#Adventures of Indian boy
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Strangus Derangus (Book #1), In the Bear's Den (Book #2) & Adventures of Little Shambu by Reena Ittyerah Puri, Savio Mascarenhas (Illustrator)
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#6-in-1 chapter book#Adventures of Indian boy#Adventures of Little Shambu#Book Blog#book blog feature#Book blogger#Book review#book review blog#Books Teacup and Reviews#Children Fiction#Children&039;s book#Eclectic Book Blog#illustrated#In the Bear&039;s Den#Indian Author#Indian Book Blogger#Indian Fiction#Puffin Books#reviewer#Strangus Derangus#Tinkle comics
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What character are you in the Catilandi Nocturnal Kingdom? Wolfie Howles or Grace Batswell?
Tell us in the comments below, guys.
#mighty meow and super lucha#mighty meow#catilandi#welcome to catilandi#catilandi ready for adventure#wolfie#wolfie howles#grace#grace batswell#wolf#bat eared fox#wolves#indian wolf#indian wolves#bat eared foxes#pleasant boy#sleek girl#catilandi nocturnal kingdom#what character are you#character#character choosing#pawesome#pawesome twosome#nocturnal animals#canis lupus#otocyon megalotis#cute and cuddly#cute#canidae friends#choose one character
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Be all that you can be.
......
Tehri Lake known as Adventure Tourist place. Tehri Lake includes many different and varied activities, The 440-metre long Dobra Chanti bridge is India's longest motorable single lane suspension bridge built on tehri lake Uttarakhand.
#riding yogi#travel videos#adventure#travel photography#yogi baba#uttarakhand#indian travel vloggers#lucknow boy#explore india#bikers of india#dobra Chanti bridge#tehri lake#tehri dam#longest bridge#longet suspension bridge in india
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I think the biggest evidence that some members of the hs fandom have no understanding of the alphas is seen especially with the characterisation of jake being the big lumbering adventurer when the whole gag is he is not that guy
he talks about being afraid of the monstsrs on his island, largely preferring to stay in his room to watch movies instead of facing them. he tells AR he's only interested really in adventures he knows he can win he doesn't care too much for challenges.
Adventures are all about the fun for him. He wants the magic and the exploring and the puzzles but not the conflicts. Hell, he's the most conflict avoidant person, he'll actively choose to go down the path of least resistance cause it's easier, and in his lil boy brain it'll make all parties happy.
you even see it when jake is kidnapped by crockertier! Jane when he finally breaks down crying about how he doesn't wanna do any of this anymore. the adventure stops being fun and starts getting too real and jake wants to pull out. he's just a lil guy, who isn't equipped to deal with some of the shit he's been but through, he's just a lil guy.
The whole point of hs is that they're all just kids who fall hopelessly into this caricature of themselves that they've created, this version of themselves they "want" to be or think they should be but they're really not that person deep down. the kids are often unreliable in their narration of themselves or certain aspects of their life. hell you see this in how brain ghost dirk is almost always much more seething in his remarks towards jake compared to anything the actual dirk has said (that we've seen).
And people read the way these kids describe themselves and believe them whole heartedly as though these kids aren't chronically in denile about themselves more often than not.
tldr:
hes not this big sexy Indian Jones, he's just a lil cutie pie that wants the movie magic style adventures
#jake english#homestuck#ttrickshot#its not his fault hes rizzed up#hes just drawn that way#jake hs#hes probably autistic too but thats my hc
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Mythological Inspirations: Matar Paneer Cookie Edition
So, where did Matar Paneer- nah I don't feel like making this joke again. Indian curry dish + crazy lion lady + demon slaying goofball pretty boy. BOOM.
Next installment of "Merchant rants about how far she went designing these fankids into a void for 10 hours"
Same as/with/for Pepper Jack, I researched and took inspiration from Egyptian and Hindu mythology while drafting up Matar Paneer. If Golden Cheese is Ra, and Burning Spice is Shiva, and Pepper Jack is the bennu bird + Ganesha... what does that make our little lady here?
Remember how Shiva has two sons? Jack is already one, so Paneer is, naturally, the other one. She takes after Kartikeya, second son of Shiva and Parvati, god of war and victory.
Kartikeya's primary color is red. So Paneer's is, as well. It's her favorite color and what she likes to wear the most. (It's also partially because of Burning Spice lol. Red will always = Papa to her to some degree)
Kartikeya is armed with a divine spear called Vel, which was a gift from his mother. Though Paneer wields and favors her katar, she will one day carry a spear alongside them, also a gift from her own mother (can't wait to tell that story haha)
One of Kartikeya's symbols is a peacock; this is because he has a giant peacock (named Paravani) as a mount. Likewise, I had Paneer befriend a peacock, which will one day grow big enough for her to ride around on herself (can't wait to tell that story either! I personally like my little interpretation of Paravani. Matar Paneer and her little bird bestie haha)
Kartikeya has a very innocent and playful personality; he's quite silly and mischievous, and likes to mess with things for fun (ex: messing with planets' orbits, stacking mountains on top of each other, stopping the flow of the Ganges river, etc). Paneer is quite similar (something else I didn't know beforehand, I swear. Paneer being a little gremlin just like the god she ends up taking after is another happy coincidence), going on little adventures and making messes and having... destructive tendencies like her Papa lol. (But she never means any harm. She's a good kid, she's just a bit impulsive and reckless)
Sometimes, Kartikeya is depicted with six heads (varies by scripture). Bit of a stretch, but I thought of having Paneer own six masks, each one wildly different from the other, that she'll often wear for fun. (I'll explain this better in another post)
Kartikeya is credited with defeating many monsters and demons, minor and major. So Paneer will grow up to become a renowned demon slayer, just like him (spoiling the end of her story there lol)
Golden Cheese is clearly inspired by Ra, Egyptian god of the sun and head of the pantheon (it's extra obvious with her Awakened form lol). The stories vary wildly from what I've seen, but the most baseline concept is that Ra has 3 daughters. Believing her to be the most fitting, I chose to have Paneer take after Sekhmet, Egyptian goddess of war, chaos, plague and medicine.
Sekhmet's primary color is also red. More red for our little lady. (All the war gods like red, so predictable smh)
Sekhmet is extremely violent and bloodthirsty, as her profession suggests. Born from the fire in Ra's eye, her main purpose in life is to protect him, help uphold cosmic order, and punish mortals for disobedience towards either. Paneer is... quite temperamental lol. Very strong-willed, very easily frustrated, very emotional. Fiercely protective of those she loves. And she can be... vengeful. Very, very vengeful. I will not elaborate further because it's spoilery as fuck lol
Like most of the other gods, Sekhmet is a furry part animal, with a woman's body and a lioness's head. Also a bit of a stretch, but... a certain young lady is getting a lioness tattoo on her back when she's an adult, as a nod/homage haha. Also, Golden Cheese's special nickname for her is "little lioness"
Sekhmet is often depicted with a lotus in one hand, and an ankh in the other. There, now you know why Paneer has a lotus in her hair lol (she's also getting an ankh tattoo when she's an adult, on her left wrist since that's the hand Sekhmet is always seen using to hold it (Paneer is getting a lot of tattoos when she's older, as you can see))
The Egyptians very much believed in names having power (common idea in the ancient world, really, but they were extra into it), so Sekhmet, like all the other gods, has like a billion names lol. To keep things simple (I counted 15 names the first time I looked into her and I'm pretty sure there's more), Paneer only gets a few: "Red Lady" (this one in particular), "Lady of Slaughter", "Mistress of Dread" and "She Before Whom Evil Trembles". The first three, people in general give her as a result of her actions/accomplishments (demon slayer, remember?) and are meant in a positive, reverent way (sometimes with a small touch of fear, admittedly). The last one is what High Priest Cheesenbird calls her. He has a term of affection/endearment for both children
Sekhmet can breathe fire; in fact, the Ancient Egyptians often credited/associated her with the hot desert winds because of it. I think I said this before already, but Paneer is a fire breather, too (she can light her hands and feet on fire, as well. Not a full-on firebender but not too far away)
In an interesting contradiction, Sekhmet is a goddess of both disease and medicine. She's bitter and wrathful, and causes plague outbreaks as a form of punishment for mankind... but she cures them, too. She's feared and looked to for salvation at the same time. She's even considered a patroness of physicians and healers. So... Perhaps our little firebreather has a hidden knack for healing, too. A secret power. One that's only noticed by another healer who would know how to spot and nurture such a talent *cough*Pure Vanilla*cough*. Maybe. Perhaps 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Also, here's some doodles of more general things just because
There's little Paravani lol. Hopefully I actually start improving as an artist eventually, so I can draw Paravani better (or more in line with how he looks in my head. I don't really want a regular looking peacock, that's boring)
There's the little cheese lotus Paneer wears in her hair. Just used the one in the Golden Cheese Kingdom decor set as a reference 😅
Ankhs r cool 2 draw. Also, fun fact: they symbolize immortality and reincarnation. Reminds you of her mom, doesn't it? Haha
Tried to draw her katar (Indian knives. Basically Wolverine claws). They were a gift from Cilantro Cobra (she's alive and well in my personal canon ok 😫), and she went the extra mile to have little symbols engraved in both. Burning Spice's in one, Golden Cheese's in the other
She's supposed to have little green earrings that look like green peas ("matar" means green pea, "paneer" is the Indian cheese. Literally "green pea cheese" lol). Her design references the food she's supposed to be a lot more than Jack's, I think
Ok I'm done now. I'm sorry this post was so late. I'm also sorry this is all on paper and in shitty ass lighting, me no have drawing tablet. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk
#someone please tell me I'm actually getting better at art lol#I'd like to think I am... you can't improve if you don't try in the first place right?#please be patient with me regardless I'm trying my best here. Someday I'll be capable of more than grade school scribbles#cookie run kingdom#burningcheese#goldenspice#cookie run fankid#cookie run oc#matar paneer cookie#also I hope you guys like Paravani haha#can't think of a more... Cookie Run sounding name atm. So he's just Paravani for now
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My Headcanons for the Spice Tolerance of various members and associates of the batfamily.
DICK: He isn't a wimp, but also not a spicy fan. Give him sweet any day. He'll eat the hot sauce from your local mexican restaurant but will avoid spicy challenges at all costs. Has been burned by Jason's food more than once. Does have a liking for sour candy.
BARBARA: Not terrible, but very much not her thing. She likes sour and occasionally bitter. She will not eat your hot sauce. Handles it much better than some, but would rather not purposefully eat pain, thank you very much.
JASON: Spice King. There is almost no food he will not try. Had a high spicy tolerance before he died, after the pit and his world travels, nothing phases him. He loves Alfred's cooking, and it will always be his comfort food, but his palette is way more adventurous. He will only tone his cooking down for Alfred and Barabara. If anyone else wants to eat his food, they can shut up and deal. He doesn't have to feed them.
I don't really have an opinion on Helena. Probably similar to Dick's.
TIM: The biggest wimp to ever wimp. His taste buds are mostly destroyed, so if you feed him spicy food, he won't notice for the first five minutes. Until he realizes his mouth is on fire and is finally distracted from whatever he is working on. The burning will linger for the rest of the day, and he won't talk to the person responsible for a week. He used to gulp water until Steph told him that makes it worse, and he should use milk instead. He figured coffee has enough milk content. Both Damian and Jason have used this against him.
STEPHANIE: Suprisingly impressive. She can nearly match Damian, and no one but Cass can tell she's dying inside towards the end of the hot sauce challenge. She once attempted to eat Jason's spiciest dish while looking him dead on before bailing to the bathroom about six seconds in. Jason never told her it wasn't quite the spicest dish he makes.
CASSANDRA: She doesn't like spicy food and is fully okay with that. Sure, she can tolerate it, but as Barbara said, why would she willingly eat pain? Jason doesn't mind because it is Cass, and she's really chill about it. He'll give her the mild version he makes for Alfred and Babs.
DAMIAN: Obviously, he can handle spicy food, how dare you insult his constitution, plebian. Nothing in the U.S. is going to trip him up, especially nothing in New Jersey, but there are spices he would rather not suffer through, though he will never admit to such a weakness.
KATE: Enjoys spicy food, but European level spicy. She can handle anything found in Italy, no problem, but Indian becomes a problem.
ALFRED: He is English. No, he doesn't like spicy food. He will never like spicy food. This is okay, we still love him.
BRUCE: It is a very good thing he has a nearly perfect poker face because Talia would never have married such a wimp. Feed the white boys (Tim and Bruce), a pepper, and watch Ra's al ghul loose all interest. That's my solution. Cannot handle the slightest spice. The grocery store mild salsa is a danger to him. Will lie to your face about it. Lives in fear of his family discovering this weakness.
#Batfamily#batfam#spicy#batfam headcanons#dick grayson#nightwing#robin#jason todd#barbara gordan#oracle#batgirl#red hood#LOA#Red Robin#tim drake#damian wayne#damian al ghul#damian wayne al ghul#spoiler#stephanie brown#orphan#black bat#cassandra cain#cassandra wayne#bruce wayne#batman#alfred pennyworth#kate kane#batwoman
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Summaries under the cut
Tiffany Aching by Terry Pratchett
Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds - black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors - before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone...
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Miranda is an ordinary sixth grader, until she starts receiving mysterious messages from somebody who knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Swept off course by a raging storm, a Swiss pastor, his wife, and their four young sons are shipwrecked on an uncharted tropical island. Thus begins the classic story of survival and adventure that has fired the imaginations of readers since it first appeared in 1812. With optimism and boundless enthusiasm, the Robinson family undertakes the extraordinary task of constructing a home for themselves and exploring the primitive island filled with strange and beautiful creatures and exotic fruits and plants. Rich in action and suspense, The Swiss Family Robinson is an exhilarating novel takes us to a faraway place of danger and beauty, where the courageous Robinson family embarks on a thrilling new life of adventure and discovery.
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
At first, Omri is unimpressed with the plastic Indian toy he is given for his birthday. But when he puts it in his old cupboard and turns the key, something extraordinary happens that will change Omri's life for ever.
For Little Bear, the Iroquois Indian brave, comes to life...
The Belgariad by David Eddings
Myths tell of the ancient wars of Gods and men, and a powerful object - the Orb - that ended the bloodshed. As long as it was held by the line of Riva, it would assure the peace.
But a dark force has stolen the Orb, and the prophecies tell of war.
Young farm boy Garion knows nothing of myth or fate. But then the mysterious Old Storyteller visits his aunt, and they embark on a sudden journey. Pursued by evil forces, with only a small band of companions they can trust, Garion begins to doubt all he thought he knew...
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. By the time the last diary shuts, there have been great changes in the Mortmain household, not the least of which is that Cassandra is deeply, hopelessly, in love.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Beneath the kitchen floor is the world of the Borrowers -- Pod and Homily Clock and their daughter, Arrietty. In their tiny home, matchboxes double as roomy dressers and postage stamps hang on the walls like paintings. Whatever the Clocks need they simply "borrow" from the "human beans" who live above them. It's a comfortable life, but boring if you're a kid. Only Pod is allowed to venture into the house above, because the danger of being seen by a human is too great. Borrowers who are seen by humans are never seen again. Yet Arrietty won't listen. There is a human boy up there, and Arrietty is desperate for a friend.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico--she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--Mama's life, and her own, depend on it.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city of Venice.
Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, obsessed with disguises and the health of his pet tortoises. But a greater threat to the boys' new-found freedom is something from a forgotten past – a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.
Dork Diaries by Renee Russel
Nikki Maxwell is not popular, in fact Nikki Maxwell is the opposite of popular; she's a total dork! But Nikki's hoping that by moving to a new school she might just stand a chance of making some friends and leaving her old lame-ways in the past. But life is never that simple... Follow Nikki's life through sketches, doodles and diary entries as she starts her new school, battles with her mum for an iPhone and meets her arch-nemisis, the school's queen bee, Mackenzie.
#best childhood book#poll#tiffany aching#when you reach me#the swiss family robinson#the indian in the cupboard#the belgariad#i capture the castle#the borrowers#esperanza rising#the thief lord#dork diaries
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KJ Charles has breathtaking range. And it's all so organically diverse and vivid and excellently paced and clever.
Doomsday books -- Smugglers of Romney Marsh in 1810–20s in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars.
Society of Gentlemen -- Clash between the royalist establishment and radical republicans in the last years of Regency.
Sins of the Cities -- Small businesses and trade of the Industrial Revolution in London's immigrant quarter (taxidermy of all things!), Victorian spiritualists and musical hall artists in the 1870s.
Lillywhite Boys -- London criminal underworld, bluestocking feminists, private detectives, colonial gem trade, the rise of industrialists in the 1890s, and pre-Victorian folk Christmas traditions.
Charm of Magpies -- Shanghai traders and Chinese immigrant communities of London in the late 1800s.
England World -- Nascent British intelligence agencies and new technology in the shadow of the Boer War in the 1890s + integration of Indian nobles from its last kingdoms with elite British society + classism and xenophobia in British antisemitism
Will Darling Adventures -- The reverberating social, political and economic changes from the aftermath of WWI and further development of intelligence organisations during the 1920s.
Just finished Band Sinister, which touched on Hellfire Clubs, the emergence of new medicine, atheism, and challenge Creationism from the fields of natural science, and Black British life before abolition. Currently reading Unfit to Print, which seems to be about London's underground pornography trade with character focus on the shared plight of Black and Indian immigrants from the colonies and their mixed race offspring. Charles's body of work really brings home that the 19th century was a full hundred years long and the distinct character of every decade. And that the real and authentic history of Britain had people of every race, religion, colour, disability, neurodiversity, gender and sexuality who have been deliberately erased by the same power structures that kept them disenfranchised and ghettoed back then.
#british history#british culture#black britain#british immigrants#british colonialism#historical fiction#queer history#queer historical fiction#queer historical romance#mlm romance#kj charles#book recs#book recommendations#knee of huss
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Genderqueer Folktales (part 2)
I’ve gathered some new gender nonconforming folktales since making part 1, so it’s time for a new post! Again, please keep in mind these are all translations and products of their time. I will still attempt to put some modern-day labels on them to make them easier to navigate:
The Story of the Maiden-Knight Indian legend, published in 1916, based on the Mahabharata.
[Cw: being outed, threat of violence, awkward use of pronouns.]
A king prays for a son to go to battle his enemy, but the god Shiva reveals to him that he “should have a son who should first be a daughter”. Accordingly the child born to them – Shikhandi – is raised as a boy and married to a princess. When he finds out the situation the bride’s father is furious however, and wants to go to war over it. Shikhandi goes into the forest, in the hope that without him there will be no war. There he meets a kind Yakshas (nature spirit) who is willing to lend Shikhandi his manhood until he has saved his father from this threat. But when the king of the Yakshas finds out about this he decrees that the Yakshas will not get his manhood back until Shikhandi’s death.
The Stirrup Moor Albanian folktale, published in 1895.
[Cw: violence, king attempts to steal son’s wives, some uncomfortable descriptions of a black person.]
A prince, through his many adventures, wins the love of three wives: one human lady, one jinn princess, and one Earthly Beauty (a type of fae-like spirit from the underworld). The latter of the three regularly changes between her supernatural female shape and her chosen human form, that of a black man. In this male shape he is a formidable warrior and helps protect both the prince and the other wives. All four eventually live happily ever after.
The Boy-Girl and the Girl-Boy A Gond folktale from Central India, published in 1944.
[Cw: attempt at being outed, awkward use of gendered terms and pronouns, some doubt as to whether the AFAB protagonist is completely happy with the physical change.]
An AFAB child is adopted by a Raja, who accepts him as his son. Near the palace an old woman raises one of her many AMAB children as a girl and arranges a marriage for her. The young couple is very startled at finding out they have “the same parts” but there are not other repercussions. Later the young wife doesn’t dare to go bathing with the other women and meets the Raja’s adopted son, who has run away and changed himself into a bird. The bird offers to “exchange parts” and both protagonists end the story with a body matching their presented gender.
The Girl Who Became a Boy Albanian folktale, published in 1879.
[Cw: preoccupation with sexual ability, attempts to kill protagonist.]
AFAB protagonist answers the king’s call for warriors, dressed as a man. After several great deeds the young man wins a princess’s hand in marriage in another kingdom. He is liked at the court, but they feel obliged to get rid of him because he seems unable to consummate his marriage. He survives every dangerous task, however, and finally is sent to confront a snake infested church. The snakes curse him to become a boy, after which he returns to the court and all ends well.
With an affectionate mention for the 13th century French poem Yde and Olive, which was brought to my attention by @pomme-poire-peche. You can read about this brave princess-turned-knight married to a loyal princess here.
#trans representation#gender nonconforming folklore#genderqueer folktales#trans fairy tales#sources#laura retells
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All my dead boy detectives ideas for rps or fanfics
(If they already exist as fanfics, please let me know so I can read them.)
If you are interested in any of these, just text me
Boarding school au
Essentially just Edwin and Charles as humans suffering in a very strict boarding school with cruel punishments. Also including this torture device from Esther and the chokey (this shelf punishment from Matilda) Edwin has been trough it all and tries to protect Charles from it as good as he can. And Charles manages to let them sneak out to the nearest city, which is London.
Gender swap au (modern au or like the show)
A story about the daughter of Charle’s sister (the comic Charles had a sister so this part would be canon) and the great great grandniece of Edwin. That go to the same school and start to help each other against bullies. And maybe even accidentally find a way to the dead boy detective agency.
Crystal x Niko
Anything about them really. Like give them the romance they deserve. Maybe they solve a case together. Or Crystal find Niko after she is believed dead (this one would be after season one I haven’t read the comics and this is I think a story line which is different then in the original material so all just headcanon) Crystal finding a shrink Niko who is with the dandelion gods and they get rescued by Crystal.
Just Charles and Edwin solving a case after season 1 and Charles discovers his feelings for Edwin. Also them being this funny old married couple
Charles rescuing Edwin from hell but more romantic and more adventurous with a thigh room (I just love the scene too much)
Charles teaching Edwin how to kiss properly, plot twist Edwin is already a natural talented good kisser (as ghost or as humans, setting before season 1 or before Edwin’s trip back to hell)
Baby and or toddler Edwin (set after season 1) (I will probably write this as a fanfic myself) taken
During a case Charles gets infected by something and gets set in a trance. While Edwin and Crystal try everything to find out how to help him, Charles’ mind gets send back in time to the Edwardian age. Somehow he is the new servant for the Payne family that is explicitly hired to take care of Edwin. Edwin is a fussy baby and shows strange behaviours due to his autism. His parents of course just want him to behave like a grown up already and are overwhelmed with how to take care of him. Luckily Charles isn’t from this time, that’s why he knows that first of all cocaine isn’t medicine that you can give a baby and he generally knows Edwin’s needs. (Disclaimer he doesn’t fall in love with little Edwin that would be weird, but he has the opportunity to give Edwin memories of at least a nice childhood before the horrible boarding school, and he to paradoxically time reasons, Edwin in the normal time can only remember a blurry version of this memory and having a very nice servant who was half Indian)
Charles and Edwin at the beach taken
Body swap (a classic but always fun)
Niko season 2 (Niko X Crystal)
A story in which Niko is old like in the end of dbd. She has been trough a lot of time troubles and needs to manage a lot to help the agency. Sadly she has no chance to tell them, she is not allowed to reveal her identity. But that might change once Crystal notices her feelings for the Niko she lost. Will she find out?
For reference to my rp rules and character preferences and how to contact, click here
Those are all I got for now. This list will be updated frequently depending if I come up with other ideas.
#dead boy detective agency#dead boy detective#dead boy detective netflix#dbd#dbd fanfic#dbd rp#dbd roleplay#dead boy detective rp#edwin payne#payneland#niko sasaki#niko x crystal#charles rowland#charles x edwin#crystal#ideas
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my brain is fried i'm so overtired I've cried spontaneously at least once a day for the past three days will you please help a girl out with a soft cozy wholesome movie recc please and thank you
I’m so sorry my dear!! I dug to the depths of a bunch of old tag games and my film tag and this is what I came up with!
when I’m strung out I tend to gravitate to movies that will make me happy-cry so this list will at moments tend in that direction. I tried to sort by what was available to stream now, and the sub-lists are in no particular order
if you have amazon prime (the basic package):
Penelope (2006). highly recommend, a funny little modern fairy tale about a lonely young girl searching for a way to break her curse. this one heals something in my heart
Stardust. also highly recommend! a chaotic fairy tale about true love and what a person would do for it.
Street Gang. the Sesame Street documentary. sometimes people are good and they’re trying to make the world a better place and they’re doing it with their friends.
How To Train Your Dragon. it’s a perfectly executed film and the score and animation is gorgeous. (also available on netflix)
if you have netflix:
Feel the Beat. a dance flick about a seemingly cold-hearted ambitious young woman becoming a dance teacher in her hometown
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. so so so rewatchable.
She’s the Man. the funniest movie on this list and possibly of all time. I have never shown this movie to a person who didn’t end up loving it. it’s Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at boarding school as a soccer movie
if you have tubi?? you might not need a membership I don’t know how tubi works??
The Music Man. some of the best costumes and choreography my favorite age of movie musicals had to offer. a con man comes to a small Iowa town and starts to want to believe in the beautiful lie he’s selling.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. this movie was written by Roald Dahl and it is buck wild. widowed inventor and his two children buy a broken down racing car and?? hijinks and musical numbers ensue
if you have disney plus:
Princess Diaries (1&2). we know them, we love them.
Sky High. if you haven’t seen this, I highly recommend it because it is silly fun but it understands the genre it’s playing with.
Newsies (1992). scrappy newsboys form a union, sing songs, punch each other, ???, profit
Holes. the single best adapted book to film ever? the cast commentary is also hilarious
Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderella (1997). absolutely delightful. Whitney Houston as the godmother! Jason Alexander as the butler! Brandy as Cinderella! Bernadette Peters as the stepmother!
if you feel up for a trip to the library, things to look for:
The Hundred Foot Journey. I only saw this one once but it’s about a family who opens up an Indian restaurant across from a Michelin-starred French restaurant and it’s gorgeous
A League of Their Own (1992). sisters! best friends! married women and their disreputable drunk coach friends!
The Secret Garden (1993). highly recommend! this one fixes me down to my bones.
This Beautiful Fantastic. also highly recommend! a woman who’s afraid of the world falls in love with it.
Secondhand Lions. also highly recommend!! a boy gets dropped off with his great-uncles for the summer, hears possibly made-up stories of their wild and adventurous youth
August Rush. a young musical prodigy searches for his parents.
Sense and Sensibility (1995). if you need Austen energy, this is the one.
Cinderella (2015). this movie is so gentle and so lovely.
Little Women (1994). life is gonna be hard and sad but it’s gonna be beautiful and the love will endure!!!
I hope this helps and I hope you feel better! ❤️❤️
#I didn’t put Far From the Madding Crowd on here because it gets a little fraught in the middle there#but the ending is so so so comforting to me#I didn’t put love and monsters or speed on here because they are full of love BUT they are stressful#more so than the stuff here#asks
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Equity Education and Mutual Justice Resources: The Book List
Anti-Racism and Intersectionality How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil by W.E.B. Du Bois On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care by Victor Ray
You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience by Tarana Burke (Editor) Brené Brown (Editor) Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
So You Want to Talk About Race By Ijeoma Oluo
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Mutual Aid, Direct Action, Organizing, and Community Building
Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care by Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes
Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law by Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution by Pyotr Kropotkin
Living at the Edges of Capitalism: Adventures in Exile and Mutual Aid by Andrej Grubačić
Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin
We Do This 'til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice by Mariame Kaba
Practicing Cooperation: Mutual Aid beyond Capitalism by Andrew Zitcer
Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies by Andrea Ritchie
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis Anti-Capitalist and Anti-Colonialism Education
The Poverty of Growth by Olivier De Schutter
Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom by Derecka Purnell, Karen Chilton, et al.
The Future Is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond Capitalism by Aaron Vansintjan, Matthias Schmelzer, and Andrea Vetter
Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics by Marc Lamont Hill, Mitchell Plitnick, et al.
Anthropocene or Capitalocene? Nature, History, and the Crisis of Capitalism by Elmar Altvater (Author), Eileen C. Crist (Author), Donna J. Haraway (Author), Daniel Hartley (Author), Christian Parenti (Author), Justin McBrien (Author), Jason W. Moore (Editor) (Also available as a PDF online)
Dying for Capitalism: How Big Money Fuels Extinction and What We Can Do About It by Charles Derber, Suren Moodliar
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder History and Political Science
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Black Marxism, Revised and Updated Third Edition: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition by Cedric J. Robinson
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
Palestine: A Socialist Introduction by Sumaya Awad (Editor) and Brian Bean (Editor)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander (this technical book also has an organizing guide and study guide)
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
Time's Monster: How History Makes History by Priya Satia
We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance by Kellie Carter Jackson
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley
Indigenous Knowledge
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (there is also a version of Braiding Sweetgrass for young adults)
Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future by Patty Krawec
Indian Givers: How Native Americans Transformed the World by Jack Weatherford
Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources by Kat Anderson
Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes Through Indigenous Science by Jessica Hernandez Disability Education and Rights Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk
Crip Kinship: The Disability Justice & Art Activism of Sins Invalid by Shayda Kafai
Pandemic Solidarity: Mutual Aid during the Coronavirus Crisis by Marina Sitrin (Editor), Rebecca Solnit (Editor)
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire by Alice Wong
The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes, and Mourning Songs by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Refusing to Be Made Whole: Disability in Black Women's Writing by Anna Laquawn Hinton
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price (this author also has a guide on the same topic)
Queer Issues
We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation Hardcover by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution by Susan Stryker
Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman by Leslie Feinberg
Stonewall: The Definitive Story of the LGBTQ Rights Uprising That Changed America by Martin Duberman
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe (graphic novel) Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J Brown
A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski
The Gay Agenda: A Modern Queer History & Handbook by Ashley Molesso and Chessie Needham
They/Them/Their: A Guide to Nonbinary and Genderqueer Identities by Eris Young
Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman
This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson (Author) and David Levithan (Contributor)
Nonbinary For Beginners: Everything you’ve been afraid to ask about gender, pronouns, being an ally, and black & white thinking by Ocean Atlas
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Gender: A Graphic Guide by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele (Illustrator)
Resources for Kids and Parents
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families by Rachel E. Simon (Author) and Noah Grigni (Illustrator)
This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids: A Question & Answer Guide to Everyday Life by Dan Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo This Book Is Feminist: An Intersectional Primer for Next-Gen Changemakers by Jamia Wilson and Aurelia Durand (Illustrator)
Unlearning White Supremacy and Colonialist Culture
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo
Black Rage by William H. Grier and Price M. Cobbs
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell (Author) and Aurelia Durand (Illustrator)
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
Gender Trauma: Healing Cultural, Social, and Historical Gendered Trauma by Alex Iantaffi
The Politics of Trauma: Somatics, Healing, and Social Justice by Staci Haines
Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority by Tom Burrell
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
Articles and Online Resources (Including Research Articles)
White Supremacy Culture by Tema Okun, at dRworks (This is a list of characteristics of white supremacy culture that show up in our organizations and workplaces.)
Reflections on Agroecology and Social Justice in Malwa-Nimar by Caroline E. Fazli
Mutual Aid Toolbox by Big Door Brigade Mutual Aid Resources by Mutual Aid Disaster Relief No body is expendable: Medical rationing and disability justice during the COVID-19 pandemic by Andrews, Ayers, Brown, Dunn, & Pilarski (2021)
A Marxist Theory of Extinction by Troy Vettese
Intersectionality Research for Transgender Health Justice: A Theory-Driven Conceptual Framework for Structural Analysis of Transgender Health Inequities by Linda M. Wesp, Lorraine Halinka Malcoe, Ayana Elliott, and Tonia Poteat Know Your Rights Guide to Surviving COVID-19 Triage Protocols by NoBody is Disposable
Finally Feeling Comfortable: The Necessity of Trans-Affirming, Trauma-Informed Care by Alex Petkanas (on TransLash Media)
'Are you ready to heal?': Nonbinary activist Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs gender by Jo Yurcaba
Gender-affirming Care Saves Lives by Kareen M. Matouk and Melina Wald
What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill
Note from the curator: Please use your local libraries when possible! Be #ResiliencePunk.
#Free Palestine#Anticapatalist#ResiliencePunk#Disability Justice#Food Justice#Mutual Aid#Resource List#Recommended Books#Disability#Social Justice#Anti Colonization#Black Rights#Agroecology#Queer History
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The most random out-of-order Nimona headcanons I've scrambled out of my mind and put in my notes as coherent as I could bc there's a LOTTTT
• I don't think Nimona uses specific names to label her sexuality/gender. Was she in love with Gloreth? Maybe she was. Maybe she was not. Does she like boys? Who knows, she sure doesn't. What's her gender? Nimona. That's it
• I think Ballister did try to be the cis ally™ and figure out the label Nimona would use but she'd just shrug her shoulders and say "I don't know, boss, it seems like you care about it more than I do"
• And even though she's NOT a girl, she uses she/her pronouns because 💥YOUR PRONOUNS DON'T DEFINE YOUR GENDER💥 you may use she/her and not be a girl, he/him and not be a boy, I even saw cis people use they/them simply bc they're comfortable. And that's okay!
• Although she's comfortable with people calling her he/they/neopronouns you name it. Just. Not it/its. You know the reasons😬
• Nimona is left-handed and it's CANON actually I am SO HAPPY as a left-handed person she's just like me fr💥💥
• Nimona isn't a big fan of domestic bliss Ambrosius and Ballister spend most of their time in (plus they're very sappy and very much disgustingly in love, Nimona's stoic organism can't handle their mushiness for the dear life), she's like an independent cat I think: comes to hang out, eats, spends time with her father-not-really figures and goes away for weeks only to come back again. She travels the world my dudes✨
• I think she has a bunch of photos from the places she'd been to and talks about her adventures a lot!
• Nimona also is the best cook of the fam I'm afraid. Ballister cooks, like, the bare minimum to serve himself as a functioning adult (rice, salad, pasta, some meat like you know the deal) but nothing too complicated. Ambrosius is a nepo baby who's probably lived in palaces and mansions with dozens of servants do you really think he's good at cooking😭 as he distanced himself from the Institute and moved in with Bal I think he learnt to cook, still not great at it.
• Nimona though? SHE CAN DO *ANYTHING* like she's madly good at cooking. It might look like she's burning the kitchen down only to reveal that she was putting Gordon Ramsay to shame!
Speaking of BallBros
• Ballister's experience is close to a second gen immigrant. Ambrosius's experience is close to a third gen immigrant. They can't be immigrants bc of the context of the story?? I DON'T CARE☺
• Ambrosius doesn't speak his mother tongue except for like a few words or phrases he's heard at home. His older relatives probably make fun of him for it on family gatherings. His parents didn't teach him because they didn't want him to stick out (totally not self projecting here - yeah I'm a third gen immigrant hiii)
• Ballister tho? I think Urdu was his first language but he learned English along the way
• And it kinda mixes in his head so he forgets the words from both languages sometimes and replaces them with the word from the other one (HA my experience again)
• When he's experiencing hard emotions, be it anger, happiness, sadness, or is overwhelmed, he drops English entirely and just starts bantering in Urdu
• Ambrosius didn't know Ballister was bilingual but when he learnt it? He was amazed and I think... Kinda jealous because he didn't get to learn Korean himself (self projection yeahhhhhh)
• "You know your mother tongue? Damn! I wish I did too!"
• That said, Ballister has no idea how to shorten Ambrosius's name (WHAT THE HECK IS THIS NAME BRO WHAT ARE YOU, GOD'S FOOD???), so he sticks to Urdu endearments, "luv" (in the most British accent possible) and "darling"
People who say French/Spanish are the romantic languages are wrong LISTEN TO URDU OR INDIAN LANGUAGES OR ARABIC. THAT'S WHERE LOVE IS DUDE
• Ambrosius has learnt like a few words in Urdu and tries to rizz up Ballister by saying some basic words like "jaan", "mohabbat" and just😭😭😭 fails😭😭😭 because he's a cringefail man😭😭😭
I remember trying to ask out my (NOW EX😔) gf who's Italian by writing "will you be my girlfriend?" in Italian and I used GOOGLE TRANSLATION🧍♂️🧍♂️ SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT I USED GOOGLE AND POINTED IT OUT AS A JOKE BUT I CRINGED AT MYSELF SO HARD..... Ambrosius would totally do that too and Ballister would chuckle and pull him in a kiss bc he loves this cringefail man so much
• Ambrosius also serenades like I KNOW DAMN WELL HE DOES. He goes "this one's for you, Bal" with a wink and sings like the sappiest most disgusting love ballad ever and Ballister tries his best not to laugh because that's his beloved boyfriend but also like.... So cringe. So embarrassing😭😭 Nimona has more balls than her boss so she would outright say that it's cringe
• Also. I don't agree with people saying Ambrosius's a jock because have you seen this man?? He's a theatre kid. The worst kind of theatre kid. Even after not being a kid anymore he's still a theatre kid. BRO IS A HAMILTON FAN UNIRONICALLY, OF COURSE HE IS. He makes weirdass references to musicals and giggles like an idiot
• Can we agree that Ambrosius was an awakening for many teenagers because OOOOH BOY he sure would be mine. Some pop news youtube channel probably has a video of him reading the kingdom's equivalent of "thirst tweets", like yknow this type of vids😭😭
While we're on the topic of thirst tweets
• Diego the squire runs a fan page account with edits of Ballister like he's some pop celebrity
• He also may or may not write self-indulgent "Ballister x reader" fanfiction in his off duty time
• Also hc that when Ballister was on the run he saw some "WANTED" poster of him and hang up on the wall like yeah boy's crush is EMBARRASSING (can we blame him? I'm the same with Riz Ahmed)
• Todd would be on the "straight" side of their equivalent to TikTok. You know the ones with shirtless men with the same haircuts who think they're hot when in reality they're not?? That's what Todd and his friends are up to in their free time *throws up*
To wrap it all up NOT with Todd, some super random ones:
• Ballister and Ambrosius force Nimona to take her shoes off ("DO NOT bring your European nonsense in this ethnic household") in their house even though she doesn't even have boots on😭😭 it's just her skin😭😭😭 so she morphs her form to simply be shoeless😭😭😭😭
• Ambrosius knows how to tap dance. Idk don't question it I just think he does
• Nimona plays piano YEAH SHE DOES she's lived for 1000+ years man she can do anything
• Ballister's hair routine is "genetics, coconut oil n some prayers"
Yeah that's it I'll probably make a part 2 because it's not all... These characters have occupied my mind and won't let it go🧍♂️
#nimona#ballister boldheart#ambrosius goldenloin#ballister x ambrosius#thoddeus sureblade#diego the squire#nimona headcanons#i should make a part where i discuss social media of the realm because ITS SO FUN#let me know your thoughts#yeah#also i have school tomorrow and its 4am...#i should go to sleep
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Trekking or relaxing
https://instagram.com/ridingyogi
#riding yogi#adventure#travel photography#yogi baba#bikers of india#indian travel vloggers#explore india#lucknow boy#indian bikers#kuari pass trek#Uttarakhand#joshimath#indian bike ridera#indian travel bikers
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And Now...for Something different
Hey there, magical misfits and word weavers!
Guess who's conjuring up something wickedly wonderful? That's right—this witch is stirring her cauldron and launching a brand-new blog! 🧹✨
If you've ever pondered the mysteries of the universe between sips of chamomile tea, or found yourself debating the merits of ancient rituals versus modern practices (while your candles burn down to stubs), then boy, do I have a treat for you! After the cut lovelies!
Over the years, I've danced with Hekate under the moonlight, delved into the Greek Magical Papyri, and even sprinkled in a dash of my mother's Indian folk wisdom for good measure. I've wrestled with the commodification of the Craft (looking at you, overpriced crystal sellers) and embraced the beautiful complexity where science and witchcraft intertwine like ivy and oak.
So what's brewing on the new blog?
Magical Musings: Where I'll spill the enchanted beans on everything from historical witchy wonders to my latest thoughts on decolonizing our practices. Prepare for deep dives—with a splash of cheeky commentary, of course.
Reverent Rituals: Step into my sacred space as I share personal rituals and spells that are potent yet accessible—no unicorn tears or dragon scales required.
Purpose & Practice: Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of building a meaningful Craft without selling your soul (or your savings) for fancy tools. It's all about intent, baby!
Shadows & Selfsame: Join me on a journey through shadow work and self-exploration. Because even witches need to face their inner goblins.
Chosen Circle: A curated collection of resources, community shout-outs, and maybe a cat meme or two. Connection is magic, after all.
I care deeply about this path we're walking—respecting its roots, challenging the fluff, and finding that sweet spot where tradition and personal growth meet. If you're ready to explore the Craft with a dash of humor and a whole lot of heart, come fly with me!
So grab your broomsticks and let's embark on this enchanted adventure together. Trust me, it's going to be spellbinding. 🔮 https://www.tumblr.com/teaandbroomstickscafe
#astarion#astarion ancunin#baldur's gate#baldur's gate 3#bg3#baldurs gate 3 astarion#witchcraft#witches#witchblr#spellwork#tarot#manifestation#pagan#wicca#wiccan#crystal healing#protection magic#divination#moon magic#energy work#herb magic#lunar magic#astrology#green witch#kitchen witch#shadow work#moon phases#sigils#spell jar#paganism
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It's an almost banal truism that classic science fiction was largely a projection of the Frontier Experience - and, more broadly, the whole world-shaking events of the European Age of Discovery - onto an imagined outer space. Less frequently remarked is that the reverse is also true.
I grew up devouring Golden Age science fiction novels, and was a fervent believer in Mankind's Destiny Among The Stars. Well, the Space Age - like all the great dreams of thr 20th century - has turned out to be something of a damp squib, but I still want stories of fantastic voyages of exploration, adventure, science, discovery, and intrigue in a vast new world of far-flung outposts separated by titanic distances. So to scratch that itch, why not just...go back to the source?
If you want something like a story about an isolated asteroid mining colony, you can just read the memoirs of a surgeon at a Hudson Bay Company outpost! Why bother with Heinlein when you can just read the diaries of pioneer women, the tales of Yankee filibusters in Latin America, the authentic exploits of desert-island buccaneers, or the early adventures of the Portugese in the Indian Ocean? Do you want fraught tales of inteigue and war and high politics that extend to the farthest reaches of known space? A good book on any of the big 18th century wars for empire will satisfy. And can Star Trek remotely compare in imagination and excitement to the voyages of Cook and La Pérouse? "Strange new worlds, new life, and new civilizations?" Boy howdy, we got 'em! If you look at these things with fresh eyes, with the eyes of a science fiction fan rather than those of someone with access to an infinitide of pictures of them online, nothing could be more surprising than a dugong, a platypus, a redwood, a southern continent of solid ice.
All of this is really just an overly long preamble to my main point, though. Which is that I believe the story of Hernán Cortés, Montezuma, and the Conquest of Mexico to be possibly the greatest one ever told. The themes...bro, the themes! There is here a richness, a complexity and depth surpassing almost anything I can think of in legend or literature.
It is, of course, a science fictional First Contact story, in which two shockingly different civilizations who know nothing of each other suddenly find themselves facing each other down. And indeed, like any good First Contact story, one of the principal characters, La Malinche, is an interpreter! See how the resulting clash of civilizations eludes simple stereotyping - sure, it's easy to see the Spaniards as brash young interlopers into the sophisticated and urbane world of the Aztecs, whose capital was perhaps as much as an order of magnitude more populous than any city in Spain. But equally it is possible to see the Aztecs as provincials, isolated from a wider, older world that suddenly irrupts into their narrow one. Consider that Cortés supposedly got practical advice on political machinations and military strategy by - studying Caesar! Access to ancient wisdom penned by dead hands in far-off lands provides material aid to him.
Then there are the religious themes. It can be seen as a story about the triumph of Christianity, of the Church Triumphant, but what does it mean for a religion founded by a suffering martyr to become militarily triumphant? And what does it mean for thr religion of a suffering martyr to become triumphant over a religion of human sacrifice to the gods? This is a complex and multi-layered irony that spares no one. And consider the strange foreshadowing of the legend of Quetzelcoatl returning from over the sea. Shades of Frank Herbert, here, even (especially?) if the tale is a post-conquest invrntion.
And the role of technology in the tale. Yes, the steel and shot, the horses and hounds, the ships and sails were all powerful allies for the Spaniards, but these would not have sufficed without the smallpox virus - a reversal of Wells that still underlines the power of biology and of the very small even in the face of all our mastery over the brute world. But the conquest also would not have been possible without the alliance with the Tlaxcala and other local rivals and adversaries of the Aztecs. There are very pointed lessons in the social, political, and diplomatic sciences being demonstrated here. Some are obvious, and others very subtle - look at the ways these differing civilizations reacted under the extreme stress of this brutal war to see what I mean about the subtle ones.
I could go on, I could mention the strange aesthetic touches, such as the similarity in climates between the Valley of Mexico and inland Spain, and the parallels between Spain's role to Rome and Mexico's to Spain; or I could talk about the fascinatingly ambiguous characters of all the major players in this story, and the surprising arcs they go through; but not only am I already going on rather long, but I fear I may be making too light of what were, after all, real events, real events that resulted in piles of corpses, and whose tremendous human consequences are still felt deeply by tens of millions of people.
But I stand by my statement that it is one of the richest, profoundest stories I know of. The gods may be cruel, monstrously cruel, but they are artists, too.
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