#101 problems

[bigfatbreak]

theres a saguaro skeleton in a lot near my house and its taking all my power to not hustle over there and steal a few ribs

[saint--claire]

When I was a little child, there was a particular library book I checked out week after week, endlessly renewing it as much as I was able. The book, How to Raise and Keep a Dragon by John Topsell was a quasi-nonfiction guide to, as you guessed, rearing different species of dragons. I loved it. Tiny-me had plans.

As an adult, I tried to buy it a few times. No dice. The book was so old that no mainstream bookseller stocked it. Even when I tried niche websites recommended by various booksellers and librarians, I still couldn't find it. It was sadly lost to time, apparently not popular enough to make it into the archives.

But.

My best friend had a copy of that book. We're going to call her G, for several reasons not relevant at the moment. I was discussing my search with G one day, for some reason I can't remember now. She got a funny look on her face, asked me a few questions about the cover, listened to me do a very poor job of explaining with my hands how the hardcover copy had included a real gemstone in the dragon's forehead, and then went off to fish it out of her bookcase.

I was Gobsmacked.

I should not have been, given that the history of shared childhood books between us both would have made a circle with ragged edges, more so than a venn diagram, but I digress. The book came home to live in my house for a few months, and I was delighted by the chance to read it again.

Do people remember those type of books? Dragonology, Egyptology, The Stone Age - a way of introducing children to non fiction. They very earnestly spoke about the responsibilities needed to raise dragons, the practicalities involved. There was a record of registration you could fill out, if you had carefully considered the information to your self and felt you were responsible enough to to go through with adopting a dragon.

I vaguely remember filling out some of the riddle and puzzle questions in the Dragonology books. I would never have written in John Topsell's book, it was a library book.

But.

When I re-read G's copy at home, smiling over the familiar artwork, I was surprised to turn the page and find the painstaking, somewhat-wonky handwriting staring back at at me. Baby G, with her name spelled out in freshly-joined but still-not-quite-got-the-hang-of-this-yet cursive lettering. Baby G had filled the registration out in her best handwriting, in glittery green gel pen to denote the importance of the document. This was compared to the earlier, less important checklists done in plain black ink.

I read the registration certificate. Smiled. Smiled some more at the names listed for G's dragon, her dam, and her sire - Eragon was also a great book. Go off, Christopher Paolini.

Breed; standard Western Dragon. The box 'miniture' was ticked, to show that G's dragon was of the minature specic variety, rather than a full size dragon. This was, as she would later explain to me, chosen on the basis that baby-G felt it was the more financially responsible choice. Also so she could keep her dragon in her house with her, but we're not there yet.

I looked at that certificate. Looked at it again. Looked at the calendar, and then looked at the sewing machine I had just been given for Christmas.

G celebrates her birthday in January.

The template came first. I studied the different images of the standard western dragon through the book, picked my favourite, and re-drew it to a significantly larger scale.

Inking the design to the fabric, four times over probably took the longest.

I very subtly asked G the next time she was over (after hurling all dragon-related materials in a panic into the depths of my wardrobe) what type of colour dragon she would have, should it come up. As G later said, that type of question from me truly did not register as anything other than a question asked from theoretical interest. I transitioned the topic as discreetly as I could after she answered, and delightfully, my sneakiness went in one ear, out the other, and she forgot I had ever asked until several weeks later.

I enjoyed painting them.

Don't ask me how many mistakes I made through this process. So many. I do already know how to sew, but it's been a long time. I'd been meaning to get back into it for a while.

Given that various aunts and grandmothers and my mother had a knack for calling when I was up to my elbows in either paint or pins, it became a family affair. Each of them peered at the project through face time and offered their advice.

Some of the advice I took, some I didn't. No regrets about sewing it in pink thread. Considerable regrets about accidentally slicing one of the feet in half and having to fix that.

In the end though, she was finished.

I carefully pinned on her name tag, with the name baby-G had chosen with a little blue ribbon. A collar was unacceptable, this is a dragon, people, come on. Dragon's don't wear collars.

I put the book in the box, open to the registration certificate, and put the dragon on top. Wrapped the whole thing up with a bow and then refused to touch it before I sent myself mad trying to fix details that didn't really need to be fixed.

A bit late for her birthday, sure, but there we are. We'd gone for a trip off to nowhere for a weekend, to go try wine made out of blueberries and hike up a waterfall. (And climb on it. And swim in it. It was a very good waterfall).

I gave her the box, informed her she wasn't allowed to keep the box, just the contents (it was the only thing I had that was big enough for me to keep all of my A3 portfolios in, it had only been temporarily-repurposed as dragon housing), and then left the next bit up to the gods.

A surprise, sitting un-awaited for some 15 years in amber, to catch up to baby G and adult G together.

Happy Birthday, baby and adult G.

[tobinsonny]

never forget kelley’s gay ass trying to figure out how to answer a question about accepting lesbians in the locker room

[ir-dr]

Day 3556 - 13 October 2023

A very happy birthday to PitchDotStick!

.//projectTiGER

[reenthinks]

[5:43]

It was day one of the Don Quixote Music Video shoot and you were planning on visiting your boyfriend.

Once you arrived at the shoot location, you saw Mingyu playing around with a piano while they were waiting to shoot the next scene. He looked lost in his own world and you admired him from afar. Despite his looks and build, he had this air of innocence about him. Somehow, he looked adorable and ethereal at the same time.

You quietly made your way towards him, putting a finger to your lips when a couple other members spotted you.

Reaching him, you leaned down and pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. He looked startled for a moment, immediately turning around and breaking into a wide grin when he saw it was you.

“I thought I smelled you.”

“You’re so weird,” you chuckled, sitting down on the bench next to him, a hand making its way into his hair. He seemed to melt into you, sighing as you scratched his favorite spot.

“What? You smell nice.” He pouts and you just can’t help it. He’s so pretty and tall and he smells so good and on top of that, he’s pulled out that stupid pout he knows you go weak for. So you kiss him. Slow and sweet. A little awkward as you’re both biting back smiles and miserably failing.

You could’ve kissed forever if not for the lack of oxygen or the director calling for them to shoot the next scene. Pulling apart, it was your turn to pout.

“You know, there’s thirteen of you, I don’t think anyone will notice if one’s missing.” You say, pulling him by his neck for another kiss.

“Mhmm….I think….we both know….it’s the first thing…..anyone….will notice.” He says between pecks.

Kissing him one last time, you pull away. “Fine. Go before I change my mind.”

He laughs. “Yes ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am.”

“Yes sir.”

“Hurry up.”

“I love you! Be back soon!” You smile as he walks to the set.

“You guys are insufferable.” Soonyoung says from somewhere behind you.

[egophiliac]

Hi!

What's your favourite Disney movie? And does your preference for the dorms have any influence on their movies and vice versa? Like I know you love Diasomnia so is Sleeping Beauty high up there for you?

I'm just asking because Snow White is actually my favourite Disney Princess and her movie is my favourite yet Pomefiore is my least favourite dorm (but Lion King and Savanaclaw are both in my top two) and I was wondering if it's similar for you?

yessss someone else whose favorite princess is Snow! ❄️

that said, it's hard to say what my favorite movie is, because I'm one of those annoying people who's like "well it depends" (on different aspects, on my mood, on the phase of the moon, etc). though out of the ones represented in Twst, I think it probably is Sleeping Beauty! I think it's really pretty and just a delightful movie! it hits a nice sweet spot for me of being kind of...gently grounded while still having that floaty-fairytale feeling, if that makes sense also I might have had a huge villaincrush on Maleficent that is being massively projected onto Meleanor, shh

although I actually sort of hated Diasomnia at first (l-look, they didn't have cards at first and all we had to go on were the website descriptions that make everyone sound horrible). so I dunno, maybe the influence helped win me over to them! or maybe just because, like everything else in Twst, they were unexpectedly enjoyable in practice?

(I don't think there are any that had a negative influence either, because I am also one of those annoying people who's like "well I don't have a least favorite, I like everybody!") (sob. it's true though.) (I just, I just love characters so much --)

[lavandulacosmos]

Inktober Day 11: SNACKS

Grogu & Din Djarin

“What are you- No! Don't eat that! I packed you snacks... Why are you always finding the worst things to stuff into your mouth?”

[Star Wars days - Part 1]

[tinygryphon-58570]

The real question - should this Everlux be friends with my Fae & Veilspun chaotic magic duo or with my grumpy old Dusthide who wants people to stay off his lawn

[litnerdwrites]

"We don't treat Elain and Nesta the same because Elain Apologised,"

Elain and Nesta aren't the same people. They can't be compared. While I understand that Nesta said some cruel things in that cabin, so did Feyre. While Nesta could've made things a bit easier on all of them, so could Feyre. They both have reasons to apologise to one another, so if you're going to condemn Nesta for not doing so, then Feyre deserves the same treatment.

But if Nesta did want to apologise, what makes you think it would be the second that Feyre got back? And in front of fae, no less. Nesta is complicated character who carries herself with pride and is considered a very private person, and is described as being queen like multiple times. The two have more issues to work through than just a few mean comments, and the moments they have the most sincere heart to hearts, are when they're alone. Without Rhysand peering from behind a door way, listening in and commentating whenever he feels like.

Looking back, in ACOTAR 1, we learn some of the myths humans tell about the Fae including that they can't lie, and they have to and that if you catch one, then it has to tell you what you want to know. Both of those turn out to be false, since fae can lie, and Ianthe caught the Surreal, but we learn in ACOWAR that it wouldn't tell her anything.

We can assume this means that the rules the fae follow in our mythology are the same ones that humans believe about fae in ACOTAR, meaning it's a fair assumption that one of the many stories about fae include never letting yourself be indebted to them. Saying things like 'thank you' or 'I'm sorry' comes across like as owing them something, and Nesta is, at this point, under the impression that doing so will cause the fae to hold it over her head and use to demand things of her for as long as she lives, if not ask something straight up impossible to make her more indebted to them.

On top of that, Feyre just asked her for a favour that could get her and Elain killed. The Mortal Queens could've just decided to have Elain and Nesta arrested and executed for collaborating with fae, or have them exiled even. It wasn't a small thing that Feyre asked for, and basically peer pressured her into, with Elain. So it's understandable that pleasantries and apologies are the last things on her mind, when her and Elain's life could be forfeit at any moment.

Even if Rhysand offers to protect them, what could he do? Nesta's under the impression that the Fae hate humans, look down on them and would treat them horribly if she crossed into their lands. Moreover, she has a whole life there, that they're suggesting she could drop to move to the other end of the country without so much as a message to their father? Or an idea of what's waiting for them? To abandon their home, friends, family and peoeple?

For what? Potential servitude? Amongst creatures she were taught were slave driving monsters? To live under her little sister's rule (cause even if she wasn't HL at this point, as fae, she has significant power over Nesta. Plus the ruler of said land they're offering to take her too openly favours Feyre, and kind of Elain but hates her, so she'd basically still be living by Feyre's whims) for the rest of her short life? Literally what part of that is appealing?

So Nesta not apologising to Feyre at that dinner, makes sense. Our girl had bigger things to worry about. She probably would have if she Feyre didn't outright abandon her to deal with her trauma alone, only showing up when she wanted to parade Nesta around at parties for her own joy, without considering how it feels to her. Or when her court, who don't like her and whom she doesn't like either, show up to insult her, and blame her for having trauma.

If Feyre and Nesta had more moments like the one in the library, or the one all three had after Az and Feyre rescued Elain, Nesta would've likely healed and apologised on her own. If the IC had just stayed out of it, then all three sisters would've figured things out, on their own. The IC just want something to complain about, so like the CON and the HC, they make a problem, and they complain that it exists.

Also, if I remember right, Feyre herself said she wanted to start over at that dinner. So unless Feyre or Nesta want to bring it up or talk about it, why does any of her family get to hold it over her head for the rest of immortality? Feyre literally just called it water under the bridge and all three of them were going through their own shit at the time, so let them actually work through their own issues privately, and I'll bet that they'll solve it on their own within a year.

[boxdstars]

hey guys, what’s happening in the fandom. how are yall

[tomwambsmilk]

fr tho @staff why are you trying to make tumblr more like other sites why are you destroying your niche in the market please there have got to be ways to make tumblr more accessible to new users without sacrificing the very things that your existing userbase loves

[utilitycaster]

re: the term parasocial, specifically because it's come up in my notes a few times after I reblogged the post about dropout: I'm extremely guilty of this and should work on being better but "parasocial" on its own is a neutral term. It just serves to describe relationships where you know about someone but do not personally know them.

The issue is really that unhealthy aspect of it, which in my experience usually boils down to when people feel entitled to the responses of someone they know socially from someone with whom their relationship is only parasocial. It's feeling like someone you don't know is obligated to agree with you or validate you or, frankly, to acknowledge you exist. Parasocial relationships are inevitable unless you never hear of or see people without engaging with them socially. It's not bad to relate to or feel a connection to a celebrity especially if they share personal stuff; in fact it can be really positive! It is a problem when you expect them to have a specific response (or tbh any response) to you.

[nightwingvixen23]

Jason : *moping in his little self-made pillow fort*

Kori : he is not acting much like his usual self

Roy : *through a mouthful of sandwich* aw yeah ??

Kori : yes. and I'm not quite sure how to make him better

Roy : shit I hear ya babe

Kori : *flashing hopeful eyes at Roy* perhaps maybe . . . you can fix him ?

Roy : " fix " him ?? ha ! sorry sis but there isn't an instruction manual detailed enough for that

Kori & Roy : *watching Jay inch-worm himself across the floor and out of his fort*

Jason : *theatric sighing*

Kori : then what are we to do about him ?

Roy : this man can't be fixed. I can fuck him though. maybe that will calm him down

Kori : *suspicously eyes roy*

Roy : *smugly eyes her back*

Jason : Roy. I swear to god if you put your dick anywhere near me right now I'll bite it off and feed it to you

Roy : ooohh très kinky. I approve 😏

Jason : get help.

Roy : get naked.

Artemis : just get me the fuck out.

Kori : oh Artemis ! what an unexpected surprise, welcome home !

Artemis : thanks *tossing her duffle by the front door* would'a been hella more enjoyable had I not walked in on Jason wearing his "bitchy pants" today

Jason : fuck you

Artemis : I'm sure you'd love that

Roy : ooooohhhh 👀

Jason : can you shut the fuck up, Harper ??

Roy : can you let me fuck you up, Todd ??

Jason : *jumping up from his fort* you tryn'a fight !?

Roy : *tossing his sandwich* no sir i'm tryn'a fuck !

Artemis : why I keep willingly coming back to this little "slice of hell" is beyond me

Kori : I rather prefer "slice of heaven" as opposed to "hell"

Artemis : yeah. you're right. 'cause why would Satan even bother with buying Jason's soul while knowing full well the complicated refund policy he'd have to suffer through just to get rid of it

Kori : ok. not exactly what I ment. um. it is, however, quite a creative opinion

Artemis : no creative opinion here. just simple facts

[ meanwhile over in the pillow fort ]

Jason & Roy :

[pairingbrainrot]

If I had a nickel everytime a Nickelodeon pairing from my childhood came back as adults and stabbed me in the heart with all the feels, I'd have 3 nickels, which is not alot but it's weird that it happened three times right?

[acourtofquestions]

Yrene: Okay, let’s try a hypothetical: You have six people & four chairs what do you do?

Chaol: Build two chairs.

Nesryn: Sit on something else.

Aedion: Like the floor.

Aelin: Or some-ONE else. *uses Rowan’s knees as a footrest*

Rowan: *looks to Aelin* like your husband, the soon-to-be footstool.

Lorcan: You all are weaklings, who even needs chairs?

Elide: That’s impractical. We could just borrow two more.

Lysandra: Yes, Elide, let’s just *air quotes* “steal” two chairs.

Elide: I don’t think you have to use air quotes if you mean what you’re saying… and also that’s not what I meant!

Aelin: Yeah, Lys, see: we could just burn all the chairs, so it’s even ground *winks*.

Sartaq: She’s right, the wink helps… though we really should have some more legal options.

Dorian: Wouldn’t we be better off buying BEFORE stealing or committing arson?

Manon: Or we could just save ourselves the time and skip to the solve.

Dorian: Which is?

Manon: Kill three people.

Dorian: … I thought the problem only requires two people to die?

Manon: But you do agree, at least two must die.

Asterin: That sounds fair enough to me.

Lorcan: No, not fair at all! — Elide never lets me kill anyone!

Yrene: *interrupting chaos* For the love of gods, how did we get here?! This is supposed hypothetical I used to give to 12-year-olds. It should require 0 deaths!

Asterin: Death isn't murder.

Chaol: YES, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS!

Aelin: No, the question is: DID they die OR were they murdered.

Rowan: It’s true, not all deaths are murders.

Lysandra: yeah, some people just “die” in their sleep *winks*.

Aelin: THAT’S MY GIRL!

Elide: *muttering* Or in meetings of their lucky.

Yrene: *head desk/face palm* I’m going to go mark off trust falls in my list of “team building” exercise’s.

[birdsandshauna]

adam you can’t ignore him he’ll die