#Currently asking myself the profound question

[shiroselia]

At this point I genuinely think I might be the bitch who has asked themselves the most questions about this game

Especially the weirdest and most specific

[jo-com]

𐙚‧₊˚📒✩ ₊˚ ➛ Cousins?

Max Verstappen x Fem!reader

Summary: Having similar features could be such a burden sometimes— people tend to mistake you for his cousin.

Genre: Fluff and a bit of possessiveness

Note: Grammatical errors and such

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ➛ My Masterlist

────── ─ ₊˚.🎧 ✩｡☕ ─ ──────

It was yet a sunny day at Miami— the sun emitted a warm breeze that spread across the grounds of the paddock. People were glistening at the profound heat that ran from the lower through the upper part of their bodies.

The bustling crowd that sweated in every inch of their being, stayed under the peak of the sun— it was all going to be worth it once they see the long awaited race.

As if on cue, the Max Verstappen slowly got out of the vehicle he currently rode in and along with him was a petite young lady that oddly resembles him.

They had similar features and wore the same smile; at first they thought that it was his sister but the longer they stare it was just merely impossible to be his sister.

Murmurs and whispers could be heard from around the pit— the question still remained, “who is she?”

After racking their brain for a while they finally concluded it to her being his ‘cousin’.

…

It was your first time going there and you’ve already caused quite the scene. You didn’t know whether to be proud of yourself or not— but this day isn’t about you, it was about Max and you wanted nothing more but show your adoration and how proud you are of him.

So you tried laying low. Well you tried. Drama just keeps following you wherever you go.

It wasn’t your fault, right?

…

As you walked besides him; your hand nestled in the tight embrace of his biceps. You could here the the sound of people gossiping.

The two of you never went and announced your relationship. You guys wanted it to be lowkey and stayed out of the f1 gossip headlines.

To add to that, you were to busy to come to his other races, people don’t know what you look like or who you are.

Speculations about him having a girlfriend were there but was never confirmed due to lack of evidence, but they had their suspicions. They just didn’t know that it’s you.

As you guys walk aimlessly around, you then come to a stop when one of the McLaren drivers approached you.

His orange jacket stood among the crowd. Along with his child like grin that spread across his face.

Max glared at him with cold like demeanor, “what do you want lando?” He asked with a hint of annoyance.

“Well i am here to introduce myself to this fine lady over there” he smiled cheekily and gently grabbed your hands and brought it up to his lips.

You could feel max getting tensed from the drivers sudden action, you were also caught off guard but with a gentle smile you took back your hand, “Nice to meet you, i am y/n.”

Before lando could speak further, Max stood infront of you; blocking your view of lando as he towered over that poor man.

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll be going now” he spat, his voice clear with anger.

Lando could felt the immense pressure— without a word his body consciously stepped aside.

With a relive sigh, the two of you walked away, “Whew that was weird”, you muttered, shaking off his gesture like it was nothing.

Max only hummed in response. He didn’t want to show it but it was pretty obvious that it affected him big time.

As you two continued to walk, not even 5 minutes in, another one of the drivers we’re already walking towards you.

“George Russell, nice to meet you” he spoke. His hand presented in front of you, ready for you to shake.

You were about to go for it when suddenly, max took the initiative and reciprocated it himself. His grip on George’s hand were tight— you could tell from his sudden change of expression.

“Uh i am y/n nice to meet you too” you chuckled dryly, trying to ease the tension that surrounded the three of you.

“Max let go”

George shook his head vigorously, “yes max please let go” he pleaded, you could see how his eye’s started to glistened. Was he about to cry?

“Uhh max let go now” you gasped, seeing George’s hand look red and crush. Damn what exercise does this dude do.

You were about to apologize to him when you felt your whole body being dragged.

You spared George a quick glanced and mouthed a ‘sorry’, you weren’t sure whether he saw that or not— he was too busy clutching his hand to try and make the pain lessen.

…

The whole afternoon, whether it were pr, staffs, or his fellow drivers. People hitted on you like you were some kind of magnet that attracts people. Pulling them in closer to your aura.

And with that Max was pouting the whole time, seeing as many people talked to you one by one. It was adorable seeing him like that, well to you it was. to him, let’s just say it wasn’t a blast.

“As soon as we get home, we’re announcing our relationship stat” he spoke, his tone laced with determination.

You let out a soft giggle and intertwined both your hands, “whatever you say my big baby.”

…

Hope you guys like that, it’s been sitting in my drafts so i decided to just finish it!! 💕

[hybbart]

This is perhaps a strange question, but do you have the sketch/lineart/framework/whatever the heck it's called that you use when you draw Tango? I decided I want to learn to draw, and my thought process was, "Ah yes, the easiest way is to try and copy my favourite Tangos cause I know how they look," and it is going... poorly xD.

Alternatively, do you have any advice on how to learn and develop a style, or how to get/keep going?

A reference sheet? I have a couple various ones, though at this point i don't really use a reference unless I need to sample colours, and I'm currently working on a colour reference for myself. Besides the point I suppose... I'll put them at the very bottom of the cut so scroll right past my ramblings if you want to.

As for advice. My advice is do not try developing a style if you are just starting out. style is the last thing that should be on your mind if you're just starting out. Style is something that happens naturally as you grow and learn what you like and get used to your tools, and being able to intentionally create a style is an advanced skill that requires the skill to draw in various styles, strong basics, self-awareness, and proper self-critique.

The rest of this is going to be very incoherent and long winded and backwards so I apologize.

The most important thing to improving is to get over yourself. You need to look at someone else's art and be able to admit it's better than yours or has a quality you wish yours had without that being a statement of self-deprecation. You need to be able to look at your own art and pick out what it is you don't like about it without using it to beat yourself up. You can't improve if you get demotivated by the information required to adjust your course.

If you must, find something in each drawing that you like and focus on learning how to recreate that. If you find yourself with a drawing that you genuinely find nothing you like about it you stop drawing and restart, because that drawing is worthless to you once you recognize that. Analyze why you don't like it, figure out what's causing you to draw that way, ask what you might prefer instead and what the difference between them is, and figure out how to draw what you want instead. The important thing is that when you examine your art and other's art you're using as inspiration you don't instead use it as a tool to put yourself down.

My shadows are flat and poorly angled, and I draw everything lopsides, and I can say those things as simple facts of my art. These are things I still do, and I use tools to fix them, like turning my tablet or using editing tools, or looking up references. If I want to know a certain technique I reach out to other artists I see using said technique and asking, or I research it myself. In the meantime I experiment and accept this flaw in my art. There's other things to like. The important thing is you don't allow your lack of knowledge to demotivate you from correcting that lack of knowledge.

The best thing you can do is ask yourself what you like about art, and what you want to do. It's a bit difficult for me to help with this sort of thing because I've literally always drawn my whole life, so helping someone who is actively choosing to take up drawing isn't my realm of expertise. But art is communication and connection and self-expression. What do you want to express through your art and what medium is that expression best done in, what do you want to convey, what do you want to share that you simply cannot without art.

It's a bit daunting, those sound like profound questions, but honestly they're not. When I draw fanart usually what I wanna communicate is "I like these characters when they do this", and more often than not it's "I really liked this line/palette".

These incomplete character sketches have sat in my main D&D folder and I think about him at least once a month entirely because I was so happy with his proportions and the concept of a dewclaw heel. I ended up reusing the heel in these Jimmy designs.

It can be anything and changes with each piece. Drawing let's me express what I love and emphasize what I love about it or show it from my perspective. I'll use this raau page as an example.

This is actually based on a shop that I've gone to since I was a child, so it's a space that I've seen and thought about many times. Though it's changed, for ease of drawing and to fit into the setting of raau and for the sake of composition, but the things that are important to me are still here. The ceiling that feels slightly claustrophobically low, the rainbow coordinated shirts, the club covers shaped like animals, every inch of the shop being utilized for merchandise until you can barely see the walls, the nook shape of the section, the fluorescent lights with this specific covering that's very "soulless office job" but to me is also the playroom at my grandma's house and how both have no windows.

I wanted to preserve particular qualities of the atmosphere of the place, in order to express that in this image. That vibe that I could not describe in words to anyone who hasn't experienced it themselves so the best I could normally do is describe it and hope it sparks a similar enough memory. But with visual art I can use lightning, context, and composition to simply express it better. I can create the experience for someone else.

Sometimes writing is better at it than words, and sometimes both are needed, so I learned both. Sometimes music is better than either and I'm screwed because I can't do music. That's besides the point though.

When you're starting out you can have a hard time grasping what about a piece compels you. That's why you need to learn to critique art as you learn to draw, and that's also why tracing and copying is good.

Here's an example of me trying out @lunarcrown's art style. I made a collage and traced my favourite frame's shapes to "get my hands on it", if you will, before trying it out on my own, starting with similar poses usually. What I learned from this is I really like how Lunar does hair, actually even though this was a study of Tango I took notes on how she does Jimmy's hair and applied it to my Scar, Impulse, and Skizz, because I'm awful at short men's hairstyles.

I also cemented one of the reasons I love her art is because it does have some qualities that I already incorporate into mine, like the streamlining between flushed materials such as her Tango's skin and skin-tight shirt, or my Tango's sleeves and gloves.

If you know what you like about something it's easier to work towards incorporating it into your own art without simply copying someone else's. And starting out by copying as a way to play around with someone's art the same way an engineer pulls something apart is helpful in doing so.

Which leads me further back into simply go somewhere and draw what you see. The drawing does not have to be good, but being able to just take a sketchbook and see something that scratches your brain and mimic it is important to developing the above skills. Being able to translate reality into an image is important to developing your skills and understanding the fundamentals of breaking things down. Being able to look at something moving or possibly far away and look down and draw it anyways by breaking down its shapes is important in developing your ability to use references.

Drawing is also mostly muscle memory. So it's important to draw things over and over again. You can do this how you want, you're always going to hit a wall where you end up having to sit there and draw circles 50 times on a page to remember how to draw circles like you're trying to get a dry pen to work. You will do this before almost every serious picture. Find a way for you to enjoy this process.

The biggest most important rule about art, though, is that there is not rules. Go about things however you want for whatever reason you want. If you enjoy doing something a certain way do it that way, if you hate a particular process eliminate it. Sometimes the result outweighs a miserable process, if having something look a certain way is more important then suck it up and do so. If you care more about enjoying a motion than what the end result is then do so. You have to ask yourself what you care about in art.

For now, though, if you're just starting out. The best thing you can do is draw a lot of circles and cubes and fruit. It's an unfortunate truth that the best foundation is learning realism, because it's just going to teach your the fundamentals the best, and all abstraction is... well, an abstraction.

Of course, as just said, there is no rules, and if you genuinely do not enjoy drawing those things like me, then you can simply not. It helps improvement the fastest but if it makes you miserable in a way that isn't backed by passion then that's counterproductive. Forcing yourself only really works if you're passionate enough about what you're doing to overcome the temporary discomfort of learning, so if you're satisfied with just being able to mimic something more abstract in the beginning do exactly that and explore what would make you passionate enough to be willing to draw things you aren't stoked about for an end result. You might never be, but that's also fine, you don't have to strive to be the world's greatest artist to justify drawing.

Also accept that you're absolutely going to change your mind on things. What felt like a great line to draw you're going to hate the next day. It's up to you if you leave it be or fix it, neither's the right answer. I tend to lean towards leaving it personally, even when it drive some up a wall, simply because I have very momentary inspiration and don't like returning to old pieces once I'm done with them. Some people will return to a picture over and over again fixing it every time they think of something. Whatever floats your boat.

tl;dr figure out what you enjoy doing with art and just do that as much as you like. Improve by finding new things you want to do with art. Combine as you see fit to create art.

...

okay time for references:

I try to keep my designs simple because the style I developed for mcyt art was intended for animations. I've drifted a bit but in general I keep to simple shape-defined designs with long lines, flat colours, and minimal wrinkles. It's intentionally flat in many ways in order to create more satisfying lines, like the collar of his shirt or the way his hands ' gradient is done with the line art.

Tango is both round and angular, basically he's an almond. His shape is ambiguous in much of his clothing, with very understated joints. This gives him a move cartoony elastic sort of vibe, like he's just a pipe cleaner that can bend any which way, or a piece of rubber that might stretch.

I avoid bogging him down with logic for that reason, his hair is styled like hair but it has the appearance and moves like fire. Which is it? Who knows. Where are his organs? I haven't drawn them so they don't exist.

[nonbinarypirat]

Hello! I really like your character analysis from m!ik. I wanted to ask you what do you think of Amerie? And her influence on Iruma? And their relationship?

Great question! Okay, I’ll go in order of your questions since you have a few for me :)

Okay, so I have issues with how Ameri is written on the character, some of the few issues I have with Nishi’s writing thus far. But before I talk about the negatives I want to focus on the positives of Ameri and her character because I do think she has a lot of potential that I hope we get to see! Ameri is a classic capable but soft character type that we see in both her romance fantasies but also her deep care for her fellow students. She isn’t just a student president because of the prestige or power it could give her, it’s because her ideal is for every demon to be proud of themselves and their authentic selves. And this is a quality in her that I find deeply profound and beautiful. She’s proud of herself and she wants others to be proud of themselves as well. And what I like about Iruma and Ameri is that she encourages him to strive for more, more than he ever could have dreamed of in the beginning. And he makes her enjoy herself more rather than overworking herself. He makes her be still more, stop to appreciate the little things. She also has the power to inspire others, a nature born leader, and one that is willing to do anything for her fellow students. Not to mention she has given her fellow student council members a place to belong and by doing so, they have deep respect and loyalty to her. And for demons who are inherently selfish and idealistic, this says a lot. They aren’t with her because of her strength, they care for her and I think that speaks volumes in itself.

What I have a problem with is how much her growth is tied to iruma. I think in this Nishi failed at making her an independent character. For instance, we don’t get to see her work towards rank 7, which would help her in her main ambition. We know she wants to take over for her dad, but we don’t know why that’s so important to her yet. And we don’t get to see the steps she takes towards that goal. Her growth is her progress in her relationship with Iruma and I think that’s a let down. Like I said, I love how she inspires and pushes iruma to be a better version of herself. I enjoy that a lot about their relationship. But I don’t find myself interested at all in the romance aspect of the two, mostly because of how they met each other. The trope is that in so many animes and mangas (and the romance genre in general) have two characters run into each other and instantly fall for the other. They went for the trope, we had some laughs about it, but then it kind of just… stuck around? It’s making fun of the clique while also adhering to it and to me it just didn’t land. I think for the joke to work and to make the relationship flow better, the immediate attraction should have quelled and from there a more slow burn of feelings for Ameri. I think if she didn’t become so Iruma crazy so soon into the story, it could have made a more compelling relationship compared to the current one we have. Right now, besides motivating each other I don’t see much in the way of their relationship? I think it’s also hard because we see so little of her in the actual plot and story so the relationship feels like it’s going at a snail’s pace while also going too fast when we do get to see them interact again to make up for the lack of Ameri. It’s weird, they’ve gone on three or four dates (or at least, we can categorize them as dates even if both characters haven’t called it that) but at the same time it’s like nothing has happened for them. I guess besides Ameri realizing her feelings, Iruma blushing when hugging Ameri, and the talk with Henri. I wish the relationship was more friendship focused or the feelings took longer to develop. Because she’s a busy woman and she’s a year above Iruma, we don’t see her actively take part of the plot often and it just makes it hard to get to know more personal stuff about Ameri.

This isn’t to say I’m a Ameri x Iruma hater, I just don’t find their relationship a fun part of the story. I do also admit to having a bias for the love trio when it comes to Iruma ships. But I do hope that the relationship develops more in an in-depth way because I could see her and their relationship becoming more interesting if Nishi takes the time to write her (in my opinion) better.

[lolaandthens0me]

Do you ever feel embarrassed or shamed for wearing diapers or do you embrace it head on..

Hello king d and thank you for this question.

Shame is a prevalent topic and something I know many of my friends in this community have in the past or are currently dealing with. Shame is a complex thing and can be so debilitating. The first thing I want to say is you are not broken. I'm saying this to all of us, including myself.

Also - you are not alone.

As someone who was not "factory-installed" with a diaper fetish, I avoided those early years of feeling so alone and different for liking this. I think this is a big part of why I've never experienced shame in wearing diapers. I didn't start wearing until I was 30. I didn't have an interest in wearing diapers until then, and I was ushered into this community with love and encouragement by my ex. I feel so lucky that my story was one of mutual exploration and enthusiastic interest in diapers.

I have however experienced shame in other areas of my life, as most humans have. My biggest struggle with shame in my adult life has been in realizing my desire to be with and love multiple people. And in my decision to leave my marriage of 16 years. As necessary and freeing as that whole transition has been, I felt extreme guilt and shame in choosing to live a more authentic, more kinky life. I'd ask myself, "Why couldn't I just be happy in the wonderful, loving, charmed life I had?" It's because it just wasn't me. Or perhaps, it just wasn't me anymore.

Things that have helped me get over this shame include talk therapy, yoga, gratitude exercises, and surrounding myself with people who I feel see me for me and love me in all of my authenticity. This includes all of you! Getting more involved in the abdl and greater kink community has helped me accept myself and all of my beautiful, kinky quirkiness a hundredfold. When I finally stepped out into the world of meeting people in person and going to events, this is when my guilt started to move through me in a profound way. Meeting and bonding with others in this community helped me gain confidence in showing my more authentic self to others outside of kink as well. I started loving myself more because love was reflected back to me in the warm embraces and deep conversations I was having. I was able to share more about my desires of the different kind of life I wanted to live. I found that a wider circle of more open-minded and accepting people organically grew around me in all areas of my life. This helped dissipate that guilt for leaving my old life little by little. My shame dissolved into wisdom gained and loving compassion for those around me. I focused on helping people and have been able to turn that shame into loving acceptance and guidance.

No matter what "different" kinks you are into, you are part of a community. Embrace that community. Find the time and will to get in the car and drive 3 hours to the nearest munch. Reach out to that person online that seems like you or you find interesting. Share your unique self with others and I bet that your shame will start moving through you as well.

[thelaurenshippen]

How much of an impact has writing and consuming fanfiction had in your writing career?

I ask about fanfiction specifically because it's such an open communication sort of media, it's so easy for author and reader to interact. Do you think you'd write differently if you'd never been in the Fanfiction community? What do you think has carried over from those works and interactions into your current works?

ooh, such a fun question! I've never really thought about this before!

so I will admit, while I have been reading fanfiction since 2006, I never actually wrote fanfiction until 2018 (and then didn't share any of it until 2021). so I think those specific relationships affected my writing in very specific ways.

from a reading perspective, I think fanfic really showed me that a story can be anything, told in a million different kinds of ways. the two fandoms that I was deeply entrenched in/reading fic in were sherlock (lol) and the winter soldier (I stand by it). both of those fandoms - TWS especially - did a lot of very interesting stuff when it came to story structure, multimedia storytelling, etc. while of course there's great published fiction that does the same (I've been a huge David Mitchell stan since I was 20, I read House of Leaves for the first time a few years ago, A Series of Unfortunate Events is such a great example of this tbh), I think there's a lot of freewheeling experimentation in fanfiction that encouraged me to do things like write Some Faraway Place as a mix of journal entries, reddit posts, letters, and tumblr posts.

it's also interesting to me that you bring up the author/reader interaction, because you're right, it is such a huge part of fanfic and a part I rarely thought about for a looooong time. I'm a socially anxious lurker by nature, so I would leave comments (show your local fanfic writer some love!) and I would follow a lot of those writers, but I'd never, like, interact with them directly. and my comments were usually along the lines of "I'M FLINGING MYSELF DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN" rather than openings to conversations lol.

but that changed significantly when I started writing fic. the first fandom I wrote for was SO small and the ship I was writing for even smaller (I'm responsible for over half the fics in that tag), so there wasn't really any interaction there. but then I started writing in a different fandom - still small but much more active - and joined a discord and everything. I'm not really active anymore, but I met someone who now has become one of my best friends and who is a huge reason why Desperate Hollow, my queer outlaw novel, finally got fucking finished.

so being in fanfic really affected my writing in the sense that I found a writer friend who - like a lot of other writing friends - has had a profound affect on me as an artist. but more broadly, writing fic for that fandom - about 200k words of it in eight months - taught me some very important things:

how to write a lot of words very, very quickly

how to let go of something being perfect - no one knows who I am on ao3 and people are just happy to have fic for a small fandom, so it doesn't have to be GOOD

how to write physicality - this is very hard for me, even now. I'm an audio first person, I rarely think about what people look like, how they move their bodies, etc. writing fic is so helpful, because if you're using canon scenes, you don't have to come up with the blocking, you just have to figure out how to describe it.

dialogue/character voice - learning how to mimic a writer's style is good from two perspectives: one, you learn more about style and voice by having to unpack someone else's. two, as a writer working in a scripted medium, you often are trying to write to an established style, because you might be in a writer's room for a world that you didn't create.

this is a less tangible effect, but writing mature works for a fandom that has mostly morally gray characters helped me get more comfortable with being bolder in my own work. Desperate Hollow is about two men in the wild west, one of whom has killed a lot of people, and both of whom are career criminals. the show I'm working on currently has the messiest found family dynamic and it will only get messier. I think in the course of writing TBS, I sometimes got scared of doing the wrong thing, or of leaning too hard into the darker parts of the story, and I'm trying to let my characters and stories be deeply imperfect now.

I hope that answers your questions!

[drnikolatesla]

A Night with Tesla: The Future of Electrical Resonance

(This narrative is a creative reimagining of a 1901 interview with Nikola Tesla, titled "Tesla's Twentieth-Century Views," originally penned by Frank L. Perry for the Western Electrician. Presented from a first-person perspective, this piece offers a fun and immersive experience while preserving Tesla's original words about resonance and the future of energy.)

Late one Friday evening in January of 1901, I found myself at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, sitting down with the legendary inventor, Nikola Tesla. The setting was grand, but Tesla seemed entirely focused, undistracted by the opulence around him. I had been eager to ask him about his latest thoughts on the future of electrical energy, particularly the concept of resonance, or as Tesla often referred to it, “electrical tuning.”

With a mix of excitement and curiosity, I asked, “From your own investigations with high-frequency currents and the transmission of electrical energy, it seems that there’s a great future along these lines. Does the question of ‘electrical tuning’ become a most important one? Will this direct the progress of scientific discoveries in the next decade?”

Tesla leaned forward slightly, his eyes bright with conviction. “You have put a question,” he began, “which not only is of great importance in many arts of the present day, but also throughout the mechanism of the universe. The phenomena of sound and light afford striking examples. I believe that ultimately even nerve action will be proven to involve the principles of ‘sympathetic response.’” His thoughts were as bold as they were profound, suggesting that the very nature of life and nerve function operated on the same principles as electrical resonance.

He continued, “In my own experiments with electrical and mechanical vibrations, I’ve been impressed by the tremendous possibilities. With a small engine capable of pressing a piston back and forth with a force of just two pounds, I once set an entire block of modern buildings into such violent swaying that people rushed out terrified. And this was done through precise attunement.”

As he spoke, I found myself captivated by the simplicity of his explanation, despite the staggering implications. Tesla didn’t stop with mechanical resonance. He went on to explain his even more astonishing work in electrical vibration. “In electrical vibration,” he said, “I have frequently obtained results that were even more wonderful. The tuning of electric circuits is becoming increasingly important as the arts advance and methods refine. The layman can only have a vague idea of what can be accomplished in this line by those who possess the knowledge and skill.”

I asked him about this skill—how one could master such an art. “Knowledge of the principles is easy enough to acquire,” he admitted, “and one of the best sources of information on the subject comes from Prof. Pupin, whose work makes it accessible even to a beginner. But skill—now that takes patience and untiring dedication.”

The conversation turned to the challenges of refining electrical circuits for optimal resonance. Tesla explained, “Many experimenters don’t realize that an electrical system cannot vibrate freely through an imperfect contact or high resistance. It’s like trying to get a spring to vibrate while holding it firmly—it simply won’t happen.”

He paused for a moment, as though he was envisioning the future even as he spoke. “The transmission of electrical energy through the earth offers the greatest possibilities of development. The time is not far off when electrical oscillations will speed through the globe, each separate and distinct, fulfilling its mission. It’s a seemingly simple subject, but as you advance, it feels as if the wide ocean is opening up before your eyes.”

As we concluded, Tesla recalled an experiment from five years prior, where he had successfully “tuned” 150 circuits, calling each one in turn without disturbing the others. “At the time, I thought I had mastered the art,” he smiled, “but now I see that I was only just beginning to learn.”

Leaving that evening, I felt that I had been granted a rare glimpse into the mind of a true visionary, a man who saw the universe as a symphony of vibrations, with every element perfectly attuned. What Tesla envisioned wasn’t just a technological future—it was a harmonious one. And as we move further into the twentieth century, I can’t help but wonder how much of his grand vision we’ll soon witness.

[sugarpasteltmnt]

i am currently catching up on neon void, and it is a delight to read. your descriptions of leo’s mind is mesmerizing and grabs the reader’s attention so well. it’s very diverse and unique compared to other interpretations and fics♥️

i’m curious to know what your thinking process was like while writing leo’s insanity and his own thought processes.

(spoilers for ch11) the scene that stuck out to me the most was when leo was about to infect donnie. it felt so vulnerable and raw ahh

anyways i just want to dig into your mind a little to know how it works.

keep up the great work, you are doing wonderful.

WAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭 you are so sweet thank you!! 💙💗‼️and ohmigosh what a fun ask.

tbh i sat on this one for a while to think of how to dive into it-- beware of my (VERY) long ramblings below!

this question really got me Thinkin' and i kinda popped off but!! If i may indulge myself, here's sort of a wild explanation of how i approach Leo's Insane Brain for this specific fic:

does it meet R.I.S.E???

R - Realistic? I - Interesting? S - Silly? E - Existential?

R - Realistic

"How the hell do i make this sound realistic" is often an obstacle i run into. but it's also the Secret Sauce. What really gives the thought process direction. Given Leo's current situation, he's battling between what he wants and what he needs to do. Which is often a very real problem real people have. Exaggerating it helps create a fun back-and-forth dialog that can make his thoughts seem muddled.

With Leo in this fic’s setup, there are about five main key factors i rely on with his decision making:

Happiness The root of Leo’s general personification. He’s the guy who beat Krang One. The one who escaped a place worse than Hell. After years of missing home so much he’s FINALLY home. He’s drunk on happiness. He was finally home. And that relief and joy is what makes him so jubilant and goofy.

Awareness of his goal Though Rise Leo is a very funny dude, he's still a Leonardo. Throughout the series, Leo is the voice of reason when things are getting out of hand or are potentially dangerous. Leo's had nothing but time to think. Wishing what he'd done different. Wishing he had been more serious. After five years obsessing over his mistake and missing his family, the moment he see's the opportunity to make sure this never happens again he'll latch onto it. And when the stakes are high, accentuating that tension can help with frantic impact of his thinking.

His desire to see his family This desire often clashes with point number 2. Writing his internal struggle between the two helps with the “overwhelmed thoughts” vibe. It’s hard for him to choose! And he doesn’t wanna have to choose! Playing out the conflict between his 'want' vs his 'need to do' helps me bring out his nervous thinking process.

He's self-reprimanding thoughts We all love an Angsty Leo. It was hinted in the show that he had some self-esteem issues, but who doesn't love ramping it up to 11 for a fic??? That, and he was trapped with Krang this whole time. After hearing he was nothing but trash for five years PLUS the guilt of nearly ending the world, the guy doesn't exactly see himself in a great light you know? This can help clash with point 1, again helping with that 'what he wants' vs 'what he needs to do' inner conflict.

Instinct to Survive / Feral Tendencies This one is super fun. I love feral AUs/tropes. With little to no socialization in the Prison Dimension, Leo's sanity started to slip, leaving his body's natural instincts to become more profound. Plus, with the Krang Parasite, I like to exaggerate how feral/dangerous he could be outside of 'turtle' instincts. (Seeing that parasite hosts in the movie were very violent). Sprinkling in feral moments is just a delicious thrill I love adding, and it makes the insanity factor skyrocket and it's so fun to write 🩵🩵🩵

I - Interesting

Is Leo's thought process interesting to read??? Honestly, I just gun for what I think is the most interesting; Leo's relationship with his brothers (especially Raph), and the cause and effects of his shenanigans.

Also, I liked to experiment with wonky texts to help emphasize key moments or words to grab attention. Mostly because it feels like a fun surprise to read them in my opinion. Though not necessary in writing, I thought using some funky fonts might entice and excite 💙

S- Silly

THE BIG ONE!!! EVERYONE'S FAVORITE!!! 🎉🎊🥳🎉 Something I really love love love about Rise's style is that it's silly It's unique! It's fun! I love that Leo and the others are goofy and have some slap-stick moments. And I wanted to keep that with Leo despite everything. Plus, I ADORE that in this iteration of TMNT, the characters are such showmen. They are DRAMATIC. They are SILLY. And that's something I wanna celebrate!! Plus, as much as I love angst, writing nothing but pure angst is exhausting. (And I'm sure reading pure angst isn't enjoyably to everyone.) Throwing in Silly moments is like a little moment of refreshment to me 🩵

I also like to believe that Leo kept his sense of humor out of sheer SPITE. The 'wipe that stupid grin off your face' line in the movie really stuck with me. I feel like Leo would smile through his fear and still be a clown just to spite Krang One.

E - Existential

At the end of the day, Leo is dealing with a VERY big issue. I felt like the Rise movie did an excellent job portraying the severity of an alien invasion for the setting Rise had. And the weight of the situation would be too great for one person. And this is often what I refer back to to make Leo snap. A relapse in clarity of mind. A moment for the panic and PTSD to come back in full force and make him rely on his instincts. Usually the feral instincts he became more attuned with while fleeing/fighting Krang One. It also goes hand-in-hand with his awareness of his goal (as mentioned in 'Realistic' above).

And that's kinda a word-vomit of how it goes!! Honestly??? The tug-o-war between conflicting thoughts helps me write the madness in his head. It's been super fun and interesting, and I hope it's been fun to read!!! (Though I'm telling you now I will NOT be doing those floating text tables again OOF)

Thank you again for the ask it was super fun to think about ;w; 🩵‼️

[outfitqueer]

The First Steps

Coming Out to Myself @outfitqueer 🏳️‍⚧️

The journey to coming out to myself was a quiet yet profound odyssey, marked by moments of deep self-reflection and emotional turbulence.

It was like discovering a hidden room in a house I’d lived in for years, a space that had always been there but was only now coming into focus.

I remember the first time I seriously considered my identity.

It wasn’t a single, dramatic revelation but rather a series of small, almost imperceptible shifts.

I’d catch glimpses of myself in the mirror and feel an unsettling disconnect, like seeing a stranger’s reflection superimposed over my own.

The more I explored these feelings, the more I realized that what I was seeing wasn’t a mere distortion but a reflection of who I truly was.

One of the earliest moments of self-realization came when I started to allow myself to dream about being my authentic self.

I’d imagine scenarios where I could express myself freely, where my appearance and identity aligned seamlessly.

These dreams were a source of both hope and anxiety. They painted a picture of a life that felt so right and so distant all at once.

It was exhilarating to envision this new reality but equally daunting to confront the gap between that vision and my current reality.

The process of coming out to myself was also deeply emotional. There were tears—sometimes of relief, sometimes of frustration—as I faced the truth of my feelings.

It was an internal struggle to reconcile the image I had long presented to the world with the identity I was slowly acknowledging within.

I grappled with fears about what this acceptance would mean for my relationships, my career, and my overall sense of self-worth.

I spent countless hours reflecting on what it meant to truly accept myself.

This wasn’t just about acknowledging my identity as a trans woman; it was about embracing it fully and allowing myself to be vulnerable with that truth. I would sit with my thoughts, sometimes in quiet solitude, sometimes in the midst of a crowded room, and ask myself tough questions. What would it mean for my future? How would my life change? And most importantly, could I accept this change with love and compassion for myself?

During this time, I also sought out resources and communities that helped me understand my identity better.

Reading books and stories from other trans people, engaging in online forums, and finding support networks were crucial steps.

These external sources of validation helped me to validate my own feelings, to see that my experiences were part of a larger, shared narrative.

The turning point came when I reached a sense of inner peace. It was a quiet moment of acceptance, when the fear and anxiety started to be overshadowed by a profound sense of rightness.

I realized that accepting myself wasn’t about eliminating fear—it was about embracing who I truly was despite the fear.

It was about recognizing that the discomfort of living a lie was far greater than the challenges that might come with living my truth.

Coming out to myself was not just a precursor to coming out to others; it was a fundamental part of the journey.

It was the moment when I looked in the mirror and saw not just the person I had been pretending to be, but the person I had always been inside. It was a moment of self-love and acceptance that laid the groundwork for the steps I would take next.

In accepting myself, I found a deep well of courage and hope. It was the beginning of a new chapter, one where I could step into the light with a sense of authenticity and self-assurance.

And while the path ahead was still uncertain, the act of coming out to myself provided the clarity and strength needed to face the world as my true self.

@outfitqueer 🏳️‍⚧️

[cardcaptorr]

What has your journey of self-love and growth taught you about yourself?

if you're trying really hard to love yourself, you already do. i think ive always had some self-love because i always tried so hard to love and understand myself.

i think it also made me realize how shallow i am when it comes to my own appearance, i definitely grew out of that a bit the past few years but even more so this last year. i love myself for so many reasons and none of them have to do with what i look like.

ive grown so much this past year, my 4 year relationship breakup was the best thing that ever happened to me tbh- it made me see myself and my life so clearly. i realized how unhealthy it was to revolve my life around a romantic relationship and neglect everything else. im still not sure why i fall into that pattern every time i get into a romantic relationship, but my current relationship isn't like that at all, and it is the best relationship ive ever been in. it gives me space to focus on myself and focus on things that matter to me and actually improve and work on myself. i genuinely care a lot about self improvement now, i care about achieving goals i set for myself, and i care about being healthier and happier ☺️ im also trying to be a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister, and a better girlfriend also.

i think ive also pushed myself out of my comfort zone so much this past year, something ive never done before, but something thats obviously very necessary for personal growth. i used to think i could never be an artist, but im actually pushing myself to achieve that dream (i used to be like um thats such a wild dream actually that i should just not even try at all lol 😀) and ive sold so many paintings and prints of my original art this year!! and participated in a makers fair that turned out to be very successful and such an amazing experience 🥹✨ putting myself out there was so hard, and putting all the effort in making it happen was hard, it took so much time and energy and creative thinking, and i realized quickly that i would have never put all that effort in it if i was still in my last relationship. so yeah, thats been pretty cool. I think I earned the title of artist now lol. 😎

thank you for asking such a profound question haha I appreciate it!! 🥰

[astro-witchery]

—ℐ𝓃𝓉𝓇ℴ𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉𝒾ℴ𝓃—

My name is Sasha. I am a cosmic/astro/lunar witch. This means: I do a lot of rituals around the moon cycles, I tend to also do intention setting based on lunar phases, and live my life by astrological and cosmic patterns and magic.

I am also an astrologer (I’ve been practicing and studying for over 6 years). I’m a Sagittarius sun, Sagittarius moon, and Cancer ascendant in Tropical Astrology. {Scorpio Sun, Sagittarius Moon, and Gemini Ascendant in Western Sidereal.} I study all types of astrology but I’m most well versed in Western Tropical and am studying Traditional Hellenistic Tropical Astrology to blend the aspects of both together.

I also do tarot, oracle, & dabble with other forms of divination. Plus, I believe myself to be claircognizant and use this to help aide in my witchery.

I consider myself an Agnostic Pagan and Witchy. I am also and animist. I identified as a Hellenic Polytheist for a while but have recently decided to explore my ancestry and it’s relation to other spiritual paths (absolutely not in a folkish or racist way btw!) I am adopted and it’s always been really hard for me, not being able to explore my ancestry and do ancestor work within my spiritual practice.

I am possibly a mix of Anglo-Saxon, Devon, & Cornish descent. My adopted family is of Scottish, Welsh, & French descent. I’m still putting together my biological family tree. This very hard for me to do as I don’t have a lot of access to info being an adoptee. (I am not claiming I have certain rights to cultures because of this, I am just trying to learn about my ancestors and their spiritual practices to find answers about my own inherent beliefs about spirituality that I was born with.)

I have always had a love for religious and philosophical studies. I had very profound spiritual experiences at a very young age (for example: I knew I was reincarnated without even really knowing what death was or about spirituality). Most people in these spaces have a similar story to starting off Christian and not being satisfied (or being traumatized) by their church. I grew up Baptist and when I could explore other options after I left home I did.

I currently research: Christian Sects (especially Catholicism and Greek Orthodoxy, but also really enjoy niche fringe sects and “folk Catholicism” or “Christian Witchcraft”), Pagan and Polytheistic religions (Hellenic Polytheism, Proto Indo-European Polytheism, Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, Norse Heathenry, & Celtic Polytheism or more specifically Cornish/Devon/Welsh Druidism), Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, and honestly I could add more to list but I don’t want to ramble on. This does not mean I am an eclectic witch or that I mix pantheons or practices, I just enjoy reading/studying all types of world religions and I’m still searching for the right practice for me.

This is just a place where I can share and reblog helpful info and share aspects of my craft ~

☾ ⁂ ——————— 🜸☆

𖦹 This Account Stands Against Bigotry 𖦹

This account is accepting of all people of all religions and belief systems that are not harmful to others. This account is a safe space for LGBTQA+ identities, disabled folks, mentally ill folks, plural/multiple folks, & strangers/travelers/homeless folks. This account is against racism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, ALL the problematic isms.

I don’t do DNIs bc I prefer to block people.

I am happy that you are here! If I follow you back it will be from my main account @s4shiii

Feel free to send asks to get to know me more, to inquire about readings, or ask astrological questions. I do offer full paid astrological natal chart readings in Western Tropical & I also offer tarot card readings all for a sliding scale price! ~

[majumdarbookreviews]

The Breath of Life: A Book Review of Light on Pranayama: The Definitive Guide to the Art of Breathing

Original Article Published on My Book Recommendation website: https://majumdarbookreviews.asia and then published at https://majumdarbookreviews.blog

Photograph of the Book, ‘Light on Pranayama’, written by B.K.S. Iyengar

In the ancient cultures of our world, the art of maintaining physical health has always been revered. The philosophy of India profound in its understanding of life, declares that while the body may return to dust, life is sustained by the forces of air, transformed through the element of fire into energy, light and radiance.

This transformation of matter into finer forms is the very source of our strength. Yet, true strength lies not merely in the transmutation of matter but in the complete cycle where air and light are taken in, transformed and returned to the universe.

Yoga, as taught by the seers of India transcends mere physical postures. It is a scientific and systematic discipline for the harmonious alignment of all the energies within the human being leading one towards communion with the Divine. In its various forms – Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga – yoga remains a pathway to the ultimate reality.

Among these, Pranayama, the control and mastery of the life force is central to the yogic discipline.

In this remarkable book, the author brings to light the profound significance of Pranayama. Sri Aurobindo, the great sage of Pondicherry shared from his own experience how Pranayama amplified his mental faculties, enabling him to compose and retain vast amounts of poetry – an astonishing feat of mental clarity and focus. Such is the power that resides within the breath or prana.

Prana, in the yogic tradition is far more than mere air or breath. It is the essence of life itself, pervading both the animate and inanimate. It flows through us as the vital currents – prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana – governing the energies of our body and mind. Pranayama is thus a sacred practice not just a technique but a way of aligning ourselves with the cosmic life force.

The ancient texts starting with Patanjali treat Pranayama as an indispensable part of the spiritual journey. In today’s fast-paced world where life is fraught with stress, anxiety and illness, many have turned to fleeting and harmful distractions like smoking and intoxicants in search of relief. Yet, as this book reveals, Pranayama holds the key to lasting peace and health. It begins by easing minor ailments such as colds, headaches and mental unrest and gradually leads the practitioner to a state of balance and harmony. However, it is not something to be grasped through mere intellectual discourse. It must be practiced with patience, care and devotion.

The author wonderfully expounds upon the true meaning of yoga. Derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” yoga means to bind, to join, to unite. It is the union of the soul with the divine, the alignment of the scattered forces of the mind into a state of reflection and clarity. The eight limbs of yoga – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi – are the steps on this sacred journey and each is explained in great detail within this work.

The section on breath, its nature and how few truly understand the art of breathing is especially illuminating. Some times I feel like asking myself a simple yet profound question: “Do I know how to breathe?”

The author further points out that poor posture, emotional imbalances and neglect of our respiratory muscles all contribute to improper breathing, which in turn diminishes our vitality.

The author also delves into the intricate systems of nadis and chakras, which govern the flow of prana within the body. Of the 350,000 nadis mentioned in the Siva Samhita, fourteen are considered significant, with the three most vital being Sushumna, Ida and Pingala.

B.K.S. Iyengar, the author of this work, is widely regarded as one of the foremost teachers of yoga in the world, bringing this ancient knowledge to the West. His teachings have been transformative for countless practitioners and his insights into Pranayama are invaluable.

The book ‘Light on Pranayama’ is a treasure trove of wisdom, offering profound insights into the ancient art of breathing and life force control. It has deepened my understanding of Pranayama and how to practice it correctly. I would give it a rating of nine out of ten for its clarity, depth and the invaluable lessons it imparts.

These reflections are but my own humble interpretation and I welcome inputs and suggestions from readers. I thank you for your time and consideration of these thoughts and I deeply respect any differing perspectives that may arise.

You may also visit my Book Review and Book Recommendation website: https://majumdarbookreviews.asia

Thanks and regards,

Mainak Majumdar, Book Critic

Email: mainakkmajumdar@yahoo.com & majumdar@majumdarbookreviews.asia

[galvanizedfriend]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you for the tag @kirythestitchwitch and @morningstargirl666 🤗

How many works do you have on ao3? 22! But I think I currently have two or three fics that are private because I keep meaning to rewrite and never get around to it.

What's your total ao3 word count? 1.617.205 😗

What fandoms do you write for? Currently only The Vampire Diaries/The Originals.

Top five fics by kudos: The Wolf (surprising no one, The Originals S1 rewriting), The Wolf II (surprising no one², The Originals S2 rewriting), Vice & Virtue (very surprising this has more kudos than TWIII lol, regency AU), The Wolf III (The Originals S3 and 4 rewriting) and The Sound of Settling (that time I committed coffee shop!AU).

Do you respond to comments? Yes! I try to always keep up with comments, but I get a little behind from time to time, especially with comments left on older fics. Sorry, folks 🥲 With WIPS, I tend to always reply to comments right before or immediately posting a new chapter.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Pendulum, for sure. The alternative ending is pure angst (and I love it very much, there's so much meaning and to me it's a perfect ending for that story).

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? All the others lol All my fics have a happy ending, Pendulum is an exception.

Do you get hate on fics? Not so much anymore, though I did recently get a bitter anon here on tumblr. But yeah, I've received a lot of hate over the years.

Do you write smut? Occasionally, when I feel like the story asks for a smutty scene, but more often than not I go with the classic fade to black.

Craziest crossover: I've never written crossovers, though I have written lots of AUs inspired by other things (I forgot what those are called now).

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Yes, I have. A while back this nutjob stole a bunch of fics and published them as originals on Amazon and The Wolf was among them. I got lots of comments from people warning me about it and I managed to get it taken down.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes, I have! To Russian and Chinese.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? I have not, though it's a fun idea.

All time favorite ship? My favorite ship is always the current one and I've been stuck on Klaroline for a few years now. Those two idiots in love have my whole heart.

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I have so many. 🥲 I really wanted to give the TVD S5 rewrite a chance, but really don't think I have it in me to start something like that again.

What are your writing strengths? Oh boy. I suck at paying myself a compliment. But I've heard I write good action scenes? I don't know if it's true. Personally, I think I do a decent job of writing AUs, as in adapting canon aspects to other universes. I don't just plaster names on characters, I try very hard to make sure everything is still recognizable even in a totally different setting (then again, that's very subjective 😂).

What are your writing weaknesses? Wordiness. I am so freaking wordy, my stories are so goddamn long. I wish I could simplify my writing, shorten sentences, but alas. I have these ideas for writing exercises I would like to try with a couple of ideas I have, but I need to finish the ones I have started before I can jump into something else.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language? If it's single words or short sentences, it's ok. I kinda like it even, but when it's full dialogues in languages I don't understand, it kind of loses me.

First fandom you wrote in? I think I wrote some semblance of fic when I was like 12 for Charmed, though I didn't even know that was fanfiction. But the first conscious fic I ever wrote was for Torchwood.

Favorite fic you've written? Pendulum. I think it's the most original and profound (lol) thing I ever wrote, it expresses many aspects of how I feel about KC. But I also really, really like The Unexpected Grace of Falling Apart. I LOVE romcoms and I think that story is everything I love in that genre, without being completely silly (in my opinion, ofc). Those two fics couldn't be more different if I wanted to, but one thing they have in common is the fact I spent years working on them.

Tagging @definedareasofuncertainty, @howlingmoonrise, @misssophiachase, @jinxedwood, @bettsfic, @bellemorte180, @marginally-accurate, @b-mina and @austennerdita2533!

[radiocmyk]

OH. Also I did one of those Topsters things the other day

Behold. My opinions:

A Thousand Suns is my favorite album of all time. CURRENTLY. I will not be taking questions at this time. I have already died on this hill.

I consider Falling Satellites my favorite Frost* album, and I consider both Milliontown and Experiments in Mass Appeal to be objectively better, musically and constructively speaking. Falling Satellites is my favorite for other, deeply personal reasons. This is also the reason Day and Age is ranked above Milliontown, just slightly lower than Falling Satellites because the personal reasons are less deep.

I'm actually not sure if I think Horizons is my favorite Starset album or that it's better than Transmissions and Vessels because it does seem to change for me depending on how I feel, which of the three I love more. I just know that I rank Divisions fourth, not because it's the worst, just because the other three are the best. This is why it's not on the chart at all. I will say though I used to really dislike Divisions in comparison but it's slowly growing on me now, especially songs I thought were the lowest of the low (I'm sorry Telekinetic & Perfect Machine). OWTT is still the worst Starset song though, again not taking questions at this time thankyou

I do not give an inch about TikTok or animated memes or whatever the kids are doing over on there. I like Jack Stauber because I find his style fresh, distinctive and innovative. I have shown his music to people who've never heard of him or TikTok before and they've said the same and praised the originality. He's doing something no one else is so far, so I do not care if liking him isn't cool or makes me cringe. I also like his videos. I think he's a very good artist both in music and other mediums. I am watching "rain" and "library" like I'm in an art museum with my hands behind my back

I genuinely have no idea why I love Advanced Basics so much, but apparently, I do. I just listen to it a lot. Sometimes I crave it, even just that specific album and not USS as a whole. I'll listen to the whole album starter to finisher more often than I'll listen to individual songs on it, it is just very fun good neuron food.

Hey guys listen to me ok. There is an artist called S.Karma and they have like less than 50 listeners and their album Land of the Ever Bloom is genuinely just so good and beautiful and cozy and please go listen to them because sometimes I wonder either if an artist is just unlucky to not have blown up yet or if my ears are in a different reality and I'm not hearing the same spectacle that everyone else is

We're going to skip past The Mind's Eye and not talk about it on this post because allowing myself to talk about The Mind's Eye would increase this post's wordcount by 400%

I really do genuinely think that Death Cab for Cutie has just gotten better and better with time. I think Kintsugi and Codes and Keys are their 3rd and 4th best albums too. I think You Can Play These Songs With Chords and Something About Airplanes are just not as fun and enjoyable to listen to! I'm not going to apologize! I have loved Thank You for Today since 2018 and I think Foxglove Through the Clearcut is the best track they have ever produced so do not come crying to me when it's 15 years from now and suddenly those two albums are all the rage because I was saying so the whole time and diehard Death Cab fans who still have a chip on their shoulder about Y2K love to plug their ears and refuse to let in the transcendent bridge of I Miss Strangers or profound commentary on Seattle's gentrification problem of Gold Rush

I've fallen really hard into Joywave. It's like IDKHOW's good twin. It's very fun. I'm a fan now

Listen to Weeknight, open your heart to modern post-punk I am no longer asking

Like with Starset I never exactly know where I stand on what my favorite Porcupine Tree album is because sometimes it's Deadwing and sometimes it's Stupid Dream (I lean more Deadwing usually because of Lazarus) but either way Stupid Dream is a hill that I constantly have to die on because other Porcupine Tree fans, for some reason, never really talk about it EVEN THOUGH IT LITERALLY HAS STRANGER BY THE MINUTE ON IT

You can't show me a gothic fantasy metal concept album based on Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species and not expect me to [redacted]

Looking at this now I may have more of a genre theme going on than I always thought I did. Guys, I think I might actually have developed a defined, consistent taste in music as an adult. Oh god, and it's illustrative of my personality. What is this

[b-a-l-a-n-c-3]

Wanted to ramble some general S/V thoughts real quick. Will include DLC bits so spoiler warning ⚠️

Okay one thing I want to address right away is the Time Machine. Turo/Sada but it using the Tera crystals in Area Zero and that’s how the paradox Pokémon came to be. But in Arven’s storyline postgame (to unlock his dorm room) he mentions that it’s weird that the Paradox Pokémon seemed to exist during the events of the Scarlet/Violet book (Heath’s expedition) despite the machine not being built yet. This hints that the ‘paradox’ of the Paradox Pokémon, but we don’t get much else to go off of. My current theory is that the Time Machine wasn’t actually a time machine, but rather an amplifier/conductor of the Tera crystals OR Terapagos…not that the professors intended it to be though. Kinda makes you wonder what actually happened to their AI counterparts when they went into it…

Now for what the machine may have ACTUALLY done, I believe the popular theory that it simply created the Pokémon each professor had been envisioning, but in doing so caused a time paradox where the Pokémon came into existence during the expedition as well. Pretty much a loop: Heath n co see glimpses of these Pokémon, document them, professors see them, imagine them, boom machine makes their imagination a reality, in both past and present.

For the DLC, I think that this first part was done not only to introduce us to important characters for the next part, but to also show us more of what the Tera crystals are capable of. Think about it: Ogerpon’s masks are imbued with these crystals, so when she terastalizes, the mask adopts most of the Tera properties and not Ogerpon herself. She doesn’t get a hat or a single type boost; her tera-crystal imbued mask takes the place of the hat and she gets a boost to ALL of her attacks (she still changes types, and I think the boost is still increased more for the main Tera/mask type? I could be wrong here). So if an item having these crystals imbedded in them can have such a profound effect…then what else can they doin these kinds of situations?

Ok last ramble: Kieran. Oh my god his arc was…honestly terrifying. His last line actually gave me the shivers. I’m not going to delve too deep into his decline during the story, only because I don’t think I understand it too well myself. I do get why he’s acting the way he is. He’s sided with Ogerpon for years, and the one chance he had to finally be with her was torn away by…well, Ogerpon herself and the player. He seemed so lost in his own fantasy of redeeming her that he forgot about how she felt. How she felt when he ran off when you and Carmine are getting ready to go after the masks. How she must have felt when he kept showing up at her den (not fully implied that she was uncomfortable but there’s no way that she didn’t know he was going there. If she liked the attention she would have sided with him sooner). She likes us because we stuck around, gave her back her mask no questions asked. That doesn’t go to say that she doesn’t LIKE Kieran. Ogerpon clearly trusts him a little based on how she followed him into the village after he reassured her about it (Kieran even had a lil smile there when she did :D) But she’s just more comfortable with us, and Kieran couldn’t accept that…

So for the Indigo Disk? It’s pretty obvious that Kieran is going to be the champion. If you look at the trailer, there’s a short part where you see his jacket and gloves, but his jacket is unzipped and we can’t see his face. I think he may not have always been the champion of the BB league (since it’s implied he’s not popular and that he’s about the same strength as Carmine), so what most likely happens is that he toughens up A LOT and becomes champion by the time we arrive. How he’ll act towards us is something I’m a little too uncertain about to properly theorize, but it’s not gonna be pretty.

Sorry for the long ramble, but if you made it this far, thanks for sticking around :DD

[thelovesickbakery]

So I'm in a bit of a difficult spot, dear baker. I come to ask you if I may be permitted to post a submission here. I've made a vital mistake in my life and I've been growing into deeper despair and pain as a result with each passing day. I'm a married man trapped in a loveless marriage... I desperately want to cut off all ties but it's unfortunately too expensive to get a divorce in my situation... Plus I'm a father. I have a child who if I leave will be forced into a religion not of their choosing or understanding. I am obligated by a father's love to stay to foster free will and to give my child the tools to carve their path as an individual on this world.

And yet... I feel trapped in this prison of my devising that I sacrificed so much to forge. Left in a hospital without so much as a visit... Always being an after thought... Always having my medical needs ignored on whims... I sometimes feel like I was just a means of escape. My heart once burned so passionately and has been vast asunder into thousands of cooling embers and I just can't go on like this. Everyday is a reminder of this hell... I'm so tired of never having the mutually obsessive love I crave. Of always being misunderstood... Of being an alien on distant sands and being shamed for daring to think for myself.

But I can understand if this would barr me from eligibility. I may have made a choice, and it was a bad one regardless even if it did give me the greatest treasure in all of existence, but it was still a choice regardless. But I crave the love and romance only a dedicated yandere could provide. Instead of being dirt... I want to be recognized for who I am by a person I've spent my life seeking. If I may be permitted to submit here I'd be very open about my situation. I understand it'd be a burden, but if someone would be willing to dare to try, to forge something new, something real, something lasting... Can't we try? But if the answer is no, then I'll respect your answer.

You need to know within that heart of yours, dearest, that I am not, and do not intend to act as, a barrier/obstacle to submissions based on elements of this nature. The factors I chose to determine ineligibility are only connected to age and whether there's information such as phone number or the small village in which one resides within their submissions. I am an observer, a means to an end on this blog, and will not act to question the contexts and circumstances within which people decide to undertake this search — I'll leave those who shall read the profiles to decide whether or not to pursue that person.

Even so, I feel within my heart that I carry the responsibility to share an important detail within this matter, which is: I cannot express promise for success, I can't guarantee those who come across such a profile will be looking at it with this same generosity. You understand, right? I cannot promise the desired answer, which is most earnestly sought after, will be found within this search, but I can offer the opportunity to attempt, the opportunity to construct circumstances in which you will be in a position that will allow this answer to be considered as possible.

[There are not enough words to describe how heart-wrenching each of these experiences and current circumstances are in their most profound nature; to be suffering through each of these issues, that's simply too desolating. I'm terribly sorry to hear such is the position you find yourself in… Whether this decision is correct or not, whether the answer you seek is achieved or not, please, take care of yourself.]