster (a race between Mina’s typing vs Jonathan’s shorthand sounds like the kind of nerdy fun competition they’d enjoy, or even a race between two different types of shorthand if/once fluent enough).
So, obviously classic wizard robes aren’t wheelchair friendly. (Alright, admittedly this isn’t common knowledge and also this definitely isn’t a problem for most but listen, this is a problem for me and I’m pleased to present a solution for it nonetheless.)
The issue is in the sleeves and the length of the robes. The traditional trumpet style allows them to get snagged, dirty, and caught in the wheels.
ALT
This is distinctly not an issue with other mobility aids such as canes and crutches, these wizards are fine to carry on with their trumpet sleeves simply rolled up if needed.
ALT
Now, one solution might simply to shorten the sleeves and hem to be out of the way, but that looks rather silly so I won’t do that. Instead I propose the more elegant design of a hanging sleeve to maintain that flowy magical feel while allowing for better range of motion.
ALT
Honestly I just love the look of hanging sleeves in general and think more people should appreciate them, wheelchair user or not.
Late 20s, she/her. Fic and meta writer, on AO3 by the same name. This blog began as CS based but has widened to whatever else I like - currently a lot of Leverage, Ace Attorney, and Dracula (as well as other classic lit substacks). I ramble in my tags. Read them, half the time they're longer than my actual posts. Talk to me anytime, I'm sporadic about being on here but I enjoy conversation! Also writing prompts if anyone feels so inclined.
