#2024 whic

[subhashdagar123]

[lillian-gallows]

Kinktober Day 21: Hair pulling with Cooper Howard/The Ghoul

Pairing: Cooper Howard/The Ghoul X Fem!Reader Word Count: 683 Warnings: Hair pulling, Dirty talk, Mild degradation/Patronizing language toward Reader, P in V sex, Unprotected sex (Wrap it before you tap it), Spanking (Literally once at the end), Momentary rumination on Cooper being over 200 years old.

Kinktober 2024 Master(sub)list.

Minors DNI

“That’s it…Just stay right there and take it…” Cooper’s voice was like hot gravel as it flowed down to your ears from behind you, where he was pushing his hard cock into your waiting pussy.

This had become something of a regular occurrence for you two, walking in near silence during the day, fucking each other to sleep in the night.

It hadn’t been your intention to start this arrangement, but you certainly weren’t complaining, Cooper knew how to make a girl feel pretty damn good, which wasn’t really surprising considering how old he actually is.

Not that you know the actual number, but seeing as he makes comments that only someone who had been alive pre-war would know, you could hazard a guess that he’s at least 200.

That’s a lot of time to learn how to fuck right.

But back to the task at hand. That task being the way he’s absolutely rearranging your guts with how hard he’s fucking into you.

You were thankful that you’d already laid out your bedroll, or the way your knees were digging into the ground under you would be very unpleasant.

Cooper seemed to like this position a lot, you on your hands and knees while he railed you from behind, hips slapping against hips with every thrust, and you rather liked it yourself.

The way he was able to reach every sweet spot in you in a single push-pull that left your legs shaking well into the night was honestly wonderful after a long day of walking in the sand.

Your arms gave out under you, and you couldn’t help but tuck your face into your sleeved arm to muffle your noises, trying not to attract the attention of any critters or passersby outside the rundown ruin you were shacked up in for the night, but it seemed this time Coop would have none of it.

“Uh-uh, Sweetheart…” He growled as his ungloved hand reached down to threat into your hair, giving it a hard yank to wrench your face away from your arm, sending sharp zings of pain/pleasure shooting from your scalp throughout your body.

The moan you let out at the sensation was downright sinful.

His responding chuckle was mean as he gave another hard pull that brought you back-to-chest with him. “Oooh, you like that, Darlin? Hm?” He gave another hard thrust while twisting his fingers tighter in the strands.

You drew your lower lip between your teeth in an attempt to deny him the satisfaction of being right, even though he already had that, and he let out another laugh. “Aw, now don’t be like that…” He tutted as his other hand slipped down your front till it found its way between your thighs to where your clit was left unattended.

With two fingers her rolled fast circles around the bud, and the noises you were trying to deny him forced their way out. “Fuck…Coop…” You whined as your eyes rolled back in your head before your lids fluttered closed.

You could swear you could hear your voices echoing, but couldn’t find it in you to care, not when your orgasm, probably the first of the night, was welling up in your belly.

“That’s it, Sweetheart…Squeeze me just like that…” He groaned into your ear before his lips started to leave a trail down your neck, as he gave your hair another yank to pull your head to the side to give him more access to your neck.

Your release hit you like a stampeding brahmin, causing you to go lax in Cooper’s hold as your body wrenched his own release from him, filling you with that warm sensation that you’d never admit to enjoying.

He lowered you back to your bedroll before pulling out and plopping down next to you. “You never cease to surprise me, Sweetheart.” He chuckled before landing a slap to your ass, the shock of which made you make a similar sound to the one his hold on your hair had caused, if a little more tired.

“Oh, I’m gonna have fun with that…”

[peachetteprice]

Born For It | Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Enter: Rich-boy!Gaz who was never born into wealth, but rather, born for it.

Thankfully, his blagging skills were never subpar, as convincing the wealthiest blonde bimbo at a conference in Fort Lauderdale would have proved tricky had he not mastered the art of running his delicious mouth. It was, in his own words, piss-easy to convince the woman he was 'in love with' that he was, in fact, a very well-off, well-known auditor for numerous major tech companies, and he was, additionally, all too talented at forging the paperwork for a 2024 Kia Stonic in cerulean blue – that certainly did not cost him a month's worth of groceries to rent for two weeks – to prove that it was truly all his. And, goodness, thank the creator that his father was so devoted to owning three gorgeous, pin-striped Italian suits before he passed, otherwise he would have nothing prim and proper to wear on their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth dates! Well, before he devoured her on her velvet couch and stole her hand in marriage, of course.

Naturally, he takes to the role of pompous, spoilt, entitled husband like a moth to a flame, as he has an inordinate ability to stretch the truth with his long Ralph Lauren fleeces tucked at the elbows, VVS diamond-studded watches, and tinted Versace sunglasses.

Oh, but don't be fooled by the crass social act: the man knows a con artist when he sees one.

He doesn't spend long at the country club with a glass of red in hand, talking to Brian and James and Marcus and their wives Tiffany, Tiffany 2, and Tiffany 2.5, respectively, about the recent tax evasion scandal from Johnsons and Co. (and how they all might do it better without getting caught) before he spots you across the outdoor pool on a sun chair: the young, recently wed beauty with ample time left on your wrist to be doing anything with your life other than seduce poor, geriatric, twice-divorcée, once-widowed, thrice-Viagra'd Mr. Shepherd – or, more crucially – the vast riches he carries in those flabby jowls of his, just ripe enough for the taking as soon as that weak heart of his drops him dead in the shower on a cold Tuesday morning, months later.

It's a shame, really, that the old dog didn't put his conversation skills into the will, because it takes Kyle no more than three minutes of ogling to read the smudged guilt and lost desire on your face, and poses, to you, over a kiss on the knuckles and a well-timed whisper into your ear, the question of joining him one day for lunch in his large, supersized, monstrous mansion that hardly gets used by his married-to-her-work-first wife who, herself, would never think of Kyle wishing to screw another woman on the weekends to entertain himself in such a lonely... drab... suburb.

It does perplex you a little a first, especially when you aren't certain why he wants you of all the women at the country club, when every wife, waitress and pool girl would burst open their bras and dangle their naked breasts in his face at just a chance of that silver tongue on their bodies, because he's simply that irresistible.

Not only because he knows your golden secret to greed, and has been known to – again – run that scrumptious mouth of his to anyone he can throw under the bus for another grand or two, but because it's clear to anyone that dear-old Shepherd's cock does nothing for a pretty pussy like yours, and you desperately need to cream over his thick, severing, thigh-splitting one until you cum, to make up for all the flab he wiggles in and around your folds at nine in the evening before he conks out in his silk pyjamas – he has to wake up early to catch the morning run of his favourite radio show, don't you remember?

Though, you do agree that he is irresistible. In fact, you have to.

And you wouldn't tell on Kyle even if you could, even if he didn't have his wife's lawyer on speed-dial, due to that legally-binding, twenty-three page contract locked within a safe in your makeup drawer which clearly states that anything of yours from the inheritence – whenever your old biddie shoots the gun, kicks the bucket or collects his final paycheck, that is – is automatically his, too, as well as the properties in Toulouse, the estate in Dubai, the stocks and shares in Google and Facebook that only ever seem to be going up... oh, and that divine cunt of yours he laps up like a starved dog whenever his wife is away.

| Masterlist |

[moonastrogirl]

Identify and deal with ennemies, opponents and nemesis - Vedic Astrology

Credit @moonastrogirl

This is my 1st post of 2024, I hope you will enjoy it 😁 Happy New Year and may 2024 bring you blessings and joy 💫💖

First of all check out your 6th and 12th house for your regular enemies and hidden enemies. If you have Sun/Mars/Rahu/Ketu in there you will win easily against them and can even turn an enemy into a friend if you wish for it. “An old enemy becoming your friend will be more loyal than a friend”.

If there is no placements in 6th or 12th house, it’s best to learn how to fight physically so that the body gets strength and the mind knows it can defend itself. 6th house is the house of health so strengthen your body. Get healthier and get stronger. 12th house represent hidden enemies and what they do best ? Psychic, emotional and mental attacks. Strength your spirit, your spiritual side and learn about your psychic abilities and no hidden enemies shall do no harm to you. Also check out your D9 chart cause these houses might be activated there with placements and so you may already have the backbone energy in you to start.

Let’s keep going with your 7th house : those are the people who either can be your ally or your direct enemy depending on their intentions and how well you have mastered your 7th house energy. Those who have 7th house placements have integrated this energy inside their personality so they can deal with it easier.

Usually when someone doesn’t have any placements in their 7th house they don’t embody traits of the sign present there so most of the people they will meet with their 7th house sign or traits will try to one up on them. If placements are present here then the energy will be known and then can be managed easily. If you don’t have any placements in your 7th house, learn about the sign present there and adapt to its strengths and learn its weaknesses. By knowing your conscious (1st house) and unconscious (7th house) patterns you will manage direct enemies easily. Know yourself and you will stand your ground when confronted directly. Also check out your D9 chart cause your 7th house might be activated there with placements and so you may already have the backbone energy in you to start.

Now let’s dive in a little bit with your 8th house : it’s usually your blind sides, your darkness, what you don’t want to admit about yourself or are not enough self-conscious to bring into the light. Share a light on your dark side, embrace it. The best way to do it is through healing. Heal yourself and your shadows will become your friends. Heal yourself and your fears will become your allies. Heal yourself so that no one ever shall use what you’ve been through against you.

If you have placements in 8th house in your lagna chart or chandra chart then you already have this energy in you. If not, try your best and the results will come. Also check out your D9 chart cause your 8th house might be activated there with placements and so you may already have the backbone energy in you to start.

And finally comes the Avayogi. What is your Avayogi planet ? Avayogi nakshatra ? Avayogi point ? Avayogi is the planet or nakshatra or point in your chart that will bring in the most obstacles in your life. Have you ever wandered why some people with always the same placements tend to create issues in your life ?

For instance even if someone try their best to get along with Geminis (this is just an example) but Geminis always end up creating issues for them and putting them in bad situations ? Then maybe their Avayogi Nakshatra is in Gemini so people who have placements in Gemini bring in the most challenges in their life.

Best way to deal with people who have placements aspecting your Avayogi planet/point/nakshatra ? Learn from them, analyse them but don’t let them get too close to you to avoid further damage. If you have your Rahu or Ketu in your Avayogi nakshatra then you can win against them easily but please learn which battles are necessary and those who are not. Avayogi effect is for life. Do not waist your energy. Choose your battles wisely. Cause do you want to win one battle or win the war Avayogi is setting you up for ? I rather win the war and play the long game. Be careful during transits over your Avayogi planet especially if Saturn/Rahu/Ketu/Mars are transitioning over it or over Avayogi point or Avayogi nakshatra.

-> Focus on your Yogi planet/point/nakshatra and your duplicate yogi, those two bring in success and abundance in your life. By surrounding yourself with people who have aspects to them or placements in your yogi or duplicate yogi nakshatra, you will flourish 🌻

Thank you for reading me and if you resonate with this post, feel free to like, comment or reblog it 💜

Credit @moonastrogirl

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive (Check in for daily updates!)

By Blake Murdoch

Since the COVID pandemic began, claims that the disease poses only minimal risk to children have spread widely, on the presumption that the lower rate of severe acute illness in kids tells the whole story. Notions that children are nearly immune to COVID and don’t need to be vaccinated have pervaded.

These ideas are wrong. People making such claims ignore the accumulating risk of long COVID, the constellation of long-term health effects caused by infection, in children who may get infected once or twice a year. The condition may already have affected nearly six million kids in the U.S. Children need us to wake up to this serious threat. If we do, we can help our kids with a few straightforward and effective measures.

The spread of the mistaken idea that children have nothing to worry about has had some help from scientists. In 2023 the American Medical Association’s pediatrics journal published a study–which has since been retracted—reporting the rate of long COVID symptoms in kids was “strikingly low” at only 0.4 percent. The results were widely publicized as feel-good news, and helped rationalize the status quo, where kids are repeatedly exposed to SARS-COV-2 in underventilated schools and parents believe they will suffer no serious harm.

In January 2024, however, two scientists published a letter with me explaining why that study was invalid. Some of the errors made it hard to understand how the study survived peer review. For example, the authors claimed to report on long COVID using the 2021 World Health Organization definition, but didn’t properly account for the possibility of new onset and fluctuating or relapsing symptoms, even though that definition and the subsequently released 2023 pediatric one emphasize those attributes. Any child with four symptom-free weeks—even nonconsecutive ones—following confirmed infection was categorized by the study authors as not having long COVID.

In August, the authors of the study retracted it. They did not admit to the errors we raised. But they did admit to new errors, and said these mistakes meant they understated the rate of affected children.

And that rate, according to other research, is quite high. The American Medical Association’s top journal, JAMA, in August published a key new study and editorial about pediatric long COVID. The editorial cites several robust analyses and concludes that, while uncertainty remains, long COVID symptoms appear to occur after about 10 percent to 20 percent of pediatric infections.

If you’re keeping score, that’s as many as 5.8 million affected children in the U.S.—so far. And we know studies and surveys of adults have found that repeat infections heighten the risk of long-term consequences.

The JAMA study comparing infected and uninfected children found that trouble with memory or focusing is the most common long COVID symptom in kids aged six to 11. Back, neck, stomach and head pain were the next most common symptoms. Other behavioral impacts included “fear about specific things” and refusal to go to school.

Adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported different leading symptoms. Change or loss in smell or taste was most common, followed by body pains, daytime tiredness, low energy, tiredness after walking and cognitive deficits. The study noted that symptoms “affected almost every organ system.” In other words, these symptoms reflect real physiological trauma. For example, SARS-COV-2 can cause or mediate cardiovascular, neurological and immunological harm, even increasing the relative risk of new onset pediatric diabetes when compared with other lesser infections.

Children in schools today are often described as struggling with emotional regulation, attention deficits and developmental problems. Adolescents have some of the worst standardized test scores in decades. Pandemic measures such as school closures—most of which were short-lived and occurred several years ago—have been blamed almost entirely for children’s present-day behavioral and learning problems.

While it is clear these early pandemic disruptions negatively impacted many children, the unproven notion that “the cure was worse than the disease” has become dogma and sometimes involves reimagining history. For example, the Canadian Pediatric Society’s most recent COVID vaccination guidance fails to even acknowledge the existence of pediatric long COVID, while stating without evidence in its preamble that children were more affected by pandemic disruptions in activities than direct viral effects. It’s hard to imagine how this wording could encourage pediatricians and parents to vaccinate children against a disabling virus.

Consider also a small but widely publicized Bezos Family Foundation–funded study which unscientifically claimed accelerated cortical thinning, a type of brain restructuring that occurs over time, is caused by “lockdowns.” The study design could not demonstrate cause and effect, however, but only correlation. Pediatric brain experts have critiqued the research, pointing out that “no supporting evidence” was provided for the claim cortical thinning is from social isolation, and that it isn’t necessarily pathological. “Lockdowns” were neither defined nor controlled for in the study, which relied on 54 pandemic-era brains scans from different children than the prepandemic scans they were compared to—meaning there was no measurement of brain changes in specific individuals. The pandemic-era scans came from months when relevant CDC seroprevalence data estimate that the number of children with one or more infections rose from about one in five to around three in five. We might reasonably predict that many of the studied brain scans were therefore from children who recently had COVID.

It is understandably disturbing to entertain the idea that we might currently be recklessly allowing millions of children to be harmed by preventable disease. That may be part of why problematic studies such as these have gotten headlines. It is more disturbing, however, that almost no public attention has been given to infection itself as a potential cause of children’s behavioural and learning problems.

This makes no sense. We know that COVID harms the brain. Neuroinflammation, brain shrinkage, disruption of the blood-brain barrier and more have been documented in adults, as have cognitive deficits. These deficits have been measured as equivalent to persistent decreased IQ scores, even for mild and resolved infections. Millions of people have, or have experienced, “brain fog.” What, then, do we guess a child’s COVID-induced “trouble with focusing or memory” might be?

When you put together the estimate that 10 to 20 percent of infected kids may experience long-term symptoms, that many of the most common symptoms affect cognition, energy levels and behavior, and that children are being periodically reinfected, you have a scientific rationale to partly explain children’s widely reported behavioural and learning challenges.

We can do something to protect our kids. We can vaccinate them every season, which somewhat reduces the risk of long COVID. We can keep sick children home by passing laws that create paid sick leave and end attendance-based school funding. We can normalize rather than vilify the use of respirator masks that help prevent the spread of airborne diseases.

Finally, we can implement fantastic new engineered indoor air quality standards designed to greatly reduce the spread of germs. Clean indoor air should be expected as a right, like clean water. The cost of providing cleaner indoor air is low relative to the economic benefits, which even when conservatively modeled are in the tens of billions annually in the U.S. and more than ten times the costs. These costs are also small compared to the price children and their families would pay in suffering as a result of preventable long-term impairment.

By regulating, publicly reporting and periodically inspecting building air quality, similarly to how we oversee food safety in commercial kitchens, we can greatly reduce the spread of disease and reap huge benefits for everyone—especially children.

[yutopia-eleftheria]

Criminal Case Inkember 2024

Part 1 : Day 1 to 10

After Inktober 2024, let's get to Criminal Case Inkember, held by @inkembercriminalcase on Instagram ! This time, we have the choice between 2 characters for each Prompt, which I find amazing because this could develop your creativity even more ! You can even do it with both characters, or even others !

Here is the Prompt List :

RULES ! (I gave it to myself to add more "punch" and "difficulty", juts like I did with Inktober, but less rules because it is already centralized into one Fandom) :

No duplicates of characters ! If a character is drawn in a Prompt, I cannot draw this character ever again, even if it somehow fitting for the theme (considering the amount of characters in these games, it should not be difficult).

"15" Classic Drawings, just like Inktober.

15 Minimalist Drawings, just like Inktober as well.

Switching between Classic and Minimalist : For example, if Day 1 is Minimalist, Day 2 will be Classic, and so on.

Note : 2 days of this Inkember will unfortunately be scrapped because of the Eternals Posters Series. Therefore Day 6 and 20 will be scrapped ... Unfortunately... (Whic also means that 2 Classic Drawings will be scrapped, and the order was adapted to Eternals to somehow fit with it).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 1 : Jones / Nathan : Animals

Character Selected : Nathan Pandit

Style : Minimalist (1/15)

Added Characters : None (Does the snake count ? xD)

Season Character (for a character that appears in multiple seasons) : Season 5 ; The Conspiracy (Grimsborough)

Time Taken : 29 Minutes

----------

Day 2 : James / Constance : Solitude

Character Selected : James Savage

Style : Classic (1/"15")

Added Characters : None

Season Character : Season 1 ; Grimsborough

Time Taken : 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

----------

Day 3 : Tess / Madison : Relationship

Character Selected : Madison Springer

Style : Minimalist (2/15)

Added Characters : Aaliyah Banks

Time Taken : 36 Minutes

----------

Day 4 : Tony / Ginger : Future

Character Selected : Both

Style : Classic (2/"15")

Added Characters :

Season Character : Season 5 ; The Conspiracy (Grimsborough) {Tony Marconi}

Time Taken : 1 Hour and 29 Minutes

----------

Day 5 : Amy / Russell : Summer

Character Selected : Both

Style : Minimalist (3/15)

Added Characters : None

Season Character : Season 2 ; Pacific Bay

Time Taken : 13 Minutes

----------

Day 6 : Karen / Velma : Magazine

Unfortunately it is scrapped, but here are the infos if I had done it :

Character Selected : Velma Bannister

Style : Classic (3/"15")

Added Characters : Lindsay Bannister

----------

Day 7 : Randolph / Astrid : Winter

Character Selected : Astrid Saucer

Style : Minimalist (4/15)

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 21 Minutes

----------

Day 8 : Sergeï / Nikolaï : Leadership

Character Selected : "Both"

Style : Classic (4/"15")

Added Characters : Sue Xiong

Time Taken : 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

----------

Day 9 : Jack / Angela : Fear

Character Selected : Angela Douglas

Style : Minimalist (5/15)

Added Characters : None

Season Character : 3 ; Save The World

Time Taken : 32 Minutes

----------

Day 10 : Asal / Anya : Competition

Character Selected : Both

Style : Classic (5/"15")

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 1 Hour and 49 Minutes

[soulshards]

FFXIVWRITE 2024, PROMPT #2: HORIZON tw: none • words: 906

the line at which the earth's surface and the sky appear to meet

A slash of metal rang out across a jungle surrounded clearing, long legs sweeping back in a rather clumsy manner to avoid a second swing; tall form, enveloped in a long, inky blue jacket swiveled wide before bringing his second blade around in a crescent with his movements to slice at the side of his offender.

An arm moved to try and deflect the blow, only instead receiving the strike and causing the blade held to drop. “Fuck!” Words came in a hiss as the stranger shuffled back and away from the duel-weilding man before him, who grinned.

“You can just let me go, we can forget about this,” the taller man offered an out for the now-disarmed Seeker, shoulders raising in a shrug and his head canting to the side, sending blond locks across his features.

“You fucked me over, Kin,” the man said, daring to dart forward for the sword which lay nestled in the grass. Kin, the pale scaled Au Ra let out a laugh, lunging forward with his blade to ensure the gentleman before him did not reach his goal, foot coming to slam down upon the sword.

“Me? I would never,” he barked. “You just pick shit mates, Rihl.”

An irritated growl came from the Seeker at that, lunging forward rather quickly - a little too quickly - and slammed his fist against the scaled jaw of the Au Ra. His head leered back with his own hiss, eyes blinking a little to get rid of the daze as the Seeker, in turn, pulled his hand back with another swear. His knuckles still closed, and blood dripped from now broken skin.

Kintaro let out a huff through his nose, bringing the back of one of his hands up to his pointed scaled jaw and swiping at the blood with his sleeve. “Was that necessary?” He’d ask dryly.

“Yes.”

With an idle swing of one of his swords, it was brought to return to its sheath with a soft hum in the Raen’s throat. The other stayed out, as a foot hooked under the sword on the ground and kicked it up towards the Seeker, not in a threatening manner, more a lazy motion. The Seeker let out a yelp and scattered to the side as the very sharp weapon was now coasting towards him in the air. It landed in the grass by his feet with a thud. The Seeker went to grab it almost immediately, albeit a little confused as to why the Raen’s advantage was given up.

“Listen,” Kintaro began, bowing slightly at the hips before he would begin to pace from side to side. “You know as well as I do, we can both spend all evening here, fighting it out. One of us will win, either by killing the other or making them yield - and, frankly,” his second blade was then brought to rest into its sheath on his other side. “I can’t be fucked with that, Rihl. I have places to be. You have places to be. Why would we waste each other's precious time like that?”

The Seeker, still holding his sword out, furrowed his brow. “Then give me what you owe me,” the words came out a demand. At least he still had his sword.

Kintaro, ever the good man he was, raised both his hands up with a sigh. “Fine,” he relented, reaching into his coat to procure a bag. It jingled as gil would when shuffled about. He had made sure in his pacing he was further away from the Seeker, and with an underarm throw, lobbed it at the Seeker. While it was mid air, and the man was focused on trying to catch it, the Raen turned and began to walk away, and would then sprint.

“Was that so ha-” the Seeker caught the bag with another rattle of metal, only to see Kintaro sprinting off into the treeline and down towards the beach. His brow furrowed, sword sheathed, and he hurriedly opened the bag to ensure gold sat inside.

It did not, instead just cheap tin that was shaped like gil and made a similar enough noise. “You mother fucker-” his words cursed loudly, as he began to sprint after the long legged man.

Kintaro had the advantage of size, long legs and enough grace he could leap over logs and the likes towards the rickety pier which housed the rickety boat in which he had used to get here.

Less gracefully, the rope was pulled free as the Seeker came speeding down from the treeline after him, he gave a kick of the vessel sending it out into the water and he jumped in after it. He braced a foot on the side to ensure he didn’t fall, and tried to counter weight the momentum he had caused, as the boat started to slip away in the calm enough waters. Quick enough he sat down, long tail sweeping to the side, before grabbing the oars to row himself further away from the shore as the Seeker came to a skidded stop at the Pier, shouting at the Raen who just laughed as he became quickly out of reach.

The rowboat slipped further towards the horizon, where the bright blue skies melted into the deep blue sea, and land was not far beyond it. This would probably come to bite him in the ass, eventually. But that was not today’s concern.

[oneluckygoose]

O'Knutzy Week Day 1

Yoooo, O'Knutzy week finally!! (I won't be able to reply at ALL because I am away, this is a scheduled post, but I will when I get back!!!)

All characters created by the absolutely amazing @lumosinlove and this event is gloriously made by @oknutzy-week-2024

Here is part one of the fic I did for romance novels, it includes pinning, a touch of angst, and Finn and Logan being in love.

Characters: Finn O'Hara, Logan Tremblay, mentions of Alex O'Hara and Hannah (lastname, Idk it)

WARNINGS: Mentions of blood and recent injury, concussion, cursing, like five words of smut (it is cut off very quickly)

Summary: Finn has just had his first concussion and is fed up of doing nothing, so Logan reads a particular book to him.

Word Count: 1,974 (Tumbler won't let me post all of it, so 641 under cut)

Harvard: January, 2016 Logan sighed, gritting his teeth as he tried to silently push into the pitch black room. The new blackout curtains were shut tight, blocking off the watery Massachusetts sunlight. Alex had brought them out from a back closet the day Finn got discharged from the hospital before he left. It seemed OKN wasn’t unfamiliar with the light levels required for a recent concussion. Finn had been hit six days ago by the Yale winger. The moment was constantly on repeat in Logan’s mind, it had been since the second it happened. There was still the phantom slick of Finn’s blood on Logan’s hand. Finn stumbled towards their seat on the bus; Logan looked up from his fresh bag of twizzlers and coke from the gas station to meet his eyes. Logan realized with a start that they were shrouded with pain, his brow knit tight and mouth twisted into the same face he made when he was hurt. Logan’s heart dropped into his stomach as Finn reached the seat and tripped on the side as he tried to slide in. Logan surged up to catch him as Finn collapsed onto him. Logan’s hand shot around his waist and to the back of his head to try and steady him. Burying his head into the crook of Logan’s neck, Finn mumbled, almost inaudibly, “Hurts, Lo.” Dread washed over Logan as he remembered the back of Finn’s skull bouncing so many, too many, times on the ice. He had insisted he was fine, but Logan had counted the seventeen seconds Finn had been unresponsive, a sickening match to the number printed on his back. Logan pulled him in tighter, hands burying in Finn’s damp hair. “What hurts, Rouge?” Logan whispered frantically, then his heart froze. Finn had taken a shower almost an hour ago, his hair should be dry by now. Just as Logan pulled his hand away to look, Finn’s voice came pained and muffled, “Head.” Logan stared at his hand in the lamplight filtering in from outside the bus and almost vomited at the sight. It was covered in slick and glittering red. The most powerful fear Logan had ever felt hit Logan like a truck: Ice flooding into his veins, his stomach turning, his mind going void of all thoughts, pulse picking up to a screaming pace. He was pretty sure his heart stopped beating as his voice raised, “COACH GET TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW!” He felt Finn tense under him at the volume. The only thing Logan remembered until they got to the hospital was clutching onto Finn and whispering Finn’s name over and over again. Finn had been allowed to go home the day after. Logan tiptoed into the room, wincing when his bag thudded on the ground when he set it down. It was the first time he had left OKN since they got back from the hospital, but Finn had said he would be fine and Logan couldn’t afford to miss another math class. Logan glanced towards Finn’s bed to see brown eyes open in the darkness, and Logan gave up on trying to be silent. It wasn’t like he was doing a very good job anyway. Finn’s voice was soft in the darkness as he breathed, “Logan.” Logan went over and crouched in front of him, hand sliding onto Finn’s wrist hanging over to feel his pulse, which was gloriously steady. Trying to keep his volume as low as possible he whispered, “Shouldn’t you be asleep?” Finn groaned, pulling his arm away to throw it over his eyes. “I’ve been sleeping. Five days, Logan! I don’t think I’ve ever stayed this still in my entire life!” Finn’s voice was much stronger than it had been since he got hit. It made a knot in Logan’s chest loosen ever so slightly.

[melancholic-muffin]

So I've played DA:TV for some thirty hours and have Thoughts. Longish rant incoming. (Disclaimer, I didn't read any additional material between DAI and now, but I strongly believe that a game should stand on its own anyway)

Is the writing there solely to avoid fanwank in socials? All of Rook's allies are now good guys and all bad guys support the gods and are evil because they love evil in contravention of common sense and established lore.

The Antivan Crows, a bunch of paid killers in addition to other fucked up parts (buying orphans and all the rest of Zevran's backstory) are now upstanding patriots defending their country against an occupant who is Evil. They even establish a field hospital after the dragon attack if you don't help Treviso. They seem to be a nice family business hindered by a nasty bureaucrat who is nasty because he's a bureaucrat, Mass Effect-style (maybe there's more about it if you play more, idk). This just makes the game less interesting! You are spared discomfort as a player by the game forcing you to ally with an immoral faction, while completely ignoring the elephant in the room that is the fact that the Crows are a bunch of paid killers! And we're supposed to take it at face value!

With Antaam, apparently they split off from the main Qunari faction and allied with the gods (why would devout Qunari even consider that, it seems completely in contradiction to their stated beliefs). Cause they aren't the "whole" Qunari we don't have to worry about painting the whole culture in bad light, there are some okayish Qunari far away and we just have an invading force which is Bad without much nuance. (Again, hopefully further in the game it gets more complicated but for now you just kill Qunari soldiers cause they're Bad. Contrast it with DA2, my beloved, where at least you had to consider how to handle the Qunari without killing them all from the start.)

I really want to like Taash's storyline and the Lords of Fortune, but:

I mean it's nice that the writing recognizes that stealing cultural artifacts is wrong? (Isabela, at least, should have some experience with that.) But the way it's presented, worded in a very "modern" way in conversation with Taash, again just takes away any moral ambiguity or potential conflict. You, the player, should be able to pat yourself on the back for being a sensitive and upstanding person. I would love to see a storyline about a conflict between being a treasure hunter and wanting to do right by other cultures. ON. SCREEN. Not just as a part of the background to alleviate my delicate leftist sensibilities.

Also I haven't played more than Taash's first quest when her mother kind of criticises her for acting like a man and it's like, why does this voluntarily exiled Qunari person has my own mother's lines? She doesn't look like a middle-class Polish woman! Again, it would be a great place to actually do some worldbuilding regarding nonbinary persons in this fantasy universe, but we get "why don't you wear dresses". And after Taash talks to Maevaris we get a codex entry that looks like a Wikipedia page in ad 2024 (or written by a genAI, what.)

Apparently the design decided not to show any problematic elements of Thedas, so even though it would be thematically appropriate we haven't seen yet:

city elves (all elves either seem to be Dalish or ??? - we don't get to see any city elves and their culture, which would be fascinating to see in the new regions we can now visit!)

slaves (which is hilarious, I play a shadow dragon - an anti-slavery rebel - and the game hasn't shown me an actual slave on screen despite spending a fair bit of time in Tevinter. If I hadn't played any of the previous games I wouldn't actually have known why Tevinter is fucked up. That said, we also haven't seen a Tevinter mage who would be acting... like a Tevinter mage and wasn't Venatori. So, centuries of oppressive regime which should be upheld by people not in the cult are now limited to this one cult which isn't even adequately described on screen. What do they want? I guess they're evil cause the love being evil.)

who Venatori actually are (no actual NPC's were shown so far, only enemies) - I mean it seems WILDLY out of character for a magister-supremacy cult to willingly serve elven gods but who the fuck cares, they're evil so they're on the side of the villain. We only have one villain side cause otherwise it would be confusing.

And, worst of all:

All your companions act like they have been in therapy. I mean Emmrich gives Bellara a work-life balance pep talk. Rook sounds like a coach when giving advice (without input from me, the player). It's actually jarring how nice everyone is. I mean this might be a personal preference, but the whole team seems like a well-adjusted workplace. They're coworkers! They like each other and that's it! Why aren't they fucked up! Why don't they hold opposing views? I think it's always stronger writing if your companions actually represent in-world viewpoints (so they are given an actual face) and therefore come in conflict with one another. (Or just dislike one another). Here, everyone is so nice because they don't actually have beliefs that are strong enough to have an argument.

So, yeah. The whole thing feels sanded down. No teeth. Obviously, in the previous games writing wasn't perfect and you could make a lot of arguments that when portraying a thing that reflected a real-life issue they made a lot of missteps. Fine. But at least it felt like someone cared about it. Like they wanted to tell a good story and good story needs conflict. Like the genre was actually dark fantasy and they decided to show some fucked-up things to make the player care about the world. Here, I don't really get much of an emotional reaction because if feels like a shiny bauble. Pretty, a bit hollow.

Which is a fucking shame because it's really pretty and I like the lore drops and it's a DA game, a series on which I imprinted like a baby duck. Well, I played DAO when I was 19 and now I'm in my thirties and I actually don't care all that much about a game that looks designed by a corporate committee with all the grit and depth of a Marvel movie. Or maybe I'm just jaded and need grimdark to feel an emotion, who knows. (I've been replaying Rogue Trader instead of playing Dragon Age, who the fuck would have thought).

Anyway, I'll probably finish it at some point, but there is something wrong at the core of the design here. Or maybe I'll just replay DAO and DA2 because they can't take that away, right?

[thetypedwriter]

What the River Knows Book Review

What the River Knows Book Review by Isabel Ibañez

Mystery, murder, romance—this book has it all. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a fun and thrilling young adult novel set in the late 1800’s in Egypt.

The main character, Inez Olivera, finds herself making the long trek from Argentina to Egypt in order to solve the mystery of her parents and try to figure out along the way why they always left her for six months every year to go visit their beloved Egypt. 

I want to say more about the plot, but it’s better if you go in knowing as little as possible (although the book jacket gives away way, way too much—avoid reading it if you can).

If a headstrong Latina main character who won’t take no for an answer, multiple mysteries that intersect and keep you turning the pages, a witty and actually good enemies-to-lovers romance, and a beautiful setting filled with magic and history alike sound alluring to you, then you will adore this book as much as I did. 

The characters in this book were all multi-faceted and interesting. Inez herself, while not perfect, was a pretty infallible main character, especially considering that even though she’s a sheltered young lady living in a Bridgerton-Esque society, she’s incredibly determined, intelligent, witty, brave, and not worried whatsoever about societal etiquette.

I’m not saying that women weren’t capable of having these qualities in 1884, but Inez acts like a modern, independent woman living in 2024 instead of a person from her own time period. This annoyed me from time to time, but overall, it’s a small criticism to accept in the face of such a fun book. 

The other characters all added good depth to the story, including the British love interest, Whitford Hayes, and Inez’s remote and closed off uncle, Tio Ricardo.

Instead of welcoming Inez to Egypt with open arms and charming smiles, they are cold and distant, constantly calling her a headache and telling her to go back home. 

Inez, unwilling to leave until she’s solved the mystery of her parents, slowly carves out a place for herself amongst her uncle’s archaeology team, proving herself as a talented artist and as a capable adult.

As the book continues, more characters are introduced but I found the relationship between Inez and Whit and Inez and her Uncle the stars of the show. 

Inez’s feelings around her family were complex and nuanced. Her love for her parents simultaneously warred with her anger at them, her attraction to Whit danced alongside her rejection of his alcoholism and the fact that he works for her uncle, she desired her Tio’s acceptance and love while also being wary and suspicious of him. 

These intricate relationships were one of the things I enjoyed the most about What the River Knows. However, emotions were not always Isabel Ibañez’s strong suit.

My other main criticism of this book was a strange lack of emotional beats during certain scenes. Sometimes Inez’s emotions were spot on and multi-dimensional—portraying the thoughts and feelings of a real human being dealing with enormous change and shocking events.

Other times, however, I felt like Inez focused on the completely wrong thing while enormous occasions of magnitude were occurring. I won’t spoil what these are, but she would learn a harrowing filial detail and comment for a page and a half instead on how attractive Whit was. 

….Like what? It’s the equivalent of having a tornado hurtling towards your house and only remarking instead on what your crush posted on instagram. The gravity of what Inez focused on didn’t always make sense. 

For a main character who’s supposedly so mature and smart, it was a bad stylistic choice that she didn’t reflect or even think about massively significant events happening in her life during different moments in the plot beyond a few simple phrases. It bothered me just as much as I thought it was a dead give away. 

Isabel Ibañez tries to create some twists and turns in this novel—all of which I predicted because Inez simply didn’t think about a particular issue too deeply.

Whenever that happened, it was a clear indicator that more was going to happen with said issue. I think Isabel Ibañez was trying to be sneaky and subtle, but instead it made it glaringly obvious and shallower than the book needed to be. 

While some of Isabel Ibañez’s emotional beats scored and others failed, her descriptions of Egypt always succeeded. I’ve never read a book set in Egypt before and I loved all the descriptions about it.

From the lurid details of the Nile, the history involving Britain’s imperialization, to the food, language, and architecture, Isabel Ibañez did an incredible job setting the scene and making it magical. 

And while her words were magical in of itself, Isabel Ibañez also literally made her world magical by having artifacts imbued with old world sorcery.

The small slice of life fantasy elements never interrupted the story too much, but every time a small piece of magic would arrive, I devoured the explanation of what it did, how it worked, and its connection to Ancient Egypt. 

By the time I turned the last page of What the River Knows, I had thoroughly enjoyed myself. The characters, the world, the relationships—it was all a beautiful concoction that allowed me to overlook the flaws I perceived while reading.

While I don’t think this is a perfect book by any means, it was really thought out and different from other YA books in the sense that the tropes Ibañez uses were all very well executed, especially the enemies-to-lovers romance (which is getting increasingly saturated and cliched in the YA market). 

I am excited to read the sequel and can’t wait to discover Inez’s next adventure, her relationship with Whit, more information about her parents, and the continued world building that helped make this book such a charming read from start to finish in the first place. 

Recommendation: If you want a Bridgerton-Esque tale with hints of magic, complicated family relationships, and set in the fascinating land of Egypt, this is the book for you.

Even if you don't like all those things, this is still the book for you because it’s a great book that will hook you one way or another, be it the romance, the history, the low fantasy, or the crocodile-packed action sequences.

Score: 7/10

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

august 22_september 4

MARTYR AGATHONICUS OF NICOMEDIA, AND THOSE WITH HIM, WHO SUFFERED UNDER MAXIMIAN (4th c.)

The Martyrs Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian, Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305).

The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia. Well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its “princeps” or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine (lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols. He took Zoticus with him.

In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for trial by the emperor.

But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus, Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the chariot of the governor because of wounds received during torture. Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.

The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.

VENEABLE ISAAC ( ANTIMONOV, THE "ELDER" OF OPTINA(1894)

Saint Isaac, in the assembly of Optina elders, represents a type of ascetic-builder. For 32 years, he headed Optina Monastery, devoting himself entirely to the monastery, taking care of the brethren, continuing to create that particular “Optina” spirit that his predecessors planted. He took over the management of the monastery after the death of Archimandrite Moses. He was abbot during the flourishing of the monastery—during the time of the Elder Ambrose, and his successors in eldership, Father Hilarion and Father Anatoly (the Elder). Under his leadership, the future Elders Joseph, Barsanuphy, and Anatoly (the Younger) grew and developed. Archimandrite Moses revived Optina Monastery after a period of desolation, and Father Isaac continued his work, consolidating the state of the monastery, while not sparing himself from hard labor for its improvement. Elders Macarius and Ambrose blessed him in the difficult obedience of superior, seeing the high spiritual qualities, prayerfulness, simplicity, and humility of Father Isaac, and from these the ability to take care of the organization of the monastery—both external and internal.

It may seem that the Elder Isaac, who carried the cross of superiorship, dwells, as it were, in the shadow of the elders who spiritually nurtured the monks and pilgrims of the monastery—Ambrose, Hilarion, and Anatoly. Little of his teachings and statements were saved, so there are no such detailed memories of him. But this is his special achievement—by carrying the heavy burden of economic affairs of the monastery, he served the brethren and pilgrims, revealing an amazing height of humility. Behind his simplicity is an amazing depth, integrity, and strength of spirit. The period of his superiorship was the best time in the life of Optina.

Antimonov Family

Ivan Ivanovich Antimonov (the name of Saint Isaac in the world) was born on May 31, 1810, and was descended from an eminent, wealthy merchant family of the city of Kursk. The Antimonovs had the title of honorary citizens. The patriarchal spirit reigned in the house of the Antimonovs; the way of life was built strictly in accordance with Church rules, and only respect towards elders and obedience to them were accepted. Thus, the skills of piety and obedience, which are so important for a monk, the future ascetic received in his own home.

The head of the house was Ivan's grandfather—Vasily Vasilyevich Antimonov. He was particularly zealous to attend divine services. His eldest son Ivan Vasilyevich had thirteen children from three marriages. Ivan Jr. was the last, fifth child from his first marriage with Anna Puzanov. Little Ivan was a favorite of his grandfather, who often took his grandson with him to the church. Vasily Vasilyevich visited the church every day—he went without fail to the Matins and Vespers services.

Ivan Vasilyevich inherited his father’s piety and love for the Church, according to his upbringing; his simplicity and good disposition towards people produced a favorable impression on everyone. A family story is preserved about Saint Isaac’s father’s journey to Kiev in 1809 to the elder, Hieromonk Parfeny, who greeted Ivan Vasilyevich with the words: “Blessed be the womb that gave birth to a monk.” In raising the young Ivan and other children, he adhered to strict rules but never allowed himself to be rude to the children. He did not raise his hands at them—although at that time this was common in merchant families. The children, while behaving respectfully towards their father, loved him at the same time.

The Antimonov family enjoyed universal respect in the city for impeccable honesty, true piety, and wide charity—they were generous donors for Church needs and helped the needy. In the house there was even a certain day of the week appointed in which alms were given to the poor.

It was in such an atmosphere that Ivan Ivanovich’s years of childhood and youth passed. Details about this period of his life do not survive, but it is known that he was distinguished by modesty and was fond of silence. At the same time, despite his reserved nature, Ivan was endowed with natural gaiety and wit; his presence always enlivened family gatherings.

Life in the World

Upon reaching mature age, Ivan Ivanovich began to help his father in trade affairs. He constantly had to deal with people, give orders, and conduct financial calculations. He knew how to find an approach to a man, and he won people over by his heartfelt kindness and sense of justice. He had the most beneficial influence on his subordinates; he forced them to end any habit of fraud, any attempts to act deceitfully. Immaculate honesty in business earned Ivan Ivanovich universal respect.

Although strict in his requirements, the venerable one never took offense. Such a case is known: one of his workers, a man of obstinate nature, because of the constant punishments that Ivan Ivanovich gave him for carelessness and audacity, decided in his mind to kill him. When this became known to him, Ivan Ivanovich forgave the worker and released him, not handing him over to the hands of justice... Continue reading

2 Corinthians 3:4-11

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

Matthew 23:29-39

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' 31 Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your father's guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

[7grandmel]

Todays rips: 02/02/2024

Simple and Clean (Psi Mix) and Simple and Clean (Omicron Mix) and Simple and Clean (Gamma Mix) and Simple and Clean (Mu Mix) and Kingdom Hearts-type beat

Season 4 Episode 1 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume L [Side B]

Ripped by Keeby10

Season 4 Episode 1 No Album Release (Read More) Simple and Clean (Omicron Mix) - Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories II

Ripped by Keeby10

Season 4 Episode 1 No Album Release (Read More) Simple and Clean (Gamma Mix) - Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories II

Ripped by Keeby10

Season 4 Episode 1 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume L [Side B]

Ripped by Keeby10 Visuals by SparkBag

Season 4 Episode 1 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume AI

Ripped by Moder112

Suddenly, the memories all come flooding back.

Ever since I started taking this blog seriously, I'd known what today's post would be. I've celebrated a good few events on here - Christmas, Halloween, Voiceless Week, and so forth. Yet for the second of February - the day of the sequel - there was only one event fit to be covered. The legendary Chain of Memories II Day.

I wanted to make sure, before the day of reckoning came, that I'd made a post covering long-time ripper ShonicTH, as he's very much at the core of this event and all that surrounds it. As I described in Trial of the Heart, ShonicTH was one of the first members on SiIva that felt recognizable from their output alone, due purely to just how prominent his love for Kingdom Hearts and its music was. Soon enough, that expression of love would extend into ironic shitposting, as we got exposed to what one could consider an inside joke turned channel meme. As a Kingdom Hearts megafan, ShonicTH was aware of a subset of the community on YouTube who would post "remastered" music uploads from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, only for the remastering effort to simply be slathering the original tracks in heaps of reverb. That is of course terrible for the sake of remastering, but undeniably fucking hilarious for the sake of ripping to SiIvaGunner - it wasn't long until we'd start seeing reverberating rips of Chain of Memories posted to the channel, and not long therafter where a very iconic catchphrase would begun being spread in the comments of each one of them.

"LOL with all that reverb and also it being KH, I know exactly who made this one. Good stuff my dude." -SSB_Seal, SiIvaGunner YouTube Comments

In SiIva's later years, the idea of SiIva uploading rips that have no intention of sounding good is kind of just commonplace, be it with Sex - Steve Harvey or even Snowball Park - Super Mario 3D World. But what the Chain of Memories reverb in-joke would eventually culminate into, on ShonicTH's birthday on May 13th 2017, was an entire day dedicated to these rips: the entire game's soundtrack of 38 tracks were ripped and all posted to the YouTube channel at the exact same time, promptly flooding the sub boxes of anyone who wasn't prepared. Chain of Memories Day became the sort of thing I would tell horror stories about to my friends, the perfect example of just how thoroughly unpredictable SiIvaGunner was, and how fucking funny it was all along the way.

But that's the thing - it was, in some small way, able to be predicted. If you'd been following ShonicTH's imprint on the channel up until May 2017, and knew that it was his birthday, you could've at least been prepared for what was to come. NOBODY was able to be prepared for the secondcoming - Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories II Day.

Season 4 Episode 1's main mission statement, before being wholly engulfed in the King for Another Day Tournament, was to make a season more unpredictable and chaotic than anything the channel had been before. And on August 31st, we saw perhaps the best demonstration of those efforts - 69 rips from a made up sequel game, 28 of which were some sort of absurd spin on the theme song Simple and Clean, uploaded at the span of once per minute. To call this day a rollercoaster would be an understatement.

Because, like, as only the second rip posted across the event, Kingdom Hearts-type beat began as sort of giving us false hope. Compared to the rips of the Season 2 event, it was just a pretty neat trap remix of the Hollow Bastion theme, with little indicating the intents of the rips to follow beyond just being moderately trashy in the way trap music tends to be. That room for doubt would be soundly squashed in the minutes to follow, as every rip seemed to be getting worse than the last. Simple and Clean (Gamma Mix) is, in no uncertain terms, LITERALLY just noise, as four separate poorly-done covers of the original song are laid atop one another with a metric fuckton of reverb, as the culmination of three prior rips each adding one more garbage cover onto the pile. Simple and Clean (Omicron Mix) features a bizarre audio recording of a poorly done Donald Trump impression, pretending to hold a speech whilst actually just reading the lyrics to Simple and Clean, althewhile a Kazoo blasts faintly celebratory music in the background. The amount of layers of irony at play to be making one of the channel's first-ever jabs at America's most ridiculed man take place during an event like this is simply incredible, and its the kind of rip that's so thoroughly unfunny that it loops back to being comedy gold.

To say that the day was painful would be one thing, yet it was the kind of pain that felt like a genuinely unbelievable experience to be part of. After Simple and Clean (Mu Mix), I think most of us expected the event to be over, with the typical Snow Halation celebration video a la Snow Halocean and its many predecessors. And yeah, despite the dubious quality of the cover, Simple and Clean (Mu Mix) was still giving the event a sort of "final" feel, as the rapid uploads halted at a nice, sufficient 29 rips.

Only a few minutes later, the rips would continue as if nothing had even happened - we'd been utterly bamboozled.

Having lived through both the Chain of Memories Day events makes me feel like a genuine survivor of war, yet when looking back on the events in hindsight I can't help but let out a sickening, yet joyous cackle. And I wanted to put Simple and Clean (Psi Mix) as the headlining rip of this mess because how well it encapsulates that joyous side to it all - through the reverb and through the context, you can tell that Keeby10 was genuinely having a ton of fun preparing all these bizarre rips for the event. SiIvaGunner is a fantastic source for quality, amazing rearrangements, but as I talked about in Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday - as performed by Bob Dylan, there's something so thoroughly enjoyable about seeing the human nature behind the channel shine through from time to time. Simple and Clean (Psi Mix) isn't going in anyone's playlist of bangers, but it embodies so much of the fun that defined the event, and by extension so much of the affection that the team clearly hold for ShonicTH and his niche in-joke about Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories music remasters.

It was hell on earth to try and pick just five rips for this silly gimmick post, let alone if I were to have picked just one - so, if you're feeling truly insane one particular morning, to go through the event yourself and see if you can make it through on the other side.

[bilightningwhumper]

@flufftober 2024- Day 1: Lost Pet Meet Cute

My Flufftober 2024 Masterlist . Next>>

"Weary Rest" Masterlist --- TNEI Tumblr Masterlist

Summary:

Excerpt for "Weary Rest" (Sleeping Beauty retelling) Petal makes a new friend at the Evergreen Heart Medical Center. Well, two new friends.

Notes:

Characters: Petal (name in progress)- Sleeping Beauty Fion- Prince

Ao3 link

Word count: 816

Petal PoV

The doctor said that they could go outside whenever they wanted. Preferably when it was healthy to, of course. Petal had been assured if a thunderstorm or heatwave happened that the staff would rather them indoors and wouldn’t keep them locked out like Master had.

Even still, as Petal tentatively made their way out into the large garden, they expected to be stopped by any of the nurses that they passed. But no one did. No one headed them back to their room. No one shouted or scolded them. Only a few people acknowledged them as they passed by, smiling at them rather than scowling.

By the time they had gotten to one of the sun-warmed benches, the tension was nearly gone from their shoulders and chest. A soft breeze tussled their hair as they opened a book they’d randomly grabbed from a shelf in the common room. Actually looking at it now, they could see it was some sort of romance novel. How ironic.

Sighing, they settled into the corner of the bench, propping themselves against the arm and back of it. They’d already grabbed the book and the idea of going back inside only to trek out again wasn’t exactly appealing. Even if their therapist said that going outside the ‘comfort zone’ was good for them. Just… one step at a time.

So they tucked their legs up to their chest, opening the book on top of their knees and started reading. Kind of.

It was hard to get absorbed in the book when they kept looking up and around them on instinct. Every small sound could be someone coming to take them back inside. Every shadow reminded them of Master’s. Maybe they should just go-

Sniff sniff, huff

They nearly jumped out of their skin. Looking up, they didn’t see anyone. Well, until they looked down at their book and saw big black eyes out of the corner of theirs.

A… dog?

It was fluffy, with yellow-golden fur. Big paws for its small body. Soft black eyes still looking up at them. Petal didn’t think it was a puppy, but it definitely wasn’t full grown either. There was no collar, though it did wear a vest like they’d seen on service dogs. Its tail was still on the ground and it seemed calm, just observing the omega.

Petal offered out a shaky hand to it.

The dog replied by sniffing it quietly before getting up onto the bench with them. Nosing past the book, it made its way into Petal’s lap, resting its head down there.

They… honestly weren’t sure what to do about their new companion. But the weight and warmth was comforting to their shot nerves. The dog didn’t seem to mind as Petal used it to prop up their book, seeing as their legs were now occupied, flattened under it.

Just as they were getting to a chapter beginning with the two main characters meeting for the first time, someone spoke behind them.

“Oh, there you are.”

Looking up from their book, Petal saw a young man enter their line of vision. He didn’t seem to be talking to them, but to the dog.

Petal’s furry friend reacted to the newcomer with a gentle thump thump on the bench before going still again.

Then the stranger’s attention turned to Petal. “Looks like one of our service dog trainees has taken a liking to you.”

The intensity of his striking green eyes made them look away, face flushing slightly. “It wasn’t on purpose.” they mumbled.

“Oh no, it wouldn’t be. Not with Lincoln.” he said, waving his hand in the air. “Out of all our trainees, Lincoln is the most obedient in his group. But also the one with the keenest sense of smell, so he must’ve sensed your stress levels on this nice breeze when we’ve been having.”

Blinking, Petal looked down at the dog. “That’s a thing? Like, actually a thing?”

“Yep, which is why we’ve been training him for deep pressure therapy, like he’s doing for you right now.”

That actually made a lot of sense, now that Petal stopped to think about it. They’d been feeling a lot better since Lincoln had found them.

Looking up, they asked, “Does he… Can Lincoln stay here? Just for a little longer?”

A smile from the young man had warmth filling Petal’s chest again.

“Sure! I don’t see any issue with it, seeing as Lincoln is getting some practical experience this way. When you’re done reading, just bring Lincoln up to the front desk and let them know he’s one of Fion’s dogs. They can get him back to me no problem.”

Fion. It suited him.

Petal nodded, smiling gratefully as they threaded their fingers into Lincoln’s fur.

It wasn’t until Fion walked away and was out of sight that they realized they hadn’t remembered to introduce themselves as well.

TNEI Taglist:

@scoundrelwithboba

[astrogurujimayanksblog]

Horoscope Today: September 16, 2024

Aries (Chu, Che, Cho, La, Li, Lu, Le, Lo, A)

Today, despite a hectic day, your health will remain in good condition. You will also have enough money and peace of mind. A better understanding with your life partner will bring happiness, peace, and prosperity into your life. Wait for a new relationship for happiness. Work conditions will seem to turn in your favor. You know how to give yourself time, and today you may have plenty of free time. You might play a game or go to the gym in your spare time. Suspicion cast upon your life partner today may negatively impact your married life in the coming days.

Taurus (I, U, E, O, Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo)

Today, avoid fatty and fried foods to keep yourself healthy and fit. A creditor may come to your door asking for a loan, and paying them back might cause financial strain. It is advised to avoid taking on new debts. Domestic problems may arise, so think carefully before speaking. It is an ideal time for a marriage proposal, as your love may transform into a lifelong partnership. Your mind may not focus on office work today, and you might be caught in confusion, preventing concentration. In your free time, consider reading spiritual books, which might resolve some of your troubles. Today, you might get emotional after realizing the deeper aspects of your married life.

Gemini (Ka, Ki, Ku, Gha, Nga, Cha, Ke, Ko, Ha)

Today, you need to be more cautious about your health, especially if you have blood pressure issues. A new financial agreement will be finalized, and money will come your way. Apart from decorating your home, pay attention to your children's needs, as children bring joy and enthusiasm to the house. Enjoy life to the fullest while spending time with your beloved. You may hear some good news at the office today. While talking to your family, something you say may upset them, and it could take some time to resolve the issue. You will feel that your life partner has never been better.

Cancer (Hee, Hoo, He, Ho, Da, Dee, Doo, De, Do)

Today, avoid letting unwanted thoughts take over your mind. Try to remain calm and stress-free, which will increase your mental strength. This is not a very profitable day, so keep an eye on your expenses and avoid spending excessively. Someone you trust might not be telling you the whole truth. Your ability to persuade others will prove effective in solving upcoming difficulties. Use your expertise to resolve professional matters smoothly. It’s important to complete tasks on time so you can make time for yourself. If you procrastinate, you won’t be able to find time for yourself. Your married life has never been more colorful than today.

Leo (Ma, Mi, Moo, Me, Mo, Ta, Tee, Tu, Te)

Today is a very good day health-wise, and your cheerful nature will boost your confidence. Financial problems have stifled your creative thinking. If you participate in social events and gatherings, you might expand your circle of friends. You may be missing someone special today, making your smile feel incomplete. You will find success in completing many small but important tasks that have been pending for a long time. If you are traveling, remember to carry all necessary documents. Interference from neighbors may cause trouble in your married life, but the strong bond between you and your spouse will be hard to break.

Virgo (To, Pa, Pee, Poo, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po)

Today, you will have an abundance of energy, but the workload might make you irritable. You may receive financial gains due to your children, which will bring you immense happiness. Young people may seek advice on school projects. Whether it’s office politics or a dispute, the situation seems to be in your favor. You may plan to indulge in your favorite activities today, but work overload might prevent it. Your spouse may surprise you today, bringing you joy.

Libra (Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te)

Your confidence will grow today. You may take your family members on an outing, which might require significant spending. Your friends may make the evening enjoyable by planning something special. If you do not give enough time to your beloved, they may get upset. Focus on work and avoid emotional discussions. Some Libra students may waste their time watching movies on laptops or TV. Today will be a beautiful romantic day, but you may face some health concerns.

Scorpio (To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu)

Today, participating in sports and outdoor activities will help you regain lost energy. You may take a significant step today to strengthen your business, and a close associate may provide financial support. Your spouse’s negligence may increase the distance between you two, so spend quality time together to revive sweet memories. Romantic plans might be sidetracked by your partner’s health issues. Your focus on work may be diminished due to a family issue, and business owners should keep an eye on their partners, as they may cause financial losses. Miscommunication with loved ones could lead to unnecessary conflicts, so be mindful of your words.

Sagittarius (Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha, Bhe)

Creative work will bring you peace today. You may find yourself spending money on several things, so it’s essential to create a good budget plan. A distant relative may contact you today. Your work will be appreciated in the office. You might spend your free time today watching a web series on your mobile phone.

Capricorn (Bho, Ja, Ji, Khi, Khu, Khe, Kho, Ga, Gi)

If you do not rest enough today, you will feel overly tired and may need extra relaxation. You might gain financial support from your maternal side, possibly from an uncle or grandfather. Your thirst for knowledge will help you make new friends. A small disappointment in love will not be able to discourage you. Work conditions seem to be turning in your favor. Don't hesitate to give advice when asked for; you'll be praised for it. Today, you might see a side of your spouse that you may not like.

Aquarius (Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So, Da)

Today, focus on physical well-being, especially gaining mental strength through meditation and yoga. Before leaving the house, seek blessings from elders, as this may lead to financial gains. It’s a good time to take your parents into confidence regarding your new projects. Your partner’s love for you is deep and real, and today will reaffirm that. It’s a great day for outstanding performance and important tasks.

Pisces (Di, Du, Tha, Jha, Jna, De, Do, Cha, Chi)

Outdoor activities and sports should be part of today’s entertainment. Some people may have to spend money on real estate-related matters. Most of your time will be spent with friends and family. If you want to make your lover your life partner, today might be a good time to have that conversation. However, make sure you understand their feelings first. A day filled with stress may lead to disagreements with close ones. Indulging in good food, fragrance, and joy will make the day special with your spouse.

[head-post]

Harris ahead of Trump in fierce debate

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris forced her Republican rival Donald Trump to get defensive in a combative presidential debate, according to Reuters. (Updated 11 September at 11:20 a.m.)

A former prosecutor, Harris, 59, repeatedly prompted Trump, 78, to deliver a series of responses about his suitability for office, support for abortion restrictions, and legal challenges.

Eight weeks before the election and days before early voting begins in some states, the debate offered both candidates a rare opportunity to make their case to a television audience of tens of millions of voters. The candidates clashed on immigration, foreign policy, and health care, but the debate contained few specifics.

Instead, Harris managed to focus on Trump, leading her allies to cheer and some Republicans to acknowledge Trump’s challenges. He repeated his claim that his defeat in the 2020 election was due to fraud, called Harris a “Marxist” and argued that migrants have caused a surge in violent crime.

The candidates also traded accusations about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, though neither gave specifics on how they would seek to end each conflict.

How it proceeded

The debate, hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, began at 01:00 GMT on Wednesday with a surprise handshake between the two opponents, who had never met before. Harris approached Trump at his lectern, introducing herself by name, marking the first handshake at a presidential debate since 2016.

The candidates began the debate by focusing on the economy, an issue that opinion polls showed favoured Trump. Harris criticised Trump’s intention to impose high duties on foreign goods, while praising her plan to give tax breaks to families and small businesses.

Harris lambasted Trump over his criminal conviction for hiding secret cash payments to a porn star, as well as other charges and a civil judgement finding him guilty of sexual assault. Trump denied guilt and again accused Harris and Democrats of orchestrating all of the cases without evidence.

The vice president delivered a lengthy criticism of abortion restrictions, speaking passionately about women who did not receive emergency care and incest victims who could not terminate their pregnancies because of state-level bans. She also stated that Trump would support a national ban.

Harris also tried to link Trump to Project 2025, a conservative political plan proposing to expand executive power, repeal environmental regulations, and make it illegal to transport abortion pills across state lines. Trump responded that he had “nothing to do” with Project 2025.

In turn, he criticised Harris for constant inflation during the Biden administration’s term. He said it “has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, for every class.”

Meanwhile, American musician Jonnie King suspected Harris of cheating, accusing her of using an audio earring.

Kamala Harris war wearing Nova H1 Audio earrings tonight whic are wireless earphones during her debate with Donald Trump. This is why she was seen continuously taking notes with her pen during the debate, when it was explicitly agreed upon before that there would be NO notes.

Early outcomes

Pop star Taylor Swift told her 283 million Instagram followers immediately after the debate that she would support Vice President Harris and her running mate Tim Walz in the 5 November election.

Online prediction market PredictIt 2024 showed that the likelihood of Trump winning during the debate dropped to 47% from 52%. Harris’ chances, meanwhile, rose to 55% from 53%. The polls also show that the vast majority of Americans have already made up their minds, leaving a small portion of undecided voters.

In a sign of confidence in the outcome of the debate, Harris’ campaign staff challenged Trump to a runoff in October. Afterwards, Trump took the rare step of going to a nearby “spin room.” He later stated:

This was my best debate. She wants it because she lost. I have to think about it, but if you won the debate, I sort of think maybe I shouldn’t do it. Why should I do another debate?

The meeting was particularly important for Harris, as opinion polls showed that more than a quarter of likely voters felt they did not know enough about her. She entered the race just seven weeks ago after President Joe Biden left office.

Presidential debates do not necessarily change voters’ minds, but they can carry profound implications. Biden’s poor performance against Trump in June forced him to abandon his campaign on 21 July.

Read more HERE

[yutopia-eleftheria]

Criminal Case Inkember 2024

Part 4 : Day 25 to 30

After Inktober 2024, let's get to Criminal Case Inkember, held by @inkembercriminalcase on Instagram ! This time, we have the choice between 2 characters for each Prompt, which I find amazing because this could develop your creativity even more ! You can even do it with both characters, or even others !

Here is the Prompt List :

RULES ! (I gave it to myself to add more "punch" and "difficulty", just like I did with Inktober, but less rules because it is already centralized into one Fandom) :

No duplicates of characters ! If a character is drawn in a Prompt, I cannot draw this character ever again, even if it's somewhat fitting for the theme (considering the amount of characters in these games, it should not be difficult).

"15" Classic Drawings, just like Inktober.

15 Minimalist Drawings, just like Inktober as well.

Switching between Classic and Minimalist : For example, if Day 1 is Minimalist, Day 2 will be Classic, and so on.

Note : Two Days of this Inkember will unfortunately be scrapped because of the Eternals Posters Series. Therefore Day 6 and 20 will be scrapped...Unfortunately...(Whic also means that 2 Classic Drawings will be scrapped, and the order was adapted to Eternals to somehow fit with it).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 25 : Gwen / Luke : Autumn

Character Selected : Gwendolyn "Gwen" Harper

Style : Minimalist (13/15)

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 20 Minutes

------

Day 26 : Sam / Adam : Monster

Character Selected : Both

Style : Classic ("13"/15)

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 59 Minutes

------

Day 27 : Belinda / Morgana : Morning / Night

Character Selected : Both

Style : Minimalist (14/15)

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 30 Minutes

------

Day 28 : Carrie / Émile : Food / Drink

Character Selected : Both (though Émile is more visible)

Style : Classic ("14"/15)

Added Characters : Nadia Ben Yamin (Left ; White Outfit) / Hugo Mercier (Middle ; Red Outfit)/ Jean-Philippe Delacroix (Right ; Dark Blue Outfit and Darker Skin Tone)

Time Taken : 1 Hour and 43 Minutes

------

Day 29 : Céleste / Éléonora : Fashion

Character Selected : Éléonora Macaron

Style : Minimalist (15/15)

Added Characters : None

Time Taken : 26 Minutes

------

Day 30 : Bonus ! : Free of Choice

Character Selected : Jarper McEnroë (my OC)

Style : Classic ("15"/15)

Added Characters : Emma (OC belongs to @tasnia._.9793 on Instagram ; Request)

Time Taken :