#'then she changes career paths and is no longer a woman'

[absolxguardian]

My new interpretation for "what about female space marines" is that we actually have the cause and effect backwards. Becoming a space marine makes you a man in the Imperium. Same for the Adeptus Sororitas. For the Astartes, this is actually kind of literal, as the process is masculinizing (if something says steroids they mean testerone). While there are some Sororitas who have to shave every morning to meet appearance standards, the breast plates on their armor are even more purely aesthetic, and they sing baritone in choirs praising the empire with their sisters. It's the result of a distant cultural memory of trans people combined with the Imperium's lack of personal freedom. One's actual gender identity is completely irrelevant, so this gender reassignment could be liberating or oppressive.

[leoascendente]

PAC/ Intuitive messages IV 🔮

Hi my loves and welcome to this new PAC! This time we have the fourth edition of intuitive messages. As always, take a moment to check what pile calls you the most, you could have messages in more than one too. Take only what resonates and leave the rest 🩷

* Don't make life decitions based on a general reading online, use your discernment. Minors dni 🔞

For private readings click here

My blog in spanish here

All pics are from pinterest, credits to their owners

Pile 1/pile 2/pile 3

Pile 1:

🫧 You need to focus on your career and long term goals, things are changing and you need to be ready

🫧 There's a blonde woman around your age you must be careful of, she could be in your same work enviroment or friend group

🫧 An unexpected amount of money is going to land in your lap as a work of magic, buy yourself something you enjoy as a sing of gratitude

🫧 You have a lot of sexual energy, keep it healthy and for singles, use it wisely to manifest your true love

🫧 There's a secret admirer that is planning to approach you with a nice surprise, be open to receive

🫧 Don't worry about those who don't wish you well, you are protected and they are being watched by karma

🫧 A commitment is about to happen, it could be in love or in career, so take it as resonates but I feel it's more related to love and romance

🫧 You'll be more in tune with your spiritual nature, you'll understand better the signs from your guides in your daily life

🫧 Some complications could appear, keep grounded and trust that you are being guided, you'll overcome every obstacle with grace and divine protection

🫧 Your guides will communicate through numbers 1222 or 1212 to tell you that everything is going in your favor, foxes and the scent of flowers will be signs too. Angelic beings are very present in your life, you'll see references to them very often, especially cherubims

Pile 2

🎀 Mercury retrograde will be an amazing time for you, it will bring you unexpected good luck. Check your Mercury's natal placement to know what areas will be impacted positively

🎀 I see a trip or vacations of some kind, maybe it's just having more free time to relax and invest in yourself. It could also mean that something special will happen during the holidays

🎀 Money will be entering your life, if you were scared of not being able to pay debts just know that you'll receive the money you need

🎀 You'll get invited to a night out with friends or a celebration, accept that offer because you'll have an amazing time

🎀 A massive change is about to happen in your life, I think you can sense it too. Rest as much as you can and do things that keep you grounded

🎀 Good things will be happening as a Dharma for something good you did in the past, it's a reward from Universe

🎀 You could loose an important object but it will be a sign that you have overcome a major challenge and the worst is left behind

🎀 You'll receive a major piece of advice from an older woman, for some I see a passed loved one communicating through dreams

🎀 Change your daily routines, there's something about it that no longer works for you and needs to be reorganized. Also, rest more often, your health needs it

🎀 Your guides are showing me grapes, it could be a sign to eat them more often or a sign of material abundance. Dolphins will be signs of upcoming luck and sharks a sign of divine protection. For some I'm hearing to develop your connection with the sea or the water element

Pile 3:

💖 Love is in the air for you my dear! Get ready because you are about to enter into the relationship of your dreams

💖 All your problems are going to get solved, don't stress that much. Your guides announce a triumph over troubles so there's no need to worry

💖 You are on the right path, stop doubting yourself honey, you really need to work on self sabotage or negative thinking

💖 You are about to get invited to a very romantic date, someone is really in love with you and wants to show it 🤭

💖 You'll be getting extra money, your guides are telling you to don't hold too tight to it and simply use it with gratitude. You could have some messages in pile 1 too

💖 There's an spiritual lesson you'll be learning that will feel like a hug to your soul, something you've experienced is going to make sense after receiving this info

💖 Someone with prominent Sagittarius placement will be a benevolent force in your life. I'm also hearing something about the house sagitarius is in your natal chart too, it could be an area of luck

💖 Don't resist change, simply embrace it and remember that it is happening for you to achieve your greatest outcome

💖 Do things your own way, don't force yourself to fit into a label you don't resonate with. Also, doing things different doesnt mean being making them wrong, you are on your own path

💖 Your guides really want you to focus on your confidence and inner power because you have more than you what to acknowledge. Lions and elephants are your animals, 777 your sign that your manifestations are becoming real and you'll see rainbows as a sign of joy and love

[itsrensfairygardenn]

ᝰ.ᐟ tashi duncan x her controversially young gf

‘cause I love it when my name slips out your mouth / love it when your eyes caress my body / right before you lace your kisses on me

tashi duncan has her life perfectly organized — her routine works like clockwork, schedules are always set weeks in advance; she can easily afford to stay home all year long, living off the enormous amount of money in her bank account and still earn even more without much efforts — because she is tashi duncan, and she’s worked her ass off through her entire career to be who she is now. she’s a living legend, household name in tennis, and her life didn’t become less busy even after her retirement; tashi is always either training to keep herself in shape, or working with her young athletes, that tremble as a bunch of leaves when she looks at them with that famous unimpressed look on her face.

she didn’t need romantic love, because in all honestly, it was the only thing she couldn’t afford; because it’s seemed uncontrollable, intense and untamable, like a wildfire that could destroy her perfect little world. how ironic — she built her kingdom only to treat it like a paper castle.

but when she met you, all her assumptions and concerns turned out to be wrong, because how could you, a little creature, ruin her life? the only thing that you’ve ever ruined was your sleep schedule (she started working on it as soon as you moved in her apartment)

as it often happens, your paths crossed by fortunate accident — as a young journalism student, you found yourself at some random tennis event with your fellow students only for the sake of getting some experience, maybe even finding useful contacts. but everything turned into a mess, and you found yourself being enamored with the view of this insanely hot woman talking about tennis for hours… these hours were absolutely worth the moment of approaching her to compliment her with a tiny sheepish smile on your lips. well, she got enamored by you too.

there is a stereotype that it’s hard to be on the same page with younger people, both because of generational differences, varying viewpoints and, of course, pace of living — good thing that it wasn’t your case. if anything, you’re the one who can’t keep up with tashi’s ‘busy woman’ lifestyle. it has never been a problem, though. you always help her to slow down, to take her time to calm herself down, to take proper rest; tashi, in turn, helps you to organize your life, to live healthier and always be able to keep up with your studies and social life.

you’ve changed each other in the best sense, but of course, some things stay the same — she’s a morning person, and you’re a terrible sleepyhead.

tashi wasn’t surprised when on her way home, driving through the lively streets of the city in its whole morning glory, after a productive gym workout, nail appointment and a small coffee break, she saw her phone screen lit up with a notification — of course you’d just woken up and noticed that she still hadn’t come back.

where’re u :(

you always make her smile when you text her immediately after waking up without her by your side — you can’t function properly without taking your sweet time to kiss her shoulder, neck or cheeks, sleepily reaching for any kind of physical touch. god, she loves you so much; you’re the only thing in this world that can make her be tempted to cancel her plans for the sake of sleeping longer.

as soon as tashi stopped at a stoplight, she grabbed her phone from the dashboard to text you back.

on my way home babe

got you breakfast

and you answered almost immediately

:)

your shared apartment is quiet when tashi enters, soundlessly closing the door behind her — she isn’t even sure that you haven’t fallen asleep again, waiting for her to come back. but once she steps in the bathroom to leave her sportswear in the laundry basket, she notices water droplets on the bottom of the bathtub, paired with the faint scent of your body wash lingering in the air and, of course, wet footprints on the tile, leading straight to the bedroom — she rolls her eyes at this sight.

she catches you in the act, laying in the white swirl of sheets in your unmade bed — you are fresh out of shower, with your wet hair sticking to the smooth expanse of your bare back; she left a lingering kiss there before leaving you in the morning, but now you’ve washed it off, and tashi only wanted to leave even more of these feather-like touches on your skin — to leave faint lipgloss marks on your skin and tickle your sides, only to hear your laughing. you put your book aside, leaving it open on the pillow, and immediately looks at tashi’s figure in the doorway — you’re the sweetest thing she’ve ever seen, still sleepy even after taking shower.

“what has taken you so long?” you murmur, turning over to your side to stretch your arm with a quiet, soundless yawn.

stepping closer to the bed, she holds her hand out to you, showing her freshly done manicure — there’s nothing new, and you can swear that she’s wearing the same nail color for the last ten years — but you still hum in a silent approval, jokingly kissing her hand; just barely touching her knuckles with your soft lips.

“how was your sleep?” tashi asks through a soft chuckle, briefly caressing your smooth cheek with the back of her hand; and you immediately lean into this touch, as if you’re starving for the warmth of her body.

“it would be better if you were here with me,” you are dramatic over her absence, every single day; she has to peel herself off your warm, pliable body, because despite being too deep in love with each other, you still have things to do — you have your morning classes, and she has her own responsibilities.

but today you have no classes, and tashi’s determined to spend the rest of the day with you; even if it means that she will stay in bed, doing nothing for hours.

she leans forward, pressing her knee against the edge of the mattress, and her hand finds its natural place on the small of your back — soon enough her fingers slip under the blanket, caressing the backs of your thighs, so soft to hold, to squeeze and rub with her thumb. tashi trails loving kisses along the length of your back, inhaling the sweet scent of salted caramel on your skin — you look, smell and feel like the sweetest pastry.

“i’m here now, aren’t i?” she whispers against your skin, and you’re on the verge of purring like a well-fed cat. her hands move higher to massage your sides, sliding to your ribs to make you shiver and giggling, because it tickles, and because she’s already kissing your shoulder blades; you think that she’s smiling right now, and you’re so right about it.

you roll over on your back, letting her settle in between your legs to lay on top of you; she wraps her arms around your waist, finally kissing your flushed cheeks, leaving sweet kisses on your lips and quietly teasing you, because you never wear your pajamas, and you’re so drowsy right now — you’ll have to shut her up with your tongue caressing her glossy lips.

soon enough, you’ll forget about your breakfast and it’ll go completely cold — but it doesn’t matter, right? tashi will give you better things to taste.

please don’t take it too seriously, because i’m literally half asleep now, but i have a Bad craving for tashi duncan 🙏🏻 sorry for possible mistakes because my eyes are already closed !

also give the biggest thanks to @diyasgarden for being my partner in crime 🐈🐈‍⬛

[they-breasted-boobily]

Ways the plot of tua s4 could have been improved while including a lot of the same storyline:

It goes without saying that a 6 episode season was too rushed for even the shitty plot we got given, but I'll mention that these ideas would have worked better for an 8-10 episode season. Or maybe you could use them for fics or comics- I'd love to see them!

1. The careers and new lives of non-powered umbrellas: While Lila, Klaus, and Viktor had decent set-ups, the others seemed out of place. Diego's personality and desire to be a hero would have been better suited to a mall cop or traffic cop, where he feels undervalued and underutilised, rather than just beaten down as a delivery driver for jokes about peeing in a bottle. Luther only mentioned Sloane a couple of times in the entire series- with more than 6 episodes, it could have been possible to give flashbacks of him trying to get back to her, but her not recognising him and not being romantically interested. Not sure what changes could be made to his job or housing though. Allison's setup was mostly fine, but we really should have been given an explanation for why Raymond left- maybe lean into the horror of being taken from your time and timeline raising a daughter you suddenly have? Five would not work for the CIA except as a double-agent, either that or he would be retired as a fishing supplies store owner. Ben is his own whole point later in this post.

2. The marigold sake shots: I feel like this plot point added to Ben just being an asshole and scapegoat for the entire season, which could benefit from major changes. If left relatively unchanged, the fact that Klaus threw it over his shoulder could have led to greater implications if it landed on an unknown person behind them and gave them powers. This person could have been the subject of an episode or two as they were tracked down when it was necessary.

3. Ben's character: While s3 Sparrow Ben was a dick, he was not as edgy, conceited, or self-absorbed as he was in s4. I think it's fine to start his arc with him leaving prison, but making the crime as major as crypto fraud (just because you think it's funny) makes it much more difficult for him to seem likeable and relateable to Jessica or anyone else. If the crime was something more minor, or he was framed/unfairly jailed it could set up a revenge/redemption arc from the get-go. With his relationship with Jessica, it would have benefited from being more of a slow burn, or if the gradual unnatural obsession had more than 6 episodes to build up.

4. The subway romance: While I can almost understand why it was Five and Lila due to their history working together and especially using time travel together, I think if Five needed a romance (which I don't but show writers can't stand having one member of the main cast never being in a relationship), it should have been someone he met while on that 7 year subway adventure (probably an older woman) and settled with in Strawberry Tradwife timeline while Lila keeps looking for a way out for the sake of her children. Lila would find the journal a few months later and using both it and the subway map, get back to Five because she still needs his powers to get entirely out of the subway system. Could you imagine a scene with Lila trying to convince Five to leave the peaceful Strawberry Tradwife life he's always wanted after dealing with the trauma of being stuck in time twice?

5. Klaus's return to addiction: I think Klaus's arc could have definitely benefited from the season being longer. If there was a slower burn towards his addiction returning and his confrontation with Claire and if she stressed more that he didn't need to go down this path again, it could have really been impactful. The ghost sex trafficking thing was gross but if that was the only way to get him buried alive then so be it, because having him in a situation where he would have to directly face his trauma from the mausoleum and become stronger would be so good for the sendoff of his character. Maybe that could have been the point where he learned how to levitate?

6. Reginald and false memories: Why was the fact that he's literally not human and crafted this timeline so he could have as much power as possible (including a militia town) not explored at all? The plot should have revolved a lot more around at least verifying what he was saying about marigold and durango, if not about handing him a final defeat for this final season. Everything around him killing Ben led to huge plot holes (why wouldn't Klaus know the truth from Ben's ghost? Ben easily could have been spared and only Jessica shot. Why was Jessica being in a squid never explained?). While it's interesting to see the Umbrellas all give a brainwashed explanation for Ben's death, it couldn't be something as blatant as that, because Klaus would have to know even if everyone else was brainwashed. The brainwashing is an idea with promise, but it should have been something like Ben and Jessica being consumed by the giant squid together because Ben went against orders.

What other things could have been changed? I personally liked the CIA subplot, especially as it taught Diego to appreciate his family more. I also found Jean and Gene and the Cleanse conspiracy theorists to be fun new mini-villains.

[jmagnabo92]

Matlock Finale

Spoilers below

LOL at Olympia's face at the murder board.

She's right - it his circumstantial.

You have to understand here, Maddie!

OMFG she doesn't need to be reminded of the shit you pulled.

Maddie making demands as if she's not the conwoman.

Oh shit, is Senior onto something...

OHHHH SURPRISE! SHE WON!

I'm glad Sarah broke up Kira ...

She wants to tell Simone that Billy wants casual.

LOL "so we could only meet in the closet"

The board pressed Senior to fire her and instead she ... got partner????

"I hadn't heard some of those words before"

"Colorful language"

Shit - you now have a STAKE IN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT JM. Oh shit. He has to know SOMETHING. He's trying to trap her I know it!

OMFG a murder!

Sarah relying on Billy to check on the situation and check her work.

This is so awkward.

Awwww Julian. Finding out that way.

Olympia seeing Maddie spying. - She's like WTF.

OMFG this phone call.

This LETTER IS TERRIFYING. And Evidence.

OH SHIT.

Sarah's in trouble. Overeager and stupid.

Oh Shit, Maddie is feeling guilty that she might have put Sarah on this path.

LOL "you're stuck!"

Oh Sarah is not ready for this.

Olympia is PISSED. AHHHHHH.

Awwwww Sarah is hurting bad.

OOOOh Billy's in trouble too.

"My inner thoughts are no longer your privileged."

Oh shit, Maddie you are not helping your case with Olympia.

Awwww Olympia doing this... </3

Omg Julian! <3. This poor man. He's choking.

She did have choices.

Maddie taking low ball shots - how are they going to do a second season when she's burning their relationship to the ground?

Oh Maddie doesn't expect forgiveness???

It's not the health, Maddie. You could go to jail.

Oh that's mean.

OHHHHH Maddie isn't ready to leave NY.

He's making a list of things to do!

She totally wants to keep working. She missed being a lawyer.

Awwww. She definitely missed out on things because of Greg, and she's enjoying it.

OMG Claudia is calling him?

OMFG they've been HOOKING UP???

Hot Billy Summer. <3

Burst Appendix??? Not a head wound.

OH SHIT. The Punch caused the appendix. Jesus.

Olympia's side eye. "What a betrayal."

I really wanna read this letter now.

Ooooohhhh She likes Olympia more than Julian. So does Senior. Poor Julian.

OOOOOHHH Julian </3

Senior is such a terrible father.

This woman doesn't know anything.

"Going to Maddie matlock my way out of it"

MUTUALLY ASSURED DISTRUCTION

Taking the kids to Narnia.

I don't think she's ACTUALLY on their side - she just wants the truth.

This song - as Maddie takes her murder board down.

Awww MONTAGE.

Okay - this is an ending type episode, why did they renew it? I have a feeling that something's going to change. And it might ruin things a bit.

Also, there's still like 50 minutes - this is weird timing.

They're over here trying to make me cry.

OOOh Go Sarah!

I love the tieback to Greg and it affecting her and her career.

Awww <3 she wants to keep working and Edwin isn't supportive.

Yes! Maddie, I love you standing up for yourself!

Damn it, Edwin - If I say no????

Jesus, Sarah!

Awwww LOVE YOU, BILLY <3.

That was the nicest yelling ever.

OMFG her TEETH!!!!!

Such an awkwardly funny moment.

SHAME DRAWER???? LOL

Maddie is like why is Sarah not talking.

One last lie??? the Housing case. Maddie feeling bad </3

OOOOOHhhhhhh Olympia trying to be supportive to Sarah. Giving her support.

LOL the reaction to the TOOTH - DONT SMILE YOU LOOK INSANE - that's so funny :)

Together we can get through anything.

Ohhhhhhh, Julian coming in and seeing that. He's suspicious.

LOVE Olympia's purple suit and lipstick. <3

And the tooth is fixed!

LOL Do not do that!

Sarah's opening making Olympia thinking about her and Maddie, clearly.

Oh shit - Maddie is like suspicious of Olympia. Olympia's not done anything to Maddie to not be trusted.

Ahhhh this is great.

ANOTHER COMMERCIAL. GOD.

This weirdness with the elevator was confusing.

OH my god, Olympia learning tricks of the trade.

Oh shit 10 bucks says it's Edwin.

And it is!

Bank Fraud. Oh, Olympia.

JULIAN DIDN"T DO IT!

I KNEW IT! The Relief she feels <3. it's so good.

Awwwww the wife and the dude making up. And the ADA dismissed the charges! Love it <3

Safety Deposit Box!

OMFG - it's going to be the document, right????

Oh shit that look in Olympia's eyes.

Sarah Wins!!! and gets the big cheer.

Simone being slightly evil. Claudia showing up - she's going to be pregnant. Just know it.

Called it! Holy Fuck.

Ouch that she says it after his big speech about how they need to be out of each other's lives!

ITS THE DOCUMENT!!!

OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT.

JULIAN!!!!

Edwin giving her crap about trusting Olympia.

OOOOH, Julian... he fucking did it.

Julian's right - Senior would never give him a chance.

Ooooohhhh, he overhears something from Shea, tells Senior, and made Julian took it.

OMFG

Edwin/Matty vs Julian/Olympia

Awwwww Julian is right - he's not the same person! AHHHHHHH. this hurts so much.

Oh shit what did Alfie do? Oh shit is this Alfie's father?????

OMFG it is!!!

AHHHHHHHHH.

CLIFFHANGER CLIFFHANGER CLIFFHANGER.

JESUS Christ. I hate cliffhangers.

Intense episode.

[ilikesaladforks]

i just saw on yt, pokémon masters’ story between Grusha and Malva and now I got an image of Rika going into protective girlfriend mode and possibly decking her across the face.

i think rika would fume because malva stepped on the exact thing that rika herself had been so careful all along to tiptoe around that grusha was clearly sore about

ok ok so assuming the anime didn't exist at this so we only had scarvio and mastersex lore to go off of:

we don't know exactly when grusha went pro, how long he'd spent on snowboarding (presumably he spent a long time on it), when he oopsy daisied his way into retirement, how long of a break he took between the injury and his subsequent parlay into battling or how long he'd been a gym leader by the time of the story, except for the fact that he's definitely an adult by the story's events/by the time he started being a gym leader

as geeta's assistant rika most probably has high enough clearance with regards to who geeta intended to scout for the gym challenge and who is applying for jobs and whatnot. even if she's not the hr person, she at least keeps tabs on goings ons at bare minimum. probably.

i like to think that rika was careful about the way she approached grusha. light prods here and there, but never touching on anything too personal, but they both know that she knew enough about his past and why he's here and a lot of it goes unsaid. she keeps a respectful distance because she could tell that he still hasn't fully come to terms with his new path. he wants to snowboard, but he no longer can. he's a gym leader as a means to an end. he wanted to get strong so that geeta doesn't have a reason to kick him out

and then some pesky little kid wiped the floor with him twice and he was fuming and got his act together. instead of thinking about whether geeta will make him jobless for not beating a kid, he's sore because he wanted to win just for himself. now he's motivated to get better because there's a goalpost up ahead that he wants to reach for himself. i think it's also interesting to think about how this was probably the same flame that he had burning as a snowboarder - he was 2nd best in the world, he was so high, but he wasn't high enough, he had a goal to reach and he was young and full of himself and rash and oops there goes his leggy

so even as he decides to make the most out of his new career that he is gonna dedicate himself to, there's still an inkling of yearning for the slopes on the inside that continues to burn - and this rando from god knows where saw it and call him out on it. is he here because he didn't want to? what exactly does he really want now? even in blueberry, he finally got on a snowboard again and did hit the slopes for the first time in almost forever since his incident. it never completely died out, and that's why it was a smouldering flame. grusha has tried to extinguish it by changing career paths, retiring from the sport and swearing (until blueberry) to never snowboard again. it's quite a hard turn and a determined one at that for him, yet he couldn't help himself when he saw the cetoddles having fun in the polar biome. he loves it and he still does!

rika probably can see that too, but chooses to respect his decision not to reawaken that passion. yet this woman from kalos who barely knew any of them just walks right up to him and says it to his face!!!! after she'd spent years shutting herself up to not rip open any raw wounds!!!!! rika's not just furious, she's salty and jealous!!!!

and after the encounter she's sulking for way longer than usual

but also this got me thinking about that story and about grusha's attitude towards uh. things. because it's just so interesting!!!!

now that we found out from the anime that grusha actually is still able to snowboard but chose not to post injury, there must be more than 1 person like the snowboard dude who thinks it's a shame that grusha no longer boards the snow. with a fixation on results, i think grusha has a view that he cannot do something if he cannot perform it to the highest possible level. so like snowboarding, post injury he retired because he could no longer board like he used to. whatever the doctor told him, whether he will never board the same like he used to, whether he will be back as fit as ever with some rehab, whatever it was, it wasn't enough to convince grusha to pick it up again. he went on to battle and was able to get good at it, so maybe that's why it became a viable career path in his eyes. i'm not even trying to paint grusha as some egotistical maniac who only wants to be the very best that no one ever was, but it seems to me that he puts a lot of value in the ability to perform, so much so that if he ever loses that potential and is unable to perform to the same standard he held himself to, he feels that he has to give it up even though he loves it

perhaps when malva said that she could see his smouldering flame for snowboarding, she was echoing the opinions of the masses (i don't even know this character so i won't say whether it fits her or not, this is just my thoughts on what her actions mean) who lament the fact that grusha, in his prime, retired after an injury. now i'm not gonna be the judge of how traumatising or debilitating an injury is to an athlete. i'm just a crazy fandom person who writes crazy fanfics from time to time and i absolutely am not sporty myself. but what malva was seeing is grusha struggling with the decision he consciously made (with his rational mind i guess?) to retire from the sport he enjoyed because he could no longer perform as well as he could. what was the point if he was no longer able to reach the peaks he was once able to?

with his conversation with malva, grusha was forced to confront this flame that he could never douse entirely and face the question of what he truly wanted to do moving forward. there isn't a right answer for her, what she sought was an answer from him. grusha in mastersex (essentially post scarvio, maybe pre dlc) is determined to dedicate himself to battling, but that encounter with the scarvio protagonist isn't about to undo months or even years of internal turmoil about his career change that he still has yet to come to a conclusion about. in sum, his cool mind tells him that it's cringe to pick up snowboarding again if he's not gonna be that good at it, but his uncool mind still exists no matter how cool he tries to be. to malva, he is only being a gym leader as a 2nd best option in life and he still has enough lingering feelings for snowboarding that he ended up giving in to in blueberry.

because of her prodding, he was able to finally settle on an answer for himself. and with the anime in context the fact that he went on about the uncertainties of the new path he's taking

"It might lead me to a bright future or a steep fall... I don't know."

"I'll still make it all the way to the end, no matter what twists and turns the snow-capped mountains throw at me."

"I'll ride this course of life with everyone—including my Pokémon."

does he seek certainty in life and that's why he was always so strict about producing results and why he gave up on snowboarding? by getting so good at snowboarding/battling, there was/is a certainty or stability that he could feel. but when he lost that certainty with snowboarding it became too much for him to handle and that's why he felt the need to switch careers?

idk tbh

i remember reading this story some time back maybe a few months ago and thinking that malva was literally just a mastersex npc lololololol and i certainly did feel the same kind of indignance and anger towards her words since it felt like she was trying to taunt him, but now that i'm reading it again especially with the anime knowledge that he's still able to snowboard i just can't help but think about how the mind of the wild grusha works. i hope this ramble made sense!

[renegade-skywalker]

A snippet from my massive kotor 2 epic, Out of the Abyss, where Atton and Eden share a moment aboard the Ebon Hawk but are interrupted by floating space debris on the approach to Dantooine courtesy of Malak from the first game, haunting the narrative almost as much as Revan is because even in death the man hates to be upstaged

~~~

Atton couldn’t tell which was stranger - the knowing or the not knowing. 

He watched Eden as she examined the nav computer from the corner of his eye, tracing the outline of her as if to match her present self to the stolen one still buried in his memory, wrenched from the mental depths of the mark he’d beaten and turned on Revan’s orders. It fit but also didn’t, lining up in places he did not expect and differing in ways that surprised him further still. But it was the coincidence of it all that unnerved him most, the pieces of his past fitting uncomfortably into place the longer he was in the woman’s presence.

“So,” Eden began, her glance skewing sideward as if detecting his gaze. “What’s our ETA?”

“Uh,” Atton sputtered, turning his attention towards the controls in a way he hoped conveyed that it had always been there. “Less than an hour, looks like.”

Dantooine was a place Atton had never ventured, nor had he ever wanted to. People generally didn’t. From what he knew, it was a fringe world on the cusp of the Outer Rim, known mostly for its farming and for its Jedi. Two things Atton had made a career of avoiding at all costs. 

“An hour,” Eden turned the phrase over, considering it. “Alright.”

Atton afforded her a genuine glance now, unafraid if she noticed this time, and furrowed his brow. She was tracing the trade routes again, and from what he could spy from the pilot’s chair, she was currently examining the backwater Myto's Arrow with a careful hand. Atton knew that route by heart, mentally reiterating its coordinate path in his mind as he watched Eden do so with her index finger. 

“A lot’s changed in the last ten years,” Atton said, taking a stab at what mired Eden’s mind. She’d been standing behind him for the better part of the last hour, entranced by the map as if she’d never seen one before. “Must be strange.”

“Hmm,” Eden hummed in somber affirmation, her posture wilting slightly. She cocked her head the other way, as if the map might betray something else from that angle. Judging by the way she then shook her head, Atton figured it didn’t. “I never thought about it ‘til now, but to see it all laid out in little informational blurbs and data, it’s just-”

Eden sighed.

“I forgot the rest of the galaxy kept moving.”

Atton had no follow-up to this. Instead, he internally cataloged what planets had since joined the Republic and which routes had changed in the last ten years as if it were a new mental exercise to add to his ongoing repertoire of meticulous distractions. Even the last five years alone were eventful in that regard, and with the Peragus depot now having been exploded out of existence…

“So it goes,” Atton sighed himself, pushing away from the pilot’s console and standing up. His lower back popped with a satisfying crack followed in quick succession by his shoulders snapping out of their shared stasis upon stretching. 

“I feel like I need to do that to my brain,” Eden commented with an air of jealousy.

Atton laughed breathily before turning back to the white-blue expanse of hyperspace, his face feeling hot. 

“Don’t we all?”

He counted the planets again in his mind, surprised with just how much he remembered. Even when his mind was elsewhere, Atton was always paying attention. It came in handy when your main reaction to the going getting tough was running away to the place no one would ever find you. He’d done it to escape his mother, then the Republic, followed by the Sith, and now anyone looking to cash in on the debt Atton hoped was wiped out with the destruction of Peragus, so long as Luxa was good on her word. If he wanted to keep running, it helped to have a running tab of where he might disappear to next.

“It’ll be weird, being back,” Eden said, turning from the computer and instead standing near the co-pilot’s chair. “I haven’t been to Dantooine since before I joined the war, and even then, the place changed so much before my exile.”

Eden stared out the window, no doubt imagining both a remembered version of the planet as well as a predicted version of what they were about to discover. After a beat, she smiled, and her gaze met Atton’s. He shivered just as she said, “You’ll hate it there.”

“Oh?” If Atton’s face was already hot, it was searing now. “Know me so well already, do you?”

He not only repeated Myto's Arrow in his mind, but simulated a version of Eden tracing its trade route alongside it. Examining Eden was easier inside his own head, not to mention there was less of a chance he’d get caught staring again. 

Eden shrugged. 

“I’d like to think so,” she said with a slight smile. “You seem to have a pretty solid grasp on me.”

Do I?

Atton only furrowed his brow further at her and walked over to the navicomputer himself, unsure of how he felt to be in such close proximity to Eden even if a baser part of him yearned for it. The longer he traveled with her, the more it became an unavoidable certainty. Maybe delaying the inevitable would help him build up a tolerance, like to the juma he so desperately craved.

“What makes you say that?”

He was genuinely curious. Atton had always prided himself on reading people. It was the main reason Malak had selected him for Revan’s Sith task force, and the reason his father harbored any relationship with him as a child if only for his knack at counting cards and scrutinizing his gambling opponents. It was the reason Atton was of any use to anybody, and if he could be that for Eden too, well…

“You have a knack for anticipating what I might do next,” she said, sounding both bashfully awed yet undeniably somber, almost suspicious. “And even when you don’t, you-”

Eden paused as she turned to face him. Her brow knotted as her eyes narrowed, glowing silver in the light of the navicomputer as she tilted her head ever so slightly. Atton had every opportunity to avert his gaze but instead he held his ground, pleasantly surprised when Eden’s eyes met his. He allowed himself to be observed, to be read, even if in the confines of his mind he was still relaying coordinates and trade routes. But it remained only a vibration beneath it all, a soundtrack to the way he was reading Eden’s expression in turn, taking in the sight of the endearingly messy waves of her hair, the curve of her face, the cut of her jaw, and the way her eyes shone through the thick of her lashes over the crest of her freckled cheekbones while she examined him and thought of what to say next. 

“I what?” Atton implored, trying not to sound so interested, trying not to imagine what it might be like to trace Eden’s features with his hands instead of his eyes, skin to skin, and how her body might feel against his. 

A feeling washed over Atton, like a question and a comfort both, borne outside himself and instead from the orbit he shared with Eden now.

“You always have my back,” Eden finished, uttering the statement as if a question mark should have accentuated its end, her query only half-realized when she spoke it aloud. Atton tried to imagine the woman before him leading armies, slaughtering thousands with the saber she’d described. This version of her now, wide-eyed and vulnerable? No, never. But the version he’d seen at Lopak Slusk’s throat, face covered in blood, heat radiating off her in a way that was both cold and calculated yet raw and rending? Without a doubt. 

There are those who wage war, Kreia had said back in the cell, an image of a younger Eden superseding the version that Atton saw now, a version of her that was both imagined and true, seen through the eyes of her brother. And those who follow them.

He thought of Eden back at the military base, alternating between retching at the sight of death and conversely being the perpetrator of it. Two sides of a coin that did not match yet completed the coin nonetheless.

“Why’s that?” Eden asked, her voice whispersoft. Her eyes fluttered, surprised by her question just as Atton was, a storm brewing in his chest at the sight of her. Eden’s gaze flickered across Atton’s features, only stoic because he was now internally playing his favorite Pazaak game from start to finish, his brain humming with satisfied calm in the wake of his habitual dopamine loop. “It’s not like you owe me anything.”

She asked it as if it weren’t deserved. As if she hadn’t saved his life. As if she’d done something wrong. 

She had, of course, at Malachor. But Atton wasn’t about to say that. 

And perhaps he never would. At least not yet.

“The only reason I’m not rotting in some forgotten force cage is because of you,” he muttered. 

He imagined Corr Desyk’s horror-struck face moments before utter obliteration, his entire squadron turned to dust as Malachor’s surface decayed a thousand years’ worth of rot in an instant, and the smile of the Jedi he killed later, blood curdling on her lips as she bestowed Jaq with what she thought was a gift but was instead a curse he’d carried for years after, her words weighing heavier now than ever before -  You are a survivor, through and through. Your allegiances tell as much. 

“I owe you my life, but don’t worry. I won’t be dramatic about it.” Atton feigned a lilted, charming smile. “Promise.”

He’d always had a knack of latching onto people who would ensure his survival, even if a part of him yearned for death. It was never out of any desire for it, but out of obligation, those he left behind often paying the debt in his stead. His mother. His squadron. Corr Desyk. Even Revan and Malak perished not long after he escaped their elite forces.

Atton wondered if Eden could sense all of this, feel it in the ether between them despite the coordinates and the power couplings and the Pazaak hands running amok in his brain otherwise, not quite drowning his thoughts out but distorting the feed like a faulty radio signal. But all he felt in her presence was instead an undeniable tranquility, almost like being drugged or lulled to sleep, just as he had been by that HK back on Peragus…

Only in Eden’s presence, submission felt… nice.

Atton swallowed. Hard.

But it is your connection to the Force you must thank, for it is the reason you yet live.

“Your decision to stay is saving me more than you know,” Eden offered with a half-laugh, a blush overcoming her features in a way that endeared Atton to her more than he wanted to admit. Atton mirrored her unwittingly, unable to stop himself. It was as if he’d lost control of his body even if his mind remained his own, unlike when Kreia entered it uninvited. It wasn’t entirely different, but it also wasn’t entirely unpleasant either. 

Different versions of Eden swam in his vision, both in the real and within the confines of Atton’s mind - memory that both did and did not belong to him mingling until they merged into one. Whatever pieces felt wrong clicked into place now as goosebumps rose along Atton’s arms. She was both the villain of his past as well as his present savior - neither ruling out the other but coexisting seamlessly as if the universe suddenly made sense, as if his accidental birth, his mistake of a life and his every escape from death in the mess of its aftermath were all given sudden purpose.

“I don’t know what it is but you look… different ,” he said, the thought occurring to him as he spoke. This, too, was unbidden, speaking as if possessed. She did look different, but also very much the same. Eden only made more sense to him now, and Atton wasn’t yet sure what that meant for him. “It’s almost as if - ah, nevermind.”

This he had control over. This he could stop in its tracks. Though why Atton had no clue, and no time to question it. His mind was moving faster than he could translate, quicker than any string of coordinates he’d memorized to drown it all out. Eden - not only every facet of her being but every bit of him and where he fit in the kaleidoscope that was her - here and now, but also where their pasts lined up, parallel but never perpendicular, crossing only now, but why? And where would that lead?

“C’mon,” Eden pleaded, playfully punching Atton in the arm, her hand lingering over his elbow before pulling away. “Let me be the judge.”

Atton mulled it over, his eyes roaming Eden’s features again as if there were some detail he’d missed. 

“It’s like…” he began, the air between them both solidifying as if in amber but also dissipating as if they were dissolving into nothing but space dust, “It's like you've got this glow, but only when I see you out of the corner of my eye.”

Atton shook his head.

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s, uh,” his mind reeled, sensation and sentiment folding into one, intermingling to the point that he could not tell between the two of them, his mind brimming with numbers otherwise. “It’s good to see.”

Eden bit her lip, blushing further before betraying the smallest yet most self-indulgent smile Atton had seen yet.

“You can thank Chodo Habat for that,” Eden said. “I… I think I feel more in touch with the Force than I’ve maybe ever been.”

Eden shook her head, disbelief coloring her every gesture as her gaze receded to the middle distance and no doubt into memory. But the air between them still felt warm, comforting. Atton wanted to question it, to distrust it. Though much like Eden, he could not recall a time in which he’d felt more at ease.

“You do seem pretty calm,” Atton admitted softly, moving ever so much closer to her, yearning to feel Eden’s skin against his. Eden’s gaze only met his again, her eyes wide, moving none as Atton neared, as if wanting it, too. “A lot calmer than you were on Peragus when I first met you, at least.”

“Really?” Eden asked. She scrunched up her face slightly, her incredulity genuine. 

Atton nodded, again feeling like a willing puppet, unable to control his every impulse when this close in Eden’s proximity.

“It’s practically streaming off of you,” Atton admitted with a breathy laugh. And it was true - everything Atton had learned about the Force told him to be cautious, forever wary and always on edge. His mind a vault with no way to worm oneself in. And despite Kreia’s ability to breach his otherwise steadfast defenses, he felt himself melt in Eden’s presence, soothed by her smile and the pacific sensation radiating off her, reassuring and warm like the sun. 

“I-” Eden faltered, choking on her own words. She searched inward, unassuming, before resurfacing with the explanation, “I don’t think I’ve felt this good in a long time, actually.”

It felt like a secret, and Atton liked that.

“Well, it shows,” he said. “You’re a nice counterbalance to that old witch back there.”

He hadn’t meant to say it, but he warmed at the sight of Eden smiling in response, overcome with a bashful laugh that lit up her face, but especially her eyes. Her eyes - her painfully familiar eyes.

“Don’t tell Kreia I said this either,” Eden murmured, her smile fading thankfully little, cementing the secret between them as she leaned towards him and half-whispered, “There’s a lesson in this somewhere, but for now I’m just glad I don’t feel like I’m drowning. At least not as much as before.”

Eden shook her head.

“You probably have no idea what I’m talking about,” Eden sighed, “I’m sorry, I-”

“Don’t be sorry,” Atton breathed, the words tumbling out despite being a lie as he reigned in his growing desire to reach out and touch her. But beneath the warmth of his desire was something colder, something that struck a chord of fear within him just as the ship lurched, jolting out of hyperspace ahead of schedule.

Before Atton could read into the feeling, the Ebon Hawk careened into a field of debris, a few pieces precariously striking its hull and sending them sideward. Without thinking, Atton reached out for Eden, steadying her with his hands as he eased them into the corner beside the pilot’s chair, anchoring them there and preventing them from falling by hooking each of the heels of his boots behind the console and around the base of the seat. 

Eden had not only fallen into his arms but against Atton entirely, her torso pressed to his as the ship slanted sideways before eventually righting itself. Only Eden did not relieve herself of Atton’s questing grasp right away. Instead, she lingered. And Atton was in no rush to push her away. 

“You okay?” he asked.

She was surprisingly soft despite how solid she was, the sinew of her muscle evident even beneath the layers of her clothing and his. But there was an ease to their closeness that surprised Atton more than anything, an equilibrium he did not expect. His eyes met Eden’s and her gaze softened beneath his heavy-lidded stare. Eden eventually nodded.

“Fine,” she breathed. “You?”

Atton held Eden’s gaze a moment longer before blinking and nodding in turn, regrettably tearing his eyes away from her to cast about the cockpit, squinting against the duraglass in search of the ship’s unusual disruption.

“What was that?” he asked.

He was still holding Eden in his arms, but the woman made no motion to leave, her eyes following his out the window.

“No idea, but-” Eden paused, a startled choke erupting from her throat a moment after.

Atton turned to her once more, again unnerved by how comfortable he felt being this close to her, at how natural it felt, and how unquestioningly Eden remained there as she searched for words. Her eyes remained fixed on the duraglass this time, honing in on a hovering object now floating into view of the cockpit.

“Debris,” Eden said, her voice hoarse. “From… Malak. ”

The name sounded alien on her tongue, wrong. As if she’d never once uttered it before. Atton didn’t question it as his mind put the pieces together. Scorched matter slowly circuited the ship as it now hung in the planet’s orbit, no doubt the remaining aftermath of Darth Malak’s attack on Dantooine some years ago. Were it not for the planet now crowding the view, the vision was not that far off from the ruins of Peragus.

“Do you have any landing codes for us?” Atton asked, easing his grip on Eden though moving away from her none, regretting its inevitability whilst simultaneously recoiling from the contact as if he might soil her. Not that her soul was any cleaner than his. “Did your friends share anything useful?”

Eden nodded, eventually shaking her head as she looked down. She paused, as if examining their proximity and deciphering its meaning before backing slowly away. Eden only moved an inch out of Atton’s grasp, the resulting emptiness all the heavier for her closeness despite it. 

“They did, yeah,” she said. 

Eden shook her head again, all calm dissolving for a moment before the stillness returned to her; another look for the books. Atton mentally clocked her expression again, as if studying her like an animal, yearning to feel her weight against his again while also fearing it, unsure what might transpire should it happen again. 

Atton remained at the ready, prepared to catch Eden again if need-be while also awaiting her answer. 

You will not find blind obedience a difficult master. 

The need didn’t come, but there was satisfaction in the act of it. 

You chose it once. 

“You ready for the input?” Eden asked as if the last few moments hadn’t happened. 

“Ready whenever you are,” Atton nodded as he leaned over the controls, roused with absolute assurance.

You will learn to embrace it again. 

[bishamonochrome]

Kanghan is confused about who he likes — and he's trying to figure it out on his own.

At the beginning of the series, Kanghan clearly likes Pimfah, even though she doesn't seem to like him back. As the story progresses and we see Sailom and Kang's relationship develop, we viewers might think he has a change of heart and starts crushing on Sailom (and Sailom on Kang, too). But then episode 5 drops and, hold on, Kang still likes Pimfah as much as he did at the start? doubtfully so.

In episode 4, when Kang's grandma tells him he has to pass all his exams or Sailom will stop tutoring him, we can see the worry grow on him. Of course, the main reason is he's worried sick Sailom might get beaten up again if he doesn't have money to pay his debts. But then, when he learns that Sailom already expected this and asks him why he didn't put more pressure on him, he's taken aback with the following question:

to which Kang replies with a glance that hides a lot of meaning:

you have no idea.

Upon that question, he knows (at least, unconsciously) Sailom does very much have that influence. He can't even sleep thinking why.

All the longing stares we get of them every time they cross paths at school after they don't meet up for tutoring anymore, and even thinking about their moments together, only helps Kang to realize how down deep this is.

Now for episode 5. It's almost shocking how right after a couple of moments of them staring at each other for longer than they should, we get hit with the reminder that Kang likes Pimfah. Even if he developed a crush on Sailom he can't yet fully understand, this doesn't erase the fact that he still likes her too. At this point, we're prone to believe Kanghan is convinced he likes Pimfah and is not aware at all of his feelings for Sailom, given the moments in the episode where he didn't spare a glance at Sailom, or even threw him off the boat to be alone with her.

Some time far from Sailom might help him clear his head (it must be difficult given the fact that now they live together), while also spending time with his long-term crush might help him come back to his senses. Clearly, in a position where he's pressured to please everyone around him, he must still believe it's better to get with someone like Pimfah, who is a woman, from a family as wealthy as his, and have known each other for that long. But not much time passes until he's irremediably swayed back to Sailom's side and spends the rest of the evening with him. He practically forgot he was trying to do the exact opposite.

I think it's worth mentioning the fact that during the whole episode, Kang was still thinking about Sailom all the time, in the most gentle way possible, even when he was trying to focus on Pimfah. He remembered Sailom's career choice, but also the fact that he liked to sing. And helped him to experience those things while they were there.

Back to Kang's dilemma, what reinforces the main point is what happens in the last part of the episode. He got locks for both, Sailom and Pimfah:

As we see most of the episode, since it's more from a Sailom's pov, his (also recently developed) crush on Kang has led him to believe the locks were for them both because the tradition was to attach locks with someone you like. If that was the case for Kang, he would have gotten those for Pimfah and himself. Instead, as indecisive and confused as he is, he opts to give them to Sailom and Pimfah, knowing both want to get into that college and he wishes and cares for both of them.

Lastly, with the final plot twist of Pimfah actually crushing on Sailom, one would expect Kang to be mad at Sailom for 'stealing' his crush from him.

But Kang is rather confused. Does he feel heartbroken for Sailom or Pimfah? If it was the latter, probably angst would ensue, and we would see Kang being mean to Sailom. But what is shown in the preview for the next episode is quite the opposite: Everything in Kang's life seems to revolve around Sailom's existence and his growing concern only helps him realize the answer to that initial question.

[rafamundosims]

The Cordial Sisters: Kimberly

For a long time, Kimberly felt jealous of her sister. It always seemed like everything went right for Samantha. Everyone loved her. Samantha was the perfect sister.

Consumed by that bitterness, Kimberly turned to darker paths she barely understood.

One day, the woman who would become her mentor told Kimberly she would no longer teach her. She had found someone else, someone with more determination, more spark in their eyes.

Kimberly felt rage. Once again, someone had stolen her place.

She turned her focus to her career. Without realizing it, the only person truly holding her back was herself. The moment she let go of the resentment and poured her energy into work, things started to change. She began to rise quickly, earning one promotion after another.

Eventually, she made peace with her sister. Together, they decided to start a business — something that would combine their strengths and give them a fresh start.

Kimberly asked Armand to help her find the perfect neighborhood. They visited several lots, explored different hoods. It was during one of those outings, on a calm Sunday morning, while they stood in front of yet another location, that Armand looked at her — and confessed his feelings.

♢♢♢ NAVIGATION

Avoid using Tumblr’s pagination to browse the stories, since some posts are backdated and it causes a bug. Instead, use the links below to navigate.

First: Welcome to Pleasantview Cove!

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[team5ds]

warmed me to my core

it had been a normal day before yusei fudo crossed paths with aki izayoi.

Rating: M

Ships: Yusei Fudo/Aki Izayoi

Author’s note: written for the prompt of "vampire" for @sapphic-september. nearly accidentally tagged strange aeons. i don't think strange needs to see my weirdly horny sapphic faithshipping vampire au. there was supposed to be a sex scene in this but i had to cut it short because i ran out of time. the energy is still there though.

read on ao3 / support me on kofi (battle city & up supporters get early access) / join my discord (18+)

For the most part, Aki tried her best to not leave the old chateau. She disliked the reminders that she was no longer part of the world of the living. It'd been hard to keep track of the years by this point - she'd stopped counting after twenty years and she'd lost track somewhere fifty years ago. They just flew by, and she decided it wasn't worth focusing on the time that would march unending. It'd never show on her face. Her face that she couldn't see in any mirror. She'd thrown covers over all of them in the old chateau. Her parents were buried in the backyard, and she'd never be laid to rest next to them. That wasn't worth dwelling on. She needed desperately to feed, and she had a friendly working relationship with the butcher just down the street. The street that had changed so much. When she'd first been turned, there had been no cars. Suddenly electric street lights had gone up, replacing the old gas ones of her youth. Shops closed and changed hands while she stayed the same. Women had rights that she'd not had when she'd turned. The people stopped asking when she'd get married and started asking about her career.

As far as anyone knew, Aki Izayoi was the granddaughter of the Aki Izayoi that had mysteriously disappeared so many years ago. She claimed she'd moved back, that her mother had left with her. That she'd heard that her grandmother had passed, leaving her the old chateau. No one questioned the story, but she wondered how long until it was obvious to the humans that she wasn't aging. She didn't want to let go of the old chateau, but people would eventually notice that she wasn't aging. The clothing she wore now would have given her father a heart attack from how scantily clad it was. Well, everything was still covered just... her calves were on display now. If she could still blush, might've over the dresses that were considered fashionable these days.

Before she could get to the butcher's, she was pushed against the alley wall with a knife pressed to her throat. Aki gasped in shock - normally she could easily overpower a human but this was not the case here. A young woman with a shabby jet black hair cut and eyes so blue they were almost violet was staring her down with malice. "Don't you dare move," she hissed. "I know what you are, and I'm not going to let you hurt anyone."

"Hurt," Aki questioned, and her breathing ceased. Breathing had always been more of a reflex, but when needed... she could still herself including any chest expansion that came with breathing. "Now what could you be talking about?"

"Don't play innocent, vampire," the woman spat, the knife digging into Aki's flesh. It burned as if it'd been drenched in holy water... and it occurred to her just then that was probably the case. Vampire hunters weren't common, but they were certainly something to watch out for. Granted, the position she was in was unfavorable to her escape, and that was largely her own fault. She'd starved herself the brink of desperation. If she didn't desperately need blood, she wouldn't have even left the old chateau. "I've seen how you don't age. You claim that you're the granddaughter of Aki Izayoi. I suspect you are the original Aki Izayoi."

Aki laughed, and the blade slashed down her. She hissed in agony as the blade left a wound that healed over instantly - the quick healing betraying the lack of humanity. "What would you have done if I was human," she asked. Before Aki could move, the knife was back at her throat again. "If you had slashed open a human with your knife?"

The woman blinked in confusion. The thought that Aki could have been human had honestly never occurred to her. Everything about her seemed so obviously nonhuman that she had naturally assumed that the move was a surefire way of proving her point. "You look exactly like all the portraits of the first Aki Izayoi," she said, now uncertain what to do here. She expected the vampire to lash out and try to drain her. She had no road map for when a vampire acts this human. "That's how I knew you wouldn't bleed out on the street when I used this knife on you."

"And it is doused in holy water. Or perhaps you had it blessed by a priest. Either way, it is a useful weapon against a vampire." Aki smirked. "Now... don't you think it is unfair that you know my name, but I don't know your name? Surely a dying woman deserves to know the name of her executioner."

"Yusei," she said automatically, not pulling away the knife. This had to be some kind of trick on Aki's side, but she couldn't figure it out. It intrigued her enough to want to keep her alive just long enough to know what con she was pulling. Curiosity always did get the better of Yusei. "You rarely leave the chateau. I figured you had to be on the hunt for blood."

"I was," Aki admitted. "I was going to the butcher. I have a standing order of pig's blood from him. Granted... he knows my grandmother used to buy it from his grandfather. He assumed I inherited the same strange taste." Her lips twisted into a snarl, revealing the sharp canines. Yusei was surprised by the effect this had over her. "Unless you'd like to volunteer to be my blood bag for the night?"

Despite the exposed fangs, it didn't quite feel like a threat. No, it felt more like a flirtation, which Yusei was shocked by. What's more... she actively considered it. She evaluated the woman in her for the first time beyond a prey: soft pink lips with a cupid's bow, wide hazel eyes, porcelain pale skin, and wine red hair. And then Yusei was overcame with need. She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the vampire's lips - she was cold, but she warmed to the touched with ease. Aki's lips molded to hers, and there was a surprising amount of gentleness that she allowed. When Yusei finally pulled away, she raised a brow. "I've never had a vampire drink from me before," she said breathlessly. "What does it feel like?"

"The last time I had it happened to me... I was frozen at this age," Aki whispered, glancing around. "Perhaps this is a conversation best had after I pick up my standing order. Why don't you meet me at the old chateau? Unless you'd like to invite me into your home."

She winked, and Yusei shook her head. If she allowed the vampire access to her home for one night, she could enter whenever she'd like. As much as she was willing to let this vampire live due to the fact she seemed relatively harmless, it would be foolish to give a vampire unfettered access to one's personal domain. No matter how beautiful she was. "I'm not nearly that foolish. I'll meet you at the old chateau."

It was starting to sink in as she stared up at the old chateau that she might be a little foolish. The old chateau had stood in the city for centuries - a testament to the length of the city's life in itself. The facade had been updated in recent years at the request of Miss Izayoi, with a gardener who regularly maintained the lawns. Until now, Yusei had been under the impression that she'd used supernatural powers to obtain these services. It only just sunk in that a woman alive for at least a hundred years might acquire more money than one could in a singular lifetime of working. She was certain that in the next hundred years, Aki Izayoi might be more powerful than the richest man alive. That didn't matter right now, however. What mattered was that she was now heading into a vampire's den, and she'd followed the request of the vampire to arrive disarmed. The lack of weapons on her person left her feeling more naked than it really should.

She reached up to knock on the door, but the door opened before she even connected her fist to the wood. A well dressed man stood before her with a charming grin. "The lady of the house was expecting you," he said, bowing deeply to her. That felt weird, and she wanted to tell him to knock it off but all words left her mouth. "Please, come on in and make yourself at home. Miss Izayoi will be with you shortly. Tea?"

Yusei stared as she was led to the sitting room - a massive oversized room that she couldn't have imagined existing in her wildest dreams. She shook her head. "Er, no thanks," she said quietly. "And please, don't bow to me again."

With that, she was left alone in the living room. It looked like it hadn't been updated since 1859 - dark browns and rich vibrant reds everywhere. The only hint that things had changed was the chandelier overhead was electric instead of with candles. Yusei hadn't anticipated that there would be staff in this house, but it made sense as she thought about it. This house was too large to be maintained by a singular person. If there was other staff, she hadn't seen them. This was the kind of place that she could never imagine feeling comfortable in. Aki entered the room, and she'd changed out of the dress she'd met her in. Instead, she was wearing a dated dress that covered every inch of her skin in a deep blood red. Her hair was now twisted up. She looked more comfortable than she had walking the streets outside. "Why don't we take this to my room," she suggested. "I doubt either of us want to be overheard."

She was led through the chateau to Aki's room. The portraits on the walls felt like they were staring at her. It was obvious that none of these had changed since Aki had been turned into a vampire. Should she ask for more details about that? Was it possible that she could wind up accidentally turned tonight? She didn't know, and the fear ran down her spine. The room Aki led Yusei to had plum colored walls, with a white canopy covering a four poster bed. Once again, this room was in bad need of a renovation. Aki had turned around to stare her down, and yet... something had shifted. Yusei smirked. "Where shall we begin?"

[crossroadsofchaos]

[Retired Leaders AU]

It's been a long time since I've talked about this AU's Terra, so here's that and some other relevant information.

Terra came from one of the wealthier families on the Boiling Isles, and in her youth, her career trajectory was similar to canon. She became Head Witch and held that position around 30 years ago, when the events of 'Them's the Breaks, Kid' were happening.

However, not long after that, her story begins to diverge.

Although Belos had appointed her to the position, he only did so due to not realizing how bad she was and hoping she would improve, which did not happen - she only got worse and more brazen once she was given power. He tried to be nice at first and simply asked her to change, but after a while his patience was running out. Eventually, he removed her from the position - though it was publicly announced that she had chosen to step down. She was replaced by Laura Tran.

She was infuriated by the loss of such a powerful position and was envious of Laura, and she developed a deep hatred and desire for revenge on both her and Belos, though she was at least somewhat scared of the latter and wouldn't try to fight him directly. She tried to assassinate Laura in broad daylight, and the two had a battle, from which Laura emerged victorious, while Terra fled the scene.

The assassination attempt made her a wanted criminal, and she had to start hiding from authorities. She continued to be involved in crime, partially due to ruining her own ability to live a normal life, but also out of spite for Belos and Laura - she wanted to create problems for them. She also saw becoming a notable figure in organized crime as another way to attain power. Her family publicly distanced themselves from her, but quietly gave her some financial assistance.

During the following years, she met Alyssa, with whom she entered a romantic relationship and eventually got married. Alyssa was an ordinary woman and wasn't thrilled by Terra's activities, but cared about her and wanted to support her - and if possible, perhaps set her on the right path. The relationship was mediocre, possibly a bit toxic on Terra's end, but Alyssa was committed and stayed by her side. Her hope for Terra choosing a better path gradually faded the longer it wasn't happening. The longer Terra remained on her harmful path, the more set in her ways she became.

Her story came to an end once she had attacked and stabbed (and briefly killed) Hunter and severely injured Flapjack (who then gave up his life to save Hunter) in order to deliver a truly painful blow to Belos. Lashing out in pain, Belos petrified her, and she disintegrated into dust.

Following Terra's death, Alyssa grieved her, but she doesn't hate Belos for it - Terra killed his child, it was understandable that he lashed out. They just agreed to leave each other alone. She spends a lot of her time caring for her and Terra's garden.

[faeridos]

In the small town of Silent Pines, nestled deep within the dense pine forests, a notorious drug gang operated from the shadows. The gang, known simply as "The Silent Pines Gang"

a new story by faeridos / made in the world "silent pines" by @silentpinessave

TW // mentions of abusive households, drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, transphobia, gang activities/ violence, sickness, death & miscarriage

meet the gang

Bria Winter always felt out of place, like a puzzle piece from a different set. Growing up in a conservative household, she knew she was different, but it wasn't until she hit her teenage years that she found the words to define it - she was a trans woman. When she mustered up the courage to come out to her parents at the age of 15, she was met with rejection and intolerance. Kicked out of her family home, Bria found herself wandering the unforgiving streets, a lost soul searching for acceptance. It was during these bleak times that she crossed paths with Joslyn Eichman, a former rising star whose life took a drastic turn after a drug scandal ruined her career. The two bonded over their shared feelings of abandonment and loss, finding solace in each other's company. They lived for the nights of partying, drowning their sorrows in alcohol and substances, clinging to each other like lifelines in a stormy sea. Their lives took an unexpected turn when they encountered Mikel Lawrence, a troubled yet inherently kind man who offered them shelter and a sense of belonging. What started as a simple act of kindness soon spiraled into something darker as Bria found herself entangled in the web of Mikel's illicit activities. Before she knew it, she was running errands, making deliveries, and doing things she never thought herself capable of. As the days blurred into nights and reality melted into a haze of smoke and neon lights, Bria realized that she was in too deep. She was no longer just a lost girl looking for acceptance; she was a player in a dangerous game with stakes higher than she could have ever imagined. Selling more than just drugs, Bria was selling fragments of her soul, trading pieces of herself for a fleeting sense of belonging in a world that had never felt like home. In the midst of this chaos, amidst the flickering shadows of her former self, Bria found a beacon of hope in Joslyn. Their love, forged in the crucible of adversity, shone brightly against the darkness that threatened to consume them. Together, they navigated the treacherous waters of their new reality, holding onto each other fiercely, refusing to let go.

Kyla Rowell's life had always been shadowed by the dangerous world of gangs and violence. Growing up amidst the chaos, she never thought she deserved better. However, everything changed when her mother made a daring escape from Kyla's father, seeking solace in the quiet town of Silent Pines. As Kyla embraced her new life in Silent Pines, tragedy struck when her mother lost her battle against cancer when Kyla turned sixteen. Left orphaned, she found herself navigating the complexities of the foster care system. Her new foster family resided next door to Mikel Lawrence, a young man whose kindness and humor slowly brought light back into her world. Despite knowing Mikel's involvement in illicit activities, Kyla couldn't help but fall deeply in love with him. Their bond grew stronger, and soon Kyla found herself expecting their child. However, their joy turned to despair when she tragically miscarried, plunging her into a deep depression. Struggling to cope with her loss, Kyla found solace in alcohol and drugs, numbing her pain with each passing day. Amidst the darkness, Mikel vowed to care for her and promised a better life. Determined to keep his word, he delved into the dangerous world of drug trafficking, believing it was the only way to provide for Kyla. Together, they moved into an abandoned building, their sanctuary amidst a world filled with turmoil. Mikel poured his heart into renovating the place, dreaming of a brighter future for them both. As they rebuilt their lives amidst the ruins, Kyla clung onto the hope that love would be their guiding light through the darkest of times.

Mikel grew up in a turbulent household, witnessing chaos and neglect all too often. With his party-loving mother barely present and his alcoholic father a constant source of instability, Mikel found solace in the dark corners of his troubled world. By the tender age of 12, he was already dabbling in cigarettes and other illicit activities, seeking escape from the harsh reality that awaited him at home. To avoid the tumultuous environment, Mikel strayed further from conventional childhood experiences. Soon, he was spending his nights in abandoned buildings, finding refuge in the silence that enveloped him. Amongst the ruins, he discovered a familiarity that brought him an odd sense of peace. One particular spot became his sanctuary, a place where he could retreat from the chaos of his upbringing. When Kyla moved in next door, Mikel's world shifted once again. Initially wary of forming attachments due to his deep-rooted trust issues, he couldn't help but be drawn to Kyla's quiet demeanor and gentle presence. As their friendship blossomed, Mikel found himself opening up in ways he never thought possible. He began to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had consumed him for so long. However, their fragile bond faced a harsh test when Kyla revealed she was pregnant. Mikel's initial reaction was one of fear and apprehension, unsure of how to navigate this new chapter in their already complicated lives. But tragedy struck when Kyla miscarried, leaving both of them reeling from the loss of a future they had dared to dream of. In the wake of this heartbreaking event, Mikel's perspective shifted. He realized the depth of Kyla's struggles and the weight of responsibility that now rested on his shoulders. Determined to make amends for his past choices, Mikel took matters into his own hands. In a bid to provide for Kyla and himself, he turned to the dangerous world of drug dealing, navigating a perilous path in the name of survival. As Mikel delved deeper into this illicit underworld, the lines between right and wrong blurred, and the consequences of his actions grew more severe. Yet, in the midst of the darkness that threatened to consume him, Mikel held onto a flicker of hope — a belief that redemption was still within reach, even in the shadows of his troubled past.

Silas Greenburg grew up in the hood of Silent Pines, a small town where the whispers of dreams often faded into the shadows of reality. Despite having a pretty normal childhood with both parents being supportive, he found himself drawn to the allure of rebellion in his teenage years. High school brought along a newfound sense of freedom, but he fell in with the wrong crowd, where parties and underage drinking became the norm. It was at the age of 18 that Silas crossed paths with Mikel. Their meeting was hardly conventional – a friend of Silas was in the market for a bit of contraband, and through this exchange, Silas found a kindred spirit in Mikel. As they got to know each other, Silas confided in Mikel about his long-held dream of becoming a writer. However, the harsh truth of his family's financial struggles loomed over him, dimming the light of his aspirations. Mikel saw something in Silas that he himself had - hope. He revealed to Silas a different path, one paved with uncertainty and danger, but also the promise of quick wealth. Silas was hesitant at first, knowing the risks that lay ahead, but the whisper of opportunity was too strong to resist. Leaving behind the comfort of his parents' home, Silas moved in with Mikel and joined the gang. Days melted into nights as they navigated the underworld of Silent Pines, their pockets filled with cash stained with secrets.

Nadia Smallwood's childhood was a whirlwind tainted by wealth that quickly turned into destitution. Raised in opulence, life took a drastic turn when her father cruelly kicked her and her mother out to make room for his younger girlfriend. Forced onto the unforgiving streets of Silent Pines, Nadia's mother did her best to shield her from the harsh realities of their new life. However, their struggles reached a breaking point when Nadia, at the age of eight, was taken away and placed in the care of her grandparents. The trauma of abandonment and betrayal left scars on Nadia's young heart, manifesting in deep-seated trust issues that haunted her every interaction. Despite her grandparents' unwavering love and attempts to provide her with stability and support, Nadia found solace in the temporary oblivion offered by substance abuse. She became a regular at parties, seeking temporary relief in the haze of drugs and alcohol, much to her guardians' dismay. It was during one of her reckless escapades to procure drugs that Nadia crossed paths with Silas and Mikel, two enigmatic individuals who exuded a different kind of energy that intrigued her. There was an undeniable spark, especially with Silas, that drew her in, awakening emotions she thought long buried beneath her wall of mistrust. As Nadia's dependency issues worsened, her relationship with her grandparents strained to the breaking point. At the age of eighteen, they made the agonizing decision to ask her to leave, recognizing that her path to healing needed to start with tough love. It was then that Silas and Mikel, seeing more than the troubled girl that Nadia presented to the world, offered her a place among their unconventional chosen family.

Joslyn Eichman was destined for the limelight from the moment she was born. Her parents were determined to see her succeed, enrolling her in acting and modeling gigs as a child. By the age of 18, Joslyn had achieved her dream of becoming a news anchor, captivating audiences with her charisma and charm. However, her fairy tale came crashing down when a drug scandal tarnished her reputation, leading to her dismissal from the show. Joslyn was devastated, feeling like her entire world had crumbled around her. With her dreams shattered and her future uncertain, she found herself spiraling into a dark hole of despair. Unable to afford college and abandoned by her judgmental parents, who deemed her actions as "ungodly sins," Joslyn made the difficult decision to start anew in Silent Pines. Hoping to carve out a path for herself in the quiet town, she soon found solace in the bustling nightlife of clubs and substance abuse. One fateful night, Joslyn encountered 18-year-old Bria Winter, who was in distress and struggling to walk. Without hesitation, Joslyn took Bria under her wing, bringing her to her modest trailer to ensure her safety. Grateful for Joslyn's kindness, Bria offered her friendship and support, a gesture that would change Joslyn's life forever. As Joslyn and Bria grew closer, they crossed paths with Mikel Lawrence, a charismatic figure familiar with the struggles they faced. Mikel, who had been a source of Joslyn's escapism through partying and substances, saw the potential in both women. Recognizing their shared hardships and Joslyn's imminent eviction from her trailer, he extended an unexpected offer. Mikel proposed that Joslyn and Bria join his group, offering them a sense of belonging and security within his gang. Despite the risks and uncertainties that came with such an alliance, Joslyn saw a glimmer of hope for redemption and a chance to reclaim her lost dreams.

[ryqoshay]

Putting on Hairs: Post Production - Tower Lovers Star

Primary Pairing: N/A Starring: Nico, Nozomi Implied Pairing: NicoMaki, NozoEli Rating: G Words: 686 AU: Werewolves Prompt: Tower

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Summary: Nico discusses her concerns over the full moon with her roommate

Author's Note: Primary entry for the 5th

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A knock came at the bedroom door.

“Come in.” Nico called.

The door opened and Nozomi stepped in.

“What do you want?” Nico grumbled.

“Is that how you greet your marvelous agent who landed you your dream career as a star at the best theater in Japan?”

“We don’t have an appointment today.”

“We live together, Nicocchi. Can’t I just stop by to visit my roommate?”

“Not with that tone.” Nico turned and placed a hand on her hip. “What are you scheming?”

“I came to deliver news most dire.” Nozomi’s voice became ominous.

“And here we go…” Nico rolled her eyes.

“I consulted the cards just now.”

Nico sighed.

“On your behalf, Nicocchi.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“As your agent, I need to know what lies ahead and how best to guide you down the path of success.”

“I think I’ve been doing pretty well as of late. And yes, I do attribute some of that to you.”

“However, I do not believe the cards wished to tell me about your next production.”

“So?”

“Nicocchi, do you not understand the gravity of the situation?”

“No. Nor do I want to.”

Nozomi produced a card.

Like the rest of the deck, the card was well worn. And while Nozomi liked to claim it was because it had been passed down through the generations, Nico had personally been with her when she purchased it at a vintage shop near their apartment. This particular card depicted a tall stone structure had been capped with a crown. But now a thunderbolt was striking it, ripping off the crown and setting the structure ablaze. Two panicked figures flung themselves from the windows, choosing to chance the plunge rather than daring to face the flames.

“The Tower.” Nico stated.

“Exactly.”

“What of it?”

“Nicocchi.”

“Nozomi.”

“Sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation… awakening.” Nozomi wiggled her fingers and dropped her tone with the last word.

“Yes, I know the full moon is coming up.”

“And I, my dear Nicocchi, have a date with Elicchi that day.”

“And? Are you planning a wolf-friendly date or something?”

“Elicchi and I will be going on wolf-free date.”

“But foxes are alright.” Nico pointed out Eli’s kitsune nature.

“Elicchi is indeed foxy.”

“Nozomi…”

“My point is I will be unavailable to watch Nicocchi this full moon.”

“But… who…” Nico’s mind spun. “Mama’s gonna have her paws full with the kids. I can’t…”

“There is someone else, Nicocchi.”

“Who?”

Nozomi produced a pair of cards this time. One depicted an angel with outstretched arms seeming to be blessing a man and woman below. The other had a woman pouring out a pair of containers while a sizable star shown in the sky above.

“The Lovers and the Star…” Nico observed. “Do you mean Maki-chan?”

“Who else?”

Nico’s shoulders fell. And with them, her defenses. No longer was she resisting her roommate’s shenanigans. Far greater fears began to settle in. And her gaze found the floor.

“What if she…” Nico’s voice failed her as she couldn’t decide on which concern to say first.

Of course Maki knew full well that Nico was a werewolf, she’s seen her wolf form minutes after they first met. And she still agreed to start dating Nico, after a few hiccups… just a few… She even seemed nearly as good as Nozomi at teasing Nico to trigger a change.

But a full moon transformation was different. Nico would have no control. And no memory of her actions during the duration. She needed someone she could trust implicitly to keep herself, and others, from harm.

“That’s where the Star comes in, Nicocchi.” Nozomi stepped forward and placed a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Hope and faith. It’s time to trust Maki-chan with more. And trust me when I say she is ready for it.”

“How do you…” Nico looked up to a warm smile. Nozomi wasn’t teasing anymore. Still… “Never mind, I know how…”

Nozomi laughed lightly and pulled Nico into an embrace. “You’ll be in good hands, Nicocchi. I promise.”

Nico took a deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing. “Alright.”

---------

Author's Note Continued: A while back, I wrote about Maki's first time keeping watch over full-moon-forced-werewolf Nico, so a prologue of sorts came to mind when I thought about something Nozomi might predict with a Tower card draw. Also, I enjoy writing Nico and Nozomi interactions, especially when it involves Nozomi's signature teasing style of playing wingman to NicoMaki.

Prior Prompts Used: Thunderbolt Vintage Dream Time Memory Roommates Moon

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: Bitch by Lucy Cooke

Bitch by Lucy Cooke

Studying zoology made Lucy Cooke feel like a sad freak. Not because she loved spiders or would root around in animal feces: all her friends shared the same curious kinks. The problem was her sex. Being female meant she was, by nature, a loser.

Since Charles Darwin, evolutionary biologists have been convinced that the males of the animal kingdom are the interesting ones - dominating and promiscuous, while females are dull, passive, and devoted.

In Bitch, Cooke tells a new story. Whether investigating same-sex female albatross couples that raise chicks, murderous mother meerkats, or the titanic battle of the sexes waged by ducks, Cooke shows us a new evolutionary biology, one where females can be as dynamic as any male. This isn‘t your grandfather’s evolutionary biology. It’s more inclusive, truer to life, and, simply, more fun.

Eve by Cat Bohannon

How did the female body drive 200 million years of human evolution

Why do women live longer than men?

Why are women more likely to get Alzheimer’s?

Why do girls score better at every academic subject than boys until puberty, when suddenly their scores plummet?

Is sexism useful for evolution?

And why, seriously why, do women have to sweat through our sheets every night when we hit menopause?

These questions are producing some truly exciting science – and in Eve, with boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Cat Bohannon covers the past 200 million years to explain the specific science behind the development of the female sex: “We need a kind of user's manual for the female mammal. A no-nonsense, hard-hitting, seriously researched (but readable) account of what we are. How female bodies evolved, how they work, what it really means to biologically be a woman. Something that would rewrite the story of womanhood. This book is that story. We have to put the female body in the picture. If we don't, it's not just feminism that's compromised. Modern medicine, neurobiology, paleoanthropology, even evolutionary biology all take a hit when we ignore the fact that half of us have breasts. So it's time we talk about breasts. Breasts, and blood, and fat, and vaginas, and wombs—all of it. How they came to be and how we live with them now, no matter how weird or hilarious the truth is.”

Eve is not only a sweeping revision of human history, it’s an urgent and necessary corrective for a world that has focused primarily on the male body for far too long. Picking up where Sapiens left off, Eve will completely change what you think you know about evolution and why Homo sapiens has become such a successful and dominant species.

The Exceptions by Kate Zernike

In 1963, a female student was attending a lecture given by Nobel Prize winner James Watson, then tenured at Harvard. At nineteen, she was struggling to define her future. She had given herself just ten years to fulfill her professional ambitions before starting the family she was expected to have. For women at that time, a future on the usual path of academic science was unimaginable—but during that lecture, young Nancy Hopkins fell in love with the promise of genetics. Confidently believing science to be a pure meritocracy, she embarked on a career.

In 1999, Hopkins, now a noted molecular geneticist and cancer researcher at MIT, divorced and childless, found herself underpaid and denied the credit and resources given to men of lesser rank. Galvanized by the flagrant favoritism, Hopkins led a group of sixteen women on the faculty in a campaign that prompted MIT to make the historic admission that it had long discriminated against its female scientists. The sixteen women were a formidable group: their work has advanced our understanding of everything from cancer to geology, from fossil fuels to the inner workings of the human brain. And their work to highlight what they called “21st-century discrimination”—a subtle, stubborn, often unconscious bias—set off a national reckoning with the pervasive sexism in science.

Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny

In the summer of 1938, botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter set off down the Colorado River, accompanied by an ambitious expedition leader and three amateur boatmen. With its churning rapids, sheer cliffs, and boat-shattering boulders, the Colorado was famed as the most dangerous river in the world. But for Clover and Jotter, it held a tantalizing appeal: no one had surveyed the Grand Canyon’s plants, and they were determined to be the first.

Through the vibrant letters and diaries of the two women, science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny traces their forty-three-day journey, during which they ran rapids, chased a runaway boat, and turned their harshest critic into an ally. Their story is a spellbinding adventure of two women who risked their lives to make an unprecedented botanical survey of a little-known corner of the American West at a time when human influences had begun to change it forever.

[lgcgyuri]

₊ ˚ ⊹ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 , a show of gratitude. ( solo )

it's not been long since gyuris changed career pathes, the transition from idol trainee to actress a slow ( but steady ) move, but gratitude bleeds from her all the same. she's not known her manager for very long, not in the way so many of her newfound colleagues within the space have theirs, her previously understood treasure trove of memories offering flashes of faces and snippets of names here and there, but very little of anything else. there was still a learning period, a period of adjustment, not only in relearning the professional space of her craft, but the people she now would find herself around more often than not— she's already done well to break the ice, a comfortable familiarity budding between herself and who' she'd first assumed was her rather stoic manager who'd first presented herself as a rather stoic woman.

gyuri had seen right through the facade, the older womans walls slowly but surely breaking within their first few days together. the younger prides herself on being attentive, on taking in the smaller details, cataloging and compartmentalizing, so it's not hard to notice the soft edges hidden between the harsh exterior.

deciding on simplicity, a gesture smaller in size as to not be too overwhelming too quickly ( because, oh, gyuri will allow herself to ramp things up the longer she and her manager find themselves in one anothers company ), gyuri decides on friendship necklaces— juvenile? maybe, but not lacking in sincerity.

gyuri would love to call her manager a friend someday, to have her as someone she could truly confide in if ever in need once they've grown to know one another better.

a sun and a moon. opposites, paralleling gyuris firey, outspoken nature and the older womans stoic calm. plain, gaudy embellishments an unnecessary need when these were pieces gyuri wanted them to be able to wear as everyday accessories if they chose.

next year, she'll go bigger. for now, this is the perfect start.

[aiwealthhub]

"Success isn't found in dreams or plans alone—it's found in the boldness of taking action. Without action, your goals remain just wishes, but with every step you take, you transform those dreams into reality. "She Changed Her Life Completely"

Ladies and gentlemen, today I want to tell you the inspiring story of a woman who faced the unimaginable, overcame her challenges, and transformed her life completely. It’s a story not just of success, but of strength, resilience, and the power of making the choice to change.

The Struggle:

Like many of us, she started in a place where nothing seemed to be going right. Life was a series of setbacks. She faced societal pressures, financial struggles, and even self-doubt. At times, it felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. But despite all of this, she didn’t give up.

The Turning Point:

There came a day when she decided enough was enough. She chose to stop blaming circumstances, stop feeling defeated, and started taking control of her own destiny. It wasn’t easy. It took courage to step out of her comfort zone. It took patience to learn new skills. But most importantly, it took a mindset shift. She no longer saw herself as a victim of her circumstances but as the creator of her future.

The Transformation:

Through determination and hard work, she began to change her habits, her mindset, and her lifestyle. Every small decision she made, every step forward, brought her closer to her goal. Slowly but surely, she transformed her life. She didn’t just change her career, she changed her entire perspective on what she was capable of achieving.

Today, she is thriving. She is successful in her career, confident in her abilities, and living the life she once only dreamed about. She didn’t wait for a miracle to happen, she made it happen.

The power of decision is often underestimated, yet it is the most fundamental and transformative force in shaping our lives. At every critical juncture, it is not the circumstances or external factors that define our path, but the decisions we make. In the story of the woman who changed her life completely, the turning point came when she made a firm decision to stop being passive in her own life. She decided that she was no longer going to let life happen to her; she was going to take control of her future and make things happen for herself.

A decision, no matter how small it may seem at the time, has the potential to lead us on an entirely new trajectory. In her case, it was the decision to stop seeing herself as a victim of her circumstances and start viewing herself as someone capable of creating her own destiny. This shift in thinking didn’t occur overnight, but it was the pivotal moment when her life began to change. What she realized, and what many of us fail to recognize, is that our ability to decide is far more powerful than we realize.

When we make a decision, we send a message to the universe and, more importantly, to ourselves, that we are taking ownership. This internal declaration of commitment sets the course for the actions we take, the mindset we adopt, and the opportunities we attract. For the woman in the story, that single decision to take control of her life became the foundation upon which she built her success. Before that decision, she had felt stuck, unable to move forward, but once she decided that she could make a change, doors began to open for her.

Decisions are the key to unlocking potential and opportunity. They are the catalysts that push us to act, to take risks, to step out of our comfort zones. However, making decisions isn’t always easy. It requires courage, the willingness to step into the unknown, and the acceptance that we might not always know how things will turn out. But that is the beauty of it. The uncertainty that comes with making a decision is what leads to growth. It is in those moments of discomfort and risk that we often find our greatest strengths.

When we decide to make a change, we are choosing to transform our life’s narrative. We are saying that the current situation is no longer acceptable and that we are worthy of something more. That decision is a declaration of self-worth and self-belief. The woman in the story didn't just change her external circumstances—she transformed her entire mindset. And this transformation began with a single, powerful decision: the decision to take responsibility for her own life, regardless of the challenges she faced.

Resilience in the face of adversity is one of the most important qualities anyone can cultivate, and it is often the key to achieving success, especially when life presents us with seemingly insurmountable challenges. It’s easy to remain motivated and optimistic when things are going well, but true strength is tested when we face obstacles, hardships, and failures. The woman in the story exemplifies this resilience. She faced numerous challenges along her journey, from personal struggles to societal pressures, and yet she never allowed these setbacks to define her. Instead, she used them as stepping stones, each difficulty serving as a lesson that propelled her forward.

Resilience doesn’t mean that we don’t feel pain or frustration; rather, it is about how we respond to those feelings. It is the ability to endure hardship without giving up, to push through the darkest moments, knowing that better times are ahead. For the woman, every setback was a reminder that she could either let the situation defeat her or rise above it. She chose the latter. She embraced the belief that every obstacle was temporary and that, with perseverance, she could overcome anything standing in her way.

Resilience requires mental and emotional strength. It’s about adapting to change and remaining focused on the bigger picture despite immediate difficulties. When the woman was faced with a challenge, she didn’t allow herself to dwell on the hardship for long. Instead, she focused on the lessons she could learn from it and used those lessons to adjust her approach. She understood that failure was not the end, but rather a part of the process, and that success often requires multiple attempts and adjustments along the way.

One of the most powerful aspects of resilience is the ability to maintain hope and optimism during difficult times. It is easy to lose faith in ourselves when things aren’t going according to plan. However, resilience involves keeping a positive mindset and believing in the possibility of a better future, even when the present looks bleak. The woman faced times when giving up seemed easier than continuing, yet she held on to her vision of a brighter future. She believed that the struggles she was facing now were only temporary and that they would eventually lead to a place of greater success and fulfillment.

Resilience also involves finding strength in support systems, whether it’s friends, family, or mentors. The woman didn't go through her journey alone; she sought guidance, encouragement, and wisdom from those around her. But ultimately, it was her own inner resilience that kept her going. She realized that the true power to change her life lay within her, and no matter how hard things got, she could always find the strength to rise again. This resilience, combined with her unwavering determination, became the driving force behind her transformation.

A mindset shift is one of the most powerful changes a person can experience, and it can completely alter the course of their life. Often, we find ourselves stuck in patterns of thinking that limit our potential, holding us back from achieving our true capabilities. The woman in the story made a profound transformation not just in her actions, but in how she viewed herself and the world around her. She shifted from a mindset of limitation to one of possibility and empowerment. This change in perspective didn’t happen overnight, but it was the catalyst that set everything else in motion.

For so long, she had seen herself as a victim of her circumstances. She thought that the challenges she faced were obstacles too great to overcome, and that her dreams were out of reach. But when she finally decided to take control of her life, she began to realize that the true barrier to her success was her own way of thinking. She wasn’t held back by the world around her, but by the beliefs she held about herself. This revelation was life-changing. It was a moment when she understood that she could choose to think differently, to believe that she had the ability to overcome whatever life threw her way.

Changing one’s mindset is not an easy task. It requires a deep introspection, a willingness to question old beliefs, and the courage to adopt new ones. The woman’s shift began with a conscious decision to stop seeing herself as helpless. She stopped defining herself by her failures and the limitations imposed by her past. Instead, she embraced a new way of thinking that centered on growth, resilience, and self-worth. She started to believe that her circumstances did not define her, but that her actions and decisions could shape her future.

This new mindset required her to see every challenge as an opportunity for growth. Instead of being discouraged by failure, she learned to see it as a lesson, an integral part of the learning process. She began to embrace the idea that growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones and that the most significant achievements often come after overcoming the greatest challenges. With each setback, she no longer felt defeated but energized, knowing that with every attempt, she was getting closer to her goals.

The mindset shift also involved changing how she viewed success. She realized that success was not a destination but a journey. It was about constant learning, adapting, and evolving. Success wasn’t just about achieving a specific goal���it was about who she became in the process. By shifting her mindset, she unlocked new levels of potential she hadn’t previously believed possible. This shift empowered her to take risks, pursue her passions, and tackle her fears head-on, knowing that the only limits were those she placed on herself. Her transformation wasn’t just about what she achieved, but about how she thought and viewed the world around her.

Small steps leading to big changes is a concept that many overlook, yet it holds the key to long-lasting transformation. Often, we are so focused on achieving large, dramatic results that we forget the importance of consistent, incremental progress. The woman in the story didn’t wake up one day with a fully transformed life. Instead, it was the small, deliberate steps she took each day that built the foundation for her success. She understood that the road to change isn’t about taking giant leaps, but about making steady, manageable progress toward her goal.

Every big achievement is made up of a series of smaller tasks and decisions. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the enormity of a goal or the challenges ahead. The woman could have been discouraged by how far she had to go or how many obstacles were in her path, but instead of focusing on the finish line, she chose to focus on the next step in front of her. Each day, she took one small action. Whether it was learning a new skill, building her confidence, or making a small change in her routine, every action contributed to her growth. It wasn’t about perfection, but about progress.

These small steps may seem insignificant at the time, but over time, they add up to something much bigger. One small decision today can lead to significant changes tomorrow. The key is consistency. By staying committed to these little steps, the woman gradually transformed her life. It was through the accumulation of these small wins that she gained the momentum to tackle bigger challenges. What might have seemed impossible at first became attainable because she had built the strength and resilience needed, step by step.

Sometimes, the pressure to make drastic changes can be paralyzing. We want immediate results, but often, the journey to success is a slow and steady process. The woman in the story recognized this and made peace with the fact that real change takes time. She didn’t rush the process or try to force quick results. Instead, she embraced the journey and trusted that her small efforts would eventually pay off. The beauty of small steps is that they don’t require perfection or instant success. They simply require you to show up every day and do what you can, knowing that every step forward brings you closer to your goal.

Ultimately, it’s the small steps that give us the momentum we need to tackle larger challenges. They create a sense of accomplishment and reinforce our belief in our ability to succeed. As the woman kept taking small, purposeful actions, she began to see her progress and feel the power of her own perseverance. It’s this compound effect—where small efforts build upon each other—that creates lasting, meaningful change. Small steps may seem insignificant on their own, but when combined, they lead to transformation that can completely change the course of your life.

The importance of taking action cannot be overstated, as it is the decisive factor that turns dreams and plans into reality. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of what we want to achieve, but without action, those goals remain nothing more than fleeting thoughts or fantasies. The woman in the story understood this fundamental truth. She had big dreams, but she also knew that merely wishing for change would never bring it about. She had to take consistent, purposeful steps toward her goals. Action is the bridge between intention and accomplishment, and it is what transforms abstract ideas into tangible outcomes.

It’s common to spend a lot of time thinking about what we want to do, setting goals, and making plans. But without action, all those plans mean very little. The woman had her vision, but it was only through taking action that she began to see any real progress. At times, action can feel daunting, especially when we’re unsure of the results or fear failure. But taking that first step, no matter how small, is always the hardest. Once we overcome that initial resistance, we begin to build momentum, and the act of doing becomes easier. It’s in the doing that we learn, grow, and evolve, and that’s where the magic happens.

Taking action doesn’t always mean making big moves or achieving massive milestones right away. Often, it’s about the consistent, small actions that we take day in and day out. These little efforts add up over time and create the foundation for success. For the woman in the story, taking action didn’t mean doing everything at once; it meant breaking down her bigger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks and taking one step at a time. Every time she took action, no matter how small, it built her confidence and reinforced her belief in herself. Each effort, no matter how seemingly insignificant, was a step toward her ultimate goal.

Another important aspect of taking action is that it allows us to learn from our experiences. Theory and planning are valuable, but they can’t replace the lessons that we gain through hands-on experience. The woman learned just as much from her mistakes as she did from her successes. Each action, whether it led to a win or a setback, provided her with valuable insights that shaped her future decisions. The more she acted, the more she understood herself, her capabilities, and the world around her. Action creates feedback, and feedback helps us refine our approach and grow.

Taking action also helps overcome the fear of failure. The woman faced many obstacles and challenges, but she didn’t allow fear to stop her. Instead of being paralyzed by the possibility of failure, she took action anyway. She understood that failure wasn’t a reflection of her worth, but simply a part of the learning process. It was through her actions that she proved to herself that she was capable, and that every misstep was simply a lesson in disguise. Action is what allows us to move forward, even in the face of uncertainty, and it is what ultimately leads to the success we seek. Without it, nothing changes, but with it, everything becomes possible.

Her story teaches us all a powerful lesson: we are not defined by our circumstances. We have the power to change our lives, to redefine who we are and what we can achieve. It all starts with the decision to take action. No matter how dark it seems today, remember that tomorrow is full of possibilities.

Thank you.

From Dreaming to Doing is a powerful motivational video that helps women turn their dreams into action. If you're tired of only dreaming and want to start doing, this message is for you. Watch this now to awaken your inner power and start your transformation journey today.

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