#“there are many gestures that can be used in other countries that mean other things”

[sisididis]

I can’t stop laughing [X]

[literaryvein-reblogs]

hello, i was wondering if you could help me with describing hands? one of my characters is using sign language to communicate, and while the facial expressions are fine it's the hands i struggle with. thank you for your hard work!!

Describing Sign Language in Writing

Sign language - a nonverbal communication method that relies on physical movement instead of spoken words.

The figure shows the well-defined structure that distinguishes sign languages from simple gestural communication or mime, imbuing them with the complexity and depth characteristics of the spoken language.

Sign languages, distinct from the many communication methods employed by humans, exhibit expressions of complex linguistic systems rooted in visual-manual modality.

Rather than merely gestures, these languages are structured and intricate, evolving in response to cultural and societal influence.

At the core of sign language lies manual articulation complemented by non-manual elements (such as facial expressions and body posture).

This combination yields a rich communication tapestry in which each sign or gesture has a specific meaning organized by syntactic and morphological rules.

Visual-spatial language uses visible cues from the hands, eyes, facial expressions, and movements to convey meaning.

Although sign language is primarily used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, it is also used by many hearing people.

Like spoken languages, sign languages have their own grammar and structural rules and have evolved.

However, there is no universal sign language, and different countries have unique versions of sign languages specific to their regions and cultures. Example: the ASL differs from Auslan in Australia and the BSL in the United Kingdom. A person fluent in ASL may need to understand a local version of sign language in Sydney, Australia, instead of different dialects or accents in spoken languages.

There are more than 300 different sign languages in the world, spoken by more than 72 million deaf or hard-of-hearing people worldwide.

Each individual gesture is called a sign. Each sign has 3 distinct parts:

the handshape,

the position of the hands, and

the movement of the hands.

PHONOLOGY. At the heart of all languages, spoken or signed, lies the study of phonology. This discipline investigates the systematic arrangement of sounds in spoken languages and the corresponding organization of meaningful units in sign languages. In the case of sign languages, these units are not acoustic but instead composed of distinct hand shapes, locations, movements, and facial expressions. These elements work harmoniously to serve as essential structures for the sign-language framework.

Handshape: This refers to the specific shape of the hands when producing a sign. Different hand shapes can change the meaning of a sign, as different vowels or consonants can change the meaning of a word in spoken language.

Orientation: This involves the direction the palms or fingers face during the sign. The orientation can be towards or away from the signer, up, down, or to the side, and like a hand shape, it can significantly alter the meaning of a sign.

Location: This refers to the location in the signing space where a sign is produced, such as in front of the face, on the body, or in the neutral space in front of the signer. Location helps differentiate signs that might otherwise be similar in hand shape, orientation, and movement.

Movement: Sign languages use various movements, including direction, path, and manner (smooth, fast, or slow). Movement is crucial for expressing different concepts and can change the tense or aspects of verbs, among other things.

Facial Expressions: In sign languages, facial expressions are not just emotional indicators but are integral to grammar and lexicon, conveying distinctions in meaning, mood, tense, and sentence type (e.g., declarative, interrogative).

Understanding the phonology of sign languages is similar to acquiring the alphabet of a spoken language. The distinct characteristics of these elemental units lay the foundation for forming more complex structures and meanings.

CLASSIFIERS (CL) in sign language are a group of hand shapes used to represent general categories of objects, people, places, or concepts, as well as their orientation, movement, and relationship to one another within the spatial context of the signer’s narrative.

These handshapes are not standalone signs but are employed within the structure of signed sentences to provide descriptive or locative information that complements the narrative.

Classifiers allow signers to convey complex visual-spatial information efficiently and vividly, making them essential to sign language’s grammatical structure and expressive power.

Object Classifiers: represent objects or people with various shapes and sizes. For example, a flat hand may represent a flat surface or vehicle, whereas an upright index finger can denote a person standing.

Locative Classifiers: describe the location of objects or the spatial relationships between them. They can indicate where something is situated or how items are arranged relative to each other.

Plural Classifiers: used to depict groups of objects or people and their distribution in space. These classifiers can show the arrangement of objects, such as items lined up in a row or randomly scattered.

Element Classifiers: convey information about natural elements or substances such as water, fire, smoke, and wind, illustrating the movement or texture of these elements.

Body Classifiers: represent parts of the body or whole-body actions. They can show how a body part moves or is positioned in space.

Movement Classifiers: illustrate how an object or person moves within a space, including the direction, manner, and speed of movement.

Instrument Classifiers: show how an object is manipulated or used, often indicating the type of grip or action performed with tools or utensils.

Size and Shape Specifiers: provide specific details about the size, shape, or orientation of objects, enhancing descriptive accuracy and visual clarity in narratives.

Examples

A Quiet Place. The depiction of sign language—specifically, ASL—was heavily researched. They cast a deaf actress to play Regan for the express reason that she could help tutor the cast so they feel fluent. Individual characters also have their own "accent": Lee signs in a stern manner, Evelyn is elegant, Marcus is laconic, and Regan is sassy.

In Dune, multiple characters use hand signals to give orders to their subordinates. In fact, there are entire sign languages developed separately by both the Atreides and the Harkonnens, as well as even more subtle ones developed by the Bene Gesserit, that allow them to communicate irrelevant information verbally and important stuff with their hands, making sure that even if they are overheard, the enemy won't learn anything.

Beauty and the Beast (1987 series) has a deaf character who had grown up in the tunnels in "An Impossible Silence" and "Sticks and Stones" who communicated through ASL. The second episode was groundbreaking in that there were several scenes where deaf characters communicated in on-screen silence, with no voiceover or even background music, something the deaf actors involved fought hard for, not wanting someone else's voice to overshadow their own "voices".

The Shape of Water: Elisa is mute, and thus uses real-life American Sign Language to communicate. She also teaches the fish person how to sign, since he can't physically talk either.

Koko the Gorilla: Sign language is a powerful way for people of all hearing abilities to communicate. It can even be used to communicate with gorillas. In the 1970s, language researcher Dr. Penny Patterson began working with Koko, a western lowland gorilla, teaching her sign language. Research has shown that gorillas (and other large apes) have language skills similar to those of small children, and throughout her life, Koko learned more than 1,000 different signs. Koko was able to have entire conversations in sign language, as well as play word games and make up her own signs.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Thank you for your kind words, really love doing these! Studying how other media accurately depict these hand movements could also be helpful. More examples and information in the sources linked above. Also have these previous posts:

Writing Notes: Deaf Characters & Sign(ed) Languages

Hearing Loss in Children

[lazycats-stuff]

Remember when u wrote batbro who's Australian? Now u HAVE TO do Italian! This time with Italian toddler batbro, please little Italian people with their small hand gestures are so funny and so fricking adorable to me I'm tearing up just thinking about it

Yeah, Italians are funny and adorable, but I think it would work better if it's a teen instead of a toddler, so I have to modify that part, I just think it would fit better. Also, 1.3k, thank you guys and yes, I know this is a little bit short, but I do want to get this out for you guys. Also, Italians are my neighboring country lol, so if any Italians are reading this, hi!

Summary: (Y/N) is Italian. The family can't deal with him.

Warnings:

Bruce, yet again, found out he had another biological child. Another son. Bruce loved his sons, but he could get a daughter for once. Someone who was less chaotic to a certain degree. Turns out, when Bruce had a one night stand with an Italian model, she got pregnant and she didn't say anything to Bruce about his son for 13 years.

Bruce found out when she was put in jail. Bruce didn't know what happened, but he was more numb from the news that he has another son. Not to mention, man with a heavy Italian accent calling him in the middle of the night telling him about his son and Bruce having to call his lawyers...

The amount of paperwork that it took for Bruce to bring (Y/N) to America is nuts. Sure, you have to make sure that both governments know where the child is. The amount of connections Bruce had to pull just to get (Y/N) to the USA is actually insane. Thankfully, (Y/N) would soon get his citizenship and he would be able to keep his Italian citizenship.

Thankfully, both the US and Italy allow people to have multiple citizenships so (Y/N) could go back to Italy without any problems. Bruce and the others need to get visas. (Y/N) laughed at them when he heard that.

But hey, when they go to Italy, they will have a translator. And it's incredible to listen to (Y/N) not knowing English really. They weren't mocking him by any means, but they were crying of laughter a few times when there was some English problems.

But there were another things they didn't know about Italians. For example, (Y/N) was touchy in conversations. And he was closer to them, more in their space. None of them minded them, it was actually nice how closer he was to them because Americans prefer to keep their distance it seems.

And a thing that seemed like are they European or gay thing is the fact they have their little pecks on the cheek. It wasn't anything intimate by any means and it's a way to say hi to guests. Men do it as well so it wasn't gay per say... But then again... Bruce knew that Italy had a different way than Americans.

And by God, (Y/N) had so many cultural shocks. So many. The sizes of food in America... And (Y/N) will forever fight the notion that pineapple belongs on the pizza. He shall defend his Italian heritage and cuisine.

Also, while on the topic of the sizes, everything in America is huge. Cars, buildings... (Y/N) thought that in a way it lacked warmth. And (Y/N) didn't even want to think about the prices of medication and healthcare here. He knows that Bruce is rich, but still... My God.

Another thing was the fact that kind of annoyed Bruce and Alfred was the amount of espressos that (Y/N) can drink in a day. Tim loved him a lot for it, but Bruce and Alfred weren't so happy. So many espressos wasn't really helpful. But hey.

But one iconic thing that can make you tell who is an actual Italian or not, is the famous hand gesture. They still remember the time when (Y/N) was talking on the phone with a family member who lives in Italy and it seemed that the entire family was on the other side of the phone.

He was talking fast, phone on his ear while he was going to the kitchen to drink some water and get some snacks. They all watched in silence as (Y/N) talked loudly, even as he was opening the fridge for some snacks.

And that's when they saw it. The famous hand gesture, in between some passionate talk about something and yelling over the phone. He seemed annoyed, but there was a smile on the teen's face as he was talking.

Once he was finished, he joined his family at the table. Jason has decided to learn Italian. Bruce has silently agreed. Damian was already prepared to learn. Basically, the entire family has decided to learn Italian and help (Y/N) with English in return.

Another thing that made adapting to the American culture more difficult was the fact that talking and kind of interrupt one you are talking too. In Italy, that is not really considered rude since they are passionate about talking and just overall talking over.

In America, that is considered rude. He didn't like it that much, but understood. People won't like him that much and he would be considered a rude person if he interrupts other people. His family understood that it's not easy, but hey. You adapt to the culture and move on.

But still, it hurt a little bit.

And (Y/N) never understood one thing as well. Something called Italian Americans. He couldn't comprehend calling yourself Italian American, but you don't speak Italian and you are not connected to the culture of your other part. It was weird to him. No hate towards them, but to him it was weird. How can you call yourself a person who belongs to a certain culture if you don't know it?

But hey, no hate. As long as they don't insult Italy and the Italian culture, no hate.

And one more thing that no one prepares you for is the fact that you miss your home country. Despite Alfred doing the best Italian dishes known to men, but it just didn't taste the same. It didn't have that taste of Italy. Yes, it sounds weird, but it's true. Italy is one hell of a country with a rich history.

Oh the nostalgia is a worst feeling ever. Sure, it makes you feel happy and remember the great times you had., but sad at the same time. Bruce saw it, he wasn't blind.

He was sad for his son. So what does Bruce do? Summer holidays are approaching and Bruce had one great idea for everyone. 2 weeks in Italy, all paid for. He just needed to tell (Y/N) when and where they will be going.

And Bruce told him a few moments later, (Y/N) screamed from happiness and jumped into Bruce's arms, hugging him like a koala bear.

" Grazie Bruce! " (Y/N) screamed. Bruce didn't mind the use of his first name because (Y/N) was still getting used to the fact that he has a dad.

" Ti amo Bruce. " (Y/N) said as he stood back down at the floor. Bruce smile widely as he knew exactly what first two words meant.

" Love you too son. "

(Y/N) let out a woo as he went back to his room. Oh he will stuff himself with all of the Italian food he can eat and find. And he will go to Rome and the Vatican. No one is going to stop him. And not to mention, he will have to visit his family. They would never forgive him by any means and you don't want to piss off an Italian family.

[c-rowlesdraws]

browsing twitter for longer than a few minutes gives me radiation poisoning these days, and it’s worse in the evening, in the hours when the dark feelings creep in anyway. So even though I’m really apprehensive to talk politics on my art blog (I mean, if the backlash to a hyperbolic post I made about a famous youtuber is this bad, posting about politics would turn my activity page into a window to hell), I have to vent some of my feelings or that radiation damage will just keep getting quietly worse. And a fair number of people read this blog, and seem to like things that I create and say, so for what it’s worth, I want to say some things I hope people will think about.

Someone I really admire tweeted recently about how hopeless they feel. They said that after many years of fighting for social change, they had no fight left. They said they were too exhausted to vote in the upcoming US presidential election. And I tried to understand where they were coming from, because this is someone I look up to. But I can’t. I understand feeling burnt out. I feel nauseous and heartbroken and scared, thinking about the situation in Palestine and the situation in my country. I understand that it seems like there is no good leader to rally behind.

But I can’t tap out. I can’t give in to hopelessness and say, “I can’t choose. I’m tired and I’m done”. When a choice is between maintenance of an imperfect society with incremental steps towards better things, and cranking human misery and suffering enthusiastically up to 11, I’m going with the former. We are all tired every day. But voting is not physically difficult. Even if you are tired, you can do it. There is a day where you go to a building, and you fill in a bubble next to a name, and you go home. They even give you a sticker. I said voting isn’t hard, but actually, it’s very important to say that for a lot of people in the US, voting is hard to access, and for some groups, impossible. It is made difficult on purpose, by people—Republicans, it’s fucking always them, I don’t know why I’m using vague language—who want to disenfranchise as many people as they can. If voting was really a useless gesture, if it really meant nothing— they wouldn’t be working so damn hard to stop poor people and immigrants and prisoners and folks in general from being able to do it.

If you hate Biden, god, fine, whatever. But he is going to be the nominee of the political party made up of judges and politicians that, for the most part, believe that climate change is real and ought to be mitigated, that the US should not be turned into an evangelical christian theocracy, that firearms should be regulated, that businesses should be regulated, that healthcare should be more affordable and accessible, that people should be able to get safe abortions, that trans and all lgbt people deserve to live their lives, and that asylum-seekers shouldn’t be shredded by concertina wire trying to cross the border. The wheel of social change is huge and fucking heavy and sometimes it looks like it isn’t moving at all. But we can feel it move if we all push together.

I caught a Trump ad on the radio the other day and it was some of the scariest shit. “Trump will bring order to chaos,” it said. “He will ban travel from terrorist countries, and end the disastrous open-border policies allowing illegal migrants and deadly drugs like fentanyl to flood into our country.” The fucking anti-muslim travel ban. It’s back, baby. That was the exact phrasing: terrorist countries. If Biden’s foreign policy with regards to the Middle East is frustrating and despair-inducing already, Trump’s would be a catastrophe. The Republicans think Democrats are soft on terrorism. As much as anyone with a conscience is horrified by the US’s continued passivity with regards to Palestine, this motherfucker getting back in office would bring greater horror. I’m really sure about it. I don’t know what that part of the world will look like next fall, but I’m confident that if this dumb bloodthirsty motherfucker regains office, there would be absolutely no hope of public pressure swaying US foreign policy towards “less murder”. Protesting against war and genocide or for any progressive or civil rights cause would become even more dangerous. I still think about the woman who was run over by a car at the protest in 2017

…I’m rambling. I can’t help it. But I don’t want to just ramble unproductively. I should end this with something I hope makes sense to people snd can’t be easily dismissed, even if you already disagree with something I’ve said. I want to say how I genuinely feel.

I believe that imperfect activism is valuable, because it is better to show up and stand in solidarity with other people fighting for a more just world than to not show up at all. I believe all activism is in some way imperfect, because activists are people, and people are imperfect. That is to say, one middle-aged woman who showed up to a DC protest wearing a hand-crocheted pink pussy hat, who maybe hadn’t been to many (or any) protests before but who felt fired up about this one, was worth ten of the smug “real leftists” sneering about her on twitter. Maybe more than ten. Your own activism will be imperfect. But keep an open mind— to your own learning and to others’. Doing “the bare minimum” (and, ugh, what a discouraging phrase) is still doing. We have to encourage everyone who feels drawn to fighting for social good. We have to link arms with one another and be strong. Even if you think the person next to you is a lame-o liberal, if they believe that (for example) trans people deserve access to gender-affirming care and should not be smashed flat into fruit-by-the-foot and sent straight to hell, they are your comrade.

Be wary of people who self-identify as Cassandras and unheeded prophets, especially if their messages consistently emphasize how everything is garbage and the world can’t be saved. If someone is telling you that only they understand how uniquely horrible things are, that no progressive or leftist political philosophy is viable except for the specific one they adhere to, that no news or media sources are worthwhile or even trustworthy except for the small handful of ones they endorse… I won’t say to stop listening to them or following them, but I’d recommend listening to other people, too.

Do your own reading about issues that are important to you. Read many people’s words, watch videos, think about what you believe, and how those beliefs have changed over time, and stay open to being further changed. We are all constantly learning and shaping ourselves, and teaching, and being shaped by others. All of us are tired. But we can hold each other up.

I don’t have a rousing call to action. Just the same things many people are already saying that I’ve felt encouraged by, in a grim sort of way: protest and donate when and where you can, support political candidates on the local and national stage who do support policies you agree with, who could do real good. It feels very hard right now to be hopeful. But we all have to live in whatever future comes eventually— so I think we have to still participate, and that means things like voting. We are all tired. But we have to keep going. There is, ultimately, no sitting out. People who opt out of voting still must live under the social climate and policies imposed by the person who gets elected, and who they endorse and empower and appoint, and who those people empower and appoint, and so on.

This post doesn’t have a good conclusion. I didn’t write it thinking about what would make for a satisfying structure in general. But if you read it, then thank you for reading.

[ohcorny]

Wooooo okay! I put together a LONG list of alt text requests. I tried to narrow it down a bit, but it still ended up being a lot.. so feel free to pick and choose from these if you don't wanna do em all!

56, 59, 121(emery's expression in the fifth panel had me like O_O), 125(i call this one the umbrella parry), 148, 159-163, 175, 178, 212-215, 229(reminds me of that one gif from cinderella 3), 248

oh boy. cracks my freakin knuckles. i did them all because i'm a crazy person. also there's a bit of concept art in here too. have fun reading along.

56: i genuinely don't know what emery thought wick was doing to aamir. i think he just wanted an excuse to yell at him.

59: demonstrating wick's Special Vampire Technique of turning into a bat and a mist at the same time to pass through cracks. people do not use 'vampire can turn into mist' enough. i use it as much as possible.

121: emery would have been fucking Doomed as a modern teen with access to youtube. we have to accept this about him.

125: i picked up "sling your hook" from peaky blinders, which is set in birmingham. i'm not sure if it's something they also say in the black country and it would be really funny if i got that wrong on This page.

148: it's a sign of how good i am at keeping the reader going along that the book has been out for a month and nobody has asked 'did she just not check in the first class dining area for the guy who works in the first class dining areas'

159: i really enjoyed working with the When Things Are Fucked Up brush in this scene because it's so loose and rough and gestural.

160: love my paneling on this page. i'm the best to ever do it

161: THAT TWINK STINK

162: finally. wick's hair is down. cute wick is here.

163: there's nothing actually wrong with pleasance she just refuses to engage with the story any longer

175: wtf how did nobody ask for this yet. anyway. you would not believe how many times i had to insist the carmilla joke would work. my editor was Convinced nobody would understand what wick was saying. buddy that she's a gay icon is the only thing ANYBODY knows about carmilla.

178: "nobody can get in without waking me" wick lied, lyingly.

212: in my original thumbnails honeycutt wasn't going to be saying anything in the panel with him just smiling. it was going to be a beat, and then "but i'm a forgiving man" and i kind of wish i'd kept it like that.

oh but also this was one of the first and very few moments that i actually drew before starting the comic.

hadn't quite landed on how the end of the book looked yet

213: "lovesick little botfly" is, i think, 70% of the reason i gave emery the last name botwright. the other 30% is that it means boat maker.

214: weirdly salient to wick's arc, honeycutt, despite this being the first time you've ever interacted with him directly

215: AND IT'S NEETA WITH THE STEEL PIPE

already did 229 here

248: narrator voice: he would live to regret that

[canmom]

you must have this many dead friends to ride

it's TDOR (well, it was). unable to sleep, i read through all the deaths reported in the 2022-23 trans murder report (a year out of date, I don't think they've released this year's one yet.)

I'm not quite sure why i felt i should do this. if it's a gesture for the victims... well, if someone murders me one day, i don't think it will mean much one way or another if someone in faraway country reads a brief two sentence report that a 30-35 year old trans woman with 'other' occupation was found tied up with burn marks or something. nevertheless, it is the time of year for this ritual.

most of the deaths are reported in central and south american countries, largely due to reporting bias, though there's more reporting now from countries like India and Pakistan - almost nothing from east asia though, probably due to language barriers. it's hard to draw much of a conclusion about anything since many of the reports don't say much, the stats are subject to extreme sampling bias, etc etc. but the general types of story are: "her partner murdered her", "she was killed by gunmen on the street/in her house", "there was an argument and the other person decided to kill her over it", "the mob killed her for extortion reasons", 'her body was found in some awful condition", "the cops killed her" (including Tortugita, who they shot 57 times at the 'cop city' protest), and of course good old "explicitly anti trans hate crime" (which covers Brianna Ghey, the one death from my country, and several from the US).

my murdered sisters are in most cases very young. younger than me.

the statistician in my brain wants me to acknowledge that i don't know the degree that trans women are specifically subject to murder for being trans women or by abusive partners etc, and how much it's "just" about being poor and racialised and living in a place where paramilitaries, gangs etc routinely murder people. sex work is a dangerous line of work for many reasons, but it's also going to be the case that a lot of us are sex workers so even if we were all equally likely to be murdered, a huge number of the dead would be sex workers, just as many of them were beauticians.

but honestly, even bearing that in mind, a whole lot of sex workers were killed.

there is something particularly ghoulish in talking so drily about death statistics; the website uses the painful phrase 'concerning trend' in regards to the demographics of people killed (overwhelmingly trans women, sex workers and not white), as if a perfectly proportional series of murders would be less 'concerning' somehow, but what exactly are you supposed to say? it is of course a window into who a society is comfortable getting rid of, but we already knew that. there's a reason that a sex worker is the go-to plot-inciting murder victim in fiction.

collating death reports like this... in part it is done as a matter of political advocacy, saying 'look, we are being murdered by the hundreds [multiplied by some nebulous but significant underreporting factor]'. but of course, if that's our goal, we are holding our deaths up against, for example, the tens of, likely hundreds of thousands of people killed by violence in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine in the last year - events which have already divided the world into people who can't stop it, and people who can but don't care to. and what do we want done about it? to beg the state to come down and apply its monopoly on violence more stringently? often the police are the ones killing trans women.

so what remains is ritual. we light candles, and read out the names of strangers who nevertheless have this one important thing in common with us, the ~global community~ of trannies and such - this was a person who refused to take the awful role they were given, asserted their own will to change their body, managed to live a life at least partly on their own terms, and then got killed over it.

but we don't have time to tell the life story, no time to describe the mess of relationships and aspirations that drive a life; there is no time to imagine what feelings we shared, what they enjoyed, what stories we might have laughed about if we'd known each other...

we have time for 'found dead in a car'.

if that.

in my country, we face a very different threat distribution - i don't really expect anyone i know to get murdered (though it's not impossible, there are people I'm close to who have been viciously attacked and there was little to do to stop the attacker coming back), but I'm sure Fall won't be the last of my friends to die by suicide. if we are 'fighting like hell for the living', our project here is more about trying to build lives that are worth living for, and weathering whatever fashy deluge is coming down the political pipes. what does fighting like hell even mean here? i think i used to think i knew.

but this night at least, I'm remembering my friend Fall, who we lost back in 2022. I made this page about her, and the feelings that came up from her death, with writing from friends who knew her better than me. I'd be grateful if you read it and helped some part of her memory live on. (apparently they wrote a little memorial for her in the recent translation of Shōnen Note: Boy Soprano which she worked on.)

I never got to ask what Fall thought of all these TDoR rituals - it's one of many things I didn't get to talk to her about and I bet she'd give me something unexpected to think about, formed some ingenious connection. or maybe she didn't think much of it! but it's as good a reason to think of her as any. she was awesome, she should have been given a much better hand by this world, and it is more shit for not having her in it.

I bet the friends of any of the 321 people on that list, and everyone on this year's list, would be able to say something pretty similar.

entropy always gets its way. but I'll hold onto what I can of her, my fragment of her ghost, for as long as we can. i guess that's the point of the ritual. hold onto our ghosts. tell each other that, one day, they'll stop accumulating so fast.

[randomnoteforfuturereference]

Thailand and The White Lotus: Culture

So a big thing I noticed was that season 3 of The White Lotus actually does a pretty decent job of representing Thailand.

So I decided to give a more in-depth look into that representation, and the first place I'm starting with is the culture and customs.

This is by no means an exhaustive explanation of Thai culture. Rather I hope it's a great starting point to those who are curious. And I welcome additions to here.

So let's delve in:

Greetings

Good as place as any to start with would the greeting.

So that gesture Thais do when they bow with their hands together is the general gesture of respect called the wai/ไหว้, which is derived from the Indian Añjali Mudrā (like "namaste"; also certain yoga poses). The way you do the wai (like how close your hands are to the face or how much you bow the head) depends on the context. Wais are multi-fuction used for greeting, thanks, apologies, and so on.

So hello is "sawatdee"/สวัสดี. Also thank you is "khop khun"/ขอบคุณ. To finish off either greeting or thanks, you slap on an identifying particle at the end. The basic spot to start is the gender particles. If you're male, you end with a "krup"/ครับ; if you're female you end with a "kha"/ค่ะ. You may have noticed that some of the guests flubbed that at the start.

Gender isn't the only particle marker though. If you're clearly older to someone or higher status (this can range from someone's boss to even a restaurant patron talking to a server), you bypass the gender marker. This is best demonstrated when Sritala is talking to Gaitok in Ep 3. Instead of greeting him with a "sawatdee kha/สวัสดีค่ะ", she greets him with a "sawatdee ja/สวัสดีจ๊ะ". And instead of thanking him with a "khop khun kha/ขอบคุณค่ะ", she says "khop jai/ขอบใจ". Also you can see that, like saluting, the one of higher status isn't as obliged to go through the process of wai-ing.

Language

Expanding on the language a bit more: Thai is a tonal language that's essentially made of a whole bunch of monosyllabic words strung together to create a larger word. Example that I always like to use: the word for copper (tongdaeng; ทองแดง) literally translates to "red (daeng; แดง) gold (tong; ทอง)".

That tonality (with five tones total: high, low, mid, rising, falling) is why you had that scene where Sritala was correcting Rick and Fabian on how to pronounce her name.

Regarding the names, the names you hear are many times not the legal names. If their legal name is longer than a few syllables, they will go by a "nickname"; either a shortened version of that legal name, a noun that fits them, or even a random western name. Pornchai (on that note, the r is silent) and Sritala can either be a full or truncated legal name. Whereas Gaitok (ไก่ต๊อก; guineafowl) and Mook (มุก; pearl) are definitely noun-based nicknames.

The script itself (which you can see in the background of the subtitles) is a Brahmic-based abugida like throughout India. Spaces are only between sentences, not words. As with a lot of things, the arrival of the script accompanied the arrival of Hinduism and later Buddhism into the region, which is a perfect segue into:

Faith and Religion

Thailand is an extremely religious country, with the white on the flag literally representing religions (plural for all the recognized faiths). This frame from the national anthem tv broadcast demonstrating that:

Buddhism (specifically Theravada Buddhism) is the majority (~90%) and state religion of Thailand. It's not the only prominent religion (Islam being the main runner-up and prominent/majority in parts of the country; Christianity, Hinduism*, and Sikhism are also formally recognized and have longstanding communities alongside Chinese traditions brought by Teochew and Hokkien immigrants), but it's what outsiders usually think of when Thailand is brought up.

Now the tenets of Buddhism is a whoooole other topic, and I will not be getting into it or how it relates to the themes of the show.

Besides Buddhism, there is an animist base to Thai culture (and much of Southeast Asia in general). This animism, for lack of a better word, connects with a major and very casual belief in spirits and ghosts. That is why spirit houses are found on properties from working class neighborhoods to high end malls; the general principle being that if you invite a benevolent spirit to live on your land and take care of them, they will take care of you (including driving away malevolent spirits).

*That is why there is that shrine to Brahma at the resort. A good chunk of Thai Buddhists do recognize Hindu deities due to a mix of Hinduism coming first to the region and that intrinsic connection between Buddhism and Hinduism. So you get that intersection of Hinduism and the spirit house to form these elaborate shrines.

Last note here are the garlands they got at the beginning and what Belinda left at the shrine. Those perfumed floral arrangements are called phuang malai/พวงมาลัย (more informally you can just say malai), and they function as a way to give blessings/offerings as well as essentially good luck charms.

Other Traditions and Manners

So the scene with the cougars managed to encapsulate both one of the most important festivals in Thailand... and a couple of the worst faux pas.

Songkran/เทศกาลสงกรานต์ is known as Thai New Years and takes place in the middle of April (which coincides with Buddhist new year observances across the world). Traditionally water is used as a purification ritual, and the rites are still practiced (especially pouring water over the hands over your elders and on Buddha images). However, it's taken on a new life by turning into a full on water fight (especially since April is the hottest month of the year).

And of course in high tourist areas, it's taken to a whole other level. That of course is where the trio get dropped off and make a major mistake:

DO. NOT. DO. THIS.

I mean, you shouldn't touch a stranger's kid regardless. But especially do not touch anyone on the head. The heaf is considered the holiest part of the body, and touching it is usually considered a defiling action. It's related to not showing the soles of your foot or leaving your shoes on indoors.

The other thing they messed up with was losing their composure. When Thailand is called the Land of Smiles, it's not because everyone is happy. It's because the smile is a perfect front (and there are different degrees of "smiles") as it's bad to lose face. Because if you lose face, it means you lost control.

...

I hope this info is useful and gives some context to the show.

I plan on making a separate post about the places and animals.

[mizutenshii]

DAISIES.

— pairing ; kaneki ken x human!gn!reader

— summary ; he looks so cute with a flower crown atop his head, how can he be a monster?

— cw ; fluff fluff, pre-relationship, comfort

the breeze that traversed the streets of the city was getting kinder with every day that went by, now that spring had fallen over the country. spending your time outside was starting to become more pleasant and more and more people decided to do so. as a result, the park you decided to visit was quite lively. 

you enjoyed it, but kaneki didn't seem too pleased by the presence of that many people. you could understand why, and you appreciated the fact that he still agreed on going to the park with you.

to compromise a little, you took a spot in the sun a little distance away from the other occupants. you hoped that the scent of humans wasn't too intense this way, and on top of that you could talk more freely – let's be honest, the topics you talked about weren't for everyone to hear; they required a fair level of secrecy in order to protect the ghoul. 

so there you sat, amidst the daisies that grew scattered in the spring green grass. the male paid them no mind, keeping his gaze on the people in the distance. you wondered, what was he thinking?

actually, you didn't want to know. 

when a ghoul laid their eyes upon their natural prey, the images and urges inside their minds surely were not pretty. 

you made a face and plucked one of the tiny daisies that sprouted at her feet. yeah, it definitely took some time to get used to hanging out with a ghoul. you really had to keep yourself from thinking too much into things because it sometimes brought along very disturbing realizations and images. you shivered.

"at some point in my life i really enjoyed spending my leisure time in parks like this," kaneki suddenly spoke, tearing his eyes off the other people and turning to look at you instead. "now it just feels weird, like i don't belong here anymore." 

there was a sadness in his eyes that also laced his voice, and you could read the longing he felt. a painful longing back to his human life – one that he would never get back. the young ghoul was always hurting on the inside, but in moments like these it surfaced, presenting itself to those who cared. 

"why wouldn't you belong here?" you asked, picking another daisy, and another one. "i mean, there's a sign that asks you not to feed the birds but i don't see a humans only sign."

it was an attempt to add a mild and light-hearted joke to the heavy atmosphere that came along with the ghoul's remark, maybe even a small gesture to lift his spirit. 

the boy with hair as pale as the moon snorted, but it was only a brief moment of amusement before his expression fell glum again. 

"would a zookeeper let a lion between their zebras?" he questioned, sighing bitterly. "they don't, and it's for a reason."

"lions and zebras live together in the wild," you shrugged. "look, i really don't see a problem with you being here. you're just enjoying your time in the sun and you have all the right to do so, if you'd ask me." 

you picked another tiny white flower, connecting the stems absentmindedly as you talked to the boy next to you.

"i know," kaneki sighed, finally noticing the daisies around him and lightly touching them with his fingertips. he watched them bounce back gently when he lifted his hand again, and that was as far as his attention for the flowers went. "it just doesn't feel right anymore," he added. 

"do you want to leave?" you offered, about to drop the connected flowers in order to get up and save the boy from his internal struggles.

but a hand that – surprisingly – landed on yours stopped you from actually doing so, and you froze.

"no no, we can stay," the ghoul rushed. "i guess that for as long as you are here, i'm comfortable enough to stay. at least you kinda make me feel like i'm not completely out of place."

"o-okay," you uttered, your wide-eyed gaze on the cold hand that rested atop your own. you felt your heart skip a beat but that must've been because the sudden coldness on your skin startled you, right?

you sat down comfortably again and kaneki seemed satisfied, also appearing to be more at ease now that he got his discomfort off his chest. after shooting the ghoul one last glance, you decided that he was, indeed, okay, and reverted your attention back to the flowers in your hands.

by now you held a pretty long chain of flowers; connected daisies that together formed a flowery garland. it looked really pretty, and you were almost pleased with the outcome.

the boy with hair as pale as the moon looked up at the blue sky, clearly reminiscing about the past. you decided to let him be for a moment, to let him rearrange his thoughts and feelings. you focused on your task at hand; finishing the string of flowers to a point you deemed long enough. by the time you reached your ghoul, you rested your hand in your lap gently, careful not to damage the crown of flowers.

"i'm having thoughts, y/n," kaneki confessed, his dazed gaze now on a group of people in the distance. "i feel like a monster."

you pursed your lips, knowing very well what kaneki meant by that. but then an idea popped up in your mind, and you brought up your hands. admittedly, you made the flower crown for yourself to wear. however, you came up with a better use as the ghoul's demeanor tensed up.

beaming at him, you gently placed the flower crown atop his white locks. the ghoul simply gazed at you in awe, and you couldn't help but coo at the sight. the delicate tiara of daisies sat on top of his pale fringe daintily, and it looked adorable.

"you're not a monster, kaneki," you told him sincerely. "at least not in my eyes. look at you, you're so cute."

honestly, you had to fight the urge to squish his cheeks. although you got along very well, you still deemed it too early for such levels of affection. so you smiled widely at him instead, not paying the churning of your stomach any mind.

you were betraying humanity.

but you didn't care anymore.

a smile found its way to the ghoul's features, so small but unmistakenly there. the pain in his eyes had vanished and was now replaced with unmasked appreciation. your words held meaning, they didn't come from just someone. kaneki believed you.

he belonged. he was valid. he was no monster.

mizutenshii — 29.O9.2O23 — masterlist

at least in your eyes. and that was what mattered.

[cosmicrex2301]

Taste The Rainbow (Kryptonite)

It had been a pleasant day at the office for Clark. It'd been nothing special, but he was nearly finished editing a report, meaning he could head home soon. His phone lit up on his desk and he smiled at the notification. A message from Bruce, asking him to come over after work. Clark sent a thumbs up in response before finishing up his editing. 

He leaned back in his chair, stretching out his back and rolling his shoulders, easing out the tension from leaning over his desk all day.

“Are you heading home?” Lois called from her desk, her own report still open on her screen. Yes, he wished to say, but couldn't. Wayne Manor wasn’t his home. Not yet. Not ever, maybe. Though Clark desperately hoped that wouldn't be the case.

“I'm ducking out for a bit before I head home,” was his response.

“I'm a bit jealous. I feel like I'm gonna be here until my hair turns grey.” Clark chuckled, saying goodbyes to coworkers as he left. He stepped outside and breathed in. The city air wasn't as nice as in the country, but he still appreciated it after being in the office all day. 

Clark knew that flying to Gotham as Superman might turn a few heads, but no one could really spot him if he flew fast enough, right? Any other mode of transport would take too long, anyway. After all, Batman, Bruce, asked him to come by after work. Who is Clark to keep him waiting? He found a discreet place to change, thanking his past self for taking the bus instead of driving. 

Within a few seconds, Clark was descending on Wayne Manor. The door opened before Clark could knock. “Mr. Kent, please come in.” Alfred stepped aside, allowing Clark to enter. He was about to make his way down to the Batcave when Alfred called out, “Perhaps you would find it more comfortable to get changed before heading down. Master Bruce will be out of uniform as well.” 

“Thank you, Alfred,” Clark replied. He moved to the nearest guest room to get changed before heading down to the Batcave. 

The Batcave was large and cavernous, expanding underneath the Manor. Clark wasn't a stranger to the cave, he'd been here before, however that doesn't stop the nerves that send a shiver down his spine. That was just the atmosphere the cave created.

“Clark,” a deep voice called. Not as deep as Batman's, but not as high as Brucie either. Bruce's voice, Clark discovered, is in between the two. Clark turned his head towards the voice and smiled at Bruce, receiving a small smile in return. Bruce’s outfit was simple, a white button-up shirt and black pants, not unlike Clark's own attire. The top few buttons of Bruce's shirt were undone, exposing part of his chest.

Clark made his way over to Bruce who was leaning on a table with various labelled boxes on it. Lined with lead, Clark realised. Immediately, Clark was suspicious. He trusted Bruce, but anything lined with lead always put him on edge. It was the one thing he couldn’t see through. “Bruce, what is this?” He gestured to the table, a slight frown on his face.

“It has come to my attention that there are many different types of Kryptonite, and I need to know what they do, so that we can be prepared for any occasion.” Bruce's answer shocked Clark. That's what's in the boxes? Kryptonite?

“Bruce, are you saying you called me here… to use Kryptonite on me?” Bruce shrugged.

“If you want to put it simply, yes. However, it is for research and safety purposes.” Clark stared at the table, the nine boxes made him nervous.

“I didn't even know there were this many types of Kryptonite,” he breathed. Bruce shook his head.

“There's probably more. This is just all I could get my hands on.” Clark looked at him, his brow furrowed.

“How did you even get these?” Bruce shrugged.

“The green Kryptonite I already had. Most of the others came from Lex Luthor.” Clark gaped.

“He gave you Kryptonite?”

“Obviously not. He sold them to me.” Clark frowned, confused.

“How did you convince him to sell them? Surely he found it super suspicious, he’s Lex Luthor.” Bruce smiled, amusement and confidence evident on his face.

“Clark, please, I'm Bruce Wayne.” Clark shook his head, deciding to drop. He wasn't going to get anything better from Bruce, anyway. Bruce stepped to the side, giving Clark a full view of the table. “Alright,” he said, gesturing to the table. “Pick your poison.” Clark wearily eyed the table, hating everything about this.

“None of them?” Bruce sighed, levelling Clark with a level 1 Bat GlareTM. Clark groaned and eyed the table again. “Fine… Green, I guess. At least I know what that one does…” Bruce nodded, moving over the box and opening it. Clark let out a hiss of pain, staggering away from the table. Bruce wrote down numerous notes before the box was shut. He looked up to give Clark a disapproving look, but continued on when Clark levelled him with a glare of his own.

Bruce gave Clark a moment to rest and reset before he prompted him to choose another box. “Um, how about we try… pink? Pink's pretty, surely that means it'll be fine, right?” The look Bruce sent his way screamed ‘what the fuck, Clark?’, but Clark ignored him, instead pretending that his flawed reasoning actually made sense. Bruce opened the box, poised to take more notes. His face twisted into one of confusion when Clark didn't react after a few moments. 

“Do you feel anything? Anything different?” He prompted. Clark just shook his head.

“No, I don't think so. Huh, maybe pink doesn't do anything?” 

“Hn.” Was Bruce’s response. He eyed Clark suspiciously before he reluctantly closed the box. Bruce reached over and opened the box labelled ‘periwinkle’, not trusting Clark to choose again after his horrible reasoning for the last one. Clark started to glare at him, but his face smoothed out almost immediately. Bruce sent him a questioning look, but when he received no response, he switched to verbal questioning. “Clark? Are you alright?” The only response he received was a confused blink. Bruce raised an eyebrow, but took to writing down the effects instead of watching Clark. He was stopped suddenly when the air around him rushed, and there was suddenly a wall of man in front of him. Bruce looked up to see Clark standing directly in front of him. He lowered his tablet, which proved a mistake as Clark moved forwards into the vacated space. Bruce took a sharp breath in and stepped back, hitting the table and rattling the boxes placed there. “Clark?” He asked, eyes flitting around, unsure of where to look. Clark’s hands rested either side of Bruce, trapping him between the table and the wall of muscle. Bruce let his arms hang limply at his sides, unsure what to do. “Clark?” He tried again, gaining a grin from the man. Clark’s smile felt dangerous, and Bruce wasn’t sure he wanted to figure out why. Clark leaned closer, forcing Bruce to lean back. Instinctively, Bruce pulled his arms up, hands landing on Clark’s chest to push him back. A bit foolish, considering Clark’s super strength. Clark’s grin just widened, eyes lit up with hunger. His right hand reached up, cupping the back of Bruce’s head and tilting it upward. Clark’s eyes flicked down to Bruce’s lips before they found his wide eyes. Not breaking eye contact, Clark leaned in and captured Bruce’s lips with his own. Bruce let out a small sound of surprise, but it was muffled by the kiss. His mind reeled as he tried to make sense of what was happening. While trying to figure everything out, Bruce found himself returning the kiss. He leaned in to Clark, one hand running up Clark’s chest and cupping his face. His other hand fell to the table, reaching for the open box of periwinkle kryptonite. With a snap, the box closed, and Bruce forced his hand to fall from Clark’s face. He leant back, trying to put space between him and Clark, his chest heaving and face flushed. Bruce's eyes kept flicking to and from Clark’s face, trying to gauge his reaction. Clark’s eyes unfocused for a moment before he looked and Bruce again, eyes clear. He lifted his right arm again, but this time he reached up to Bruce’s face, gently holding it as he leaned in once more. Bruce tried to pull away, but Clark held him still, his forehead coming to rest on Bruce's.

“This isn’t the kryptonite, Bruce,” was all the warning Bruce got before Clark once again captured his lips. Clark was present, himself, and Bruce couldn’t find a reason to deny him. Bruce leaned into the kiss once more, this time more purposeful and assured. The kiss was slow and tender, loving poured out of one and into the other. When they separated, Clark smiled down at Bruce. Bruce looked up at Clark, face flushed and lips red, but a small smile graced his lips, something tentative but warm, and Clark felt blessed to see it. Bruce gently pushed Clark back, and Clark moved with his hand. Bruce gave him a small reassuring smile, while reaching for the tablet he’d been using to keep notes. Clark’s eyes followed his hand and he slumped slightly. Bruce gave a light chuckle.

“We still have research to do, Clark.” 

“Do we have to?” Bruce raised a brow at him, amusement evident on his face.

“Yes, Clark. Making out with me doesn’t change the fact that we’re here for a reason.” Bruce turned while talking, his back now to Clark. Clark’s face turns red and he stammers to defend himself.

“N-no, Bruce, that- That wasn’t why I- Oh gosh darn it…” Bruce’s shoulder shook, barely stifled laughter wracking his body. He turned around, holding another box, a smile on his face.

“Relax, Clark, I know that’s not why you did it. Though, I might have to lock that particular finding away in the Batcomputer, I can’t imagine what my kids would do if they got their hands on that information…” Bruce shuddered. “The teasing would be relentless.” Both Bruce and Clark let out a laugh, knowing how Bruce’s kids could be. Clark looked down to the box in Bruce’s hand.

“Alright, what colour are we doing now?” Bruce looked down at the box.

“This one is white kryptonite. I’ve never heard of it, but I’m sure it’s fine…” Clark's eyes widened, a look of panic on his face. Bruce met his eyes and shrugged. “Can’t know until we test it.” Clark let out an uneasy breath and nodded to Bruce, signalling that he was ready. Bruce opened the box and placed it on the table, reaching for his tablet. Both Bruce and Clark stare at each other, waiting for something to happen, but nothing does. That is, until Clark sees Bruce’s eyes widen. “oH SHIT!” Clark turned to see what Bruce was looking at, turning back to him in confusion when he saw nothing. Bruce closed the box and ran over to the Batcomputer. Realisation dawned on Clark as Bruce picked up a now dead plant from the desk. It was the only plant in the cave. Bruce looked from the plant to Clark, regret clear on his face. “I’m so screwed.” Clark frowned.

“How so? Was it Alfred’s?” Bruce let out a sharp laugh.

“God no. I’d be dead if it was.” He sent an uneasy look to the plant. “Though, honestly, I’m not sure if I’m better off like this. You see, Ivy gave it to me, claimed the cave could use some colour and life…” Clark grimaced, understanding Bruce’s reaction.

“Oh you’re so screwed.” Bruce shot him a hopeful look.

“Hide me in the Fortress until she forgets about it?” Clark chuckles.

“Sorry, Bruce, but no. You’re just going to have to live with this one.” Bruce glared at Clark.

“FIne. Whatever. Moving on.” Bruce quickly wrote down some notes before he moved to the last box on the table. “Right, X-Kryptonite. You ready, Clark?” Clark let out a sigh.

“Sure, go ahead.” Bruce opened up the box, tablet in hand to take notes. Clark stands still for a moment, waiting to see if he could feel anything different. “Huh, I don’t feel anything. Maybe it doesn’t do anything, like the pink one?” When Bruce didn’t respond, Clark looked over to him. Bruce’s eyes were closed and his brows furrowed. “Bruce? Are you all good?” Bruce clamped his hands over his ears.

“Please stop talking.” His voice was small, but Clark heard him. He took a worried step towards Bruce, but Bruce held his right hand up, a clear sign telling him to stop. “No! Don’t move either!” Bruce’s hand went back over his ear as he sank to the ground. Clark stood still, trying desperately to find a way to help Bruce. “Clark,” Bruce whispered, voice barely there. “Clark, it’s so loud.” Bruce’s breathing had picked up, quickening to a concerning rate.

“Bruce?” Clark whispered as quietly as he could. Bruce looked up at him, eyes watery and face distorted in pain. Clark slowly floated, doing everything in his power to limit the amount of sound he made. Slowly, ever so slowly, he made his way over to the table and closed the box silently. Bruce buried his head in his knees, ears still covered by his hands. Clark slowly lowered himself down text to Bruce, whispering a quiet reassurance. “It’s going to be alright, Bruce. I’m here.” Clark didn’t move for a while and just allowed Bruce to do whatever he needed. Eventually, Bruce reluctantly leaned over to Clark, head resting on his chest. Bruce allowed the sound of Clark’s heart beat to drown out the rest of the noise assaulting his ears. They sat like that until the effects wore off. At that point, Clark passed Bruce his tablet so he could make notes before picking him up and carrying him up to the manor to rest. When Clark deposited Bruce on his bed, Bruce held on to him, tugging his arm slightly until Clark took the hint and got into bed with him. Bruce curled up into him, head once again on Clark’s chest. Clark held Bruce in his arms and vowed to have a conversation about his horrible research experiments in the morning. But, for now, Bruce needed him, and so Clark held Bruce, giving him a soft kiss on the forehead before falling asleep.

[wonderlustwrites]

im loring + writing for "to letters and whom they concern" and HOLY FUCK figuring out the lore for a royal au is like fun as hell, especially when its set in its own world cause like i can take from irl royal stuff but like do whatever i want realistically LOL NEWAYS!!!! here's a sneak peak cause i love this scene so badly : DDD

ALSOOOO expect a possible poster reveal tomorrow 👁️👁️

After a few moments too long, he realizes he's been staring because she smooths against the back of her short haircut, lightly scratching her neck as she clears her throat and looks away. Shaking his head, forcing himself back on track, he addresses the room. 

"Welcome in council members. I know my presence at this time is a surprise to many of you, as I haven't been very present...both here at the Manor or within my father's work—" Before he can even finish his sentence, he hears a small scoff, he allows his eyes to follow the sound leading him back to the woman.

Most of the other members, especially the elders, mostly ignore her, though few give her their own look of disapproval, one even daring to speak up—"Incorrigible! Where are your man-"

In any other situation, Josai wouldn't have cared much. Conversations like this are things he tended to avoid if possible, but right this moment, it is him they are looking towards; however, to say he isn't slightly amused would be a lie. 

He simply raises a hand to the elder council member, silencing him. 

"I know my father ran this room much differently, but I am not him. If anyone would like to speak up, this would be the space to do it..." He says staring at the man. His eyes lull themselves over to the young woman. 

"And you are?" he asks as he sees her own eyes on the man, she looks all but ready to pounce on him, like a hungry lionare. She rolls her eyes as she exhales heavily, raising them to meet Josai's.

"Na'ima Kunlai. General to the new recruits." He watches her closely as she states her name and title curtly. She sits back lightly as she watches him just as closely, awaiting his next move. It sends a shiver along his spine, being under her watchful eye as if she knows everything he doesn't. But that is what also draws him in, to want to know more...so much more.

He nods, and takes in the small amount of information she gives him, tucking it away for later. 

"Well, General Kunlai, by all means. If there is something you need to say, feel free to address the room. We are all here to listen." Josai sits and gestures a hand out for her to take the space she needs. 

She watches as he sits, almost sizing him up, as if trying to see what game he is playing at. If he wants to make her an example right now, she refuses to give him that opportunity, whether she has a choice in the matter or not. She closes her eyes, breathing softly, as she throws caution to the wind. Upon opening them, she comes to a stand. 

"That 'work' you are referring to, that your father did, was lead a country. Leading us, his people. People that believed in him, even when we didn't always agree with him. Now, you have my deepest condolences for your loss, but if the entire point of this 'meeting' is to introduce yourself to us, yet you have no plan nor choice of staying to take up his post...then why waste anyone's time?"  It takes everything inside him to keep as straight a face as possible, but just when he thought everyone here was the same, boring and rigid, here she "Na'ima Kunlai" is, in all her full glory.

⇒ header made by @saradika-graphics

[rorirevolutions]

World Building Pt.4: Actual 'world' building

So obviously we know that most of the towns and cities in the shows don’t really exist. However, some of them have stated specific regions and states where they are set such as Mighty Med taking place in Philadelphia, PA. As for the others such as Swellview I did a little sleuthing to figure out roughly where each of these take place based on little things mentioned in canon and weather patterns.

The Lab Rats home of Mission Creek is another easy one because they at one point it is stated that it’s in California. I’m not stopping there though, personally I believe it takes place in SoCal near Orange County. Which given the climate it would make sense that the Bionic Island is just off the coast in Baja California. This would also mean that Tasha and Leo, assuming they arn’t transplants, would use SoCal slang. However, I don’t believe the trio would necessarily have Cali accents. Maybe Bree would to fit in more, but after living so long detached from society I believe that Adam having only really heard Donald for the longest time would share his accent for the most part and Chase probably dosen’t have a definable accent. He has a computer in his brain and access to every bit of slang/inflection that has ever been recorded. So he probably dosen’t speak with much of one. He might have picked up more Cali slang and gestures from his time with Leo, but I doubt he uses them unless specifically talking to Tasha or Leo. 

It isn’t ever brought up were Centium City resides, but based on the fact that it appears a lot colder and is the home town of both the Davenport brothers and Principle Perry. I believe that Centium City is in the state New Jersey. Perry has a lot of stereotypical qualities(I apologize to anyone from NJ, I’ve never been and all I have is media for examples) that kinda makes me think that she would be from there. Also could you please imagine Perry, Donald, and Douglas with Jersey accents. Incredible. I think that the brothers have probably lost a good bit of there accents from time away, but whenever they are near each other or are particularly emotional the accents come out in full force. Otherwise Donald probably dosen’t have a  very definable accent due to all his traveling and working with a wide array of people, and Douglas probably has nothing but different bits of mixed up slang due to his colorful environment.

Henry Danger/Danger Force were a bit difficult until I rewatched the Game Shakers x Henry Danger crossover special. While discussing places to go Kenzie brings up Swellview and states that its in ‘The Heart of America’. While many states can try to claim that they are the heart of the country, the only one that is usually agreed upon is Kansas. Climate wise it also makes sense as swellview has shown to be rather windy and Kansas in right within Tornado Alley. This means that Swellviews hilariously named neighboring towns also take place in Kansas. All the characters (with the exception of Schwoz) would also use more Kansan slang as all of them have stated to have lived in the area their whole lives. Which leads me to bring up Dystopia where the original Danger Crew moved to after S5. All we know about Dystopia is that its really dangerous and kinda nearby as Henry seems willing to get there without the use of Miles’s powers. Now for this I looked up where the most dangerous cities in America were and I’m so sorry Missouri but you guys have several cities in the top 10 list. It is also right next-door to Kansas. 

Like HD/DF the Thundermans home of Hiddenville doesn’t have a named state. It also appears to have a fairly neutral environment. Initially I was thinking of Tennessee but all things considered there’s a distinct lack of countryisms (I know not all Tennessee is county music and farm life but it still dosen’t quit fit). Then I was thinking Washington due to the ‘Land of 1,000 parks’ bit(According to google Seattle, WA has 874 parks), but theres a lack of mountain ranges. However, it’s the closest I’ve got to a real answer so I’m sticking to it until I find more evidence. Even if Hiddenville is in Washington, I don’t think any of the Thundermans(with maybe the exception of Chloe) would have any slang or dialect from there. The family transplanted more than likely from a different state to go into hiding. Given that Metroberg is basically the Capitol of all USA Supers, I think it would probably also be in Virginia nearby D.C. Meaning the family would have similar accents and mannerisms to Virginians. At least in the beginning, later on the kids probably adopt the slang of those nearby.

Finally Villains of Valley View. It’s already mentioned in the show that Valley View is in Texas, but like the Thundermans the Madden family is also transplanted and on the run/in hiding. While it’s never truly stated where they came from we can infer from some details. Eva has a very noticeable British accent so she probably moved to the US as a young adult. I don’t know what it is but for some reason Vic gives me NorCal vibes specifically Sacramento, CA. I have no clue why but he does. I imagine that after they unofficially wed(they couldn’t legally get married as wanted criminals) Vic and Eva moved to the Bay Area where they did some villainy and started their family. I don’t have a name for the town/city where they grew up yet, but I am absolutely accepting suggestions.

[emborgor]

Why Are Humans (Almost) Always United?

Feel free to give constructive criticism! I'm a new-er writer and improving my writing would be amazing.

We know that there are several kinds of governments that can spring up, but in most HSO posts I see, there are no corrupt governments or corporations for the most part. There may be the occasional thing, but it surely isn't a human or allied alien.

We, as humans, are always divided on Earth, just look at the countries and warring we do. We can never agree on anything!

I see the lack of division explained in two ways: One, that humans decided that in order to present themselves to aliens they must become one, under one governing body. Two, that some disaster brought them together under one common cause, and one body controlling the information, studies, and actions regarding this cause was easier than many countries or organizations.

I want to see several human corporations racing each other (yes, like the space race) for money, honor, or to be the face of the human race.

Li rolls its eyes as it scrolls through the news.

"Is a New Government Imminent?", "Riots Against The Human Coalition!", "What is the New Political Trend?"

"NexusTrek Overtaking The Human Coalition's Technology", "NexusTrek: Who Are They Anyways?", and "Exploration and Diplomacy vs. Terraforming and Trade"

No matter how these articles market themselves, as opinion works or informative, the bias is obvious to Li.

Humans had to chose who the face of their race would be to meet with the interstellar community's diplomats.

The Human Coalition would doubtlessly do anything in their power stop NexusTrek. They have stayed in power for far longer than many, including Li, think is right through this method.

Yay!!! Needless conflict, censorship, and damage to our world! We *just* cleaned ourselves up for the interstellar community to see.

It could not understand why, exactly, we felt so caught up in the need to chose one representative. Just because everyone else had one governing body did not mean that they had to have one too. It was just so frustrating how people could not look past their own political views and corruption.

More opportunity would be good for this race.

Maybe more perspectives would protect us from our own greed.

Xe gestured for a keyboard and typed in a search query, "why do aliens have one ruling body?"

The limited information they had access to was still enough to answer its question.

They did not have one. Not all of them. Several had divided themselves based on ideology, but that was millennia ago. Since then, the different ideologies had moved to their own planets and colonies. Some of them evolved separately! To what extent, xe did not know.

Would those few they still appear similar? Would they be a new race now? How did they handle their integration into the intergalactic community? Nothing it could find answered these burning questions.

Xe could only hope that the information she had collected would aide NexusTrek's PR team.

[rigelmejo]

Dreaming Spanish Levels - A good reference in general for progress milestones when studying X hours

I'm about to paste in the entire Levels Guide Dreaming Spanish has on their site, if you make an account and look at their levels. It's on this Progress page, when logged in. A less detailed version of the Levels can be found on the roadmap picture on this public Method page. I want to paste in the detailed levels descriptions, because I want to be able to reference them in my notes generally, when I'm not logged into Dreaming Spanish.

Level 1

Starting from zero.

Hours of input: 0

Known words: 0

Videos to watch: Superbeginner

What you can do: The sounds of the language sound weird to your ears. You can't tell many of those sounds apart from each other. When hearing the language, it’s hard for you to know when one word ends and when the next one begins. Even when you guess what a sentence means, many times you can’t guess at the meaning of the different parts. You can't say any words and be confident that a native speaker would understand you.

What you need to do: Listen A LOT. The listening needs to be very comprehensible. The best materials are classes or videos where the teachers speak in the language, but make it easy to understand by using a lot of drawings, pictures, and gestures. Crosstalk is the most efficient activity that you can do, if you can find speakers of the language. Reading is not recommended until later on, especially if you care about having clear pronunciation. Practicing writing or speaking is not recommended yet.

What you are learning: You mostly learn individual nouns for concrete things: car, nose, elephant. Action verbs: walk, eat, sing. Adjectives for simple emotions and sensations: happy, scared, cold. Adjectives for physical properties: blue, tall, fat, beautiful. Interjections are the clearest words early on: Hey! Wow! Hi! You may learn the numbers early on, but this depends quite a lot on the kind of content you listen to.

Level 2

You know some common words.

Hours of input: 50

Known words: 300

Videos to watch: Beginner

What you can do: You understand some common words, even if you are not 100% sure how to pronounce them. You can now guess the meaning of some 2-word sentences, like "go home", or "eat cake". There are only a few words that you could produce yourself. For many words, you’re still not sure what sounds they’re made of.

What you need to do: Listen A LOT. You are still best served with Crosstalk or classes or videos where the teacher(s) speak in a very comprehensible way. However, with a few words under your belt you are better prepared to make the most of that input. Those words will help you understand the rest of the input you are listening to. Reading not recommended yet.

What you are learning: More verbs, since nouns help you understand them. Still mostly nouns and verbs for concrete things. Many expressions are learned as a chunk. You don’t know what their parts mean yet. Grammar for basic sentence order. Many common function words will remain unclear for a long time.

Level 3

You can follow topics that are adapted for learners.

Hours of input: 150

Known words: 1,500

Videos to watch: Intermediate

What you can do: You can now understand people if they stay within certain topics. They still need to talk to you in a way that's appropriate for you, but you know many words, and you don’t rely exclusively on visual information. You still aren’t completely used to the sounds of the language. You have a good intuition for basic grammar, like sentence order. You can sometimes feel it when other learners make mistakes. It sounds wrong somehow. You can now say quite a few words and that will already be useful when traveling to the country.

What you need to do: Listen A LOT. Now you can listen to videos or classes in which the teacher doesn't use as much visual input, and may even be able to take advantage of really easy audios and podcasts that are catered to learners at your level. Crosstalk is still the best way to spend your time. At this level it becomes easier than before to do crosstalk over the internet using video call software, so you won't need to find native speakers where you live anymore. Reading is still not recommended if you care about your final achievement in pronunciation, but it starts becoming possible to understand lower level graded readers.

What you are learning: Because you are starting to get used to what the language sounds like, and what kinds of sound combinations to expect, you start learning words faster, without needing to hear them so many times. You learn nouns faster and faster. Knowing a decent amount of nouns helps you also learn more adjectives. You start learning more abstract terms for feelings, appearance, and more abstract verbs: to need, to have to, to be good at, etc. You are now getting used to more complicated grammar faster.

Level 4 (purple-blue on the DS site)

You can understand a person speaking to you patiently.

Hours of input: 300

Known words: 3,000

Videos to watch: Intermediate

What you can do: You're at the intermediate level! You can understand a patient native speaker. You still miss some words, but the speaker can explain their meaning to you without resorting to translation. You can understand a range of daily topics without visual support like drawings or pictures. The sounds of the language are becoming clearer now, and you are getting used to how the sounds are likely to be combined. That helps with retaining new words. If you tried speaking at a store, you could get your point across most of the time, but you still struggle producing even some basic words. Making friends in the language is now possible, but you need to find people who are quite patient, because not everybody will want to make that effort. Depending on your tolerance for getting negative reactions, you may want to wait a bit longer before speaking.

What you need to do: Listen A LOT. You can understand videos or classes in which the teacher doesn't use any visual cues, and can now benefit from listening extensively to audios and podcasts for learners everywhere you go, anytime you can. Crosstalk is still the best, most efficient way to improve. You can now make friends with whom you communicate only in the target language. While you will learn a lot when listening to people speak to you, speaking this early will invariably result in hard-to-fix non-native pronunciation, noticeably bad grammar, and poor word usage. If you really want to start having conversations with people it's recommended that you don't try to actively practice grammar or vocabulary, but rather speak in single words or simple sentences that come to mind easily. Reading is still not recommended if you care about your final achievement in pronunciation. By now you could understand slightly more difficult books, but still mostly just graded readers.

What you are learning: Surprisingly, in this phase you learn many common function words that are taught right at the beginning of most language courses. These words are used very frequently, but carry very little meaning. For example: the verb "to be" (or equivalent), prepositions (in, at, on), conjunctions (therefore, so, and), and even some pronouns. Once you become aware of a new word, you’ll encounter it everywhere. At this point you may start feeling that there are many more words that you don't know than words you do know. The exposure to less controlled speech allows you to notice many new words. Don't worry, you'll eventually also acquire those words the same way you acquired all the words you have learned until now. By this point you are full on acquiring all kinds of vocabulary, both concrete and abstract.

Level 5

You can understand native speakers speaking to you normally.

Hours of input: 600

Known words: 5,000

Videos to watch: Intermediate/advanced

What you can do: You can understand people well when they speak directly to you. They won’t need to adapt their speech for you. Understanding a conversation between native speakers is still hard. You’ll almost understand TV programs in the language, because you understand so many of the words, but they are still hard enough to leave you frustrated or bored. Conversation can be tiresome, and if you try to speak you can feel a bit like a child, since it will be hard to express abstract concepts and complex thoughts. You understand most of the words used during daily conversation, but you still can’t use many yourself. If you try to speak the language, it will feel like you are missing many important words. However, you can, often, already speak with the correct intonation patterns of the language, without knowing why, and even make a distinction between similar sounds in the language when you say them out loud.

What you need to do: Listen A LOT. You'll be able to understand more advanced materials for learners. Listen to audios and podcasts daily if you want to learn fast. Crosstalk is still as good as always. You may start feeling you are not getting much out of getting input about daily life topics. Try getting input about new topics. Easier TV programs and cartoons should be accessible too. The purists who want to get really close to a native speaker and get a really good accent may still want to hold off on speaking and reading for a little more, but if you do start speaking and reading it's not a big deal by this point. You'll still end up with better pronunciation and fluency than the vast majority of learners. If you want to start reading, by this point you'll be able to understand books targeted at children of lower grade levels, and you can skip over graded readers. If you start reading, try setting every gadget you own (PC, phone, Google and Facebook settings, etc.) to the target language, and following speakers of the language on social media.

What you are learning: This level can feel frustratingly similar to the previous one. You will still feel that there are many more words that you don't know than words you do know. You'll now feel many more instances of finally understanding that word that you have been hearing since forever. It may feel like these words are infinite, but no! Continue doing what you are doing and you'll little by little fill in all the missing gaps. For some words, you’ll even wonder why you hadn’t learned such a basic word yet. Learning abstract words (democracy, absence, patience) will be your bread and butter, as will be learning more and more grammatical connectors. At this level you’ll mostly finish up the grammar and the different sentence types. While still not being able to make the most complex sentences yourself, you’ll become able to understand almost every type of sentence.

Level 6 (green-blue on the site)

You are comfortable with daily conversation.

Hours of input: 1,000

Known words: 7,000

Videos to watch: Advanced

What you can do: You can really have fun with the language at this point. You are conversationally fluent for daily purposes of living in the country and you can get by at the bank, at the hospital, at the post office, or looking for an apartment to rent. In spite of that odd word that is not quite there when you need it, you can always manage to get your point across in one way or another, and by now you are already making complex longer phrases. At this level, for the first time, you start feeling like you are actually thinking about what you want to say, and not about how you want to say it, even though you may fall back on thinking about how you say things, especially in stressful situations or when feeling self-conscious. Using humor in the language is much easier now. You can understand TV shows about daily life quite well (80 to 90%). Shows about families, friends, etc. Unscripted shows will usually also be easier to understand than scripted shows, as long as they are not too chaotic or rely too much on cultural knowledge. Thrillers and other genres will still be hard.

What you need to do: Listen and read A LOT. It's also a good idea to get massive input in authentic media, be it TV, podcasts, radio, movies, etc. If you can't find a lot of easy media in the target language, you may find that videos and audios for learners are still more efficient for acquiring new vocabulary until you get a bit better. If your target language has many common words with a language you already know you may be able to understand quite well things like TED talks and university lectures. Lots of reading is also recommended if you want to be literate and if you care about reading. You'll still want to read books that are targeted at elementary school children, although maybe you don't need to stick to the lower grades. Nonfiction will often be much easier to understand than fiction. By this point, speaking and reading are completely unrestricted, and it's really encouraged to make friends in the language. If you live in the country, join as many social activities as you can. Live in a shared apartment, go to bars, join dance classes, a sports team, anything! Set your PC, phone, and all your online profiles to your target language. Make a list of daily things you do in your own language, and find alternatives to do them in your target language.

What you are learning: You may find the odd common word that you haven't learned yet, but by now your known vocabulary pretty much covers everything that you will usually want to say during everyday conversation. If you make friends and have real conversations, or watch certain TV shows, you will now be learning a lot of slang. By now, your knowledge will cover most sentence structures and grammatical words, so you will rarely learn these anymore, unless they are specific to certain registers of the language. You will mostly learn specific vocabulary used in formal speech or in writing. Most words that you learn now will be words that are used in more formal registers of speech like in the news, words used in formal writing, literary writing, or technical terms used in the specific fields that you are interested in: politics, technology, science, or 13th century woodblock prints. If your language doesn’t share a lot of its specialized vocabulary with your new language, you may still have to work on this for a long while.

Level 7

You can use the language effectively for all practical purposes.

Hours of input: 1,500

Known words: 12,000+

Videos to watch: Advanced

What you can do: You can understand any general content effortlessly, including newspapers, novels, and all types of TV shows and movies. You might still struggle with technical texts in unfamiliar fields, heavy regional slang, and shows with intricate plots. You speak fluently and effortlessly, without thinking about the language. While native speakers might still detect a slight accent, your clarity and fluidity make your speech easy to understand, and no one considers you a learner anymore. You may still make some mistakes, or miss a specific word here and there, but it doesn’t hinder you from being an effective member of society.

What you need to do: Listen and read A LOT. Add variety to what you read and listen to. By this point it's easy to find media in the target language that you understand very well, but it's also easy to get comfortable and not seek new challenges. If you want to continue improving, simply do things that you have never done before. Try reading a book by a new author, try watching a show about a topic that you're unfamiliar with (about space, about the Middle Ages, about lawyers, etc). If you live in the country, try joining activities that are new to you: a sports team, an improv group, comedy nights, etc.

What you are learning: You will continue learning slang, and learning about the culture, and that will allow you to understand more and more cultural references. You can explore other regional dialects of the language, ancient literary versions of the language, or vocabulary in other technical or scientific fields that you may want to learn about. You will still encounter new idioms and proverbs, but they will almost always be clear from the context. And of course, you can start learning your next language!

[nellygwyn]

girl ignore this ask if it's invasive or anything but i was enjoying gleaning details about your reconnection with The Boy and would love more tidbits if you care to share. it's very nice thing to be romancing and romanced and i do love to hear of it.

It's not invasive!

There's a line from Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' that I keep turning over and over in my head with regards to George (for that is his name! As many know!): 'I'm not a religious person, Marianne, but I do sometimes think God made you for me.' Insert Jane Eyre quote about invisible strings here too, with a tiny dash of Persuasion by Austen. I have known this boy for 11 years. I feel it isn't silly to say I have had a connection, in varying degrees, with this boy for the same amount of time. To be given a second chance at a relationship feels like, genuinely, a miracle. What's even crazier is that, even though we were together the first time around 7 years ago, the connection was still there, for me at least, like...yes, I am re-acquainting myself with him and he with me, but I just feel like I'm revisiting a favourite book I've not read for a little while.

He's so sweet to me, makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world even though I am not (and he must know I'm not tbh sjdisadj). He takes my little hands in his occasionally and kisses them gently, and he puts up with all my little foibles, like the fact I have to be holding his hand at all times and swing it back and forth occasionally. We are relatively long-distance (I say relatively because he's only about 2 hours away from me on the train which, to someone who travels by train all the time, is really inconsequential) so I don't get to see him as often as I would like but we do see each other as often as we can, and I enjoy every little second with him! We are so similar (not EXACTLY the same, but that doesn't matter, I wouldn't want to be the mirror image of my partner) and it makes him v easy to adore. I think he's beautiful, inside and out. He's so smart, he's handsome, he's kind, he's polite, well-dressed, I could listen to him talk about his interests (even when they don't always directly correspond with mine) for hours, he's ambitious, he has promise and potential, and I can see him wowing the country one day, like as a politician (a good, decent one) or something. He wows me very regularly so!!!

I don't wanna like, martyr myself, but I've had a genuinely difficult two years. Don't really wanna go over it all again, but it just feels like I've been surrounded by abuse and disease and death for way too long. Obviously I was pretty ill myself, I did talk about it a bit on here when it was really getting me down. Had a particular chronic reproductive health issue which has only recently been resolved, and it changed my body, it meant that I actually physically could not be intimate, I went from being a sensual person to being a bit touch-repulsed actually (but not bc I found it repulsive, but I genuinely thought I might contaminate or repulse someone else), I didn't even feel like a woman, I felt like a diseased and defective creature...I wanna say it's been difficult to pull myself out of that place but.....it kind of hasn't, because George makes it v easy? I mean, I'm still getting used to the way my body has changed and I genuinely hate myself 99% of the time...HOWEVER....George is gentle, he's attentive, he's genuinely attracted to me (delusional LOL) but he also cares about me as I am, as me, as Olivia. That makes every gesture with him, affectionate, intimate, romantic, sexy, cute, WHATEVER, come so naturally to me. I don't feel ashamed of myself. And.....as much as it pains me to say because I don't think I'm a good person most of the time....I think I deserve to not feel ashamed.

[ryuzakemo128]

Cod Prompt List

Credit for Dividers: @cafekitsune + @strangergraphics

This is a list of prompts for requests, if you have any, here are some prompts you are more than welcome to request.

Characters I will write for:

Simon 'Ghost' Riley

Johnathon Price

John 'Soap' MacTavish

Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick

König

Other (Message me if there is a specific one you want that isn't on this list.)

Genres to pick from:

Angst

Fluff

Smut

Dark Content

Unlisted option, aka if you have a specific one. Let me know.

Female Reader insert Versions to pick from

Career:

MMA fighter

Kick boxer

Gymnast

Artist

Onlyfans Creator

Porn Star

Black Ops Spy

Spec Ops Operator

Close Combat Specialist

Baker

Seamstress

Photographer

Professor

Physicist

other, aka your choice.

Hybrid Animals

Wolf

Coyote

Mountain Lion

Wolverine

Siberian Tiger

Siberian Lynx

Snowy White Owl

Black Cat

Fennec Fox

Pygmy Owl

Crow

Raven

Rook

Folklore Based:

Nogitsune

Oni

Inari - Light Kitsune, basically the opposite of the Nogitsune.

Fire Giant or Frost Giant aka Jötnar.

Siren

Harpy

Fae

Dark Fae

Demigod

Mermaid

Wyvern

Werewolf

Vampire

Succubus

Other aka unlisted

Nationality Based: (Listed by country)

France

Norway

England

Australia

America

Russia

Italy

Germany

Iceland

Austria

Greece

Other/ unlisted

Based on Code Name:

Boomer

Grim Reaper

The Iron Maiden

Gorgon

Rook

Crow

Pearl

Opal

Sapphire

Emerald

Ruby

Diamond

Whiskers

Jade

Onyx

Sentence Prompts

Like the sun's eclipse, nothing seemed to be terribly impossible or out of reach.

A rose of endless thorns amongst those who cannot hope to keep up with you.

Everything has a cure, except for death.

A lie to justify yourself into thinking you were doing the right thing.

You should have known better than to ask a question you weren't ready to hear the answer to.

What else were you supposed to do? Let him kill you?

You can't lie. You're too selfless to lie.

There is a sickness inside his soul. Just like there was a sickness inside yours.

Why would you care about his size? Sex is just that sex, kinks are just kinks, and trying to complicate the matter won't help anyone.

You don't care about the repercussions. You saved his life because you wanted to.

Don't bother. He won't notice you either way.

There is his truth, your truth and the all encompassing truth.

There is no such thing as failure.

Death and life come to us hand in hand.

No one wants a goth girl with all these blondes around.

To be a goth amongst the pastel colours.

If it bleeds. You can kill it.

Dialogue Prompts

"Push me, and you will find out the extent of my audacity."

"I would sooner die than be stuck with someone who will only 'tolerate' my existence. Move aside, or I will be forced to what I must to move you."

"You can't hope to do the things I need to do. Save your breath and go back to what you do best."

"Do not question my mental state, and I won't question yours. I will push past this with or without your approval."

"I have no intention of staying around people who don't want me."

"No means no. Not maybe, and it certainly doesn't give you permission to blackmail me with it either."

"I hope karma finds a way to fuck you over like you did to so many other women in your life."

"See? This is why I'm filing for divorce."

"You are never in the mood. Ever. It's like you would rather be a deadbeat father and a cheating whore."

"Men can and will always be called whores. Whore behaviour knows no gender."

"I bought a 30kg cheese wheel. I'm keeping it to myself. Everyone else can fuck off."

"Great job genius, you fucked it up."

"I have no intention of telling any of you anything."

"You and I are nothing alike."

Song Lyric Prompts

“Waiting for me to free him by coming home” – ‘Jimmy’ by Tool

“Opening me within a gesture” – ‘Jimmy’ by Tool

“You were the voice calling me back home” – ‘Jimmy’ by Tool

“I'm your nightmare while you're fast asleep” – ‘Bad Things’ by Summer Kennedy

“You won’t see it coming” – ‘Bad Things’ by Summer Kennedy

“My heart is painted black, I’m never going back.” – ‘Bad Things’ by Summer Kennedy

“I know that you like my style, I look like this on purpose” – ‘Bad Things’ by Summer Kennedy

“I'm carrying my heart but it's made of stone. I'm carrying my heart but my heart is made of stone.” – ‘Made of Stone’ by Matt Corby

“Run from me darlin’. Run my good wife. Run from me darlin’. You better run for your life. Run from me baby. Run my good wife.” – ‘Run from Me’ by Timber Timbre

“Its killing time” – ‘Let me live/ Let me die’ by Des Rocs

“Oh my, give me the night. Just give me the night and I’ll give you the truth” – ‘Give me the night’ by Des Rocs

“Are you so damn unforgettable, so damn impossible to leave?” – ‘Give me the night’ by Des Rocs

“I don't care if it hurts. I wanna have control. I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul. I want you to notice. When I'm not around. You're so fuckin' special. I wish I was special.” – ‘Creep’ by Radiohead

“Your beauty never scared me.” – ‘Mary on a cross’ by Ghost

“I hate you for what you did and I miss you like a little kid” – Motion sickness

“I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror” – Anti-Hero

[stillwintering]

All's Fair in Love and Politics (a modern Nessian AU - where Rhys is running for president)

Summary: A modern AU set in the throes of a political campaign. Rhys is running for president. Feyre asks her estranged sister Nesta to join the campaign team. Nesta couldn't turn down a front-row seat to one of the most compelling political stories of the year: a promising upstart with a dream, running a long-shot campaign for president. Little does she know that she's going to have to work closely with Cassian, one of Rhys' top deputies, who infuriates her to no end.

Of course, Nesta and Cassian fall for each other despite themselves. There is drama and politics and idiots in love.

(Nessian focused but lots of Feysand to keep things interesting.)

Read on AO3

Chapter 1

Nesta took a moment to consider the job offer.

"Well?" Feyre asked, her eyes hopeful. "What are you thinking?"

Nesta knew she couldn't refuse. It was a golden opportunity, too good to pass up. She weighed the pros and cons in her head. Joining the campaign would mean she worked for Rhys and Feyre. Nesta loved her sister, but their relationship had been strained since their father passed. Nesta hasn't been an active part of Feyre's life for years. She didn't know how to relate to Feyre as her sister, let alone as her boss. A wave of guilt hits her.

"I don't know," Nesta finally offered. "I'm flattered Rhys wants me as his communications director."

"But?" Feyre prompted.

Nesta picked up the porcelain cup and saucer in front of her, swirling her tea around. Professionally, this was the best offer she had in years. But personally, it was a minefield. She had never taken a liking to her brother-in-law. Rhys had been born with a silver spoon, practically political royalty -- too privileged, too arrogant. They tolerated each other, at best. She's not sure how well he will take it when she has to challenge him in order to do her job as his campaign's communication director. She wasn't going to be another Washington sycophant.

"Feyre, I --"

"We -- I need someone I trust on the campaign," Feyre offered. She chewed her lower lip. "Nesta, please. I don't think we can do this without you."

Nesta hesitated. "I'm just not sure if we should," she gestured between them, "make things more complicated."

"Nesta, I haven't seen you for 2 years," Feyre said softly. "I know things aren't... great between us. But we both know you are the right person -- the best person for this job. Why do you find it so hard to believe that I trust you?"

Nesta winced. She looked at her little sister, once so small and doe-eyed, now radiating power. She nodded, back straightening, and looked away.

"When do you need me to start?"

---

Rhysand Starborn was running for president. He is entering the race as the long-shot candidate: a young 3-term congressman, still green. But the Starborn name held sway. Rhys had grown up part of a political dynasty: 2 senators, 3 governors, and at least 2 Secretaries of State. Rhys' father had served over 30 years in the Senate and had been one of the most influential power brokers on Capitol Hill.

Rhys had fought against his family's expectations all his life. His father, while beloved by the public, had been a cruel man in private. Rhys understood, better than most, the price politics exacted on one's soul and saw firsthand how his own father traded his decency for power.

His father died many years ago, from a long illness that he hid from his constituents until the end. Never show any weakness -- that was one of his father's lessons. Rhys had been a disappointment, too soft, showed too much weakness. His father died full of disdain for his only son.

"For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy," Rhys can still hear his father say. "There is but one rule: hunt or be hunted."

Rhys was running for president. Because he has a dream for the country. Because his father's ghost still weighed on him. Because Rhys wanted to be a better man, a better husband, a better father. But not because of power, never just for power. Rhys tells himself.

---

It took Nesta two weeks to find an apartment in Washington DC, a small one-bedroom in a renovated Art Deco building. The move was easy enough. Nesta had never put down roots, opting to live wherever the story she was writing was going to take her.

Nesta worked as a writer, reporter, and political commentator. Her writing was witty and sharp -- always discerning. She had a way of reading people, seeing through everyone's masks and lies. She can spend 10 minutes with someone in a room and know exactly what made them tick, and what buttons to push. It was a skill that was both a blessing and a liability.

Last year, Nesta wrote a searing profile of the British Prime Minister for The Economist that was credited for torpedoing his re-election campaign. She had spent a week shadowing and interviewing him and by the end, saw him exactly for the power-hungry viper he was. She had made a name for herself as a political truth-teller, always holding power to account. Nesta was really good at her job.

Her years of reporting on and writing about politics have made her cynical of politicians. In journalism school, everyone has been taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Nesta believed that when she first started out, at her first reporting job, but after all these years, she doesn't believe it's always true anymore. Power doesn't always corrupt. Power can cleanse.

Now, what Nesta believes is always true about power is that power reveals.

Nesta waits by the door of Starborn's congressional office. It was her first day on the Starborn campaign. She was eager to find out what power would finally reveal about Rhysand.

---

Feyre's face lit up when she spied Nesta by the door.

"Let me introduce you to the team!" Feyre gestured for her to come inside.

The office was bigger than Nesta expected. Most junior congressmen were relegated to the cramped basement offices of the House office buildings along Independence Avenue. Space was always scarce on Capitol Hill. The size and location of Rhys' office indicated that he had some influence in the House, no doubt helped by his family connections.

Nesta surveyed the front room, which had several rows of desks for the half dozen staffers buzzing about -- no windows. In the back, a pair of French doors open to a decent-sized office with an imposing desk in front of a tall window. Several people stood around Rhys, leaning against his desk, sitting by the chairs flanked on either side. They were deep in conversation when she stepped inside.

Rhys stood up from his seat behind the desk to greet her. "Nesta," he held out his hand to shake hers. "It's good to see you again. Thank you for joining us."

Nesta took his hand and noted the firm squeeze he gave her. "Rhys," she said, pointedly not returning the welcoming smile he flashed her.

Rhys was devastatingly handsome: striking violet eyes and a face that was not easily forgotten. He had an effortless grace about him -- something Nesta knew took other politicians years on the campaign trail to hone and perfect -- but Rhys welded his charm like it was second nature. It put Nesta on edge, made her apprehensive.

If Rhys noticed Nesta's wariness in his presence, he didn't let it show. He turned to a beautiful petite woman standing next to him and said, "This is Amren, my campaign manager."

Amren gave Nesta a perfunctory handshake, her sleek black bob swayed with her movements. Her eyes were silver and cold. Nesta liked Amren immediately.

The two men sitting in the pair of chairs flanking Rhys' desk both stood. Nesta was startled by their height and size as they rose. They must both be over 6'2", all rippling muscles underneath their suits. They looked more like bodyguards than political operatives.

"Azriel," the man on the right introduced himself, extending his hand. He was classically beautiful: sharp jawlines and high cheekbones. If she didn't know better, Nesta would have guessed that he was a runway model for Paris Fashion Week.

"Nesta," she introduced herself again and took his hand. She tried to not react to the long deep scars that she felt and saw across his hands, up his forearms, and disappearing beneath his shirtsleeve. She knew those scars had a story to tell.

"Nesta Archeron," the second man addressed her, a smirk in his voice. "The Prime Minister slayer."

Nesta stiffened and met his gaze. A pair of golden hazel eyes held her. His hand slipped around hers, firm and warm. Nesta's breath caught.

"This is Cassian," Feyre cut in. She rolled her eyes at him.

His eyes seemed to pin Nesta in her place. "I'm a big fan. The hit piece you wrote about the President's last Supreme Court nominee was brilliant. I can't believe you got a hold of his tax returns."

Hit piece! Nesta's temper flared. She pulled her hand away. "He was corrupt," her voice was clipped.

Cassian chuckled -- it was a warm, affectionate sound. "Rhys, you got to look out for this one," he said, turning towards the desk.

Nesta had rarely ever been rendered speechless. When he looked back at her again with those golden hazel eyes, she met them boldly and assessed him.

There was something entirely wild, but still very handsome about Cassian. His features were more rugged, weather-worn, like the north face of a mountain -- a scar notched one of his eyebrows, his skin golden brown. He had long dark hair that he had pulled into a knot, almost bordering on inappropriate for otherwise stuffy and conservative Capitol Hill fashion. Something about Cassian both thrilled and disturbed her.

"Welcome to the Starborn presidential campaign," Feyre said, wrapping up their introductions. Her voice pulled Nesta's attention away from Cassian.

"Feyre, darling," Rhys turned towards her, his eyes softening. "Are you sure you want to do this? This is the last exit before our lives change forever."

Feyre entwined their fingers together, giving her husband a reassuring squeeze. "Yes, darling. I am sure."

Amren smiled, taking her cue to begin, and then nodded toward Nesta. "Tell me, girl, what do you know about the Iowa caucuses?"