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dutiful-wildcraft · 2 months ago

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Life's Sweet Bells

A COD Farm Sim AU with omegaverse splashed in!

Not a long fic (I hope) but just a series of little stories surrounding Paloma, a soft and sweet omega who's recently earned a farm from a long lost inheritance. Paloma begins cultivating her new life, embracing the rewards and challenges of her new town and it's eccentric strangers.

Poly 141 x F!OC

Link for all the "Villagers"

Introductions

Paloma nearly ignored the old ratty letter she'd received in the post. A hand written thing, outlining her inheritance from a long lost relative.

An inheritance she stands before now.

Alejandro, the mayor, a tall alpha with a bright smile, had been incredibly apologetic about the state of the old farm. Rudy, his partner, had explained that the old place had been vacant for some time, and it had only been recently that they discovered the old man’s nearest next of kin.

Paloma, however, was hearing none of it, gazing at the lonely plot of land with stars in her eyes.

The place was beautiful, a humble little cottage nestled in the middle of a quiet rolling forest. Its overgrown, vines crawling up the cobbled stone chimney, weeds taking over the empty field, but she can hear a brook nearby, and the little plot had not only a barn, but a greenhouse to boot. It was all worn, in disarray from by the elements, but it's hers. ‘Paloma Hadley’ now legally scrawled on the deed in swirling black ink.

Alejandro and Rudy had been kind enough to assist her with the small chest of her belongings, and with a promise to check in tomorrow to finalize the last of the paperwork they had left her to her own devices.

The next day passes quickly, with Paloma up to her elbows in dust and grime, scrubbing years of dirt off of the fine hardwood floors. She’d nearly slipped twice, trucking around her little cottage with bright red wellies to spare her socks. Had gone to war with what appeared to be a small village of spiders living in her bathroom, dutifully capturing and tossing them outside in a cup, and nearly fell down her front steps trying to drag the old heavy rugs outside to wash and beat on an old drying line. But compared to how it was before? She would catch spiders every day. Happily.

She didn't have much to her name when she left, just a small bedroom’s worth of items that she’d kept while she’d lived with her parents. She’d had no problem with leaving, and it wasn’t like her old job was paying her enough to have a place of her own anyway. Despite the increasing list of fix-ups and chores, Paloma had already started to cultivate a sense of pride over her new little home.

A home, with lovely rugs and quaint wood furniture.

She’s still cleaning, bopping around her kitchen while a pop song blares on her meager little radio when she just barely catches the knock on her door. She fumbles with the volume, dusting off her hands on her already dingey apron and scuttles toward the door, swinging it open to find perhaps the most handsome man she has ever seen in all her years of life.

He’s almost too pretty, dark curls cropped neatly, with a roguish little scar across his cheek. He’s dressed in a simple button up, short sleeves rolled a few times to highlight the toned curves of his arms, well worn belt with an assortment of tools slung heavily around his hips.

“Evenin’ miss” he greets with a nod of his head, pearly white fangs on full display as he smiles down at her, warm and bright. Pretty and an alpha. He must have been working hard today, having sweated through his blockers if the way his scent rolls through her is any indication. It’s warm and floral, tonka and citrus, with a hint of spice that would have her tail wagging if she had one. It wasn’t every day that she got a whiff of alpha, really anyone for that matter. Most designations kept their scent muted or gone entirely, especially in the city where she’d grown up. It was considered polite work culture to keep one’s scent from intervening from day to day activities, which was more a way for designations to avoid bias in the hiring pool. Only bonded pairs stopped blocking their scent.

Her eyes flick to his neck for a quick confirmation, only to see it covered conveniently (and charmingly) with a soft blue bandana. A new mystery to solve.

Paloma realizes she must have been staring a little too long when he clears his throat softly, making her flinch. Way to be cool Paloma. She has a hard time getting her words out, smiling dumbly as the alpha on her porch chuckles awkwardly. Extending a hand.

“Kyle Garrick, y’can call me Gaz.”

She reaches out without thinking, her fingers brushing against his wrist in her haste to wrap her soft hand around his. If Gaz notices the small social faux pa he doesn’t say anything, simply gives her soft a squeeze before letting go politely.

“Sorry! Wasn’t expecting anyone else today.” she attempts, tucking the loose strands of her hair behind her ears nervously, introducing herself in return as an afterthought.

“‘Course not, didn't mean to intrude. It’s not often we see a new face around here, let alone one moving in. Wanted to bring by a little house warming gift, figured you’d have your hands full with all this.” he gestures.

Gaz presents her with actual tools, a decent sized shovel, hoe, and axe, he even tosses in a small toolbox, and a handful of varying seed packets.

He rubs the back of his neck, “Not sure if you wanted to actually keep up with the old farm, but if you did, these'll give you a start.”

She looks it all over with absolute glee.

“No! This is perfect. Thank you Gaz, really. I don't know what this place used to look like, but I want to pick up where it was left off.” she says proudly, hands on her hips.

She'd already hoarded up all sorts of books and manuals on farming and caretaking. Determined to be as self sufficient as she could.

It was a pipe dream maybe, thinking she could make a living selling produce and cute jams, and she tells him so, shoulders falling ever so slightly.

“It's really not. Been missing someone like you around here since the old man died. The general store and village market's been suffering for it. I think you're just the person we needed around here Paloma.”

His words are so genuine it nearly makes her misty.

“I've got my work cut out for me, but I intend to do my very best” she promises, meeting his eyes with a bold resolve.

“I've got no doubt you will.” he chuckles. “Just so you know, I run the carpentry shop just up the road. If you need a hand, come see me, yeah?”

“Will do!” she waves, watching her first kind stranger take his leave.

–

Paloma takes it easier the following days.

Well

A little easier.

Rudy had explained the old shipping bin on her property, and with her cottage finally, less spidery and grim she had resolved to at least do a little foraging in the bountiful area Alejandro had been sure to remind her of. The move in general had taken what little savings she'd had. And if selling off a few things would garner her some pocket change then she had to do all she could.

It was at least a start.

She was pretty pleased with her bounty around the mid afternoon, having already filled her basket full of varying mushrooms and wild vegetables. At least the ones she thought were edible. She hopes Rudy at least looks it over before taking it.

She's plopped on her rear, fingers stained blue as she works over a healthy looking berry bush (popping a few of the prettiest ones in her mouth in between) when a new voice startles her.

“New to town and already riflin’’ through other folk's gardens I see!”

The loud scottish lilt has her nearly jumping out of her skin. She whirls, eyes falling to yet another handsome stranger.

He's another big boy, white tank top smudged with dirt and loose sprigs of hay, his hair is cropped into a short mohawk, a rabbit's foot charm dangling from a loose chain around his neck. A farriers apron hugs his thick thighs, a fine layer of sweat glistening against his sun kissed skin.

Good heavens, they build them different in the country.

She sputters, trying to haul herself up “I didn't mean to- I didn't know?? I'm-”

“Easy lass, just yankin’ your chain” he laughs, extending a hand to help her up, his grip is firm, and he must overestimate how much strength he needs to pull her soft body up out of the dirt because he hauls her right into his chest.

Her brain reels, getting a nose full of sweet alpha musk, a fun mix of buttery shortbread and soft rose that seems odd clinging to such a macho looking alpha.

His freehand catches her, warm broad palm against the small of her back as she flails again, trying to get distance between them, nearly tripping over her own boots when he settles her again, a warm palm on her shoulder to hold her in place.

She's grateful she grabbed a healthy supply of her own blockers before leaving, at least she wouldn't be perfuming all over the place like a fool. She was embarrassed enough that her encounter with Gaz the day before had her snuffling at his scent on her hand all evening like a lonely puppy.

“Easy there” he says good naturedly, giving her a pat not unlike a horse before pulling his hand away. “Was wonderin’ when you'd come by and see me.” he beamed, pretty blue eyes bright with mischief.

She rights herself, dusting the dirt from her knees. “Is this your property? I didn't mean to intrude, I didn't realize someone was so close…”

She admittedly hadn’t strayed too far from home just yet, she wanted to get at least a little settled before meandering into town. She feels a little bad for not even bothering to see her new neighbor.

He introduces himself as John Mactavish, Soap for short. Explains that he minds the livestock just up the way, ducks and chickens and cows and horses, and that she was indeed on his property.

“Not that I mind of course. Alejandro told me we had someone new, didn't know you'd be such a bonnie thing, s'good to finally have a new face ‘round here.” he teases as they walk together. Soap had insisted he walk her home, had even snagged her basket of berries, holding them hostage, claiming she had too much to carry already with her backpack already sagging heavily against her shoulders.

Soap was a talker, rambling animatedly, introducing her to new names of fellow townsfolk she’d yet to meet, too many names lost on her as they made they’re way down the worn dirt path to her home. Talking with him was as easy as breathing, and while Gaz had been friendly she didn’t feel quite the same nervousness with Mactavish, and soon enough her own chattery energy came out to match his own. It wasn’t long before the pair were laughing and giggling their way under the afternoon sun, swapping stories of past awkward moments and old jobs.

Just from the way he talked, she could tell Soap was well liked, referring to most everyone in town as his friend. It was incredibly sweet how he only had good things to say. And if what Soap was saying was true, Paloma would have no issue getting to know everyone in town, well, mostly, everyone.

“Ach, Ghost, you’ll like him, he’s a tough nut to crack, but he’s good people, my best pal.” he says warmly, setting her basket down beside her front door. He starts to continue before he pauses, taken aback. She guesses in their chattering Soap hadn’t noticed their arrival until she’d let him right to her door.

“My days” he sighs, baby blues surveying her little farm, he doesn’t say anything as he steps off her porch, beelining it for her old barn, making her half run just to keep with his longer strides. He takes it upon himself to survey the building, making a couple rounds around the foundation before wrenching the old doors open with a grunt of effort. She follows him inside, mimicking him by putting her own hands on her hips as they both look around. Paloma isn’t quite sure what she’s looking for, but Soap does, and if anything she’s here for support.

“Ya know, I’ve never been out here before, the old man kept to himself, ya got yourself a good little setup here, hen. Little bit of patching here and hammering there and this’ll do just fine!”

“You think so? I would love to have a few animals, nothing too serious, but the company would be nice.”

“I know so, and tell you what.” he turns to her, a mischief Paloma suspects is permanent in his eyes, “ you come ‘round my place, help me tend to mine, and I’ll teach you a few things, even throw in a few coins for your trouble. That way we both have some company, aye?”

“You’d really do that?”

“‘Course! Just a little while, once you get this place all neat and tidy you’ll have your hands plenty full, and then you’ll be askin’ ole Soap for help.” he teases, clapping her on the shoulder once more, broad palm dangerously close to the tender gland at the juncture of her shoulder.

Paloma nods her head at the charismatic alpha, cheeks burning at the innocent contact. She wasn’t going to turn a prime opportunity down, and hands on contact would be much better experience than fumbling around with a book. It’s not like she was imposing, he offered after all, like good neighbors do, and she’d admittedly grown fond of the playful scot after their little walk together.

“Excellent, I’ll get out of your hair for now bonnie girl, but do me a favor would ye?” he asks seriously, looking her dead in the eye. “Stay out of trouble, your lucky I was alright with you pilferin’ my berries like that but-”

A loud snort tears from her at his teasing, one she attempts to cover half heartedly as more snorts follow, making Soap laugh too, she punches him in the side playfully, trying to catch her breath as Soap’s giggles make her laugh even more.

“And now you’re assaulting me! I’ll have you know I wont tolerate nefarious behavior like this, I’ll let it slide this time girlie, but it won’t happen again.” he proclaims, waggling his finger at her, only making her laugh harder. They part ways in giggles, Soap waving pleasantly as he trots back off into the distance, his sweet rose scent wafting around her in a pleasant cloud.

Paloma’s cheeks hurt from smiling, and for once the heavy weight of carrying on feels like nothing at all.

#they may accidently sound southern #but i do think the english and southern accents follow a similar pattern #sorry in advance #johnny soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #call of duty #farm sim au #wildcraft writing #Life's Sweet Bells #oc: paloma hadley #poly 141

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thydungeongal · 29 days ago

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I recently mentioned how Cairn takes an active stance in setting player expectations of how they should engage with the game beyond just telling them the rules (understandable since Cairn actually has previous few rules). I spend a lot of time talking about how mainstream RPG culture, especially D&D culture, often cultivates antisocial play and unhealthy dynamics, where the enjoyment of one player (the facilitator) is considered secondary to the rest of the table. It's in part due to toxic memes which memeify a dynamic where the players' "job" is to mess with the facilitator's plans, but also largely the result of a discourse that sees games as problems to be solved and it being the facilitator's job to know the rules, fix perceived flaws in the rules on the fly, entertain, and craft an engaging "story" so that players want to engage with the game.

Now, I admit to being biased towards Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy by @anim-ttrpgs because I have become friends with the creators, but I still feel comfortable in giving the game praise for taking an active stance against a multitude of these issues.

The game does not expect the Narrator to be the one with exclusive authority over the rules. In fact, it actively tells players that there is a minimal amount of rules knowledge required to effectively enjoy the game. While narrators are expected to learn a larger chunk of the rules, the rules are presented very much as a set of tools that the whole group has access to.

The game does not demand the Narrator to craft a satisfying narrative. There is a reason why Eureka refers to the player bringing the game as the Narrator instead of a Storyteller or Game Master: they are not the sole arbiter of the rules, but neither are the events of the game their story. Eureka does implicitly take the stance that all RPGs are narratives, but the Narrator isn't the one crafting the story: they are narrating the events as they happen.

As an emergent property of the above, the game not only encourages but all but mandates proactive play. The investigators are the ones who drive the events. There isn't a story that happens to the investigators, with them as passive, reactive participants. They are active agents, without whose action there is no narrative: the murderer is never caught, the innocent person gets tried, the mystery of who took the last slice of pizza is never solved. The game does this not only through explicitly stating it as a principle for the players to follow, its rules are built in such a way as to discourage player fears stemming from the investigators failing at checks. Instead of loading all their expectations onto a single check, investigators are encouraged to poke at things, ask questions, and even sometimes break into places where they are not wanted.

The game asks players to accept loss and reframe their expectations of a victory. Eureka is unafraid to ask players to buy into the fiction, and that means accepting that their characters are not representative of them and that the investigators' failures are not a failure on their part. While the investigators' objective is usually to solve the mystery, the game is not failed should that not happen: it simply means that the story has a different ending. Buying into the fiction also applies to the Narrator, whom the game explicitly mandates with not pulling any punches, not altering the facts or fudging rolls to ensure investigator success, and only giving the investigators information they have access to via their five senses. Failure as a viable outcome serves not only to discourage seeing the game as a competition between the players and narrator (and thus avoid unhealthy play dynamics), it also makes victories feel earned, as they are direct results of investigator actions.

And that thing about the game asking players to buy into the fiction cannot be overstated. Besides accepting the outcomes of investigator actions and their failures the game asks players to accept that sometimes the most interesting story arises from the investigators butting heads. The investigators may not be working to solve a mystery cooperatively and they may even be at odds with another, and this is an accepted outcome of play. Once again, since the investigators' failures are not reflective of any failure on a player's part, one investigator "succeeding" in a way that means another fails is not an undesirable state.

And importantly, the game still draws a line between healthy opposition between characters and bad faith play. Again, the game is unafraid to openly state what is asked of players, and that includes plainly stating that buying into the fiction and accepting that characters may come into conflict with one another should never be used as an excuse for antisocial play. The objective of the game is still to have fun playing out a story of some sleuths solving a mystery. While it can be fun to have that story include characters butting heads, play that actively seeks to detract from other players' enjoyment is actively going against the game's stated goals.

These are all rules in the game as much as modifiers and skill checks and HP. And I feel this is important: games can and should take an active part in teaching players what is expected of them for the sake of getting the intended experience out of the game but also for the sake of ensuring that everyone else gets the most out of the experience. Now, some people will bounce off a game simply because they will find that their playstyle does not align with the expectations of a game, and that is okay: but a player who comes away from a game with the understanding that the intended play experience was not for them will have still learned something from the game, and I will always appreciate a game for openly telling me what it expects of me as a player! It's good for games to be actively opinionated about how they are played! (And even when games don't encode these things explicitly, these expectations are somewhere down there.)

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thejournallo · 8 months ago

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Witchy hacks: The movement of your body.

You probably heard this phrase too many times, but it is important to keep your body moving not only to increase your physical health but to improve your mental health too. But there is more. The movement that our body can make can actually release energy, and it can give us a lot of boosts in many ways.

In spirituality, movement is often seen as a way to release, channel, and harmonize energy within the body. Different spiritual traditions and practices emphasize various types of movement to achieve these goals. Here are some ways energy is believed to be released through movement in spirituality:

1. Yoga

a. Asanas (Postures)

Energy Flow: Yoga postures are designed to open energy channels (nadis) and centers (chakras) in the body. This facilitates the free flow of prana, or life force, enhancing physical and spiritual well-being.

Grounding and Balance: Specific poses help ground the practitioner and balance the flow of energy, aligning the body with the earth and promoting inner stability.

b. Pranayama (Breath Control)

Breath and Movement Coordination: Coordinating breath with movement helps regulate and release energy, purifying the body and calming the mind.

2. Tai Chi and Qigong

Chi (Qi) Flow: These ancient Chinese practices focus on slow, deliberate movements combined with deep breathing to cultivate and balance chi, the body's vital energy.

Energy Circulation: Movements are designed to enhance the circulation of chi through the meridians, or energy pathways, removing blockages and promoting overall health.

3. Dance

a. Ecstatic Dance

Expression and Release: Ecstatic dance involves spontaneous, freeform movement that allows individuals to express emotions and release pent-up energy. It’s often accompanied by rhythmic music that guides the flow of energy.

Trance States: The repetitive nature of dance can induce trance states, facilitating a deeper connection with the spiritual self and the collective energy of the group.

b. Cultural and Ritual Dance

Ceremonial Movements: Many cultures incorporate dance into spiritual rituals to honor deities, celebrate life events, and connect with ancestors. These movements are often symbolic, representing the flow of spiritual energy.

4. Martial Arts

Energy Control: Martial arts like Aikido, Kung Fu, and Capoeira involve movements that cultivate and direct internal energy. Practitioners learn to harness this energy for physical strength, mental clarity, and spiritual growth.

Mind-Body Connection: The discipline and focus required in martial arts enhance the mind-body connection, aligning physical actions with spiritual intent.

5. Breathwork and Movement

Holotropic Breathwork: This practice combines intense breathing with movement to access altered states of consciousness and release stored emotional energy.

Rebirthing: Involves rhythmic breathing and movement to release traumas and blocked energy from the body, leading to spiritual healing and transformation.

6. Shamanic Practices

Drumming and Movement: Shamanic traditions often use rhythmic drumming and dance to enter trance states, journeying into spiritual realms to retrieve knowledge and healing.

Ritual Movements: Specific movements in shamanic rituals are designed to summon, direct, and release spiritual energy for healing and transformation.

7. Meditative Movement

Walking Meditation: This practice involves slow, deliberate steps coordinated with breathing, enhancing mindfulness and the flow of spiritual energy.

Dynamic Meditation: Developed by Osho, this form combines vigorous movement, including shaking and dancing, with periods of stillness to release suppressed emotions and awaken spiritual energy.

Summary

In spirituality, movement is a powerful tool for releasing, channeling, and harmonizing energy. Practices like yoga, tai chi, dance, martial arts, breathwork, and shamanic rituals use specific movements to enhance the flow of spiritual energy, promote healing, and achieve higher states of consciousness. These practices underscore the profound connection between physical movement and spiritual well-being.

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thebaldursmouthgazette · 1 month ago

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For all their screaming and crying about how Solas deserves compassion I feel like a lot of S/lavellens lose their credibility when they bend over backwards to defend Solas's every flaw but do not extend any of that grace or sympathy to characters like, Vivienne, Blackwall, Dorian or Sera, whom they tend to boil down to being arrogant, a liar, pro-slavery and racist. It's really telling that it's about their romance and nothing else. Like, girlies, your man has all 4 of those qualities going on at once and is, if anything, less justified because given any opportunity to grow or change he says "no". I do not want to see you in the Blackwall critical tags after you wrote a 1000 word essay on why Solas should be redeemed.

Yep. I think sera is a particularly good example of this (though they’re all fair examples), because their actions are so similar (though with wildly different reasons) and the reaction so different. Sera expresses her disconnect from elven culture due to being raised by humans and only really having it acknowledged she’s an elf when someone is being racist to her or bothering her about why she’s not elfy enough, and gets almost no sympathy. She’s called racist even though, if you take five minutes to actually listen to what she’s saying, it becomes clear that it’s internalised due to how she grew up. She is also literally like 20.

Solas, meanwhile, belittles and demeans modern elves literally just because he’s an asshole. There’s no childhood trauma here. There’s no internalised racism. He just doesn’t think modern elves are people and thinks the culture they lovingly cultivated and insisted on keeping, despite constant efforts to wipe it out, is stupid. But he’s not called racist, no he’s oh so wise and insightful, please solas bless us with your wisdom while we kiss your feet.

Solas committed a genocide, created the blight, treated his victims with contempt for continuing to exist, killed multiple people, used people as tools, killed trusted allies for so much as questioning him, arranged major attacks killing swathes of people, denied those people personhood to justify it, lied, manipulated, gaslit and betrayed everyone in more ways than you can count, and it is less acceptable in some areas of this fandom to criticise him at all than it is to act like the 20 something lesbian dealing with internalised racism is an evil racist witch with no redeeming qualities, or to act like the black woman who is trying to work within a system to protect her people as much as she can is an evil oppressive witch with no redeeming qualities (they’re comparing Vivienne to Mythal now. I wish I was joking. Apparently having a flawed but well intentioned approach to protecting innocents who are discriminated against is comparable to running an empire fueled by slavery).

Like lots of these characters have flaws, but none of them are approaching Mr Genocide, yet they’re attacked and given no grace while if you say one critical thing about mass murdering pookie bear you get called a slur.

#ask #anonymous

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undeadoracle · 2 months ago

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Would love to hear your thoughts on Emmrich being autistic if you don’t mind sharing? I hadn’t really considered it myself but I’m curious

Sure! to be fair, emmrich being older means he’s had a lot of time to grow into himself, develop confidence, and cultivate his personality traits in ways that work for him in his environment. But here’s a few things that stuck out to me as rather neurodivergent of him:

-he’s typically very tidy and organized. we see that he keeps inventory of what he brings to the lighthouse, and does not like things messy, even though he as a LOT of stuff; Sylvia Feketekuty herself described him as “fastidious.” he gets upset about assan coming into his space, getting into things and making messes, he doesn’t want taash to use his bone tools, says he’s glad he doesn’t share an office with neve because she leaves paperwork everywhere, etc.

-deliberately precise use of language that he considers a point of pride. He tells rook, “I always choose my words carefully,” and we see that to be true in the way he speaks to others, as well. Autistic folks often use language very meticulously because they want to be specific, and to avoid being misunderstood.

-he sometimes (perhaps even often) gets distracted at inappropriate times by things that are relevant to his interests and has to be guided back on track by rook/other members of the party.

- he’s is an extremely polite & courteous person, of course, but that’s not the same as being socially intuitive. In fact, autistic people often gravitate to being extremely polite because social conventions are rules that can be followed in order to ensure a Correct Social Interaction; they don’t require interpreting nuanced cues or reading between the lines. Emmrich often does not immediately pick up on the other companions teasing/poking fun at him; it takes a few exchanges back and forth for him to catch on, if he does at all. It’s not because he’s dumb or naive, he obviously isn’t, he just is inclined to take people at face value in a way that’s common for folks on the spectrum. See also: him getting tricked by the guy selling fake charms in tevinter. Even when he gets revenge for that, it’s less about being embarrassed on his own behalf and more a righteous indignation that someone would lie about something like that, it’s dangerous don’t you know!

- in the same vein, he’s totally bewildered and caught off guard by the flirting (at first), and wants to confirm it’s intentional and serious on rook’s part by communicating very clearly about it. Which is a good and mature thing, of course, but it’s also him clarifying that he’s interpreting rook’s overtures correctly.

- he simply cannot stop himself from constantly infodumping about necromancy and botany, his most dearly held interests. He will happily spend all day with these subjects, then talk about them some more, then read about them some more before bed. He never seems to get tired of absorbing more of them or talking about them. Most people, no matter how passionate about their work, don’t have that level of commitment in their off time. Even the fact that he wants to become a lich, which very few members of the mourn watch are willing to do, is indicative of how deeply he’s entrenched his life in necromancy. And when talking with someone who doesn’t care about either of those things, or actively dislikes them, he tends to flounder and cut the conversation short.

- furthermore, he doesn’t really know how to set people at ease with necromancy; he thinks if he just talks more and more about what he finds beautiful and valuable about it, eventually people will “get it,” even if they’re clearly uncomfortable. See especially: his conflicts with taash, some of his conversations with lucanis, etc. you could chalk this up to cultural differences, but I think most people in his position would approach the subject with a little more discretion when dealing with foreigners who definitely have different perspectives on the subject.

- he and bellara (who is deliberately neurodivergent coded) get along very harmoniously. he has no trouble keeping up with her, and they’re very much able to tap into each other’s wavelengths. Conversely, taash (also neurodivergent coded) has all the opposite traits: very unemotive, struggles to articulate themself aloud, special interests he doesn’t care about, etc., and they get on each others’ nerves without even trying. He can’t figure taash out because he can’t read between the lines of their behavior, but when it's finally made clear to him that taash is afraid of his necromancy he immediately switches gears, because he’s no longer trying to guess what he's done to offend them.

- being empathetic towards nonhuman creatures is a very common experience for autistic folks, and he’s deeply empathetic towards spirits, moreso even than other members of the mourn watch. He says they were his companions growing up, despite having other humans around that he could’ve turned to for comfort and companionship after his parents’ deaths, and he displays a degree of understanding and compassion for them that is really only on par with like, solas, as far as other characters of the franchise go.

- Sylvia also described him as “a man of large emotions,” which is a big mood, pardon the pun, for neurodivergent folk.

- obviously being homesick in and of itself isn’t unique to autism, nor is not being well traveled, but he clearly misses his personal routines; he’s thinking about how he misses his old norms and schedule when rook asks him about homesickness, and later when rook talks with him about his youth he says the repetitive rituals of the mourn watch were exactly what he needed to heal from the loss of his parents. Spending their entire life in the mourn watch could feel confining or limiting to many people, but emmrich gets away for the first time in a long time and immediately misses it. You could also link this desire to have consistency to his conflict with harding about camping; the idea of getting to see fereldan is exciting to him in theory, but having to change his regular routine (leaving behind his books, dressing gown, shaving kit etc.) upsets him. It’s not about being spoiled—he grew up poor, after all—it’s about having to give up his regular habits.

#also i'm SO sorry this took me so long to answer!#i have had a lot going on but i wanted to take the time to give a thorough response #dragon age veilguard #da:tv #emmrich volkarin #dragon age

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sunderwight · 1 year ago

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y'know what, I think it's kind of interesting to bring up Data from Star Trek in the context of the current debates about AI. like especially if you actually are familiar with the subplot about Data investigating art and creativity.

see, Data can definitely do what the AI programs going around these days can. better than, but that's beside the point, obviously. he's a sci-fi/fantasy android. but anyway, in the story, Data can perfectly replicate any painting or stitch a beautiful quilt or write a poem. he can write programs for himself that introduce variables that make things more "flawed", that imitate the particular style of an artist, he can choose to either perfectly replicate a particular sort of music or to try and create a more "human" sounding imitation that has irregular errors and mimics effort or strain. the latter is harder for him that just copying, the same way it's more complicated to have an algorithm that creates believable "original" art vs something that just duplicates whatever you give it.

but this is not the issue with Data. when Data imitates art, he himself knows that he's not really creating, he's just using his computer brain to copy things that humans have done. it's actually a source of deep personal introspection for the character, that he believes being able to create art would bring him closer to humanity, but he's not sure if he actually can.

of course, Data is a person. he's a person who is not biological, but he's still a person, and this is really obvious from go. there's no one thing that can be pointed to as the smoking gun for Data's personhood, but that's normal and also true of everyone else. Data's the culmination of a multitude of elements required to make a guy. Asking if this or that one thing is what makes Data a person is like asking if it's the flour or the eggs that make a cake.

the question of whether or not Data can create art is intrinsically tied to the question of whether or not Data can qualify as an artist. can he, like a human, take on inspiration and cultivate desirable influences in order to produce something that reflects his view on the world?

yes, he can. because he has a view on the world.

but that's the thing about the generative AI we are dealing with in the real world. that's not like Data. despite being referred to as "AI", these are algorithms that have been trained to recognize and imitate patterns. they have no perspective. the people who DO have a perspective, the humans inputting prompts, are trying to circumvent the whole part of the artistic process where they actually develop skills and create things themselves. they're not doing what Data did, in fact they're doing the opposite -- instead of exploring their own ability to create art despite their personal limitations, they are abandoning it. the data sets aren't like someone looking at a painting and taking inspiration from it, because the machine can't be inspired and the prompter isn't filtering inspiration through the necessary medium of their perspective.

Data would be very confused as to the motives and desires involved, especially since most people are not inhibited from developing at least SOME sort of artistic skill for the sake self-expression. he'd probably start researching the history of plagiarism and different cultural, historical, and legal standards for differentiating it from acceptable levels of artistic imitation, and how the use of various tools factored into it. he would cite examples of cultures where computer programming itself was considered a form of art, and court cases where rulings were made for or against examples of generative plagiarism, and cases of forgeries and imitations which required skill as good if not better than the artists who created the originals. then Geordi would suggest that maybe Data was a little bit annoyed that people who could make art in a way he can't would discount that ability. Data would be like "as a machine I do not experience annoyance" but he would allow that he was perplexed or struggling to gain internal consensus on the matter. so Geordi would sum it up with "sometimes people want to make things easy, and they aren't always good at recognizing when doing that defeats the whole idea" and Data would quirk his head thoughtfully and agree.

then they'd get back to modifying the warp core so they could escape some sentient space anomaly that had sucked the ship into intermediate space and was slowly destabilizing the hull, or whatever.

anyways, point is -- I don't think Data from Star Trek would be a big fan of AI art.

#star trek #star trek tng #st tng #data soong #geordi la forge

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bimboficationblues · 1 year ago

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how is "nationalism of the oppressed" mythological

In a dual sense - 1) like all nationalisms, it relies on central myths, and 2) the idea of an innately revolutionary "nationalism of the oppressed" is itself mythical, not a useful analytical or political tool but basically a way of handwaving difficult tactical questions.

All nationalism is in some sense myth-making - it posits an underlying, intangible unity among a group of people with highly diverse and divergent interests and traits. This is part of the reason why nationalists so often talk in the abstract language of "national spirit" - abstraction is kind of the point. This intangible unity doesn't *have* to be ethnicity, it's frequently (for example) the highly nebulous concept of "culture." But the inevitable slide towards ethnicity - and I do think it is inevitable - is unsurprising.

If you identify the unifying force of a people, the thing that makes it a "nation," with something like language/religion/culture, those things are fairly fluid both in space (taking a variety of different forms across different places) and time (changing over time for any number of reasons). This is especially the case because those traits are basically "open," at least theoretically: other people can move in, learn a language, convert to a local religion, and/or learn the techniques and style of local cultural production (and in the process change the character of the culture). So the supposed unity of "culture" is very obviously made up. (It's also worth noting that, insofar as nationalism is coextensive with statecraft, we often see efforts to preserve or create a "national culture" or "national unity" that leaves out or represses certain groups and practices; figuring out what constitutes "the nation" is a highly arbitrary process.)

Ethnicity is also fake - it is a "myth of common descent" - but that quality counterintuitively makes it a more stable foundation for a nationalist political project, because it is 1) derived from something in the past, making it harder to contest or observe, and 2) an immutable trait within the myth's context. You can't identify or convert or learn your way into being a part of the ethnos, you either are or you aren't. This makes for a much more stable boundary line around who is included or prioritized within the polity and who isn't.

As for why "nationalism of the oppressed" is mythological: it is not a meaningful historical category. When people invoke it they are collapsing a bunch of different projects and movements, some of which are conservative and some of which are revolutionary. I also reject the idea that nationalism's goodness is contingent on whether it is practice by an oppressed or oppressor group and nothing else - lest we forget that Zionism was once considered a kind of "nationalism of the oppressed."

For the socialist or the revolutionary, nationalism should be considered a kind of tactic; it is not a good in itself. Any revolutionary or liberatory movement is going to have to make decisions about what they want the movement to look like - its positions, rhetoric, propaganda, goals, etc. Nationalism is a historically popular means for doing things like rallying people to your cause, establishing basic principles for statecraft, cultivating a new political and social culture, etc. This is basically Frantz Fanon's argument in Wretched of the Earth - consistent with his arguments in his previous book, Fanon rejects the notion of a prepolitical national unity. He does not want to wade around in the primordial soup for a "true history" for colonized countries to return to or emulate. But nor does he reject nationalism as a strategy for combating colonialism on the field or in the body. Rather, he wants a class-driven national culture that is emergent from within the process of anti-colonial resistance and that ultimately gives way to an internationalist, universalist humanism once its purposes have been achieved. It's an extremely qualified kind of argument. I don't totally agree with it, but it's an argument that I can wrap my head around and endorse in the broad strokes, because above all it is talking about nationalism as a means towards something.

The kind of people who bastardize Fanon and try and recuperate him into their insipid microwaved politics have this entirely fictional idea of nationalism as an innately revolutionary end, that if you put nationalism in the hands of the right people it will automatically gravitate towards liberation and will not introduce the same kind of problems that the nationalism of colonial powers or capitalist countries has. This is just demonstrably not true (*gestures vaguely at cross-pollination between black nationalisms and black conservatisms, the historical relationship between nationalism and liberal statecraft, the success of right-wing religious or ethnic nationalist movements like Hindutva or Ba’athism in post-colonial countries, etc.*), and is basically just weird, idealist nonsense about how being oppressed makes you morally virtuous.

It also has the effect of obfuscating class politics - ironic, since the people that most frequently utter this line are ML(M)s. There are quite a few "nationalisms of the oppressed" that presume the working-class of a country or a group has more in common with its local bourgeoisie or professional-class counterparts (frequently the spearheads of nationalist movements, if we wanna talk about "class character") rather than the working classes and oppressed groups of other countries.

What the "nationalism of the oppressed" myth does is effectively evade hard strategic questions. Instead of asking "how will this help the cause? what problems might it introduce? does this conflict with long-term goals and are the short-term victories going to be worth it?" it just assumes from the outset that none of those questions are worth asking. It assumes that nationalism is an automatically better foundation for a movement than humanism, or cosmopolitanism, or internationalism.

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night-night-stories-before-bed · 3 months ago

Text

Cursed

Warning ⚠️; blood, murder, cursing.

Pairing; Micheal Myers/Witch!Gn!Reader

Summary; Micheal’s mother and you got into an argument. Sadly for the woman, she didn't know you were an immortal witch and you swore to destroy her family by cursing her son.

Note; I’ve been rewatching all the Halloween movies and loved the idea of Micheal being somewhat cursed and not fully human anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were things in this world that not everyone knew or understood. You were one of those things. You and your people had walked on Earth for centuries, hidding among the mortals and terrorizing them. Some called you demons others witches and none were wrong. Some cultures even created rituals or festivities to appease you or ward off their community from you.

Like the Irish with Samhain.

But in those modern days, people had forgotten about the old ways and why those festivities and ceremonies were made. Worse, your kind had been pushed to the side, your very existence turned into legends and stories to scar children. It was almost insulting.

Almost.

Because now no one remembered how to keep you away. There were still old wives' tales of course, but no one listened or applied them anymore, leaving you free to do as you pleased and go wherever you wanted.

You favoured the United States since its people had all but forgotten the old ways, except the Natives. You never approached them, preferring targeting and walking around the ignorants. You had fun messing around with them, filling their lives with chaos or even making deals without them noticing until it was too late.

But like anyone, you also had your bad encounters.

Deborah Myers was a woman you wouldn't forget anytime soon. The stripper was a strong woman, you couldn't deny it, but she also was a rude one. You got a taste of her tongue one night after accidentally bumping against her. It was one of those day where everything was going wrong and it might have been the case for her too.

Words and degrading gestures were exchanged and Deborah Myers sealed her fate after she hit you. Tasting your own blood, you saw red and returned the gesture, collecting hers in return. You left her on the ground, face bruised and nose bleeding and walked away swearing to make her life crumble before her very eyes.

That next day you hunted for her family. You found her daughter first and the young woman was of no interest for you. But when you saw her son, oh! You knew you had the perfect weapon. Even has a teen, Micheal Myers was full of potential and you would make sure to cultivate it all.

From the shadows you watched the tortured teen, keeping an eye out for everything he did. He amused you by targeting small and defenceless animals. Their screams of pain were disgusting and their end worse, but it showed you what the boy was capable of. Given the right tools, he would be an unstoppable force.

With the right words and time, he would be yours.

When nightfall came, you approached the boy as he walked in the woods, trying to go home without crossing the path of some bullies. You saw curiosity in his eyes and for a brief instant, fear. Children were sensible after all and he must have felt you weren't fully human.

You gave him your gentlest and brightest smile as you leaned above him, pulling a little bag of candies from your pocket. Instantly you saw hunger and joy fill Micheal’s eyes.

- “Hey kiddo, here’s a bag of candies for you. I know it is too soon for Halloween, but I won't be in town to give out candies, so I do it in advance. You are a lucky one, because it's my last one.” You said, chuckling as the boy grabbed it.

- “Thanks, weirdo!” The teen said before leaving you laughing.

You laughed both because of his remark and because it had been easier than expected. Those weren't normal candies after all; you had made them especially for Micheal and the boy was right, you were a weirdo. But once Micheal has eaten those candies, he would be cursed. Cursed to lose all humanity only to become the perfect killing machine.

A modern-day boogeyman.

Your revenge against Deborah Myers.

Halloween came quicker than ever. You watched the town change as the inhabitants decorated their houses and commerce and the trees lost their leaves. The air become cold and crispy and the morning came with a light fog, giving a mysterious aura to the place.

You watched as Micheal began to change. He was slowly becoming more cruel and would snap so easily. He was getting ready to fully transform and that night would be a vital moment in his transformation. It amused you how his family, particularly his mother, saw nothing. None of them noticed the subtle changes in the boy, only the school. Teachers and students seemed to feel it, the kids more than the adults and yet the bullies were still being stupid.

You watched with pride as the cursed boy made his first victim in the very woods where you first met. You smiled as Micheal beat to death to bully before going back home. You grabbed the corpse and dragged it away, hidding it under dried leaves and twigs. You didn't want your new puppet to be found yet. He had much to do tonight after all.

You stayed outside, hiding in the shadows as you stared at the house. Inside you knew Micheal was making a carnage and you couldn't wait until his mother came back to see it all. When Micheal walked outside, his baby sister in his arms, you walked out of the shadow and joined him. You sat by his side and passed your fingers in his hair. His eyes were dark and empty, your curse taking over him.

- “Soon Mickey. Soon you'll forever be like this and you won't feel any remorse or those pathetic emotions. Nothing will be able to stop you or stand in your way.” You leaned down and kissed his hair before leaving him alone on the stairs.

You were filled with satisfaction when Deborah came home. Her screams made you smirk and laugh, the sweet taste of revenge lingered in your mouth as policemen had to restrain her when the corpse of Judith came out of the house.

Deborah Myers had fucked around and now was finding out. Her nightmare wasn't over yet.

As weeks and then months passed you kept track of Micheal. The boy didn't remember anything as your curse had blinded him, transforming him into a mindless killer for a moment. But the curse was still there, growing like cancer and its tentacles wrapped around his young mind and soul.

It wasn't long until his transformation was over.

You were sitting in a coffee shop when you read the news that Micheal had killed a nurse and had been quiet ever since. You knew that your curse was completed and nothing was left of the boy but an empty husk, a killing machine. Now you just needed to sit and wait for him to grow into a man,

Until then, you weren't finished with his mother.

Deborah Myers was at her lowest and yet it wasn't enough for you. You kept tormenting her, filling her nights with nightmares of her bloody daughter haunting her and of Mickey’s murders. Her bills kept piling up and she couldn't keep up with them. Soon she would lose her electricity and the bank would come after her.

After Micheal’s crimes, no one dared approach her. She was the Devil’s mother after all and no one wanted to take a chance. What if she was just like her son, a ticking bomb ready to explode? She only had her baby girl and even then it wasn't enough to keep her sane.

The day of her suicide you drank to it.

You had gotten not only your revenge but also her soul. She was yours forever and some fate are worse than death and hell combined.

All that was left to do was now to wait.

The next fifteen years passed somewhat quickly. You kept an eye and ear out about everything concerning Micheal and even bought the book written by Loomis. The thing was pathetic, a money grab and laughed more than anything. The poor doctor didn't know the truth and probably would never. He was so far from the truth, but his fear of Micheal was justified. But not how he treated him.

It didn't matter if Micheal was cursed, he was still a human being but no one seemed to keep it in mind when whispering awful things about him or treating him harshly. You even saw articles talking about how he should be put down like a mad dog.

It was tragic and you almost felt bad for ruining Micheal’s life.

Another part of you knew you just accelerated his fate. He was always meant to become a killer, you just moulded him into something bigger.

You learned of Micheal’s escape the same night as it happened. You were in his hometown, keeping an eye on his little sister when you overheard a policeman talk about it. You knew Micheal was coming home and you got the place ready for him. You furnished it with a bed and put back his mask under the floor with his knife. You knew he would want them back for old-time sake.

Then Halloween came and so did he. You saw his silhouette walking the streets and heard the screams of his victims. The boy had grown into a fine man and he exceeded your expectation. You admired the corpses he left behind, staying in the shadow and not revealing yourself yet.

You wondered if Micheal would recognize you.

You were surprised when you saw Micheal in need of help. You did not expect his little sister to put on such a fight or for Loomis to arm himself and come fight Micheal. So you stepped in, followed by the wind rising and howling as dead leaves swirled around you.

All eyes turned toward you as you clapped. Angel or Laurie as she was now called, looked at you with something like hope until despair filled her eyes when Micheal walked up to you, dropping his knife.

The Shape had recognized you.

- “My, my! Mark me as impressed. I never expected anyone to outpower Micheal, but I guess I should have seen it coming. After all, he is still inexperienced and has a lot to learn.” You said, turning your gaze on Micheal.

He was bleeding from the gun wounds, but you knew he would be fine. They needed more than firearms to stop Micheal and they had since long forgotten how to stop you.

- “Who are you?” Laurie asked as you waved at Micheal, signalling him which way to go. “Why are you helping it?”

- “Him.” You corrected, tilting your head to the side. “And wouldn't I? I didn't create Micheal and waited fifteen years just to watch him drop dead on his first excursion out.”

- “Created him?” Laurie asked with a small voice before she screamed.

You laughed as Loomies emptied his gun on you. Your blood splashing everywhere as holes were left in your clothes. In seconds the wounds closed and any drop of blood dried and turned into dust. You raised a finger and moved it left to tight as if you were scolding a young child.

- “Tut tut tut, that's not very nice of you Doctor. Do you usually shoot people in the street like that?” You asked as you heard the police’s siren coming closer.

- “No, just the monsters.” He hissed, unimpressed by how unfazed you were.

- “Well then, keep your toy charged and don't forget to look under the bed. We will meet again my friends, take care until then!”

You waved them goodbye before leaving. Micheal had waited for you a bit further and joined your side when you walked next to him. You led him to your car and quickly drove away as the police arrived. You knew they wouldn't be able to track you and Micheal wouldn't go out until Halloween next years.

As you drove, you felt Micheal eyes on you. Empty yet intense, you knew he was judging you. You chuckled as pulled out a new candy bag from your pocket and gave it to him. From the corner of your eye, you saw Micheal staring at it before he took one. He pushed it under his mask to eat it.

- “I am happy that you recognized me, Mickey and Im even happier to see how much you grew up. Gone is the little boy that called me a weirdo, huh?” You laughed as Micheal turned his head and silently stared at you. “Do not worry, I know I am still a weirdo.”

You waved your hand in front of your face as if chasing away some bad thought. But Micheal stayed silent and you knew he would never speak ever again. You couldn't help but wonder what his voice would have sounded like; deep or not? Sadly, there was no way to know. But at least he wasn't fully human anymore, he was your perfect little creation.

For proof his wounds had already stopped bleeding even tho he was soaked in his and others’ blood. It would leave a mess in your car, but nothing you couldn't take care of.

- “You know Mickey, I’ve been waiting fifteen years for tonight. Fifteen years of waiting for you to come out of that damned building and take your place by my side. I enjoyed this Halloween and the spectacle you gave me. You are as ruthless as me, aren't you? I guess you got it from me.”

You laughed cruelly this time. Yes, Micheal had slaughtered those poor kids and parents and you didn't care. It was bound to happen and more blood would spill in the years to come. You relaxed as you noticed Micheal slowly falling asleep next to you. Tonight had been full of drama and exhausting. You weren't surprised that Micheal was falling asleep so quickly. He was in a safe environment after all and he deserved it.

- “Sleep my sweetling. You did great tonight, I am proud of you and everything you did. You went beyond my expectations.” You told him, voice gentle as Micheal rested his head against the door’s window.

It wasn't long until you heard his slow and deep breath somehow deepen as he fell asleep. Yes. Tonight was just the beginning and your years of waiting were finally over. Micheal was now where he belonged; by your side. You knew more adventures awaited you and not just mindless killing. You had opened a door to the dark and not just Micheal had stepped in. It wasn't the last time you met with Loomis and Laurie, it was just the first of many encounters.

And you couldn't wait until the next.

#x reader #fanfic #reader #male reader #x male reader #angst #x gn reader #gn reader #halloween #micheal myers #micheal myers x male reader #micheal myers x reader #micheal myers x gn reader #writers #writer #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writing

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robfinancialtip · 1 year ago

Text

youtube

💖✨Juanita and Marlon, a committed couple, share their inspirational journey as artists delving into the delicate balance of following their passion for acting and navigating the practicalities of life. Their story unfolds with Juanita's Colombian roots and Marlon's upbringing in Long Island, illustrating how their diverse backgrounds shaped the pursuit of their shared passion. Despite initial obstacles and lacking support in their hometowns, they express gratitude for the opportunities propelling them. Attending prestigious acting schools and becoming members of renowned theater companies became milestones in their journey. They highlight the relentless hustle required to support themselves while fully pursuing their artistic purpose and emphasize the powerful impact of mutual support, particularly Juanita's consistent encouragement, which strengthens their shared commitment to the trade.

🧠💪The duo frankly explores the inherent fears associated with pursuing acting in a city rich with outstanding talent. They acknowledge the internal battle against thoughts of inadequacy. Despite these hurdles, they send a strong message of resilience, highlighting the need for tenacity and self-belief in overcoming self-doubt and external pressures.

🔍🎭Marlon explains his decision to pursue acting after first studying criminal justice in college, recalling a watershed moment when he chose to audition for a play and later apply to acting schools. He highlights the need to take risks and bet on oneself, especially in the face of doubt from others, as well as perseverance and self-belief in attaining one's goals.

💫🎬Juanita's acting goes beyond ordinary performance; it becomes an inspirational outlet and a channel for profound self-expression, allowing her to fully honor her identity and experience the whole range of human emotions. On the other hand, Marlon tells his motivational transformation story, describing how acting drove his transition from reluctance to vulnerability and empathy. His story highlights the craft's transformative ability to promote emotional growth and human connection.

🎨🌈Despite obstacles, Juanita and Marlon find tremendous joy in their artistic activities, whether on stage or mentoring the next generation of performers. Their shared worldview sees art as more than a profession but a powerful tool for self-discovery and societal empowerment. It aims to inspire people to find their voices and accept their truths via creative expression.

🌱🚀As they traverse the ups and downs of their careers, Juanita and Marlon stay consistent in their dedication to the artistic journey, understanding its intrinsic value beyond traditional measures of success. Their shared goal is not only celebrity or financial gain but also establishing meaningful connections, cultivating curiosity, and preserving a culture of authenticity and inquiry in themselves and those they touch. In sharing their experience, they hope to inspire and motivate budding artists by demonstrating that with perseverance and belief in oneself, even the most difficult barriers can be conquered to attain one's aspirations.

#Youtube

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callmearcturus · 1 year ago

Text

The Video Gaming Major Arcana

The latest patron episode of Into The Aether/@intothecast asked the boys to decide a video game for every Major Arcana card. They ran out of time on it and only got 2/3s thru

my ass was like "Challenge Accepted"

0 - The Fool - Dragon Quest (The Fool is infinite potential and is at the start of a long journey. DQ as a series is a long-running, is a bedrock of the medium, and has done its own takes on everything from pokemon to minecraft, and it either did it first or did it better.)

1 - The Magician - Metroid and Zelda (The Magician is the first person the Fool meets and is a guide for the journey. The Magician is associated strongly with teaching and with tools. Metroid and Zelda both are foundational works and they revolve around gating player process through tools.)

2 - The High Priestess - FEZ (The High Priestess is another guide, but sits before the veil, keeping guard over arcane, hidden knowledge and deciding when to share the secrets of the universe. FEZ is one of the Big Games that hide under layers and layers of mystery.)

3 - The Empress - Stardew Valley (The Empress presides over growth and cultivation of her kingdom, sitting in a field with wheat in hand. SDV is chiefly about taking care of your own domain, the farm and the wider village.)

4 - The Emperor - Civilization (The Emperor is the firm hand of government and can be an important navigator in chaos but also is angered by lack of obedience and losing control. Civ is all about steering every aspect of a nation and protecting it viciously.)

5 - The Hierophant - Pokemon (The Hierophant is a cultural, societal leader that gains power from people who believe similarly but subsequently is very set in their ways. Pokemon is a huge phenomenon that unites people of all ages, but also struggles heavily with innovation and progress.)

6 - The Lovers - Journey (The Lovers aren't necessarily smoochy-smoochy, but represent a Decision, joining hands with another person and striding into the future together. It's Journey. If you know, you know.)

7 - The Chariot - Bethesda's Catalog (The Chariot is a tumultuous, potent card. They hold onto the reins of powerful beasts and drive forward, blazing a new path. But if they lose grip, everything goes to hell. Bethesda's works tend to have this incredible ambition to them, and when they hit, they HIT, but when they miss, it's dramatic.)

8 - Justice - Dark Souls (Justice is the system and its enforcement of its rules, whether they feel fair or arbitrary. I feel DS fits it well-- it relentlessly follows its own rules and is firm in them, which can either draw players in or seem cruel and unwelcoming.)

9 - The Hermit - Immortality (The Hermit is a wise person who gained specialized knowledge but through great personal sacrifice. They find it difficult to share their knowledge because they essentially traded that ability to communicate easily for the wisdom. Immortality has some deeply complicated concepts to communicate, but its methods and the basic mechanics it uses are to some people impossible to understand.)

10 - (Wheel of) Fortune - Spelunky (Fortune is the card of pure luck and the whims of fate and how you survive being caught in its spokes. Spelunky is a pure Rogue-like as opposed to a Rogue-lite and there is no knowing what the procgen will give you.)

11 - Strength - Undertale (Strength is specifically about emotional control and fortitude. It's not about slaying the lion, but holding it, keeping it from lashing out. Undertale is a game that asks the player to endure emotional struggles both against the mechanics and against their own inclinations.)

12 - The Hanged Man - Signalis (OH BOY ITS MY FAVE CARD. The thing about the Hanged Man is that it's a test, a gamble, a deal. The Hanged Man is not hung from the neck, this is not an execution, they are inverted. They choose to be inverted in the hopes of gaining some Insight into the universe, but in doing so risk madness or obsession or doom. Signalis is both a game about a protagonist going through this and also a game that will put the player through this if they aren't careful.)

13 - The Nameless Arcana - Braid (I'm not even personally a fan of Braid, but I believe it is one of the handful of Original Indie Games. The very existence and popularity of Braid and its contemporaries showed that games outside the big studios could hit big. Braid (or Cave Story for the PC crowd) altered the landscape.

14 - Temperance - Yakuza (Temperance is the melding of disparate elements that should not go together into something grand and new, and maintaining that balance. Yakuza manages to be genuine and profound not in spite of its strange mixture of tones and mechanics but because of them.)

15 - The Devil - Genshin Impact (I don't feel the need to elaborate on this one.)

16 - The Tower - Shenmue (The Tower is total upheaval and where it all comes crashing down, where ambition crumbles and brings an institution down with it. Shenmue is not solely to blame for the failure of the Dreamcast and Sega's exit from the console arena, but it contributed to it and is emblematic of that seachange.)

17 - The Star - Mass Effect (The Star is a beacon in the darkness, a distant light that indicates not so much a goal, but that the journey will continue. Mass Effect is a landmark title that maybe didn't execute on half the things it tried, strangled by its own scope, but it still showed what games could do, broadening the possibility space. It is hope for greater experiences and art.)

18 - The Moon - Metal Gear (The Moon illuminates the path through the darkness, but creates illusions in the reflections, demanding the querent move forward with care or they will go astray, go mad. Is Metal Gear really deep? Is it the closest triple-A games get to arthouse? Does it have meaning? Or is it a mess? Is it too Problematique to justify it's big ideas? Is it all just really, really stupid? Or is it genius?)

19 - The Sun - Tetris Effect (The Sun comes at the end of a long, arduous journey. It is the sigh of relief, the tears of release, the light to finally see how far you've come. Tetris Effect is the latest iteration of one of the oldest formulas ever, and it's brilliant and celebratory and invites everyone to take part in its joy.)

20 - Judgement - Pathologic (Judgement is all-seeing and all-knowing, the final tally and the reckoning. So is Pathologic. Few experiences demand so much from the player, and few games are so brutally honest in answering the player's decisions. In Pathologic, you will get what you deserve.)

21 - The World - The Outer Wilds (The beginning is the end is the beginning. Completion and totality and holistic understanding of Everything. It's gotta be Outer Wilds.)

#arc plays games

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radical-revolution · 7 months ago

Text

Life can often feel like a solitary journey, especially when you’re dedicated to your path but surrounded by silence. The sensation of isolation can be overwhelming, making you question the value of your efforts and the worthiness of your goals. However, there is a profound truth that often goes unnoticed: the work you do with sincerity and integrity has a unique way of reaching out into the world, connecting you with like-minded souls.

In moments of solitude, it's essential to remember that true and conscientious work resonates beyond the immediate confines of your environment. This kind of work is imbued with authenticity and passion, qualities that inherently attract others. When you pour your heart and soul into what you do, you’re not just creating something of value—you’re sending out a beacon to others who share your values and vision.

Consider the countless artists, writers, scientists, and thinkers who have toiled away in isolation, often feeling as though their efforts went unnoticed. Their commitment to their work, however, forged connections they couldn’t have anticipated. Vincent van Gogh, for example, struggled with loneliness and obscurity during his lifetime, but his dedication to his art created a legacy that has touched millions. His unknown friends—those who appreciate and are inspired by his work—came long after he had gone.

The connections you make through your work might not always be immediate or visible, but they are inevitable. In a world interconnected by shared interests and passions, your dedication will draw people towards you. These unknown friends might come in the form of collaborators, supporters, or even those who find solace and inspiration in what you do.

Doing your work truly means committing to authenticity. It means producing work that reflects your true self, your values, and your vision. This authenticity is magnetic. People are drawn to genuine expressions because they offer a respite from the superficial and the mundane. When your work is a true reflection of who you are, it becomes a powerful tool for connection.

Moreover, conscientious work is characterized by a deep sense of responsibility and care. It’s about putting in the effort, paying attention to detail, and striving for excellence. This dedication not only enhances the quality of your work but also demonstrates your integrity and commitment. These qualities are universally respected and admired, making your work stand out and attract those who value the same principles.

It's also important to acknowledge that the journey of doing conscientious work can be its own reward. It cultivates inner strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose. While external recognition and companionship are fulfilling, the process of working earnestly and sincerely enriches your own life. It brings clarity, fulfillment, and a profound sense of accomplishment.

In today’s digital age, the power of your work to connect you with unknown friends is amplified. The internet provides platforms where your work can reach far and wide, crossing geographical and cultural boundaries. Your blog post, artwork, scientific research, or any other form of sincere work has the potential to touch lives in distant places, creating a ripple effect of inspiration and connection.

So, embrace your solitude as a space for creation and reflection. Trust that your true and conscientious work will find its way into the world, drawing towards you those who appreciate and resonate with it. Unknown friends are out there, looking for the kind of authenticity and dedication you bring to your work. By staying true to your path, you open doors to meaningful connections and a supportive community, no matter how isolated you may feel.

Remember, every effort you make with sincerity is a step towards forging unseen bonds and building a network of unknown friends who will seek you out, drawn by the light of your authentic and dedicated work.

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psychics4unet · 6 months ago

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100 Mind-Blowing Ways to Supercharge Your Spirituality 🚀✨

Start a daily meditation practice 🧘‍♀️

Create a spiritual vision board 🌟

Share your favorite spiritual quotes 📜

Explore different types of meditation 🕉️

Write about your spiritual growth journey 🌱

Engage with spiritual communities 🤝

Practice gratitude daily 🙏

Use crystals for energy healing 💎

Follow and interact with spiritual bloggers ✨

Share your tarot card readings 🔮

Write about your dreams and their meanings 🌙

Read and discuss spiritual books 📚

Explore and practice different forms of divination 🃏

Practice and share mindfulness techniques 🌸

Create and use affirmations ✨

Participate in spiritual challenges or prompts 🏆

Discover tips for finding inner peace ☮️

Explore meditation apps 📱

Experience and reflect on spiritual retreats 🏞️

Learn about and practice different spiritual rituals 🛕

Listen to spiritual podcasts 🎧

Experience and share energy healing 🌈

Set up a sacred space or altar 🕯️

Reflect on the benefits of a spiritual practice 📖

Share how spirituality impacts your life 🌟

Connect with your higher self 🌌

Study and understand spiritual symbolism 🖼️

Learn from various spiritual teachers 🧑‍🏫

Set spiritual goals 🎯

Curate spiritual playlists 🎵

Explore spiritual rituals for different seasons 🌿

Practice self-care 🛁

Connect spirituality with creativity 🎨

Maintain spiritual balance ⚖️

Discover spiritual websites 🌐

Engage in spiritual journaling 📔

Try guided meditations 🎙️

Explore spiritual practices from different cultures 🌏

Develop and trust your intuition 🔮

Understand spirituality's impact on mental health 🧠

Explore chakra healing 🌈

Include prayer in your spiritual practice 🙏

Create spiritual art 🖌️

Embrace spiritual rituals for the seasons 🌿

Experience different types of yoga 🧘‍♂️

Align with your spiritual path 🔗

Stay spiritually motivated 🌟

Use spiritual practices for stress relief 🌿

Cultivate compassion in spirituality ❤️

Discover and explore spiritual blogs 🌐

Recognize the personal growth benefits of spirituality 🌱

Learn about spiritual symbols and their meanings ✨

Build a spiritual routine 📅

Practice forgiveness as part of spirituality 💖

Use spiritual practices to manifest desires 🌠

Embrace rituals for abundance 💰

Connect with nature in your spiritual practice 🌳

Create a spiritual self-care checklist 📝

Explore past-life regression 🌌

Connect with spiritual guides 👼

Maintain spiritual boundaries 🚧

Experience different energy work practices 🌟

Reflect on spiritual quotes and their meanings 🗣️

Understand spirituality's impact on relationships ❤️

Explore spiritual cleansing rituals 🌊

Balance spirituality with daily life ⚖️

Embrace mindfulness 🌿

Try spiritual DIY projects 🎨

Use spiritual practices for healing 🌸

Participate in spiritual ceremonies 🎉

Focus on living in the present moment ⏳

Explore various spiritual healing practices 💫

Build spiritual resilience 💪

Empower yourself through spirituality 🌟

Engage in spiritual challenges 🎯

Join spiritual group activities 🤝

Use and learn about spiritual tools 🛠️

Overcome obstacles through spirituality 🏔️

Seek spiritual mentorship 🧑‍🏫

Integrate spirituality into your routine 📅

Practice self-love in spirituality ❤️

Make a spiritual vision board 🖼️

Use spiritual practices for relaxation 🌸

Express spirituality through art 🎨

Practice gratitude 🙏

Enhance creativity with spiritual practices 🌈

Nurture spiritual connections 🧩

Transform personally through spirituality 🌟

Use journaling prompts for spiritual growth 📓

Experience spiritual awakening 🌅

Boost energy with spiritual practices ⚡

Utilize rituals in your spiritual life 🧙‍♀️

Ground yourself spiritually 🌍

Build a spiritual support network 🤝

Increase spiritual self-awareness 🧠

Improve yourself with a spiritual plan 📋

Make daily decisions with spirituality 🌟

Create spiritual art 🎨

Incorporate meditation into your practice 🧘‍♂️

Practice regular spiritual activities 🌱

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